KZEY & KOFY

[Chuck]

Somebody said that both of these Tyler AM's are off the air today. Aren't they Jerry Russell stations? If they are off the air, does anybody know why?

Just wondering.

 

[snoman]

> Somebody said that both of these Tyler AM's are off the air
> today. Aren't they Jerry Russell stations? If they are off
> the air, does anybody know why?
>
> Just wondering.
>

These are Jerry Russell stations. However, I wouldn't actually call them stations these days. More like glorified jukeboxes. Does anyone actually work for Russell anymore? Or has he managed to run everyone off. What a waste. <P ID="signature">______________
KVIL Highland Park
KVIL-FM Highland Park/Dallas-Fort Worth
Thanks for the memories Ron Chapman!</P>

 

[Chuck]

> These are Jerry Russell stations. However, I wouldn't
> actually call them stations these days. More like glorified
> jukeboxes. Does anyone actually work for Russell anymore?
> Or has he managed to run everyone off. What a waste.
>
I believe he also owns KWRD in Henderson. That used to be a good little small town station. These days, it sounds like it is just a six disc CD changer playing an assortment of "greatest hits" CD's. That is, when it's on the air. The last time I drove through on a Saturday, they weren't on.

 

[jd]

> > These are Jerry Russell stations. However, I wouldn't
> > actually call them stations these days. More like
> glorified
> > jukeboxes. Does anyone actually work for Russell anymore?
>
> > Or has he managed to run everyone off. What a waste.
> >
> I believe he also owns KWRD in Henderson. That used to be a
> good little small town station. These days, it sounds like
> it is just a six disc CD changer playing an assortment of
> "greatest hits" CD's. That is, when it's on the air. The
> last time I drove through on a Saturday, they weren't on.

I was in the Tyler area this morning (Saturday) and noticed that KZEY was off the air, and KOFY had no audio, just a noisy open carrier. I did hear KWRD 1470, though.

 

[nuzguy]

> > > These are Jerry Russell stations. However, I wouldn't
> > > actually call them stations these days. More like
> > glorified
> > > jukeboxes. Does anyone actually work for Russell
> anymore?
> >
> > > Or has he managed to run everyone off. What a waste.
> > >
> > I believe he also owns KWRD in Henderson. That used to be
> a
> > good little small town station. These days, it sounds
> like
> > it is just a six disc CD changer playing an assortment of
> > "greatest hits" CD's. That is, when it's on the air. The
>
> > last time I drove through on a Saturday, they weren't on.
>
> I was in the Tyler area this morning (Saturday) and noticed
> that KZEY was off the air, and KOFY had no audio, just a
> noisy open carrier. I did hear KWRD 1470, though.


Well, they're batting .333 (and a third).
>

 

[musicsweep]

Has no improvement been made to these properties at all? My entire tenure there, they said I was the problem. But I have been gone for over two years now. Hmmmm.

I wonder how JR's Pine Bluff, AR and Greenville, MS stations are doing. Anybody alive over there?

 

[nuzguy]

> Has no improvement been made to these properties at all? My
> entire tenure there, they said I was the problem. But I have
> been gone for over two years now. Hmmmm.


Now they're feeding that same line to someone else. Sounds as if a bit of introspection on the part of JR's people would tell them a lot. They find looking within a difficult thing to do.
>
> I wonder how JR's Pine Bluff, AR and Greenville, MS stations
> are doing. Anybody alive over there?
>

 

[jd]

Re: Hey musicsweep

I've heard of maintaining a low profile, but it's been ages since I've seen you on the board. You still at the same place?

 

[snoman]

Re: Hey musicsweep

> I've heard of maintaining a low profile, but it's been ages
> since I've seen you on the board. You still at the same
> place?
>

Here, Here. It's great to see you post again.<P ID="signature">______________
KVIL Highland Park
KVIL-FM Highland Park/Dallas-Fort Worth
Thanks for the memories Ron Chapman!</P>

 

[MediaMogul]

MRS/Pine Bluff-Greenville

> > I've heard of maintaining a low profile, but it's been
> ages
> > since I've seen you on the board. You still at the same
> > place?
> >
>
> Here, Here. It's great to see you post again.
>


The four MRS stations in Pine Bluff and the stations in Greenville are the most pathetic waste of airwaves you have ever heard, IF they are on the air. The biggest station they have in Pine Bluff is a 25,000 watt country station that sounds like it is being relayed over a telephone line. They have an urban station that is on satellite most of the time, and the two AMs sound like they are being controlled by a cassette player.

