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104.5 fails miserably with tornado coverage

N

NotSoSilentBob

Guest
No matter what your GM or GSM says, our first purpose is not to make a buck. Our first purpose is to serve the public, especially those people within the cities that we name after our call letters.

104.5 The Zone failed miserably at providing their city of license (Gallatin) with a public service during its most dire hour, but I'm not blaming Willy or Jeremy or Darren or George or whoever the heck else was involved on Friday. The blame falls on the corporate radio culture. We are told by our bosses that our first purpose is to make money. Making money is good, but that's not why the FCC let us use these airwaves.

But perhaps I should blame the folks in charge at WGFX. Rag on WTN all you want, but at least they were talking about the weather. It, too, has been covered on this board that ClearChannel went the extra mile to provide weather coverage. The Zone, however, thought it necessary to continue their normal programming even after Gallatin was devastated by the tornado. Having an employee watch television and repeat what he sees is not enough.

If I had been the program director of The Zone on Friday, I would have immediately dispatched someone on my staff (perhaps myself) to the Gallatin area to report on the damage suffered. If I had been turned away by police, I would explain who I worked for and what our purpose was. I would have done everything I could to get city officials (mayor, city councilmen, police/fire/ems officials) on the air to provide guidance to the residents of the city. If I had been in charge, I would have done everything in my power to serve my city of license. I wouldn't be doing it for the recognition. It would be my civic duty.

The airwaves do not belong to Citadel, Clear Channel, Cumulus, etc. The airwaves belong to the people.

Next time, God forbid, something like this happens...I hope we remember why we're here. It's in times like those that our listeners remember what we do. If we let them down, they will remember. If we do it right, they will remember. Which of the two sounds better?<P ID="signature">______________
Bob
Moderator, Nashville board
Radio-Info.com--Always Tuned In

"I don't spread rumors, but I sometimes make outrageous speculations with no factual basis."</P>
 
> No matter what your GM or GSM says, our first purpose is not
> to make a buck. Our first purpose is to serve the public,
> especially those people within the cities that we name after
> our call letters.
>
> 104.5 The Zone failed miserably at providing their city of
> license (Gallatin) with a public service during its most
> dire hour, but I'm not blaming Willy or Jeremy or Darren or
> George or whoever the heck else was involved on Friday. The
> blame falls on the corporate radio culture. We are told by
> our bosses that our first purpose is to make money. Making
> money is good, but that's not why the FCC let us use these
> airwaves.
>
> But perhaps I should blame the folks in charge at WGFX. Rag
> on WTN all you want, but at least they were talking about
> the weather. It, too, has been covered on this board that
> ClearChannel went the extra mile to provide weather
> coverage. The Zone, however, thought it necessary to
> continue their normal programming even after Gallatin was
> devastated by the tornado. Having an employee watch
> television and repeat what he sees is not enough.
>
> If I had been the program director of The Zone on Friday, I
> would have immediately dispatched someone on my staff
> (perhaps myself) to the Gallatin area to report on the
> damage suffered. If I had been turned away by police, I
> would explain who I worked for and what our purpose was. I
> would have done everything I could to get city officials
> (mayor, city councilmen, police/fire/ems officials) on the
> air to provide guidance to the residents of the city. If I
> had been in charge, I would have done everything in my power
> to serve my city of license. I wouldn't be doing it for the
> recognition. It would be my civic duty.
>
> The airwaves do not belong to Citadel, Clear Channel,
> Cumulus, etc. The airwaves belong to the people.
>
> Next time, God forbid, something like this happens...I hope
> we remember why we're here. It's in times like those that
> our listeners remember what we do. If we let them down, they
> will remember. If we do it right, they will remember. Which
> of the two sounds better?
>
Good points but Bob you would have called the Zone out even if they would have done a better job. You have a history about not being so "silent" when it cones to WGFX.
 
Re: FCC/Corporate Radio fails miserably with COLs

> 104.5 The Zone failed miserably at providing their city of
> license (Gallatin) with a public service during its most
> dire hour, but I'm not blaming Willy or Jeremy or Darren or
> George or whoever the heck else was involved on Friday. The
> blame falls on the corporate radio culture. We are told by
> our bosses that our first purpose is to make money. Making
> money is good, but that's not why the FCC let us use these
> airwaves.
>
> But perhaps I should blame the folks in charge at WGFX. Rag
> on WTN all you want, but at least they were talking about
> the weather. It, too, has been covered on this board that
> ClearChannel went the extra mile to provide weather
> coverage. The Zone, however, thought it necessary to
> continue their normal programming even after Gallatin was
> devastated by the tornado. Having an employee watch
> television and repeat what he sees is not enough.

