4.05.2012

WBAP's Mark Davis Unemployed?

I'm a talk radio fan, and it is on in the background almost constantly with me. And in the mornings, I'll normally have WBAP's Mark Davis on.  Despite my jabs at him from time to time (I actually had a letter to the editor in the Dallas Morning News  printed where I dogged him about his presidential prediction last time), I really like the guy. I think he's smart. He's not saying crap just to get the masses riled up (see Hannity, Limbaugh, etc.). He's honest: He candidly admits that he wants Santorum elected and that he attends a mega-church. And he at least tries to see both sides of an issue. He might be an arrogant nerd, but he's good at what he does.

But a substitute host showed up in his time slot this week without an explanation as to why. On his blog (which is normally dormant), Davis started firing off the equivalent of "random thoughts" this week which I thought was odd. He certainly wasn't on one of his many vacations. Then moments ago he released the above statement explaining his absence. His contract ran out and "we have been unable to reach an agreement on a renewal". What does that mean? Does he want more money and Cumulus said no? Or does the owner want to cut his salary and he's balking? Remember Belo cut Dale Hansen's salary and he gladly accepted it. And also remember that Cumulus, which owns KLIF, let go a morning talk show host on that station just two weeks ago. Throw in the fact that Mike Huckabee is about to launch a new syndicated show which is perfect for WBAP, and I don't know what to think.

The media, it is a-changin'.