Frog in Damage Control

[SpeakIngles]

I think it's neat that REAL Classic Country stations can make a ripple out on the lilypad pond and make 'em go into DAMAGE CONTROL MODE!! Sure, we know we'll probably never beat 'em just simply because of signal. but it's obvious that the guys shaving off a few points are not going unnoticed!

 

[tinytunes]

Huh?

There's another country station in East Tennessee?

Nah. There's only one. WIVK.

Hey...someone should use that as a slogan.....

As I recall, the last people to have any REAL success at 'shaving some points' off of the Frog was the Hitkicker....WOKI. See how well that did.

"Damage control?" You've got to be kidding me....*yawns*

 

[MusicDoctorRadio]

Just like all of the other past Ktown area country radio stations who "shaved some points" off of the frog, (or those who at least tried to), I'm quiet sure that this "Class A" country station will eventually change to a new format one day also.

It may take a couple of years give or take, however it will happen one day.

Just wait and see.

 

[spindoctor1]

The last two posts must be more danage control.
Just keep on doing what yer doin Merle!
At least you guys are doing it WELL, unlike other contenders.

 

[MusicDoctorRadio]

The last two posts must be more danage control.
Just keep on doing what yer doin Merle!
At least you guys are doing it WELL, unlike other contenders.

Hi Spin,

Nah, I have no reason to do damage control for the Frog since I do not work in the business. I just hate to see a good frequency wasted is all.

Also nothing personal towards the good folks over at Journal, but if I had my way in regards to Merle's frequency the folks at Journal would end up having to do damage control for "931 THE POINT".

Just remember Ktown History has proven that no other country station besides WIVK can survive.

"Merle" will one day end up just like "Earl". Ktown radio History. ;D

 

[GTC]

Yeah, I'm sure companies are just chomping at the bit to snag part of 931 the Point's almost 2 share....

I'd say Citadel is more concerned about their stock price than Merle FM....WIVK will be just fine, but were a 100K stick to go up against them, Citadel is probably in the least healthy position to defend itself that it's ever been.

For those in the know, who keep on shouting "Hot AC" for Knoxville....tell me, how many stations have tried the Hot AC format in the last 10 years...Mix, Point, B97.5 dabbled in a Hot AC sound, Earl toward the end....there's no ratings in it, there's no money in it....Triple A? Worked well for WOKI, only when they were on the big stick. DOA after that.

 

[DoubleC]

It must not have worked well for OKI becasue if it did wouldn't they still be doing it???

 

[jwk1979]

It must not have worked well for OKI becasue if it did wouldn't they still be doing it???

WOKI had some success with the Country format but the main reason it didn't last long was Dick Broadcasting, owner of WIVK at the time, took over the managing of WOKI and wasn't going to program against WIVK so they changed WOKI's format to Classic Hits/Classic Rock.

 

[MusicDoctorRadio]

Yeah, I'm sure companies are just chomping at the bit to snag part of 931 the Point's almost 2 share....

I'd say Citadel is more concerned about their stock price than Merle FM....WIVK will be just fine, but were a 100K stick to go up against them, Citadel is probably in the least healthy position to defend itself that it's ever been.

For those in the know, who keep on shouting "Hot AC" for Knoxville....tell me, how many stations have tried the Hot AC format in the last 10 years...Mix, Point, B97.5 dabbled in a Hot AC sound, Earl toward the end....there's no ratings in it, there's no money in it....Triple A? Worked well for WOKI, only when they were on the big stick. DOA after that.

The things you just mentioned such as ratings and money are the reasons why I never got into radio along with corporate buy outs of radio stations that have occurred over the last several years. That is exactly what is wrong with radio today. It's all centered around Arbitron and the almighty fast dollar, which has led to a lack of creativity with most commercial stations. Even the best PD has their hands tied, and has only so much freedom. No matter how good of an idea that a PD comes up with he still has to answer to the big corporate man. The song "The Last DJ" by Tom Petty is pretty much my theme song.

I realize that stations do have to make profit, however for me personally I wanted radio to be fun as unrealistic as that may sound to a lot of folks. It was about playing good music, and my attitude was phooey on the ratings. Let's just have fun. It was about having a giant play list of around 10,000 or more songs in rotation and it didn't matter to me if those songs were top 12 hits or not. I would've played a song that peaked at #100 for only a week on the Billboard Charts. For me it was all about having the freedom to play anything from a "Chart Stiff" to an "Album Cut", not what some corporate big wig wanted me to play such as the same old 400 songs that everyone has been hearing for the past 30 plus years. There is not enough freedom in radio today, that's for sure.

