| Author |
Message |
Jimherring (Jimherring)
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 13, 2004 - 2:44 pm: | |
If the Richmond Indie Radio show on RichTV is any indication of what we have to look forward to with the launch of 97.3, then I think that we have very little in the way of good radio to expect in the future. The true "alternative" radio in Richmond was either WGOE or WVGO. These two stations were both able to press the envelope with new and even local/regional music as well as get people to listen.
Best of luck with the Richmond Indie Radio thing but it won't work unless you can get people to listen. I doubt what I have seen on tv would get people to listen. Who knows? |
Radiodxrichmond (Radiodxrichmond)
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 14, 2004 - 10:22 am: | |
One simple problem...signal. WVGO had a full market signal...and I would assume that WGOE had one as well.
When WRIR would sign on (most likely 0.1kW at 100'), It may have a signal that makes it around a 15 mile radius...maybe. Another important factor is the playlists. WRIR is not interested in making ratings, so no format is required.
WVGO and WGOE both needed ratings (for money), so of course, a format was needed. I'm all for an "alternative" radio station in RIC, but do you think in this era of life, when everything is owned by a chosen few, that such originality would be allowed to exist? |
Dan_Evans (Dan_Evans)
| | Posted on Saturday, January 17, 2004 - 8:23 am: | |
Billy Hoffman of Billy and the breafast bunch has left Star 107. Rumor is according to VARTV is that there might be a format change next week. HMM, mind ponders on which one to get.
Oldies: Well this would mean that Lite 98 could stop doing the best of 60's and 70's weekends for CC's left handed apology for getting rid of Cool 106.5 and replacing it with the Beat. It just might work, and then maybe more ratings.
Classic Alt. Well this is kind of a new format that is working in larger markets. Kind of like AAA except it plays 80's and early 90's alt. Cure, Depeche Mode, Chili Peppers and so on.
Hot Talk: Instead of politcal, make it the hot talk that made hot talk so good.
As for RIR, it would get more ratings then the stations at UR or VCU, but not much more. This is because of the radius of the signal. As X pointed out, ratings would not matter to them.
GO SKINS!!! |
Ambulancechaser (Ambulancechaser)
| | Posted on Sunday, January 18, 2004 - 4:30 pm: | |
Michael Graham to WMAL in Washington, so he can team up again with the Prince of Darkness.
Maybe 'RVA will take this opportunity to hire someone whose discernible talent extends beyond citing the call letters and station phone number 37 times per hour. |
Radiodxrichmond (Radiodxrichmond)
| | Posted on Sunday, January 18, 2004 - 8:47 pm: | |
Well, about Star...
My guess is that there is a 90+% chance of a format change next week...I have been listening quite a bit, and I have noticed that the evening jock is gone, and only one weekend jock is left. Also, songs come to abrupt halts, no fade outs...some songs do not have liners at the start of them...unusual. As for the new format...
My gut instinct says "OLDIES", as I have noticed a higher frequency of 70's pop hits. They may, however, throw a curveball and go...AAA! That would be nice, but no ratings there. Classic Alt. would be awesome, maybe catching a few of Planet's sunday night audience, still, no ratings there...Hot Talk...hmmmm, "...to boldly go where no man has gone before." in terms of an FM talker in Richmond...cool!!! Here's what I would put on
6-11: Howard Stern (or good local talent). I haven't seen Ukrop's broadcast any ads on MainQuad stations, so safe bet there.
11-3: G. Gordon Liddy: I still love this guy, and wish he was back on WJFK.
3-7: Who else but...Don and Mike!!!
7-10: Local talent
10-1: Phil Hendrie
1-6: Classic Alt.
Another possibility is a flip of ESPN radio to 107.3, or a simulcast... |
Dan_Evans (Dan_Evans)
| | Posted on Sunday, January 18, 2004 - 11:11 pm: | |
About Graham, well he will be replaced no doubt by a person who wants to fire Police Chief Parker and rid of all of council, count on that first and foremost.
About Star, if it were to go Adult Alt or even Classic Alt, it might take from the audience of the older listeners to 102.1 the X and Y101. Given that both stations basically play to the 15-24 age group and practically ignore most of the 25-35 group that grew up in the 80's. HEck, KROQ out of LA is another example on how mainstream regular alternative radio has killed the airwaves from the classics like Talking Heads, The Clash, The Ramones etc.
Just think, Howard Stern all morning, Richmond's best Classic Alternative all day, the new WVGO 107.3 FM..... |
Buddy (Buddy)
| | Posted on Monday, January 19, 2004 - 5:43 am: | |
I was dragged to a function where I work-out by my wife's sister and her husband. It was at the JCC. Comedy Night. The comic was some guy from New York Mark something.
What made it interesting to me was that out of the blue, the emcee for the evening was Jeff McKee. You could knocked me over with a feather.
I worked with McKee and Jeff Beck back in the day and from what I heard, McKee was sick.
Looked damned good to me ( and my wife and her sister thought he was hot )but what blew us away and this is why I even mention it, is that he did about 20-25 minutes before the other guy came out and dropped a bomb.
I've seen Jeff in front of a crowd lots and lots. He mentioned when he came out that he once did stand up somewhere in either New York or Florida. He was always very funny and could work a crowd like no one else in town but last Saturday, it was like watching an artist.
From the first second he spoke until he brought on the comic, the place was either laughing out loud, applauding ( for many of the astute observations he made about today's world ) almost crying ( he can get real real fast and his story about his illness, how it effected his family and how he fought back, inspired by his children and motivated by their love and his fear of leaving them )
Then we walked into the crowd and worked the room like the new Letterman. He screwed with old ladies, big fat lawyers, rabbis, orthodox women in wigs --- picked on them mercilessly and yet they loved it and the crowd loved it.
Then he brought people from the audience up on stage and in front of a crowd - average age, 45 -50 - he did about 10 minutes of truly surreal, yet hysterical stuff with the folks from the audience. He had a doctor making his nipples dance. He got a high priced surgeon to make hand farts. He got a rabbi's wife to sing a song from Sound of Music.
Point is, and my wife, her sister and her sister's husband didn't know McKee from Adam ( not stubbs ) he was just a guy who was going to try to entertain them. He blew them away with what had to be 25 or 30 minutes of stuff off the top of his head. His presence made the place come alive. My wife and her sister made me swear that he was a guy I used to work with and not some New York or L.A. talent hired to blow away the audience.
Okday, so that's what I observed and I swear I'm not trying to be anything but truthful, Jeff didn't even know I was there. From where we sat we were watching the funniest, brightest, most savvy guy in town. Where has he been? What has he been doing? Why isn't this guy on the air?
This was not a paid plug, just what I saw. Think about it the next time you're in a room and a local jock takes the mike. Comparing tht to what McKee offered is day and night. I felt proud to have known him but a little bit intimidated by what he could do so I didn't go up to him. Why isn' he on tv or radio in this town? |
Radiodxrichmond (Radiodxrichmond)
| | Posted on Monday, January 19, 2004 - 1:42 pm: | |
Well, we know for sure that Star 107 will be gone as of tomorrow at 7:07...My guess as to the last song, "It's the end of the world as we know it"...of course, an 80's staple by REM.
I smell oldies comming... |
Bopst (Bopst)
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 20, 2004 - 10:53 am: | |
Canadian radio show too hot for censors
TORONTO (Hollywood Reporter) - Canada's broadcast censors are not amused by a Calgary morning radio show that featured two steamy songs about breaking up and a parody commercial for a "Sausage Enlarger."
The Canadian Broadcast Standards Council (CBSC) said Friday that CJAY-FM's Forbes and Friends breached an industry code of ethics last February by airing sexually explicit content. As a rule, mere sexual innuendo, while not in good taste, is acceptable on Canadian airwaves, but "unduly sexually explicit material is unacceptable radio fare," the council said.
It agreed with an offended listener that the song "My Ex-boyfriend," sung by a man to his ex-lover, which included references to "salami hider, vaseline slider, butt cheek divider, bone smuggler" was beyond the pale.
