Late Breaking News Editorial: CRB's Bad Timing, Bad
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November 2, 2009 Issue 165 Six Honored With Hall Inductions Late Breaking News Three Country radio stalwarts and three exceptional air • Clear Channel’s WRDU/Raleigh personalities will be inducted into their respective Halls of will flip to News/Talk at year end, GM Fame during CRS-41 next February. Read on for insight into Dick Harlow told the Triangle Business the commendable careers of some of this format’s finest. Journal. In the Summer ‘09 Arbitron ‘RDU improved 1.8-2.2 (13-12), its best results in at least a year, behind crosstown Curtis Country Radio Hall of Fame: Media-owned WQDR, which dipped 6.6-6.4 (2-4). The late Cy Blumenthal was a radio pioneer • Citadel/Nashville Titans Radio GM Hunter Rice has been in every sense of the word. He learned the radio promoted to GM for the cluster, which includes Country WKDF. business with his brother-in-law at a Chester, He replaces Dave Kelly, who has transferred to a broader PA radio station in 1949. Within two years, he programming role for the company’s Country stations, including bought his first station in Arlington, VA, and ‘KDF. Rice has been handling the cluster management on an within eight years had a chain of five stations. Cy Blumenthal interim basis since August. But it wasn’t buying stations that made Cy a • George Strait will headline an arena tour with Reba pioneer, it’s what he did with them that puts him in the Country McEntire beginning Jan. 22 in Baltimore; 19 dates are booked Radio Hall of Fame. “Country & Western Music” wasn’t through April. exactly the format of choice when Cy began buying radio stations in 1951. But over the next seven years he became the Editorial: CRB’s Bad Timing, Bad Form first broadcaster to establish a chain of exclusively Country- Country Aircheck is outraged at the manner in which the formatted stations in large markets. Over that time he bought Country Radio Broadcasters handled the dismissal of Exec. Dir. and turned Country WARL/Washington, DC, WCMS/Norfolk, Ed Salamon last Wednesday (Breaking News 10/28). We’re equally WHMS/Memphis, KCKN/Kansas City and WABB/Mobile. disturbed by the message this sends to this industry’s stakeholders. He also was the first to use the slogan “Modern Country” – in It is not this editorial’s place or intent to question the board’s decision, 1957. But his greatest, and perhaps most enduring, contribution or address the issue of Salamon’s performance. There are surely to this format came in the people he hired and inspired. Among multiple views on that subject. The CRB Board can do whatever they them, Connie B. Gay and George Crump would go on to own want. They are charged with doing the right thing for the organization their own Country stations. (continued on page 4) and the industries that have supported CRS for 41 years. ©2009 Country Aircheck™ — All rights reserved. Sign up free at www.countryaircheck.com. Send news to [email protected] November 2, 2009 Country Aircheck Weekly Page 2 What is deeply troubling and disappointing, however, is the way MY TUNES : MUSIC THA T SHAPED MY LIFE in which the dismissal was executed. Whatever appraisal one has of Ed Salamon, he has been one of the longest tenured and most Valory Music Co. Dir./Nat’l Promotion committed supporters of CRB in its history. His status as one of the Chris Loss discusses his most important format’s foremost broadcasters and attendance at early seminars songs, artists or concerts: no doubt bolstered CRS’ credibility. He became one of its biggest 1. Conway Twitty/That’s My Job: Before I advocates, encouraging the companies he’s worked for to put their was a dad, I would think of my dad when I financial support behind CRS. He served more than 25 years on the heard this. I still think of him, but now I also think of [daughter] Bella and our new baby Agenda Committee and CRB Board, and was CRB President for on the way. “Everything I do is because of nine years before being named Executive Director seven years ago. Chris Loss you to keep you safe with me”. Dismissing him so unceremoniously from such a high-profile 2. Rascal Flatts/My Wish: Allison and I used this as our wedding position and after decades of service is unconscionable. The song on Dec. 3, 2006. On Dec. 4th, it was the No. 1 country song in moment Salamon was informed of the board’s decision he should the USA. I can remember Mike Moore telling me how this song is have been afforded the opportunity to release a statement and exit everything he would say to his daughter Madison. I totally agree. with grace. At the very least, CRB Board leadership should