Has anyone heard rumblings that Mat Diablo & Co. might be on the way out at 91X? The show has clearly lost something since Mahoney was laid off some months back, and it seems as if they've moved more towards playing music and less towards the comic segments and stoner jokes that have been a staple of the show since its inception. It's to the point where almost half of the show's airtime is dedicated to playing music now--even a few months ago, less than a third of the show's airtime involved playing songs. It just seems as if they're being phased out, and if they are, that's disappointing. They're the best on-air personalities that 91X has, and I question/fear who would replace them if they left (Christy Taylor's Really Big, Really Annoying Morning Show anyone?)
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91X Morning Show
- Thread starter J_School_Washout
- Start date
Mr. Washout -
While you are correct in noticing 91X is playing a lot more music in the morning (especially in the 9 o'clock hour) I think it must be pointed out that Mat Diablo is the only person on 91X with any talent. The rest (including his hapless sidekicks) are just warm bodies. For you to claim that the loss of Mahoney was a bad thing is silly. When he was booted, no one noticed. In fact Mr. Washout, you would be the first person in a year to lament the loss of Mr. Mahoney. I hope that you are in fact not Mahoney. I think before he came to do mornings at 91X he was the overnight guy in Reno (not making this up).
Nighttime DJ Christy Taylor came her from Albany which I think is market number 1,031. So did Capone who now does afternoons at 91X and is the PD. The mid-day guy named Mookie was a part-timer before they fired Steve West so they could make him their $12/hour mid-day guy.
There are so many talented people out there who could come to 91X and turn that station around. But instead they are relying this third-string minimum wage crew. Revenge of the Interns. Sounds like the premise for a movie.
While you are correct in noticing 91X is playing a lot more music in the morning (especially in the 9 o'clock hour) I think it must be pointed out that Mat Diablo is the only person on 91X with any talent. The rest (including his hapless sidekicks) are just warm bodies. For you to claim that the loss of Mahoney was a bad thing is silly. When he was booted, no one noticed. In fact Mr. Washout, you would be the first person in a year to lament the loss of Mr. Mahoney. I hope that you are in fact not Mahoney. I think before he came to do mornings at 91X he was the overnight guy in Reno (not making this up).
Nighttime DJ Christy Taylor came her from Albany which I think is market number 1,031. So did Capone who now does afternoons at 91X and is the PD. The mid-day guy named Mookie was a part-timer before they fired Steve West so they could make him their $12/hour mid-day guy.
There are so many talented people out there who could come to 91X and turn that station around. But instead they are relying this third-string minimum wage crew. Revenge of the Interns. Sounds like the premise for a movie.
Aren't ALL morning shows on the radio around the country making their DJs talk less and play more music? The morning show on 91X is probably more exciting than the borefest Chris Cantore ever had. San Diego is now a PPM market, 91X is trying to boost up their ratings and if that means making Matt Diablo shut up for a little bit, that's what they'll do. 91X actually produced some pretty good talent, Steven Kallao, Jennifer White and Steve West are all pretty talented at what they do.
yes...Kallao, west and white are all good people. BUT THEY AREN"T ON 91X ANYMORE. Except for Diablo you've got a whole bunch of warm bodies holding down the fort. This place could go off if they just pulled in some talent.
Voice of Reason,
Let me clarify myself a bit here. I like Mat Diablo. I agree that he's definitely the best 91X has. In fact, I listen to 91X in the mornings on my way to work, and some combination of 101.5 (which has, imo, the best DJs in San Diego), 105.3, and XX 1090 the rest of the day. I actually like the sidekick trio of Carlos, Sammi and Preston, though I doubt any of them would be nearly as entertaining without Diablo playing ringmaster.
I did like Mahoney. He was often an inflammatory element, and the rants he and Diablo would coax out of each other were a good deal of fun. You're right, the show has gone on without him, and like you, I doubt that it would have continued had Mahoney been the one kept. I still enjoyed his rants, though, and he was better at pissing Diablo off than any of the current goofballs are.
As to the rest of the 91X crew, Mookie seems like a nice-enough guy, but he's blah as a DJ. I miss Steve West. Christy Taylor is like nails on a freakin' chalkboard, and her habit of ending every sentence with "91X?" makes me want to take a shotgun to my radio, am I right 91X? Capone might as well be the male equivalent of Taylor--he's every bit as hyperactive and annoying.
It's one thing if one station intern lands an on-air spot when their internship ends. It's something else entirely when all three morning show sidekicks and the midday guy started out as interns--and it suggests that the station is looking for talent on the cheap. I also find it somewhat comical (in a sad way) that Mat Diablo regularly jokes that everyone at 91X has to hold down a second job to stay afloat--and actually means it.
And no, for future reference, I'm not Mahoney, although Diablo did refer to me as a "kindred spirit" of his when I called in last year to request a song that I hate be played purely to piss another listener off.
