Radio & TV Talk

By denny schaffer

November 16, 2006 6:20 PM | Link to this

Hey Randy,You Know? Who’s this,you know,Chunck Dressing,You Know? Is he with,you know,The Career Channel,You Know?

By Melissa

November 16, 2006 6:55 PM | Link to this

Rodney, just got an email from chris@96rock.com saying that tomorrow will be the end for 96Rock. 1974-2006 is what it said. This all makes sense though, seeing as how the only source of income for 96Rock got themseves fired about a month ago. I think this was in the works already.

By Lisa

November 17, 2006 8:02 AM | Link to this

I am thinking Clear Channel cannot get thier crap together, this is why so many changes of the last year. For me life is about change but they change every other day, it’s getting old!!!

By RED FOREMAN

November 17, 2006 8:06 AM | Link to this

I have been listening since the beginning.This will be a great loss to atlanta…

By TRG Fan

November 17, 2006 8:07 AM | Link to this

I don’t really care since I stopped listening after they fired TRG. There’s NO good morning shows/hosts now unless you want to listen to mindless dribble. I say good riddance 96Rock.

By gttim

November 17, 2006 8:10 AM | Link to this

96 Rock was such a fixture in Atlanta. I hate to see such a well known name retired. However, the commercials being played now are correct- 96 Rock has become the elevator music of rock and roll. Not to fear, Clear Channel will surely screw up any new format as well.

By Who

November 17, 2006 8:16 AM | Link to this

They have to go out like they came in, with The Who.

Teenage wasteland, oh yeah, it’s only teenage wasteland!

RIP 96 Rock. RIP rock music.

By Gwinnett Rocker

November 17, 2006 8:17 AM | Link to this

I think this changed is yet another suicidal move by Clear Channel Atlanta. Check this, since the summer of 2005 The Buzz has not been higher than 17th in the market, which has 29 rated stations. 96rock has been 10th or very close to it during the same period. Why would you want to invest more into a format that clearly doesn’t get enough listeners to warrant those advertising dollars. True, 96rock needed to add more to the playlist. And the Regular Guys, while entertaining to some, get annoying after a while with the same old, I’m going to offend someone today, schtick. Talk radio needs to stay on AM. It’s unfortunate. Corporate radio, bad. Listener friendly radio, good. River and KICKS here I come.

By toggle

November 17, 2006 8:17 AM | Link to this

I haven’t listened in a while, either, but for different reasons. Still kind of sucks …

Too bad there’s no real rock station anymore. The River … all Boston, all the time …

By kenny from athens

November 17, 2006 8:19 AM | Link to this

Does this mean the 96 Rock Card I got at Turtle’s in Emory Village is no good anymore? I guess I will have to have a beer at Jagger’s to drown my sorrows.

By J

November 17, 2006 8:19 AM | Link to this

So, Rodney, give us the details on the Active Rock format. What is that, exactly? How big a change will that be? (not familiar with “the buzz.”)

By Tom

November 17, 2006 8:20 AM | Link to this

I got tired of 96 Rock because all they did was talk and maybe played three songs an hour. The reason I swtiched to the Buzz was that they played more music. I hope that they will keep playing music in the mornings instead adding more talk.

By "Active Rock??"

November 17, 2006 8:23 AM | Link to this

Rodney what is “active rock”??

By G354ME

November 17, 2006 8:23 AM | Link to this

I personally liked 96 Rocks format, it was classic rock but with more bite than what 97.1 plays, but the morning show they had (the regular guys) turned me off in the morning and that was when I listened to the radio the most. A couple weeks ago I was changing stations and was pleasantly surprised to actually hear music on 96 Rock. I have been tuned in since then and now they are changing again! Oh well 97.1 isn’t that bad and I can always turn to Sirrus or a CD.

By Joey Mills

November 17, 2006 8:29 AM | Link to this

Whip has been dedicated to getting that station off the ground. Chris Williams has no loyality. I am sure that his ego will find a way to screw this up.

By DK

November 17, 2006 8:42 AM | Link to this

Anyone have any guesses for the new station name?

By American Mother

November 17, 2006 8:45 AM | Link to this

Gosh I remember when 96 Rock first came about, it was THE station to listen to, with the Best Music!!! It’s like reading an obit for an old friend………….

By RushFan

November 17, 2006 8:45 AM | Link to this

Atlanta now has no radio station. Sure 96 has gone through an identity crisis for about a decade. But just when there had been a bit of a return to roots…Thanks for a good run. 96.1 has been removed from all presets. It’s officially all satellite now.

By dick trickle

November 17, 2006 8:46 AM | Link to this

if you’re in the s. metro area, you may be able to pick up 106.3 out of macon. their playlist is comparable to pre-clear channel 96. thanks clear channel, now i have to change my pre-sets for the first time since i was 16, go back to san antonio or whereever, just get out of ga.

By Jessica

November 17, 2006 8:48 AM | Link to this

I cannot believe that Clear Channel would just up and kill off a station like 96 Rock only to replace it with a station like the buzz. Don’t get me wrong I love the Buzz and it’s music. But I do not believe it’s musica (EMO mostly) will survive another 5 years. 96 Rock has been here since the 70’s!! I am shocked. Makes me hate Clear Channel just that much more.

