Boycotting WFMX - send them an email

[ren7nc]

The new WFMX or WMKS has a website: http://www.1057kissfm.com/pages/comments.html

They are asking for comments.

Send an email to them and tell them you will not support the new station and that you will tell the real story about the new WFMX or WMKS.

I am not a country music fan, however what Clear Channel did was dirty and I will not support the new station. I rather see it go dark then have WFMX live as another station.

 

[XTalker]

That'll change their minds!!

 

[BS1012]

According to,
http://www.1057kissfm.com/pages/comments.html
I saw this:

"Kiss and Tell
We want to hear from you. What do you think of your new radio station, 105.7 Kiss FM? Do you like the music? Is there any artist you would like for us to
play more of? Less of?

Do you have any suggestions for programs you would like to hear?

Go ahead, Kiss and Tell. We really want to hear your comments about 107.5 Kiss FM."

1075 Kiss FM?

If that's not absolutely pathetic, I don't know what is.

 

[carlosswicegood]

"Go ahead, Kiss and Tell. We really want to hear your comments about 107.5 Kiss FM."

They first off need to get their frequency down pat before gettin in too deep.

 

[carlosswicegood]

Edit: Sorry, didn't realize someone posted the same time I did. Anyways, you get the point. It's Dumb.

 

[XTalker]

I suspect it was the person who posted it that got the dial position wrong.

Truth is, the old "we're building your radio station" promotion may be lame, but it has worked time and time again - as long as the end result is something someone wants to hear!

I suspect they will be "the new KISS" for a while, too!

 

[Markieo]

I suspect they will be "the new KISS" for a while, too!

You're probably right...CC called 100.3 The "ALL-NEW" Buzzard for about 4 years!
Mark Q¿Q

 

[Matt]

The ONLY Thing That Might Make CC Stand Up and Listen

I have been running an idea around in my mind for a few years that I call the LOCAL BROADCASTING PRESERVATION ACT. This would be a piece of legislation that would have to go through Congress, and therefore be mandated to be enacted and enforced by the FCC.

The first provision of this act would be to reiterate that the airwaves of the United States belong to the people of the United States, to be operated as a public trust for the people, and in the interest, convenience and necessity of those people.

The second provision would erase all previous allocations and cities of license as of a given date, and would re-allocate stations based on U.S. Census-based population. Those cities with a greater population would get more stations, but every city with a population of 15,000 or greater would be guaranteed at least one AM and one FM.

The third provision would base all competition decisions on Census-Based SMSA's rather than Arbitron's Markets or Neilson's DMA's. Stations in the dominant city of the SMSA would be given enough power to cover the SMSA. All other stations, inside and outside the SMSA would be allowed a maximum power of 25,000 watts. Allocations would therefore be based on those facts and could be appealed or changed based on population data once every 10 years.

The fourth provision would require each station's entire base of operations to be located within the city of license. No waivers, no exemptions. Programming would have to emanate from a studio located within the city of license, and be broadcast from a transmission facility located either within the city of license or from a facility with a single-lobe directional antenna designed to throw most of the signal over the city of license.

The fifth provision, and probably the most controversial of all, would be that 75% of all advertising units sold on the station be sold to businesses with a physical address located not more than 25 miles from the nearest city limits to such businesses.

Provisions of the law would take effect five years from enactment, and existing broadcasters would have to tolerate any interference caused during the transition as stations made legally-mandated changes to their facilities.

Obviously, this law will NEVER be enacted. Too many big broadcast operators would see their stations' values head south. Advertising rates would fall precipitously.

But if enough grassroots effort were applied to congressmen to get such a bill into the legislative process..and congressmen signed on as sponsors in sufficient numbers...Clear Channel and other big broadcasters in this country would suddenly pay something more than lip service to the concept of broadcasting in local communities across this country, and we might avert the next potential WFMX scenario.

Think about it...
Matt Smith
WGSR-TV...a LOCAL broadcaster

 

[johnqdoe]

How would something like that EVER work???? I applaud the sentiment...but c'mon. You may as well go tell all the fast food places they can't have anything but fresh, never frozen ingredients in every outlet. It's just not feasible. "Live and local" doesn't automatically = better. Believe it or not, it's hard to find young radio folks willing to work weekend overnights and odd hours. Didn't someone mention the fact that even the late, great WFMX had Lia and Blair Garner on the air??? That's at least 11 hours of bland, piped in schlock.

 

[jcolletta275]

Believe it or not, it's hard to find young radio folks willing to work weekend overnights and odd hours.

Oh? I can think of at least twenty-some-odd personal friends my age, myself included, who would take issue with that statement. We know what it takes to get our feet in the door, and we're ready and willing to do it.

 

[johnqdoe]

Believe it or not, it's hard to find young radio folks willing to work weekend overnights and odd hours.

