More personnel cuts are expected to occur today at XM, that's on top of the estimate one-hundred staffers that were cut last month, reports DCRTV.
Additionally, Radio-Info reports that some terminated employees are being asked to sign one-year long Non-Compete Agreements in order to receive a severance package. Since there isn't another satellite radio service provider to jump to (and I doubt they're worried about the now bankrupt WorldSpace), I'd assume this is meant to prevent an influx of talent to terrestrial radio.
To date, 22 percent of the combined Sirius XM Radio Inc. workforce have been eliminated, said CEO Mel Karmazin to investors earlier this week. There's no word, yet, as to exactly how many staffers are expected to be let go today.
[DCRTV]
Ugh. I feel sorry for them. I've been on the losing end of corporate mergers before and it's never fun and always destroys morale.
I doubt those non-competes would be enforceable if bought before a judge, but I'm not a lawyer... And you have to assume that only management was forced to sign them. No one cares about the peons.
You know that it is a pretty **** situation when even the posters that have an opinion on everything back off on an opportunity to chime in.
Agreed about how no one cares about the peons, but usually it is the peons who walk away saying "I just hope they don't f**k it up too much..." rather than cashing in & running.
*everyone* had to sign the agreement... peons too
Noncompetes when laid off aren't enforceable in NY state so good luck with that.
You can't lay someone off and then prevent them from making a living, any lawyer in NY knows this.
non compete to receive money. 1 year? really not a big deal, some states this Non compete is null and void.
Any who.... not happy about many station changes. top over played songs get boring .. thats why I went with XM 3 years ago. I am happy to be getting some of the Sirius stations but they have replaced what was a better play list with a more genaric top 40 for each genra.
Well, they have another 2 years before I choose to renew or not. Thats 2 years to get me interested again.
I think I am not the only one who is not 100% pleased... look at the amount of retail subs lost. a net negative of over 200,000 and thats more than 10X the combined net loss EVER. Posters here can say what they want... look at the trends and that tells the truth despide whats comming out of mels mouth...
Oh Yea....
GO TO HELL MEL
"I doubt those non-competes would be enforceable if bought before a judge, but I'm not a lawyer..."
Well, considering how Mel was able to convince the FCC that they competed with iPods to allow them to merge, why wouldn't the same logic work here?
Heck, according to Sirius XM, supermarkets compete with satellite radio, so I don't think these folks are going to be working for quite a while.
I don't understand. Does that mean that they can't work in radio in any capacity for one whole year? Geeeezz... I hope that they gave them a lot of money in that severance package. They really have them between a rock and a hard place. At least they are getting a severance package though. I was "let go" once (due to no fault of my own) and I got practically nothing. At any rate, I am sorry to hear about all these cuts though.
No holiday party this year, either. Guess the spirit of goodwill was fired. Still waiting for word that likewise executive bonuses will be held back this year...and waiting...and waiting.
Given the current economic climate, the non competes are bull-S.
People should be able to find a job wherever they can. Holding back severance for a non compete is extortion.
Unless they're giving a full year severance for a full year non compete, it's a total dick move....
"Good luck Bro"
Dick move.....Yes. But in the radio industry we all know, no compete clauses are pretty much the standard. It's not like this is a surprise to any one of the people getting let go. They've seen it happen to coutless other people over time, it's just unfortunate that they're on the receiveing end this time around.
More often than not the people are being paid to not work, basically.
Yeah, the no-compete does sould like Big-B/S!
I honestly hate to see someone lose their job here, but as an investor, I know that that's what this merger is all about; Yet, they ought to cut the real fat, Mel's pay and Howard's salary! That would over-take all the other top-tier employee's pay!
Honestly, that's what needs to be cut and big-time too!
It isn't as if the radio industry is exactly thriving in the first place, it's one of the few industries for hiring trends are actually DECLINING. Between DJ-less Internet Radio and voice tracking on several terrestrial stations, as well as several cost cutting layoffs, it's no wonder why.
Only XM cuts 'eh??
Letting the group go that really knows anything about how to run a top-notch outfit.
Way to go Mel & Co.
It's like throwing out the seed corn in order to make more room in the corn basket.
I can't think of any merger that benefitted the consumer/customer in the long run. Mergers that I am familiar with resulted in less choice for consumers/customers,decreased performance and decreased customer satisfaction.
Good article today in MSN business. Karmazin is lying through his teeth and can't be trusted. It's evident by the way SatRad's core base is being treated.
Subscribed to XM in '02 but bought Sirius stock at ~$3.00 a few years back when it was on the rise only because I thought I would get "more bang for the buck" and truly believed in SatRad(i.e"put your money where your mouth is"). Stock is down 92% from my purchase price. I ain't too pissed about my investment because it was "mad money' from a bonus (remember bonuses?) but really hate to see what's happening to SatRad.
Only hope is if someone who gives a shit about quality buys SiriusXM and saves this medium that is on life support.
I hate to say that because I have LOVED SatRad for over 7 years but these idiots are killing my beloved SatRad!!
Thanks a lot Mel & Co.
According to a law recently passed in New York, no New York-based broadcast company (including satellite radio) can make a personality sign a non-compete. I don't know if Sirius XM can hold their talent to it. And since the companies are now technically combined, I wonder if the XM people will fall under that law.
Tis the season to be Jolly
Fa La La La La La La La La
Well, the world needs ditch diggers too! Right Mel?!
BOO - You Stink!!
