If Posts Equaled Ratings, WRKO would be the top station in Boston

[Mickey37]

For some reason, a sizable chunk of posters devote much text space to 680-AM. Other than Howie, their ratings would suggest that the rest of the city isn't all that interested in them.

Is it the political slant of the station? Is it just that there could be one or two disgruntled ex-employees trolling the board?

I like reading the different posts about different stations, including 'RKO. But so many posts about them and their alleged "offenses," geez...

 

[Varulven]

Mickey, to answer your question re: complaints about WRKO

there's not much to talk about with MIKE FM after the initial (and controversial) switch from STAR 93.7.
It are what it are.

WBZ is predictable except for Jordan Rich - and as good as he is, there's little to complain about. He are what he are.

WJIB is what it is, and it is very good. WODS, WROR, WMJX and WZLX play what they play. Predictable.
The fun thing with those four stations is that you can make your own IPOD shuffle as you drive around - including college radio and 93.7. WMJX plays more hits during the day so you might find a nugget you like.

RKO and WBCN were heritage stations that meant a lot to people in this city. WBCN was a major influence on many lives - from Tommy Hadges and the rare tape nights to Laquidara and his personalities. Michael Fremer and Maxanne Sartori and Mark and Ken were part of the New England landscape. They went the way of the dinosaur, though their kind of rock music & talk radio would probably do very well today - certainly can't say that they'd do any worse than the current WBCN ratings. Which brings us full circle to RKO. Gene Burns and Jerry Williams ushered in a new era. It's been as homogenized as BCN's "modern rock" / "album rock" format.

You get real passion talking about taking Coca Cola away and replacing it with "New Coke". The problem with WBCN and WRKO, they gave us "New Coke" and refused to go back to the old formula that the public wants.

Had they changed the call letters there might not be as much complaining.

 

[Mickey37]

Maybe that's the problem, they kept the call letters.
RKO was indeed a very different station 20 years ago, with Jerry Williams and Gene Burns. I used to stay awake after an overnight shift to catch part of Burns, who as I recall came on at 10 AM.
My first paying job, I was a board op at a daytimer, emphasis on the "bored," and that's where I discovered Jerry and the Governors. That was great stuff.
WBCN was a great station back in the heyday of The Rock Of Boston. The Big Mattress was a freakin' event.
Tastes change, listening habits change, ownership changes, and we hear the difference. Change isn't always good.

 

[Casablanca]

Great question and great response.

WRKO today is a pale shadow of what is was in the 80's. To be sure Jerry is gone and Gene is happily ensconced at KGO in San Franciso, but that is no excuse for boring and predictable radio at WRKO today.

The payroll patriots of Entercom's talker are unhappy with this poster that they come under close scrutiny. But I am sure movie producers are unhappy with negative reviews from movie critics. A bad movie is a bad movie and boring talk is boring talk.

Doesn't look like WRKO is going to make any moves to improve. Perhaps, Jay Severin heading back to 96.9 will make a severe cut into Carr. That might be a wake-up call but it may also be too late.

 

[TowerBuzz]

Mickey, to answer your question re: complaints about WRKO

there's not much to talk about with MIKE FM after the initial (and controversial) switch from STAR 93.7.
It are what it are.

WBZ is predictable except for Jordan Rich - and as good as he is, there's little to complain about. He are what he are.

WJIB is what it is, and it is very good. WODS, WROR, WMJX and WZLX play what they play. Predictable.
The fun thing with those four stations is that you can make your own IPOD shuffle as you drive around - including college radio and 93.7. WMJX plays more hits during the day so you might find a nugget you like.

RKO and WBCN were heritage stations that meant a lot to people in this city. WBCN was a major influence on many lives - from Tommy Hadges and the rare tape nights to Laquidara and his personalities. Michael Fremer and Maxanne Sartori and Mark and Ken were part of the New England landscape. They went the way of the dinosaur, though their kind of rock music & talk radio would probably do very well today - certainly can't say that they'd do any worse than the current WBCN ratings. Which brings us full circle to RKO. Gene Burns and Jerry Williams ushered in a new era. It's been as homogenized as BCN's "modern rock" / "album rock" format.