The listener complained in writing about references to "gay sex, anal sex, inserting gerbils into ones sic rectum and swallowing ejaculate."
Tom Peackock, vp and general manager at CJAY-FM, in response to the listener, said its young audience appreciated "this type of comedy" which, he added, was similar to that found on mainstream TV shows like "Saturday Night Live" and "The Simpsons." The CBSC disagreed, and ordered CJAY-FM to air its decision in primetime.
The CBSC also found CJAY-FM breached the same industry code of ethics when one of its sports announcer excitedly said the Washington Redskins had "got bent over and fisted by Philly 37-7" when recounting the outcome of an NFL football game.
The CBSC referees voluntary industry codes of conduct governing the content broadcast by around 450 Canadian radio and TV stations.
Reuters/Hollywood Reporter |
Jimherring (Jimherring)
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 20, 2004 - 2:48 pm: | |
I couldn't help but notice that the VP of that Canadian station had the last name of 'Peacock." Too funny! |
Dan_Evans (Dan_Evans)
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 20, 2004 - 7:15 pm: | |
7:07 am tomorrow morning is the end of the 24 hour elvis marathon and the start of Oldies 107.3. Well I guess lite 98 will have to find another way to promote the weekends, the oldies are back.
One has to wonder if there is ever to be another Adult Alternative station or even a classic Alternative station, would Jim Herring, who was great on WVGO as well as other great stations, come back to us full time. Here is how I would go at it.
5:30a-10:00a: Jeff and Jeff, bring back the great duo that gave us so much laughs and great moments
10:00a-3:00p: Jim Herring, who would also be PD of the station. A great guy who knows this area and the listeners it would bring in
3:00p-7:00p: Tara Hunter: Actually we could have her 10-3 and bring Jim for afternoon drive if the 2 wanted to switch
7:00p-12:00a: Lucas Foxx, a great guy and yes he is missed on here...
12:00a-5:30a: Rebecca Wilde, she could get the overnight people who have to work awake all night
Of course this is just a posting we can all discuss the pros and cons when we decide to do so. God Bless us all. |
Buddy (Buddy)
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 20, 2004 - 10:10 pm: | |
If the same no talent hacks that mishandled that 80's abortion are involved with this new format, it will suck out loud.
The void for oldies is so obvious that they will do 3 to 4 points as long as the place doesn't burn to the ground. I guess we'll have to wait and see, but the buzz ( pardon the term ) at my office is that Jack Alix is running the show and if that's true, all I can say is, haven't we all suffered enough?
Why is it that people can ruin one station and get the opportunity to hang around and ruin another? We're all thrilled because regardless of the default points they get, if the rumors are true, their brainstrust will be the same folks who thought it was a good idea to stick with Breakfast Billy and whatever the hell that poor excuse for a signal puked forth for so long.
Stay tuned for the total lack of imagination and creativity that is radio in 2004. Meet the new oldies, smells just like Wolfman Jack. Right now.
If I sound pissed, it's just that I got into this because long ago I fell in love with great radio and it's been a long long time since I've heard anything even remotely great. And I don't anticipate anything but " still sucking at the same old signal tomorrow. "
Don't be fooled by the glory that is a great oldie. It's the stuff in-between the songs that makes great radio. And count how long it is between the time you hear your favorite song and when you hear it again and then again...
Sorry, but I read the memo, I was at the meetings today. I know what's coming.
Oh my god, is Jack Alix really doing mornings?
Who signed off on that idea and how long until he's gone and Steve Spurrier is doing mornings? |
Ambulancechaser (Ambulancechaser)
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 21, 2004 - 8:02 am: | |
Well geez, ESPN100.3 is gone too according to VARTV. That's too bad. I know the station got no ratings, but I enjoyed listening to Tony K in the car. The network studio shows are far superior to FOXSportRadio's too. |
Dan_Evans (Dan_Evans)
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 21, 2004 - 3:45 pm: | |
Well in the wake of ESPN 100.3 going down the drain after 9 months, it is time to say adios to Mike and Mike, Tony K, Dan Patrick, The Sports Brothers and the Game night crew. I agree with chaser that the station had no ratings and that it beats anything that fox sports radio has on the air for talk.
Oldies might work, but won't stay in town for too long. Most oldies stations here last 3-5 years tops. Reason why is Lite 98, which with the current lite pop plays a rotation of oldies. It is going to be a hard road for Oldies 100.3-107.3 to stay afloat. |
Radiodxrichmond (Radiodxrichmond)
| | Posted on Thursday, January 22, 2004 - 6:53 pm: | |
What do you all think of the new Oldies station?
As for the ratings, MainQuad wants at least a 2.0 total to keep the money comming in, not difficult at all, considering Cool got high 3's.
As for 100.3, the ESPN site is still up, and while I heard oldies from 107.3 on in the morning, the afternoon had some sort of sports talk programming...hmmm |
Radiodxrichmond (Radiodxrichmond)
| | Posted on Thursday, January 22, 2004 - 6:56 pm: | |
By the way...
IF and WHEN 98.9 gets on the air, what do you think that will mean as for its format?? I'm thinking Hot Talk |
Ambulancechaser (Ambulancechaser)
| | Posted on Thursday, January 22, 2004 - 9:22 pm: | |
What kind of hot talk? Conservative political hot talk, or inventive, irreverent guy hot talk? I'd take the latter, but it appears our humble market is more geared toward the former.
Anyway, Jerry Lindquist's sports media column in today's Times-Disgrace quoted the 4M/Radio Richmond as saying 1480 would be up in late May or early June. Weren't people here saying 1480 was like a year away recently? What's with that? Lindquist referred to "rumors" 1480 would go ESPNRadio and the 4M dude didn't really do anything to deny it---just said they'd wait to the last minute to commit to anything.
I'd really love to have ESPNRadio back in Richmond... |
Dan_Evans (Dan_Evans)
| | Posted on Thursday, January 29, 2004 - 8:52 pm: | |
98.9 is supposed to be on end of the first quarter or the start of the second according to VARTV. I am praying for hot talk, as in guy hot talk. We already have 2 conservative stations in town for talk!
Note to CC, no more oldies weekends needed on Lite 98, we have a oldies station that is LOCAL!! |
Radiodxrichmond (Radiodxrichmond)
| | Posted on Friday, January 30, 2004 - 1:40 pm: | |
I trust VARTV in its judgement, but WJMA-FM is still on the air in Orange, and WKSK is still on 98.9...I'm sure that the tower is not constructed quite yet, and I would assume it's foolish to purchase the rest of the equipment until the tower is built. I'm thinking realistically, WJMA-FM could be on the air by the fall. As for the format...
Hot Talk? Yeah, I think they'll figure out what WTOX will do come May
AAA? Hmmm...I doubt it would conjure up ratings for a full-market signal
Classic Alternative? Ditto
80's back on 98.9? Star was making in the low-2's with a partial-market signal. |
Ambulancechaser (Ambulancechaser)
| | Posted on Friday, January 30, 2004 - 2:59 pm: | |
Speaking of VARTV........
Gee Communications "All-American" WXGI/950 will pick-up the programming that Mainquad dumped a few weeks ago on WARV/100.3 Petersburg. I've received several emails from passionate ESPN Radio listeners missing what they heard on WARV before going Oldies. Well, they're back! Details on what ESPN programs being picked up is unknown. WXGI does Classic Country/Bluegrass but that will change this Monday. Stay tuned for more details..... (1/30/04)
Wow. I wonder what "programming" VARTV is referring to? The crappy NASCAR show? The Jeff Capel coach's show? Or ESPN's syndicated stuff? While I'd love to get Tony K. get in Richmond, I'd hate to think that WXGI would dump its current programming, considering it apparently has a very loyal (if somewhat niched) fan base. It would be sad if local programming gave way to national programming, even if I like the national programming and don't particularly care for bluegrass. |
Ambulancechaser (Ambulancechaser)
| | Posted on Friday, January 30, 2004 - 5:42 pm: | |
Well, it is true, per Big Al today. Station's gonna be known as ESPN 950, and the lineup will be:
7-10 am: Big Al (moving again!)