In Greenville, they came in and fired the legendary personalities that had been there for years. WDTL was a decent sounding station and the leader in the Delta, and now it is off the air all the time, and just goes straight off the satellite.

MRS Ventures has also missed several months of payments to the former owners of the Pine Bluff properties. There was a story in the local newspaper there where the former owners were near foreclosure if they didn't get their money.

I'm sorry to hear that they have been allowed to keep their licenses. Even before they purchased, I know they were a pathetic group of losers.

 

[nuzguy]

Re: MRS/Pine Bluff-Greenville

> > > I've heard of maintaining a low profile, but it's been
> > ages
> > > since I've seen you on the board. You still at the same
>
> > > place?
> > >
> >
> > Here, Here. It's great to see you post again.
> >
>
>
> The four MRS stations in Pine Bluff and the stations in
> Greenville are the most pathetic waste of airwaves you have
> ever heard, IF they are on the air. The biggest station they
> have in Pine Bluff is a 25,000 watt country station that
> sounds like it is being relayed over a telephone line. They
> have an urban station that is on satellite most of the time,
> and the two AMs sound like they are being controlled by a
> cassette player.
>
> In Greenville, they came in and fired the legendary
> personalities that had been there for years. WDTL was a
> decent sounding station and the leader in the Delta, and now
> it is off the air all the time, and just goes straight off
> the satellite.
>
> MRS Ventures has also missed several months of payments to
> the former owners of the Pine Bluff properties. There was a
> story in the local newspaper there where the former owners
> were near foreclosure if they didn't get their money.
>
> I'm sorry to hear that they have been allowed to keep their
> licenses. Even before they purchased, I know they were a
> pathetic group of losers.
>
Time was when broadcast owners took a certain amount of pride in their stations, valued them as community resources, and used them as such. Unfortunately now, through consolidation and ownership in absentia, properties from the largest markets to the smallest are treated as disposables, more functional as a tax write off than a medium of communication. Not all that long ago the FCC required new owners to prove they could serve the "public interest, convenience, and necessity," (even though the commission never got around to actually defining what that provision called for). A broadcast station was a special part of the community. Now all too many of them are junky buildings along the street from which emanate poor signals and garbage not worthy of the public's attention. In fairness, there ARE those stations which remain the proverbial pillars of the community, but the numbers of such stations are shrinking every day.

 

[musicsweep]

Musicsweep update....(You ain't gonna believe it either)

Back in the fall of 2002, I trusted Jesus Christ as my personal savior. In May of 2003, I got sick of Russell and walked out. June 2003, I went to work for Robert Gonzalez at KWRW 97.7 FM in Rusk, TX. It was a cool job. I follwed one of the best Rusk Eagle football teams in recent history, called playoff football games for Rusk and Troup, called girls basketball playoff games for Alto (They went all the way to regionals) and even got to cover some HS Softball and Baseball (Between you and me, I preferr covering softball, more action, faster pace of game).

So, in March of 2004, I surrendered to the ministry, and in August of 2004, I left KWRW to attend Texas Baptist Institute in Henderson, TX. (Small school, enrollment of 50, specializes in training preachers) For about a month thereafter, I did afternoon news for Jerry Hanzsen at KMHT in Marshall under the alias of John Allen. After a month of that, I realized I was spending more on gas to get to Marshall than they were paying me. (In all fairness, I knew it was PT before I took it.)

So for what its worth, my radio career is over. I am making straight A's at Texas Baptist Institute, preach at various Baptist churches in East Texas, filling in for sick or vacationing preachers, and holding revivals, and I serve as the youth director at Vanderbilt Baptist Church in Tyler, TX. (HWY 69 south, 5.5 miles south of Loop 323, We are about 1/2 mile north of Miller's used cars.)

