Where have all the Young Cowboys gone?

Saw this in All Access Net Talk yesterday and thought, this would make a great article for Tuesday. The new young talent is hanging banners for promotions and answering phones for the morning show...all for FREE. And when an opening does eventually come up, this "new talent" will be rewarded with the gig because "they've paid their dues here." It doesn't really matter that they have literally NO on-air experience. They've been here for two years and everyone likes them around here. Plus, they're cheap. And this is happening in all the major markets.

This battle doesn't get any better and the amazing fact here, everyone knows what's wrong with this picture. There are no small market dues paying gigs any more. They don't need to go to Helena, Joplin or Dimwitsville. Talent can work their way up the food chain in two years for an hourly wage in a major market. Managers love these kind of hires and they are killing the employment eco-system. Stations all over the country are staffed with these kind of air talents. Like the above post in All Access, they hang banners, answer the phones, dub spots and voice track for an hourly wage. These are the kinds of people that Clear Channel and Cumulus promote everyday. It keeps wages and expenses down. 

You think when companies kill major market morning shows, with great ratings and market recognition and replace them with hacks and see the ratings and revenue rise, they are going to care. Welcome to 2011!