You get real passion talking about taking Coca Cola away and replacing it with "New Coke". The problem with WBCN and WRKO, they gave us "New Coke" and refused to go back to the old formula that the public wants.

Had they changed the call letters there might not be as much complaining.

Are you saying that you talk about WRKO because there is nothing else to talk about? that doesn't make any sense. You still listen to Howie Carr no matter how much you say you dont because you post quoting him word for word often. And what in your mind is the old forumla that the public wants?. Do youu really think stations ignore what the public wants? that is wrong. The problem is that too many people think that their taste represents what the public wants and that is rarely the case.

 

[raccoonradio]

I have no access to the 25-54s but they do pretty well in the 12+ (not that it means that much). Don't really listen to morning show (mostly due to my sleeping hours/night job!) but DePetro can be interesting; I hear Rush once in awhile; Howie is a must for me
(funny and interesting). Once in awhile I tune in to Feinburg and I even checked out a little Savage recently...
come April, our fave baseball team will be there and am sure the ratings will soar...

>>WRKO today is a pale shadow of what is was in the 80's

Should read, "WRKO today is a pale shadow of what is was in the 80's WHEN I WAS THERE"

>>Is it the political slant of the station?

Sounds fine to me!

 

[Lucylu]

Don't forget people listen to talk radio because, true or not, they think their opinions matter. This is most true of men after the age of 35, who as a group seem to feel that what ever is on their minds is of paramount importance. That same belief that talk radio callers really have something important to share with the world extends to message boards.

Would it be safe to say the bulk of posters here are white men over 35? Would it then not also be safe to say they listen to or have been fired from RKO? It seems natural that the conversation would focus there.

PS: I've never known ratings to accurately reflect how many people are listening. They are just a sales tool, and as a tool, only as good as the person swinging them.

 

[Mickey37]

... men after the age of 35, who as a group seem to feel that what ever is on their minds is of paramount importance. That same belief that talk radio callers really have something important to share with the world extends to message boards.

Would it be safe to say the bulk of posters here are white men over 35? Would it then not also be safe to say they listen to or have been fired from RKO? It seems natural that the conversation would focus there.

PS: I've never known ratings to accurately reflect how many people are listening. They are just a sales tool, and as a tool, only as good as the person swinging them.

I got a good chuckle from your comments, Lucy. Good points, especially about the talk radio callers.

I don't know who the person or people are among us who have been let go by RKO, but it doesn't seem hard to guess..

 

[tony r]

Gene Burns always presented logic, facts. He was a Libertarian. Not a person who pushed either Democrat or Republican. He discussed the person. This is gone from Politics. In previous years, the country was the utmost concern, now everything is done for respective parties., not what is best for the country. .

Gene was an expert on Middle East. I would have loved to listen to him regarding the incursion into Lebanon. Yes, many of us do long for days when talk hosts discussed issues without much bias.

 

[TowerBuzz]

You make good points, all. remember though at the time that Gene Burns was on wrko no one really knew what a Libertarian WAS, it was not the norm politically and it was a relatively new concept politically and very few people have even heard of that political affilliation until Gene camme along and said that he was one. So yes it is true Gene never really pushed an agenda be it democrat or republican, he was truly an independent. Unlike O'reilly who claims to be an indepdendent but in actuality is a registered republican, not like Severin who calls himself a libertarian because it sounds objective, and younger and hipper. The Severin Libertarian is just a republican in sheeps clothing. I respect rko for what they are because at least they admit it, they dont even try to couch it in an obviously bogus facade of being independent.

 

[Casablanca]

Simply, WRKO when Gene and Jerry and earlier, David Brudnoy were there it was never predictable and hardly ever boring. Some of us, like Jon Keller ,David's producer, and others worked diligently every day to make that happen and with talented hosts it did.

 

[argytunes]

Casablanca...

Maybe you've discovered the secret was practically every format (not just talk) sound a little FLAT these days?

When a PD, talk-meister, or on-air personality throws us (listeners) a little something different from time-to-time...many of us will stay with the station out of curiosity....just to hear whether something NEW or DIFFERENT is gonna happen again?

argytunes

 

[weee]

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