Real Pros, on and Off the Air

It’s been an exciting time in Winnipeg radio this week. CITI-FM hired away Winnipeg’s highest rated rock morning show to boost ratings, which led to some job losses, and I was pleasantly surprised at the way the guys getting the axe handled the situation.

Dave Wheeler, Phil Aubrey and Rena Jae were the hosts of ‘Wheeler in The Morning’ on Power 97—that is until a week ago last Wednesday when contract negotiations broke down and CITI officially hired them a day later.

Wheeler and company’s new gig saw the cancelation of ‘Tom and Joe in The Morning’ (hosted by Tom McGouran and Joe Aiello), an institution at CITI FM for the last 18 years. Rogers Media, who owns CITI, opted to move Aiello to sister station 102.3 Clear FM to join co-host Kerri Salki.

McGouran and Clear FM’s Jay Oliver have both been let go.

Of course this story was all over the media, but the Winnipeg Sun’s coverage specifically caught my eye. Why? Well even though I would expect a certain amount of diplomacy and face-saving on the part of Tom and Joe, I was particularly impressed at their attitudes and their professionalism when they were interviewed by the Sun’s Ross Romaniuk. Here are a few examples:

“It’s actually not unfortunate. At the end of the day, it’s business. So now, I look for a gig and re-emerge somewhere else,” McGouran, 55, said after being told of the moves following his show on Thursday.

“I understand how business works. They’re trying to cut costs, so they bring in a younger crew who are cheaper,” he said of Rogers. “That’s the way it goes. We live on contracts, year to year. That’s the business we’re in, because we’re working in the greatest business in the world. I love it. Every day I do my gig, it’s not like ever working. That’s the risk you always take.”

Aiello called it “kind of a goofy day” that he hadn’t seen coming after 18 years on CITI’s morning airwaves with McGouran, a 30-year veteran of Winnipeg FM radio.

“The old line for us is that you’re hired to be fired. As entertainers, we know that. And the show has to go on, as they say. But it’s been a tough day, because in anybody’s line of work you never want to see people lose their jobs,” said Aiello, 46.

McGouran said he’s taking the shakeup in stride.

“I love the business. I love Winnipeg. It will work out,” he said. “I’ve had a fantastic time, and I’m looking forward to a fantastic time at the next place I’m working at. Just tell Winnipeg it will hear from me soon.”

As a young broadcaster, Tom and Joe’s attitudes are pretty inspiring.

We hear all the time about the radio business being cut-throat and that “nice guys finish last”, it’s nice to see that McGouran and Aiello are being truthful but respectful.

They could bad mouth Rogers all they want and even display some bitterness about what went on. Of course, you could argue that they’re responding the way they are because they know what good PR is and they don’t want to burn any bridges.

That may be true, but I had the opportunity to meet them once and they seemed like great guys. They’re also pros on the air, and I think it’s a wonderful example to see that they’re pros off the air as well, whether they’re just being nice guys or smart business men.

Good luck Tom and Joe in your new ventures!