Access Atlanta > Entertainment > Radio Talk > Archives > 2007 > January
January 2007
1/31: Q100’s Adam Bomb (hearts) Timbaland
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Did Q100 night-time jock Adam Bomb implode on the air last night? He apparently started playing the new Timbaland song “Give it to Me” (with Nelly Furtado and Justin Timberlake) over and over again because he loved it so much. Dylan Sprague, program director and afternoon jock, called in and told him to stop. He didn’t. He even locked himself in the studio. He was finally taken off the air after more than an hour and literally escorted out of the station after playing the song 22 times in a row.
Is this a strange stunt or Adam Bomb just being a pain? Probably the latter, possibly the former. Sprague emailed me at 4 p.m. to say he can’t talk about it right now. At 7 p.m., Adam was allowed back on by Dylan. “He isn’t going anywhere,” Dylan said. “But when we say 10 songs in a row, we mean ten different songs.”
1/31: What happened to the novelty record?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Sean Ross, a radio consultant at Edison Media Research, writes about the lack of novelty records on the radio nowadays.
No “Disco Duck.” Or “Hooked on Classics.” Or “Pac-Man Fever.” Or more recently, “Because I Was High” or “Baby Got Back.” We had “Laffy Taffy” a little while back. But the pure novelty record seldom hits the airwaves anymore. Even Weird Al Yankovic’s “White & Nerdy,” while getting tons of video airplay and digital single sales on iTunes, barely got airplay on the radio.
Do you miss the occasionally wacky, strange songs hitting the airwaves, the types of songs you know won’t ever be heard again a few years down the road but are fun for a few spins? As Sean notes, country radio will occasionally nab a “Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off” or “Honky Tonk Badonkadonk.” But top 40? Not much going on there though you can argue every Gwen Stefani or Fergie/Black-Eyed Peas song has novelty elements to it. (Yodeling anybody? My humps?). And “Smack That” is certainly a goofy come-on line if I’ve ever heard one.
He also wondered why radio didn’t jump on that SNL “Lazy Sunday” song a year ago that helped jumpstart youtube’s popularity or the more recent hilarious takeoff starring Justin Timberlake, “[bleep] in a box.”
As one person noted on Sean’s blog:
Don Rice on January 25, 2007 05:21 AM
Thank you for saying what I’ve been thinking since “Lazy Sunday” first aired. I believe that programmers have become afraid to have any kind of fun with their stations. Or is it just lack of vision? Looks like Tivo got all the TSL on that high quality piece of pop culture! Just one more reason radio sucked in 2006
1/29: Bye Bye Al Franken
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Al Franken is leaving the beleaguered Air America liberal talk radio network after nearly three years, possibly to run for senator in Minnesota. His last day is Feb. 14. He has been on AM1690 from noon to 3 p.m., the only show remaining from the days the station aired Air America, but 1690 owner Joe Weber Monday said he will not likely take the Franken replacement Thom Hartmann, a syndicated host. He hasn’t decided what to replace Franken with at this point.
Franken’s the last of the prominent celebrity names left on the network. Actress Janeane Garofalo left last July and rapper Chuck D spent a year on the air through spring of 2005. Randi Rhodes, a long-time radio talk show host, is one of the few original hosts left.
In the meantime, Air America Radio, in Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings since October, was rescued at the 11th hour by Manhattan real estate developer Stephen L. Green. Green is the brother of Mark Green, the New York Democrat who served as the city’s public advocate in the 90s and ran for mayor against Michael Bloomberg in 2001. Here’s a story.
Air America can be heard on XM satellite radio locally.
1/29: Jimmy on Mayhem Thurs. (CHANGE)
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Do you miss Jimmy Baron, who has been off the airwaves since March? The former Morning X man is still seeking a job but Steak Shapiro & the gang at Mayhem in the AM are letting him sit in for Mike Bell Thursday morning on 790/The Zone. (It was originally set for Wednesday but was changed Tuesday.)
Baron, who almost subbed for the Kimmer a few months back but got in trouble making fun of the Kimmer’s listeners, is nothing but complimentary to Shapiro and his brethren. “We’ve been friends for a long time,” he said, of Shapiro. “I think Mayhem is one of the best guy shows for adult men in the country.”
He’s an expert on pop culture and the Atlanta Thrashers and since he’s from Chicago, he can throw his two cents in about the Super Bowl-bound Chicago Bears, but he said, “if they start talking college basketball, I’ll be going over to Starbucks.”
1/29: Emperor Searcy hits mornings
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Emperor Searcy looks like he’s moved to mornings to join Griff, Rashan and Beyonce on Hot 107.9’s A Team. Question: where is CJ? E4 Real looks to be taking Emperor’s afternoon slot. Learn about about Searcy on his myspace page..
