Macon's 99.1 WDEN Country is Lucky!

[Gerry Marshall]

No problem, Kenglish, I'd be honored! But I like the way you put it pure and simple..."It ain't the format, it's the feelin'!" AMEN!

 

[Bengalsfan]

Gerry,
I would love to re-post your comments on the Utah radio boards. We have the highest number of stations, per capita, of any market, yet they all seem to think that it's all about copying the format of whoever is number one.
Hard to believe a market can have 40+ stations, and they all play Country or Classic Rock.

"It ain't the Format, It's the Feelin' !"

And how many of them play a satellite delivered format from a studio far, far away?

 

[RadioActiveSales]

I find it rather interesting that none of ya'll seem to have listened to either WDEN or WQZY.... Instead you choose to demean me? I don't understand all the hostility? I think Y96 sounds great, much better than WDEN, that simple do you agree ro not, and if not why? Please do me a favor if you can't monitor the stations don't reply, if you can, I'd love to hear your thoughts on both stations.

Kindest Regards

 

[Diamondtwo]

RadioActiveSales,

First of all, if you don't want to be "demeaned," as you put it, NEVER tell a group of a) radio PROFESSIONALS, b) radio PROFESSIONAL-WANNABEE'S, and c) radio FANS to NOT reply to a post on these boards. Wanna get flamed big time? That's your ticket. I think the vast majority of the people on this board see you for what you are: a ringer for Y-96. You either work there, or you're a rabid, close-to-stalking fan of the station.

You say you think Y-96 sounds better than WDEN, and that is certainly an opinion to which you are entitled. Remember what "they" say about opinions, okay? WDEN is the only country game in town in the Macon market, and since they're owned by Cumulus, that's not saying much. I know how they manage their radio stations, and current management's protests to the contrary notwithstanding, they don't run them well. Y-96 can sound like the greatest country station in the country (it doesn't, under ANY circumstances), but as long as it's in Dublin, it's not going to be the be-all and end-all of country radio. WDEN's advantage is 40 years of heritage. Just because Y-96 has new imaging, jingles, and maybe tweaked the processing a little bit, DOESN'T make them a great radio station. It's a start, but time will tell. It doesn't matter whether I can monitor the stations or not; and it also doesn't matter whether Clear Channel ever shuts off the 95.9/Rutland translator. Y STILL doesn't have the signal to be competitive in the Macon market where the bulk of the population lives.

I suggest that you consider finding a more receptive group of UNWASHED people to post your platitudes about Y-96 than the R-I board lurkers who've been there, done that. Your game is intensely transparent. IF you're an employee of the station, maybe you'd be better off to focus more on actually CONTINUING to improve the product than to waste your time tooting your own horn to people who don't buy into the hype. If I were you, I'd not be so worried about how WDEN sounds or what they do, and focus on my own house, and super-serving the listeners that the station DOES reach in its coverage area.

 

[RadioActiveSales]

Diamondtwo - Please forgive me for asking the pro's/wannabee's/fans (your words) how they think these two stations sound... Why don't you write how you want me to ask for feedback from those who can monitor these stations.

here's the space____________________________________________________________________________________________________

know-it-all!

What is my status? I can hear both stations, I choose to listen to Y96, it was not that long ago that I would have. If someone can listen to both please share your observiations.

Respectfully

 

[theg]

Wow...People can get so uptight...lol. I will say this about Y-96, I have turned it on a time or two. It's sounds okay to me. New jingles, new slogan but the same 320 song play list if that. Calling it Hot Country Hits, is hardly a make-over. The new morning person is far better than the last morning "girl" but sounds to sleepy and he does not have the drive to do...well morning drive. I think Chuck Wallace would be the strongest jock on the station by far. Why are folks in Dublin worried about whipping Macon. It's not going to happen any way you slice it. It would be better for these "out of market" stations to focus on their community and surrounding counties. I know full service doesn't mean much anymore, but I am involved with a small town station that works hard to serve a 5 county area. Can you pick it up in Macon, uh yeah...somewhat, but being out of market and 6k a...no chance of beating WDEN...duh. I think Diamond Dave is saying, you are making it obvious you have not been in the biz too long. It needs to sound kick butt to the listeners, and not the folks on this board. True radio folks can pick anything apart. Diamond Dave, "Beach" is jamming, went to destin 3 weeks ago and listen to you the whole way there. Now that's an oldies station man!!

