What’s up at WECK?

[Roch989]

I just read here that Joe Chili and Bobby O are gone. Both the morning and afternoon personalities are gone? Why would they get rid of them?

They sounded better than they ever sounded for about a year and then something changed 2-3 months ago. It sounded like a major market station for Buffalo and was a station that sounded better and more professional than any other station in Buffalo. Why would they ruin a good thing?

The music isn’t as good, they play an unbelievable amount of commercials, the DJs don’t give weather updates, they went back to their old amateur logo and the people don’t talk about local happenings on the air anymore. Who is the program director? Something changed.

I used to listen to WECK online a lot because I can’t get the station where I live. I was listening to Christmas music, but went back to WECK and wondered what happened. I thought the personalities were on vacation. Then I saw the post about changes but it is closed for some reason.

Who is Dan Ranelli? Nothing against him but he is not a professional. I miss Bobby O and Joe Chili.

They destroyed a perfectly good station for no reason. That will hurt their ratings.

 

[TVEngineerArk]

The ratings for WECK have been flat for a while before 2-3 months ago. Perhaps they are trying a few changes to give things a push in the right direction. They still have weather and the information they have always provided along with new weekend programming and just a little more of a succinct presentation lately. Personally I think they may be on to something.

I've listened to the station's stream quite a bit over the years. I certainly wouldn't say the music has changed for the worse recently. I've been in radio for well over 30 years and have learned that even when you are successful you need to keep evolving to build on what you have. That sounds like what's going on here.

 

[HitThePost]

I just read here that Joe Chili and Bobby O are gone. Both the morning and afternoon personalities are gone? Why would they get rid of them?

They sounded better than they ever sounded for about a year and then something changed 2-3 months ago. It sounded like a major market station for Buffalo and was a station that sounded better and more professional than any other station in Buffalo. Why would they ruin a good thing?

The music isn’t as good, they play an unbelievable amount of commercials, the DJs don’t give weather updates, they went back to their old amateur logo and the people don’t talk about local happenings on the air anymore. Who is the program director? Something changed.

I used to listen to WECK online a lot because I can’t get the station where I live. I was listening to Christmas music, but went back to WECK and wondered what happened. I thought the personalities were on vacation. Then I saw the post about changes but it is closed for some reason.

Who is Dan Ranelli? Nothing against him but he is not a professional. I miss Bobby O and Joe Chili.

They destroyed a perfectly good station for no reason. That will hurt their ratings.

Thanks for the inspiration! …and thanks for listening…I guess.

 

[GlennT]

Zero has changed on WECK in recent months including the music. Other than a recent personality shift swap and a logo change that better represents WECK as an Oldies Station, localism is still the priority with weather and local information that listeners won’t hear elsewhere.

 

[Rusty Bridges]

Zero has changed on WECK in recent months including the music. Other than a recent personality shift swap and a logo change that better represents WECK as an Oldies Station, localism is still the priority with weather and local information that listeners won’t hear elsewhere.

Reverting to the earlier bubble font in the print logo is a good look. The previous font, although attention getting, was frenetic. Now about "zero has changed;" Afternoon drive personality, Bobby O is out, replaced by capable veteran Dan Ranelli, formerly of Star 102.5 and Mix 96. That's more than a "shift swap." Donahue returning to morning drive, doing not 6-10 but 7-10, and Chille leaving the Monday through Friday morning drive line-up to cover two weekend shifts also is more than a "shift swap." Had Chille moved back to afternoon drive, the term "shift swap" might have applied. Cheers!

 

[Tower590]

The ratings for WECK have been flat for a while before 2-3 months ago. Perhaps they are trying a few changes to give things a push in the right direction. They still have weather and the information they have always provided along with new weekend programming and just a little more of a succinct presentation lately. Personally I think they may be on to something.

I've listened to the station's stream quite a bit over the years. I certainly wouldn't say the music has changed for the worse recently. I've been in radio for well over 30 years and have learned that even when you are successful you need to keep evolving to build on what you have. That sounds like what's going on

We will have to see. I wish them well.

 

[HitThePost]

Reverting to the earlier bubble font in the print logo is a good look. The previous font, although attention getting, was frenetic. Now about "zero has changed;" Afternoon drive personality, Bobby O is out, replaced by capable veteran Dan Ranelli, formerly of Star 102.5 and Mix 96. That's more than a "shift swap." Donahue returning to morning drive, doing not 6-10 but 7-10, and Chille leaving the Monday through Friday morning drive line-up to cover two weekend shifts also is more than a "shift swap." Had Chille moved back to afternoon drive, the term "shift swap" might have applied. Cheers!

Oooh “capable veteran Dan Ranelli..”. I like the sound of that, that’s goin on my LinkedIn.

 

[spt87]

Possibly this is just a matter of individuals asking for a different schedule? Maybe the morning drive grind for a guy who is in what many consider to be of retirement age wasn't cutting it anymore? Tom Donohue is certainly a well known voice in Buffalo and is great in the morning slot.

 

[Roch989]

It looks like they eliminated a position. Probably a cost-cutting move.

 

[SirRoxalot]

How about the idea that Joe Chille finally had enough of getting up at 4:30 AM? It's interesting that they're not really starting morning drive until 7:00 AM. I wonder if they realize how many people in WNY are shift workers who are on their way to work for a 7:00 AM shift?

 

[Roch989]

How about the idea that Joe Chille finally had enough of getting up at 4:30 AM? It's interesting that they're not really starting morning drive until 7:00 AM. I wonder if they realize how many people in WNY are shift workers who are on their way to work for a 7:00 AM shift?