Oh? I can think of at least twenty-some-odd personal friends my age, myself included, who would take issue with that statement. We know what it takes to get our feet in the door, and we're ready and willing to do it.

YOu and your buds are in the minority. Hell, it's tough to find enough dependable folks to set up and tear down remotes...much less be on the air in a top 50 market.

 

[Blanche]

The new WFMX or WMKS has a website: http://www.1057kissfm.com/pages/comments.html

They are asking for comments.

Send an email to them and tell them you will not support the new station and that you will tell the real story about the new WFMX or WMKS.

I am not a country music fan, however what Clear Channel did was dirty and I will not support the new station. I rather see it go dark then have WFMX live as another station.

Boycotting WFMX? Telling the real story about what big, bad Clear Channel did? This is really over-the-top drama, guys. What is the real story? WFMX in its previous incarnation was losing money hand over fist as it was; Clear Channel Charlotte couldn’t bring it into their market; Clear Channel GSO had to take it. So they changed format, big deal. It’s business, pure and simple. People on this board are harping about CC bringing in another urban format when the market already has a heritage urban. If CC had kept the country format, would you be bitching about bringing in ANOTHER country station to take on an existing heritage WTQR? Be consistent in your arguments, please!

And as for the fall of radio- another popular lamentation on this board- my parents bitched about the end of radio as they knew it back in the 60’s. Every generation has carried over the same complaint. That’s just the natural repercussions of change.
And while it’s human nature to go after the big guy (most frequently Clear Channel is the villain), it’s not fair to singularly blame one organization for the homogenization of radio.

The metamorphosis of radio from the innovative and creative medium it once was to what is now perceived as “cookie cutter” radio has been slow to evolve. Radio hasn’t really been the same in this market since the early 70’s when WTOB-AM went Drake-Chenault. Soon, ad-libbing gave way to liners and sweepers until the only fresh air left was the 6am-10am slot (and sometimes 7p-12a).

But everything is cyclical. If you will pardon a rather anachronistic metaphor, “the great cart of life always re-cues.” Pleated pants are out (I know this may come as a shock to many), but they’ll be back; and so someday, I predict, will old-fashioned radio, perhaps as satellite radio becomes more of a threat. Today’s satellite radio makes me feel isolated; I want to connect, and local radio has the ability to give me the sense of community for which I long. Hopefully, as a result, programmers will seize this opportunity to bring radio back to a more user-friendly, personable, accessible medium.

Until such is the day, I’ll console myself with my Time/Life Dick Clark’s “Rockin’ 60’s” CD collection and my Mr. Microphone (“Hey good lookin’, I’ll be back to pick you up later!”).

 

[1q2w3e]

Believe it or not, it's hard to find young radio folks willing to work weekend overnights and odd hours.

Oh? I can think of at least twenty-some-odd personal friends my age, myself included, who would take issue with that statement. We know what it takes to get our feet in the door, and we're ready and willing to do it.

You go Josh!! Dont let any nay sayers put you down!

 

[275Gravekeeper]

Josh,

If you're being sincere about getting your foot in the door, you're the exception to the rule. I'm a 3rd-shifter on a flamethrower and I see firsthand how tough it is for my boss to get good help. I rarely take days off because of the reaction from most of my compadres in the department when the boss asks for a volunteer for these subhuman hours, and subhuman is the correct characterization. None of them want to work overnights, and I know it. That's why I'm paid shift differential. It's extremely tough to find good help these days.

I think the "local [content] act" is admirable in its core intent, but borders on absurdity. It reminds me of the old-time tales of most program directors who have been asked "hey man... do I 'really' have to play these stupid commercials?". My only reaction would be "hey man... do you really have to eat, or pay rent, or party?". ("Show him the wrap!"): Podcasting. Internet. Cable television. Direct satellite broadcasting. It's not 1950 anymore.

 

[jcolletta275]

I don't think I'm the exception if you're looking in the right places. The problem is that no one seems to be looking for people who truly have a passion for the job... they just want button-pushers with no ambitions beyond making a quick buck as a PT board op (believe me, I see that firsthand every day myself). If stations were actually looking to grow talent from the lower ranks, they'd find a lot more people like myself who are more than willing to wear the worm cards as a first step toward bigger opportunities.

 

[carlosswicegood]

I can relate to Josh quite a bit. I just wish that the local stations around here had open positions at night or weekends. The thing is; 103.3 WAKG (the local FM here) is automated at night and all the others are as well, or are even off the air! (yes, AM too)
I've been passionate about the radio field for as long as I can remember, and yes, I'm only 20, yet I can recall being only 7 or 8 and dreaming of working in radio. I want to not only just sit around, work the board, make a couple of announcements here and there, but I want to make the best of it and at the end of my shift look back and see that I have contributed SOMETHING to the station; whether it's only 1k listeners or over 100k. Why do you think I'm in college ?

