Mr.Gregg Rivers-Please,Please!

[Sandscott]

I can't help but notice during the Shut Up and Rock Show (my favorite part of the day) there are always request for the 80's hair bands. Several of us were big fans of Dee Snider's House of Hair and listened for years before the station switched ownership. We are begging you to bring back the syndicated House of Hair show. We need our 80's hair bands!

 

[J-Rod]

you're barking up the wrong tree scott... call Forever and talk to management, tell them what you want... get a bunch of people together and you all tell them what you want...

unless Gregg has a lot more power than he did when I was there, he can't make that change... of course... he could refuse to make coffee until they bring it back... that would put the whole station on hold... hmmm... Gregg, you might consider that... ha ha ha

 

[Meepster]

Yeah. I was going to say that Gregg had nothing to so with that.

 

[Gregg Rivers]

We've looked at several options concerning this very thing. I can't get in to details as my programming efforts, plans and ideas are proprietary. I certainly do not wish to knee jerk in to anything on the air! I do have a plan. I'm just not going to plot it out HERE! Thanks for listening!

 

[longleggs]

I listen to 92.3 sometimes when I get a chance and I am in the area. I can't help but notice the Jackson listener seems more open to a larger variety of bands and album cuts. (Dang I need to move to Jackson). I love the hair bands as well and used to listen to Dee Snider all the time. There are some other good 80's shows out there too like The Tour Bus, Eddie Trunk, and so forth. I think what gripes me about classic rock radio is how they are playing basically the same 200 songs they played when I was little. I think the 80's bands belong (and I mean more than GNR, Def Leppard, and Bon Jovi) and I think there needs to be more classic rock that used to be popular like UFO, Uriah Heep, and so forth.

 

[PedroOrange]

UFO, Uriah Heep, and so forth.

•Rock Bottom
•Stealin' (When I should've been buyin')

Great tracks!

Pedro

 

[Gregg Rivers]

You make some excellent points Leggs. I happen to agree. What you hear is radio playing the "tested safe lists." I happen to subscribe to the idea that a song that tests well should be played! I also realize that there are great many GREAT songs that don't even get tested any more! My friend Russ Albums has a show we air on Sundays called "The Wax Museum" (10 AM - 12 Noon) and it's based on that very idea. It's one way we try to dig a little deeper to bring our listeners the "oh wow" songs they haven't heard in a while. You should check it out. It's a great show. The other side of that is, if you get too deep and obscure for the P-1, it becomes a tune out! Having said that, know I'm constantly looking and listening, not only to my station but to others. Know also I'm listening to listeners too! I'm not a plug and play PD. I'm extremely active in this station and working hard to make it a winner! Now to quote Forrest Gump "that's all I got to say about that." Thanks for the post! I hear ya!

 

[PedroOrange]

Gregg,

This is a pretty relevant question...what do you do to set yourself apart? I mean, a majority of the tested songs I have in my iPod. Why should listeners tune in to hear songs they have? Or, better yet...songs they can hear commercial free on satellite radio.

What types of things does your station do to stay ahead of the curve?

I'm not trying to be a smart-aleck, I'm just curious to your insight on the matter.

Cheers,

Pedro

 

[Gregg Rivers]

Based on the statement that you know what "tested songs" are, I understand you are now or have been in radio at some point. I said before that I don't want to get in to proprietary information on an open forum. So I'm not going to get in to any program philosophy here. I'll just ask you to listen and I think you'll hear what we do that's different. The first and most obvious is we don't do morning shows in the afternoon. Instead we rock!
As for satellite radio, we've never asked a single listener to sign a contract or charged them to listen. The trade off is (and there has to be one somewhere) our advertisers foot the expenses and we try to keep those breaks short. Oh and ask your satellite jock to announce your child's school fund raiser or to collect food or money for your neighbors when they need it. Not being smart-aleck, I'm just telling it like it is! There's room and an audience for satellite, but I think there's still a larger need for live and local.

 

[Meepster]

So, you're PD now , Gregg?
Waited long enough for that, huh?
Congrats! (I guess) I hope they'll let you actually do some programming 'cause we all know that many of the "corporations" generate each stations playlists and etc. Local control is usually better.
So often, PD's are just the local babysitter trying to keep what little airstaff is left "toe"ing the line.
I know there'll be limitaions, but...
I hope they'll entrust you with the "local" programming decisions (or at least a LOT of input)
You've been in that market a long time and through a lot of stations-I'd think you'd know the market better than the corporate guys.

Are there any Arbitron actually taken in Jackson? Or, some other ratings, at least?
Are any of these changes at SL-100 going to affect strategies? (I know Maxey told me years ago they were going after Jackson) Do they even have a signal in the "Metro" there?

And lastly,

Will there soon be a daily three-fer of Journey every afternoon?

Good Luck!