By El Guapo

November 17, 2006 8:49 AM | Link to this

96ROCK fell into obscurity when they canned TRG’s. This would have happened years ago if never had any intent on TRG coming back! You can’t have 2 stations playing that garbage. LW will be succeddful no matter where he goes, he’s smart and funny, more importantly, he knows what people in that demo want to hear for entertainment. EVH will probably stay in the talk format as he appears to be over TRG thing. Smart guy as well, just has an interest in more cerebral emtertainment. With podcasts,blogs,satellite and soon to be television/tivo/dvr entertainment featuring the internet on your plasma, where doew terrestrial radio really end up? Immediate gratification being our biggest interest, I profer the concept that radio is dying on the vine. It won’t be long before wireless networks/cellular technology supports a WiFi medium as cheap/free as radio is now.

Viva La Rasa!

By Scooter

November 17, 2006 8:49 AM | Link to this

they’ll sign off with Baba O’Riley

By azcat225

November 17, 2006 8:50 AM | Link to this

The only place to find rock any more, without the endless commercials, is satellite. Rock in any and every flavor you want. Commercial radio is dead; shove the corpse in a hole and cover it up before it starts stinking any worse than it does already.

By Pillsbury Doughboy

November 17, 2006 8:51 AM | Link to this

Active rock is stupid nu-metal music, AC-DC, Kiss, et cetera. Any kind of rock that is hard in other words.

By Glen

November 17, 2006 8:55 AM | Link to this

The Regular Guys may have been a bit annoying at times, but at least people talked about them. Most of the other morning shows are only memorable as long as the radio is on.

Yeah, if they don’t ‘sign off’ with Baba O’Reilly, I will be highly disappointed.

RIP 96Rock…it was a good ride until corporate radio took over.

By Kellix

November 17, 2006 8:58 AM | Link to this

I grew up on 96 rock from its start, and sad to see it go and change formats. This will STILL mean Atlanta’s radio stations suck compared to even beach stations. End of a Era

By Koz

November 17, 2006 8:58 AM | Link to this

What will happen to the Braves Broadcasts?

By Richard

November 17, 2006 8:58 AM | Link to this

TRG was the best thing to hit ATL radio in over 15 years. Morning radio is incredibly bad now. I won’t listen to fat chick and bobblehead at STAR94 due to the safety risk. I would end of crashing my car from falling asleep from boredom. Someone sign TRG and boost your ratings and wake us up during our morning drive.

By bud

November 17, 2006 8:59 AM | Link to this

This blows…so now, when The River plays “Hotel California”, I can’t punch over to 96rock without hearing new music that sucks @ss like Korn, Slipnot, and Bush. Blech. Their next ratings book is going to blow chunks…Gwinnett Rocker is dead on…this new format will crash and burn and I will pee on its grave.

By ATL Muisc

November 17, 2006 9:04 AM | Link to this

Clear Channel is the antichrist of radio

By Drew

November 17, 2006 9:06 AM | Link to this

Project 961 is the new (tentative?) name.

By KADS

November 17, 2006 9:07 AM | Link to this

The problem with Atlanta Rock stations is the same old one, and nobody is willing to change it… With classic rock stations, you have over 4 DECADES of music to choose from..STOP PLAYING THE SAME SONGS OVER AND OVER AGAIN!!!!

I stoped listening to 96 rock and 97.1 for this reason, and I wont listen until they stop playing the same damn songs every day over and over again. Play some deep tracks by those same artists, who wants to hear satisfaction, baba oreilly, stairway, black dog, whole lotta love every day?

By Jimi

November 17, 2006 9:11 AM | Link to this

This, is why I listen to XM radio!

By Overkill

November 17, 2006 9:12 AM | Link to this

In and out with Babba O’Reilley. 96 Rock will be missed. Growing up with a station that played my perfect album side, told me who was coming in concert and used to play the best rock and roll was a priveledge. I wish all the best to those displaced by the new format. Those that worked the desks at 96.1. Thanks for 32 years of music and companionship. Will it be telling that the first song played on the new format was by a band that sued their own fans……….?

By chris

November 17, 2006 9:12 AM | Link to this

Since I’ve gotten XM, I hardly ever listen to local radio anymore. The few times I have I quickly change it back. When the Regular Guys went, that pretty much ended it for me.

By Bill

November 17, 2006 9:14 AM | Link to this

Where’s Alan Sneed when you need him??

By ATL Muisc

November 17, 2006 9:15 AM | Link to this

In 2005, in addition to broadcasting music, 96 Rock began broadcasting Atlanta Braves baseball games, along with sister station WGST-AM. The broadcast contract runs through the 2009 baseball season

By ryan

November 17, 2006 9:15 AM | Link to this

Guess it’s finally time to get Satellite Radio

By nic

November 17, 2006 9:15 AM | Link to this

I LOVE THIS!!!! I’m glad my boss is not here today because I am rocking this morning. Keep it up!!!!

By D

November 17, 2006 9:16 AM | Link to this

Please, please, please don’t screw up THE BUZZ!!!!!! I love the format, the DJ’s, the VARIETY OF SONGS.

By SuwaneeDawg

November 17, 2006 9:17 AM | Link to this

This really is kind of a shame. I’ve felt for awhile that this would happen. Someone earlier said 96 fell off the map when they canned TRG but I’ve always felt that the ball got rolling with the whole Christopher Rude/ Wake-Up Crew fiasco. It was the first and, at least in my mind, worst in an endless cycle of terrible decisions.

