Meridian Radio

[daradioman]

I've got a strong feeling WJXM will be on top. The executed their promotions to the tee during the spring. On air was great as well. I easily see them in the top spot and OKK going for second.

What are your opinions?

 

[radiogal44]

I've got a strong feeling WJXM will be on top. The executed their promotions to the tee during the spring. On air was great as well. I easily see them in the top spot and OKK going for second.

What are your opinions?

It is a no brainer. WJXM is a monster station. WOKK had no competition during the spring book. WOKK had a great spring promotion as well. I think your predictions are fact. Who do you think will be #3? Kiss or Q?

 

[daradioman]

Q... Would be my best guess

 

[radiogal44]

Q... Would be my best guess

We were both off. WMSO came in third. WJDQ tanked as well as WKZB.
WMLV did not fare to well. The only two stations on the map are WOKK and WJXM. WOKK's book was based on the old morning show, that is now on WMSO. Now the real battle begins.

 

[tonedeaf]

That's about right. WJXM is still on top and WOKK 2nd. WJXM looks like a force to be reckoned with. WOKK did have great numbers in there other dayparts as well. Will be interesting to see a month by month breakout of how the morning show played after the former morning show left. Don't you think? Only time now can tell how all of that will work out. A full book will tell the tale.

 

[radiogal44]

That's about right. WJXM is still on top and WOKK 2nd. WJXM looks like a force to be reckoned with. WOKK did have great numbers in there other dayparts as well. Will be interesting to see a month by month breakout of how the morning show played after the former morning show left. Don't you think? Only time now can tell how all of that will work out. A full book will tell the tale.

Morning show's last day on WOKK was 6-6-6. Only 2 weeks left in the book. Perfect day for a firing. Book needs to be broken down week by week.

 

[daradioman]

You won't get much of a sample if you break down the last 2 weeks of the book. There just aren't enough diaries. We'll have to wait until next book on OKK... However, JXM showed it's dominance. It's been a solid #1 for a while. Can't believe I was so off on Q. Bet they will be down even further next time from the frequency swap.

 

[radiogal44]

You won't get much of a sample if you break down the last 2 weeks of the book. There just aren't enough diaries. We'll have to wait until next book on OKK... However, JXM showed it's dominance. It's been a solid #1 for a while. Can't believe I was so off on Q. Bet they will be down even further next time from the frequency swap.

IF YOU BREAK THE BOOK DOWN
Q HAD A GREAT SPING BOOK, THEY HAD A HORRIBLE FALL BOOK.
I THINK THE SWAP WILL REVIVE THEM. 50,000 WATTS, NOT MUCH DIFFERENCE. WKZB AND WMLV NEEDS SOME SERIOUS HELP. WMMZ WILL MORE THAN LIKELY FLIP. SO THE RUMORS GOES. I THINK THAT JACK FM WILL HURT SAM IN THE NEXT BOOK. IT HAS MUCH BETTER MUSIC AND THEY HAVE LOCAL PERSONALITIES. WMSO TIED WITH WOKK IN THE SPRING BOOK W25-54 METRO. POWERFUL STATION.

 

[R.D.P.]

Last time I checked I saw the following:

WMMZ was catering to Blues
WMSO was catering to Hallelujah Black Gospel

What happened to Hallelujah Black Gospel, if WMSO has switched?
What will WMMZ switch to. Last time I checked, they had a weak signal and a small coverage area.

Hope WSLY does well with Jack. It sems that their old format is doing very well, on WZNJ in Demopolis Alabama, which is about 60 miles east of Meridian.

RDP <><

P.S. From what I was reading on RECNetworks, WMSO was using these calls WYHL.

 

[kalerbama]

well, WJXM (105.7 The Beat) has been at the top since
the ethnic balence changed in the Meridian, MS market.
No offence to how hard the staff works, but WOKK always
was at the top until the urban audience increased...

Hence, WJXM hit the air as 105.7 JAMZ, the format was
yanked, went old school as MAJIC 105.7 a few months,
due to the big numbers ABC's "The Touch" had on KISS
104 (WZKS) that book... then boom JXM hits the book
as the Beat, and they have been at the top since.

