Access Atlanta > Entertainment > Radio Talk > Archives > 2009 > February > 10 > Entry
Dave FM gets a new program director. Will this mean big changes?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Dave FM enters its fifth year with its third program director Scott Jameson, from Indianapolis (yes, the home of Bob & Tom and formerly of the Morning Mess, now at Star 94).
The last PD Mike Wheeler made the ill-fated decision to hire Zakk Tyler as his morning man. Tyler failed miserably and was gone after just eight months. Wheeler lasted 18 months. When the ratings came in under the new people meter system, Dave FM’s numbers were even poorer than they were under the old system. That kind of sealed Wheeler’s fate.
But management still has faith in Dave.
Here’s a quick history:
Back in 2004, Dave FM arrived as a more mature, sophisticated rock alternative to 96rock and 99X and far younger than its predecessor Z93. The station hired Steve Barnes and Holly Firfer, in hopes of evoking a bit of the ’90s era 99X ouvre. The program director Michelle Engel had been successful at an ’80s station in Oregon. Rick Caffey, the GM who also ran V-103, touted his rock cred to me at the time. The station dumped the Elton John, the Eagles and other overplayed acts while keeping the “cooler” acts such as U2 and R.E.M. in its mix.
The music over the past five years hasn’t changed that much over time. It’s always been a smidge of 60s and 70s rock but heavier on 80s and 90s. The station also includes maybe 15 to 20 current rock songs by the likes of Mark Knopfler, the Fray or the Raconteurs. Not hard stuff, but “adult” sounding rock. But there’s far less 70s traditional rock stuff now than there used to be. (Go to the River if you want more of that.) A recent hour included Eurythmics, Yaz, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Jack Johnson, Greg Allman Band, Live, Verve Pipe, Death Cab For Cutie, Ryan Adams and Elvis Costello.
The station has become a decent go-to place for 30-somethings who had outgrown 99X and found 96rock too testosterone heavy. It never garnered huge ratings. 96rock and 971./The River would beat it regularly in most major demographics. In December, the station ranked 18th among 25-54 year olds.
But advertisers have liked the station because its listeners are typically more active than, say, those of B98.5 or 97.1/The River. Also, ad buyers demographically probably found the station enticing as well. And with Mara Davis, they had a great spokeswoman, too. I think those three factors have kept the station going in terms of revenue.
This smaller pool of active listeners, though, is also the type of folks who have iPods and iPhones and even satellite radios. While the B98.5 listeners is probably a harried mom who is using the radio as background while carting her kids from swimming practice to the soccer field, Dave listeners are the types who still go to concerts at Variety Playhouse and the Tabernacle and enjoy smart, engaging banter.
Dave’s biggest bugaboo was Z93’s bugaboo, too: a good morning show. The Barnes/Firfer combo never became hugely popular though both of them say they felt hamstrung by management wanting them to focus on the music. Barnes was ousted in 2006 and Firfer did a “temporary” music-focused show with Tim Orff. This was followed by eight months of Zakk and Jane, which was a nonstarter. Recently, Orff has simply been doing a mostly music mornings default show. It has generally had poorer ratings than middays and afternoons.
Devil’s advocate: does Dave even need to try to develop a good morning show? Perhaps. A strong morning show has proven to help drive stations such as Star when it had Steve & Vikki, Q100 with the Bert Show and the Regular Guys with Rock 100.5. But others have done just fine without a focus on the morning show such as Project and 95.5/The Beat.
Dave already has mid-day host Mara Davis as its primary personality on the show. Does it really need to find another given how difficult it is in this day and age to cultivate personalities? The talent pool has dried up over the years as radio stations focus more on syndication. And publicly traded companies seeking immediate results lack the patience to truly develop talent. It’s a major dilemma.
I’m curious to see what the new PD will do to help the station. Any good advice for him? (He officially enters the building Feb. 17.)
Comments
By Doofy
February 10, 2009 7:44 PM | Link to this
WZGC should have hired Neil Millman to be Program Director. He’s learned what not to do by observing Randall Bloomquist’s reign of terror at WGST.
By zeppelin
February 10, 2009 7:54 PM | Link to this
good luck!
By doofy's boy
February 10, 2009 8:12 PM | Link to this
Just dont act like the management/PD at star 94 and you’ll be fine! so, in simpler terms…don’t fall in love with a female afternoon talent, have an affair and kiss her ass to the point that the whole station knows you are in love with her!
If you don’t do that, then you will have respect among your employees, and won’t be laughed at by your co-workers.
