I NO LONGER GET "THE POINT"

[DJKelton]

What is up with 104.7 The Point? All of us in our office turned it off recently.

Is it me or is the morning "show" about the most lame "show" I've ever heard. That guy Zeb (or is it Jeb from Bev. Hillibillies) is a joke. Does he ever shut up --- or say ANYTHING intelligent?? We were all laughing at the absurdity of the "conversations" -- but then couldn't stand it any longer and just turned it off!

And the music they are now choosing to play is just awful. Funny thing is, when I mentioned it to my sister - she told me they had turned them off at her office as well.

I was told they are owned by the Hall Group -- it's unfortunate because they really do a good job with WOKO . . . .

Are we just being too harsh?

 

[ILMSH]

It's not owned by hall. Hall only owns WOKO, WKOL, WJOY, WBTZ, and WIZN.

 

[Xkrusdx]

it's owned by Northeast Broadcasting, who also owns a "AAA" formatted station 92-5 The River Andover/Boston. I enjoy "The Point". I enjoyed 105.3 WEBK Killington (The Peak), and 92-5 The River even more. . .unfortunately The Peak disappeared and became the 63rd country station in the area, and 92-5 is just a bit too far away. Seems I've heard "Little Miss Can't be Wrong" by The Spin Doctors (1992) everyday for the past week. Too tight of a play list in my opinion, and too many gold (old) favorites picked out by the music director. Also wish they were live at night instead of voicetracked. It was very noticeable this past week with all the thunderstorms. btw, Zeb is a very nice guy and does have a passion.
Where is Greg Hooker?

--D.C.--

 

[kestrel]

Where is Greg Hooker?

Station Manager at WGDR, last I heard.

 

[Zeb Norris]

Of course I shut up from time to time... like during the 5 - 6 song long "long sets" that we play every hour in morning drive.

Intelligent? You can be the judge of that. I don't claim to be Einstein... although I hasten to point out that while E=MC2 is likely true, it isn't the kind of fodder that gets ratings, whereas morning shows far dumber than ours generate respectable numbers.

Spin Doctors? Not my personal fave, but a tune that researches. I just checked the history; no more than 4 times a week for the Docs, usually 3 max.

The correct ownership is Northeast Broadcasting. And yes, Greg Hooker IS at WGDR. Good guy.

You know, if you just want to moan and groan, this is the place to do it, but if you're interested in actual dialog, I do read and respond to all listener email... or just email me directly at [email protected] And you don't have to be all nice or anything; I'm pretty bulletproof.

Zeb

 

[MassMusicMan]

HAHAHAHAH

Kelton just got PWNED.

 

[radiotony]

Very respectful response considering.

Of course I shut up from time to time... like during the 5 - 6 song long "long sets" that we play every hour in morning drive.

Intelligent? You can be the judge of that. I don't claim to be Einstein... although I hasten to point out that while E=MC2 is likely true, it isn't the kind of fodder that gets ratings, whereas morning shows far dumber than ours generate respectable numbers.

Spin Doctors? Not my personal fave, but a tune that researches. I just checked the history; no more than 4 times a week for the Docs, usually 3 max.

The correct ownership is Northeast Broadcasting. And yes, Greg Hooker IS at WGDR. Good guy.

You know, if you just want to moan and groan, this is the place to do it, but if you're interested in actual dialog, I do read and respond to all listener email... or just email me directly at [email protected] And you don't have to be all nice or anything; I'm pretty bulletproof.

Zeb

 

[fells]

First of all, do your research before posting something. As was stated, WNCS is owned by Northeast Broadcasting and not Hall.

Secondly, The Point and Zeb do a very good job with the morning show and with the station as a whole. Their numbers over the years will tell you exactly that. Zeb is one of the more knowledgable guys in the market and has proven that with the success he has had not only in this market but in others as well.

Zeb, I agree, Greg is a great guy and has more knowledge about radio in his little finger than I will ever have. He isn't just a great guy, he knows his stuff.

 

[DJKelton]

I'm sorry I didn't research who owned "The Point" ..... but I did do some homework after my last message.
it's pretty obvious that the standards between the two stations are not the same --- WOKO is a well run radio station (and their
ratings demostrate that -- even with many competitors) .... you can tell their djs are much better trained as well. (this is not meant as a dig -- but it is obvious ... they just don't fumble their words and facts all the time)

In looking at the arbitron radio ratings I could see on-line
-- it looks like the Point has not done so well compared to past years. Just talking to other people who are my age (36) and my wifes (30 something) and with co-workers etc. its evident that the Point is not as well respected as before. The feedback was "dated" and "stale" .... and I would have to agree.

