Access Atlanta > Entertainment > Radio Talk > Archives > 2007 > December > 04 > Entry
12/4: Sean Demery leaves 99X
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
In an unusually volatile year for Atlanta radio morning shows, 99X’s New Morning X has lost Sean Demery, who decided to move to Utah to be with his wife.
99Xwatch.org provided the audio of Demery’s announcement Tuesday morning.
Demery had been working in Atlanta and flying to the West Coast every other weekend the past 14 months and it was wearing on him. He’s literally on the road to Utah as I write this.
“I’m leaving the show and that bums me out because Atlanta is one of my favorite towns on the planet,” Demery said on the air. “Some things have gotten in the way. I have to work on my marriage as well and my wife can’t come out here as soon as she’d like to.”:
“The separation. I’m surprised you did it as long as you have,” Leslie Fram said.
“It wasn’t supposed to be this long. As a matter of fact, it was supposed to be five months ago that she was supposed to be out here. It just didn’t work out.”
“We made fun of your quirkiness and your Cliff Claven-esque ways,” said Rob Jenners. “I will miss playing the Cheers theme every three and a half minutes.”
‘I’m going to miss your taste for music and passion for music,” Fram said.
The Morning X has tried to resurrect the 1990s heyday, but the 2.0 version has not quite gelled with listeners. Is it an edgy morning show chasing a young male Regular Guys crowd? Is it going after a more sophisticated older adult crowd who loves good music? Or has it simply been trying to please too many people at once, failing to establish a true point of view?
In the fall of 2006, the show opened with promising numbers but its ratings slipped sharply in successive months, falling from 7th in the fall to 11th in the winter to 16th in the spring among 18 to 34 year olds. The morning show rebounded slightly in the summer to 14th place. (To be fair, it often takes a new morning show at least two years in this town to hit stride. The Bert Show didn’t start making decent ratings numbers until its third year.)
Demery was a successful afternoon jock and music director at 99X in the 1990s. He then became program director at a San Francisco alternative rock station. Last year, Leslie Fram convinced him to come back and try mornings again. (He briefly did mornings in the early days of 99X but given his penchant for going to late concerts, it didn’t work with his schedule.). Demery is an incredibly nice guy but this didn’t translate into a compelling morning personality although you could tell he loved the music. He wasn’t so much into the pop culture stuff or the goofy stunts. In recent months, he sounded increasingly disengaged, giving Jenners more and more responsibility and airtime.
John Dickey, the head of Cumulus programming, agreed that “Sean had a lot on his mind. He loves the station and loves Atlanta. He left a great job in San Francisco to come here. The magnetic pull of his family was too great. I respect that. It happens.”
Dickey said the station will seek a new person to replace Demery, hopefully by the spring. The other players, including Mark Owens, Tim Andrews, Fram and Jenners, will remain in place. “We will look for someone else to come in and provide that same perspective and contribution Sean did,” he said. He described Sean as quirky but a man of “civility,” too.
So far this year, besides 99X, we have or will see morning show changes at Dave FM, Star 94, the Bull, Project 9-6-1, Praise 97.5 and WGST-AM, to name a few.
Comments
Commenting is now closed for this entry.
By JD
December 4, 2007 11:04 AM | Link to this
Could all of the changes in terrestrial radio have anything to do w/satellite radio? I highly recommend it! It’s definitely worth the $12.95!!
By 99xer
December 4, 2007 11:07 AM | Link to this
Damn, it seems like I grew up with Demery. I like him and when he came back I was joyus. Now I will miss him agin. /sigh
By asdf
December 4, 2007 11:48 AM | Link to this
I think they’ve tried to be all things to all people, and that’s where things have gotten off-track. They can’t honestly say they’re trying to attract an older audience while playing teenybopper music like Fall Out Boy, AFI, and 30 Seconds to Mars. I can’t imagine these bands have any fans old enough to shave, much less folks in their 30s.
A buddy of mine at work said he took 99x off his presets a while ago. It is still on my presets, but I do spend less time on it than on any of the others (680, WSB-AM, NPR, DAVE, Project). I’m not a fan of the music, and they’ve killed what good was there, like the Retroplex.
By Joey Mills
December 4, 2007 11:51 AM | Link to this
Sean made 99x mornings listenable again. Let’s hope they put a good replacement on the air.
By WhatWhat
December 4, 2007 11:52 AM | Link to this
He was telecommuting? Meaning he was working from home and not in the studio? No wonder why he sounded do disengaged.
By Rebecca
December 4, 2007 12:39 PM | Link to this
Could all of the spam about satellite radio have anything to do w/the fact I will never subscribe to it?
By JP
December 4, 2007 12:44 PM | Link to this
JD, I’m an iPodder myself. I flat refuse to pay $12 a month for radio. I may go with an HD radio receiver though..
