wsbzjazzkat said:
WSBZ Seabreeze is only contracted for voicetrack elements from BA, and we are NOT a satellite affliate. Everying runs out of our 1000 square foot builiding in Santa Rosa Beach. Meaning, we control and create our own music logs here without any input from BA. The tracks from Dave Koz, Kenny G, and such are inserted within our automation system --so we can benefit from having nationally known smooth jazz artists on the station while still keeping all music control. WSBZ also is a Smooth Jazz reporting station for Billboard Magazine which I feel is imporatant. I don't think any of the other Ft. Walton Beach market stations report at all anymore as all the programming is "templated" from corporate. No need to report airplay that is simply a mirror of all their other markets. We sometimes agree on currents with BA but usually add new music sometimes 3-6 weeks before they do on the "network". BA's network on the satellite only rotates 300-400 tracks at most. WSBZ is up to close to 900. Also, this gives us the opportunity to run local and regional music like Jones and Company and Destin saxman Michael J. Thomas. We broke Michael's single "City Beat" last January and now he is getting national airplay as it track is now on the Billboard Top 20 Smooth Jazz releases. Overall -- the system works well as long as you keep the "national" jocks up to date with local info, concerts, and other items listeners want. Of course with smooth jazz, the main reason listeners turn to a station like ours is to relax and unwind. And ...I've found it's all about "lifestyle" with a format like this. Once advertisers understand this and use it to their advantage with the right commercial copy and appeal --the station and the format works great.
One the info above ~ this has to be Renee, not Mark! Finally a voice of reason.
Love ya Mark!Seriously, see, this is what I mean about REAL RADIO. Tiny signal, niche format, everyday is an uphill battle...and you see the truth - "the format works great". HONEST. SINCERE. PASSIONATE and HARD WORKING. That's WSBZ and Mark in particular. Mark - that's how you do what you do and excel.
Allow me to vent. Lots of fly-by-night radio professionals have come and gone in the Destin market. Some have been the absolute scum of the Earth. (Wait, that IS ME.) Not naming names here. The tools in the suits playing a corporate playlist and buying into the BS "system" are what radio has sadly become. And these same managers and staff complain about how hard it is to compete and sitting in that air conditoned office is so difficult. And they have looked down on guys like Jimmy and Mark. Well, that's a bunch of bull. How many markets in the Top 100 have jazz or any niche formats? Very few. Yet, in the most over radioed corner of America is one station, with staying power, not caving to the system, not trashing the competition, just working it's brilliantly simple, debt-free plan. Maybe it's not a corporate cluster (I leave the f word out, this time) or a giant mega-chain. You know what? Those clowns can have those over financed, bankrupt sinking ships. Stockholders should be fully aware that they are not going to see better days. My moneys on guys like Mark Carter because he is what
American radio should be.
I could tell you stories about Mark staying with his station during hurricanes and dealing with generators or dealing with rattlesnakes while mowing around the tower, but you already get the point. That is why I listen to his station online, often. Hmm! And, I thought it was all because of his sexy, hot voice.
Yeah! Glad you spoke out Mark . Wish you had sooner. Just know you have little or no time for this. Hope you, Renee and the kids, dogs, cats and who knows what else are all ok. Miss seeing you! - Tibbs - Nashville's biggest (fattest and ugliest) WSBZ fan.