 

[Gregg Rivers]

So, you're PD now , Gregg?

Yes

Waited long enough for that, huh?

I declined twice. When Don "two L's & two T's" Elliott left, it became obvious to me that they needed someone that was going to be here for the long run (me) to take the position. I did. I felt I was the right guy and I had put everyone and the station off long enough. By the way this is my second PD gig in Jackson. Third in my career.

Congrats! (I guess)

Thanks! (I guess)?

I hope they'll let you actually do some programming 'cause we all know that many of the "corporations" generate each stations play lists and etc. Local control is usually better.

It's not a one man show. I have help and thank God for it. I'm not in here to "leave my mark on radio." I'm hear to be successful and will use whatever tools are at my disposal to do so. Everyone at Rock 92.3 will play a huge part in that success. Homie don't play the "one man show" PD thang. It's not about me. It's about winning.

So often, PD's are just the local babysitter trying to keep what little air staff is left "toe"ing the line.
I know there'll be limitations, but...
I hope they'll entrust you with the "local" programming decisions (or at least a LOT of input)

Forever intrusts me with the day to day operations of a multi-MILLION dollar business! That's huge responsibility! I feel they trust me pretty dang good!

You've been in that market a long time and through a lot of stations-I'd think you'd know the market better than the corporate guys.

The corporate guys know the market pretty well too. They studied this market for 20 years before the purchase of this group. I trust them as well as they do me. It's a good fit for me and I'm happy I took the job. Again it's where they needed me most. I felt bad I made them wait so long. I was offered the gig when Jared Mims left. I just wasn't interested then.

Are there any Arbitron actually taken in Jackson? Or, some other ratings, at least?
Are any of these changes at SL-100 going to affect strategies? (I know Maxey told me years ago they were going after Jackson) Do they even have a signal in the "Metro" there?

Every station in West Tennessee affects the strategy no matter the format.

And lastly,

Will there soon be a daily three-fer of Journey every afternoon?

Ha! Nah that would be too self-indulgent! I have all their CDs. I know there aren't many that love Journey like me.

Good Luck!

Thanks Meep

 

[PedroOrange]

Based on the statement that you know what "tested songs" are, I understand you are now or have been in radio at some point. I said before that I don't want to get in to proprietary information on an open forum. So I'm not going to get in to any program philosophy here. I'll just ask you to listen and I think you'll hear what we do that's different. The first and most obvious is we don't do morning shows in the afternoon. Instead we rock!
As for satellite radio, we've never asked a single listener to sign a contract or charged them to listen. The trade off is (and there has to be one somewhere) our advertisers foot the expenses and we try to keep those breaks short. Oh and ask your satellite jock to announce your child's school fund raiser or to collect food or money for your neighbors when they need it. Not being smart-aleck, I'm just telling it like it is! There's room and an audience for satellite, but I think there's still a larger need for live and local.

Again...I hope you take no offense to my questions...just trying to encourage discussion.

I think my questions were along the lines of what Meepster was asking...are you allowed to make decisions that effect the station in a positive way or is there a strategy in place that you have to follow. Unfortunately, I've seen that happen too many times and it's a shame. There are some really creative and progressive people who don't take PD jobs or are held back because they have little control. I hope that is not the case for you.

I tire of "That was so & so...coming up next is another long block with so & so"....there's no substance there. Again, if I want to hear BTO or Led Zepplin, I can turn on my iPod and cut out the middle man.

And it's good to hear you that you are pro-active in keeping things live and local. I agree with you there...good phoners, interesting contests and local content can keep terrestrial radio alive.

Also, I love the passion you have for production.

Pedro

 

[J-Rod]

Congrats to "My Pal Gregg Rivers"... didn't realize you had taken the helm... now you really can keep it rockin. ha ha ha... i'd love a little journey "three-fer madness" or maybe the return of the "four o'clock four play"... I don't know about anyone else, but I loved those cheesy little bits, gave me a reason to tune in at specific times... now maybe if you got a sponsor.. hmmm...

ha ha...

keep rocking Gregg.

(you still get to do production, right?)

 

[Meepster]

You'll be successful, Gregg.
I'm glad Two L's left and wish you had taken it then.
(He had the people skills of a hyena)
It's been a pretty obvious choice for a while. (seems to me)
By congrats (I guess), I only meant that a lot of guys wouldn't want the responsibility of that sort of "neck sticking out" position.
So, that aside...Definately CONGRATULATIONS!
Make 'em pay you what it's worth, too.
Is production on 92 going to suffer adversely from this move?
And...please reconsider the Journey thing.
I could dig it.

 

[longleggs]

Thanks Gregg for the warm response. Let me go further in my frustration of what radio has become. I agree you have to play the hits, but what gets me is why can't there be a deep cut once an hour or maybe even twice. Play Led Zep "Stairway to Heaven", Skynrd, etc. and then throw in I don't know say Alice Cooper "I Never Cry." I don't think doing a little more of that is going to run off a loyal listener and may add a few. I listen to satellite radio because I need some variety.

