Major-League Q104 rant & rebuttal (long!)

[nate81]

Okay, I've had it up to here. With many things. Loading boxes upon boxes of candy for a trick-or-treat event next weekend ISN'T my definition of "fun." But hey, the reward is worth it, no?

Whoops! Wrong gripe here!

Hey, I will boldly go on the record and say that Allan Fee is the most unqualified people ever to enter a PD office for a Cleveland radio station. And that says a lot.

It makes me puke with I see "rich-head" and "chachacha" flame me while trying to defend the indefensible. The only ax I have to grind is the programming philosophy that both use. I've NEVER worked for either one of them - nor would I ever.

It's as if there's a small "Fee Fan Club" that's emerged on R-I. All I can ask is, WHY??? Why, oh ever powerful and mighty Lord? Why must we in the North Coast continue to reward mediocrity time after time??? Or a defense of "oh, corporate told us to make that move..." - I don't buy that AT ALL. Nor would anyone else on this board. I'm smarter than that.

Allan Fee has done nothing at all to better the state of Cleveland radio. Not one bit. A lousy tenure as PD for a HAC, which only improved after hiring someone else to be the APD.

Let's look at it: when Allan came on board, Steve Brown was the APD and music director - as was the case for the past decade during the "nothing but the Alanis/Hootie/Proclaimer" 1990's. But he left to join WFHM, as did Dan Deely.

WQAL started to worsen so much that I couldn't see them as a HAC - not within the typical standards of a HAC, anyway. I saw them as a scary alt/HAC mix, then an Adult Top 40/HAC, then something else later on. What the hell was Allan thinking? Not much, I'll bet.

Then came the staff turnover, the flip-flops between "90's and Now" to "True Variety: 80's, 90's and Now," and then BACK to "90's and Now." Mark my words: Mensa Member Allan Fee will be back to "80's, 90's and Now" by the end of the year. Why? 'Cause Fig ain't there to say NO to it now.

Finally, there is NO identity with WQAL at all. Actually, they do. But it's a bad one. IT'S easy to see why most businesses have mostly WDOK piped in on the loudspeakers. Sometimes it's WMVX. (LCCC here pipes in WNWV - as has been for well over 15 years.) I know of no business that pipes in WQAL. And why? Because it's not worth it.

Kill WQAL, blow out the morning show, find gigs for Jen, John Connor and Rick Allen, and that's it. Infinity, it's simple.

By the way, Mike Luczak... HI! I'm glad you think so highly of me. And yes, I'd LOVE your job! ;D

- nate81<P ID="signature">______________
Nathan Obral
University Partnership Representative: LCCC Student Senate, Elyria, Ohio

Soon-to-be-webmaster - http://www.lcccradio.com</P>

 

[actuallyemployed]

> Okay, I've had it up to here. With many things. Loading
> boxes upon boxes of candy for a trick-or-treat event next
> weekend ISN'T my definition of "fun." But hey, the reward is
> worth it, no?
>
> Whoops! Wrong gripe here!
>
> Hey, I will boldly go on the record and say that Allan Fee
> is the most unqualified people ever to enter a PD office for
> a Cleveland radio station. And that says a lot.
>
> It makes me puke with I see "rich-head" and "chachacha"
> flame me while trying to defend the indefensible. The only
> ax I have to grind is the programming philosophy that both
> use. I've NEVER worked for either one of them - nor would I
> ever.
>
> It's as if there's a small "Fee Fan Club" that's emerged on
> R-I. All I can ask is, WHY??? Why, oh ever powerful and
> mighty Lord? Why must we in the North Coast continue to
> reward mediocrity time after time??? Or a defense of "oh,
> corporate told us to make that move..." - I don't buy that
> AT ALL. Nor would anyone else on this board. I'm smarter
> than that.
>
> Allan Fee has done nothing at all to better the state of
> Cleveland radio. Not one bit. A lousy tenure as PD for a
> HAC, which only improved after hiring someone else to be the
> APD.
>
> Let's look at it: when Allan came on board, Steve Brown was
> the APD and music director - as was the case for the past
> decade during the "nothing but the
> Alanis/Hootie/Proclaimer" 1990's. But he left to join WFHM,
> as did Dan Deely.
>
> WQAL started to worsen so much that I couldn't see them as a
> HAC - not within the typical standards of a HAC, anyway. I
> saw them as a scary alt/HAC mix, then an Adult Top 40/HAC,
> then something else later on. What the hell was Allan
> thinking? Not much, I'll bet.
>
> Then came the staff turnover, the flip-flops between "90's
> and Now" to "True Variety: 80's, 90's and Now," and then
> BACK to "90's and Now." Mark my words: Mensa Member Allan
> Fee will be back to "80's, 90's and Now" by the end of the
> year. Why? 'Cause Fig ain't there to say NO to it now.
>
> Finally, there is NO identity with WQAL at all. Actually,
> they do. But it's a bad one. IT'S easy to see why most
> businesses have mostly WDOK piped in on the loudspeakers.
> Sometimes it's WMVX. (LCCC here pipes in WNWV - as has been
> for well over 15 years.) I know of no business that pipes in
> WQAL. And why? Because it's not worth it.
>
> Kill WQAL, blow out the morning show, find gigs for Jen,
> John Connor and Rick Allen, and that's it. Infinity, it's
> simple.
>
> By the way, Mike Luczak... HI! I'm glad you think so highly
> of me. And yes, I'd LOVE your job! ;D
>
> - nate81

