WMEX Production Values.....Poor

[Omnibus]

Listening to the production values that come out of the local spots during Howie Carr's show on WMEX they sound very rinky-dink. Thought it was a 500watt stattion with one guy who turns on the transmitter at dawn and turns it off at sunset and in between that sells ads, writes copy and sort of produces and announces the ads. Oh, how the mighty have fallen. The bone reflection in the water always looks bigger but the Carr show sounds like the production values at WMEX have reverted to the early 1950's or earlier.

 

[frnkp2000]

Listening to the production values that come out of the local spots during Howie Carr's show on WMEX they sound very rinky-dink. Thought it was a 500watt stattion with one guy who turns on the transmitter at dawn and turns it off at sunset and in between that sells ads, writes copy and sort of produces and announces the ads. Oh, how the mighty have fallen. The bone reflection in the water always looks bigger but the Carr show sounds like the production values at WMEX have reverted to the early 1950's or earlier.

I agree, both on the local and the "Howie Carr Network" levels. What we probably have here, at the relocated halls of the once-mighty 1510, are a minimum of warm bodies keeping the place operating, though that really shouldn't surprise anyone these days.

On the plus side, unless it's my imagination, they seem to have tweaked their processing--they appear to be clearer and louder than when they debuted. (signal not withstanding, of course) I've noticed they play an old WMEX PAMS jingle occasionally too--I heard an old weather intro today. Is that an indication that Wallis is going to program oldies (50s-60s) music? Most unlikely, but a nice way to acknowledge the station's heritage, much like WRKO did a few years back with the Drake TOH ID.

They're still the "new kids". Give them a chance, I think when Wallis runs out of money ( ) someone will figure out how to get a "piece of the pie" worthy of a heritage outlet.

 

[Omnibus]

If the past is prologue anyone who has touched 1510 or WMEX call letters has either gone bankrupt of ended up in jail. Waht can we expect here?

I agree, both on the local and the "Howie Carr Network" levels. What we probably have here, at the relocated halls of the once-mighty 1510, are a minimum of warm bodies keeping the place operating, though that really shouldn't surprise anyone these days.

On the plus side, unless it's my imagination, they seem to have tweaked their processing--they appear to be clearer and louder than when they debuted. (signal not withstanding, of course) I've noticed they play an old WMEX PAMS jingle occasionally too--I heard an old weather intro today. Is that an indication that Wallis is going to program oldies (50s-60s) music? Most unlikely, but a nice way to acknowledge the station's heritage, much like WRKO did a few years back with the Drake TOH ID.

They're still the "new kids". Give them a chance, I think when Wallis runs out of money ( ) someone will figure out how to get a "piece of the pie" worthy of a heritage outlet.

 

[Cap-n Spackle]

Never mind "production values", how about figuring out how to not cut out in mid-sentence to give us the umpteenth running of Smoky Bear or the foster father who shot down a kite with his model rocket?

 

[MarcB]

It's an all brokered radio station. Why would you expect it to sound like a 50KW all news station owned by CBS?

14-15 years ago there was this all brokered station in Hartford, Connecticut. One guy bought 72 hours per week and every time he was on the phone with one of his sponsors he would instruct the on-air DJ to cut-off whatever song was being played and play the sponsor's commercial for them. Then they would start playing the previous song over again. It sounded really bad.

 

[Omnibus]

History is repeating itself. Does the guy from New Hampshire still own the WMEX call letters that he rented out to Brad Blelt (Cedar Junction aka Walpole State) ?

It's an all brokered radio station. Why would you expect it to sound like a 50KW all news station owned by CBS?

14-15 years ago there was this all brokered station in Hartford, Connecticut. One guy bought 72 hours per week and every time he was on the phone with one of his sponsors he would instruct the on-air DJ to cut-off whatever song was being played and play the sponsor's commercial for them. Then they would start playing the previous song over again. It sounded really bad.

