Anyone else not like B97.5's new musical direction?

[BRH]

Just wondering, since no one else has really mentioned it. What do you think about WJXB B97.5's new musical direction in the past two or three months? I know some may like it, but personally, I really don't care for it. It might be ok for an adult hits format, but it definately isn't mainstream AC anymore. I'm not sure why Jeff Jarnigan is taking them in this gold based direction. It seems like they are now competing with their own sister station "Jack FM", and at the same time, blowing off the younger end of the audience. And all of this being done when the station already had solid ratings.

There is now a hole a mile wide for a more contemporary based AC format in Knoxville (whether it be a Hot AC or simply a more current focused mainstream AC). While other AC stations seem to be moving more toward a more current and uptempo sound, it seems as if they are taking B97.5 in the opposite direction. I really don't get it.

I really wish someone would put on a station like the new WWFS "Fresh 102.7" in New York City here. THAT is where AC is going and what should be played on that format IMHO. Another really good, more current focused AC is WWRM Tampa. Anyway, I just really don't get the big sudden musical shift to focus on 70's and 80's gold based music. The station had been trending more contemporary over the past couple of years until a few months ago. I hope Jeff Jarnigan doesn't run the ratings into the ground on this station too. (as he did in the past at U102 and Cool 93.1 by insisting on doing 70's based formats.) Seems like he has some sort of fascination or obsession with that decade or something.

Anyway, as I said, the hole for a more contemporary AC is definately huge in Knoxville right now. Someone should fill it soon. If I was Journal, I would move 93.1 in that direction, or if I was Citadel, I would definately have went with some sort of AC format on 98.7. Who knows, maybe South Central is moving B97.5 in this direction because they plan on dumping the "Jack Fm" format on 95.7/106.7 and going Hot AC with it. I know there has been some rumours about a Hot AC type morning show coming to the market somewhere soon.

Guess we'll have to wait and see, but overall, I'm NOT impressed with the new B97.5 and I think it sounded much better and more on target a year ago than today. Any thoughts?

 

[pbf1]

Maybe research pointed in this direction.

 

[GTC]

Hot AC doesn't seem to play well in Knoxville....Mix, River, WOKI, Earl FM's last days, Point...they've all been some incarnation of Hot AC and none of them worked. Seems Star has slid in that direction a bit lately though....Point had a great Spring book from the looks of it with 80s, so I doubt they're going anywhere...Jack's not doing anything, but now they have no Earl to fight so maybe they'll rise, who knows...

I'm with the poster above me, most likely a research move, after changing from Today's Soft Rock to Favorites of Yesterday and Today....

 

[Bring_Back_Real_Radio]

Hot AC doesn't seem to play well in Knoxville....Mix, River, WOKI, Earl FM's last days, Point...they've all been some incarnation of Hot AC and none of them worked. Seems Star has slid in that direction a bit lately though....Point had a great Spring book from the looks of it with 80s, so I doubt they're going anywhere...Jack's not doing anything, but now they have no Earl to fight so maybe they'll rise, who knows...

I'm with the poster above me, most likely a research move, after changing from Today's Soft Rock to Favorites of Yesterday and Today....

Hot AC doesn't seem to play well in Knoxville....Mix, River, WOKI, Earl FM's last days, Point...they've all been some incarnation of Hot AC and none of them worked. Seems Star has slid in that direction a bit lately though....Point had a great Spring book from the looks of it with 80s, so I doubt they're going anywhere...Jack's not doing anything, but now they have no Earl to fight so maybe they'll rise, who knows...

I'm with the poster above me, most likely a research move, after changing from Today's Soft Rock to Favorites of Yesterday and Today....

Something that I have heard time and time again about "Commercial Radio" that has to do with a decision to switch formats.

It seems to always be based on these following things:

1) Research

2) Ratings

3) Commercial Advertisement (mainly the fast buck)

I can understand needing to make a buck, however the problem is most of these companies who own these stations are not willing to wait to establish a station's format, and it's listeners.

Take 100.3 "THE RIVER" for example. I am not a huge fan of the AAA format, however the station was unique and most people seemed to like it because it was different from most "Mainstream" radio stations. However, nothing good lasts very long in most markets these days.

I have to be brutally honest with my next statements.

