http:> //www.radioandrecords.com/Newsroom/2005_11_29/airamerica.asp
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I had a chance to listen to AAR's "Morning Sedition" on WLIB for a few days this summer while visiting family in North Jersey. I don't really feel comfortable "ripping" people's work, but I can only say the change was long overdue. I'm discounting any political criticism, speaking from the perspective of presentation and execution.
It's a given that morning drive is a tough haul in any major, large, medium and even small market, let alone Market #1. The AAR morning show was behind the eight ball from the get go. "Morning Sedition" was a cute play-on-words considering NPR's "Morning Edition," but it got old very fast. Occasionally, I'll use a similar play-on-words such as "Small Things Considered" when I serve up some water-cooler stuff from AP or kickers from Romenesko's Obscure Store. While it may be mildly amusing when used with the appropriate material it's not something that I'd rely on for a steady diet.
From my perspective in news-talk radio, the AAR morning show sounded disjointed. The formatics and content were inadequate. There was minimal teasing, set-up and pay-off. It sounded lethargic. The hosts stepped on each other and seemed directionless. Poorly planned. Poorly produced. Maybe I caught them on two successive bad days (heaven knows we all have bad days on the air.)
While listening, I often thought, "What's the motivation to listen to this?" Consider the question knowing that morning drive in NY offers Stern on K-Rock, Curtis & Kuby on WABC, traffic and weather together and aggressive local, national and world news on WCBS and WINS; Imus on The Fan, the established presentation on the NPR affiliate(s), entertainment on Z-100, WPLJ, Kiss and so much more. How's that for a "Murderers Row?!" And there's WLIB with a morning show that sounds unpolished, unplanned and unexciting.
Seems to me the change should have been made a while ago. The sand may have just about passed through the hourglass.