have 3. U2/One: Absolutely brilliant! Johnny Cash’s version is killer, too. immediately commented, offering all the respect Salamon is due. To Saw U2 in concert Thanksgiving weekend 2001 in Phoenix; it was allow the news to leak out, as it did, in this day of Twitter and cell a mind-blowing show. To top it all off, Diamondback [baseball phones, is egregious. Standing behind the veil of an organizational player] Randy Johnson walked out during the encore with the policy not to comment on personnel matters is cowardly. World Series trophy. The crowd went nuts! Of much greater consequence is what this move and the manner 4. Goo Goo Dolls/Slide: Always reminds me of where I was born in which it was handled says to the various CRB stakeholders: and raised (Niagara Falls, NY) as the Goos are from Buffalo. It’s one labels, whose sponsorships are critical, and radio, whose ability to I truly enjoy butchering during Karaoke! engage in anything outside of their corporate mandate is already 5. Randy Travis, Shenandoah, Erie, PA, Nov. 8, 1990: I was a stretched thin. The overall economy, corporate radio ownership and freshman at SUNY-Fredonia and a few of us road-tripped to this show, the advertising downturn are some of the external forces that have which Alan Jackson opened. I don’t think I’d be in the industry today placed CRS at a crossroads, facing possibly its greatest challenges without that fateful night three days after my 18th birthday. yet. But less than four months from this momentus CRS, the CRB • A highly regarded song or album you’ve never heard: Peter Board has cast a pall of uncertainty over the proceedings. Perhaps Frampton’s Frampton Comes Alive. the apparent urgency of this move is a reflection of the need for • An “important” piece of music/band you just don’t get: change, but surely status quo is better than disruption followed by Techno is “important” to my wife Allison. It’s one of her guilty a much-too-lengthy silence, an inexplicably obtuse non-statement pleasures. Me, not so much. • An album you played or listened to incessantly: Viva La Vida and no clear plan of succession. At a time when CRB should be from Coldplay is my favorite CD when I’m lifting/doing cardio and inspiring confidence, stability and growth, this undertone of discord just unplugging from life. Chris Martin is insanely talented! and disorganization can only give pause to fence-sitters. And those • One obscure or non-country song everyone should listen to are numerous, as we’re all painfully aware. right now: Michael Jackson’s “Man In The Mirror.” “If you wanna There are far too many smart, capable and experienced professionals make the world a better place, take a look at yourself and then on the CRB Board to have allowed this transition to be so grossly make a change.” Even more relevant after his death. mishandled. Dismissals are seldom pretty, but certainly there was a way to manage this that was, at minimum, respectful and courteous ©2009 Country Aircheck™ — All rights reserved. Sign up free at www.countryaircheck.com. Send news to [email protected] November 2, 2009 Country Aircheck Weekly Page 3 to someone who has served the organization so well for so long. The BIR T HDAYS CRB Board has done a great disservice to Ed Salamon. And it has put Tuesday (11/3) - Ron Brooks ([email protected]), Jesse four decades of good will at risk at a most inopportune time. Those who Garcia ([email protected]), Margie Hunt (margiehunt. have supported CRB, and will be called upon to continue that support, [email protected]), Steve Walker. deserved better. Ed Salamon, certainly, deserved much better. Wednesday (11/4) - Delbert McClinton, the late Van Stephenson. Radio News Thursday (11/5) - Heather and Jennifer Kinley; the late Roy Rogers; • Children’s Miracle Network: KUSJ/Temple, TX raised $167,000. Don Kamerer; Chris Loss ([email protected]); Rich Meyer • Gig Alert: Ride VP/Promotion David Shaw is seeking a Southeast ([email protected]); Randy “Shotgun” Shannon (rshannon@ regional to join the staff in a new full-time position. Interested parties wilksdenver.com); Darlene Williams ([email protected]). can contact Shaw here or GM Harry Nelson here. Friday (11/6) - Guy Clark, Stonewall Jackson, Shawn King. • Envision Radio Networks is offering a free two-hour Thanksgiving special The Country Oldies Show with Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Saturday (11/7) – Robin Lee, Jenny Bohler (jballiance@comcast. Brothers for broadcast Nov. 23-29. Contact Matt Wardlaw at 216- net), Dewayne Brown, Tammi Brumfield (tammibrumfield@hotmail. 831-3761 or 800-608-5835. com), Tonya Campos ([email protected]), Neda Tobin ([email protected]).