Access Atlanta > Entertainment > Radio Talk > Archives > 2006 > November
November 2006
11/30: Krok helps net illegals
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
This from allaccess.com
WSB’s Krok: Caller Tip Led To Illegal Immigrant Airport Bust
Krok Battles Illegal Immigration
The latest news in COX RADIO Talk WSB-A/ATLANTA night host CHRIS KROK’s battle against illegal immigration finds the host getting a listener tip that led to the arrest of six illegal-immigrant workers working at HARTSFIELD-JACKSON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.
The WEDNESDAY (11/29) bust — 13 days after KROK’s caller, an airline worker, tipped the host that workers unable to speak English were hanging drywall at the airport — found the six undocumented workers with security badges. The bust was the lead story on ATLANTA TV news WEDNESDAY, and while the ATLANTA office of the I.C.E. took credit for the investigation, KROK says that it was his and newsman PETE COMBS’ actions and the caller’s tip that resulted in the I.C.E.’s bust
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11/29: Tom Hughes
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I was trying to reach Tom Hughes last week but he had left to go out of town for Thanksgiving. Then I got this quixotic email from him Tuesday:
Rodney,
I was out of town for Thanksgiving, leaving immediately after my last day on air at WGST. I came home to your series of phone messages.
I don’t wish to be rude but I choose not to comment to you about the recent changes at WGST.
If the AJC’s political reporters covered the elections the way you do radio, they would have written their first stories the morning after the polls closed.
Regards, Tom Hughes
In other words, he felt I should have written more about him and/or the GST situation leading up to the firing, that this after-the-fact coronation of his skills and talent is of little use to him now that he’s no longer on the air. Fair enough. Every radio personality wants more ink, more publicity, more marketing, more promotion. It’s understandable. To Tom, I’m sorry I didn’t give you enough of that before hand but I hope that doesn’t preclude you from talking about life when things have settled down or you find another place on the dial.
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11/29: Lite 94.9’s future
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The drumbeat of rumors point to a country format Clear Channel likes to dub “The Bull” after Christmas on Lite 94.9, which has been soft rock for many years.
There are Bulls in several cities such as Birmingham, Lexington Ky., Ashtabula, Ohio and St. Louis, home of Craig Cornett (who was very briefly the morning host at Kicks in late 2005, early 2006. You have to appreciate the efficiency of creating Web sites that look identical, right down to some of the same advertisements for Larry the Cable Guy’s holiday CD and a Keith Urban on demand concert.
Do you think Kicks and Eagle (both owned by ABC Radio) could use the competition? It could aslo be a place to put the Atlanta Braves on the FM dial.
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11/28: 105.3 goes Spanish
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Clear Channel’s radio signal 105.3, in its fifth format in three years, is now regional Mexican, the second metro area signal FM targeting the fast-growing Hispanic population in Atlanta. In 2004, Clear Channel launched Spanish top 40 hits station Viva at the same signal and it became an instant success. VIva was moved to a slightly stronger signal 105.7 in May 2005.
The second Spanish station is supposed to complement Viva, similar to the way ABC has Eagle 106.7 to protect Kicks 101.5 in the country arena. It’s dubbed 105.3/El Patron. Here’s the Web site It plays a mix of romantica, mariachi and tropical music. According to Billboard magazine, it’s the most popular genre of Spanish music in the U.S. Here’s a summit about Regional Mexican music Billboard sponsored just a couple weeks ago.
Are there fans of this format? I’d love to quote you in the print edition. Just email me at rho@ajc.com with your name, age, city of residence and occupation. Thanks!
105.3 launched in 2002 as an 80s station, the Max, to okay ratings. In early 2004, Clear Channel started “Real Radio 105.3,” an FM talk station with the same person doing the morning and afternoon shows, with Scott Ferrall sandwiched in between. Seven months later, Viva was launched. In May, alternative rock 105.3/The Buzz started and did well, beating 99X within a year. But a couple weeks ago, they moved that format to 96.1, threw in a few classic rock songs and called it Project 9-6-1, dumping the 96rock after 32 years.
Clear Channel is not likely to be done with changes. After Christmas, rumor is Lite 94.9 will become a country station.
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11/27: Clear Channel update
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
No wonder the Kimmer isn’t so upset. He is under contract with Clear Channel for at least another year so he’ll be paid to play golf for at least 12 months, according to his agent Bob Eatman, who also reps Clark Howard, Bert Weiss and Eric Von Haessler. (Nothing new with Eric, he said.)
I also spoke with Larry Wachs. No news on his legal front but he said he’s had a couple of interviews for new jobs. He is confident given his track record, he’ll find a new job in a decent market.
11/26: Barnes on Prison Break
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Steve Barnes, formerly of 99X and Dave FM, has gotten a role as a bad guy named Agent Drucker on the Fox drama “Prison Break.” His episodes are set to air in late January and February, according to the Sunday Paper. Barnes has produced and acted in a couple of films, “No Witness” and “Last Sunset.” He confirmed the news Sunday morning via email, noting he’s “thrilled” to be on the show. The show does well on Monday nights for Fox. For folks who know the show, Barnes said he will be the wingman to the president’s evil operative, Kim, the Asian American dude (below, played by Reggie Lee) who is now going to try to kill agent Kellerman (whose sin was letting Sarah get away.)
11/25: Misc. radio bits
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
WRAS is holding a 35th year benefit Dec. 2. Here’s info from the GM Cassie Smith:
WRASFEST will be at the Eyedrum Music and Art Gallery in Atlanta again for the third concert in a row ( www.eyedrum.org). We’ve got a great lineup for our benefit concert this year including mostly local bands: Moresight, Psyche Origami, Boulevard, Aerial2012, The Selmanaires, Phosphorescent, and Daedelus. This show aims to please nearly everyone with acts from several genres. Doors open at 4:30 pm which seems kind of early but we really just want to party as long as we can. If you’re one of the first 88 people to the door at 4:30 you’ll get a limited edition tote bag of free stuff including CDs, posters, DVDs, keychains, and maybe even another tote bag. ALSO, early birds can grab a slice of Album 88 birthday cake… and despite what the on-air promo I made says, no, Marvin won’t be jumping out of the cake. We’re also debuting a brand new tshirt design and there will tshirts of all colors and sizes to purchase at the show and awesome new tote bags to match. We’re also making 1” buttons so you can sport Album 88 on your lapel like a true fan
Also, former 99Xer Jimmy Baron’s wife Lisa is pregnant.
