How is radio in Laurel / Hattiesburg since we left?

[damian542]

I'm one of the guys who put on "98.1 The Hot FM"... just curious how things are since we've been off... SL still suck?

 

[the golden boy]

If we were talking about the SL of the mid-90s, I'd wholeheartedly agree with you that they suck. But there's a kick-ass active rock station, 103.7 the Fox.

 

[damian542]

If we were talking about the SL of the mid-90s, I'd wholeheartedly agree with you that they suck. But there's a kick-ass active rock station, 103.7 the Fox.

Yes.. I did hear about that... we wanted to buy 107.1 and 96.5 and make one of those active rock... good for you guys... that signal kicks ass... and I know it's Mississippi... but you really didn't need ANOTHER country station in that market... B-95 did the job just fine....

 

[zell]

B-95 is so entrenched in that market, that the Blakeney's would have to blow it up themselves to do any damage. Goes to show that the individual broadcaster can stand up to Clear Channel in a market and kick their rear.

 

[damian542]

B-95 is so entrenched in that market, that the Blakeney's would have to blow it up themselves to do any damage. Goes to show that the individual broadcaster can stand up to Clear Channel in a market and kick their rear.

Yes, they are good people too... They took that radio station from a small Class A to the C1 that it is today... he took KZ-94 from a C2 that didn't really cover the market and moved it to the 104.5 tower... he's very good with his cluster... good radio people...

 

[NWilliams]

I had forgotten about the Hot FM. You guys did a great job. What happened to you all?

 

[damian542]

I had forgotten about the Hot FM. You guys did a great job. What happened to you all?

The station was an LMA deal (Lease Management Agreement) with the owner. I did the financing, mostly out of my own pocket, or loans that I got from banking relationships... I know we had the programming down, but we could never get the sales going... it lasted about a year and four months and we couldn't keep it up any more... The owner, Mr. Rainey, took the station back. He is another great guy... I still talk to him every once and again, he kept us on even when we couldn't afford to make the monthly payment... it was a great time down there... I'm in the process just now of buying more stations in other markets... Clear Channel has destroyed radio... I was listening to some old tapes when I was on the air in Philly and radio is so different now... it's really a shame, but maybe that's the way people want radio now... I'm not sure if I understand what people want.... I thought the days of DJs talking in between the songs and having personality was good, but now a days the jocks here in Philly just suck, they are just college radio level... crazy in market 6.... ok.. I'm done now...

 

[gregdymon]

Rumor has it that Mr. Rainey was, at one time last year, trying to sell 98.1 in Laurel. Don't know if it was true, but I DO know that the talk format they've got going isn't good programming, ESPECIALLY for that market.

 

[CentralFloridaEagle]

It's great to find a website to keep up with what's happening in the radio biz around the Pine Belt.

I worked with several stations around the area, starting in the early 80s doing Sunday afternoons at WLAU and eventually graduating to overnights at WNSL (when they first began using the SL-100 moniker). During my decade or so, I bounced to work with the Blakeneys in Collins, helped open WJMG 92.1, and did a couple of years each at WHSY/Y-104 and WFOR/WHER before moving here to Florida in 1989. Believe me, it was quite a ride!

After moving here, I did four years as Assistant OM for an AM Big Band/Light AC station in Winter Haven before the owners went belly-up. I've been out of the biz for a number of years now, living in Lakeland, Florida and working in a call center...still using my big mouth to make a few bucks!

Great to see that the Blakeney Brothers have done well in the face of the Beast (read: Clear Channel), proving that local owned-and-operated stations providing locally oriented programme can still work. Larry and his brother treated me rather well when I worked under them in Collins, and looking back I regret not staying there longer to learn under a couple of real pros.

Vernon Floyd (WORV/WJMG) was, to say the least, a unique individual. His nephew, Walter Johnson, became one of my closest friends. He eventually became news director at WHLT-TV 22 when it began it's local news operation. I wonder to this day what happened to him, because I had heard some very odd news about him.

I'm looking forward to visiting this site regularly. Best to everyone

 

[NWilliams]

The Blakeney's are great people. I heard recently that Randy had retired and is out of the business. They both are first class.

