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New PD WBNS-FM

N

Nu_Roo_2

Don't understand why the short thread I saw about this last night disappeared.

But last night All Access reported that 97.1 PD Jeff Ballentine would retire at the end of the month. He said he would become involved in an internet startup venture.

All Access reported that Ballentine's replacement would be Jay Taylor, Regional Director/Ops for Triad in Biloxi-Gulfport. Anyone know anything about him?

I wonder if a format change may possibly be in the works...neither Taylor's nor GM Dave Van Stone's statements mentioned Hot AC. I know that desn't prove anything at all, but it leaves the door open. I personally like the Hot AC format, but 97.1 is clearly the most boring big-market Hot AC in Ohio at present, especially in terms of music mix (though that fact can't necessarily be pinned entirely on the PD or MD...I thought Mix 107.7 in Dayton sounded great under Ballentine, and it got great numbers).<P ID="signature">______________
Nu_Roo_2 formerly Nu__Roo formerly Nu_Roo</P><P ID="edit"><FONT class="small">Edited by Nu_Roo_2 on 04/07/06 07:07 PM.</FONT></P>
 
Just a quick search for the stations that Triad own in Mississippi, they have a AM Sports and AM talk, A FM top 40/mainstream (ratings been tanking big time over the year prior to Hurrican Katrina), an rock and classic rock station, and a "classic hits" country. The active rock station was their highest rated, but there hasn't been any ratings since Hurrican Katrina.


> Don't understand why the short thread I saw about this last
> night disappeared.
>
> But last night All Access reported that 97.1 PD Jeff
> Ballentine would retire at the end of the month. He said he
> would become involved in an internet startup venture.
>
> All Access reported that Ballentine's replacement would be
> Jay Taylor, Regional Director/Ops for Triad in
> Biloxi-Gulfport. Anyone know anything about him?
>
> I wonder if a format change may possibly be in the
> works...neither Taylor's nor GM Dave Van Stone's statements
> mentioned Hot AC. I know that desn't prove anything at all,
> but it leaves the door open. I personally like the Hot AC
> format, but 97.1 is clearly the most boring big-market Hot
> AC in Ohio at present, especially in terms of music mix.
>
 
Jay Taylor is a top notch kind of guy. He did a great job with KLUC in Las Vegas in the mid to late 80's. He was a rising star with Nationwide Broadcasting,

It should come to no surprise that Dave Van Stone went back to pull in Jay Taylor. If he is still the great broadcaster he was in Las Vegas as well as Florida, he will serve the station well.
 
> Jay Taylor is a top notch kind of guy. He did a great job
> with KLUC in Las Vegas in the mid to late 80's. He was a
> rising star with Nationwide Broadcasting,
>
> It should come to no surprise that Dave Van Stone went back
> to pull in Jay Taylor. If he is still the great broadcaster
> he was in Las Vegas as well as Florida, he will serve the
> station well.
>

Maybe he can bring in some energy. 97.1 is so flat it's depressing.<P ID="signature">______________
Chris
202.FM</P>
 
Thread Problems

> Don't understand why the short thread I saw about this last
> night disappeared.
>
> But last night All Access reported that 97.1 PD Jeff
> Ballentine would retire at the end of the month. He said he
> would become involved in an internet startup venture.
>
> All Access reported that Ballentine's replacement would be
> Jay Taylor, Regional Director/Ops for Triad in
> Biloxi-Gulfport. Anyone know anything about him?
>
> I wonder if a format change may possibly be in the
> works...neither Taylor's nor GM Dave Van Stone's statements
> mentioned Hot AC. I know that desn't prove anything at all,
> but it leaves the door open. I personally like the Hot AC
> format, but 97.1 is clearly the most boring big-market Hot
> AC in Ohio at present, especially in terms of music mix
> (though that fact can't necessarily be pinned entirely on
> the PD or MD...I thought Mix 107.7 in Dayton sounded great
> under Ballentine, and it got great numbers).
>
seems that the system had a database crash and all data from Thursday was wiped out, I had the same issues on another board earlier and did some digging to find out what happened.
 
