J.J. Hemingway Goes To Bismarck.....

[Bongwater]

Congrats to Spokane/Seattle radio jock/programmer J.J. Hemingway, on his way to Bismarck, ND to program and host the morning show on oldies KACL (Cool 98.7) in sunny Bismarck!

Cheers J.J.!

 

[KMan]

KACL ?!?! That's the Seattle radio station on Frasier.

See, JJ, you can move far away but you'll never be far from home.

 

[radiojjh]

Hey---I did try to get something here in Spokane, but alas with consolidation---there just isn't much of anything here. I always had good #'s in my 14 years here in PM Drive. Now I will get the opportunity to once again utilize my programming skills and also do a morning show. Should be fun. The station does steam at: www.cool987fm.com I should be on starting around the 1st of August from 530-10 Central, which means 330-8am Seattle-Spokane time. Great bunch of people to work with there in Bismarck---I will indeed be a BIG FISH in a small pond and it's going to be great to get settled in new digs and start kicking butt on the airwaves once again.

I will be leaving Spokane Friday afternoon the 27th and arrive in Bismarck on Saturday. It's around 13 hours between here and there---all interstate I-90 and then in Billings hit I-94 and then just onto Bismarck----944 miles between here and there.

I will continue my production company www.cbsspokane1.com And offer the same great services and voices, just from a different location. I've got a nice place that I'm renting there and a wonderful staff of people that I will be working with. I don't micro-manage people, I simply let the know what I'd like and let them do it!

Should be an adventure for sure! There is a nice interview with me at this link:

http://www.seatacradio.com/blog/?p=21702

Thanks to Jason Remington at seatacradio.com for "making it so!!!"

I have so many good friends here and great and talented people that I've worked with my 14 years doing shows in Spokane and Seattle and who knows---maybe one day I just may return!!



Your Spokane(and soon to be Bismarck) Radio Pal

JJ

 

[WDAE-FM101]

Best wishes - I'll check out the stream. Maybe we can find a way to keep you supplied with some Dick's hamburgers. -

 

[radiojjh]

Thanks...and I actually have 3-4 Dick's Cheeseburgers in my freezer from my last visit 2 weeks ago. I nuke 2 at a time on high power for 1:50 and I must say they are pretty tasty---granted not as good as fresh off the grill, but like the old phone company commercial--"it's the next best thing to being there...."

Bismarck has many of the restaurants that I am used to---Red Lobster, Olive Garden, TGI Fridays, Ruby Tuesdays, Texas Roadhouse(incredible steaks and grilled pork chops) and something we don't have in Washington State--the Cracker Barrel. Great down home food, wonderful service and perfect sweetened iced tea. I will hit that place up along the way there next weekend in either Missoula or Billings. Bismarck reminds me of a smaller Spokane. Very clean city--no run down areas of the city---a couple of mobile home parks--but that's it. I was very pleasantly surprised. In North Dakota they have the lowest unemployment rate in the nation, and they expect the population to go from around 690,000 to well over a million in the next couple of years. It was not what I had expected...much more upscale. My first love will be the Pacific Northwest...Seattle, Bellevue, Everett, and Spokane...I've called each of those cities my home and I love 'em all!

 

[Rock 100.7]

Congratulations JJ. Bismarck is a pretty cool little city.

 

[WDAE-FM101]

We lived in Kansas for 14 years - and enjoyed the Crakerbarrel. Try the Country-fried steak! The breakfast menu is also quite good.

 

[Jack Griffin]

Congrats - it's a move the wrong way in market size, but hey, at least it's a job.

 

[WDAE-FM101]

Congrats - it's a move the wrong way in market size, but hey, at least it's a job.

You MUST have a full beard. Noboby who could make a comment like that to a class act like JJ could conceivably look at himself in the mirror each morning

 

[Bongwater]

Congrats - it's a move the wrong way in market size, but hey, at least it's a job.