When I saw the dirty side of the business, and after a long time friend of mine who use to be a DJ walked away from the business back in 1989 that pretty much did it for me.

Sorry to rant like this, I'm usually pretty mild mannered on here, however I'm just tired of hearing the huge emphasis on ratings. It's also a constant reminder of what is wrong with radio and why I no longer listen to commercial radio. I'll stick with my CD's and my mp3's. My computer plays a better variety of music than what most local radio stations around here do.

Nothing personal towards anyone, and I apologize if anyone was offended by my comments. I just miss the way radio use to be, and I'm very passionate about what I believe.

 

[SpeakIngles]

It seems that I have livened up the board a bit by opening this discussion. It's been pretty stale now for a bit since i've been back. Where I am, it's pretty much "phooey on the ratings" anyway. Our little AM station only gets listed in the metro during baseball season. From the calls I get and comments, I think I'm doing ok. I know that's a small sample, but it keeps me going. I keep wishing I could build that "dream team" that could take being creative and being local to the next level. Two spot voices kills me. I'm thinking about inventing some characters! I'ts fun still for me, but I try to avoid getting burned out. I work my can off trying to wear all the hats. I keep something coming out of the speakers 24/7. It's so true that you can do all the jobs, but none of them well, because the focus constantly changes. Every day the air, one day sales, put in the orders, make the logs, next day work on the library, make some new liners, next week try to build a website. Obviously I find some time to get on here. I believe that it takes a team effort to make a success. That's what the larger stations have. Without the team, and the team effort, you're going to struggle.

 

[nasnut67]

Wow ye people of little faith. I can say this, the frog plays way to many commercials, and not enough country. It's nice to have the change on 96.7. Merle is a great station, and the programming is top notch. I am amazed that people want to give Merle it's death sentence without really giving it a chance. The old saying is one swallow does not make a summer, or even better Rome wasn't made in a day. Progress is coming, and I have faith in that small station.

 

[ratman2005]

I think it's neat that REAL Classic Country stations can make a ripple out on the lilypad pond and make 'em go into DAMAGE CONTROL MODE!! Sure, we know we'll probably never beat 'em just simply because of signal. but it's obvious that the guys shaving off a few points are not going unnoticed!

What?? How retarded.

 

[thebroker]

It seems that I have livened up the board a bit by opening this discussion. It's been pretty stale now for a bit since i've been back. Where I am, it's pretty much "phooey on the ratings" anyway. Our little AM station only gets listed in the metro during baseball season. From the calls I get and comments, I think I'm doing ok. I know that's a small sample, but it keeps me going. I keep wishing I could build that "dream team" that could take being creative and being local to the next level. Two spot voices kills me. I'm thinking about inventing some characters! I'ts fun still for me, but I try to avoid getting burned out. I work my can off trying to wear all the hats. I keep something coming out of the speakers 24/7. It's so true that you can do all the jobs, but none of them well, because the focus constantly changes. Every day the air, one day sales, put in the orders, make the logs, next day work on the library, make some new liners, next week try to build a website. Obviously I find some time to get on here. I believe that it takes a team effort to make a success. That's what the larger stations have. Without the team, and the team effort, you're going to struggle.

Please tell me you did not start this thread purporting to be affiliated with WYSH/WMYL only to make immature sarcastic remarks. I've seen some pretty sad things in my time, but this is just blatantly unprofessional. This will be my 664th post here on Radio-Info, and in my years of posting here, I've engaged in some wonderful and spirited discussions about this business most of us love. I've seen the site grow from a hobby to a very credible nationally-recognized trade publication, and I've enjoyed every minute of my participation here. However, perhaps I've just missed it, but never once have I seen somebody do something this silly.

