So, I got the call from the radio show I work at. I've been programming and DJing a show on Saturday nights from midnight to 2 am on a small commercial station in Maryland for the past year. I had never done radio before and was (and still am) really grateful for the opportunity. I was nervous at first, but I think the show had really hit its stride in the past 3 months.

The program director called me and said that they were moving toward "automated" weekends with no DJ shifts. He said he was a fan of the show but that he needs to put it on "extended hiatus" for the time being. He also said that he hoped I "could read between the lines," which I couldn't. I was really bummed because I really enjoyed the experience but my sadness was tempered somewhat by the idea that I was a victim of a layoff along with several other folks as opposed to a firing.

Today, I learned that of the five weekend specialty shows, four of them will remain. Mine will not. Keep in mind that I did the show for free for 8 months. I was supposed to begin receiving a paycheck several months ago but never did. The amount was so nominal and I liked the shift so much, that I never even followed up, but the point is, this was not an expense related decision. Is it obvious that he was being disingenous with me or am I just pissed?

Just to give you an idea of what the show was, here's the most recent (and final) playlist:

• The Capes – Supergirls (from “Hello”)
• TV On The Radio - Playhouses
• M’s – Plan Of The Man (from “Future Women”)
• Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Cheated Hearts (from forthcoming “Show Me Your Bones” out March 28th)
• The Organ – Memorize The City (from 2004 “Grab That Gun” release)
• Roscoe – Midlake (from Dallas band’s upcoming LP “The Trials of Van Occupanther” out in July)
• Band Of Horses – Wicked Gil (from “Everything All The Time” out March 21ar on Subpop)
• Nada Surf – What Is Your Secret? (from “The Weight Is A Gift”)
• The Diggs – Everyone’s Starting Over (from “Commute”)
• Head Like A Kite – The Words Of A Friend (from “Random Portraits Of The Home Movie”)
• Page France – Junkyard (from “Hello, Dear Wind”)
• Oranges Band – Open Ride (from “The World And Everything In It”)
• Shout Out Louds – The Comeback (from “Howl Howl Gaff Gaff”)
• Velvet Thud – Rosie
• Geckos – Goodnight (from “Rising Up From Below”)
• Johnny Poulos – Opening Night (from “Another Late Night At The Acme”)
• Pogues – The Sunny Side Of The Street (from 1990’s “Hell’s Ditch”)
• Camper Van Beethoven – Take The Skinheads Bowling
• Ultravox – Reap The Wild Wind (from 1982's “Quartet”)
• Hot Chip – Over And Over (from “The Warning”)
• LCD Soundsystem – Too Much Love (aka NY DJ James Murphy)
• My Morning Jacket – The Way That He Sings (KEXP version)
• Mates Of State – Think Long (from “Bring It Back”)
• Russian Futurists – Paul Simon (from “Our Thickness”)
• Rogers Sisters – Never Learn To Cry (from new “The Invisible Deck”)
• New Pornographers – Streets Of Fire (iTunes session)
• Belle and Sebastian – The Blues Are Still Blue (from “The Life Pursuit.
• Boy Least Likely To – Be Gentle With Me (from “The Best Party Ever”)
• Stills – In The Beginning (brand new from “Without Feathers” out May 9th)
• Bloc Party – So Here We Are (from “Silent Alarm”)
• Jenny Lewis with the Watson Twins – Big Guns (from “Rabbit Fur Coat”)
• Rhett Miller with Rachel Yamagata – Fireflies (from brand new “The Believer”)

My take: my show was sweet and they're a bunch of ass clowns.

so, now you'll just be 'Dan'?

that sucks.

two words: pirate radio!

i'd love to have this kinda station nearby. i resort to listening to talk radio on am when in the car (if not jammin' to my rio). tasteless butt bozo.

Good show. Sucks man.

Agreed. Good show, great variety there.


