I guess since I've officially been removed from B101.7's web site (as well as the link to my personal site), I can go ahead and talk about this here. My boss called me last week to tell me, yet again, that the budget needed to be reduced at the station. If you know the situation from last year, you know I was taken off nights and put on the morning show newscasts to satisfy a budget adjustment. My boss wanted to keep me then and wanted to keep me now, but alas… the general manager says I'm too expensive. So, Friday (1/16/04) was my last day in radio. After almost 11 and a half years, the honeymoon is over.

Yes, I was making an abnormally high (for this market) $10/hour. However, I was only working two hours a day. Do the math, and you'll see I wasn't really breaking the bank. Greg, my now ex-boss, hired me three months in advance of us moving to Tuscaloosa. I was working for McClure Broadcasting (now Archway) in Columbus, GA, when I sent out the demo CDs. I met with Greg around April, told him I was not moving to T-town until July 2002, but he hired me… held the evening spot for me. That spoke volumes to me about his character. So, July 15, 2002, I began working for Radio South, Inc., at Tide 101.7. Three short months after that, we become Star 101.7. Due to a station slogan conflict in a nearby market, we become B101.7 two months later. All this time, I'm working 6-midnight and really enjoying it. During these transitions, we get a brand new general manager who's made a good name for himself in nearby Birmingham. The owners want to kick back a little, so they bring him in. They move out of the building and let the new GM take over. Before I go any further, let me say that I honestly like the GM. He's been very courteous to me and I hope I've reciprocated the kindness. But, I've picked up on one big flaw in this scenario (and I'm not the only one at the stations). Here goes…

January 2003 brought some big changes. Around this time the name of the company goes from Radio South to Apex Broadcasting… no big deal. The owners' other stations in LA and SC go by the same name. It's announced that our classic rock station will be undergoing a significant change. Not only will they switch to a new rock format, but they get an upgrade to 100,000 watts. So far, we are all pleased with this exciting news. We get a new program director for the rock station (who I still love to death… Eric is the best!). I'm getting pumped up because I've not heard a good rock station since I lived in Atlanta in '98-'99. The gears are in motion… the GM announces the hiring of Beaner and Ken, an old Birmingham morning show he owned at 107.7 The X. I'm thinking, “Great! Competition for his old station! This should prove interesting!” Then, around March last year, Z100.5 is born and it's a heck of a station! To this day, I've not heard a better station music-wise. That's Eric for you. A short time after that, Beaner and Ken make their debut. Here's where my radio life in Tuscaloosa goes downhill…

Shortly after Beaner and Ken hit the airwaves with their penis jokes and bodily function morning show, Greg calls me into his office to let me know the budget has to be cut for B101.7, and I'm the likely candidate. But, he wants to keep me, so he talks the GM into letting me do the morning news because the girl who was doing it was not what he was looking for. I agree to this because it not only keeps me in radio, but it keeps the cash flowing. He ups my pay, but reduces my hours to offset the costs. I have no beef with this because I'm still in college and I need fewer hours anyhow. I'm very grateful for the chance to stay on, and all is well until the Fall 2003 semester. Before I get to last fall, it should be noted that the new rock station is doing well and Beaner and Ken must be making pretty good money to have other stations' budgets cut. I'll make that case in a minute.

Last semester, I was taking six classes, working 20 hours per week at the local television station as a reporter, and needed to take a load off. I then decide to resign from B. I inform Greg of this, and on my last day, he and I work out a new schedule and plan for me so I can stay on. Wow… my own hours and less hours for the same pay. How can you beat that? I agree to stay on. Well, this semester I'm again taking six classes to graduate in May. However, my schedule is not as hectic, so I can easily work both jobs and keep my classes up. Right before Christmas, Beaner and Ken magically get a new news girl from… *gasp* BIRMINGHAM! Can it be? Another B'ham personality gracing us with her presence? Notice a trend? GM from B'ham, B&K from B'ham, news girl from B'ham… Get the feeling we're being transformed from a Tuscaloosa company into a B'ham entity? Well, last week, I get a call from Greg. I'm not thinking anything about it because I've always been complimented on my news. That's when the bomb drops. The budget has to be cut again. We've got two full-time news people and me. I get the axe. However (here's the possible job opportunity), Greg tells me the company is bringing a new station on the air in May, just in time for graduation. He also informs me that my name is in the hat for a full-time job when I get out. I'm very cool with this since I honestly would like to stay in Tuscaloosa if possible. I've finally found a town I truly love. So, I go in last Friday, hand Greg my keys, and we agree that I'll be back in touch around March when I start sending out feelers for jobs. We also agree that I can be available for fill-in stuff here and there.

So, let's recap. B'ham= GM, B&K, and new news girl. All this happens, and the budgets for the other stations need to be cut. I get bumped from nights on the first cut, and then I'm completely cut on the second one. I've also learned that another friend of mine was fired this past Monday. Another friend is fearful for his job there, and I can't blame him. I really want to possibly work at this new station in May, but I'm honestly not sure how secure my job would be since I don't come from Birmingham. I mean, a few people from the company have put two-and-two together to see where it's now heading. It's Birmingham or bust… and I've finally been busted. I want to work for Greg, but do the people above him want me as well?

The pros and cons of being let go? It put a nice little dent in my wallet. However, I now have my nights completely free to work on school work. More importantly, I have time with my wife in the evenings for almost the first time in our marriage of 4.5 years. I fully believe this is for the best at this point in time. Who knows what'll happen in March, or after that…