RIP 96 - It was a good ride with alot of good memories.

By Norma Lee

November 17, 2006 9:18 AM | Link to this

I going to Pigeons Forges with Greg and Tam till Novembers 26th. I not taking mt lapstops but I might use Greg if he bring his. I check my message board so you can talk to me there. Have a blesed Thankgiving Larry.

By Brett

November 17, 2006 9:18 AM | Link to this

What a waste on both sides of the ball. The Buzz has done nothing but suck since Whip got there. I stopped listening to 96 Rock when all I started to ever hear was Led Zeppelin. I haven’t fully listened to music on the radio for almost a year! Sad…truely sad!

By rob

November 17, 2006 9:20 AM | Link to this

well, after 19 minutes of listening, ive turned it to the RIVER…….nice try 96 ROCK!!! ps…is Jennefer Reed and Fin still employed there?…

By rockon

November 17, 2006 9:20 AM | Link to this

Corporate is always the death of anything “good”. Tis a sad day for us native Georgian’s. I don’t care about “new” metal. I want to hear Van Halen, Mothers Finest, AC/DC, Foreigner, RUSH, Journey, The Who, Boston, Foghat, Tesla, Bon Jovi, Motley Crue. Give us a station with that playlist!!!!

By bunk

November 17, 2006 9:22 AM | Link to this

www.project961.com

By Stretch

November 17, 2006 9:27 AM | Link to this

No more TRG kiiled em’. Opie and Anthony on XM 202 is the way to go now.

By John

November 17, 2006 9:28 AM | Link to this

They did indeed sign off with Baba O’Reilly.

And then started up 2 minutes later with Sandman. Not a bad start.

By Wesley

November 17, 2006 9:28 AM | Link to this

3 words…

XM Satellite Radio

By Ex 96 rock Fan

November 17, 2006 9:28 AM | Link to this

Wow Porject 96 1 Could they get any more original?? Sounds like they copied the Project X thing. Now where am I gonna hear all the good hair bands of the 80’s?? Guess it’s time to get one satelite radio.

By Koz

November 17, 2006 9:30 AM | Link to this

http://project961.com/main.html

By Mark

November 17, 2006 9:30 AM | Link to this

Good riddence 96 rock. And I wanna give a big FU to clearchannel for dumping TRG. Terrestial radio will soon be dead. Go to sattelite radio, people!

By jabba17

November 17, 2006 9:32 AM | Link to this

Cool that they signed off with Baba O’Riley. LOL about the 96 Rockard from Turtle’s (still have mine). Cool that they will play more 80s metal.

NOT COOL that they will be playing more 90s alternative stuff that I never got into. Well, I guess if I want a narrowcast I can go online or satellite.

NOT COOL that they 86’d the 96 Rock name. Anyone want to bet they bring it back once they settle into a new format?

Maybe they will still be worth a button in the car, kind of like Bulldog 103.7 out of Royston (and working on a move-in closer to the metro area). They play an OK mix of 90s yuck alternative metal and good ol’ classic 80s metal that 96 Rock gave up on when they went classic rock “Pure Rock & Roll” in the mid-1980s and dumped the hard stuff for boomer rock.

I wonder if this move will give 99Xcrement and Z90-Dave some breathing room in the ratings, to go back to the “poppier” alternative stuff…

Clear Channel sold off 105.1 out of Helen. They are now playing a “Jack” type format…good listening if you can pick it up.

By John

November 17, 2006 9:33 AM | Link to this

The website is up: www.project961.com

By Over It

November 17, 2006 9:33 AM | Link to this

Quite listening to the regular guys a long time ago. The river is OK - but I’d rather listen to my own CDs - Have been listening Country lately - nice change - some of it really rocks.

By Dennis

November 17, 2006 9:34 AM | Link to this

Im glad i have XM Radio, i may pay for it but i have 14 different rock formats, which is well worth 12.95 amonth Just to let you know the 14 channels

Deep tracks - Deep classic rock Boneyard, Hard Rock/Hair bands XM liquid Metal - Heavy Metal XMU - INdie/College/Unsigned Fred - Classic Alternative XM Cafe - Adult Album Rock Top Track - Early classic rock Ethel - New Alternative Squizz - New hard rock Big Tracks - Later Classic Rock the loft - accoustic rock The Verge - Emerging artist Fungus - Punk/Hardcore Lucy - 90s alternative

huh… all that, well worth 12.95

By Scooter

November 17, 2006 9:34 AM | Link to this

new format blows. XM and iPod

By jungleland

November 17, 2006 9:35 AM | Link to this

So far it sounds like 96 Rock from the early-mid 90’s (esp. their night programing)

Nirvana Metalica Ozzy Alice In Chains

Ok it’s a bit heavier

I miss the 96 Rock that played Robert Cray ,Peter Gabriel and Steve Winwood in the late 80’s (Ok, now it’s The River)

By dqpwcheese

November 17, 2006 9:36 AM | Link to this

I miss two-fer tuesdays. 96rock hasn’t been good for a long while, but I will miss the nostalgia that it represented. I think I will grow my mullet back out in protest.

