Perfume Chokes up Detroit Broadcaster

This seems like real interesting news involving a radio broadcaster.

A Detroit radio DJ was awarded 10.6 million dollars this week because she was fired for complaining about a co-worker's perfume.

Former top-ranked radio host Erin Weber said exposure to Lancome's Tresor perfume caused her to lose her voice and take lengthy absences from work, the Detroit News reported.

She also said she once "felt an electric shock quell through my entire body" and required heavy medication to combat the effects.

It's amazing why she didn't just move on to another station. That's the trouble with working in broadcasting for so long... the ego just gets larger and larger with time. It's as if the entire world should adjust themselves according to her over-sensitive nostrils.

A jury of six women deliberated for eight days before awarding Weber 1.6 million dollars Monday for past and future compensation, seven million dollars in punitive damages and two million dollars for mental anguish and emotional distress.

Eh, talk about yer "jury of peers".

"I'm thankful that the jury took so much time to come to the right conclusion," Weber, 43, told the Detroit News after the verdict. "It's a great [pay] day."

Okay... so I added in the word "pay".
What does the Broadcasting company have to say in response?

A spokeswoman for Infinity Broadcasting, which owns the station, said the company planned to appeal. "We're disappointed in the verdict and intend to make all the appropriate post-trial motions," Karen Mateo told the Detroit News.

Chicago Stations Find New Format

Have you ever heard of the new "play anything and everything" format called JACK? Apparently, a crazy idea started to combat those people who have been using iPods and Win Media Players who like a wide variety in their music styles.

I hate it. If this catches on, a lot of other broadcasters will be out of work. When stations today can just employ a powerful computer to broadcast everything 24/7, actual hosts will no longer be required. That's why my goal was always to make it in the news/talk format.

Here's an AP story that talks about the trend. Make up your minds for yourselves.

CHICAGO (AP) -- The posters hanging on the walls of the broadcasting booth at Nine FM are as eclectic as the music the radio station plays -- Pink Floyd and Aerosmith sharing space with the Marx Brothers, the Rat Pack and the Beatles.

Bob Perry, a veteran radio programmer, started the variety format on the Internet radio station JACK.FM in 2000 and later licensed the name for terrestrial stations in Canada and the U.S.

Sinclair's variety stations have done well in the Arbitron ratings, and only one -- in Honolulu -- has fizzled. Bob Sinclair notes Bob FM in Austin, Texas, has rated No. 1 in its market's 25-54 demographic.

Links of interest:


• Jack FM


• Bob FM


• Variety

[Via: Yahoo! Biz News]

Broadcaster loses job after taunts from fans

Chalk up another victory to the rebel radio personalities "Opie and Anthony". With marching orders to their fans, it seems as if the legions of people can be effective.

Chi'en was in the middle of a 6a.m. broadcast about MetroCard scammers when two men sneaked up behind him with a sign promoting radio shock jocks Opie & Anthony.
But as soon as he finished his report, he spun around and shouted at the intruders: "What the f--- is your problem, man?"

But Mr Chi'en was very remorseful for his outburst.

"I regret the entire thing and I apologize to those who were offended," he said.

If that wasn't enough, Opie and Anthony gleefully reveled on their show.

Meanwhile, fans of the Opie & Anthony show, who have mounted a campaign to annoy television reporters, were boasting about the infantile stunt on the deejays' Web site.

Their history of naughty behavior is well documented after this popular stunt that made headlines and other broadcasters irate... including me.

The potty-mouthed pair have a show on XM satellite radio, where they landed after being bounced by WNEW-FM for a contest that enticed two listeners to have sex in St. Patrick's Cathedral.

Pittsburgh Searches for Cure of Cancer with Radio Waves

I've always felt that radio is an amazing thing, but can it cure cancer? Apparently, some doctors at the UPMC research facility will learn if high doses of heat from radio waves will kill cancer cells.

I hope this comes through for the researchers involved. It's about time that somebody came through with a new breakthrough in a cure for cancer.

John Kanzius, 61, a former partner at Jet Broadcasting Company Inc. in Erie, developed the idea and is seeking patents for his prototype device. [Dr. David] Geller said he was impressed by Kanzius' scientific approach, despite his having no medical training.

[Via: CBS NY]

In Related News.....