I doubt the new Miss 101 (now under the black gospel
call letters of WMSO) will impact WOKK just because they
have the old WOKK morning show... back in the late 80's
the same thing happened. except in that situation the
main morning host was a 30 year WOKK radio vet, and
even with his well known name, he beat OKK with one
book at tanked big time only one book later... basically
people in the Meridian market write down WOKK when its
country, no matter what. (and on the side note, WOKK
will improve i think)

My opinion on Q101 (WJDQ) flippin' a heritage to Q95.1
was flat out dumb. In Meridian Q101 has always (before
clear channel, before broadcasters and publishers, even
back when don partrage ran it, he branded every ones
brain as it being "the hottest hits" ... now because of the
wacked up stuff with WOKK's morning show, clearchannel
changes Q101 to country after 25 plus years... people
read between the lines something is up with that morning
show and the cc meridian management.

Riding thur Meridian I have compaired the SAM 93 VS.
104.9 JACK FM mix. 104.9 sounds ten times better. SAM 93
has a fetish with "medical minutes" and "health news" playing
every 20 minutes to fill the commercial breaks... and yes
I have to agree with the early posting JACK FM's music is alot
better than the now Dial-Global (formally syndicated by WW1)
format S.A.M.... 104.9 will jump. ...and the old format they
has was a mix of Blues, Gospel, Jazz, Love, Rap, and whatever
the pd liked i assume... how that guy could possibly think it
is doing well on WZNJ is beyond me. LOL. how could that sound
on any station? BTW, WZNJ is a "wanna be" "the touch" urban
love songs format, signal is tiny, u think they acutally will stay
with that... demopolis isn't really rated some money plays into
the ball game... they were better as Rockin' Oldies (Z106).

Next book will be crazy... in the Meridian area, i think this past
book everyone was confused... Almost half the stations in the
market were changing formats, except 1010 WMOX it's been
talk since way back... and consistancy for them shows. WZKR
since it was sold, is the absolute worst radio format I have
ever heard in 40 years, some fluke on that station even hitting
the map, my guess the black people writing WZKS (kiss 104)
wrote WZKR by accident... if you've ever rode thru and heard
WZKR you would say "what the hell is this..." long unknown
songs, drunken sounding DJs, ball games all the time, rock, jazz,
alt rock, oldies, and did i mention ball games...even ping pong
wouldn't surprise me...

 

[PaulBWalkerJr]

I've had the chance to sample Jack FM via some airchecks. They're sounding better and they're morning man, Ken is a real pro who knows what he's doing.. and has fun doing it.

 

[kalerbama]

Yeah, Paul... Ken is tough, he walked in wanting a job
when he was 10, and i think he's almost 30 now. he
still could use a good a$$ whooping! from what they
said the other morning on JACK FM i think he's at JACK
to stay. he say's the hardest thing about doing JACK
FM is working with the ABC people. I suppose that is
food for thought on anyone thinking JACK, S.A.M., or
whatever... he says once you ink a deal with ABC they
assume they own your station, that ABCs programmers
think you run their feed, and forget about the station.
I told him he should clue them in, that it is a privilidge
for any syndicator to be on any radio station, news or
formats. i know if i ever put a mix format on any of
my stations, i won't be calling the network every day..
tighten up kenny boy ;D

kal-erbama

 

[radiogal44]

well, WJXM (105.7 The Beat) has been at the top since
the ethnic balence changed in the Meridian, MS market.
No offence to how hard the staff works, but WOKK always
was at the top until the urban audience increased...

Hence, WJXM hit the air as 105.7 JAMZ, the format was
yanked, went old school as MAJIC 105.7 a few months,
due to the big numbers ABC's "The Touch" had on KISS
104 (WZKS) that book... then boom JXM hits the book
as the Beat, and they have been at the top since.

I doubt the new Miss 101 (now under the black gospel
call letters of WMSO) will impact WOKK just because they
have the old WOKK morning show... back in the late 80's
the same thing happened. except in that situation the
main morning host was a 30 year WOKK radio vet, and
even with his well known name, he beat OKK with one
book at tanked big time only one book later... basically
people in the Meridian market write down WOKK when its
country, no matter what. (and on the side note, WOKK
will improve i think)

My opinion on Q101 (WJDQ) flippin' a heritage to Q95.1
was flat out dumb. In Meridian Q101 has always (before
clear channel, before broadcasters and publishers, even
back when don partrage ran it, he branded every ones
brain as it being "the hottest hits" ... now because of the
wacked up stuff with WOKK's morning show, clearchannel
changes Q101 to country after 25 plus years... people
read between the lines something is up with that morning
show and the cc meridian management.

