A home for those who love almost everything about The Ticket (1310 AM, 96.7 FM, Dallas-Fort Worth), and who would like to discuss -- respectfully and fondly -- their thoughts on how (and whether) to eliminate the "almost."
There's been a lot of discussion about why many of us have turned on the Freak. I've seen many valid explanations offered, but for me, it comes down to this:
The sheer dishonesty of its origins.
In particular, the machinations of one Mike Rhyner. The way he left the Ticket was one thing. But to continue to make semi-regular appearances on the station, particularly 3-7, while almost certainly plotting a competitive move, well ... it was absolutely disingenuous and even borderline disrespectful of his former colleagues he supposedly cared about. I can't blame any of them if they feel they were taken for a ride.
The same can be said about Mr. Sirois, and perhaps even Danny ... but their dramatically lesser status seems almost excuse enough for making a "business decision."
But for Rhynes ... he's gonna have some groveling to do if he wants to fully restore his good name, which I suspect he desperately does (and just as desperately, likely can't ever admit it).
@Surly: Yes. I recall there were 6-7 at the table, but my partner and I were the reason for the lunch. Aikman was affiliated with some commercial real estate group trying to rent us some office space.
Among many who claim it, my partner is in fact the #1 Cowboys fan. He owns the 50-yard line from old Cowboys Stadium. I think he has Staubach's locker from there. Several Tom Landry hats. And tons of stuff that is more recent. A dummy wearing a complete Dez Bryant uniform. (Please, no "redundant" jokes.) His license plate is a hopeful "5TH RING." He's dedicated an entire floor of his house to his memorabilia collection. So the real estate guys thought it would be helpful to their cause to invite Troy to lunch with us.
He was cool. I asked him about his work with the chimpanzee on the Acme Brick TV spot. He said the chimp was OK but was shackled the entire time, because his trainer said that if he went off, wasn't nothing you could do about it.
I believe 10:39 is among a growing number of folks. This group is not relegated to a small, mostly unknown blog on the interwebs. It's also been percolating for a bit now in the local mediascape. Said it before, I'll say it again: I've no connection with any Ticket or Freak or media types. But I do know those who do. Most of them, in fact, run in circles that are either in very close contact with or close enough to them to have at least a fairly good notion of what's what, what's being said, and who's saying it. In other words, it's far higher grade quality scuttlebutt than what you'll find at the watercooler. Some of it comes straight from Varsity lips. Believe me or not, I don't give a s***, but there are a few Freakers who are probably going to lay low for a long time if not permanently once the inevitable occurs. Once it does, it will be open season on certain persons and they'll find no protection and little to no sympathy within the industry or the community at large. Right now they are "in the club," and so, there is a certain code of conduct all in the industry adhere to. Meaning, you know what you know and everyone knows it but no one says it as long as the party/parties involved are still in the club. Why? Because they too know where your bodies are buried. But once that shared public platform is gone (and that same public no longer caring about you say), well, that's when things begin to come out.
Rhyner's reTweeting something so uneducated, foolish, demonstrably wrong, well, it's just pathetic. A septuagenarian engaging in such things. It's to be pitied. It also speaks volumes about him and the company he keeps. But. If you've been an astute observer of the many incarnations/faces of Rhyner since The Zoo days, then none of this surprises you.
One last thing to those who try to compare The Ticket's nascent years to that of The Freak's: It's not even an apples to oranges case. The Ticket was a hit from the moment it hit the airwaves. It's troubles were financial. Buying and running a radio station with aims such as Spence Kendrick and Rhyner and Co. had isn't cheap. Neither is (even then) getting Skip Bayliss and paying full time salaries and benefits, etc., for a talent roster. So, yes, the first year-ish had its queasy moments of fiscal fragility. But once sold to Susquehanna Falls, those troubles ended and they never looked back. The only issues were Skip being Skip and him wanting out before he even went live on D1... and The Hardline. That has been covered by C, so I refer anyone who wants to know that tale to go back a couple of threads.
I do want to be clear about Rhyner. I'm not saying he's a bad person or has caused harm to anyone. Same can be said about any party involved. What I am saying is that his breathtaking immaturity is to be pitied. Morever, if you've followed his public career since KZEW, actions such as the ill-advised reTweet should not surprise you in the least. Again, I am in no way claiming Rhyner or anyone else germane to these discussions are either bad actors or are to be disliked. But there have been some, how shall we say, going about your business in less than the right way taking place. Such a modus vivendi, down the road, can and often will bite one's ass and bite hard.
Some of you will be disappointed to find out that the Freak actually had a decent book. They are up in a few areas. Morning drive still is significantly underperforming the rest of the station, but the Freak did break into the high teens/low 20s in some dayparts. Good got them. Progress. Only problem, the Ticket has what may be their best book ever. If my sources are correct, they’re approaching a 9 share in weekday prime. I’m sure Welpton will post it to Reddit later, but a rising tide lifts all boats. Freak went up, Ticket went to the top. C
No #1 is horrible for the Ticket. It shows that they went woke and now they’re going broke. It shows that people hate Corby and don’t listen to him. It proves that the chemistry on the hardline sucks and it makes the show unlistenable and kills their ratings. It shows that Dan is just a jackass that can’t draw listeners. It proves that Norm is a washed up dinosaur that no one listens to anymore. Shows that the musers are mailing it in and people are tired of the same old characters and aren’t tuning in anymore because they suck.
Or at least that’s what I read. Amazing for all the negativity, all the hatred, the Ticket manages to not only pull out #1 in their demo, but #1 6 plus. Not bad for a bunch of losers who suck at radio
but wait, Rhyner retweeted a guy who said the Ticket was obsolete. Not entertaining anymore. That “they (ticket) lose soon”. Is being #1 in the overall ratings an accurate sign that you’re not entertaining anymore? C
I'm not sure if anyone is disappointed in The Freak hitting the whopping 1.5 mark, which equals one of the lowest books in The Eagle's latest incarnation of hard/modern rock. I think we'd all like to see some healthy compeition. I'm a bit suspicious of this book. You mean to tell me The Ticket is #1 over all while KZPS Classic Rock is #2, with KLUV Oldies at #3? The numbers per se don't lie, but something up and down the board with this book seems off. And if you are one who wishes TF's demise, if you compare the numbers and the differential each month vis-a-vis TT, then this month is one of the worst. Indeed, while TF, with all that iHeart money and supposed local yokel star power has yet to break the 1.5 mark (the lowest book of KEGL, mind you), TT has had two of the most historic books in the past 50 years.
No doubt Sirois, IBB, and B&S will spin this to high holy heaven. And frankly, they damn well better, as it's their jobs on the line. But the reality of the numbers say TF has made none to negative inroads. Yet this book probably bought them at least one more ratings period before major changes come down from on high (including a format change). Having said that, if I'm a member of TSE, I'm super fuckin' nervous right about now.
Rhyner is even more the fool for re-Tweeting that foolish Tweet than the fool who originally Tweeted it.
Wow The Ticket is still dominating and stronger than ever! All of those "I'm done with the Ticket because they're too woke!" former listeners have to be sick right now. Even worse is that a lot of them are the ones on Twitter constantly bashing The Ticket and pumping up The Freak
Highly doubt those listeners you refer to stopped listening to The Ticket. What's more, I can't count on one hand, just on this blog alone, the P1s/2s that claimed The Ticket is too woke and will no longer listen. There's a marked difference between saying I wish they would focus less on hot button issues period, much less from a very specific and pointed position......and saying "you've lost a listener."
But from your comment (and the others you've left in the past -- yes, you're that obvious), I'm thinking such not so subtle distinctions are lost on you.
I'm rather active on Ticket/Freak/FAN Twitter. The Freak faction is rather small. So your second comment rings every bit as hollow as your first.
Numbers come out, & somehow that retweet from Rhynes cannot be found. Must be just a weird coincidence.
Bless Your Hearts, 97.1'rs - - Julie, Sirois, and i guess also Danny had to take the leap, try to stay media relevant - shoot your shot for the Big Chair. but boooyyyyyy, time to crank up that Spinning Machine full throttle!
