107.9?

[NewsNow]

I can't believe smooth jazz wouldn't work in a place like Charlotte.

It didn't. 92.7 had that format in the late 90's.

Part of the reason 92.7 tried that format was because they knew WFAE was pulling an unregistered 3.5 share 115k cume through the late 80's early 90's with the format. They figured they could just nab that because everybody know commercial stations are waaaay better than public stations. Except, not. WFAE used the new competition as an excuse to go to news/talk when it reality, it was common knowledge that smooth jazz was becoming very unhip. What has emerged is more of an urban AC format that goes by the name "Smooth Jazz".

Which is essentially what 92.7 does now.

 

[hipporadio]

I can't believe smooth jazz wouldn't work in a place like Charlotte.

It didn't. 92.7 had that format in the late 90's.

I remember 92.7 playing pop-R&B oldies in the summer of 1999 as a Class A rim-shot from the far-northeast side of Charlotte. I first heard them in a notorious East Boulevard bistro during a Friday happy-hour visit with some Microsoft employees. We were seated at the bar, and the FM receiver was behind it with a simple wire antenna dangling – not an optimal arrangement for receiving that station inside a brick building in Dilworth. The somewhat “colorful” bartender was mouthing the Friends of Distinction’s lyrics - “Grazing in the grass is a gas - baby can you dig it” [believe me, that performance was more-entertaining than 92.7’s under-60dbu signal]. Every time I lifted my beer schooner, the station would completely fade. My MS companions were amazed by my power over propagation - the bartender wasn’t, but he was clueless as to the cause. Honey Cone’s “Want Ads” [“wanted - young men single ‘n free”] followed, and Mr. BrewServer broke into song... I quickly-ordered a refill – and didn’t put it down ;D

 

[wncc]

I can't believe smooth jazz wouldn't work in a place like Charlotte.

It didn't. 92.7 had that format in the late 90's.

I remember 92.7 playing pop-R&B oldies in the summer of 1999 as a Class A rim-shot from the far-northeast side of Charlotte. I first heard them in a notorious East Boulevard bistro during a Friday happy-hour visit with some Microsoft employees. We were seated at the bar, and the FM receiver was behind it with a simple wire antenna dangling – not an optimal arrangement for receiving that station inside a brick building in Dilworth. The somewhat “colorful” bartender was mouthing the Friends of Distinction’s lyrics - “Grazing in the grass is a gas - baby can you dig it” [believe me, that performance was more-entertaining than 92.7’s under-60dbu signal]. Every time I lifted my beer schooner, the station would completely fade. My MS companions were amazed by my power over propagation - the bartender wasn’t, but he was clueless as to the cause. Honey Cone’s “Want Ads” [“wanted - young men single ‘n free”] followed, and Mr. BrewServer broke into song... I quickly-ordered a refill – and didn’t put it down ;D

It was a short-lived format on 92.7 between Smooth Jazz and its current format. When they got Tom Joyner is when they changed to the current format.

 

[vchimpanzee]

I can't believe smooth jazz wouldn't work in a place like Charlotte.

It didn't. 92.7 had that format in the late 90's.

Part of the reason 92.7 tried that format was because they knew WFAE was pulling an unregistered 3.5 share 115k cume through the late 80's early 90's with the format. They figured they could just nab that because everybody know commercial stations are waaaay better than public stations. Except, not. WFAE used the new competition as an excuse to go to news/talk when it reality, it was common knowledge that smooth jazz was becoming very unhip. What has emerged is more of an urban AC format that goes by the name "Smooth Jazz".

Which is essentially what 92.7 does now.

I don't think so. I live where I can pick up WZTK in Greensboro, and nearly all of what they do (on weekends) is instrumental. It's quite a hip-sounding format as opposed to Muzak. The only difference between what they're doing and R&B is lyrics.

 

[fortmill]

I don't think you can classify 92.7/WQNC as a rimshot signal, considering the fact that the transmitter is WELL inside the Charlotte city limits, only about 3-4 miles from uptown, infact, I believe it is the closest FM signal to uptown. I doubt there are serious reception issues in the Dilworth neighborhood, for example. OTOH, it is a class A, 6000 watt facility in a sea of 100ks, and reception is seriously compromized outside of Mecklenburg Co. even in it's county of license, Cabarrus. That's the reason Radio One was the only broadcaster who opposed Arbitron's plan to add 6 counties to the Charlotte market. 92.7, as well as RO's 100.9 certainly will not be helped by that. Neither will WBT-AM, 106.1, or any of the other AM's.

 

[hschutte]

I agree that smooth jazz could do very well in charlotte. Is it possible that 92.7 could flip back to that format? I know 101.9 does a few hours on sunday.

