Here you will find letters that have been sent to Cumulus Media General Manager Ron Giovanniello. In most cases I was CC'd directly on the email sent to him.
Ron Giovanniello
Dina Acri
Lew Dickey
John Dickey
A long time listeners view.
I have always enjoyed listening to your station. I am a fan of classic rock, although I sometimes question your stations definition of classic rock. Nonetheless over the years I have enjoyed listening to your station. Not only do I enjoy classic rock but I�m a big fan of talk radio. On my way to and from work I listen to talk radio sprinkled with a little music. Unfortunately your recent decision to air the Bob and Tom show has changed my listening habits. I�m not sure who made the decision to add them but I�m sure it was based on money and only money, certainly talent was not a consideration. This show is dull and not very entertaining. The canned laughter is terrible. It�s too bad they can�t �can� talent! Because of your decision to air this show I�ve made a decision to not listen to your station anymore. I have reprogrammed my radio and it now skips over your frequency. While I didn�t always agree or care for some of the things I heard from the Coffey and Jammer show it was light years better than what you have now.
You believe you have a right to put on your radio station what you want to and suppose that is true to some extent. However if not for people like myself who actually listen to you station you have no purpose. The listeners should dictate what is on the air not people whose only interest is in money. Decisions cannot always be based on money. If you believe that making money is the only thing that matters then I�ll take my complaint to someone who gets your attention, the sponsors. In this day of electronic communication it�s very easy to make contact with people who in the past I may never had the opportunity to contact, as you will probably agree with based on my email and contact with you. Therefore I will begin an email campaign to contact your sponsors, one at a time, and let them know that I no longer listen to your station and will not use any of their products because of your decision. I will start with Safe Auto. I�ll continue to boycott your station and anything to do with Safe Auto until I read that you have restored the Coffey and Jammer show. You may not care, that�s your choice, but as the protests grow and the sponsors are contacted, you may change your mind or you may choose to stick by a bad decision.
Regards,
Don
Ron -
Do you even read the opinions your listeners take the time to send? From
the content of your e-mail, it does not appear so.
I'd like to thank you for your canned comments, but I will not because I
don't appreciate form letters from corporate automatons. Quite frankly, I'm
surprised a response was sent out at all given the sneaky and underhanded
manner in which you dismissed loyal and long-time employees. You didn't
even give them a chance to say goodbye, which was extremely insulting. You
have more than demonstrated that you do not value your listeners at all.
Oddly enough, one of the petition web sites to bring back Ed and Jeff has
been sabotaged - users are now redirected to WTPA's web site automatically.
Hmmm, what a strange coincidence. I wonder how that happened. I'm sure
your advertisers will love hearing how many hits the site is getting.
Another strange coincidence is that all the contact information for WTPA has
been mysteriously deleted from the WTPA web site. If you're so concerned
with your listeners' opinions, what's the big secret?
Nice try with your e-mail, but I will not be listening to the Dumb and
Dumber show for 60 days - not a chance. This is a highly transparent effort
at drumming up WTPA's ratings, which only benefits your advertising revenue.
I've participated in Arbitron ratings studies before, so I know how it
works. I DID give Cumulus the benefit of the doubt and gave the new show a
chance, but it is HANDS-DOWN the worst program I've ever experienced, and I
have listened to a great deal of radio - both all talk and mostly music. I
do not care to listen to people laugh at their own statements - to call them
jokes would be too much of a stretch. Freedom of choice is a beautiful
thing - I do not have to be exposed to the moronic program yo u have cast
upon your audience. Despite your efforts to convince people otherwise, the
new morning program is NOT entertaining, funny, engaging, or compelling.
You think (or maybe just claim) your listenership was down before, just
wait. I am one of MANY Central Pennsylvania listeners who are participating
in a full boycott of your company and its advertisers. I will miss Amy
Warner very, very much, but I refuse to support the Cumulus reich in any
way, shape, or form. You have completely disregarded your employees and
your listeners, and you should be ashamed of yourselves. I will not be
"counting on" WTPA for anything.