There's clearly something I'm missing about why there would be bad blood between the current Ticket host and the expats. Every single one of the original host did the exact same quit and lie to their previous associates at their previous station. Sirois, Julie and Danny all thought they could do more than they were doing at the Ticket, again the same as all the original host did, and took a shot. From everything I've ever heard that's just the radio business I don't know why people who have been in the business as long as the Ticket guys would not understand that.
I don't know of anyone, in any line of work, that isn't talking to their next job while working at their old one. It seems to me that the Ticket hosts' indignation is in the same vein as the Freak patting themselves on the back. They are playing to their base and playing the game of radio. I don't know any of them so it could be legit but I still don't really understand what was done that wasn't kosher within the rules of radio.
I think it’s how it came about. Consensus is Rhyner mailed it in for last 5 years. Walks away with no notice, no succession plan etc. if Mike wanted to do radio again, he could have gone back to the station he helped start, rather then becoming the competition. Sirois left to go work for his brother, or so he said. Ends up at the Freak, where his brother doesn’t work. Danny left to spend more time with his family because with his bar owner sideline, the 3-7 was interfering with family time. And the very week his non compete expires, he takes a job working 3-7. I know a few people who either work at or are very ticket adjacent. I don’t think they’re pissed at people leaving, they’re pissed that they were lied to. And not sure I can blame them for that. C
And just to clarify, I think if the dearly departed had said they were ready for a change, bored, wanted to explore other options, it would have been different. With 2 of them it was very specific lies to let them stay on friendly terms while they knew they were going to be the competition. It’s the lies, and the lying liars who told them. C
But specific to Mike R — he was clearly using his old platform, and old show, to maintain his relevance/public profile, by appearing on the air every so often … all in order to strengthen the direct competitor he was developing in the shadows.
I don’t even think he owed it to the Ticket to limit his “return to radio” to the mothership, or nothing at all. Nothing wrong with plying his radio craft elsewhere. But to use the relationships and equity he’d built at his previous stop in the way he did was deceptive.
He owed his former colleagues more honesty and more respect.
Adding one more cent to my single-penny thought above—
If I was, let’s say, Corby, I don’t think I’d be in the wrong to feel that I was unknowingly propping up a competitor every time Mike so graciously returned to ticket airwaves in the years following his departure.
And with Sirois not only did he lie, he then went on a rant on his way out the door chastising the main hosts for not knowing what everyone at the station made and using their own salaries to subsidize the support staff.
Well, now that he is passing on 40% of his tier 1 Freak salary to the underlings at that station, I suppose we should view that rant in a different light.
Well, we’re all seeing the damage done to the ticket ratings by letting Mike, Mike, Danny, Grubes, and Julie leave. Look at how the ticket is suffering from their departure. Do you know how bad you have to be doing in the ratings to end up (checks notes) #1 6-plus? They’re not just #1 men 25-54, they’ve sunk so low that they're (checks notes again) the number one overall station in overall ratings. That has to be devestating for them to be (checks notes 3rd time) beating every single station in town. Clearly, CLEARLY, they’re suffering the effects of letting all that tier one talent go to a competitor. Letting all that talent has sunk them to the depths of (checks notes for the 4th time) number one in their demo and number one overall. My god how will they ever recover from such a horrible book?
Or, hear me out here, maybe people had realized Mike was checked out and had stopped listening for Mike himself. And maybe Mike S and Danny were both good producers, good third wheels, but not ready for prime time. What does it to you your ego to walk away, start a competitor only to be shown that not only were you not that important to the stations success, but you are also finding you’re not popular on your new station. You’re so “interesting” that playing 20 year old Mettalica songs got better ratings. That’s got to hurt. C
I will not Corby bash... give it a couple comments.
The one I still don't get is Danny. To me, he and GXD are kida similar. So, Danny had more allegiance to Rhyner, or di Cat push him out, then bring in GXD. I don't think THL has improved with that addition, EXCEPT, that we are do all the show swaps know, may The Rant Revival was the plan. And Corbles doing a bit with Norm and D?
Whoa, question: 1216 writes: "Well, now that he [I think this is a reference to Mike S] is passing on 40% of his tier 1 Freak salary to the underlings at that station, I suppose we should view that rant in a different light."
Yeah, there's something weird with this book. The fact there's no Hispanic station in the top 3 alone is suspect. To say the book is an anomaly is an understatement. The FAN's ratigns alone raise the eyebrows. I'm not sure if they've ever had those numbers across dayparts and cume---including during Cowboys season. Whatever the case, it still doesn't bode well for TF. 4+ months in and TF has yet to catch up with its hard rockin' predecessor's last days. Their predecessor who performed so poorly, it flipped formats. Mind you, for all intents and purposes that format had no direct competition, and was in the 4th/5th largest market in the country, and had the deepest of deep pockets (same pockets TF has). Sit back and think about all that for a second. If this book is an anomaly (first and foremost for The Ticket, btw), and I'd wager any amount that it is, then look for TF's return to 1.5 or less numbers next time around.
I'm sure 12:16pm is joking, but in case you're not, no, Sirois is not giving any of his salary to coworkers who earn less. Moreover, I can guarantee he's not firing off missives and/or making fevered phone calls to HQ, demanding wage increases for those same coworkers.
At some point you start to wonder just who was in whose ear and saying what and saying it enough times and in such very convincing way that objectivity, sound judgment, and eventually the blurring of right and wrong was thrown out the window when it comes to the conception and pursuit of TF vis-a-vis now Ticket ex-pats. Because there's a difference between keeping mum and close to the vest and making false statements, scapegoating others in order to justify one's actions/deflect from their own actions, and creating revisionist narratives to buttress the aforementioned attempts at justification. Like this latest book, there's something odd about all of this. As if certain parties/a party convinced other parties of something. Something that made them think of themselves as being used and abused. I've no idea and I cannot read hearts and minds. But you can observe long term behavior patterns, make inferences and analyses, and form at least a somewhat educated opinion. Doesn't mean it's correct, though. Again, like this latest ratings book, the whole thing seems off. Perhaps it's just me. Probably is. Going to be interesting to see how the chips fall from here until September. I'd be surprised if TSE is still around---at least as presently comprised.
@527 Solid take. All this threw me a bit because it seemed like from out of left field Julie then Sirois then Danny all began talking about their pay, no room for advancement and being underutilized when they have the goods to be a f/t host and how they're going to spend time with their families. All 3 pretty much gave the same story for leaving. Then they all joined The Freak. Danny did the moment his nc expired. Pretty funny that Mike R deleted the re-tweet and the original was deleted too. I remember my dad once told me an ass was an ass at 14 at 24 at 44 at 64 and if he lives to be 104 he'll still be an ass. Wise words.
I’m guessing the Dave over Danny thing has to do with Cat thinking Dave could make a better host. It’s also cool that there’s a true 3rd host and Danny not just picking up the slack from rhyner. I think Cat probably made the right decision. Dave has a better sense of humor, does a better bridge between bob and Corby, and I think fits in with the station as a whole better honestly on things like WED.
5:27 here. Wanted to add on and reiterate other comments by saying I can't imagine anyone at The Ticket begrudges or would begrudge someone betting on themselves, taking a chance on a new opportunity that will allow for them to hold a position/salary/benefits that everyone at The Ticket knows does not and most likely will not ever exist for that person(s). But it's like others have said, it's the way in which some exited that's not so palatable. There are right ways and wrong ways to go about your business. Especially when what appeared to be deep, decades' long friendships are involved. That's why I wondered/asked the question above about who was saying what to whom and in what manner. Well, that's all I had to say. Unless some genuine movement in The Force occurs, there's nothing left to discuss.