You MUST have a full beard. Nobody who could make a comment like that to a class act like JJ could conceivably look at himself in the mirror each morning

Agreed.

 

[toonces2u]

Congrats - it's a move the wrong way in market size, but hey, at least it's a job.

What a tacky, classless thing to say. But considering other comments you've made here, it par for the course.

 

[toonces2u]

Hey---I did try to get something here in Spokane, but alas with consolidation---there just isn't much of anything here. I always had good #'s in my 14 years here in PM Drive. Now I will get the opportunity to once again utilize my programming skills and also do a morning show. Should be fun. The station does steam at: www.cool987fm.com I should be on starting around the 1st of August from 530-10 Central, which means 330-8am Seattle-Spokane time. Great bunch of people to work with there in Bismarck---I will indeed be a BIG FISH in a small pond and it's going to be great to get settled in new digs and start kicking butt on the airwaves once again.

I will be leaving Spokane Friday afternoon the 27th and arrive in Bismarck on Saturday. It's around 13 hours between here and there---all interstate I-90 and then in Billings hit I-94 and then just onto Bismarck----944 miles between here and there.



I will continue my production company www.cbsspokane1.com And offer the same great services and voices, just from a different location. I've got a nice place that I'm renting there and a wonderful staff of people that I will be working with. I don't micro-manage people, I simply let the know what I'd like and let them do it!

Should be an adventure for sure! There is a nice interview with me at this link:

http://www.seatacradio.com/blog/?p=21702

Thanks to Jason Remington at seatacradio.com for "making it so!!!"

I have so many good friends here and great and talented people that I've worked with my 14 years doing shows in Spokane and Seattle and who knows---maybe one day I just may return!!



Your Spokane(and soon to be Bismarck) Radio Pal

JJ

Congratulations J.J. I will also be checking out the stream for your new station. Good luck to you!

p.s. I wish we had Cracker Barrel restaurants here in western Washington!

 

[radioguy123]

The days of starting in a small market and then working your way up to a major market are long gone. The new model for radio is to strive to work for a good and supportive company in whatever size market. Some of the best radio I have heard is in small and medium markets and some of the most generic, bland radio in major markets. Cumulus, Clear Channel and others do radio to create shareholder value. In smaller markets many stations are locally owned by people who want to serve the community, owners looking to make money, but not the 50% margins major corporations strive for. They are happy with 10-15% return. Not bad when a savings account delivers one percent.

Sure the million dollar salaries are in major markets, but that is limited to a handful of people. Good companies in small markets offer lower cost of living, competitive wages, freedom and stability. Many major market talent are reviving their careers and passion for radio in small towns. I hope you find that same kind of success in Bismark!

It isn't about market size, it is about working for a good company in a small or major market. You will find good and bad companies in all size markets. Strive to work for a good company, not a big market.

 

[radiojjh]

The radio world has evolved and is changing with less people doing more, and computers handling alot of stuff that people had to do. In Bismarck, I will indeed be a "big fish" in a small pond, and you know--I feel good about it. It's a chance for me to once again program a station---and make the decisions about the music, elements, imaging---the whole she-bang. And I will be working with Townsquare Media and I've heard nothing but GOOD STUFF about them. A buddy of mine is ops mgr for Townsquare in Missoula and he couldn't be happier. I wish a situation like this would have opened up in Spokane, but so much consolidation has taken place, there are just 3 companies in Spokane the names and how many stations they own---Clear Channel(6), Mapleton(7)--and I did make them a very good presentation but they decided to stick with what they are currently doing, and Morgan-Murphy(KXLY group-7), and there are a couple of stand alones, and that's it in Spokane.

