Oh, the Stories, The Stories!

Where have we heard that before?  Of course! – from everybody’s favorite LOY’ya.  Saw this on Rich Lieberman’s 415 Media blog:

http://richliebermanreport.blogspot.com/2011/12/flash-len-tillem-lands-new-gig-at-kksf.html#comment-form

Len Tillem will host the hour before Gene Burns’ show every weekday.  I also heard, on another interview of former KGO Radio hosts, that Len and Gene’s new San Francisco station will be changing call letters, so, for now, refer to it as 910-AM until the KKSF call letters are replaced.

I love that Len will be back in action, but am troubled that it’s a Clear Channel broadcast station.  Isn’t that what we’ve been discussing, how these mega-media corporations control the airwaves?  I hope they are not bringing in these talented hosts only to toss them out again after benefiting from a ratings increase.  Not saying they will, but it’s something to think about now.  We have to continue to be vigilant in bringing about changes to keep the airwaves fair and balanced for the benefit of local business and community.   If a populace speaks with one, unified voice, that is more powerful than a 50,000 watt broadcast signal.

For now, though, beginning January 3rd, my radio will be tuned to 910-AM every weekday beginning at 3:00pm.  And, I’ll be able to tune in to ‘Dining Around’ on Saturdays.  I’ve never had the pleasure before, to hear the show, and I’m looking forward to it.

Now, for an interesting tidbit I heard today on The Karel Show (not on KGO, but his live web show streamed online).  I’ll discuss that experience in another post, but during the show today one of the former KGO hosts, I can’t recall which one, mentioned that Ronn Owens’ agent tried to reduce the salary amount of Ronn’s contract in exchange for a three-year extension.  He didn’t get it, but the kicker is, the agent tried to do this at least two weeks before the big announcement and Black Friday.  Anyone else hear this?  If that’s true, then it must also be true, that Ronn did know about the changes weeks before they were announced.  So, please, correct me if I misheard this or misinterpreted it.  I hope I am wrong…

Ronn Responds A Second Time Online

 I read that Ronn Owens hasn’t addressed the format change at KGO Radio since that Black Friday when many other hosts were fired.  Anyone who has read the Facebook page of FormerKGOListeners and Rich Lieberman’s 415 Media blog has seen the negative comments directed at Ronn.  Finally, he’s responded to some of that backlash.

I saw this on FormerKGOListeners Facebook page, posted by Mark Burchill.  Haven’t read the comments yet.  I’m sure there will some interesting reading there…

http://www.facebook.com/FormerKGOListeners

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From: Ronn Owens

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To those who’ve posted on the Ronn Owens Facebook Page:

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Many of you continue to voice your unhappiness over the format change at KGO. Some seem to think I haven’t addressed the matter at all or haven’t addressed it to your satisfaction. I have discussed it on the show and this will be my third Facebook posting about it.

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For those who don’t know, I talked about the format change on Friday December 2nd during the first show I did after the change was announced. I said it was a difficult show to do, and that I was stunned by the news. I said I’d miss my longtime colleagues who were being let go. Paul Hosley and Jared Hart, both in station management, went on the air with me and explained the reasons and hopes behind the move. At the end of that show, I went on a long-planned vacation, determined to stay away from the internet as much as possible until I went back to work on Thursday, December 15.

While I was on vacation, my Facebook page was available for anyone to voice their feelings. Hundreds of people did just that and I’ve read every post. Some were thoughtful, intelligent, honest, caring, and heartfelt, while others were profane, vicious, childish, cruel, and uncalled-for. A few have labeled me a sell-out for not quitting my job and standing shoulder to shoulder with those who were fired. What would have been the point? That would have done absolutely nothing to get Len, Gil, Gene, John, Ray, Dr. Bill, Lloyd, or Joanie rehired. I love my job. I love the audience.

I’m not a coward, but I am a realist. I’m under contract to do my show. The decision to cancel some of the other talk shows was out of my control. I was told of the changes the same afternoon as those who were let go. I had no advance knowledge and wasn’t asked my opinion. But my opinion wouldn’t have mattered anyway, because the decision was made by upper management. It’s their job to figure out what will make the overall station successful in these changing times. KGO has a staff of hard-working, caring, dedicated professionals who are trying to do just that. None of us deserves the kind of mean-spirited, juvenile, repetitive behavior that has been exhibited by a few online and over-the-phone. While there have been staff changes, many of the people who’ve been in the KGO family for years are still here. And, I’m happy that the voices of those hosts who were let go are now being heard on other stations. They’re moving on, with a tremendous amount of talent, experience, and a loyal following.

