READER TIPS – WHO MAKES THE MOST IN NONCOM RADIO?

My Tuesday post (LINK) showing employee compensation at several national networks and organizations got a lot of attention.  I had almost one thousand unique visitors that day – one of my highest traffic days ever.

I got messages from two people with tips about noncom workplaces where, in their opinion, people are handsomely paid.  Here they are:

1. WNYC, NEW YORK

New York is a costly place to live.  WNYC has extremely talented people. They also pay well.  I decided to find compensation information for other noncom stations in the market for comparison.

NAME	TITLE & ORGANIZATION	ORG LOCATION	TAX YEAR	SALARY & BENEFITS
Laura Walker	CEO, New York Public Radio WNYC & WQXR	New York	2012	$658,016
John Hockenberry	Host, The Takeaway New York Public Radio	New York	2012	$346,672
Brian Lehrer	Host, The Brian Lehrer Show New York Public Radio	New York	2012	$318,984
Dean Capello	EVP-Content New York Public Radio	New York	2012	$300,371
Leonard Lopate	Host, The Leonard Lopate Show New York Public Radio	New York	2012	$261,430
Lewis Kennedy & Associates	Consultant, New York Public Radio	New York	2012	$167,001
Cephas Bowles*	CEO, Newark Public Radio WBGO	Newark, NJ	2012	$154,567
Ken Freedman	Executive Director, Auricle Communications WFMU	Jersey City, NJ	2012	$93,337

* No longer in this position

I looked for, but couldn’t access, compensation info for WFUV (no disclosure documents on their website); WNYE & WBAI (not disclosed); and religious noncoms owned by Pillar of Fire and Family Stations (both a considered “churches” and are not required to disclose financial info).

2. EDUCATIONAL MEDIA FOUNDATION (“EMF”) ROCKLIN, CA

EMF is the organization behind K-LOVE and AIR-1 Contemporary Christian Music – two national formats heard in virtually every corner of the country. They own dozens of stations and translators.  EMF’s 2013 total revenue was over $141,000,000.  They pay very, very well. Here is a screenshot from their most recent IRS 990:

I found another interesting factoid: the compensation paid to EMF’s pledge drive consultant Share Media Services [LINK].  Here are two screenshots from the EMF 2013 990:

Note that Share Media was paid a percentage of pledge drive dollars they generated.  They helped raise $33,810,737 and paid Share Media $207,037 – less than a one percent commission.  Some noncom folks frown on pledge drive commissions (I don’t) but this looks like a very, very good deal for EMF.  The total EMF paid share media in 2013 was $340,180.

Share Media Services is the creation of Todd Isberner – someone I don’t know but I admire his work. Todd Isberner is a smart passionate radio pro who made the CCM format the success it is today.