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May 2006
5/30: 790 morning show takeover
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Here’s an amusing marketing idea from the folks at 790/The Zone. It sounds like it should be a delightful train wreck!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 30, 2006
TV SPORTS ANCHORS TAKE OVER MORNING SHOW AT SPORTS RADIO 790 THE ZONE
ATLANTA, GA- Wednesday, May 31st marks the first time ever that the lead television sports anchors from the local network affiliates will come together to host the morning show on 790 The Zone. WSB TV’s Chuck Dowdle, WXIA’s TV Fred Kalil, WGCL TV’s Gil Tyree and WAGA TV’s Ken Rodriguez will take over the airwaves from 7a-10a tomorrow morning to cover for Steak Shapiro, Mike Bell and Nick Cellini who are traveling to the Dominican Republic where they will be broadcasting live on Thursday and Friday of this week.
Matt Edgar, Program Director at Sports Radio 790 The Zone, says “I’ve always wanted to get these 4 talented guys in the same studio together and it’s taken me 9 years to do it. I think that all of them have a lot more to offer than just a 2-minute sports cast at night and I look forward to our audience getting to know each of them a little bit better.”
Chris Dimino will also be traveling internationally and filling in during his 2 hour show from 10a-12p is Jamal Anderson, former Atlanta Falcon and current ABC/ESPN Football “Guy.”
Sports Radio 790 The Zone programming will resume regular schedule with hosts on Thursday, June 1.
Leslie Smith Director of Promotions and Marketing Sports Radio 790 The Zone
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5/30: Summer song of 2006
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Here’s a fun question. What is going to be THE summer song of 2006 a la “Hot in Herre” or “Crazy in Love” earlier this decade.
My best bet is Shakira’s infectious, upbeat “Hips Don’t Lie.” That song just jumps out, with that horn, the constant referencing to “Shakira, Shakira” and her distinctive vocals. It’s already peaking now in late May but will be ubiquitous well through September.
Another up and comer is shockingly Nelly Furtado of “I’m Like a Bird” fame. She’s done a Jewel-like conversion to sexpot/Gwen Stefani/dance star. I watched her, jaws dropped, last Saturday on SNL doing “Promiscuous.” The song, which I’ve now heard maybe four times now, doesn’t strike me as memorable as “Hips Don’t Lie” but I’ll have a better sense as it gets more airplay.
One radio expert has already weighed in here.
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5/30: Dark Secret literacy campaign
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The new mid-day guy at V-103 has launched a literacy campaign. Here’s the press release:
Who: OSEI “THE DARK SECRET”.
What: Dark Secret Literacy Movement (DSLM) Kick-off Summer Series.
When: Thursday, June 1, 2006, 10am-4pm. 3pm-4pm (press conference / reception).
Where: Adams Park Library, 2231 Campbellton Road, Atlanta, Georgia, (404) 752-8763
Why: To encourage youth to read throughout summer months.
Atlanta, Georgia — Popular mid-day (10am-2pm) disc jockey (on local urban radio) OSEI “THE DARK SECRET” is exposing himself and others by partnering with the Atlanta Fulton County Public Library System to encourage youth (ages 10-18) to read a series of books throughout the summer months. The kickoff for the Dark Secret Literacy Movement Summer Series, that will run Thursday, June 1 - August 1, 2006, will take place Thursday, June 1, 2006, 10am-4pm, at the Adams Park Library, 2231 Campbellton Road, Atlanta, Georgia. The day’s activities will include food, fun and more. The event is open to the public and all are welcome to attend the press conference.
The DSLM has also teamed up with Jakes 22 Management (DBA) McDonald’s for all students that complete the DSLM Summer Series program to receive a free meal from one of the 4 McDonald’s locations that Jakes 22 Management owns & operates, (which include: downtown Atlanta at 55 Forsyth Street; 2964 Turner Hill Road at Stonecrest in Lithonia; 2791 Panola Road in Lithonia and in Wal-Mart on 541 Fairrington Road in Lithonia.) “We normally have an average of 400 students that enter the program, however an average of 250 youth complete the program,” says Angela Margerum, Adams Park Library Branch Children & Teen Librarian and Executive Director of DSLM.
R20;At the end of the summer, we will have a big event to highlight all the kids that have completed the program,R21; says The Dark Secret. R20;We will also give them a DSLM membership card and T-shirt.R21; In September 2006, the DSLM will kick off OSEI & Friends 103 Schools in 103 days. Sponsorship opportunities are available.
About OSEI “THE DARK SECRET”: An aspiring actor and model, Osei (pronounced O-say) studied at the renowned Freedom Theater repertoire company. More than 64 million people regularly listened to Osei’s polished baritone voice on various television spots, as he was the primary male voice-over talent for Black Entertainment Television (BET) network. While working toward becoming a sports medicine physician, Osei’s first brush with the airwaves happened at WHOV 88.1FM, Hampton University’s Jazz station. While interning he worked at WPGC-FM with the legendary Donnie Simpson and his morning crew, then moved up to overnights and weekends for that station and soon, he was hosting the coveted, sexy night show, Love, Talk & Slow ! Jamz. The Dark Secret now resides in Atlanta, Georgia and works for “The People’s Station” with the BIG “V”. For more information log onto: www.oseithedarksecret.net , www.afplweb.com .
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5/30: Moby online
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Former Kicks jock Moby is now available online via the Athens station www.1061wngc.com .
Moby, who was let go by Kicks 101.5 in 2002, now has a syndicated show heard on several smalltown stations including the country station in Athens.
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5/26: 99X’s Steve Craig defends Leslie Fram
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Steve Craig, the well respected mid day guy at 99X (who says he doesn’t read this blog), said it was okay to post this vent he emailed me yesterday.
Rodney,
You and I have always had a great relationship, and you know I’m not the kind of person to jump into radio mudslinging.
After hearing what transpired this morning on the Buzz, I had to speak my mind and heart.
I’ve worked closely with everyone involved… Chris Williams, Whip and Wally, and of course, the staff here. The continuing character attack on Leslie Fram is unconscionable. Instead of a competition between radio stations, it’s turned into a vent for disgruntled ex-employees. I know for a fact that Chris Williams tried very hard to make 99X successful during his tenure, but unfortunately he didn’t understand the alternative format like Sean Demery, Brian Philips, Jay Harren and Leslie. He single-handedly sank the stations ratings and destroyed a lot of music business relationships with the direction he took us. Changes had to be made, and we are now recovering and getting back to the original sound and feel of 99X. All parties are working again, and life goes on. But in my 28 years in the business, I’ve never been witness to such a childish and unprofessional display of behavior as in the past several months. Giving out private phone numbers, cell numbers, sending malicious packages to spouses, taunting and shouting obscenities on mic in public, not to mention the continued on-air assault.
This morning there was no basis for what Wally was saying. He spoke for other people like Fred Toucher, saying that “Fred never wanted to work with Leslie”. Leslie was the one who hired Fred, and they had a great working relationship. It was Cumulus who chose not to continue with Fred and Wally. I just can’t believe that he would get sucked into what Chris and Whip are doing. The comments have turned away from competitive ribbing to vicious and mean-spirited personal attacks. To me, this is appalling, considering how much Leslie did for Chris’ career. I’m sure you’ll agree that the only people who have ever had a bad word to say about Leslie are ex-employees now working for Clear Channel. I’ve worked with Leslie for almost 15 years and while there are always philosophical programming differences, she has never treated any fellow professional with anything other than kindness and respect. It’s just sad when I get phone calls and emails from listeners who keep asking why The Buzz is being so nasty. It’s not the least bit funny. Whip constantly points out how old Leslie is, when he himself is 40-something, trying to act like a 20 year old. Axel and Wally were friends (or so I thought) and now Wally’s including him in the verbal assault.