As any listener to my program knows, I have great respect for everyone’s opinion. I eagerly seek it out. But, the line of civility has been crossed by some on the internet in the last few weeks. Outrageous lies have been posted and then repeated over and over. I question the motives of a few who’ve been behind those lies and who’ve been extremely critical of me during this time. You either don’t understand or don’t want to understand what happened. Or you do understand and are deliberately trying to make me a scapegoat to advance your own agenda. I know my longtime listeners see through that.

The private emails I’ve received are, for the most part, very supportive, unlike some of the Facebook postings. From the tone of many of those Facebook messages, I’ve concluded there’s nothing I could say or do to change some of your opinions. So be it. I’ve told you the truth. I truly thank all of you who’ve taken the time to write in support of me and my program. And I’m grateful to those who’ve also sent condolences following the recent death of my mother-in-law. My wife, my daughters, and I genuinely appreciate it. I look forward to talking with you on KGO on Monday. And, I wish all of you, including those who’ve been critical of me, a wonderful holiday season.

Warm regards,
Ronn

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Here’s a link to it on his Facebook page:

http://www.facebook.com/ronnowens/posts/321130344573373

And, here’s his general Facebook page:

http://www.facebook.com/ronnowens

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It is true what he says, it won’t bring me back to KGO.  I wasn’t satisfied with the alternative, KSCO, but Ray Taliaferro’s guest spot on Thursday brought me back there to download the podcasts of Ray’s interview on the show.  It isn’t perfect.  I’m waiting for the airwaves of KKSF-AM to carry the voice of Gene Burns in the afternoon.  Something I’ll be able to listen to while at work.  January 3rd is his debut on that station.  I can’t wait!

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Any other thoughts on Ronn’s response?

Yep. We just got SweetJack’d up.

So it begins…

I blurred out their sales link and the commenters’ names.  This is one way to protest Cumulus Media.  Defeat their business plan.  Their plan is to overtake the business of Groupon and Living Social.  I have links in a previous post to more information about it.  It doesn’t matter that a local station like the old KGO is in the way, they can simply buy out the station, fire the hosts, and then sit in their out-of-state corporate offices, rubbing their hands, ready for the profits to pour in from this SweetJack deal.  But they need the public to support them in this effort.  They need local businesses to partner with them and the public to buy what they’re selling.

Are you buying what they’re selling?  Are you willing to trade a cents-off coupon, for a one-time deal, as an acceptable alternative that comes at the expense of vital, local talk radio in your community?

As an aside, Gene Burns got a gig!  I read it on Rich Lieberman’s blog.  Here’s the link:

http://richliebermanreport.blogspot.com/2011/12/gene-burns-headed-back-on-sf-radio.html

Oh, and those of you who miss good ol’ Ray Taliaferro, don’t miss his interview on KSCO on Thursday.  He stirred it up big time in snoozy lil’ Santa Cruz.  I have a link in a previous post and on my About page.

The Return of Ronn

It should be an interesting first hour, tomorrow after 9:00am, on KGO Radio.  I assume it will continue to be Ronn’s slot.  I haven’t listened since he left on vacation so who knows what schedule changes have occurred since then.  I won’t be listening to him upon his return.  I’ve already changed the dial on my radio and it’s no longer on an AM station.   I had to fight the little knob to push it up into the FM slot.  Just as I was about to go look for a screwdriver to force it into place, it popped up there and I located KQED’s frequency.

I did think of Ronn as I listened to this other station, listened to unfamiliar voices talk with guests, much like the ones Ronn would have talked with on his show, and I heard people call in with questions and opinions.  It was all very civilized and low-key.  I guess that’s how it is on NPR.  I even heard that darn mattress commercial, but barely recognized it until I heard the brand.  The ad, read ‘live’ on air, was informational and straight-forward.  I learned things about that company and its products I’d never heard in the years I listened to Ronn.  Not condemning Ronn here.  It’s just that I was surprised.  I thought, wow, I never knew that.  I learned more in five minutes than I had in five years – the types of things that would tempt me to look at their mattresses.