She’d been hankering for a little one for awhile and Jimmy, still seeking a job, finally went for it. Lisa repped Ralph Reed and does a Sunday Paper column each week about marriage. Here’s her column announcing the pregnancy.
11/23: Kimmer’s thoughts
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
(Unless I get a hold of Tom Hughes or find out any news on Project 9-6-1 or the future of 105.3, I’m going to keep this up today since web traffic is going to be relatively slow anyway. Rodney on Friday November 24)
Kim “The Kimmer” Peterson, ousted Tuesday at WGST-AM after nearly 15 years, didn’t sound angry or resentful — at least to me — when I go ta hold of him Wednesday afternoon. .
In fact, he sounded chipper and relaxed. (He’s off to a family reunion on Thanksgiving.)
“Played a little golf today. I’m having a ball. Too bad things have to end. It’s just business. Honestly, I was telling Keith Whitney [of WXIA-TV], I don’t have a bad thing to say about anybody. I’m the luckiest man I know. I’m going to be fine.”
He later noted, “I’ve had a great run. You’re always hired to be fired in this business.”
The Kimmer, who started in radio back in the 1960s, did TV anchoring in Chicago in the 1980s and news anchoring on WSB-AM before he was hired at GST in 1992, said if he had had the opportunity to say goodbye on the air, “I would have definitely choked up. Radio is so intimate, so personal. My small, hardcore base of fans were great. It’s a big family. I feel a sense of loss.”
For fans, you can email him at kimmer@kimmershow.com. He said he needs to buy a computer later (from one of his former sponsors Vision Computer) this week to keep www.kimmershow.com updated so be patient. He’ll get back to you eventually.
He said he never looked at Arbitron ratings books. “I don’t give a [bleep] what the ratings are. If I’m making you money, that’s good. If I’m not, well, that’s just business. Who needs that kind of pressure? This is who I am.”
His favorite bits go back to the 1996 Olympics when he mocked Dick Enberg’s treacly profiles of athletes.
He couldn’t tell me how much time he had left on his contract or any other such details. But it’s pretty clear he’s getting paid a decent amount not to work. I’m just not sure how long.
“I’d like to stay in Atlanta if I can. There’s nothing tying me here. I don’t nkow. We’ll see. I’m just taking it easy.”
He said he heard Tom Hughes’ retirement announcement Tuesday morning but didn’t think it would happen to him, too.
Since his recent divorce with a gal he called “Fantasy Goddess” on the air, he said he hasn’t dated. “I’m a hermit,” he said.
His prostate cancer is in remission and at age 60, he said he’s fine on that front.
He said he’s enjoying his toys, including a Marine Corp. chopper, a Super Trike and a police motorcyle. He also has a 1955 Ford Sunline convertible. And he still reads the papers every day. “I’m a news junkie,” he said. But now nobody will be able to hear his opinion on the radio - for now. “I better get a girlfriend so I can argue with her about the news,” he cracked.
11/22: CCU’s problems nationwide
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Radio & Records, a trade publication, posted an analysis of Clear Channel’s woes nationwide that have led to cost cutting in many major markets, including Atlanta.
Thanks to John Young, a loyal blog reader, for pointing the story out to me.
Here are some key excerpts:
Once the industry’s most aggressive consolidator, CC quickly achieved the efficiencies that came with merged operations. But in the last two years, growth ground to a screeching halt, leaving CC and Wall Street seeking a boost for the stagnating radio market. Last year, in an effort to turn things around, the company spun off its live entertainment division and 10 percent of its outdoor company. Still the stock languished, leading to the private equity offer. Even as the company sought a buyer, it sent marching orders to its stations to hold the line on expenses. Over the last few weeks, that has resulted in layoffs — nearly all of which are in programming — at many of the company’s radio stations in the top 100 markets.
At a time when radio is facing a soft advertising market and mounting competition from new media, CC’s strategy is curious. The time people spend listening to radio has declined at the rate of 1.5 percent a year over the past decade, according to Arbitron. While CC likes to characterize itself to Wall Street as a content company, the content cuts don’t fit that bill.
Rich Russo, director of broadcast services for JL Media, said the moves were indicative of the soft radio market. “When things are bad, you eliminate a level,” he said, adding “I can’t get upset any more when [radio groups] fire programmers, because no one is programming anyway.”
11/22: What becometh the GST ousted?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
It’s a not-so-happy Turkey week for the Kimmer, Tom Hughes and Denny Schaffer. Schaffer is the only one I’ve spoken to so far and he is under contract for quite awhile. He said he signed a three year contract 14 months ago so he was checking with his attorney to see if GST is obligated to pay him for the entire 22 months to not work. In any case, he’ll be paid for quite awhile one way or another. And here’s the take from Schaffer’s former haunt Toledo
I’m not sure what severance or contractual obligations the Kimmer or Hughes had. I’m going to try to reach both of them today.
Now the question is: where will they land? There are now enough unemployed radio personalities in town to populate two or three new radio stations. “Southside” Steve Rickman, Jennifer Reed, Wally (formerly of 99X), Jimmy Baron, Steve Barnes and Tim Rhodes are just a few of the others who are seeking jobs.
I spoke briefly Tuesday with Mike Moran, general manager at WGKA-AM (920), which currently airs all syndicated product during the weekdays. He said there were no immediate plans to add local personalities though the station has discussed it. It would be an ideal place for any of the three departed GSTers to go. Another place is business talk 1160/WCFO-AM, which is run by Jeff Davis, a former GSTer. I need to give him a call. WSB-AM is a bit bottlenecked right now but would folks enjoy the Kimmer after Sean Hannity instead of Michael Savage?
