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indyradioguy
Guest
Saw on http://indianaairwaves.net/ that Jack Swart is replacing Greg DeRue at AMP. Wasn't Jack at the SBT stations about 15 years back? ???
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goldenoldie
Guest
But I bet he never had to work with Art & Son :
goldenoldie said:But I bet he never had to work with Art & Son :
That may be a very simple, slightly-sarcastic sentence—but 100% true! Many here can remember U93’s off-the-chart success during the 80s. It enjoyed an era of CHR hip-factor; a signal from the third-best stick in the state (behind only WTTS and WFBQ); a massive promotion effort funded interest-free when the “vaults of the Vatican” swung wide-open; and (most importantly) EXCEPTIONAL MANAGEMENT. Mr. Swart was employed there to fill shoes that were nearly-impossible to fill—the retiring Bob Nowicki. Besides being “heritage” in that market, Nowicki’s ability to “finesse the sale” goes unchallenged even to this day. He was totally-guided by firmly-rooted ethics; an EXCEPTIONAL manager with an abundant understanding of marketing and promotion (enough to realize that his station’s programming should NEVER become the casualty of a sales quota); and a very fair man who respected his staff fully, and knew when to defer to others with talent he may not have had a specialty in himself (i.e. programming).
Mr. Swart’s employment was greeted by longtime staff members who pined for their beloved former boss; a growing apathy toward expanding radio in the shadow of an exploding WNDU-TV “wizzing match” with cross-town WSBT-TV (remember the Dopplar and 'copter battles); and a CHR format headed for “rap, sap, ‘n crap”—and thus decline. U93 never recovered, and ultimately suffered thru a bungled sale which later lead AMP over to the Golden Dome.
Goldenoldie is correct... Jack Swart had yet to experience “Big Art and Little Artie” (OOPS—that’s “Arthur” for those who wish to keep their jobs—for a short while anyway). Comparing that duo to the likes of Baz O’Hagan (WNDU) and Jim Freeman (WSBT) is as “black & white” as it gets—with no gray area in-between!
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CChase
Guest
AMP and the Angotti's are evil.
And Democrats eat babies...haha.
Lighten up on AMP... Give the bashing a rest. I, for one, am getting sick of it. And there has to be other people out there who feel the same way. It's like beating a dead horse...or whatever the saying is.
And Democrats eat babies...haha.
Lighten up on AMP... Give the bashing a rest. I, for one, am getting sick of it. And there has to be other people out there who feel the same way. It's like beating a dead horse...or whatever the saying is.
Mr. CChase... IF your “lighten up on AMP” request is in any way directed toward THE OBVIOUS point made in my prior post; let me challenge you to review my nearly 450 submissions here at R-I, and FIND ONE that directly attacks AMP and specifically pans the Angotti family (you WON’T be able to)... I can recall ONLY ONE benign reference—and it in effect was a “lighten up” response (also) to a VERY SARCASATIC, CHEAP, and PERSONAL attack by another referencing their unrelated “personal habits” within a discussion regarding what companies might be “naturals” for the soon-to-be-divested CCU stations in smaller markets.
The crux of my prior post was to recall the EXCEPTIONAL management history at The WNDU Stations; reflect on Mr. Swart’s brief tenure there, and illustrate his nearly-impossible challenge in the face of a changing CHR industry and Notre Dame’s very obvious intention to focus its broadcast efforts into its TELEVISION operation. Popular trivia at the time speculated that Mr. O’Hagan’s “Vegas TV replacement” (with NO radio resume) campaigned for THE SALE of WNDU Radio—simply to raise cash for a massive HDTV implementation on Channel 16. Thus, the parent that gave birth to U93’s awesome success may have indeed engaged in later neglect and contributed to its decline.
In the 80s, South bend was blessed with many more very-able radio managers than I mentioned in my prior post: Vince Ford at WRBR/WXMG/WZZP; Pat Ferraro at WYEZ (now B-100); and even “those Princeton guys” (Ash Elliott and Jason Meyer) who nobly-pursued their piece of the American Dream in the form of the sadly-uncompetitive 1kw AM-daytimer on 1580 (formerly WJVA). It requires no degree in “radio rocket science” to conclude the obvious—a fair comparison of the former to the current Angotti malaise.
