Q104 sans Fig - down she goes

[Lehos]

Well, Fig has been gone for about a month now. Here are some of the changes I have noted:

-Today (10/17) John Connor did middays, Jen Toohey did PM drive, and Alli did nights. Personally, I think this is actually a decent lineup, and would advise Fee of keeping it for now. Personally, I think John and Alli do a better job than Rick Allen for the format.

-A few 80's songs have crept into the rotation. Heard "Stand" by REM today. Whatever happened to "90's and Now"? Come on Mr. Fee...is it that hard to follow your own positioner?

-Some kid named Randal Scott is now doing Fig's Saturday Night Request Show. Can we please have SOME enthusiasm for being on the air? You have what I consider to be a prime spot in a major market. Most everyone else is either syndicated or voicetracked. Take advantage of a live Saturday night show. I have more enthusiasm using the toilet. Heck, even Mr. Fee seems like he has more energy on his giant pile of waste he calls a morning show.

-Weekender Ken has been getting more shifts. Ken sounds like a young Jay Lynn, IMO. Didn't we can a fine personality like Jay because he didn't fit the format, Mr. Fee? Why are you suddenly putting Ken on weekend shifts more? He fits the format about as well as a shoe fits a hand. Could it be those free Cavs tickets? Hmmm. Come on Mr. Fee. Are free tickets to see LeBron sitting on the sidelines worth having your weekends sound bad?

-A new voice guy seems to be slowly phasing in. Heard him do a few TOH's. New guy has a good voice, but we were all finally warming up to our favorite NFL guy, who as nate81 I believe recently said has been finding a home in Cleeeeeeeeeeeeveland. Why change for the sake of change?

-Mr. Fee is now taking over Jen Toohey's shift, i've heard him come on a few times to make pointless chit chat that he feels will boost his already massive ego. If only you were worth an ego, Mr. Fee


It still boggles my mind how GOOD Q104 could sound if Fig had been able to stay and take over as PD, or if ANYONE with half a brain was programming the station. Mr. Fee is simply a bumbling fool. He has no clue what he is doing, and belittles his staff to make himself feel higher. Anyone ever see him at an apperance? I once saw him make an intern cry at a Blossom show 2 summers ago because she had run out of "Q" bumper stickers and had to go get more from the table.

Between his lack of radio knowledge and overall arrogance and hostility toward humankind, the station will now go down as we see how much Fig was actually the one in charge while Mr. Fee ate pizza and played golf every day. I've heard of idiot Program Directors. And i've heard of horribly mean and cruel Program Directors. And Mr. Fee is the worst of both worlds, which is truly sad for a fine staff that includes Jen Toohey, John Connor, Rebecca Wilde, Rick Allen, and Alli. No comments on Mr. Fee allowing Ken, Randal Scott and Jamie Sullivan to operate a microphone on his station (although Jamie Sullivan is sounding much better.) My guess is though with Ken and Randal Scott that there's something going on there between them and Mr. Fee.

Both Mr. Fee and the entire radio community would benefit from Mr. Fee removing himself from the world of radio and spending his time doing something more appropriate for him, like a slaughterhouse foreman.

 

[chacha]

Wow...jealousy methinks!

I'm sure you would do a much better job with Q104 than Fee.
Personally, I think the station sounds better for the changes.
when do you start in mornings???

 

[XL]

> Are free
> tickets to see LeBron sitting on the sidelines worth having
> your weekends sound bad?

Not to take this O/T...but....come on man! It's only been ONE home, pre-season game. At least he didn't injure himself after the first few games of his career and wind up sidelined for the season or a good portion of it...ya know how the Browns' seem to have happen with their key players shortly after they sign??

 

[scoob]

...eh, "Down she goes" for the past 4 years, Lehos. Same old blah Q104.