You say that firing Ed and Jeff was a business decision, seemingly based
purely on monetary issues. When a show declines in ratings, I do not
dispute that changes are in order. You could easily have increased their
budget a bit, punched up the show with a few new bits, but instead Ed and
Jeff didn't have the budget for a ny extras. It wouldn't surprise me in the
least to find out that you had cut their budget to the bone in an effort to
save a few precious pennies, or to drive their ratings down so you felt
justified in firing them. Despite your poor management, they were still
voted "Simply the Best" in Harrisburg. Thanks to you, none of that matters
now.
Goodbye and good riddance to Cumulus Media. Unless you're writing to tell
me that you're bringing Ed and Jeff back, I do not require or desire a
response from you - canned or otherwise. Save it for someone else.
Whoever's "collective decision" it was to dismiss Ed and Jeff should be dismissed themselves. They obviously don't know their listeners. Your promos state WTPA is "still playing rock and roll" because of the listeners, well, it sounds like TPA will no longer be playing rock and roll if Ed, Jeff, and Amy are not restored to doing the morning show.
When I listened on Tuesday to "Repulsive and Tasteless," it doesn't deserve to be called it's proper name, I was shocked and wondered "What Happened? , What is this tripe?, and Where's Coffey, Jammer, and Amy?" I tried to listening to the show to hear the News, weather, and traffic, but I could not stomach the vulgarity of the show any longer and tuned my radio to WRVV, The River.
After finding the Patriot News article on the internet, and coming across the Bring Ed and Jeff back website (http://www.geocities.com/bringedandjeffback//index.htm), I've been informing everyone I know that has a stake in this (your listeners) about the atrocities committed by the Cumulus corporation. I encouraged them to sign the petition and e-mail everyone at TPA about how unhappy their listeners are. I only hope that the correct individuals read this and realize that something needs to be done to correct this horrid mistake. I could understand if Ed and Jeff wanted to retire or move on for other reasons and gave their listeners a proper farewell, but I would hope Cumulus knew its listeners enough to bring local personalities to the show and keep the music, opposed to relying on a syndication with no forewarning.
I have tuned to WRVV for my News, weather, traffic, and music in the mornings and traffic in the afternoons, as it looks like other listeners have done. Although I'd rather hear John report the traffic, I refuse to listen to 93.5 WTPA or 104.1 WNNK until Ed, Jeff, and Amy are back on. I use my classic rock "with a little hard edge" CDs to fulfill my music craving after I hear the traffic, as no other stations play this music since the "Eagle has died."
I truly miss listening to the music and other personalities on TPA, but as you callously dismissed two wonderful people, who I considered an extension of family, I shall dismiss your station. I also plan to "dismiss" your advertisers. Although they may had nothing to do with this decision, they need to think twice before giving money to a corporation that shows loyalty by dismissing their "Best" (referring to Harrisburg's "2003 Simply the Best" Award). I also hope other staff members realize how tenuous their careers are if they stay with you.
To bring back me, let alone all your other listeners, you should consider:
1. Dismiss the "Bob and Tom" Show
2. Bring back Ed, Jeff, and Amy in the mornings
3. Broadcast on all the FM radio stations, TV, and newspapers that the trio is back, because obviously no one is listening to you.
Chris
This one was sent to several area businesses as well as GM Ron & the Dickeys, Lew & John.
As a small business owner myself, I know you are busy so I�ll keep this as short as possible and try to make my point. Please read the following letter and consider our buying power before just whisking this in the deleted file. Yes this is another letter concerning WTPA in Harrisburg but it is not a threatening letter so please don�t take it as such.
I am writing to let you all know that each of you was considered from an even bigger list for various reasons. I am sure you have gotten numerous letters from others threatening a boycott of your businesses or services. Some may have been serious while some have been pathetic I'm sure. I am not here to tell you that I am necessarily going to boycott any of you but please keep in mind that your advertising dollars can be better spent. I'm here to convey the thought that we are looking at purchases within the next year of a variety of products and services so please consider what I am about to say. I used to listen to WTPA every morning and even gave the new format a week to prove themselves worthy of my time. Not only do I not listen to the morning show I have since discovered another radio station that I now listen too and haven�t listened to WTPA for some time now. While I miss the show with Ed and Jeff, I�ll move on hoping some other local station picks them up.
