Having spent a couple of years in Pine Bluff (1988-90), my observation is that there are three huge reasons for its radio failures: 1) management, 2) FCC deregulation, and 3) audience.
I entered Pine Bluff as a green college graduate, ASU radio/TV diploma in hand and ready to conquer the radio world. My first gig out of college was at KCLA and KZYP -- at the time under a GM who set new standards for the phrase "reign of terror." After that long year it was to KPBA, and, having never been paid a thin dime for my efforts helping get that station on the air, moved to KOTN, where I did middays. KOTN in 1989 was a station clearly on the downslide - a fading flower desperately grasping for relevance.
I left Pine Bluff early in 1990, far less green, a little bitter, but much wiser for the experience (and lessons learned).
The city had some wonderful radio people - Chuck Sullivent (whom I blam--er, credit for giving this young punk his first fulltime radio job), Royce Wolfe (nobody could do a "Swap Shop" program like Royce), Charlie Okle, and of course Dawn Deane. People who loved radio, and tried their best to create a good product in spite of the limitations and mentalities present. It was a pleasure and a learning experience working with them all.
When Buddy Deane sold KOTN, it spelled the end of an era. A big 'what if' scenario is if Buddy had sold off 92.3 but kept 1490 - say, turning it over to Dawn to manage, I'm convinced KOTN would've evolved into a vibrant, and highly successful "full service" station for Pine Bluff. (Just my opinion; your mileage may vary)
The FCC didn't help matters with allowing the move-ins. When that happened -- *poof!* - 92.3 and 94.9 wasted no time moving to Little Rock! Leaving just a bunch of graveyard-channel AMs and a single class-A FM, and eventually squeezing 101.3 into the mix.
But as much as the FCC and the powers that be were responsible, so is the audience. I came away with the impression that if your last name wasn't
Deane or
Hamann, Pine Bluff listeners had little use for you. Duane Hamann had a loyal following with his morning show - with plenty of contests, prizes and that damned pink flamingo gimmick. Alas, at 10:00 I heard the deafening sound of memory buttons clicking radios over to K-Lite 94!
KCLA's "Swap Shop" and KOTN's "Trading Post" had plenty of callers ... but, while hosting TP, I heard plenty of callers who had
KCAT blasting in the background!!
I never got to listen to KPBQ, but I'm told it was satellite. With options like KSSN and Hot Springs' KQUS, it didn't stand a chance. I imagine Pine Bluff listeners gave up when Buddy Deane cashed his chips, and started migrating their ears toward the Little Rock stations.
Otherwise, you're right - the best hope Pine Bluff has would be for somebody to step up and just bulldoze everything - starting over with an all-new cluster: KOTN-AM/FM (*LIVE* full-service news/oldies - bring back "Information Radio", and simulcast on 1490 and 101.3), KCLA (sports), and KZYP (*LIVE* black AC). The white audience will probably be hard to win back. The predominant black listeners (i.e., the OLDER ones) may well be more open to an urban version of Information Radio - a community-active AC station with plenty of news and info. Forget "The Touch"; make 99.3 a real beacon. (Lost in all this: what's KCAT up to these days?)
If I had a couple of dollars underneath my sofa cushions, I might could be swayed into investing. Until that day comes, I just sit here armchair-consulting with the best of 'em.
> I do agree that they don't need to be shut down. That town
> is a graveyard for stations that tried to make it and
> didn't. It would just take the right operator to go in and
> do it. Buddy Deane and his family had the right ideas, and
> since they have been gone, so has good radio in that market.
>
>
> Someone needs to go down there and turn those stations off
> for about two weeks, and spend that time totally rebuilding
> every one of them. There are 55,000 people in that town, and
> if Dillards and Red Lobster can make it and do a great
> business, there is no reason that a properly run radio
> station can't either.
>
> Whoever takes those stations over is going to have a long
> road rebuilding the destruction that has just totally
> decimated what was once a good thing. If they need my help,
> show me the money!! LOL
>
