(by Eric Rhoads) On Tuesday, I had a feeling that I should call Jim Carnegie. No reason except that we hadn’t talked in a while since I purchased RBR-TVBR from him, and he was on my mind. On Wednesday, I learned of his passing.
For decades Jim Carnegie was my nemesis. Not so much because we competed, but just because of the nature of our relationship. He would call and tell me he was winning, that I might as well get out of the business. He would tell me stories about all the progress he was making, all the people that he was influencing, all the great things going on at his publication. Then he would hang up on me.
I have to admit, I didn’t much care for Jim Carnegie back then. He just rubbed me the wrong way, though I never returned the vitriol.
We continued to compete over the years; he started Radio Business Report when he and Jerry Del Colliano split up — that was more than 30 years ago. And I always thought he did a great job of reporting on the industry, especially the regulatory and financial aspects of the business.
What I didn’t care for was Jim’s rough edge, the side that would be overly tough with advertisers and was unfairly critical of and harsh toward the industry. Still, Jim called me about twice a year for over two decades. He talked to me about how he was winning (and why I was doing such a bad job), and then he would suggest I buy him out. He would throw out prices like $50 million, especially after R&R had sold for $70 million.
I never took the bait.
Then, after one call, I suggested we have dinner at a radio convention. It was there that I met his wife and partner, Cathy, for the first time. They were like sugar and spice — she was as sweet as he was difficult. We discussed a merger, and it seemed it was going to happen, mostly because of my respect for Cathy, but it never came about.
Then, sadly, in 2012, Cathy passed away. Jim was devastated.
They had planned on selling the publication, retiring, and traveling together. That dream was shattered when Cathy suffered a brain aneurysm; she died a few days later. We spoke upon her death, and he was a sad and broken man, and perhaps more genuine than I had ever seen him.
It was then that we became a little closer. He was, at that moment, just a man who was broken after losing the love of his life.
Over time, Jim regained some of his original vinegar. He reached out to Jim Robinson, who at the time was running my business. Jim suggested that we should look at it.
I refused, but Jim persisted, explaining all the reasons I should do it.
I continued to resist. Eventually, a year or more had passed. Jim Robinson had all but given up, but suggested that I take one more look.
I agreed to look into it and decided we would do a deal, under one condition: I did not want to meet with Jim Carnegie.
So we did the deal, and, after hours of talking with Jim, I changed my mind and decided to appear at the closing.
I have to admit: That couple of days with Jim Carnegie were two of the most delightful days of my career. It was a true chance to get to know him, and have some deep conversations about the industry and his passion for it. We shared that love for radio. After all, we had both been air personalities at the same time, he at KQV/Pittsburgh, me at Y100 Miami. And I think that, because the competitive factor was gone, he felt he could treat me differently. I was going to carry on his legacy.
We brought RBR into the Streamline family, redesigned it, and frankly had a tough time overcoming some issues with advertisers who had been offended by the way Jim had treated them. But our association with the brand and our reputation eventually overcame those issues.
As I heard of Jim’s passing, it occurred to me that I had learned an important lesson or two by dealing with him.
First, he was a man of conviction. He cared little about what others thought and believed deeply in his own opinions. I respect that.
Secondly, behind his gruff, hard, sometimes impossible-to-take exterior was a deeply caring man. It was a reminder that every difficult person has a soft side somewhere.
I also learned a lot about myself. In spite of our many unpleasant encounters, I was able to listen and forgive.
Ultimately the reason I bought RBR wasn’t just because of the brand or the revenue. In some ways, letting it fade away might have been better. I bought it because Jim and Cathy had devoted their lives to it, they were passionate about the industry, and I didn’t want to see a legacy brand disappear or be diluted. It was truly an emotional decision.
Thankfully it has worked out, since emotional decisions are often mistakes.
The people of this industry probably rarely stop to think about a man like Jim Carnegie, who devoted his life to serving them, to keeping them informed and educated. But our industry owes him our gratitude. He may have had his gruff side, may have made some enemies, but his unwillingness to be bought allowed him to create some wonderful journalistic moments for our industry.
I never really cared for Jim Carnegie until I took the time to get beyond the veneer and know him as the great friend he turned out to be. Now I’m regretting not following my instincts and calling him yesterday.
I hope you’ll join me in taking a moment to reflect on this man, his passion for our industry, and the important role he played.
I’ve asked our editors at RBR-TVBR to post memories and comments about Jim. Feel free to also leave your thoughts here. From what we understand Carnegie died of natural causes. There are no plans for a memorial service.