No wonder the ship is bailing over there…it’s like they want it to be just the PD and horribly overrated and boring afternoon drive chick to be the only one’s who work there. Go ahead and get married already!
By doofy's boy
February 10, 2009 8:14 PM | Link to this
Just dont act like the management/PD at star 94 and you’ll be fine! so, in simpler terms…don’t fall in love with a female afternoon talent, have an affair and kiss her ass to the point that the whole station knows you are in love with her!
If you don’t do that, then you will have respect among your employees, and won’t be laughed at by your co-workers.
No wonder the ship is bailing over there…it’s like they want it to be just the PD and horribly overrated and boring afternoon drive chick to be the only one’s who work there. Go ahead and get married already!
By Randall Bloomquist - fired WGST PD
February 10, 2009 9:05 PM | Link to this
I tried to kiss our afternoon talent, but The Kimmer punched my lights out when I made a pass at him.
By finally
February 10, 2009 11:16 PM | Link to this
Kelly and Alpha would work, they are loved and respected, who cares if they aren’t playing Creed and Kelly Clarkson for the 9,999th time???? I say go for it, it can’t be worse than “Furburned out”
By InsideCBS
February 11, 2009 8:27 AM | Link to this
CBS could care less about Dave or Z or whatever the hell they call it. V103 is the cash cow, Z is just a place to park the Falcons on the rare chance that the team ever gets it’s act together. It’s all about ownership of the broadcast rights of one of the towns sports franchise. They can add it to their media presentation as value added. As far as Mara Davis goes, she’s good for the Jewish business, although kosher she ain’t. And that raspy whiney Fran Drescher voice, oy!
By Jere
February 11, 2009 8:42 AM | Link to this
I enjoy the fact that Dave is playing mostly music in the mornings. It makes the ride to work go faster. I also enjoy Orff and Denzil — they talk just enough.
By Carrot Cake
February 11, 2009 11:05 AM | Link to this
Sully in the afternoon is also doing a great job.
By Maria
February 11, 2009 2:21 PM | Link to this
Eh, I’ll bite — I’ve got an iPod and tickets to a Tabernacle show next month and a Variety Playhouse show the month after that (can’t afford many more shows than that with those blasted Ticketmaster / Live Nation fees). If DaveFM is truly trying to appeal to folks like me, they might try adding some more musical variety to their lineup. I have Dave as a preset on my car radio and I’ll switch to it several times a week. I like all the DJs just fine, but it’s the music that compels me to switch away — I can deal with the ’80s new wave and ’90s alt-rock; it’s the constant trumping of stale musicians like Coldplay and Jack Johnson that sends me running to my iPod or another station.
I don’t understand why no station in Atlanta has truly jumped on the popularity of so-called indie pop / indie rock. It’s not really indie anymore, as so many of the musicians involved have signed with major labels (The Decemberists, The Hold Steady, Modest Mouse, etc.), but it’s hugely popular among 20somethings and 30somethings. We don’t all listen to pop or rap, and a good many of us have disposable income. DaveFM doesn’t have to sound like a college station, but would it kill ‘em to add in some Neko Case, Drive-By Truckers, The National, or Devotchka to liven up their dead-dull playlist?
By Steeledawg
February 11, 2009 2:52 PM | Link to this
I totally agree with you Maria. I have long thought that Dave should pair with Paste Magazine, which is based in Decatur. I think Dave could publicize the magazine and Paste could promote some of their lesser known artists.
In my opinion, Dave is very close to being an excellent station just a few tweeks is all it will take.
As for the morning show, Denzel, Orf, and a funny, smart, and opinionated female has the makings of a good show. I would recommend a few interviews, discussions of music, movies, TV, books, etc. I don’t think the Dave demo is interested in celebrity dirt, dating advice, and give aways.
I hope the new PD can make the necessary changes, and keep Dave alive. It’s the best we got!
By Steeledawg
February 11, 2009 2:56 PM | Link to this
I totally agree with you Maria. I have long thought that Dave should pair with Paste Magazine, which is based in Decatur. I think Dave could publicize the magazine and Paste could promote some of their lesser known artists.
In my opinion, Dave is very close to being an excellent station just a few tweeks is all it will take.
As for the morning show, Denzel, Orf, and a funny, smart, and opinionated female has the makings of a good show. I would recommend a few interviews, discussions of music, movies, TV, books, etc. I don’t think the Dave demo is interested in celebrity dirt, dating advice, and give aways.
I hope the new PD can make the necessary changes, and keep Dave alive. It’s the best we got!