> > Jay Taylor is a top notch kind of guy. He did a great job
>
> > with KLUC in Las Vegas in the mid to late 80's. He was a
> > rising star with Nationwide Broadcasting,
> >
> > It should come to no surprise that Dave Van Stone went
> back
> > to pull in Jay Taylor. If he is still the great
> broadcaster
> > he was in Las Vegas as well as Florida, he will serve the
> > station well.
> >
>
> Maybe he can bring in some energy. 97.1 is so flat it's
> depressing.
>

If the things Big Tymer (Louisiana board moderator) has said about Jay in the past are true, WBNS may come out worse. <P ID="signature">______________
"...and the countdown continues until the neanderthals that govern college football do something about their pathetic postseason."--Tim Brando, Sporting News Radio</P>
 
> > > Jay Taylor is a top notch kind of guy. He did a great
> job
> >
> > > with KLUC in Las Vegas in the mid to late 80's. He was
> a
> > > rising star with Nationwide Broadcasting,
> > >
> > > It should come to no surprise that Dave Van Stone went
> > back
> > > to pull in Jay Taylor. If he is still the great
> > broadcaster
> > > he was in Las Vegas as well as Florida, he will serve
> the
> > > station well.
> > >
> >
> > Maybe he can bring in some energy. 97.1 is so flat it's
> > depressing.
> >
>
> If the things Big Tymer (Louisiana board moderator) has said
> about Jay in the past are true, WBNS may come out worse.
>
Big Tymer:

http://www.thebigtymer.com/

.."Welcome to Columbus, Jay and best of luck to you" might sound better (no, we don't have Casino Magic or a beach but we got better football and bitter cold)...and he did pretty good with Triad's cluster in Biloxi-WCPR still rocks.
 
> > > > Jay Taylor is a top notch kind of guy. He did a great
>
> > job
> > >
> > > > with KLUC in Las Vegas in the mid to late 80's. He
> was
> > a
> > > > rising star with Nationwide Broadcasting,
> > > >
> > > > It should come to no surprise that Dave Van Stone went
>
> > > back
> > > > to pull in Jay Taylor. If he is still the great
> > > broadcaster
> > > > he was in Las Vegas as well as Florida, he will serve
> > the
> > > > station well.
> > > >
> > >
> > > Maybe he can bring in some energy. 97.1 is so flat it's
> > > depressing.
> > >
> >
> > If the things Big Tymer (Louisiana board moderator) has
> said
> > about Jay in the past are true, WBNS may come out worse.
> >
> Big Tymer:
>
> http://www.thebigtymer.com/
>
> .."Welcome to Columbus, Jay and best of luck to you" might
> sound better (no, we don't have Casino Magic or a beach but
> we got better football and bitter cold)...and he did pretty
> good with Triad's cluster in Biloxi-WCPR still rocks.
>
Whaddaya mean we don't have a beach?? Take a short drive up 23 to Alum Creek State Park...but wait at least a few more months... People flock there from all over the country, er, state, er, 10-mile radius, for summertime beach fun.<P ID="signature">______________
Nu_Roo_2 formerly Nu__Roo formerly Nu_Roo</P>
 
> > > Jay Taylor is a top notch kind of guy. He did a great
> job
> >
> > > with KLUC in Las Vegas in the mid to late 80's. He was
> a
> > > rising star with Nationwide Broadcasting,
> > >
> > > It should come to no surprise that Dave Van Stone went
> > back
> > > to pull in Jay Taylor. If he is still the great
> > broadcaster
> > > he was in Las Vegas as well as Florida, he will serve
> the
> > > station well.
> > >
> >
> > Maybe he can bring in some energy. 97.1 is so flat it's
> > depressing.
> >
>
> If the things Big Tymer (Louisiana board moderator) has said
> about Jay in the past are true, WBNS may come out worse.

