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Michael

H

heydaybegone

I have never started a topic. Nor do I intend to make this entry long winded. The loss of Michael Jackson is a tragedy to this industry. This is not so much a retrospect of what he did for us, as radio people, but for what will never come from one of the premier music producers. Public opinion desecrated a true talent, when it came to performing, as it usually does. I believe ANYBODY that has been involved in this industry should consider his loss as a heartfelt loss...and would pause a moment on their own, to remember the man as another icon in the music History Hall of Fame.
That's all
 
Great creative artist, great personal tragedy. His memory will always be somewhat clouded by controversy around his personal behavior and personal neuroses...but it will also shine with his brilliance.
 
I'm saddened by his loss. I have enjoyed many moments on air and off listening to his music.

It was interesting to hear the stations that payed tribute and those that didn't but should have. For one of the A/C stations to be in auto mode without even a mention of what happened to MJ where I live is a perfect example of what's wrong with radio today. You used to be able to turn on the radio and know what's going on in the world. I hope the stations in Buffalo and Rochester did a better job with at least some kind of coverage.
 
I was out for much of the evening, but a dial scan here in Rochester around 10 PM turned up nonstop MJ on WDKX...and nothing (at least in my brief check) on the other usual suspects, WFKL, WPXY or WKGS. I forgot to check WLGZ.

I can't think of Michael Jackson and radio without remembering the one time I saw him in concert, when the Jacksons Victory Tour stopped at Rich Stadium in - what, 1984? WNYS was all over the thing - banners everywhere, as I recall. I don't remember WKSE having had a presence...or were they still WRXT at that point?
 
Scott Fybush said:
I was out for much of the evening, but a dial scan here in Rochester around 10 PM turned up nonstop MJ on WDKX...and nothing (at least in my brief check) on the other usual suspects, WFKL, WPXY or WKGS. I forgot to check WLGZ.

I can't think of Michael Jackson and radio without remembering the one time I saw him in concert, when the Jacksons Victory Tour stopped at Rich Stadium in - what, 1984? WNYS was all over the thing - banners everywhere, as I recall. I don't remember WKSE having had a presence...or were they still WRXT at that point?
Click to expand...
It was August, 1984. Nearly 25 years ago. CHR WNYS 104.1 was all over that show, although they weren't the co-sponsor. I was Production Director at 97 Rock at the time, but that didn't keep me from going to the show with my oldest son, who would start kindergarten that September. We were so much younger then. 97 Rock played "Beat It" for a very short time, mostly because of Eddie Van Halen's wicked guitar on the track.

My son, now an adult, stopped over the house last night and talked about the event, which he remembered surprisingly well. It was a packed house. We had average seats, not radio comps but good enough, in the lower bowl. The weather was pleasant. The crowd was an encouraging mix of young and old, black and white, hipsters and gawkers; there were plenty of families. The atmosphere was as electric as any of the Stones and Who concerts I'd seen and worked at the stadium, with substantially less alcohol and pot. I won't go as far as saying the Michael Jackson concert impressed me as being great, but it was an entertaining show. More of a spectacle. I enjoyed it and so did my son.

With all the Michael Jackson trubutes pouring in, I'd like to remember the superstar who entertained 70 thousand people that evening in August 1984, with hits from "Off the Wall" and "Thriller." I'd like to remember the kid with the vibrant voice and energy who fronted the Jackson 5 with radio hits like "ABC," "I Want You Back" and "I'll Be There." (We'll try to forget about "Ben.") But the tawdry weirdness and his own admission of his associations with children in his adult life leave me feeling ambivalent about his death, without being judgmental.

No one can deny Michael Jackson's genius as an entertainer. And didn't it feel good to talk up "I Want You Back," "Thriller" or "Off The Wall" back in the day, or in Oldies-Classic Hits formats. Those songs always seemed happier than the young man who sang them.
 
Further to Mike's post, I flipped channels between 8 and 10 last night at 11PM. Both stations had interviews with WDKX. Didn't see 13's coverage.

Why did both TV stations go to 'DKX? Two words: Live person.

Interviews of a voicetrack console weren't going to be very interesting, were they?
 
A lot of the decision to seek out WDKX for comment (something I did this noon in inviting their morning personality to appear on my own retrospective on Jacko, along with a rock historian based at the U of R) relates to DKX's status. Among all the stations playing any kind of contemporary music (other than country) they're the most highly rated station in town with the biggest 12+ and 12-34 listenership, city and suburb. They pull in the biggest chunk of the popular music audience, so they're the logical station to consult for an assessment of the King of Pop.
 
Quite true, but the two thoughts aren't mutually exclusive.

Where else could any of the stations reliably gone for a comment? Maybe Legends, I suppose. WDKX is a better choice, but it's a reflection on the times that it seems to be the only choice.

Thriller was issued in 1982, so a lot of that 12-34 demo wasn't even around yet... it is notable though that most of them would know who MJ was. Someone on one of the shows I was shuffling through last night notes that his longevity might be one of his lasting legacies. Not too many pop stars have hits through four or more decades.
 
JimPastrick said:
It was August, 1984. Nearly 25 years ago. CHR WNYS 104.1 was all over that show, although they weren't the co-sponsor. I was Production Director at 97 Rock at the time, but that didn't keep me from going to the show with my oldest son, who would start kindergarten that September. We were so much younger then. 97 Rock played "Beat It" for a very short time, mostly because of Eddie Van Halen's wicked guitar on the track.
Click to expand...

I also remember 97 Rock playing The Jackson's "State Of Shock" (f/Mick Jagger) at least once, when it debuted.
 
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