You probably don’t know Kent Zimmer.
He’s that guy who comes along maybe once every 15-20 years whose world spins at a different speed than yours and mine. With chaos swirling all around him, Kent’s the guy who would look up and notice a pretty butterfly … and make up a song about it and start singing it … and it would be good. And you would laugh. A lot.
He … how do I put this … he … umm … makes a lot of strange mouth noises. At odd times. But somehow, it’s not strange at all. It works for Kent.
About ten years ago to the day, Kent became a morning guy in a small market you’ve probably never heard of.
He was born to entertain an audience, but it’s not an act. He’s the Bald Eagle-rare guy who’s the same goofy kid on-air and off.
And now he’s leaving the station, the company, and the industry that so desperately need him.
Because he’s moving upward and onward to a bigger market as so many talented folks do in the media industry?
Nope. Kent’s a different cat. He wants to stay around home. He’s a mama’s boy to this day, and he’s got a beautiful wife and wonderful children. He wants to stay home.
So … rather than earning six figures in a major country market … he’s willing to stick around and become the unofficial mayor of an entire region for what I can only presume is a fraction of that.
“But … but … that’s more than we pay someone like him! That’s more than we’ve ever paid someone like him!” they clamor.
Yeah. Really, Radio? How’s doing the same thing you’ve always done working out for you?
Maybe it’s time you try something new in the hope of getting different results. Maybe it’s time you pay the flagship guy on your flagship station as much as you pay your top seller.
Yep. He’s that good … and funny … and polite … and sweet … and genuine. He’s the real deal. He’s the poster boy. He’s the man.
And he just resigned to go sell Red Bull and Nesquick. Yes. I’m serious.
He’s leaving the industry that needs him for a nonalcoholic liquor route.
I don’t know what they paid Kent Zimmer. He’s too classy to ever tell me, but I assure you it wouldn’t take but a small percentage of the station and company’s payroll to keep him.
He’s the guy radio dreams of having. He’s the guy that keeps the torch burning when people like Eric Rhoads try to issue wake-up calls.
Bad news, radio. The young Kent Zimmers? They’re not lining up to work in radio anymore. They see what happens.
You have to go sell Nesquick to take care of your family even when you’re the total package.
Imagine if – at the end of this year – LeBron decided, “Nah. I think I’ll go try roofing.”
DEAR RADIO: PLEASE STOP IT. STOP RUNNING OFF THE LAST OF YOUR TALENTED YOUNG REASONS TO LISTEN. PAY THEM A LIVING WAGE. PAY THEM FOR THEIR LOYALTY.
I have XM in my car. I have a port for my iPod. I listen to people. Music – I can get a million other places.
I have well over a million dollars of my clients’ money invested in you, radio, and thus I have my family’s future riding on you, too.
I’m giving you one more year, then I’m done with you if you don’t get your act together.
I hope that hurts a little. I hope you know I’m one of your biggest fans in America – to the point of irritation and eye-rolling from people I respect.
But I make money with you. Or, at least, I have made money with you. Multiples and large percentages for the right clients in the right categories with the right competition.
But you’ve got to stop letting people like people like Kent Zimmer slip through your penny-wise, pound-foolish fingers.
Or I’m gone.
I’m surprised no one has commented on this yet. I just got tears in my eyes. Thank you for saying what shouldn’t even have to be said. It’s time someone did. Doesn’t make much sense how this whole radio thing works, does it? Radio is a talent and Kent is as good as it gets…but people have to eat. I would never suggest a young person to get into radio because of this stuff right here. You can have talent coming out of your ears, but unless you want to sell commercials for the station that you are the face of or move all over the country from large market to large market, you’re probably not going to be able to buy groceries. So sad.
My thoughts exactly. Wow….you are sooo right on. Never have I met anyone like Kent Zimmer…and, I feel we hadn’t even had a chance to tap into that incrediable mind he has. Alot of business and organizations are too consumed with the mighty dollar to STOP and pay attention to “who” is helping them reach their corporate goals. Oh, goals are important…money keeps the doors open and the lights on…but you must take care of your “brilliant”…dedicated…employees. Yes, anyone can give the time and temp…tell folks to come out and buy a car, but it takes someone really special to reach out and “know” the listeners and be their friend. Radio had lost a great friend………
Classy, Juli. Very classy.
@Sad: Sorry. It’s an understatement to say I feel your pain.
Here here, Tim. I was blessed to know Kent, and work side by side with him. While he was writing and voicing amazing radio spots, I was fortunate enough to spend some time with him showing him some tricks that I had learned along the way with production.
To this day, I’ve not met even a handful of people who can begin to compete with the level of sheer talent that Kent has. I miss radio dearly, because I’ve been gone long enough to bring back the romance in my own mind. But more than that, I miss working daily with people like Kent, Ryan, Juli and Tim. When you meet someone who, just by having a daily conversation with you, can challenge your view of something; when you meet the people who can drive you beyond your self-imposed limits simply by how they see the world, that’s a truly special thing.
Cheers, Kent Zimmer. Maybe one day someone with the provisions you deserve will realize your talent. But even if not, the Red Bull customers of your world are about to be turned on their ears.
I had a friend who was a talented and creative as could be and through a variety of changes is now “on the bench”. He’s doing voice work and getting along but people who knew Mike loved Mike. “Mike at the mic” was as good as they come. When he had a good bye remote it was extended and there was people waiting to say farewell after 3 hours. “Penny wise and pound foolish” fits perfectly!