Emperor Searcy from his myspace page
E4 Real from the hot1079atl.com page
Rumors are that CJ is being courted by 95.5/The Beat to join Murph Dawg. Cagle, the program director at the Beat, declined to comment but said he might have announcement about Murph Dawg’s new cohost as soon as today.
CJ off the www.hot107atl.com page
While the “A” team hasn’t done nearly as well predecessor Ryan Cameron in the ratings, it has done okay among younger demos, typically finishing in the top 3 among 18 to 34 year olds.
1/29: What’s in a name?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
With Clear Channel recently introducing two new radio stations with new names, it’s a good time to ruminate: how important is the name of a radio station, especially when it first launches?
For instance, Clear Channel in November dumped the phrase 96rock, a plain vanilla descriptive that stood the test of time for 32 years. It’s now Project 9-6-1. The problem in the exec’s minds: 96rock was saddled with the baggage of classic rock. To appeal to a younger audience, they opted for “Project,” a name Program Director Chris Williams came up with to show that the station is willing and able to adjust to the whims of its listeners. The station is mostly appealing to Clear Channel’s now killed-off 105.3/The Buzz, but is still throwing in an occasional Guns ‘n Roses or Aerosmith cut to appease former 96rockers. Question: is the name Project a good one? Is it the type of name that will last 32 years? Is it cool enough to appeal to the 18-34 male audience they appear to be seeking?
And how about 94.9/The Bull, formerly Lite 94.9? Unlike Project, which is a unique name in the Clear Channel family of stations, the Bull is used at several Clear Channel country stations. The name, introduced in December, conveys masculinity and in-your-face attitude. But the station is supposed to be a female-skewing country music station, according to its execs. And with the addition of the Braves, does the station’s name and message vibe with its music? It’s obviously too early to say but do you think it works?
Also, let’s go back a couple of years to the introduction of rock station Dave, formerly Z93. CBS wanted a name that sounded like your buddy, your friend. Hey, there’s Dave! After more than two years, does that work for you as a listener?
1/26: Steve Goss update
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
With so many jocks unemployed, I can fill numerous blog items with updates on them. I wrote about the Kimmer Wednesday so how about fellow Clear Channel Atlanta expat Steve Goss?
Goss is actively looking for a job, too, just like the Kimmer. But he doesn’t have an agent. He’s flying solo on this one. He spent 27-plus years at Peach/Lite but is willing to do not just soft rock but also country, classic rock, Christian pop, even news. Like most jocks who live in Atlanta a long time, he’d like to stay but he’s willing to look elsewhere if the right opportunity pops up.
“I have no regrets about the time when I was at Peach and Lite,” he said. “I have no regrets about any of that experience. It was a wonderful, completely satisfying way to make a living.”
He said he was recently in Macon after his wife’s mom passed away and heard the new Peach 96.5, which has the old Peach call letters WPCH-FM, the old Peach logo and even the same voiceover guy reading the liners. “It was like through the looking glass,” mused Goss. “Bizarro world!”
He also confirmed the memo from market manager Chuck Deskins a few months ago informing staff not to talk to the media without prior permission from the higher ups. Although I heard this was a firable offense, the memo never explicitly said so. It may have simply been the subtext. And I had lunch today with former research head (fired December 20, 2006) Susan deBonis, who said marketing manager David Demer (fired about the same time) said talking to me was even worse than just any media person. I guess I should be flattered. I don’t think either deBonis or Demer were fired for talking to me. They were just… fired.
1/24: Q100’s Bert/Kimmer updates
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Bert Weiss has been signed for another five years, guaranteeing him a spot on the dial at Q100 through 2012, according to John Dickey, executive vice president of Atlanta-based Cumulus Broadcasting, which owns Q100 and 99X. He said there will be a press conference next week to provide more details once Weiss returns from vacation.
Weiss pulls in strong numbers among women ages 18 to 34 and has expanded his show’s appeal to older women in recent times. Since he came aboard in 2001, his show has consistently outperformed the rest of the station.
In other words, Cumulus needed to sign the Bert Show to keep Q100 afloat. (Dickey doesn’t agree with that assertion, saying the station ratings have improved outside of Bert’s time slot since they took over the company last year.) And five years is a serious time commitment for any morning show when typical contracts run three years.
Dickey also claimed Star 94 chased after Bert to no avail but Mark Kanov, general manager of Star 94, denied that, saying he has never spoken to Weiss’ agent Bob Eatman and has met Weiss just once a few months back at a function. “He’s good where he is,” Kanov said. “We have no place for Bert.” (Dickey said it was Kanov’s boss Don Benson who made the negotations, not Kanov. I left a message with Benson to see whether that was true.)