If I'm Cumulus, Cat is getting a nice bonus. His decisions over the past year and change have so far been money. I've always been of the mind that the reason Danny didn't get the 3rd host chair on THL was because he had his own Saturday show and decided he had better things to do and gave it up. Danny said this on-air when he announced The Orphanage's end. His music first focus, wanting to sleep in (his lifestyle at that time was HEAVILY nearly every night 2am last call centric), and having other things he'd like to do over the weekend. Fair enough. But if I'm the PD or the station manager or the likes, I'm thinking "understood, makes sense, thanks for being honest....and you've also taken yourself out of the running for a full time host spot because that takes a certain commitment and hunger that you don't have." The choices we make to do or not to do say or not to say things often have effects not felt until far down the road. So far that we forget we long ago chose or chose not.
When did Jake quit the shake joint? It was long before he got the Hangzone cohost gig I believe. Granted Jake was not afraid of putting in the hours. He was everywhere he could be.
What if the Davey or third host on THL was in the works before Sirois and Danny pulled the chord? If it was made clear it wouldn’t be them or that they even had a shot at it I can see that as a reason to leave.
Jake left TSJ when he was moved to Cowboys pre/post duties and then to THZ. He didn't tell Cat he wanted his weekends free, a la Danny. I agree that the Davey move was prior to Danny's exit, but, as I contend, the moment he decided to give up that hotly desired Sat late am/early afternoon slot for things he found more important, he also made the decision for others to not seriously consider him host material. I see why Danny would leave. I also see why he wasn't asked to host. Sirois had shown himself to be the OED definition of "undisciplined." He had displayed this in many ways over the years. While a reddit/Twitter fan fave for his up for anything attitude and lifestyle, that doesn't necessarily translate into genuine talent and/or staying power. Obviously, either Cat didn't think he'd ever be or was not yet there. If you've listened to TDB, even sampled it every now and again, you will be hard pressed to say with a straight face that he's thus far proven Cat wrong. Might he down the road? Sure. But so far, not in the least.
No one can accuse Jake of not being hungry are putting in the work to get his shot, that is true. I can see your point about how management would take Danny’s ending the orphanage. I’m not sure we’ll ever know what exactly went down. I suspect like all relationships, the ones at the Ticket defy linear explanations and are way more complex than we can understand with our limited knowledge.
I am a fan of Sirois, I thought he brought out a more entertaining side of Norm than anyone else had as Norm’s producer. I enjoyed he and Cash on the weekends. I enjoyed them way more than anyone they’ve got on the weekends now, with the exception of WIP. However, with that said I have found TDB mostly unlistenable. It is everyone of them at their worst impulses.
If what I’ve been told is correct, this is how it went down: Danny quits. Few weeks later, Sirois quits. Bass applies for Sirois’s job. Gets it. Catlin can either hire new ticker host or move that money. He offers Balis co host but he turns it down (to go work with Rhyner at the freak as we see later) That opens slot for Dave lane.
I believe you if that's the case 8:04, but that's pretty crazy to me if Danny turned down the ticket job to go to the freak. 1) I feel like Danny legit likes Corby and were/are pretty good friends. 2) Even if you wanted to work with Rhyner and Sirois, the uncertainty of a new station is definitely a gamble if you have an option at a station you can almost count on lasting for the foreseeable future.
True, but consider this: With the Freak they can talk about whatever they want to talk about. So absolutely no show prep, no off air expectations, etc. with a sports station you have to at least half-ass an effort to know what’s going on in the sports world. Look awfully stupid if you say “pollard proved yesterday why he’s the future RB of this team” only to be told he didn’t play because of cramps, muscle pull, etc. c
DB left because he got an offer that he was never going to get at the Ticket. Remember, his band's record label is owned by one of TF originators, and Sirios girlfriend is the board op for the same host's show. the how/why/when of TF isn't really hard to connect together, when you know all the pieces.
If Danny was offered third host and turned it down I would think that means there was more than just money that motivated him to leave. I mean we were told Rhyner was beloved by all and he loved all of them and now it seems that wasn't true. Maybe the Ticket wasn't the big happy family we were told it was / is.
Its also possible that the offers to Danny and Sirois came with no increase in compensation. Corporation love to do that crap. I was offered a department managerial position once with no increase in pay or anything else. Just more work and responsibility.
Danny WAS NOT offered the role of 3rd host. He said that explicitly both on Gordon's Twitchcast and Rhyner's Vokal pod.
Danny was also on TF train from its conception. We know this because Rhyner explicitly said this when he announced Danny's name as TDB's 3rd host.
Both above claims can be easily verified. If you doubt them, I ask you to look at Gordon's VODs, the Vokal archives, and TDB replay/pod archives.
As to Danny and Rhyner and TF, Rhyner was asked about Danny's involvement in the D Magazine podcast. I'll use this term two more times, he explicitly, emphatically actually, said "no." Danny was asked the same question in one of the Dallas Morning News pieces on Rhyner and TF. He gave a simple, explicit answer: "no."
Both above claims can be easily verified. If you doubt them, I ask you to look to the D Mag podcast archives and search the DMN archives.
If you can square the circle of all of the above, you either have a PhD in Rhetoric or ought to seriously consider obtaining one.
I don't think there was ever a 3rd host offer for either Balis or Sirois. I believe Sirois was offered Danny's role as producer but he declined. The third host possibility only came in response to Balis and Sirois leaving. They used it to pitch to the higher ups that THL needed a 3rd host. When two long-time producers who have also been unofficial hosts for their shows leave, you have to do something to stop the bleeding. That's what Cat did by getting Cumulus to open an additional seat at the table for someone like Davey.
Looks like the move worked out for everyone. The Ticket's ratings are still strong and now they are finally working on a legitimate farm system with producers/tickers/board ops/weekend staffers in their 20s and 30s. We will see what happens to The Freak but as of now, Balis and Sirois have to be enjoying the bigger paychecks so it was good for them.
I make no claim to if Danny was offered the 3rd host or not. I don't know. Someone above said he was and I was responding to that and why he might have turned it down.
We have many anonymous accounts that state with quite a bit of certainty what happened with the expats, the formation of the freak and who is the a-hole in all of it.
I personally don't believe DB was offered the third host position, because he did say he wasn't. However, there are several anonymous posters here who would imply that was lie.
I have no verifiable facts one way or the other beyond what the people involved have said. Which has lead me to believe that: A) the people who left probably had reason to do so. B) Neither the remaining Ticket Host or the expats have spoken the whole truth but given whatever version of the story puts them in the best light.Which is entirely within the realms of normal human behavior. C) Obi-Wan was correct about the truth being a matter of perspective. D) Your mind may very of course.
this is not hard or complicated. DB and MS left their roles at TT because they had offers for TF (as it was being planned) that would pay them more than the Ticket ever would (even in a hosting role) and give them a hosting role that was not currently on the table for either of them. This is their telling of the story, not something anyone is making up. MS was on TF at debut because he was not under a NC, and DB didn't show up till Nov, because he was. Julie quit long before any of this was a thing and TF picked her up. OGW is a totally different story simply because he'd "retired" way long ago.
Julie was still filling in on Tickers until barely 2 weeks before TF launch. Yes she left her NaD and HZ roles, but she was still working there. While it's true your account is what MS and DB have said, it doesn't mean it's exactly true or the whole story. Still, it's what they said and that's all anyone can go off. What is undeniably true are the facts 131 put out. I read that DMN article and heard the DMag pod. Didn't catch DB on MR's pod but I did watch the DB/GK Twitch exit interview. 131 is correct. That's what was said. 205 so far seems to have it about right. At least in the short term it's a win all around. Now if TF goes bust in 6 months, the ex-Ticket folk might have issues. Specially MS. Only my 2 cents but if his exit wasn't a full on burning of the bridges I don't know what was. I'd bet DB is done with the business after this, unless KERA or something like that offers him a job. JD I could see rejoining TT in some capacity. MR would slink off into that good night only to resurface down the road after an apology tour resembling step 9 of the AA program. It'd then be a case of all is forgiven. But right now they're all making decent to very good bank and are in high profile positions. It's what they wanted. TT meanwhile doesn't just keep chugging along but has had its engine upgraded.
