Friday, April 17, 2015

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.



6 comments:

  1. WNYC is always pleading poverty. In a typical year they do three ten day pledge-drives plus shorter ones, expect $100 contributions and push $365 sustaining memberships. In their new building, WNYC is always advertising and hosting events (beer tasting, food tasting, straight singles gatherings, gay singles gatherings, etc.) to raise needed revenue. Meanwhile, the quality of their programing has deteriorated over the years. It's a bit of an outrage that donor contributions should go to such generous salaries rather than quality programming.

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    Replies
    1. Couldn't disagree more. Having lived in UK, Australia and now NYC WNYC programming is excellent and can stand comparison with the best radio anywhere in the world.

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    2. They have fantastic programming, with (now that the podcasts are available) listeners from every part of the world. Believe me, 300K is not THAT much in NYC where I personally live in a 340-sq-ft studio on a fifth floor of a walk-up building, and pay $1600 a month (utilities not included).
      If you don't pay such talent as Leonard Lopate or Brian Lehrer a decent salary, they won't stick around. They are stars and have to be properly compensated.

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  2. The only complaint is have is with Brian Lehrer.
    He is a partisan hack,and absolutely full of it,yet receives more compensation than Leonard Lopate, who is a consulate professional, and a true asset to the station.

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  3. Sorry, but Lehrer is not "world class" talent. His show is juts like cable news outlets: hype and gossip. Why not just read from the Post's Page Six while he's at it?

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  4. Brian Lehrer is very skilled and his program is very informative and a NECESSARY New York institution. His salary is probably too much for public radio, but Laura Walker, the CEO, is way overpaid and not competent.

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