And though their contracts are not aligned directly with Bert’s, “the other three [on the Bert Show, Jeff Dauler, Jenn Hobby and Melissa Carter] are extended for as long as Bert,” Dickey said.
And I keep getting emails from fans wondering about the future of Kim “The Kimmer” Peterson, who was let go from WGST in November. He’s riding his Chopper and playing lots of golf while he awaits offers through his agent, who is also Eatman.
Eatman said he’s got something in the frying pan for the Kimmer but wouldn’t say what. “My agent is checking on one, maybe two leads in town,” the Kimmer said. For 60-year-old Kimmer to leave town, he said it would have to be a huge offer because he’d like to stay in Atlanta.
In fact, he said if he can’t get a decent radio gig, he’ll retire. “I can’t imagine myself starting a new career,” the Kimmer said Wednesday. “I don’t really have to.” Right now, he’s going a bit stir crazy because there are great topics he’d love to gab about with his fans such as the Michael Vick situation and Hillary Clinton running for president. “I’m chomping and anxious,” he said. “Until I hear from my agent, I’m just hanging loose.”
1/22: Sun sets on Sunny 100
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Another oldies station has bit the dust. The north Georgia station Sunny 100.1 has been shut down by new owners, Davis Broadcasting, who took over last week. They are going to be off the air for two weeks while they upgrade the signal, according to the receptionist at the radio station who wouldn’t identify herself. Rumors are that Davis will bring back a Latino music format of some sort in its place. Davis made a similar move when the company purchased the Lake 102.3 signal a couple years back and changed the soft-rock station to La Raza 102.3, a regional Mexican format. Perhaps Davis will simulcast 102.2 and 100.1.
I left a message with Gregory A. Davis, president of Davis Broadcasting in Columbus, Ga. (706-576-3565 is the number if you too want to ask any questions.)
1/20: Barnes on Prison Break Monday
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Steve Barnes, the former 99X and Dave FM jock, gets at least a two-episode run Monday at 8 p.m. on “Prison Break.”
Here’s the link to the Peach Buzz item in today’s paper..
He plays a tough-guy Secret Service agent named Drucker.
“It’s a total roller-coaster ride of a show,” he told Buzz. “So far, I’m just shooting on a soundstage office set in Dallas. The joke on the set is you don’t want to get a script where you’re running around outside shooting [exteriors]. That usually means you’re dead!”
I watched the episode that airs tonight. Barnes gets a couple of scenes and a couple of lines with Reggie Lee’s Kim character, who works for the president.
1/18: Fall ratings bet on black
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The fall ratings results for Atlanta radio were especially odd this year because of all the format changes and the shift in population to reflect more blacks and Hispanics. And you can see it in the numbers.
I haven’t seen all the breakdowns but I have general 12 plus, 18-49, 25-54 and 35-64 numbers and a few morning show ratings. If there’s anything specific you want to see, I can try to get it.
Winners
Praise, 95.5/The Beat, Jazz, Viva, 102.5 and V-103 all had strong results, partly juiced by the changes in population sampling for minorities. V-103 was No. 1 across the board in most key demos. It’s a powerhouse that bounced back from a relatively slow summer. 102.5 was No. 11 25-54, its best showing yet with the talk show format and Steve Harvey lifted mornings from 16 to 6 in that demo.
Viva bounced back from a poor summer and ranked 6th 18-49. Jazz had its best book ever, ranking 8th overall, 7th among 25-54. Praise is still down from earlier in the year but is a solid top 10 player.
The Beat had one of its best books in years, ranked 7th overall, 7th 18-49 and 4th 18-34. For the first time, the Beat beat V-103 in teens and had its highest cumulative audience in history: 589,000. Its morning show also had its best showing 18-34, ranked No. 6 with the new host Murph Dawg.
Nonethless, Kicks 101.5 also did well in its final book before the Bull came barrelling onto the scene in mid-December. It was top 5 in all key demos, including mornings 18-34 and 25-54.
And Fish had a good ratings book, tied for 9th among 25-54.
99X rebounded from its worst-ever book over the summer but was still 20th overall, nothing to write home about. The arrival of Project 9-6-1 could hurt the station. Again, it’s too early to tell. The new Morning X had an encouraging debut, ranked tied for 7th among 18 to 34, up from 20th during the temporary summer show with Leslie & Axel.
