While I'm all for a good take-down thread every now and then, I thought I would bring some positivity and balance to this board. So, what are everyone's choices for the best moves in Cleveland radio? Some obvious ones IMO would be Majic putting John Lanigan in mornings or WTAM putting Triv on afternoons (regardless of what you think of Triv, you can't deny his ratings dominance.) Let's all get happy!
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Best moves in Cleveland radio
- Thread starter almaniac27
- Start date
1. Robert Conrad making sure WCLV would always have a home. He wanted to make sure the clasical music format would stay on the Cleveland airwaves, so he arranged the big swap of '01 (which is celebrating it's 10th year). Side effects of this include making the 104.9 frequency relevant, and bringing 96.5 into Cleveland.
2. GKB brining 1540 into relevance. I know people are down on it, but it really isn't THAT bad. It gives us another option on the AM side. I've heard KNR2 clear as a bell in Avon during the day.
3. WDOK being a steady, stable outlet in a time of constant change.
4. Mike Snyder and Jim Chones doing yeoman's work filling in for Joe Tait. (and double points to Snyder for still doing the morning show--unless the Cavs are on a long road trip-- on WTAM on top of it)
5. Tom Hamilton and Mike Hegan doing Indians games. They got their routine down pat, and makes listening to this stinking team bearable.
2. GKB brining 1540 into relevance. I know people are down on it, but it really isn't THAT bad. It gives us another option on the AM side. I've heard KNR2 clear as a bell in Avon during the day.
3. WDOK being a steady, stable outlet in a time of constant change.
4. Mike Snyder and Jim Chones doing yeoman's work filling in for Joe Tait. (and double points to Snyder for still doing the morning show--unless the Cavs are on a long road trip-- on WTAM on top of it)
5. Tom Hamilton and Mike Hegan doing Indians games. They got their routine down pat, and makes listening to this stinking team bearable.
Here are my picks for best moves.
WAKS bringing back Kasper and eventually bringing Java Joel to Cleveland (he was on the station before but though voicetracking). That helped stabilized the afternoon-evening weekday/weeknight lineup after years of unstability for several years before on KISS.
WAKS moving to 96.5. Sure, the 100.7 frequency would've been great, but having 96.5 because of the frequency switch was worth it. It helped brought Top 40 back to Cleveland full-time and forced Q104 to compete.
WDOK switching Nancy Alden and Desiray McCray in 2009. For almost a year, Desiray was on middays and Nancy was on afternoons. The station's ratings were going down, but after the switching of the two jocks, the station sounded better and the ratings went up. Also, having Desiray on afternoons gave the PM Drive stability for the first time since Chris Fox left, and following brief stints from Dan Deely and Nancy.
WQAL picking good weekday replacements for those who would leave. Jen Toohey was a good fit replacing Rebecca Wilde, Kory has proven to be a great on-air host after taking over for Rob Kruz, and Heather B. is a good choice filling Jen's slot.
Dave Popovich becoming PD for WQAL and later WDOK as well.
LeeAnn Sommers coming back to Cleveland, this time on WGAR. It was wise to pair a veteran with a newbie (Tim Leary), and LeeAnn is still popular after all these years, even when she was in Denver.
WMMS bringing in Alan Cox. He's proven to be a good fit for the station and a breath of fresh air for Cleveland too, especially in the talk landscape.
WFHM putting Josh Booth on middays replacing a satellite show from Nashville, giving the station a local presence from mornings through afternoons. Plus, Josh is a really good jock, and perfect for the midday slot. Mark Rein is also a good afternoon host too.
WAKS bringing back Kasper and eventually bringing Java Joel to Cleveland (he was on the station before but though voicetracking). That helped stabilized the afternoon-evening weekday/weeknight lineup after years of unstability for several years before on KISS.
WAKS moving to 96.5. Sure, the 100.7 frequency would've been great, but having 96.5 because of the frequency switch was worth it. It helped brought Top 40 back to Cleveland full-time and forced Q104 to compete.
WDOK switching Nancy Alden and Desiray McCray in 2009. For almost a year, Desiray was on middays and Nancy was on afternoons. The station's ratings were going down, but after the switching of the two jocks, the station sounded better and the ratings went up. Also, having Desiray on afternoons gave the PM Drive stability for the first time since Chris Fox left, and following brief stints from Dan Deely and Nancy.
WQAL picking good weekday replacements for those who would leave. Jen Toohey was a good fit replacing Rebecca Wilde, Kory has proven to be a great on-air host after taking over for Rob Kruz, and Heather B. is a good choice filling Jen's slot.
Dave Popovich becoming PD for WQAL and later WDOK as well.
LeeAnn Sommers coming back to Cleveland, this time on WGAR. It was wise to pair a veteran with a newbie (Tim Leary), and LeeAnn is still popular after all these years, even when she was in Denver.
WMMS bringing in Alan Cox. He's proven to be a good fit for the station and a breath of fresh air for Cleveland too, especially in the talk landscape.
WFHM putting Josh Booth on middays replacing a satellite show from Nashville, giving the station a local presence from mornings through afternoons. Plus, Josh is a really good jock, and perfect for the midday slot. Mark Rein is also a good afternoon host too.