I did a nice 14 year stint at KISC-FM and always had great #'s, when I was downsized it was a corporate decision and was replaced by a premium-choice voicetrakker, they did the same with the morning show, and a year ago KISC-FM had around an 8 share an was #1 12+, and in the most recent trend, it's down to a 4.6. So perhaps they will discover the changes they made weren't wise after all, but that IS their choice. I believe the downward spiral will continue there, eventually falling to the high 2's or low 3's, and KISC is just a shell of the station it once was. And I've heard they will be replacing Tesh at night with Delilah--since she is a Premiere show. KISC's music is much more Hot A/C than ever and even people have made the comment to me "it's sounds alot like KZZU." There isn't anything like KWRM in Spokane anymore---a format ripe for the taking. With LOCAL personalities it would be VERY successful. That's what I proposed to Mapleton to do with 105.7 after Clear Channel took away Ryan Seacrest and Elvis Duran. But they decided to stick with young 20-somethings on the air that don't sound good at all. The GM said 105.7 was the their 2nd highest biller--I responded "how about making 105.7 your top biller," but they decided against a format change. I was disappointed.

There are now pretty much 5 CHR sounding stations in Spokane: 92.9, 96.1, 96.9, 103.1, 104.5, 105.7 and there is no way all of these will survive, that's simply NOT possible. 92.9/ZZU is the best sounding of them all, and has a nice history and legacy behind it. The other's DON'T. Be interesting to see who puts up the white flag first and changes formats. I will be watching and listening from a distance!!

It will be fun to utilize my talents once again...YES!!!!



JJ

ps--can't wait to eat at Cracker Barrel...closest one for me right now is Missoula. Not sure why they haven't come to Washington---maybe our minimum wage is too high?? You'd figure they'd put one in Coeur d'Alene or Post Falls, people from all over the Inland Northwest would go there to eat!! No doubt about it!

 

[WDAE-FM101]

Great post. Folks in the midwest are hearty and loyal. Could be a great opportunity

 

[CrazeeCarroll1]

Congrats JJ!!! I will have to listen in from IL!!! Heck now I will have flashbacks to the WORD 91 days in good ole' Spartanburg SC!!! CC

 

[bobdavcav]

The radio world has evolved and is changing with less people doing more, and computers handling alot of stuff that people had to do. In Bismarck, I will indeed be a "big fish" in a small pond, and you know--I feel good about it. It's a chance for me to once again program a station---and make the decisions about the music, elements, imaging---the whole she-bang. And I will be working with Townsquare Media and I've heard nothing but GOOD STUFF about them. A buddy of mine is ops mgr for Townsquare in Missoula and he couldn't be happier. I wish a situation like this would have opened up in Spokane, but so much consolidation has taken place, there are just 3 companies in Spokane the names and how many stations they own---Clear Channel(6), Mapleton(7)--and I did make them a very good presentation but they decided to stick with what they are currently doing, and Morgan-Murphy(KXLY group-7), and there are a couple of stand alones, and that's it in Spokane.

I did a nice 14 year stint at KISC-FM and always had great #'s, when I was downsized it was a corporate decision and was replaced by a premium-choice voicetrakker, they did the same with the morning show, and a year ago KISC-FM had around an 8 share an was #1 12+, and in the most recent trend, it's down to a 4.6. So perhaps they will discover the changes they made weren't wise after all, but that IS their choice. I believe the downward spiral will continue there, eventually falling to the high 2's or low 3's, and KISC is just a shell of the station it once was. And I've heard they will be replacing Tesh at night with Delilah--since she is a Premiere show. KISC's music is much more Hot A/C than ever and even people have made the comment to me "it's sounds alot like KZZU." There isn't anything like KWRM in Spokane anymore---a format ripe for the taking. With LOCAL personalities it would be VERY successful. That's what I proposed to Mapleton to do with 105.7 after Clear Channel took away Ryan Seacrest and Elvis Duran. But they decided to stick with young 20-somethings on the air that don't sound good at all. The GM said 105.7 was the their 2nd highest biller--I responded "how about making 105.7 your top biller," but they decided against a format change. I was disappointed.