 

[the golden boy]

Vernon Floyd (WORV/WJMG) was, to say the least, a unique individual. His nephew, Walter Johnson, became one of my closest friends. He eventually became news director at WHLT-TV 22 when it began it's local news operation. I wonder to this day what happened to him, because I had heard some very odd news about him.

I remember hearing about Walter trying to sneak unto the White House or Capitol with some sort of weapon not too long after he was let go from WHLT. I also remember hearing that he ended up moving in with his parents in Maryland after his firing, too. He must've really been distraught to be fired from WHLT.

 

[CentralFloridaEagle]

I had heard something to that effect, and was truly stunned. That certainly does not sound like the Walter Johnson that I knew. When I left Mississippi in 1990, Walter was married to a beautiful woman with a charming young son. They were active in their nondemoninational church.

What happened to Walter at WHLT? I know that when channel 22 first went on the air, they simply simulcast the newscast of parent WJTV before starting their local news operation which aired on WHLT covering one segment of the Jackson broadcast and eventually beginning their own show. It was a true surprise that Walter was named ND, as he had no experience in television before signing on with WHLT.

I still pray for him to this day.

 

[the golden boy]

I never really knew why WHLT fired Walter, but they did still have a local news operation, though only for a little while longer. Later on, it was reduced to a 10-minute broadcast coming from WJTV. I don't know what kind of local news presence they have now.

 

[DouglasB]

It sounds like Laurel/Hattiesburg radio got way better after I left. I was there from 1973 to 1976 and worked at (you can start snickering) WHSY for Ted Tibbet and Charlie Holt. It was an experience. Most memorable was in 1974 or '75 when we had a flood that trapped 6 of us in the station. Made the national news.....boy did that place smell for months after that. Probably still got mold in my lungs....... Got to work with some great folks in the market.....David Blair, Reid Reeker, Marshall Magee, Jim Cameron, and the infamous Jim Wood at WFOR......

 

[CentralFloridaEagle]

What's amazing is that Tibbett, at least a year or so ago, is still in the biz! I had read on one of these boards that Holt had asked him several times to join him again in running his talker WHSY-950 but refused.

I believe I remember the flooding episode you mention. Holt's location right where the Leaf and Bouie rivers join was not the greatest studio/office location.

When I was at WJMG, just before skipping over to WFOR/WHER, we had a day of rain and flooding. On my own, I went to the Emergency Operations Center, in the basement of the old Methodist Hospital, and began doing phone bits to update listeners of the situation. The water started coming in, and we ended up in ankle deep water ourselves. I did a couple of news pieces for ABC News on the story; it was always nice getting that $10 check a few weeks later after it aired.

 

[Powerpig56]

Man, those were the days! I did a report when Hurricane Fredrick was hitting Gulfport. I filed it from the harbor and when my $10 check arrived, the station manager took it saying since I used their equipment, the money was theirs. E.O. Roden and his brother Zane owned the station back then.

 

[damian542]

Man, those were the days! I did a report when Hurricane Fredrick was hitting Gulfport. I filed it from the harbor and when my $10 check arrived, the station manager took it saying since I used their equipment, the money was theirs. E.O. Roden and his brother Zane owned the station back then.

Ahhh yes... it's people like this that would take a $10 check that give radio it's wonderful stories.... I'll tell ya... I don't have any stories like these, but I've heard'em.... that guy was obviously an idiot.. the truth of the matter is that if I didn't have bills, I'd do radio for free... love the industry... it's been in my blood since college radio and I can't get it out...

 

[oldbuzzard]

Is Jackson Walker still in Hattiesburg?

Anyone know where Jackson Walker is? He was at Triple X many years ago, now I'm dating myself!

 

[CentralFloridaEagle]

I intended to reply here, but it ended up with a new subject "Speaking Of Dating Oneself..." above.

 

[gregdymon]

I worked with several stations around the area, starting in the early 80s doing Sunday afternoons at WLAU and eventually graduating to overnights at WNSL (when they first began using the SL-100 moniker). During my decade or so, I bounced to work with the Blakeneys in Collins, helped open WJMG 92.1, and did a couple of years each at WHSY/Y-104 and WFOR/WHER before moving here to Florida in 1989. Believe me, it was quite a ride!

You're not the once famous Wild Kyle West are you????