Moeller: Yes, I pulled ads after Mischke's firing
Just got off the phone with Mark Moeller, the CEO of R.F. Moeller Jeweler, who confirms that, yes, he did pull his AM1500 ads after his buddy Tommy Mischke was fired.
"There wasn't one single reason," Moeller insists. "Friendship obviously played a part. But the other thing is, he's been doing my spots for 15 years, he's a popular guy, so I'm supposed to have Joe Blow do my ads now?"
Moeller says he's received 50 emails supporting him for pulling his ads, or urging him to do so. Mischke "made a profound difference in my business. Not a day goes by — not a day — where someone doesn't walk into a store and say 'Mischke sent me.'"
I pressed Moeller to tell me how much of a hit KSTP was taking for this. "It was well into seven figures" he says of his ad buys over 15 years. Simple math says those purchases averaged at least $65,000 annually.
Moeller noted the holidays and the especially bad timing of Mischke's Dec. 5 axing: "I basically have 14 days to do 20 percent of my business. How'd you like to have the rug pulled out from under you in this economic climate?"
Still, Moeller says business is up 27 percent this year, and he professes no ill will toward AM1500. While admitting some shouting occurred Saturday, "I have nothing bad to say about KSTP management," adding execs told him the day the deed was done, but not the reason why. "I love the Hubbards, I love the radio station. But they made a business decision and I made mine."
The Moeller-Mischke partnership is not over, he emphasizes.
"No one understands the time we spent on those ads — 40-50 takes, and it was just freaking hilarious. But Tommy and I have talked since this happened. We're planning some YouTube ads, some viral marketing."
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Comments (7)
Am 1500 listeners are a very fagile bunch. A few years back the Vikings weren't playing on a Sunday, so regular listeners, who normally didn't listen on Sundays tuned in. They were shocked, shocked I tell you, to find well known liberal Nick Coleman on their radios. He lasted another two or three weeks, then, the ax just fell.
Mischke was the last Democratic leaning voice on the station. He had a nasty habit of pointing out how rediculous the wing-nuts on the station actually are. With a guy like Obama in office that are particularly fragile and could no longer take his honesty.
bubye Mischke.
Tommy is great latenight at that time when you've had a beer or two and want someone who understands what your day may have been like. KSTP mispositioned his show at noon and that is not his fault. IDIOTS! Now when driving between jobs I have to listen to 1280. Shame on you AM1500.
After listening to Bob Davis beat up on his listeners it was always a pleasure to have Tommy come on and lighten things up a bit. GET HIM BACK AT ANY PRICE!
Yep, I don't know why they moved Tommy to a daytime slot. It made no sense. He was there when I was ready to wind down for the evening. Since I work during the day, I couldn't listen to his show anymore.
Somebody as talented and as way-off-the-norm as Tommy is going to find work. Right? Right?!
I would love to see a mpr fm station offer Tommy a slot so he could keep on sharing his wisdom with us locals plus maybe get to play some vintage blues harp music over a nice strong, clean signal. I ain't proud. I'd listen to public radio if it got that good.
Mischke's got a friend...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CPJbUtNO8GQ
Dear Ginny,
I think your making a big mistake going to virtually all sports. I’ve listened to AM1500 for over 15 years. I listen to the morning show on my way to work, and Joe on my way home. I listen to Paul on the weekends and of course the Twins. If I wanted to listen to all sports I would have been listening to KFAN. Did the Hubbard’s sell the station to ESPN or are you just an affiliate? I hope it’s the latter as maybe you’ll regain your senses after a year or two.
I’ve hung in there with you throughout your changes. The departure of Rush Limbaugh was tough, but I shortly realized I didn’t miss him at all. (so I guess that was a good thing) The other thing that really made me mad is when you started moving Tommy Mischke around. He was perfect in the evening/late evening spot. With “perhaps” the exception of Don Vogel, Tommy is by far the best talent you’ve ever had on your station………..and then you fired him. I, of course, may not know the entire story behind the firing, but I do know it was not anything he said on the radio.
Anyway, I’m done with your station. I “may” continue to listen to Joe after 4:00, but that’s it. Not even the Twins will bring me back into the fold. I surely don’t want to listen to Joe and Pat talk sports.
I believe I’m just one of many that will be turning their dials elsewhere. Tommy’s departure almost did it, but this was the final straw.
Want me back? Put Tommy back on the air and get Pat off Joe’s show.
Regards,
Craig Moses