IF GREG GUY IS CALLING YOUR STATION, GET READY FOR CHANGES • BLUESMAN TONY GLOVER WAS A GITED DJ & MUSIC CURATOR

Media broker Greg Guy celebrated the successful sale of WUEV in Evansville by sticking a red-tipped needle into a map on his LinkedIn page [link].
 

The image screamed “gotcha!”

Guy is the broker who helped sell WUEV-FM to WAY-FM, ending a student station that began in 1950 [link].

Guy is one of most successful media brokers in the U.S. He is Managing Partner of Patrick Communications and has handled hundreds of radio and television transactions.

Since the sale was announced, students at the University of Evansville and community members have protested the sale of WUEV. We opined in our story that the university ignored a better option of working with WNIN-FM and convert WUEV into a public radio station.

Greg Guy

But, what we and the protesters in Evansville say is irrelevant. The fact is that the holder of a FCC license can do pretty much whatever they want with it. Those the don't like what happened to WUEV are too late to make any difference.

Greg Guy is highly regarded by public radio managers and strategists as an honest broker who works in the best interests of his clients. 

He sees himself as problem solver. The University of Evansville saw WUER as a problem and Guy helped solve it. But the sale would have never happened if those involved with WUER had acted years earlier.

We contacted Guy for his comments but he didn't reply.

WHAT HAVE YOU DONE FOR YOUR LICENSEE LATELY?

People who protest station license sales, after a deal has been made, are usually wasting their time. Their time would be better spent making sure the university knows the value of the station.This takes planning and persistence.

What are the best ways for students to signal the “value” of their station to their university? Here are some suggestions:

• Student stations should be as financially independent from the university as possible.

The number one reason universities sell their stations is to eliminate am ongoing financial burden. When expenses continue rise, there is always a temptation for administrators make cuts to “nonessential activities."

Students and faculty advisors should pay more attention to the long-term viability of their station. The people in charge of the station should know how much it costs the run the place. Our advice is to know the financial realities and make part of their mission a path to sustainability.

Sometimes station leaders take income from student fees for granted. If these fees are rising every year, there may be problems ahead because students are notoriously fickle about whether the fees are benefiting them.

• Show the value of a station to the larger community.

Document successful station events in the community and share them. Have well known community folks endorse and acknowledge the station’s importance.  Make certain that administrators see these messages. Create a narrative of success.

• Demonstrate that radio stations still matter.

University administrators sometimes try to rationalize selling a station license because they think “nobody listens to radio anymore.” Show the evidence that radio is an important part of the media mix. Use examples of the station's impact to tell the story.

• Be visible to University administrators.

Student stations too often are out-of-sight and out-of-mind. When this happens they become invisible and expendable for administrators. Stage live remote broadcasts at key university events.Don't be a stranger on campus.

• Say ‘thank you” to the university for supporting the station.

Acknowledge the university's support often on the air, on social media and in person. Gratitude matters.

TONY GLOVER WAS GIFTED DJ & CURATOR

Tony “Little Sun” Glover

Blues musician, writer and critic Tony “Little Sun” Glover died last week of natural causes at the age of 79. 

He was best known for his soulful harmonica riffs at  folk and blues performances and on recordings with Koerner, Ray and Glover.

Glover was also a radio announcer who had a major impact within the music business. In the late 1960’s he hosted an all-night underground show on KDWB-AM, a Top 40 station in the Twin Cities.

Glover’s understated and often humorous style influenced many progressive rock announcers at stations such as WBCN in Boston, WMMR in Philadelphia and KMET in Los Angeles.

Many people don’t know the Glover started working in radio before his gig at KDWB. He worked at KUXL-AM in Minneapolis when the station had a tasty format of soul, blues and jazz. At KUXL Glover worked with Bob Smith, who later changed his name to Wolfman Jack.

Glover is best known for his interviews of now legendary musicians like Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Jim Morrison, Patti Smith and Pete Townshend during the earliest days of their careers.

We have one personal memory of Glover’s KDWB show that we’d like to share:

On a November night in 1969 we were listening to Glover when he received a phone call from Bob Dylan, a longtime friend. Glover put Dylan on the air and Dylan told all of the people listening about the birth of his first child, a son named Jakob Dylan.

Following the phone call Glover played Dylan singing It’s All Over Now Baby Blue. We still get chills thinking about it…