I don’t know why I’m writing all this, I guess I feel I have some market seniority and need to speak out. This hate campaign has got to stop. Listeners deserve great radio, as in music, promotions, events, personalities, etc… not this kind of crap. Along with Chris Williams, I’m also greatly disappointed in Jerry Del Core and Clear Channel’s management for allowing this kind of use of their frequency.
Thanks for your time, and I hope to talk to you soon.
Steve Craig
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5/26: Wally joins Whip on the Buzz
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Gary “Wally” Wallace, former 99X morniing producer and on-air talent who quit a few weeks back when the new owners told him not to talk, has temporarily joined Whip on rival rock station 105.3/The Buzz. Thursday morning, he apparently ripped into 99X and his tenure there.
“I wasn’t going crazy ranting and raving,” he told me Thursday evening. “I was just telling people what my experience was and the way things went down at the end there. And the way our show [at 99X] had been designed to fail from the beginning.” (Wally is still seeking a full time gig though it’s possible he might stay at the Buzz.) He likes Whip, who worked at 99X at nights until the Buzz came along. “I actually get along with this dude,” Wally said of Whip. “Over at 99X, I heard he was the anti-Christ.”
He talked about 99X some more Friday, including the classic line “I felt like I was in the front row for an abortion, my own abortion” when describing the Axel/Leslie show and asking listeners to come up with new slogans for that show (“Everything Effeminate” was one idea or “99X Alternative Lifestyle”). Wally promises some fresh non-99X-related content next Tuesday after Memorial Day.
I got a copy of what Wally & Whip talked about. Wally badmouthed his experience at the station as expected but tried to keep it above board. At one point, he said mocking the current 99X morning show was like beating up on the “kid with the helmet.” Whip made only a couple of Leslie Fram jokes, including one about dentures. (Whip constantly mocks Leslie for her age and once even handed out her cel phone number on the air, forcing her to change it.)
99xwatch captured this amusing screen grab of the 99X site promoting Wally here. Supposedly, someone hacked into the 99X site and this was posted for a little while Wednesday.
Whip and afternoon jock and PD Chris Williams are both former 99Xers hellbent on bringing 99X down. They even made 99Sux bumper stickers I’ve seen floating around town and dub it 99Sux on the air. Leslie told me a few days back that she blames Williams during his tenure as program director of 99X 2001-2004 for taking the station too young and alienating the older fans. The station, she said, has been struggling to bring those older listeners back and based on ratings, not doing too well on that front. Since 2004, 99X has had to face off against Dave FM and the Buzz, which Williams said wouldn’t even exist today if 99X hadn’t been so wishy washy about its direction.
So far, the Buzz in one year’s time has managed to match 99X’s slipping ratings, even beating 99X in 18 to 34 males.
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5/24: Ex-V-103er Toss Swaid joins the Beat
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Night-time jock Toss Swaid, who was at V-103 from 2003 or so to 2005, left V-103 nearly a year ago when V-103 brought back Greg Street full time. He’ll be Saturday and Sunday afternoons, 2 to 6 p.m., live.
“I’ve got some other endeavors I’m not able to say,” Toss told me. He said he’s been playing a lot of poker and golf. “I wanted to have the best yard in my subdivision,” he joked.
“This is a perfect situation for me and 95.5,” he said. “They’re playing some fo the best music in Atlanta.”
Here’s the press release:
Where is Toss Swaid?… Moving to a new BEAT!
Off the golf course and finally away from the all night poker parties at his north Atlanta home. Former no.#1 rated V-103 personality Toss Swaid has come to terms with Cox Radio, for what seems to be the best agreement for both sides. Toss Swaid aka Mr. Nitelife has inked a two-day a week lucrative deal with 95.5 The Beat- Atlanta. Two days a week are the basic terms of the agreement, allowing Mr. Swaid to continue his outside endeavors which calls for plenty of traveling and 95.5 The Beat to keep its tight air staff in place. Toss Swaid will Debut This Memorial Day Weekend.
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5/26: Radio slogans part II
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
here are more. I didn’t want to overload you yesterday:
790 the Zone: No specific slogan
Underlying message from Andrew Saltzman, the GM: “We were at one point ‘790/The Zone, Atlanta’s sports leader.’ We thought it was much more important to have sports in the moniker so we’re ‘Sport radio 790/The Zone.’ In this day and age, people refer to radio stations by where they are on the dial.”
Dave FM: “Rock without rules,” transitioning to “Radio without rules”
Underlying message: “We aren’t tied down by a specific rock format. And this sounds vaguely rebellious and cool, too. Oh, and there’s alliteration.” In reality, the station is going broader to ‘radio without rules” so it’s not tied down by the music alone.
Praise 97.5: “Atlanta’s inspiration station.”
Underlying message: “This slogan rhymes! And it sounds lofty and noble, like the music.”
V-103: “Celebrating 30 years as the people’s station”
Underlying message: “We are the institution in town and we represent the African American community in the broadest sense.”
Hot 107.9: “Atlanta’s real hip-hop and R&B station”
Underlying message: “V-103 and the Beat are way too wimpy for us. We’re more genuine, more street savvy than our competitors.”
Smooth jazz 107.5: “Your trip-a-day giveaway station”
*Underlying message: “This is obviously a short-term slogan and is merely trying to entice folks to listen longer and show we’re generous.” *
Kiss 104.1 “Atlanta’s old-school R&B station”
Underlying message: “This is purely descriptive of our music compared to V-103 or 102.5.”
97.1 The River: not a specific one, using “best classic hits” and “52 minutes of music an hour”
Underlying message: “We’re new and we haven’t actually come up with a specific slogan yet. But by using the phrase classic hits rather than classic rock, we are implying a much narrower, hits-driven playlist. Plus we don’t play many commercials.”
99X: “Everything Alternative”
Underlying message: “We are trying to cover all our bases by playing some of the gold from our heyday in the ’90s and some new stuff. Dave FM is too soft and unfocused. The Buzz is too hard. We’re happily in the middle. And we’re not getting squeezed. Really!”
105.3/The Buzz: no slogan
Underlying message: PD Chris Williams said: “The name of the radio staiton is the brand. People know what we stand for by our attitude, our music and delivery.” He did introduce “I am 99X” in 1999 when he worked there. “It worked at the time. A slogan needs an emotional connection. We use ‘new rock revolution’ more than anything but it’s not something I’d brand and beat my chest about.”
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5/25: Radio slogans part I
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Let’s review various radio slogans and the underlying meanings behind them:
The Fish: “Safe for the whole family”
Underlying message: “We make the likes of B98.5 and Lite 94.9 seem downright dirty in comparison.”
Lite 94.9: “It’s all about variety!”
Underlying message: B98.5 is all about the same 250 songs over and over again.
B98.5: “Voted #1 again for most music while you work!”
Underlying message: “We know this is a bogus positioner that involves no actual voting by anybody . We just want to pump into your head that you can leave this on at 9 a.m. at work and just have it run as background music.”
Star 94: “Always #1 for today’s hit music.”
Underlying message: “We’ve been around a lot longer than Q100 and we get better ratings, too.”
Q100’s new slogan: “10 songs in a row all day!”
Underlying message: “Star 94 gabs a lot in the afternoon. We don’t — as much. And we figure you’re all tired of the old slogan, ‘Bigger, more powerful signal!’ “
95.5/The Beat: “Atlanta’s new #1 for hip hop.”
