Access Atlanta > Entertainment > Radio Talk > Archives > 2007 > November > 14 > Entry
11/15: Two names, same DJ
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Jordan Graye, a long-time mid-day DJ at B98.5, offers pithy pleasantries between Maroon 5 and Kelly Clarkson songs.
Kate McCarthy, a new afternoon DJ at sister station 97.1/The River, offers pithy pleasantries between Boston and Aerosmith songs.
And they sound identical.
“Hmm… I have never seen the two of them in the same place at the same time,” said Chris Miller, program director for the River, which plays what it dubs “classic hits.”
He jokes. The truth is: McCarthy and Graye are one and the same. This was just a way to get an extra DJ voice onto the River at minimal cost.
“There were arguments about having her use the same name because she sounds good on both stations,” Miller said. “In the end, we decided on a different name to keep each station distinctive and not cause confusion.”
This is the first time in recent memory an Atlanta radio personality has donned two names for two different stations. But similar situations have occurred earlier this decade, all at stations that no longer exist:
2001: Clear Channel Entertainment gave 96rock’s afternoon jock Chris Rude a morning show over at sister rock station Mix 105.7, but at least he got to keep his name in both cases and not have to use a pseudonym. (Rude is now a morning host at sports talk station 680/the Fan.)
2002: Then-oldies Fox 97.1 used Randy & Spiff as both the morning show (live) and the afternoon show (taped) as a cost-cutting measure before the entire station changed formats in early 2003. (Randy Cook is now morning host at news/talk WGST-AM, where Spiff Carner was recently let go.)
2004: When 105.3 went FM talk for a few months, Atlanta listeners would hear “MJ in the Morning” from 6 to 10 a.m., then Todd Schnitt from 3 to 7 p.m.. MJ and Todd Schnitt are the same person doing two different shows out of Tampa. (He’s still on air in several markets but not in Atlanta.)
Graye, who has worked at B98.5 for much of the past 18 years, said she was given a list of 15 acceptable fake names to use on the River. She found an unusually high preponderence of names from the Brat Pack era such as Ally (as in Ally Sheedy) and McCarthy (as in Andrew McCarthy). She chose Kate McCarthy because it sounded pleasant enough.
But she won’t create an entirely new off-air persona. The Kate McCarthy bio online, for instance, does not include her picture and she won’t be doing public appearances under that name. “You won’t be seeing Kate McCarthy out and about in a blonde wig,” she said.
Here’s her Jordan Graye bio on B98.5 and her bio as Kate McCarthy on the River.
B98.5 and the River are owned by Cox Radio, which is part of Cox Enterprises, which also own the Atlanta Journal Constitution.
Comments
Commenting is now closed for this entry.
By LWYW
November 14, 2007 7:27 PM | Link to this
I love Jordan Graye! I’ve been listening to her for years.
By Confused!
November 14, 2007 9:28 PM | Link to this
KATE McCarthy? … KIM McCarthy? … PAUL McCarthy? … CHARLIE McCarthy? …
C’mon Rodney, doesn’t anybody proof-read your articles and catch the mistakes?
And Traffic reporter Kim McCarthy from sister station WSB-AM would be shocked, too!!!
Don’t give the bozo bloggers out there more reason to HATE on the web site - double-check your facts & info!
By Bud
November 14, 2007 9:57 PM | Link to this
Just one more reason why The River sucks.
By Matt
November 14, 2007 10:30 PM | Link to this
Jamie Massey was also Jamie Steele on 790 The Zone.
By Mark
November 14, 2007 10:34 PM | Link to this
Tim Frasier was Murray on 96rock and Dank on The Buzz (Now works for Playboy Radio). Did appearances as both.
By trooper
November 14, 2007 11:54 PM | Link to this
now if the “river” can get more then 10 songs to play over and over and over … they need to get more like 102.9 a much better mix
By Greghard
November 15, 2007 6:24 AM | Link to this
Charlie McCarthy? Charlie Manson? Marilyn Manson?? Marilyn Monroe?? James Monroe???
By Charles
November 15, 2007 7:31 AM | Link to this
WGST is still on the air??????