 

[raccoonradio]

WMEX-LP 105.9 (trying to move to 106.1? IF they can) is still around and one webpage they have has links to both their own oldies, AND to WMEX 1510. The former links to a Streema web broadcast. Links can also be found for history of WMEX, youtube videos etc

http://www.wmexradio.com/sponsorships__public_service__links

>>WMEX is a Non-Commercial Radio Station. As such it does not air commercials but depends solely on its listeners and local business owners for its income. WMEX receives no federal funding or large corporate grants and is not licensed to any university; it is a totally independent

The audio-video page also has a pic of Bud Ballou who apparently won the Charlie Baker-Roger Goodell (NFL Commish) look alike contest. Kinda.

 

[Unregistered]

It's an all brokered radio station. Why would you expect it to sound like a 50KW all news station owned by CBS?

14-15 years ago there was this all brokered station in Hartford, Connecticut. One guy bought 72 hours per week and every time he was on the phone with one of his sponsors he would instruct the on-air DJ to cut-off whatever song was being played and play the sponsor's commercial for them. Then they would start playing the previous song over again. It sounded really bad.

Wasn't that the same station that had the kid playing rap music who got so freaked out his first time on the air that he started crying and hid under the console for a while until someone noticed the dead air and came and found him there?

Or am I thinking of something else?

 

[nowradioguy]

It's an all brokered radio station. Why would you expect it to sound like a 50KW all news station owned by CBS?

I just love it that you've given a very well-deserved compliment to our WBZ NewsRadio 1030, as well as the other major-market CBS O&Os.

As far as I'm concerned, CBS is about THE best owner/operator in the business. Yeah, they've pulled a few boners with their music stations - turning 103.3 WODS into crAMP103 - but I'd rather listen to any of their stations than to any of iHateCC's. With better management and programming, I think Cumulus could pull itself out of the doldrums in most major markets.

 

[Wimmmex]

As far as I'm concerned, CBS is about THE best owner/operator in the business. Yeah, they've pulled a few boners with their music stations - turning 103.3 WODS into crAMP103 -

What would you say if you were told that AMP 103.3 is billing more than Oldies 103.3 ?

(Similar ratings....but better demographics.)

 

[raccoonradio]

Well I'm glad WMEX has Howie and Herald radio and maybe 1 hr of Dennis Miller but their website could use some updating. Pages for Howie, Dennis Miller and Hannity all say each of these shows are running 3-6 or 3-7 pm. Dr K, now apparently 12-2 pm before an hr of Miller, still listed as 7-9 am and D Miller listed on main page as 12-3

 

[spt87]

I whole heartedly agree with the comments about CBS. Now, everyone say a prayer for Summer Redstone. Apparently it is looking that his health declining which means his control of CBS and Paramount may be up for grabs in the next couple of years. If the wall streeters get control it likely won't be good especially for the radio group (if what the other TV networks have done over the years is a sign).

Its too bad American industry has been enabled to be destroyed by the feds giving Wall Street and the banks all the power.......

 

[Cap-n Spackle]

It's an all brokered radio station. Why would you expect it to sound like a 50KW all news station owned by CBS?

I would have expected better during the show of their #1 guy who used to complain about "Entercom Happens" for every glitch, and now far more often than not gets cut off in mid sentence by ad breaks, to the extent that when he actually manages to have a smooth transition to an ad spot, it's noticeable.

 

[DavidZ]

Well I'm glad WMEX has Howie and Herald radio and maybe 1 hr of Dennis Miller but their website could use some updating. Pages for Howie, Dennis Miller and Hannity all say each of these shows are running 3-6 or 3-7 pm. Dr K, now apparently 12-2 pm before an hr of Miller, still listed as 7-9 am and D Miller listed on main page as 12-3

The ads in the Herald also have Dr. K from Noon - 3 pm. No mention of Dennis Miller. IIRC, as recently as yesterday for one of the Ads.

