| Category | Rating |
|---|
| Pay | 0 |
| Respect | -5 |
| Benefits | -5 |
| Job Security | -5 |
| Work/Life Balance | -5 |
| Career Potential/Growth | -4 |
| Location | 1 |
| Co-worker Competence | 2 |
| Work Environment | -5 |
I had very high hopes when our cluster was purchased by Cumulus. The local people were nice and we were made to feel as if we were all important assets to the group. That changed almost immediately.
The first indication of trouble was the endless series of "music calls." A large group of stations in the same format would be listening to the format director's weekly "schpiel" and then would be actually told the songs they were to add. Well, let's put it this way: at first the format director would name the songs he favored and then have each PD pipe up with "what they were looking at for the week." One could quickly pick up as everybody on the call "parroted" the very songs the format director had "suggested" that if somebody were to say, "No, I would rather add such and such," they would not have a job with Cumulus for very much longer.
The second thing I noticed was the complete disregard for anybody having a normal life AWAY from the station. I was a morning guy and a very successful one at that in every market I had been in. Most of it was because I worked VERY hard at it, but I was mainly successful because I was actually very DIFFERENT from the usual "cut and paste/dub the cheezy comedy bits" shows I was up against . A lot of that had to do with actually being out IN the market on MEANINGFUL appearances. Now they decided that what would "really 'win' " was to do the very things that everybody else was doing in town (and boring people with.) Quickly, my show was turned into the "pre-recorded lame bits and TV clips from last night" festival that I had always called "cookie-cutter." Just as quickly, and not surprisingly, the show began to tank with the listeners. Then management had the nerve to question my ability as a morning guy, even though my track record was nothing short of stellar until that point. (A fact I can back up with all the numbers and with clients to prove it!)
The third REAL red flag with Cumulus was their growing penchant for hiring complete "greenhorns" with awful voices and even LESS experience at using them to replace veteran people who mysteriously suddenly "didn't cut it anymore." Interesting how those who "didn't cut it" had been cutting it darn well for years. Not so surprising: the greenhorns worked for minimum wage and only part-time, which meant far more duties for the remaining vets. After a while--- "sounding good on the air (you know---Your PRODUCT?!?!?!) became dead last in priorities for many fantastic talents in the building as they scrambled around trying to multi-task with the website, promotions, voicetracking 3 other stations and more.
I could go on and on about the lies, stealing of accounts, spycams, reading of others' emails, arbitrary and senseless cuts just so that the kings of Atlanta could grab their annual bonuses, but most of that is now common knowledge. Some of that I understand, because it basically becomes a real life game of "SURVIVOR" played 6-7 days a week. The part I could not sit still for was the constant berating and horrible treatment of veterans who WERE "up to date" with computer skills, website know-how and other necessary skills----all in the hopes of forcing them out to hire more greenhorns or to save a salary. The TRUE pros were suddenly "worthless" to this company, and were made to feel like they would never work anyplace else once they were cut loose. Never mind that most of them had more practical knowledge of running a radio station than anybody in the markets they served. No......they were all made to feel like children and treated accordingly. The word "Gulag" has evidently become an underground nickname for Cumulus amongst those who remain with the company in more than one markets, as I have seen it pop up on this thread more than once. Sadly, it's close to the truth.
The scariest part of all is the chaotic way in which the upper management in Atlanta flips and flops, lurching in an alarmingly spastic fashion from one "hot new concept" to another that will "make millions"----almost ALL of which have laid big fat goose eggs or have already been done much more efficiently by other companies. There were frantic "corporate initiatives" passed down that essentially said "we don't care if your wife is IN LABOR, or you are having CHEST PAINS, we need a promo EVERY HOUR on our hot new "JOBS" website NOW!! Voice track mornings if need be to get it done!!!!" Almost every concept they have come up with has been mediocre at best-----at worst, a total failure which then is suddenly swept under the rug.
Here is the funny part. I LOVED most of the co-workers I had. Some of them were among the best I had every worked with in 25 years of on-air work, both personally and professionally. That goes for most of the sales people as well. Those who were "laid off" were tossed out like garbage after years of loyal service and threatened to be held to meaningless non-competes. However, due to selective enforcement, a lot of them have been able to (thankfully) land on their feet without uprooting and moving again. Not bad for people who suddenly "weren't up to the high standards of Cumulus."
Fortunately, I saw the handwriting on the wall and left shortly after the notorious bloodletting began last year. (You know....the "Bloody February" where hundreds of loyal hard working employees were laid off at the same time that some BONUS CHECKS with a LOT of zeros on them were being cashed by the "Lords of Atlanta?")
My assessment of Cumulus is this: If you THRIVE in an environment where you actually enjoy paranoia, distrusting managers, corporate micro managing that is done for ego rather than results, and long long hours for almost no recognition or chance to improve your own skills---You will LOVE this company. As for me, I moved back to a larger market for a different group. I think my blood pressure has been cut in half in the past year. And I am enjoying my job again.