 

[kenglish]

I'm certainly not trying to demean you personally. I just want everyone to realize that a top station is the sum of many, many parts.

Is there an internet stream of the station? I'll give it a listen, but I'm 1603 miles away, so I probably don't have line-of-sight.

 

[kenglish]

Found the website, but didn't hear any audio stream ....are they running something syndicated right now and having to block it? (I'll try again later).

Loved the photos from Whiskey River. Gotta go there some night when I'm home...most of my family was born on that piece of ground. ;D

 

[Diamondtwo]

know-it-all!

Respectfully

RAS,

Hate to break it to you, but these two terms are mutually exclusive of one another. I may have said some (truthful) things that made you squirm in your seat a little, but I NEVER called you any names, except to say that I thought you were a "ringer" for Y-96, and to explain to you that many (most?) of the people who frequent this board can see through your posts for what they really are.

You're confusing "fan-gushing" (which is what YOU are guilty of) with a quality discussion of the differences between two radio stations. I pointed out (as did a number of others) that your pet project, Y-96, may sound better than it has in a long time, but if it's not properly catering to its listener base, it doesn't matter how good it sounds. The idea was to get you to see that IF you're an employee of the station, which you haven't denied yet, you'd be better off to focus on your product than to fish for compliments from a bunch of seasoned, experienced radio programming veterans and people who see the business for what it's SUPPOSED to be.

This may get excised to "Take It Outside", but here's the deal, "RadioActiveSALES" --I wouldn't buy what you're selling if you GAVE it away"... if you're going to resort to name-calling, you just backed yourself into a corner. Those who know me, or know my reputation in radio, know that I'm NOT a "know-it-all", to use your 2nd grade insult; I would be willing to bet, however, that I know a HELL OF A LOT more about this than you do. Wanna compare brain pans sometime?

Frankly, I really don't care about either station. I worked for Cumulus for 6 1/2 years, with 13 total in the same group of stations, and I am THRILLED that I never have to work for them again. I never worked for Y-96, but knowing what I know, I'm not sure I'd want to work for them either. So I really don't have a dog in the hunt where either station is concerned. Either way, I made my point, without using the juvenile insults to which you have resorted.

Have a nice day.

David Nolin

 

[Radio-X]

RadioActiveSales,

First of all, if you don't want to be "demeaned," as you put it, NEVER tell a group of a) radio PROFESSIONALS, b) radio PROFESSIONAL-WANNABEE'S, and c) radio FANS to NOT reply to a post on these boards. Wanna get flamed big time? That's your ticket. I think the vast majority of the people on this board see you for what you are: a ringer for Y-96. You either work there, or you're a rabid, close-to-stalking fan of the station.

You say you think Y-96 sounds better than WDEN, and that is certainly an opinion to which you are entitled. Remember what "they" say about opinions, okay? WDEN is the only country game in town in the Macon market, and since they're owned by Cumulus, that's not saying much. I know how they manage their radio stations, and current management's protests to the contrary notwithstanding, they don't run them well. Y-96 can sound like the greatest country station in the country (it doesn't, under ANY circumstances), but as long as it's in Dublin, it's not going to be the be-all and end-all of country radio. WDEN's advantage is 40 years of heritage. Just because Y-96 has new imaging, jingles, and maybe tweaked the processing a little bit, DOESN'T make them a great radio station. It's a start, but time will tell. It doesn't matter whether I can monitor the stations or not; and it also doesn't matter whether Clear Channel ever shuts off the 95.9/Rutland translator. Y STILL doesn't have the signal to be competitive in the Macon market where the bulk of the population lives.