Riding thur Meridian I have compaired the SAM 93 VS.
104.9 JACK FM mix. 104.9 sounds ten times better. SAM 93
has a fetish with "medical minutes" and "health news" playing
every 20 minutes to fill the commercial breaks... and yes
I have to agree with the early posting JACK FM's music is alot
better than the now Dial-Global (formally syndicated by WW1)
format S.A.M.... 104.9 will jump. ...and the old format they
has was a mix of Blues, Gospel, Jazz, Love, Rap, and whatever
the pd liked i assume... how that guy could possibly think it
is doing well on WZNJ is beyond me. LOL. how could that sound
on any station? BTW, WZNJ is a "wanna be" "the touch" urban
love songs format, signal is tiny, u think they acutally will stay
with that... demopolis isn't really rated some money plays into
the ball game... they were better as Rockin' Oldies (Z106).

Next book will be crazy... in the Meridian area, i think this past
book everyone was confused... Almost half the stations in the
market were changing formats, except 1010 WMOX it's been
talk since way back... and consistancy for them shows. WZKR
since it was sold, is the absolute worst radio format I have
ever heard in 40 years, some fluke on that station even hitting
the map, my guess the black people writing WZKS (kiss 104)
wrote WZKR by accident... if you've ever rode thru and heard
WZKR you would say "what the hell is this..." long unknown
songs, drunken sounding DJs, ball games all the time, rock, jazz,
alt rock, oldies, and did i mention ball games...even ping pong
wouldn't surprise me...

The book was well over before the switch of any station. The old morning show was there during the spring book. WOKK does not have the knowledge of programming music like the new PD of MISS does. As far as something being up with the morning show and CC, what could be up other than they took an oppurtunity to create a station for the folks that would no longer listen to WOKK. They were being banned.
Ken Rainey left WOKK on his own, this is a totalally different situation. I know, no man is bigger than the institution. Ken Rainey could not take WOKK down. This is a different day and the institution has a dark cloud that will always hang over its head. Remember, Ken did not go country, The new PD of WOKK does not know country. The morning show sounds desparate. Maybe New South will use the same consultant that they use in Jackson, since they do so well over MISS 103. Another fine example of how you can pump all your money into a station and never win. The war chest is being opened at WOKK as we speak, MISS is just happy to sit back and watch them spend their money. The listeners are behind the new station. As far as branding and Arbitron... the morning show was branded for 10 years.
The Meridian ethnic balance did not change. The Beat became a monster because of the format change. WOKK has not always been on top. Wokk has had its tail whopped a few times in the past. Get ready WOKK....

 

[radiogal44]

I've had the chance to sample Jack FM via some airchecks. They're sounding better and they're morning man, Ken is a real pro who knows what he's doing.. and has fun doing it.

I agree, those guys are working hard and they sound great.

 

[KenJackFM]

well i've always read this site, but swore i'd never
get in on the conversation. i gave in. thanks guys
and gal for the super kool comments on 104.9 jack
fm.

paul i owe you one, MR. KAL i see you are keeping
huntsvegus at the top of the arbs. yeppers, guess
i do need a good ass beating, hahaha.

jack fm is the dream station for me, and i totally
love it. we have a great hardworking team. robert
(my am drive co-host/ promo director), the evil son,
annie, travis, brian, chris, moma g, and we all love
it.