Syndicated Radio broadcaster Laura Ingraham is said to be resting calmly after receiving treatments for breast cancer. I have been praying for her with all the hope that she makes a full recovery. I've had family members and other people in my career affected by cancer. Please keep everyone that has suffered with this terrible disease in your thoughts.

Canadians Won't Allow for satellite Radio

What the hell is wrong with Canada? I was hoping that once I get farther in my career, that my Canadian fans would like to hear me via satellite radio. I guess they're going to have to wait!

The Globe and Mail recently reported that two Canadian car makers won't be offering satellite radio in their 2006 models because the CRTC refuses to approve the radios for sale in Canada.

The broadcast regulator has steadfastly refused to allow two American satellite radio providers, Sirius satellite radio and XM satellite radio to operate in this country and will prosecute Canadians who dare to operate or sell these products in Canada.

I guess they aren't about to reach any solutions quickly.

The primary reason why there are no Canadian satellite radio companies is because the cost of putting satellites up in the sky and offering the service is very high and the Canadian population is not big enough to support it.

It's disappointing on so many levels. I've got a lot of friends and fans in the Canadian Province of Ontario, but it pisses me off to no end how badly their own Liberal Government is f---ing them up the ass. Are they afraid of news and information that the Gov't can't control?

Ratings go up for baseball in D.C.

Here's some news from the R&R's Al Peterson:

Arbitron has released the first-ever results from its new Broadcast Sporting Events custom ratings service for local radio stations. The company surveyed the Washington metro to estimate the radio audience of Major League Baseball's new Washington Nationals' opening-day game against the Philadelphia Phillies on April 5. Arbitron estimates that 164,600 persons age 18+ -- that's enough local listeners to fill Washington's RFK Stadium almost four times -- listened to some portion of the radio broadcast of the game, the pre-game or the post-game show on one of five area radio stations that carried the team's season opener. Bonneville-owned WWVZ & WWZZ-FM and WFED-AM are the Nats' DC radio flagship outlets. The game also aired on suburban DC stations WAGE/Leesburg, VA and WTRI/Brunswick, MD.

It looks like an initial success, but what about the 182 game season? Will D.C. get tired of the games by July?
It is looking positive for stations to pick up the broadcast. I may tell my friends in Chambersburg, PA to maybe give the baseball games a try. They are sitting on a big Washington/Baltimore market.

R.I.P. Dame Broadcasting

I guess it feels like I get the last laugh among all that has happened to me during my tenure in State College, PA. My buddy Dan calls me up to say he read this article in the Centre Daily Times.

He tells me the news that Al Dame of Dame Broadcasting has decided to sell the stations off to the competition - Forever Broadcasting! Forever in turn has chosen to skirt the FCC rules and permit a operating manager to take care of the ex-Dame properties.

All I could say is.. it couldn't have happened to nicer people!

Please Visit my other blog!

Small Plane Strikes KFI Radio Tower, Killing 2

LA MIRADA, Calif. -- A small plane crashed Sunday morning into a radio station tower, killing two people aboard and temporarily knocking the station off the air, officials said.

The single-engine Cessna plane struck the KFI Radio tower about 9:49 a.m. and the tower tumbled to the ground, said Andrea Hawkins, a dispatch supervisor with the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

Television footage showed the 900-foot tall red-and-white tower in pieces on the ground surrounded by plane wreckage.

A man and woman were pronounced dead, Hawkins said. A small fire also was extinguished.

KFI, a talk and news station, was off the air for about an hour following the accident, said Leslie Lotto, an editor at the station.

Howard Stern promotes Sirius Satelite Radio

Well, I wonder how the bosses at Infinity radio are going to deal with Howard Stern's latest publicity stunt. He was out in New York's Central Park promoting his latest thrill of moving to Sirius satellite radio. The move doesn't go into effect until 2006, but he just might do something really edgy to get off of the existing contract with Infinity radio.

Stern promoted Sirius satellite company by giving away to his fans free boom boxes and receivers. Too bad I wasn't around there then. I want to get Sirius so bad now. It's the future of radio.

Rush Limbaugh moves to FM in Pittsburgh!

Well, today is a good day in broadcasting depending on who you ask! I've listened to the new station here in town FM Newstalk 104.7. They've gone with a heavy roster of talk show hosts that always lean heavily on the conservative side of politics.

The news/talk format leader in the Pittsburgh market is KDKA, but they have instantly slid into second after losing one of their programming staples.

