Tearson Bites the Dust at WMGK
There's a time honored, but not so honorable tradition in broadcasting. On-air talent hardly ever gets to say "so-long" to listeners or viewers when they're being canned. Today, the ax fell on WMGK's Michael Tearson. But will you hear the tree fall?
Tearson Bites the Dust at WMGK
Jonathan Takiff, Daily News Columnist
There's a time honored, but not so honorable tradition in broadcasting. On-air talent hardly ever gets to say "so-long" to listeners or viewers when they're being canned. Today, the ax fell on WMGK's Michael Tearson. But will you hear the tree fall?
One of Philly's true pioneers of progressive rock radio, Tearson broke into the biz with his late 1960s years at a then student-run, all-volunteer WXPN, then moved to WDAS-FM, for many moons to WMMR and later back, briefly to a now professionally steered XPN. Tearson has been holding down the fort at WMGK since April 2002 with a two hour (6 to 8 a.m.) "Saturday Morning 60s" heritage music show that he put together with amazing first hand knowledge and a great record library from his South Jersey home studio.
But this morning, MGK program director Charlie Lake told Tearson the party is over after this Saturday's show. And since that episode (and several more) are already in the can, M.T. won't get to say his farewells. A pity. This isn't just "another one bites the dust," it's one of the classic rock outlet's true "keeper of the keys" getting locked out, no longer to share his small insights and big picture perspective, or what veteran reporters like to call our "institutional knowledge."
Tearson is sanguine about the whole thing, joking that doing his show from home kept him out of the line of fire (and firing) for much longer than most. And he's got gigs going on Sirius/XM satellite radio, heard regularly on the Blues channel and often doing fill in (including today) on Classic Vinyl.
Still, as Leonard Cohen wrote and sang, "Hey, that's no way to say goodbye." Wonder if Tearson wasn't being prescient the other day, when he posted the survey question on Facebook "What's your favorite kiss-off song?"
Contact Daily News staff writer Jonathan Takiff at takiffj@phillynews.com.
Thanks for the many great memories.— Jen D- Saturday 6AM - 8AM IS being fired. How many listeners could he possibly have had?— BOB139
- A lot more than you would think:
That was appointment radio for quite a lot of people, and many made a point of being up early to listen to his show.— Wallyhorse2 - I thought he died 20 years ago.— eldiablodelsol2009
- Owners of this radio outlet will have no more ears from us.— joedog
- It's Sciaky, by the way. Honor the man. Spell his name correctly.
— Philsfan56 - Didn't even know he was still on any corporate FM stations. I wouldn't know anyway as I've had Sirius for 8 years now. Love listening to him and Earl Bailey on Sirius..and once in a while Pierre Robert is on.
As someone else mentioned-Deep Tracks is a great station if you want to relive 60's/70's AOR..— steve5280 - Sad day in Philly radio, when one of it's true pioneers get's the kiss-off, after many years of great radio!!!— Dadair1
- Tearson Till Two.. Who remembers that show on WMMR, he was the first dj I heard play The Police and Robert Hazzard and The Heroes.. and The Fixx..— ArseoleChris
- Bain Capital's gutting of Clear Channel has infected the rest of the radio dial. Nowadays, being a radio dj is a low-wage job, and "personalities" are out because their salaries would be higher.— Jeff West
- tearson will pop up somewhere, he always does, a few years ago he was on wbcb doing a wrestling show for ecw fans, whoda thunk— eddiot
- Sad situation. It sounds like management on WMGK was pressured to increase revenue by perhaps adding more paid programming on Saturday mornings (paid programming often preceded Saturday morning '60s) or they were under pressure to have an actual live show on Saturday mornings. Unfortunate situation no matter what.— Wallyhorse2
- The only constant is change, continuing change, inevitable change, that is the dominant factor in society today. No sensible decision can be made any longer without taking into account not only the world as it is, but the world as it will be. — Isaac Asimov
The "classic rock" format is great but there comes a time -- commercially and economically -- where the genre doesn't fully captivate a viable audience segment. I'm 64 and as soon as WRTI wraps up their daily Classical programming I go straight to the Alt/Indie/Rock format at WXPN or WRFF. Sorry, Michael, but you've had a good "terrestrial" run. Good luck.— RayTom - Fade Away , 'MGK !— thomas deluca
HOW can they boot Tearson while DeBella still works???— The Monk