The ratings for all of Triad's stations during Taylor's tenure went in the tank. There was a great deal of turnover trying to catch lightning in a bottle. Triad Broadcasting during Taylor's reign was more like Tryout Desperating.
One thing he did do was boot the market's most overrated personality, not once but twice (after giving him a second chance). At least Taylor was an equal opportunity jerk
>
 
> > If the things Big Tymer (Louisiana board moderator) has
> said
> > about Jay in the past are true, WBNS may come out worse.
> >
> Big Tymer:
>
> http://www.thebigtymer.com/
>
> .."Welcome to Columbus, Jay and best of luck to you" might
> sound better (no, we don't have Casino Magic or a beach but
> we got better football and bitter cold)...and he did pretty
> good with Triad's cluster in Biloxi-WCPR still rocks.

Wow, now I'm popular up north too!

Anyway, I can vouch for Jadolf's ineptness at Triad-Gulfport/Biloxi. I could also provide you e-mail addresses of some current and former employees there, so you'll see that I'm not the only one who's thinking this way. I don't know if they have a party planned yet, but I'm sure they will.

(And I don't mean your normal going-away party. I mean like the one Cartman threw when Kyle moved out of South Park in an episode a couple of weeks ago.)

And he DIDN'T do good down there. All one has to do is look at the ratings and revenue pre- and post-2003. Not a pretty picture.

<P ID="signature">______________

<a target="_blank" href=http://www.thebigtymer.com>The BigTymer </a>
</P>

<P ID="edit"><FONT class="small">Edited by Kahuna on 04/10/06 02:31 AM.</FONT></P>
 
> > > > Jay Taylor is a top notch kind of guy. He did a great
>
> > job
> > >
> > > > with KLUC in Las Vegas in the mid to late 80's. He
> was
> > a
> > > > rising star with Nationwide Broadcasting,
> > > >
> > > > It should come to no surprise that Dave Van Stone went
>
> > > back
> > > > to pull in Jay Taylor. If he is still the great
> > > broadcaster
> > > > he was in Las Vegas as well as Florida, he will serve
> > the
> > > > station well.
> > > >
> > >
> > > Maybe he can bring in some energy. 97.1 is so flat it's
> > > depressing.
> > >
> >
> > If the things Big Tymer (Louisiana board moderator) has
> said
> > about Jay in the past are true, WBNS may come out worse.
>
> The ratings for all of Triad's stations during Taylor's
> tenure went in the tank. There was a great deal of turnover
> trying to catch lightning in a bottle. Triad Broadcasting
> during Taylor's reign was more like Tryout Desperating.
> One thing he did do was boot the market's most overrated
> personality, not once but twice (after giving him a second
> chance). At least Taylor was an equal opportunity jerk
> >
>
I worked in the market for several years- this cluster's numbers always struggled (even before Triad took over ownership)..thanks to the outstanding work of Clear Channel in the market and Dowdy, who is also doing well nowadays. That market has an abundant number of formats..signals heard from New Orleans to Pensacola. Good Luck again, Jay.
 
> > .."Welcome to Columbus, Jay and best of luck to you" might
>
> > sound better (no, we don't have Casino Magic or a beach
> but
> > we got better football and bitter cold)...and he did
> pretty
> > good with Triad's cluster in Biloxi-WCPR still rocks.
> >
> Whaddaya mean we don't have a beach?? Take a short drive up
> 23 to Alum Creek State Park...but wait at least a few more
> months... People flock there from all over the country, er,
> state, er, 10-mile radius, for summertime beach fun.
>

I can't speak for Gulfport-Biloxi (except for my old buddy Allen Beebe who works for CC there), but I do compete against Triad in Savannah-Hilton Head... and that company runs cheaply and illogically in that market. So, knowing Jay Taylor's past, I can't imagine that he's responsible for all of their problems. There's a systemic thing going on within Triad.