and my rant as MR. HUNTSVILLE KAL gave it away is
with ABC running jack fm. i think i would give my
right arm for sparknet communications to drop ABC
and go with another distributor. better yet, if spark
net, the owner of the jack trademarks, ect would
go back to the origional method. let us do our thing,
and keep paying for the name AND TOTALLY LOOSE
ABC. 1st, they pay not attention to the jack fm format.
as you can see i'm at the station at 5:32 on a Sunday
morning, why? usually the net feed goes dead for 30
minutes around this time, as of last night i finally got
up with a tech guy to get the feed back up to 100%
in both channels. as its was 20% on the left and
110% on the right. it's actually retarded. we pay
for the rights to be jack fm, and the program director
for abc does think he owns us. yeppers MR. KAL they
should be gracious and help all off their affiliates, but
they would rather protest all our localization (hahaha
even in liners that air on the network) and brother i
can assure you as you know me, i won't keep playing
with them or should i say him. i already have a back
up plan. and in my personal little opinion anyone
thunkin about doing variety hits consider every route
you can take with the bus. a fun variety station
doesn't have to be an i-pod drone or dell dj. heck,
i can go buy either of those for a few hundred bucks.
with our 104.9 version of jack fm we give the hits and
localize it. AND WILL, with or with out a smart ass
network big mouth. damn yall i feel better. we just
wanted a different sounding station, tight, local,
and totally fun. after all, isn't that why all of us got
in radio, 'cause it's fun? abc can bite me.

congrats there to JXM, and good luck to the new MISS
country station. a bunch of great talent and experience
rollin' over at clear channel meridian. in the past i've
actually worked for WOKK and won't talk bad about the
station, van mac was my boss, and always took great
care of his jocks.

thanks again yall, good luck, and let's have fun!

 

[kalerbama]

WOW ITS AMAZING WHAT YOU WILL HEAR.
I'M SITTING AT A MERIDIAN HOTEL ENJOYING
AMERICAN TOP 40 WITH RYAN SEACREAST ON
MERIDIAN'S NEW COUNTRY LEADER "MISS101"
...AND A SONG CALLED I HAD A BAD DAY HAS
PLAYED 4 TIMES THIS HOUR, ALONG WITH PROMOS
FOR THE NEW COUNTRY STATION, WITH SCOTT
AND DEBBIE GIVING AWAY A TRUCK...THEN BACK
TO THE COUNTDOWN...THE TOP 40? OOPS!

 

[radiogal44]

WOW ITS AMAZING WHAT YOU WILL HEAR.
I'M SITTING AT A MERIDIAN HOTEL ENJOYING
AMERICAN TOP 40 WITH RYAN SEACREAST ON
MERIDIAN'S NEW COUNTRY LEADER "MISS101"
...AND A SONG CALLED I HAD A BAD DAY HAS
PLAYED 4 TIMES THIS HOUR, ALONG WITH PROMOS
FOR THE NEW COUNTRY STATION, WITH SCOTT
AND DEBBIE GIVING AWAY A TRUCK...THEN BACK
TO THE COUNTDOWN...THE TOP 40? OOPS!

Caught it a little while ago and now it is fixed. Jock loaded it wrong. Bad mistake, thank God it is Sunday morning.

 

[kalerbama]

OH, RADIO GAL, BACK TO MY EARLIER POSTING,
I SEE YOUR TAKE ON THE STORY, JUST AS INTERESTING...
SPEAKING OF KNOWLEDGE OF COUNTRY MUSIC, I
KNOW SCOTT WAS GROCERY STORE BAGGER IN SCOOBA
I HEAR, THEN THE OVERNIGHT DJ AT WOKK, THEN THE
OLD MANS CADDY DRIVER, THEN ALL THE SUDDEN HE GOT
THE PD JOB AT WOKK. WOKK HAS NEARLY 50 YEARS OF
"COUNTRY EXPERIENCE", I DON'T PERSONALLY KNOW HIM
BUT, I DOUBT WITH MISS BEING A FEW WEEKS OLD, IF
IN FACT HE IS THE PD HE HAS AN ADVANTAGE? I MAY
BE WRONG, BUT I THINK MORE PEOPLE FEEL SORRY FOR
HIM. A GROWN MAN LETTING A SENIOR CITIZEN DO WHATEVER
ALL THOSE YEARS....IF THATS THE CASE, AND MY COMMENT
ABOUT THE CC MANAGEMENT AND THAT MORNING SHOW
HAVING A CONNECTION. I THINK IT WILL COME OUT SOON.
THE OLD MAN WILL HAVE THE UPPER HAND, RUMOR MILL GOES
CCs MANAGER, AND OTHERs THAT USE TO BE AT WOKK, THAT
ARE NOW AT CC... WERE RUNNING AROUND HAVING SECRET
MEETINGS ABOUT ALL GETTING TOGETHER TO PURCHASE
THERE OWN FREQUENCY, BUT FAILED. IN THE PROCESS OF THAT
THERE ARE WITNESSES THAT WILL SPEAK ON THE OLD MANS
SIDE OF THAT. CC WILL WANT TO DROP THAT MANAGEMENT
WHEN THE STORY HITS, AND WITH THE CC MGR AND MORNING
SHOW ALL TOGETHER NOW, IT MAKES THINGS SEEN AS IF THIS
LAWSUITE AGAINST THE OLD MAN, WAS A PLOY TO DESTROY WOKK
FOR THERE NEW STATION, AND TO COVER HIS BUTT THE CC MGR
MADE ROOM FOR SCOTT AND DEB, JUST CONVERSATIONS AND
RUMORS IM SURE, YOU KNOW HOW RADIO IS. IM SURE IT WILL
ALL COME OUT SOON ENOUGH? ANY THOUGHTS.....

