Dawn, Williamson cut from Peak staff
Don Day | November 25, 2007
Peak Broadcasting let two members of its on-air staff go Wednesday, according to reliable sources. Greg Williamson and Melissa Dawn Liebenthal were both let go by Peak from their jobs as utility players (both held down shifts on KXLT/107.9 Lite FM). Melissa has been with the company since way back since the Jacor days, while Williamson was on his second tour of duty with the cluster. Williamson also anchored morning traffic updates for the cluster – a job Tobin Jeffries will now step into. It is unclear how the rest of the KXLT broadcast day will shake out. The station went “all Christmas” on Friday as it does each year.
Sad. Very sad. Predictable…but sad. Very sad. Good luck, guys!
I have nothing but good things to say about both of them. I have met both Melissa and Greg in person many times. I think they are exceptionally good people. Melissa is very perky and Greg is very easy to get along with and very fun to talk radio with.
Greg has been around a long time. I remember him when he was at KGEM many years ago. Someone needs to start a station and hire the established radio personalities committed to seeing our community succeed. Corporate powerhouses don’t give a dang if Boise is successful, it’s a stepping stone for bigger and better things. Personalities like Chris Walton, Paul J. Caves, K.J. Mac, Larry Doss, and others really seem to care.
Hey Dubzy… We love ya!
Buster Bronco has the right idea. There is much talent out there/here. Much of which isnt even on the air anymore…. time will tell what happens to the sound of our local radio stations and what listeners and advertisers will tolerate.
Greg and Melissa,
I’m sorry to hear the news, and know that I thoroughly enjoyed working with both of you, and the rest of the staff over on Park Blvd. Both of you will end up on your feet, as your both trememdously talented. Some of the best times I had in 30 years of radio happened in that building, and I’ll always look back on them fondly. Good luck to both of you!
Missy Dawn ….. Who’s your buddy? Bryan and I still have the lunchtime offer on the table!!!
“Big Jack”
Damn Missy, that sucks. You’re the best, if I can help at all, you let me know. If I had the power you’d be working for me in a heartbeat. Oldmitch50@gmail.com, looking forward to hearing from you.
NO WAY!!! Why for??? I echo what the rest are saying. Missy and Greg are class acts. I hope someone finds room for them on their staff, and FAST. You hate to hear of this for anyone, but man… I’m so sorry! If Jack doesn’t take you, come to Portland!
Um, and they had to fire them the day before Thanksgiving? Nice.
I only met Melissa a few times but she was always friendly. Watched her work a few remotes with Big Jack some years back and she seemed like a true pro. Greg, on the other hand, I have known for years. He’s one of the true “Good Guys” in Boise radio, which may have made him a target for Peak management. He knows the business inside and out and his work ethic is without equal. Another cluster/station in town would be well-served if they were to pick him up.
And how exactly would being a “Good Guy” make you a “target”?
A true loss for Boise radio. Greg & Melissa are two definitions of the word PRO. I’ll keep you two in my thoughts & prayers.
I can’t imagine either one being out of work for long. Too much experience to let it go to waste!
You know, um, we’re always looking for camera ops & whatever at KTVB on a minimum wage basis. Perhaps we can work something out for you! HA HA HA
This BLOWS!!!! G-Dub, Melissa you are both the best of the best! Good luck.
As a buyer of many ads on Peak stations, I am so tired of them as well as Citadel firing disc jockeys. When is your management going to learn that advertisers buy stations based on the fact that you have local people on the air. If one radio group would hire only local d.j’s that would be such a selling point. I would buy every station if I could “Buy Idaho” d.j’s on the air 24/7. Just knowing a group of stations had all Idaho employees would make me proud to advertise with them. I am not a huge client – like the car dealers but I am a consistent – ” count on me” for cash buys client. I don’t think your managers do many one on one conversations with ad buyers before they fire people. I buy Greg and Melissa because they are “real people”.
As far as ratings go – don’t get me started. I have never believed Arbitron or the other ratings in radio. I have never seen or heard of anyone tracking stations they listen to. Quite frankly in this day and age, I doubt anyone actually takes the time to do it. If they actually would provide us with names and contact information for those who filled out the “ratings information and sent it in” and I could call people in Boise to ask them if they actually did it or just filled in the form – I would believe them – but since that is not possible – I just survey prospective customers. They know what they listen to most of the time. Greg and Melissa were always mentioned as favorites – with all ages of prospective customers.
This is so sad and I wish that whoever makes these decisions would talk to advertisers before they pull the rug out from under these d.j’s.
I just can’t believe it. So sorry. God bless you two.
Ad Client, unless I’m missing something, Journal Broadcast Group has ‘Idaho people’ in its studios, albeit not always live.