By A loyal 96 Rock fan

November 17, 2006 9:36 AM | Link to this

Well as my man Charlton Heston said in the original planet of the apes movie. ” You B******* !!!!! You blew it up…… You blew the whole Damn thing up….. Damn you , Damn you to hell ” .

By Wes

November 17, 2006 9:36 AM | Link to this

This is dumber than PLANET RADIO. If an emerging station out there has ANY sense, they will change their name to (insert your number her)ROCK, proudly display it in Red, White and Black.. Hire The Regular Guys, Tim Rhodes, hell, even hire Southside Steve… I for one will tune in. I WILL NOT listen to this joke of a radio station… In the meantime.. Dave FM, I guess I’m yours.

By Dennis

November 17, 2006 9:39 AM | Link to this

Just to let you know the 14 channels on xm have rock station

Deep tracks - Deep classic rock Boneyard, Hard Rock/Hair bands XM liquid Metal - Heavy Metal XMU - INdie/College/Unsigned Fred - Classic Alternative XM Cafe - Adult Album Rock Top Track - Early classic rock Ethel - New Alternative Squizz - New hard rock Big Tracks - Later Classic Rock the loft - accoustic rock The Verge - Emerging artist Fungus - Punk/Hardcore Lucy - 90s alternative

huh… all that rock plus others, well worth 12.95

By jungleland

November 17, 2006 9:39 AM | Link to this

I will miss the Orange and Black 96

I have been a 96 Rock Listener since 1977. I think I still have a License Plate signed by Willard & Katie…

By Scooter

November 17, 2006 9:39 AM | Link to this

this is the trend of commercial radio all over the U.S., invest in XM and Sirius, make $$ listen to what you want

By J

November 17, 2006 9:39 AM | Link to this

Don’t change the Buzz, I love the format in between my satellite radio.

By the way, for Ex 96 rock fan, Sirius satellite radio has a whole channel of hair bands. It’s called hair nation and it’s great!!!

By kennyh

November 17, 2006 9:42 AM | Link to this

my stereo will never stop on 96.1 again…sad…stations came and went but 96 rock kept on rocking..now some dambass has blown it…wow

By Brian M.

November 17, 2006 9:42 AM | Link to this

Dear Clear Channel,

Thanks for once again screwing up one of my favorite radio stations. You guys absolutely suck! Congradulations, You’ve succeeded in running 96 rock into the ground. A thirty year Atlanta staple. As a original listener of 96.7 the Buzz, before 105.3, I am furious that you’ve changed the format and limited my choices of programming for the south east’s #1 city. Idiots!

By i me mine

November 17, 2006 9:49 AM | Link to this

Wes—you’re a genius! You should be programming Atlanta radio. I don’t know who just bought CC, but they’re not gonna be happy when they see the horrendous numbers for this new p.o.s.

You thought the 96 Rock faithful were upset over Yogurt and Pansy? Wait until this sinks in.

By mattytude

November 17, 2006 9:49 AM | Link to this

What happened to the current staff at 96rock? Moves to other local stations or the axe?

By Relief!

November 17, 2006 9:50 AM | Link to this

I’m glad they got rid of that tired old station, even if they replaced it with a disaster waiting to happen. CC Atlanta just signed away its existence (probably trying to run its stations into the ground so that when they sell them, at least the new owners won’t make money off of it, the stingy b*******). Unless they syndicate Toucher and Rich (which CBS would never let happen), they are through. If you recall, 96Rock has been somewhat of an active rock format before, playing everything from KISS to Metallica. This was before Z93 flipped to Dave FM and therefore left a void in the classic rock department, at such time 96Rock went entirely classic rock only to be overthrown in that format 2 years later by The River. Sounds like CC has made the same errors over and over, simply going along with whatever is “cool” at the moment (if you can even call it that). I’m looking forward to seeing the Fall books, because my prediction is that all things new rock and good 90s music will be taken over by 99X. Now that’s a station with some history. Far as I’m concerned, this is just one more reason to hate Clear Channel. They are ruining traditional radio, radio that has a place in the hearts of many and that many connect to personally (but won’t for long if they keep screwing up). Great job, Chris Williams. Get out of Atlanta radio while you still have a soul.

By mike

November 17, 2006 9:52 AM | Link to this

Sirius satellite radio. Listen to what you want to when you want to. Only 12.95 a month. Can not be beat.

By chuck

November 17, 2006 9:53 AM | Link to this

rock and roll by any other name is still 96ROCK. in 1974 i traded a ‘vette because it refused to receive 96.1, since then i have raised two boys on MY music. i realize you need to evolve but screwing with the perfect format is NOT THE WAY. leave my redio station alone!!!!!!

By Shiney

November 17, 2006 10:00 AM | Link to this

What are you hillbillies going to do when you want to listen to Molly Hatchett “Flirtin With Disaster”…….I think that song over took Freebird for most played redneck song on 96 Rock….Maybe you can circle your trailer homes in protest.

By Rich

November 17, 2006 10:00 AM | Link to this

I listen to XM radio. FM just does not cut it anymore.

By jabba17

November 17, 2006 10:01 AM | Link to this

Wes—Since Cumulus bought Susquehanna and is trying to figure out what to do with 99Xcrement and their sub-2-share ratings, how about them doing a “hard classic” rock station and calling it 99rock? Just flip the “6”.

This move will probably cause Z90-Dave to become more alternative and to lose a button in my car.