 

[surfdude]

I was the PD of 92.7 The Jam, Jammin' Oldies. The Jam existed between
Smooth Jazz and Radio One's purchase. The Jammin' Oldies format
billed substantially more revenue than did the Smooth Jazz format.
Intitial ratings were very good with the Class A signal.

I knew it would be an 18 month format going in. But it was fun and I liked the people.
Davis Brioadcasting did very well in their sale to Radio One.

I think Smooth Jazz would be very successful in Charlotte on a full signal frequency.
Gotta have the building penetratrion.

 

[nerleman]

Hey Surfdude,

I'm just curious. During your tenure at "92.7 The Jam", it kinda sounded to me like y'all were playing the music from carts, the way fun radio was done in the 80s. Am I correct?

 

[surfdude]

We were playing the music off a digital system called
Pristine Rapid Fire. DOS based. Music was from CDs, Napster,
wherever we could find them. Processing was from an early Omnia.

It was fun. Radio One might like to have those ratings back.

Bill Campbell
www.asapaudio.com

 

[NewsNow]

it kinda sounded to me like y'all were playing the music from carts, the way fun radio was done in the 80s. Am I correct?

You are an evil twisted person. Ever have a morning jock chuck a cart at your head because it was warped? CDs hurt much less, digital files not at all.

 

[Mike Sheridan]

it kinda sounded to me like y'all were playing the music from carts, the way fun radio was done in the 80s. Am I correct?

You are an evil twisted person. Ever have a morning jock chuck a cart at your head because it was warped? CDs hurt much less, digital files not at all.

I worked at what was then EZ-102.9 and we still used carts into the early '90's till about 1993 when Trumper bought the station and moved us next to 96.9 in the Cameron Brown Building. I couldn't wait to use CD's on the air. Alas too many years of using carts made it difficult. A few of us had plenty of "format OOPS" because we cued to the wrong cut or the CD player didn't cue in time.

Speaking of the Cameron Brown building. If I turned the monitor above much more than a wisper the lawyers on the floor above us would start banging on the walls complaining. I hated that place!

 

[NewsNow]

I much prefer a format OOPS due to wrong track, than a cart that had not been re-cued. BONUS, using a phoner into the cart. Or the inevitable WHUMPH WHUMPH WHUMPH.

 

[haze1268]

In a comment to this original post...I, too, only know females that listen to the Link, but I haven't given them a listen since 1997. I cannot tolerate any of their talent or their programming. I am far more critical than most though. But to keep things fairly stated, those jocks are doing the same thing we are...going to work and doing what is asked of us. We might not like the same songs, we might not like the stuff we have to read and how we have to read it..but we do it because radio is in our blood and a part of us would die without it. So I can't criticize the Link since I do not and will not listen to them, but I also cannot knock the staff for doing what they are paid to do.
Peace out
Holly Haze

 

[amfmradio1]

Hey Haze,

Are you in the haze?

Not only females listen to the Link.

I, as a male, find some interesting info on the John Tesh show, as well as some great tunes.

Also enjoy "80s' Saturday Night".

Don't hear "K" doing anything special.

Do agree that the Link people talk too much.

They should play more music on the 100k monster, flamethrowing blowtorch signal they have - maybe they'd get better ratings!

You cannot tolerate any of their talent or programming?

What do you think they think of you?

How can you say you can't criticize the Link, since you do not & will not listen to them, but in the same paragraph, say you cannot tolerate any of their talent or programming.

I feel the same way about "K".

So, you must listen to them to criticize them.

I'd be careful what I post.

You might tarnish your reputation, if it isn't tarnished already.

What if you lost your job @"K"?

Do you think the Link would hire you after your comments?

 

[haze1268]

I was waiting for the aftermath and so it appears. The bad thing about posting is no one can tell one's tone or delivery and people always get offended. Let me respond, not sure why, but I am here with my morning coffee and figured what the heck. I am not one for a pissing contest, but you asked so many questions so here ya go.

No I am not in a Haze. Very focused and my level of clarity is fairly high.
I didn't say only females listen...I stated that I only KNEW females that listen. I have never met a man who told me they listen, except you of course. Pay attention to what I write and don't put words in my mouth.

Do they talk too much? I admittedly haven't listened to them in eons but at the time, yes they did talk too much. Of course it was Pam Stone days, Matt and Ramona, Bob and Sheri, John Tesh...pretty much all talk.

If I cared what people thought of me I would have a fake alias so people wouldn't know who I am. I am being honest and real in my opinion, which last I checked I was still entitled too. No one has to agree with me. The jocks at the Link got hired for their talent. I didn't say they didn't have talent. I respect anyone that can hang in this business because currently it is not easy.

