How much to Radio guys across the country make? [Archive]

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MobCounty

04-25-2006, 04:00 PM

I assume everyone knows Hoo hoo makes a bundle, but damn I know the local midday dj in our tiny market (200k population) only makes like 12 bucks an hour. All the DJ's have to have 'regular' jobs here too.Do you guys suppose DJ's of RnF caliber make mid six or seven figure salaries? Or is does everyone have to do it because they 'love' it.  I suppose a comperable ESD type figure probably just makes enough for rent and beer. After that, interns can't make more than a buck or two.

FezPaul

04-25-2006, 04:38 PM

A technician in NYC, which I guess is comparable to a producer, averages $45,000Which wouldn't go far in NYC,

nevnut

04-25-2006, 04:43 PM

When I use to listen to the monsters before I figured out who O&A were, RRR hinted that his was in the 6 digit range.

MobCounty

04-27-2006, 08:30 AM

Daamn thats crazy.  From what I hear 45k in NY is like a bar tab.

Tenbatsuzen

04-27-2006, 09:14 AM

NOT E-FUCKING-NOUGH.

This message was edited by Tenbatsuzen on 4-27-06 @ 1:14 PM

torker

04-27-2006, 09:22 AM

I have it on good authority that Ron made close to $5,000,000.00 last year after taxes.  Fez cleared about 16K.

JustJon

04-27-2006, 09:26 AM

MobCounty wrote: Daamn thats crazy. From what I hear 45k in NY is like a bar tab.  Be sure to tip your bartender well.

Tenbatsuzen

04-27-2006, 09:35 AM

In the age of consolidation, a lot of small to mid-market jocks are also either Program Directors, Promotions Directors, APDs, or Music Directors to add to their salary.  They also make money from sales appearances, getting a talent fee for showing up to car dealerships, bar nights, etc.A producer in New York clears 45K, but that's entry level.  Most NYC stations are union shops, so you're well protected.

Tenbatsuzen

04-27-2006, 09:45 AM

I know this was over 10 years ago, but I keep remembering 400K for DiBella when he did afternoons on WYSP.  Whether that was the entire contract or per year, that number sticks out.

MobCounty

04-27-2006, 09:58 AM

As a layperson listener, that seems very low. (in reference to the 40-70k range)  I'm sure the mid 6 fig guys are very very rare.**Mod, thanks for putting the thread in the appropriate forum. I wasnt sure where to start it, now I do.

MobCounty

04-27-2006, 10:01 AM

As the markets get homogenized by larger companies, I see the surge of custom content by amateurs.Do you guys see podcasting, webcasting or other downloadable shows as a threat to the DJ's?

Tenbatsuzen

04-27-2006, 10:04 AM

MobCounty wrote: As the markets get homogenized by larger companies, I see the surge of custom content by amateurs.Do you guys see podcasting, webcasting or other downloadable shows as a threat to the DJ's?  The biggest threat to DJ's is none of the above.  It's voicetracking. EDIT: Just in case.Voicetracking is a combination of automation and a live jock.  It's the radio equivalent of outsourcing.  basically, one professional jock can voice three or four stations's shifts in the span of an afternoon.  A good jock can put a four-hour show in the can in less than 90 minutes.A lot of mid-market stations do it.  The big market stations are protected by AFTRA, but where is the big market stations going to get their talent from if there's no one coming up the ranks in the small amrkets? 

This message was edited by Tenbatsuzen on 4-27-06 @ 2:13 PM

MobCounty

04-27-2006, 10:30 AM

Arr, its the same as 'stock' editorial illustrations or photography for me..  Death to soundboard DJs!

JustJon

04-27-2006, 10:38 AM

I think the DJs get paid in CDs and swag.  ;) And don't forget stations like Jack where there are no DJs.

Tenbatsuzen

04-27-2006, 10:40 AM

JustJon wrote: I think the DJs get paid in CDs and swag.  <img src="http://www.ronfez.net/messageboard/images/smilewink.gif" border="0" />   No, those are the promotions directors...  ... just saying

bitterbuffalo

04-27-2006, 04:20 PM

In a mid-market like let's say....oh....Monmouth-Ocean NJ...someone who would be something like the Creative Servcices Director for example...would make about 30k. For that money, he would write and produce spots and some imaging as well as keep track of vioce talent and spot archives across...oh...four or five stations. Also he would do things like a weekend shift late on a saturday night and non-paid station appearances. He would also be available 24 hours a day in case something goes wrong...He would also sit in the dark confines of his tiny apartment and ruminate on such things as radio salaries for several hours on an internet message board, patiently awaiting the Midnight replay of a popular satellite radio show. While smoking a cigar.

