Former morning man Kirk Minihane has declared WEEI “dead,” “f***ed,” and “irrelevant” after the spring ratings were released this week. The station had a low spring ratings book, one of its worst in 25 years, which led Minihane to stage a virtual funeral.
The event was streamed live on The Kirk Minihane Network’s YouTube channel. It featured Kirk and his staff reading eulogies and saying prayers for the station, and not holding back any criticism.
“Do I take some personal satisfaction knowing that station is completely f***ed?” Minihane asked rhetorically. “Yes, I do.”
Minihane went on an indefinite leave from WEEI in September 2018 amid battles with mental health issues. He returned to Entercom as part of the company’s Radio.com podcast network, but exited in May of 2019 to join Barstool.
While he listed several people at WEEI that he is happy to see fail, Minihane did note that there are people in the building that he still cares about. He addressed them and what the station’s low ratings may mean for their job security with two simple words: “tough poopies.”
Minihane specifically called out program director Joe Zarbano, market manager Mark Hannon, Entercom President of Sports Mike Dee, and Entercom CEO David Field as leaders of WEEI that made the decisions that led to this moment. He dismissed the idea that the station’s low numbers were due to the Cover-19 Pandemic, pointing out that cross-town rival 98.5 the Sports Hub thrived during the same period.
“The other station finished number 1 and had their highest ratings ever!”
Responsibility for the demise of WEEI was laid at the feet of activist Bob Murchison, who waged campaigns to have advertisers boycott Minihane, his co-host Gerry Callahan, and the rest of the station whenever he felt the morning show went too far. Minihane didn’t let station management off the hook though.
“Bob Murchison is a mad man. They allowed this mad man to do this!”
When it comes to dealing with activists, Minihane said he learned a lesson that he brought with him to Barstool. You can be cordial without being a doormat.
“Listen? That’s fine. Have conversations? Swell! Don’t give in,” Minihane said. “Don’t turn your back on what you are and most important…don’t turn you back on your audience. They matter most.”