I am so sick and tired of hearing about "Numbers in books". I could care less about a bunch of stupid freaking ratings. I don't care about how well a station did in the "Spring (etc, etc) book". All I care about is playing good music and having good air talent. That's what listeners want. Most radio stations and their companies are out of touch with the listeners.

However, this is the way radio works:

1) Commercial Radio is for the advertiser,

2) Internet and Satellite Radio is for the listener.

Plus I am sick to death of hearing about radio research. Radio Research is a friggin' joke.

These commercial stations along with management and their owners do not have a clue about what "Real Radio Programming" and music is.

99 percent of the radio stations that I have heard here in Knoxville for the past 15 years have sucked period. There has not been a whole heck of a lot of good radio here in Knoxville at least since 1992 IMO. It started going down hill even back before that year actually.

I honestly think that most people who did not grow up back in the 60's, 70's, and 80's who listen to radio today don't even have a clue what real radio is.

No matter who changes whatever format to whatever format, you will still hear the same select burned out hits from that particular format that have been played over and over again for the past 25 plus years. I am not impressed with any commercial radio station. Online and Satellite radio is where it is at. Commercial Radio just flat out SUCKS!!!!

Plus the radio talent is going down the tubes these days. No such thing as good radio talent anymore, or at least it is hard to find, and it is becoming a very rare thing to find on the air these days.

Look at a copy of the book, "Billboard's Top Pop Singles (1955 to 2001)". I would say that 75 percent of the songs that ever charted on the "HOT 100" between the years 1955 to 2001 do not get any airplay today. As most of you know, there is a heck of a lot more music out there that does not get played anymore. Just because it was not a huge hit does not mean it was not a good song. I would say that most of the more popular music that gets played on the air today, is not that great. The less popular and more obscured songs from the past is your better music IMO.

It's a shame that so many radio stations rely so much on research, ratings, and the fast buck. Radio should be fun. Why not just play any track off of any album? That is the way radio is suppose to be.

As for the 70's and 80's, those are also 2 other decades that had a lot of music that does not get played today. I sometimes wonder if most people believe what they hear on the radio today from those past two decades are the only songs that came out during those two decades (70's and 80's).

As for the newer music of today, most of it is crap. I couldn't stand to play most of today's newer music if I was still a DJ. Seattle Grunge and Hip Hop is what has destroyed the music industry period.

Makes me glad I got out of the business a long time ago.

 

[pbf1]

Satellite radio will implode if they can't merge - and that prospect is not looking good. Too much overhead compared to the return.

Online radio is also close to an implosion, thanks to the rise in rights fees.

(And had everybody liked the River, its ratings would have been much better.)

 

[RussAllen]

"most people seemed to like it" (the River) ?!?

I guess month after month either Arbitron just kept missing those people or those people just wouldn't return diaries.

But wait, Arbitron is just another form of research. Research sucks, today's music sucks, today's talent sucks. Everything sucks except the 60's, 70's 80's channel on XM or Sirius or the internet radio stations. Or maybe we should all just order some old California Airchecks and listen to old Boss Jocks (I gotta admit they were entertaining).

Good thing there are many options for people to listen to.

 

[DoubleC]

Puhlease Educates mees

If B 97 had great #'s with a younger skewing AC and Agencies want younger listeners
than why would you go to a gold based AC skewing Older. I know I know look who is the PD.

I would think that in Knoxville a fresh type of AC would be the way to go. If MYU's trend shows that all 80's ain't the way the maybe MYU you will step in

 

[RMarino]

I am enjoying B-97.5's new direction more everyday. Look at the current AC chart, who really wants to hear that crapola over the great classic hits of the '70s and '80s? You mentioned WWRM in Tampa... I used to live in that area and WWRM was once a great gold-based AC station that eventually drifted more and more current and then became very repetitious. I'm so glad we have an AC here that is not afraid to play older music.

