J
JOHNNY on the RADIO
Guest
Bill Norman, the owner of WNMB-AM 900 in North Myrtle Beach, passed away this morning. Bill suffered a stroke last month.
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CarolinaFM
Guest
only met him a few times, but I could tell he was a man who seriously
loved radio.
loved radio.
I have said I would look him up next time I went to the beach, but it just never happened.
I can say that Bill was passionate about things that he cared about...the Confederacy (a BIG Civil War fan)...AM Radio (he pushed AM Stereo, both in Albemarle and NMB)...Ford Mustangs and Classic Oldies.
BTW...I forgave him for firing me from my last radio job 20 years ago. It was the final impetus to hang up the headphones and move on to ministry and television.
Now the big question is what is Suzi and Jenni going to do with WNMB?
Later . . . .
I can say that Bill was passionate about things that he cared about...the Confederacy (a BIG Civil War fan)...AM Radio (he pushed AM Stereo, both in Albemarle and NMB)...Ford Mustangs and Classic Oldies.
BTW...I forgave him for firing me from my last radio job 20 years ago. It was the final impetus to hang up the headphones and move on to ministry and television.
Now the big question is what is Suzi and Jenni going to do with WNMB?
Later . . . .
J
JOHNNY on the RADIO
Guest
Arrangements for Bill Norman:
Visitation will be from 6-8 this Wednesday evening at Huff Funeral Home in East Bend, NC. His hometown. There will be a private burial at a later time.
"We will be putting together a time for all of his friends in his beloved North Myrtle Beach to come by the radio station to share their memories and celebrate his life. We ask that people please wait until that time to come by the station, but I will share the date and time as soon as I have it." - Jenni Norman
Visitation will be from 6-8 this Wednesday evening at Huff Funeral Home in East Bend, NC. His hometown. There will be a private burial at a later time.
"We will be putting together a time for all of his friends in his beloved North Myrtle Beach to come by the radio station to share their memories and celebrate his life. We ask that people please wait until that time to come by the station, but I will share the date and time as soon as I have it." - Jenni Norman
I haven't had time to get on the boards lately and I am very sorry to hear about Bill's passing. I was suppose to give him a call the next time I went to Myrtle Beach and get together, now I wish I could have gotten their a little sooner. RIP Bill.
I notice that the family filed an STA on Oct. 26 to allow WNMB to continue broadcasting while being staffed with less then two people during business hours.
I just now found out about Bill Norman's passing. Although never personally meeting him, we exchanged emails a few times several years ago as I contemplated buying a distressed AM station in my area (I knew of him through his posts on this board). I basically asked Bill how one goes about running a successful mom & pop station. He patiently and enthusiastically sent me several detailed emails on how he ran WNMB--me, a stranger. The information was priceless and reflected a man who had no ax to grind, no ego but one who had a passion for radio and a generous desire to help anyone succeed in the business.
Bill was a real gentleman and I am deeply saddened by his death.
I just now found out about Bill Norman's passing. Although never personally meeting him, we exchanged emails a few times several years ago as I contemplated buying a distressed AM station in my area (I knew of him through his posts on this board). I basically asked Bill how one goes about running a successful mom & pop station. He patiently and enthusiastically sent me several detailed emails on how he ran WNMB--me, a stranger. The information was priceless and reflected a man who had no ax to grind, no ego but one who had a passion for radio and a generous desire to help anyone succeed in the business.
Bill was a real gentleman and I am deeply saddened by his death.
J
JOHNNY on the RADIO
Guest
I would not be surprised to see WNMB go up for sale. Bill's wife and daughter are wonderful ladies, but I don't think they have the passion for radio like Bill did.
Johnny Caudle said:
Although I'm on the California coast, I know that WNMB had a number of D.J.s and personnel over the years who were passionate about the format, the sound and the station. It would be great if one or several former WNMB alumni could purchase it and keep Bill Norman's legacy alive. It would be a real shame if some new owner turned off the C-QuAM and turned WNMB into a right (or left) wing talker.
Johnny Caudle said:
Bill was a great radio guy and he will be missed. He left us way too young.
He was all the things mentioned here but one not mentioned and I think is most important. Bill was a great radio advertising sales person and promoter too. That is key to why WNMB was able to stay on the air. Most folks can't sell a signal that doesn't show in the ratings and in a market like Myrtle Beach where AM stations never covered the entire market thus died long before it did in most places; it's near impossible for anyone else to do what Bill was doing. Also, I think his passion for living in North Myrtle was the only thing which exceeded his passion for AM radio. That also would be necessary for someone to follow in his footsteps. The station has great real estate assets....tower site and studios and that is gonna mean a lot to his family as they try to move forward without him. Bill invested wisely too.
I will agree that I would hate to see WNMB go down but who would have the know how to run an AM station now a days and have the will to do it right. AM radio is having trouble in most markets today and a special person like Bill doesn't come along very often that can actually take an AM radio station and make it work, Bill could and he proved it.
