After The Cuts -- An Open Letter

I am also proud to be a broadcaster, and yes, an American broadcaster. The amazing pictures of the throngs of people truly excited to see the change from the long, dark night that defined the last few years got me to thinking, I can't remember a time when the streets were filled with people after an election ... mostly young people ... mostly young people excited and hopeful for the future of the country they want it to be. One can't help but be inspired.

Is it possible that we can exhibit the same leadership and inspiration in the radio business that we saw on TV and heard on the radio from President-elect Obama? Is it possible for us to re-think the entire radio industry and move beyond the cuts? I believe it's fair to suggest that the past few years have not been radio's best. There has been much written about it, so I won't go into the past by fingerpointing as to the blame.

There is plenty to go around.

Is it possible for us to realize that for radio to succeed in attracting future generations of listeners, we must fundamentally change our whole way of thinking about the way we program, sell, engineer, market, finance and LEAD the next generation of radio staff, advertisers and listeners? In the next 12 months, I believe you will see a continuation of a contraction in the radio business. It WILL get smaller in staff size AND IF WE ARE NOT CAREFUL, listener size.