Mix 102.7 Airstaff Terminated

[Oldbones]

Re: radio statement

-The, back in the day (as you put it) when radio was interesting was what it was....small town was small town...no marketing perhaps but they served their markets to the best of their ability.
Today most stations sound alike. Market 15, market 1....makes no difference. Boring!
Who suffers? The listener. Nothing is catered to specific markets anymore.

But does the average listener in Philadelphia know or for that matter care what Houston or Tampa radio sounds like? Realistically, how different are the tastes from market to market? Why keep re-inventing the wheel?

-and of course radio was always about making money but when you consolidate you take away individuality and you standardize everything across the board, in this case country. Cost cutting techniques have always been in place that's a normal business practice so thanks for the enlightenment.
Since cost cutting is valid whether a conglomerate owns radio stations or independents to I chose the independents. At least you have typically a better sounding market niche format.

-last but not least, everyone knows that firing and tighter budgets have been common place for MORE than 30 years but firing someone right before Christmas, common place or not is tacky.

I agree that staff cuts just before Christmas is kind of tacky, but it's not just broadcasting that does it. Plenty of other industries make cutbacks this time of year too...doesn't make it right, but don't blame it on CBS or CC. I'd say it's more the way tax laws (passed by both parties) are written.

As far as "better sounding" radio from independent owners...not sure I agree. Many/most of the smaller operators have little or no budget for research, so there seems to be more of a throw it against the wall & see what sticks (or if the owner likes it) approach. Sometimes makes for good radio, sometimes makes for a real train wreck. I've worked for my share of indie owners who did some pretty awful radio, but they thought it sounded good, so we did it.

Back to the original topic...why has 102.7 always been such a dog of a frequency? Even in the glory days of the 70s they were never more than middle of the pack. Every market seems to have one or two though...a frequency that no matter who owns it, or what's done on it just never seems to fly.

 

[Jeffrey]

>> So, companies like Home Depot or 7-11 shouldn't exist because they have more advantages than the Ace Hardware at the 4-corners of every small town? C'mon, cat, that sort of thinking is horse & buggy. The world around us and the available technology is changing faster than ever. I know that is uncomfortable for some, but using your mindset television should just be the 3 main networks and maybe a couple of local access cable channels. And, please remember, the "customers" are moving faster than ever and into instant gratification- business is simply RESPONDING to their customer base.
_____________________________________________________________________________

First off I'm not a cat..secondly Ace Hardware is also a chain so that's a bad example. Big box stores undercut and minimize personalized service and put the local man out of business. That has nothing to do with technology it has to do with conglomeration. If you thought I was talking about having 3 main independent tv and radio stations you missed the point. I'm for independent radio stations not lack of stations and choices, on the contrary. Independent radio is more creative good or bad. I'm into creativity not big box stores all looking the same and radio stations all sounding the same. Perhaps the suburban masses don't know any better and eat what they are served but for those familiar with other countries, any street USA. with it's typical chain big box stores and fattening chain restaurants is less than appealing. Radio, quite frankly in this country is the same way....CC/ CBS feeds the masses except what it does is make it dull.

_____________________________________________________________________________

>> "Back in your day", there was usually a Top 40 station, a rock station, country, maybe an AC, sometimes a news/talk station. Today, we have more choices. There's CHR, CHR/rhythmic, Hot AC, soft AC, mainstream AC, alternative, AAA, Country, classic Country, Variety Hits, Classic Rock, Classic Hits, Oldies, Nostalgia, news/talk, progressive talk, jazz, urban, urban AC, gospel, contemporary christian, spanish, regional Mexican, tropical--the list keeps growing. We can debate all day about the entertainment value of specific stations. And, when it comes to "most stations sound alike", it could be argued that in the glory days of Top 40, all the Drake-programmed stations sounded very similar. A lot of the ACs back then were automated by the same syndicators, and so on. There are hundreds of examples of successful, locally driven stations all over the country, owned by major and by smaller groups. The onus to create exciting, entertaining radio is not the responsibility of the group owners but the local operators. If GMs and PDs play it too safe, that's their fault.

_____________________________________________________________________________

First of all back in my day since I'm only 37 radio wasn't that different than it is today but the variety of truly all music genres and formats in clearly not available in every market. There are hundreds of markets missing formats. The only true "variety" made radio is satellite. Also PD's and GM's have very little say about how a station is programmed and what music is played. The decisions are made by the group owners. PD's have very little input on what is played on their stations.

_____________________________________________________________________________


>> I'm not sure what you're trying to say with this statement. There isn't a major company in America that isn't looking to improve profits. It's kind of the idea of being in business- to serve your customers and grow profits. Why this "well, radio shouldn't do that-it shouldn't be all about the money"? Radio is a business- it's SHOW BUSINESS and both the "show" and the "business" are important to cultivate. Yeah, I know the good ol' days of Wolfman Jack on his 150kw mexican station in the middle of the night and cruisin' the burger stand is cool & neat and all romantic, but there are two things about time: you can't freeze it and you can't change it. We're not in "Happy Days" anymore.

_____________________________________________________________________________


You missed the point but if you're trying to somehow defend commercial radio with this statement I'm not in agreement.

_____________________________________________________________________________

>> Can't disagree with you here. There's no substitute for common sense and compassion. But, again and unfortunately, this sort of thing has always gone on, since we've had personalities on the radio. And, frankly, is there any good time to let people go? Everybody complains no matter when people are cut loose. If you want until after the holidays, that seems cold & calculated, too. But, just before Christmas does suck (and always has sucked).

_____________________________________________________________________________

...and so we agree on something.