And I wish the best of luck to my old pal Jeff Ballentine.
 
> > > .."Welcome to Columbus, Jay and best of luck to you"
> might
> >
> > > sound better (no, we don't have Casino Magic or a beach
> > but
> > > we got better football and bitter cold)...and he did
> > pretty
> > > good with Triad's cluster in Biloxi-WCPR still rocks.
> > >
> > Whaddaya mean we don't have a beach?? Take a short drive
> up
> > 23 to Alum Creek State Park...but wait at least a few more
>
> > months... People flock there from all over the country,
> er,
> > state, er, 10-mile radius, for summertime beach fun.
> >
>
> I can't speak for Gulfport-Biloxi (except for my old buddy
> Allen Beebe who works for CC there), but I do compete
> against Triad in Savannah-Hilton Head... and that company
> runs cheaply and illogically in that market. So, knowing Jay
> Taylor's past, I can't imagine that he's responsible for all
> of their problems. There's a systemic thing going on within
> Triad.
>
> And I wish the best of luck to my old pal Jeff Ballentine.
>
Thanks for that post! That's how I feel and couldn't put it as nicely as you did..Allen's your bud? Magic's doing well down there!
 
> > > If the things Big Tymer (Louisiana board moderator) has
> > said
> > > about Jay in the past are true, WBNS may come out worse.
>
> > >
> > Big Tymer:
> >
> > http://www.thebigtymer.com/
> >
> > .."Welcome to Columbus, Jay and best of luck to you" might
>
> > sound better (no, we don't have Casino Magic or a beach
> but
> > we got better football and bitter cold)...and he did
> pretty
> > good with Triad's cluster in Biloxi-WCPR still rocks.
>
> Wow, now I'm popular up north too!
>
> Anyway, I can vouch for Jadolf's ineptness at
> Triad-Gulfport/Biloxi. I could also provide you e-mail
> addresses of some current and former employees there, so
> you'll see that I'm not the only one who's thinking this
> way. I don't know if they have a party planned yet, but I'm
> sure they will.
>
> (And I don't mean your normal going-away party. I mean like
> the one Cartman threw when Kyle moved out of South Park in
> an episode a couple of weeks ago.)
>
> And he DIDN'T do good down there. All one has to do is look
> at the ratings and revenue pre- and post-2003. Not a pretty
> picture.
>

Hi There,

I want to say that, as a radio-info moderator, I thought your comments about the incoming PD at WBNS Columbus were a bit out of line. I’ve always thought that it is our job to keep the conversations and debates moving in a positive direction and not to encourage personal attacks against individuals. It seems that you might have some past history with this person and some of it may not have been good. Whatever the case, it’s only fair that we give this person a chance to succeed before completely tearing him down for his past decisions. That’s just my opinion and I understand that others might not agree, but I felt it needed to be said.

Kahuna
 
> > > > .."Welcome to Columbus, Jay and best of luck to you"
> > might
> > >
> > > > sound better (no, we don't have Casino Magic or a
> beach
> > > but
> > > > we got better football and bitter cold)...and he did
> > > pretty
> > > > good with Triad's cluster in Biloxi-WCPR still rocks.
> > > >
> > > Whaddaya mean we don't have a beach?? Take a short
> drive
> > up
> > > 23 to Alum Creek State Park...but wait at least a few
> more
> >
> > > months... People flock there from all over the country,
>
> > er,
> > > state, er, 10-mile radius, for summertime beach fun.
> > >
> >
> > I can't speak for Gulfport-Biloxi (except for my old buddy
>
> > Allen Beebe who works for CC there), but I do compete
> > against Triad in Savannah-Hilton Head... and that company
> > runs cheaply and illogically in that market. So, knowing
> Jay
> > Taylor's past, I can't imagine that he's responsible for
> all
> > of their problems. There's a systemic thing going on
> within
> > Triad.
> >
> > And I wish the best of luck to my old pal Jeff Ballentine.
>
> >
> Thanks for that post! That's how I feel and couldn't put it
> as nicely as you did..Allen's your bud? Magic's doing well
> down there!

