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So Julian tell us the truth – who were you caught shagging that has so swiftly expedited your expulsion from GMG?
They could not believe I had the time to spend with the wife with my workload! Does the decision to make the GMG sales team more “London-focused” mark the end of the North West as a region with any real decision making power in the radio business? Manchester is still the HQ for [GMG] radio, but we had almost nobody based in London. It was always going to happen that some of the powerbase started to shift down there. It does not affect the regional sales team at all. Even though their boss is now in London? That will be true, but with the guy I have put in regionally he is very experienced and used to that anyway. He will still have access to his new boss. What are going to be the repercussions for the commercial radio industry of the current financial crisis? More consolidation and the need to run more operations more efficiently. It is a real challenge at the moment, but we also have to be careful not to damage revenue recovery. Tough times do not last, but tough people do. Damage revenue recovery? You mean selling spots too cheaply?  Carter: on his way in 2009 How? The amount of retailers who are doing 20% off for single days etc - this is radio’s traditional heartland. Buying a campaign for the day prior to and the day of a sale to achieve a max impact of is perfect for radio. If clients are clever they can change the copy every few hours to keep the interest alive with different offers. With what other media could you achieve that whilst maintaining the same low production costs? How have you gauged the reaction to your departure? Whose call has most surprised you? I must say even I was amazed at how shocked people were. People said that I was GMG through and through, but, then again, that is what they said when I left Capital Radio. Maybe that’s a good indication that it’s time to do something else in order to refresh yourself. The funniest was John McGeough [business development director GCap]. I told him over the phone, and I think I heard him fall over with shock! Presumably you’ve not been short of offers since the news broke. What are you going to do next? Stick with radio? I have already had a few nice conversations, but clearly the economic climate is an interesting one. I have done thirteen years in radio, and six in regional press before that. So I am open to ideas either in radio, other media or even going over to the other side! As well as your role at GMG, you’re also on the board of the Radio Advertising Bureau. The Newspaper Society has spent the last decade and a half desperately trying to emulate the RAB’s success in representing the industry. Why has the NS so clearly fucked up its attempts to represent the regional newspaper industry and present a coherent argument for the effectiveness of the medium, whilst the RAB is widely-regarded as doing a hugely successful job in achieving the same thing for the commercial radio industry? Good question. I cannot comment on whether the Newspaper Society has done a good job or not. With regards to the RAB, it has been refreshing to see them getting back on track in the last eighteen months and help drive the industry again. So why can the radio industry get its act together but not the regional press?  Regional and national player... Currently the regional press and the BBC are daggers drawn as to who should be the gatekeepers for regional news websites. Where does commercial radio feature in all this? I think with all regional and local stations that do great news, our websites are already positioned strongly. Perhaps we need to make more of this though. What’s the future for on-line only radio stations such as Manchester Radio On-Line? How long can they survive with no advertising whatsoever? Unless online radio uses the subscription model, with no advertising I am not sure how they can survive to be honest. However decent SEO [Search Engine Optimization] can ensure that worldwide audiences can view and listen to these stations. Do they deserve to survive? Yes if they are good enough and offer both visual and audio stimulation with a unique service. The sad gits who make up the majority of the anonymous postings on How-Do had a field day over the Steve Penk/Revolution story. What was your take on that? We will see if it works! It will only work though if it has a great management team running the business. It is like Man City - these new cash-rich owners need to let the manager coach the team to success! Or maybe not... The other great radio debate of the year centred on Barcelonagate, with Messrs Brand and Ross. How did you feel about that?  ... that gets it wrong sometimes You’ve worked with some dodgy presenters in your time – Derek Hatton for one. Who caused you the most worries? Who did you have the highest regard for? Derek Hatton! I have got lunch with him today - a real star, but a nice guy too. Scotty McClue was the maddest! The way he slagged off all sorts of people and got away with it… Ask Derek if he remembers me giving him 500 quid in used notes when he was just wearing his underpants some 10 years ago… I will! You worked for John Myers for a long time. In fact when GMG acquired Century didn’t John say he had to buy the company just to get you back again? If I were a cynical individual, which of course I’m not, I’d say it was hardly co-incidental that both of you are free of the GMG shackles early next year…? Actually it was David Mansfield , CEO of Capital who said that when they bought Century. I was part of the team that then bought Century after I had left! I have worked with John for seven out of 13 years in radio, so we are not joined at the  Princess Di? Does announcing your departure in the same week as Robert Harwood-Matthews announces he’s quitting TBWA Manchester for a global role in LA make you feel like Mother Teresa to his Princess Di? I have never been called Mother Teresa before, but I will happily take it ! If a job came through in Bermuda I would happily go though. Something to add? Then leave a comment below or email us now.
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