WTAM getting the Indians back.
WTAM hiring Trivisonno and moving him to afternoons.
WDOK signing Trapper Jack.
WNCX picking up Howard Stern.
WMMS signing Rover.
WTAM hiring Trivisonno and moving him to afternoons.
WDOK signing Trapper Jack.
WNCX picking up Howard Stern.
WMMS signing Rover.
More best moves:
1. Having Robin Swoboda on The Fish. Say what you want about her, but I think she helped put the station on the map for a while. There were even commercials on Cleveland TV featuring Robin. The morning show was also better with her than it is now. Dan Deely was also the best person paired with Robin in my opinion.
2. WKRK going straight up alternative and becoming Radio 92.3. I do miss the K-Rock/Xtreme jocks, but I'm really loving the no-jocks format. It actually suits the station really well, and serves those who don't want "personality talk." It was an improvement from the station's attempt to be "WMMS 2," which really didn't work.
3. Q104 pairing Larry Morrow with Sally Spitz. That was a good move and it was right when Q104 started. The pairing helped put the station on the map.
4. WDOK going uptempo with "Lite Rock." They needed to since WLTF was done and Q104 was already edgier.
5. WMMS picking up Rover. He really helped saved the station, which until he arrived they were simply "100.7"...lame.
1. Having Robin Swoboda on The Fish. Say what you want about her, but I think she helped put the station on the map for a while. There were even commercials on Cleveland TV featuring Robin. The morning show was also better with her than it is now. Dan Deely was also the best person paired with Robin in my opinion.
2. WKRK going straight up alternative and becoming Radio 92.3. I do miss the K-Rock/Xtreme jocks, but I'm really loving the no-jocks format. It actually suits the station really well, and serves those who don't want "personality talk." It was an improvement from the station's attempt to be "WMMS 2," which really didn't work.
3. Q104 pairing Larry Morrow with Sally Spitz. That was a good move and it was right when Q104 started. The pairing helped put the station on the map.
4. WDOK going uptempo with "Lite Rock." They needed to since WLTF was done and Q104 was already edgier.
5. WMMS picking up Rover. He really helped saved the station, which until he arrived they were simply "100.7"...lame.
IMO... the most recent best move in Cleveland radio would have to be the "all-across-the-board" format stunting on 106.5 before relaunching as The Lake. While The Lake wasn't the best final result, the stunt itself was brilliant and did what it needed to go - get lots of attention. Right up to the final hour of songs with "new" in the title.
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lostnfound21
Guest
CleveFan said:
Agreed. At the time I was convinced this was a terrible idea, but it's turned out to be a great move for them and I enjoy listening now more than when it was Xtreme Radio.
CleveFan said:
You really don't think the Maxwell Show helped pull that station out of the gutter? Because honestly I hadn't given MMS a second thought since I was a kid in the early 90s until I heard MWL in like late 06/early07. Then I became an everyday listener. Sure Rover helped, but I think if Maxwell hadn't been doing well enough in the ratings to make them consider adding more talk then they wouldn't have tried to persuade him over
dasfonzie said:
True. Maxwell did play a role in helping WMMS. I forgot to mention him. I do apologize. He did bring a lot of people to give WMMS another thought.
I was just posting based what helped a station big time, and more people give credit to Rover than Maxwell, because Rover made the press more often than Maxwell. I don't think Maxwell got a lot of credit from WMMS.
Best moves in Cleveland? Just about tops was when Ken Draper put together one of the best pools of radio talent ever with Jim Stagg, Jim Runyon, Jerry G. Bishop and encouraged copy writer/production guru Dick Orken in the creation of Chicken Man at KYW. And, Jack Thayer for hiring a young fellow who talked fast and was “edgy”: Don Imus. Another good move for Cleveland was allowing Bill Randle to develop, leave and return. And, Johnny Holliday and Ron Riley on WHK. I could go on, but most who post here will simply scratch their heads and wonder what I’m talking about. ;D
Best Moves:
* Alan Freed playing authentic R & B to a mass audience on a big station that reached the burbs and beyond (WJW 850)
* Bill Randle hired by WERE. Early promoter of some guy named Presley.
* Norman Wain buying WDOK-AM and making it WIXY
* Don Imus coming to do mornings on WGAR.
* Billy Bass on the early WNCR and WMMS. Pioneer.
* Denny Sanders coming to WMMS from Boston and later inviting his friend John Gorman to come here as Music Director.
* John Gorman becoming Program Director of WMMS, putting together long running airstaff including Denny, Kid Leo, Matt The Cat, Jeff and Flash, Betty Korvan, Bill Freeman, Len Goldberg, Murray Saul, Dia Stein, Ruby Cheeks, etc.
* Danny Wright at WGCL. Gave the Buzzard a run for their money
* Zapis changing WZAK to R & B from foreign language.
* Tim "Birdman" Byrd at (I think) WZZP 106.5. Later went to VH1
* Trapper Jack WDOK. Not the most exciting guy, but perfect for the format and has become a big ratings getter with females year after year.