One co-worker said that Zeb is the program manager --- which makes the drop in morning show caliber a bit surprising. I'm not a radio ratings guru -- and I know they are certainly trying very hard .... but I can't believe that morning show is of any substance in Burlington ... it just sounds amateur compared to the other morning shows.

I'm not trying to create a firestorm -- but maybe they would be better off just playing music. (if it was actually good -- I saw where Zeb said the music he plays is researched .... maybe thats why it all sounds so stale - but then again my wife told me she heard Christina Aguilleras Jeanie in the Bottle -- and turned it off ,,, not listening since ... thats some "World Class Music" what research are they doing over there!!)

I'm not sure what voice-tracking is (is that where they record the djs?) - but clearly they had a problem with their tape of the girl in noon .... and always with the mechanical man in the evenings (they may have fixed both of them -- as I have not listened for a little while)

I agree that the Peak was really good as well.

 

[MassMusicMan]

but then again my wife told me she heard Christina Aguilleras Jeanie in the Bottle -- and turned it off ,,, not listening since ... thats some "World Class Music" what research are they doing over there!!)

You're going to take your wife's word on this?

This couldn't possibly be true. If WNCS played "Genie In A Bottle", I'll buy you a steak.

 

[longtimereader]

quite possible with the "9 @ 9" whee the point flashes back to a particular year and plays the popular songs of that year, no matter what chart they were on. if you go back to 1999 "Genie in a Bottle" was a smash hit in the summer. I've also heard Michael Jackson and Madonna on the "9 @ 9"

 

[MassMusicMan]

Guess I owe somebody a steak.

It's official: Burlington is the most bass-ackwards radio market in America.

 

[rockcaptain]

Very respectful response considering.

I suppose but don't you think it is a little sad, a little Busch League, that a PD would take the time to respond to a negative posting on a message board? I don't know. I cringe when I see stuff like that. Focus on your station...don't worry what the radio geeks are saying about you.

 

[DJKelton]

I like my steaks medium! (I knew I could trust my wife)
Madonna ..... Michael Jackson ..... Christina Aquillera --- IS IT ANY WONDER EVERYONE IS TURNING THIS STATION OFF!!!

Sounds like the 9 at 9 has become what everything else has on the Point -- a good idea turned into a goofy gimmick! Who is making those decisions --- ?

I can't comment on if Zeb should be responding to these posts -- but he certainly needs to be listening to his station more! (And he needs to stop talking --- he just comes across juvenile)

Who is responsible for training the djs (if Zeb is "responsible" for the music .... let's hope he's not also supervising the djs! They babble on with lame fumbling all of the time. Do they every practice before they speak into the microphone?)

Do they update their station advertisements (not the client commercials -- but the station ones) -- I listen to other stations and they seem to update their own promotional advertisements all the time -- just sounds more professional. It's another reason why we all said the "Point has lost its edge" What was once a steak knife of a station has been reduced to one of those plastic butter knifes you get at McDonalds with a hokey "J JAM" toy in your happy meal.

Just to show I'm not all negative. There are a few good things the point has going for it...

Cool Name.....
Hot Sounding Lunchtime Girl
Cool Bike Race
2 Dozen Places to hear them on the dial (although the fact that it takes 5 minutes to do a station identification is annoying)
1/2 Price Skiing in the Winter
Good support of Higher Ground

Bottom line is that I wish were as good as they were a couple years back --- we (my office, wife, her office, friends) have tried to hang with them -- but it gets tougher every day.

 

[MassMusicMan]

I like my steaks medium! (I knew I could trust my wife)

Word. Meet me at the Stockyard.

Madonna ..... Michael Jackson ..... Christina Aquillera --- IS IT ANY WONDER EVERYONE IS TURNING THIS STATION OFF!!!

The irony is that nobody in Burlington is playing those records except for Star, and maybe MP103, but I feel like I'm more likely to hear Fleetwood Mac on the former, and Men Without Hats on the latter. Not much in Burlington for 1990's gold product.

