Disaster That Was Coming For WKSE

[BuffaloRG]

From what I was told, Jimmy Steele left a huge mess at Kiss 98.5 with an impending disaster that was coming because of his lack of communication/follow-thru on programming and promotional issues for the Fall Book. Brian Be Wild is now interim PD and the entire staff is pulling for him to be made the pernament PD as he was pretty much clean up any messes made over the past few months.<P ID="edit"><FONT class="small">Edited by BuffaloRG on 08/09/05 02:12 AM.</FONT></P>

 

[demko]

> From what I was told, Jimmy Steele left a huge mess at Kiss
> 98.5 with an impending disaster that was coming because of
> his lack of communication/follow-thru on programming and
> promotional issues for the Fall Book. Brian Be Wild is now
> interim PD and the entire staff is pulling for him to be
> made the pernament PD as he was pretty much clean up any
> messes made over the past few months.
>

Ok, I've sat here and seen the bashing on Jimmy Steele for too long now. I know Jimmy personally, and he has had a rough year, but he's a radio genius. The ratings this past book prove it for Kiss 98.5. That and look at the past 3 stations before Kiss...i.e. Z104 Madison, The River in Nashville (worst to first jump), and WNCI in Columbus. All #1's. To say that he is the cause of any problems at Entercom is absolutey ABSURD! Plus, from what I understand, Brian B. Wilde doesn't even know how their music scheduling software works.

Congrats Entercom...you just made a horrible mistake! Good luck with those great ratings!

 

[Renegade_X]

Kiss ...

Don't know people at the station, but I can tell you this. Kiss 98.5 sounds MUCH better than it has in a long time. It's a true CHR now, not some Hot AC daypart mess that it was.

 

[TVJunkie10]

Plus, from what I understand,
> Brian B. Wilde doesn't even know how their music scheduling
> software works.

Unless the software has radically changed in the past couple of years since I worked there I have seen Brian B. Wilde use Selector more than once...Brian is a good guy who keeps his head down and does his job without ego or bluster.

 

[drake945]

Re: Kiss ...

> Don't know people at the station, but I can tell you this.
> Kiss 98.5 sounds MUCH better than it has in a long time.
> It's a true CHR now, not some Hot AC daypart mess that it
> was.
>
I heard that they have a few PD's in mind for this gig.... All I can say is yes, Jimmy Steele is brilliant. It's ashame that it didn't work out. But if I was a higher up at another station I would higher him in a second.

 

[Element9]

Re: Kiss ...

> >
> I heard that they have a few PD's in mind for this gig....
> All I can say is yes, Jimmy Steele is brilliant. It's ashame
> that it didn't work out. But if I was a higher up at another
> station I would higher him in a second.
>

Unless you're displaying a unique sense of humor, I presume you'd "hire" him in a minute. Doesn't look that there will be any takers in B-low at this time. Unfortunately, PD's with short stays on their resumes don't usually catch a break.

 

[Element9]

>
> Ok, I've sat here and seen the bashing on Jimmy Steele for
> too long now. I know Jimmy personally, and he has had a
> rough year, but he's a radio genius. The ratings this past
> book prove it for Kiss 98.5. That and look at the past 3
> stations before Kiss...i.e. Z104 Madison, The River in
> Nashville (worst to first jump), and WNCI in Columbus. All
> #1's. To say that he is the cause of any problems at
> Entercom is absolutey ABSURD! Plus, from what I understand,
> Brian B. Wilde doesn't even know how their music scheduling
> software works.
>
> Congrats Entercom...you just made a horrible mistake! Good
> luck with those great ratings!
>

At what point does potential liablity outweigh a PD's "genius," even if it's tortured genius? This is a QUESTION, not an allegation. I'd be interested in opinions from guys like Bob Smith, Giardina, Roxalot and Surly.

Radknowski need not reply.

 

[SirRoxalot]

Kissed off...

> Unless you're displaying a unique sense of humor, I presume
> you'd "hire" him in a minute. Doesn't look that there will
> be any takers in B-low at this time. Unfortunately, PD's
> with short stays on their resumes don't usually catch a
> break.

Jimmy has had a long year indeed. "Not renewed" in C-bus, beached, KISSed, then KISSed Off. Rumor has it that Jimmy's demons are not radio-related and were of great concern to management. He allegedly had more than his share of "sick days".

Let's review the story. We've got a guy with a lot of talent who achieves a lot of success quickly and decides he is indestructable. Some where along the line his life gets out of control, he has problems with The Corporation, and they part ways. He gets a new gig, where he has a difficult relationship with his staff, and what appears to be a "problem". In the meantime, his Columbus station shows up in the annals of the Attorney General's payola investigation. You can guess why E-com - in the midst of the DU(h)situation - had an itchy trigger finger.

Let me admit that I've pieced a lot of this together from multiple sources who were not exactly voluble on the subject. I could be off base, but there seems to be enough smoke to determine the size and location of the fire.

 

[BuffaloRG]

Re: Kissed off...

BINGO. You're walking down the right path my friend. But as I was told, there was a lot of bad (in and out of work) that added up to one giant mess.

> Let me admit that I've pieced a lot of this together from
> multiple sources who were not exactly voluble on the
> subject. I could be off base, but there seems to be enough
> smoke to determine the size and location of the fire.
>