1170 am to possibly go back to "Classic country"!

[GeneSavage]

1170 won't go back to classic country in the next 5 to 10 years at least....

...and this is a wonderful pimento cheese sandwich I'm having.



(And I'm IN the biz! Like, currently employed!)

 

[Bob Oshea]

1170 won't go back to classic country in the next 5 to 10 years at least....

...and this is a wonderful pimento cheese sandwich I'm having.



(And I'm IN the biz! Like, currently employed!)

You're still in radio......and you can AFFORD PIMENTO CHEESE! Damn, you must be in sales. ;D

 

[Da Judge]

Uh, 1170's in deep doo-doo. Which is what the original tenor of this thread was about. They may not go back to Classic Country, but it needs a major over-haul. Did anybody take a peek at the Fall book? I wonder if their management did?

 

[GeneSavage]

Actually, I was given this jar of pimento cheese spread for my 20th year in radio; they say if I stay another 20 years, I get the tub. ;D

Boy, in the OLD days, we had pimento cheese just LAYING AROUND at the station! Man... (Oh, oops, not supposed to reminisce, sorry...)

THIS...

http://youtube.com/watch?v=KULW_eQmGpI

...is I think, my favorite YouTube video.

Alas, it's not Chuck Stevens singing, although those are quite good as well. It's just that Chuck doesn't make me snort milk through my nose.

In fact, I doubt he would WANT to make me snort milk through my nose, now that I think about it. He's a pretty nice guy; doesn't seem his thing.

...Where were we? OH yes! Correct, the most recent book blows for 1170... but it's not about the numbers, it's about income, and if advertisers are buying it, that's all that matters. I've seen stations with good numbers have lousy sales, and stations with lousy numbers and great sales... sales always trumps numbers, and I'll bet you 1170 is billing OK, at least for now.

I've also been surprised at how much I'm liking their morning show now that DiGiorno is gone. It's not "your world in twelve minutes," but if you've got much of an attention span it can be quite entertaining hearing the morning crew bantering.

They also have provided (to my ears) better primary coverage at night... that is to say, coverage of the primaries, not primary signal coverage vs secondary signal coverage...

...I think they put caffeine in the pimento cheese spread...

 

[Da Judge]

Nightaire...I'm sure glad you have You Tube to play with. Does your boss know how you're spending your time?

In reference to your comment about stations having no ratings and great sales, shows that you've not been in the business very long. If your in a small market that might work, but not in markets that are competitve like Tulsa. People don't tune into radio stations to listen to a lot of clutter and commercials...get it? People listen to station because they're complelling to listen to or, in the case of music stations, they like the music. Hence, KFAQ, including their morning show, isn't compelling to listen to.

Myself, I'm enjoying Gingery Fish Kabobs right now.

 

[Radio55]

Yep, you guys are on Radio Diets, that's for sure.

 

[Bob Oshea]

Uh, 1170's in deep doo-doo. Which is what the original tenor of this thread was about. They may not go back to Classic Country, but it needs a major over-haul. Did anybody take a peek at the Fall book? I wonder if their management did?

Dear Judge-
As a former employee of Journal Broadcast Group Tulsa, I can assure you that management is acutely aware of the numbers. Just so you know, and knowledge is something you can't possibly get enough of, the blame does not fall on the former PD. I worked with him my last seven years in radio, three years with him as PD. If he hadn't been hamstringed, trip mined, bear trapped and back stabbed for his tenure as Program Director he could have been a pretty darned good director. I've said this before, the last time far less harshly, that if the GM hadn't wanted to be the PD too, then maybe RDH2 could have flourished and become a first rate manager. I felt sorry for him. I don't know anybody who would have traded places with him. His is a very happy ending. He landed on his feet with a Fortune 500 top 20 rated corporation and is doing very well. In fact, he's already being considered for promotion. While he was being beaten over the head by everybody and their goddamned brother, he was developing a corporate polish you wouldn't believe. Hell, I'm proud of the guy.
On to another subject, if your Honor will allow.....I've figured out who you are. I will not devulge that info out of professional courtesy and because, if you are who I think you are, I think you are among the top 10 v/o talents in the nation. You also have a track record for being a fantastic program director. I wish you could have stayed where you were because I enjoyed listening to you. You are one savy industry dude. I was furious over the treatment you received and if I had been signing the paychecks, the person who treated you so rudely, who represented his company so terribly, would have been terminated immediately. Anyway, lighten up on me......I'm a retired jock/freelance v/o guy and I hate it when I'm fragged.
If it please the court, we really should do lunch with the Ol' Hoot Owl next week.