By Shiney

November 17, 2006 10:04 AM | Link to this

I find it not surprising that the ones most upset about this change are the ones with the most spelling and grammar errors.

By Borisdag

November 17, 2006 10:04 AM | Link to this

Atlanta radio sucks. I have three words for all of you who havent learned your lesson:

Sirius satellite radio.

By Old rocker

November 17, 2006 10:05 AM | Link to this

Thank God for Sirius radio and other satellite formats. Land-based stations are a thing of the past because the suits are always crying “show me the money.” Rock ‘n Roll is about creative freedom, and the present management of land-based stations have no concept of that.

Think I’ll listen to Blood Rock’s “Dead on arrival,” and drink a toast to the days when album oriented stations ran the world when I get home tonight.

Just remember suits: it’s the musical format, stupid!

By Southern Born

November 17, 2006 10:08 AM | Link to this

“Come get me, mother, I’m done.”

By Nascat

November 17, 2006 10:09 AM | Link to this

Thank you 961. Finally a real rock station in the Atlanta area. I really haven’t listened faithfully since the change to the oldies. If I wanted to hear oldies, I’ve got all the cd’s. We needed a rock station in Atlanta for years. BTW, I am 48 years old and was there listening when they signed on in ‘74.

By covingtonredneck

November 17, 2006 10:10 AM | Link to this

WHAT A DUMB FU$% IDEA. WHAT ABOUT JENNIFER EEED? AND FIN?

By Nickelbelle

November 17, 2006 10:14 AM | Link to this

Atlanta radio sucks. Fox Rocks (cfox.com)

By JR

November 17, 2006 10:21 AM | Link to this

I stopped listening to 96 Rock after they fired the Regular Guys the first time and I have not listened to 96 Rock after they fired them this time, and I am sure I was not the only one. I think Clear Channel SUCKS and I will never listen to any of their stations. They really have no clue, as to what the people really want. I hope they go down like the Titanic.

By Kimberly

November 17, 2006 10:21 AM | Link to this

I listened to 96Rock growing up, all through high-school, and when I came back to Atlanta after being all over in the military. I LOVED Chris Rude, I loved Willard and Katie Kylie, and Two-fer Tuesdays, and Perfect Album sides… and OMG, I was even one of the few Atlantans who liked when they brought on John-Boy and Billy in the mornings. I HATED The Regular Guys, they were crude and obnoxious, not funny like JB-B and Chris Rude. I miss my 80’s Hair bands like Motley Crue and the 70’s rockers like Aerosmith and AC/DC. I am a 99X and BUZZ listener, BECAUSE of TRG, but I don’t need The BUZZ shoved down my throat. What has Clear Channel done to my radio?!?!? I hope it ALL flops! Time to break out my CD’s.

By Joe

November 17, 2006 10:26 AM | Link to this

Wow, what do I do with my 96 Rock “Rocky Racoon” card from 1974? My 96 Rock license plate for the front of my car purchaces at Turtles and displayed upside down on the car?

By gttim

November 17, 2006 10:32 AM | Link to this

“Come get me, mother, I’m done.”

Thanks Southern Born, I had forgotten this line. Somebody needs to put together a webpage where people can post there thoughts on the old 96 ROck and its history.

“in 1974 i traded a ‘vette because it refused to receive 96.1”

I won’t go into all the grammar and spelling errors of the post, but I did want to point out that you could have just replaced the radio.

“I think I still have a License Plate signed by Willard & Katie…”

Put it on the front of your car upside down….

By Joe

November 17, 2006 10:37 AM | Link to this

November 17th… the day the music died, after a long illness. Goodbye, 96Rock; you will be missed. In your heyday, you were THE station for the best music around. Thanks for all the music and memories. Now, off to XMRadioland, where you can always find a great tune.

By jefferson

November 17, 2006 10:39 AM | Link to this

I would like to offer a big FU to Clear Channel. The people that make these decisions could care less about the content of the product and only care about ratings. Sounds like they wet thier pants because the RGs made a joke about some 2nd rate DJs. Stand up and defend yourself and the only morning show you’ve had in the last 10 years. Political correctness has basically killed an Atlanta tradition. Sad. Some “suit” really must have had a hankering for some a$$ kissing. He was probably the same one who brought in Jennifer Reid, what a joke. How hard is it to have a great Rock and Roll Radio station? Just play music and have a few commercials. Get rid of the DJ’s. Stop bringing in these wannabes jocks and implanted sweaters and just play the music. I guess I am going to get on the XM/Sirrius bandwagon. Howard Stern here I come. Anybody ever listen to Tom Petty’s Buried Treasure on XM? I listen everyday at work. Great mix of old tunes, imo. http://www.xmradio.com/tompetty/index.xmc? Bye Bye 96 rock, we will miss you.

By Debi

November 17, 2006 10:39 AM | Link to this

te to see this go - I heard the first and last playing of the Who song. Please don’t flood me with music that I don’t care about. Thanks for all the memories!

By Terdwiggler

November 17, 2006 10:40 AM | Link to this

Love Clear Channel rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic. Whoever thought making radio stations a national conglomerate was a good idea is a moron. It’s too bad someone is dumb enough to buy Clear Channel because I would enjoy seeing all of them slowly wither away thanks to their cluelessness.

