Now that I've had a few more hours to listen to 106.7, and to try and get over my initial disappointment and bitterness about the format selection, I realize a couple of things that have cheered me up a little.
First, I've complained in the past about the lack of research done by our broadcast companies, but in this case Clear Channel apparently took some sort of survey, and its findings confirmed what I have been telling program directors and general managers for years -- that the Central Ohio radio industry was underserving a large segment of our area's rock and roll fans. None of these executives believed me then. Maybe they believe me now.
Secondly, when you think about it, our new station's "pop-rock-alternative combination" (as described by John Crenshaw to the Dispatch) is a phrase that sounds eerily similar to the "oldies-classic rock-alternative combination" that I have been touting! He and 106.7 also seem to be going with my "non-hit" philosophy, as I know that the station has played close to a dozen different songs by bands like Nirvana and U2 so far, and aren't limiting themselves to the same two or three tunes by each group that other stations have played to death.
So let's see, they've got a similarly-worded blend to mine, they've got a 30-year chunk of music that has a 15-year overlap with my 30-year chunk, and they've got my same freewheeling "lots-of-songs-by-lots-of-bands" attitude. Oh well, look at the bright side, Tim -- at least they didn't steal your "Spirit 106.7" moniker and its attendant slogans. Man, if that had happened, I would've REALLY been disappointed and bitter. And probably seen them in court.
In spite of all of these similarities, it's still a classic case of so close and yet so far. Clear Channel is using my ideas, but they're still not getting it right. Any station that would like to get it right, please feel free to contact me. I'd contact you, but let's face it -- the ball's been in your court for some time now!