Oldies 101.9 PD Position

[rufus]

I'm interested and curious about this position. I'd like input from you folks about the station and operation...both good and bad is appreciated..thanks!

 

[shortbaldguy2007]

To me, the station itself although live, sounds very automated. I know at the top of the hour the jock will say it's ____ o'clock (even though it may be a minute or two either way), I'm ______ playing the greatest hits of all time...blah blah blah. I never hear any "personality" and the play list seems very limited. There was a week recently that EVERY day between 1 and 3 pm I heard CSN&Y's "Ohio." Good song, but every day in the same time frame? Libby Farr has been the PD and Morning host and apparently she will stay on as MD.

Russ Oasis owns the station. I've traded some emails with him, but I can't say I know him personally. Scott Roddy is handling the hiring I guess. He's the PD at Russ' Country station in Fort Wayne and former Indy radio personality.

That's pretty much all I know.

Mike

 

[Hoosierky]

From what I have gathered on this board (I am NOT in radio anymore), Russ is VERY hands on. Hotline phone calls at all hours, etc. He bills himself as "anti-corportate", meaning he listens.

 

[words2you]

If this owner is that over the top and hands on as you say, any management postion would purly be titular. After listening to the station off and on in the last few weeks. It makes you appreciate your mp3 player.

 

[Old Skool]

"Hands On" means caring about the way the station sounds and the quality of the product as opposed to how many people / positions can be eliminated, how much voice tracking can be done (to eliminate those people) and how many commmercials / sponsorships can be jammed into a single hour. For those who think that Olides 101.9 sounds automated, perhaps listening to the deep personality of Libby, Crystal, Matt and Jeff will lay that to rest. Apparently, many of you are too young to remember the flawless execution of great stations such as KHJ Los Angeles, CKLW Detroit, KFRC San Francisco, etc. Do not mistake the same thing happening at the top of the hour, each hour, for the personality which they jocks weave throughout the songs during the hour.

 

[radioho]

"Hands On" means caring about the way the station sounds and the quality of the product as opposed to how many people / positions can be eliminated, how much voice tracking can be done (to eliminate those people) and how many commmercials / sponsorships can be jammed into a single hour. For those who think that Olides 101.9 sounds automated, perhaps listening to the deep personality of Libby, Crystal, Matt and Jeff will lay that to rest. Apparently, many of you are too young to remember the flawless execution of great stations such as KHJ Los Angeles, CKLW Detroit, KFRC San Francisco, etc. Do not mistake the same thing happening at the top of the hour, each hour, for the personality which they jocks weave throughout the songs during the hour.

Wasn't there a massive firing when the station failed as a rock station and changed to oldies?

Do you expect us to believe Dan Scott is LIVE overnights? That's Danno doing recorded liners - everyone knows that.

90-second liners between every second or third song is why the station SOUNDS like it's voice tracked. Again, what is the point of having live button pushers when you don't allow them to SHOW their personalities? "hey, here's 'papa was a rollin' stone' for the umptenth time on 101.9 -- 101.9!"

Old Skull (Russ - station owner), instead of TELLING us our perception of Voice Tracking is WRONG (like we don't know what we're hearing), how about PROVING it by allowing jocks to say something other than the Russ-Line is open 15 times per shift.

When Maddog Mattis talks between songs, it's like he's talking WITH his audience, and obvious he's Live - when your jocks talk, you can tell they are scared to death to say something OTHER than what is written, for fear of the dreaded HOTLINE flashing in the background.

Apparently, you don't remember the great stations when they ALLOWED JOCKS TO TALK WITHOUT RESTRAINT OR WRITTEN LINERS?

 

[shortbaldguy2007]

Don't get me wrong, Russ. I'm not saying that the station sounds bad, just predictable. I listened from 7-3:30 every weekday for about a month (the place I was working had it on) and it got to the point that I knew what was coming after each song, whether it be a recorded liner, weather, "that was, this is," or just the announcer cracking the mic for a simple "Oldies 101.9." The station's overall sound quality is excellent, although, personally speaking of course, I would like to hear a bigger play list. Again, that's just me.

Your attitude toward "anti-corporate" radio is a breath of fresh air, and I wish more owners took as much pride in their stations as you do. In my 15 plus years in the business, I can only worked for one owner that cared like you do. (and that was in the early 90s)

To the original poster, best of luck if you apply for the PD position. You will be working for an owner that cares.