Allen does well wherever he is. He is one of the most positive individuals I have ever known. We wuz baby DJs in the French Quarter at WNOE-AM in 1976 during the days when E. Alvin Davis was PD, Tom Birch (the one with the ratings company) did PM drive as "Toulouse Street Tom" and Kevin Metheny did nights. Over on the FM, Scooter Segraves, Bobby Reno, Ron White, Russ Boney, Capt. Humble, et al were playing the deep cuts. And Jeff Ballentine was a weekender! We were a scary bunch!
 
Re: Now THAT's great radio..

> > > > > .."Welcome to Columbus, Jay and best of luck to you"
>
> > > might
> > > >
> > > > > sound better (no, we don't have Casino Magic or a
> > beach
> > > > but
> > > > > we got better football and bitter cold)...and he did
>
> > > > pretty
> > > > > good with Triad's cluster in Biloxi-WCPR still
> rocks.
> > > > >
> > > > Whaddaya mean we don't have a beach?? Take a short
> > drive
> > > up
> > > > 23 to Alum Creek State Park...but wait at least a few
> > more
> > >
> > > > months... People flock there from all over the
> country,
> >
> > > er,
> > > > state, er, 10-mile radius, for summertime beach fun.
> > > >
> > >
> > > I can't speak for Gulfport-Biloxi (except for my old
> buddy
> >
> > > Allen Beebe who works for CC there), but I do compete
> > > against Triad in Savannah-Hilton Head... and that
> company
> > > runs cheaply and illogically in that market. So, knowing
>
> > Jay
> > > Taylor's past, I can't imagine that he's responsible for
>
> > all
> > > of their problems. There's a systemic thing going on
> > within
> > > Triad.
> > >
> > > And I wish the best of luck to my old pal Jeff
> Ballentine.
> >
> > >
> > Thanks for that post! That's how I feel and couldn't put
> it
> > as nicely as you did..Allen's your bud? Magic's doing well
>
> > down there!
>
> Allen does well wherever he is. He is one of the most
> positive individuals I have ever known. We wuz baby DJs in
> the French Quarter at WNOE-AM in 1976 during the days when
> E. Alvin Davis was PD, Tom Birch (the one with the ratings
> company) did PM drive as "Toulouse Street Tom" and Kevin
> Metheny did nights. Over on the FM, Scooter Segraves, Bobby
> Reno, Ron White, Russ Boney, Capt. Humble, et al were
> playing the deep cuts. And Jeff Ballentine was a weekender!
> We were a scary bunch!
>
My God! Had NO idea you were a part of that crazy bunch..Kevin did nights and
Birch? When is Jeff gonna post on here about THIS (gotta be great stuff to recall)! Come on, NOE in '76..did that inspire your rockin' format or what!? What was your favorite memory of that place?<P ID="edit"><FONT class="small">Edited by heatherwilliams on 04/14/06 12:22 AM.</FONT></P>
 
Re: Now THAT's great radio..

> > Allen does well wherever he is. He is one of the most
> > positive individuals I have ever known. We wuz baby DJs in
>
> > the French Quarter at WNOE-AM in 1976 during the days when
>
> > E. Alvin Davis was PD, Tom Birch (the one with the ratings
>
> > company) did PM drive as "Toulouse Street Tom" and Kevin
> > Metheny did nights. Over on the FM, Scooter Segraves,
> Bobby
> > Reno, Ron White, Russ Boney, Capt. Humble, et al were
> > playing the deep cuts. And Jeff Ballentine was a
> weekender!
> > We were a scary bunch!
> >
> My God! Had NO idea you were a part of that crazy
> bunch..Kevin did nights and
> Birch? When is Jeff gonna post on here about THIS (gotta be
> great stuff to recall)! Come on, NOE in '76..did that
> inspire your rockin' format or what!? What was your favorite
> memory of that place?

