Barnes is fired.

[Russy Pelican]

Any program director who could have listened to Barnes after just a month on the air, then see the Arbitron numbers from 4 books, and do nothing to change or improve the presentation in two years should be sent on her merry way as well.

Not likely. Too "in" with CBS brass.

 

[GST Randall]

Any program director who could have listened to Barnes after just a month on the air, then see the Arbitron numbers from 4 books, and do nothing to change or improve the presentation in two years should be sent on her merry way as well.

Yeah, what MORON would do something as stupid as that? What would really be dumb is to take such an idiotic approach with THREE different shows.

Not that I could ever imagine something like that actually happening.

 

[tcsnrayp]

Re: Barnes is fired. And Eric too

Here is the item from RadioOnline:

CBS Radio's WZGC-FM (92.9 Dave FM)/Atlanta morning co-host Steve Barnes (pictured) of Barnes & Firfer and afternoon personality Eric are both out as the Variety Hits outlet moves toward a more music-intensive presentation in both morning and afternoons. Firfer continues to deliver headines in the morning slot now billed as "Dave FM Music Mornings." Overnight talent Sully moves up to afternoons.

 

[deadman]

I wonder since the Buzz is music intensive and 99x is heading that way as well, that DAVE is just following the crowd?

 

[beef]

Check the AllAccess.com coverage of it. The PD basically tries to portray the parting as a mutual decision because Barnes does such a "personality" show. Oh Christ, please. When did that ever happen? Move Mara back to mornings and just be done with it. Now when is 99X going to announce their new show? Think anybody even wants that job??

 

[Dixie Jock]

I think the River station has proven that listeners care more about the music than live people. Their early ratings will no doubt level off. On air people with big egos and alot of nothing to say usually go away quickly on music stations. If one is listening to a music station, they're listening for music. Same thing when it comes to the talk stations. To be a "chatty" morning show on a music station, you better have your stuff together. I know, it's kind of stating the obvious.

 

[Russy Pelican]

I think the River station has proven that listeners care more about the music than live people. Their early ratings will no doubt level off. On air people with big egos and alot of nothing to say usually go away quickly on music stations. If one is listening to a music station, they're listening for music. Same thing when it comes to the talk stations. To be a "chatty" morning show on a music station, you better have your stuff together. I know, it's kind of stating the obvious.

Howard Stern, Opie & Anthony, Lex & Terry, Steve & Vikki, Bob & Sherri, Mancow, Bubba the Love Sponge, Bob & Tom...all shining examples of how nationally -- nobody wants a "chatty" morning show on their music station. :'(

 

[Insideradio]

There will ALWAYS be a place for good morning shows. And the public will weed them out. If they suck, they won't be around for long. There does need to be some kind of farm system though for developing morning talent. You can't just learn on the job like before. Small markets go for syndicated morning shows, and larger markets go for established shows, so where will the next great shows come from?

"Where music matters" - Still shaking my head at this one. You know a bunch of suits, plus one skirt, sat down and came up with this brilliance.

 

[mouthoff]

Well said InsideRadio. Yes, listeners like music. Unfortunately, fewer of them will be coming to radio for it. Apparently, fewer people are coming period. A new study from American Media Studies shows 27% listen less to radio today than 5 years ago. 21% said more. It's not surprising. The likes of Ipods, satellite, downloading, etc. are making it more and more difficult for radio to compete with music that's interlaced with commercial interruptions. New formats like Jack, Dave, The River and the likes of, work for awhile, but their shelf-life are usually limited. On the other hand, shows like The Bert Show, Steve & Vikki, The Regular Guys and Neil Boortz not only last, but can often carry a station.

The bottom-line is that great personalities are the future. And while music-based stations aren't going away, the days of coming up with a really cool way to rotate the same 500 songs over and over again are fading fast. And if anyone still doesn't buy this argument, just wait till wireless internet comes to the car.

 

[upstate29651]

"Where music matters" - Still shaking my head at this one. You know a bunch of suits, plus one skirt, sat down and came up with this brilliance.

I disagree. It's quite commonly used among AAA stations....which could be the direction Dave moved toward? Let's hope so!

G

 

[DashRiprock]

The bottom-line is that great personalities are the future. And while music-based stations aren't going away, the days of coming up with a really cool way to rotate the same 500 songs over and over again are fading fast. And if anyone still doesn't buy this argument, just wait till wireless internet comes to the car.

I agree. I have mp3 player and a CD player in my car. When I want music I have all my favorites available commercial free. I only listen the radio for talk and traffic. WGKA now has the first button on my radio. I've also started listening to The Regular Guys daily downloads and the Pete and Wayne show on mp3. No commercials...