I did a little experiment one day with 98.1 out of Memphis. I took out a piece of paper and wrote down fifty songs I predicted were going to be played that day. I hit on 49 of them! That is way too predictable.

I also think that is why you need a show like The Wax Museum that I will check out and an 80's show. I also would love to hear a station actually dedicate one to two hours a week playing new songs by veteran artists like I hear Ted Nugent has a new one coming out and the Scorpions just released one. It gripes me when people cite a rocker's age or think their best work was in the 70's or 80's because radio played them, but fans dismiss newer works. I went and saw Alice Cooper in Nashville last year and I was blown away. His new material is killer but radio won't touch it with a ten foot pole. I think it does a disservice and drives people away.

I just feel that when you have programming seven days a week for twentyfour hours a day, playing some deep cuts and having a few speciality shows is good to cut down on the repetitiveness and that is what plagues classic rock radio. I have never been polled by a station on who I wanted to hear. I personally would rather hear UFO than AC/DC any day of the week. I would rather hear Dio than Ozzy, etc. But I think there should be a place for both.

 

[radiofan4life]

Longleggs, you seem extremely insightful. I have been impressed with your posts. I am guessing you have been in radio for awhile. Have you ever worked in this market?

 

[longleggs]

Thanks for the compliment. I do have some radio experience (but not in this area). Frankly, I got sick of how corporate radio had become, but I am still a fan. The bottom line for me is this. Does the playlist for Jackson or Dyersburg need to be the same as someone living in Cleveland or Detriot? I don't think so but if someone like Clearchannel owns a station in both areas, it is going to be the same.

The reason I don't listen to commercial radio as often anymore is because I am true fan of music particularly classic rock. I don't need to hear "Rock You Like A Hurricane' everyday because I already own it and the Scorpions have a ton of songs I would rather hear. I don't have to hear Led Zep, Skynrd, Steve Miller, and Guns and Roses four or five times everyday because their songs have been drummed into my head for years. I need a break sometimes from the repetitiveness. There is too much great classic rock that never gets played that was huge at one time, yet they have downsized the playlists so much, their is no enticement for me to continue to listen.

It is those rare times when I hear something a little out of the box, that I get excited about radio.

 

[radiofan4life]

I totally agree with you on the repetitiveness aspect. That's why I buy the project and not the song. I can hear the playlist of most stations from CD's composed of "The Best of The 70's" or whatever. I think the biggest mistake stations make is allowing promoters to dictate their playlists. They rely upon what is released to radio to make it up completely. Once a song has been released on a project it is fair game to stations. They don't have to play what is sent to them on compilations entirely. Everybody just seems scared of the "not so popular" songs. It's like trying to get a job without any experience. The only way you get it is by being hired. Same way for a song. It will never be requested unless it is played. Unless of course their is a "feature hour" of some sort. Just my two cents worth. I say "DARE TO BE DIFFERENT" to stations. Mix it up.

 

[longleggs]

Exactly right. I contend you can play the "Best of the 70's" songs but mix them in with some lesser known songs as well. Let me give you an example of a playlist that would entice me to listen without "destroying the generic playlist"

Let's assume you are going to play ten songs an hour.

Hour 1
Led Zeppelin-Stairway to Heaven
Triumph-Lay it On the Line
Doors-Light My Fire
UFO-Doctor,Doctor (you never hear this one on the radio though it is not overly obscure)
Bob Seger-The Famous Final Scene
Axe-Rock n Roll Party in the Streets
WHO-I Can't Explain
Alice Cooper-I Never Cry
Rolling Stones-something off their latest album
Montrose-Bad Motorscooter

Hour 2-
Deep Purple-Perfect Strangers
Scorpions-Loving You Sunday Morning
Whitesnake-Here I Go Again
George Thorogood-Bad to the Bone
AC/DC-Touch Too Much
Elton John-Saturday Night's Allright for Fighting
Motley Crue-Primal Scream
Ted Nugent-Weekend Warriors
The Guess Who-American Woman
Billy Idol-Flesh for Fantasy

This is just an example of a playlist. It has the standards, but also songs from veteran artists that are somewhat well-known or even hits that are no longer played, with one or two obscure songs thrown in and a few of the 80's hairbands. You mean to tell me that a playlist like this would turn the average listener away?

I find it hard to believe that in the state of Tennessee, people would quit listening if you played a song by Black Oak Arkansas somewhere in the mix instead of playing Skynrd, AC/DC, etc four or five times a day. I would love to hear a classic rock station go one day without playing Pink Floyd, Zep, and AC/DC just to hear what the station sounds like.

 

[radiofan4life]

If I ever become GM of a Classic Rock station, you're hired.