I Love Your Money,
Bob O'Shea

 

[Da Judge]

Oh really Mr. O'Shea. So you and I have walked on similiar hallowed ground?...mmm,maybe. The Ole Hoot Owl and I go way back, in markets not of this region. I don't think the Ole Hoot Owl knows who this is, so let's keep your little premonition between us okay. Your motion to do lunch sounds good, but in a while. I have projects I'm working on that will take me out town, but never far away from this little band of radio-tikes.

Now Bob, I think I shall sit back and enjoy a nice cup of Rooibos African Red Bush Tea.

 

[Bob Oshea]

Nightaire...I'm sure glad you have You Tube to play with. Does your boss know how you're spending your time?

In reference to your comment about stations having no ratings and great sales, shows that you've not been in the business very long. If your in a small market that might work, but not in markets that are competitve like Tulsa. People don't tune into radio stations to listen to a lot of clutter and commercials...get it? People listen to station because they're complelling to listen to or, in the case of music stations, they like the music. Hence, KFAQ, including their morning show, isn't compelling to listen to.

Myself, I'm enjoying Gingery Fish Kabobs right now.

I thinks it's more like you're swilling gin and eating fish sticks!!! ;D

 

[Bob Oshea]

Oh really Mr. O'Shea. So you and I have walked on similiar hallowed ground?...mmm,maybe. The Ole Hoot Owl and I go way back, in markets not of this region. I don't think the Ole Hoot Owl knows who this is, so let's keep your little premonition between us okay. Your motion to do lunch sounds good, but in a while. I have projects I'm working on that will take me out town, but never far away from this little band of radio-tikes.

Now Bob, I think I shall sit back and enjoy a nice cup of Rooibos African Red Bush Tea.

Let me know when you get back. Would love to have lunch and catch up and pick your brain over a really great lunch in a place that doesn't have cuspidors. Man I was just getting to know you, but never could get into any lengthy conversation bcause I was always on the air when I'd run into you. Premonition safe.

Your Buddy,
O'Shea

 

[GeneSavage]

Da Judge, I don't know what great talent you are and I don't know what great experience you have but I DO have the idea somebody whizzed in your post toasties... maybe when you were a kid, maybe daily.

More likely corporate radio has shoved IT up your London Dairy Air for years and you take it out on people on this board... I don't know. But you, sir, are WRONG on these cases, and I don't care of you're Casey Casem or Jesus Christ.

#1, I wasn't at work when I was playing on YouTube; surely you have been in radio long enough to know we work odd hours and keep strange schedules? Oh, wait, are you a suit in an office? Then you wouldn't know anything about weekends, overnight, holdiays, double-shifts, etc., would you?

#2, I've been in the business for twenty years, and I've been studying radio from a distance for fifteen years before that... don't tell ME I haven't been in the business, and don't tell me low ratings can't make money.

How does KCFO survive? How do the sports talk stations survive? How does KNYD survive? How does public radio survive?

Look at what Bill Payne did with K-Fox 103.3... the station sounded like an Edison Cylinder and the ratings stayed in the toilet yet he made good money and ended up selling it to Cox for a tidy sum.

Why don't the staffs of KRMG, KWEN and KMOD all make 6-figure salaries?

And if people don't listen through clutter, why is KRMG on top?

Because it's NOT just the commercials and clutter, because numbers DON'T always mean pass or fail on the finances... do YOU get it?

Also, what I hear in the mornings is LESS clutter and commercials on KFAQ than KRMG. KRMG has music beds for their music beds and sponsors for their sweepers.

That doesn't mean they're going to win, either... it just means that I enjoy listening to them... nothing more, nothing less. KRMG wins on cume, KFAQ may or may not win in TSL, because they are providing polarizing perspective which can absolutely drive listeners away no matter HOW entertaining you are.


I appreciate your desire to "put me in my place," but know what you're talking about next time, m'kay? Thx.

...and Bob, I admire you greatly... but I do NOT see what you see in this... guy. If this guy is as big as you say he is, somebody needs to fill me in before I say something guaranteeing I'll "never work1 in this town again!"

 

[BehindTheLines]

I've kind of got to agree that Da Judge has been kind of pissy to more than one of us on the board. In reality, perhaps most of us would give him a pass on this if we knew who he was. But in anonymity without the weight of his resume to give him credibility, he just sounds like a jerk. Da Judge MAY be a great guy. But you wouldn't know it by reading the board.

I know Nightaire, I've been friends with Nightair for about 12 years and he KNOWS radio. He started in radio one year before I did. He lives it and breathes it. Frankly, there are few in Tulsa who LOVE the medium as much as he LOVES it. He'd do it for free if he had to. In fact, he has on a few occasions. But that's a different story.

