Posted by madcityradio.com on October 25, 2008 at 07:41:36:
Cumulus Cutbacks In Progress; RFP Status Update
No radio company is immune from cutbacks and CUMULUS is going through it this week. CUMULUS co-COO JOHN DICKEY spoke with ALL ACCESS about the changes.
"Everyone is looking at expenses, and at CUMULUS we have been very cost-aware and sensitive to the need to be fiscally prudent for a long time. The reality here is that there are no mass edicts -- other than to operate prudently and efficiently. Based on local economics, there will be some markets where there will be some changes and how it impacts those markets will be different.
"I am happy to say that there are no hiring freezes, and we continue making room for talented, bright people in the right markets and right situations. And we will continue to grow our head count in all areas, including sales. We are sorry to lose folks, but are, in cases, moving folks who are displaced into other places in the company."
RFP Process Almost Over
ALL ACCESS took the opportunity to ask DICKEY about the company's RFP for an alternative ratings system, initially set to roll out in markets 100+, several months back. "The process is winding down and will be disclosed and announced soon -- potentially as soon as late next week or early the following week. We are down to the short strokes of this process."
News Staffers Among Layoffs
Among the layoffs ALL ACCESS has heard about at the company so far are Talk KFRU-A/COLUMBIA, MO News Dir. DAN CLAXTON and morning co-host FRED PARRY and Talk WROK-A/ROCKFORD News Dir. PAUL HANNIGAN.
Exiting the FAYETTEVILLE, AR, cluster are Country KQSM (SAM 98)/BIG D & BUBBA producer/middays RYAN JAMES (radioman20@hotmail.com); AC KYNF (Y94.9) mornings & Country KQSM nights DAWN MCCOLLOUGH (dawn.mccollough@gmail.com) (479) 427-0153; and Rock KKEG middays MAREIKE HORNICK (mareikespring@yahoo.com) and (417) 825-6223.
In TOPEKA, KS, KMAJ (MAJIC 107.7) morning co-host CHRIS GALLAGHER, Country KQTP (US 103) morning duo RICHARD BOWERS and LOUANN FULMER, and Rock KDVV (V100) morning host KC GARRETT are gone.
In ROCKFORD, IL,among the departing are Classic Rock WKGL's KEVIN O�CONNOR and TYLER COX; Top 40/Mainstream WZOK APD/MD middays JENNA WEST; Country WXXQ middays LYNN LACY and LAURIE LARROW; and WROK-A's PAUL HANNIGAN.
(All Access)