By Jbdawg

November 17, 2006 10:41 AM | Link to this

I couldn’t agree more with ‘most’ of the comments - that corporate radio sucks and there’s just no excuse to play the same ol’ Eagles and Zep songs over and over. There’s tons of good rock n roll out there, both classic and new groups. Somebody, please take the challenge!

By Charles

November 17, 2006 10:41 AM | Link to this

Way to go C/C I remember in the old days when 96Rock was a top 3 station all the time. I knew 96Rock was going down hill when the ir-regular guys pulled there phoney porn stunt in Conyers a couple of years ago. I have not listened to 96 sense that time. Maybe we need to take up a collection to buy the ir-regular guys a one-way marta ticket to the airport so somebody else will have to put up with there lack of talnet. I for one miss the OLD WAKE UP CREW, may you rest in peace.

By Chuck

November 17, 2006 10:42 AM | Link to this

Here at my workplace we are listening to Baba O’Riley (The first song 96 Rock played in 1974) as loud as possible. Godspeed 96 Rock…….

By Molly

November 17, 2006 10:45 AM | Link to this

**This is dumb! 96 rock should stay the way it is and 105.3 should still be alternative. Don’t mess up a good thing. 96 rock is a staple in Atlanta I don’t want to see radio go down the drain!

By Richard

November 17, 2006 10:47 AM | Link to this

I was so excited when I moved to Atlanta in 1985 to attend Georgia Tech. I would finally have a good Rock station to listen to. Coming from S Georgia where Country is king, I coudln’t wait to be able to tune in every day and not just on the occasional trips to Atlanta. Well, so much for ever listening to terrestrial radio again. May as well remove the tuner from my truck ‘cause it’s all XM now. RIP 96Rock. You were with me through all sorts of firts in the big A. ;)

By Clearly Channeling Anger!

November 17, 2006 10:49 AM | Link to this

Once again, the city of Atlanta has been exposed for what it truly is, a RADIO WASTELAND! Corporate giants contend they are playing a format that is “what the people want”? Looks to me like they are being steered either way by Democrats who seem to have their finger on the pulse of… Cheyenne, Wyoming??? This is Atlanta right? I do believe there are citizens of this great city who want real music played on the radio, ROCK music, not bubblegum pop music that satisfies the moral majority! Get a clue Clear Channel……. XM here I come…I’d rather pay for radio, then subject myself to this charade of so-called radio!

By sunnyone

November 17, 2006 10:51 AM | Link to this

People who listen to classic rock are stuck in the past and afraid to open their minds to anything new and innovative. I love the old tried-and-true rock songs as much as anybody, but who wants to hear those same tunes every freakin’ day? 96rock only had a playlist of about 200 songs, it seems. I listen mainly to 99X because it’s the only station that’s constantly introducing new bands. Just in the past couple years, so many good artists have emerged: Franz Ferdinand, Death Cab for Cutie, Keane, Snow Patrol, the Killers, Jet, the Strokes, etc. I want to hear both the old and new stuff. Actually, the Georgia station that plays the most eclectic mix is Bulldog 103.7 out of Athens. They play bands you won’t hear on any other station, and they also play deep cuts and rarely heard songs by well-known bands.

By Noice

November 17, 2006 10:56 AM | Link to this

Awesome, now there’s another channel that will play the same 18 songs over and over and over.

Clear Channel is the death of free radio as we know it. Open your ears people. There’s so much more out there.

By Edgar

November 17, 2006 10:57 AM | Link to this

I grew up about 40 miles south of Macon and there wasn’t any radio down there that played rock and roll. Sometime in late 1970 I heard about a station in Atlanta that played straight up rock and roll 24/7. They also played 54 minutes of music every hour. The station was WPLO. I rigged up an antenna to my stereo that would get the signal some time after dark. I would listen to it every night. They played whole albums and all these new artists and just great music each and every night. I would fall asleep to Eric Clapton, The Allman Brothers, CSN&Y and wake up to static. But every night I knew it would be there. One night I turned it on and there was country music playing on my radio. It sucked. My friend told me about a radio station that was changing their format soon. He told me to tune to 96.1 and I would hear it in the next few days. When I tuned to it that night it was playing classical music but I tuned it in every night. A few days later I was awakened to Baba O’Riley by The Who and I knew it was on. Through the years 96 Rock was my favorite. I worked at an Air Force base just below Macon for many years. I moved to the metro area in 1990 and I would enjoy Chris Rude in the mornings coming home and the albums they would play late at night while driving down there to work. Rude and Jeff “The Hullman” Hullinger would keep me from falling asleep going home every morning with their cast of characters and interviews with all types of people. They sold the station and fired Rude about 10 years ago and the great 96 Rock as I knew it was on the way out. Too many commercials, censorship by a right wing government and DJ’s that for the lack of a better word just plain sucked. I went to Sirius about 3 years ago and I never looked back. 96 Rock is dead. Long live Sirius.

By Voice of Reason

November 17, 2006 10:57 AM | Link to this

Who uttered “Come get me, mother, I’m done.” I remember the line, but I can’t remember the jock…

The original Wake-up Crew with McCane and Mitchell was the best… Remember MrT..? Katie, Willard, concerts at the Omni… The “Chrome Gouda building…” Yes, of course, my upside-down 96rock tag… My 96rock card… What about Hotlanta Homecooking albums..? Perfect album sides..?