> Well, Fig has been gone for about a month now. Here are some
> of the changes I have noted:
>
> -Today (10/17) John Connor did middays, Jen Toohey did PM
> drive, and Alli did nights. Personally, I think this is
> actually a decent lineup, and would advise Fee of keeping it
> for now. Personally, I think John and Alli do a better job
> than Rick Allen for the format.
>
> -A few 80's songs have crept into the rotation. Heard
> "Stand" by REM today. Whatever happened to "90's and Now"?
> Come on Mr. Fee...is it that hard to follow your own
> positioner?
>
> -Some kid named Randal Scott is now doing Fig's Saturday
> Night Request Show. Can we please have SOME enthusiasm for
> being on the air? You have what I consider to be a prime
> spot in a major market. Most everyone else is either
> syndicated or voicetracked. Take advantage of a live
> Saturday night show. I have more enthusiasm using the
> toilet. Heck, even Mr. Fee seems like he has more energy on
> his giant pile of waste he calls a morning show.
>
> -Weekender Ken has been getting more shifts. Ken sounds like
> a young Jay Lynn, IMO. Didn't we can a fine personality like
> Jay because he didn't fit the format, Mr. Fee? Why are you
> suddenly putting Ken on weekend shifts more? He fits the
> format about as well as a shoe fits a hand. Could it be
> those free Cavs tickets? Hmmm. Come on Mr. Fee. Are free
> tickets to see LeBron sitting on the sidelines worth having
> your weekends sound bad?
>
> -A new voice guy seems to be slowly phasing in. Heard him do
> a few TOH's. New guy has a good voice, but we were all
> finally warming up to our favorite NFL guy, who as nate81 I
> believe recently said has been finding a home in
> Cleeeeeeeeeeeeveland. Why change for the sake of change?
>
> -Mr. Fee is now taking over Jen Toohey's shift, i've heard
> him come on a few times to make pointless chit chat that he
> feels will boost his already massive ego. If only you were
> worth an ego, Mr. Fee
>
>
> It still boggles my mind how GOOD Q104 could sound if Fig
> had been able to stay and take over as PD, or if ANYONE with
> half a brain was programming the station. Mr. Fee is simply
> a bumbling fool. He has no clue what he is doing, and
> belittles his staff to make himself feel higher. Anyone ever
> see him at an apperance? I once saw him make an intern cry
> at a Blossom show 2 summers ago because she had run out of
> "Q" bumper stickers and had to go get more from the table.
>
> Between his lack of radio knowledge and overall arrogance
> and hostility toward humankind, the station will now go down
> as we see how much Fig was actually the one in charge while
> Mr. Fee ate pizza and played golf every day. I've heard of
> idiot Program Directors. And i've heard of horribly mean and
> cruel Program Directors. And Mr. Fee is the worst of both
> worlds, which is truly sad for a fine staff that includes
> Jen Toohey, John Connor, Rebecca Wilde, Rick Allen, and
> Alli. No comments on Mr. Fee allowing Ken, Randal Scott and
> Jamie Sullivan to operate a microphone on his station
> (although Jamie Sullivan is sounding much better.) My guess
> is though with Ken and Randal Scott that there's something
> going on there between them and Mr. Fee.
>
> Both Mr. Fee and the entire radio community would benefit
> from Mr. Fee removing himself from the world of radio and
> spending his time doing something more appropriate for him,
> like a slaughterhouse foreman.
>

 

[Lehos]

> Wow...jealousy methinks!
>
> I'm sure you would do a much better job with Q104 than Fee.
> Personally, I think the station sounds better for the
> changes.
> when do you start in mornings???
>


Mr. Fee --err-- Chaha,

Not jealous at all. By no means do I consider myself a radio programmer. However, I know I could at least do a better job than you. Here's how:

--I would follow my positioner. Fig's not gone a month and you are up to your "play 80's on a 90's and Now" tricks. Make up your mind!!

--I would NOT place myself in AM Drive. When Danny left, I would have done a search to find someone to fill his shoes and someone who would be a good pair with Rebecca. You had talent with Danny, and you knew it. No one's fault he left...just one of those things. However, your solution for YOU to go on AM Drive was just absurd and UNPROFESSIONAL. I love how you ask when I start on mornings. It's not a requirement for the PD to be on AM Drive, in case you don't know.