I don’t see 790/The Zone going for any of the three but 680/The Fan has run Bill O’Reilly in the past.
And here’s a link to the story that ran in the print edition on the firings.
11/21: Denny, Kimmer out, too
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
With Tom Hughes out, it looks like Kim “the Kimmer” Peterson is next. His Web page has been taken down, replaced by syndicated talk show host Dave Ramsey.
Denny Schaffer, mid-morning host, has been taken off the Web site, too. He’s being replaced by syndicated Mike McConnell. He airs out of 700WLW in Cincinnati, the former headquarters for Jacor, a predeceessor company to Clear Channel. Schaffer said he didn’t see it coming: “I’m going to enjoy the holiday, love my family and get on my knees and see what God has for me.” He loves Atlanta and hopes to stick around.
“We haven’t been as successful as we have hoped to have been at GST,” said Chuck Deskins, market manager for Clear Channel Atlanta since the summer. “We’re making changes to try to better position ourselves in the marketplace.” He wouldn’t comment about the Braves or whether the station may have overpaid for the rights.
The Kimmer, a former U.S. Marine and staunch conservative, possessed a trademark laugh, trademark phrases (“You’re killing me!” “Semper Fi!”) and an often light touch. His support staff had been stripped away from him the past year (Jim Gossett, Pete Davis, Wayne Kitchens) so speculation of his departure has been rife for quite some time. He’s been a WGST staple for many years.
Eric Seidel, a former station manager at WGST from Sept. 1986 to January 1997, hired the Kimmer in April 1992 after he had been fired at WSB-AM. He liked his news image. “I didn’t know his full personality at the time,” he said. “When we saw the comedic side, we harnessed it.” He got Jim Gossett and Leslie to join him.
“Based on what little I know of the ratings, It’s a matter of economics,” he said. “It’s very sad. We had a great operation there a few years ago.”
In Seidel’s mind, he had three strengths: “His patriotism, his poltiical philosophy and his sense of humor.” Unfortunately, “every show needs good production support and I don’t think he’s been getting that for quite some time.”
Mike Rose, who worked with the Kimmer as his producer from 1992 to 1996, said under a team environment, the Kimmer thrived. “People think he was dumbing down to play to the audience, but you could hear there was good subtle satire on the show. There was nobody more self deprecating than the Kimmer. Atlanta radio has lost a good talent.”
11/21: Hear GST’s Hughes farewell
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Tom Hughes bid his farewell at 8 a.m. this morning after many years doing mornings at 640/WGST-AM. Nicknamed “the King,” he has been a well respected news man in town. Updates forthcoming. I left a message with Hughes at his home. He is truly a gracious, class act . Hopefully I’ll hear from him today. Here’s a link to his farewell via mp3
“I’ll take this opportunity to leave,” he said. “Am I happy about it? In some ways. I recognize radio like all media today is fiercely competitive, crowded and they do keep score. Things could have been done differently, mercy yes. But I do know it’s not your fault, not you out there listening… We put you folks through a lot moving up and down the dial, AM, AM and FM, Back to AM, taking away an hour, adding an hour. The G goes away. Now the G is back, thank goodness. The pre-dawn struggle just to hear us at times. For those of you who have been loyal, I’ll miss all of you very much. I’ll miss the daily demand of preparing and presenting news stories that will inform, educate, exasperate and sometimes even amuse you. Now just my wife will have to endure my bad jokes.”
He complimented the staff. “I can’t say enough about the Kimmer, who created the whole ‘King’ thing, which I’ve had to put up with all these years. The Kimmer-he’s the best. And Randall Bloomquist, our program director. Great guy. Don’t pick on him.”
He quoted a WWII Fly Boy farewell: “Til we meet once again, you and I, wish me luck as you wave me goodbye.”
He will be replaced for now by a syndicated Wall Street Journal program with Gordon Deal from 5 to 8 a.m., according to the WGST Web site.
This is actually the second time GST and he parted ways. Back around 1997, when GST stripped down its news staff and went to something called “Planet Radio,” Hughes was fired. But a few months alter, Planet Radio was gone and Hughes was hired back. Hughes has been a mainstay at the station even as its ratings have fallen off.
11/21: Do you like the new name?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
96rock is now Project 9-6-1. Do you like the name Project? Chris Williams said it’s to indicate the station is always evolving. But isn’t the point of a brand to be concrete, to create a firm image, a distinct personality, as opposed to a chameleon? And as he noted, 96.1 is still going after a 25 to 44 year old male demo, a demo it has targeted for many years (though recently, it skewed older.) It’s still a rock station even without the word rock in its name.
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11/20: (UPDATE) Project 9-6-1 brass speak!
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I just spoke with Mike Boyle, an editor at trade publication Radio & Records. I forgot to credit him for a Saturday blog item in which I linked to the audio transition between 96rock and Project 9-6-1, which I’ve fixed. Boyle wrote a brief story on Friday about Project 9-6-1 in which he got a hold of Chris Williams. So if there is a media blackout, it seemed to be targeted to me, not to the media in general.
Here’s a link to the story from Friday on Radio & Records.
Williams and Wheeler finally got clearance on Monday afternoon to talk to me or something like that. They weren’t pleased that I just showed up unannounced Friday morning in their waiting area. Maybe that’s why they didn’t want to talk to me. I said all they had to do if they were truly busy was to pass a message along to Linda at the front desk saying, hey, can we talk at another time, we’re busy, rather than just ignore me. That’s just basic courtesy. But alas, we moved on.
Wheeler said the reason they spoke to the trade pub and not to me was because Radio & Records spoke to the radio industry and what I write is to the fans and they wanted the fans to listen to Project 9-6-1, not read about it. “We wanted people to hear our launch,” Wheeler said. “We did that. We focused on the launch. Now we’re talking.”
The rationale for dropping 96rock as a brand name from Wheeler: “We saw the strength of the Buzz. We had some research information that told us that 96rock was approaching the end of its life cycle as a product. We thought we could take the best of 96rock and the best of the Buzz and create a strong third product.”