My reputation tarnished? I quit the Fox in 1999 and my best friends are still in that building. As a matter of fact I can pick up the phone and call my former boss Jeff Kent any time. He is a great jock, and an even better father and human being. Mr Bill is equally fantastic. I am close friends with the Big Show staff without getting in to naming names and getting people riled up. I have always been low maintenance and easy going in this biz. Luckily for me I do it because it is in my blood, not for the money. I would not think my rep would be tarnished. I would not be getting hired because of posting on Radio-Info abilities...I would be hired based on years of experience as a jock and on the quality of an air check and if we are being totally honest, based on who I know and have built relationships with over the past 17 years in the biz.

No I don't listen to the Link. I do not lie. I heard John Tesh one evening for a millisecond. As a pianist myself, I love Tesh's music. I didn't care for his show. I would listen to him over Delilah though, hands down.

If I left K, who knows what would happen. Would the Link hire me? don't know.

Sorry you don't like K. I am sure you are not the only one. To each is own. No station is perfect, no jock is perfect...not every one likes the same style, format, voice tone and/or talent. So I don't know what they think of me, and I don't care. Not everyone is going to like my delivery.

I wasn't responding to the post to win a popularity contest. I was responding honestly to it.

Holly Haze

 

[fitzy95]

Very well said H.

 

[Mike Sheridan]

I'd be careful what I post.

You might tarnish your reputation, if it isn't tarnished already.

What if you lost your job @"K"?

Do you think the Link would hire you after your comments?

I don't understand why you thinks it's okay for you to knock "K" but it's not okay for Holly to knock "The Link"???

If Holly lost her job at K it would be their loss not hers....

Yes I think "The Link" would hire her. I doubt they are that thin skinned.

As for me I like "The Link" but it wouldn't be my first choice. Their music when they play it is obviously geared to listeners younger than I am. The personality approach is good but sometimes they get just a little too blue for family listening and also are sometimes a little to hip for the room.

Mike

 

[amfmradio1]

Haze,

The Radio business has NEVER been easy, not just currently.

You quit the Fox?

Are you honest enough to tell why?

I'd rather be there than @K.

Mr. Bill "equally" fantastic as Jeff Kent?

Mr. Bill worked @#1 WDVE/Pittsburgh, Dallas, Calif., & can go anywhere.

It's a shame his gifted talent has to be restricted to playing Fleetwood Mac & Pink Floyd.

Jeff Kent programs 5 songs for the 10 artists he plays.

Why doesn't he loosen it up w/70's @7, 80's @8, Hair Extraordinaire @9 & Dee Sniders' House Of Hair on weekends?

Jeff Kent is no Mr. Bill, & he will never be.

There are perfect stations, there are perfect jocks, & they are all over the country.

 

[haze1268]

Radio used to be much easier and carefree...long before the bigger corporations took over. Nothing is ever easy, but it was much more lax and fun.

I quit the Fox because at the time I had given 5 years of my time climbing up the ladder and wanted a bit more when it became available, plus I just had given birth to #2..so there were several reasons. I left there on my own terms and visit that building often. There were no hard feelings, just time for me to go.

When I said equally fantastic, I meant overall as human beings....look past just the jock talents for a moment if you can do so. There is a reason why Kent has been PD for the big ole' hairy for a reason. I never liked playing the same Floyd songs over and over, but he does what any big corporate PD does...follows what tests well and does his job. Mr. Bill and JK have been friends for over 2 decades, so I am sure Mr. Bill could go anywhere he wants, but his son is close and comes first and sometimes that takes precedence over how far we really could go as jocks. I do not know why Jeff doesn't loosen up the format. I never asked him how to do his job. He, too, could have moved in to a much larger market...but his family is here and loves this area. I could have probably taken up post in Dallas, TX due to connections, but my family came first and Charlotte it has stayed. It is not always and ONLY about the largest market on your resume, although I can see how easily it could be. Point is, plenty of us can go anywhere...there is a reason we do not.

I whole heartedly disagree with your last line. There is no perfect ANYTHING...especially stations and jocks. That would mean it makes each person so content that they wouldn't change ONE thing about it. I have worked with some fantastic people...some incredible PDs, production talent that goes beyond anything I could imagine learning, jocks that put so much prep in to their show it blows my mind (Mr Bill)(Randy from the Big Show)...not to mention the hard work that goes on behind the scenes in continuity and scheduling....but I have never seen anything in radio that was near perfect or flawless...if that were the case ratings would be stagnant and change would never occur.

But again, you are entitled to your opinion.

 

[fitzy95]

I'll go ahead and ask before he does...
Are you sure you're being honest about why you left the Fox? Can you produce a birth certificate?

Who cares, of all the people to attack. Holly is great on air, and a good person. It's called an "opinion". Just because she doesn't see it the way you do doesn't mean you have to challenge who she is or what she's done.
Back off.