Losers
Star had its worst book in its history, dropping to 14th overall and 18-49. Rival Q100 (not a ratings loser but I’m talking about it here for contrast) helds its own, just a smidge behind Star at 16th place 12 plus, and 12th 18-49 and 6th 18-34. (Q100’s cumulative audience is up to 396K from 240K a year ago and it beat Star for the first time ever 18-49 women. The Bert Show had its best showing among 18-34 ever, ranked No. 2 only behind V-103)
WSB-AM had a bad fall but still ranked no. 2 overall and No. 1 35-64. WGST, which blew up most of its personalities in November, actually held steady, ranking 20th overall. The sports stations were neck and neck.
The River took a hit after three straight strong books out of the gate. It dropped to 11th overall, though it’s still top 5 25-54. But with 96rock out of the picture, it might see a rebound in the winter.
96rock/Project 9-6-1 dropped to 16th overall though in December, when Project came on line, its 18-34 numbers indicated a big jump. It’s too soon to say how this one will play out.
Dave fell back after a solid summer, more or less matching its fall 2005 numbers.
Eagle, which has had a relatively poor year overall, is way down year over year, ranking just 15th among 35 to 64. The arrival of the Bull certainly won’t help but 96rock’s departure might benefit the station. Again, it’s hard to say where Eagle will go in 2007.
Lite’s farewell book was actualy pretty weak despite Christmas, more than 30 percent down over the fall of 2005. The changes in population sampling didn’t help. And even B985’s numbers were down year over year but it did rank 7th 25-54. Both stations had relatively poor ratings years in 2006 across the board.
Hot and Kiss, despite the demographic diary shifts, were kind of flat overall. I can’t say if they’d be deemed winners or losers. Although the A Team on Hot only dropped from No. 2 to No. 3 among 18-34, its ratings have dropped by 1/3 the past nine months. Tom Joyner, among 25-54, had a solid book, ranked No. 3.
1/17: Rashan Ali is back
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Rashan Ali has returned this week to the “A” team on Hot 107.9 after a relatively brief six-week maternity leave. Bailey Sky, her first child, was born in early December.
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“Everything is lovely,” she told me. “Being a mother comes naturally. There’s the late-night feedings and sleep deprivation but we’re hanging in there.” She said she felt a bit rusty coming back Tuesday but “I got the kinks out early on.”
She won’t be doing much clubbing in the near term but plans to return to helping out the Hawks home games next month where she does some emceeing.
1/16: Did Unity work?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I would have attended the Q100/V-103 Unity night at Lotus Lounge Sunday but I’m 3,000 miles away in Los Angeles. How did things go? From the few comments I’ve seen here and a photo I saw, I get the impression, it was heavily African American and didn’t quite meld together the way Bert and Frank had originally envisioned.
1/15: Arbitron adjustments
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Radio stations live and die by the Arbitron ratings, an archaic diary reporting system with reports that come out quarterly. The numbers are often used by advertisers (especially national ones) to decide who to advertise with. This is why we won’t know how the recent changes made by Clear Channel will afffect ratings until the spring at the earliest.
This fall, Atlanta is going to see a major adjustment in its population numbers. They are normally adjusted slightly each year but Fulton County won an appeal related to undercounting its population. Arbitron accepted the changes which increase the African-American sample from 28.2% to 30.2%. So the number of African Americans in metro Atlanta is now estimated 1.24 million, up from 1.09 million. That’s a 14 percent increase. That virtually guarantees when the fall ratings book comes out later this month, stations such as V-103, Praise 97.5, Hot 107.9 and Grown Folks 102.5 which draw African Americnas will benefit while the likes of Star 94, Kicks 101.5 and Dave FM might see dropoffs since the pie is always 100%.
The Hispanic population was readjusted from 323,900 to 359,900, up 11%. So Viva 105.7 will likely go up (though the station has been lagging a bit this year compared to its 2004-05 performances.) That changes the sample from 8.4% to 8.8%.
Overall, the metro Atlanta 12-plus population is now 4,085,000 from 3,860,100. (Arbitron does not measure listeners under the age of 12, which hurts stations like Radio Disney.)
The 20 counties covered are: Barrow Bartow Carroll Cherokee Clayton Cobb Coweta Dekalb Douglas Fayette Forsyth Fulton Gwinnett Henry Newton Paulding Pickens Rockdale Spalding Walton
1/12: Sounds of Faith returns Sunday
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Jim Hutto and James Dickson, who produce Sounds of Faith on Sunday mornings, had lost their 94.9 gig last month when Lite unceremoniously dumped its soft rock format in favor of 94.9/The Bull, a country station.