It really was kind of funny to me (see: silly) to see someone telling HIM he doesn't know radio.

 

[Bob Oshea]

Dear Nightaire and Behindthelines-

You'll just have to take my word for this, Da Judge is rolling on the floor over all the flap he's stirring up. He gets a kick out of it. Yeah, I know who he is, no I ain't tellin' and he's just having some sick fun in his unique sick little way. I shall punish him with the lunch bill.
No, Da Judge is really a great dude who, for reasons known only to the criminally insane, enjoys stirring up a big stink. It is the way of the Jedi/Shaolin Veteran Major Market Director/Major Idustry Voice Talent. I think work just slowed a bit. Now that it's picked back up for him he'll have to put down the swizzle stick and pick up the earphones and start running that world class voice of his through a Nueman U89. Like Mothman, we probably won't be hearing from this six million dollar man for awhile.

Love to All,
Dirty Uncle Bob :

 

[Da Judge]

Mercy, I'm greatly humbled by such passion and ground-breaking analogy here. Just got back in town, thanks NightAire. I most certainly don't mean to show a modicum of pendantry here, but I do find it very amusing that a few of those who participate with this boards have a tendency to be in there own blight world.

So NightAire, I trust you've seen the financials of the aforementioned radio stations and and atest to how successful they really are or were?

First Cox paid way too much money for the Payne properties, probably a weak moment during the buying frinzy years ago. Secondly, sure KRMG is designed for cume, that's what their so-called News-Wheel is supposed to do. And NightAire, the reason why KRMG is doing so well is that KFAQ is doing so bad, so KRMG is winning by default, not because of a well-structered and excuted radio station. Did you ever think of that?

How do stations like KCFO and KNYD survive...it's called satellite and paid programming. Uh, let's see NightAire don't see them way up there in the money demos. And I could go on...

So Nightaire and Behindthelines...get out in the sun every chance you get now, ya' haer?????

 

[GeneSavage]

Oh, my, Da Judge, your mocking and condescending tone have broken my spirit and my will. What was I ever doing bringing forth facts when you can cut so deeply with your words?

I'm not sure what a blight world is, but obviously you as always are correct and I'm sure I'm the one living in it and not you. I'm down in the trenches, you're able to jet out of town for a couple of weeks... obviously you are much more in touch with both the radio biz and the listener than I could EVER be.

As a matter of fact, I HAVE see the financials of the aforementioned stations, and have already attested to how successful they really are... how about YOU?

Cox did NOT pay too much for the Payne properties; Star has been wildly successful for them and has not only made money but been used to successfully attack KMOD to help keep K95 and KRMG on top... you DID know that's what they were doing, didn't you, oh mighty judge?

KRMG has been at the top for DECADES and has nothing to do with KFAQ. Are you trying to tell me people are listening to KRMG because they DON'T like KFAQ? C'mon, even YOU are brighter than that. KRMG does what they do better than anybody else in town. Could it be done better? Of course it could... but chances are if you and I were discussing formats over a beer instead of poking each other in the eyes, we'd probably agree most stations in town could be tweaked to pull a bigger share.

Thanks for doubting my reasoning abilities again; of course I thought KRMG could be winning by defaut, but that's not the case. If they were truly awful, every music station in town would beat them. That's not the case.

You tell me KCFO & KNYD survive through satellite and paid programming when earlier you told me stations only succeeded when they built a big audience; now which is it??? Plus, will satellite pay the electric bill? Maybe you know something I don't about PSO...

ANYBODY with money is a money demo. KNYD is makin' SWEET money... I'd say they're hittin' dead center of THEIR money demo.

Regarding getting out into the sun: I don't need any more sun, and it sounds to me like you've been out in the sun TOO long! Don't they have some pompous radio ego nursing home for you to retire to?

Your inability to see beyond your own golden throat shows in your comments about BehindTheLines; trust me, he would not have gotten to where he is today were he even half as clueless as you seem to think he is. The man is BRIGHT, an excellent broadcast strategist, with a mighty set of pipes, highly in demand.

The area where he stands head and shoulders above you, sir, is that he has a heart of gold and truly respects and admires those around him in the business, knowing he is more than just his voice.

You strike me as hollow, a man so wrapped up in his own ability to make girls swoon (40 years ago) that all you have left to do is look down on us "poor fools."

Whatever gets you through the night, [EDIT].

I'm done. I'd hoped for honest discussion about radio, but that was obviously too much to hope for.


[EDIT-inflammatory]

 

[jackd]

Give up, NightAire...you will always be wrong no matter how much sense you make. I don't know this Judge guy but I'm guessing he's the guy who's always right. Just ask him...I'll sure he'll agree! ;D

I've known NightAire going on 16 or 17 years & he has been known for helping me in radio. He's full of knowledge & to assume he doen't know what he's talking about is dumb!!!