As for the other stations mentioned in this thread, based on what I see, WMYU is doing better with the '80s format than it did as Hot AC, so why change back? As for Jack-FM, sure I could a change there. I like Jack, and would hate to see him leave, but I think strategically, A very hot Hot AC could work there... something that is musically far enough away from B-97.5, and just slightly more adult than Star 102.1

 

[Knoxradiolstnr]

I think alot of the changes at B-97 were to take advantage of the fact that there was no "oldies" station in Knoxville at that time. We did have an AM oldies station but with no advertisement or promotion - not many people knew about it. I was never a "soft rock" fan and therefore rarely listened to B-97. One day while sitting in traffic I was messing with the radio and turned to B-97 and heard Bob Dylan "Knockin On Heaven's Door." That right there caught my attention - and was a fairly regular listener until Earl switched to Oldies. Now, since there is an oldies station in town, B-97 should go back to their regular formula that has worked for all these years. But like the rest of you, I have a feeling that Jarnigan will end up ruining this station. He don't have a good track record in Knoxville at all.

And about the radio personality these days....I agree. You get these people on the radio that show no enthusiasm at all. They are boring to listen too - heck, I'd rather hear all music if they can't do a better job then that. There was an exception....and we all know what that was.....MusicRadio 105.7 WLSQ. It still makes me sick that they done away with that station. Now, the DJ's on WLSQ were fun to listen too. I actually enjoyed and looked foreward to the commercial breaks. I just wish that Citadel would get some live DJ's with personality like that on 98.7 WOKI and keep the Scott Shannon show maybe for nights or something. And the call letters WOKI kinda have that legendary status here in Knoxville. I have thought of so many ways that they could take the historical significance of the WOKI call letters and do alot of creative stuff with it. Too bad I'm not in radio. ha ha.

 

[MusicDoctorRadio]

But like the rest of you, I have a feeling that Jarnigan will end up ruining this station. He don't have a good track record in Knoxville at all.

And the call letters WOKI kinda have that legendary status here in Knoxville. I have thought of so many ways that they could take the historical significance of the WOKI call letters and do alot of creative stuff with it.

Can't say that I agree "Jarnigan does not have a good track record in Knoxville at all".

I know this was a long time ago, however I think Jarnigan did one heck of a job back when he was the PD of the original WOKI, which was from 1984 to 1985. He was also responsible for bringing legendary shock jock "Shotgun Stevens" to Knoxville back in 1984.

As for the WOKI calls having a legendary status here in Knoxville, they should've kept the calls on 100.3 and left WNOX on AM-990.

 

[ARDONAVINDA]

I think alot of the changes at B-97 were to take advantage of the fact that there was no "oldies" station in Knoxville at that time. We did have an AM oldies station but with no advertisement or promotion - not many people knew about it. I was never a "soft rock" fan and therefore rarely listened to B-97. One day while sitting in traffic I was messing with the radio and turned to B-97 and heard Bob Dylan "Knockin On Heaven's Door." That right there caught my attention - and was a fairly regular listener until Earl switched to Oldies. Now, since there is an oldies station in town, B-97 should go back to their regular formula that has worked for all these years. But like the rest of you, I have a feeling that Jarnigan will end up ruining this station. He don't have a good track record in Knoxville at all.

And about the radio personality these days....I agree. You get these people on the radio that show no enthusiasm at all. They are boring to listen too - heck, I'd rather hear all music if they can't do a better job then that. There was an exception....and we all know what that was.....MusicRadio 105.7 WLSQ. It still makes me sick that they done away with that station. Now, the DJ's on WLSQ were fun to listen too. I actually enjoyed and looked foreward to the commercial breaks. I just wish that Citadel would get some live DJ's with personality like that on 98.7 WOKI and keep the Scott Shannon show maybe for nights or something. And the call letters WOKI kinda have that legendary status here in Knoxville. I have thought of so many ways that they could take the historical significance of the WOKI call letters and do alot of creative stuff with it. Too bad I'm not in radio. ha ha.

I somewhat like how B is doing the Flashback Weekend, I wonder though just how much input Brad Jeffries may have had in either giving birth to it or helping with ideas, Brad is very creative, and digs the 70's. Jarnigan may as well, all though I thought he was more of an 80's fan. Right before 95.7 & 106.7 went Jack FM Brad was filtering in more 70's pop, rock, soul, & disco, and it sounded fresh mixed with the 60's cuts, but they changed soon, and the fresh sound never got a chance to prove itself. I however would enjoy the flashback weekends on B if they really would present it in more of a vintage Top 40 presentation. It is old Top 40 why not nastolgicize it the way those songs were presented when they were new? have the jingle package different sounding than the weekday package so it stands out, more of a hotter vintage sounding package, let those jocks that present that feature let loose a little more, talk in and out of songs while keeping the flow going, I guess sort of "Boss Jock" it without really going over board because it is an AC station after all. But it seems to be working so, you know what they say about that.