10-1: Tony K
1-4: Dan Patrick
4-7: Sports Brothers
He didn't mention after 7 pm, but I could only guess it's going to be R'Dogs or GameNight when there's no game.
Big Al said that during the week the station would be ESPN 950, so maybe they'll go bluegrass and stuff on the weekends? (Sort of makes sense since 910 has the major pbp rights...) |
Radiodxrichmond (Radiodxrichmond)
| | Posted on Sunday, February 01, 2004 - 1:40 pm: | |
Well, that kinda throws a wrench in RR's possibiltiy of going sports....I'm still leaning towards "Hot Talk 1480" |
Bopst (Bopst)
| | Posted on Monday, February 02, 2004 - 12:32 pm: | |
Bye, bye XGI. Hello corporate whoredom.
Anybody heard about this guy?
http://www.theatlantic.com/issues/2000/09/fallows.htm |
Ambulancechaser (Ambulancechaser)
| | Posted on Monday, February 02, 2004 - 12:50 pm: | |
Not really, Bopst. Take a look at their website; they've still got a ton of local programming---3 hours every morning, 2-3 hours every evening. Plus Big Al said this morning that they're looking for an afternoon drive host, should a good opportunity open up. I feel bad for the regular audience, like I said before; however, 950 isn't just a network feed.
In other news, VARTV reported today that Sporting News Radio was playing this morning on WLEE instead of Imus, and that's true; I caught about five minutes of it and thought 990 had switched formats---the show was pretty racy for SNR, which is beyond vanilla normally. Does this mean anything? I wouldn't WAG so, considering there are now two full-service sports stations. Maybe someone there was just asleep at the switch?
Also, Tony Kornheiser will give up his radio show at the end of next month. Too bad; ESPN will probably subject us to another 3 hours of some idiot SportsCenter talking head's rambling and posturing. (One of the reasons I looked forward to getting ESPNRadio back was Tony K.) |
Buddy (Buddy)
| | Posted on Monday, February 02, 2004 - 1:54 pm: | |
This just in: Imus is gone at LEE.
Guess who's going to be doing their morning show?
Floyd Henderson!
I'm willing to bet that Jeff Beck is not in favor of this move.
Floyd Henderson! What the hey? I spoke with a salesperson from LEE this morning and he wanted to crawl into a hole and die.
Floyd in the morning, Gallagher in mid-days what a one two punch! |
Ambulancechaser (Ambulancechaser)
| | Posted on Monday, February 02, 2004 - 6:49 pm: | |
Is it Floyd Henderson or Harvey Hudson that does the Cadillac commercials? Sounds like a nice guy, whoever it is.
At any rate, that was my last reason to listen to WLEE. Kind of sad, considering just a year ago I would tune into Imus, Kornheiser, sometimes Liddy, then Jim Jacobs. Nothing worth listening to now, though. (On a related note, among the "sensitive conservative talk" hosts they now feature---Hannity included, I suppose---Prager is pretty reasonable in a "common sense" sort of simplicity, whereas Gallagher---poor guy---was born without a brain.)
For anyone who cares, aside from the MSNBC simulcast, I've heard that WTNT in Washington streams Imus. |
Bopst (Bopst)
| | Posted on Monday, February 02, 2004 - 7:54 pm: | |
I'm glad Floyd's show can again be heard in Richmond. Though I still think WVNZ going all Spanish was a good thing, not being able to hear Floyd in the morning was a bummer. I know a whole lot of people will be happy with the change.
Having said that, I also know a whole lot of folks will have their panties in an unholy bind not to able to tune in to Imus.
That's life in radio, I guess. Pissing off the least amount of people for the most amount (at least, in theory) of money.
Did anyone check this out?
http://www.theatlantic.com/issues/2000/09/fallows.htm
XGI changing formats is blasphemy to all the country music fans I know. Yes, it isn't exactly a complete sellout to corporate whoredom, but it is sitting there with its legs spread wide open begging, pleading for it. The station's pre-existing audience won't take too kindly to the change that's for sure. It is a sad day for local radio and before long, it is quite possible that XGI could be nothing more than a network feed.
That is if the price is right... |
Ambulancechaser (Ambulancechaser)
| | Posted on Monday, February 02, 2004 - 8:11 pm: | |
Bopst, you might find this quote from VARTV interesting:
Ultimately, the station plans to launch a new and improved music station in the very near future.
It's an awkward sentence, to be sure, but it sounds to me like the XGI people are going to acquire another station and put the XGI "Wolf Country" or whatever they called it on that new signal. In the meantime, fans of country can go to 1450, right?
Personally, I think it's kind of sad that XGI changed formats (though my tastes benefit, I'll concede), but it's not really like fans of the old SportsRadio 910 getting shut out of Big Al and Bob Black in a single month, with nowhere else to go for sports radio than a network feed and lame-duck local hosts for 2-3 months, then a clone---if you will---of the previous network program during afternoon drive. |
Bopst (Bopst)
| | Posted on Monday, February 02, 2004 - 8:27 pm: | |
I think it's a way to placate irate radio listeners to say that, in the future, "the station plans to launch a new and improved music station". Doesn't every radio executive say the exact same thing when they changes formats? |
Radiodxrichmond (Radiodxrichmond)
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 03, 2004 - 1:04 pm: | |
True bopst...maybe a WXGI-FM |
Radioguy1963 (Radioguy1963)
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 03, 2004 - 2:38 pm: | |
Just my 2 cents, but doesn't WJMO-FM transmit from the WXGI stick on German School Road? Although I doubt it will happen I wonder if a deal is in the works with Gee Communications to buy 105.7 from Radio One? Either that or perhaps Gee may purchase WCLM. It will be interesting. |
Bopst (Bopst)
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 03, 2004 - 2:48 pm: | |
Everything is for sale... |
Dan_Evans (Dan_Evans)
| | Posted on Friday, February 06, 2004 - 5:32 am: | |
Well, Tony K is leaving ESPN Radio. It is due mainly to two things. One is that he has a TV show on every weekday called Pardon The Interruption, and of course he also has the column in the Washington Post as well. Rumor has it, he was tired of juggling all 3 so one had to go.
WXGI needs to go all ESPN programing, not just on weekdays. Mixing with country-bluegrass on the weekends really turns away the audience that a ESPN format could bring in. |
Radiodxrichmond (Radiodxrichmond)
| | Posted on Friday, February 06, 2004 - 2:25 pm: | |
Well, I think if WXGI has the money to buy a FM, It'll give K-95 a run for it's money...The only one's I think the ones that would be dumped would be:
Either 104.7 or 105.7...Similar formats, same company
92.1?? I wasn't sure of this one, but Power's sinking pretty fast...
98.9...It's possible
101.1, Another mid-rated station that could probably be nabbed pretty cheap, the question is, is Cox willing to sell their lowest-rated station?
CC wouldn't sell anything...there's a slew of AM's that could be obtained cheaply.
I'm now wondering if 98.9 might go 80's?? Star made low-2's with a partial-market signal. Rock (of any type) is probably out of the picture, as well as country, urban, or gospel. Dance?? AAA?? Hot Talk?? I think it'll be interesting as to what will go on over there. As for 98.9...do they actually have a CP for Midlo, or is it just an application? VARTV said late 1Q, early 2Q...
The tower is already been built. It has been there for quite some time. Does anyone know of this tower near the river in Eastern Powhatan? |
Bopst (Bopst)
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 10, 2004 - 10:11 am: | |
I love this quote from Gee at XGI when asked why the long time country station changed formats.
"The decision to move into a sports format of WXGI," Gee said via e-mail, "was made to preserve the heritage of the station."
Man, talk about your priceless answers. I'm sure that's what 50 plus years at the city's country station was leading up to: ESPN radio.
I love being able to hear Floyd again here in the city. Floyd's show is as good as music radio shows get in this humble southern abode. Who needs Imus when you can have Floyd. |
Ambulancechaser (Ambulancechaser)
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 10, 2004 - 5:23 pm: | |
Maybe WXGI had stopped being profitable? Maybe they were about to sell the station? I don't know; he's got to have some reason to say something so idiotic on the surface. |
Wvgofm (Wvgofm)
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 10, 2004 - 8:54 pm: | |
Greetings from the radio abyss....
