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I Am Sorry To Say 98.1 The Max is a Joke!

S

Sandscott

Guest
I apologize being new to this board and all but I am going to go on a rant.
I remember with fondness when 98.1 became the Max. I was fired up because their goal was to "compete with Clear Channel and namely Rock 103." I was just so sick with 103's playlist with the same tired twenty bands and one hundred songs (am I the only one who can do without hearing Led Zep and Pink Floyd every two hours) When the station began they actually played songs I hadn't heard in awhile. Besides the regular bands, they threw in some Uriah Heep, UFO, etc. I loved it and was thrilled when they even started carrying rock icon Alice Cooper's show (that guy is still awesome).

I even emailed Zeke Logan shortly after the station began and he claimed this was a totally noncorporate station and he had input in the playlist. He also promised an 80's rock show on Saturday. Heck, they even threw in a few soul Memphis classics once and a while. It was great because there was very little repetition. Well over two years later, let's just say that has changed.

98.1 is even worse than 103 when it comes to repetition. They play the same songs over and over again. I once counted hearing "Black Betty" for twelve straight days! Now that is a good song, but hardly a classic rock staple. If you look at their playlist it is almost song for song, EVERYDAY. Obviously their experiment has failed because now you hear no Uriah Heep or any of those types of bands, and now you hear a lot more 90's rock. I have heard Creed's "Higher" for the last six days in a row and I am sick of it.

I find myself listening less and less to the station. Drake and Zeke seem like they are going through the motions to me and there is nothing else likable about the station. Heck, at night they don't even have a deejay. The station (format)has been on the air for over two years and they still have a limited amount of on air talent, a very repetitive playlist, and no 80's show. This new program director has ruined the station. I would rather listen to internet or satellite radio. I do still enjoy 92.3 out of Jackson sometimes when I am in the area to pick it up.
 
It's funny you mention Black Betty because the last two times I was up in Memphis, I heard that song on 98.1.

Guess it wasn't as much a coincidence that I originally thought!

Public radio aside, I really never shut off the XM when I'm up there. Well, 1210 and 1070 get some play, too. :)
 
I am amazed how many of my friends who grew up in the 80's still like listening to the 80's Arena Rock. It like the Blues. Most please like to listen to the format, but do not own any CD's containing the format. I believe the problem lies in the fact like Disco in the 70's, there wasn't many years of 80's hard rock. You have to through in some of today's rock and have a good mix. There is only so much 80's rock to go around. I am not cutting down soul music, but I wish The Max would mix in some of today's good Blues Guitar acts. I would promote Megan White more. See was in Maxim magazine a few years back while working in Jackson. Put her on a few billboards and the Max will take off. I am not going by her looks only. She has talent. She is a good singer and is into equestrian activities. There is much more than on the surface. They do need more talent. Move Megan back to lunch shift, get a funny duo for afternoons, and laid back person at night. That's what we used to have when D&Z was at 103. Finally, I would let D&Z really let loose. I know it would be hard to do in this day in time. However, they seem to be at their best when you get them riled up. I missed some of the old themes D&Z used to have at 103. I heard they had to leave the old bits to their former radio station. I wish D&Z could buy the rights to that material like Stern did with his. Those old shows were priceless.
 
If D an Z will go back to a afternoon shift i will listen.. Ive been listening to 103 in the mornings for years and thats what i will continue to do.. { when i'm not on XM} There are other people around here in that do the same. We got use to the Crew in the monrning and D an Z in the afternoon.When D an Z first went to 98 there were alot of people saying 103 would be a spanish format by now.. I laughed at them
 
Refer all questions to Judy Ellis, (self appointed) VP/Programming
 
I do love 80's rock and there is more out there than you realize. However, my issue is the fact they promised a Sat. night 80's show for over two years. There are a ton of those types of shows out there. They also promised a bigger variety of classic rock artists but they never play them. Their format is now close to fifty percent new rock. It sounds more like a new rock station than classic rock and that is not what they initally claimed to be. I find their format becoming increasingly unlistenable. They need to decide if they are a station for people 35 and above, or for teenagers. They don't know which one they are which means they turn off both demographics. Drake and Zeke seem bored silly to be frank.
 
While flipping channels on the drive in this morning, you could have knocked me over with a feather to hear D&Z taking phone calls from listeners... these two have boasted for years they were too elite to talk to the little man - why are they taking calls now, especially when they talk down to the callers so bad? I really felt sorry for the couple of guys that called in and were treated so rudely before being hung up on.
 
Change is good, people...repeat after me, change is good!

Maybe Zeke, at first, had more input on the music. Maybe they should've stayed a pm-drive show. Maybe they finally got a PD who's giving them some constructive guidance. Maybe EVERY PD tweaks the music and the direction of the station. Maybe they realized what they could add to the show by talking to listeners. And maybe the listener should know what to expect from D&Z...the rudeness schtick, the above it all attitude? Is that a surprise to anyone?
 
radio_lurker said:
Change is good, people...repeat after me, change is good!

Maybe Zeke, at first, had more input on the music. Maybe they should've stayed a pm-drive show. Maybe they finally got a PD who's giving them some constructive guidance. Maybe EVERY PD tweaks the music and the direction of the station. Maybe they realized what they could add to the show by talking to listeners. And maybe the listener should know what to expect from D&Z...the rudeness schtick, the above it all attitude? Is that a surprise to anyone?
Click to expand...


Maybe they don't know what they are doing. Not D&Z, but the higher-ups.

It sounded to me like Max was programmed at first by someone who knew Memphis....now it's not.
 
I pitty the poor PD who tries to give D & Z pointers on how to do a radio show.
 
Exactly right! They don't seem to know Memphis anymore and the repetitiveness drives me nuts. I know of several people who have jumped back to 103. Personally I prefer WYNU 92.3 out of Jackson, Gregg Rivers knows what he is doing.
 
You are not getting. 98.1 went from being a great alternative to 103, to being even worse than 103.
 
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