I would kill (figure of speach people) to be able to find some part time work on an FM. There just doesn't seem to be anything available around here. I guess I'll have to wait untill I transfer to Greensboro, or just graduate and move away to a bigger market. I dunno yet, I shall wait and see.

 

[RobynWattsV2.0]

"Go ahead, Kiss and Tell. We really want to hear your comments about 107.5 Kiss FM."

1075 Kiss FM?

If that's not absolutely pathetic, I don't know what is.

Well, apparently someone got the memo and fixed their little boo-boo in the message with the frequency . :-[ Hey, maybe they've recycled a proposed memo about acquiring KZL!

Robyn

 

[eacalhoun1]

Excuse me for interrupting this post, but Robyn!---great to see you back in the neighborhood! Like myself, I'm sure many of us missed you.
Okay...back to the post.

Eric

 

[PTBoardOp94]

Re: The ONLY Thing That Might Make CC Stand Up and Listen

The first provision of this act would be to reiterate that the airwaves of the United States belong to the people of the United States, to be operated as a public trust for the people, and in the interest, convenience and necessity of those people.

Yeah, that would be the easy part.

The second provision would erase all previous allocations and cities of license as of a given date, and would re-allocate stations based on U.S. Census-based population. Those cities with a greater population would get more stations, but every city with a population of 15,000 or greater would be guaranteed at least one AM and one FM.

Hugely infeasible. I would appreciate the effort, though. A more feasible idea would be to actually have inspectors inspect the public file, and see what is going on. Or change the renewal process to require (0.001% of the Population of your COL) signatures on a petition to keep the license active every few years.

The third provision would base all competition decisions on Census-Based SMSA's rather than Arbitron's Markets or Neilson's DMA's. Stations in the dominant city of the SMSA would be given enough power to cover the SMSA. All other stations, inside and outside the SMSA would be allowed a maximum power of 25,000 watts. Allocations would therefore be based on those facts and could be appealed or changed based on population data once every 10 years.

Every 10 years is also infeasible. How about every 50?

The fourth provision would require each station's entire base of operations to be located within the city of license. No waivers, no exemptions. Programming would have to emanate from a studio located within the city of license, and be broadcast from a transmission facility located either within the city of license or from a facility with a single-lobe directional antenna designed to throw most of the signal over the city of license.

Yay. No more K-Love.

The fifth provision, and probably the most controversial of all, would be that 75% of all advertising units sold on the station be sold to businesses with a physical address located not more than 25 miles from the nearest city limits to such businesses.

This provision would likely be ruled unconstitutional.



I too would be happy to do graveyards to get my foot in the door. Luckily, I haven't been asked to do so .

 

[biggladman]

Not for nothing....

Not for nothing, but I sort of have an issue with both sides of this argument.

My first commercial radio gig was swing overnights/weekends with a mandatory stint in Promotions. When I started working for the small, local commercial radio group, I got $5.15 an hour for my board op shifts and received the same rate for the appearences (up to two hours). Mind you I had non-comm experience, so I wasn't doing this dry. (please, don't tear me apart over that last comment - I know that isn't worth anything in the "REAL" world, but the point is I had logged about 700 hours on a good PR&E and had non-linear production skills before starting this job)

However, after working at said local radio group for over a year, my pay was still $5.15 an hour and now we were doing weekly remotes about an hour and a half from the studio (due to a very distant and non-local frequency). The station many times would not provide a vehicle for this service so gas out to distant location would usually cost about $18, which was not paid for.

So for 4 hours of work, you would make $20.

For 2 hours (not including driving time) and sometimes more, you would make about $10 after taxes, then pay $18 in gas. Lets do the numbers on this one.

This sort of math doesn't add up, especially when you pay $100,000 for a college degree in broadcasting and are by now also an experienced remote engineer and operator. In most other fields, this sort of certification would at least command a small pay raise.

Mind you, the girl who might or might not have been banging the MD, who's ONLY experience in promotions was handing out flyers for the build-a-bear at the local mall, scored the $35k a year promotions director's job and a midday shift on a rock station in this same cluster which will go unnamed. Unfortunately, because she did not have any broadcasting experience what so ever, a board op was still required to do the show. Rates of pay for the board op for this show for this station which sits between market #20 and #16 (don't want to give it all away..)
$5.15 an hour.

Perhaps the reason stations can't find qualified help is because you simply can't make a living off of minimum wage providing skills that are honed after years of practice and training.

At the same time, any bonehead will offer to work at a radio station, whether or not they even know what they are doing. (The other overnight guy did his other shift at the Hess around the corner.) Tell him he was overmodulating, he thought that ment you wanted to smoke up.

Solution - pay more, get better help

Sorry for the rant, but i've been sitting on this one for a long time.

Anyone else got goodies they want to share?