I've been lurking on here occasionally lately and it's very heartwarming to see such nice references to WVGO.
As one of the former principals of WVGO, I do have a fairly unique perspective into all that went into it.
In 1990, while I was busy running my video production studio, I struck up a friendship with John Crowley, who was in sales at XL at the time. We shared a common passion for radio and spent countless hours talking about it. We had many lunches talking about...well, fantasizing about buying a station somewhere...sometime. We even went and looked at a few...small stations in small towns. The magic and the business just wasn't quite there.
My pipe dream for many years was to own a station here, and in 1991, situations converged that got me very close to my dream.. I heard from a broker that had been looking for stations for me, that WVGO was for sale...and that it would probably go cheap. I got him to send me the brochure, and it said, among other things, 10 million bucks. I, of course, laughed at that. The station broker said "Well, make me an offer then". So I, just for fun, made a ridiculous offer of 3 million, thinking that would be the end of it. The guy called me back and said "you're in the ballpark". I freaked out! If they'd sell it for that, I'd get the money, come hell or high water. I knew I couldn't do it all myself at that time, so I went looking for partners, and managed to hook up with the folks from Baltimore, Benchmark Communications, who had actually looked at purchasing the station earlier, but decided against it.
I worked out a deal with them that would allow me the first opportunity to buy them out eventually, so that I would be the sole owner. My dream slightly delayed.
John Crowley and I presented them with our idea of a format...and they were taken with our enthusiasm. Of course, the fact that I was putting up quite a substantial bit of cash to make it happen, made my position with them all the more respectable. I was, in fact, the largest single owner in the partnership. I told them that John was part of the deal...he'd be the GM with an ownership position, and we'd have total control.
I guess you could say that what we did was AAA before there really was such a name for it. We were influenced by a few stations, KBCO in Boulder and KTAO in Taos, NM of which I was involved with and still have a bit of an interest in. Then we added some elements of modern rock a la WHFS, that, because of the stranglehold that XL had on the rock market here, had never been heard in Richmond before...on a big signal. Sadly, I was totally unfamiliar with this genre that I would grow to love, and John and Dal Hunter did a fabulous job of adding those modern rock tracks that they thought would be cohesive with the other elements of the format that we had worked on.
Somehow, it all worked. There was an electricity around the station....that we were doing something very special. The salespeople...the air staff...we all felt it...and lived it.
We should have left it alone at that point.We had put the hurt on XL...something we all wanted to do for various reasons, but really didn't think we'd do it quite so soon.
Then the Buzz came to town. My partners became fixated with it. And, I must admit, we all got into the "numbers" mentality then. Standing around the computer as it printed out the Arbitrends, was high anxiety time. We started tinkering with the format, which, at the time, was the highest rated AAA station in the country.
We debated endlessly about Howard Stern...boy, did we debate that! I guess. in retrospect, that was the beginning of the end. We got more and more "alternative", alienating our original 25-54 demo to some extent, and for what? To try to beat the Buzz with men 18-24?? It seems even more stupid now that it did then.
Then along comes "consolidation" and ABS makes us an offer "we can't refuse". Well, at least, my partners couldn't.
There was no way I could, or would, buy them out at the price we were being offered by ABS. I really didn't think I could make a go of it myself with the kind of note I'd be paying on.
We got WVGO at an incredible price in 1991, a fire sale price...a price that let us have some freedom and time to do good radio, and not be too concerned about 12+ numbers and not worry about the bank looking over our shoulders all the time. We wanted a quality audience, and I think we had it. We had no trouble selling it, and it didn't hurt that most of the agency people loved us and were loyal listeners.
I'll never forget my last time on the air. I did a little Sunday morning jazz/freeform show every Sunday since we had taken over the station. The last Sunday, when I knew ABS was coming in that week, I wanted to find the strength to apologize to our audience, on the air, for what we had done and what was going to happen. I had total veto power over any formatic decisions, and I take full responsibility for what happened....I can blame no one else. I wanted to explain basically, what I have attempted to explain here. I knew that if I didn't do it on the air, I would regret it forever, and...sadly, I do. I did manage a bit of an apology in later years, as I did a couple of drop in appearances with my buddy, Jim Jacobs on RVA and then WLEE. I even took some calls from WVGO listeners who remembered it all....and even one couple who had all my Sunday shows on tape! Yikes, that's humbling.
Well...that sure turned out to be long winded. I hope that those of you that were here then have a little better understanding of who we were and what we did....and I really do appreciate all the kind words, and if you have any questions, I'll certainly try to answer them here.
Thanks for your time...
Guy Spiller |
Bopst (Bopst)
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 11, 2004 - 10:51 am: | |
Looking for a new radio format?
Consider this...
FEATURE: Miami gay radio outlet makes format pay
MIAMI (Hollywood Reporter) - When WPYM-FM took to the airwaves on the last day of December 2001, the rhythmic-dance music outlet owned by Atlanta-based Cox Radio Inc. didn't set out to do much more than reflect the pulsing South Beach club scene.
With few commercials and endless blocks of hopped-up top 40 remixes and underground club hits, "Party 93" quickly found its way into bars, cars and gyms -- a format tailor-made for clubgoers and fitness buffs who comprised the station's core audience.
Then, just a few months into its run, WPYM took a turn.
Interspersed between such songs as Razor N' Guido's "Do It Again" and the latest Madonna remix and ads for Cadillac and Budweiser came a slate of new promos for such events as the Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, Fort Lauderdale's Gay Pride Parade and AIDS fund-raisers like Miami's world-renowned White Party.
What was striking, though, was not that WPYM had recognized that many of its listeners were gay but the matter-of-fact way the station addressed it.
This was still more than a year before Bravo and NBC hit pay dirt with "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy," a show that has certainly loosened parameters in mainstream broadcasting.
Yet back in early 2002, WPYM simply went about things as if big, 100,000-watt radio stations in major markets had always been the proud sponsors of gay-themed events -- even though it was an approach that most conservative hit-radio corporations had likely never even considered.
Now, two years later, the station continues to earn big profits and strong ratings, while the "gay aesthetic" (as marketing mavens call it) is so seamlessly integrated that few seem to notice anything unique about it.
"This has been a gutsy move," says Sean Ross, a radio analyst with New Jersey-based Edison Research. "Cox has certainly proven to be more innovative."
Given all that has recently transpired in television, should the FM dial be gearing up for gay themes? Has WPYM made a case that bears watching?
"If sales managers aren't thinking about it, they should be," says Carmen Cacciatore, co-founder of New York-based Fly-Life Marketing. "Radio has been behind the curve. They've been cautious. But things have definitely opened up. Gay spending power is enormous. Once there's more clarity and more research, they're going to get that it's just as important as testing the Hispanic or African-American market or any market."
The club-rooted, pure-dance format that WPYM plays is typically either loved or hated -- there's no in-between, no casual fans. But the demographic of those who do tune in is an advertiser's dream. Listeners gay and straight tend to be hip, free-spending professionals who thrive on excitement and are exceedingly loyal to the format -- that is, when they can find it on the dial.
Although the popularity of dance and club music continues to grow worldwide, it often tanks on commercial radio for lack of household-name recording artists, tidy three-minute songs and, until recently, failure to embrace the genre's roots in gay culture.
Analysts point to New York's famed WKTU, which plays a mix of retro disco and current tracks, and Boston's WQSX and Dallas' KKDL, which program a less intense version of the format, as a few that have lately been getting it right.
"If you counted all the successful dance stations in this country, it would hardly add up to 10," Ross says.
WPYM program director Phil Michaels Trueba says the only way to make it work is with an all-or-nothing commitment.
"We take the risks, and if it hurts us, so be it," Trueba says. "We're not gonna be fake about it and only do it halfway. Stations that try and clone this format but only dip their toe in don't make it. This station is not run from a corporate headquarters in Atlanta. We're authorized to make local decisions."
At the very least, WPYM has clearly struck a tone that could be instructional elsewhere, though that was never the intent.
