Is Skip Murphy leaving K104?

[salemjedi54]

If they were smart, they'd go get Crazy Howard McGee and his morning show, which was just dropped from WGCI/Chicago in favor of Steve Harvey, in a cost-cutting move by Clear Channel. McGee was great and he had one of the top-rated morning shows in the Windy City. He'd be a much better fit for mornings than Cheatham.
[/quote]

Reading the Chicago papers, Crazy Howard may end up on WVAZ as soon as Joyner's contract expires there.

 

[bucwhyl]

Kenny J. moves to middays, Tony Mathis moves to overnights at KRNB. G Spook and Coco Budda takes over afternoons for Skip Cheathum, who possibly might give up his PD post as well.

 

[snoman]

Kenny J. moves to middays, Tony Mathis moves to overnights at KRNB. G Spook and Coco Budda takes over afternoons for Skip Cheathum, who possibly might give up his PD post as well.

Cheatham giving up the PD post is long overdue. I didn't realize Murphy's Non-Compete was a year. That's a long time, but KTVT waited quite awhile for Tracy Rowlett after he left WFAA. It's doable. They could send Skip Murphy to another market for a year and bring him back. Not saying that will happen, but others have gone that route before. I'll have to read the Chicago papers about Crazy Howard. I was told by a friend in Chicago radio, that this was a cost-cutting move by CC. If that's the case, it would not make sense to shift him from WGCI to WVAZ. I think it would make more sense for Steve Harvey to air on WVAZ and keep Howard on WGCI. But, no one claimed corporate radio knew what they were doing.

 

[disappointed]

very very disappointed...but knew it was coming!

i just turned 30 years old and ive known Skip Murphy and Co. half my life on the radio. I was very disappointed to hear he would be moving to 105.7, but i knew it was coming when they started having all these changes.

Everyone i know has basically stopped listening to K104 awhile ago anyway, and every since 105.7 changed the format (somewhat), thats all i listen to mostly anyway.

everytime its brought up with family and friends about k104. I get the one comment with agreement on my part.."k104 had really GHETTO-IZED its station". everyone on the morning show is annoying with the exception of Skip..Chris..and Sam.

So if anything, i think skip making the move will HELP 105.7 in the end and hurt k104 horrible. AND if Sam and Chris were smart, they would go with him..........

105.7 has sounded very good to me lately...hell they may even get close to k104 with the lineup now...

 

[trying2getn]

It will be great for KRNB. Harvey in the morning Skip in afternoon, and don't under estimate the pull of Kenny J.....The will get great numbers for a rimshot signal. But the rimshot will limit it........As far as Sam And Chris they probably can't go with Skip, for two reasons. Number one Skip's job will more than likely be a one man DJ job, he may have some cameos, but they won't be a permanent part. And secondly Cheatum knows that he needs Putney with him in the morning.......But again I do believe that you will hear the "original" Skip Murphy and Co. again. Those guys where just too special. They as, well as their audiance, just out grew the hip-hop format. Any smart AC station will pick them up as contracts expire. But if they do have long non-competes it will be in a different market.

 

[bucwhyl]

Wonder what will Cheathum name the new morning show?

 

[salemjedi54]

It will be great for KRNB. Harvey in the morning Skip in afternoon, and don't under estimate the pull of Kenny J.....The will get great numbers for a rimshot signal. But the rimshot will limit it........As far as Sam And Chris they probably can't go with Skip, for two reasons. Number one Skip's job will more than likely be a one man DJ job, he may have some cameos, but they won't be a permanent part. And secondly Cheatum knows that he needs Putney with him in the morning.......But again I do believe that you will hear the "original" Skip Murphy and Co. again. Those guys where just too special. They as, well as their audiance, just out grew the hip-hop format. Any smart AC station will pick them up as contracts expire. But if they do have long non-competes it will be in a different market.

COULD SERVICE BRING BACK NANETTE LEE AND THE WIG ON 105.7. THAT MIGHT MAKE SENSE.

THEY ARE PLAYING THIS UP BIG ON 104, BUT I HAVE NOT HEARD ANYTHING ON 105.7.

I FIGURED THIS WOULD HAPPEN. THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO JOYNER, BUT THIS TIME THEY HAD SOMEWHERE TO PUT SKIP UNTIL HIS CONTRACT RUNS OUT.