I have followed the KOOI/KLJT story closely, and have somewhat monitored Jack-FM in Dallas.

So I hope all is well with yall. I found that living for radio was a good way to waste a life, especially in the wake of MRS. It was unfulfilling and dissappointing. Be sure that as we discuss radio on these boards, keep things in perspective, and as LABreeze would say "Look around you and realize that everything you see is temporary."

 

[C414]

Re: MRS/Pine Bluff-Greenville

> > > > I've heard of maintaining a low profile, but it's been
>
> > > ages
> > > > since I've seen you on the board. You still at the
> same
> >
> > > > place?
> > > >
> > >
> > > Here, Here. It's great to see you post again.
> > >
> >
> >
> > The four MRS stations in Pine Bluff and the stations in
> > Greenville are the most pathetic waste of airwaves you
> have
> > ever heard, IF they are on the air. The biggest station
> they
> > have in Pine Bluff is a 25,000 watt country station that
> > sounds like it is being relayed over a telephone line.
> They
> > have an urban station that is on satellite most of the
> time,
> > and the two AMs sound like they are being controlled by a
> > cassette player.
> >
> > In Greenville, they came in and fired the legendary
> > personalities that had been there for years. WDTL was a
> > decent sounding station and the leader in the Delta, and
> now
> > it is off the air all the time, and just goes straight off
>
> > the satellite.
> >
> > MRS Ventures has also missed several months of payments to
>
> > the former owners of the Pine Bluff properties. There was
> a
> > story in the local newspaper there where the former owners
>
> > were near foreclosure if they didn't get their money.
> >
> > I'm sorry to hear that they have been allowed to keep
> their
> > licenses. Even before they purchased, I know they were a
> > pathetic group of losers.
> >
> Time was when broadcast owners took a certain amount of
> pride in their stations, valued them as community resources,
> and used them as such. Unfortunately now, through
> consolidation and ownership in absentia, properties from the
> largest markets to the smallest are treated as disposables,
> more functional as a tax write off than a medium of
> communication. Not all that long ago the FCC required new
> owners to prove they could serve the "public interest,
> convenience, and necessity," (even though the commission
> never got around to actually defining what that provision
> called for). A broadcast station was a special part of the
> community. Now all too many of them are junky buildings
> along the street from which emanate poor signals and garbage
> not worthy of the public's attention. In fairness, there
> ARE those stations which remain the proverbial pillars of
> the community, but the numbers of such stations are
> shrinking every day.
>



In light of all this, especially with the way that KWRD et al (IMNSHO) are allowed to be run this way....and knowing that KWRD's license (for instance) is coming up for renewal....would any of this be worth filing comments with the FCC over? Would this not fall under "service to licensed community"?

BTW, Musicsweep....AWESOME on following the Lord! It's hard work, but it's the most rewarding. Hang in there and God bless!

 

[musicsweep]

Re: MRS/Pine Bluff-Greenville

> In light of all this, especially with the way that KWRD et
> al (IMNSHO) are allowed to be run this way....and knowing
> that KWRD's license (for instance) is coming up for
> renewal....would any of this be worth filing comments with
> the FCC over? Would this not fall under "service to licensed
> community"?

On one hand, I'd like to see complaints come before the high commission regarding Russell's gross neglegence of his properties. It would be nice to see him lose stations. However, I have alot of sentimental attachment to KWRD-AM, and would hate to see it go dark, and later go the way of KLUE.


> BTW, Musicsweep....AWESOME on following the Lord! It's hard
> work, but it's the most rewarding. Hang in there and God
> bless!

Thanks.

 

[nuzguy]