What will become of 105.3?: The simulcast will end on Thanksgiving. Wheeler declined to say what the new format will be or when it will officially start. It’s quite possible they’ll do some silly stunt for a few days before November 27 rolls around.
Why the name Project, which can connote a temporary situation, not a permanent name? Williams: “It doesn’t denote somethng temporary. It’s not static. It’s not ever finished. It allows us to be flexible… That speaks more to a long-term plan than a short-term plan.” (I’m going to make this a blog question later in the week. Is the name Project a good one?) It was Wiliams’ idea for a name, by the way.
* Would Project 9-6-1 even exist if they hadn’t fired the Regular Guys?* No comment because of the lawsuit by Larry Wachs. Wheeler said he’ll answer that down the road once legal issues are cleared.
* Texturally, how did you know which songs to keep from 96rock’s heritage?* Williams: 96.1 has been historically a radio station that is Atlanta’s rock station. It has swagger. It represented the rock format regardless of era. It’s dabbled in different genres. We’ve kept the call letters WKLS intentionally. There’s heritage in those call letters. We found those rock anthems that work alongside Rage Against the Machine, Buckcherry and NIrvana. There’s a lot of legs in AC/DC, Led Zeppelin and Ozzy Osborne.”
* Since a bulk of the music is from the Buzz, why not keep the Buzz name? * Wheeler: “We did discuss it. We rejected it pretty quickly. It’s not the Buzz. It’s a different radio station with a different musical vibe. It retains a lot of the sensibility of the Buzz. We were able to keep enough of that so people who are fans of the Buzz will feel it. But we didn’t want to represent it as something it’s not anymore.”
Status of Jennifer Reed, afternoon jock for just a few months at 96rock: She’s out.
Status of Fin, midday jock at 96rock: He’s in. But Williams said he can’t say what Fin’s future role will be.
Why drop Whip? Williams simply said, “We wanted a new morning show and it’s something that unfortunately didn’t involve Whip.”
Do you have a timetable for a morning show? No. They will get a show when they find the right people. “We haev a strong short list,” Williams said.
He noted that nobody on the short list is one of the current notable local unemployed jocks. We didn’t delve into names but that would include Tim Rhodes, Southside Steve, Jimmy Baron and Steve Barnes, to name a few. Texturally, those aren’t likely good fits anwyay.
Wheeler said they are looking for a local morning show though how much would it be personality vs. music, he wouldn’t say.
What about Lite 94.9? No comment, of course.
11/20: Whip speaks & other 96rock detritus
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I got a hold of Whip on Sunday. Yes, he was fired Thursday after 18 months as the morning host at 105.3/The Buzz. (He was also fired from 99X a few months before that.) He said he knew the Buzz was going away and had a sinking feeling a couple days before that he might not make the transition. He said he joked with mid-day guy Fin from 96rock that one of them was not going to make it. In the end, he said, neither made it.
Based on promos on Project 9-6-1, Aly, the midday gal, and Chris Williams, program director and afternoon host, will be back the Monday after Thanksgiving. They are seeking a new morning show. Ironically, Whip said Williams told him just a couple days before that “I’m the well-behaved child I don’t have to pay attention to.” In fact, Whip said he got virtually no guidance and no personnel support. Unlike other morning shows, he had no sidekick, no phone screener, no producer, not even an unpaid intern. But he’s not bitter. He said he enjoyed his time there, that he figures his firing was not Williams’ doing. “It was a nice run,” he said. He just had no idea who didn’t like him at Clear Channel and decided he woudln’t fit on Projecct 9-6-1. He said he would have been willing to even take another shift to stay on but wasn’t given that option. His kids, ages six and eight, weren’t happy because Whip figures he’s going to have to find a job elsewhere.
I also finally reached Mike Wheeler, regional vice president of programming for Clear Channel Atlanta and the boss of Project 9-6-1 program director Chris Williams. (Williams was PD at 105.3/The Buzz and PD at 99X before that.) Wheeler was perfectly nice but offered me zero information about 105.3’s future, why they created Project 9-6-1 or the future of Fin and Jennifer Reed except to say, “We’re just going to do focus on what we’re doing” and “We’re under no obligation to talk to you.” Clearly, someone up high has told them not to talk to the media. It’s possible the leveraged buyout of Clear Channel announced last week may have led to some corporate guy at headquarters in San Antonio to impose a systemwide media blackout. Or it could be fallout from the Regular Guys firing and lawsuits. Or maybe not. Wheeler wouldn’t say. He also wouldn’t lay the blame on his boss Chuck Deskins, market manager for Clear Channel Atlanta. He said maybe he’ll be able to speak Monday when Deskins is back from Clear Channel headquarters in San Antonio. We’ll see!
It’s interesting that Larry Wachs, formerly of the Regular Guys, had about as much luck as I did trying to talk to someone at Clear Channel Atlanta Friday, according to his blog about 96rock’s demise. Here’s an excerpt:
Truth be told, the Rock succumbed to a long illness that started in 2004 when we got fired the first time. That triggered an avalanche of events which were compounded by more bleeding and malpractice (Hint: Overpaying for the Braves).
By the time we came back in 2005, the Mays Family had quietly begun their exit strategy, realizing what budding monopolists throughout history have; without guns, you can’t own everything. The managerial disarray had metastasized by then and today it’s 1945 in Japan. If only war crimes tribunals were applicable in radio.
Today was simply the first public acknowledgment by Clear Channel of what everyone has known for years. Without TRG, Clear Channel/Atlanta was doomed. Saddam has a better chance. Everyone bowed and scraped to the gods of baseball in there, but they’re still around and the station is through…
I called over to 96Rock this afternoon when I heard the news, and, of course, got no human to speak with. That’ll play well with the public when the new formats launch soon. If I know Atlanta, I know one thing for sure. Southerners love cold, impersonal radio stations that play the hits.
11/18: More on Project 9-6-1
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Also, here’s the story I ran in the paper Saturday. Nothing new except I got a funny quote from John Dickey, who oversees programming at Cumulus, which owns 99X. Will this actually benefit 99X? Too soon to say.