Straight guys Trueba and Michael Disney, the station's vp and general manager, freely admit that going in, they had only cursory knowledge of the gay marketplace and no idea just how much of their audience would be gay.
It didn't take long for them to learn, but once they did, they acknowledge that they still weren't quite sure how best to reach this audience in an authentic manner without alienating listeners and advertisers. Going on little more than a gut feeling, they took their first tentative steps in April 2002, when they accepted an invitation to sponsor Miami's Gay & Lesbian Film Festival.
"It just kind of happened," Disney says. "We found it to be interesting, we began to do some things in the community, and it was very well received by all of our listeners."
After the strong response, the station moved quickly in researching and hiring staffers with more specific marketing knowledge.
"It all comes down to autonomy," Cacciatore says, "and props to Cox for letting these guys understand their market. They saw something, they identified it, and they went after it."
Advertisers both sexy and stodgy followed. McDonald's, Bell South, Sprint, Major League Baseball's Florida Marlins, Miller Beer, AutoNation and even conservative local newspapers like the South Florida Sun-Sentinel are regulars.
Just as quickly, the station launched a community-minded Sunday morning talk show, "Issues Over the Rainbow."
The show, which started as a commercial-free half-hour, was recently upgraded to an ad-supported hour in a better time slot and attracts a fairly impressive guest list.
In addition to the local and national politicians who have appeared, Cyndi Lauper, Margaret Cho, Bruce Vilanch and Ian McKellen have all been by. Cast members from HBO's "Angels in America" and the guys from "Queer Eye" also appeared on the program.
But those expecting an over-the-top hour on divas and decorating will be disappointed. Rather, it's a measured, low-key affair about equal rights and everyday life that has attracted listeners from all corners.
"It's just about everybody's concerns, from both a straight and gay perspective," says host Mark Gilbert, a gay father of two teenagers who was married for 10 years before coming out. "I see something kind of magical in it."
Although talk had circulated that Cox was thinking of changing WPYM's format, recent ratings have been strong enough to put that rumor to rest. WPYM leads the market with Latino men 18-34 and ranks third with all men. With a 5.9 share, it now places ahead of WHYI-FM, the market's long-running top 40 outlet.
"People always say we're not mainstream," Trueba says. "Well, you can't get any more mainstream than beating the mainstream."
Trueba says that no matter the ratings, the station also is highly profitable because overhead is extraordinarily low. While there are no DJs, WPYM does employ a group of well-known, mostly freelance personalities who appear on the air occasionally but whose main job is to provide the energy at constant, communitywide promo events.
The station also is far more profitable than it ever was as WTMI, the region's long-running (and only) classical outlet. Although classical enthusiasts were outraged by the format switch, it's unlikely that continuing protests will ever return the station to Bach and Beethoven.
What matters now, Cacciatore says, is to integrate gay themes beyond the dance format into "all areas of radio. If you have an on-air talent who just happens to be gay, you don't have to hit everyone over the head with it," Cacciatore says. "It's just something that becomes part of mixture."
Reuters/Hollywood Reporter |
Radiodxrichmond (Radiodxrichmond)
| | Posted on Thursday, February 12, 2004 - 12:41 pm: | |
Mr. Spiller…
Very interesting post…I remember after we moved from Baltimore in 1992, we moved to Spotsylvania. My mom always loved WVGO, and when I got a bit older and my interest in radio developed, I loved the station. We moved to Amelia in 1996, and I remember the time that WVGO left. I had become a big Buzz fan, though WVGO was preset no. 2. I’m not exactly sure as to what the liners were, but I think they were calling themselves “106.5 the Buzz”. I turned the dial to 106.5, and, there was the Buzz!! After a few days, 104.7 was an oldies station, and 106.5 was the Buzz. I sorely regret not knowing when the change was and recording it. I’m really hoping to one day grab that aircheck. I’m still hoping for a bumper sticker too…I do have a few quick questions…
1) When did you all know that the Buzz was coming in?
2) Did you notice many changes from “your” WVGO to ABS WVGO?
3) Would you consider starting up a “new” WVGO?
4) What do you think the future holds for the Richmond market?
5) If you had decided to keep WVGO, what do you think would have happened with Richmond Radio?
As for your decision for selling ‘VGO…I don’t begrudge anyone for it, as radio is in the business of making money. The thing is, radio has such an emotional value to it. One might say “I listen to ________” whereas one usually does not say “I read the _______ newspaper”, or “I watch channel _________”. I think that while it is sad that Richmond Radio regressed with WVGO’s departure (and even more so with the Buzz), life does go on. We have hope in whatever MainQuad might put out on 98.9, what may come out of the X vs. Y battles, so on and so on. I really don’t give a care what format is out there, as long as there is something of quality out there…I do think WVGO had that. Thanks for the post, and please continue to visit...
JC
radiodxrichmond@yahoo.com |
Wvgofm (Wvgofm)
| | Posted on Thursday, February 12, 2004 - 6:53 pm: | |
Hi JC...
I"m glad you didn't fall asleep reading my little tome.....
I'll try to answer your questions as best I can.
1) When did you all know that the Buzz was coming in?
Of course, we had heard various rumors as to what they might do, and one of them was "alternative". I really wasn't terribly concerned at that point, as we had the better signal in the market...plus, we had a little bit of "heritage", and a broader demographic appeal than pure alternative would have. I do remember their switch was like 5pm one afternoon. I was sitting in my car in a grocery store parking lot...waiting. It didn't take too long to figure out "alternative" was it.
2) Did you notice many changes from “your” WVGO to ABS WVGO?
To tell you the truth, I didn't have the heart to listen to it after they took over. In fact, it's very hard for me to listen to any kind of music radio even now. My dream was dead, and it was just too depressing thinking of what might have been.
3) Would you consider starting up a “new” WVGO?
That's a tough one. It would take the right opportunity to get a decent signal for a good price, along with some willing investors, and I just don't see that happening in this environment. I certainly would consider having some involvement if anyone decided to recreate it....but I fear it just wouldn't be the same for me.
4) What do you think the future holds for the Richmond market?
Sadly, I think what you see now, is what we're gonna get for the forseeable future, unless there is a major change in FCC ownership regs, which I don't think is likely. We got stations that have no personality, and are merely another card in a poker hand for the large owners to get their top stations higher on the rankers.
5) If you had decided to keep WVGO, what do you think would have happened with Richmond Radio?
For one thing, I think I'd have had a hell of time trying to make the payments on it at that price....After the Stern fiasco, and assuming the Buzz continued, I might have had to consider a format change to something more 25-54 oriented, and easier to sell nationally. We actually did consider a switch to "Smooth Jazz" near the end, and that would have been my fallback position had I been forced to abandon the VGO format. Of course, it would have been my version of that format, with a Richmond twist, and not just blindly following the "consultants".
I don't look at a station as something to just hold onto until the greater fool comes along and wants to pay even more money for it than I did. I always have to view it as a viable business venture on it's own, able to eventually pay for itself and cover it's operating expenses and that would be hard to do these days....
especially with one standalone station.
On the other hand, if I had managed to hang on, it would have been fun to see what the offers for the last big signal FM in the market would have been. I don't think I would have sold it even then, if I was making the payments ok, and still enjoyed the business.
If that wasn't the case though and I had to get out, I sure would have gotten at least some satisfaction from really sticking it to Clear Channel or another big operator. It certainly wouldn't have gone cheap.
Sadly, "The futures' so bright, I gotta wear shades" may be permanently out of rotation.
Guy |
Radiodxrichmond (Radiodxrichmond)
| | Posted on Friday, February 13, 2004 - 12:10 pm: | |
I found the story to be quite interesting...I have been working on a Richmond Radio History site for probably three years, and this seems like a mighty interesting story... |
Bopst (Bopst)
| | Posted on Friday, February 13, 2004 - 2:47 pm: | |
Man, how could anyone fall asleep reading that?
