Fan on high,...Marv,...hand me that bucket. The one that's full!

[Scooter Lesley]

Welcome to...still...yet another installment of "What's wrong with it?".
For weeks now, I have been reading little stabs, slices,...here and there about how bad the two Rock stations are. Those two, here in the GSP market, are Rock 101, and The Planet. Now, from time to time, you've heard or read my rants of displeasure, but I really would like to hear from The Think Tank...the details of which is the worst, and why?? Take the liberty to exlain if they both cramp your cassual radio listening. Take the time to be specific, in full venting detail.
I'll weigh-in later, with my spin,...and you know...I will!
So, have at it!

 

[awp69]

I'm not a huge classic rock fan so can't really comment too much on Rock 101.

But The Planet is truely abysmal. I took a trip across the state to Myrtle Beach over the weekend and was amazed at how other markets have "new rock" stations that are far better than the largest radio market in the state.

I understand that The Planet is "active rock" and not new or alternative rock. But still, it's reliance on harder, screaming rock for the vast majority of their airtime (I like to refer this as "redneck" rock -- no offense to those who don't like that term) is just pitiful. And then they have the audacity to mix in classic rock like Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin. And even an occassional Oasis or slower Green Day tune? It just sounds like a complete mess. No thought to the mix and missing a wide range of new rock that cannot be heard in the Upstate at all.

Rock 93.5 in Columbia is a far better "new rock" station. Mixed fairly well from the few hours of listening I enjoyed (their transmitter also seemed greatly improved from the last time I drove to MB) with groups missing from the GSP market like The Doves, Airborne Toxic Event and Foster the People (newest single) as well as a good slice of 2000s and 90s rock hits. They still play some of the drivel on The Planet, but the vast majority is listenable. Even WKZQ in Myrtle Beach sounded better.

What I don't get is why the Planet has continued to survive. Their ratings are piss poor and just about every market in the entire region has a newer rock station that's better in just about every way. Doesn't anyone from corporate see an opportunity to make some changes? It's just hard to understand. And don't get me started on The Rise Guys...worst morning show period.

 

[carolinaradio]

I'm not a fan of Rock 101, but then again I'm not a fan of a lot of the music they play so I can't honestly comment. However, they DO say they play "classic rock" and that's what they play, music selection good or bad.

^ that sums up my opinion of active rock/93.3 exactly...."Active Rock" is typically a mix of older and newer rock - NOT songs like "Money", "Dream On", etc. from the 70s. 93.3 reminds me of a Chuck FM but they just play rock. It's terribly unpolished and one-sided as far as the music goes. Like has already been said, it's all loud/screaming/driving hard rock that not ALL rock fans want to hear nothing but. Morning show is complete garbage and is an embarrassment to this market. John Boy & Billy (barf) are more refined. I wish to God they'd plug something syndicated in or something and ditch TRG. That probably runs a ton of audience off right there.
WKZQ/MYB, WARQ/Columbia, and WYBB/Charleston are all better rock stations than this mess. I don't understand why Entercom, one of the most highly regarded companies in the business, who has some fantastic rock stations, can't put out a better product in the state's largest market. They have the resources.

I wish another company would put a new rock station on the air, even if it's just automated - or maybe this station would flip so another station could come on the air.

 

[awp69]

Wanted to throw in that for some unknown reason, I signed up for The Planet's e-mail subscription (probably long ago when they first started). Got an e-mail for a music survey a few days ago so I thought I'd use it to express my displeasure with the station.

First listing your favorite stations....fine...obviously The Planet wasn't one of them. Second, I used the "Other" to give examples of stations that I DO like because, frankly, Rock 101, WESC, B93.7 and their other choices weren't among my favorites either.

Then, it was on to rate new music. OMG. I couldn't even get through the survey. The garbage they had in their samples to rate was exactly that....garbage. Not a single song that fit what I would say is "mainstream" as far as new rock. Again, all screaming/driving rock that frankly doesn't sound much like music to my ears at all. And certainly not something my wife wanted to hear before I turned the sound down as it almost blew out my PC's speakers.

Anyway, people can say that everyone has different tastes and you can't expect a "format"' to necessarily fit your listening habits. But the station ISN'T doing well in the ratings so it doesn't seem like there's much of an audience that does want to hear what they're playing. So I just don't get the point. As carolinaradio pointed out, Entercom should know better. Sure would like to know what's going on in those office meetings.

 

[ATOMO]

Among the many different things we have going on at 103-3 WOLT is Skip Church (www.skipchurchradio.com). He plays lots of different rock tracks and he'll take your requests. Give it a try - 9am-1pm Monday through Friday. Rock on. Hi, Marv - long time.

