Morning Mess Producer Fired!!!!!

[sidechick1]

Rodney,
Do you think this is setting the stage for Cindy and Ray to move to mornings? I know the Mess has a contract, but would a payout be worth it?

 

[TheRealOtherNeil]

Rodney,
Do you think this is setting the stage for Cindy and Ray to move to mornings? I know the Mess has a contract, but would a payout be worth it?

Highly doubtful. Cindy & Ray are out of the current demo at Star 94. Since the station is skewing younger trying to compete with Q100 (and who isn't, they are #2 in the market). If anything, Cindy & Ray are on the hot seat. If Star wanted to stay in the 25-45 demos than C&R would be an ideal morning team. The fact the Morning Mess is here, direct from the bad radio breeding ground of Indianapolis, shows that Lincoln wants to go younger and grow the audience for a decade.

I think there is a future for the Morning Mess in…Macon.

 

[RoddyFreeman]

Rodney,
Do you think this is setting the stage for Cindy and Ray to move to mornings? I know the Mess has a contract, but would a payout be worth it?

I'm not Rodney. But in the winter book, Cindy & Ray were by far the highest-rated daypart on Star. Even when Steve & Vikki were in their last year, C&R pulled higher numbers than S&V.

CHR stations have a history of getting away with a more adult show in morning drive. Personally, moving C&R to mornings would have been the move I would have made (not that I was remotely in a position to do that).

By moving C&R, Star would probably have hurt their afternoon drive to some extent. And they would have been taking somewhat of a risk in the morning, but not as much risk as they took with The Morning Mess.

 

[J_Cordova]

I doubt we'll see C&R on mornings. Hope not, anyway. I don't think they would do as well there, and they've said they wouldn't want to do mornings (especially Ray). Despite their age and Star going for the younger demo, I think C&R are extremely strong (personal opinion not knowing the numbers they pull).

I had a contest winning dinner with them a couple of years ago, and Ray said he was 39, and Cindi 32 or so (can't remember for sure). I mentioned that I knew Chuck Boozer when he was here at Quixie, and Ray said Chuck was his mentor in Charlotte. Good mentor to have and a great guy when I knew him, and I can hear some of Chuck in Ray. C&R remind me of some of the classic radio days here in Atlanta (McKee, Ross & Wilson, John Young running Z93, Barry Chase, Chase and Woodside).

I'm not crazy about the morning mess but still listen - for now. Still better than Bert and crew (who really need new mics or a heavy change in EQ, among other things -- what's with that horrible tinty sound they have with the live mics?).

Is Don Benson still running Star? Golly, I remember talking to him in the late seventies when he was PD for Quixie and 94Q. Almost had a gig there from Don but ended up at TBS during the golden years producing their on-air stuff (and working with one of my radio idols John Young, who I used as much as I could or v/o's on my stuff).

Sorry for my second rant. I'm a newbie on this site and think it's great.

 

[radiodewd]

this last post is just too funny...

 

[RAD1]

Maybe that would fix the Zakk Tyler Morning Show; fire the producer. Oh wait, there is no producer.

A bit awkward to have the morning show (the morning show that's supposed to turn around the station) lead run his own board.

Awkward? Are you serious? Come on people, running a board is NOT that difficult and they're a 3 person team on top of that! Give me a break, this is a top 10 market but far from being NY or a Howard Stern. They're not a big draw and maybe it would actually be good for them to do the some actual work instead of just sitting there at a mic in the morning. Don't be so spoiled.

 

[J_Cordova]

Happy to give you a laugh!

 

[Tibbs4]

You guys are certainly putting a lot more thought into running these radio stations than the actual GM's or PD's are (or can.)
You have the perverbial "axe is dropping" cost cutting bean counter on you left shoulder and your "play to the masses" mindset
of do nothing unique or non-mainstream / take no chances that could send listeners elsewhere play it safe corporate tool on the right.

I agree, with PPM coming, the theory of the market is less is best. You will see lots of over analysis and "we better not do it" for a while.

Then, after the first round settles, all insanity hell will break loose with the blame games for screwed up numbers and insult to injury
radio will arrive (again) in ATL.

All about playing to the $$$, not the ears, anyway.

 

[RAD1]

You guys are certainly putting a lot more thought into running these radio stations than the actual GM's or PD's are (or can.)
You have the perverbial "axe is dropping" cost cutting bean counter on you left shoulder and your "play to the masses" mindset
of do nothing unique or non-mainstream / take no chances that could send listeners elsewhere play it safe corporate tool on the right.

I agree, with PPM coming, the theory of the market is less is best. You will see lots of over analysis and "we better not do it" for a while.

Then, after the first round settles, all insanity hell will break loose with the blame games for screwed up numbers and insult to injury
radio will arrive (again) in ATL.

All about playing to the $$$, not the ears, anyway.

I don't disagree. It is a numbers game but they sell it to the people, the listeners differently. Tell us what you think, playing the songs you want to hear, etc. When obviously it doesn't matter, just the $$$. So corporate continues to do what they want or think to be working. Don't be fooled.