--I also would not have such poor weekenders. While I understand everyone needs practice and training (we all did at one point), these guys and gals you have need that practice in much smaller markets. They just make the station sound amateurish and much less professional. Especially considering the all-star lineup that you have from 10am-10pm (I understand you have no control running Leeza Gibbons - that's Infinity making late nights go down the crapper)

--Since you came on board, you have lost the Cleveland rights to such shows as Kasey Kasem's Top 20, Rick Dees Top 40, and Retro Pop Reunion. I believe they are all on your competition now while you run these jocks like Ken and Randal Scott and rerun your waste dump of a morning show. I know if I am driving around on a Sunday morning, I am listening to Kasey Kasem on Mix before I am listening to reruns of Rebecca, Glenn, and Brian being forced to laugh at your jokes about how out of shape you are. But before you came, I was listening to Kasey on Q.

--I would do something about the absurdely high turnover of staff. Either start programming, stop being a jerk, or BOTH. Ain't hard, Mr. Fee

 

[JohnnyMorganWXJX]

> Wow...jealousy methinks!
>
> I'm sure you would do a much better job with Q104 than Fee.

I probably would. Act 1--change the format. But I don't want to be PD.

> Personally, I think the station sounds better for the
> changes.

Personal opinion. I disagree.

> when do you start in mornings???
>

Tomorrow morning. Yes, it's Wednesday. THAT'S how bad it is.

See you tomorrow, 6 o'clock in the "MORGAN"!

 

[nate81]

> --Since you came on board, you have lost the Cleveland
> rights to such shows as Kasey Kasem's Top 20, Rick Dees Top
> 40, and Retro Pop Reunion. I believe they are all on your
> competition now [...]

Casey's top 20 wound up on WMVX. Rick's on WKDD. Retro Pop Reunion vanished off the face of the earth - is it still on the air?

while you run these jocks like Ken and
> Randal Scott and rerun your waste dump of a morning show. I
> know if I am driving around on a Sunday morning, I am
> listening to Kasey Kasem on Mix before I am listening to
> reruns of Rebecca, Glenn, and Brian being forced to laugh at
> your jokes about how out of shape you are. But before you
> came, I was listening to Kasey on Q.

I'd rather listen to "Media Power" infomercials on WHK myself.

> --I would do something about the absurdely high turnover of
> staff. Either start programming, stop being a jerk, or BOTH.
> Ain't hard, Mr. Fee

That's a given.

And as I've said, time and again, why the hell Infinity continues to employ this man boggles my mind. Chris Maduri is smarter than this. He has to be.

- nate81
<P ID="signature">______________
Nathan Obral
University Partnership Representative: LCCC Student Senate, Elyria, Ohio

Soon-to-be-webmaster - http://www.lcccradio.com</P>

 

[HHH]

> And as I've said, time and again, why the hell Infinity
> continues to employ this man boggles my mind. Chris Maduri
> is smarter than this. He has to be.

Maybe he's a lot smarter in the business sense than we think.
Keep expenses down with C-grade talent and programmers, manage a modest set of expenses, hit your easy projected corporate goals, take a vacation.

You make mediocre radio this way, but if you don't care about excellence and just want to live your life on pressure-free cruise control, that's fine.

But true winners don't think that way.

 

[Lehos]

While it's obvious Chris Maduri wants DOK to shine, there is no reason for Mr. Fee to be programming Q104, or any radio station.

 

[chacha]

First...I'm not Mr. Fee

Second....Why would you assume that Infinity makes Fee run Leeza Gibbons
but all of the other syndicated shows were his decision?
And do you really think the move to mornings was his dictatorial
own? Why so personal with this guy? Did he date your sister?

Third.....Its Casey Kasem....Casey with a "C"

Fourth...He dropped Rick Dees' Top 40 Countdown from a Hot AC station????
Oh my!!! I take back everything!
Where do you get your Nelly songs now??

 

[JohnnyMorganWXJX]

> First...I'm not Mr. Fee

Lucky you.