Honestly, I’ve missed all of those things for years. The 96rock that I knew has been gone for a long time. It’s good that it can finally be released from it’s purgatory…

By not my real name

November 17, 2006 11:02 AM | Link to this

I wonder how long it took the suits at CC to come up with the new station name and logo? Did they give a Sharpie to a crack-addicted monkey and just him have at it?

Why don’t they just call it The Buzz on 96? That’s all it is.

By Robin

November 17, 2006 11:03 AM | Link to this

The next one to go is 99x. Their morning show has got to be the worst show I have ever listened to!!! Leslie Fram, needs to give it up. I mean seriously, who cares if Gene Simmons tried to snap her bra…..Yuck. The other two, are just down right idiots. It sounds like a geek fest in the mornings with all of them speaking. Atleast 96 Rock was funny with the regular guys and etc. I hope this new format kicks 99x out.

By Steve

November 17, 2006 11:19 AM | Link to this

Too bad. I’ve listened to 96 Rock practically all my life. However, I’m usually optimistic about things and it’ll just take time to get their act together. And I am worried for 99X…PLEASE DROP THE MORNING SHOW!

By Erik from Atlanta

November 17, 2006 11:21 AM | Link to this

What a sad day in Atlanta. A great rock & roll station is gone. This decade has not been that good for 96Rock. Their heyday was 1980s to late 1990s. Unfortunaly,it will never be back. I hope this drives more people to XM & Sirius.

By Erik from Atlanta

November 17, 2006 11:26 AM | Link to this

What a sad day in Atlanta!!! This decade has been rough on 96Rock. Their heyday was 1980s to late 1990s. I hope this drives more people to get XM & Sirius. I encourage all of you to join me & give commerical radio the finger.

By Buzz girl

November 17, 2006 11:30 AM | Link to this

I have been listening to The Buzz since they started a couple of years ago. Active format consists of bands like Breaking Benjamin, Three Days Grace, 30 Seconds to Mars, and Buckcherry. It is geared more towards the people that like to go to concerts and jump around. Me being one of the people. I never liked 96 Rock because I don’t like classic rock. I feel for those of you who are going to be switched to the new Project 9-6-1 I will miss the name The Buzz but their signal will be stronger. Whip is great for the station because he doesn’t waste the whole morning talking. Music stations are just for that music. I stopped listening to 99x because of all the talking. Chris has been out all week getting ready for the switch and Knox has taken his place. I have been streaming online all day today and so far I haven’t heard a real person talk yet. I’m not really sure why, but there are new recordings of the station name. I did listen to the Buzz this morning though and Whip was on. I think they are just doing to transition now like the Buzz did last time. Letting all the listeners to change the station. I am glad TRG are gone. Hopefully Classic rock won’t be gone from Atlanta for good. Maybe it will find a place at the River.

By Cry me a river

November 17, 2006 11:35 AM | Link to this

“I got tired of 96 Rock because all they did was talk and maybe played three songs an hour. The reason I swtiched to the Buzz was that they played more music. I hope that they will keep playing music in the mornings instead adding more talk.”

It’s because of people like you that radio is nothing but generic trash these days. There are jocks on the air for a reason - to set radio apart from other music outlets. If all you want is straight music, listen to your damn CDs.

By 96rockfan

November 17, 2006 11:41 AM | Link to this

The 96rock jock that ended each show with “come and get me mother, I’m through” was Dean Clarke. Melissa came on after him, then John Boy Bryant on the way home. Willard at night. Tom West on the overnight show. That’s the 96rock I’ll always remember.

By Meghan

November 17, 2006 11:44 AM | Link to this

Project 9-6-1

By also not my real name

November 17, 2006 12:49 PM | Link to this

Marilyn Manson RIGHT BEFORE Incubus. Yeah, this is going to be SUPER. Count me in…

By Gabriel

November 17, 2006 1:25 PM | Link to this

This is just another blackeye for Atlatna radio. 96Rock was an institution and now it is a 99X wanna be. You can drive up 85 to Greenville and hear CC owned stations that are more edgy and have a better format than anything in Atlanta. Thank goodness I have Buzzsaw and Hair Nation to take me away.

By Mark

November 17, 2006 2:01 PM | Link to this

Today is a very sad day !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The 96rock that I have been listen to since the start has died (RIP). I will be listen to KZ106 out Nassville Tn. YOU SUX CLEAR CHANNELL!!!!!!! FU

By Reid

November 17, 2006 2:23 PM | Link to this

Clear Channel is pathetic.

They used a pathetic excuse to get rid of The Regular Guys and put all of this in motion.

Don’t tell me they didn’t know this was coming.

Clear Channel is awful. I will NEVER listen to one of their stations for a single minute again.

By Lee

November 17, 2006 3:25 PM | Link to this

The death of 96 Rock may not be a big loss for Atlanta, since 97.1 the River also plays classic rock.

By Speculator

November 17, 2006 3:44 PM | Link to this

Good Bye Heritage Rocker WKLS! Hullo FM Simulcast WGST at 105.3 Too bad the whole Clear Channel Managment staff throughout wasn’t swept away in yesterday’s transaction.

