I was in my hometown's local grocery store last night picking up some consumables and the new book about KSHE caught my eye. It's funny, even yesterday, someone said to me..."aren't you the Randy Raley from KSHE?" It's been almost twelve years since I left there, and STILL, to this day, that added phrase has seemingly become my last name. I spent a great 13 years at Real Rock Radio. Not all of the time was good. The physical confrontation I had with a drunk superior after he kept repeatingly sticking his finger in my chest wasn't fun. And, when I left, getting a urine and feces soaked headshot in the mail was not fun, especially after having opened it in front of my daughter. Her comment was..."wow, somebody really hates you, don't they dad?" It didn't end well would be an understatement. I made mistakes that, knowing what I do now, I probably wouldn't make again. But still, it seems to me that if JC Corcoran and all his baggage could make it back there, then what was their problem with me? A few years ago, I got a call from the program director there. It seems that they were putting together a "Hall of Fame" portion on their website and would I be willing to donate some items? Sure. How much fun is that? So,I drug a couple of milk crates full of stuff and they were returned in fine shape after being scanned. Not too long after that, I heard that KSHE was having this big 40th reunion with all the old jocks joining Sammy Hagar on stage at The Fox. I kept waiting for my invitation which, sadly, never materialized. I guess my stuff was good enough to be included in their Hall of Fame, but I wasn't good enough to have one last 10 seconds of glory when they call your name and the crowd cheers your work. No dice. I guess what happened at the end erased the 13 years of working my ass off. So, having not been invited to the party, I stopped taking stuff for them to use, which gets me back to the original point. While flipping through this new book, I noticed that nowhere was my name mentioned in the book. They had everyone else but me. I was pretty sure I wasn't going to be in the book because I never heard from the author, but my ego took a huge fall when that fact was confimred. During my time there, I was the ONLY person to top KMOX in the 12+ ratings. In the spring of 1986, I had a 13.6 rating, KMOX had a 13.3. I was number one or two(25-54 adults)in the market for a nine year consecutive run. I still hold rating records and yet, it's as if I never existed there. Why the cold shoulder KSHE? I gave you the best years of my life. Now everyone who's ever pissed any one off over there returned (JC, Woody), but I can't even get my calls returned. It was once a family. My family. Now, we are all estranged with NO hope of ever even being civil. Grudges are easy to hold and hard to let go. I won't say it doesn't bother me, obviously, it does. But, with writing all of this down, it lets it all go. Shakespeare once said .."living well is the best revenge.." I must have the greatest revenge ever. I haven't been this happy in years. So...Emmis, what gives? It's true pride goes before the fall. Now, radio is in the worst shape ever, Emmis is struggling and cuts are being made(or will be made)everywhere. The Chicago stations are being run from St. Louis (which the Chicago people REALLY love)and there's trouble everywhere. Thank God I'm away from that, and my ego would like to think it's karma. It's just bad management.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
The Words of Shakespeare
I was in my hometown's local grocery store last night picking up some consumables and the new book about KSHE caught my eye. It's funny, even yesterday, someone said to me..."aren't you the Randy Raley from KSHE?" It's been almost twelve years since I left there, and STILL, to this day, that added phrase has seemingly become my last name. I spent a great 13 years at Real Rock Radio. Not all of the time was good. The physical confrontation I had with a drunk superior after he kept repeatingly sticking his finger in my chest wasn't fun. And, when I left, getting a urine and feces soaked headshot in the mail was not fun, especially after having opened it in front of my daughter. Her comment was..."wow, somebody really hates you, don't they dad?" It didn't end well would be an understatement. I made mistakes that, knowing what I do now, I probably wouldn't make again. But still, it seems to me that if JC Corcoran and all his baggage could make it back there, then what was their problem with me? A few years ago, I got a call from the program director there. It seems that they were putting together a "Hall of Fame" portion on their website and would I be willing to donate some items? Sure. How much fun is that? So,I