Tenbatsuzen

04-27-2006, 04:29 PM

bitterbuffalo wrote: In a mid-market like let's say....oh....Monmouth-Ocean NJ...someone who would be something like the Creative Servcices Director for example...would make about 30k. For that money, he would write and produce spots and some imaging as well as keep track of vioce talent and spot archives across...oh...four or five stations. Also he would do things like a weekend shift late on a saturday night and non-paid station appearances. He would also be available 24 hours a day in case something goes wrong...He would also sit in the dark confines of his tiny apartment and ruminate on such things as radio salaries for several hours on an internet message board, patiently awaiting the Midnight replay of a popular satellite radio show. While smoking a cigar.  I just got the douche chills.  

This message was edited by Tenbatsuzen on 4-27-06 @ 8:34 PM

Hottub

04-27-2006, 04:38 PM

Tenbatsuzen wrote:  bitterbuffalo wrote: In a mid-market like let's say....oh....Monmouth-Ocean NJ...someone who would be something like the Creative Servcices Director for example...would make about 30k. For that money, he would write and produce spots and some imaging as well as keep track of vioce talent and spot archives across...oh...four or five stations. Also he would do things like a weekend shift late on a saturday night and non-paid station appearances. He would also be available 24 hours a day in case something goes wrong...He would also sit in the dark confines of his tiny apartment and ruminate on such things as radio salaries for several hours on an internet message board, patiently awaiting the Midnight replay of a popular satellite radio show. While smoking a cigar.       I just got the douche chills.  This message was edited by Tenbatsuzen on 4-27-06 @ 8:34 PM <img title="Clappy Hands!!" height="343" alt="Clappy Hands!!" src="http://www.mustangmods.com/data/10900/brilliant.jpg" width="351" border="0" />

mendyweiss

04-27-2006, 05:54 PM

<img height="143" src="http://www.nab.org/images/xertimages/CorpComm/Newsletters/RadioRave/elZol_Logo200.jpg" width="200" border="0" />MUCHO DINERO!!!!

Marc with a c

05-04-2006, 08:47 PM

in todays ny post they said jim cramer makes 450k for his radio show.

bitterbuffalo

05-04-2006, 09:16 PM

evedder wrote: in todays ny post they said jim cramer makes 450k for his radio show.  I think that highlights an interesting paradox in radio, and entertainment in general. If you make radio your career, you can take a long time to get to a place of comfort and/or respect. Think of the long road O & A had to travel, or Ron & Fez, or even a decent music jock... It you do something else, and do it relatively well, people will shower you with money to do radio, and it will be nothing more than a side hobby to you... Jim Cramer, DLR, Steve Harvey, or any failed talk show on television. Of course, none of those people have a real sense of permanence in the history of radio, but I feel that it is indicative of the way the business works. Big names mean big ratings...supposedly. Thus the rush in satellite to grab big names and then surround them with programming that will hopefully work. If you want to be successful in radio, become a decent comic. People will never not want to laugh.  Don't mistake any of that as bitter, by the way. I got into radio because I wanted to play cool music for cool people. I get to do that, and make people laugh too. Just realize that very few people ever make the kind of money that Jim Cramer does for one hour a day.

Tenbatsuzen

05-04-2006, 10:49 PM

evedder wrote: in todays ny post they said jim cramer makes 450k for his radio show.   Cramer has name value.  So did DLR.  So did Dee Snider, Bondacue, Fred Grandy, etc. If you've never done radio but you're a celeb, you immediately make six figures.

curtoid

05-05-2006, 06:17 AM

The rumor / scuttle is that Don and Mike make $30 million for 5 years from their DC affiliate (although they have admitted that they get next to nothing for their other markets in Baltimore, Sacramento, elsewhere), and that (more than likely) it's not a full 50/50 split - that Don gets just a bit more. Not sure how accurate that is. It was reported in the Washington Post back in 1991 that their first deal with WJFK was for about one million, split between the two of them. If you look at how Stern's fortunes kept increasing every contract, it's not surprising that D&M could do well (not as well, of course). All of these guys are the exceptions and not the rules, however.

IamFogHat

05-05-2006, 06:35 AM

Don and Mike admitted on air a few weeks ago that they each make at least 2.5 million every year.It's odd, I know it's none of my business, but I would love to know this shit too, like I would love to know what R&F and O&A make every year, even though I know damn well it's none of my business.

curtoid

05-05-2006, 06:39 AM

IamFogHat wrote: Don and Mike admitted on air a few weeks ago that they each make at least 2.5 million every year.That makes more sense.

SinA

05-05-2006, 06:51 AM

curtoid wrote: IamFogHat wrote: Don and Mike admitted on air a few weeks ago that they each make at least 2.5 million every year.That makes more sense.Does that include the proceeds from owning the shittiest bar in all of Chantilly?