Access Atlanta > Entertainment > Radio Talk > Archives > 2009 > January > 18 > Entry
1/18: Atlanta radio ratings for the winter, new radio blogger in our midsts
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
We now have three months worth of data for Atlanta radio ratings under the new people meter system, which should be more accurate than the old diary system. What can we conclude so far? Here are some generalizations:
Kiss 104.1 is doing far better than anybody thought before. A distant third-place finisher behind WSB-AM and V-103 in the old days, now it’s up with the elite. (Both V and WSB’s numbers are a bit weaker now compared to the old system but they are still dominant players.). In December, Kiss even beat V and WSB in overall numbers.
Christmas still works —Â at least for B98.5. Its numbers in December (technically mid-November through mid-December) were huge, with the station ranked fourth. Fish was flat compared to November (again, it’s actually mid-October through mid-November).
Q100’s audience is far bigger than even that station’s execs had imagined. It’s now soundly defeating Star 94, the former leader.
Rock didn’t do all that well. The River is down. Project is about the same. Dave continues to lag. Rock 100.5 is at the bottom of the rock pack.
-The Spanish stations are holding up a bit better under the new system, which Clear Channel (which owns both major FMs) is certainly relieved.
-The Bull, with its weeklong no-ads promo in late November, did see an improvement in its performance. But Kicks was unaffected, with more than double the Bull’s audience. And even with the brief improvement, will it hold? (Kicks, in fact, is in general stronger under the new system than the old.)
-Some stations that didn’t show up under the old system do so here such as 1160/WCFO-AM and 92.5/the Bear in Griffin.
680/The Fan is trouncing 790/The Zone overall though the Fan’s strongest shows are still doing okay among men.
Oddly, the only “streaming” version of a station popping up on the charts is WAOK-AM.
You can get general numbers here at radioandrecords.com
New topic: Roddy Freeman, an ad buyer in town who has been following Atlanta radio for years, has started an insightful blog about radio. He has done two entries so far: one about Star 94 and another about the Bull. If you are into radio, check it out here at http://atlairwaves.blogspot.com/
Here’s a tease from his Bull entry:
Atlanta is a huge urban radio market, and the country shares are limited. But the market probably could handle 2 successful country stations. Kicks has given The Bull an opening, and The Bull has started to take some advantage of it. The Bull has languished for 2 years. Will it really get up and fight?
And his take on Star 94:
In any case, Star’s Multiple Personality Disorder has to be cured. Arbitron’s Portable People Meter has been kind to CHR stations because they attract a high cume. But to retake Atlanta’s CHR crown, which it long held, Star 94 cannot continue being an 18-34 station in morning drive, banging its head against The Bert Show, and a 25-54 station in the afternoon.
Comments
By Randall Bloomquist - WGST PD, For Now....
January 18, 2009 6:00 PM | Link to this
And I continue to run WGST into the ground!
By J.I. Tulipberg
January 18, 2009 7:37 PM | Link to this
HEY STEAKIE
Kind of tough to sell ads with a 1.0 isn’t it?
I think we need more mindless babbling from Beau and Shorty Bell to boost the ratings.
By baba
January 18, 2009 9:05 PM | Link to this
My comment has nothing to do with the ratings but it has alot to do with radio talk, blogs and bloggers. I refer back to the Dec. 22 obituary of Michael Bandy, former kick’s dj. He passed away Dec. 20, 2008 in Lexington, Ky. His obituary appeared in Radio Talk because he did work in Atlanta a few years ago.
The article stated that he died after a long “unspecified” illness. Other articles stated that the family did not release information as to the cause of death. Well, no reporter or anyone else bothered to ask the cause of death, even the station at which he was working did not ask if it was ok with family to release this information, therefore it was not released there either. All the obituaries and news stories were written as though it was some big dark secret that the family did not want anyone to know. That is simply not true…had anyone taken the time to ask, the information would have been provided for immediate release. There was no secret, nothing to hide but this left the door wide open for speculation and for cold hearted, cruel, uneducated, disrespectful and dangerous people to attack with their own versions of the cause of death. some bloggers “I bet”, “Get real”, “brnsuga”, Lance Uppercut”, “Great” and “Confused” all decided that they were God and chose to diagnose the cause of death themselves. In all my 65 years, I have never read such ugly, insinsitive and disgusting remarks as these people made about this young man’s death. They are all sick people, sick and pathetic.