> Second....Why would you assume that Infinity makes Fee run
> Leeza Gibbons
> but all of the other syndicated shows were his
> decision?
> And do you really think the move to mornings was
> his dictatorial
> own? Why so personal with this guy? Did he date
> your sister?

Ok, by that logic you're stating that Fee chose to run Gibbons--on a Hot AC. Yet MORE evidence that he's a programming buffoon.

> Third.....Its Casey Kasem....Casey with a "C"

Yes. Unless you read the LA Times from the 60s, when it was misspelled more than you can imagine. And that was his hometown.

> Fourth...He dropped Rick Dees' Top 40 Countdown from a Hot
> AC station????
> Oh my!!! I take back everything!
> Where do you get your Nelly songs now??

This is your affirmative defense? "Fee dropped a Top 40 show, so he must know what he's doing"? Weak, sir. Very weak.

 

[BrettV]

> Fourth...He dropped Rick Dees' Top 40 Countdown from a Hot
> AC station????
> Oh my!!! I take back everything!
> Where do you get your Nelly songs now??
>

Rick Dees does a Hot AC version of "The Weekly Top 40" which is what currently runs on WKDD Sunday nights. I assume this is the version 104 used to run (although I could be wrong)

 

[BrettV]

> Casey's top 20 wound up on WMVX. Rick's on WKDD. Retro Pop
> Reunion vanished off the face of the earth - is it still on
> the air?

Casey's AT20 is on both Mix 106.5 and WKDD. Rick can be heard on WKDD and Hot 101. Retro Pop Reunion is still out there, I heard it on vacation over the summer...I don't think there are any stations in our nearby area that run it.

 

[chacha]

> > First...I'm not Mr. Fee
>
> Lucky you.

Thanks!
>
> > Second....Why would you assume that Infinity makes Fee run
>
> > Leeza Gibbons
> > but all of the other syndicated shows were his
> > decision?
> > And do you really think the move to mornings was
> > his dictatorial
> > own? Why so personal with this guy? Did he date
> > your sister?
>
> Ok, by that logic you're stating that Fee chose to run
> Gibbons--on a Hot AC. Yet MORE evidence that he's a
> programming buffoon.
>
No...the logic is simply that they are ALL not Allan Fee's misguided decisions.

> > Third.....Its Casey Kasem....Casey with a "C"
>
> Yes. Unless you read the LA Times from the 60s, when it was
> misspelled more than you can imagine. And that was his
> hometown.

Seems as though some folks here do still read it. Lots of outdated radio strategies to go along with it.
And actually, Casey is from Detroit.

> > Fourth...He dropped Rick Dees' Top 40 Countdown from a Hot
>
> > AC station????
> > Oh my!!! I take back everything!
> > Where do you get your Nelly songs now??
>
> This is your affirmative defense? "Fee dropped a Top 40
> show, so he must know what he's doing"? Weak, sir. Very
> weak.


Not a defense....the fact that the station is one of Infinity's better performing HOT AC's and that the station sounds a helluva lot better than it
did when he walked in give me the sense that he does. But you would've kept Dees...cause he's relevant.

 

[JohnnyMorganWXJX]

> > > First...I'm not Mr. Fee
> >
> > Lucky you.
>
> Thanks!

You're welcome.

> > > Second....Why would you assume that Infinity makes Fee
> run
> >
> > > Leeza Gibbons
> > > but all of the other syndicated shows were his
> > > decision?
> > > And do you really think the move to mornings
> was
> > > his dictatorial
> > > own? Why so personal with this guy? Did he
> date
> > > your sister?
> >
> > Ok, by that logic you're stating that Fee chose to run
> > Gibbons--on a Hot AC. Yet MORE evidence that he's a
> > programming buffoon.
> >
> No...the logic is simply that they are ALL not Allan Fee's
> misguided decisions.

OK, so which decision(s) were corporate and which were by Fee? Then we can determine what he's done right (if anything).

Or if, as I read that comment, you contend that the programming decisions were done by Infinity corporate management (either on Radio Lane or in NYC), how does that place Fee in a better light--"I was just following orders"? That undercuts your argument that Fee is a great success--because he isn't any more responsible for that "success" (directed from elsewhere) than Larry the Janitor.

