Coaches Corner by Sam Weaver
When Ego Is The Format …
Every station has its own reality show. It’s not just music and contests. One Program Director (PD) came to me with a situation that went way beyond day-to-day drama.
PD: I spent two years trying to decide if I should take this job. I built a relationship with the COO over the years, we met at a State Broadcasters Association meeting. I’ll tell you what’s going on, but please don’t mention my name or the station.
I moved here from a smaller market where I’d been programming for eight years. It was hard to pass up moving up in market size. I visited the station, met everybody, and still had no idea how bad things were between the Sales Manager and the COO. This is crazy, and I’m caught in the middle of it.
Coach: My friend, been there, done that. This reminds me of that line from the old classic movie Cool Hand Luke, when the warden says, “What we’ve got here is a failure to communicate.”
PD: You nailed it. I don’t know anyone here well enough to talk to, and I don’t want to tell my programming friends because I’ll just hear, “Told you to stay where you were.”
Coach: No problem. I’m listening.
PD: The Sales Manager and COO don’t get along. Three months in, I found out the Sales Manager goes around the COO and complains to the owner. Since the COO brought me in, the Sales Manager says I don’t know what I’m doing. The COO told me how things operate around here, but he didn’t tell me any of this until after I took the job.
Coach: What’s your format? And tell me more about the COO, the owner, and the Sales Manager.
PD: We’re Top 40 Mainstream. The COO used to own stations, programmed, and was once an air personality himself. He met the owner back when he still owned stations. He had retired and was traveling and playing tennis with his wife until the owner pulled him back in to help run his cluster.
We’ve got four stations, mine, a Hot AC, a Country, and an AM Christian. The Sales Manager worked at an agency outside CHICAGO before coming here. He’s been here 12 years, never worked at a station before. He handles sales for all four stations. The COO’s been here 16 years.
Coach: Got it. Keep going.
PD: : I recently got a three-page memo about the music changes we made after the results of a comprehensive music test. I made the changes, but the COO put his name on it to take the heat off me. The Sales Manager didn’t like the sound of the station and sent an email to me, the COO, and the owner, questioning the changes.
Coach: What happened next?
PD: The COO showed me the email he sent to the owner. It said any programming complaints should come to him, not me. He reminded him he’s got 45 years in radio, and the Sales Manager has 12, all in sales.
Coach: You’re smack in the middle of their mess. Sounds like you’re the one taking heat. Two quick questions, how old are they, and how do people around the station treat you?
PD: The owner and COO are in their 60s. The Sales Manager’s in his mid-50s. I’ve been here two years. Most of the sales team is okay with me, but they keep their distance and make sure they stay cool with their boss. The other PDs in the cluster don’t deal with any of this.
Coach: Why do you think that is?
PD: I think the Sales Manager wanted the owner to hire one of his friends for this job. The good news is, even with the chaos and PPM BS, the ratings have stayed pretty good. I keep my guard up because I don’t know who I can trust. The Promotions Director always seems like she’s fishing for info to take back to the Sales Manager. I’ve never been able to figure her out.
Coach: At this point, just let the COO run cover for you. Unless the Sales Manager walks or the owner finally steps in, you’ve only got two choices, stay or leave. The Sales Manager must bring in money, or the owner wouldn’t let him act like this.
He’s usually at or above budget projections. I was told that even back during COVID, this cluster was only off a little.
Coach: Don’t let him rattle your chain. Let the COO deal with him like he’s been doing.
PD: That’s what I’ve been trying to do.
Coach: I do have one suggestion.
PD: I’ll take it.
Coach: Coordinate your vacation time with the COO. If you’re gone and he’s not, it’ll be open season on you.
PD: Sometimes I feel like the stepchild in a bad marriage between two people who need to go their separate ways.
Coach: I hear you. Just talking it out helps sometimes.
PD: Sam, I haven’t even told my wife about some of the memos that have gone back and forth. It feels good just to tell somebody.
Coach: Anytime. Call whenever you need to vent. That’s what I’m here for.
On The Real…
Sometimes being a PD means keeping your head down, riding out the noise, and not letting it change who you are.
And if you need some friendly advice, drop me an email; samweaver@samweavermedia.com or text me, (972) 672-4812.