My Two Year Anniversary

[Mark_Giardina]

It was two years ago this week I bid farewell to radio as a career and since then there have been a number of personnel changes and events that have taken place in the Rochester radio market.

Let’s see if I can remember all of the changes.

• WYSL lost AP All News Network as that operation folded. Now WYSL carries ABC and CNN News along with two syndicated national talk shows. The station is also in the process of increasing its daytime power to 20kw with a brand new transmitter.
• Long-time WHAM newscaster Glen Lambertz “retired” and was replaced by former Channel 8 Executive Producer Rob Jason.
• Allan Harris is no longer morning host on WROC-AM as that station did not renew Harris’ contract and instead replaced him with Air America.
• Eliot Spitzer is going after Entercom for alleged payola.
• Brother Wease underwent treatment for sinus cancer and thankfully has recovered.
• Howard Stern is no longer on the “Nerve”.
• “Fickle and “Fox” formats were introduced to Rochester radio listeners

I’m sure there are many other changes I forgot, but it’s amazing what can take place within a short two year period. It will be interesting to see what happens on Rochester radio two years from now.
<P ID="signature">______________
"I won't be wronged, I won't be insulted and I won't be laid a hand on.
I don't do these things to other people and I expect the same from them".</P>

 

[Bob1370]

> It was two years ago this week I bid farewell to radio as a
> career and since then there have been a number of personnel
> changes and events that have taken place in the Rochester
> radio market.

I wonder what it says about our business, that these days veteran talents mark and celebrate the anniversary of their decision to LEAVE it.

Yesterday I marked my 18th anniversary doing the same daily show on the same station in Rochester. Today, that fact makes me feel like an absolute dinosaur. Will ANYONE now in this business spend 18 years in the same place in the future? I doubt it...and while there is something to be said for infusions of new blood, there's also something to be said for experience and the knowledge gained from it. A successful station needs a generous supply of both new blood and veteran wisdom, carefully blended. I've worked in several stations that succeeded because they had that blend. I wonder if anyone's going to be able to accomplish it in the future.

 

[JustPastBuffalo]

>
> Yesterday I marked my 18th anniversary doing the same daily
> show on the same station in Rochester. Today, that fact
> makes me feel like an absolute dinosaur. Will ANYONE now in
> this business spend 18 years in the same place in the
> future? I doubt it...and while there is something to be said
> for infusions of new blood, there's also something to be
> said for experience and the knowledge gained from it. A
> successful station needs a generous supply of both new blood
> and veteran wisdom, carefully blended. I've worked in
> several stations that succeeded because they had that blend.
> I wonder if anyone's going to be able to accomplish it in
> the future.
>

18 years. Astounding! That's an enviable accomplishment for a broadcaster, whether in the public or commercial sector. You're likely as pleased with the content and quality as you are the longevity. Congratulations.

 

[SirRoxalot]

The Dean of WNY?

> 18 years. Astounding! That's an enviable accomplishment for
> a broadcaster, whether in the public or commercial sector.

Who is the "Dean of WNY Voices"? Who's been able to adapt to the vagaries of time and ownership and remain at one frequency (since station identifications are changed to protect the idiots) the longest? Sorry (Ramblin' Lou), station owners don't count.

The name Roger Christian at 102.5 comes to mind. I'm not sure how long he's been there, but it's at least 30 years, isn't it?

 

[Radknowski]

Re: The Dean of WNY?

> Who is the "Dean of WNY Voices"? Who's been able to adapt to
> the vagaries of time and ownership and remain at one
> frequency (since station identifications are changed to
> protect the idiots) the longest? Sorry (Ramblin' Lou),
> station owners don't count.
>
> The name Roger Christian at 102.5 comes to mind. I'm not
> sure how long he's been there, but it's at least 30 years,
> isn't it?

Joe Chille must be in the same league, having been at WJYE since 1978. Imagine playing some of those "Soft Rock Favorites" when they were actually currents.

BTW, isn't "Soft Rock" an oxymoron? George Carlin would have a field day with that and "Lite Rock" too.

 

[SirRoxalot]

Rock Classifications

> BTW, isn't "Soft Rock" an oxymoron? George Carlin would have
> a field day with that and "Lite Rock" too.