Now, despite my “emeritus” status in the broadcast industry, and as a person grateful that the internet and its notorious “professional blogs” did not exist when I owned and operated four radio stations from 1986 to 1998—I will now cast my FIRST direct opinion on AMP. FACT: the broadcast landscape in this state is littered with dozens of good people mistreated by this “company”. I can find NO mid-level corporate radio track record that tallies AMP’s assorted misadventures and lost value on facility investment (WBTU and WSHY come instantly to mind with WNDV possibly to follow); flubbed format flips; missed opportunities; and a heartless disregard for what should be their greatest asset—the HUMAN BEINGS who sign a W-2 within an AMP property.
IMHO, AMP is a “bush-league entity” which begs the marketplace to work its unique and unavoidable “magic”—and be removed from its misery before it is further allowed to casually cast-off, and ultimately deflate the aspirations and enthusiasm of those who wander thru its door. Consider my “AMP-bashing” to have reached its conclusion... ‘Signing off!
The crux of my prior post was to recall the EXCEPTIONAL management history at The WNDU Stations; reflect on Mr. Swart’s brief tenure there, and illustrate his nearly-impossible challenge in the face of a changing CHR industry and Notre Dame’s very obvious intention to focus its broadcast efforts into its TELEVISION operation. Popular trivia at the time speculated that Mr. O’Hagan’s “Vegas TV replacement” (with NO radio resume) campaigned for THE SALE of WNDU Radio—simply to raise cash for a massive HDTV implementation on Channel 16. Thus, the parent that gave birth to U93’s awesome success may have indeed engaged in later neglect and contributed to its decline.
In the 80s, South bend was blessed with many more very-able radio managers than I mentioned in my prior post: Vince Ford at WRBR/WXMG/WZZP; Pat Ferraro at WYEZ (now B-100); and even “those Princeton guys” (Ash Elliott and Jason Meyer) who nobly-pursued their piece of the American Dream in the form of the sadly-uncompetitive 1kw AM-daytimer on 1580 (formerly WJVA). It requires no degree in “radio rocket science” to conclude the obvious—a fair comparison of the former to the current Angotti malaise.
Now, despite my “emeritus” status in the broadcast industry, and as a person grateful that the internet and its notorious “professional blogs” did not exist when I owned and operated four radio stations from 1986 to 1998—I will now cast my FIRST direct opinion on AMP. FACT: the broadcast landscape in this state is littered with dozens of good people mistreated by this “company”. I can find NO mid-level corporate radio track record that tallies AMP’s assorted misadventures and lost value on facility investment (WBTU and WSHY come instantly to mind with WNDV possibly to follow); flubbed format flips; missed opportunities; and a heartless disregard for what should be their greatest asset—the HUMAN BEINGS who sign a W-2 within an AMP property.
IMHO, AMP is a “bush-league entity” which begs the marketplace to work its unique and unavoidable “magic”—and be removed from its misery before it is further allowed to casually cast-off, and ultimately deflate the aspirations and enthusiasm of those who wander thru its door. Consider my “AMP-bashing” to have reached its conclusion... ‘Signing off!
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quackattack34
Guest
Thank you HIPPORADIO for the best explanation I have ever seen in my life. It was right on target.
Mr. Chase-
You should be extremely happy you are now in New England, and that you never had to witness what we in Indiana simply know as AMP. Have you ever worked for someone who said NO more times than he said his own name?
AMP is infamous for bringing someone in and for the first 2 months, its great! Then after that, all hell breaks loose.
How was I supposed to help bring WDDB to the top of the charts like it was 10 years prior when the following factors come into play
A) WDDB "The Killer Bee 106.3" was a legend all of its own doing. After it disappeared, no one cared anymore.
B) WDDB had NO staff. They expected me to handle mornings and run music the rest of the day. Now that was a lame move from the beginning.
C) WDDB had NO budget. NONE!!! No staff, no promotions, no materials.
If you think that working for AMP is okay, come work for them just 7 months and you will see how bad of a company it really is and you will join the ranks of all us former AMPers on these boards.