 

[trying2getn]

It will be great for KRNB. Harvey in the morning Skip in afternoon, and don't under estimate the pull of Kenny J.....The will get great numbers for a rimshot signal. But the rimshot will limit it........As far as Sam And Chris they probably can't go with Skip, for two reasons. Number one Skip's job will more than likely be a one man DJ job, he may have some cameos, but they won't be a permanent part. And secondly Cheatum knows that he needs Putney with him in the morning.......But again I do believe that you will hear the "original" Skip Murphy and Co. again. Those guys where just too special. They as, well as their audiance, just out grew the hip-hop format. Any smart AC station will pick them up as contracts expire. But if they do have long non-competes it will be in a different market.

COULD SERVICE BRING BACK NANETTE LEE AND THE WIG ON 105.7. THAT MIGHT MAKE SENSE.

THEY ARE PLAYING THIS UP BIG ON 104, BUT I HAVE NOT HEARD ANYTHING ON 105.7.

I FIGURED THIS WOULD HAPPEN. THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO JOYNER, BUT THIS TIME THEY HAD SOMEWHERE TO PUT SKIP UNTIL HIS CONTRACT RUNS OUT.

They might if Cheatum bombs on K104. I think this will be a test run for him to give him a shot on mornings, but listening to them this morning I can't see them giving people a reason to listen to them over Smiley or Harvey.....The back up plan may be to move Harvey to K104 and bring the original Skip Murphy and Co. crew beck to KRNB. But I really don't see that happening.

 

[MikeShannon914]

There seems to be some confusion in some of these posts that KRNB is going to pick up some audience from K-104. I just don't see that...it's the rap music that turns off the somewhat older listeners from K-104 in the first place. You can bet that KRNB and KSOC are picking up most of their new listeners from the late Oasis. The problem in this market is that the older (and somewhat more affluent, I'd guess) black listeners still have no real place to go. KKDA-AM is too militant, KSOC can't get a full grasp on what they're playing (and it's been a problem since they dropped Jammin' Oldies long ago,) and KRNB is the only one who looks to be trying to cater more to that unserved crowd. The Oasis was, well, an OASIS for so many disenfranchised listeners who craved either more palatable music, or something softer, or something appropriate for the office, or just something to chill out to. I knew as many blacks as whites who listened to it, and, yes, there's STILL a market for it. Perhaps the demo won't satisfy some corporation's stockholders, you could still make some money off it IF PROPERLY MARKETED (wow, what other kind of format can you cross-sell black AND white listeners? And those skewing towards affluency?) I really don't care to see KRNB picking up listeners by default. The playlist is just not that strong and I'd guess has a high tune-out factor. Another overlooked format is contemporary gospel...black audiences eat that up, and it might even attract others who want to hear a more positive message without the heavy-handed Christian undertones of KLTY. ABC Radio Networks had a good idea going with their "Rejoice" format (contemporary gospel) but apparently had no idea how to sell it...therefore, it's history.

 

[bucwhyl]

Mike, I listen to KRNB on a regular basis and I've heard young people call and said that they've switched, because they were tired of the rap music that's being played on the radio. They are also tuning to KRNB, because of the younger r&b that they are now playing.

 

[salemjedi54]

There seems to be some confusion in some of these posts that KRNB is going to pick up some audience from K-104. I just don't see that...it's the rap music that turns off the somewhat older listeners from K-104 in the first place. You can bet that KRNB and KSOC are picking up most of their new listeners from the late Oasis. The problem in this market is that the older (and somewhat more affluent, I'd guess) black listeners still have no real place to go. KKDA-AM is too militant, KSOC can't get a full grasp on what they're playing (and it's been a problem since they dropped Jammin' Oldies long ago,) and KRNB is the only one who looks to be trying to cater more to that unserved crowd. The Oasis was, well, an OASIS for so many disenfranchised listeners who craved either more palatable music, or something softer, or something appropriate for the office, or just something to chill out to. I knew as many blacks as whites who listened to it, and, yes, there's STILL a market for it. Perhaps the demo won't satisfy some corporation's stockholders, you could still make some money off it IF PROPERLY MARKETED (wow, what other kind of format can you cross-sell black AND white listeners? And those skewing towards affluency?) I really don't care to see KRNB picking up listeners by default. The playlist is just not that strong and I'd guess has a high tune-out factor. Another overlooked format is contemporary gospel...black audiences eat that up, and it might even attract others who want to hear a more positive message without the heavy-handed Christian undertones of KLTY. ABC Radio Networks had a good idea going with their "Rejoice" format (contemporary gospel) but apparently had no idea how to sell it...therefore, it's history.