Your program director is a COCK.

i used to do a similar show at a public radio station a few years ago. a lot of the other programming was geared toward, um, a lighter crowd. (there were more jazz and folk shows than i could keep track of.) and then i came in and put a little more oomph into it - ended up polarizing the listening audience. some people loved that i was playing the buzzcocks and daft punk. others were upset that i wasn't sticking to the station's original ideas. the pay was nominal. (good word.) i just liked going in and doing a regular show.

in the end, there was a power struggle and i got stuck in an awkward situation and decided to move from the area in search of a better radio gig. and then that didn't happen.

i know how it is. good luck finding a station that'll offer a similar situation.

ive often thought about what it would take to start my own radio station. of course it would be a little grey, if not totally illegal, but if the riaa wants me, they can have me.

What station were you on? I grew up in Maryland (near DC).

Apply quote to every manager I've ever worked under.

Let me just point out, I read the small type in the listing for "most recent author (in thread)" as Senator Spoon Mac Gillivray, and I thought maybe we were going to have a George Mitchell to compete with our other senator, Howell Heflin.

WRNR in Annapolis.

Lincoln has this public radio station KZUM, that almost anyone can DJ at if they donate a nominal fee/pledge. A friend of mine has a noise rock/ bizarro metal show on there. I've always thought about doing it to get back into being a DJ, but have so far resisted donating some cash.
It sucks that they cancelled your show, but amazes me that a commercial station would be so bold. My brother currently works for a radio staion in our hometown while he pursues a degree in Broadcasting, he tried to get the saturday 12am-2am shift so he could play local indie and a CMJ style format, but they have always said no, despite the fact he can program his playlist and regularly handles their automation equipment. He ends up being stuck working Sunday morning from 6am-noon most weekends. His primary tasks is to switch the feed over to the 10am Lutheran mass for shut-ins.

I'm only a Seamus until the 18th.

I agree that the fact it ever happened is amazing in today's radio climate. The program director and several of the DJs hung out in the bar where I DJ a few times and offered me the spot based on the music I played. A large part of what has me bummed out is how unique the opportunity was. That ain't coming around again anytime soon. But a large part of what has me pissed is why they would offer me the opportunity if they weren't going to give it half a chance to succeed. I made my own promos, asked local bands to write themes for the show, and solicited bumpers from a bunch of bands on my own. I believe that the guys who hired and then fired me spent a grand total of 12-14 minutes actually listening to what I was doing.

I don't know what was supposed to be read between the lines.
How does one get fired from a job where they weren't getting paid?

I feel like Kramer.

maybe showtime can pick you up

so let's get this straight...you've been "working" for free every saturday night for the past 8 months. They've told you to stop doing this and you're bummed about it?

I'd go ahead and invoice them for what you think they owe you. Can't hurt to try to collect especially given the way they've treated you.

I wonder what kind of audience there really is for your type of show though. If a good show came on in LA, I'd never know about it because I gave up on radio so long ago that I don't ever look to see whatever anyone is playing anymore. I'd assume a lot of people inclined to like your playlist has done the same thing.

First, your response made me question myself. Then I felt empowered. Then I got all bummed out again.

I really think RNR would benefit more and widen their listener base—especially with younger listeners—if they gave the type of music you played more airtime, especially during a better timeslot.

I understand that they've built a particular product, but now that formerly out of mainstream music has a little more exposure thanks to the internet, you could take a chance and give it radio exposure as well. I don't know anyone who works down there, but given the pretty safe playlists, I doubt there's much desire to take a risk on playing more new artists or forgotten old ones.

If it seems like I'm contradicting myself from the New Classics thread, I'm not. RNR calls itself "The Diverse Universe", but really caters to the Baby Boomer Hipster Set. I prefer them to most other music stations around here, but it's only a matter of time before I get a song from Dave Matthews, John Mayer, Ben Harper or Jack Johnson. It's diverse only in that they might play Warren Zevon outside of "Werewolves" or they will promote a new John Hiatt cd.

I may be wrong, but I always got a music snob vibe from the station. Always reminded me of a bunch of guys who think "Dixie Chicken" is the pinnacle of rock music, and these new bands on the block don't have anything to offer.

Do you have crackers in yer briefcase?

I'm kinda on the same wavelength as Spoon on this one - "Welcome to radio". If you hope to stay in it, I'd recommend to not try to make sense of it. And always keep 1 truth in mind - commercial radio isn't about music...it's about selling ads.

That's Richard Brevard Russell to you, jocko!

NEEDS MORE CAM'RON