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Ludicrous comments by CC Atlanta programming

K

kingdaddy

Guest
On Rodney's blog, there are some comments from the programming geniuses Wheeler & Williams. I have excerpted the most laughable for us to discuss.

We had some research information that told us that 96rock was approaching the end of its life cycle as a product

You fools. YOU did that. You ruined the brand. It could have been fixed, and I am now convinced you didn't know HOW to fix it. Here's how: through imaging, marketing, and programming savvy, YOU can define what the station is, what it has been and will be. It's called hard work and consistency.

Williams: 96.1 has been historically a radio station that is Atlanta’s rock station. It has swagger. It represented the rock format regardless of era.

Then why change the name to something you have to explain to people? The name 96 Rock is a brand that is so woven into the fabric of the community it is priceless. You ever hear the expression "too hip for the room"? Project 961 may be a hip-sounding name TO YOU but the audience will never get it. (See Planet Radio)

People looking to make a name for themselves sometimes feel they have to justify their existence. Making this programming blunder is bad enough, but now we see your flawed thinking. You're young and it shows, Chris.
 
It all boils down to this. The smart thing to do with any successful station is to make changes slowly as the times and audience change. WSB has done that. But, it takes management with a long range view. In the consolidation world, management changes so often no new manager can just sit there and let a good station be good. They've got to put their stamp on it and screw it up.
 
Took the words right out of my mouth, Kingdaddy. I'm sure there's a consultant out there with "some research" that shows Nike is ending its cycle as a brand.

You re-brand when you're going in a completely different direction or if your brand was never working. Power 99 to 99x. Z93 (the rock era) to Dave FM.

The only time in Atlanta radio history that I can remember this working was 94Q to Star 94 -- and Star was not near the player from 88-97 that it is today. And the jury is obviously out on Peach to Lite.
 
What do you expect them to say, "We're a group of colossal failures and out of sheer desperation decided to pull this 'Project' format out of our collective butts." Jeebus, give 'em a chance.
 
In November of 2005, I listened to WGST or 96Rock most all the time. The changes and firings by Clear Channel in the last 12 months have driven me away completely. I have not listened to one second of any Clear Channel owned station since Oct. 23rd.

In November of 2006, I’m listening to about 90% XM and flipping to WSB for traffic and local news. Life is good. No CC, no problem.
 
Despite the questionable decision to punt the two things the station had going for it ("96Rock" and "Regular Guys"), I believe the've found a viable music position.....uh...playing Rock. Why a radio station playing Rock would change their name to project is baffling.

The other questions remaining:
Who will do mornings?
Is Chris Williams the solution in PM Drive? I always think of him as an average weekender, not PM Drive in Atlanta, even though he'd been filling that shift on The Buzz. Who would you rather hear in PM Drive? Jennifer Reed? Rhodes/Rickman? Whip? or Chris Williams?
 
The thing I find most interesting about their comments is they claim that Project 9-6-1 and The Buzz are not the same station. However, back in May 2005, when the Buzz moved from 96.7 to 105.3, they claimed it was the same station.

Project 9-6-1 has a lot more in common with 105.3 The Buzz than 105.3 The Buzz did with 96.7 The Buzz.

They are retaining all the jocks but Whip (last move they only kept Aly). The music is almost the same. New songs will probably be back next week with the jocks. The playing of AC/DC, Ozzy, Zeppelin, ect... is so rare that it is hardly noticable. I don't see that working anyways, it just doesn't mesh that well. They'll probably drop these artists eventually and they'll join all the other bands/songs that are now homeless on Atlanta radio from 96's death. 96.7 had a very different playlist from 105.3.

I'll probably listen to the station some, but I really liked Classic Rock (not hits) on one signal and Alternative on another. I don't know if I see it working. A lot of 96rock fans certainly won't go for it for the most part and I can see x amount of Buzz fans going to 99X. 99X definately has a great opportunity here.