“I’m surprised they dropped the name 96rock,” Dickey said. “It’s like blowing up the Varsity and renaming it Project Fast Food.”
I’ve been trying to reach Chris Williams to no avail. So here are the questions left unanswered so far for me and I will try to get answered as soon as possible.
How long will 105.3 simulcast Project 9-6-1?
What will 105.3 ultimately be?
Is Project 9-6-1 a long-term name for the station?
Why did you decide to dump Buzz and 96rock and start with a new name?
Is there any fear that the loss of the 96rock brand name will hurt the station in the short run or long run?
Did the decision to combine the Buzz and 96rock into an active rock station come AFTER Clear Channel fired the Regular Guys?
What is your primary target audience? I’m told active rock is mostly 25 to 44 males.
Where will the Braves land next year?
What’s the status of Fin, Ally and Jennifer Reed?
I know jocks will be back the Monday after Thanksgiving on Project 9-6-1? I presume Ally will be back, along with you. Is a morning show coming sooner or later?
Why did you get rid of Whip? (Or am I mistaken that Whip has in fact been let go?)
Strategically, how do you think this will help Clear Channel Atlanta?
Why get rid of the Buzz name when it was doing so well?
11/17: Xmas started at noon on Lite today
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
In all the hubbub with Project 9-6-1, Lite quietly started playing Christmas music today at noon, six days before Thanksigiving. What will Lite be after Christmas? Country? Dance pop? We’ll find out soon. But another outlet where Elton John and Fleetwood Mac predominated may be gone forever.
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11/17: Project 9-6-1 email
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Here’s the email sent to advertising clients today from Project Program Director Chris Williams:
Hey, 1053 the Buzz Family.
Things are about to get crazy here at the Buzz! We’ve only been here for a short time, just over a year, but in that time you have been so great to us! We thank you for all embracing the Buzz, calling us, honking when we drive by, flashing us the rock sign, coming out to our parties and going out of your way to compliment the station when we’ve met! That has made an already cool job unbelievable for all of us!
The one consistent complaint we have gotten since signing on has been how hard it is to hear the Buzz in certain places. Inside buildings it gets tough, and the further north in Atlanta you go the more sketchy it becomes to pick up the Buzz. This has been a major frustration for us too, but not anymore! 1053 the Buzz has been the underdog station that sometimes was hard to hear….after today, we will be the underdog station everyone can hear!
The Buzz Family is relocating to 96.1FM as Project 9 -6 -1. This is happening immediately, so check it out now. Why are we changing our name? We think what makes 1053 the Buzz great is not being afraid to go crazy, experiment and really push things forward. If we just put the exact same station on 96.1, that would be the easy, predictable thing to do. Project 9 -6 -1 will strive to be unpredictable. A new name, and a new station will give us the freedom to build something without boundaries or sacred cows. With that unpredictability, we also look to add new music to this project.
We asked ourselves, ‘What’s stopping us from embracing great Rock Anthems that laid the foundation for rock today?’ Why can’t we throw a rock party that includes AC/DC or Led Zeppelin next to Disturbed and Incubus. Project 9 -6 -1 will give us the opportunity to experiment and try something like that out. This will be 1053 the Buzz evolving into Project 9 -6 -1. All the things you listened for and then some, at least that is our goal.
We’ll still be on the look out for Excuses to Party, New School Bands, Homegrown Bands….so you’ll recognize a lot of who we are and the unexpected additions will be surprising. We expect you to keep us honest and tell us what works and when we’ve stepped in it.
Project 9 -6 -1 has arrived and I would like to invite you to join our project! Please reply with your thoughts over the next week and any suggestions for ways to make Project 9 -6 -1 better. We’re gonna let the music roll through Thanksgiving to give all the newbies who couldn’t hear us before a taste of who we are, but the DJ’s will be back Monday after the holiday. I look forward to talking to you then!
Chris 3p-7p Weekdays Project 9 -6 -1 www.myspace.com/project961
11/17: 96rock’s new project
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
As the Who’s “Baba O’Riley” faded away at 9 a.m. Friday morning, so did the 32-year legacy of 96rock. The station, which held the fort for most of its years with the likes of Led Zeppelin, the Who and the Rolling Stones, bid farewell to purely classic rock and welcomed something it’s calling Project 961. That may not be the final name of the station, but it’s clearly a hard rock station or something in radio industry circles is dubbed “active rock.” It’s harder than what even 105.3/The Buzz had been playing. (It’s simulcasting on that signal for now.) It also seems to skew a bit older, a blend of the old and the new: some harder classic stuff from the ’70s and ’80s, grunge from the ’90s and current rock with an edge (In other words, no Coldplay, Boston or Jack Johnson here.).
Here’s the web site and the myspace page
The first 16 songs: Metallica’s “Enter Sandman,” Disturbed’s “Down With the Sickness,” AC/DC’s “Back in Black,” Linkin Park’s “Faint,” Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” Ozzy’s Crazy Train,” Korn’s “Coming Undone,” Alice in Chains’ “Man in the Box,” Sublime’s “What I Got,” Led Zeppelin’s “Black Dog,” Rage Against the Machine’s “Killing in the Name,” Stone Temple Pilots’ “Sex Type Thing,” Buckcherry’s “Crazy B*tch,” Faith No More’s “Epic,” Guns ‘n Roses “Welcome to the Jungle,” Red Hot Chili Peppers’ “Dani California.” Radio fans at www.radio-info.com noted that “Enter Sandman” was also the first song 105.3/The Buzz played all the way back in the spring of 2005 when that station launched.
In other words, the station which has always prided itself on its testosterone, continues to gear itself to guys — just younger. It seems to be targeting 18 to 44 year olds. The station has shown relative consistency over the years. In the 1970s, 96rock played the album-oriented rock now considered the heart of classic rock today, veered more heavy metal in the 1980s, went back to its heritage in the 1990s, added some grunge stuff for awhile, then ended the last couple of years with a softer classic rock sound. At 9 a.m., they even mocked that by saying, :”For 32 years, 96.1 has been the rock station in Atlanta. Actually, the past few years, we haven’t rocked all that much. Like Elton John. Fleetwood Mac. And Jethro Tull. Let’s say we’ve been rocking for 29 of those 32 years. It’s time for a change!”