“Underlying message: “We aren’t really competing with Star 94. Rather, we’re the more mainstream version of V-103 or Hot 107.9 for the suburban hip hop fans.”*
96rock: “Classic rock and Atlanta Braves baseball”
Underlying message: “Classic rock, Atlanta Braves baseball and the Regular Guys. But that’s a wee bit too long.”
WGST-AM: “Atlanta. Talk. Radio.”
Underlying message: “Because calling ourselves Braves Radio 640 wasn’t helping since everyone is listening to the Braves on 96rock anyway.”
WSB-AM: “Atlanta’s news, weather and traffic station. Depend on it!”
Underlying message: “We’ve had this slogan for 15 years. Why change it when things are going so well?”
Kicks 101.5: “It’s all about country!”
Underlying message: “We are laser focused on country music. That’s what we’ve done for decades and we ain’t stoppin’!”
Eagle 106.7: “Country legends and the best of today”
Underlying message: “We plays pre-Garth country, but we blend in plenty of new stuff too.”
More tomorrow!
5/24: Free FM advocate gets call from CBS
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
According to Joey Mills’ Free FM in Atlanta blog, he got a call last week from a CBS programming exec Rob Barnett, aware of his campaign to bring Opie & Anthony and FM talk and drop Dave FM. I don’t think this indicates that CBS is about to change Dave’s format but that Barnett was sort of curious about an individual person so interested in O&A and Toucher & Rich that they’d have an official phone campaign like this.
And for you skeptics (TSM and Michael below specifically), I called Rob Barnett’s office and corroborated with his secretary Maureen that yes, Rob called Joey May 18. It’s in her log book.
5/23: Q100 changes
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The radio wonks at www.radio-info.com are gabbing today about the changes at Q100, however subtle to the average listener.
The new owner Cumulus has already tightened the music on Q100, amping up the top songs to nearly 100 times a week (i.e. “Temperature” by Sean Paul and “Bad Day” by Daniel Powter)
They have added a new slogan “10 in a row all day!”
They have eliminated the mid-day Jen Hobby entertainment report.
The lunchtime Cardio Radio dance mix show appears to be gone but there is a supposed “all request hour” on Wednesdays at noon.
With Jamie gone, Dylan isn’t gabbing as much in the late afternoons. As of today, Jamie’s photo is still on the Web site. The new Web masters at Cumulus haven’t caught it.
As noted, the Bert Show sounds the same and the A-Town Phat 5 countdown survived.
5/22: More on Cadillac
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Cadillac Jack (Hyde Choate is his real name) opened officially today with Jim Vann and Kristen Gates. He and Kristen get equal billing in the name of the show.
Cadillac, who is 33 and has been with Kicks and Eagle since he was 19, sounded excited on the air and said he hopes to be around 10 to 15 years. His boss Victor Sansone is enthusiastic about his move, complimenting Cadillac for his economy of words, his sense of timing, his rich cadence, his understanding of the Kicks audience. “He understands you don’t have to sit there and talk to yourself endlessly,” Sansone said. “He’s comfort food. The listeners relate to him.”
I spoke with him Friday and he said though he had passed on the opportunity to do mornings in the past, he felt the time was right now. “I don’t want to be the afternoon guy when I’m 60,” he said. “This is a great personal decision, a great professional decision. At some point, you have to take the job. This time around, I knew I was ready. I look forward to coming even closer with the listeners. That’s what it’s about. The connection.”
His wife had just quit as a sales person at Kicks after a decade to take care of his three kids full time (Will, 7; Olivia, 3; and Charlotte, 7 weeks). “We didn’t know the offer was in front of us until she had already resigned,” he said.
Morning shows are the revenue and image drivers for most radio stations. He acknowledged that he will be under the microscope, something he didn’t have to worry about in the afternoons. “I’ll have to get a tough skin,” he said. “I’ll not a tough-skinned person. You have to expose yourself to everything you do.”
5/20: The fall TV skeds and why Everwood died
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
TV Guide reports that the success of the “7th Heaven” finale is why the new CW paid the extra moulah to keep it on an 11th season and as a result, the critically acclaimed “Everwood” was axed.
There are lots of angry critics over this one move, especially since the CW decided to fit in a weekly “America’s Next Top Model” repeat. A sample.
And here’s the early 2006-07 television grid. Given the early time frame, this is certainly subject to change but provides you a taste of what things will look like come September.
5/19: Cadillac Jack takes morning at Kicks, Jill out
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
After much coaxing, Cadillac Jack is going to take over the morning show at Kicks. Kicks dumped Moby back in 2002, landed Bandy & Bailey for three years. But they left last fall. Kicks nabbed a guy from St. Louis named Craig Cornett but that didn’t work out either. So they pressed upon Cadillac to take over and my guess is they threw enough money at him to take it. I’ve known in the past he was happy where he was and resisted requests to go to the higher-pressure morning slot.
The popular Jill Kelly is out, too. With Kristen Gates as the primary female voice, the station had been reducing Jill’s role in recent months. Kelly told me that management said that they didn’t feel they needed two female voices on the show; thusly, she was out. But she struck me as fairly chipper about the situation. “When one door closes, another one opens,” she said. She’d been at Kicks for four years and had previous gigs in Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Columbia, S.C. and Augusta. She’s got a three month non-compete and then plans to seek another radio job in this market. She’s open to different genres, having worked in news/talk and soft rock. As you’ll notice in the press release below, the fact she was let go today at 9 a.m. is not mentioned at all:
ATLANTA GA – KICKS afternoon host Cadillac Jack is announced as host of the “New KICKS Morning Show” beginning Monday May 22, 2006.
“Cadillac has been our go-to guy for a number of years at the station. It is just natural to see him take on a new leadership role for the station in the morning,” said ABC Radio Atlanta President and General Manager, Victor Sansone.
Cadillac Jack has been one of Atlanta’s most listened-to radio personalities over the last 13 years. Nominated in 2005 as the CMA Major Market Broadcast Personality of the year, he has hosted national radio shows, including the Jimmy Buffet “License to Chill” World Premiere Radio special. Cadillac has appeared as a guest news reporter on the popular ABC sitcom, “Hope and Faith.” Cadillac Jack also co-hosted the CMA red carpet television special for the CBS television network last year.
According to Mark Richards, Operations Manager, “Cadillac knows Atlanta, Cadillac knows our music, and Cadillac knows our audience. We could not have offered this opportunity to a better person.”
“KICKS is a legendary radio station and one of the best places to work in America. I have been here since I was 20 years old, and look forward to making the morning show the best it can be,” said Cadillac Jack.
Cadillac will be introduced as host of “The New KICKS Morning Show” this weekend to more than forty thousand people at the station’s “Country Fair,” a two-day country music festival held every May in Atlanta. He officially joins producer, Kristen Gates, and News/Traffic Director Jim Vann, on the air Monday morning.
5/19: Internet radio stations
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
A blogger earlier this week suggested we bring up this topic: what are you favorite Internet-only radio stations?
Being a lover of ’80s, my favorite for years has been flashbackradio.com. You can make requests and they actually play them and they have an extremely deep 80s playlist.
Now your turn!
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5/17: Star 94 Star Fest starring Train, Pink
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Star 94 was touting this as a way to address the absence of Music Midtown. That’s a bit much but here’s the press release. Interestingly, Nickel Creek gets higher billing than Pink in the press release although Nickel Creek is more a CMT act than Star 94. Aqualung is more a 99X/Dave act, too. Train and Pink fit Star to a tee though neither act is as hot as the three acts they are promoting for the Next Big Thing concert June 2 (James Blunt, K.T. Tunstall, Bo Bice) at the Tabneracle.