drug a couple of milk crates full of stuff and they were returned in fine shape after being scanned. Not too long after that, I heard that KSHE was having this big 40th reunion with all the old jocks joining Sammy Hagar on stage at The Fox. I kept waiting for my invitation which, sadly, never materialized. I guess my stuff was good enough to be included in their Hall of Fame, but I wasn't good enough to have one last 10 seconds of glory when they call your name and the crowd cheers your work. No dice. I guess what happened at the end erased the 13 years of working my ass off. So, having not been invited to the party, I stopped taking stuff for them to use, which gets me back to the original point. While flipping through this new book, I noticed that nowhere was my name mentioned in the book. They had everyone else but me. I was pretty sure I wasn't going to be in the book because I never heard from the author, but my ego took a huge fall when that fact was confimred. During my time there, I was the ONLY person to top KMOX in the 12+ ratings. In the spring of 1986, I had a 13.6 rating, KMOX had a 13.3. I was number one or two(25-54 adults)in the market for a nine year consecutive run. I still hold rating records and yet, it's as if I never existed there. Why the cold shoulder KSHE? I gave you the best years of my life. Now everyone who's ever pissed any one off over there returned (JC, Woody), but I can't even get my calls returned. It was once a family. My family. Now, we are all estranged with NO hope of ever even being civil. Grudges are easy to hold and hard to let go. I won't say it doesn't bother me, obviously, it does. But, with writing all of this down, it lets it all go. Shakespeare once said .."living well is the best revenge.." I must have the greatest revenge ever. I haven't been this happy in years. So...Emmis, what gives? It's true pride goes before the fall. Now, radio is in the worst shape ever, Emmis is struggling and cuts are being made(or will be made)everywhere. The Chicago stations are being run from St. Louis (which the Chicago people REALLY love)and there's trouble everywhere. Thank God I'm away from that, and my ego would like to think it's karma. It's just bad management.
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8 comments:
illegitimi non carborundum comes to mind Randy!! I know it's not literally translated to don't let the bastards get you down but it sure does apply!! Anyway when was the last time KSHE had anyone with your consistent ratings - not in this century!!
Keep on rocking Rocko!!!
trp
Randy,
KSHE may not say it but I will: Thanks. You came to STL about the end of high school for me and I always loved your work. You were part of the reason I got into radio. (I'll curse you later for that.) If I could do a show even half as good as you did for all those years, I would consider it a success. Thanks again.
How could they have treated you like that? Do they not understand how many of us only listened to hear you? Not the KSHE brand to speak, but our friend... you... ???
I agree with them. KSHE treated you like dirt. Most of us did listen to hear you. When you left to go to 97.1 the Rock most of us followed you. I even somehow managed to find you in KC at the Fox. Thanks for all you've done.
Maybe they are still holding a grudge because you and Mike put on one helluva radio station (97.1 The Rock)....EVERYONE knows who you are in St. Louis and that is how it should be! Screw the corporate political stuff!!! We will show you our dedication by following planetradio.us! Keep up the great work! You are an AWESOME man! AND don't let ANYONE ever EVER EVER make you think different!
Randy--Cyndi Stratton here. No words for you did for me. I'll be in St. Louis the first week of February 2010. Would LOVE to hook up for a cocktail. You can reach me at cynniemarie@hotmail.com. I'll be in town from 1/30-2/5
if you're still in STL (Smile)
(Stratton again)
randy what do you expect , you almost put the worlds biggest rock station out of business , i guess they left that chapter out of thier book = how ex dj almost put us out of business so we just bought the radio station. randy i hope you read this i was one of the fans who switched to the rock , i didnt like the way kshe was going , you guys played the stuff we wanted to hear. i hope you come up with a website dedicated to 97 the rock like they did for kwk 106 . i really wish you and the rock were still on the air. as far as kshe goes i still listen to them , but what choice do i have they wont let any other rock stations in st.louis , at least they started playing better music after they bought out the rock. by the way , where are you at these days
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