It's a story that needs to be told especially in this ever-so-bleak, corporate conglomerate dominated time in radio. If I had a penny for every time someone called to say my show (Sorry about me, Chris Bopst, host of the Bopst Show airing Thursdays & Fridays 5-8PM on Solid Gold Soul, WCLM 1450 AM, The Heart & Soul of the City (On the web at: http://www.wclmradio.com) blowing my own horn once again, but what do you expect from a mild mannered egomaniac) reminds them of the glory days of WVGO, I'd have a whole bunch of pennies. Radio, if you can still call it that, has been reduced to an orgy of conformity and the good Lord knows (If, in fact, he, she or it actually exists) that if a station even vaguely like WVGO were around today, it would be wildly successful in my opinion. That is if, and this is a big if, the station had a powerful signal and a dedicated staff.
Given present circumstances, where virtually everyone in the business is petrified at the mere suggestion of doing anything different, the established broadcasting logic (pause here for laughter) would most definitely think otherwise, but, excuse my language, fuck 'em. These gutless cowards in radio today can't even, for lack of a better word, think of an original way to make a buck let alone be trusted to do anything but regurgitate outdated and tedious genre specific formatting. Hell, their just hanging around waiting for scraps form the master's (Clear Channel, Cox, ESPN, etc.) plates anyway. They have no passion, no driving desire to present unique, profitable alternatives on the airwaves. No, these dimwits are just hanging around waiting for someone to buy them out and thus, the pitiful state of radio we have today.
It's nice to know that at one time, a time long, long ago, a station was driven by a passionate commitment to radio instead of shameless corporate shilling. Your story gives me hope that radio doesn't always have to be defined by it's lack of programming and advertising imagination.
Hopefully, one day, you can bring that greatness back to the airwaves here in Richmond. |
Buddy (Buddy)
| | Posted on Friday, February 13, 2004 - 10:38 pm: | |
One man's opinion: has there ever been a radio station that was programmed worse than Oldies
107.3?
Lordy, but their airstaff gums the big one. Jack Alix soundslike Truman Capote with alzheimers.
Ramblin Jack Alix. His mincing, whistling, pointless trips down his own personal memory lane are painful to listen to. It's like hearing an old woman talk about someone you don't know or care about.
Oldies are effective when they trigger a listener's memories of time, place and emotion.
This guy just reminds me of trips to my grandma's nursing home or Grandpa Simpson with a sibilant S.
Hard to believe that the other guys are worse but that could be Jack's paranoia. Hire the handicapped, they're fun to listen to.. Not in this case.
Hit a post? Not in this lifetime. Hey Joey, why not run into a post with both headlights? Got post smashing insurance. Got a point to make while listening to your own voice over the 18 second intro? Not so far.
The music, the rotation, the sweepers, the i.d's,
the spots, god, puncture my eardrums with an icepick!!!
Helen Keller ran a tighter ship. If Richmonders were starving for an oldies station perhaps they'll settle for this audio afterbirth for a book or two but I've seen human erasers with more chance for legs than this " station most likely to go white noise. "
Disgusted? Not really, what did you expect from a station that put Breakfast Billy in M.C Hammer pants in their tv spot? That was Jack Alix at his sartorial best. Argggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhh |
Dan_Evans (Dan_Evans)
| | Posted on Saturday, February 14, 2004 - 9:34 am: | |
Buddy, 107.3 and 100.3 both have contracts with VCU, Richmond Riverdogs hockey, and also a racing show that will end when they eventually expire. Once those contracts go up, everything should start to come together. Perosnally I think that the reason why mainquad did what they did is because they wanted to see if CC would stop doing oldies weekends on Lite 98. I was pressing for either a simulcast of ESPN radio, AAA, or classic alternative. Hot Talk, as it were we can hope will land on 98.9. Hot Talk meaning Howard Stern, Opie and Anthony. stuff like that. God knows we have enough conservative talk. |
Bopst (Bopst)
| | Posted on Saturday, February 14, 2004 - 12:54 pm: | |
Spiller
If the day ever comes that you are in the position of power at a radio station, I want to offer my,"The futures' so bright, I gotta wear shades" services. |
Buddy (Buddy)
| | Posted on Sunday, February 15, 2004 - 10:34 pm: | |
Dan I respectfully disagree with whatever the heck it is you said. Mainquad went oldies because their 80's station was leaking and taking on water and oldies was the available lifeboat.
The put oldies station together with the same people that some completely botched Star.
Your theory about sports contracts totally misses the point. These people aren't simply waiting until their obligations expire to get good.
They'll never get good, they can't, they have no talent. Period. They haven't ever, even once, shown the smallest shred of broadcasting ability. This is as good as it gets. And once this gets tired for those who were anxiously waiting for an oldies station, their core will corrode and the station will atrophy worse than Jack Alix's gums. |
Ambulancechaser (Ambulancechaser)
| | Posted on Monday, February 16, 2004 - 12:25 pm: | |
I think all Dan is saying is that MQ is devoting about 10-12 hours/week to sports on the 100.3 signal and probably 2/3 of that on the 107.3 signal---and that's not an insignificant diversion away from the new format, especially in the early evening. |
Radiodxrichmond (Radiodxrichmond)
| | Posted on Monday, February 16, 2004 - 2:30 pm: | |
I have to agree with Buddy to a point...Oldies 107.3 is pretty un-professional sounding (about as bad as any rural FM'er around). I think Oldies was the most sucessful format around. Maybe MainQuad isn't as smart as we think, and will recycle the 80's format on 98.9 |
Dan_Evans (Dan_Evans)
| | Posted on Sunday, February 22, 2004 - 8:26 am: | |
I have heard now several weeks of the oldies 107 and to be honest, it really sounds now like a case of mistaken identity music wise. I have heard a few billy joel songs that are based in the 80's. Note to Mainquad, get real and figure out what the heck you are going to do with 100.3, 107.3. Keep doing this and 98.9 will sink faster than the titanic.
If 98.9 recycles the 80's, please let it be JUST the 80's. Classic Rock 96.5, 107.3 and lite 98 take care of the 70's. B103, the X and Y take care of the 90's. But NONE of them pay a lot of focus on the 80's. Hell, maybe I could become a co-owner of mainquad and turn around all 3 fm stations.
Note to Jack Alix, stump the DJ??? Could you not be anymore not original with a game idea?? Does stump the Jeffs ring a bell folks, which by the way was more fun. Oh and get this, starting monday, a richmond legend comes back to oldies 107, let me guess here, another STAR dj LOL. Buddy, now that I have heard it for what it is, the worst of the STAR airstaff and more. |
Ambulancechaser (Ambulancechaser)
| | Posted on Monday, February 23, 2004 - 2:59 pm: | |
Pretty timely, Dan. From dcrtv, by way of vartv........
DC radio vet Jack Alix recently had a major "verbal exchange" with management at Richmond's Oldies 107.3, WBBT/WARV. And that he's been relieved of his programming and on-air duties. It looks like Jeff Beck, formerly of Richmond rocker XL102, may be taking Alix's AM shift.
Apparently Beck identified himself as the "guest morning host" today. Inquiring minds want to know, but I couldn't care less. ;-) |
Bopst (Bopst)
| | Posted on Monday, February 23, 2004 - 3:09 pm: | |
Beck back in fromt of a mic?!?!?! |
Ambulancechaser (Ambulancechaser)
| | Posted on Monday, February 23, 2004 - 3:14 pm: | |
Correctamundo. |
Dan_Evans (Dan_Evans)
| | Posted on Monday, February 23, 2004 - 11:50 pm: | |
Hearing Beck was great this morning. Hearing Kokomo by the Beach Boys from the movie Cocktail was not pleasing though! Again stop playing the stuff that is 80's related to format and stick to OLDIES!!! |
Frank_Dreben (Frank_Dreben)
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 24, 2004 - 5:51 am: | |
Gotta disagree, Dan. The 80's are 20 years old now. That makes it oldies. I really don't like oldies stations that play 50's and 60's (and the occasional early 70's) exclusively. Why limit yourself? I'd say that if it's 20+ years old, it's oldies! Play it. I like it when you hear the occasional "unexpected" song on the radio. |
Bopst (Bopst)
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 24, 2004 - 10:41 am: | |
Well, let's hope that Beck will be taking his rightful place behind the mic on a regular basis and that the corporation has the good sense to pay the man, the myth handsomely for his skills.