> > > Third.....Its Casey Kasem....Casey with a "C"
> >
> > Yes. Unless you read the LA Times from the 60s, when it
> was
> > misspelled more than you can imagine. And that was his
> > hometown.
>
> Seems as though some folks here do still read it. Lots of
> outdated radio strategies to go along with it.
> And actually, Casey is from Detroit.

When he was in LA, it was his hometown (I apologize for my previous vagueness). I could understand, say, a Philly newspaper misspelling his name, but when he's on KRLA--the #1 station in LA at the time--and it's misspelled (Kassam, e.g.), that allows for some discrepancy.

> > > Fourth...He dropped Rick Dees' Top 40 Countdown from a
> Hot
> >
> > > AC station????
> > > Oh my!!! I take back everything!
> > > Where do you get your Nelly songs now??
> >
> > This is your affirmative defense? "Fee dropped a Top 40
> > show, so he must know what he's doing"? Weak, sir. Very
> > weak.
>
>
> Not a defense....the fact that the station is one of
> Infinity's better performing HOT AC's and that the station
> sounds a helluva lot better than it
> did when he walked in give me the sense that he does. But
> you would've kept Dees...cause he's relevant.

First, I never made one statement about keeping Rick Dees. I personally wouldn't have. But that is my first public statement on the matter, so your statement above is unfounded conjecture. Please correct yourself accordingly.

Secondly, the station sounds better now than it did a year ago. True--but a year ago Fee was still running the place, and running it badly. Before he walked in, Q104 was sounding like a middle-range female-targetted AC station--what with Larry Morrow, jay Lynn, Johnny Williams, Jon Russell, etc. Shockingly, that's what it was aiming for.

The decline of Q104 coincided with (a) the Infinity purchase, and (b) the Allan Fee PD-chairmanship. Having the station sound better (marginally) now than the first years of his stewardship negates none of the previous ineffectiveness under Fee.

He's lucky he was given this long to right the thing. Most PDs would have been blown out by now. But this tends to be an Infinity trait (see also, Monroe, Kim--923X sounds fine now, but it took how long to get there?)

 

[nate81]

Allan Fee vs. Mike Luczak

> While it's obvious Chris Maduri wants DOK to shine, there is
> no reason for Mr. Fee to be programming Q104, or any radio
> station.
>

The more I think about it, the duo of Allan Fee and Mike Luczak are joined at the hip. It's a shame they don't look alike, or I'd start the "seperated at birth" gag line.

Both are corporate lapdogs (Fee with Infinity, Luczak with Salem), both are unqualified to be PDs in any sense of the word, both have overinflated egos (Fee in AMD, Luczak imaging WKNR) and both took decent stations (Fee with WQAL, Luzack with WKNR) and have taken them to hell.

Both have higher-ups (for Fee - almost a Mike Tyson faux pas - it's Chris Maduri; for Luczak, it's Errol Dengler) that love and care for the star stations in their respective clusters. (For Infinity, it's WDOK, for Salem, it's WFHM- The Fish.) Maduri and Dengler obviously care about those jewels far more than anything else in the world, so to hell with anything else. Therefore, say hello to Allan and Mike, kiddies!

One final thing in common: neither will be fired any time soon for their atrocities. But they SHOULD have been canned yesterday, followed by ticker-tape parades in Public Square!

- nate81<P ID="signature">______________
Nathan Obral
University Partnership Representative: LCCC Student Senate, Elyria, Ohio

Soon-to-be-webmaster - http://www.lcccradio.com</P>

 

[nate81]

> OK, so which decision(s) were corporate and which were by
> Fee? Then we can determine what he's done right (if
> anything).
>
> Or if, as I read that comment, you contend that the
> programming decisions were done by Infinity corporate
> management (either on Radio Lane or in NYC), how does that
> place Fee in a better light--"I was just following orders"?
> That undercuts your argument that Fee is a great
> success--because he isn't any more responsible for that
> "success" (directed from elsewhere) than Larry the Janitor.