By Ol' Skool Radioman
February 11, 2009 3:01 PM | Link to this
What I’ve learned about the demographic that Dave is shooting for (seeing that I am in that demo), is more music, sure, but a morning man that is dialed into the the community and the community music scene. Talent IS here in Atlanta, that has a broad knowledge of the music, is NOT afraid to take a risk, AND does not play what every other station plays. That person is me. Get in touch Dave FM.
By Maria
February 11, 2009 3:12 PM | Link to this
Steeledawg - They used to do that! It was called “Paste Picks,” and they brought in one of the Paste editors to talk about music and movies one morning a week. This was during the Barnes and Firfir days, so Barnes would usually interject with some idiotic comment — “That singer sounds like Fiona Apple! And she’s hot, too!”
“But she’s someone totally different,” the Paste editor would say.
“But she sounds like Fiona Apple!”
Argh. Anyway, they soon moved the Paste Picks segment to evenings with Margot. But you know what? I still made time to listen to it, because it was something different and good.
They should bring it back. Paste knows DaveFM’s target audience better than DaveFM does. The last thing Atlanta needs is another morning show team yapping about American Idol.
By Nick Wright
February 11, 2009 9:51 PM | Link to this
Maria, I fully support what you and Steeledawg are suggesting here. I’ve promised myself that if I ever win the lottery, Atlanta will have an indie station. In the meantime, it would help if Dave would more closely embrace the 21st century.
By edge770
February 12, 2009 8:48 AM | Link to this
It seems sometimes Dave goes through a Alzheimer stage playing le crap with the good, and then have the WTH moment and go away. Satellite and mp3 are the only ways to fly it seems since traditionalists PD’s and MD’s and DJ’s can’t open it up a little bit. You have 97.1 playing the nursing home music, 98.5 plays music for bingo, and then 96.1 plays a tune and then goes out there.. not to come back. 100.5 is unlistenable in Northern suburbs.. Commercial radio reeks, continues to reek, and needs massive imploding. Even 106.7 has become an unlistenable freak of nature with that fake Scott Schannon voice.
By A
February 12, 2009 9:42 AM | Link to this
As DaveFM’s target demographic (late 30s, grew up on ’80s music, have an iPod and iPhone, still go to the occasional show at the Tabernacle/Fox/Verizon Amphitheatre/Philips/Lakewood), I get nervous when I hear about significant changes at the only station I listen to in Atlanta except for NPR. I was glad to see Zakk and Jane go, and I hope they hold onto Mara, Margot, Sully and Orff and just stick with music. I don’t know about the rest of you, but I get my news from the Web and don’t need to hear lame banter in the morning about the latest Hollywood scandal.
If they just stick with their format, but as someone above added, also include a bit more on the indie front, I think they’ll do just fine
By Gary
February 12, 2009 5:04 PM | Link to this
Bring back the Greese Man!
By drummom
February 20, 2009 2:16 PM | Link to this
doofy boy - interesting take on Star’s afternoon situation. I wondered what the sudden divorce was about w/the afternoon chick last year. That show has really gone down the tubes
By Brandon
February 20, 2009 6:24 PM | Link to this
I just wished we could get another alternative rock station like 99x. Rock music for the mature young crowd. Project is to immature.
BRING 99X BACK PLEASE!
I miss Muse, Yeah yeah yeahs, The strokes, The White Stripes, MGMT and the hits of the 90s like Smashing pumpkins, pearl jam…
By Brandon
February 20, 2009 6:24 PM | Link to this
I just wished we could get another alternative rock station like 99x. Rock music for the mature young crowd. Project is to immature.
BRING 99X BACK PLEASE!
I miss Muse, Yeah yeah yeahs, The strokes, The White Stripes, MGMT and the hits of the 90s like Smashing pumpkins, pearl jam…
By music
February 23, 2009 1:43 PM | Link to this
I listen to DaveFM in the mornings for about 30-45 minutes each day. It seems like the same songs are being rotated over and over without ever adding anything new. (I do like their quick news updates and traffic, though.) There are so many bands they could be playing. This is exactly why I absolutely cannot live without XMU on Sirius.
By Kristoffer
March 4, 2009 5:13 PM | Link to this
I totally agree with Maria. There is so much good music out there yet everyone wants to play the same stuff over and over and over. There is no reason for it. They should take an example from the Absolute Xtreme station listed under alternative on itunes (or one of the many others alternative or indie rock stations) - There is a reason that many people are turning to itunes and satellite radio because they are playing different stuff that you can’t hear everywhere.