Radio Buff — Kudo’s to you. Yes, all of the Journal’s air talent is local, and the shows are done here, in Boise. Many are live, some are tracked, but they are all LOCAL. When Journal is on location, the live, local talent is who goes there, in person. So, to you, Ad Client, if you want to buy “Idaho DJ’s”, you should give Journal a serious look.
That is truly a gem of information to know about. Yes, good for JBG for their committment have some integrity in these areas and keeping it as local as they can.
Dear Ad Client,
Maybe if you placed more ad’s, there would be more budget for local announcers, or do you have a budget to stay within so you can be a responsable business man or woman?
That’s are really good point Ray M. – Maybe if all advertiser could or would make it a point to demand more from the media they purchased advertising in they could affect more positive change.
I oftentimes look at a local newspaper that tries to make its readers believe its doing a good job of convering local news. It is not. And everyone pretty much knows it. The problem? Those who spend money in the form of advertising (and we all know they keep it in business not subscribers) could affect positive change it they would just make it a point to inform the powers that be (editor, publisher, business manager, etc) that if they expect “me” ie: business person to spend “my” advertising budget money with them they had better clean up their act and give the community a better product etc. In Ad Clients defense on this one you bring up a really good point. I hope more advertisiers will wake up and take a more informed and proactive involvement in where the money goes.
I completely agree with RadioActive’s statement, “Maybe if all advertiser could or would make it a point to demand more from the media they purchased advertising in they could affect more positive change.” I firmly believe society should demand the media produce a high quality and responsible product.
The discussion reminded me of Thomas Carlyle’s belief the media was the fourth of four estates: the church, nobility, commoners, and the media that should have a checks and balances system to prevent it from having too much political power.
When society demands a high quality product be produced by the media they reinforce to the media the checks and balance system does involve them and will be implemented if necessary. By refusing to purchase advertising on a certain station or with a certain corporation, society does affect positive changes in the media. Hence, competition exists when a group of stations or newspapers compete for the advertising and/or subscription dollar. The public votes continually on the product they believe to be of highest quality by spending their advertising and subscription dollar with the outlet doing the best job.
Advertisers have already voted on the quality of the product of the local newspaper. Newspapers survive on the revenue earned from classifieds. The larger display ads just barely cover the costs of printing. Classified advertisers do not believe in the product provided by the local newspaper and have withdrawn their support in the form of their dollars.
The same can be coming for local radio as more and more advertising money moves to the Internet. Local radio, and newspapers are not meeting the expectations of the advertisers already. The end is very, very near.
It is difficult to argue with Rainshadow’s logic regarding the expense of newspaper advertising as opposed to internet advertising. Twenty years ago I worked for the Parma Review newspaper in Parma. We were a struggling weekly supported by the Notus, Parma, and Wilder communities. However, it was becoming increasingly evident back then the little newspapers were doomed because we simply could not compete with the Press-Tribune and Statesman. The only small newspapers I know of now are the Middleton Gazzette, Emmett Messenger-Index, and the Owyhee Avalanche.
“Mom and Pop” stores also began closing with the advent of the superstores such as Fred Meyer and WalMart. Large corporations have a monopoly on gasoline, groceries, clothes, media, education, and have recently infiltrated collegiate and professional sports. The days of the little business are over. Welcome to the United States of Corporate America.
He’s baaack!
Heard GW on KIDO doing traffic yesterday afternoon!
AWESOME!!!! GGGRRREEEAAATTT!!! to hear GW is working again. I hope BoiseTraffic.com and IdaWest Broadcast Services, Inc. treats him well. :)
Nope…he’s back at PEAK! They do their OWN traffic!
That must be a huge let-down to Bronco and his pals. Not that any of you would actually give Peak credit for doing a good thing.
Ad Client… are you going to put your money where your mouth is to keep him there? Sounds like you’re getting a second chance.
Hey, let me know what positive things Peak is doing or planning to do and I will award them the Buster Bronco Pat On The Back Award. If they do their own traffic, that’s GGGRRREEEAAATTT!!!! Keeping GW at Peak and offering competition to Boise Traffic are both positive things and I commend Peak on the move.
Your friend,
Buster.
Peak doing their OWN traffic? Don’t make me laugh! They sit in a studio with a view of the traffic cameras on a computer screen. While Boise Traffic is accually out gathering traffic information in the air and on the ground. You wanna guess where Peak get’s “their OWN traffic” from?
Sitting in a studio and watching traffic flows on a monitor — sounds like a job for Superman. Where do I sign up?
On the way home from an appointment this afternoon, I heard Melissa Dawn delivering news on KBOI. It was good to hear her voice and I hope she was able to land a good, long term position.