Interesting observation. There WAS a Rhyner-Freak billboard in an area i transit occasionally. It has been replaced. Wonder how many of their others are being replaced? The Freak just had the most milquetoast of books. Some growth, but any growth is completely over shadowed by the Tickets “historic” #1 ranking 6 plus. As article linked above states, first time they’ve done that well. So as their competition sees a massive growth, one of the few cume generating tools they have-billboards- goes away. Iheart cutting their losses? C
Some might be nice, some might not be. You don't know, neither do I. Be careful not to conflate public personas with private lives.
Not sure if C will be "turned on" by TF's failure, assuming it does. Again, just as above, you don't know. I have a question for you: Do you believe that you possess ESP, can read others' minds, or are omniscient? If so, I hope you're under the care of a good mental health professional. If not, please seek help. If not for yourself, then for those around you and the public at large.
It seems to me that according to Peter Welpton's interpretation of the ratings, The Ticket won across all day parts. But when I compare 10-12 and 12-3 with The FAN, both NaD and THZ come in 2nd place. Is that not the correct way to read the data? If not, can someone please explain how to properly read it? A bit confused here.
If THZ did come in 2nd and it looks like they were tied last month, what does it say about this supposed juggernaut of a show that's viewed as the future of The Ticket, perhaps even the heir apparent to the am drive slot once DnM retire. If you read the comments on reddit, you'd think it's the only show that's even listened to on the station. Then again, if you read reddit, the station ought to be in the trashbin by now because of Sirois' departure alone.
I will be exiting the demo in a couple of months. Am a D1P1 and still enjoy for the most part The Musers, Norm for the nostalgia of a different time in sports talk, Jake's Mavs and Cowboys talk, and Bob's sports talk in general. But even so, the older I get the more I want to hear sports talk and the less I care about the other stuff. The upshot being that I find myself listening to The FAN with a greater frequency. While their talent pool doesn't match The Ticket's and they certainly don't have that Ticket magic, their ratio of sports to guy talk is much like it was during the early Ticket days. I know that isn't popular with the prized demo, as the mantra seems to be bits, bits, and nothing but bits is what they like. And that's fine. As Darren said, "I don't matter anyway." Right there with you, brutha.
Like C, I noticed one of the IBB billboards is gone (DNT near the AAC). Is that merely a time thing? The billboard is paid to be up for x amount of time and that time has expired? Though I've heard that iHeart owns those billboards. Can anyone confirm or deny that? The format hasn't been around even 6 months yet and the face of the station and a prominent display of advertising has been removed. I don't know how these things work, but it kinda seems off. I've seen billboards up for a year or more before being swapped out.
Regardless, He's Back, Bitches. I just wished Mike Rhyner would've returned. But that dude left the building sometime in '06.
Iheart owns a lot of billboards. Was probably willing to give some away if told to do so. But if board is in “good” location, it was probably resold. Anything on DNT probably good, I noticed 30 and McArthur-ish on way to Arlington. Probably good location in football season. I doubt freak was paying, more like “clear channel outdoor” (old name) giving broadcast some freebies. But if they can sell to new client, bye bye freebie. Everybody has a budget to hit and TPS reports to turn in, amiright? But yes, very interesting that at a time they need audience more than ever, they lose a cume building tool. C
The billboard at the NW corner of the DNT & 121 (Honda of Frisco) now has a place your ad here advertisement instead of cartoon Rhyner. Not sure what the number was, but I doubt that it was #1310 or 748-1414
So I said to myself, "Hey, what the fuck, let's flip on TDB and get a feel for where it is." They were talking about an incident that took place during on air during their Ticket days. Rhnyer doing the whole fake exasperated, "I was only trying to ___ and you guys" schtick, Danny piling on. Interesting was Sirois's reaction. Perhaps it was because he wasn't involved in the original incident and didn't have much to say about it other than to attempt to make his voice heard with meaningless "oh yeahs" and the likes, perhaps it was that and he felt a bit left out and even worrried that his presence really isn't needed anymore, or perhaps it was both (or not) and that he's finally getting it that they need to distance--as in leave it all in the past--from any and all Ticket related talk. Whatever it was/is, it was noticeable. Oh, and it was about as compelling as watching paint dry. I flipped back to THL after having listened for less than 2 minutes. These guys have nothing of substance, nothing interesting to talk about. But. They say what they want. So there's that.
There is that. And there’s this. I get in the car at 5:15ish, prime PM drive time in my mind. Hardline is talking Cowboys and comments Steven Jones made this week. The Freak is doing “Rhyner ranks it” and is having Mike, and I’m dead serious here, rank the 10 best numbers from 1 to 10. Actually, from zero to 9 but my god, could there be a bigger contrast in topic selection? One station, the station that just topped the market 6+, is talking about the most popular franchise in sports. The other, who is struggling to make it out of the mid 20s is indulging the ego of one of their hosts. If you love Rhyner maybe that’s funny. But who do they think that appeals to? C
C, I wouldn't call it so much indulging the ego of a host than I would say that this is the result of having zero direction, being left to your own devices, and those who've been left to their own devices are, at the end of the day, just not that good at what they've been hired to do. Or at least they're not very motivated to be as good as they might/could be. The blame lies at the feet of both employer and employees alike. While the evidence that they indeed say what they want is overwhelming to the point that it cannot be denied, what they do say would not even pass muster as mildly amusing buzzy bar banter that you'd tire of in about 5 minutes. Which is surprising, because these are 3 gentlemen who have extensive, life long experience in such talk.
A quick turn of the dial this morning to the "Speakeasy" - they are taking calls about their first segment being called the Morning Dump. Shouldn't that just be the new name of their program?!
Overheard two fellow regular barstool heroes who run in a certain circle saying the Freakers are well aware that things aren't going anywhere near to plan.
I imagine the freakers thought they would definitely pull a lot of listeners from the ticket. I think a big area they messed up with is just not being a sports station. I get the idea that Rhyner or Dingu were prob big on it not being sports focused, but sports can help a lot. It's a common ground that many listeners won't tune out on.
Six years ago today, I had lunch with Troy Aikman at Al Biernat's.
ReplyDeleteI had the salmon cobb. Pretty good. I liked the dressing.
Then President Bush walked in.
Nice humble brag there Sir. Well played.
ReplyDeleteThere's been a lot of discussion about why many of us have turned on the Freak. I've seen many valid explanations offered, but for me, it comes down to this:
ReplyDeleteThe sheer dishonesty of its origins.
In particular, the machinations of one Mike Rhyner. The way he left the Ticket was one thing. But to continue to make semi-regular appearances on the station, particularly 3-7, while almost certainly plotting a competitive move, well ... it was absolutely disingenuous and even borderline disrespectful of his former colleagues he supposedly cared about. I can't blame any of them if they feel they were taken for a ride.
The same can be said about Mr. Sirois, and perhaps even Danny ... but their dramatically lesser status seems almost excuse enough for making a "business decision."
But for Rhynes ... he's gonna have some groveling to do if he wants to fully restore his good name, which I suspect he desperately does (and just as desperately, likely can't ever admit it).
but did Troy know he was having lunch with you?
ReplyDelete@Surly: Yes. I recall there were 6-7 at the table, but my partner and I were the reason for the lunch. Aikman was affiliated with some commercial real estate group trying to rent us some office space.
ReplyDeleteAmong many who claim it, my partner is in fact the #1 Cowboys fan. He owns the 50-yard line from old Cowboys Stadium. I think he has Staubach's locker from there. Several Tom Landry hats. And tons of stuff that is more recent. A dummy wearing a complete Dez Bryant uniform. (Please, no "redundant" jokes.) His license plate is a hopeful "5TH RING." He's dedicated an entire floor of his house to his memorabilia collection. So the real estate guys thought it would be helpful to their cause to invite Troy to lunch with us.
He was cool. I asked him about his work with the chimpanzee on the Acme Brick TV spot. He said the chimp was OK but was shackled the entire time, because his trainer said that if he went off, wasn't nothing you could do about it.