But there was enough of an outcry from fans of the 34-year-old show that Clear Channel negotiated a new deal with them. The show starts back this Sunday on 94.9. Though Sounds of Faith is cut back to four hours from six (now it’s 6 a.m. to 10 a.m.), it will be mostly the same show as before, a mix of worship music and traditional hymns with a smidge more gospel. “It will be a little more produced, with a few contemporary touches,” said program director Jim Hutto. Clay Hunnicutt, the ooerations manager at Clear Channel, said management decided the church-oriented Sunday morning show was compatible with the new format.
1/11: Thoughts on Clear Channel
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Clear Channel has taken a lot of heat for overhauling virtually all its radio stations in recent weeks but let’s try to parse out the logic of their move from a business standpoint. In virtually all cases, Clear Channel is seeking a younger, possibly more advertiser-friendly audience with a (hopefully) long-term payoff.
We’ll start with Project 9-6-1. 105.3/The Buzz was doing surprisingly well, stealing audience from 99X with a more male-oriented alternative rock approach. So Clear Channel rewarded program director Chris Williams by moving most of the Buzz jocks and music over to the stronger signal at 96.1. But they wanted a slightly broader feel so they dumped the Buzz name in favor of something new while also dropping the 96rock moniker, which the Powers That Be deemed old and musty. And with the Regular Guys gone, the station is now mostly music until Chris finds a morning show. The new target audience is far younger than that of 96rock. And with the Braves and Regular Guys gone from the signal, costs are way down at 96.1. The question: where will revenues go?
El Patron at 105.3 is a way for Clear Channel to tie down the Hispanic audience for at least the next couple of years since they also air Viva 105.7. El Patron, regional Mexican, and Viva, Spanish contemporary, provide two of the most popular Hispanic formats. While there may be some cannibalization in sales in the short term, Clear Channel expects this will be a major growth area over the next five years. Given the growth in the Atlanta Hispanic population, it’s merely a question of execution and how quickly Clear Channel can build revenue.
The Bull is another major gamble. By going country, Clear Channel is facing off against two entrenched stalwarts, Kicks 101.5 and Eagle 106.7, both owned by ABC. For the past decade, Cox and Clear Channel have had opportunities to add a third country station but were scared off by the strength of ABC’s franchises. But ABC is about to be sold to Citadel and it’s likely Clear Channel smelled potential weakness. The Bull is targeting a younger, hopefully more lucrative audience than Lite 94.9, though it may skew a smidge older than Kicks. The biggest question mark is the Braves. Will the team’s presence hurt the Bull? It certainly didn’t do much for 96rock the past two years. Country audiences tend to be pretty loyal so it may take time for the Bull to grow a sizable audience, if ever. We’ll have to see what sort of morning show they hire and how their personality evolves.
WGST-AM has basically thrown in the towel in terms of competing head to head with WSB-AM. It’s been losing the ratings game for years and by running all syndicated product during weekdays instead of local hosts like the Kimmer, Clear Channel has effectively decided to cut its losses by minimizing costs while hoping ratings and revenues stay about the same. That’s a big if.
Finally, moving Lite to 96.7 is a partial salve to fans of the soft rock format since the signal only covers a portion of the metro Atlanta area mostly south of I-20. It’s basically being run as a jukebox at little cost. For better or worse, the station has gone deeper and broader musically than when Lite was on 94.9. Clear Channel knows signal will never create much in the way of revenues.
1/10: Howard Stern one year later
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Today, I’m off to Los Angeles for the Television Critics Association shindig, where the broadcast and cable networks (and PBS) highlight their programming for the upcoming few months. So my radio posts for the time being may be a bit more canned than normal and I apologize. I’ll still try to keep up, even from 3,000 miles away. And I’ll be back in Atlanta January 21.
Since I’m in flight for much of today, here’s a story to bide your time from the New York Times about Howard Stern, one year after he left terrestial radio for Sirius.. You’ll need to register for free to access the story.
Although Stern no longer has 12 million listeners a week and no longer needs to rail against the FCC and fight their restrictioins, he seems happy enough. He can do whatever he wants and believe me, from what I hear when I listen to Sirius, he does plenty of sex-related and scatalogical stuff that I can’t write about at all here.
At the end of the story, he says he has no intention to go back to FM radio.
“I swear to you on a stack of Bibles,” he said. “Load me with truth serum. I would never go back to terrestrial radio. This is it for me. This is where I will end my broadcast career.”
So for Atlanta radio listeners who get Sirius. what do you think of Stern uncensored?
1/9: Fish 10K run, Sounds of Faith update
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Kevin Avery, the morning host of 104.7/The Fish, is trying to encourage listeners to stay fit by running 10K every morning this month on a treadmill in the studio from 5:30 a.m. til about 6:30 a.m. He has been running regularly the past three or four years and with a better diet, he has gotten his waist down from 38 inches to 32. Impressive!