I have to laugh when playing the Beach Boys, "Kokomo" is called a welcomed "unexpected" song on the radio. Man, that is funny. There are literally hundreds of other songs that fit in that specific genre (oldies) that deserve to be heard other than that dreadful and thoroughly played out tune.
Maybe the influence of Beck will help the station clarify it's programming decisions. |
Frank_Dreben (Frank_Dreben)
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 24, 2004 - 4:27 pm: | |
Ok, I didn't mean "Kokomo" specifically; I don't like that song either. What I was saying was that I despise the canned oldies formats out there (that stick to 50's and 60's) and at least they are trying to be different. There are so many great songs that classify as oldies, and so few are played. The canned formats end up with almost top 40 like rotations when it could be so much better.
I can't beleive people on this board like the super narrow formats so many stations have nowadays. To me that is the biggest problem with radio. |
Buddy (Buddy)
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 24, 2004 - 9:28 pm: | |
Given the way radio works in the year 2004 and the fact that Mainquad isn't exactly the " big time," Jeff Beck is as close to a real radio pro as they're going to get.
What do I mean by that? Money honey. I've been to the Mainquad studios. There are probably bombed out Iraqui stations with better setups than those guys have. Don't count on them spending anything on improving:
1. their signal
2. their studio
3. their airstaff
4. their programming
First of all, the powers that be there probably wouldn't know a good programmer if he bit them on their ears. Consider their past offerings.
The powers that be either:
1. have no idea what a good station sounds like
or
2. have no intention of spending what it costs to hire somebody who does
or
3. both
So poor Jeff Beck, part of an historic Richmond radio show, a sure shot hall of famer ( unless politics get in the way ) spends 10 or 11 years of his life helping to build and maintain a landmark Richmond radio show that gets caught in the corportate devolution shuffle and finds himself working in Podunk ( F'burg ) and Lower Podunk ( 4 M )because there's nothing else out there and his partner, Jeff McKee, seems to have vanished from the face of the Earth ( or at least given up on radio. ) So what's a Beck to do? He learns to be a programmer. Add to that his considerable production skills and he's just the guy that the oldies station should hire to fix that toxic waste site at 107.3 that jumpin Jack Alix left them.
Sad thing is, he probably wants a certain amount of money and unless he also does the morning show he can't get it. Problem is, Beck's real talents lie elsewhere. I know, I was at XL during the glory years. McKee was a singular talent ( no knock on Beck, he's got his skills.)
McKee came up with creative idea after creative idea. He was brilliant. He was also an amazing writer and a really really funny person. Add to that his knowledge of radio as a medium and you've got a once in a lifetime kind of guy that I was lucky to have worked with. Add all of that to what Jeff Beck brought to the table and you had a legendary team.
Poor Jeff Beck. It's hard for him to live up to those kind of expectations when what he's capable of doing is more than what 107.3 needs to right it's course.
If Mainquad would give him a chance he could spruce up their sound, fix their music and rotation and boot them pukers that they have on the air and bring in some old friends. Then what they need to do is give the guy a break and let him to mid-days so he:
1. doesn't have to live up to the Jeff and Jeff legend and be unfavorably compared to his past
2. have the breathing room to make that place a real good oldies station.
That would assume that Mainquad would know what the right thing to do is and so far they haven't ever ever done that.
By the way, Stump the Jeffs wasn't a trivia contest, it was great entertainment disguised as rock and roll trivia. Those guys knew what they were doing. And McKee sure the heck knew his rock and roll.
Message to Beck if you read this site, you've still got fans out there who respect you and know what you're worth. Hang in there, pal.
Buddy L |
Ambulancechaser (Ambulancechaser)
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 24, 2004 - 11:23 pm: | |
Buddy, what about afternoon drive?
What about somebody, anybody willing to do something, anything creative in afternoon drive? You know, something beyond a local hack talking about the NFL or some wannabe politico hitting the city council pinata in between propagandistic commercials and Weather Channel updates.
If a station (or rather, cluster) were willing to throw a 2 or 3 man operation up there from 3-7, just people shooting the breeze and taking tons of callers and establishing some fun bits and interviewing some interesting people and developing a somewhat irreverent style (not too much for Richmond---although considering the new Infinity rules, maybe the industry standard is going our way) . . . if a station just gave that a chance, I promise I'd try my best to listen and give the show a real chance on my dial. |
Buddy (Buddy)
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 25, 2004 - 8:44 am: | |
chaser,
I was specifically addressing the situation at 107.3. Their product is and rightfully should be the unique brand of music they now offer in this market. a two man afternoon show shooting the breeze and doing bits is not what they should be offering.
have you ever been part of a morning or afternoon show? me neither, but i've been around some very successful ones and a few total flops.
just shooting the breeze, taking tons of callers and establishing some fun bits and interviewing some interesting people sure sounds good in print, doesn't it?
if it were so easy to do you'd think that there'd be more than less than a handful of shows that have been able to do something like that in this town and survive for more than a year.
truth is, doing something like that is nigh on impossible and simply suggesting someone try it doesn't mean they'll be able to accomplish it.
beck was part of one of those shows. bet you ( you name the figure ) he won't be able to put another one of those together regardless of the amount of money his people would be willing to spend.
you need the catalyst, the quarterback, the letterman, the guy who makes it all seem so easy even though it took all day or night to put it all together. if my friend jeff beck can convince his good friend mckee to hop aboard, they're in. it'll happen.
the truth is, as radio keeps winnowing down live talent, the pool keeps getting more and more shallow. ain't nobody with any experience in that sort of thing out there anymore.
which is why i suggested that 107.3 utilize jeff beck in a way that will take advantage of his considerable skill. give him time during the day to program, produce and then program and produce some more. lt him lay down 3 or 4 hours in the mid-day and give him the freedom and the time to fix that bubbling mordivil cesspool of badly executed half-baked radio afterbirths.
he can do it. i've seen the guy in the studio at 5 or 6 at night after getting to the station at 4:30 in the morning. he's got the drive, he's got the talent, the jeff and jeff show was the best produced show EVER to air in this market. just let beck be beck and stop asking for isn't even remotely an idea that makes sense for the station, or the format.
As for a two man team shooting the breeze taking tons of callers and doing some fn bits mixed in with terrific interviews with an overall irrevernce. calling mr mckee, mr beck, mr mckee |
Ambulancechaser (Ambulancechaser)
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 25, 2004 - 11:10 am: | |
Buddy, I was suggesting that maybe Beck or whomever would be better served in afternoon drive than middays. After that, I was just ranting, though not at you.
Obviously, I've never put together a radio show of any kind. I just listen sometimes. I'm sure it's a difficult process. Of course, every industry or walk of life includes difficult processes. I'm not asking for Stern or O&A or Don & Mike the radio gods. I'm just asking for a little innovation. |
Ambulancechaser (Ambulancechaser)
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 25, 2004 - 11:15 am: | |
if it were so easy to do you'd think that there'd be more than less than a handful of shows that have been able to do something like that in this town and survive for more than a year.
truth is, doing something like that is nigh on impossible and simply suggesting someone try it doesn't mean they'll be able to accomplish it.
Give me a little more credit than that, Buddy. I'm not naive.
But that doesn't mean I have to be happy that the powers that be here are stunningly risk averse. |
Dan_Evans (Dan_Evans)
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 25, 2004 - 11:25 pm: | |
Stern is for now no longer on any CC stations after a call yesterday that went way too far. CC has also fired Bubba the Love Spounge as well. All of this because janet jackson flashed a body part on live TV.
All things in good time, McKee will rejoin beck and jeff and jeff will be back together once more! |
Buddy (Buddy)
| | Posted on Thursday, February 26, 2004 - 4:23 am: | |
Apparently someone just told the folks at CC that Howard Stern is dirty.
Who knew?
What did that old lady on Jeff and Jeff's prank calls say?