I believe 10:39 is among a growing number of folks. This group is not relegated to a small, mostly unknown blog on the interwebs. It's also been percolating for a bit now in the local mediascape. Said it before, I'll say it again: I've no connection with any Ticket or Freak or media types. But I do know those who do. Most of them, in fact, run in circles that are either in very close contact with or close enough to them to have at least a fairly good notion of what's what, what's being said, and who's saying it. In other words, it's far higher grade quality scuttlebutt than what you'll find at the watercooler. Some of it comes straight from Varsity lips. Believe me or not, I don't give a s***, but there are a few Freakers who are probably going to lay low for a long time if not permanently once the inevitable occurs. Once it does, it will be open season on certain persons and they'll find no protection and little to no sympathy within the industry or the community at large. Right now they are "in the club," and so, there is a certain code of conduct all in the industry adhere to. Meaning, you know what you know and everyone knows it but no one says it as long as the party/parties involved are still in the club. Why? Because they too know where your bodies are buried. But once that shared public platform is gone (and that same public no longer caring about you say), well, that's when things begin to come out.
ReplyDeleteRhyner's reTweeting something so uneducated, foolish, demonstrably wrong, well, it's just pathetic. A septuagenarian engaging in such things. It's to be pitied. It also speaks volumes about him and the company he keeps. But. If you've been an astute observer of the many incarnations/faces of Rhyner since The Zoo days, then none of this surprises you.
One last thing to those who try to compare The Ticket's nascent years to that of The Freak's: It's not even an apples to oranges case. The Ticket was a hit from the moment it hit the airwaves. It's troubles were financial. Buying and running a radio station with aims such as Spence Kendrick and Rhyner and Co. had isn't cheap. Neither is (even then) getting Skip Bayliss and paying full time salaries and benefits, etc., for a talent roster. So, yes, the first year-ish had its queasy moments of fiscal fragility. But once sold to Susquehanna Falls, those troubles ended and they never looked back. The only issues were Skip being Skip and him wanting out before he even went live on D1... and The Hardline. That has been covered by C, so I refer anyone who wants to know that tale to go back a couple of threads.
Friday's book...
I do want to be clear about Rhyner. I'm not saying he's a bad person or has caused harm to anyone. Same can be said about any party involved. What I am saying is that his breathtaking immaturity is to be pitied. Morever, if you've followed his public career since KZEW, actions such as the ill-advised reTweet should not surprise you in the least. Again, I am in no way claiming Rhyner or anyone else germane to these discussions are either bad actors or are to be disliked. But there have been some, how shall we say, going about your business in less than the right way taking place. Such a modus vivendi, down the road, can and often will bite one's ass and bite hard.
ReplyDeleteSome of you will be disappointed to find out that the Freak actually had a decent book. They are up in a few areas. Morning drive still is significantly underperforming the rest of the station, but the Freak did break into the high teens/low 20s in some dayparts. Good got them. Progress.
ReplyDeleteOnly problem, the Ticket has what may be their best book ever. If my sources are correct, they’re approaching a 9 share in weekday prime. I’m sure Welpton will post it to Reddit later, but a rising tide lifts all boats. Freak went up, Ticket went to the top.
C
Here are the 6+ numbers. Welpton will have the more important dayparts.
ReplyDeletehttps://radioinsight.com/ratings/dallas-fort-worth/
Ticket #1 6+ is pretty amazing
DeleteIs #1 good?
DeleteThe soccer guy? How does he have access to ratings?
DeleteNo #1 is horrible for the Ticket. It shows that they went woke and now they’re going broke. It shows that people hate Corby and don’t listen to him. It proves that the chemistry on the hardline sucks and it makes the show unlistenable and kills their ratings. It shows that Dan is just a jackass that can’t draw listeners. It proves that Norm is a washed up dinosaur that no one listens to anymore. Shows that the musers are mailing it in and people are tired of the same old characters and aren’t tuning in anymore because they suck.
DeleteOr at least that’s what I read. Amazing for all the negativity, all the hatred, the Ticket manages to not only pull out #1 in their demo, but #1 6 plus. Not bad for a bunch of losers who suck at radio
but wait, Rhyner retweeted a guy who said the Ticket was obsolete. Not entertaining anymore. That “they (ticket) lose soon”. Is being #1 in the overall ratings an accurate sign that you’re not entertaining anymore?
ReplyDeleteC
I'm not sure if anyone is disappointed in The Freak hitting the whopping 1.5 mark, which equals one of the lowest books in The Eagle's latest incarnation of hard/modern rock. I think we'd all like to see some healthy compeition. I'm a bit suspicious of this book. You mean to tell me The Ticket is #1 over all while KZPS Classic Rock is #2, with KLUV Oldies at #3? The numbers per se don't lie, but something up and down the board with this book seems off. And if you are one who wishes TF's demise, if you compare the numbers and the differential each month vis-a-vis TT, then this month is one of the worst. Indeed, while TF, with all that iHeart money and supposed local yokel star power has yet to break the 1.5 mark (the lowest book of KEGL, mind you), TT has had two of the most historic books in the past 50 years.
ReplyDeleteNo doubt Sirois, IBB, and B&S will spin this to high holy heaven. And frankly, they damn well better, as it's their jobs on the line. But the reality of the numbers say TF has made none to negative inroads. Yet this book probably bought them at least one more ratings period before major changes come down from on high (including a format change). Having said that, if I'm a member of TSE, I'm super fuckin' nervous right about now.
Rhyner is even more the fool for re-Tweeting that foolish Tweet than the fool who originally Tweeted it.
Wow The Ticket is still dominating and stronger than ever! All of those "I'm done with the Ticket because they're too woke!" former listeners have to be sick right now. Even worse is that a lot of them are the ones on Twitter constantly bashing The Ticket and pumping up The Freak
ReplyDeleteHighly doubt those listeners you refer to stopped listening to The Ticket. What's more, I can't count on one hand, just on this blog alone, the P1s/2s that claimed The Ticket is too woke and will no longer listen. There's a marked difference between saying I wish they would focus less on hot button issues period, much less from a very specific and pointed position......and saying "you've lost a listener."
ReplyDeleteBut from your comment (and the others you've left in the past -- yes, you're that obvious), I'm thinking such not so subtle distinctions are lost on you.
I'm rather active on Ticket/Freak/FAN Twitter. The Freak faction is rather small. So your second comment rings every bit as hollow as your first.
He's in the business of media. At least part time. What rock have you been living under, bud?
ReplyDeleteActually, 1228, if you pay like $5 per month you too can have access to the ratings, including the day part breakdowns.
ReplyDeleteNumbers come out, & somehow that retweet from Rhynes cannot be found. Must be just a weird coincidence.
ReplyDeleteBless Your Hearts, 97.1'rs - - Julie, Sirois, and i guess also Danny had to take the leap, try to stay media relevant - shoot your shot for the Big Chair. but boooyyyyyy, time to crank up that Spinning Machine full throttle!
The original tweet was deleted. That's why his retweet is gone
ReplyDeleteSo if The Ticket went up and The Freak went up, did The Fan go up too? Where are the ratings posted?
ReplyDeleteFan had a 3.5
Deletethe Fan had a pretty big month, but the Ticket had an even better one. TF grew a bit, but still are down in the teens/20s in rank.
ReplyDeleteThere's clearly something I'm missing about why there would be bad blood between the current Ticket host and the expats. Every single one of the original host did the exact same quit and lie to their previous associates at their previous station. Sirois, Julie and Danny all thought they could do more than they were doing at the Ticket, again the same as all the original host did, and took a shot. From everything I've ever heard that's just the radio business I don't know why people who have been in the business as long as the Ticket guys would not understand that.
ReplyDeleteI don't know of anyone, in any line of work, that isn't talking to their next job while working at their old one. It seems to me that the Ticket hosts' indignation is in the same vein as the Freak patting themselves on the back. They are playing to their base and playing the game of radio. I don't know any of them so it could be legit but I still don't really understand what was done that wasn't kosher within the rules of radio.