NightAire, take the high road with this guy. You have no reason to defend yourself!!!

 

[Don62]

KRMG has been at the top for DECADES and has nothing to do with KFAQ. Are you trying to tell me people are listening to KRMG because they DON'T like KFAQ? C'mon, even YOU are brighter than that. KRMG does what they do better than anybody else in town. Could it be done better? Of course it could... but chances are if you and I were discussing formats over a beer instead of poking each other in the eyes, we'd probably agree most stations in town could be tweaked to pull a bigger share.


[EDIT-inflammatory]

You've got to be kidding. Running plug and play programming, aka leaving the station on "auto pilot."

What kind of broadcasting is a station that's too lazy to invest in real talent and instead pulls nearly everything off the satellite?

If that's the definition of success, radio is in real trouble.

KRMG IMHO sounds like a shell of itself.

The greats like John Ehrling and Anne Williams were in a different stratosphere compared to the "generic" national hosts on that signal now.

 

[Bob Oshea]

KRMG has been at the top for DECADES and has nothing to do with KFAQ. Are you trying to tell me people are listening to KRMG because they DON'T like KFAQ? C'mon, even YOU are brighter than that. KRMG does what they do better than anybody else in town. Could it be done better? Of course it could... but chances are if you and I were discussing formats over a beer instead of poking each other in the eyes, we'd probably agree most stations in town could be tweaked to pull a bigger share.


[EDIT-inflammatory]

You've got to be kidding. Running plug and play programming, aka leaving the station on "auto pilot."

What kind of broadcasting is a station that's too lazy to invest in real talent and instead pulls nearly everything off the satellite?

If that's the definition of success, radio is in real trouble.

KRMG IMHO sounds like a shell of itself.

The greats like John Ehrling and Anne Williams were in a different stratosphere compared to the "generic" national hosts on that signal now.

Amen Brother-
A lot of the problem with the over all perception of the state of radio, including KRMG, is generational. Some of these young radio people weren't around when radio was radio. I applaud their talent as well as their youthful hope. But I also feel very sorry for them. You are right Don, John Ehrling, Anne Williams, Denver Fox and a very large number of other truly great broadcasters have come and gone through 740 as well as the other stations. Each year the opportunites, like disappearing coastlines, become less worth the drive. Truly sad to see radio where it is today and it is not unique to Tulsa. Radio is in big financial trouble nationwide. Todays young college student going for a career path that pays a salary worth the salt put into it. I remember six figure midday air personalities in Tulsa radio. I remember six figure morning people in Tulsa. Why would anybody with the intelligence to be on the air want to waste his or her productive youth in such a cadaverous industry? Here's a news flash for ya......they're not selling buggy whips anymore.

Bob O'Shea

 

[GeneSavage]

Don & Bob,

You'll find no argument from me that radio is in real trouble. It drives me crazy that there are now so many more places I can go to get news, weather and traffic, so what does KRMG do? LESS immediate weather, news and traffic. Try tuning in at 2am, or on a weekend, and good luck finding out why the wind's picked up, or when the lights are coming back on, or what all the sirens are about, or what that smell is.

I understand why they put the morning show on in the afternoon when they have advance warning on a storm, but I'm not convinced it's best for the station, nor do I think it's the solution to their morning numbers.

Local content is the only thing that will save broadcast radio, and I don't see any of the big boys doing that. Jerry DelColliano http://insidemusicmedia.blogspot.com/ (along with others like Mark Ramsey http://www.hear2.com/ ) has been sounding the alarm for a while about radio's self-devouring nature, but so far it seems like mega-corporations and Wall Street are refusing to listen. They ignore his advice at their own peril.

Having said all of this, I still stand by my original statement: "...better than anybody else." I think they could be beaten, but it would take a lot of money, a lot of talent, and a lot of time and I don't think any of the mega-corporations have the cash, (upper management) talent, or patience to do it. As long as that's the case, KRMG wins.

I suppose it could be summed up by saying, "a stick in the eye is better than a shotgun blast to the chest." ;D

 

[Tim L]

Hello Folks:
On the topic:Would love to see 1170 be Classic Country again, though I've never been to Tulsa, I used to listen online to the old KTTS-1260 in Springfield, Mo. There is nothing like it in NE Ohio..On another note, I've enjoyed meeting some of the older Tulsa air talent by reading this thread..very entertaining..

Tim Lones
Canton, Ohio

Wishing someone would take a chance on a Classic Country Format in Akron/Canton, Ohio