By Jeff

November 17, 2006 4:21 PM | Link to this

It’s interesting how the different perspectives clash a bit. Here’s my thoughts:

1. Right problem, (mostly) wrong solution. There needs to be a home for ROCK, but it’s not gonna be The River, as far as I can tell. This pseudo-emo for neo-palookas has already been a musical and social dead-end for years. It’s given us a few cool textures, but that’s it. Bring on the Mew! (Band from Sweden, pretty unique, like indie-rock’s answer to Yes if you can imagine that.)

(OTOH, they’re playing enough stuff I like that I’ll probably keep my preset. I’ve only got six on my bedrooom radio, anyway.)

1. Radio is partly for finding out about music. Jocks are there to identify it. If you want jocks to be important, don’t make them talk half the time—give them some power and make sure they have some personality. The Great Jocks Of The Past didn’t have to crowd out the music.

2. I see Art Mehring is still doing the traffic reports. Maybe the others will stay, too?

3. Dean Clarke and “Come get me, Mother, I’m done.” Boy. What else have I forgotten? :-( The Regular Jerks are what largely did it for me; I haven’t woken up to 96rock since they were hired.

(Note: I met Thom West after a Rush show once; he just happened to be outside the Omni as the audience was leaving, and he’d been away from the station for years. He appreciated that someone still remembered.)

1. SIDE ISSUE: Lots of old rock listeners still seem to see the situation in terms of their teenage selves, and they don’t seem to notice that they have not really Kept Rockin’ to that great an extent, and that colors today’s teenagers’ views of classic and “post-classic” rock. Note to the middle-aged: Golf shirts and haircuts are Indicator #1 of Not Rockin’ Anymore. People can’t see the teenagers you once were anymore. Do something about that and then maybe the situation’ll improve.

2. I started listening to 96rock when I got an FM radio of my own for Christmas in 1977, and you know what? People were already complaining about “corporate rock” (like, oh, Styx and Boston and Journey) even back then. Little did we know… :-/ Note to America: It doesn’t have to sound a certain way to be “corporate”. Right now, Breaking Benjamin is corporate, but people don’t make the connection because they don’t sound like Journey. They’re about equally substantial musically; BB just “sounds angrier”, that’s all, and somehow that’s supposed to be enough. See the teacher after class!

Oh, well, I guess I’ll just commiserate with English Nick and the guys at Metalsome at the North River Tavern tonight! (Nick’s a great frontman, by the way!)

By Jeff

November 17, 2006 5:08 PM | Link to this

OK, one more thing:

The really important question for listeners isn’t “What will Station X play?” but “Can I hear all the music I want?” There’s gobs of music out there that deserves a radio home of some sort. Which station will play Van Halen, Guns n’ Roses, or the hair bands? Which one will play Emerson, Lake and Palmer, or Triumph, or Rush, or Head East or Shooting Star, for that matter? Heck, which one will play Bloodrock, or Grand Funk? (I see The River is playing Queen, at least—and hey, there’s the old, shorter pause between “We Will Rock You” and “We Are The Champions”! And 96.1 is playing AC/DC.) Anyway, I see no reason why these questions couldn’t all be answered profitably. It may seem risky, but I don’t know why—after all, we’re talking about already-successful acts, and besides, look what being risk-averse has done. A market the size of Atlanta should be able to support four good-sized-or-better rock stations that can cover all the bases (including the whole “alternative” family tree) between them—there’s no excuse not to do this.

By EnglishOnly

November 20, 2006 10:51 AM | Link to this

Clear channel bows down to the Mexican Illegal Aliens again. Time to add another Spanish only radio station. Look there, more listeners crossing the border.

Time to wake up and learn Spanish, in 10-20 years it will be the official language.

Oh yea, FU El Presidente, FU Clear Channel, FU Democrats

By Bob

November 21, 2006 6:33 PM | Link to this

KImmer gone?? Looks like Clear Channel blew their advertising sales.. What BoZo’s..

Bob

By gasser

November 21, 2006 7:02 PM | Link to this

found out,booted out,and divorced.3 strikes,you had more than your chance. get out of town clown.

By Sarah Roberts

November 22, 2006 8:25 AM | Link to this

I am so sorry to see The Kimmer gone! He livened up my later part of the day and work and my drive home. He kept me current with political happenings and what was going on in Atlanta. He will surely be missed by me and my vanpool buddies. Hopefully another station will pick him up.

Thanks Kimmer…from your “kimmer babe” suryka

By Chris Hughes

November 22, 2006 1:29 PM | Link to this

Testicular radio is dead, long live Sirius. FU Clear Channel

By BF

November 28, 2006 12:43 PM | Link to this

What happened to Jennifer Reed?

By WHISKEY

November 30, 2006 11:34 AM | Link to this

96 ROCK WAS THE LAST OF THE IT THE RIVERS CLOSES WE’LL GET IT IT I GUESS THE BUZZ MUSIC IS COOL BUT WE NEED THE CLASSICS TRG SUCKED TO MR I MISS SOUTHSIDE STEVE AND TIM RHODES BUT ITS NEVER BEEN THE SAME SINCE CHRIS RUDE KATIE,WILLARD AND BETH CHESTY CHEPELLE THAT WAS THE TRUE 96 ROCK KLAN..

By Shannon

November 30, 2006 2:56 PM | Link to this

I’ve opened a special forum here

http://messageboard.techsavy.net/index.php?showforum=42

pass it on

no topic about the station is off limits…even god forbid TRG

so please repost and lets grieve together!!!!

Shannon