I think it’s how it came about. Consensus is Rhyner mailed it in for last 5 years. Walks away with no notice, no succession plan etc. if Mike wanted to do radio again, he could have gone back to the station he helped start, rather then becoming the competition. Sirois left to go work for his brother, or so he said. Ends up at the Freak, where his brother doesn’t work. Danny left to spend more time with his family because with his bar owner sideline, the 3-7 was interfering with family time. And the very week his non compete expires, he takes a job working 3-7. I know a few people who either work at or are very ticket adjacent. I don’t think they’re pissed at people leaving, they’re pissed that they were lied to.
ReplyDeleteAnd not sure I can blame them for that.
C
Are the adjacent people you know hosts?
DeleteAnd just to clarify, I think if the dearly departed had said they were ready for a change, bored, wanted to explore other options, it would have been different. With 2 of them it was very specific lies to let them stay on friendly terms while they knew they were going to be the competition. It’s the lies, and the lying liars who told them.
ReplyDeleteC
Agreed with the above.
ReplyDeleteBut specific to Mike R — he was clearly using his old platform, and old show, to maintain his relevance/public profile, by appearing on the air every so often … all in order to strengthen the direct competitor he was developing in the shadows.
I don’t even think he owed it to the Ticket to limit his “return to radio” to the mothership, or nothing at all. Nothing wrong with plying his radio craft elsewhere. But to use the relationships and equity he’d built at his previous stop in the way he did was deceptive.
He owed his former colleagues more honesty and more respect.
Adding one more cent to my single-penny thought above—
DeleteIf I was, let’s say, Corby, I don’t think I’d be in the wrong to feel that I was unknowingly propping up a competitor every time Mike so graciously returned to ticket airwaves in the years following his departure.
I’d feel used.
And with Sirois not only did he lie, he then went on a rant on his way out the door chastising the main hosts for not knowing what everyone at the station made and using their own salaries to subsidize the support staff.
ReplyDeleteWell, now that he is passing on 40% of his tier 1 Freak salary to the underlings at that station, I suppose we should view that rant in a different light.
Delete/s
A little summation of the ratings. Scroll down to the Dallas section.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.allaccess.com/net-news/archive/story/225720/research-director-inc-ppm-exclusive-january-23-ana
The breakdown. Let's see if KRLD-FM's rating drop now that Cowboy season is over.
https://preview.redd.it/5qnqrwv9vqja1.png?width=926&format=png&auto=webp&v=enabled&s=36dc6fa2560bca62cf53de306f7ef585b11d3c0d
Well, we’re all seeing the damage done to the ticket ratings by letting Mike, Mike, Danny, Grubes, and Julie leave. Look at how the ticket is suffering from their departure. Do you know how bad you have to be doing in the ratings to end up (checks notes) #1 6-plus? They’re not just #1 men 25-54, they’ve sunk so low that they're (checks notes again) the number one overall station in overall ratings. That has to be devestating for them to be (checks notes 3rd time) beating every single station in town. Clearly, CLEARLY, they’re suffering the effects of letting all that tier one talent go to a competitor. Letting all that talent has sunk them to the depths of (checks notes for the 4th time) number one in their demo and number one overall. My god how will they ever recover from such a horrible book?
ReplyDeleteOr, hear me out here, maybe people had realized Mike was checked out and had stopped listening for Mike himself. And maybe Mike S and Danny were both good producers, good third wheels, but not ready for prime time. What does it to you your ego to walk away, start a competitor only to be shown that not only were you not that important to the stations success, but you are also finding you’re not popular on your new station. You’re so “interesting” that playing 20 year old Mettalica songs got better ratings. That’s got to hurt.
C
I will not Corby bash... give it a couple comments.
ReplyDeleteThe one I still don't get is Danny. To me, he and GXD are kida similar. So, Danny had more allegiance to Rhyner, or di Cat push him out, then bring in GXD. I don't think THL has improved with that addition, EXCEPT, that we are do all the show swaps know, may The Rant Revival was the plan. And Corbles doing a bit with Norm and D?
Whoa, question: 1216 writes: "Well, now that he [I think this is a reference to Mike S] is passing on 40% of his tier 1 Freak salary to the underlings at that station, I suppose we should view that rant in a different light."
ReplyDeleteSarcasm, or was this reported somewhere?
Yeah, there's something weird with this book. The fact there's no Hispanic station in the top 3 alone is suspect. To say the book is an anomaly is an understatement. The FAN's ratigns alone raise the eyebrows. I'm not sure if they've ever had those numbers across dayparts and cume---including during Cowboys season. Whatever the case, it still doesn't bode well for TF. 4+ months in and TF has yet to catch up with its hard rockin' predecessor's last days. Their predecessor who performed so poorly, it flipped formats. Mind you, for all intents and purposes that format had no direct competition, and was in the 4th/5th largest market in the country, and had the deepest of deep pockets (same pockets TF has). Sit back and think about all that for a second. If this book is an anomaly (first and foremost for The Ticket, btw), and I'd wager any amount that it is, then look for TF's return to 1.5 or less numbers next time around.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure 12:16pm is joking, but in case you're not, no, Sirois is not giving any of his salary to coworkers who earn less. Moreover, I can guarantee he's not firing off missives and/or making fevered phone calls to HQ, demanding wage increases for those same coworkers.
At some point you start to wonder just who was in whose ear and saying what and saying it enough times and in such very convincing way that objectivity, sound judgment, and eventually the blurring of right and wrong was thrown out the window when it comes to the conception and pursuit of TF vis-a-vis now Ticket ex-pats. Because there's a difference between keeping mum and close to the vest and making false statements, scapegoating others in order to justify one's actions/deflect from their own actions, and creating revisionist narratives to buttress the aforementioned attempts at justification. Like this latest book, there's something odd about all of this. As if certain parties/a party convinced other parties of something. Something that made them think of themselves as being used and abused. I've no idea and I cannot read hearts and minds. But you can observe long term behavior patterns, make inferences and analyses, and form at least a somewhat educated opinion. Doesn't mean it's correct, though. Again, like this latest ratings book, the whole thing seems off. Perhaps it's just me. Probably is. Going to be interesting to see how the chips fall from here until September. I'd be surprised if TSE is still around---at least as presently comprised.
@527 Solid take. All this threw me a bit because it seemed like from out of left field Julie then Sirois then Danny all began talking about their pay, no room for advancement and being underutilized when they have the goods to be a f/t host and how they're going to spend time with their families. All 3 pretty much gave the same story for leaving. Then they all joined The Freak. Danny did the moment his nc expired. Pretty funny that Mike R deleted the re-tweet and the original was deleted too. I remember my dad once told me an ass was an ass at 14 at 24 at 44 at 64 and if he lives to be 104 he'll still be an ass. Wise words.
ReplyDeleteI’m guessing the Dave over Danny thing has to do with Cat thinking Dave could make a better host. It’s also cool that there’s a true 3rd host and Danny not just picking up the slack from rhyner. I think Cat probably made the right decision. Dave has a better sense of humor, does a better bridge between bob and Corby, and I think fits in with the station as a whole better honestly on things like WED.
ReplyDelete5:27 here. Wanted to add on and reiterate other comments by saying I can't imagine anyone at The Ticket begrudges or would begrudge someone betting on themselves, taking a chance on a new opportunity that will allow for them to hold a position/salary/benefits that everyone at The Ticket knows does not and most likely will not ever exist for that person(s). But it's like others have said, it's the way in which some exited that's not so palatable. There are right ways and wrong ways to go about your business. Especially when what appeared to be deep, decades' long friendships are involved. That's why I wondered/asked the question above about who was saying what to whom and in what manner. Well, that's all I had to say. Unless some genuine movement in The Force occurs, there's nothing left to discuss.
ReplyDeleteIf I'm Cumulus, Cat is getting a nice bonus. His decisions over the past year and change have so far been money. I've always been of the mind that the reason Danny didn't get the 3rd host chair on THL was because he had his own Saturday show and decided he had better things to do and gave it up. Danny said this on-air when he announced The Orphanage's end. His music first focus, wanting to sleep in (his lifestyle at that time was HEAVILY nearly every night 2am last call centric), and having other things he'd like to do over the weekend. Fair enough. But if I'm the PD or the station manager or the likes, I'm thinking "understood, makes sense, thanks for being honest....and you've also taken yourself out of the running for a full time host spot because that takes a certain commitment and hunger that you don't have." The choices we make to do or not to do say or not to say things often have effects not felt until far down the road. So far that we forget we long ago chose or chose not.