Tickets go on sale Saturday. Details below:
star 94 announces star-studded line-up for this summer’s star fest at atlantic station
WHO: Train, Nickel Creek, Pink, Aqualung, Mat Kearney & The Whigs WHEN: Saturday, July 22 WHERE: Atlantic Station TIME: Gates open at 1:00 pm; Music begins at 2:00 pm AGE: All Ages COST: $35 in advance (plus $4 for service charge & postage); $50 at the gate Children 10 years of age and under are free
ATLANTA, GA: At a press conference held today, Atlanta’s Star 94 announced the much anticipated talent line-up for its inaugural Star Fest music festival to be held this summer in the heart of Midtown Atlanta. The one-day, two-stage outdoor festival, held in Atlantic Station on Saturday, July 22, will feature exciting performances by some of today’s hottest national talent including Train, Nickel Creek, Pink, Aqualung, Mat Kearney, and The Whigs. Several of Atlanta’s own emerging local artists, which will also be spotlighted during the festival, will be announced shortly.
“Star 94 is thrilled to partner with Atlantic Station to bring these amazing artists to Atlanta and a music festival back to Midtown,” says Star 94’s General Manager Mark Kanov. “We look forward to delivering an incredible show and continuing to build a new tradition for the music lovers of Atlanta.”
A mainstay on the charts since their hit song “Meet Virginia” in 1998, Train is back this year with their latest For Me, It’s You. The band recorded this latest album right here in Atlanta and is returning to rock the stage with its music. The band has maintained a rigorous tour schedule over the years, giving them the reputation as being one of the hottest live acts around. Train began its career by opening for bands like Blues Traveler, Barenaked Ladies and Counting Crows.
Although considered by many to be a country act, Nickel Creek brings a little bit of everything to the table. With instruments like the mandolin and violin prominently featured in their music, the band takes pride in not fitting into a particular mold. Their latest album Why Should the Fire Die was released last year and is their third album since they debuted in 2000. On their latest album, the band samples sounds ranging from Celtic influences to Bob Dylan.
Mixing soulful lyrics with her punk attitude, Pink will hit the stage singing songs from her latest album I’m Not Dead. This album showcases a more rock ‘n roll side to Pink but continues to rock the party with her classic funky beats and honest lyrics. She came onto the scene in the late 90s with hits like “There You Go” and “You Make Me Sick.” Her biggest hit to date was 2002’s “Get This Party Started.” And that’s just what she will do when she takes the stage at this year’s Star Fest.
Aqualung is a British band making its mark on U.S. soil with their album Strange & Beautiful. This album combines the best songs from the band’s previous albums, released in the UK. Absent from Strange & Beautiful is the sound of guitars. The rhythms instead come from instruments such as cellos and bells. The band’s lead singer, Matt Hales wrote his first song at the age of four in south England where his parents owned a record and book shop.
A relative newcomer to the music industry, Mat Kearney brings the music of his second album Nothing Left to Lose. Once a student of English literature, Kearney finds influence in everyone from Faulkner and O’Conner to hip-hop acts like A Tribe Called Quest and De La Soul. In addition to music and literature, Kearney also has a great interest in his development as a painter, photographer and writer of poems and screenplays.
The Whigs is a promising young rock band from Athens, GA. They have toured the country opening for acts like Franz Ferdinand, Fuel, Maroon 5 and Jessica Simpson. Give ‘em All a Big Fat Lip is the band’s first album. The band was recently named by Rolling Stone as one of the ten artists to watch for.
Tickets will go on sale Saturday, June 3rd at 10:00 am and will be $35 plus only $4 for service charge and postage. Advance tickets may be purchased at www.Star94.com or by calling 1-800-594-TIXX (8499). Tickets will be available at the gate the day of the show for $50. Children 10 years of age and under are free. Items allowed in the day of the show: one unopened bottle of water, one disposable camera and blankets. Items that will NOT be allowed in the day of the show: pets, bags, backpacks, coolers, picnics, recording devices, roller blades, bikes, professional camera equipment, or alcoholic beverages.
Star Fest is presented by Star 94 and sponsored by Bud Light and Bellsouth.
Visit Star94’s Web site at www.Star94.com or call 404-261-2970 for more information.
5/17: Most heard songs in Atlanta
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Most popular songs in Atlanta for the week ending May 15
Rank, artist, title, number of spins among all Atlanta stations, no. of stations song was heard
Rihanna “SOS” 219, 3
Sean Paul “Temperature” 195, 5
T.I. “What You Know” 194, 3
Shakira “Hips Don’t Lie” 187, 3
Lil Jon “Snap Yo Fingers” 183, 4
Mary J. Blige “Be Without You” 178, 6
Yung Doc’s “It’s Goin’ Down” 175, 3
Daniel Powter’s “Bady Day” 166, 3
Staind’s “Right Hhere” 162, 3
Chamillionaire “Ridin’” 133, 4
Songs on the most radio stations—all played on six stations
Mary J. Blige’s “Be Without You” WAMJ, the Beat, Hot, Star, V-103, Q100
Ne-Yo’s “So Sick,” Kiss, Beat, Hot, Star, V-103, Q100
Mariah Carey “We Belong Together” WAMJ, Beat, Hot, Lite, Star, V-103
Green Day’s “Time of Your Life” Buzz, Lite, 99X, Star, Q100, Dave FM
U2’s “With or Without You” 96rock, Lite, 99X, B98.5, Star, Dave
5/16: Dave FM to stream online
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Several stations in town now stream on the Internet. Infinity stations had held out but finally, Dave FM goes live here starting 7 a.m. Wednesday for Macs and PCs.
I have to check if V-103 goes live online, too, soon.
5/16: Core artists
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Here are the most popular artists at various radio stations based on Sunday’s playlist:
The River: in one day, the station played the Eagles 18 times, with 12 different cuts. This is followed by 9 titles 15 times by Elton John and 9 titles 12 times by the Rolling Stones. The other most popular artists on Sunday were Boston, Fleetwood Mac, Steve Miller, Beatles and Bob Seger.