ACTUALLY MIKE, KRNB WILL GET SOME K104 LISTENERS...NOT A LOT, BUT SOME. THOSE FANS OF SKIP MURPHY MIGHT FOLLOW HIM, BUT NOT HAVING NANETTE, WIG, CHRIS ARNOLD AND SAM PUTNEY WILL HURT.

I HAVE ALWAY THOUGHT THAT RADIO ONE SHOULD HAVE BOUGHT KHVN AND MADE A POWERFUL GOSPEL AM/FM COMBO.

 

[bucwhyl]

I don't know if he was playing yesterday, but somebody asked Skip about Wig and Nanette going to KRNB with him, and he said that he was having a meeting with them yesterday afternoon about that.

 

[MikeShannon914]

ACTUALLY MIKE, KRNB WILL GET SOME K104 LISTENERS...NOT A LOT, BUT SOME. THOSE FANS OF SKIP MURPHY MIGHT FOLLOW HIM, BUT NOT HAVING NANETTE, WIG, CHRIS ARNOLD AND SAM PUTNEY WILL HURT.

OK, I can see some carryover there, but it will also depend on what KRNB is going to play. If it's going to be some modern R&B mixed in with a few oldies, there's potential for carryover. And I don't know what Skip plays during his show, but I'd doubt it's exclusively rap...so you may have a good point there. All in all, it looks like Hyman and Ken are finally going to take KRNB seriously and do something positive with it. It's just been filler in the past, existing just to have an opportunity to cross-sell something with K-104. And being a rimshot in the wrong part of North Texas never helped, either.

CHRIS ARNOLD? Wow, he was there doing sports when I used to listen to K-104 in the late 70s! (Randy Johnson and later Warren Epps on mornings, Michael Hernandez on mid-days, Vern Catron on afternoons, and I believe Wyvonne St. John on nights.) And speaking of KRNB, whatever happened to morning show co-host Cheryl Underwood? Talk about a turnoff, with her spewing racially-charged jokes and trying to be funny. Seems like "Good Morning Texas" had her on there recently for something. Cheryl reminded me of the late Shirley Hemphill...and I mean Shirley RAW (not when she was acting on "What's Happening")--not very diplomatic with her social commentary. Where is the love? :-*

 

[KPLEXCOMPLEX]

Mike is pretty much right on about the appeal music wise. I have read some articles claiming Rap has pretty much peaked and the audience is looking for alternatives. KRNB would fit that bill very nicely and maybe mix in some from the old R&B days with Motown and Atlantic artists. Whats old can be new again to some. It should be interesting to see how this all shakes out. Ken knows what he is doing.

 

[MikeShannon914]

Brace yourself, 'Plex...I know the rap purists will come out of the woodwork over that, and others will point out that the former "Old School 105.7" never made a ratings dent. I do agree with ya, tho. Rap has diluted itself from social commentary down to just drugs and ho's and contributes nothing positive to impressionable younger listeners. It's that post-rap demo (perhaps black males/females 25+) who are 'over it' and want something like a smooth-ish R&B version of KVIL...some talk, a little local flavor, and a heavy dose of Luther, Jeffrey Osborne, Sade, and maybe an LTD or Marvin Gaye classic thrown in sometimes...and CAREFULLY chosen currents that are compatible and gently peppered in. Right now, all I hear on KRNB is B-side R&B filler that has no "legs" or staying power and would never be someone's "ahhh" song. Waiting to hear something familiar is useless.

 

[bucwhyl]

Do any of you listen to KRNB? I don't mean for 5 minutes or once a month. I mean faithfully. I am in that 25+ group and I don't want to hear all that old sh!t. I'm not feeling that rap music that K104 play either. What KRNB is playing right now, is what I want to hear: Robin Thicke, Jaheim, Mary J. Blige, Joss Stone, Jill Scott. If I want to hear Luther, Anita, and that "Motown Sound", I will put my radio on 94.5. That is the reason some of the K104 listeners have migrated to KRNB. It's not just "Mom's and Pop's" radio station anymore. Young people that are tired of the rap on 104, 97.9, and 106.7 now have a alternative as well.