ReplyDeleteWhen did Jake quit the shake joint? It was long before he got the Hangzone cohost gig I believe. Granted Jake was not afraid of putting in the hours. He was everywhere he could be.
ReplyDeleteWhat if the Davey or third host on THL was in the works before Sirois and Danny pulled the chord? If it was made clear it wouldn’t be them or that they even had a shot at it I can see that as a reason to leave.
Jake left TSJ when he was moved to Cowboys pre/post duties and then to THZ. He didn't tell Cat he wanted his weekends free, a la Danny. I agree that the Davey move was prior to Danny's exit, but, as I contend, the moment he decided to give up that hotly desired Sat late am/early afternoon slot for things he found more important, he also made the decision for others to not seriously consider him host material. I see why Danny would leave. I also see why he wasn't asked to host. Sirois had shown himself to be the OED definition of "undisciplined." He had displayed this in many ways over the years. While a reddit/Twitter fan fave for his up for anything attitude and lifestyle, that doesn't necessarily translate into genuine talent and/or staying power. Obviously, either Cat didn't think he'd ever be or was not yet there. If you've listened to TDB, even sampled it every now and again, you will be hard pressed to say with a straight face that he's thus far proven Cat wrong. Might he down the road? Sure. But so far, not in the least.
ReplyDeleteNo one can accuse Jake of not being hungry are putting in the work to get his shot, that is true. I can see your point about how management would take Danny’s ending the orphanage. I’m not sure we’ll ever know what exactly went down. I suspect like all relationships, the ones at the Ticket defy linear explanations and are way more complex than we can understand with our limited knowledge.
ReplyDeleteI am a fan of Sirois, I thought he brought out a more entertaining side of Norm than anyone else had as Norm’s producer. I enjoyed he and Cash on the weekends. I enjoyed them way more than anyone they’ve got on the weekends now, with the exception of WIP. However, with that said I have found TDB mostly unlistenable. It is everyone of them at their worst impulses.
If what I’ve been told is correct, this is how it went down: Danny quits. Few weeks later, Sirois quits. Bass applies for Sirois’s job. Gets it. Catlin can either hire new ticker host or move that money. He offers Balis co host but he turns it down (to go work with Rhyner at the freak as we see later) That opens slot for Dave lane.
ReplyDeleteWasn't Sirois offered Danny's position but turned it down? Pretty sure Sirois said that on Gordon's Twitchcast.
ReplyDeleteAm I misremembering the timeline? I thought the Seacow left first, then Dingu, then big strong
ReplyDeleteYep, I totally had it wrong. Please continue to ignore me
DeleteI believe you if that's the case 8:04, but that's pretty crazy to me if Danny turned down the ticket job to go to the freak. 1) I feel like Danny legit likes Corby and were/are pretty good friends. 2) Even if you wanted to work with Rhyner and Sirois, the uncertainty of a new station is definitely a gamble if you have an option at a station you can almost count on lasting for the foreseeable future.
ReplyDeleteTrue, but consider this: With the Freak they can talk about whatever they want to talk about. So absolutely no show prep, no off air expectations, etc. with a sports station you have to at least half-ass an effort to know what’s going on in the sports world. Look awfully stupid if you say “pollard proved yesterday why he’s the future RB of this team” only to be told he didn’t play because of cramps, muscle pull, etc.
ReplyDeletec
DB left because he got an offer that he was never going to get at the Ticket. Remember, his band's record label is owned by one of TF originators, and Sirios girlfriend is the board op for the same host's show. the how/why/when of TF isn't really hard to connect together, when you know all the pieces.
ReplyDeleteIf Danny was offered third host and turned it down I would think that means there was more than just money that motivated him to leave. I mean we were told Rhyner was beloved by all and he loved all of them and now it seems that wasn't true. Maybe the Ticket wasn't the big happy family we were told it was / is.
ReplyDeleteIts also possible that the offers to Danny and Sirois came with no increase in compensation. Corporation love to do that crap. I was offered a department managerial position once with no increase in pay or anything else. Just more work and responsibility.
Danny WAS NOT offered the role of 3rd host. He said that explicitly both on Gordon's Twitchcast and Rhyner's Vokal pod.
ReplyDeleteDanny was also on TF train from its conception. We know this because Rhyner explicitly said this when he announced Danny's name as TDB's 3rd host.
Both above claims can be easily verified. If you doubt them, I ask you to look at Gordon's VODs, the Vokal archives, and TDB replay/pod archives.
As to Danny and Rhyner and TF, Rhyner was asked about Danny's involvement in the D Magazine podcast. I'll use this term two more times, he explicitly, emphatically actually, said "no." Danny was asked the same question in one of the Dallas Morning News pieces on Rhyner and TF. He gave a simple, explicit answer: "no."
Both above claims can be easily verified. If you doubt them, I ask you to look to the D Mag podcast archives and search the DMN archives.
If you can square the circle of all of the above, you either have a PhD in Rhetoric or ought to seriously consider obtaining one.
I don't think there was ever a 3rd host offer for either Balis or Sirois. I believe Sirois was offered Danny's role as producer but he declined. The third host possibility only came in response to Balis and Sirois leaving. They used it to pitch to the higher ups that THL needed a 3rd host. When two long-time producers who have also been unofficial hosts for their shows leave, you have to do something to stop the bleeding. That's what Cat did by getting Cumulus to open an additional seat at the table for someone like Davey.
ReplyDeleteLooks like the move worked out for everyone. The Ticket's ratings are still strong and now they are finally working on a legitimate farm system with producers/tickers/board ops/weekend staffers in their 20s and 30s. We will see what happens to The Freak but as of now, Balis and Sirois have to be enjoying the bigger paychecks so it was good for them.
@1:31
ReplyDeleteI make no claim to if Danny was offered the 3rd host or not. I don't know. Someone above said he was and I was responding to that and why he might have turned it down.
We have many anonymous accounts that state with quite a bit of certainty what happened with the expats, the formation of the freak and who is the a-hole in all of it.
I personally don't believe DB was offered the third host position, because he did say he wasn't. However, there are several anonymous posters here who would imply that was lie.
I have no verifiable facts one way or the other beyond what the people involved have said. Which has lead me to believe that: A) the people who left probably had reason to do so. B) Neither the remaining Ticket Host or the expats have spoken the whole truth but given whatever version of the story puts them in the best light.Which is entirely within the realms of normal human behavior. C) Obi-Wan was correct about the truth being a matter of perspective. D) Your mind may very of course.
this is not hard or complicated. DB and MS left their roles at TT because they had offers for TF (as it was being planned) that would pay them more than the Ticket ever would (even in a hosting role) and give them a hosting role that was not currently on the table for either of them. This is their telling of the story, not something anyone is making up. MS was on TF at debut because he was not under a NC, and DB didn't show up till Nov, because he was. Julie quit long before any of this was a thing and TF picked her up. OGW is a totally different story simply because he'd "retired" way long ago.
ReplyDeleteJulie was still filling in on Tickers until barely 2 weeks before TF launch. Yes she left her NaD and HZ roles, but she was still working there. While it's true your account is what MS and DB have said, it doesn't mean it's exactly true or the whole story. Still, it's what they said and that's all anyone can go off. What is undeniably true are the facts 131 put out. I read that DMN article and heard the DMag pod. Didn't catch DB on MR's pod but I did watch the DB/GK Twitch exit interview. 131 is correct. That's what was said. 205 so far seems to have it about right. At least in the short term it's a win all around. Now if TF goes bust in 6 months, the ex-Ticket folk might have issues. Specially MS. Only my 2 cents but if his exit wasn't a full on burning of the bridges I don't know what was. I'd bet DB is done with the business after this, unless KERA or something like that offers him a job. JD I could see rejoining TT in some capacity. MR would slink off into that good night only to resurface down the road after an apology tour resembling step 9 of the AA program. It'd then be a case of all is forgiven. But right now they're all making decent to very good bank and are in high profile positions. It's what they wanted. TT meanwhile doesn't just keep chugging along but has had its engine upgraded.
