JAZZ.FM91 listeners stunned at changes, allegations of misconduct at beloved radio station

Listeners to JAZZ.FM91 are dismayed by on-air adjustments at Canada’s solely all-jazz radio station, in addition to information of allegations of sexual misconduct, office harassment and mismanagement in opposition to former CEO and president Ross Porter and board members. “It is so disappointing, surprising that this is happening,” says long-time listener Deborah Abbott. She’s already cancelled her month-to-month donations of $120. “It is very, very unhappy to see all of it disintegrate.” Hosts at the station usually referred to listeners as “members of the JAZZ.FM household,” however there have been no explanations on air concerning the current departures of 4 long-time on-air personalities, nor the sooner departure final fall of station stalwarts, together with the vp of inventive expertise Dani Elwell, who doubled as an on-air host, or the departure in April of morning present host Garvia Bailey. The abrupt departure of former morning present host Garvia Bailey in April left listeners questioning what was happening at the station. “All of a sudden I am listening one Saturday morning,” remembers Abbott, “and [Elwell] is not on. I despatched a notice, saying, ‘I missed you this morning,’ and he or she writes again.”   Elwell replied, saying, “Sadly this was not my selection. I wasn’t allowed to say goodbye with the present.” Board member John Sadler declined a request from CBC Toronto for an interview with interim CEO Charles Cutts or anybody else related with station administration. Nevertheless, final Sunday, in an e mail to listeners, board chair David McGown and Cutts wrote that the station is going through challenges, and mentioned JAZZ.FM will not be resistant to adjustments in “the fractured media panorama.” Former staff allege harassment, mismanagement However a letter obtained by CBC Toronto, dated March 16, 2017 from eight former and 5 present on-air employees at JAZZ.FM, tells a unique story. “We’re a collective of previous and current JAZZ.FM91 staff,” it begins. Then the letter goes on to accuse a quantity of senior figures at the station of  “ongoing office harassment, sexual harassment, bullying and normal mismanagement of the station.” The letter factors the finger at Porter, together with Sharda Prashad, the vp of finance and operations, former board chair Bernie Webber and board vice chair Renah Persofsky. The signatories say that over the previous 5 years they’ve witnessed “a gradual erosion within the general administration” and a local weather of concern and low morale. None of allegations have been confirmed. Longtime JAZZ.FM host Jaymz Bee with pianist Ron Davis at a reside broadcast. (tomros) Former employees, none of whom would enable their names for use for concern of authorized retribution, say the board responded by hiring office lawyer Jennifer MacKenzie to conduct an investigation. Within the emailed letter, McGown and Cutts inform listeners that “Ross Porter lately stepped apart to spend extra time along with his household and particularly his spouse, who’s terminally sick.” The letter additionally says Porter will proceed to supply programming and recommendation to the station for the approaching 12 months. A way of private loss for listeners On a Fb web page for JAZZ.FM listeners, many individuals describe emotions of private loss, particularly once they tuned in final week to search out the morning present changed by un–hosted music, interspersed with site visitors studies and BBC newscasts.   “That first morning, I used to be stunned,” says Abbott. ‘I get up to the station. I’m going downstairs and search the web site and may’t discover Garvia or Jaymz on the web site. And Garvia was wonderful, a terrific morning host, very partaking. James was this different dynamic within the morning … He was all the time enjoyable to hearken to.” One longtime host says the on-air adjustments had been preceded by years of rising secrecy and abrupt personnel adjustments at the station. “I began to see a revolving door, sped up to some extent I’ve by no means seen earlier than in every other group.” The previous host says a number of one-time colleagues are coping with PTSD. The collective letter says that over about 5 years, at least 40 staff have resigned abruptly, been fired abruptly or left the station “as a result of it was untenable.”  None of the allegations in opposition to Porter or the board members have been confirmed in courtroom. ‘They failed this group’  “If the board is liable for good governance, they failed this group,” says the one-time host. “For a non-profit public group, the transparency is nearly negligible.” The previous host and different employees additionally query the board approving a wage of greater than $300,000 for the previous CEO, given the station’s annual funds of $4.5 million and its reliance on listener donations.  Abbott blames the board for failing to guard the individuals who wrote the collective letter and the lately departed hosts. “They need to have requested for more cash and been upfront about it,” says Abbott. “Everyone knows the media is struggling and that issues are robust within the radio enterprise.” Like Abbott, long-time listener Linda Scott can also be cancelling her month-to-month donation of $20, saying she resents the shortage of transparency. “I did not assume they defined all these folks leaving,” says Abbott. ‘Troublesome choices’ Within the e mail to listeners, Cutts and McGown say they had been “troublesome choices” and add that “to place them in context, our actions occurred on the identical day that Rogers Media terminated one-third of its digital content material and publishing crew.” ‘I do not see what Rogers has to do with something,” says Scott. “JAZZ.FM wasn’t related to Rogers. They appear to be sidestepping issues. The e-mail made it sound like they only wish to make sure that you continue to give them cash.” Scott contrasts JAZZ.FM’s response with that of Soulpepper, one other arts group that went via the same upheaval after its former CEO Albert Schultz resigned amid allegations of sexual misconduct. As a frequent attendee of Soulpepper’s productions, Scott says the theatre board appealed to its viewers for assist with posts from actors and crew about how a lot the corporate and their ongoing assist meant to them. “However I do not really feel the identical pull from anybody at JAZZ.FM. There is a lack of transparency.” Pianist Ron Davis, frequent on-air visitor and longtime listener, says the diminishing quantity of jazz golf equipment within the metropolis made JAZZ.FM all of the extra essential for musicians to attach with an viewers. (tomros) Toronto jazz pianist Ron Davis, one other long-time listener and frequent on-air visitor, says the adjustments are probably devastating for the jazz neighborhood throughout Canada, as a result of it is one of solely three all-jazz radio stations in North America.   “There is not a jazz musician on this metropolis who would not think about their music being delivered to the general public by JAZZ.FM, from college students to jazz veterans,” says Davis. “Whether or not you are a 15-year-old pupil within the jazz program at Humber School, or a veteran with a brand new recording, all of it passes via JAZZ.FM.” https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/jazz-fm91-listeners-stunned-at-changes-allegations-of-misconduct-at-beloved-radio-station-1.4719169?cmp=rss