I decided to stop by the Clear Channel Atlanta offices this morning to check out the scene. I’m in the waiting room awaiting PD Chris Williams or someone of authority to show up. The “96rock” logo on the sign outside of the Peachtree St. building has already been taken off. And xerox sheets of paper with the words “Are you part of the problem or a part of the Project 9-6-1” have been posted. Interestingly, the front desk operator isn’t getting many phone calls. She is answering it as “Project 961.” She’s also not playing any music at all in the waiting room. (The usual operator Kay Kay isn’t around.)
With no guidance, I’m not sure what the status of Fin or Jennifer Reed is under the new format.
Just saw Spiff Carner of Lite 94.9. He’s still here!
UPDATE: It’s now past 3 p.m. I had to leave Clear Channel emptyhanded to do guest speaking at an Emory journalism class, then back to the office to write the story. I have still no return calls from either Mike Wheeler or Chris Williams. So three major questions remain unanswered: Where will the Braves go? What will become of 105.3? And which jocks are going to stick around? And if anybody has the email sent to listeners about the changeoever, email me at rho@ajc.com. Thanks!
11/16: Buzz moving, 96rock out
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
On Thursday evening, 96rock sent out an email saying the current classic rock format is about to end. Here’s the 96rock farewell web site. The premise is that the active rock format (a modified version of the Buzz) will take over 96rock and classic rock will be ceded to 97.1/The River, which flooded the market with huge ratings after it launched January 1 of this year.
So what happens to the 105.3 signal? It’s been through four formats in four years: the ’80s, talk radio, Spanish music, alternative rock, now what? The rumor has been a second Spanish format, regional Mexican. They may choose to simulcast for now with 96rock to help move their fans over to the stronger signal at first.
The Buzz liner Thursday between every song is: “Christmas comes early. Tomorrow morning. 9 a.m. The Buzz family is going to explode. Be there or die!” The Buzz has been the only station to see ratings go up this year among the five Clear Channel Atlanta stations (WGST, Lite, Viva, 96rock, Buzz) so in a sense, it’s being rewarded with a bigger signal at 96.1 vs. 105.3.
Unfortunately, Whip may not be going to 96rock.
With Barnes out at Dave, Toucher out at 99X and the Regular Guys out at 96rock, Whip had been the veteran rock morning host in town with a tenure of a whopping 18 months.
Whip at 4 p.m. himself said: “I can’t say a word.” I haven’t been able to reach PD Chris Williams or his boss Chuck Deskins.
11/16: Clear Channel goes private
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Clear Channel, which owns more than 1,150 stations including five in Atlanta (Lite, GST, 96rock, Viva, Buzz), is about to go private for $18.7 billion. It’s hard to say what this will mean locally, whether it will lead to a new round of cost cuts or not.
Here’s the link.
And it appears Clear Channel will be shrinking though it will be keeping Atlanta. In a separate announcement Thursday, Clear Channel said it plans to sell 448 of its radio stations, all located outside the top 100 media markets in the U.S., and its 42-station television group.
Here’s the memo sent to employees this morning from Mark Mays:
Good morning,
Today, our Board of Directors announced it has concluded its strategic review process and has decided to take the following actions:
Clear Channel Communications, Inc. will merge with an investment group consisting of Thomas H. Lee Partners, L.P., Bain Capital Partners, LLC, Randall Mays, Lowry Mays, and myself. We plan to sell our television station group, and we also plan to sell 448 of our radio stations that operate outside the top 100 U.S. markets.
Please read the linked press releases – Clear Channel Communications, Inc. Enters into Merger Agreement with Private Equity Group Co-Led By Bain Capital Partners, LLC and Thomas H. Lee Partners, L.P. and Clear Channel Announces Plan to Sell Radio Stations Outside the Top 100 Markets and Entire Television Station Group, detailing these actions, as well as the linked Q&A, which answers some of what may be your immediate questions.
I’d also like to invite you to join Randall and me for a company-wide conference call today at 11:00 a.m. CST (US). Lisa Dollinger will be sending you complete dial-in information prior to the call. We know that you must have questions about what has occurred over the past weeks and what this decision means for all of us as employees. We’ll do our best to answer as many of your questions as we can, and we look forward to talking with you.
As with our other all-employee calls, please send any questions you’d like us to address in advance to question@clearchannel.com. You’ll also be able to e-mail questions to us during the call. In addition, we have an Employee Hotline at 1-888-403-4722.
On a personal note, I’m very pleased to let you know that both Randall and I will be staying with the company in our current positions. Together with all of you, we have built a strong company that leads all of the businesses in which we operate… a company we are very proud of. We look forward to continuing our shared progress together and are excited about the possibilities for growing our businesses and leading our industries into a very bright future.
I’d like to thank you all for your great work, patience and continued focus on business during this process.
Until the call,
Mark
11/15: How’s the River doing?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The River’s ratings have held up well in its first nine months of existence. In fact, it’s done better and held up better than most people expected when it first launched. I’m certain even the Cox Radio folks are surprised. Why do you think it has been such a success? What does it need to do to maintain its audience in the next year or two? Any opinion yet of morning gal Lexie Kaye?
11/14: Christmas music
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
It’s another day without much going on so let’s throw out a question. I was at Phipps today for an event and was amused to see Santa already workin’, holiday decor everywhere and Christmas music, too. (T-minus 41 days!) Lite has already done its sample Christmas music weekend. When is a good time to go all Christmas? Lite in recent years started the week of Thanksgiving. The others (B98.5 and the Fish) follow on Thanksgiving, which is only nine days away. Is that too soon? Just right?
I see no signs that any of the three are going to cede Christmas, that we’re on our way to a triple Christmas station market again.