Nice. Not only does Q104 lack identity....but even moreso...INTEGRITY...

No other station in CLE has more clutter.

 

[dtramos]

Wow. Picking on someone other than Triv.

Did someone change your daily food routine or something?
Perhaps more fiber in your diet?


> Okay, I've had it up to here. With many things. Loading
> boxes upon boxes of candy for a trick-or-treat event next
> weekend ISN'T my definition of "fun." But hey, the reward is
> worth it, no?
>
> Whoops! Wrong gripe here!
>
> Hey, I will boldly go on the record and say that Allan Fee
> is the most unqualified people ever to enter a PD office for
> a Cleveland radio station. And that says a lot.
>
> It makes me puke with I see "rich-head" and "chachacha"
> flame me while trying to defend the indefensible. The only
> ax I have to grind is the programming philosophy that both
> use. I've NEVER worked for either one of them - nor would I
> ever.
>
> It's as if there's a small "Fee Fan Club" that's emerged on
> R-I. All I can ask is, WHY??? Why, oh ever powerful and
> mighty Lord? Why must we in the North Coast continue to
> reward mediocrity time after time??? Or a defense of "oh,
> corporate told us to make that move..." - I don't buy that
> AT ALL. Nor would anyone else on this board. I'm smarter
> than that.
>
> Allan Fee has done nothing at all to better the state of
> Cleveland radio. Not one bit. A lousy tenure as PD for a
> HAC, which only improved after hiring someone else to be the
> APD.
>
> Let's look at it: when Allan came on board, Steve Brown was
> the APD and music director - as was the case for the past
> decade during the "nothing but the
> Alanis/Hootie/Proclaimer" 1990's. But he left to join WFHM,
> as did Dan Deely.
>
> WQAL started to worsen so much that I couldn't see them as a
> HAC - not within the typical standards of a HAC, anyway. I
> saw them as a scary alt/HAC mix, then an Adult Top 40/HAC,
> then something else later on. What the hell was Allan
> thinking? Not much, I'll bet.
>
> Then came the staff turnover, the flip-flops between "90's
> and Now" to "True Variety: 80's, 90's and Now," and then
> BACK to "90's and Now." Mark my words: Mensa Member Allan
> Fee will be back to "80's, 90's and Now" by the end of the
> year. Why? 'Cause Fig ain't there to say NO to it now.
>
> Finally, there is NO identity with WQAL at all. Actually,
> they do. But it's a bad one. IT'S easy to see why most
> businesses have mostly WDOK piped in on the loudspeakers.
> Sometimes it's WMVX. (LCCC here pipes in WNWV - as has been
> for well over 15 years.) I know of no business that pipes in
> WQAL. And why? Because it's not worth it.
>
> Kill WQAL, blow out the morning show, find gigs for Jen,
> John Connor and Rick Allen, and that's it. Infinity, it's
> simple.
>
> By the way, Mike Luczak... HI! I'm glad you think so highly
> of me. And yes, I'd LOVE your job! ;D
>
> - nate81
>

 

[Mothership]

Dude, you're out of your mind!!!

 

[network]

Is It Groundhog's Day?!

> Okay, I've had it up to here.