Re: MRS/Pine Bluff-Greenville

> > > > > I've heard of maintaining a low profile, but it's
> been
> >
> > > > ages
> > > > > since I've seen you on the board. You still at the
> > same
> > >
> > > > > place?
> > > > >
> > > >
> > > > Here, Here. It's great to see you post again.
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> > > The four MRS stations in Pine Bluff and the stations in
> > > Greenville are the most pathetic waste of airwaves you
> > have
> > > ever heard, IF they are on the air. The biggest station
> > they
> > > have in Pine Bluff is a 25,000 watt country station that
>
> > > sounds like it is being relayed over a telephone line.
> > They
> > > have an urban station that is on satellite most of the
> > time,
> > > and the two AMs sound like they are being controlled by
> a
> > > cassette player.
> > >
> > > In Greenville, they came in and fired the legendary
> > > personalities that had been there for years. WDTL was a
> > > decent sounding station and the leader in the Delta, and
>
> > now
> > > it is off the air all the time, and just goes straight
> off
> >
> > > the satellite.
> > >
> > > MRS Ventures has also missed several months of payments
> to
> >
> > > the former owners of the Pine Bluff properties. There
> was
> > a
> > > story in the local newspaper there where the former
> owners
> >
> > > were near foreclosure if they didn't get their money.
> > >
> > > I'm sorry to hear that they have been allowed to keep
> > their
> > > licenses. Even before they purchased, I know they were a
>
> > > pathetic group of losers.
> > >
> > Time was when broadcast owners took a certain amount of
> > pride in their stations, valued them as community
> resources,
> > and used them as such. Unfortunately now, through
> > consolidation and ownership in absentia, properties from
> the
> > largest markets to the smallest are treated as
> disposables,
> > more functional as a tax write off than a medium of
> > communication. Not all that long ago the FCC required new
>
> > owners to prove they could serve the "public interest,
> > convenience, and necessity," (even though the commission
> > never got around to actually defining what that provision
> > called for). A broadcast station was a special part of the
>
> > community. Now all too many of them are junky buildings
> > along the street from which emanate poor signals and
> garbage
> > not worthy of the public's attention. In fairness, there
> > ARE those stations which remain the proverbial pillars of
> > the community, but the numbers of such stations are
> > shrinking every day.
> >
>
>
>
> In light of all this, especially with the way that KWRD et
> al (IMNSHO) are allowed to be run this way....and knowing
> that KWRD's license (for instance) is coming up for
> renewal....would any of this be worth filing comments with
> the FCC over? Would this not fall under "service to licensed
> community"?
>
> BTW, Musicsweep....AWESOME on following the Lord! It's hard
> work, but it's the most rewarding. Hang in there and God
> bless!
>
Regarding sweep's decision, agreed, the right choice. I have an uncle in the ministry who says, "It doesn't pay all that well but the retirement plan can't be beat."

And on filing comments--there are so many incompetently-run stations doing more dis-serviced than service, the FCC wouldn't have room enough to file all the input it would receive. Sometimes it appears that the radio industry has passed the point of no return. But you make a good point.

 

[snoman]

Re: Musicsweep update....(You ain't gonna believe it either)

WOW!!!! GREAT FOR YOU, SWEEP! I wish you well in your calling. Continue to visit your friends here on the boards.

<P ID="signature">______________
KVIL Highland Park
KVIL-FM Highland Park/Dallas-Fort Worth
Thanks for the memories Ron Chapman!</P>

 

[LABreeze]

Re: MRS/Pine Bluff-Greenville

> > In light of all this, especially with the way that KWRD et
>
> > al (IMNSHO) are allowed to be run this way....and knowing
> > that KWRD's license (for instance) is coming up for
> > renewal....would any of this be worth filing comments with
>
> > the FCC over? Would this not fall under "service to
> licensed
> > community"?
>
> On one hand, I'd like to see complaints come before the high
> commission regarding Russell's gross neglegence of his
> properties. It would be nice to see him lose stations.
> However, I have alot of sentimental attachment to KWRD-AM,
> and would hate to see it go dark, and later go the way of
> KLUE.
>
>
> > BTW, Musicsweep....AWESOME on following the Lord! It's
> hard
> > work, but it's the most rewarding. Hang in there and God
> > bless!
>
> Thanks.
>