I suggest that you consider finding a more receptive group of UNWASHED people to post your platitudes about Y-96 than the R-I board lurkers who've been there, done that. Your game is intensely transparent. IF you're an employee of the station, maybe you'd be better off to focus more on actually CONTINUING to improve the product than to waste your time tooting your own horn to people who don't buy into the hype. If I were you, I'd not be so worried about how WDEN sounds or what they do, and focus on my own house, and super-serving the listeners that the station DOES reach in its coverage area.

I can tell you for one, I'm just giving you suggestions by a guy who has been in your shoes I imagine.

...and BTW, I do get 95.9 about once a week here in Bluffton and it ain't bad. Just don't gloat and put down the competition. Remember the phrase "keep your friends close and your enemies closer."

Radio-X

 

[RadioActiveSales]

I guess there is no one who reads this board who is able, or interested in provide a thoughtful critique of these two stations. Non-emotional, thought provoking evaluation... WDEN is a 100,000 watt station and so is WQZY if you live halfway between the two say in Cochran, which station would you choose to listen to? I know there are things like comunity involvement but let's just consider the basics like music, Dayparts, jocks, imaging, jingles... It would be teriffic if we could all just have a intellectual dialog.

Thanks

 

[kenglish]

Wasn't there a stream on your website last week? I just tried to find it again, and it's not there.

 

[southeastga]

Y-96's classic country jukebox is the best, however the new morning show is boring! Lea Fountain was much better choice...

 

[kenglish]

I also tried to listen to the stream of WDEN Sunday, but it was ALL nothing but PSA's and a few commercials (and, "testimonials" for Cumulus).
Do they play music anymore? Or, is the streaming audio not really "live" (for whatever reasons...music licensing, maybe)?

 

[johnr0626]

http://player.cumulusstreaming.com/SLPLayer.aspx?WDEN-FM

 

[kenglish]

That's the one I tried, but it was all PSA's and commercial spots on Sunday, just a bit after noon. Maybe a strange "loop", since they seemed to play in the same order, over and over.
(I was using the older player).

 

[rcombs]

May have been a black out for sports programming.

 

[Gerry Marshall]

Speaking as someone who spent 40 years in the business, I believe there's one simple reason the originator of this thread cannot and will not get a "straight" answer to his inquiry here. Anyone who has spent any amount of time in radio learned on their first day (or should have learned) that from that point on, you will not and can not be a partial judge of any radio station, anywhere, anytime. Once we tasted the Kool-Aid, we became jaded, judgemental, hyper-critical and an instant expert at what makes or breaks a radio station. And it's a natural reaction! I'll put money on the table that any one of us on this board who has worked in radio listens to other stations when we're motoring down the road on long vacation trips. Do we not drive everybody else in the car insane, because when a soing comes on, we punch over to another station? We don't listen to the music or the playlist! We listen to the jocks and the production and we criticize the hell out of them! Even if they're really good at what they're doing!! So, my friend, if you really want to find out which station "sounds better", this isn't the place to get what you're looking for! Ask the listening public. Besides, it doesn't matter what we think here on the boards anyway, because we can't fill out diaries! And aren't ratings still the true deciding factor to a station's ultimate success? What we like or don't like doesn't matter; numbers and $$$...yeah, THAT's what matters!

 

[Bengalsfan]

Speaking as someone who spent 40 years in the business, I believe there's one simple reason the originator of this thread cannot and will not get a "straight" answer to his inquiry here. Anyone who has spent any amount of time in radio learned on their first day (or should have learned) that from that point on, you will not and can not be a partial judge of any radio station, anywhere, anytime. Once we tasted the Kool-Aid, we became jaded, judgemental, hyper-critical and an instant expert at what makes or breaks a radio station.

Tell it all brother. Tell it all! ;D

 

[secondchoice]

Speaking as someone who spent 40 years in the business, I believe there's one simple reason the originator of this thread cannot and will not get a "straight" answer to his inquiry here. Anyone who has spent any amount of time in radio learned on their first day (or should have learned) that from that point on, you will not and can not be a partial judge of any radio station, anywhere, anytime. Once we tasted the Kool-Aid, we became jaded, judgemental, hyper-critical and an instant expert at what makes or breaks a radio station.

Tell it all brother. Tell it all! ;D

I am guilty too.