By finally
December 4, 2007 12:55 PM | Link to this
Sean! well, I understand, but I’ll miss you! I have listened since the old Shotgun Sean days of Power 99. Best of luck!
By Barnes
December 4, 2007 12:59 PM | Link to this
Seriously, imagine if he had actually commuted instead of working over the phone.
By Iam99sux
December 4, 2007 1:17 PM | Link to this
Goodbye. Next out, old man fram. I hear more interesting stuff from old ladys talking at Publix.
I don’t think he was “telecommuting”. A lot of weekends he would fly back to San Fran. I think his husband put her foot down.
By seriously?
December 4, 2007 1:35 PM | Link to this
Rodney, He didn’t telecommute. He flew home every other weekend to be with his wife.
It’s not been the ‘New’ Morning X for almost 2 months.
And the audio is straight from the 99x.com, where the goodbye to Sean is on the front page.
How can you be this bad at your job ALL THE TIME?
By Thrash
December 4, 2007 2:04 PM | Link to this
Jimmy Baron will return to the Morning eXcrement! You heard it here first.
By Downtwn
December 4, 2007 2:28 PM | Link to this
who are these people on these radio stations?? ive never heard of any of them… oh yea, because i spend 12.95 a month to have 170 channels of whatever I want to listen too.
By Randall Bloomquist
December 4, 2007 2:37 PM | Link to this
Can I have his old job? Deskins is going to toss me out of the Building of Death once we put Imus on WGST. I won’t be needed there and the station will operate out of a closet.
By Chuck Deskins
December 4, 2007 2:44 PM | Link to this
Randall Bloomquist: The biggest laughingstock in Atlanta radio history. What a MORON!
By 99x has always been lame....
December 4, 2007 2:45 PM | Link to this
That’s Right!
By iam99sux
December 4, 2007 2:49 PM | Link to this
I doubt they will bring Baron back. He was a sniveling little framtard. In some ways he sounds like Jenners, so it would be almost two of the same, and that would end up like with a f* death match between the two.
By aus
December 4, 2007 2:59 PM | Link to this
Who listens to this crap anyway? Get with the program people. Buy a satelight radio.
By asdf
December 4, 2007 3:11 PM | Link to this
I looked into Sirius a while back, but the prices of the radios killed it for me. They’re screwing themselves the way they’re pricing the radios. I bought an iPod instead.
By TARDNATION
December 4, 2007 3:19 PM | Link to this
WHERE ARE FRED TOUCHER AND CRASH CLARKE WHEN YOU NEED THEM! THEY WOUOLD NEVER GO BACK TO 99X NOW THAT THEY WANT TO BE STAR 94’S ANUS!
By Darrell Monroe
December 4, 2007 3:23 PM | Link to this
As a 50year old grandfather, I guess I’m not the target audience, but I like the morning show. I think the chemistry among Leslie, Jenners, et al is pretty good and I enjoy their sense of humor. Some of the songs I don’t care for, but some are pretty good. I’m surprised Sean hung in as long as he did. Good job.
By gman
December 4, 2007 4:32 PM | Link to this
I got tired of listening to commercials and banter that was no longer funny. I’d rather listen to Squizz on XM radio where they don’t censor anything, including the live DJ’s.
By Kevin Jones
December 4, 2007 4:50 PM | Link to this
Oh well. Atlanta Radio sucks anyways!
One or maybe the worst big market airwaves in the country.
Leslie (Kyle MacLachlan)Fram is one of the worst PM’s in the business. It is time for 99x to try something new.
Also, if you bring back ‘Little’ Jimmy good God! Man does that guy think he is something and he really is a inch and half away from the circus!
God Save Atlanta Radio!
By Matt
December 4, 2007 5:04 PM | Link to this
I think the best 99X ever did in the mornings was when they had the interim act of Axel and Kim, the PR girl. I think they really hit a target audience, though I don’t really know what that audience is.
By jd
December 4, 2007 5:34 PM | Link to this
As a 50yo guy, radio lost me decades ago. Satellite? Still nothing for my taste, and all those godawful promos, ads and interviews that you still have to pay for! I download and burn, or listen on mp3 players. No annoying voices, and I can simply skip any songs I’m not in the mood for. Except for NPR, radio is for saps!
By nick
December 4, 2007 6:56 PM | Link to this
Bring rude and the 680 the fan crew over to th FM Dial
By Gus
December 5, 2007 8:49 AM | Link to this
Best of luck, Sean. Family is the most important thing.
That being said, while Sean knows his music I don’t think he was the right fit for morning drive time.