They also claim that they took the best parts of both stations. What is it exactly that they took from 96rock except for maybe 20 something songs (a lot of which they weren't really playing anymore anyways). Maybe the Braves will show up, I hardly look at that as a plus. Fin still has a job somewhere. To take the best of 96rock, to me would have to include English Nick, Jennifer Reed, and Geoff Cole.
They really did not eliminate any of the Buzz except Whip and maybe a few Weezer and Beastie Boys songs.
 
Comments aside...word is Williams was popping champagne bottles while 96ROCKers were cleaning out their desks...


Classy
 
goldmouf said:
Comments aside...word is Williams was popping champagne bottles while 96ROCKers were cleaning out their desks...


Classy
Click to expand...

if that is true, Karma will catch up.
 
content said:
goldmouf said:
Comments aside...word is Williams was popping champagne bottles while 96ROCKers were cleaning out their desks...


Classy
Click to expand...

if that is true, Karma will catch up.
Click to expand...

And probably much sooner than 32 years from now. Makes me not want to listen to his show anymore if it's true.
 
To pop a champagne cork while someone you'd just moved from Dallas to Atlanta months ago, then English Nick, Fin and Whip are all let go is just...just....WRONG.

Personally, I wouldn't pop anything until the Fall, wait, make that WINTER book rolls in. We shall see. Best of luck to everyone, ESPECIALLY
 
Remember... these are the same brilliant people who blew up the "Peach" brand, so to them blowing up "96 Rock" was no big deal.

LF
 
DashRiprock said:
In November of 2005, I listened to WGST or 96Rock most all the time. The changes and firings by Clear Channel in the last 12 months have driven me away completely. I have not listened to one second of any Clear Channel owned station since Oct. 23rd.

In November of 2006, I’m listening to about 90% XM and flipping to WSB for traffic and local news. Life is good. No CC, no problem.
Click to expand...
What took you so long? I think XM should pay a finder's fee to Clear Channel, which does a much better job of making XM an attractive alternative to terrestrial radio than anything XM could do.
 
lfuss said:
Remember... these are the same brilliant people who blew up the "Peach" brand, so to them blowing up "96 Rock" was no big deal.

LF
Click to expand...

Actually, I believe the decision blow Peach up goes back to the Mark Chase era. I don't think he's involved in CC Atlanta any longer.
 
LeChat said:
What took you so long? I think XM should pay a finder's fee to Clear Channel, which does a much better job of making XM an attractive alternative to terrestrial radio than anything XM could do.
Click to expand...

Funny thing is I turned someone on to XM because of his disappointment in Clear Channel stations that changed (namely WMAX-FM). His favorite stations on XM are The 80s on 8, Mix, and Talk Radio. And the latter two of those stations are programmed by, that's right, CLEAR CHANNEL! They're also ******s for putting commercials on their music channels. The rest of the music channels programmed by the various companies, XM, Salem, Starbucks, Worldspace, are all commercial free, but Clear Channel just absolutely had to bring commercials back.
 
Clear Channel expects negative calls, emails, and message board comments and it’s not a problem for them. They’ll continue their business plan of reducing local staff in favor of syndication and automation. Does anyone honestly think that CC, Bain Capital Partners, or Thomas H. Lee Partners really care about legacy stations or local radio employees?

The only action I can take is to stop listening to their stations, so that’s what I’m doing. I’m done with Clear Channel, and here are a few reasons why:

Larry Wachs
Eric Von Haessler
Tim Andrews
"Lucy" the RG staffer
Steve Rickman
Tim Rhodes
Jeff McMurray
Bruce Collins
John Grey
Rick DiLorenzo
Pete Davis
Ed Treiguts
Brad Golder
Vanessa Jones
Wayne "No Offense"
Scott Ferrell
Cheryl White
Sam Memmolo
Dave McBride
Dr. Gene Hennsler
John Adams
Sari Rose
Randy Cross
George Stein
Danny "McLefty" McNulty
Bill Caiaccio
Jim Gossett
Jennifer Reed
English Nick
Whip
Tom Hughes
Kim Peterson
Denny Schaffer
 
Jeff McMurray
I really liked 96rock under his direction. It's a shame that they let him go so soon.
I thought overall as a Classic Rock station, McMurray did much better with it than Casey.
 
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