Re: Why didn't KJR-FM's earlier version work?
> > I signed on the second week they were "Resurected". Norm
> > Gregory was given the helm as PD ....and let me say that
> an
> > enormous KUDO's should go to Norm and what he
> accomplished:
> > Our "cinderella" book lasted 4 years (as opposed to 1
> book)
> > staying in the top 5 25-54, national notority was given
> KJR
> > FM for accomplishing something so powerful with 70's
> music.
> > He created the "The KJR FM Class Reunion Weekends"
> spending
> > hours gathering intensive yearly info and great classic
> > audio bits...Who can forget from WKRP that turkeys can't
> > fly.
>
> Norm was very energetic when it came to the beginning of
> KJR-FM. I'm not sure the station was as pioneering as your
> portray, it was merely doing what one station in nearly
> every market was doing at the time.
>
> Over time, KJR-FM become more of an obstacle in Norm's life,
> and it sounded every bit of it on the air.
>
>
> > Anyway, back to the point: Major listenership can drop
> when
> > there are airstaff changes.
>
> Usually just in mornings.
>
>
> It was Charlie Brown's choice
> > to retire...of which he so richly deserved.
>
> Charlie saw what was going on after awhile, and decided to
> sit on the Pro Tools revenue.
>
> Understand that Charlie may have been iconic to us, the
> Seattle natives, but as we complain all the time, so much of
> California, New York and Texas has moved into Seattle. And
> those folks had/have no idea who is/was Charlie Brown and
> didn't care. By this time, he was way past his prime.
>
>
>
> So the search
> > was on to replace our KJR Icon, Charlie, and fill his
> > humungus shoes. Norm Gregory took over for a short while
> > until a bigger change occured: Norm resigned as PD and
> Gary
> > Bryon and the Nut Hut was hired and Gary was assigned PD
> > duties. For the listener...they had to break in this "New
>
> > Guy" and qualify him as a fit for Seattle....so that
> reduced
> > listenership...it's inevitable when the air staff changes.
>
> > Norm stayed in Afternoons.
>
> Gary has been in Seattle before -- it was round two, strike
> two for him. Gary made the fatal mistake of thinking he can
> bring the New York schtick he developed in New York.
> Bringing Z-100 New York into a station that was trying to
> ram KJR heritage didn't work for some reason.
>
>
> > As the new PD took over he began to throw in 60's...which
> > leaned into KBSG. Then he threw in 80's which REALLY
> > confused the listeners. They no longer knew what to
> expect.
> > That throws a wrench into listenership!
>
> And that's what the current KJR-FM PD is doing now. Maybe
> it wasn't the music back then.
>
> > That's when it dropped to the bottom 10 of the
> pack....thus
> > becomming a slow and tough climb.
> >
> > My opinion....they could have stayed 70's and kept more
> > smoke and mirrors to deliver a great decade of music that
> is
> > increasingly popping up in commercials and movie
> > soundtracks.
> >
> KJR-FM relied too much upon their heritage. Problem was
> (and still is), most people don't care. They aren't either
> as nostalgic or didn't even set foot within the Seattle City
> Limits until the 1990s.
>
I wonder how long much longer KJR-FM(v 2.0) will be able to hang onto their "more music mornings"? At the very least try to convince Mr. Brown to voicetrack his portion of the morning show with Steve Killbreat(SP?) and Angela Kirby doing the live news and weather updates much like he did towards the end of his run with Ty & Mary. Yes, they discussed this during their final show together those many years(8 already) ago.<P ID="signature">______________
"Always on the move." Obi-Wan Kenobi in Revenge Of the Sith</P>
