LOCAL RADIO THE“ HARDER” WAY By Janis V. Bers
His morning show also took first place, and Rob received several awards, including employee of the year.
Noticing large potential profit opportunities, major national corporations began buying up large numbers of independent radio stations and forming them into numerous groups or“ clusters” within each market. KISC was one of those purchases and fell victim to the practices and priorities of placing profit before quality. Widespread cutbacks were implemented, involving slashing promotional finances and resulting in stations becoming almost anonymous. Little money for promotion budget meant no billboards, no TV advertising, no presence, and zero budgets for contests or prizes. Local live announcers were being replaced by pre-recorded syndicated shows, and nationwide program sharing had become the normal corporate practice. Rob estimates that in a time period of 5 years the corporation eliminated at least half of its entire workforce. Essentially local radio had begun to lose its local identity, and it was about to lose its leader!
After all his years of dedication and effort in raising his Spokane radio stations to the fiscally attractive propositions that corporate greed just couldn’ t resist, Rob was cruelly rewarded. He received an immediate dismissal notice 6 years ago and was invited to leave the organization, and indeed the building, that very same day— without even a thank you from his replacement or the corporation!
But Rob was by no means finished with his wide world of broadcasting. In yet another twist of fate and good fortune, Rob reconnected with Bob Anthony who in the meantime had become a radio station owner and had made quite a sizable profit buying and selling stations in California. Bob now wanted to give it one more shot in the Spokane market and invited Rob to partner with him when he found a“ sleeping” station that was available for purchase and could be fired up again.
Rob agreed, and after leasing a suite in the Jefferson Building in Spokane in 2012, they set about creating a brand new adult contemporary station that was to be called KOOL 107.1( KPPL). Rob literally hand-built the station’ s control room consoles and equipment racks, and in just a few months the new independent station took to the air. Radio was once again going to be a fun local experience just like those good old days.
Rob( Hot Dog) Harder still enjoys presenting his weekly radio show every Saturday afternoon from noon to 2pm. If you like your radio live, local, and presented in the spirit it once was prior to the corporate takeovers, you might like to take a listen to Rob at KOOL 107.1. As the title suggests, the station can be found at 107.1 FM on your radio dial, and is also available online at kool1071. com.
48 ART CHOWDER MAGAZINE