For some of you��.Within the next 12 to 16 months I am going to be in need of 1 new automobile. To add to the list, I will be purchasing a motorcycle due in part to rising gasoline prices again and the fact that I miss riding. For others�� my son will be in his last year of high school football and my daughter will be playing field hockey this year. Still others�..My wife, myself and business associates are always looking for new entertainment locales as well as items to use for entertainment (we are a very active and well traveled family) and relaxation. The list goes on but I won�t go there at this time. Just keep in mind that some of us have moved on from WTPA and if you are sending your advertising dollars in that direction some of us may not give you a thought when it comes time to fulfill our needs.
Take it for what you feel it is worth but as a small business owner I know advertising dollars need to be spent with the greatest return on your investment and Lord knows I�ve made my mistakes over the years.
Do I wish Cumulus would fade away? Ah yes without a doubt.
Am I trying to tell you how to run your business? No, never mind a reply, I won�t get it and I am not looking to debate you just giving you my two cents worth.
Good morning Mr. Giovanniello, thank you for responding to my previous
email, however, there is little merit behind your "canned" response.
Let me first start off by saying obviously "listener input and
suggestions"
are not very important to you because if they were, Coffey and Jammer
would
already be back on the air and this nonsense with Bob and Tom would be
long
gone. As far as "decisions like this are never easy to make"....I beg
to
differ. It appears this decision came rather easily since there was
absolutely no consideration given to the loyal listeners or even
Coffey
and
the Jammer themselves. To pull the plug on 16 years without warning to
anyone was gutless and insensitive and to say that "most listeners in
Central PA did not share my same passion for Coffey and Jammer as
evidenced by declining listenership" does not ring true. If
declining
listenership was truly the case, then how in the world could they
possibly
be voted tops in Harriburg Magazine's 2003 "Simply the Best"? Explain
that
if you could please. You just don't fall from grace overnight when you
receive votes like that. Furthermore, if declining listenership was
truly
an issue, you certainly wouldn't have web sites being created,
petitions
being signed, bombardment of phone calls and emails to the station
(and
you
personally) and protests being staged to bring them back!!!!
As for "the
Bob and Tom show being the funniest morning show in America"...again, I beg to differ. I tried, really tried, to listen to the show, but I can't. I
honestly find nothing funny about the bits they write and the canned laughter. I've tried it, (maybe not for 60 days and I'm not willing to give it 60 days at this point) and I don't like it and I choose not to listen to it just like many other listeners have ! chosen not to listen either.
Your promo "we're still playing rock and roll 23 years later because you're still listening" definitely needs updated. You're not playing rock and roll 4 hours in the morning anymore and we're not listening anymore!!!
As a matter of fact, I'm not listening at all anymore and I know I'm not
alone.
My heart goes out to Amy Warner right now because I'm sure this is a
very
difficult time for her. Ed and Jeff were/are family to her just like
they
were/are family to all the faithful listeners. I realize that Amy has
a
job to do and she does it very well, but unfortunately, Amy was part
of a
morning team with Coffey and the Jammer and she cannot do this alone
(no
offense to Amy intended). If you truly care about 93.5 WTPA and value
your listeners then you'll make the necessary changes to bring your
loyal
listeners back. Remember, we the listeners are your customers and
without
customers, you are nothing!!!!!!!!
Hi Ron,
Do you think that you made a good move by changing your morning show on 93.5?? I beg to differ. (Please don't stop reading now because my thoughts only get more interesting).
From what I'm hearing and reading, you've made a lot of South Central PA loyal listeners pretty darn upset.
Well, you can include me in that group.
Everybody says "change is and can be good". Sure, sometimes it is but I can't figure this one out.
I am a 37 (soon to be 38) year old full-time working mom (I have a 4 year old daughter) and my mornings can be quite a handful to say the least. One of the things that I could ALWAYS count on was the comfort that I found when getting into my Jeep, starting my engine and hearing the familiar voices of Ed, Jeff and Amy. They were like family. What a nice feeling to be able to count on these people, every morning, to give me laughs and great music on my drive to work. It was just a great way to start my day!! It got even better when they played my favorite...Lynyrd Skynyrd!! Man would that get the Jeep a rocking!!! And then there's Jeff...sometimes I just laughed - for no reason at all - except for the plain fact that Ed and Amy were trying to understand what the heck he was saying.