 

[wildbill87]

I must say that I been in the GSP area for about a month or so now and The Rock stations are just subpar. I lived/worked in the Myrtle Beach Market for a while and I was lucky enough to have 2 rock stations then 1 really good rock station in Rock 107. I do believe that the GSP market needs a station like Rock 107 in myrtle beach because IMO, they have the best of both worlds since they play both classic and new/"active" rock. As I have been listening to the station for the past days and the playlist goes like this: Tonight-Seether, Blue on Black-KWS, Nickelback, Temple of Dog, Sixx Am and Ozzy.. I mean you can't beat that.

 

[KyleSmith1988]

I'd like to see The Planet do a mix of something like 106.5 The End in Charlotte, and Radio 104.5 in Philly.
Alt/Modern rock would definitely be a better mix than what's on now.

...And 93.3's audio is way too loud, they should turn the volume down.
Compare the volume of 93.7 & 93.3, and The Planet is at least 10db louder...over-modulated = very annoying.

 

[carolinaradio]

I agree with you wholeheartedly, Kyle, about the audio. Worst in the market. No fidelity, just over-processed, "harsh" noise. The audio on the morning show is even worse. They sound like they're in a cave with an echo chamber and they are even more overmodulated.

I like 106.5 The End, they don't do extremely well since there's not a huge market for it, but it is an example of a better programmed rock station.

Entercom has some excellent rock stations, like WAAF/Boston and KRBZ/Kansas City. The one here is disgraceful.

 

[awp69]

I'd like to see The Planet do a mix of something like 106.5 The End in Charlotte, and Radio 104.5 in Philly.
Alt/Modern rock would definitely be a better mix than what's on now.

Definately agree. I listen to Radio 104.5 in Philly online quite a bit.

 

[Scooter Lesley]

Well,...well,...well,...it's been over a week now since I tossed a full bucket into the back of a...Fan On High! Yes, both Marv, and I were quite thankful that...being the tag team insti-gators of the splateration, we were safely standing behind.
I said that I would weigh-in, and since I'm now standing on the scales,...Marv, hand me my Black hat! A rather brainy female intern of mine once asked me to sum-up Corporate radio...in a nutshell. Well,...sweet pea, they're just a shell full of nuts!
To recap the last 7-days of posts from the Think Tank, much truth was spoken by a brave few. With all score cards in, The Planet is the winner of which is the worst. However, Rock 101 should not celebrate for both are cellarmates, in the muddy sewer, found 'neath the basement of...the Hall of Shame. AWP69 was the most responsive, with a swift cracking whip for The Planet, its horrible playlist, and dismal Morning show. Carolinaradio reflected most of the same thoughts, but also added a rather sobering fact: (In other markets) Entercom has some excellent Rock stations, and listed such. Poster, Wildbill87, described both stations with a kinda-sorta golf term..."Subpar"! To me, I reallly don't know what happened, other than someome in management appointed/allowed some Boob to call the shots. Truthfully, this holds for both stations: In order to correctly point the boney finger of blame, one must first identify the above mentioned "Boob"! So, without question, male or female, who is it? The intrusive Corp PD, and/or the hemroidal Consultant....or is it...the local OM/PD? Blame can't be assigned, but really needs to be! Also...some answer to the question of...How in the Flyin' Fudgecake do they keep their job?

 

[upstate29651]

I must say that I been in the GSP area for about a month or so now and The Rock stations are just subpar. I lived/worked in the Myrtle Beach Market for a while and I was lucky enough to have 2 rock stations then 1 really good rock station in Rock 107. I do believe that the GSP market needs a station like Rock 107 in myrtle beach because IMO, they have the best of both worlds since they play both classic and new/"active" rock. As I have been listening to the station for the past days and the playlist goes like this: Tonight-Seether, Blue on Black-KWS, Nickelback, Temple of Dog, Sixx Am and Ozzy.. I mean you can't beat that.

Planet is sorta like that, albeit a bit too classic heavy.

The best active rocker in the state right now is Hilton Head's Rock 106.1. It's blowing everything else in the state out of the water.

G

 

[Scooter Lesley]

OK,...back to the prime directive y'all. Rock 101 & The Planet. As I said, The Planet wins the "which is the worst" contest, and we have heard from quite a few of the drastically underwhelmed, registering both comment, and recommendation. Collectively, what they do on the air is as valuable as a mouthful of advice from either Kelly Ripa or Whoopi Goldberg!! However, in the original splatter from the fan,...and Marv,...go ahead, and unplug that thing, and hose it off. Oh,...but be sure to unplug it, before you hose!!!!!!! Where, or at who...do we point the boney finger of blame,...and how in the Flyin' Fudgecake does this Boob keep his/her job?