I'd take a flier on Larry the Janitor myself

Johnny, I noticed the SAME defense with richardhead - blaming Infinity for forcefeed Leeza on weeknights, putting on "LoveLine," etc. That only shows me how utterly VAPID Fee is. I get the impression that he can't program his way out of a paper bag.

Moreover, richardhead used the "$$$" tag to justify W&F (rather, "WTF?") on seven days a week. Bull. (I'm not talking about the 923X jock here You could go jockless the whole weekend, and air NOTHING but songs! Leave the lights off when John Connor leaves after his Friday night shift.

That would save TONS of money, no? In fact, I remember a station which did this same thing - WZJM/92.3. By Mike Luczak, right before the "Xtreme" flip. Scary.

> When he was in LA, it was his hometown (I apologize for my
> previous vagueness). I could understand, say, a Philly
> newspaper misspelling his name, but when he's on KRLA--the
> #1 station in LA at the time--and it's misspelled (Kassam,
> e.g.), that allows for some discrepancy.
>

Incidentally, Casey did have a short stint on WJW/850 back in the late 50's. He was one of many people who dropped in on Carl Reese's 50th anniversary show on WCLV/1420 back in 2002.

Ironically, WJW was on both AM and FM then - the FM side was at 104.1 - today WQAL.

> Secondly, the station sounds better now than it did a year ago.

I lay the improvement tag on Fig. Fee gets nothing, nor will he ever... in my book, at least. The stage is set for very sizable dips in both 1) quality and 2) ratings. And sadly, Fee will probably keep his job. Incredible.

- nate81<P ID="signature">______________
Nathan Obral
University Partnership Representative: LCCC Student Senate, Elyria, Ohio

Soon-to-be-webmaster - http://www.lcccradio.com</P>

 

[network]

Let Me Correct You, Part ????

> Johnny, I noticed the SAME defense with richardhead -
> blaming Infinity for forcefeed Leeza on weeknights, putting
> on "LoveLine," etc. That only shows me how utterly VAPID Fee
> is. I get the impression that he can't program his way out
> of a paper bag.

Wrong Nate. Some of you on this board really need to keep your ish straight. I never blamed Infinity (or even remotely close) for putting Leeza on at night. But, I wouldn't doubt it was a corporate decision to get her pile-o-crap show on major market HAC's. If I had the option, I'd take the rollover and run this overnight.

> Moreover, richardhead used the "$$$" tag to justify W&F
> (rather, "WTF?") on seven days a week. Bull. (I'm not
> talking about the 923X jock here

Again, you are WRONG, Nate!

First of all, I never ever defended a morning show being on 7 days a week. I'll never defend a morning show (including any kind of "best of" being on 6 days a week, let alone 7). Get your ish straight.

Secondly, while you, JM and a few others were (still are) quick to immediately blame Fee for him going to mornings, I have simply stated (at least twice) between you and JM NOT to be so quick to blame Fee. I don't know, if for a fact, Fee was like "hell yeah, I'll do mornings" or if it was a mandate from corporate. It could be possible that Fee had no choice. I don't know of too many PD's who like doing mornings AND programming their station. There might be a few. Slip the PD an extra few grand a year to do mornings -- or pay someone else around 10x that?

Hmmm.

It's all economics. Why is this so difficult to grasp onto? I am not saying it's the right move, but it's something called the reality of this industry. It might help some of you who are quick to point the finger from your grassy knoll to get something called the FACTS (ooh, buzz word) before making assumptions some of you have yet to back up.

It's easy for some of you who've never worked in radio in this corporate age or are still at the college-level to bust a PD's balls for going along with corporate decisions. If you or anyone else claims you'd tell corporate to stick it up their ass (OK...maybe not so harsh, but you get the point), you're full of what comes out of that crevace in your body. Not to mention it continues to demonstrate exactly how out of touch you are with the realities of radio today. This isn't 1997.

