Access Atlanta > Entertainment > Radio Talk > Archives > 2006 > June > 15
Thursday, June 15, 2006
6/16: Beantown love for Toucher
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
This was forwarded to me by Tom Taylor, editor of Inside Radio from The Boston Herald. It’s quite kind.
Permalink | Comments (10) | Post your comment |
6/16: Kimmer wins warrant case
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
A Fulton County magistrate court judge Stephanie Davis Thursday afternoon threw out a warrant application against Kim “The Kimmer” Peterson, who was accused by Will Jones of assault against him after a Veteran’s Day parade.
Jones, 55, of Atlanta, who represented himself, had filed the warrant application May 10 accusing Peterson of a crime November 11. He said Peterson had attacked him for his anti-Bush protest and hurt his shoulder, resulting in his inability to work as a door installer. The reason Jones filed the warrant application is because the Atlanta police department detective Don Haff had investigated the case and decided the Kimmer hadn’t done anything wrong.
Peterson, at the hearing, found two witnesses who said Jones was actually the aggressor. Ultimately, Judge Davis said Jones failed to create enough proof that a crime was committed.
I was told to do a separate story so here’s the link
Amusingly, the Kimmer didn’t recognize Jones at all in the courtroom and had to ask former WGST program director Mike Rose, who knew Jones. He also had bail money in an envelope on the off chance Jones did win the case.
The case took nearly two hours and Jones was given a lot of leeway in his questioning. It was a lot more informal than an evidentiary hearing or actual court case. The judge was fair and patient with both sides. At one point when Jones was cross-examining the Kimmer, one of the court officers stepped forward and warned them that this wasn’t an argument, that Jones was to ask questions and the Kimmer was to answer them.
Not knowing law, I’m not sure what Jones’ next legal step will be if he chooses to pursue one.
Permalink | Comments (81) | Post your comment |
6/16: Back in time w/Weber
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I dug up a story about Joe Weber selling his “Voice of the Arts” station he had in 1999 at 1190. He came back and bought 1160 about three years ago and resurrected the format. And now it’s at its third home at 1690. His money came from cake frosting.
Constitution Home Edition
Date: Wednesday, 12/15/1999\
Headline: WGKA sale changes format from arts to talk Byline / Source: Miriam Longino / Staff,
Atlanta’s arts community is stunned by the news that eclectic little arts station WGKA-AM (1190) has been sold and will change formats to Christian talk in February.
“When I heard the news, I got weepy,” said Joann Kresic, manager of marketing and public relations for the Rialto Center for the Performing Arts. “I was completely taken aback. This was the great little station that could. They have been enormously supportive of the arts in Atlanta, and the listeners have been so loyal. The station had such great personality, and it will be missed.”
Owner Joe Weber broke the news late Monday to his staff of seven, signaling an end to three years of some of the city’s most diverse and unpredictable programming. (WGKA’s lineup will stay on the air until the deal is closed in February.)
Under Weber’s ownership, 10,000-watt WGKA went from all-classical music in 1996 to a quirky mix of classical, pop, show tunes, jazz, big band, klezmer, soul, folk, spoken-word recordings and sound clips from classic films. It isn’t unusual for the station to play a James Brown R&B tune followed by a Beethoven symphony followed by the lonesome crooning of Edith Piaf.
Weber has encouraged his creative team to take risks on-air. For example, the station provides traffic reports from performance artist Stefan Fllambeau, who gets around town on MARTA. Radio therapist Dr. Anthony Fllambeau, author of “Growl Like a Dog,” provides advice about relationships —- but doesn’t speak to his brother Stefan. Even the serious comes with a touch of attitude on WGKA. The show “Jewish Perspectives” is hosted by “Rockin’ Rabbi” Steven Lebow.
Although the station never was commercially successful, it caught the attention of nearly every major arts group in the city. WGKA runs promotions with the Rialto, Agnes Scott College, the Woodruff Arts Center, the Atlanta Ballet, the Atlanta Opera, the Georgia Shakespeare Festival and the Robert Ferst Center for the Performing Arts at Georgia Tech.
“It’s a shame we’re losing an arts station,” said Dolly Purvis, manager of news services at Agnes Scott College. “I thought it was a nice balance to (public station) WABE because it was a different kind of diversity.”
Weber said the decision to sell the station was both financial and personal. Although WGKA’s audience has grown to about 50,000 listeners, he was never able to turn a profit.
“I was kind of at a crossroads with the station,” he said. “I got approval to go to 25,000 watts, but I would have had to buy a new transmitter… . That’s a pretty substantial investment. Although we’ve made some headway with increased revenue, it’s a far cry from the kind of money that could justify that. But it’s not strictly financial. My primary business is going through some major changes, and more of my time and attention is being focused there. I haven’t been able to spend as much time doing things I like at the station, like programming.”
Weber is the owner of the nation’s largest supplier of commercial frosting products, the H.C. Brill company in Tucker, which is expanding its operations.
WGKA program director Mike Rose says “it’s not impossible” to be successful with an alternative arts station such as WGKA, “but it is an extremely difficult road.
“It takes a lot of time and effort and money to keep it going. It’s not as simple as launching a station like 95.5 The Beat that has a target audience right there,” he said. “Any station that appeals to a higher-brow crowd is going to take longer to develop a niche. Each year it got a little better. But apparently it wasn’t quick enough. I feel bad for the people who work here. For many, it wasn’t just a paycheck. It was a passion and lifestyle.”
Weber declined to name the company that is purchasing WGKA, but did confirm that it is a chain group that plans to turn the frequency into a Christian talk station. It will be the 16th Christian station on the air in the metro area.
“I’m proud of what we did,” Weber said. “I’m proud we took the stuffiness out of classical music, which has basically killed it on radio across the country… . I would love to do something arts related in the future, maybe open a repertory movie theater.”
As for WGKA’s vast collection of music, Weber says he is going to “box up all the CDs and take them home.” But fans of the station’s classical music can pick up a souvenir Saturday, when WGKA will auction its vinyl albums —- some dating back 40 years. The sale runs from noon until 6 p.m. at the WGKA studios, 2999 Piedmont Road N.E. in Buckhead. Information: 404-231-2395.
Permalink | Comments (4) | Post your comment |
6/15: Nelly, T.I. at Hot bash Sat.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Hot 107.9 is celebrating its 11th anniversary with Nelly, T.I., Lil Wayne, Big Boi, Young Jeezy, Young Joc, D4L, Lil Jon, Chamillionaire, et. al. at Philips. The cheaper seats appear to be sold out already.
Here’s the press release:
ATLANTA, Georgia (June 13, 2006) – HOT 107.9 has been on the Atlanta airwaves for eleven years. As one of the pioneer hip hop stations, HOT 107.9 has grown into one of the most highly respected and powerful stations in the country.
To commemorate its eleventh anniversary, HOT 107.9 will host its annual Birthday Bash on Saturday, June 17, 2006 at Philips Arena, doors open at 5:00p.m. Show starts at 6:00p.m. Tickets are still available at all Ticketmaster locations, ticketmaster.com, Philips Arena box office or charge by phone at 404.249.6400. Ticket prices range from $10.79 and $25 (which are now sold out), $45 and $100 for baller seats. This star studded event is guaranteed to sell out, once again. Ticket prices will increase on the day of the show.
HOT 107.9 will also host a pre-Birthday Bash Block Party outside Philips Arena on Philips Drive, Saturday, June 17, 2006 from 12p.m. until 5.p.m. The block party will showcase some of the hottest cars and bikes in the Southern Region, around with Hip Hop and R&B’s finest.