I also met today with Clay Hunnicutt, the new operations manager of Clear Channel Atlanta, a post formerly held by Mike Wheeler and Tim Dukes before that. He’s also the new program director of 94.9’/The Bull while keeping his post as vice president of country programming for the entire Clear Channel chain. He also bought a house here in Atlanta, a clear sign that he plans to be around awhile despite the revolving door of execs that have tried to fix Clear Channel Atlanta in recent years.
While keeping most of the conversation in pleasant vagaries, he did say Sounds of Faith should be coming back soon, with some programming modifications, on the 94.9 signal, where it ran on Sunday mornings for 34 years.
He also said there’s a new PD for both 105.3/El Patron and Viva 105.7, who started this week. El Patron will have new on-air staff soon.
And over at the Bull, he hopes to have some on-air staff within the next 30 to 60 days but didn’t provide any clue what he was looking for. He also defended the name the Bull, saying the station (which will be female skewing, 25-54) will be defined by its personality, a station he hopes will be fun and have energy.
Plus, the new 96.7/Lite station, which is on a weak south-skewing signal, will remain jockless for the time being but there is one sales person assigned to Lite and a couple more might be added by midyear.
1/8: V-103/Q100 combo night
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
V-103’s Frank Ski and Q100’s Bert Weiss a few weeks back talked about how it’s difficult for nightclubs to attract a truly blended crowd of races. So the two stations announced this morning they are holding a “Unity” night at Lotus Lounge in the Lindbergh Plaza this coming Sunday, January 14. It’s free from 9 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. V-103 draws a predominately black audience and Q100 brings in mostly a white crowd.
Will this work as more than a one-time gimmick? Are there nightclubs out there that already bring in a mixed crowd?
A few months ago, Weiss called Ski on the air to discuss “Survivor” when the reality show had separated its tribes by race. But the discussion soon segued into Atlanta’s nightlife scene and why most clubs cater specific nights to specific races.
“This is supposed to be the city too busy to hate,” Ski told Buzz. “Whites and blacks don’t party together. When Vision was open, Friday night was my night and Saturday was Bert’s night.”
So they decided to try this experiment in racial mingling, picking the night before Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday. Lotus was open to the idea but Weiss said “we ran the idea by some club owners and they thought it would never work.”
Since the two stations are rivals and share some audience, Ski said it took a bit of finesse to get V-103’s management to agree. “It was like the Middle East peace talks,” he joked.
Weiss — who said his management was fine with the idea from the start — has no clue how many people will show up but said it’s good to start in a relatively small space like Lotus, which fits about 400 people. “If we do well, we can always go somewhere bigger later on,” he said.
1/8: Pay your bills! Star or Q100?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Two of the top 40 stations, Q100 and Star 94, are promoting virtually the same giveaway. On Q100, the station will “pay your bills!” starting January 11. Details forthcoming.
At Star 94, it’s the “Big Bill Payoff!” Send in your bill, the station will name names, you call within 15 minutes, and they will pay that bill, up to $2,500.
1/7: 99X’s Essential 99
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Here was last weekend’s “Essential 99” lists as voted by 99X listeners. Some local love is given to R.E.M. (four entries) and Collective Soul. And Nirvana’s seminal “Nevermind” only finished at No. 3. The recent success of Red Hot Chili Peppers may have helped fuel them to the top. I’m personally surprised that the Lemonheads showed up at all. Ditto with the Verve.