There are now pretty much 5 CHR sounding stations in Spokane: 92.9, 96.1, 96.9, 103.1, 104.5, 105.7 and there is no way all of these will survive, that's simply NOT possible. 92.9/ZZU is the best sounding of them all, and has a nice history and legacy behind it. The other's DON'T. Be interesting to see who puts up the white flag first and changes formats. I will be watching and listening from a distance!!

It will be fun to utilize my talents once again...YES!!!!



JJ

ps--can't wait to eat at Cracker Barrel...closest one for me right now is Missoula. Not sure why they haven't come to Washington---maybe our minimum wage is too high?? You'd figure they'd put one in Coeur d'Alene or Post Falls, people from all over the Inland Northwest would go there to eat!! No doubt about it!

I was just going to ask who thinks KISC has gone downhill since JJ was let go. They have been leaning a lot more rhythmic lately. CC does a good job with morning shows on the AC stations, I always look for one when I am out of town. I do agree that KZZU is a good station. KCDA is boring, but it works with the format. If I am really stressed out, they are what I put on. KZBD sounds good. KIXZ will be the first to flip. Why is it always the worse CHR that has the better programming? I don't think KZBD has any count downs whatsoever on weekends or at night, something I think is essential on CHR, and it's nice to hear AT40 on Sundays on KIXZ, but that's really the only thing going for it. From where I am I can't get 104.5, so don't have any thoughts on that one, but it's probably to hip-hop for my tastes. Remember, you also have KZFN making it in from Pulman as well, that station seems to be overlooked, but has a decent signal, at least in Cheney.

 

[notalent]

I don't know the actual numbers, but JJ's annual salary in Spokane had to be less than half a months revenue at that station. How they expect that small savings to offset the decrease in revenue they will get with plumeting ratings I don't understand.

Are there any actual brains left at CC or are they completely focused on reducing every possible cost now?

 

[bobdavcav]

Well, if you ask me, I think CC is just a little screwed up, and that's probably a significant understatement. Cumulus is doing it too, but I don't think they're as bad. The one question I have for Cumulus is why did they decide to force the WDVD model on every one of the Hot Acs they took over from Citadel. They also should fix the CHr stations. CC seems to be screwed up all the way around. We're talking about KISC's falling ratings, and they're spending lots of money on the IHeart Radio Music Festival again this year? Like I said a couple of months ago, the idea of a pool party sounded awesome, but do they have there priorities streight?

 

[radiojjh]

To me it seems CC's and KISC's focus is now I-Heart radio. It's odd to me that you encourage people to create their own radio stations, or tune into any one of 750 stations that you can get via I-Heart radio instead of promoting the station and listening to KISC itself. Even with the premium choice people all they talk about is I-Heart radio, you rarely hear them say "Kiss-98.1" just generic stuff like "visit our website" and "I-heart radio." You never hear a thing about Spokane, Coeur d'Alene, the Zags, Cougs, Eastern, Seahawks, Mariners, the local Indians and Chiefs--baseball and hockey teams--and of course NO mention of weather, like when we had those heavy T-storms pass thru here last week. You didn't hear a peep about them. The station is just a shell of what it once was. Tammy Jo reads some headlines and traffic for the "Bronson and Christine Show" and she does 10-3--she does a great job on the air BUT---She is the lone-ranger, the ONLY local person that is on that station. And when she takes time off...the simply flip on the "Premium Choice," and that's it. If this was a small market station--Moses Lake, Wenatchee, Grand Coulee, Prosser or even Everett. I could see that happening, but in a top-100 market?!?!?!?!? I wasn't a very high dollar talent at all, and they really aren't saving much of anything paying a trakker $1000 a month to do the show. I was low dollar there. Interesting to see the trends when the new Spokane Spring book is out in just a couple of days. It's a shame Mapleton doesn't buy the book, so you can't see how they are performing anymore, but I would think 101.1--even though the air staff after 10 is awful, their music is good so they will do fine, and Bob-FM does great too. Rob Harder was the heart and soul of the Spokane cluster and with him gone so it goes....