Sooner or later all these people will have to bury someone that they love and a hole will be left in their heart that can never heal. I hope it is not their only child. When they do have to take their loved one to their grave, I pray that they and their loved one are treated with some respect and not crucified the way Michael has been, all because of their ignorance.
Michael died from liver failure, kidney failure and at the very end bowel failure as well. This was all due to alcoholism and not aids.
Maybe all you sick people that made such unnecessary, rude and inhumane remarks are wondering who I am and why I am so concerned, upset and heart broken but then again, people like you do not care about anyone but yourself. I just want to set the record straight because you see, Michael was and will always be the love of my life, he was my only child, my baby boy. I AM HIS MOTHER and I deeply appreciate the kind and loving comments that most of you made about Michael.
By radiogal
January 19, 2009 1:01 AM | Link to this
Baba, I’m so sorry for your loss. I’m also sorry some people on this blog can be mean and insensitive — it’s a shame you should ever have to read such rubbish. I only heard good things about your son — on and off the air. Please know that many people in this town were touched by his presence on the radio, and will never forget Michael.
By Just what I hear
January 19, 2009 4:25 AM | Link to this
Good for 104!
Q-100 is radio for the future, fun and egos that don’t turn people off.
V-103 and WSB will always be near the top and reach their audience. Watching them battle it out will be fun.
Remarkable to see the Spanish stations picking up ratings under the new system.
680 simply is better overall listen, the Zone is a disaster and bad radio.
WOAK showing up with streaming is interesting.
By Just what I hear
January 19, 2009 4:27 AM | Link to this
Good for 104!
Q-100 is radio for the future, fun and egos that don’t turn people off.
V-103 and WSB will always be near the top and reach their audience. Watching them battle it out will be fun.
Remarkable to see the Spanish stations picking up ratings under the new system.
680 simply is a better overall listen, the Zone is a disaster and bad radio.
WOAK showing up with streaming is interesting.
By truestory
January 19, 2009 8:33 AM | Link to this
the blogger is somewhat right, star has multiple personality disorder. However, it must become more of an 18 to 35 format for now and atrract a new generation of audience. It’s a 2008 market, what they did in 1998 is history. Bert and cumulus got aggressive, they were proactive! Cindy and Ray cater to the old star audience, Cindy also caters to the PD’s genitals as she sucks on them in show prep meetings…nothing will get done there while that sexual tryst continues? why again do u hire a guy back who asked to leave for having an affair with cindy? i bet the other employees really feel like it’s a fair game there?? i bet lincoln headquarters would LOVE to know!
By JD
January 19, 2009 10:58 AM | Link to this
Baba.. I am so sorry for your loss. Although I didn’t know Michael, I have heard many wonderful stories about him. I, too, am disgusted by people who have such a lack of confidence and low self respect and opinion of themselves that they lash out at others to feel better about themselves. Whether it is about Michael, the Morning Mess, Barnes or whomever they decide to trash- it is all a pathetic attempt to boost their own egos to think.. “I am better than..”. Well, it doesn’t really work. It just makes them look as insignificant and petty as they feel. While I think everyone has a right to their opinion, and in a day and age where we can blog to the world and it is easily accessible, it unfortunately can bring bring out the ugliness in many. It is a tough challenge to blog responsibly and constructively- when it comes to criticism. A challenge I see so many- on this site and other sites- can not meet. It is unfortunate that we have to be subjected to someone’s nastiness. I myself, avoid that kind of unhelpful and unmeaningful drivel. So I hope you know that they are just a small few - and the majority of us don’t believe an iota of what they say, except to note that they are miserable people living a miserable existence. When the same people say negative things about the same subjects all the time, it becomes more than apparent who and what they are.
By Cheshire Cat
January 19, 2009 12:09 PM | Link to this
So Baba, it’s better to die from alcoholism than AIDS? Both are diseases that can be prevented. The fact that he died at 37 should be a reminder to everyone to take care of themselves. I’m sorry for your loss but someone close to him should have noticed his drinking habits.