Go ahead and go against Corporate (ya know, the people who PAY you to work at THEIR station) and see where that gets you. Then, until someone else hires you, maybe you can work for the other alternative weekly in this town bitching and moaning about radio a couple of times a month. The days of "going across the street" have long-been over. If you enjoy being employed and collecting that paycheck that comes along with having a job, then you'll do what your bosses tell you. You might not agree with it or you might be able to talk your boss out of that decision. If not, oh well. This happens in every type of job in this country (unless YOU are the boss).

And to make sure that some of you don't start drawing ASSumptions, this has nothing to do with agreeing and/or defending corporate decisions. Hey, if they make a stupid decision that comes back to bite them in the backside, at least you can sit back and go "neener, neener".

And if some of you are thinking "I'd never work/go along/whatever with corporate", then great -- good for you! Do something else, turn off the radio, head to OfficeMax and buy a spindle of 100 CD-R's, burn all of your favorite stuff to them and stop bitching. It's not going to change.

> You could go jockless
> the whole weekend, and air NOTHING but songs! Leave the
> lights off when John Connor leaves after his Friday night
> shift.
> That would save TONS of money, no?

Not "tons"...but this is one thing that Infinity boasts about -- having live jocks (for the most part).

> I lay the improvement tag on Fig. Fee gets nothing, nor will
> he ever... in my book, at least. The stage is set for very
> sizable dips in both 1) quality and 2) ratings. And sadly,
> Fee will probably keep his job. Incredible.

And time will tell in a couple of books, then. And NO, you won't be able to tell after this book (especially with the huge discrepencies in diary placement in this market over the past couple of books). The smarter ones on this forum should know that.

But I am sure some of you will pull out those 12-plus numbers, because they are dead-on accurate as to how each station performs in their key demographics, and start determining the kill date for some stations in this town.

You might not like how the station or the morning show sounds, so be it (some of you sure spend alot of time listening to something you don't like). The fact is, as has been stated before, WQAL is one of Infinity's better-performing HAC's.

 

[JohnnyMorganWXJX]

Re: Let Me Correct You, Part ????

> Secondly, while you, JM and a few others were (still are)
> quick to immediately blame Fee for him going to mornings, I
> have simply stated (at least twice) between you and JM NOT
> to be so quick to blame Fee. I don't know, if for a fact,
> Fee was like "hell yeah, I'll do mornings" or if it was a
> mandate from corporate. It could be possible that Fee had
> no choice. I don't know of too many PD's who like doing
> mornings AND programming their station. There might be a
> few. Slip the PD an extra few grand a year to do mornings
> -- or pay someone else around 10x that?

Look, you guys can't have it both ways. Who is responsible for WQAL's success or failure, and who makes programming decisions: Allan Fee or Infinity corporate (either Radio Lane or NYC)? It's one or the other. You (collective) say Fee is a success, then place EVERY SINGLE FAILURE or INCONVENIENT FACT on Infinity's back. That's where I respond, "hmmmmm".

> Hmmm.
>
> It's all economics. Why is this so difficult to grasp onto?
> I am not saying it's the right move, but it's something
> called the reality of this industry. It might help some of
> you who are quick to point the finger from your grassy knoll
> to get something called the FACTS (ooh, buzz word) before
> making assumptions some of you have yet to back up.

You admitted above that YOU don't know for sure. Nate and I (and others) have been making observations, and tying together pieces parts from what we read here, from the likes of you and chachie.

> It's easy for some of you who've never worked in radio in
> this corporate age or are still at the college-level to bust
> a PD's balls for going along with corporate decisions.

Ahhh, there it is--modern commercial radio elitism. Surprised it took so long.

> If
> you or anyone else claims you'd tell corporate to stick it
> up their ass (OK...maybe not so harsh, but you get the
> point), you're full of what comes out of that crevace in
> your body.

Might surprise you to know that when I ran my college radio station, I told the college president (and dean) to do exactly that. You know what happened? They sought my guidance even more because I had the connections with the Pittsburgh radio people and they didn't. They wanted the bigger station, and I had some important cards. Plus I knew radio, and they didn't.

> Not to mention it continues to demonstrate
> exactly how out of touch you are with the realities of radio
> today. This isn't 1997.