Maybe I wasn't informed enough about what was happening in Goodlettsville and Gallatin on Friday afternoon, because all of my information was coming from the Zone. I thought I had enough information, but then I don't live in either one of those areas. As someone who was listening to the updates from the staff and the live information from channel 5 that was broadcast, I think you are a bit harsh in your criticism.

However, you are nothing but right, though, about your criticism of corporate radio culture, but you should also include the FCC, for they are as much to blame for a culture that allows a station with a COL in Gallatin to be, for all practical purposes, a Nashville station. The Zone isn't the only station with their COL in one place and a studio far away. In fact, this situation was in place with 104.5 many years before there was ever a Zone or Citadel ownership. I'm not even sure you can blame today's FCC for something that happened so long ago. But the fact remains that this occurs in many, many cities across the country.

As far as I know, the Zone doesn't even have a presence in Gallatin. Was there even a Citadel staffer who was available to go to Gallatin Friday afternoon? Could they have gotten there in a timely manner amidst all of the traffic? I don't know. As for the money factor, I don't think it had to be either report information OR make money. Both could have occured. But I think the FCC, for all intents and purposes, understands that commercial radio is in business to make money. So to me, the money thing's not in question here.

I was listening to the station. I don't consider myself uninformed about Friday's events. But I'm not a Gallatin resident. I wonder what would happen if you polled Gallatinites, would they even consider 104.5 to be a Gallatin station? There's little blame for that on Rutledge Hill, but more in Washington, DC.
 
The purpose of a commercial radio station IS to make money. It's a business. All this "serving the public" bit is nice and stations should do just that, but the bottom line is, that commercial broadcasting is a business.

WGFX is not a news-oriented station. It has a heavy commitment to sports and does that well.

The stations with heavy commitments to news also did well on Friday.
 
> The purpose of a commercial radio station IS to make money.
> It's a business. All this "serving the public" bit is nice
> and stations should do just that, but the bottom line is,
> that commercial broadcasting is a business.
>
> WGFX is not a news-oriented station. It has a heavy
> commitment to sports and does that well.
>
> The stations with heavy commitments to news also did well on
> Friday.
>
True that! Why just call The Zone out when others did nothing? What did Jack do?
The Zone did give updates.
 
tornado coverage

I know people who where driving through Tennessee Friday and they said the radio coverage was lackluster, at best, on Friday and almost non-existent Saturday (in the aftermath). They were stuck in traffic for hours trying to get through town and said they couldn't buy a Traffic report.

Many stations were still playin' tunes Friday and those who should have had informational follow-up Saturday had almost none.
 
> >
> True that! Why just call The Zone out when others did
> nothing? What did Jack do?
> The Zone did give updates.
>

What did the country stations do on Friday? Aren't they mostly prerecorded in the afternoon?
 
Re: tornado coverage

> I know people who where driving through Tennessee Friday and
> they said the radio coverage was lackluster, at best, on
> Friday and almost non-existent Saturday (in the aftermath).
> They were stuck in traffic for hours trying to get through
> town and said they couldn't buy a Traffic report.
>
> Many stations were still playin' tunes Friday and those who
> should have had informational follow-up Saturday had almost
> none.
>
THAT'S TOTALLY INCORRECT...
see threads below for ehat really happened<P ID="signature">______________
but wait...there's more!</P>
 
> > >
> > True that! Why just call The Zone out when others did
> > nothing? What did Jack do?
> > The Zone did give updates.
> >
>
> What did the country stations do on Friday? Aren't they
> mostly prerecorded in the afternoon?
>
WSIX simulcast WLAC's coverage (all 5 CC stations simulcast)
WKDF simulcast channel 5...not a bad choice
WSM-FM ???

<P ID="signature">______________
but wait...there's more!</P>
 
coverage

I'm not talking about what radio technically did- I'm talking about the PUBLIC'S PERCEPTION of their coverage.


> >
> THAT'S TOTALLY INCORRECT... see threads below for ehat really happened
>
 
Here's what I heard...

The CC FMs simulcasted 1510 WLAC (with excellent coverage!) until about 6pm or so. WLAC stayed with it far beyond.

I heard some coverage on 92.9, 95.5, 99.7, 106.7 (which was simulcasting 99.7) and 650 WSM.

I heard NO coverage on 96.3, 100.1, 102.5, 102.9, 104.5 and the 2 Fishes.
 
> Good points but Bob you would have called the Zone out even
> if they would have done a better job. You have a history
> about not being so "silent" when it cones to WGFX.

