“I am here to report that there is life after big ‘Corporate’ broadcasting.”
— An e-mail from former Clear Channel Radio Wichita vice president and general manager Tom Glade, who is thrilled with his new “dream job” managing seven stations near resort areas in St. George, Utah
WICHITA — Clear Channel Radio Wichita vice president and market manager Tom Glade, who has been in Wichita more than four years, lost his job today due to flat sales numbers.
“We had three very good, strong growth years and then hit the wall . . . because of the good ole recession coupled with the aircraft industry,” Glade says.
He says all radio sales — not just for the four Clear Channel stations here — have been off by 4 percent from January through September.
Glade says Clear Channel, where he’s worked for almost a decade, is frustrated.
“Their expectation is for more.”
That may not be possible right now, Glade says.
“I’ve heard it said we’re a little Detroit,” he says of issues plaguing Wichita.
Glade says he has respect and gratitude for Clear Channel — especially the employees here — but it may be hard for a large company to understand individual market issues.
He says time will be his replacement’s best friend.
When aircraft workers are rehired and the industry rebounds, “then heroes will be made in the broadcast industry.”
Glade says he loves Wichita, but a noncompete likely will force him to look outside of the market for work.
“My wife would not let me stay home,” he says. “She’d probably kill me if I hang around too long.”
WICHITA — There are three things that convinced Brett Harris to sign a new 3-year contract with B98-FM, where he returned on air this morning.
First, producer Kathy Deane got her job back, which Harris says was his No. 1 stipulation.
“The show was better — is better — with a producer,” says Tom Glade, Clear Channel Radio vice president and market manager.
Second, Harris wanted to report solely to Glade instead of what he refers to as “middle management.”
“Who the show reports to and doesn’t report to was real big to me,” Harris says. “And they restructured that for me, and that’s important because I want to live in an excellent, healthy, healthy atmosphere.”
Third was money.
“It was a very nice financial commitment to every team member,” Harris says. “For those guys to step up like that and make that kind of commitment, it was a blessing. It really was.”
WICHITA — Brett Harris will be back on B98-FM Monday morning.
Harris is returning to the morning show where he’s been host with Tracy Cassidy for 20 years.
He and Tom Glade, Clear Channel Radio vice president and market manager, struck a deal in Harris’ living room Saturday afternoon.
“It was a great deal — that’s what it came down to,” Harris says.
Look here for details of the deal first thing Monday.
WICHITA — All traces of Brett Harris are gone from the B98-FM Web site, but don’t read too much into that.
So says Tom Glade, Clear Channel Radio vice president and market manager.
Harris, who seems to be continuing to work on a deal to start his own station, is off the air at B98 until he signs a new contract.
In the meantime, B98 is not sitting back waiting on his return. Through an “American Idol” tryout of sorts, the station is testing potential on-air partners for Tracy Cassidy.
For now, her show is being called “The Morning Show With Tracy.”
WICHITA — A lawyer for Brett Harris met with Clear Channel Radio representatives Friday, but there’s no resolution on whether Harris will remain as morning host at B98-FM.
“Brett has been given a new contract offer, and he has yet to respond,” says Tom Glade, Clear Channel vice president and market manager.
Glade previously said he’s starting a search for Harris’ replacement just in case.
Now, he’s bringing five candidates to Wichita to compete in “Wichita Idol (Tracy’s Looking For A Good Man).”
Each candidate will co-host with Harris’ former morning co-host, Tracy Cassidy, who has been doing the show with guest hosts since Glade told Harris he couldn’t return until he made a decision.
Listeners will be invited to offer their comments on each host starting Monday.
“They’re certainly going to have a role,” Glade says of listeners helping select Harris’ replacement.
WICHITA — Brett Harris is off the air at B98-FM at least for now but possibly permanently.
“We’ve been working very, very, very hard to provide Brett a new contract at his request,” says Tom Glade, Clear Channel Radio vice president and market manager.
“To this point, he hasn’t signed it.”
In August, Have You Heard? reported Harris was considering other options.
But Glade clearly is tired of waiting.
“We have determined that due to so many things, we’re just not going to let him back on the air until he signs a contact.”
Glade says he’s still open to Harris staying, but he has to act fast. Glade has started a nationwide search for Harris’ replacement.
“What Tom Glade says is true, and so that’s that,” Harris says.
He won’t discuss whether he’s working to start a new station, which is one of the options he considered this summer.
“I have no comment at all.”
“My clean living isn’t paying off.”
— Clear Channel Radio’s Tom Glade, who is waiting on a part before the antenna can be fully fixed to get B98-FM and KZSN, 102.1-FM back on the air (which he now expects will be Thursday)
“It’s a double whammy.”
– Clear Channel Radio’s Tom Glade on ice problems that have knocked out signals for B98-FM and KZSN, 102.1-FM (which have been off since Sunday and should be back on air Tuesday)
WICHITA — Don Hall was out of town last week when Have You Heard? reported that KZSN, 102.1-FM, replaced him on its morning show with former Oklahoma City disc jockey Anthony “The Antman” Allen.
Now, he’s ready to talk. (And he says you can reach him via e-mail at donhallwichita@yahoo.com.)
So why does he think he was let go?
“Maybe to pay Brett’s salary,” he says in reference to another Clear Channel Radio morning man, B98 FM’s Brett Harris, whose contract is up for renewal.
Hall isn’t sure what he’s going to do next, but he knows what he’s not going to do.