More music management appointments have been confirmed at Sirius XM Radio Inc., according to FMQB. Remember that a couple months ago we learned about the new Music Programming execs, so these new appointments will report to them.
Pop/Dance/Urban (which is headed by Kid Kelly):
Rock (headed by Greg Steele):
Country (headed by Jon Anthony):
Classical/Jazz/Latin (headed up by Trinity):
Music programming production (headed by Mitch Todd):
And other music programming appointments include...
- Dion Summers, Senior Director, current Hip-Hop/R&B (overseeing Hip Hop Nation, Heart and Soul, The Heat and Shade 45)
- Mike Abrams, Senior Director, adult Pop/Dance (overseeing The Blend, Sirius XM Love, Escape, Pop2K, '40s on 4, '50s on 5, '60s on 6, 20 On 20, BPM and Area)
- BJ Stone, Director, classic R&B/Gospel/Reggae (overseeing the programming on Soul Town, The Groove, The Joint and Praise)
Rock (headed by Greg Steele):
- Joe Bonadonna, Senior Director, Classic Rock (overseeing Deep Tracks, Classic Vinyl, Classic Rewind, Boneyard, Hair Nation and The Bridge)
- Gary Schoenwetter, Director, Rock partnerships/Business Affairs (overseeing the programming on all partnership channels, including E Street Radio, Grateful Dead Channel, Radio Margaritaville, Underground Garage, The Spectrum and Jam_On. Also, liaison with the legal department on music programming contracts and PR regarding press releases, media alerts and e-mail blasts)
- Lou Brutus, Senior Director, Active Rock (overseeing Octane, Faction, Liquid Metal, rock pop-up channels and host of "Artist Confidential")
- Mike Marrone, Director, The Loft
- Rob Cross, Director, Sirius XMU
Country (headed by Jon Anthony):
- Kyle Cantrell, Director, classic Country/bluegrass (overseeing The Roadhouse and Bluegrass Junction)
- Jeremy Tepper, Manager, Willie's Place/Outlaw Country
Classical/Jazz/Latin (headed up by Trinity):
- Paul Bachmann, Senior Director, Classical/Talk programming operations (also reporting to Frank Raphael on Talk operations issues)
- Mark Ruffin, Director, Jazz
- Bill Wax, Director, Blues
- Julie James, Manager, Broadway/Met Opera
Music programming production (headed by Mitch Todd):
- Teddy Zambetti, Senior Director, music production (New York)
- Larry Whitt, Senior Director, music production (Washington)
And other music programming appointments include...
- Darrin Smith, VP of Music Programming Operations (will also oversee Coffeehouse and 1st Wave and will report to Jon Zellner)
- Jim "Jinx" Bonner, Senior Director, Music Programming Operations (reporting to Smith)
- Cheryl Fryer, Director, Music Programming Operations (reporting to Smith)
Who cares? This company is dead in the water.
.14 cents. HA! and a R/S to boot.
Done. Fork. Eat. and in the toilet!
Just like Holiday dinner.
Congrats to the XM survivors, especially Lou Brutus and Kyle Cantrell
Congrats to the survivors? HA! It must be HELL working there now. Most of their co-workers are gone and their new bosses are egotistical ignoramuses from the FM world who killed that medium.
Oh, I should remind you that the company is on its ninth life. Seems like those who were booted out with severance got the better deal.
I guess you must care Anonymous since you're crying on this board.
I agree with anonymous, they are dead. Cancel and get your money back if you are paid up for a few months. We did for 3 radios. We have e-mailed several time and of course get the form letter style response back. My wife talked to a program director, Jon, and he told her that there was no chance in our favorite channel returning, wich was X Country. She told him that we did not appreciate the vulgar obnoxious dj's such as Mojo Nixon, he did not seemed to be concerned about that and said that he has a following from Sirius subscribers. We have cancelled, because we won't pay for their inability to program with good sense, and the endless DJ chatter.
Why are they adding more middle management now, that's what I want to know? Didn't they just fire all the worker bees? How many of these geniuses does it take to pick the handful of songs that get played on the remaining music channels, anyway?
I have received the same form letter from jon and he doesn't seem to care about the customer complaints. I told him I was cancelling too and he said, "best wishes" to me. I guess he won't budge on bringing The Beat back to channel 36. I hope more and more subscribers cancel and no one buys a radio for Christmas.
I had the privilege - misfortune actually - of working with Lou Brutus. He was a pompous fool at XM and he'll continue to be one at Sirius. Oh well - I had a great time at XM and wish all the former employees the best. Since I left I really have to tell you, this merger was phenomenal for me. I hope it's the same for the rest of my former colleagues.
I have to say, I have started to listen to XM again more online during the day and I hate to say it, but I think the channels are terrible. I was a big Fred fan - and heard First Wave was "better". It is DEFINITELY not. That said, I knew I could always hit 44, 46, or 49 and all 3 are terrible now - just terrible. The 80's channel is no good anymore either. I see these "new" channels and think they will be good - and they suck. XMU is no good anymore and I miss The Verge. But overall, I am definitely noticing that they are not good. Funny too - my wife is listening to the Grateful Dead channel non-stop and I hear them play literally the SAME SONG 2 out of 4 songs. I am not talking about one live and one studio, but THE same song - like someone wasn't paying attention. That's laughable.
And - the middle management comment? Spot on. They laid off a ton of people and now are handing out senior director titles to people who used to be PD's? My god. I worked at XM and the biggest issue they had there was bloated titles for people who didn't do much to make the company better. Even the custodial workers there had Senior Director titles - hell, i think everyone did but me... :)
This is non news. Most of these announcements were exactly the same jobs these people had pre-merger.
What management? There is none!