Kiss: Top eight artists Sunday were Anita Baker (five cuts), Marvin Gaye (5), Isley Brothers (5), Luther Vandross (4), Stevie Wonder (4), Earth Wind & Fire (4) and Teddy Pendergrass (4)
WRNB 102.5: Luther Vandross (8 spins), Earth Wind & Fire (7), O’Jays (5), Michael Jackson (4), Rick James (4), Teddy Pendergrass (4), Barry White (4), Jaheim (4) and Keith Sweat (4)
The Beat: 50 Cent (5 titles, 12 spins), Ludacris (4, 7), Chris Brown (3,12), Black Eyed Peas (3,8), Mariah Carey (3,7), Nelly (3,7), Ciara (3,6), Trick Daddy (3,6), Ying Yang Twins (3,6), OutKast (3,4)
Buzz: Green Day (8 titles, 13 spins), Alice in Chains (8,9) Red Hot Chili Peppers (7,13), Stone Temple Pilots (7,10), Nirvana (7,9), Smashing Pumpkins (6,8), Staind (5,13), Pearl Jam (5,11), Foo Fighters (5,11), Offspring (5,7), Linkin Park (5,5)
Fish: Third Day (12 titles, 17 spins), Phillips, Craig & Dean (10,11), Michael W. Smith (8,9), Steven Curtis Chapman (7,7), Amy Grant (7,7), DC Talk (5,6), Mark Schultz (5,6)
Hot 107.9: T.I. (6 titles, 15 spins), D4L (6,9), Young Jeezy (4,4), Chris Brown (3,5), Lil Jon (3,4), Kilo (3,3), Lil Scrappy (3,3)
Jazz 107.5: Sade (8 titles, 8 spins), Anita Baker (7,7), Kenny G (6,6), George Benson (5,5), Marvin Gaye (5,5), Stevie Wonder (5,5), Marc Antoine (4,4), Steve Cole (4,4), Paul Hardcastle (4,4), Boney James (4,4), Peter White (4,4)
Kicks 101.5: Tim McGraw (9 titles, 14 spins), Brooks & Dunn (9,9), Kenny Chesney (7,11), Toby Keith (7,11), George Strait (6,9), Lonestar (6,6), Martina McBride (6,6), Rascal Flatts (5,9)
96rock: Pink Floyd (7 titles, 7 spins), Led Zeppelin (6,7), Rolling Stones (6.7), Eagles (5,5), Queen (4,5), Aerosmith (4,4), Tom Petty (4,4), ZZTop (4,4)
Lite 94.9: Elton John (6 titles, 7 spins), Chicago (5,5), Phil Collins (5,5), Fleetwood Mac (5,5) Marvin Gaye (5,5), Rod Stewart (5,5), James Taylor (4,7), Commodores (4,4), Journey (4,4)
99X: Foo Fighters (8 titles, 12 spins), Nirvana (7,7), Pearl Jam (6,8), Red Hot Chili Peppers (5,9), Green Day (5,6), Smashing Pumpkins (5,6), Weezer (4,5), 311 (4,4), Nine Inch Nails (3,7)
B98.5: Elton John (5 titles, 8 spins), Sheryl Crow (5,6), Kelly Clarkson (4,14), Journey (4,7), Prince (4,6), Phil Collins (4,5), Billy Joel (4,5), Chicago (4,4) Santana (3,6)
Star 94: Kelly Clarkson (4, 15), Mariah Carey (3,6), Green Day (3,6). Top songs were each spun 10 times last Friday: Bo Bice’s “The Real Thing,” Kelly Clarkson’s “Walk Away,” Daniel Powter’s “Bad Day,” Shakira’s “Hips Don’t Lie,” and Staind’s “Right Here.”
V-103: Luke (4,5), T.I. (3,16), Mary J. Blige (3,11), Jay-Z (3,3), R. Kelly (3,3). Field Mob’s “So What,” Jamie Foxx’s “DJ Play a Love Song” and T.I.’s “Why You Wanna” were all spun 8 times.
Viva 105.7: Kumbia Kings (5 titles, 7 spins), Juanes (5,6), Ricardo Arjona (4,9), Franco de Vita (4,8), Daddy Yankee (4,7), Sin Bandera (4,6), Reyli Barba (4,5), Mana (4,5)
Q100: Kelly Clarkson (5 titles, 11 spins), Nickelback (3,9). Those were the only artists who had three different titles spun in a 24 hour period. So we’ll use a different measure. Most songs played: Sean Paul’s “Temperature” 13 times, Rihanna’s “SOS” 13 times, Daniel Powter’s “Bad Day” 12 times, Shakira’s “Hips Don’t Lie” 9 times, Fall Out Boy’s “Sugar, We’re Going Down” 8 times, Staind’s “RIght Here” 8 times
Eagle 106.7: Alan Jackson (12 titles, 14 spins), Toby Keith (10,13), Tim McGraw (7,8), Alabama (7,7), George Strait (6,10), Reba McEntire (6,7), Brooks & Dunn (6,6), Brad Paisley (5,9), Garth Brooks (5,7), Travis Tritt (5,5)
Dave FM: U2 (11 titles, 11 spins), R.E.M. (8,8), Police (7,7), INXS (6,6), Peter Gabriel (5,5), Coldplay (4,8), Depeche Mode (4,5), David Bowie (4,4), Dave Matthews Band (4,4), Rolling Stones (4,4), James Blunt (3,6), Red Hot Chili Peppers (3,6)
5/16: ABC/NBC fall schedules
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
This isn’t about radio but I’m going to sneak in some TV info. Here’s the tentative ABC schedule for this fall. The key move: “Grey’s Anatomy” moving to Thursdays at 9 p.m. against “CSI” and new NBC show “Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip,” produced by “West Wing” creator Aaron Sorkin about the behind-the-scenes world of a “Saturday Night Live” type show.
And NBC’s schedule is here.
CBS, Fox and the CW (the UPN/WB) are coming up later in the week.
Just heard from tvguide.com that low-rated but critically loved “Veronica Mars” will move to the CW and so will “One Tree Hill” but “Everwood” appears dead.
5/16: More black talk on 102.5
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
WAMJ-FM, which is currently focused on R&B music, will be adding all-talk during the mid days. Author and intellectual Michael Eric Dyson will be on from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. starting Tuesday May 16. He’ll be followed by former Presidential candidate Rev. Al Sharpton from 1 to 3 p.m. Michael Baisden will continue from 3 to 7 p.m. and SiMan remains in the mornings. Both those shows will keep playing music.
Both Dyson and Sharpton are heard mostly on AM stations in 20 markets including Boston and D.C. But this is one of the few on an FM signal, albeit a relatively weak one. Until now, the station has been running music without jocks between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.
“We decided to do something different,” said Wayne Brown, who oversees all the Radio One radio stations in Atlanta, including WAMJ-FM, smooth Jazz 107.5 Hot 107.9 and Praise 97.5. “Black talk is something that has been bandied about for a long time. They’ll talk about daily topics that impact the African Ameircan community.” They will be competing directly with local black talk over at WAOK-AM.
Here’s the links to Dyson’s bio and Sharpton’s bio.
Give it a listen Tuesday and tell me what you think!
Permalink | Comments (132) | Categories: News
5/15: WATL adding telenovelas
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
WATL-TV, abandoned by the WB when it combines UPN this fall to become the CW (WUPN-TV locally gets that), has signed on with Fox Twentieth Television’s My Network TV. That means 13-week telenovela soaps in the beginning starting Sept. 5. They’d run from 8 to 10 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays with Saturday being recap day. WATL will fend for itself on Sunday nights.
As for other new syndicated programming, WATL will add a new talk show starring comic Greg Behrendt, “According to Jim,” old episodes of “American Idol,” “Scrubs” and “The Shield.” Other main stars of WATL, such as Jerry Springer, Maury, Friends, Sex & the City, Everybody Loves Raymond, My Wife & Kids and Family Feud will remain. A fuller schedule is forthcoming.
For now, the WB primetime leftovers will air on WATL until the end of August.
Here’s a fuller story.
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5/15: Craig Cornett back in St. Louis
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Allaccess.com is reporting that Craig Cornett has returned to his old station KDS the Bull in St. Louis after just four months in Atlanta at Kicks 101.5 He ostensibly left Atlanta because of his ailing father but it was pretty obvious that things weren’t working out between him and Kicks management either.
I need to check up with Kicks to see how things are going for the hunt for another morning host.
5/15: Unique songs per station
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
According to Mediabase 24/7, here are the stations that play the most unique songs per week. Since I last looked in September 2005, only a few stations have seen their playlist depth change significantly.
Oldies stations usually play more unique titles since they don’t have to repeat new songs. So the polar opposites are Eagle, which is the epitome of variety and the Beat, the epitome of repetition.
Eagle: 919 (That’s by far the most in the market and it’s deeper than it was in September when it aired 841 unique songs in a given week. They do play currents though so Joe Nichols’ “Size Matters” got 27 spins last week and Eagle gave 22 songs at least one spin a day on average.)