The reason I rail on The Zone so much is because in all my years in this business, I have never seen a station have so much potential and squander it every time.

I want to like The Zone, but they do everything wrong. You'd think Cromwell owned it.<P ID="signature">______________
Bob
Moderator, Nashville board
Radio-Info.com--Always Tuned In

"I don't spread rumors, but I sometimes make outrageous speculations with no factual basis."</P>
 
point a finger!!!

> I heard NO coverage on 96.3, 100.1, 102.5, 102.9, 104.5 and
> the 2 Fishes.


102.5 and 102.9 had EAS going off about every 5 minutes.......the people on-air were talking about it, and giving updates EVERY time they opened the mic.

On this whole topic.....

I think it's rather sad when something like this happens, the first thing someone wants to do is hop on a soapbox and begin to criticize.....reminds me of the antics following Hurricane Katrina.

Forum topic should be, how can we as a radio community help.......but I guess it makes some people feel better when they try and point out other's mistakes, rather than actually help.

mirror...mirror.....on the wall
 
Re: point a finger!!!

> I think it's rather sad when something like this happens,
> the first thing someone wants to do is hop on a soapbox and
> begin to criticize.....reminds me of the antics following
> Hurricane Katrina.

That's why I titled the post "Here's What I Heard..." I did not criticize anyone for anything. And I never claimed to be able to hear everything aired that day. Hence the title "Here's What I Heard." Don't be so quick to criticize.
 
Off subject, but a positive finger to the Buzz!!!

Underlinger:

I'll point a finger --- well make that a thumb

Thumbs up!

On a different note from the coverage issue... I see you
are still at the Buzz. I wondered because you have remained
low key on this board. Congrats for the showing against WKDF.
In the 12+ and the important demos. I know everyone wants
to be #1 and if you are not, you don't get a lot of credit.
But, with a format and signal that can pull you in the wrong
direction fast, it was nice to see you held your own.
 
Re: point a finger!!!

> Forum topic should be, how can we as a radio community
> help.......but I guess it makes some people feel better when
> they try and point out other's mistakes, rather than
> actually help.

Funny you should say that. If you had read my initial thread-starter, you would have seen my ideas for how we can do it better next time. Or maybe you just chose to block that out.<P ID="signature">______________
Bob
Moderator, Nashville board
Radio-Info.com--Always Tuned In

"I don't spread rumors, but I sometimes make outrageous speculations with no factual basis."</P>
 
We are told by
> our bosses that our first purpose is to make money. Making
> money is good, but that's not why the FCC let us use these
> airwaves.


You mind if I use this quote as a signature?<P ID="signature">______________
TheX, a young loner on a crusade to champion the cause of the innocent, the helpless, the powerless, in a world of criminals who operate above the law.</P>
 
> You mind if I use this quote as a signature?

Go ahead. I'm flattered, actually. Not so much that somebody wants to use that as a quote, but that someone actually agrees. <P ID="signature">______________
Bob
Moderator, Nashville board
Radio-Info.com--Always Tuned In

"I don't spread rumors, but I sometimes make outrageous speculations with no factual basis."</P>
 
> > Good points but Bob you would have called the Zone out
> even
> > if they would have done a better job. You have a history
> > about not being so "silent" when it cones to WGFX.
>
> The reason I rail on The Zone so much is because in all my
> years in this business, I have never seen a station have so
> much potential and squander it every time.
>
> I want to like The Zone, but they do everything wrong. You'd
> think Cromwell owned it.
>
Now Bob, "but they do everything wrong" is again a bit strong. Look corp. radio sucks but you can not single out that group and leave the other "C's" out or any corp. group. Sad as it may be to you The Zone is making budget and the numbers are strong. How many other stations can say that in the 1st quarter? I get it you do not like WGFX. Never have and never will. Fine you have that right. I don't like Jack or The Wolf, kills me that they are doing so good. No live jocks on Jack and bland on Wolf. Not a word about weather that I know of and that "fails miserably" in my book but my book doesn't count. It is always easy to look back and rail but I hope we all learn that we can do a better job. Ok I said it and now I'm over it. By the way what did you do Friday? I was under the house crying like the little baby I am! haha
 
> WSIX simulcast WLAC's coverage (all 5 CC stations
> simulcast)
> WKDF simulcast channel 5...not a bad choice
> WSM-FM ???

It's been mentioned elsewhere in this thread that WGFX had no coverage, when they did in fact simulcast 5 for a while and had someone opening up the mic giving updates when they weren't simulcasting.

I listened to WGFX most of the afternoon.
 
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