 

[atlrinsider]

The only mutual thing about this decision was the fact that barnes didn't physically hurt anyone or smash anything when told of Dave's decision and was asked to leave. His contract is to be paid out, but make no mistake about it, it was not his choice to leave and nor did he want to leave. Unfortunately for barnes, he IS NOT well liked WITHIN the industry, nor OUTSIDE of it... so it is with bizarre pleasure I tell you that he cried when told of Dave's lack of needing him. Low of me you say? How could I write such a thing? Well, one; it's true, and two; barnes is the type of person, even when down, will be back-stabbing and name-calling. Arrogance is a clumsy virtue, and is never good regardless of whether you're the CEO of a top company, or the guy flippin' burgers... barnes seems to think its a winning virtue. Its not, and it's about time it caught up with him. I realize he has a few friends, and that's fine... but the folks he's spoken badly of when there's no need, and the folks he's not regarded when he should have, far out way his friends. The common factor in all those relationships is him. I know he's reading this, as pretty much all former and current radio employees do. steve... I seriously think, if you would have been more of a team player, and tried to be humble every now and again, you'd have more pals... and you wouldn't have someone like me telling everyone that you cried and were seriously upset when you were told Dave didn't need you. It would really take you being a total ------ in order for someone to say those things, don't you think? You have been, and I am.

Oh, and this particular 'mutual' departing may not completely or at all have much to do with his arrogance, but I can tell you his failure to get his contract renewed at X is. So indirectly, he wouldn't be in this position if it wasn't for his attitude toward work and people.

barnes is the type of guy who has it written in his contracts that you can't say he 'got fired' or they 'didn't want to renew his contract' [or call him 'captain back acne (good goin' Fred)].. make no mistake... X didn't want to renew his contract [even though at the time, he had many months left when told] [oh, and him leaving to do 'movies' was horse-sh*t... you think him or anyone would leave a high paying job, to go into an industry where the failure rate is the one of the highest in any industry?], and Dave wanted him gone, needed him off the air, required him off the air, didn't see a need for him, came to a mutual decision, or let him go... however you want to slice it, he didn't walk in and say 'I don't think there's a need for me'... lets not call it fired, because that's not pc, right? lets make up a new word... BARNESED... pronounced, "barr-nsd." He has fallen victim to his own arrogance.

Bathe in it steve. You deserve it. You're an a**hole, and that's a real shame, because I think and know you have it in you to be humble, you just seem to think you have to be the way you are.

I wouldn't say I know barnes well, I don't.. but I've seen one or two occasions when he was a normal human being. Seriously, I have. But he thinks he needs to a consistent ------... a real shame. Well done steve, it caught up with you.

N

PS. You might notice his name is never once capitalized... that's not a mistake. With the exception of the new verb we came up with.

PSS. and the 'movie thing' his got going is horse sh*t... he's not making money, it doesn't work like that. you have to sell more DVDs than in just one town like Atlanta.. He was on local radio folks, people just below Macon have no idea who barnes, or any of you are.

 

[beef]

Oh my. That was the singlemost sinister post I've ever read on here. Let me never cross atlrinsider. I scared.

 

[anotherlistener2]

I think the River station has proven that listeners care more about the music than live people. Their early ratings will no doubt level off. On air people with big egos and alot of nothing to say usually go away quickly on music stations. If one is listening to a music station, they're listening for music. Same thing when it comes to the talk stations. To be a "chatty" morning show on a music station, you better have your stuff together. I know, it's kind of stating the obvious.

Howard Stern, Opie & Anthony, Lex & Terry, Steve & Vikki, Bob & Sherri, Mancow, Bubba the Love Sponge, Bob & Tom...all shining examples of how nationally -- nobody wants a "chatty" morning show on their music station. :'(

Personally I want all talk or all music, when I used to listen to the Morning X I would change the station when a song came on, that's how I was introduced to the Regular Guys. They don't play music so I listen to them. I'll listen to Cindy & Ray sometimes in the afternoon but as soon as a song comes on I switch and see what the Kimmer is ranting about or selling. If I want all music I'll listen to a cd or flip around looking for music, the River's not bad.
Bob & Tom were horrible (the fake over-laughing was too much) I would probably check out O & A but if they play music I'd go back to the Reg Guys

 

[mrceo]

Judging from the other replies, I don't think Mr. Barnes is going to be missed by anyone. That's somthing we can all agree on right?

 

[evnlee]

Oh my. That was the singlemost sinister post I've ever read on here. Let me never cross atlrinsider. I scared.

me too! I haven't seen a beat down like that since Whitney told Bobby she was leaving him for Osama!

 

[radioriot7]

Atlrinsider... all I have to say is -- WELL DONE!

I only say it - because everything he wrote is 100% true. Karma... it always gets ya.

Ohh... and as far as DAVE's new presentation - it's just to cut the fat and not scare the advertisers - cuz after FOOTBALL - bye bye DAVE. Trust me the Falcons are the ONLY reason that 92.9 is still DAVE.

 

[johnnykool]

The only positive in all this is seeing Sully get a bump up. He's one of the few classy guys in radio that'll give you the shirt off his back during a blizzard. He has long deserved this. GO SULLY GO!

 

[RandomGuy6]

Ohh... and as far as DAVE's new presentation - it's just to cut the fat and not scare the advertisers - cuz after FOOTBALL - bye bye DAVE. Trust me the Falcons are the ONLY reason that 92.9 is still DAVE.

Please, the DAVE presentation and football are a horrible mix. DAVE is too hoity-toity sounding to blend with professional football.

 

[Margo J]

I'm also glad to see Sully moved to afternoons. He's a good guy and I wish him luck.