By thedawg
January 19, 2009 2:55 PM | Link to this
how do u know what his family went through? they may well have attempted to intervene?! it’s not our business, and they have no responsibility to explain. the post above yours is absolutely correct, one day it’s how terrible the morning mess is and how they need to be fired…who would wish that on anyone?? the next day is how godawful Cledus was and how happy someone is that zakk tyler was fired. does that really make u happy? what kind of people actually “root” for that kind of thing?!
By Cheshire Cat
January 19, 2009 4:05 PM | Link to this
Quite frankly I didn’t know someone as young as 37 could die from complications of alcoholism. I thought it was an old person’s disease. I think people do have to explain early deaths when it could have been prevented. I bet a lot of kids in their 20’s drinking red bulls and vodka or Jaeger-bombs have no idea it could kill them in 15 years.
By NY Nick
January 19, 2009 4:24 PM | Link to this
See John Kincade of 680 the Fan sqirm at Dave and Busters Yesterday Eagles Choke again!! LOL Copy and paste into your URL
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afMKFPNSWvE&fmt=18
By NY Nick
January 19, 2009 4:28 PM | Link to this
See John Kincade of 680 the Fan sqirm at Dave and Busters Yesterday Eagles Choke again!! LOL Copy and paste into your URL
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afMKFPNSWvE&fmt=18
By NY Nick
January 19, 2009 4:37 PM | Link to this
See John Kincade of 680 the Fan sqirm at Dave and Busters Yesterday Eagles Choke again!! LOL Copy and paste into your URL
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afMKFPNSWvE&fmt=18
By NY Nick
January 19, 2009 4:42 PM | Link to this
See John Kincade of 680 the Fan sqirm at Dave and Busters Yesterday Eagles Choke again!! LOL Copy and paste into your URL
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afMKFPNSWvE&fmt=18
By 790 The Joke
January 19, 2009 4:45 PM | Link to this
Big surprise, 790 AM is getting their butts handed to them in the ratings once again.
The whole stupid, we’re a bunch of macho men’s men, and we’re the best sports talk station in the country is just lame and insult to anyone with above average intelligence. We don’t need you to tell us how awesome you guys think you are, if you are a truly good and top notch operation, people will be able to see that and determine that for themselves. Stop constantly trying to hype yourselves up and make yourselves out to be something you clearly aren’t. Just improve your product and programming, and let the listeners/consumers decide if you are as good as you think (falsely) you are.
Stephen, if you want to keep your station around for at least another 5 years, you need to do the following:
1) Fire yourself from the broadcasting side. You are a no talent hack, and aren’t the least bit interesting or knowlegable/insightful about sports. No one cares about your family, tv viewing, or where you eat. Just sit in the background like Saltzman and worry about the business side of the operation. For all of our sakes, stay far away from the broadcasting side.
2) Get rid of that fat moronic slob Brandon Adams and that entire show. That show is simply the worst thing I’ve ever heard on Atlanta radio, and that is saying a lot. Fat Mouth Adams is proof that all it takes to be on the radio is to breathe and have a pulse. I’ve never heard anyone on the radio that clearly has absolutely no business at all being on the radio.
3) Move the two live stewpids to night time where nobody will have to listen to them except those inside the Atlanta city limits that can actually get your putrid signal at night. This would also play into the majority of their audience, as they pride themselves as being the urban/hip hop “sports” talk show. Besides, they are obviously more concerned with their syndication deal then with talking about relevant sports talk for the Atlanta market. Putting them on at night won’t have much impact at all on the syndication side of things for them (if they are truly good at what they do that is).
4) Get rid of Pollack. You stepped out on a limb in hopes of pandering to the massive UGA base, but he simply isn’t meant for radio and is way too one dimensional. Besides that, he’s just a very dull and boring person personality wise. Teaming him with Bell is like teaming Stephen Hawking with Paris Hilton.
5) Put Dimino and Cellinni back togeather in the afternoons. Bring back the bottom line, which was easily the best thing your station has ever done in it’s entire existance.
6) Put Bell back on in the morning and pair him with two other funny and talented radio types (i.e, not you). However, in order to do that you’d actually have to open up your wallets and pay for some real talent, which you obviously can’t do right now based on your current talent line up (Adams and Wolverton — need I say more — that’s a pure cost cutting move if I’ve seen one), and associated losses and defections you’ve had recently.
However, knowing your massive ego and inability to admit making eggregious mistakes with overall business strategy and programming, you’ll probably stubbornly keep doing the same failed things, and ultimately bankrupt the station in the process.