But yet, you create ANOTHER thread about this station. Yawn.
>
> Hey, I will boldly go on the record and say that Allan Fee
> is the most unqualified people ever to enter a PD office for
> a Cleveland radio station. And that says a lot.

What do you have to back-up that statement? I am not defending him nor am I bashing him because I have no right to. But I find it hard to believe you feel you have the "right" to slam people in this market you've (probably) never met. And you do it quite consistently, too. Nothing like burning your bridges before you even approach them. Oh, you're just playing into the typical immature radio attitude of many.

> It makes me puke with I see "rich-head" and "chachacha"
> flame me while trying to defend the indefensible. The only
> ax I have to grind is the programming philosophy that both
> use.

Because, unlike YOU, we've been in this business awhile and have experience and credentials and knowledge.

And you have....??

Exactly.

That's what we flame you with. You sit on here and simply constantly recycle the same OPINION (not fact)!

I'll tell you the same thing I've told JM: you also seem to know the history of this market very well (and quite impressive at your age, I will give you that). If there's a person to go to on here looking for when something happened, you are the man! And you really seem to know the N/T stuff. Great! But, you do NOT know every damn thing about every format on the dial. And neither do I, but I am not on here criticizing every single format on the dial.

You do NOT know Hot AC. So you really need to stop acting like you do. Then, you have the balls to criticize those who DO know the music and the format (and the industry in 2005) because we "make you puke" because we don't agree with your ASSUMPTIONS!

> I've NEVER worked for either one of them - nor would I
> ever.

Nate, you'll be lucky to get a real radio gig past the "Duck" thing you've got going. Maybe you should become a CONsultant and we can see if your ideas implemented would actually work.

> It's as if there's a small "Fee Fan Club" that's emerged on
> R-I. All I can ask is, WHY??? Why, oh ever powerful and
> mighty Lord? Why must we in the North Coast continue to
> reward mediocrity time after time??? Or a defense of "oh,
> corporate told us to make that move..." - I don't buy that
> AT ALL. Nor would anyone else on this board. I'm smarter
> than that.

Are you eating too much candy that you should be packing up for the runts to come get next weekend? LOL There is no "Fee Fan Club" on here. As I have stated before, I am not defending Allan nor am I slamming him. I haven't defending nor slammed anything going on at One Radio Lane, either. I am not privvy to those activities, nor do I care. Yeah, OK...I don't like or agree with Leeza being on at 10pm, but that's an Infinity call to get this show on.

The only thing I've commented on regarding Q104 is the sound of the station. The music HAS become more focused over the past 2 years. And anyone who thinks they haven't has had their head up their ass for at least a year! If the posts were still around, we would be able to dig up when people were on here (me included) slamming Q104 because, musically, they were all over the road. Simple Minds into Beyonce, etc.

Hot AC is not meant to be an exciting, in-your-face format. And I hate to play this card, but I will: you are not the demo. Neither am I. But I know HAC and the demo. You (and some others) obviously don't.

You really need to learn to comprehend what you read a little better. Quite frankly, I am surprised.

If you're truly "smarter than that", then you know damn well exactly how radio works in 2005. It's not about ratings. It's about billing! Oh, but you don't, so you continue to make baseless assumptions and accusations. I would love to see you one day in "radio today" and refuse to do something your bosses tell you to. I certainly hope you kept that box you used to bring in your stuff because you'll need it to pack it up. Maybe you won't be further humiliated by being escorted out of the building. Not to mention, the chances of you being hired at any of that company's stations in the future are nil. That's ALOT of doors you have just slammed on your OWN face.

> Allan Fee has done nothing at all to better the state of
> Cleveland radio. Not one bit. A lousy tenure as PD for a
> HAC, which only improved after hiring someone else to be the
> APD.

And again, if that is the case, then it'll show in the upcoming books. You aren't grasping this because....? For someone who has yet to even make a name of himself in the commercial industry. Change that to "be hired in the commercial industry", you are in NO position to really criticize anyone. Especially that of a PD in a difficult format.

> Let's look at it: when Allan came on board, Steve Brown was
> the APD and music director - as was the case for the past
> decade during the "nothing but the
> Alanis/Hootie/Proclaimer" 1990's. But he left to join WFHM,
> as did Dan Deely.