Rush Limbaugh makes the jump from KDKA to FM NewsTalk today and it couldn't have been a better time for it. FM Newstalk 104.7 is owned by Clear Channel and also contains some of the other better radio stations such as DVE and FOX Sports.

FM Newstalk have been running a promo here that I think really hits the idea home. Since Rush is now on FM, the station says that "there really is no reason to listen to KDKA".

Decisions, Decisions, Decisions

Late last night, I got an email from a guy named Joe, "events coordinator" from Citadel Broadcasting CAT Country 96 and Soft Rock 100.7. He said in the email that he was unable to get a hold of me through the phone.

But he did reach me on the phone tonight. He went on to reinerate what he had said in the email. There was a Remote Broadcast Technician position open. He explained that it would be work on the weekends (Fri-Sat-Sun) and that it would be a chance for promotion. However, he saw my 412 area code and was concerned for my desire to move all that way out there for a part-time job.

I am only giving thought to this job because it seems as if Revolution Media is dragging their feet to bring me on there. I am getting quite upset about that.

Does this catchy slogan work?

So, tonight, I meet this really nice gal in a place called "Wibs" in Shippensburg, PA. She goes on to tell me that she used to intern for a station owned by ClearChannel.

When I told her the stations frequency, I wanted to stay in touch with her just in case she'd like to come work for me sometime. So I whispered in her ear;

"You have our number... now can we have yours?"

Look out Chambersburg, PA!

I've decided to take the WEEO-AM job opportunity in Chambersburg, PA.

Since I've been trying to find jobs here in Pittsburgh, it really hasn't turned out all that well for me. So, I'm going to contact my friend Dan and find out if there might be something for me to do out in South-Central Pennsylvania.

A Chapter Closes...

Well, I got a call from my friend Dan at WRSC 1390 AM in State College and he gave me the bad news that he went in and talked to his bosses. He resigned his position as News Director.

What this means for me is that I no longer have an insider to radio and won't be going up to Penn State for at least a while.

The "Dismissal" Note

Mike Fedor
It is now possible to automate Grace Lutheran Church. While you are here, watch the automation to make sure it works properly. Give me a report one way or another. In two weeks if it works ok, there will be no more hours for you. I'm sorry.
Dave S.

...reads the letter posted for me on the switcher board when I come into work this morning. I find that this message is the inevitable. They don't need me at WRSC/WBLF anymore. I've lost my job.

Behind the scenes - Local Live Ad Insert

Why are my co-workers such idiots??

Going on about 1 hour's sleep trying not to oversleep my responsibilities in the morning, I went over to my friend Dan's house to play cheaufer for him AGAIN. His air shift was going to start right after mine at 12 Noon when I was done with the Grace Lutheran Church service. We were going to do what we in the radio business call.. "a local drop" - meaning that instead of the usual commercials, we were going to play an on air person live from some "stupid" location trying to drum up interest in what a business was selling/doing. Anyway, you remember my 'ol friend Kevin Nelson, right? Well, he was going to go on the air between our FOX Sports national show for 2 minutes at a time talking about these hot tubs that a company was trying to sell. This is the most expensive commercials we or any other radio station offers. You might have heard a station in your area do a live broadcast from a car dealership. Okay.. enough with the need to know information.

First of all, Kevin shows up at the station late. How professional! He makes one of the new sales girls Dena "total babe but married" H. worry about getting to the site and setting up with all the equipment. So, here is the four of us, Dena, Me, Dan and Kevin standing in the hallway of the studio talking about how we were going to do the "live drops". Since I am the only one who gives a crap and is familiar with the station's format of when the commericals regularly run, when they stop, and how they work, I had to tell the three of them when it when Kevin was expected to be on. Here's a clue, Kevin and Dan... IF YOU ACTUALLY F---ING LISTENED TO THE F---ING STATION THAT YOU F---ING WORK FOR, YOU'D KNOW WHAT TIME THE F---ING COMMERCIALS COME ON!

I have to say this again, because I feel this bears repeating.

Why are my co-workers such idiots?

The frustrating thing is that me, struggling as it is with no money, have to go the extra mile, and work for minimum wage for these people when 'experienced' people like Kevin and Dan get to half ass it all the time?

Dame Broadcasting on-air people (WRSC, QWK Rock, Hot 107.9) get $75 dollars for the first hour for 6 minutes of work. I get $5.25.