By NY Nick
January 19, 2009 4:47 PM | Link to this
See John Kincade of 680 the Fan sqirm at Dave and Busters Yesterday Eagles Choke again!! LOL Copy and paste into your URL
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afMKFPNSWvE&fmt=18
By 790 The Joke
January 19, 2009 4:52 PM | Link to this
NY Nick - for god’s sake, you only need to press the post button one time (not 4). Be a little more patient, the post will eventually be processed and displayed.
By NY Nick
January 19, 2009 5:00 PM | Link to this
See John Kincade of 680 the Fan sqirm at Dave and Busters Yesterday Eagles Choke again!! LOL Copy and paste into your URL
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afMKFPNSWvE&fmt=18
By Uga boy
January 19, 2009 6:25 PM | Link to this
Dude, hold off on the 680 posts! 790 has lost their mojo, they used to be fun to listen to, now it’s just boring.
Cowherd, and XM radio is where I go for sports. I’ve heard 790 is going broke. That can’t be true with all the trips to casinos they take!
They are a Joke.
By Night Crawler
January 19, 2009 8:28 PM | Link to this
To the person who somehow thinks Mike Bell is entertaining in any way.
You must be easily amused
I’ve never heard someone try so hard to be funny. Those impersonations he attempts are so lame I almost feel sorry for him.
Plus he never shuts up.
I have a recurring nightmare of being locked in a room with alternating audio tapes of Mike Bell and Bob Rathbun being piped in non-stop.
Now THAT would be torture.
By Gary
January 20, 2009 2:04 PM | Link to this
First off, Baba I am sorry for your loss. I was on the blog back when the news broke and saw all of the hateful posts directed at Michael and his family. Cheshire Cat, yes 37 year old people can pass away from Alcoholism. I had an uncle pass away in 1993 from the same disease and similar complications. When it was reported what complications he had been having, I had a thought right away that it was alcoholism, but it is not my right to get on here and post it without knowing the facts. Bandy and Bailey was a good show and I would randomly shift back and forth between them and Rhubarb Jones every morning. I had a long drive to work back in the last months they were around and it was always entertaining. My prayers go out to Baba and her family. I know how it feels to lose a child and it really hurts. Especially when the ignorant make comments that are only meant to hurt those who are already grieving.
By 790 Listener
January 20, 2009 3:44 PM | Link to this
The ratings for 790 do not surprise me. I have been a long loyal listener of 790 since I first heard about the station in 2000 while I was in college. The Bottom Line and Mayhem in the PM were all I listened too after the constant updates on that years election fiasco. Needless to say I needed a break from my first foray into politics. Both shows were funny and nothing but sports. Steak at the time was fun to listen too and Mike Bell was (and still is) hilarious. Nick Cellini and Chris Dimino were a great team and fun to listen too in between classes. 790 constantly changed over the years, but kept most of the personalities. However recent changes in the last 18-24 months have left me to listening to XM Radio and some 680 the fan. I still listen to Bell in the afternoons, but Pollack is making it real hard to listen to them for too long. As a bulldog fan I love David, but he is not radio savvy and really doesn’t fit well with Mike like Chuck and Hometeam did. A show with Mike, Nick, and Dimino is needed. The station is in trouble and more listeners complaining and less advertisers who are now showing up on 680 should open their eyes. The fact that Tech is considering 106.7 as the new flagship station alone should be a wakeup call. Steak has lost his zeal for sportstalk and the station needs fresh new voices to go along with Bell, Cellini, and Dimino. I will always stop by the radio dial and listen, but will only prolong it if the content improves.
By Tristen
January 21, 2009 1:48 AM | Link to this
Dear 790 Listener:
You’ve got to Mike Bell…the giveaway?…using the word hilarious to describe him. Hilariously bad maybe.
By Bonnie
January 21, 2009 1:45 PM | Link to this
This is one opinion.
You know what they say about that don’t you!
By Chris
January 22, 2009 9:20 AM | Link to this
Just saw where bloomquist got fired. GST’s rating should shoot through the roof just on principle.
By AJ
January 26, 2009 9:07 PM | Link to this
Baba, I am sorry about your loss but AIDS is not a disease to be ashamed of either. Idiots are plenty when you don’t have to prove your identity and these uneducated fools run rampant here.
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