 

[Zeb Norris]

To "DJKelton"

I have this friend Ben. And you remind me of Ben's Brother.

He was always hyper focused on Radio, which is cool. But it got to the point where I wondered how he could keep the rest of his life together. I mean, he had a job he professed to like, and a wife and kids, but it was always radio radio radio with Ben's brother.

This guy, Ben's brother, at least knew what voicetracking and imaging are. And as an honest guy, he never feigned ignorance. But he did have an awfully thin skin. He could dish on others all day and all night, but say one word of criticism to him, regardless of how mild it was, and he went ballistic. It was kind of sad really.

But I digress.

In the world of radio, we all live with the fact that radios have “dial thingies” on them that allow you to tune to another station. So while the shared audience between WOKO and The Point is minimal (no big surprise there), if you prefer WOKO I can't prevent you from tuning there instead of listening to The Point.

Obviously I hope that listeners enjoy the station, and many do, but no station or format pleases everybody...

Best to you "DJ"...

Zeb

 

[markj]

Ok Zeb -- that may be about the most innane disrespectful response I have read on this board. As a now PAST listener of The Point I find your commentary to DJKelton to be so disjointed and immature that I too will now no longer listen to the station. I showed your level of insight (or lack thereof) with several friends here in Burlington -- who upon reading DJ's post and having listened to the on-air product of the station agreed wholeheartedly with DJ's comments -- and were equally appalled at you inability to respond coherently.

Here you have a listener providing you with criticisim that would actually help your station --- and you respond by comparing them to "Bens Brother" and telling them not to listen ..... I'm glad I don't have you managing my business (we'd have no customers)

I have to say that I too could not believe that you would actually stoop to play Genie in the Bottle -- but alas .... I was informed that you had. Disappointing.

Please -- don't take this personally -- but I do think you should reconsider the choice for you to be a part of the mornings ....that was a very bad choice -- your seem like a nice guy ... but you sound "goofy" in the mornings. Maybe you should think about being on in the evenings. I have to agree that evening annoucer sounds very monotone. Just a thought that I think will help you out. (Please don't compare me to Bens Brother)

 

[nhradiochild]

Say, some of the posters on this board are gaining some maturity (or should I say some of the new posters have a new level of maturity). 8)

Normally, I would have heard a call for an all-out OUSTING. Congrats, Zeb! Folks don't want to feed you to the dogs, yet. ;D :

On a serious tip, it's become very cliche for broadcasters to say "if you don't like it, tune out". This phrase I believe came to fruition when someone was popular but controversial. Right now, judging from the previous posts, your popularity is being challenged, not your controversiality. Perhaps it would be better in this situation to not suggest folks can tune out. Seeings how it appears they already are.

I had to edit this as after re-reading your post, you did not out and out say "don't listen to my station" as was purported, just merely brushed it off with the comment that it is possible for someone to change the station. Ideally, it would be best to state that one's comments have been taken into consideration and if some sort of research shows that this is a bad move, then you will adjust accordingly. And leave it up to them to decide whether or not to change their listening habits. Just a thought.

 

[nhradiochild]

I'm such a pain, one other note I didn't mention previously. I think what these very personal posts are saying, is that the integrity of what they viewed your station as being was put into jeopardy by some questionable song choices and perhaps talent availability. Please keep in mind these comments are coming from your "loyal" listener-base. Forgive them for their brashness. For if they post, they are passionate.

 

[Channel Surf]

To "DJKelton"

I have this friend Ben. And you remind me of Ben's Brother.

He was always hyper focused on Radio, which is cool. But it got to the point where I wondered how he could keep the rest of his life together. I mean, he had a job he professed to like, and a wife and kids, but it was always radio radio radio with Ben's brother.

This guy, Ben's brother, at least knew what voicetracking and imaging are. And as an honest guy, he never feigned ignorance. But he did have an awfully thin skin. He could dish on others all day and all night, but say one word of criticism to him, regardless of how mild it was, and he went ballistic. It was kind of sad really.

But I digress.

In the world of radio, we all live with the fact that radios have “dial thingies” on them that allow you to tune to another station. So while the shared audience between WOKO and The Point is minimal (no big surprise there), if you prefer WOKO I can't prevent you from tuning there instead of listening to The Point.

Obviously I hope that listeners enjoy the station, and many do, but no station or format pleases everybody...

Best to you "DJ"...

Zeb

Owned....