99 Death Cab for Cutie Plans 2005
98 Blur Blur 1997
97 Pearl Jam Vitology 1994
96 Bad Religion Stranger Than Fiction 1994
95 Stone Roses Stone Roses 1989
94 Collective Soul Hints, Allegations & Things Left Unsaid 1994
93 Pavement Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain 1994
92 311 311 1995
91 Social Distortion Social Distortion 1990
90 Beastie Boys Check Your Head 1992
89 U2 War 1983
88 Pixies Surfer Rosa 1988
87 Radiohead Kid A 2000
86 Green Day Nimrod 1986
85 Lemonheads It’s A Shame About Ray 1992
84 Franz Ferdinand Franz Ferdinand 2004
83 Nirvana Bleach 1989
82 Various Artists Singles Movie Soundtrack 1992
81 The Clash The Clash 1979
80 Live Mental Jewelry 1992
79 Flaming Lips Yoshimi Balles The Pink Robots 2002
78 Counting Crows August & Everything After 1993
77 Violent Femmes Violent Femmes 1977
76 Temple of the Dog Temple of the Dog 1992
75 Various Artists Garden State Movie Soundtrack 2004
74 311 Grassroots 1994
73 REM Out of Time 1991
72 The White Stripes White Blood Cells 2000
71 Black Crowes Shake Your Money Maker 1991
70 Ben Folds Five Whatever & Ever Amen 1997
69 Hole Live Through This 1994
68 Cake Prolonging The Magic 1999
67 No Doubt Tragic Kingdom 1995
66 Breeders Last Splash 1993
65 System of a Down Toxicity 2002
64 Beastie Boys Ill Communication 1994
63 The Verve Urban Hymns 1997
62 The Offspring Smash 1994
61 Gorillaz Demon Days 2005
60 Weezer Pinkerton 1996
59 Tool Undertow 1996
58 Ramones Ramones 1976
57 The Strokes Is This It? 2001
56 Metallica Metallica 1991
55 Rancid …And Out Comes The Wolves 1995
54 Blur Parklife 1994
53 Soundgarden Badmotorfinger 1991
52 Linkin Park Hybrid Theory 2001
51 Radiohead Pablo Honey 1993
50 Foo Fighters Foo Fighters 1995
49 Alice In Chains Dirt 1992
48 Live Throwing Copper 1994
47 Pearl Jam Vs 1993
46 Sex Pistols Never Mind The Bollocks 1978
45 REM Document 1987
44 Pixies Doolittle 1989
43 Stone Temple Pilots Core 1992
42 Beastie Boys Paul’s Boutique 1989
41 Rage Against The Machine Evil Empire 1996
40 The Smiths Meat Is Murder 1985
39 Foo Fighters The Colour & The Shape 1997
38 Bush Sixteen Stone 1995
37 Red Hot Chili Peppers Californication 1999
36 Oasis Definately Maybe 1994
35 Dave Matthews Band Under The Table & Dreaming 1995
34 Beck Mellow Gold 1993
33 Jane’s Addiction Nothing’s Shocking 1988
32 Coldplay Rush of Blood to the Head 2003
31 Nine Inch Nails Pretty Hate Machine 1990
30 Stone Temple Pilots Purple 1994
29 Cure Disintegration 1989
28 Smashing Pumpkins Mellon Collie & the Infinite Sadness 1995
27 The White Stripes Elephant 2004
26 Nirvana In Utero 1993
25 REM Automatic For The People 1992
24 Depeche Mode Violator 1990
23 Radiohead OK Computer 1998
22 Jane’s Addiction Ritual De Lo Habitual 1990
21 Green Day Dookie 1994
20 Weezer Weezer 1994
19 Rage Against The Machine Rage Against The Machine 1993
18 Soundgarden Superunknown 1994
17 The Killers Hot Fuss 2004
16 Coldplay Parachutes 2000
15 The Clash London Calling 1980
14 Oasis (What’s The Story) Morning Glory 1995
13 U2 Joshua Tree 1987
12 U2 Achtung Baby 1991
11 Sublime Sublime 1996
10 Beck Odelay 1996
9 REM Murmur 1983
8 Green Day American Idiot 2004
7 Nine Inch Nails The Downward Spiral 1994
6 Beastie Boys Licensed To Ill 1986
5 Pearl Jam Ten 1992
4 Smashing Pumpkins Siamese Dream 1993
3 Nirvana Nevermind 1991
2 Radiohead The Bends 1995
1 Red Hot Chili Peppers Blood Sugar Sex Magik 1991
1/5: XM-Sirius update
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I’ve been reading the latest results from XM and Sirius and there are plenty of clouds of trouble ahead.
They have spent far more money than they had originally anticipated for programming and seeking new customers. Their early break-even points back in 2001-02 were around 4 to 5 million subscribers. XM is now at about 7.6 million and Sirius at more than 6 million. Yet neither is remotely close to profitable (although both claimed to be “cashflow positive” during the fourth quarter, which isn’t the same as profitable since it doesn’t take into account issues like debt.).
Retail sales have been slower than expected for both companies and each has had to scale back expectations. A year ago, XM predicted 9 million subscribers by year end. Both companies’ stock prices have, as a result, taken major hits to boot. Analysts say sales through places like Best Buy and Circuit City were down 50% this year over last year when there was excitement over Howard Stern joining Sirius. But car sales are where the growth is now that satellite radio is maturing.
Here’s an AP story about it.
I had coffee today with Mike Stiles, former Star 94 Steve & Vikki producer and current morning host on J93.3. He agrees that Sirius and XM are fated to merge at some point. The question is when? And will the FTC go for it?