It wasn't that different in 1997, or 1967. Corporate politics have been the same since merchantilist days. The difference now is that there's less corporations in number, and more of the plutocracy controlling the "lakefront" properties. Therein lies the problem, one which is easily fixed. But I digress...

> Go ahead and go against Corporate (ya know, the people who
> PAY you to work at THEIR station) and see where that gets
> you. Then, until someone else hires you, maybe you can work
> for the other alternative weekly in this town bitching and
> moaning about radio a couple of times a month.

Funny, John Gorman (the subject of your attack there) is still invited to The Conclave--along with Skippy, and Mike McVay, and, oh, Allan Fee. So shut it.

> The days of
> "going across the street" have long-been over.

Not really. Still alot of streets left--and more opening up on satellite. That's where Johnny Williams went, and now he's back in terrestrial radio in Detroit. Unless you mean the "streets" are Infinity and Clear Channel. Plus, look at your average non-compete nowadays.

> If you enjoy
> being employed and collecting that paycheck that comes along
> with having a job, then you'll do what your bosses tell you.
> You might not agree with it or you might be able to talk
> your boss out of that decision. If not, oh well. This
> happens in every type of job in this country (unless YOU are
> the boss).

Who said anything different?

> And to make sure that some of you don't start drawing
> ASSumptions, this has nothing to do with agreeing and/or
> defending corporate decisions. Hey, if they make a stupid
> decision that comes back to bite them in the backside, at
> least you can sit back and go "neener, neener".

Neener, neener, WQAL...neener, neener.

> And if some of you are thinking "I'd never work/go
> along/whatever with corporate", then great -- good for you!
> Do something else, turn off the radio, head to OfficeMax and
> buy a spindle of 100 CD-R's, burn all of your favorite stuff
> to them and stop bitching. It's not going to change.

Oh, I wouldn't be so sure of that last statement. Get enough outrage in Congress and it will change. Remember, that's all that stands in the way of dropping this plutocracy like a house of cards. In fact, not even Congress--a change of a two seats on the FCC can do it.

> > You could go jockless
> > the whole weekend, and air NOTHING but songs! Leave the
> > lights off when John Connor leaves after his Friday night
> > shift.
> > That would save TONS of money, no?
>
> Not "tons"...but this is one thing that Infinity boasts
> about -- having live jocks (for the most part).

Which is one (of a number) plus that Infinity has over CC. CC likes to use voicetracking; Infinity likes to use live jocks, regardless of talent. I prefer live quality jocks, but we can't have everything, can we? What is it you say? Oh yeah--economics...and no balls.

> > I lay the improvement tag on Fig. Fee gets nothing, nor
> will
> > he ever... in my book, at least. The stage is set for very
>
> > sizable dips in both 1) quality and 2) ratings. And sadly,
>
> > Fee will probably keep his job. Incredible.
>
> And time will tell in a couple of books, then. And NO, you
> won't be able to tell after this book (especially with the
> huge discrepencies in diary placement in this market over
> the past couple of books). The smarter ones on this forum
> should know that.

No one said otherwise.

> But I am sure some of you will pull out those 12-plus
> numbers, because they are dead-on accurate as to how each
> station performs in their key demographics, and start
> determining the kill date for some stations in this town.

Ah, radio elitism again. No one even mentioned 12+ books. But you couldn't resist the dig, could you?

> You might not like how the station or the morning show
> sounds, so be it (some of you sure spend alot of time
> listening to something you don't like).

I last listened to WQAL for any length of time two months ago. I don't need constant surveying to crap to form an opinion.

> The fact is, as has
> been stated before, WQAL is one of Infinity's
> better-performing HAC's.

That's not saying much for their other stations.

 

[chacha]

> I lay the improvement tag on Fig. Fee gets nothing, nor will
> he ever... in my book, at least.


Well that says it all....so no need to debate who's responsible.
If its good...its someone else or Infinity wisdom...if its bad..it's Fee.

Its a horrible format to be in...it doesn't dominate anywhere....
give the guy credit for fighting the fight.