Kiss: 733 (From April 30-May 6, it was a tie between Stephanie Mills’ “I Feel Good All Over,” the Spinners’ “Love Don’t Love Nobody” and Intruders’ “I’ll Always Love My Mama” with seven spins each.)
Lite: 683 (Dido’s “Thank You” was heard 10 times last week as the most popular song.)
102.5/WRNB: 639 (No. 1 song last week: Brian McKnight’s “Find Myself In You” with 25 spins)
Smooth Jazz: 547 (deeper by about 20%. Mindi Abair’s “True Blue” was spun 30 times)
Dave FM: 600 (In just the past week, the station tightened its playlist by about 20%. The station aired 768 songs the week ending May 4, 2006. It cut the number of current songs by the likes of Shawn Mullins, Ray LaMontagne and Mark Knopfler and added a couple of recent songs well burned by other stations such as Green Day’s “Wake Me Up Before September Ends,” Gorillaz’ “Feel Good Inc.” and the Killers’ “Mr. Brightside.” Most played song last week: 29 spins of K.T. Tunstall’s “Black Horse & the Cherry Tree.”)
Kicks: 495 (Top tune: Macon’s Jason Aldean single “Why” was spun 44 times last week.)
V-103: 453 (Top song: Jamie Foxx’s “DJ Play a Love Song” was spun 51 times, seven times a day)
Viva: 432 (Top songs: Aventura’s “Un Beso” and Franco De Vita’s “Tu De Que Vas” were spun 41 times each)
99X: 431 (down from 561 songs in September 2005. The new owners have cut back a bit on the “variety” kick the station went through for awhile. Two songs tied for most spins: Red Hot Chili Peppers’ “Dani California” and Panic! At the Disco’s “The Difference Between Martyrdom…”)
96rock: 383 (No. 1 song: Kansas’ “Carry On Wayward Son,” spun 11 times, or slightly more than one a day. The station’s most spun song since 1998 that’s on the current playlist is Aerosmith’s “Dream On,” which has been heard 3,064 times or on average about once a day.)
Hot 107.9: 373 (No. 1 song: Lil Jon’s “Snap Yo Fingers” with 70 spins or once every two hours, 24 minutes or so)
Fish: 368 (Top Song: Mark Harris’ “Find Your Wings” was spun 32 times.)
The River: 324: (Top song: ZZ Top’s “La Grange” at 17 spins.)
Buzz: 270 (Top song: Gorillaz’ “Feel Good Inc.” with 54 spins, or every three hours)
B98.5: 247 (that’s actually tighter than the 300 songs they had eight months ago. The station is playing only eight songs defined as “current” and four of them are by Kelly Clarkson! The top song is Rob Thomas’ “Lonely No More” with 27 spins along with Kelly’s “Since U Been Gone”)
Star 94: 197 (Top song: Daniel Powter’s “Bad Day” with 69 songs)
Q100: 171 (Significantly tighter than it was last fall when it aired 250 songs. Clearly, the new owners like it tighter. It’s also amped up the frequency of the hit songs. Rihanna’s “SOS” is the No. 1 song, spun a whopping 94 times last week. That’s once eveyr hour and 47 minutes.)
Beat: 134 (Remains one of the tightest playlists for any top 40 station in the country. And it actually played T.I. “What You Know” 99 times last week or once every hour and 42 minutes.)
5/12: Whither Air America in Atlanta?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Joe Weber, the bakery magnate, recently purchased for $12 million 1690 WWAA-AM, current home of liberal talk syndicate Air America (Al Franken, Randi Rhodes, et. al). He plans to change 1690 to what he has now on AM/1160: an eclectic oldies format he created which ranges from Beethoven to Little Richard to Bruce Springsteen to Dean Martin.
Air America, Weber said, will be on 1690 at least through June 10. He said he’s in talks with Air America to lease time on his 1160 signal, which he hopes to sell. He likes 1690 because it has a stronger night-time signal and is more centralized int he city than 1160, which faces some interference from 1190.
Jon Sinton, Atlanta based president of Air America (which has 90 affiliates nationwide) said he’s looking at other stations to place Air America and 1160 is an option. Air America on 1690 since it launched a couple of years ago here in Atlanta has had modest ratings, which isn’t surprising given the signal’s locale on the dial and the lack of marketing from the current owners.
Sinton said Air America is doing well in typical liberal alcoves such as Ann Arbor, Mich., Madison, Wi., Portland, Ore. and the like. But it also does well in Los Angeles, San Diego and Miami.
5/12: Group starts Free FM campaign
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Joey Mills, who was a big fan of Fred Toucher, is encouraging people who are familiar with the FM talk format to encourage Dave FM to add Opie & Anthony in the mornings and former 99Xer’s Toucher, Rich and Crash in the afternoons. (That latter show starts next month on WBCN in Boston. Opie & Anthony have never been on air locally in Atlanta but can be heard on XM Satellite Radio.) CBS, which owns Dave, has several “Free FM’ talk formats in several major markets. Here’s the web site
Here’s the note he sent me:
My friends and I are joining up with some of the Opie & Anthony fans to bring Free FM to the 92.9. We are hoping to get their attention over at CBS Radio. We want them to have Opie and Anthony in the morning and Toucher and Rich syndicated in the afternoon. We are encouraging all of the Toucher and Rich fans and Opie and Anthony fans to call CBS Radio Operator (212) 258-6000 ask for the Programming Department and tell them that you want FREE FM in Atlanta with Opie and Anthony and Toucher and Rich.
Joey Mills
My impression is that Rick Caffey, the head of CBS Radio Atlanta (which also include powerhouse V-103), is deeply committed to Dave FM despite weaker than expected ratings the past year. Dave FM is ranked 15th overall among 25 to 54 year olds and 16th in the mornings. They have been touting the station’s high-quality demographics and advertisers like the active nature of its fan base. Free FM as a format is not a proven commodity so would CBS be willing to tinker here in Atlanta? I’m not so sure they would for now.
5/11: Jennifer Reed on 96rock
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Jennifer Reed has only been on a week at 96rock as the new afternoon jock but hasn’t been given much of a chance to say much. Anybody who has heard her—what are your early impressions?
5/9: WGST update
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Stumbling news/talk station WGST-AM appears to be dismantling veteran afternoon show host Kim “The Kimmer” Peterson’s support team one piece at a time.
Last December, Jim Gossett, the comic who did celebrity impersonations on Peterson’s “newsmaker” line, quit after his girlfriend and newscaster Kari Dean was fired. Then GST got rid of long-time sports guy Pete Davis in February. Last Friday, Peterson’s sidekick Wayne Kitchens was booted after nine years.
Kitchens, who produced the show, said management was upset when he didn’t bleep out an anti-Muslim statement Peterson said on the air last week. Nonetheless, Kitchens suspected he had been on the chopping block for awhile: “I knew I was next. And I think they’re trying to make the Kimmer quit.” He has nothing but good things to say about Peterson, noting he’s an “equal opportunity offender” on air and remains “a fantastic friend. He made me.”
Program director Randall Bloomquist, who arrived last fall, said he couldn’t comment on Kitchen’s firing since it was a personnel matter. But he called the departures “side dishes. The steak and potatoes is the Kimmer.”
Peterson, a GST fixture for more than a decade, has seen his ratings drop sharply in recent months. “I have no comment,” he said Tuesday.
As for the awful ratings over the winter, Bloomquist said there tends to be a delay in results and that this is a vestige from all the changes over the summer and fall. Denny Schaffer, who came aboard last fall, “is still very new. I think if you went back to any successful personaltiy, they didn’t have great books early on. There are no overnight successes, particularly in talk radio.”
