Clear Channel Layoffs: When Radio becomes property and not about product

…people don’t matter and radio goes to shit.

The announcement of Clear Channel Radio canning 1850 jobs across it’s radio, outdoor and corporate divisions didn’t come as a real surprise. Since Clear Channel is the largest conglomerate of radio stations in America it will be certain that many of my friends in radio will be losing there job.

Mark Mays, CEO Clear Channel

Mark Mays can blame the economy all he wants but “Radio” and the way that Clear Channel plays “Radio” is what is bringing financial collapse to the Radio Giant. Quality broadcasting is gone. One thing that large corporations don’t understand is that most of the money is made locally and there are no more local radio personalities. Everything is voice over and stretching the already exhausted talent to 20 other markets to save money doesn’t create the fan base needed to attract people to listen.  I’d rather listen to my iPod or internet radio.  Some of my friends will disagree with me but i believe that terrestrial radio is going to die a slow painful death…unless they create a reason for people to listen in.

I told a friend that there was going to be a huge corporate backlash two years ago. No one believed that it would happen but there were more and more lay offs and the on air jobs were given to hacks that probably couldn’t get a job on college radio.

I feel sorry for the mediocre talent in the market right now that are losing their jobs because there really is no place else for them to go. There’s only room for a couple of “cheesy” announcer types for used car commercials.

Mark my words and bookmark this page. The idiots at the top of the corporate food chain will finally realize that they have to bring Radio back to the locals and then the locals will begin to give back to Radio…with their wallets.