Madison's Clear Channel radio stations lay off 8 people (Conover: taxes, live)

[Bowie]

Top Stories: Clear Channel lays off 8 in Madison

"Eight people were laid off from Madison's Clear Channel radio stations Tuesday, according to sources close to the matter. Those who lost their jobs include The Mic 92.1's program director, Brian Turany, and producer Sam Roecker, who is now doing news and features with former morning host Lee Rayburn on www.leerayburn.com, traffic reporter Charlie Conover, who reported for all six of the local Clear Channel stations, and Star Country WMAD/FM 96.3 assistant program director Tyler Reese."

I remember listening to Charlie Conover when I lived in Madison. IIRC, he has a great radio voice.

[Geechie North]

Originally Posted by Bowie

Top Stories: Clear Channel lays off 8 in Madison

"Eight people were laid off from Madison's Clear Channel radio stations Tuesday, according to sources close to the matter. Those who lost their jobs include The Mic 92.1's program director, Brian Turany, and producer Sam Roecker, who is now doing news and features with former morning host Lee Rayburn on www.leerayburn.com, traffic reporter Charlie Conover, who reported for all six of the local Clear Channel stations, and Star Country WMAD/FM 96.3 assistant program director Tyler Reese."

I remember listening to Charlie Conover when I lived in Madison. IIRC, he has a great radio voice.

.

Clear Channel (ironic name) has been trying to silence the Mic since 2006.

[Megan1967]

Think it is more of a sign of the times than an conspiracy to silence the Mic. It has a great audience and audience means $$ which is what Clear Channel is all about, like it or not.

In Lee's case, however, I think it was a case of clashing personalities at work. He has strong opinions and won't hold back for anyone. I don't think the management appreciated that fact. So maybe him they *were* trying to silence.

Frankly, I miss 92.1 prior to the Mic. It was the only decent music station in the area. Now I have to settle for 105.5 which is good, but doesn't have the variety 92.1 had.

[ranger17]

92.1 has had many changes over the years. In the mid 80's they battled IBA in the rock arena; then one New Years Day I came back to my apt to hear Lionel Ritchie playing. And that was the first of many changes. Some you could see coming as the format just wasn't going to drive enough ratings/sales; but I also have to wonder if it was ever just treated like a stepchild, one that is part of the family but may not get the full appreciation or attention it needs to grow... too bad, seems like just when you get attached to it's format, it's once again gone.
This is a tough market to be in for radio, you have a few players who rule the ratings, and in turn generate the dollars.

[Geechie North]

Mic is (was) #2 in said market.

In fact Clear Channel and the Mic are an example of the argument being centered around financial survival (vs corporate propaganda0 is a plain old lie.f

[jlawrence01]

Clear Channel has been reducing its staff in most of its markets. Why not? Ad revenue is down.

[Geechie North]

But they have repeatdly targeted the Mic for the largest % cutbacks- not to mention their plans to change the progressive format- and has zero to do with $$.

I'll endeavor to keep this specific to the Mic, but this is a pattern Clear Channel has shown nationwide.
To understand, it's necessary to know the history of the Mic. Back around 2003, I found the Mic. It was different, unique. It was also an attempt by Clear Channel to tap a very dangerous (for them) market.
See, thanks to media consolidations- and "freed" from having to report factually accurate information by a 1999-2003 court case, domestic media has been given carte blanche to lie to the audience. Most either bought in or ignored the incessant propaganda; many (esp in uni towns like Madcity) did not, and therefore tuned-out "news" and commentary whose sole purpose was to advance the bottom line. It was this latter niche market Clear Channel hoped to lure for advertising $. So in that respect it was (and is) a little about $.
CC hoped the Mic would be a moderate sucess. Instead, it climbed to #2 behind O'Reilly, Hannity etc in the Madison market. Then it began to affect the corporations' plans for Wisconsin State Government. In 2004, the GOP legislature was attempting to pretty much exempt corporations from state taxes. CC loved that. However, thanks in no little part to the Mic's broadcasting and giving a venue for progressive politicians who had been blacklisted from the airwaves, the climate in the state changed. Breaking point for CC & the Mic was the 2006 elections, wherein the Gop lost the Assembly. And the Congress also changed hands. CC responded by killing the progressive formats in a number of markets, and had scheduled the Mic to become an all-sports station, which they admitted would not make the ad revenue the Mic was bringing in . But so what? It had become too popular, too dangerous to profit margins.
It took the largest boycott and audience uproar in the city's history to get CC to scrap those plans-
to rehire Lee Rayburn (although Jody Smithback didn't return). Now, however, with the people again running things to a degree unacceptable to WMC and its pals, it seems that Round II of the war has ignited.
The Mic is the only progressive station in the entire state. Nobody- not any of the corporate critters- nor even the perennially frightened Wisconsin Public Radio family of stations is allowed to broadcast the accurate info you find on the Mic, and other progressive stations.
How do we know it is accurate? Well, the truth as evidenced by events (like this depression) that no corporate conglomerate can hide forever will sooner or later emerge. And when it does, you will have known about it longer, and in far more depth, years before the corporate sources let a small sample of reality come out on their airwaves.
If you are lucky enough to have a station in your market like the Mic.

[Drover]

Holy crap, trying to read that gave me a headache...

[gold*dust1]

^^^^ I know paragraphs people plz!

[Geechie North]

The issue was raised, and the facts were thusly provided.

Besides, look where bumper sticker logic and soundbite discussions have landed us.