Permalink | Comments (9) | Categories: Question of the day
11/13: Chris Krok
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The new WSB-AM night-time guy Chris Krok has now been on the air for more than eight months. What’s your impression of him? Do you like his spin on things? His delivery? His stunts? Does he have the potential to eventually replace either Neal Boortz or Clark Howard when that time comes?
11/10: Clark’s roast
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Clark Howard’s closest friends (and not so close so called friends) roasted him Thursday night for Team Georgia, the local non-profit highway safety organization.
Clark arrived in a tux but he quickly stripped down to his signature uniform: a free WSB golf shirt, too-tight khaki shorts and sneakers. Instead of dinner, he got his favorite indulgence: two pints of Haagen Daz ice cream.
The likes of WSB-TV’s Monica Pearson, Jeff Foxworthy (via video) and fellow WSB talk show host Neal Boortz mocked his cheapness and all around goofiness. But they didn’t knife him. Howard afterwards said folks were actually almost too nice to him.
Boortz did tell the true story about the time Howard would never go valet and find free parking, even in New York City. His rental car got hit by falling debris one time. He also pulled off a few jokes that were funny but didn’t have anything to do with Howard. “He used to date homeless women,” Boortz cracked. “It was so much easier to get them to stay over.”
Traffic reporter Mark Arum opened his comments thusly: “The man we’re here to roast tonight in spite of what you heard is a liar, a thief, a cheat, a fool and a downright miserable man.” Pause. “Oh, wait. Those are my Neal Boortz roast comments. Sorry!”
11/9: Radio voices
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
On a day with no real news (yet), let me pose a couple of questions:
Who has the best sounding voice on radio?
Who’s voice makes you want to ram cotton balls in your ears?
11/8: Larry countersues (UPDATED)
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Not surprisingly, Regular Guys’ Larry Wachs is countersuing Juan “Yogi” Tapia & Jose “Panda” Carias, as well as Clear Channel. Wachs seeks damages, declaratory judgment, injunctive relief and recovery of his costs and attorneys’ fees. He’s using an employment lawyer Andy Head to help with this case along with George Stein.
Causes of action: Tortious interference with contract (against Tapia and Carias) and with business relations. He said they “acted with malice and with intent to injure in interfering with Wachs. He accused them of “malicious prosecution” for initiating criminal prosecution for his taping of their restroom conversation on Oct. 9, then airing it Oct. 10 on 96rock. He said he has “suffered damage to his reputation, as well as money damages as a result of Tapia and Carias’ malicious prosecution.”
Other counts includfed civil conspiracy (against Tapia and Carias), attorneys’ fees and costs and breach of contract.
In a “declaratory judgment (against Clear Channel),” he said the non-compete covenant in his contract is “unenforceable” because it includes a provision in which Clear Channel could try to stop him from working on the radio here indefinitely. Although his contract noted that there’s only a 90 day period after he was fired October 23 in which he can’t pursue employment on air in Atlanta, it is subject to “indefinite tolling without durational limitation.”
Wachs notes in the lawsuit that he “is uncertain of his rights concerning subsequent employment and desires an early adjudication of those rights by declaratory judgment.” He notes that “because Wachs is an on-air personality, time is of the essence in obtaining subsequent employment in order to maintain name recognition, listener interest and loyalty, and the goodwill accumulated by the individual on-air talent.”
Jamie Hernan, who represents Tapia and Carias, was none too happy when he heard the news.
“He humiliates them and they get sued? Give me a jury!” Hernan said. To him, the case sounds more directed at Clear Channel, not his clients. “He didn’t need to sue Yogi & Panda. That’s outrageous!” He said Yogi & Panda have tried to resolve this amicably but “we’re shocked by the other side’s desire to keep this going.” (They withdrew the civil case to keep the criminal case alive.)
Here’s the lawsuit case info:
Lawrence Wachs v. Juan Tapia; Jose Carias; Clear Channel Broadcasting Inc. 11/3/2006 06cv125255 CLS Contract/account complaint. C. Head
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11/7: Hottest radio formats
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
According to arbitron format tracking, Spanish is the fastest growing format, up to 11.1 percent of total share from 10.1 share a year ago. Urban is up slightly from 10.2 to 10.4 year over year. Rock is down to 7.7 from 8.7 (though it’s far higher in Atlanta thanks to the arrival of the River). Oldies (which doesn’t exist among Atlanta’s metro-wide FM signals) is down to 6 percent from 6.3. News/talk dropped from 17.4 to 16.9. Country is up 9.1 to 9.3. Top 40 is about the same: 11.6 from 11.5. Alternative rock drops to 3.5 from 3.8. Adult contemporary is down from 12.9 to 12.7.
11/6: Clark Howard to get roasted
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Team Georgia, the highway safety nonprofit group, has roasted WSB-AM’s Capt. Herb Emory in 2004 and Royal Marshall last year in the name of raising funds. This year on November 9 at the Westin Buckhead, they’ve gone after a big, big fish: Clark Howard. Clark was actually roasted lightly last year at his 50th birthday for another charity by the likes of Monica Pearson (formerly Kaufman) and Neal Boortz. Those two will be at it again, along with Capt. Herb. WSB’s Mark Arum, consistently the funniest roaster in the past, will likely pop by again with zingers galore. Naturally, roasting Clark is easier than finding fast-food wrappers in his Prius.
The evening event is $99 a pop (two for $179), which in Clark’s world is awfully expensive. But hey — it’s for charity. More info at Team Georgia’s Web site
11/6: Star 94 fundraiser hits record
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Here’s Steve and Vikki on the left and Cindy and Ray on the right posing with the oversized check.
Star 94 listeners raised $1,215,834 by 6 p.m. Saturday for the station’s fourth annual Cares for Kids Radiothon for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. That is up about 1 percent from 2005’s total. Donations are still accepted at www.star94.com
11/3: Stacy C leaving the Beat (UPDATED)
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Unlike most jocks, who have to be fired or taken away from the mike kicking and screaming, Stacy C is leaving on her own terms after a long stint at 95.5/The Beat.