Now WOKI 98.7 is soothing the itch that the "oldies" fans need scratching, but they are just salavating for a couple of local air personalities that can deliver a vintage "Boss Jock" style of radio. That station IS missing those key elements! Vintage PAMS package, reverb, fun and exciting jocks, Top of the hour news, fun out on the street promotions even if not million dollar ideas, but exposure, exposure, exposure, get a Boss 302 1972 Mustang with the legendary WOKI calls painted on it, call it the Music Explosion, and drive it around town, to add to the ozone issue(lol had to say it) and have fun, and watch how it becomes Knoxville's new friend, the listeners will support that, if they feel they have a buddy that's taking care of them they will go to bat for the station, trust me! Even Star 102 doesn't sound as exciting and fun as this would. And they are current T-40! Local morning show, local afternoon, mid days would be nice local too. Get those daypart local traffic reports on, but it is Citadel. Which is why it will stay Scott Shannon 24 7. Too bad, I see great potential on a stick that doesn't have the best coverage, it could only improve it. All the dis believers will say, "you can't find jocks that can deliver that style of radio anymore." Well what about those Music Radio jocks on WLSQ? They did it! You may say, " A legend jock won't come back to town if there is minimal pay." Again the Music Radio jocks were working in Crossville for cryin' out loud, you know they weren't getting payed well, any bit more would be a welcoming for them. It could still be decent money for someone like them, where as a legendary Knoxville guy from the heydays would command an un believable amount to come. There are jocks out there that would jump at the chance to do a Music Radio style of presentation, that would ask for reasonable money to do it. Oh well, just enjoy SS 247 he's not bad, he does lack enthusiasm however but, 24 7? At least Solid Gold is back in K-Town, it has it's place there, it really does get embraced.

 

[ratman2005]

Is the B voicetracked at night 7 - midnight during the Flashback Weekends? Just curious, never listened too closely for an extended period of time. Mike Beverley does a great job with the Friday night jocking regardless.

 

[Knoxradiolstnr]

I absolutely LOVE your ideas for 98.7. Yes! That is the main reason Oldies never really made it in Knoxville in the past. They had this exciting music and the DJ's that the stations did have just kinda dragged through it but I agree with you 100%! If they would get the vintage jingles and get the DJ's to deliver the music in that vintage way.....heck....they might even get some of the young kids to listen to this stuff! And I love the Mustang idea.....even have a contest to give one away! Why these big radio execs don't want to do this I will never know. It kinda makes you wonder how stupid those people are ! The bad thing about Citadel is that their only concern is their big green frog. As long as it does ok, that's all that matters to them.

 

[RussAllen]

But like the rest of you, I have a feeling that Jarnigan will end up ruining this station. He don't have a good track record in Knoxville at all.

And the call letters WOKI kinda have that legendary status here in Knoxville. I have thought of so many ways that they could take the historical significance of the WOKI call letters and do alot of creative stuff with it.

Can't say that I agree "Jarnigan does not have a good track record in Knoxville at all".

I know this was a long time ago, however I think Jarnigan did one heck of a job back when he was the PD of the original WOKI, which was from 1984 to 1985. He was also responsible for bringing legendary shock jock "Shotgun Stevens" to Knoxville back in 1984.

As for the WOKI calls having a legendary status here in Knoxville, they should've kept the calls on 100.3 and left WNOX on AM-990.

Wait? So his good track record is one good year? I'm confused, and it doesn't take much lol ;D

 

[MusicDoctorRadio]

Wait? So his good track record is one good year? I'm confused, and it doesn't take much lol ;D
[/quote]

That was just my opinion of the job Jarngian did at WOKI back 22 years ago. I think he did one heck of a job back when he was the PD. I just hate that it was so short lived. I believe Shotgun (Doc) also felt the same way at the time.