Photo by Jeffrey M. Vinocur

I’ve always thought that whole ‘name a mattress’ on Ronn’s show is cringe-worthy.  I feel sorry for the poor guests who get stuck playing along.  One person I’ve admired for not ‘going there’ with him is Phil Bronstein, who refuses to participate in it no matter how hard Ronn tries to pull him in.  I didn’t realize how stale that daily ‘live’ ad sounded on Ronn’s program until I heard a more professional version of it.

On the day I listened to KQED Radio their guest was comedian, Louis C.K.   I’d never heard of him before, but they played at least four or more long clips of his act, as well as his show on FX, and talked to him about each clip in length to explain what was behind the writing.  It was interesting enough to make me want to seek out the guy and see more of him.  I’m not sure if KQED Radio has podcasts of the show, but I would recommend it as good listening.  It had heart and humor and intellectual conversation.  What really clinched the deal with me, is that Louis C.K. said his latest show can be downloaded for only $5.00 and anyone who downloads it can use it as they wish.  Copy it, give it to friends, share it online.  Why?  Because Louis said his fans have supported him for years, that it’s with their money he was able to produce the show, so he wants to give something back to the fans.  He figured he’d lose money, but, to date, he’s breaking even on the downloads.  Said he might even make a little money out of it.  But it wasn’t about the money.  It was about giving back to the people who gave so much to him, how it allowed him to pursue a career he loves, and, that, he said, he doesn’t take for granted.

(Here’s a link his Wikipedia page, and I’ll add the link if I find the $5.00 download: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_C.K.)

He’s probably not a good fit for the new KGO.

Now, back to Ronn.  I wish him well.  I wonder how he’ll handle the situation he’s in.  But it doesn’t matter any more.  I’ll read about it tomorrow, after the fact.  I’ll have some opinions on it.  But I won’t be tuning in.  I learned something when I listened to KQED that day.  I’m probably not a good fit for the new KGO either.

There is nothing Ronn can say to change that.

Gene Burns KGO’s Cookie Contest

Yep.  Just saw this on Facebook FormerKGOListeners posted by the moderator.  Gene Burns is back, baby!  And he’s the one holding the cookie jar now.  Good for you, Gene!  KGO and Cumulus will not take away any treats this year.

Photo by Achituv

I didn’t listen to Gene Burns when he was a host on KGO.  I’d heard him a few times filling in for Ronn but his regular show aired later in the evening and it wasn’t a time of day I tuned in to KGO.  From all of the wonderful, heartfelt comments about him by other KGO hosts and his many listeners, the one thing I regret is that I didn’t listen to his show.

A cruel twist to the Cumulus format change was the sudden cancellation of a listener favorite, the Gene Burns’ ‘Dining Around’ show tradition of a Holiday Cookie Contest.  Cumulus pulled the show and left only crumbs in its place.  But Gene has a ‘Dining Around’ website and the Cookie Contest is ON!

Regular listeners of his show can explain more about it.  But when I saw this on Facebook I had to share.  Join in and sprinkle a little holiday cheer his way.

Here’s the link to his ‘Dining Around’ website.

http://www.diningaround.com/page/holiday-cookie-contest

And now, all I want for Christmas is for Mickey Luckoff to pull off a miracle!  I might get my wish to hear Gene Burns live, after all.

Will Mickey Luckoff Come to the Rescue of Talk Radio?

I had to post this link for anyone who hasn’t read this article yet on Facebook FormerKGOListeners, posted by Sue Marchant, or the post by Rich Lieberman 415 Media.  This is the link to the Rich Lieberman article:

http://richliebermanreport.blogspot.com/2011/12/flash-luckoff-in-negotiations-to-make.html

What are your thoughts?  I might get my wish and have the opportunity to listen to Gene Burns live!  Fingers crossed!

Also, does anyone have thoughts on Ron Owens’ return this week?  Do you think he will address listeners’ concerns or will he pretend he’s already moved on?  I, for one, will not be listening to him, on principle.  I have no issue with him, but I will not listen to KGO.  I will check the updates on FormerKGOListeners, though, to find out what happens.  I’m curious how he’ll handle it.