That is one of the reasons I QUIT working for Russell. A lot of two-facedness on him (and his Stepford Wives)that intimidates not only me, but most people at times. Those that had worked with him in the past would not work with that man again. I mean he has literally ruined the quality of the East Texas AMs, the four-station Pine Bluff cluster and the Mississippi Delta stations. Larry Fuss would've turned Russell down on accepting his offer almost two years ago in Greenville. Right now KZYQ, KRKD and WRKG are off the air. WDTL is running mostly automated (and running Delta State games), WDSK is still talk (with all of that allotted dead air after CBS news went off and had to manually press the buttons to hit the programs) and WZYQ flipped to the cheapness of American Blues Network. As for Pine Bluff the last time I was there was back in September of last year when I was training two parttimers to run gospel programs on KZYQ. The second week I was training them, no one has informed me that a program that was scheduled at 1:00 that afternoon was cancelled until one of the sales reps, who happen to be a preacher in his own right called to inform me of it 10 minutes later. From there, I was not aware. So two days later back in Cleveland and it was on a Tuesday (that's where the Greenville stations are located), me, my station manager and Russell were on a conference call with him doing the talking cursing me out. I tried to explain the snafu that happened and he wouldn't want to hear any of that. So after trying to fish up anymore excuses, he said to me, and I quote: "You have until 4:00 this afternoon to explain to me why that program that was cancelled was played anyway." Afterwards, I've lost my nerve dealing with him and told my manager that this is the last straw. I told her that if I'm going to be treated like that as an employee by that man, it's too soon. Therefore, I've written a letter of resignation and told him where to go if he keeps running people out of stations. My signature is very simple. MRS Ventures will be losing a lot of credibility as a player in the broadcasting field. Mark my word on this. Someone with so much credibility and know-how will breathe new life to these stations.

My wish is that if I had millions of dollars, I would put KZEY back to it's former glory, dropped that crappy "flava" moniker (though it never work and always won't) relocate its studio and put in new blood there. Before you know it, radio would be fun again.<P ID="signature">______________
Note to MRS Ventures: GET THE HELL OUT OF RADIO!!! 94 BAD-FM jamz!!!!</P>

 

[nuzguy]

Re: MRS/Pine Bluff-Greenville

> > > In light of all this, especially with the way that KWRD
> et
> >
> > > al (IMNSHO) are allowed to be run this way....and
> knowing
> > > that KWRD's license (for instance) is coming up for
> > > renewal....would any of this be worth filing comments
> with
> >
> > > the FCC over? Would this not fall under "service to
> > licensed
> > > community"?
> >
> > On one hand, I'd like to see complaints come before the
> high
> > commission regarding Russell's gross neglegence of his
> > properties. It would be nice to see him lose stations.
> > However, I have alot of sentimental attachment to KWRD-AM,
>
> > and would hate to see it go dark, and later go the way of
> > KLUE.
> >
> >
> > > BTW, Musicsweep....AWESOME on following the Lord! It's
> > hard
> > > work, but it's the most rewarding. Hang in there and God
>
> > > bless!
> >
> > Thanks.
> >
>
> That is one of the reasons I QUIT working for Russell. A lot
> of two-facedness on him (and his Stepford Wives)that
> intimidates not only me, but most people at times. Those
> that had worked with him in the past would not work with
> that man again. I mean he has literally ruined the quality
> of the East Texas AMs, the four-station Pine Bluff cluster
> and the Mississippi Delta stations. Larry Fuss would've
> turned Russell down on accepting his offer almost two years
> ago in Greenville. Right now KZYQ, KRKD and WRKG are off the
> air. WDTL is running mostly automated (and running Delta
> State games), WDSK is still talk (with all of that allotted
> dead air after CBS news went off and had to manually press
> the buttons to hit the programs) and WZYQ flipped to the
> cheapness of American Blues Network. As for Pine Bluff the
> last time I was there was back in September of last year
> when I was training two parttimers to run gospel programs on
> KZYQ. The second week I was training them, no one has
> informed me that a program that was scheduled at 1:00 that
> afternoon was cancelled until one of the sales reps, who
> happen to be a preacher in his own right called to inform me
> of it 10 minutes later. From there, I was not aware. So two
> days later back in Cleveland and it was on a Tuesday (that's
> where the Greenville stations are located), me, my station
> manager and Russell were on a conference call with him doing
> the talking cursing me out. I tried to explain the snafu
> that happened and he wouldn't want to hear any of that. So
> after trying to fish up anymore excuses, he said to me, and
> I quote: "You have until 4:00 this afternoon to explain to
> me why that program that was cancelled was played anyway."
> Afterwards, I've lost my nerve dealing with him and told my
> manager that this is the last straw. I told her that if I'm
> going to be treated like that as an employee by that man,
> it's too soon. Therefore, I've written a letter of
> resignation and told him where to go if he keeps running
> people out of stations. My signature is very simple. MRS
> Ventures will be losing a lot of credibility as a player in
> the broadcasting field. Mark my word on this. Someone with
> so much credibility and know-how will breathe new life to
> these stations.
>
> My wish is that if I had millions of dollars, I would put
> KZEY back to it's former glory, dropped that crappy "flava"
> moniker (though it never work and always won't) relocate its
> studio and put in new blood there. Before you know it, radio
> would be fun again.