Bob Weisner
It was with great sadness that a learned of the passing of Jim Carnegie this week. I was a student of his in 1973-74 at Andrews Institute of Broadcasting in Pittsburgh and Jim was the lead instructor. We bonded immediately and he seemed to devote more time to me. Jim would always push me to the maximum to get the most out of my ability. I spent 36 years as a radio news journalist in West Virginia. Thanks Jim and R.I.P.
I enjoyed reading your article, Eric, and I was very interested in all of the comments. I especially appreciated the kind words you all said about my sister, Cathy. We were all devastated when she died and knew that Jim’s heart was so broken — and never really healed.
There is going to be a “Celebration of Life” service for the both of them on August 21st at 5:00 PM at Caddy’s on the Beach in Treasure Island. A reception will follow the service. Please come and bring photos and stories you would like to share. Spread the word and please RSVP on Jim’s facebook page if you can stay for the reception.
Carol Henly
I worked for Jim as editor in chief of RBR for 4 years during the height of radio consolidation. Everything you wrote about Jim is spot-on. I will remember him for the chance he gave me to dive into the radio business, which to this day I consider my first love. Despite his outsized, often combative personality, he mostly let me run with my ideas. When it was time for me to leave, I used one of Jim’s favorite phrases: “my way or the highway.” I took the highway, but I also took with me experience that has served me well in broadcasting. For that, I have Jim to thank.
Read more at https://rbr.com/what-i-learned-from-jim-carnegie/#uxCPZVVVbcwcbruD.99
Leave it to you Eric to make it all about you. I remember him very differently. Yea, Jim was rough sometimes, didn’t always tell the industry what it wanted to hear but you always knew where he stood on the issues facing radio. They didn’t always make the industry leaders happy but he (and Jack) always told the truth and put it out there hoping the industry would wake up and realize where they were headed. He loved his industry and together with the love of his life, Cathy, made it their life’s mission to make radio great again. Yes I went there. Jim was a brilliant man who went out of his way to take care of his employees. He cared about our families and he cared about our country. He served our country through military service in the intelligence division and went on missions where he was the only one that made it out. Yea, he was tough but would do anything in the world for you, if you asked him. He deserves our love and respect for all he did and tried to do. I haven’t worked for him for a long while but on many occasions picked up the phone and asked his advice on things that were going on in my life and he was always there for me. I will miss him and I’m so blessed to have known him. Rest in peace Jimbo.
Like Jerry D, I am a Jersey boy and we hear things differently. When someone is speaking to me at all, it means they like me. If they don’t speak, there is a problem. That’s the Jersey way. So I never hear tempers or nonsense, if someone is speaking, everything is fine. Therefore I really don’t remember any problems with Jim and I was an advertiser and an editorial contributor. I also noticed that very good reporters like Katy Bachman stayed with him a long time. But your eulogy tells me more about you, Eric. You wrote a beautiful reflection and had the courage to share your resentments and forgiveness. It’s you whom I respect.
Walter. I grew up in Indiana. That says it all. We respond differently to directness.
I appreciate the sentiment.
Jim Carnegie was a drunk and a bully. He mistreated everyone; advertisers, competitors, and employees. But no one more so than his poor wife Cathy. She was indeed very sweet and fragile and bore the brunt of his misogyny and alcohol-fueled rages.
Sure, he loved the radio business and he could be very charming – if you caught him on a good day or he wanted something from you, as most manic-depressives can be. But what he really enjoyed was the ability to intimidate people. He used his publication to attack and settle petty scores. And nothing gave him more pleasure than seeing people squirm.
I worked for him for over a year and it was not a good experience. I saw and heard more nasty things than I care to recount.
I hesitated to write this because the old adage is that you are not supposed to speak ill of the dead….But Jim Carnegie was filled with vitriol and anger and pettiness and was really, truly a son of a bitch.
So sorry to hear this. I sold at R&R for 20 years, with Jim as a competitor for all of those years. But our conversations were always cordial, and I could see how much he adored his wife Cathy. I remember when they first met. We are losing so many of our longtime radio friends. Sad, but so many great memories.
Oh my. This was a shock to read. I’ve been out-straight running the 4th annual KBA WKU RADIO TALENT INSTITUTE at Western Kentucky University, trying to stay in contact with the outside world while this amazing program consumes the majority of my days.
