Macon Fall Numbers Out

[kyscott]

I think that WDEN is pretty much the engine that drives that cluster.

I'll agree. "Cluster," of course, being the key word. ;D The fact is that the ratings at WAYS as an oldies station never came close to what they were when we were playing even bad Top 40.

I was thinking that too, but wasn't gonna say nothing. ;D

I remember y'all playing pretty good Top 40. I can't hear an ELO song now on XM without hearing the old FM99 jingles.

These big groups are doing exactly what our elected officials have allowed them to do with the deregulation of the industry. My complaint here is that 100KW signals were leaving the market that we will never see again.

The best gub'ment money can buy. The primary reason that Macon was given three class C FMs was due to the distance between Atlanta and the rest of the state. Those FMs were designed to cover people living in the more rural areas. That is until Docket 80-90 proceeded to cram the band full. Gordon Georgia getting a signal?! Hello?! But all that don't matter when it comes to the bottom line. Serving the public? As long as it don't cost much.

Thus my previous comment. But I think that some have actually been returned. Isn't Z93 100,000 watts now?

According to the FCC records, the only station licensed to Macon that is a class C is WDEN 99.1.

Everyone for the three years I was in the American Federal Building (Laura and Jerry, Paul, Kenny, Brad, David, Hank, Laura W, Willie and the 7th floor loonies) were all great to work with. And nothing would have worked if Oscar wasn't a genius. Hal too!

What do you hear out of Oscar these days? I met him when he was at 41 and I was living at 13's transmitter.

I haven't been listening. Aren't most small market News/Talk's running syndicated programming? I think the Beliveau led four man local news teams are over. Now you have a one man local news team that services four...or seven stations.

Silly me thinking they would have someone there if not just reading the AP wire. News is about the cheapest thing you can do, yet stations cut it on advise from consultants who said people didn't want the inturruption. Uuugh. Even stations like the legendary WHAS have been cutting their news departments. There isn't a live person there after 7 pm or on weekends. Heaven help us if we get a tornado on the weekend or at night. Paul and those guys were sharp. I remember hearing there newscasts on FM 99.....and we didn't change the station!

 

[billelder]

If I could talk the stories I could tell. ;D
Remember, just because a disc jockey sounds excited doesn't mean they ARE excited. lol

But I will say this about Oldies. I wasn't the one who decided that change, regardless of how many people held middle fingers out of their car windows. lol I believe my words were, "If you pay me what you're paying me now I'll play Jewish hymns. In 1988 99WAYS pulled a 27 share in an 18 station market. When Fred and Oscar went back to Z108 and didn't take me...well...where was I going to go? My father had passed away and with my mom here I didn't feel like it was the time to start "market jumping."

Truthfully, I didn't like the oldies as much as I liked Top 40. I was 16 and at WNEX when Bobby Wallace brought everyone the first Allman Brothers album in 1970 and asked us to pick two singles from it. Everyone (remarkably) picked the same two, "Midnight Rider" and "Revival." And that was back when Macon actually had concerts at the Coliseum thanks to Bill Lavery. But Top 40 lost its soul in the mid 90's and country wisely stepped up to the plate and became more "polished." They sure filled the gap. There is much more I can say but won't. Let's just say that it's not the first time that a big "corporation" has taken the easy way out. But, to their credit I do have a nice retirement plan and 401K.

To me, the stations that have won the format wars are Q-106, WDEN and WIBB. They have stayed true to what they have done forever. And, to me, that's the key. And, most recently, the station that I liked the most was here was "The Buzz." It's now "Peach" so it shows how prophetic I am. I love alternative music the most of all the current music. My only problem with Q-106 is the "brand manager" is choosing the music. So when I hear Phil Collins "In The Air Tonight" on there I curse openly. But to their credit they still help local bands with the Sunday night show.

Since I was 15 years old and worked with Gary Guntor and Joel Godard at WMAZ, my life and livelihood has taken place alone in a control room somewhere. Now that I'm out of that phase of the business I have become like everyone else who listens. I'll give a station about three seconds and them I'm gone. More often than not it's CD's and iPod music.

I didn't know Oscar worked at 41? Man, there is a lot of TV history in that old transmitter building out there. (Probably ghosts, too!)

 

[kyscott]

If I could talk the stories I could tell. ;D
Remember, just because a disc jockey sounds excited doesn't mean they ARE excited.

And just because a DJ sounds sober, doesn't mean he is. I started behind the mic before I left the glamor behind for the engineering side!

But I will say this about Oldies. I wasn't the one who decided that change, regardless of how many people held middle fingers out of their car windows. lol I believe my words were, "If you pay me what you're paying me now I'll play Jewish hymns. In 1988 99WAYS pulled a 27 share in an 18 station market. When Fred and Oscar went back to Z108 and didn't take me...well...where was I going to go? My father had passed away and with my mom here I didn't feel like it was the time to start "market jumping."

