Zip, the point is that he is being offered a pay cut, possibly almost half of what he used to make -- and there are some reasons for that decision.
You said it yourself, that management isn't totally clueless. You also said he is being overpaid.
I believe the ratings factor into this decision to some degree. It's not all about ratings -- you're right -- but I wouldn't be surprised if it played a part in these talks. This last book doesn't help Mike's case for 1.5 a year.

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President of Blake Shetlon fan club

I don't fault him if the Score resigns him, obviously. However, if the Score resigns him and gives him free reign once again, then I have a problem with that. Obviously the most logical thing to do if they must sign him, is to force him to pair up with someone who will be entertaining and challenge his opinion. I think most people are just mad because this guy takes no accountability for anything and finds excuses for each and every fault of his. His show is painful to most people, yet he refuses to make any significant changes. I think most people would agree that if he made some key changes, he could have an entertaining show.

How does Mac feed the family on only $600,000 a year? Don't forget Phin , Mac gets $250,000 in free Allen brothers .

I actually agree with everything you just said. I never stated that ratings were meaningless - only that they are not the only factor when the salaries of hosts such as North are established.

That makes sense based on their prices....YIKES!

I could go out to a joint, have them cook it for me...and possibly get a side for the price of that stuff.

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@audioidkid

Each of the hosts - whether its MJH or B&B - negotiate their contracts separately. I'm sure Mac is making considerably more than his co-hosts. Further, I'd be willing to bet that Mac is rooting for North to get a big payday because that will be the starting point in his next negotiation...and the fact that he has 2 partners will have little affect on what he is paid.

They do negotiate it seperate from their partners but there is so much to go around when you have 3 guys.

This, right here, is the heart of the problem. For the week or so that North was paired up with Drinky, the show was actually a pretty good listen. North needs a partner who is willing and able to stand up to him and counter his nonsense with valid points. The "yes-man" verbal blowjobbery that Fred provides on a daily basis drags the show down as much as anything else.

Northy might not get the ratings, but "his guys" still deliver the $$$ in ad revenue. The Score would be nothing today if not for the efforts of Mikey North and his schilling for advertisers in the early goings.
"A worker never hustles, and a hustler never works" Mikey is a true hustler who produced in the early going, if he goes, so go "his guys".
Besides, the Jag Bag and Bookie Priest segments are pure radio manna.

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Blackhawk goal, scored by number 20, Al Secord.

If by manna you mean garbage, then I fully agree.

Just who are these great guys that do all the great ads that Mikey will take with him?

I've asked this question before. How does everybody else in Chicago radio get advertisers? I mean, Pappy is the only guy that can do it based on what some of you think. I also wonder how Chicago stations got sponsors before Pappy started his radio career.

When Pappy left his failed solo midday shift and his failed afternoon shift some how B&B and Murph got people to advertise. It's amazing that happened.

Once Pappy retires or dies I guess the Score will not air anything in the morning. Why bother? Nobody will buy ads. They'll just wait until 10 and turn on the switch for Mully and Hanley who, by the way, some how have sponsors for their show.

"All radio wuz a money-losin' proposition before I came along. Along wit countless udder tings, I invented da concept of sellin' commercial time to sponsors, or as I call dem, MY GUYS! I also generate revenoo fer da Score by cuttin' dem in on a percentage of da sales of my top-sellin' CD, Caucasian Man, and of all da sales of my Pappy Wear collection on northtonorth.com."

At the risk of insulting you Beardown - you're kind of making a Pappy-like argument with that supposition. Somehow you've taken statements regarding North's relationships with sponsors and stretched that to mean it has been stated that he is the only one who can get them. That was never said nor implied. But to think that some individuals (or stations)don't do a better job than others is naive.

It's not a question of whether a company is willing to pay for radio advertising on his show or any other, it's a matter of how much the market is willing to pay for the spots.

You're right Zippy. I was trying to be sarcastic with my tone. Maybe that didn't come across.

Yes, it is about how much money you get from those sponsors. Still, with the assumption, why do the rules of radio not apply to Pappy?

For everybody else the ads are set by the ratings. Not for Pappy apparently. They just throw money above and beyond what his ratings dictate. What business would want to spend one more dime than they have too? That's no way to run a corporation. Their goal is to try to get the most bang for their buck. Why would they pay Pappy more just because they like him?

I would assume that the sponsors that Mike lands also advertise on several other SCORE shows. It is work beyond show hours that several other hosts probably find beneath them.

That's a good answer Dolphin. I don't think it applies to todays Score. I have no doubt that Pappy's efforts were very valuable when the Score started. Getting sponsors for the whole station.

B&B sell themselves just cuz the show is pretty good. Murph gets his own sponsors. They don't need Pappy as their front man any more. They did when they were the little engine. The Score has grown since then.

I think that actually works better for North. Mike and Mike's number should actually be bigger because of the TV ratings, but I still don't see it as a huge difference, at least at the start of the show, are people waking up at that time, just laying around, asking for bad sports talk, or do they want something on in the shower or morning drive

WTF? Plastered all over the Cell, billboards,commercials all day throughout the Score, all those stupid 'inductions', etc. ESPN Radio was a joke around the country, it still is in some cities, Why don't you ask your WFAN NY buds how they replaced Imus and still easily beat M&M? They're not on the YES Network. I haven't been there so I don't know if they do billboards or TV commercials, but I doubt they've even done a lot more promotion than just ads on their own station

Mike North isn't worth $1 million dollars he isn't even worth $1 dollar and he should be gone for good. I dont even know who listens to Mike North we dont listen anymore and we never did.

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No thats exactly wrong MIKE

The Score should cut their losses with this Bozo. Fire him after the expiration on his present contract. He is a embarrassment to Chicago Radio. His ratings prove it. He is also a career killer. Nobody would want to work with him unless they want to commit career suicide. Enough is enough. Hey Mike start looking for a hotdog stand locstion and good ridddance!!!!!

DDDDDDDDDDDDDDD

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SideshowBob311: "Sadly enough, I think we're the "intelligent" portion of the sports radio fanbase".
"I make fun of whoever sucks, including me"- Harry 11/30/07

It's not that Mike takes his sponsors away from the Score, but he will try and bring them with, if he went elsewhere.

Which I do think if he left would be career suicide.

While I am the first guy to say his show could improve basically everywhere, I can honestly say I don't listen to the Score because of North, I listen to the Score because it is a Chicago Sports Radio stationa nd if Murph, B&B, Jessie, Milli, etc. had the morning slot I would listen, and I might even listen more.

I think North would be in for a HUGE awakening if he left the Score.

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"That's what the internet is for. Slandering others anonymously." Banky
“Been that way since one monkey looked at the sun and told the other monkey ‘He said for you to give me your fuckin’ share.’”

I agree with you. He has no where to go in Chicago radio, management holds all the cards in this negotiation.