 

[words2you]

WOW radioho, thats strong and your vocal about it. Dont hold back let us know how you really feel.
Do these jocks REALLY get hotlined by the owner?
What would you hotline them for? For reading the liner card wrong? I am not trying to be facetious, I am really curious.

 

[IndyDan]

Apparently, many of you are too young to remember the flawless execution of great stations such as KHJ Los Angeles, CKLW Detroit, KFRC San Francisco, etc. Do not mistake the same thing happening at the top of the hour, each hour, for the personality which they jocks weave throughout the songs during the hour.

I am not too young to remember stations like those metioned...the BOSS RADIO era. There were some really great stations then. To compare KLU with them is wrong, because there is absolutely NO comparison. Those stations were slick, had awesome talent, and were well-polished. KLU technically sounds good, but overall, I rate it as downright boring and *extremely* predictable. I fail to see any personality to it at all. It's people reading from cards, playing corny liners and an occasional jingle. Back in the 60's and 70's jocks cold be jocks on the mega AM stations, and yes, even WNAP with people like Mike Griffin, Bodine, and Conner. WIBC with Gary Todd and Chick Riley...but wait, you weren't around Indy then, were you? I was, and always looked forward to hearing Reb Porter or Jay Reynolds on WIFE. It was part of WHY people listened to radio. Back in the 60's my mom thought Bob Morrison on WXLW as the closest thing to God that there was. Regardless of the format, every stations had its' personalities back then, and listeners were very loyal to their favorites. KLU has some talented individuals on the air..I think Libby was MUCH better when she was on Q-95, but the screws are turned so tight that they cannot be themselves, so where is all this personality you speak of? You need to bring Roddy back to Indy and put him on PM drive..he is one of the few I would actually listen to. It may not be corporate radio, but it sure as hell sounds like it.

 

[radioho]

WOW radioho, thats strong and your vocal about it. Dont hold back let us know how you really feel.
Do these jocks REALLY get hotlined by the owner?
What would you hotline them for? For reading the liner card wrong? I am not trying to be facetious, I am really curious.

As much as I enjoy reliving the good ol' days - do your homework. That's what the SEARCH section is for.

 

[RDO]

I haven't heard much personality. You could do so much more, Old Skool. Maybe you will let the new PD have some freedom to put together a great sounding station. Right now, it does not sound like those super stations from the 70's with big personalities.

Maybe you should hire some veteran Indy jocks, like Reb Porter, Jerry Curtis, Mike O'Brien, etc. They know the music, unlike the kids on the air now. It would be great to hear some talented people on the air.

 

[PTBoardOp94]

Anyone else find it ironic that radioho and Old Skool started posting again on the same day?

 

[voicetrack]

I know Russ reads this board, so I'd like to ask a question if I may.

Others in this thread have said that you (Russ) are known to hotline the talent while they are on the air.

Is this true? Really?

 

[RDO]

I know Russ reads this board, so I'd like to ask a question if I may.

Others in this thread have said that you (Russ) are known to hotline the talent while they are on the air.

Is this true? Really?

And I would like to add - Why is it so important to hotline, when you should be having weekly meetings and critiques with your professional staff to discuss how you want things?

 

[mobilene]

Waaaait... wasn't this thread supposed to be about the open PD position at WKLU?

I wonder if it's possible to move all the Russ-bashing and -baiting to its own forum where I can more easily ignore it.

 

[RDO]

These are legit questions for people considering applying for the PD position. So, it does go back to the original post.

 

[Timewarp]

Radio Ho! Quit picking on Russ! Unless you are Russ! Are you Russ? In that case, quit picking
on yourself!

 

[radiowannab]

After the way the owner responded to me on here I can no longer listen to the station. But every time I scroll past 101.9 on my dial I think of Radio Ho and laugh.

 

[flashback]

Regardless of the format, every stations had its' personalities back then, and listeners were very loyal to their favorites. KLU has some talented individuals on the air..I think Libby was MUCH better when she was on Q-95, but the screws are turned so tight that they cannot be themselves, so where is all this personality you speak of? You need to bring Roddy back to Indy and put him on PM drive..he is one of the few I would actually listen to. It may not be corporate radio, but it sure as hell sounds like it.

I can`t say anything about her on Q95 but I think she was much better when bruce quinn ran wklu.

 

[words2you]

Owners, and managers are like the bus. If you miss one, just wait another one is on the way.