Picture this...I'm sitting at a stop light and the conversation coming from my speakers just keeps getting funnier and funnier by the minute and there I sit laughing! Now...I'm looking around to see if anyone is watching me...just sitting there in my Jeep...at a stop light laughing my butt off.....WOW, those were the good 'ol days!! And that was because I was listening to 93.5's Morning Show with Coffey and the Jammer!!!!!!
Okay....Bob and Tom. Not much to say there. I'm just not interested. Don't know who they are...really don't care and where are the good jams to get the jeep a rocking??
I don't get it? Can you help me to understand why so many people seem to be so upset with your decision?? How do you feel right now? How's Ed and Jeff doing? How's Amy? Do you really care? Are you good friends with Bob and Tom? Have you ever met them? Do you enjoy listening to their show? Do you sleep at night with the decision that you have made? How do you feel in the morning knowing that a lot of people are really not even listening to your station anymore? How does it feel to know that my radio in my Jeep is tuned to The River or even 100.7 out of Baltimore or anything except 93.5 in the morning?
Just thought I would ask since I care about your feelings.
Have a nice morning, rest of the day and I hope you sleep well at night.
Former WTPA Morning Show Listener Dawn
I am no longer a TPA listener - I will NOT be giving Bob & Tom a 60-day
test
- they're obnoxious - canned laughter - probably be cheaper for you to
hire
a hyena! You had the perfect mix - a little talk, a little humor, and
a lot
of ROCK - you screwed up. Too bad for you - I'm sure I'm not the only
EX-listener in Central PA.
Regards � Kim
Hi Ron,
I just wanted to let you know that my T-Shirt was a big hit at the Kiss
concert Sunday night. Let me describe it: It said Bob and Tom, WTPA
93.5 and
it had a big red circle and X on it. A hundred people must have stopped
me
to find out where they could get one. Well, this one I made myself but
they
could easily be mass-produced. Not surprising the people employed by
WTPA
were some of the first to tell me they liked my shirt. At one point, I
got a
standing ovation from Section B. I was thinking that my logo would
make a
good billboard sign beside one of those ugly Bob and Tom ads.
Also, I wanted to let you know that the weight room at Cedar Cliff High
School used to jam to WTPA in the mornings. Well that is no longer,
they now
tune into clear channel.
PS: I've been looking for someone who listens to Bob and Tom, I'll let
you
when I find him. I see 619 people have signed the petition already, and
the
word is hardly even out yet!
Bye for now!
A former WTPA listener.
This note is being sent to a lengthy amount of people from CEO�s to General Managers to Vice Presidents and especially Advertisers. Then I have to try to get the word out to shareholders if I can somehow, so it will be a form letter. Make no mistake, each one of you who will be receiving this I have carefully considered. The list will grow I am sure, so I had to write this and save a copy of it.
It seems Cumulus Media has decided to change the morning show on WTPA 93.5 from a local themed show to a national program. I don�t know how these guys �Bob and Tom� got popular (they must know the right people with money) because it reminds me of watching an old tv program with canned laughter. They are absolutely pathetic and the skits are some of the most ridiculous things I have heard. I gave them a chance and listened for one week but find them not amusing.
The old show with Coffey and Jammer had local comedy and discussions and interaction with local �neighbors� which we could relate to and even played quite a bit of music (imagine that, MUSIC on the radio). Without local interaction it isn�t worth listening to. The local information that is supplied such as traffic and weather and school closings etc can be picked up in hundreds of ways here in South Central Pa. If we don�t have the local interaction it makes XM radio look better then ever. It really doesn�t make sense because WTPA had a market monopoly with classic rock in this area ,except for satellite radio which is looking better every day now. After today July 14, 2004, WTPA will no longer be on my radio in the morning, come to think of it if I decide to get satellite radio it won�t be on my radio at all anymore. Advertisers make sure you remember this when you spend your advertising dollars. Maybe Cumulus is looking at getting a younger audience, so be it then. I don�t think they have the right music style for that and lord knows there is plenty of competition in this area for that type of music. My wife and I make more then $100,000.00 a year and that makes our expendable income worth looking at in my opinion.
As I said earlier, this note is going to quite a list of people which will grow as time goes on so it made it necessary to do a form letter. Remember though, each of you were selected with careful thought and my list will be saved.