J
JOHNNY on the RADIO
Guest
I pulled the following message off www.wnmb900.com today:
"Dear listeners, friends, and advertisers, You have likely noticed a change in WNMB. The morning show is dark. Advertisers haven't seen a friendly face in weeks. The station parking lot is quiet. Passersby no longer catch a glimpse of a rusty old beach bike propped against the brick building, or perhaps a glimmer of a classic Mustang. Yes, WNMB has suffered a huge loss in that of my father, Bill Norman. October was a dark month for AM Stereo 900. Like my father, I have never been good at sugarcoating things. There is nothing to sugarcoat here. However, I have a message - and we, the WNMB family - have a plan. Over the past few weeks, many friends and listeners have all said the same thing: Bill Norman didn't just own and operate WNMB. He WAS WNMB. Well folks, he still is. Yes, there have been many changes to WNMB since he left us - but rest assured that we are working tirelessly to ensure that my father's legacy continues. You see, my father believed in the power of AM radio when many people did not. My father believed that if you poured enough heart, soul and sweat into an endeavor, you could accomplish anything. And he did just that - he created a local, community-oriented radio station that focused not on the fleeting tourist season but on the people who call North Myrtle Beach home. He cared about the people in his community, and it showed. It showed in his lively morning programming; it showed in the way he called on customers every day; and it showed throughout his involvement with the city of North Myrtle Beach. People keep asking what they can do for us. And we have an answer: keep listening. Keep supporting the station my dad worked so hard to build. And we will keep working for you. Listeners, rest assured that we are working on a plan to bring back morning programming - no one can replace Bill Norman, but we will reinstate the morning programming with someone who cares just as much about you, your wants and the community's needs. Advertisers, my dad always valued your support and believed in supporting those who supported him. Over the coming weeks, we will be touching base to see what we can do for you. You know, someone said they don't make 'em like my dad anymore. He was an old school radio guy - he didn't opt to sell out to a corporation or go with the latest trends. He played great music that he loved, and he supported the community close to his heart. We hope you will continue to support us as we work to ensure WNMB lives on. Thank you, Jenni Norman Shafer"
"Dear listeners, friends, and advertisers, You have likely noticed a change in WNMB. The morning show is dark. Advertisers haven't seen a friendly face in weeks. The station parking lot is quiet. Passersby no longer catch a glimpse of a rusty old beach bike propped against the brick building, or perhaps a glimmer of a classic Mustang. Yes, WNMB has suffered a huge loss in that of my father, Bill Norman. October was a dark month for AM Stereo 900. Like my father, I have never been good at sugarcoating things. There is nothing to sugarcoat here. However, I have a message - and we, the WNMB family - have a plan. Over the past few weeks, many friends and listeners have all said the same thing: Bill Norman didn't just own and operate WNMB. He WAS WNMB. Well folks, he still is. Yes, there have been many changes to WNMB since he left us - but rest assured that we are working tirelessly to ensure that my father's legacy continues. You see, my father believed in the power of AM radio when many people did not. My father believed that if you poured enough heart, soul and sweat into an endeavor, you could accomplish anything. And he did just that - he created a local, community-oriented radio station that focused not on the fleeting tourist season but on the people who call North Myrtle Beach home. He cared about the people in his community, and it showed. It showed in his lively morning programming; it showed in the way he called on customers every day; and it showed throughout his involvement with the city of North Myrtle Beach. People keep asking what they can do for us. And we have an answer: keep listening. Keep supporting the station my dad worked so hard to build. And we will keep working for you. Listeners, rest assured that we are working on a plan to bring back morning programming - no one can replace Bill Norman, but we will reinstate the morning programming with someone who cares just as much about you, your wants and the community's needs. Advertisers, my dad always valued your support and believed in supporting those who supported him. Over the coming weeks, we will be touching base to see what we can do for you. You know, someone said they don't make 'em like my dad anymore. He was an old school radio guy - he didn't opt to sell out to a corporation or go with the latest trends. He played great music that he loved, and he supported the community close to his heart. We hope you will continue to support us as we work to ensure WNMB lives on. Thank you, Jenni Norman Shafer"
Does this mean there is no morning show? Not even automated music or something?
J
JOHNNY on the RADIO
Guest
The regular automated music programming.
Wait, I'm confused. You were fired by Bill Norman, and now ANOTHER Matt Smith works at his former stations. Is that correct?Matt Smith said:
J
JOHNNY on the RADIO
Guest
vchimpanzee said:
The Matt Smith running WNMB is also the owner of WSPC-AM and WZKY-AM in Albemarle, NC. He started working for Bill Norman when he was in high school. He bought the stations from Bill in the early 2000s when Bill moved to the beach.
This guy calling himself The ORIGINAL Matt Smith worked at WABZ-FM when Bill bought that station. I started working for Bill the same time WABZ-FM was moving into the building on Magnolia Street. I don't know why The ORIGINAL Matt Smith left. I didn't ask. On the bright side, I got to hold down the morning show on 100.9 after he left. That was fun!
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