1/4: Denny, Larry notes
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Denny Schaffer, formerly of WGST-AM until November, is doing a radio show this coming Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and the following January 13 on 680/the Fan. I don’t get the impression this means he’s guaranteed a job there but Fan prez David Dickey knew Schaffer from his days in Toledo, Ohio and liked him.
Schaffer said he plans to talk some sports, some pop culture, keep it light. He said he isn’t a strategic sports expert, just a fan. He said he’s also filled in for Glenn Beck (a syndicated show host who now does a TV show on CNN Headline News) and for a guy up at a news/talk station in Minneapolis. In other words, Schaffer is keeping his name out there. Schaffer said he couldn’t talk about his contract but Dickey said Clear Channel bought out the remaining 21 months or so on his contract and waived his non-compete at the same time. That’s why Schaffer can even be on 680/the Fan, which is a competitor to 640. As noted earlier, in November, 640 fired Tom Hughes, the Kimmer and Denny Schaffer in favor of lower-cost, all-syndicated fare during weekdays.
I also heard a bit of Larry Wachs on 92.3 Free FM online last night. He was talking about how many times one should shower a week to be truly hygienic and a bit about Britney Spears’ descent. It was a bit odd to hear him by himself but he sounded comfortable. He’s on 92.3 for this week and next from 10 p.m. to midnight if you want to sample him.
On his Web site, Wachs noted he had shaved, something he said he’d do once he got a full time job. But he told me a few minutes ago he shaved simply because it was so uncomfortable with hair growth on his face. He’s still seeking a gig. He did say he’s enjoying the temporary solo gig and hired former Regular Guys player Tim Andrews as his call screener. Wachs is doing the show out of the Dave FM/V-103 CBS studios at Colony Square in Midtown.
“It’s starting from the ground up again,” Wachs said. “The Regular Guys is in the past. It’s not practical. There’s not enough salaries in radio to be able to afford a staff of three or four. I’m doing a show in a different daypart. It’s more economic. There’s no need for a million moving parts. I’m in a room with my thoughts and that’s it. That’s how the Regular Guys really grew [in Los Angeles in the mid 1990s.] No soundbites, no characters, just back and forth. Now it’s a new days. I gotta take what I have and build from there.”
1/3: Update on Wachs in NY
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I asked John Mainelli, who runs Free FM in NY, why he is giving Larry Wachs a couple of weeks at the station. He said he can’t afford Larry at the 10 p.m. slot by himself but is showcasing him as a solo talk show host so other CBS stations can sample him. He could see Larry in syndicated fashion, making him affordable for individual stations at that time slot.
Here’s what he wrote to me:
Rodney,
I like Larry’s dry, wry, sly wit in this age of so many ham-handed talk show hosts. He doesn’t have an agenda other than to entertain. His topics, as well as his views, are unpredictable and ever-changing. He listens to what the callers are saying, which isn’t as common as you would think. I like him better as a solo than when he had a partner.
I would hire Larry if I had an open slot, so we’re not “trying him out” for anything. We’re just having fun for two weeks while he’s available. Our 10-Midnight slot is open but I can’t afford him for that. But others at CBS are also interested in him. I’d like to see him on an ad hoc network of company stations but that is not my decision, although I would carry him if I still can.
Hope this answers your questions. If not, let me know.
— John Mainelli
1/3: Southside Steve/Sounds of Faith updates
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Southside Steve has now joined Rhubarb and Dallas as a third. I listened in for part of the second day and naturally, it’s going to take some time for it to be a comfortable fit. When Dallas mentioned that CEO Bob Nardelli was out at Home Depot, Steve referenced football (I think he was thinking about predecessor and Home Depot co-founded Arthur Blank.) They segued into the Falcons firing Jim Mora. Steve tried to offer some insight but didn’t say anything terribly insightful. And neither he nor Rhubarb knew a thing about CSI when Dallas mentioned that CSI might add a Chicago version. But Steve was able to get a funny quip in at about 9:30 a.m. When Dallas said a woman swallowed a spoon, Steve said, “I’d date her.” And when Rhubarb joked that she’s lucky she didn’t swallow a soup ladle, Steve added, “If she did that, I’d marry her!”
Also, Sounds of Faith co-creator Jim Hutto said they are still in talks with different stations to find a new home after 34 years on Peach/Lite 94.9 Sunday mornings. He’s also negotiating a possible country-tinged version of Sounds of Faith for The Bull with gospel perhaps thrown in. Sounds of Faith had focused on hymns and praise-and-worship songs.
Somebody has created a blog specifically lamenting the loss of 94.9 here. And here’s one suggesting Randy & Spiff go to the River.
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