Let me clarify myself a bit here. I like Mat Diablo. I agree that he's definitely the best 91X has. In fact, I listen to 91X in the mornings on my way to work, and some combination of 101.5 (which has, imo, the best DJs in San Diego), 105.3, and XX 1090 the rest of the day. I actually like the sidekick trio of Carlos, Sammi and Preston, though I doubt any of them would be nearly as entertaining without Diablo playing ringmaster.
I did like Mahoney. He was often an inflammatory element, and the rants he and Diablo would coax out of each other were a good deal of fun. You're right, the show has gone on without him, and like you, I doubt that it would have continued had Mahoney been the one kept. I still enjoyed his rants, though, and he was better at pissing Diablo off than any of the current goofballs are.
As to the rest of the 91X crew, Mookie seems like a nice-enough guy, but he's blah as a DJ. I miss Steve West. Christy Taylor is like nails on a freakin' chalkboard, and her habit of ending every sentence with "91X?" makes me want to take a shotgun to my radio, am I right 91X? Capone might as well be the male equivalent of Taylor--he's every bit as hyperactive and annoying.
It's one thing if one station intern lands an on-air spot when their internship ends. It's something else entirely when all three morning show sidekicks and the midday guy started out as interns--and it suggests that the station is looking for talent on the cheap. I also find it somewhat comical (in a sad way) that Mat Diablo regularly jokes that everyone at 91X has to hold down a second job to stay afloat--and actually means it.
And no, for future reference, I'm not Mahoney, although Diablo did refer to me as a "kindred spirit" of his when I called in last year to request a song that I hate be played purely to piss another listener off.
91X just showed an uptick in the ratings
There is hope for 91X, but it seems like there isn't anyone running the place who is competent enough or who gives a crap. 91X used to be a major force piloted by driven, creative people. Now its a place for interns and underachievers from Albany to hang out and get a pay check. Please Finest City, get someone in there who can make that place cook again. You are on a roll with 92/5 and the future looks really good for Z90. But find someone who can pull it together for the station that looks like your throwaway station. Mat Diablo can not do it by himself. But if he had a strong support crew, he could be the light in the front of a train. There are people in town and out of town who could come in and take care of business. I'm talking DJ's, promotions, marketing and imaging. You don't have to spend much money. Just some effort! We have a Walrus in town. 91X could now be nicknamed Radio Flounder. But it doesn't to be.
There is hope for 91X, but it seems like there isn't anyone running the place who is competent enough or who gives a crap. 91X used to be a major force piloted by driven, creative people. Now its a place for interns and underachievers from Albany to hang out and get a pay check. Please Finest City, get someone in there who can make that place cook again. You are on a roll with 92/5 and the future looks really good for Z90. But find someone who can pull it together for the station that looks like your throwaway station. Mat Diablo can not do it by himself. But if he had a strong support crew, he could be the light in the front of a train. There are people in town and out of town who could come in and take care of business. I'm talking DJ's, promotions, marketing and imaging. You don't have to spend much money. Just some effort! We have a Walrus in town. 91X could now be nicknamed Radio Flounder. But it doesn't to be.
give or take.
more or less
more or less
Based upon your last reply VOR, it is crystal clear to me that you have exactly zero idea what goes on daily at 91X - or for that matter Finest City Broadcasting as a whole. I'm sure every single hard-working, creative and passionate member of my staff would take great exception to your comments. I certainly do.
And while I'd love to sit here all day and go back & forth, I have a radio station to run. One that, despite your own myopic perception, a lot of people actually enjoy. Were you to have access to all of the SD Arbitron numbers, you'd understand what I'm talking about.
As I said before, you can reach me anytime at 858-499-1708 or [email protected]. How easy it must be to hide behind a website chat board handle and throw stones? Kudos to you.
P.S. Your writing style seems eerily familiar, I could swear I've read(er) your bile and vitriole in a local publication more than once.
And while I'd love to sit here all day and go back & forth, I have a radio station to run. One that, despite your own myopic perception, a lot of people actually enjoy. Were you to have access to all of the SD Arbitron numbers, you'd understand what I'm talking about.
As I said before, you can reach me anytime at 858-499-1708 or [email protected]. How easy it must be to hide behind a website chat board handle and throw stones? Kudos to you.
P.S. Your writing style seems eerily familiar, I could swear I've read(er) your bile and vitriole in a local publication more than once.
Mr. Capone -
I work in the record industry. Now you see while I will not call you (regarding this matter). But who I am does not matter. I am only offering constructive criticism. I just hope I don't care about your station and your format more than you do. If you want me to stop blogging about XTRA-FM just say so here and I will not mention you or your station again. I know tons of people around the country who would love to come to San Diego.
I work in the record industry. Now you see while I will not call you (regarding this matter). But who I am does not matter. I am only offering constructive criticism. I just hope I don't care about your station and your format more than you do. If you want me to stop blogging about XTRA-FM just say so here and I will not mention you or your station again. I know tons of people around the country who would love to come to San Diego.
