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Richard Mecham

Hi, my name is Richard Mecham. I got involved in the radio business right out of college 24 years ago, the past 14 ½ with Bonneville International in Salt Lake City, Utah. I had a great run with Bonneville and I love the radio business! I have enjoyed a lot of success in radio sales and management and thought it would be fun to share what I’ve learned over the years with others. Thus, Rich Media Consulting was born.

A few career highlights...

• Frederick, Maryland. Where it all began! I learned all about the “Consultant Sell” and identifying a client’s “Key Marketing Challenge” in Frederick. And this was in 1981! Within six months I had sixteen 52 week annual accounts on the air.
• Washington, D.C. I was hired to generate “new business” at ABC owned WRQX-FM. There was no such thing as a new business seller in 1982. In my first full year I generated $300,000 of brand new business and over $500,000 in year two. In year three I was promoted to the new position of Retail Sales Manager. I hired four new salespeople and we generated over $1,000,000 of new business in our first year together.
• Las Vegas, Nevada. I got a bad case of “management fever” and took a job as General Sales Manager and then General Manager at KKLZ-FM. During my five years as General Manager we more than doubled top line revenues and quadrupled the proverbial bottom line. KKLZ-FM was also the highest rated Classic Rock station in the country for over a year.
• As General Manager, President, and Senior VP of KSL Radio, we exceeded bottom line plan for eleven straight years by an average of 30% and increased gross revenues from $3,300,000 to $13,000,000+. KSL is also the flagship station for Brigham Young University Football and Basketball. For 12 years I negotiated the rights fee agreements and generated $2,000,000 + per year in revenue.
• As President of KSL Television we eliminated almost $6,000,000 in expenses and took a station whose profits had fallen to $3,300,000 to almost $7,000,000 in three years. We also negotiated a new 10 year agreement with NBC and billed over $7,600,000 in Olympic dollars during the 2002 Winter Olympic Games.
• From 1997 through 2000 both KZLA-FM in Los Angeles and KSL-AM in Salt Lake City exceeded their net operating income goals every year. Both stations received the NAB Crystal Award for community service in 1999.
• In 2004 Bonneville acquired three new FM stations and a permit to build a new AM station in Salt Lake City. It took seven months to build out 17,000 square feet of new office space and five new studios. In spite of commuting between two locations we still achieved our bottom line plan in 2004.
• For three years the Salt Lake Radio Group was trained by the Center for Sales Strategy (CSS). I personally have participated in “Talent Focused Management”, “The Marketing Pro” as well as Gallup\’s “Building a Stronger Workplace” and “High Impact Management” programs.
• I have successfully managed stations with several different formats including Classic Hits, Classic Rock, Soft AC, Hot AC, Country, CHR, and News/Talk.
• Graduate, University of Utah, Organizational Communications, Magna Cum Laude
• Sold airtime or managed stations in Frederick, Maryland, Washington, D.C., Las Vegas, Salt Lake City and Los Angeles
• As General Manager of KSL Radio, exceeded bottom line plan by an average of 30% for eleven straight years.
• Won 2 NAB Crystal Awards for Community Service
• “Bonneville’s Best” General Sales Manager and General Manager of the Year.
• Former President of the Nevada Broadcaster’s Association.
• Served on the NAB Radio Board for 4 years representing Utah, Nevada, New Mexico, and Arizona.
• Trained by the Center for Sales Strategy (CSS). Participated in “Talent Focused Management”, “The Marketing Pro”, and Gallup’s “Building a Stronger Workplace” and “High Impact Management” programs.

I have a fairly simple philosophy when it comes to the radio business. You hire the best people, you give them the tools and the training they need and then allow them the opportunity to do what they were hired to do.

I look forward to working together!