Thank God for CD’s - the afternoon drive home isn’t the same without the Kimmer making me laugh to relieve the tension of Atlanta traffic. Unfortunately, there are just so many times I can listen to Jeff Foxworthy, Bill Engvall and Ron White. I’m bginning to be able to repeat their stories word-for-word.
By rocker
November 15, 2007 8:30 AM | Link to this
This is just about the stupidest thing I’ve heard in a while………and commercial terrestrial radio wonders why listeners are abandoning them in droves. Oh brother…………
By Ward
November 15, 2007 8:44 AM | Link to this
Jordan Graye’s voice is annoying. And wasn’t Kim McCarthy the name of some traffic reporter on 750? At least that’s what I thought Capt. Herb was mumbling. trraaafikevvvryzixxxminnnitzzznewztaaak750dubyaesssbeee
By Stella
November 15, 2007 8:59 AM | Link to this
Jordan’s great! I have B98.5 on my radio at work and Jordan helps me make it through the day.
By PrettyPlease
November 15, 2007 12:17 PM | Link to this
Rodney, Would you please respond to this question: Are you writing about Kate McCarthy or Kim McCarthy?
This is confusing because Kim McCarthy does traffic on WSB-AM, another Cox station. Confused brought this up more than 12 hours ago and still no response from you. Instead, we get a new posting about Project Runway. You don’t have to respond to every blogger’s posting but when it’s an error in your original post, I think it deserves a response. Thanks!
By Rodney Ho
November 15, 2007 12:58 PM | Link to this
Sorry. Jordan’s alter ego is Kate McCarthy. Just a boo-boo on my part. And no, nobody edits these entries so I do make mistakes which I’m happy to correct when pointed out. And yes, thanks for the reminder about Tim Frasier’s multiple identities.
By Ed
November 15, 2007 1:08 PM | Link to this
Why listen to Atlanta radio when there is so much better radio on XM!
By matt
November 15, 2007 1:09 PM | Link to this
I know it’s common place these days, but terrestrial radio needs to look no farther than this type behavior to see what is wrong with radio…
anything to save a buck…they could care less about developing air talent…
By Big Al
November 15, 2007 1:26 PM | Link to this
Three Shows: Two Guys Garage (Speed Channel), Sam’s Garage (Nationwide), Sam’s Garage (WGKA). One Name: **Sam Memmolo.
By TPM
November 15, 2007 9:04 PM | Link to this
Cox Radio is perpertrating a fraud and the program manager- Chris Miller just laughes it off ? Jordan Graye does not need to be on either station. She offers no creativity on either station and is nothing more than a talking promo with the most obnoxious laugh in town.
By Amen TPM
November 16, 2007 9:32 AM | Link to this
Amen to that. “no creativity”
By RWT
November 16, 2007 12:13 PM | Link to this
She really looks like a classic rock jock. Either that or my son’s thrid grade teacher.
By Levon
November 16, 2007 4:47 PM | Link to this
TPM, Jordan Graye is a goddess and you are a turdburger!
By TPM
November 17, 2007 10:33 AM | Link to this
” Kate McCarthy’s” entire radio show is pre-recorded. She does not give the current time,interact with Paula Phillips or even discuss current events. This is not a disc jockey it is a pre-packaged voice over. If that helps you get through the day - god help you.
By Radio Insider
November 17, 2007 12:17 PM | Link to this
It’s called “Voice Tracking” and ALL music radio stations do it - mostly on the overnights and occasionally the evenings.
It’s a common way to save $$$ and squeeze more work out of the full-timers.
If y’all knew Jordan Graye, you wouldn’t say anything mean! She’s a GREAT girl who’s managed to fly “under the radar” and survive in this tough market! Her job and radio station requires that she be “vanilla” on the air, but off-the-air, she’s charming, sincere and fun to be around!
By TPM
November 17, 2007 5:41 PM | Link to this
I am not attacking ” Jordan” the person. I am critiquing the 2 on air personnas. I for one would not be on the radio if I had to read promos all the time and could not show my true personality. You may call it surviving in a tough industry - I call it horrible radio. Why do a job if you could call it in from home ?
By Johnny Nam
November 21, 2007 2:53 PM | Link to this
WHERE IS THE KIMMER ?????
By John
November 21, 2007 3:01 PM | Link to this
Get XM radio. Music and no DJ soap operas and tired, worn out play lists.