Access Atlanta > Entertainment > Radio Talk > Archives > 2008 > June > 19 > Entry
6/19: XM-Sirius update, new “Better Mornings” forecaster, Willard leaving radio
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
That XM-Sirius merger is coming ever closer to reality. The chairman of the Federal Communications Commission said it’s okay with the merger. Now it’s up to the entire commission.
Unfortunately, the foot dragging isn’t helping either company in a challenging economic environment. Both XM and Sirius are losing money separately. The quesion: will they be able to make money combined? The window of opportunity for XM and Sirius to grow beyond its current 18 million subscribers is closing as other options grow (including Internet radio).
More info here about the sagging stock prices of both companies.
-New weather reader at WGCL’s low-rated “Better Mornings”: Jennifer Valdez (right) from Greenville, S.C.’s CBS affiliate. Valdez is a Gator. She effectively replaces Dagmar Midcap, who has since been doing the more prestigious 4 p.m., 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. Midcap started at “Better Mornings” (seen 5 to 7 a.m. weekdays) in June 2007 but the station quickly realized the public liked her and gave her the more prominent evening gig earlier this year after Gene Norman left. The station also has a new news director named Steve Schwaid after Rick Erbach was booted a couple weeks ago.
-Remember Willard? He was a fixture on Z93 and 96rock as a jock for several years, segued into sales when Z93 became Dave FM in 2004. He’s leaving Dave and radio after 36 years and moving to North Georgia.
-Radio One, which operates more than 70 stations nationwide including four here in Atlanta (Praise, Hot, Grown Folks, Smooth Jazz), has been rolling out comedienne *Mo’Nique *to several radio markets but none so far in Atlanta. She airs live from 3 to 7 p.m. The problem is Radio One has commitments to Michael Baisden on Grown Folks, the most obvious place for her to go here. And Baisden has done very very well for Radio One here. (The respected Atlanta Radio One General Manager Wayne Brown is leaving to start his own company after eight years.)
Comments
By David A.
June 19, 2008 11:51 AM | Link to this
Laura Huckabee is the only reason anyone would turn on Better Mornings. Their stories are lame, the hosts are goofy, and the other stations have much better programming. Unless this new ‘weather reader’ has the same eye candy appeal they’ve lost me as a viewer. Laura is H-O-T.
By evets
June 19, 2008 12:29 PM | Link to this
Willard has been around since I was a teenager in the 70s. Wasn’t he on WRAS?
By lkjlkj
June 19, 2008 4:33 PM | Link to this
Dagmar is so much hotter than Laura Huckabee. And Dagmar is a ‘guy’s girl,’ much better rapport with the morning guys on 680 than Laura has. Smoking hot & like bikes? wow!
By lkjlkj
June 19, 2008 4:35 PM | Link to this
Rodney, I know you’ve mentioned that putting ‘Dagmar Midcap’ in your blog increases hits. Just be careful never to use her name in a blog entry containing the word ‘naked’ or Cox’s data center may be overwhelmed.
oops
By jimmy k
June 19, 2008 9:20 PM | Link to this
So this is how it’ll end for $attelite Radio…the poor shlubs and cheapskates won’t part with the $155.40 a year (plus receiver) and the rich folks with download gigs of tunes to their iPods and iPhones. $attelite Radio will be like Micro-Channel Architecture in IBM PS/2’s…a superior (but proprietary)platform that has no profitable niche in the market.
By Mike Cavendar
June 20, 2008 4:12 AM | Link to this
“who has since been doing the more prestigious 4 p.m., 6 p.m. and 11 p.m.” That’s like saying diarrhea is the more prestigious of the gastrointestinal illnesses.
By Greg
June 20, 2008 6:21 AM | Link to this
Willard has been a fixture on Atlanta radio since the seventies. He was almost solely responsible for obtaining the liscence that allowed WRAS to go to 100,000 watts, becoming the most powerful college radio station in the United States. He was the anchor of the 96rock airstaff for twenty-five years. To say that yes was on the air “for several years” belittles the impact of an Atlanta radio legend. Having worked with Willard Arbor, I can tel you that he has an encyclopedia of great stories from Atlanta’s rock history. There’s a great interview/article here, Rodney. Go get it!
By Greg
June 20, 2008 6:22 AM | Link to this
Willard has been a fixture on Atlanta radio since the seventies. He was almost solely responsible for obtaining the liscence that allowed WRAS to go to 100,000 watts, becoming the most powerful college radio station in the United States. He was the anchor of the 96rock airstaff for twenty-five years. To say that he was on the air “for several years” belittles the impact of an Atlanta radio legend. Having worked with Willard Arbor, I can tel you that he has an encyclopedia of great stories from Atlanta’s rock history. There’s a great interview/article here, Rodney. Go get it!
By Greg
June 20, 2008 6:22 AM | Link to this
Willard has been a fixture on Atlanta radio since the seventies. He was almost solely responsible for obtaining the liscence that allowed WRAS to go to 100,000 watts, becoming the most powerful college radio station in the United States. He was the anchor of the 96rock airstaff for twenty-five years. To say that he was on the air “for several years” belittles the impact of an Atlanta radio legend. Having worked with Willard Arbor, I can tel you that he has an encyclopedia of great stories from Atlanta’s rock history. There’s a great interview/article here, Rodney. Go get it!
By rocker
June 20, 2008 8:24 AM | Link to this
Willard is an Atlanta rock radio legend. If there is such a thing as an Atlanta radio Hall of Fame, he should be in it (and so should Kaedy Kiely).
By Bob
June 20, 2008 8:30 AM | Link to this
Rocker,
There is a Georgia Radio Hall of Fame
http://www.grhof.com/
By jungleland
June 27, 2008 3:48 PM | Link to this
I grew up in Atlanta listening to 96 rock’s Willard and the “Perfect Album Side” every night. Somewhere I have a 96 Rock license plate that he signed at a Hooters in Marietta circa 1987
I don’t think Atlanta radio was ever better
Enjoy your move to North GA!
By modrod
June 27, 2008 4:18 PM | Link to this
I will remember Willard signing off on the midnight shift at 96Rock by saying, “come get me mother, I’m thru/done.” Thanks for the memories Willard. Who didn’t tape the “perfect album” side onto a cassette?
By Fury
June 27, 2008 5:40 PM | Link to this
Laura Huckabee is the BEST hands down. Not only is she SEXY, but she is classy, smart and knows what she is talking about! She should be the featured weather personality at any station.
By mountain man
July 1, 2008 11:07 AM | Link to this
The guy who uttered the “come get me mother I’m through” was actually Deane Clark who was the afternoon guy at 96rock for many years. Deane is alive and well and living in the Chicago suburbs. We miss you Deane…
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September 29, 2008 7:01 AM | Link to this
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September 29, 2008 7:01 AM | Link to this
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September 29, 2008 7:02 AM | Link to this
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