The Day The Music Died
Filed under: MTV > Business Blitz
Today is D-day at MTV and its sister companies!
The axe has come down and 850 people are being fired within MTV networks (MTV, VH1, CMT, BMT, Nickelodeon, etc).
The following is an email that was sent out this morning to all Viacom employees from the CFOs:
"Dear Colleagues:
With less than a month until the close of 2008, our entire organization continues to do everything possible to anticipate and adapt to the unprecedented changes affecting all our businesses. We know it hasn’t been easy and we couldn’t be more proud or more appreciative of how you have risen to the challenge.
Even in these tough economic times, Viacom has a strong hand to play. We have a broad stable of outstanding brands, diverse revenue streams and an impressive global footprint, backed up by exceptional financial strength. Added to that we have talented employees, extremely able leaders and a creative ingenuity that runs deep.
Unfortunately, our advantages and best efforts can’t completely protect Viacom from the very serious and broad-based challenges of this economic recession. Viacom’s long-term health will depend on our shared commitment to adapt, to innovate and to make difficult choices. To compete and thrive, we need to create an organization and a cost structure that are in step with the evolving economic environment.
Today, we are announcing a company-wide restructuring plan that includes staffing reductions in all divisions. This will result in a reduction of our worldwide workforce of approximately 7 percent, or about 850 positions. We are also suspending salary increases for the Company’s senior level management in 2009. In addition, after a comprehensive review of our operations, we will write down certain programming and other assets. These three actions will bring us significant cost savings and other efficiencies.
Top managers at every part of the company worked thoughtfully, carefully and compassionately to create a leaner, more focused organization. It was not an easy task, but it was an essential step that will keep Viacom at the competitive forefront today and tomorrow. Department heads and supervisors will provide you with more information about the changes that will be taking place in your division.
Saying goodbye to friends and colleagues is always difficult, particularly when we have shared so much. Those of you who will be leaving should be proud of your contributions, which we will always respect and appreciate. We thank you and we wish you the best.
The true measure of an organization is how it deals with change and overcomes challenges. We know that you are up to the task and that together we will push through the difficulties ahead and go on to even greater achievements.
We truly appreciate your continued commitment and hard work and we thank you for everything you do each day.
Sincerely,
Philippe and Tom"
once again you want to bring us down.
fucking stop it!!!
we come here to see celeb gossip…
fucking do your job!!!
FUCKIN SECOND !!
Maybe they could have saved money eliminating all those reality shows: They are all garbage!!!!
MTV sucks donkey balls, play some videos like the old days dildos.
that's freaking horrible
:(
the only channel i really care about from that list is nick. all the others are bleh.
SHOVE THAT Wii THING UP UR ASS MARIO! Fuck I hate that thing!
The world is ending..Live, live, live.
Barffff
the music died on mtv years ago
MTV could probably save a lot of money if they just played music videos. All of their production costs on those stupid reality shows are running them into the ground. Seriously. Just play music videos and you don't have to fire people. Idiots.
Here's an idea for MTV - try playing videos.
THANKS PEREZ YOU FUCKING RETARD!
Re: Productboy – EXACTLY!!!
Re: mamajud – You got that right.
Re: LettyB Thanks All Her Fans! – Looks like everyone is going to get the Christmas from Hell. Make sure you invite Dr. Satan. hehe jingles.
Since they are just another TELEVISION show now…..I say good riddance!!!!!!
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Re: Productboy – #11.
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EXACTLY DARLING!
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AND START WITH A MONTAGE OF AZIS CLASSICS!!!
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KISSES LETTYB AND mamajud DARLINGS!!!
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IT'S ALL BULLSHIT
WATCH ESOTERIC AGENDA
Who couldn't have seen this coming? Geez, they stopped being about the music YEARS ago. It's all those crappy reality shows they've launched that had a hand in doing them in.
I remember watching MTV so much back in the 80's that I could name the artist, the song, the album and sometimes the record company before the info appeared on screen. Used to DRIVE MY MOTHER NUTS! She thought my recall talent could be used for something more productive…like improving my grades! They used to have soooo many great shows…120 minutes, IRS's Cutting Edge, Head Bangers Ball….now all they have is shit, and reruns of reruns of shit!!!! What happened to the music? If MTV wants to be relevent again, they need to go back and watch their tapes from the mid 80's-early 90's to remind themselves of what they used to be, and could be again if they tried hard enough.
Best news ever!! Viacom can suck it.
Does this mean their canceling the Hills please say its so……
They never should have STOPPED playing music videos. Talk about cutting your own nuts off.
hopefully spencer pratt is the first on the list to go.
MTV has been dead for the past 10 years, yes reality tv is to blame, it doesnt even deserve to be called Music TV, its not about music anymore
So about the title of this post: MTV doesn't play music anymore. The music died on MTV YEARS ago! So glad to see you're spreading the negativity just like the rest of the liberal media. How about reporting about some of the positive things happening?
Hey Morons,
People stopped watching videos years ago, that's why MTV developed The Real World and Jackass, to keep viewers watching more than the 3 minutes of their favorite video and changing the channel. Ask Fuse how great it is to show videos. Their ratings are horrible. You can go online and watch any video you want at any time you want, you don't have to wait around for MTV to show it anymore.
That being said, I would appreciate better shows on MTV. The stuff they have now is pretty bad.
Puhleeze, the day the music died at MTV was somewhere back in the late 90s! They are nothing more than reality TV whores who pimp out the most insipid shows aimed at those who have clearly suffered brain damage and don't know any better. I was surprisingly pleased to hear that TRL was over and am now waiting for MTV to disappear altogether in favour of a station that actually focuses on music, not spoiled, boring little rich kids and their over-exhorbitantly ridiculous b'day parties and dumb shit like that Tila Tequila drivel! If I never saw MTV again, it would be too soon!!!
MTV's programming does suck balls….
It's everywhere, not just these big companies. My husband lost his job of 15 years on Monday due to the company closing. Merry effin' Xmas.
This sucks! What is going on?
thats actually really sad
It's not just MTV people, it's the sister companies too! It is sad that this happening especially people who have to support families. These are tough times. I've been there and I do hope that life turns around for these unfortunate soon…
i work at vh1 and today i watched an amazing coworker get sent packing.. it's innocent people getting cut so stop being assholes about it
By the way Merry friggin Christmas f- what the hell!!! Seriously could they have at least waited until after Christmas - there is going to be a lot of po'd people and just like elephants people are not going to forget the fact that u effed with their holiday funds.
MTV could have save themselves the trouble in the first place if only stuck to music like they should
They should have fired all the lazy execs and vps who keep pumping life into this reality tv crap. They are the ones who have made MTV the sh*thole it is today.
I worked on the CMA Red Carpet show and can't get paid …..I cut my rate and was promised a quick check…I am told by the two remaining people still working in Nashville that this is common practice…holding payroll…I have been working with MTV on and off since 1985…never have I seen such bull shit management and programming and they put on now….It 's a bunch of dumbass kids working for nothing with titles…..I worked on the first Spring break….Remote Control ….and tons of good music video and award shows….now two nimrods named Phillippe and who ever are making decisions that affect programming (who cares it sucks) and more importantly peoples lives…..I need that money to pay my bills and buy xmas gifts for my three kids…..Nashville is scared to death to call ny to have them release the checks…..well I'm not ….SHAME ON YOU ASSHOLES………
C