Does anyone have a listing of who won't be heard on Sirius/XM? I always thought Long Paul was a pretty cool dude. I mostly heard him on Buzzsaw. I'm assuming he got a pink slip?
I don't like how they dismantled Maxim Radio. Covino and Rich are moving to the middle of the day (what a horrible time slot for them) and everything else pretty much got whacked.
So all these hack DJ's on Outhouse Country are cheaper to keep that 1 Jessie Scott? No wonder the channel sucks.
They could always hire NAB's Rehr to defend against the non-compete since he doesn't think sat radio and TERRible radio compete.
They're cutting staff so they can find a way to pay Howard's salary. Soon, it'll be 179 channels programmed and voiced over by Howard.
Recondo72...
Just a heads up regarding the misinformation....i'm a SIRIUS employee and the majority of our dept was let go -- 15+ people. Not certian where you are getting your info but internal sources have it more at 40 /60 %.
In our case, our dept was actually run much leaner and did way more with a small budget. They took the other team to keep on additional XM staff in DC. A better team lost their jobs to seem "fair."
They seem to have gotten rid of a lot of the DJs that used to be on the music channels. I know that some people on here complained they don't like to hear the DJs but I liked it because at least I knew there was somebody alive working the music. Don't get me wrong. I do listen to the music channels for the MUSIC but it's nice to hear someone say something every now and then. Without a little talk it sounds something like the shitty Jack FM format that testicle radio invented.
Another thing these layoffs seem to be causing is that I'm hearing music on certain channels that certainly should not be there and I don't remember hearing before. For example, I'm hearing stuff on Lithium that should not be on there. Songs that they are playing belong on the Pulse, not on Lithium. As I write this, they are playing Gin Blossoms. I like Gin Blossoms but they are neither grunge nor alternative.
I've been with XM for 8 years as a listener, and Sirius just fired me.
Lithium playing GB's... It's probably to appease listeners of the former Lucy (which Lithium replaced) on XM.
why get rid of the raw?
anyone who wrote to sirius customer care on their website? ..(after they ask to leave your phone #) do the call you with some area code 866 #????? since most sirius # start wit that?..not sure..doubt it but am wondering if....the # calls at the worst times lol
i swear if mel karmazin held a press conference..i would pay anthony cumia to sing TOODLE-DEE-DOODLE-DEE-TOOOOT!!!!! while that old hack was speaking!!!!!
FIRE MEL KARMAZIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
I'd like to know how expansive the non-compete is. There is only one satellite radio company now so it must be attempting to restrict employment in traditional broadcasting.
If it covers FM and the Internet that has to be considered overly broad and a restraint-of-trade. It'll be interesting to see if anyone blows it off and if so, if SXM attempts to sue.
sirius,
I was refering to both "Orbitcast" & DCRTV which specifically refered to "XM" layoffs. If you read/reread both of the paragraphs, they refer to XM staff only. After a day or two, the names of Sirius members dismissed were listed.
I am truly sorry that you have beed laid off but as a subscriber I must take issue with your statement of being "leaner & meaner". "Leaner & meaner" does not necessairly equate with better product. In fact a lot of the time "leaner & meaner" in the business world results in less customer satisfaction,the mindset of "take it or leave it" and is a precusor to collapse. "Leaner & meaner" works well in the military/tactical lexicon but may or may not be the best business model. Trimming the fat is one thing, cutting to the bone results in muscle loss that cannot be regenerated.
Looks like the "lean & mean" approach worked well for notifying subscribers about the programming change. Also, Sirius programming is sub-par as evidenced by the "Soul Town" & "Aera" channels. I've NEVER heard such inept stuff in my life. Grover Washington on a supposedly classic soul channel?? I really like Grover Washington but he has never been associated with "classic soul" music. Stuff like that shows the lack of professionalism and attention to detail I expect from my subscription to SatRad.
XM's "Soul Street" & "The System" were on my preset buttons. "Soul Town" & "Area" are so far removed from their generes that I can't bear to listen to them. Sirius' "Raw Dog" comedy channel isn't anything to brag about either. It is too disjointed. Quite the change from what I enjoyed a week ago. Yet this is what Sirius brings to the table?
Sadly, my opinion of recommending someone to subscribe to SatRad has changed since the merger. If someone asks my opinion now, I have to say' "It ain't what it used to be and it dosen't look too good for the future".
It truly pains me to say that. I was a rabid SatRad fan but the merger has gutted what was the best damn radio since the "underground" FM days of the late '60's - early 70's. Possibly in my lifetime. I'm 55 BTW.
Thanks a lot Mel & everyone else who pushed/pimped this merger.
I cancelled my XM account today.
Satellite radio is now ruined.
SiriusXM is a complete distaster.
It's time for CEO Mel Karmazin to be fired and replaced. He is a complete incompetent as a CEO and lied to paying subscribers.
Howard Stern should use his big mouth that shouted how FM was dead, to now tell the world his buddy Karmazin has finished off satellite radio.
Sterns way overpriced paycheck didn't help satellite radio either. Next Stern will be touting Internet Radio on Letterman. And his daily PPV.
Makes me sick!
This merger should never have been approved by the FCC. We can thank
yet again the corrupt bush/cheney administration for all this.
I am really sick about losing all my favorite XM channels and hosts.
J. Allen
SIRUS SUCKS!!! I WILL NOT RENEW AND WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER KEN SMITH AND MATTTHECAT!