Back when Jacor bought U-102 (Which of course is the station now known as STAR 102.1) back in 1985, they decided to hire Jeff Jarnigan to do afternoons and C.P. to do mornings. Jacor wanted the station to be more competitive in the Knoxville market. They also relocated it's studios from Sevierville to West Knoxville a year later in 1986.

I believe Doc (Shotgun) would've stayed at WOKI longer if Jarnigan had not left, and went to U-102 to do afternoon drive.

 

[MusicDoctorRadio]

I absolutely LOVE your ideas for 98.7. Yes! That is the main reason Oldies never really made it in Knoxville in the past. They had this exciting music and the DJ's that the stations did have just kinda dragged through it but I agree with you 100%! If they would get the vintage jingles and get the DJ's to deliver the music in that vintage way.....heck....they might even get some of the young kids to listen to this stuff! And I love the Mustang idea.....even have a contest to give one away! Why these big radio execs don't want to do this I will never know. It kinda makes you wonder how stupid those people are ! The bad thing about Citadel is that their only concern is their big green frog. As long as it does ok, that's all that matters to them.

I have to admit those are great ideas.

Of course I'm sure it's a safe bet it will never happen. :-[

 

[RussAllen]

I believe Doc (Shotgun) would've stayed at WOKI longer if Jarnigan had not left, and went to U-102 to do afternoon drive.

As much as Doc (Shotgun) enjoyed working at WOKI, and he told me it was great times I don't know that he would have stayed. Think about it; morning drive in Orlando, Florida when you could buy a 3BR/2BA 1,500 SQ FT house w/ a 2 car garage, fenced in yard, screeened in patio for $87k (it's now worth $235k), GREAT weather in the winter, great beaches 45 minutes away, world class theme parks...OR stay in Knoxville.

If u were Doc's friend u woulda helped him pack ;D

 

[MusicDoctorRadio]

I believe Doc (Shotgun) would've stayed at WOKI longer if Jarnigan had not left, and went to U-102 to do afternoon drive.

As much as Doc (Shotgun) enjoyed working at WOKI, and he told me it was great times I don't know that he would have stayed. Think about it; morning drive in Orlando, Florida when you could buy a 3BR/2BA 1,500 SQ FT house w/ a 2 car garage, fenced in yard, screeened in patio for $87k (it's now worth $235k), GREAT weather in the winter, great beaches 45 minutes away, world class theme parks...OR stay in Knoxville.

If u were Doc's friend u woulda helped him pack ;D

I agree with you Russ. I don't think Doc would've stayed here permanently either. I just think he would've stayed just a little bit longer than what he did if Jarnigan hadn't left.

I'm sure he told you about the guy who replaced Jarnigan as PD which was one of the reasons why he left in early '86. Plus he got offered a better deal up in Louisville too. I'm sure he has shared the story with you.

Yeah, Doc told me one time that he did not miss winter weather. LOL!

 

[BRH]

Yeah, Jarnigan is doing such a great job that "B97.5" just trended down to it's lowest book in several years! I still stand by what I said originally. The station is NOT going in a direction that it needs to be going as a mainstream AC station. It sounded much better and a lot more on target a year or two ago before the weird eclectic mix of gold tracks was added. They need to go back to being a pure mainstream AC as they were before and return to a more current and more female focused format (that means dumping the adult hits/variety hits type gold that they are now playing that often is not very female friendly at all). Currently, they sound like an "all over the road" mess, with odd music segues that just don't work. They sound like they are trying to be "Jack FM" instead of an AC.

I still say that Jarnigan is driving this stations ratings into the ground (just as he did at Cool 93.1 and U102 in the past). I know the guy must really love the 70's gold, and that's great. He should listen to it personally, or go progam a classic hits station, but don't ruin a mainstream AC and get it completely off track just because of personal likes. Just my two cents. (And with the new ratings book, the AC hole in Knoxville grows even BIGGER by the moment. Huge opportunity out there right now for Journal or Citadel.)

 

[Boogie Man]

You have hardly a clue what you speak of. Jarnigan is implementing a plan larger than him. SC is a research driven company. They use some gut, but not all gut. These trends are a result of what they've seen in research I would guess and this is why a few weeks ago you began to hear the tweak. I worked with Jarnigan many years ago and he's a good programmer and an even better programmer when he's following solid research. He knows Knoxville and he happens to be the pd...YOU are not BRH.