ReplyDeleteInteresting observation. There WAS a Rhyner-Freak billboard in an area i transit occasionally. It has been replaced. Wonder how many of their others are being replaced? The Freak just had the most milquetoast of books. Some growth, but any growth is completely over shadowed by the Tickets “historic” #1 ranking 6 plus. As article linked above states, first time they’ve done that well. So as their competition sees a massive growth, one of the few cume generating tools they have-billboards- goes away. Iheart cutting their losses?
ReplyDeleteC
Nobody will be more turned on than C when all these nice folks at TF get canned.
ReplyDeletewhile everyone at the little ticket is celebrating all these firsts and number ones, what does dan say about falling behind the fan?
ReplyDeleteSome might be nice, some might not be. You don't know, neither do I. Be careful not to conflate public personas with private lives.
ReplyDeleteNot sure if C will be "turned on" by TF's failure, assuming it does. Again, just as above, you don't know. I have a question for you: Do you believe that you possess ESP, can read others' minds, or are omniscient? If so, I hope you're under the care of a good mental health professional. If not, please seek help. If not for yourself, then for those around you and the public at large.
It seems to me that according to Peter Welpton's interpretation of the ratings, The Ticket won across all day parts. But when I compare 10-12 and 12-3 with The FAN, both NaD and THZ come in 2nd place. Is that not the correct way to read the data? If not, can someone please explain how to properly read it? A bit confused here.
ReplyDeleteIf THZ did come in 2nd and it looks like they were tied last month, what does it say about this supposed juggernaut of a show that's viewed as the future of The Ticket, perhaps even the heir apparent to the am drive slot once DnM retire. If you read the comments on reddit, you'd think it's the only show that's even listened to on the station. Then again, if you read reddit, the station ought to be in the trashbin by now because of Sirois' departure alone.
It says all dayparts for 6+. The chart is for M25-54.
DeleteSo if that's the case then 2/22 5:27 might be correct in saying there seems something off about this rating's book.
ReplyDeleteM 25-54 is all that matters, 6+ means nothing to stations like The Ticket
ReplyDeleteNon Sequitur from me. K&C Masterpiece is a fine radio show in my estimation. I am aging out of the demo, so I don't matter anyway.
ReplyDeleteI will be exiting the demo in a couple of months. Am a D1P1 and still enjoy for the most part The Musers, Norm for the nostalgia of a different time in sports talk, Jake's Mavs and Cowboys talk, and Bob's sports talk in general. But even so, the older I get the more I want to hear sports talk and the less I care about the other stuff. The upshot being that I find myself listening to The FAN with a greater frequency. While their talent pool doesn't match The Ticket's and they certainly don't have that Ticket magic, their ratio of sports to guy talk is much like it was during the early Ticket days. I know that isn't popular with the prized demo, as the mantra seems to be bits, bits, and nothing but bits is what they like. And that's fine. As Darren said, "I don't matter anyway." Right there with you, brutha.
ReplyDeleteAnyone have the scuttlebutt on the rumir that DJ was suspended or fired?
ReplyDeletebit
DeleteAnon 7:41 PM
ReplyDeleteSuspended for what? When? Details? Has DJ been off for awhile?
It’s a joke. They’ve been hammering it hard. He’s on vacation.
ReplyDeleteOK. That's why I asked. Thanks for the info.
ReplyDeleteLike C, I noticed one of the IBB billboards is gone (DNT near the AAC). Is that merely a time thing? The billboard is paid to be up for x amount of time and that time has expired? Though I've heard that iHeart owns those billboards. Can anyone confirm or deny that? The format hasn't been around even 6 months yet and the face of the station and a prominent display of advertising has been removed. I don't know how these things work, but it kinda seems off. I've seen billboards up for a year or more before being swapped out.
ReplyDeleteRegardless, He's Back, Bitches. I just wished Mike Rhyner would've returned. But that dude left the building sometime in '06.
Iheart owns a lot of billboards. Was probably willing to give some away if told to do so. But if board is in “good” location, it was probably resold. Anything on DNT probably good, I noticed 30 and McArthur-ish on way to Arlington. Probably good location in football season. I doubt freak was paying, more like “clear channel outdoor” (old name) giving broadcast some freebies. But if they can sell to new client, bye bye freebie. Everybody has a budget to hit and TPS reports to turn in, amiright?
ReplyDeleteBut yes, very interesting that at a time they need audience more than ever, they lose a cume building tool.
C
The billboard at the NW corner of the DNT & 121 (Honda of Frisco) now has a place your ad here advertisement instead of cartoon Rhyner. Not sure what the number was, but I doubt that it was #1310 or 748-1414
ReplyDeleteWOW, Kudos for posting the DTH number. That is a big flashback I haven't thought about in years.
ReplyDeleteYou’re quite welcome.
Deletehttps://m.youtube.com/watch?v=8sq4LdFuyms
DeleteIHRT v. CMLS, a race to bankruptcy
ReplyDeleteBally already won that race
DeleteSo I said to myself, "Hey, what the fuck, let's flip on TDB and get a feel for where it is." They were talking about an incident that took place during on air during their Ticket days. Rhnyer doing the whole fake exasperated, "I was only trying to ___ and you guys" schtick, Danny piling on. Interesting was Sirois's reaction. Perhaps it was because he wasn't involved in the original incident and didn't have much to say about it other than to attempt to make his voice heard with meaningless "oh yeahs" and the likes, perhaps it was that and he felt a bit left out and even worrried that his presence really isn't needed anymore, or perhaps it was both (or not) and that he's finally getting it that they need to distance--as in leave it all in the past--from any and all Ticket related talk. Whatever it was/is, it was noticeable. Oh, and it was about as compelling as watching paint dry. I flipped back to THL after having listened for less than 2 minutes. These guys have nothing of substance, nothing interesting to talk about. But. They say what they want. So there's that.
ReplyDeleteThere is that. And there’s this. I get in the car at 5:15ish, prime PM drive time in my mind. Hardline is talking Cowboys and comments Steven Jones made this week. The Freak is doing “Rhyner ranks it” and is having Mike, and I’m dead serious here, rank the 10 best numbers from 1 to 10. Actually, from zero to 9 but my god, could there be a bigger contrast in topic selection? One station, the station that just topped the market 6+, is talking about the most popular franchise in sports. The other, who is struggling to make it out of the mid 20s is indulging the ego of one of their hosts. If you love Rhyner maybe that’s funny. But who do they think that appeals to?
ReplyDeleteC
He's back, bitches.
ReplyDeleteQED
C, I wouldn't call it so much indulging the ego of a host than I would say that this is the result of having zero direction, being left to your own devices, and those who've been left to their own devices are, at the end of the day, just not that good at what they've been hired to do. Or at least they're not very motivated to be as good as they might/could be. The blame lies at the feet of both employer and employees alike. While the evidence that they indeed say what they want is overwhelming to the point that it cannot be denied, what they do say would not even pass muster as mildly amusing buzzy bar banter that you'd tire of in about 5 minutes. Which is surprising, because these are 3 gentlemen who have extensive, life long experience in such talk.
ReplyDeleteA quick turn of the dial this morning to the "Speakeasy" - they are taking calls about their first segment being called the Morning Dump. Shouldn't that just be the new name of their program?!
ReplyDeleteOverheard two fellow regular barstool heroes who run in a certain circle saying the Freakers are well aware that things aren't going anywhere near to plan.
ReplyDelete-Just Sayin' in Sachse
I imagine the freakers thought they would definitely pull a lot of listeners from the ticket. I think a big area they messed up with is just not being a sports station. I get the idea that Rhyner or Dingu were prob big on it not being sports focused, but sports can help a lot. It's a common ground that many listeners won't tune out on.
ReplyDeleteNew red, topping some interim thoughts on That Certain Freak.
ReplyDelete