A) Being in the record industry has no bearing on whether or not you can personally engage with me regarding 91X. That's as flimsy an excuse as they come.
B) I'm skeptical that we do actually communicate with any regularity. If we did, there's no way you would suggest that ANYONE cares more about this radio station or this music more than I do. Hyperactive and annoying? Sure. Lacking sincere passion and/or concern for 91X? Not a chance.
C) You have quite an interesting take on what "constructive criticism" is.
D) Of course I want you to stop posting about 91X. Uninformed and jaded is no way to affect change in life, son.
B) I'm skeptical that we do actually communicate with any regularity. If we did, there's no way you would suggest that ANYONE cares more about this radio station or this music more than I do. Hyperactive and annoying? Sure. Lacking sincere passion and/or concern for 91X? Not a chance.
C) You have quite an interesting take on what "constructive criticism" is.
D) Of course I want you to stop posting about 91X. Uninformed and jaded is no way to affect change in life, son.
Fine. I'll go away. I don't think I said anything that wasn't true. I think others agree with my observations, but since you asked, I will keep my 91x opinions to myself.
Wow, talk about taking a shotgun to a hornet's nest.
Capone, for the record, never once did I question your work ethic. Do I particularly care for your DJ style? No. Hell no, in fact, but anyone who has the stones to run a station staffed by interns and still run an on-air shift every day has at least my respect.
91X doesn't pay its people. Diablo rants about it on occasion, and there are several on-air personalities that I've heard at least mention their second job on the radio. The old adage is true. You get what you pay for. The moves 91X has made over the past couple of years indicate that, clearly, Finest City isn't giving you much of a budget to work with. I don't doubt that Christy Taylor could be a good DJ, I just doubt that she was ready for San Diego when she landed here, and I still don't think she's up to par with some of the other nighttime talent around SD. Frankly, she annoys the hell out of me, which is why I'm typically listening to another station during that time frame.
I'm not an industry insider at all, just (as my name indicates) a J-School washout who's the "friend of a friend" of one of your staffers, and it's through conversing with them on occasion and just watching the moves that have been made over there that I've put my thoughts on the station together. It's got a very solid anchor in the morning with Mat Diablo & Co., but beyond that, the talent just isn't there. Don't take that as a crack at anyone's work ethic--if anything, it's more a crack at Finest City's apparent unwillingness to put any money into a station that has the right format to own SD's airwaves. You can't look at the departures of Steve West, Chris Cantore and Jennifer White and tell me with a straight face that those were strictly performance-based. I didn't even include Mahoney's departure in there because, hell, no bones were made about his leaving. Diablo just got on-air without him one day and told the world that he'd been laid off!
Frankly, Capone, I admire your work ethic. Running an under-funded, painfully under-supported operation is much harder than running a station that's been handed a more-or-less blank check by the owners. I'm well-aware that you could never admit to it (and I'd have serious problems with your leadership if you did), but the crew over there between 10:00 AM and 5:30 AM reeks of "the best we can afford" instead of "the best we can find."
Capone, for the record, never once did I question your work ethic. Do I particularly care for your DJ style? No. Hell no, in fact, but anyone who has the stones to run a station staffed by interns and still run an on-air shift every day has at least my respect.
91X doesn't pay its people. Diablo rants about it on occasion, and there are several on-air personalities that I've heard at least mention their second job on the radio. The old adage is true. You get what you pay for. The moves 91X has made over the past couple of years indicate that, clearly, Finest City isn't giving you much of a budget to work with. I don't doubt that Christy Taylor could be a good DJ, I just doubt that she was ready for San Diego when she landed here, and I still don't think she's up to par with some of the other nighttime talent around SD. Frankly, she annoys the hell out of me, which is why I'm typically listening to another station during that time frame.
I'm not an industry insider at all, just (as my name indicates) a J-School washout who's the "friend of a friend" of one of your staffers, and it's through conversing with them on occasion and just watching the moves that have been made over there that I've put my thoughts on the station together. It's got a very solid anchor in the morning with Mat Diablo & Co., but beyond that, the talent just isn't there. Don't take that as a crack at anyone's work ethic--if anything, it's more a crack at Finest City's apparent unwillingness to put any money into a station that has the right format to own SD's airwaves. You can't look at the departures of Steve West, Chris Cantore and Jennifer White and tell me with a straight face that those were strictly performance-based. I didn't even include Mahoney's departure in there because, hell, no bones were made about his leaving. Diablo just got on-air without him one day and told the world that he'd been laid off!
Frankly, Capone, I admire your work ethic. Running an under-funded, painfully under-supported operation is much harder than running a station that's been handed a more-or-less blank check by the owners. I'm well-aware that you could never admit to it (and I'd have serious problems with your leadership if you did), but the crew over there between 10:00 AM and 5:30 AM reeks of "the best we can afford" instead of "the best we can find."
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