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CHANGES ARE COMING...

H

H20

It appears that the rumors are true. Although most of us knew weeks ago, the former APE Morning Zoo, after putting on a half hearted "farewell" deal on TV, are actually just changing addresses. Gary Spurgeon appears to be taking his buddies with him to Renda, and they are set to start as the replacement morning show on Gator Country in the next two weeks. I would imagine that would be around the 20th sometime, since that is when their non-compete expires. As for Dallas, he will probably be cut loose altogether.
Question is, How will a former Top 40 show that was falling off in numbers in the first place, do on a country format? Will the teenagers give up listening to their Top 40 in order to follow the "Gator" Morning Zoo, or whatever its going to be called now?? And do they really hope to compete with the QIK Morning Show with this group?
 
H20, I certainly hope your grasp of the future is more solid than it's tenuous hold of the past, because the Zoo left WAPE with #1 finishes in ALL their target demos from the Fall book. Please research this.
If you ever listened to them (I'm doubting you did), the show hardly targeted teenagers even though the Ape's music DID. Top 40 shows that made the jump to country have been successful ... look at the biggest stars from "American Idol" ... Carrie Underwood, Kellie Pickler, Josh Gracin, Bucky Covington, and Phil Stacey ... all country singers with huge followings on (whether you may like it or not) America's most popular TV show for the last several years.
The days of country being pigeonholed as "Divorces, Drinkin', and Horsepoop" are long over. These guys are young, fit the target audience, know the city, and will do great at Gator.
Sounds like you might have lost a bet, H20
 
My take (if indeed the rumors are true) is that the former Zoo will fit better, demographically, at Gator country than they ever did at WAPE.

I love those folks, they were great to work with, and I wish them all well, no matter what they're doing these days...

Brian V.

P.S. Speaking of former Cox folks, does anyone have an earthly clue why Terry Reynolds asked for me and then didn't contact me? So weird...
 
Ahh, things like this can't be a guarded secret for long. Now I can understand why CC has been promoting the personalities on QIK's morning show heavily instead of promoting the station as they had pretty much always did in the past.

Very effective ad campaign, I think, spotlighting them as practical jokers etc. Many of us can relate to that.

I'm just trying to picture Armedaeus in a cowboy hat....... ;D
 
here are some questions...

1. would Gator Country keep Dallas? I think they should..he is valuable talent.

2. if the former Zoo crew does show up would Dallas move to night or would Michele Chase move back to nights like she did when the station was in Daytona?

3. is Gator in prep work that Rooster does flip in the next few months that some of the stuff that they have could come their way like the syndicated network shows?

4. in all honesty if the show lands as expected i expect Gator to go on a big promotional kick and start working there way back up towards that goal of a 5 plus in this market....if they can do that and hire a few mor part timers for weekends and add some more older songs into the mix they could be knocking on WQIKs door.

hopefully this a new light to put Gator Country back up to where it wants.

later on
 
As far as I know Dallas is gone from the building. Some may or may not know this but Dallas was a production guy for DC101 before he came to Jax. He is by far one of the best or even the best production/voice talent in the Jax market. Larry Edwards is in the same league with Dallas. I don't see the entire morning zoo making the switch to Gator. I can see Steve Sutton and Eden taking the gig. That would be a good start if Gator is serious about going after QIK revenue. Gator needs to do a little work with the processing and add talent from 7 till midnight. This could be a good move but it's going to be a very tall order to bring QIK down even a little in the ratings. Letting Dallas go entirely is a mistake. There are other needs in the building Dallas could fill. As far as more syndicated programming is concerned, local is better.
 
Hmmm..after reading Tom Taylor's newsletter here on RI I think maybe all the radio station in Jacksonville better prepare to start staffing the stations 24/7...what was said the FCC is looking at making this a mandate because of the EAS system.....if I were Gator right now...I would bring Dallas back in the building for nights and then they only have to worry about overnights. Anyways this is going to be an intresting time for radio. Later.
 
;D Good for the FCC...A just solution..If they don't pass it this time, I'll be sure to bring it up when my new FCC Term begins...Ha! APE!
 
Brian V. said:
My take (if indeed the rumors are true) is that the former Zoo will fit better, demographically, at Gator country than they ever did at WAPE.

I love those folks, they were great to work with, and I wish them all well, no matter what they're doing these days...

Brian V.

P.S. Speaking of former Cox folks, does anyone have an earthly clue why Terry Reynolds asked for me and then didn't contact me?
Hey Brian,
Sorry I didn't get back sooner, but I had a bit of computere down time while getting my home studio up and running.
Now I'm back in all of the horrific glory of windows vista. Still got some issues but am working them out.
TR
Click to expand...
 
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