Cumulus SVP/Programming Mike McVay Debunks False Reports Following Programmer Conference Call

Mike McVay

Yesterday, CUMULUS SVP/Corporate Programming MIKE MCVAY held a conference call with around 500 of the company's programmers, including the new programmers coming aboard from recently-acquired CITADEL. On the call he detailed some procedures about the company's updated systems and policies.

However, another publication heard some details of the call provided by some CUMULUS staffers, and published it before confirming with McVAY.

When contacted about the report, McVAY explained to ALL ACCESS that the published report was far from accurate, and asked if he could publish his side of the call.

ALL ACCESS has given McVAY the opportunity to clear the air of rumors and inaccuracies. He writes:

There are a number of rumors that hit a Country music trade, and then was picked up by several other on-line publications, that were grossly inaccurate, all following my first official group wide programming call. Things were printed that never even came up on our call. The call was recorded. It is a point of record. I cannot hide from my words. I appreciate the opportunity to set the record straight.

CUMULUS does not have a policy that prohibits program directors from speaking to record labels or the trades. I do want all adds to be sent to ATLANTA. That is only because I want to know what we're doing before I read it online. CUMULUS will not be doing group adds. I also instructed that stations should not do individual promotions with the labels without corporate's approval. It would seem to me that the labels would love our "no quid pro quo" policy. I bet that they do.

We are not planning to "cram down" network programming from CUMULUS MEDIA NETWORKS. What I said was that many of our stations, from the legacy CUMULUS group and those in the new CUMULUS group, have unmanned dayparts. Why not carry great network programming there instead of sweepers and jingles without a personality? We will not be exclusive to our own network. We want great programming ... No matter where it comes from.

We did not discuss a dress code for programmers. That's a crazy accusation. We have some amazing talent in our company. They don't all wear a coat and tie to work. Heck ... I'm going through an age crisis. What if I want to get some piercings? Jeesh!

What is frustrating to me is that I am trying to change the culture of a company, as well as an industry, and an inaccurate article runs and diminishes my efforts. My intention is to attract the very best broadcasters in radio. Ask yourself ... Why would CUMULUS step up and invest a significant amount of money to attract 'superstars' if they weren't going to let them do their job?

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