 

[nowradioguy]

What would you say if you were told that AMP 103.3 is billing more than Oldies 103.3 ?

(Similar ratings....but better demographics.)

"Better demographics"????? You just slammed a more loyal 55+ crowd, thank you.

I wish I knew where the demo for the likes of crAMP, etc. is coming from. Whenever I poll my students re radio listening, I get lots of blank stares, as in "Radio? Really?"

Perhaps CBS is marketing the present format with more gusto than they did the oldies/classic hits format. I did say they've pulled some boners with their music stations (cf. KTWV, LA).

 

[Wimmmex]

"Better demographics"????? You just slammed a more loyal 55+ crowd, thank you.

Not "slamming" anyone. Better demographics for billing purposes.

Just a fact of life.

 

[TSBench]

Well I'm glad WMEX has Howie and Herald radio and maybe 1 hr of Dennis Miller but their website could use some updating. Pages for Howie, Dennis Miller and Hannity all say each of these shows are running 3-6 or 3-7 pm. Dr K, now apparently 12-2 pm before an hr of Miller, still listed as 7-9 am and D Miller listed on main page as 12-3

Is it now safe to say that everyone now realizes that Carr's incessant badmouthing of RKO's signal and production value were just BS from some guy who liked to whine about the place and people who 'made' him?

Howie Carr...the guy who knowns the price of everything, and the value of nothing.

Regards,
TSB

 

[Omnibus]

Could not have said it better. HLC may be making a ton of money but he is a second stringer.

Is it now safe to say that everyone now realizes that Carr's incessant badmouthing of RKO's signal and production value were just BS from some guy who liked to whine about the place and people who 'made' him?

Howie Carr...the guy who knowns the price of everything, and the value of nothing.

Regards,
TSB

 

[dumber than a box of hair]

Is it now safe to say that everyone now realizes that Carr's incessant badmouthing of RKO's signal and production value were just BS from some guy who liked to whine about the place and people who 'made' him?

Howie Carr...the guy who knowns the price of everything, and the value of nothing.

Regards,
TSB

I doubt it's BS, at least in his mind. I think it's safe to say, at this point, that Howie's badmouthing of WRKO had to be deeply personal. Either his inability to read his own contract or his failure to consult with his lawyer, before attempting to jump ship to WTKK in 2007, precipitated the contract mess and the court decision forcing him to stay at WRKO, that he apparently took very personally. I can think of no other reason for his on-air behavior, with his incessant sniping at Entercom and his highlighting of every mistake, no matter how trivial. In any other situation of that type, his employer would have blown his butt outta there after the first warning.

So now, for all his complaints about WRKO's nighttime signal, he's on a signal that's even worse, and he's having to add affiliates in rim-shot areas with even worse signals than WMEX. Some have even speculated that he'll come back, hat in hand, to WRKO. Sorry, but it's not gonna happen. Someone whose hatred runs that deep for so long will never relent.

 

[Unregistered]

Wow...

I doubt it's BS, at least in his mind. I think it's safe to say, at this point, that Howie's badmouthing of WRKO had to be deeply personal. Either his inability to read his own contract or his failure to consult with his lawyer, before attempting to jump ship to WTKK in 2007, precipitated the contract mess and the court decision forcing him to stay at WRKO, that he apparently took very personally. I can think of no other reason for his on-air behavior, with his incessant sniping at Entercom and his highlighting of every mistake, no matter how trivial. In any other situation of that type, his employer would have blown his butt outta there after the first warning.

So now, for all his complaints about WRKO's nighttime signal, he's on a signal that's even worse, and he's having to add affiliates in rim-shot areas with even worse signals than WMEX. Some have even speculated that he'll come back, hat in hand, to WRKO. Sorry, but it's not gonna happen. Someone whose hatred runs that deep for so long will never relent.

You have some sort of inside information on this? Did you personally look at his contract? Is it binding? Non-binding?

Go ahead, sir. You seem to have all the answers to something that you clearly know nothing about.