I think the first step in the right direction for 99X would be to get that 50-something year old trying to act half her age Leslie off the air. She has the charisma of burnt toast and it seems she keeps herself on the air just so she can rub shoulders with celebrities.
Where’s Fred Toucher when you need him?
By jk
December 5, 2007 8:50 AM | Link to this
99x lost the game when they let Freddie T go. Now he’s killing the ratings up in Boston. Know talent when you have it in your face peeps. Bring back Toucher!!!
By Jeff
December 5, 2007 9:03 AM | Link to this
Please bring back Barnes and Jimmy. The Morning X has been brutal ever since they left! Or they can bring back Rich Sherten..something (the guy who held up the “iron my shirt” sign at the Masters protest). That will make me listen again.
By Enoyls
December 5, 2007 9:04 AM | Link to this
Commercial Radio is DEAD and this just proves it once again.
Satellite Radio is the future, I left commercial radio years ago for Sirius and have been much happier. I get better music and coverage than ever before and don’t have to put up with annoying advertisers that think they are being clever with their lame commercials. R.I.P Commercial Radio, quite struggling and just head towards the light.
By Doug
December 5, 2007 9:32 AM | Link to this
All hail Sirius! 99x is unlistenable now, anyway. Demery was just getting off the Titanic before it sinks.
By Simon
December 5, 2007 9:34 AM | Link to this
Well I guess we know who wears the pants in Sean’s family. When your wife makes you quit your job and come to Utah because she doesn’t want to leave her sweet shift manager’s job at Zaxby’s, you might as well remove your testicles and get a couple of cats.
Meanwhile, 99X continues to blow…
By Bud
December 5, 2007 9:51 AM | Link to this
Clear Channel and the other conglomerates are doing everything they can to flush terrestrial radio right down the toilet. I’ll keep downloading mp3z for free and downloading ‘em to my Sandisk. Once the regulators get out of the way and let the merger go through, $at Radio will gain that much more market share and further push TR into oblivion.
Good riddance!
By david
December 5, 2007 9:56 AM | Link to this
Bring back Barnes, Leslie, & Jimmy!
that was the only morning show I’ve ever been able to take.
By PrettyPlease
December 5, 2007 10:00 AM | Link to this
Rodney - There are some comments on the radio-info Atlanta board that Chris Krok was fired from WSB radio yesterday. Can you confirm and update us with some information? His bio still appears on WSB radio’s website. Thanks.
By Chris Krok
December 5, 2007 10:05 AM | Link to this
Can I have the job? There’s a posting on www.Radio-Info.com that states I’m out at WSB. Give me a try! I’m not good, but neither is 99X these days.
By Fram Sucks
December 5, 2007 10:28 AM | Link to this
Sean was terrible, lets be honest. As the writer mentioned, he was completely disengaged and to anyone new listening, you would have thought that it was Jenners show. Sean just seems out of touch as it relates to the 99x demo.
Also, Leslie Fram has got to go. She is terrible. She has no edge to her and is too old to appeal to the core demo. It’s like she has naked pictures of Dickey or something. Very sad when you consider a lot folks like me have been listening to 99x since they came on air (from Power 99).
With the way things are going for 99x I wouldn’t be surprised at all to see a complete format change in the near future.
Sad but true.
By KNOX
December 5, 2007 10:54 AM | Link to this
Anybody seen Decker? Oh yeah, he’s under my boot!
By KNOX
December 5, 2007 10:55 AM | Link to this
Anybody seen Decker? Oh yeah, he’s under my boot!
By Cleep
December 5, 2007 11:43 AM | Link to this
People still listen to the radio? Dang.
By Jen
December 5, 2007 12:17 PM | Link to this
What did Chris Krok say that got him fired???
By BDAD
December 5, 2007 12:18 PM | Link to this
If Baron comes back that will make it an all B*** show,not a man amoung them.
By Thrash
December 5, 2007 12:33 PM | Link to this
Why do people keep calling it “Clear Channel”??? Get it straight, it’s been changed to “Clown Channel”.
By DeJennerate
December 5, 2007 12:41 PM | Link to this
I never got this. Demery was the main guy but Jenners is ALWAYS talking and leading the crew. He’s annoying as heck…very dry and boring. He has to be the worst radio personality I’ve ever heard and I’ve heard some bad ones.
I’d take Baron anyday. At least he has a sense of humor!
By DK
December 5, 2007 1:01 PM | Link to this
Why not just play music? All I need is traffic every 15 minutes, news on the 1/2 hour and tunes to get me ready for my work day.
Try it, you might be suprised of the results…
By sir suckalot
December 5, 2007 1:05 PM | Link to this
Fram’s puzzy is dryer then a turkey on Thanksgiving-Baron is a no talent racist hack (remember the James Brown article) Jenners is the biggest f* in the history of f* anyone who calls himself Jenners should be publicly wedgied bring back Barnesology
By Mark
December 5, 2007 1:08 PM | Link to this
I bet all you terrestrial radio listeners still read with an oil lamp as well.
