David Eduardo wrote:
"D Peter Maus" wrote in message
...
What drove me out what Radio had become. As I have explained, both here
an elsewhere, I had grown embarrassed by what Radio had become. I could no
longer endorse what I could not support. I had been a quite vocal opponent
to Telecom '96, and had some pretty intense discussions with manglement
about why I would not sign and send in the form letter distributed through
the company to my Congressmen. I refused to endorse a product that was
carrying such a big part of the station's budget, that it actually got a
spot in the station's booth at public events. And there were other things
involving some high level persons that good taste suggests I not reveal
publicly (and as you've probably figured out, good taste is NOT my strong
suit...so that should give you some ideas of how distasteful these matters
are). So rather than live a double life, I left Radio to be what it has
chosen to be, left the station to be what it has chosen to be and went off
to do other things. Many other things.

I think you may have missed what many companies became by not staying in
radio.



You may be right. And I've thought about that in the last couple of
years. I do know that I had way more fun in smaller companies than I
did in the larger. But then with the larger companies absorbing the
smaller ones, how far can I really get from the CBS's and the CCU's?


Hell, when I came back to Chicago, I was working for a smaller
company. In 11 1/2 years, I worked for 4 different companies. My desk
was in the same spot the whole time.



I would not like to be at CBS, Clear or a couple of the huge companies. But
I love being at one of the smallest of the Top 10 radio companies.


Dan Mason, when I started at Cook Inlet, said to me that getting to
the top was fun. BEING there is not as much fun as you think, so enjoy
the climb, because that's the most fun you'll ever have. I like much
smaller companies. And if I ever did get back into it, it would be for
a smaller shop with big aspirations.

Was it Leader in an editorial in R & R about 15 years ago, or was it
the AOR editor...anyway, he said that his dream gig would be working a
weekend shift at the #2 station in LA. That would be sheer Heaven in Radio.

I gotta agree with him. Well, maybe not LA....but Chicago....




The ability for radio to be big, after 96, allowed radio access to capital
markets. It allowed companies to be big enough to get good benefits.
Clusters allow internal promotion without moving. And there are fewer of the
scary "mom and pop" managers and owners who drove me to leave US radio in
'63.


Oh, I know the benefits, the economics. But as you and I have bashed
each other in the face about over the years, I find the homogenization
boring. I like the smaller local outlets, with locally generated
playlists that don't follow the national trends point for point. I like
surprises when I listen to the radio. But then I also like new
experiences in other things, too. When I travel for business, I don't
care for Holiday Inn's or Airline travel. I take my motorcycle through
the back roads, or down the Great River Road. And stay in some mom and
pop motels. Some of which can be pretty...um...exciting...Even at the
destination, I take an off the beaten path room. Take my meeting, record
my audio, and ride back an entirely different route.

I like lumps in my gravy, too.

And along the way, I get to hear some small, privately owned, often
GOD AWFUL radio stations, that are, if nothing else, amusing. But
they're always representative of their home town. And I like that. I
don't go the back way to find the same experiences I get at home in
Chicago.

And, from time to time, I experience some real treats. There was a
station in Central Illinois...had a signal that reached across Missouri
and into Arkansas, that played nothing but bluegrass. It was wonderful.
Picked it up north of Decatur, and rode it all the way to Searcy, Ark.


I don't hear that kind of thing since 96. So, I burn up an iPod,
instead.




I have "owner" mentality as I have been an owner and a pretty autonomous
manager for other companies. I find I can be "agent of change" as our CFO
called me without fearing being fired. I can suggest dramatic projects, such
as changing the format of nearly a quarter of our stations in a 90 day
period, and get listened to and even have the project approved.

I am having a lot of fun right now, in radio.


I have no doubt. And I find it heartening to know that it can still
be done.

Who knows....maybe........