I didn’t know Jim Carnegie. I DID speak many times with Cathy and she was the BEST! When she unexpectedly passed away, I really felt for Jim as I only knew her from our phone calls and emails, but loved her for her warm & wonderful personality and always helping me with a problem I was having with their IT.
Jim, Jerry, Eric, and Tom Taylor would become the new “radio reporting royalty” that would take over from Broadcasting and Billboard (Vox Jox) magazines that would be the first publications that would influence my radio career.
I will always remember Jim’s mantra about change and how we would all need to get with it or be left behind by it.
I hope Jim & Cathy are now once again back together where they fulfill one another.
Thank You Eric for all you wrote.
Funny, but I never saw a rough side of Jim Carnegie. Bob Harper hired him at KQV as a part time weekend talent, and he used to come into the studio while was doing the morning show, watch,listen and ask why i did stuff. After KQV was sold to Taft by ABC, nobody in their right mind would come in and run KQV until Taft closed the deal so the GM, John Gibbs, gave him the reigns. He came into the studio right after it happened and asked “What am I gonna do?” Happily, we joined forces and perked up the station a bit and a lifetime friendship was born. That was in 1974. When Taft moved KQV to all news, he got a job in Kansas City FMer as PD, and his first hire was our KQV nighttime jock, Jeff Christie, aka Rush Limbaugh.We actually collaborated when Jim decided to do a morning industry report on audio, called the RBR Morning edition. First ever: they sent the copy to my house and I recorded it and shipped an mp3 back to him, 5 days a week. Ours was a shared friendship, and, as I said, we never had any kind of problem. When Kathy died, he called me and cried and so did I. He never got over it. I’m moving back to Tampa Bay, and I was looking forward to getting back together after all the years and distance. I guess not. I’ll miss you, Jimbo.
Eric: Your words are so appropriate, especially when speaking of his feelings about the industry and Cathy. He never hid his love for either in our many conversations; always using a sailor’s mouth when speaking of radio, and a romantic’s vocabulary when talking of their plans for retirement. His visions were truly more than many people knew or could understand.
I am floored to hear of this. I too, enjoyed semi-regular phone calls with Jim where we debated, snarled and pontificated. I loved it.
On occasion, his lovely wife would answer the phone. So pleasant. So kind. So rare.
Hearing of Cathy’s passing, I called Jim. No doubt, I could tell that life itself was sucked out of him. I feared he would not rebound from such sorrow.
I always loved reading Jim’s RBR religiously, along with Eric’s Radio Ink, Jerry Del’s hard core stuff, FMQB , etc. What a great time to be in Radio.
Jim & Cathy are now together again. It softens the sadness to think that might surely be possible…..
God Bless Jim & Cathy.
Mel Toxic Taylor
WYSP, WDRE, WPST, WIFI, Philly
Eric, honest as usual. What a character, always pushing for more. That was his charm. Comments were well said. Rest in Peace Jim.
Well said Eric,
Jim Carnegie was a friend of mine. When he was just a part timer at KQV he used to take my calls when he used to do his Saturday afternoon airshift. I was just a young radio wannabe at the time. He would discuss music and programming with me. Later We spoke numerous times about the good old days when he was KQV’s program director and he would help me with my KQV tribute website. Jim, I hope you are with Cathy now.
Eric, you did a fabulous job of capturing Jimmy. What a character. Now that you put your unvarnished feelings forward it is probably appropriate for me to share how Jim and I had our falling out to which you alluded. We worked together when I hired him at Inside Radio to sell ads for my magazine, Radio Only. We were friends and because, I guess, I’m a Jersey boy, his hard edge looked normal to me. Until one day when I arrived at my office and found a letter on my desk with 7 demands in it. Among the demands: to take all my accounts and their commissions, eight weeks of vacation (six more than I took) and those are just the “good” demands. I imploded on the spot. Called him in and had at my old buddy and fired him on the spot. What’s worse is he somehow got my secretary to type his demand letter!! She looked like she saw a ghost when I walked in that day. Five weeks later we were having breakfast at a local diner and all was good again. You see, we both probably have a million stories about radio people that are mostly true and incredible. People who loved this business no matter how difficult their exteriors. Jimmy died of broken heart in many ways because of the loss of his wonderful wife, Cathy and I do hope there is a world after this where they can be together again. Thanks for your authentic tribute to one of the characters of radio that reminds us again why we love this business so much.
Oh my. So sorry to hear about my friend Jim
Carnegie. Jim followed me as PD of KQV. We palled around a lot in Pittsburgh and I valued our friendship through the years. I will miss you dearly Bubba.