Mike Gavin certainly helped build G Rock Radio into what it is today. I think he could have made it even stronger if he really exert more influence and the suits over at Press weren't a bunch of power-hungry wolves that put demands on the station ("Nothing heavier than Three Days Grace! Don't play anything from that obscure weirdo Morrissey - play those nice dumb pop kids Panic! At The Disco instead!"). He'll definitely land on his feet somewhere with this experience on his resume.
Hearing about the business practices of Press Comm. makes me want to support them less, even though they are the closest thing to a rock station that we receive loud and clear in Ocean County. True, G Rock Radio may rely big time on consultants, market research, and heavy repetition of their gold titles (is anyone on the planet not sick and tired of "Smells Like Teen Spirit" by now?), but it's our Alternative station.
The radio industry needs to put a stop these big media conglomerates controlling everything within a market. Much like Press themselves did with The Breeze (much better station than WOBM, and now it's winning the ratings wars), I would like to see someone else do an Alternative or Active Rock format that's more listener-friendly than G Rock Radio. A broader library, a good morning show that targets the Male audience, some heavier titles that G Rock shies away from, and a few more currents wouldn't hurt either - oh yeah, drop the market research and take more advice from the audience. Press is filling a void, but they're playing it way too safe with their programming because they know they have no competition. If another company were to come in and start one of these formats, I predict that they would top G Rock Radio (or one of its simulcasters, depending on the power of its signal) within 2 to 3 ratings books.