Memories of that time are hard to come by, for obvious reasons...it was the 70's in the French Quarter, after all...most station business was done down at the Chart Room (bar at the end of our block). But my favorite memory is a little off topic for this thread! :)
 
Re: Now THAT's great radio..

> > > Allen does well wherever he is. He is one of the most
> > > positive individuals I have ever known. We wuz baby DJs
> in the French Quarter at WNOE-AM in 1976 during the days
> when E. Alvin Davis was PD, Tom Birch (the one with the
> ratings company) did PM drive as "Toulouse Street Tom" and Kevin
>
> > > Metheny did nights. Over on the FM, Scooter Segraves,
> > Bobby Reno, Ron White, Russ Boney, Capt. Humble, et al were
> > > playing the deep cuts. And Jeff Ballentine was a
> > weekender!

We were a scary bunch!
> > >
> > My God! Had NO idea you were a part of that crazy
> > bunch..Kevin did nights and
> > Birch? When is Jeff gonna post on here about THIS (gotta
> be
> > great stuff to recall)! Come on, NOE in '76..did that
> > inspire your rockin' format or what!? What was your
> favorite
> > memory of that place?
>
> Memories of that time are hard to come by, for obvious
> reasons...it was the 70's in the French Quarter, after
> all...most station business was done down at the Chart Room
> (bar at the end of our block). But my favorite memory is a
> little off topic for this thread! :)
>

I grew up in southeast Arkansas and used to listen to WNOE for about an hour an afternoon, when the skywave from the daytime pattern kicked in... I could hear them for an hour or so, then when the pattern changed, they were gone. This was back in 1980, and the afternoon guy was "the Chucker" and sounded a lot like Wolfman Jack. Whatever happened to him? The music was "pitched up" about 2% also! Did you work with Dan Diamond? When I finally made it to the Coast at 93.7 QID, E. Alvin Davis was the consultant there I believe.
 
> Jay Taylor is a top notch kind of guy. He did a great job
> with KLUC in Las Vegas in the mid to late 80's. He was a
> rising star with Nationwide Broadcasting,
>
> It should come to no surprise that Dave Van Stone went back
> to pull in Jay Taylor. If he is still the great broadcaster
> he was in Las Vegas as well as Florida, he will serve the
> station well.
>



Jay Taylor also spent much of the 90s programming alternative KOME/San Jose.

I'm in Vegas and remember Taylor at KLUC. I also have fond memories of listening to Dave Van Stone when he was a jock at KLUC in the 1970s. I don't believe they worked there at the same time. However in the 80s when Taylor was MD at KLUC, Dave Van Stone was programming (co-owned Western Cities station) KWSS/San Jose. So they have probably known each other for decades.
 
I do not like posting on these boards, but I had to chime in 'cause there's 2 things here I can relate to...working at WNOE in the 70's...I was hired by C.C. Courtney and can say those daze were the most fun in radio ever! I was a kid right out of LSU enjoying the staff meetings at the Chart Room to come up with those crazy ideas for weekend themes, the booming voice of GM Eric Anderson in the building, smoking doobs out the control room windows facing the alley, etc! Both Phil Hendrie and I were alot smaller and had hair back then. And of course the infamous 3rd floor! Damn...memories. And to think my Alma Mater of the 80's, WRNO is going news/talk in a few. Damn shame. Now onto Jay Taylor. Today is his last day in the building here at Triad/Mississippi Media. I will miss Jay. Granted, he takes some getting used to at first...he brought big market management style to this small market. Jay's philosophy is hit the ground running to win. If you're not committed to be part of a winning team, make plans to head elsewhere. Jay has high demands, but he also brought us to the next level when it comes to managing a staff. For that, along with the friendship that developed (especially when we all went through Katrina---the biggest natural disaster in our nation's history together), I will be forever grateful...both on a professional and personal level.
 
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