Money well spent, Al Dame!

Don't Cross the Boss!

I decided that it was indeed close to time that the WRSC's morning show with Jeff "Ironhead" Byers and Kevin "I'll steal Mikes jokes" Nelson. I decided to stick around and hope that I could contribute to the program in some way. Kevin had mentioned on the air that he was looking around the studio for chocolate chip cookies, but none could be found. I decided that the comment was my big chance to make an impression on the guys by running down the street to the Super Wal-Mart and picking up some cookies. I brought them back within 15 minutes and Kevin was appreciative of me making the efforts despite mentioning his "not so strict" diet. The funniest moments of today's program was when he ate a cookie on the air and commented that he didn't see any members of the Swedish Bikini Team around implying I can just make them appear too! Ask and you shall receive, Mr. Nelson. Kevin and Jeff's Webpage.

Then, I decided to sit around the studio and wait to talk to Casey "the girl next door" the Promotions Manager. I heard that she was "getting voted off the island" so to speak and I wanted to find out if I could get her position and what it would entail. She arrived late, 'round 10 AM but had enough time in her busy schedule to devote just 2 minutes explaining the process of what she does and who to talk to for getting hired. I had to submit a resume to my General Manager Joe who currently hates my guts. Looks like I'm s--t outa luck.

Then, the Owner, the guy who writes the checks, Al Dame of Dame Broadcasting walks in with his wife. This is the big time. The mere mention of his name brings shivers of intimidation to the managements spines (if they had any). That was my cue to leave. I didn't want to talk to my boss Dave "mike's cigarette smoking man" Shannon or run into the GM Joe, who is expected back from recovering from surgery soon. When I went out to the overcrowded parking lot, I found a hot looking metallic silver Jaguar blocking me in,. parked about a few inches away from my rear bumper. So, I went back in to talk to the front desk lobby secretary to inquire about the Jag blocking me in. Bambi (yes, our secretary is named Bambi) told me that the car belonged to none other than AL DAME. Oh S--t! How do you tell the owner of the station and millionaire businessman to move his car? Bambi told me that it would be no trouble at all. Mr. Dame is a really nice guy and very approachable. He was in the GM's office. When I got to the door, Mr. Dame found me standing there and a rare rush of confidence came over me. I asked if he was the owner of the silver Jag and explained that it was blocking me in. Mr. Dame could not have been nicer. He had been shifting some boxes around in the GM's office with Mr. Shannon's help. We walked out together and had a little talk. He sincerely asked what I did around the station and genuinely took the time to listen to what I had to say. Bambi was right. Al Dame was a very nice guy! I pondered the idea of maybe scheduling a meeting with him to "squeal" on my bosses and how they were treating me, but I know he's busy, so, I chose to just leave with a wave goodbye and a firm handshake.

WOW, what a morning!

Memorial Day in Historic Boalsburg, PA

Well, I wouldn't have signed up for spending time in historic Boalsburg, PA if I knew we weren't getting paid.

Memorial Day in Centre County is special because they claim that the holiday was first started here with bonnet and hoop skirted maids planting flags on civil war graves. Thinking that I would get some hours by standing under a tent to promote WRSC/WBLF and help out the broadcasters doing what we call a "live remote". Will they get paid? Probably, yea. They get $75 dollars for the first hour when they do these things. Will they let me on the air? No.

The morning came too quickly, at 9:30 AM for a 10 AM shift. Getting lost in the unfamiliar when it's only a 5 minute drive past town limits on the highway. Then parking 4 miles away since the small town's streets were all cut off and walking to the tent in the rain was a real chore. [sarcasm] Festive. [/sarcasm]

Anyway, there felt no end in site to the rain as it started to collect on the white 4-point tailgating tent. Sensing an imminent collapse, Jeff "Ironhead" Byers, the sports director felt it necessary to push the rain off. I commented to his on-air partner Kevin Nelson; "Gee, the water rides have begun!". When it came time for them to go back on the air for a 1 min 30 break to promote the days festivities and carnival, Kevin had relayed on the air. ".. And the water rides have started now."

Bastard stole my joke.