You could have been the next Johnny Fever! I see Fred and Oscar pretty much left you twisting the the wind. And I'm like y you, pay me what I want and I'll fix your transmitter so you can continue playing Jewish hymns. I don't get that upset over programming anymore. Consultants are gonna do what they are gonna do. No matter how stupid and assinine it is.

Truthfully, I didn't like the oldies as much as I liked Top 40. I was 16 and at WNEX when Bobby Wallace brought everyone the first Allman Brothers album in 1970 and asked us to pick two singles from it. Everyone (remarkably) picked the same two, "Midnight Rider" and "Revival." And that was back when Macon actually had concerts at the Coliseum thanks to Bill Lavery. But Top 40 lost its soul in the mid 90's and country wisely stepped up to the plate and became more "polished." They sure filled the gap. There is much more I can say but won't. Let's just say that it's not the first time that a big "corporation" has taken the easy way out. But, to their credit I do have a nice retirement plan and 401K.

Midnight Rider is the best song from the Allmans by far. Now it seems like country has taken the place of Top 40 lock, stock and barrel. I can't tell the difference between the two. Just because a song has a fiddle in it, country it does not make. Now NEX is Disney and the Allmans are gone. Won't you come home, Billy Bob Bailey?!

To me, the stations that have won the format wars are Q-106, WDEN and WIBB. They have stayed true to what they have done forever. And, to me, that's the key. And, most recently, the station that I liked the most was here was "The Buzz." It's now "Peach" so it shows how prophetic I am. I love alternative music the most of all the current music. My only problem with Q-106 is the "brand manager" is choosing the music. So when I hear Phil Collins "In The Air Tonight" on there I curse openly. But to their credit they still help local bands with the Sunday night show.

Our soft AC station up here has the Phil Collins song in their rotation. Go figure. I'm XM all the way now. From a technical standpoint, 90% of these stations sound like hammered dog crap. I can't stand to listen to them. Today's processors have way to many controls on them. And too many people that don't know what they are doing operating them.

Since I was 15 years old and worked with Gary Guntor and Joel Godard at WMAZ, my life and livelihood has taken place alone in a control room somewhere. Now that I'm out of that phase of the business I have become like everyone else who listens. I'll give a station about three seconds and them I'm gone. More often than not it's CD's and iPod music.

Now, it's a machine with the label "Dell" alone in a control room somewhere. The most fun I had was when I was on the air. Talking to the listeners, running a tight board, carts flying, records spinning. Sometimes I miss the days of being a dj, but I have the paychecks of an engineer to help me over my pain!

I didn't know Oscar worked at 41? Man, there is a lot of TV history in that old transmitter building out there. (Probably ghosts, too!)
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[billelder]

I see Fred and Oscar pretty much left you twisting the the wind.

I can understand how you'd think that, but I don't really see it that way. I had a 6 month no compete contract and I imagine they couldn't have afforded to keep me on a payroll for half a year. Maybe they knew I couldn't afford to accept if I wasn't making what I was at FM99. Also, they may not have wanted me. I just remember that Fred (with Oscar's prodding) offered me the best job in radio in the market in 1982. I'll always be thankful for that.

We have had one "impromptu" lunch with Fred, Oscar and the gang recently and we had a great time. It was really like old times. We've all gotten really old and very mellow. LOL

 

[kyscott]

I can understand how you'd think that, but I don't really see it that way.

I said it more tounge in cheek anyway.

I had a 6 month no compete contract and I imagine they couldn't have afforded to keep me on a payroll for half a year.

Really? Were they afraid you'd go over to be Rick Knight's wacky side-kick or something?

Maybe they knew I couldn't afford to accept if I wasn't making what I was at FM99. Also, they may not have wanted me. I just remember that Fred (with Oscar's prodding) offered me the best job in radio in the market in 1982. I'll always be thankful for that.

It's funny how things work out in the end. When I first started on the air, I wanted to work in Macon or Savannah. Well, I wound up in both towns, but as an engineer. I did pull a part time shift at 105 and helped John Timms out some with engineering. Louisville never factored into that plan. But I'm reasonably happy.

We have had one "impromptu" lunch with Fred, Oscar and the gang recently and we had a great time. It was really like old times. We've all gotten really old and very mellow. LOL
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[billelder]

Scott,

As hard as it seems to comprehend given my limited abilities, I guess they were afraid I'd be lured away. ;D

So you'll know, John Timms is retiring on Sept. 30th. Actual last day Friday sept. 28.

 

[kyscott]

As hard as it seems to comprehend given my limited abilities, I guess they were afraid I'd be lured away.

Yea, I could see you in boots and a cowboy hat doing a remote from a Vince Gill concert with Rick Knight!!

So you'll know, John Timms is retiring on Sept. 30th. Actual last day Friday sept. 28.

For real?! Sheese, there isn't gonna be anyone left. Lacy is gone, Irene and Don are all gone.

Hey, can you do me a favor Bill. I'm coming down that weekend for my dad's 60th. Can you find out if they are going to be having a retirement party for him or anything? If so, I'll adjust my schedule to come down for it.