On the Tom Hughes show, which had some of its worst ratings in history over the winter (when GST has to power up relatively late anyway), all he could say was “we’re working on that,” without providing specifics.
Bloomquist also has no replacement yet for departing evening syndicated host Phil Hendrie, who’s quitting to pursue acting. (You can see him in the short-lived NBC sitcom “Teachers.”)
As for hiring 99X’s Jimmy Baron, he said “I’ve had a couple of conversations with Jimmy. Seems like an interesting guy. We may talk some more.”
As for the simulcast with 96rock of the Braves games, he acknowledges that “they have a bigger benefit with a magnificent signal.”
Bloomquist was once a radio reporter but has since programmed news/talk stations in DC and Charlotte, too.
5/9: 99X/Q100 cont’d
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Here’s an inside baseball commentary about the 99X/Q100 cuts but the basic gist is that Cumulus is cutting not just fat but bone and muscle and though the cuts were made mostly behind the scenes, this will degrade on-air product. Just offering it up for folks who like to know that different companies take vastly different approaches in how to make the sausage.
5/9: Playlist analysis
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I have some temporary access to Mediabase 24/7, which provides a cornucopia of radio airplay information.
Interestingly, B98.5 has actually shrunken its playlist and now averages 250 songs a week. It has added two songs this year: “You and I” by Lifehouse and “Since U Been Gone” by Kelly Clarkson. That’s it.
5/8: Arbitron ratings breakdowns
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Besides the River’s monstrous openings, there were some smaller stories going on:
— After just a year at 105.3, the Buzz has overtaken 99X among 18-34 men and is tied 12 plus.
— WGST had probably its worst ratings in its history. While Rush still pulls a 4 share among 25-54, it was ranked 23rd among 25-54 year olds, behind the Beat, 790/The Zone and 105.3/The Buzz. Even among 35 to 64 year olds, WGST was just ranked 16th place. Kimmer saw his numbers drop sharply without Jim Gossett.
— Kicks 101.5 had one of its worst morning numbers in quite a long time, ranked just 10th among 25 to 54, down from 7th in the fall and 4th during the summer. Bandy & Bailey were let go in October. Craig Cornett came on soon after but was only around a few months, leaving in February to take care of his ailing dad. They are seeking yet another replacement. Other dayparts remain solid. (For folks who read this earlier, I accidentally had that last sentence under GST.)
—The Q100 signal upgrade in October has yet to lead to any major improvement in the ratings though things did rebound slightly in the winter over a relatively weak fall. The Bert Show remains #2 women 18-34.
— Lite fell back to earth after its Christmas-music fueled fall. The station also may have been impacted by the River.
—Viva has had its weakest performance since it launched in the fall of 2004. It’s still ranked No. 3 among 18-34 behind only V-103 and Hot.
—The departure of Jamz didn’t hurt Hot or V-103, both of which had solid ratings. Hot’s new “A” team morning show had its strongest 18-34 ranking since the Ryan departure (#3). Kiss also had another good ratings period. After a nice blast from Michael Baisden’s intro in the afternoons on R&B 102.5 in the fall, the station remained about flat. The 107.5 smooth jazz station also ahd its best showing in a year.
—In the sports battle, the Fan’s big fall book after two years of losing to the Zone proved to be a fluke as the Fan’s numbers settled back to the lower end of its recent historical averages.
5/6: More about 99X/q100 cuts
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Atlanta’s Cumulus CEO Lew Dickey spoke with billboard.com about its purchase of Susquehanna radio stations, including Q100 and 99X.
Here’s the link.
The pertinent grafs:
“There were virtually no changes in sales and programming unless they were upgrades,” Dickey said. “There’s no reduction in head count or programming unless there were changes we wanted to make in personnel rather than head count reductions.”
Dickey also said that there will be no format changes at the former Susquehanna stations, including modern rock WNNX (99X) Atlanta, where nine-year MD Jay Harren was among numerous people let go on May 4. Layoffs also affected top 40 sister WWWQ (Q100).
“Changes at 99X were based around performance of the station,” Dickey explained. “We have no plans to change the format of the station. 99X has lost its way a little bit and we just need to improve it and bring the ratings up.”
Jimmy Baron’s take on his blog? Check out here.
5/6: Kimmer’s Wayne is out
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
According to thekimmershow.com, the WGST mainstay Kim “the Kimmer” Peterson’s colleague Wayne was fired. No reason is given. In December, Jim Gossett, who was the primary voice on the News Line doing a thousand voices, quit after his girlfriend Kari Dean was fired. Pete Davis, a long-time sports guy and Kimmer sub, was also recently fired.
The Kimmer’s ratings took a major dive in the winter from the fall, dropping by a third among 25 to 54 year olds. Overall, the No. 2 news/talk station had a miserable Arbitron ratings period, with the 790/The Zone beating GST in certain demographics and dayparts.
5/5: 1270AM grabs Glenn Beck
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Here’s an email I just got:
Rodney… wanted to let you know that Glenn Beck has replaced Tony Snow at NewsTalk AM 1270 - WYXC in Cartersville. Daytime signal covers Kennesaw to Dalton for those former WGST Beck fans in that area.
Thanks,
Chuck Shiflett
NewsTalk AM 1270 - WYXC www.NewsTalk1270.com
Beck was on WGST in the midmornings for about three years before Denny Schaffer.
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5/5: Rhubarb raises $268K, 99X cuts, Father Crunk
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The changes at 99X/Q100 won’t immediately be apparent beyond the departure of Jamie Massey.
But behind the scenes, the 99X general manager Mark Renier who helped launch the station nearly 14 years ago is out. So is Jay Herron, the man who handled the music on 99X. The entire Web design team is out. And direct mail is out. Cumulus, the Atlanta-based company, officially takes over 99X/Q100 and other Susquehanna radio stations today. This is part of the expected cost cutting at the stations.
Over at Eagle 106.7, Rhubarb’s big charity golf tournament at the Golf Club of Georgia raised an impressive $268,000, the most in 14 years that he’s been doing it. His 14-year total is $1.6 million. From the press release:
We were proud to have the legendary Charlie Daniels return for the fourth time to serve as Honorary Chairman of the event. Other participants included, Randy Owen of America’s band, Alabama, T. Graham Brown, songwriters Jeffrey Steele, Bob DiPiero, Craig Wiseman and Tony Mullins, former Atlanta Falcons Coach Dan Reeves, former UGA and Chicago Bears player, Kevin Butler, and local television celebrities Chuck Dowdle, Fred Kalil and Ken Rodriguez.
And if you haven’t seen it already, the “Faith & Values” editor Kevin Austin (and my fine former boss) wrote a story about Rev. Ricardo Bailey that was on the cover of ajc.com Friday. He’s Father Crunk, heard weekly on Q100’s morning show. I didn’t have time this week to do the story so he did. Here’s the link.
5/4: The story on the River for Friday’s paper
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Here’s what I wrote for Friday’s paper on the River’s mondo opening:
A flood of listeners jumped into The River, the new rock station at 97.1 FM launched on New Year’s Day this year.
The station — which plays rock hits mostly from the 1970s and 1980s by acts such as Fleetwood Mac, Elton John and Aerosmith — had one of the biggest debuts in recent Atlanta radio history, opening in fourth place in this winter’s ratings. It finished behind only R&B/hip-hop powerhouse V-103 FM, news/talk mainstay WSB-AM and gospel station Praise 97.5 FM.