Now, now. Better brush up on your geology.

Talc is a soft rock.

Pumice is a "lite" rock.

One would think that Chille would be a "hot rock".

 

[ckg68]

Re: The Dean of WNY?

> Joe Chille must be in the same league, having been at WJYE
> since 1978. Imagine playing some of those "Soft Rock
> Favorites" when they were actually currents.
>
> BTW, isn't "Soft Rock" an oxymoron? George Carlin would have
> a field day with that and "Lite Rock" too.
>

You could also include John LaMond & Dale Mussen from WYRK in that department. John and Dale have both been with 'YRK for over 20 years.

As far as Roger Christian,it's about 32 years for him. He was the only live voice on the station in the mid '70s.(BTW,if anyone cares,it's the station's 60th anniversary this year;it signed on the air November 11,1946.)

 

[Element9]

Re: The Dean of WNY?

> You could also include John LaMond & Dale Mussen from WYRK
> in that department. John and Dale have both been with 'YRK
> for over 20 years.
>
> As far as Roger Christian,it's about 32 years for him. He
> was the only live voice on the station in the mid
> '70s.(BTW,if anyone cares,it's the station's 60th
> anniversary this year;it signed on the air November
> 11,1946.)
>

Do guys like these stay on in Buffalo because they're good, or is it that Buffalo has a reputation for a certain degree of crony-ism and re-cycling talent.

Now before you get your vile and dander up, allow me to explain that a number of observers from outside the market who've worked in the market and moved along have made this observation. The word is Buffalo has a certain good-ol'-boy-club character which lends itself to men and women moving from station to station, returning to Buffalo after working elsewhere or hanging on at one station forever.

To be sure, Buffalo isn't the only market with this reputation. Look to the east and the same can be said for Rochester and Syracuse.

It can be argued (as I would) that the "lifers" prefer living in Buffalo (Rochester, Syracuse) and are comfortable. One might suggest that they're good at what they do. It could also be argued that they've attained a certain comfort level that allows them to succeed in Buffalo (Rochester, Syracuse) but not enough to progress to a larger, more competitive market.

Aside from the long established morning shows, few air talent are getting rich working in Buffalo. Yet apparently a jock can still make some sort of sustainable living on the air, doing production and remotes.

Again, it's a respectfully and reasonably posed question based on the opinions of some who've worked here and moved on. No reason to open the "venom valve."

-9-

 

[DeltaDon]

Re: The Dean of WNY?

> It can be argued (as I would) that the "lifers" prefer
> living in Buffalo (Rochester, Syracuse) and are comfortable.
> One might suggest that they're good at what they do. It
> could also be argued that they've attained a certain comfort
> level that allows them to succeed in Buffalo (Rochester,
> Syracuse) but not enough to progress to a larger, more
> competitive market.

Some people stay and make a home, some are just passing through. It’s true of every city, true of life.

One hundred or so years ago, Buffalo was a Top 10 market. Through the first half of the 20th Century, it was an entertainment mecca: a key stop on the Keith Orpheum Circuit in the days of vaudeville, and continuing long into the 1960s and ‘70s when the Towne Casino and Shea’s Buffalo were must-destinations for all popular entertainers and their fans. The city also boasts a proud media history, a place known far and wide for its quality and professionalism, an important springboard for any number of people who’ve gone onto great success and renown in radio, television and newspaper work.

Despite the erosion in media quality we’ve seen everywhere in recent years, Buffalo still has that great radio history, a magnetic DNA, a legacy that surpasses what’s found in markets of similar size and larger. Who wouldn’t want to have a little of its magic rub off on them? Sure, the pay is lousy now, but the cost of living is dirt cheap compared to a lot of places. And, by being in Buffalo broadcasting, you get the chance – the privilege – of trying to add something to a glorious history.

 

[alw]

Re: The Dean of WNY?

> Do guys like these stay on in Buffalo because they're good,
> or is it that Buffalo has a reputation for a certain degree
> of crony-ism and re-cycling talent.
>
> Now before you get your vile and dander up, allow me to
> explain that a number of observers from outside the market
> who've worked in the market and moved along have made this
> observation. The word is Buffalo has a certain
> good-ol'-boy-club character which lends itself to men and
> women moving from station to station, returning to Buffalo
> after working elsewhere or hanging on at one station
> forever.


