Access Atlanta > Entertainment > Radio Talk > Archives > 2007 > October > 04
Thursday, October 4, 2007
10/5: Dave Ramsey in Atlanta
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Syndicated debt-fearing consumer talker Dave Ramsey (heard locally 3 to 7 p.m. on WGST-AM) weekdays) visited Atlanta and held a free workshop Thursday evening for 500 people at the Waverly-Renaissance Hotel off I-75 and I-285 next to the Cobb Galleria.
He’s in good spirits. Ramsey, who made his early money in real estate, at age 47 has seen his career trajectory gradually grow. More than a decade after he started syndication, he’s now up to 337 stations and has a new show on the upcoming Fox Business Channel that launches October 15. (I first interviewed him in 2001 when he had just 35 stations.)
“It’s kind of exciting,” Ramsey told me before his seminar. “I’ve got a lot of learning to do.” He said his face betrays his thoughts and he has to restrain himself when someone says something he doesnt like while on TV. “I could never win a poker game,” he said. Otherwise, he hopes to have some regular segments but won’t be playing off the news very much. He just hopes his radio show, in which he helps solve people’s financial problems with a faith-based foundation, can translate on TV.
During the talk with the WGST listeners, in which he walked through his life history, he mentions that he’s “the Clark Howard of Nashville.” After the crowd laughed, he said, “I’d just like a little piece of his world here.” And knowing that getting ratings, it’s all about branding so he asked the crowd: “What station am I on?” “WGST!” the crowd responded. (He said he and Clark are competitors but “have mutual respect.”)
“I’m riding from the airport with this guy. I ask him, ‘You ever listen to Dave Ramsey?’ He responds, ‘I love WSB!’ “That’s brand confusion,” he said.
Later, he notes, “I’m not Tom Cruise doing TV. I’m not any smarter. I’m a B student, maybe a C student depending on what class I was in. I didn’t quit. The only redeeming character I have his I tell the truth, sometimes brutally. Other than that, I don’t quit. Ever. You can do it too!”
His show is not corporate owned. He runs his own syndicated show and it’s taken a lot of time for him to build respect in the business. “I’m going to show up every day,” he said. “I’m going to help people every day. If you kick me off, when your replacement comes in, I’ll be back. I will outlast you.”
As for the mortgage crisis, Ramsey says it’s overblown, that problems are primarily focused on the subprime market. “Regular mortgages are just fine,” he said. “Rules are still the same. Nobody is freaked out except the news media. The mortgage meltdown is in the subprime market. It’s horribly constructed loans with high interest rates and prepayment penalties given to people already struggling with bad credit.”
ABOVE: WGST’s morning hosts Randy Cook and Spiff Carner introduced Ramsey at the workshop. Carner notes the physical resemblance between him and Ramsey.
Ramsey’s “Total Money Makeover” event at the Gwinnett Arena is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. November 8, followed by two smaller events on Friday November 9. Get more info here.
10/4: Final day for Steve & Vikki 11/2
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Star 94 today announced November 2 as the final day for the Steve & Vikki show after more than 17 years on the air.
The press release included a quote from Vikki Locke:
Locke announced her departure earlier this summer, citing health concerns. “My husband and I agree that my health is the most important thing,” Locke said. “My doctor says a low-key schedule and more sleep will help get me back to 100%.”
Curiously, there was no quote in the release from Steve McCoy, who is also leaving. Their contracts are up at the end of the year.
Mark Kanov, their boss, told me that Tom Sullivan and Shannon Holly will stick around while the station seeks a new morning show. They have sifted through hundreds of tapes and traveled to different cities to meet potential replacements, resulting in three strong potential candidates. He hopes to announce their replacements within 30 to 45 days.
“It’s all about that chemistry and what fits right and what the audience can feel comfortable with,” said Kanov, who has been at the station for 39 years. “This is not a science. It’s still an art.”
For about three weeks after Steve & Vikki leave November 2, the station will air “best of” bits from the 17 years the pair have been on. Kanov said he’s not sure what the station will do per se between Thanksgiving and New Year’s, but they will probably just keep Shannon and Tom on air before the new team joins them. He said they have been around so long, they have bits in four different mediums: reel-to-reel tapes, cassette tapes, CDs and digital hard drive.
He proudly noted that over 34 years, 94.1 has had just two morning shows: Gary McKee and Steve & Vikki, a rare stability in such a volatile market. The 92.9 signal, for instance, since 1989 has churned through at least eight morning shows including the Greaseman and Moby. (UPDATE: Kanov conveniently forgot a brief morning show disaster from 1989-90 led by Jack Murphy and Terrence McKeever that aired after McKee and before Steve & Vikki’s arrival.)
Unfortunately, Kanov said with consolidation, the pool of talent is a lot shallower than it was 15 or 20 years ago. “Stations aren’t willing to grow and develop talent in these middle markets.”
He’s not making Steve & Vikki available for comment until later this month.
