When I was about to turn forty, I walked away from the best job a man could have: V/P of programming at Fairbanks Broadcasting, which was based in Indianapolis.
Only the demons who were guiding me at that time understood the reason why.
So, there I was, one warm summer evening, sitting out by the pool with my wife, Lana, having a glass of wine before dinner when I dropped the bombshell, “I’m moving to California to start my own business.”
Living in California has been a dream of mine since I was a kid, so when she said, “WHAT?” I responded, “If not now, Lana, when?”
Her response was, “I’m tired of following you around, so I’m getting off this merry-go-round, so I guess you’ll be going to California by yourself.
My new company’s first client was the Shadek family, who hired me as their on-site consultant at KOGO and KPRI in San Diego.
KOGO was doing a Jack McCoy creation called “The Radio Magazine, and KPRI was running the Lee Abrams’ Super Star format.
I loved the Radio Magazine concept, which I believe would work even better today with the help of AI.
Thankfully, KOGO started to get some decent ratings, so at some point, Ed Shadek, the company president, said to me, “George, our rep company, has invited us to New York to discuss KOGO’s future.
Okay, so, along with our Sales Manager, Ernie Kovacs, we head off to the Big Apple, where we check into the Helmsley Palace.
What I love about the Palace is its huge bar, which looks centuries old, and one can only wonder who else has sat at this beautiful bar and had a late-night toddy over the years.
After meeting with the rep staff early the next morning and updating them about The Radio Magazine, the president invited us to dinner that evening.
After having a few cocktails and a delightful meal at a fancy restaurant, he invited us back to his place for a nightcap.
He, of course, lived on Park Avenue, and as I looked around at all the opulence, I couldn’t help but think, “Wow, this is sure a long way from Transcona Toto. ”
Finally, I couldn’t help but ask our host, “Hey, we’re just a dinky little radio station from San Diego; why all the sudden attention?” I’ll never forget his reply; “You’ve got tits now!”
There it is, he nailed it; the problem with radio today is: It doesn’t have any tits.
COMMENTS
@RayWhitworth: In regards to “WOKE.” Wisdom Optimism Knowledge Education. Rural whites are in a severe drought of this due to their limited education and gullibility. Affluent whites present them with an image with no substance and use manipulation on them. (Can’t)
Geo: Sounds scary, Ray.
@RandyKabrich: Hydrogen Cars: The issue starts with it being produced economically from Natural Gas, with the net result being just as much CO2 damage. No National/Worldwide Distribution system must be kept at -253C (near absolute zero, which is why rockets only fuel several hours b4 launch); it bleeds off as it goes higher in temp so you have no hydrogen left overnight, lower fuel range, need to refill more often and space required to store in a vehicle. (Geo’s Daily Life-Liners)
Geo: I think electric cars produce different but equally bad results, Randy.
@Dave Charles: America needs to find a candidate with global and domestic political experience who understands that today’s world is much more complex than ever. Who are those potential candidates? (Daily Life-Limers)
Geo: I agree, Dave, but as long as other countries want free money from America, I doubt she’ll change much.