Is that what happened?

Joe Chille quit because he didn’t want to get up or are we speculating?

He was did mornings for many years, so it came as a surprise.

Did Bobby O quit too at the same time?

He was a great afternoon host.

The station sounded very professional with them.

 

[Rusty Bridges]

If the owner wasn't on double-secret-probation and lifetime-exile from this board, he'd let readers know what's going on, no doubt in his most persuasive prose. ("You stupid, wannabe ******** don't know what the **** you're talking about.") Weeks ago, David Eduardo posted on this board a thumbnail assessment of the challenges of buying radio stations in resort or vacation markets like the Keys, UP Michigan... or even Palm Springs. It can be a tough row to hoe, especially in what might be called a "highly provincial community" like Key West. A new owner is likely to hear the words "outsider," even though he's for many years owned a vacation property in that community. Pushback resulting from a format change or a change in personnel is typical. This happened to an acquaintance who years ago bought a station in a resort area in the eastern Adirondacks region of NY, which in summer is bursting with tourists but in winter dwindles to locals and some tourism from avid skiers and snowmobilers. WECK is an undisputed money maker in Western New York. Now, it could be that some of that cash flow is now being used off to cover expenses in Key West, thereby affecting the line-up changes that are the subject of this thread.

 

[Prescott Joe]

Buddy has method in his madness. He would not be making changes unless he felt they would
improve the station in some way. Kudos to him for making WECK a success and he'll do the same
in Florida as well...

 

[SirRoxalot]

Joe Chille didn't quit. He's still doing weekends. WECK has quietly gone to 3 hour shifts from 7 AM to midnight. Bobby O. is gone, essentially replaced by Dan Rinelli. Glenn Topolski is doing 6 PM to 9 PM. Junior Rosati is doing 9 PM to midnight. "Captain Dan" is also VTing 7 AM to 1 PM at WKEY in Key West. "Captain Glenn" is also VTing 4 PM to 7 PM at Key West.

Syndicated John Tesh is on 7 PM to midnight in Key West, and Otto Mation fills the other holes.

Buddy's Yacht Rock is up against Classic Hits, Adult Hits, AAA, Alternative, Dance, and Jazz locally on FM. There/s also lots of sports and talk on both AM and FM. That's a lot of competition in a very small market.

It seems to me like he's maximizing his use of talent in both locations. It's possible that some formerly full-time talent was uncomfortable or unwilling to voice-track or wanted substantial additional compensation. As we've seen over and over with bigger owners, company expansion often means "doing more with less."

But, let the speculation begin.

 

[tbolt909]

"Captain Dan" is also VTing 7 AM to 1 PM at WKEY in Key West. "Captain Glenn" is also VTing 4 PM to 7 PM at Key West.

So, the next time a hurricane takes aim at Key West--
WKEY won't be providing storm coverage. Locals will however be able to listen to voice tracks from Captain Dan in Buffalo and "Margaritaville" for the umpteenth time. Will you be outraged?

Many Radio companies are requiring their staff to voice track multiple stations in different markets. Yes, it's likely that some of the older WECK staff weren't willing to voice track WKEY for no extra money. With age sometimes comes wisdom...

 

[HitThePost]

So, the next time a hurricane takes aim at Key West--
WKEY won't be providing storm coverage. Locals will however be able to listen to voice tracks from Captain Dan in Buffalo and "Margaritaville" for the umpteenth time. Will you be outraged?

Many Radio companies are requiring their staff to voice track multiple stations in different markets. Yes, it's likely that some of the older WECK staff weren't willing to voice track WKEY for no extra money. With age sometimes comes wisdom

Thanks for listening!

 

[davideduardo]

So, the next time a hurricane takes aim at Key West--
WKEY won't be providing storm coverage. Locals will however be able to listen to voice tracks from Captain Dan in Buffalo and "Margaritaville" for the umpteenth time. Will you be outraged?

You know, radio station have this device with little buttons and sliding volume controls and cool lights and stuff. When needed, one of those buttons is pushed and the volume control slid all the way up and you can talk about the local weather or the sale at the Chevy dealer or whatever.

Many Radio companies are requiring their staff to voice track multiple stations in different markets. Yes, it's likely that some of the older WECK staff weren't willing to voice track WKEY for no extra money. With age sometimes comes wisdom...

Back in the 60's I had the same format in multiple cities and staff at the biggest cluster that was so well trained and so good that we even have a web tribute site nearly 60 years later. I would have given anything to be able to voicetrack the other stations. But we had no link between the stations... no easy to use recording and playback device... no automation to allow local staff to receive and prep voicetracks.

Technology allows us to do things that just were not possible in earlier eras. Using that technology does not make radio worse; well employed, it makes it better.

 

[RadioStar23]

tbolt909 whats your issue with Buddy?
Are you jealous of his success? ALL you ever do is talk smack about him, his stations, and his success. GROW UP

 

[Radio-Bored-Op]

How about the idea that Joe Chille finally had enough of getting up at 4:30 AM? It's interesting that they're not really starting morning drive until 7:00 AM. I wonder if they realize how many people in WNY are shift workers who are on their way to work for a 7:00 AM shift?

I have thought that for years... decades. The only one who ever got that right is shredd and ragan with opening audio.

 

[shemp_howard]

What happened to Bobby O? Good air personality. Is he still doing Production or is he gone from the station?