I, for one, have never possessed a great deal of ambition with regard to market size or corporate level. Also, I've never been a part of the real ol' boys network.....if I had I'd have gotten bigger jobs.

I don't think that Buffalo has any more of a crony-ism character than most other 2nd tier markets. As a matter of fact, most major markets have a core of long timers, especially at stations with adult formats (i.e. News/Talk-Music Of Your Life-AC-Classic Rock-Jazz....etc.). During my time in DC I heard tales of the longtime team of "The Joy Boys", who were on the air for a eons...until Willard Scott went off to become a TV star.

I came back to Buffalo because I like it, and then I landed a job at a station that I had admired all along. I liked the building we broadcast from and I was proud of the stations history (Lone Ranger and all that). When I was asked to stick around to play jazz records for a living, I couldn't believe my luck. When I was asked to stick around even longer to direct an All-News & Information format I was pleased to do so.
I remember, when I was working at WBUF ('69 or '70), I was having lunch with my first "radio friend" Ray Marks. We had heard about an opening at the great WEBR and we both thought it would be great to land a job there, but felt it was out of our range at that time. Certainly in my case, because as many of you know through painful radio listening-my act was barely broadcast quality.

I'll sum it up by saying that people stay in a market or a station for many reasons, some good-some bad. If you get up in the morning and don't dread the very thought of spending the day at the plant.....you've won the lottery.

 

[JustPastBuffalo]

The Dean of WNY?

> I, for one, have never possessed a great deal of ambition
> with regard to market size or corporate level. Also, I've
> never been a part of the real ol' boys network.....if I had
> I'd have gotten bigger jobs.
>
> I don't think that Buffalo has any more of a crony-ism
> character than most other 2nd tier markets. As a matter of
> fact, most major markets have a core of long timers,
> especially at stations with adult formats (i.e.
> News/Talk-Music Of Your Life-AC-Classic Rock-Jazz....etc.).
> During my time in DC I heard tales of the longtime team of
> "The Joy Boys", who were on the air for a eons...until
> Willard Scott went off to become a TV star.
>
> I came back to Buffalo because I like it, and then I landed
> a job at a station that I had admired all along. I liked the
> building we broadcast from and I was proud of the stations
> history (Lone Ranger and all that). When I was asked to
> stick around to play jazz records for a living, I couldn't
> believe my luck. When I was asked to stick around even
> longer to direct an All-News & Information format I was
> pleased to do so.
> I remember, when I was working at WBUF ('69 or '70), I was
> having lunch with my first "radio friend" Ray Marks. We had
> heard about an opening at the great WEBR and we both thought
> it would be great to land a job there, but felt it was out
> of our range at that time. Certainly in my case, because as
> many of you know through painful radio listening-my act was
> barely broadcast quality.
>
> I'll sum it up by saying that people stay in a market or a
> station for many reasons, some good-some bad. If you get up
> in the morning and don't dread the very thought of spending
> the day at the plant.....you've won the lottery.
>

Now that you have been annointed the Dean... 30+ years. Congratulations! That TIA-CREF must be lookin'.

Your post applies to many of us, myself included, who think Buffalo is a swell place to live, raise a family and hang out with friends.

Buffalo is a good radio market even though it has its share of problems, not the least of which is a shrinking population, an aging population and a lack of jobs to keep young people here.

It's not always easy, but I'd rather stay and try to be part of the solution than leave and curse Buffalo's problems. <P ID="edit"><FONT class="small">Edited by JimPastrick on 03/21/06 01:12 PM.</FONT></P>

 

[mroz]

Re: The Dean of WNY?

> Your post applies to many of us, myself included, who think
> Buffalo is a swell place to live, raise a family and hang
> out with friends.

> It's not always easy, but I'd rather stay and try to be part
> of the solution than leave and curse Buffalo's problems.


Here, here! Well said, Jim.
Be assured, I'm a 30-something just getting his family started, and haven't given up on this town just yet.