AMP thinks of its employees as peasants. They treat their radio stations like a poker match. And the company is in dire need of some straight up help! You have great people who have walked through the halls of Goshen Road, Cleveland Avenue and South 18TH that are in much better positions today. All poisoned by the company you regard on the top shelf known as AMP.
Work one day by yourself, running a radio station in its entirety, doing the production work, scheduling music, merging logs, traffic, cleaning the bathrooms and still doing a 5 hour shift in 8 hours. Its not going to happen. Oh, and it never will. Because they will have you doing this everyday until you quit. On top of that, have them throw in a format flip they want done in 24 hours without any budget to hire a voice guy or new jingles to take a dying station back to number one.
Then you can say how great this company is!
Mr. Chase-
You should be extremely happy you are now in New England, and that you never had to witness what we in Indiana simply know as AMP. Have you ever worked for someone who said NO more times than he said his own name?
AMP is infamous for bringing someone in and for the first 2 months, its great! Then after that, all hell breaks loose.
How was I supposed to help bring WDDB to the top of the charts like it was 10 years prior when the following factors come into play
A) WDDB "The Killer Bee 106.3" was a legend all of its own doing. After it disappeared, no one cared anymore.
B) WDDB had NO staff. They expected me to handle mornings and run music the rest of the day. Now that was a lame move from the beginning.
C) WDDB had NO budget. NONE!!! No staff, no promotions, no materials.
If you think that working for AMP is okay, come work for them just 7 months and you will see how bad of a company it really is and you will join the ranks of all us former AMPers on these boards.
AMP thinks of its employees as peasants. They treat their radio stations like a poker match. And the company is in dire need of some straight up help! You have great people who have walked through the halls of Goshen Road, Cleveland Avenue and South 18TH that are in much better positions today. All poisoned by the company you regard on the top shelf known as AMP.
Work one day by yourself, running a radio station in its entirety, doing the production work, scheduling music, merging logs, traffic, cleaning the bathrooms and still doing a 5 hour shift in 8 hours. Its not going to happen. Oh, and it never will. Because they will have you doing this everyday until you quit. On top of that, have them throw in a format flip they want done in 24 hours without any budget to hire a voice guy or new jingles to take a dying station back to number one.
Then you can say how great this company is!
R
radiofriend1
Guest
indyradioguy said:
one of *THE* major total jerks u could ever work with or for. a huge nothing
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Rocknroll
Guest
hipporadio said:
YES! I agree, the quicker AMP is gone the better radio will be. As a side note, when Swart was with WSBT-AM their 12+ numbers were the lowest I can remember, they were beat by other AMs just before he left.
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radiofriend1
Guest
Rocknroll said:
i was referring to swart
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goldenoldie
Guest
How very true all this is, the best part is that the people who use to work for AMP are in a much better place than they would have ever been had they not been let go. I really feel sorry for the people working for them. They have to know there is a better place for them somewhere else. Who wants to go to work every day wondering if it is going to be your last, or better yet think "It could never happen to me" don't bet on it. No one is safe from the wonderful saying "I really hate to do this but....." and the other best one is "
When things pick up again we will call you back" don't hold your breath. ;D
When things pick up again we will call you back" don't hold your breath. ;D
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quackattack34
Guest
Now only we can hope that all the stations get sold. Thats the only best thing possible for the state of radio in Indiana.
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CChase
Guest
For the record...
I am NOT defending AMP or its practices. We have all heard the horror stories.
I am however saying give it a rest. How many times can we bark up the same tree? Nothing will change, regardless of whether or not the Angotti's read this message board... It simply won't.
That's my point.
I am NOT defending AMP or its practices. We have all heard the horror stories.
I am however saying give it a rest. How many times can we bark up the same tree? Nothing will change, regardless of whether or not the Angotti's read this message board... It simply won't.
That's my point.
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insano radio
Guest
...In other news, U-93 night guy Joe Knight is apparently gone, and possibly abruptly. Opie's filling in. Any one have news on this? Knight came in from Alabama back in November, taking over for Otis (now Kiss Charlotte). Stunt guy "Crazy Ray"(Now WFRN) filled in the two months between. Is there something behind this, or is it just another victim of our old friend AMP?
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