WKSE PD Dave Universal was fired?

[benmcd2000]

Does anyone know about this....I just got back in town after four months of travel and heard that Dave was fired by Entercom for particpating in payola. That's nuts...he worked at WKSE for over 17 years. I am stunned by this :(

[tico]

That's very old news, perhaps about six months old. It did have something to with payola.

[benmcd2000]

golden said:

That's very old news, perhaps about six months old. It did have something to with payola.

Thanks, I found the link to a NY Times story about this. I guess it happenend in January. I am at a loss for words. Dave is one of the best PD's in this country. He had an amazing relationship with the community of Buffalo. Does anyone know where he might be now? I'd like to send him an e-mail or something. :( Any help would be greatly apperciated.

[Slinky]

From what's been said on All Access, it looks like Mr. Universal was the scapegoat for a whole company.

The New York state attorney general was investigating radio companies about payola.  Entercom got nervous and looked for someone to blame.  Universal had taken trips with promoters, all approved by Entercom management of course, but Entercom had to appear like they were doing something to fix the problem, so Universal became the fall guy.

Never mind that it all of this "payola" (I say it in quotes, because no one's proven or even alleged that money changed hands) was Entercom-approved and if anyone, it should have been upper management that got the boot.  This is business though, so it's always the little guy that gets the blame.  I feel sorry for Dave Universal; he really built a legacy with Kiss 98.5.

[EvanJ]

Right now here is the top story on the All Access Net News page:

"Former ENTERCOM Top 40 WKSE (KISS 98.5)/BUFFALO PD DAVE UNIVERSAL has surfaced as consultant for NIAGARA BROADCASTING Top 40/Rhythmic CKEY/NIAGARA FALLS, ON. UNIVERSAL's responsibilities will be for the US music and marketing side of CKEY's programming.

UNIVERSAL told ALL ACCESS, "I actually had planned on taking the year off, but with the YANKEES on this winning streak, it looks like they'll be playing in the playoffs this OCTOBER, so if I want tickets, I figured I better get a radio job fast! The time off has been great. I suggest everyone try and get fired (without cause) at least once in their lives when they are still young. I've spent my time becoming best friends with my 2 year old son, going to lots of sporting events, and working on Gov. PATAKI's re-election campaign.

"I look forward to working with NIAGARA Group PD ROB WHITE and NIAGARA owner DAVID DANCY. They want some help taking the station more Mainstream musically, and with marketing efforts in the US. The consultant role is great, because it allows me to still spend a ton of time at home with my son. I'll mostly be doing music, no day to day PD stuff. This isn't about going after WKSE. I'm still friends with all my old staff, and they are great at what they do.

"But for several reasons I can't get into, for now, working with ROB and DAVID is a great situation for me that I would have been crazy to turn down. And I don't think working with me will hurt them either! Also, a written part of my job description is working with all the US labels, so I look forward to working with all my old friends and being able to earn a living like every other American! I can't wait to get started!" Reach DAVE at [phone] or [e-mail]."

[TheJakes]

^^^

I've spent my time becoming best friends with my 2 year old son, going to lots of sporting events, and working on Gov. PATAKI's re-election campaig

You go Dave. Stick to that self-righteous prick Eliot Spitzer.

[thebigham]

I don't like Dave. Mostly because he is a Republican!!

And, he kept Janet Snyder on the air!!!.

Chris