Freddie P's Blog

Layton funeral, Lloyd Robertson and Chicago.

Category: Radio

What a wonderful day. Humble and I spent a good portion of the day in the rolling hills of Erin to visit Paul and Carol Mott .

Since the getting the heave-ho from 2 St Clair West a couple of years ago, the Mott's have embarked on a project that has piqued the interested of Humble and Fred Inc.

The Mott's have started their own on-line show that has given them unbelievable freedom and piece of mind.

No commute downtown, no restrictions on what they talk about and no listening to wiener Program Directors of which I used to be.

The Mott's have enhanced their enterprise by cutting deals with a series of small and community owned stations including 88.1 in Erin where we travelled this morning.

Paul and Carol are doing just fine thank you. Running your show takes a lot more time and effort, but everything they do is for them and as it builds they'll be able to add staff to their empire. Just like any other business.

Running an on-line show ain't the pipe dream it used to be. A lot has happened in the past couple of years and it's only going to escalate in the next couple of years. Delivery systems have changed dramatically and people are moving away from traditional forms of media in droves.

To steal a line from Alan Cross, for the most part terrestrial music radio has become nothing more than "unprogrammable I-pods." If you want content, you have to go to the net and if you want the type of content that Humble and I want to do, you'll definitely have to go to the net.

Yes, it was a lovely visit with the Mott's and their sweet daughter Jessica who acts as their producer. We learned a lot about running your own show - the good, the bad and the ugly.

But hey, as Carol says, "if you're in a position to give it a shot, then by fuck, give it a shot." (actually she didn't say the fuck part - I just added that for spice.)

After watching and guesting on their show, Paul, Carol and Jessica invited us back to their ranch for sandwiches, nachos and beer. (Howard didn't have a beer, and very few nachos cause he's trying to look like a 26 year old.)

They have ten acres, half a dozen horses and a beautiful view no matter where you look.

Paul talked about cutting grass, and Carol talked about shoveling horse shit.

One of there horses is whacked out. He's addicted to inhaling whatever he smells on a fence post. It's so bad they had to a put a muzzle cage over his snout. Apparently, if they didn't he could kill himself by in inhaling too heavily.

Lord Jesus, I tell ya. If he was mine I'd take that muzzle off and dig a big hole - or get Paul to dig it. Apparently he's good at that kind of stuff.

Another highlight during the tour was offered by Howard. At one point he said "a lot of people don't like the smell of barns and the smell of horse crap. I do. I find it sort of comforting.."

Then he got in the corral and sniffed a post. Carol quickly muzzled him.

It was a fine day, a fun day, an informative day.

Thank you Mott's

If you'd like to hear the Humble and Fred segment from today, go here and download the August 19th show. We barge in about half way through, but listen to the whole goddamn show.

It's great, because it's the Mott's

Category: Radio

Category: Radio

McGuinty and Reimer.

Category: Radio

Neighbour John saw this t-shirt in a bar on Tuesday. We bought good quality merchandise.

Category: Radio

The Foo Fighters are cool, American debt and Jack Layton.

Category: Radio

Best wishes Fred. Strange time in the biz and I'm glad I'm looking from the outside. I hope to hear you and Humble again...the world needs you guys.

Marty Forbes

Category: Radio

Hey Everybody

I'm sure you've noticed I haven't posted much lately. Much like last summer, I've had a lot going on and it's affected my discipline to sit down and write stuff.

But know this, in the coming weeks and months I will have more time.

I'm no longer working in Peterborough. This led to that, and that led to more and the next thing you know, you're cleanin' out the office you pretty much furnished at your own expense.

But that's OK because I had been away from home much too long.

I may look like a dummy, but three years ago when I took the job at Corus Peterborough I decided not to sell the brick palace in Brampton and it was the best thing I could have done.

Oh yea. Once you move out of the big smoke it's tough to move back. Unless of course you're coming back to be a highly paid morning man and those days are in my rear view mirror.

While in Peteborough I rented a small apartment and I stayed there four nights a week, which meant I was away from my darlin' Delyse more than I was with her, and after a while that's just too much.

But hey, I was committed to the job and looked at it as a re-invention and a learning experience. And yes it was. I'm re-invented and I learned a lot.

About management, people and trust.... especially trust.

I will miss the crew in Peterborough. They are a great bunch. Especially the youngins, of which there is a very talented group headed for big things if they're allowed to develop with the proper influence.

Needless to say, I've got some great stories to tell, the radio biz is a fascinating one but I'll enlighten you at a later time when it makes sense.

In the meantime, I'm going to take the next few weeks and spend more time with Delyse and re-adjust to living at home full time again. I love the thought.

I will also think about the next step, and besides talking to a couple of people who have reached out already, I will huddle with a former humble partner and map strategy on an exciting project.

Details in a week or so when I return from the Tin Palace.

And I promise, the same promise I made last summer, and it's a promise I kept, when I return I will blog with a vengeance.

Category: Radio | Stuff

TV syndication dough and the kid who caught the ball.

Category: Radio

Casey Anthony verdict.

Category: Radio