* John Lanigan replacing Imus on WGAR, and later to WMJI. One of the last of the real pro ad libbers and interviewers.
* 90.3 returning in the early 80s as full up NPR WCPN. The only place you can get real radio news coverage in Cleveland (hope it continues!)
* All of the college stations (WBWC, WJCU, WCSB and WRUW) slowly raising power over the years.
* Jimmy Malone joining Lanigan. Honorable mention to John Webster, but Malone gives it right back and keeps Lanigan on his toes.
* Mike Trivosonno to afternoons on WTAM. He's a train wreck when it comes to knowledge about anything outside of sports and gambling, but people seem fascinated by the big lug trying to talk about world affairs like a guy in a bar who never graduated from high school.
* WKHR going all adult standards with a staff who obviously love the music they play.
* Bob Conrad keeping WCLV on the air when he probably could have gone to The Riviera with the $ he got for 95.5
* Rover. Sort of a Stern knockoff, but the numbers don't lie.
* Alan Freed playing authentic R & B to a mass audience on a big station that reached the burbs and beyond (WJW 850)
* Bill Randle hired by WERE. Early promoter of some guy named Presley.
* Norman Wain buying WDOK-AM and making it WIXY
* Don Imus coming to do mornings on WGAR.
* Billy Bass on the early WNCR and WMMS. Pioneer.
* Denny Sanders coming to WMMS from Boston and later inviting his friend John Gorman to come here as Music Director.
* John Gorman becoming Program Director of WMMS, putting together long running airstaff including Denny, Kid Leo, Matt The Cat, Jeff and Flash, Betty Korvan, Bill Freeman, Len Goldberg, Murray Saul, Dia Stein, Ruby Cheeks, etc.
* Danny Wright at WGCL. Gave the Buzzard a run for their money
* Zapis changing WZAK to R & B from foreign language.
* Tim "Birdman" Byrd at (I think) WZZP 106.5. Later went to VH1
* Trapper Jack WDOK. Not the most exciting guy, but perfect for the format and has become a big ratings getter with females year after year.
* John Lanigan replacing Imus on WGAR, and later to WMJI. One of the last of the real pro ad libbers and interviewers.
* 90.3 returning in the early 80s as full up NPR WCPN. The only place you can get real radio news coverage in Cleveland (hope it continues!)
* All of the college stations (WBWC, WJCU, WCSB and WRUW) slowly raising power over the years.
* Jimmy Malone joining Lanigan. Honorable mention to John Webster, but Malone gives it right back and keeps Lanigan on his toes.
* Mike Trivosonno to afternoons on WTAM. He's a train wreck when it comes to knowledge about anything outside of sports and gambling, but people seem fascinated by the big lug trying to talk about world affairs like a guy in a bar who never graduated from high school.
* WKHR going all adult standards with a staff who obviously love the music they play.
* Bob Conrad keeping WCLV on the air when he probably could have gone to The Riviera with the $ he got for 95.5
* Rover. Sort of a Stern knockoff, but the numbers don't lie.
This may not be one of the " best " moves, but it certainly is the most memorable.
Howard Stern on WNCX. Saved that station from extinction. Turned the market upside down.
( Gave a Rover an act to copy! ) Most memorable act was Stern coming to town for the #1 rally, decapitating a Lanigan doll and beheading the Buzzard on stage! Then when the engineer from WMMS cut the broadcast wires Stern played it like a pro! Did the whole " we're at war " bit to mock WMMS. Was hilarious. That was incredible actually.
The saga continued with all kinds of legal actions. Unreal.
Howard Stern on WNCX. Saved that station from extinction. Turned the market upside down.
( Gave a Rover an act to copy! ) Most memorable act was Stern coming to town for the #1 rally, decapitating a Lanigan doll and beheading the Buzzard on stage! Then when the engineer from WMMS cut the broadcast wires Stern played it like a pro! Did the whole " we're at war " bit to mock WMMS. Was hilarious. That was incredible actually.
The saga continued with all kinds of legal actions. Unreal.
Capulet said:
It also helped Lanigan. He started the radio war with Stern than Jeff and Flash couldn't (WMMS management refused to let them). As a result, the majority of disaffected Morning Zoo listeners that tired over the show's staleness and tepid energy either tuned over to Stern or Lanigan.
Bill Alford's move to cut the broadcast wires was the dumbest individual move in Cleveland radio, but WMMS was never implicated directly. The same can't be said for WMMS hogging all of the Cleveland Scene magazines with Stern on the cover in their 'prize closet' - THAT move cost Heidi Kramer her job as promotions director.
Imagine what would have happened if WENZ acquired the Stern show instead of WNCX - might WENZ still be alt-rock as "The End" today?
N
nightfly61
Guest
Danny Wright & Joe Bohannon PMD on WGCL, Phil Garner on WGAR (CHR days), and Uncle Vic being hired Sunday nights on WGCL.
B
becker5
Guest
You guys are complete fools if you don't think The Alan Cox Show isn't the best talk show in Cleveland. They have only been on for a year and they are #1 in the ratings. Where do you guys get your information?
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