Fortunately I never met Russell and from what you say will never have the desire to do so. Trying to reason with him or thinking he will ever change typifies the admonition, "Never try to teach a pig to dance. It wastes your time and makes the pig mad."

 

[snoman]

Re: MRS/Pine Bluff-Greenville

>
>
> Fortunately I never met Russell and from what you say will
> never have the desire to do so. Trying to reason with him
> or thinking he will ever change typifies the admonition,
> "Never try to teach a pig to dance. It wastes your time and
> makes the pig mad."
>

Consider yourself extremely lucky. I remember when I interviewed at KZEY back in 96 or 97 (I can't remember). I went in and talked to Matt Walker and for all of you that have listened to R&B in East Texas, know that Matt is a good personality and is well known throughout the Tyler community. Everytime I would ask Matt a question, he would preface it by saying "Mr. Russell" and Jerry walked in about halfway through the interview, and was asking Matt some questions, and Matt would say "Yes, Mr. Russell", "No, Mr. Russell". I couldn't believe what I was hearing?! Matt was the Operations Manager/PD and Russell at the time only owned KZEY... this wasn't Rupert Murdoch! Matt talked up to Russell, like he was owned by Russell. After I saw that, and Russeell left the Production Control Room, where the interview was, I told Matt I was no longer interested. I just saw the writing on the wall, when he came into the room. And, judging by what has happened over the past 8 or 9 years, I'd say I made the right move that day.

I'd love to get my hands on KZEY. It used to be such a great radio station. It's a damn shame what Russell has done to it... no "flava" whatsoever!

<P ID="signature">______________
KVIL Highland Park
KVIL-FM Highland Park/Dallas-Fort Worth
Thanks for the memories Ron Chapman!</P>

 

[nuzguy]

Re: MRS/Pine Bluff-Greenville

> >
> >
> > Fortunately I never met Russell and from what you say will
>
> > never have the desire to do so. Trying to reason with him
>
> > or thinking he will ever change typifies the admonition,
> > "Never try to teach a pig to dance. It wastes your time
> and
> > makes the pig mad."
> >
>
> Consider yourself extremely lucky. I remember when I
> interviewed at KZEY back in 96 or 97 (I can't remember). I
> went in and talked to Matt Walker and for all of you that
> have listened to R&B in East Texas, know that Matt is a good
> personality and is well known throughout the Tyler
> community. Everytime I would ask Matt a question, he would
> preface it by saying "Mr. Russell" and Jerry walked in about
> halfway through the interview, and was asking Matt some
> questions, and Matt would say "Yes, Mr. Russell", "No, Mr.
> Russell". I couldn't believe what I was hearing?! Matt was
> the Operations Manager/PD and Russell at the time only owned
> KZEY... this wasn't Rupert Murdoch! Matt talked up to
> Russell, like he was owned by Russell. After I saw that,
> and Russeell left the Production Control Room, where the
> interview was, I told Matt I was no longer interested. I
> just saw the writing on the wall, when he came into the
> room. And, judging by what has happened over the past 8 or
> 9 years, I'd say I made the right move that day.
>
> I'd love to get my hands on KZEY. It used to be such a
> great radio station. It's a damn shame what Russell has
> done to it... no "flava" whatsoever!

What Matt did takes a good man and the ultimate in self control. JR reminds me of a person who walks around with a pit bull on a leash, thinking he himself is respected. Wrong. Everyone else respects the dog, it's the man they can't stand.

>