“I want to be able to travel and do things for myself,” she said. “And it’s very hard to do that when you’re working eveyr weekend in the clubs and feel like you have to be at the station or you’ll miss something. I didn’t want that life anymore. I didn’t love being on air enough.”
Instead, she’s going to do sales at the Cox Radio classic hits station 97.1/The River starting Monday November 6. “That was one of my favorite parts of being an on air personality. I loved working with clients. It’s going to work out great.” She added, “I’m a rock girl at heart.”
She had just gotten married and after seven years in radio as an intern, a night sidekick, a weekend fill in, a late afternoon jock, a mid-day jock and a morning jock, she was ready to do something new. (And she’s only 26!).
Stacy C admitted other jocks think she’s crazy for walking away. “Good for them to give up their own personal time,” she said. “That was my biggest struggle.”
She had been working with the new male co-host Murph Dawg the last few weeks. Murph Dawg goes solo temporarily starting November 6. Cagle posted the job listing this morning and as of 3:30 p.m. already has 28 applications. He expects to get hundreds. He hopes to have a replacement by early next year.
Stacy C said she didn’t say anything this morning or bid the world farewell formally because she didn’t want to give the impression it was anything related to Murph Dawg. (Then again, she admitted, it probably will still look like that.).
Here’ an excerpt from her online bio.
NAME: Stacy C
AGE: 26
WHERE I’M FROM: Kennesaw, Georgia!
FAMILY: Andy and Marcia are my fabulous parents! Kristen and John are my fabulous sister and brother!
HUSBAND: That’s right, I am a NEWLYWED! I just got married on June 10th to the most wonderful man in the world…Matt! He is so special to me! I am very lucky to have him! He’s my best friend and he always makes me laugh! I always have such an amazing time when I am with him!
11/2: Yogi, Panda & Larry update
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Viva 105.7 morning hosts Juan Tapia (Yogi) and Jose Carias (Panda) have dropped their civil lawsuit against the Regular Guys and Clear Channel stemming from an invasion of privacy charge related to a restroom stunt the Regular Guys did October 9 and aired October 10, according to their attorney Jamie Hernan. But this wasn’t because they’ve forgiven Regular Guys cohost Larry Wachs and Clear Channel.
They happened to have a criminal warrant application filed against Larry Wachs for taping them in a Clear Channel restroom. The only way that they could move forward on the criminal warrant was to drop the civil case “without prejudice.” This means they could re-file the civil lawsuit at a later date.
The judge in a Fulton County courtroom Thursday granted the criminal warranted application and allowd it to move forward. This means the Fulton County district attorney now has to decide if the criminal warrant application has enough merit for them to prosecute. In the meantime, a warrant has been issued and Larry has seven days to get fingerprinted and formally booked. He was given a signature bond and is free until the district attorney decides the case.
George Stein, who is repping Wachs, said he’s confident it will not. “The law is on our side,” he said. He said he looked at case studies about an “expectation of privacy” in a public restroom and doesn’t believe taping a conversation in one is illegal.
Hernan said his party suggested they postpone Thursday’s hearing to try to work out things behind closed doors. But he said Stein & Co. insisted on going forward. “I don’t want them to be perceived as vindictive. They really tried to work things out.”
Hernan said the restroom taping violated of the Official Code of Georgia, statute section 16-11-62
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11/2: Stunt of the week
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
790/The Zone is always big on amusing stunts and this one is pretty good. And the prize — two free lower-level seats for a year at Hawks games — is pretty impressive, too.
OR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 2, 2006
FANS MUST DRIBBLE BASKETBALL 7.5 MILES TO WIN HAWKS TICKETS 790 The Zone hosts contest to give away season tickets to the Atlanta Hawks
ATLANTA, GA – Sports Radio 790 The Zone will give away one (1) pair of lower level season tickets tomorrow, Friday, November 3, to the fan who dribbles a basketball the fastest from 790 The Zone’s Buckhead Studios, down Peachtree Road, to Philips Arena. The contest, appropriately titled “Dribble Down Peachtree”, calls for fans to register on-line and be willing to take the Friday afternoon off in order to participate in the contest. The station received hundreds of entries to be one of the 10 randomly chosen contestants to participate.
Matt Edgar, Program Director, says “We wanted to do something a little outrageous to kick off the Hawks’ season while rewarding our listeners and Hawks’ fans with some great tickets. What better way to show your dedication to the team than to dribble a basketball 7.5 miles down Peachtree Road to Philips Arena?”
Contestants will begin the trek at approximately 12:15 pm from the 790 The Zone studio located at 3350 Peachtree Road, NE., Atlanta, GA 30326.
The basic rules are as follows: 1. You must dribble the basketball the entire time while moving forward unless you are resting in a stationary position. 2. You may not interfere with a passing contestant 3. You must abide by all traffic laws in the city of Atlanta 4. You must check in at the two (2) check points located on the course 5. You are not allowed to use a bike, roller blades, skateboard, MARTA, or any other mode of transportation outside of your persons’ two feet.
All contestants will receive a pair of tickets to the opening game against the Knicks and the Grand Prize Winner will receive a pair of lower level season tickets to the Atlanta Hawks’ NBA team. Sports Radio 790 The Zone is a Big League Broadcasting Company. 790 The Zone celebrates its 9th year of operation in Atlanta. In addition to providing entertaining, compelling and informative sports talk, 790 The Zone is the flagship station of Georgia Tech football and men’s basketball, the Atlanta Hawks, the Georgia Force, the Chick-fil-A Bowl, the Bellsouth Classic, the exclusive Sports Radio Station for the Atlanta Falcons, the Tour Championship and The Masters.
11/2: Morning X show
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
With a month in their pocket, how do you think the new Morning X is doing? It’s still too early to make any genuine assessment but are folks still giving it a try, especially with Dave and 96rock currently out of the “personality radio” morning game?
Is Sean coming together as a good leader? Is Jenners becoming an able Jimmy Baron-type? Is Leslie better now than she has been in years? Should “Peanut Butter Jelly Time” be banned forever?
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