 

[zell]

Is there somehow a tie-in to the old "private club" at Meehan Junction? (Nice action at the pool tables.) How far back are we going, Bama? Love it when the skeletons start shaking in the closet.
Ah, scandal in the valley of Meridian.
Shocked, I tell ya!

 

[radiogal44]

OH, RADIO GAL, BACK TO MY EARLIER POSTING,
I SEE YOUR TAKE ON THE STORY, JUST AS INTERESTING...
SPEAKING OF KNOWLEDGE OF COUNTRY MUSIC, I
KNOW SCOTT WAS GROCERY STORE BAGGER IN SCOOBA
I HEAR, THEN THE OVERNIGHT DJ AT WOKK, THEN THE
OLD MANS CADDY DRIVER, THEN ALL THE SUDDEN HE GOT
THE PD JOB AT WOKK. WOKK HAS NEARLY 50 YEARS OF
"COUNTRY EXPERIENCE", I DON'T PERSONALLY KNOW HIM
BUT, I DOUBT WITH MISS BEING A FEW WEEKS OLD, IF
IN FACT HE IS THE PD HE HAS AN ADVANTAGE? I MAY
BE WRONG, BUT I THINK MORE PEOPLE FEEL SORRY FOR
HIM. A GROWN MAN LETTING A SENIOR CITIZEN DO WHATEVER
ALL THOSE YEARS....IF THATS THE CASE, AND MY COMMENT
ABOUT THE CC MANAGEMENT AND THAT MORNING SHOW
HAVING A CONNECTION. I THINK IT WILL COME OUT SOON.
THE OLD MAN WILL HAVE THE UPPER HAND, RUMOR MILL GOES
CCs MANAGER, AND OTHERs THAT USE TO BE AT WOKK, THAT
ARE NOW AT CC... WERE RUNNING AROUND HAVING SECRET
MEETINGS ABOUT ALL GETTING TOGETHER TO PURCHASE
THERE OWN FREQUENCY, BUT FAILED. IN THE PROCESS OF THAT
THERE ARE WITNESSES THAT WILL SPEAK ON THE OLD MANS
SIDE OF THAT. CC WILL WANT TO DROP THAT MANAGEMENT
WHEN THE STORY HITS, AND WITH THE CC MGR AND MORNING
SHOW ALL TOGETHER NOW, IT MAKES THINGS SEEN AS IF THIS
LAWSUITE AGAINST THE OLD MAN, WAS A PLOY TO DESTROY WOKK
FOR THERE NEW STATION, AND TO COVER HIS BUTT THE CC MGR
MADE ROOM FOR SCOTT AND DEB, JUST CONVERSATIONS AND
RUMORS IM SURE, YOU KNOW HOW RADIO IS. IM SURE IT WILL
ALL COME OUT SOON ENOUGH? ANY THOUGHTS.....

So that is the other side of the story that they keep telling clients. That is insane. I am sure it took them awhile to get that story together. Sorry to tell you but that is a very made up rumor. Witnesses, I doubt. They can try that story but most business folks in the area have known for years about the situation. NO shock to them when the story broke. Trust me when I say The morning team have a no fear factor. As far as Ron Harper he is a great guy. I really don't think he is trying to tumble the entire Wokk empire. Sounds like a little they are running scared to make up a defense like that.