 

[salemjedi54]

Brace yourself, 'Plex...I know the rap purists will come out of the woodwork over that, and others will point out that the former "Old School 105.7" never made a ratings dent. I do agree with ya, tho. Rap has diluted itself from social commentary down to just drugs and ho's and contributes nothing positive to impressionable younger listeners. It's that post-rap demo (perhaps black males/females 25+) who are 'over it' and want something like a smooth-ish R&B version of KVIL...some talk, a little local flavor, and a heavy dose of Luther, Jeffrey Osborne, Sade, and maybe an LTD or Marvin Gaye classic thrown in sometimes...and CAREFULLY chosen currents that are compatible and gently peppered in. Right now, all I hear on KRNB is B-side R&B filler that has no "legs" or staying power and would never be someone's "ahhh" song. Waiting to hear something familiar is useless.

KRNB does play newer artists and new music. But they will play some older stuff to... just not as much as KSOC. I am more into the older music. I can't relate to the music that 97.9 or K104 plays. I don't live that type of lifestyle. By that same token, I love old school hip hop or what I call hip hop classics. XM 65 The Rhyme is a perfect format for me and my tastes in rap music and the Hip Hop lifestyle.

What I do like about KRNB is that Shay Moore has added some of the Neo-Soul that I listen to via the NeoSoulCafe.

So in otherwords I am glad that Skip Murphy is moving to KRNB, for the simple fact that if I could not relate to current rap music fans and the current hip hop lifestyle, I sure he couldn't either. I might listen to him more now

 

[Blacknight]

Brace yourself, 'Plex...I know the rap purists will come out of the woodwork over that, and others will point out that the former "Old School 105.7" never made a ratings dent. I do agree with ya, tho. Rap has diluted itself from social commentary down to just drugs and ho's and contributes nothing positive to impressionable younger listeners. It's that post-rap demo (perhaps black males/females 25+) who are 'over it' and want something like a smooth-ish R&B version of KVIL...some talk, a little local flavor, and a heavy dose of Luther, Jeffrey Osborne, Sade, and maybe an LTD or Marvin Gaye classic thrown in sometimes...and CAREFULLY chosen currents that are compatible and gently peppered in. Right now, all I hear on KRNB is B-side R&B filler that has no "legs" or staying power and would never be someone's "ahhh" song. Waiting to hear something familiar is useless.

KRNB does play newer artists and new music. But they will play some older stuff to... just not as much as KSOC. I am more into the older music. I can't relate to the music that 97.9 or K104 plays. I don't live that type of lifestyle. By that same token, I love old school hip hop or what I call hip hop classics. XM 65 The Rhyme is a perfect format for me and my tastes in rap music and the Hip Hop lifestyle.

What I do like about KRNB is that Shay Moore has added some of the Neo-Soul that I listen to via the NeoSoulCafe.

So in otherwords I am glad that Skip Murphy is moving to KRNB, for the simple fact that if I could not relate to current rap music fans and the current hip hop lifestyle, I sure he couldn't either. I might listen to him more now

I remember just a few years ago on K104 every Sunday Mornings from 8 to noon, they had Throwback Sundays which for 4 hours they would play a good blend of Hip-Hop and R&B songs from the '80s and '90s along with the best of the Skip Murphy and Company show. And they would actually play real Hip-Hop on there like from LL Cool J, Biz Markie, D-Nice, Run DMC, DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince, etc. They played R&B music mainly from the '90s since KRNB was (and still is) the station that play R&B music from the '70s and '80s from what K104 used to play during those days. On one rare moment, I remember on throwback sundays when they actually played Rick James - Mary Jane from either '78 or '79.

 

[bucwhyl]

I also remember K104 did those mini-mixes on Saturdays and Sundays with Steve Nice and Throwdown Sam. I think they did them like 20 minutes after each hour. I actually listened to them back then.

 

[salemjedi54]

I can concur with most of the feeling around here. K104 was groundbreaking in the 80's and 90's, but they got lazy with their own success. They rarely do any local marketing. I know they can run a song into the ground. Thats why I ran away from them in the late 80's to 106.1 The Oasis. Boy did I take some heat for that...imagine being 18 years old and becoming a Smooth Jazz P-1.

Its a cycle for K104. They will have some downtimes, but trust me...they will be back. Kicking ass and taking names.