SpeakIngles, I happen to know you are not Ron Merideth, because Ron is my dear friend, and pretty high on the list of people in this business I truly respect. I've done business with him, and found him to be a man of high morals. I would trust him in a heartbeat with just his handshake as collateral, and that isn't something I can say for many people in this business. He's doing what he's doing because he cares about his community, and about good radio. It's a matter of public record that I'm the person who sold WMYL to Ron back in late 2005, just before it moved to Halls from Harrogate. Trust me, I could have sold it to anybody, and probably for significantly more money, but I chose to help Ron get the station, because I trust him, and I knew he'd do a better job with the station than anybody I could have sold it to. What he has been able to accomplish so far with Merle is fantastic, and if you truly love the radio business, you should be praising him instead of pretending to be him only to make sarcastic remarks and cut him down. Then again, I suppose the fact that you pretend to be Ron could be a compliment. Don't we imitate those we wish we were like? Trust me, you could consider yourself a very lucky person if you were even half as great a local broadcaster as Ron Merideth.

Incidentallly, to those who don't have much positive to say about Merle, just wait and see what happens in a few months when they get a power increase that'll put a big "C" next to their channel assignment.

 

[tnlucky13]

A class C? Hmmm...Running only 1900 watts and already on a directional antenna to protect WJBZ (Praise 96.3), its second adjacent, among others...with a 60 percent null directly across Knoxville? Either a frequency change is forthcoming or a directional signal is going to get MORE directional. Some consultant must have miracle working powers.

Oh, and by the way, I don't wish anyone failure or "bad luck" in this business, but Merle can knock it off with the "frogs eat flies, etc." crap. Concentrate on what one does well and leave the blantant slams to the non-professionals.

 

[BRH]

I pretty much agree that WIVK has little to worry about from Merle. And as far as signal goes; WMYL had better do something because right now it's a joke. They are practically unlistenable on the west side of town. And like it or not, that's where the money and advertisers are. So I seriously doubt Merle is even an after thought at Citadel.

As far as the comment about Hot AC goes; yeah personally I would love to have a Hot AC in town. I don't know whether it is a format that can be made to work in Knoxville or not. That's one thing I hate about this area. (too many rednecks in the adult demos who believe if it's not country or classic rock then it's not music). Guess that's why I really enjoy travelling up north.

 

[SuperQ]

Broker, the original poster was referring to the Classic Country of WLIL, which I doubt ever comes up in WIVK strategy sessions.

 

[SpeakIngles]

First of all, I am not purporting to be anybody but myself. It is my analysis of WIVK's sudden jump to move the positioner and place more emphasis on the classics that led me to start this thread. And I wanted to see what other comments that would bring. I think Merle is having some success, especially on the younger demos in the areas where they can be heard well. Am I a fan of directly bashing the big country station on the air? No. That's something I wouldn't even think of trying to do here. But it's getting them noticed, along with their outdoor. I have nothing whatsoever against Ron M. As long as it's live and local, it can stink and it'd be better than most radio!

 

[tinytunes]

The last two posts must be more danage control.
Just keep on doing what yer doin Merle!
At least you guys are doing it WELL, unlike other contenders.

Yep. That's me. Damage control for WIVK. What an jerk you are, Spindoctor.
The closest that I've ever come to even being associated with that station is a Job Interview I had about ten years ago. Mike Hammond offered me a sales job with 850. I declined. Hell, I haven't lived in the area for close to ten years...I sure don't have a dog in this hunt.

I just know when you have a McDonald's franchise on the busiest corner in town, you don't worry about the junior high school concession stand being a competitor. Such is the case with WIVK and WLIL....the original poster's comparison. WIVK doesn't give two good shakes of a frog's tail about what WLIL does. Anyone with an eye can see that. As far as Merle? Don't even know what it is...but if it was anywhere CLOSE to being a contender in the Knoxville market, someone would have already bought it. Another case of a little guy tilting at the WIVK windmill. Eventually it'll go away. Hell, even Citadel and South Central's secondary sticks can't compete with their leading stations....why would a three popper you can't hear in the entire metro make the Frog blink?

What a joke. Niche formats MIGHT make a difference in sales....but not in ratings. Head to head? Not a chance. NONE.

 

[spindoctor1]

A jerk? Wow another "tell me how you really feel" moment.
Grow up.
At least WMYL is TRYING to give the area something different.
Not the same ol cookie cutter radio.

 

[jkknowitall]

Merle is gonna try something different in a couple weeks...check this out...they're gonna flip to Mexican Gospel!!...sounds like a winner doesn't it?