By theo
December 5, 2007 1:29 PM | Link to this
You must get rid of Fram. oh bring back, bring back, bring back Freddy “T”, Crash, and Rich. People that want to hear music have ipods, people that still listen to morning radio want to be entertained on their way to work. Those people are above the age of 18 and can handle adult humor. Don’t need a college degree to figure that one out!
By Vinhdication
December 5, 2007 1:38 PM | Link to this
Fram needs to go. She has a dude’s voice.
Besides, the alternative station in SF, live105.com, has a better morning show.
By Dejennerate
December 5, 2007 1:44 PM | Link to this
Toucher, Crash, and Rich sucked. They’re nothing but Stern wannabes. I’d rather listen to a toddler babble senselessly!
By hmmm?
December 5, 2007 2:02 PM | Link to this
I think Axel was good in the mornings, he just didn’t have the right set up to make it work. He is a good point man and can “drive” the show. They should have kept Baron with Axel, ditched Fram and brought in another female voice. But that’s all water under the bridge, good luck Morning X.
By hmmm?
December 5, 2007 2:03 PM | Link to this
I think Axel was good in the mornings, he just didn’t have the right set up to make it work. He is a good point man and can “drive” the show. They should have kept Baron with Axel, ditched Fram and brought in another female voice. But that’s all water under the bridge, good luck Morning X.
By LiasMom
December 5, 2007 2:18 PM | Link to this
I must be the only person in Atlanta who actually likes Leslie Fram (well, maybe 1 of 2 people). I just don’t find her irritating. For the person who said she wasn’t a good fit for the “core audience”, but you’ve been listening since the Power99 days — what do you mean? First, she should be the perfect fit for someone of your age — I should know, because I’ve been listening since the late 80s — which means she is more in our age bracket. While I think they would like to try to have a younger audience, it would probably be better for them to be happy with the slightly older crowd. I can’t listen to Dave or River — they’re too old for me. I couldn’t stand Toucher, and know several other people who stopped listening completely or would at least the station when he went into one of his rants. What’s wrong with a Morning Show that has good conversation and doesn’t have stupid, immature stunts?
By Bizezgrrrl
December 5, 2007 3:00 PM | Link to this
There’s a problem half solved …
I’ve respect Fram for years. In her day she was one of the most powerful people in radio, but she’s never been much as an on-air personality. It’s time for her to move on, too.
Now maybe we can get Toucher and the gang back. I too hear he’s kicking in in Boston. Does he syndicate yet?
By Roger
December 5, 2007 3:25 PM | Link to this
Seriously, people are still listening to that crap? I had a crazy girlfriend in the 90’s and her life revolved around that crap station. It was dumb then and it’s dumb now. Leslie Fram has no talent what-so-ever.
Grow up people! Go satelitte and get out of the dark ages.
By Munson
December 5, 2007 6:08 PM | Link to this
Without Sean Demery the Morning X is going to be stale, boring, not funny and a train wreck to listen to. Oh wait - I’m thinking of the way it already is. Silly me
By Captain Obvious
December 6, 2007 12:13 PM | Link to this
Fire Man Fram, hire Wachs. He is the only man who can save testicular radio in atlanta.
By jss
December 6, 2007 1:05 PM | Link to this
We miss the creepy bald guy. Bring back Wachs!
By iam99sux
December 6, 2007 2:02 PM | Link to this
So the overall consensus is:
Drop old man Fram. Drop Jenners. Hire Wachs.
By Thrash
December 6, 2007 4:18 PM | Link to this
Wachs on, Wachs off.
By Gus
December 7, 2007 8:32 AM | Link to this
Surprised to be saying this, but putting Wachs on at 99x would not be a bad idea. I was never much of a TRG fan, but at least Larry is intelligent and capable of coming up with stuff - or at least stealing good stuff. Just Wachs tho’. Wachs & Baron might even be good. 99X has shown several times now they could do a whole worse, because they have.
They have got to be kicking themselves for firing Fred Toucher. If they are not they really are clueless. I agree with the theory Leslie must have Thailand sex pics of management over there cause why she’s still on is beyond belief.
By bopfly
December 7, 2007 2:35 PM | Link to this
Absolutely Fram and Jenners should both be gone with the wind right along with Demery. They were aweful. I haven’t listened since shortly after they came on the air. The show plain sucked. I say bring on Baron and Dekker!!! Dekker is awesome but they put him in some closet and Baron would be a good compliment to him. They can call it the “Real Morning X”, the previous show was just a bad joke!