And is that the period of time when they were all over the place, playing 80's, 90's, today and sounded extremely unfocused? THIS period of time when they did NOT have an identity at all and sounded like they were stranded in the middle of Lake Erie waiting to be rescued?

Alanis and Hootie were core HAC artists. And what's wrong with having The Proclaimers as a GOLD on a HOT AC format? Ummm, nothing! Your statement is just further proof you don't know what the hell you are talking about.

> WQAL started to worsen so much that I couldn't see them as a
> HAC - not within the typical standards of a HAC, anyway. I
> saw them as a scary alt/HAC mix, then an Adult Top 40/HAC,
> then something else later on. What the hell was Allan
> thinking? Not much, I'll bet.

Please explain the "typical standards" of HAC. Don't bother because there is no "typical standard". A HAC should be programmed according to their market and research. Take a look at the difference between WKDD/Akron and WQAL/Cleveland. Two different sounding Hot AC's because of their market.

Many HAC's lean towards "pop alternative" because most CHR's won't touch those titles nowadays. Let the HAC's play the John Mayer, Sarah MacLauchlin, U2, DMB, Lenny Kravitz. That is where they belong. So, I don't know what you find "so scary" about the alt/HAC mix. It's nothing new as this format has been programmed like this for years. What's really scary is country artists crossing over to pop. But, I'll digress LOL

Your issue with the change in sound you're commenting on is most likely them catering to the book -- which is wrong (at least to that extreme). That is not how you build a radio station and continue to solidify your core when you start making significant changes because of a book.

> Then came the staff turnover, the flip-flops between "90's
> and Now" to "True Variety: 80's, 90's and Now," and then
> BACK to "90's and Now." Mark my words: Mensa Member Allan
> Fee will be back to "80's, 90's and Now" by the end of the
> year. Why? 'Cause Fig ain't there to say NO to it now.

And if they do start going back to 80's, that'll be a shame. What they need to do is open-up the 90's gold library more. I've said it before: research and test that stuff. I don't need to hear Janet Jackson's "Again" TWICE within a 2-day span...& in the same daypart!! I don't care how well it tests! LOL

> Finally, there is NO identity with WQAL at all. Actually,
> they do. But it's a bad one.

Do you have research from the core demo to back that up? I didn't think so -- especially since you're not the demo. Plus, you're really not qualified to comment on this station to begin with.

> IT'S easy to see why most
> businesses have mostly WDOK piped in on the loudspeakers.
> Sometimes it's WMVX. (LCCC here pipes in WNWV - as has been
> for well over 15 years.) I know of no business that pipes in
> WQAL. And why? Because it's not worth it.

No, that has nothing to do with it. WDOK has imagined itself for over a decade as the "at-work" station. It's non-intrusive, non-offensive. It's "safe" for offices. That's all there is to it. It has nothing to do with WQAL because that same argument you're using for Q can be made for KISS, WMMS, WGAR, WFHM and everyone else.

> Kill WQAL, blow out the morning show, find gigs for Jen,
> John Connor and Rick Allen, and that's it. Infinity, it's
> simple.

And do WHAT with it Nate? Please give us a format that is viable in billing that would be more successful $$$-wise than WQAL is currently. And provide proof that it would succeed in a market similar to Cleveland Metro. Not something that works in Wallawalla, WA. BTW, you might want to do that with your head above-ground.

> By the way, Mike Luczak... HI! I'm glad you think so highly
> of me. And yes, I'd LOVE your job! ;D

OK...what people say about him are pretty dead on.

Nate...stop listening to Q104. Stop bitching about them, too! You don't like them. They don't have an identity problem. Only people like you who haven't a clue what they're talking about THINK they do.

Guess what: they don't care what you or really what I think -- we're not the demo. If you knew anything about the format, you would know how difficult it is -- plain and simple.

People are quick to say "well I'd do this and I'd do that" with WQAL.

The hell you would if your demo told you otherwise (let alone your boss). HAC is a "safe" format -- always is and always will be. It doesn't dominate anywhere, but it does bill very well here in Cleveland and THAT is what counts at the end of the day. Learn it already or stifle it.

This isn't your blog, so if you don't like the responses to your OPINION, that's too bad! Maybe you should create your blog and bitch there non-stop about Q104. And if you (or really anyone else) doesn't like what I had to say, ask me if I give an ish!

BTW...JM (since I know you're reading this): that 'STFU' wasn't directed at you personally, it was made as a general statement!