I'm so shocked? |
Bopst (Bopst)
| | Posted on Thursday, February 26, 2004 - 12:54 pm: | |
Hey, I think some of you fine radio folks might find some small modicum of humor in this....
YOU KNOW YOU'RE AN AGING RADIO DJ WHEN ......
- You were first hired by a GM who actually worked in radio before
becoming GM.
- Radio stations were no place for kids.
- You excitedly turn the radio up at the sound of "dead air" on the
competitor's station.
- Sales guys wore Old Spice to cover the smell of liquor.
- You were playing Elvis' number one hits when he was alive.
- Engineers could actually fix things without sending them back to the
manufacturer.
- You worked for only ONE station, and you could name the guy who
owned it.
- You remember when normal people listened to AM radio, and only
"hippies" listened to FM.
- Radio stations used to have enough on-air talent to field a softball
team every summer.
- You're at least 10 years older than the last two GM's who fired you.
- You used to smoke in a radio station and nobody cared.
- Engineers always had the worst body odor, not because they worked
too hard, but because they just didn't shower that often.
- You can name at least 2 receptionists that you nailed who now have
grandchildren.
- You know the difference between good reel-to-reel tape and cheap
reel-to-reel tape.
- Religious radio stations were locally owned, run by an old
Protestant minister and his wife, never had more than 20 listeners
at any given time, and still made money.
- You have a white wax pencil, a razor blade, and a spool of 3M
splicing tape in your desk drawer - - just in case.
- You know people who actually listened to baseball games on the
radio.
- You can post a record, run down the hall, go to the bathroom, and be
back in 2:50 for the segue.
- The new guy you're training has never listened to an AM station. He
couldn't even name one in his own home town if his life depended on it.
- You knew exactly where to put the tone on the end of a carted song.
- You spent most of the time on Friday nights giving out the high
school football scores. And when they weren't phoned-in, you got really
pissed off.
- You never thought twice about drinking from the same bottle with
another DJ.
- You only did "make-goods" if the client complained. Otherwise, who
cares?
- You can remember the name of the very first "girl" that was hired in
your market as a DJ. (Margaret? Leilani? )
- Somebody would say, "You have a face for radio", and it was still
funny.
- Sixty percent of your wardrobe has a station logo on it.
- You always had a screwdriver in the studio so you could take a
fouled-up cart apart at a moment's notice.
- Agents were people like James Bond and the Man From Uncle.
- You would spend hours splicing and editing a parody tape until it
was "just right", but didn't give a damn how bad that commercial was
you recorded. Hey, I can only work with what they give me, right?
- You still refer to CDs as "records".
- Dinner? Let's see what the last shift left for me in the
refrigerator.
- The only interaction between you and someone else prior to bedtime
is, "Thank you. Please pull ahead to the second window."
- Your family thinks you're successful, but you know better.
- You played practical jokes on the air without fear of lawsuits.
- You've been married at least 3 times, or, never married at all.
- You answer your home phone with the station call letters.
- You used to fight with the news guy over air-time. After all, what
was more important: your joke about your ex-wife, or that tornado warning?
- You knew how to change the ribbon on the teletype machine, but you
hated to do it because "...that's the news guy's job."
- You had listeners who only tuned in for the news, and not you. You
could never figure that out.
- You know at least 3 people in sales that take credit for you keeping
your job.
- You remember when "Rock" wasn't a bunch of guys who look and sound
more like girls.
- You actually had to have an FCC 3rd w/ Endorsement to get your job.
- You have several old air-check cassettes in a cardboard box in your
closet that you wouldn't dream of letting anyone hear anymore, but,
you'll never throw them out or tape over them. Never!
- You can still see scars on your finger when you got cut using a
razor blade and cleaned out the cut with head-cleaning alcohol and an
extra long cotton swab on a wooden stick.
- You still have dreams of a song running out and not being able to
find the control room door.
- You've ever told a listener "Yeah. I'll get that right on for you."
- You have a couple of old transistor radios around the house with
corroded batteries inside them.
- People who ride in your car exclaim, "Why is your radio so loud?"
- You remember how upset people used to get about Richard Nixon.
- You have at least 19 pictures of you with famous people whom you
haven't seen since, and wouldn't know you today if you bit 'em on the ass.
- You wish you could have been on "Name That Tune" because you would
have won a million bucks.
- You even REMEMBER "Name That Tune".
- You were a half an hour late for an appearance and blamed it on the
directions you received from the sales person.
- You've run a phone contest and nobody called, so you made up a name
and gave the tickets to your cousin.
- You remember when people actually thought radio was important. |
Mark (Mark)
| | Posted on Thursday, February 26, 2004 - 10:33 pm: | |
I hate the FCC. I hate Viacom & Clear Channel for bubbling under pressure, because they knew CNN (Time Warner), Fox News (NewsCorp), & MSNBC (GE) was going to stick the "Indecency Incidents" in their faces. Don't you just love major corporations and how they use public outlets to get their opinions across in a slick and sly way? I, for one, don't.
Personally, I enjoy waking up and listening to Elliot In The Morning, and I wished I still had a chance to listen to Stern and O&A each day, and if you don't: TURN OFF THE FRIGGIN' RADIO! How is that such an unheard-of concept? People act like they're forced to watch the Super Bowl (OK, so it IS the Super Bowl) or listen to Stern every morning! I don't get some people.
I just HAD to let off some steam! |
Dan_Evans (Dan_Evans)
| | Posted on Thursday, February 26, 2004 - 10:40 pm: | |
Mark, don't be a stranger big guy, great to hear from you again. I agree that all people have to do is change the station. Hell, but then again, I want the FCC to be sent away for good and the money used for something else, as in ummm a huge deficit that needs work on.
Bopst, great listing on you know if you are a old DJ.
Sadly beck is no longer on 107.3, now that he is gone, the whole damn ship there will sink! |
Radiodxrichmond (Radiodxrichmond)
| | Posted on Friday, February 27, 2004 - 8:44 am: | |
That didn't take too long...I knew Beck was temp, but jeez, that was quick |
Buddy (Buddy)
| | Posted on Saturday, February 28, 2004 - 1:45 am: | |
don't be too sure that beck is gone forever from 107.3. i'll bet he's working out something with them. how can they NOT work with him? who else is there to patch up that leaking ship and make it sound like a professionally run station?
then again these are the people who had billy on for years |
Dan_Evans (Dan_Evans)
| | Posted on Saturday, February 28, 2004 - 7:00 am: | |
Billy was a mistake, anyone remember april fools day 2002, when they changed to classic country for the morning show and all they played was a movie soundtrack? People called and complained so badly that they finally went back to 80's after the morning show LOL. At least old XL had some fun, promising more ac/dc while never playing a lick of ac/dc LOL.
Re: the FCC. I love how the fcc wants to play the kings and queens of broadcasting, yet on tv you can find ads for male enahncement pills in the time period that the FCC says that you can't have that type of content. |
Dan_Evans (Dan_Evans)
| | Posted on Sunday, February 29, 2004 - 6:47 pm: | |
Well, the KISS format of stations is going to hit Norfolk, 92.1 out there is going to flip to CHR tomorrow and also their jazz station is flipping to a undisclosed format.
Back to good old richmond. Oldies 107 is now doing another week of TEST HOSTING for am drive. Well anything beats Jack Alix. |
Radiodxrichmond (Radiodxrichmond)
| | Posted on Sunday, February 29, 2004 - 9:25 pm: | |
Now here's a good MainQuad/Quasi-Reality radio idea...Morning DJ Survivor!!! Have people call in to vote...Instant success! (or not)
As for 98.9...
We all know the end is near for WJMA, they're gonna simulcast WCUL starting tomorrow. WLSA will switch formats soon, too. I'm thinking oldies |
Thor is Thor (Thor)
| | Posted on Sunday, February 29, 2004 - 10:36 pm: | |
Wow Radio X....Thinking, Thor is amused by that comment. Didn't know you had it in you. Thor was gone for a while, but she missed little Bop boy so she returned, isn't everyone happy about that. Thor has spoken, Thor is brave, Thor is wise, Thor thinks Beck stinks. |
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