 

[JimmyJames]

Things can be changed, people have to be willing to take the chance to change them.

 

[Jay F]

I see this huge debate about budget cutting, lost in the discussion is the fact that this is the lowest rated station in NYC. That's a huge factor. It's nothing new for losing stations to make major changes, the start of a new year is a typical time to make such changes.

The staff was probably terminated due to an impending format change, not budget cuts. If CBS keeps the same format with a different staff they will get the same poor results, I think (or would like to think) they know that. Hopefully they won't switch to some type of "flavor of the month" format.

 

[Starscream]

Would it be presumptious to think that perhaps some or all of the DJs had a contract and will be paid/bought out of the contract? Kind of like the deal O&A had on a much smaller level? Or does it work differently in this kind of situation?

Personally, I think it sucks that people were let go right before the holidays, but I think if CBS at least gave them nice severance packages, it would lessen the blow.

 

[radiofriend1]

wnew is a lousy radio station becuz:

* as an album rock station it rode it's heritage way too long

* the various format flips were ill-conceived and poorly executed

* it's only a *jinxed* frequency 'cuz it's been too many things too many times so recently

a great sounding format with an obviously hungry audience would cure that overnight (or fairly quickly, in radio terms at least)

 

[TowerBuzz]

Would it be presumptious to think that perhaps some or all of the DJs had a contract and will be paid/bought out of the contract? Kind of like the deal O&A had on a much smaller level? Or does it work differently in this kind of situation?

Personally, I think it sucks that people were let go right before the holidays, but I think if CBS at least gave them nice severance packages, it would lessen the blow.

No Scream the O and A thing was a select situation. The jocks there who have contracts will probably be paid out unless the company finds a way to get out of it which is possible. The O and A contract was paid out to avoid actually firing them, had they been fired clear channel would have been able to make good on their initial offer for them to do mornings (which is why they ended up with millions in the first place, they were going to get nothing close to that from CBS until Clear Channel stepped in and offererd them morning and syndication, driving the price way upfor cbs) and go up against Howard. They never, ever would have beaten Howard, that is certain. What they could have easily done is cut his 7 share to a four share and morer importantly re positioned him as the old guy a la Stern did to Imus. The blink jocks got paid out I know when that station only lasted three months. I guess it depends on everyone's agent's negotiating powers.

 

[neo11]

wnew is a lousy radio station becuz:

* as an album rock station it rode it's heritage way too long

* the various format flips were ill-conceived and poorly executed

* it's only a *jinxed* frequency 'cuz it's been too many things too many times so recently

a great sounding format with an obviously hungry audience would cure that overnight (or fairly quickly, in radio terms at least)

Exactly. It wasn't long ago that 105.1 was the format-of-the-day frequency in NYC, but Power has been doing well on that frequency for a few years now.

 

[Jeffrey]

There's lot's money in urban radio and other niche formats within the urban genre yet untouched in New York.
Power did well going up against HOT and although their numbers have fallen in the last few books, they've officially unjinxed their 105.1 frequency.

 

[oh_hell_naa]

I just heard Carol Ford on the air at 102.7. I thought they were all fired?

 

[mixmasterdjs]

Yes, there is a format change coming soon.

This is from paco blog on myspace.

Paco Lopez- formerly of Mix 102.7FM's Blurbs

THANKS TO ALL THE PEOPLE WHO'VE EMAILED ME ABOUT MIX IN NYC! I APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT, AS I'VE ALWAYS TOLD YOU! THE STATION HAS DECIDED TO CHANGE FORMATS AND HAS NOT RENEWED ANY CONTRACTS OF ANY OF THE DJS, MYSELF INCLUDED SO, I WON'T BE COMING BACK...THE NEW FORMAT WILL LIKELY DEBUT SOME TIME IN JANUARY...DON'T WORRY, I'VE GOT PLENTY LINED UP ALREADY AND DON'T BE SURPRISED IF I SHOW UP ON THE AIR IN NYC SOMEWHERE SOON! ALSO, WORKING ON TV, FILM AND OTHER MEDIA PROJECTS...SO, I WILL BE JUST FINE...IT'S ALL PART OF GOD'S PLAN...IT'S IN HIS HANDS...AND I TRUST THAT HE KNOWS WHAT HE'S DOING...THANKS FOR ALL THE SUPPORT YOU GAVE ME WHILE I WAS ON AIR...AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL SPEAK ON A STATION NEAR YOU SOON! THANKS AGAIN & MAY GOD BLESS. PACO LOPEZ

It is a shame.

 

[radiolover78]

Speaking of staff and budget cuts, I know a person who was just fired a few days ago. Her whole office was fired after most of them had been working there for at least fifteen years.

Radio isn't the only business to make cuts.

 

[skippertthomas]

......Someone call Buzz and tell him that the old "Poundridge" format might have a home, but they will have to figure out how to tighten the moniker from 102.7 to something shorter.....2.7???? How 'bout .7???? Or, better yet go to the front of the numbers and call it "ONE!!!!!!!!!!!" We're the ONE...You're the ONE... Listen to the ONE... (Insert PAMS shotgun here...) ;D Those drum majors of the past are soccer moms, now heading into middle age...... :-X

 

[disney fanatic]

Kevin, If you enjoyed listening to "Mix 102.7", guess what! In the Hudson Valley, WRNQ and WCTW, the two Lite-FM's on both 92.1 and 98.5 are doing the same thing every Saturday night from 7:00 PM until 1:00 AM. I found this link here to listen to it every Saturday night.

http://www.921litefm.com/pages/onair.html?feed=108602&article=304524

This show plays the same exact music like the way WNEW's "Mix 102.7" plays the same thing right now.