After a while, I started getting hungry. However, with all the gyros, pizza, fries, BBQ, and kettle corn booths lofting their aroma to where we were keeping post, I wanted to cry knowing that I only had $1 to my name. The sun cleared most of the rain up after 12 pm and Jeff had sent me on a mission to get a large bag of popcorn. $6. When I brought it back, luckily Jeff was willing to share. Wendy Nelson was also hanging around the booth helping us hand out balloons with our logo on them. She is 50% bitch and 50% overly-friendly annoying. Though she and I are on good terms, as I am with 90% of the Dame Broadcasting staff, she saw fit to call attention to my 5 'o clock shadow. I didn't want to tell her that my latest condition of being dirt poor and no electricity in my apartment has depressed me to the point of overlooking some basic hygiene needs. I told her that I was going for the "Don Johnson look". She didn't by it.

Once the on air part was done and Jeff and Kevin went elsewhere, the sales staff took over the booth continuing to give out balloons and direct our mascot "Dandylion" around. Casey K., the promotions director and an attractive young woman in the girl next door sort of way, came over and was concerned for my long shift since it was 3 PM. She told me to get something to eat, but I bit my lower lip and told her that I didn't want to go anywhere because I was short on cash. Reluctantly, I spent my last dollar on a small orange drink. It was at this point I seriously considered to "take myself off the market" so to speak. I'm not going to "chase skirts" while I am broke like this.

When I returned after an hour, Casey, Matt the sales guy and his demure fiance were still there. Casey then tried to get me to take the hint that I was no longer needed around. I had nothing else to do that day. Working, greeting the community, and enjoying the festivities kept my mind off of my situation. I made a pleasant "adieu" to Casey and Matt, then walked over to the civil war cannon demonstration. They had a regiment of Civil War actors fire 3 cannons in either intervals or simultaneously. It was loud enough to wake the dead and impressive. The only one disturbing side note is that it was going on right over the Boalsburg cemetery.

I then made the trip back to my car hoping that the fumes of gas in my car will take me back up the road to my apartment.

I also wish that this story had a happy ending. I went home lonely, depressed, and homesick.

How was your Memorial Day?

Death to WKPS-FM

The "conspiracy" continues. My greatest fears last night were justified and confirmed Sunday night as I may have had the most horrific night of my life.

A co-worker of mine, Dan, at the radio station is also a program host on the PSU student station - a station that I despise. For this student station contains the greatest threat I have ever encountered. A few years ago, while I was still in college, I wanted to apply to the student station because it seemed like a good place to get started. I got the application, a cover letter, and resume together and turned it in. I waited to hear from them. I waited. Then, I waited. Surely, with all the prior credentials I was a shoe in to get some time on air. They never called me. So, I proceeded over their heads to ask a faculty advisor just what was going on. I got an email response later saying that they do not have an application on file. It was a lie. It was all a lie. Frustrated, I replied back in an emotional manner.

Months later, I graduated from college.... 'er well... you know this part. I got somewhat a good job. I got a job in commercial radio without the help of the college radio station. Back to the present, I eventually had forgiven the way I was snubbed by the student station. So, the one co-worker (we'll call "John") allowed me to sit in on his Sunday night show. I was even allowed to answer some questions on the air! Unfortunately, "John" used my last name, which jogged the memories of the student station employees of my past squabble, keeping the email that I sent on file. So, "John", under orders, asked me to leave. He asked me if that was me that had issues with the station. At first, I told them that I did not know what they were talking about. Oh, before I was to leave, "John" tried to hook me up with some of the women that were co-hosting the show. They "politely" averted the question. It was okay. This was a night to confirm my greatest fears. I am just too ugly.

The real rage did not start until I went back to the apartment and finish listening to the rest of the student radio broadcast monitoring the show. Like the cowards they are, they proceeded to read my email to them regarding the application issue and openly admitted that they threw out my resume and called me a dork for preparing it that way. So unprofessional! For years after that debacle, I tried to rationalize that the reason I wasn't invited to the student station was because they were afraid of me - that I was going to take their jobs. I thought that my imagination was getting the best of me. Now, I know the truth though. I wasn't being paranoid. There really is a conspiracy against me. Only question now is... how far does it go? Does it extend to WRSC where I work now? Has my miserable existence proven to be one of a poor soul as a victim of some cruel joke of life? I know what kind of monsters that run the student station WKPS. Tonight, my greatest fears were realized.

How dare they humiliate me!

I haven't slept at all yet. I stayed up fuming at what I can do to get even with them.

They'll get theirs!

*Teohicuhan plays from the X-Files soundtrack*
"If I quit now,.... they win."