More than 540,000 metro Atlantans, on average, tuned in during any given week this past winter, according to the Arbitron ratings covering January 5 to March 29.
“It was incredible,” said Chris Wegmann, market manager for Cox Radio Atlanta, part of Cox Enterprises, which also owns the Atlanta Journal Constitution. “Now our challenge is to maintain the momentum.”
To draw new listeners, Cox spent several hundred thousand dollars advertising the River on TV, and the station broadcast its first month with no commercials. It now runs just eight ads an hour, far fewer than other music stations in the market. The River also is DJ-free at the moment, but Wegmann said the station plans to add morning and late-afternoon jocks — though they won’t talk much.
He said the station filled a gap among 30- to 54-year-olds for a music-heavy rock station focused on familiar songs. The River tends to be more female friendly than testosterone-driven 96rock and much less eclectic than 92.9/Dave FM. It also features a relatively small playlist of about 300 songs, a formula replicated from successful Cox radio stations in other markets.
The River’s debut appeared to ding a host of rival stations to various degrees, including 96rock, Star 94, Lite 94.9, the Fish 104.7 and Dave FM.
Buzz Casey, program director at 96rock, played down the new station’s success. He said music-intensive stations in other markets have made splashy debuts before. “They’d be absolutely huge for six or nine months,” he said, “then taper off quickly and settle in the middle of the pack.”
The FM signal 97.1, which covers the north side of metro Atlanta well, used to be Fox 97, the “good times and great oldies” station that was hugely popular in the 1990s. But it stumbled in its final years under Cox Radio ownership as the audience aged and tired of the station’s tight playlist. Former Fox 97 morning show host Spiff Carner joked in 2003 that it was “good times and eight oldies.”
Cox dumped Fox in early 2003 and launched Jamz, an R&B/hip-hop station targeting blacks in their 30s and 40s with a mix of hits from the ’80s, ’90s and today. It ran without jocks and spent a lot of airtime bashing rival V-103. In the end, it never gained any real ratings traction.
“It was a noble experiment,” Wegmann said. “It didn’t work.”
5/3: Bloodletting to hit 99x/Q100
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
With new owners Cumulus coming in, the housecleaning has begun. According to R&R, already, 16 people have been snuffed (and this doesn’t count the morning show cuts in recent weeks.)
Susquehanna, the former owners, are privately held and the station was still staffed as if 99X was a highly ranked station like it was at one time. And Q100 is healthily staffed too. So cuts were inevitable and with a publicly traded company like Cumlulus, the cuts could run deep. Word is Susquehanna cut some folks ahead of time before Cumulus officially takes over Friday so they can get better severence packages. A going away party happened Wednesday night at Shout. Former 99X morning show producer Christopher Calandro blogged about not getting in.
Former 99xer’s Jimmy Baron, Fat Kid, Crash Clark and Fred Toucher showed up, too.
Allaccess.com trade publication said Jamie Massey, formerly the morning traffic gal at Star 94 and recently traffic person at Q100, has lost her job again. Q100 music director Thomas Crone is gone. And 99X music director Jay Harren confirmed to allaccess that he is out, too:
HARREN told ALL ACCESS, “After almost nine years of working for the legendary 99X, and even more legendary LESLIE FRAM, I have fallen victim to corporate cutbacks, and effective immediately I am no longer employed here. Without a doubt, LESLIE FRAM is the most talented, creative, and innovative programmers in the country. In addition, she is not afraid to take risks. She took one on me.
“A long time ago, LESLIE spotted a guy who has a passion for music and empowered him with the ability to take that passion and turn it into a career. No one in the industry is more fortunate and blessed than me. To have had the privilege to work so closely with an industry legend is more than I could have ever hoped for. She is a true leader, an amazing mentor, and a great friend. Thank you LESLIE.”
5/3: The River floods Atlanta
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
My usual source who feeds me Arbitron numbers is unavailable so I’m still scrounging around. You can get the 12-plus numbers on the link to the right. They cover winter 2006.
The big news story: the debut of the River at 97.1. It’s no. 4 overall and no. 3 25-54. It was huge, one of the biggest debuts in recent Atlanta radio history, outdoing the opening books for Praise 97.5 and Viva. Those two were filling wide open niches. Interestingly, 97.1 didn’t appear to be filling an obvious opening, rather was another rock station in a market that already had four (96rock, Dave FM, 99X and the Buzz).
But Cox’s Chris Wegmann said they had done research and thought Dave Fm was too eclectic for some. 96rock too male oriented (and talk heavy) and the likes of Lite FM too female. Basically, they are going for a similar demo to what Fox grabbed so well on the same radio position in the early 1990s—the 35 to 54 crowd. The ill-fated Jamz experiment is now a memory. The signal skews north where the River demos mesh perfectly.
So far, so good. The station launched with a flurry of advertising and no commercials. Even now, it only runs eight units an hour, less than other stations. And though the station plans to add a morning and PM drivetime shows, they are not going to be personality heavy. I presume the jocks will be along the lines of what Cox does with the Beat and B98.5. They’ll promote contests and mention what songs were played but not much else.
Clearly, the station is feeding those who don’t like a lot of jock talk but haven’t gone to iPods. Will it last given the station’s relatively modest playlist?
5/2: Fred/Rich/Crash podcasting
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Good news for fans of Fred Toucher, Rich Sherteinlieb and Crash Clark. They will be podcasting best-of moments at www.myspace.com/toucherandrich when the show launches at Boston’s WBCN-FM June 5th. On-line streaming isn’t up yet but I’m sure that will happen down the road.
5/2: Mark/Jimmy one-day sub show
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The WSB-AM Mark Arum/Jimmy Baron one-day sub show just ended after three hours. The pair, who met for the first time Sunday, spent most of the time talking immigration and took a more moderate stance than Chris Krok on the issue. (They are subbing for Krok, who is moving his family from Minneapolis and took a few days off. Krok is back Tuesday night.)
They did end the show at 12:50 a.m. with a few minutes talking about Atlanta radio addressing how Mark didn’t get acknowledged in the Jewish Mafia story in Atlanta Jewish Life magazine about Jewish radio personalities a few months back.
What Mark had to say about Steve Barnes, former 99Xer, now morning host at Dave FM: I met the man only a couple of times. I get along with everybody. There are very few people I don’t get along with. That’s who I am. [But with him] the ego. I worked with Boortz. This guy blew me away.”
Jimmy took the high road: “I don’t want to do it. We did it for a long time. That hatchet’s been buried. It’s like a bad breakup with a wife or girlfriend. At some point, you have to move on. You don’t have the passion to badmouth them anymore.
5/1: Jimmy Baron not SF bound after all
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Jimmy Baron had been considered for a mid-day job at a San Francisco Free FM talk station. According to his blog, the gig isn’t happening because the station decided to go for a cheaper option, a syndicated show out of New York. He said he and the two others (a guy and a gal) are being considered for the afternoon slot.
He, as many people who visit, loved San Francisco but realized that living there would require a major lifestyle change since it’s the most expensive place to live in the country. Of course, if he had gotten the job offer, he and his wife LIsa would have done it.
Here’s an excerpt:
I love the Free FM format and what CBS is doing with it. It’s something I’ve wanted to do for a while, and I’m sure I will. But I’ve built my career, market equity, and life in Atlanta and am not unhappy to be staying for now. If another out of town job pops up (one or two already have) I’ll look at it through fresh eyes, but allowing some time for things to happen here in a city I love living in is probably not a bad thing.
For fans of Jimmy Baron, this is good news. Perhaps WGST or some other talk station on the AM dial will give him a chance.
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