Radio in the Tri-Cities: Where we were and where we are.

[Warlock]

In January of 1989 I came to the Tri-Cities for what turned out to be the first of many trips. I was attempting to break into radio in this market and there was only one station that I had my sights on: WQUT. I knew that they were, and had been for a long time, the #1 AQH station in the country. In spite of the fact that I was 19 and coming from market BFE, I was certain that my talent and voice would secure my future at that station.
I got an interview with then-PD Rufus Hurt (by that I mean I showed up and asked if I could speak with him) and was led to his office by the receptionist. The next five minutes were, shall we say....some of the most memorable in my radio career. Had I been writing comedy and doing mornings, the laughter coming from across the desk may have been a positive sign. Unfortunately for me, 5 of the best breaks from my gig in BFE was what he was listening to. "Have you listened to this radio station? I mean really listened to it?" he asked. I was forced to admit that I hadn't. He told me that I was no where near ready to jock on a station of that caliber, but he suggested that while I was in town that I listen to QUT and see if I could hear what the jocks on that station had that my aircheck lacked. Over the next 3 days I did just that. At that time the core jocks on QUT were Steve Mann, Jeri George, Dave Barnett and Dennis Kelly. There were a couple of other jocks that came and went but the "core four" I remember were the ones I just mentioned. What I heard coming from that radio station was an airstaff that was nothing short of....Godzilla with headphones. It's not my intention to offend anyone else working in radio in the Tri-Cities at that time; every station had a good airstaff. But like a superior athlete, there was something about WQUT's airstaff at that time that you couldn't put your finger on...but it certainly came through the speakers. The description I just gave is coming from a 36 year old with 18 years of broadcasting experience; not that of a wide-eyed 19 year old. To this day I have never, market-for-market, heard a station or an airstaff that stirred the passion for broadcasting in me like that station and that airstaff.
That brings us to 2006. 21st century radio doesn't impress me and it certainly doesn't inspire passion for broadcasting in me or anyone else that I've spoken with about it for that matter. Anyone who's been in radio for at least 10 years can see this.
So what's happened to this business that used to motivate us to spend our nights, weekends and holidays working hard to hone our craft? It's been a very slow decline, but a very visible one in retrospect to be sure.
The way I see it, no one in management wants responsibility anymore. They want the pay, the perks and the power that goes along with being a General Manager or Program Director.....but they don't have what it takes to make big decisions. Why do I say this? Look at the track record of radio. Somewhere along the line a GM and/or PD said "Let's stop taking what consultants say as "advice, and let's start carving what they say in stone!" "That way if we have a good book we can say it's because we're good managers and if we have a bad book it's because we did what the consultant said". That may be a sarcastic paraphrase but the sad fact is, it's true. And please don't, anyone, lay that lame s**t out about "Radio is a business today and there's more money involved in it yadayadayada" That is the most pretentious attitude anyone could possibly have. Radio has always been a business and day for day, year for year, it has always been worth just as much as it is today. The problem today is that we have more salesmen than broadcasters in management. I have never N-E-V-E-R sat in an airstaff meeting where sales wasn't at least considered. But I can assure you that I have sat in many sales meetings where programming WASN'T EVEN MENTIONED. And before all you rocket science salesmen shoot back with that immortal line "If it weren't for us you wouldn't get a paycheck" let me throw one back at you "If it weren't for us you wouldn't have anything to sell". The point is that sales and programming should have a symbiotic relationship. In the past, there was at least an attempt by both to support the others weakness and feed off the others strength. Today the sales side is fat and the broadcasting side is so thin we could be lost in Nicole Richie's profile.
The difference between that WQUT air staff that I hold in such high esteem and the airstaffs of today can be summed up in one simple word: Passion. We've been robbed of it by GM's and PD's that pay consultants to make decisions that they are either unable or unwilling to make themselves. It's been slowly drained from us by a sales staff that doesn't have enough foresight to see that they're killing the very thing that provides them with what they sell. If we can't find a way to convince management to welcome more broadcasters into their ranks then there will be no passion left to saved. That's not a prophecy...that's a fact. Passion. That one word is the difference between where we were and where we are.

There's one more thing that I would like to address. It has nothing to do with passion yet it's very much related to the problems we face as broadcasters. I'm talking about the posting related to Taylor Morgan under the post about WTFM going all Christmas. I don't know who posted that but let me make one thing clear to you - you need to learn and show a little more respect for your co-broadcasters. I don't know Ms. Morgan; I've never met her. But the fact that she is a fulltime air talent in this market has, by definition, earned her the respect that you tried to deny her in that vitriolic diatribe that I loosely called a "post". Now before you go running for a dictionary to look up those two words so you can make an attempt at throwing back a witty reply, let me tell you right now - don't even try. I would be willing to bet that you are cut from the same "weasle mold" that's made 21st century corporate radio the digital sewer that it is. One more thing - I'm not blaming you for corporate radio, I'm merely citing you as a sad example of it.

Warlock

 

[J-Street]

Warlock... let me be the first to tell you... are you completely out of your mind? Ah I'm kidding, you thought I was going to turn this into another yell fest. What I'm really going to say is great post! You should be a motivational speaker and I'm only slightly kidding by saying that. I have to wonder where you are working now and admit I sense some long building hostility there and possibly even towards this market itself. But that aside, you were 100% correct on most of what you said. I especially enjoyed the part about the consultants. I have passion to be a PD, not necessarily a famous announcer, but shouldn't I have passion to be a "consultant" these days? The thought makes me cringe. I worked in "school radio" (rather recently) long enough and talked to people who did it years and years before me to know... the number of people coming into the radio field with passion is low enough as it is! We don't need their management turning away and/or bringing down the few who come in with passion. So what do you suggest people do to rectify this situation? You kept saying stuff like "we need to change this" and I agree, but how do you suggest it's done, short of staying up the PDs rears and begging for work? In many places today I've notice the PDs may have still have passion, but they have 10 bosses above them now who are described in your post.

 

[bored-op]

Warlock, looks like you and I got into the biz about the same time. I'm second generation radio and proud of it. My, has it changed. Everything in your post is correct, with exceptions to every rule........but you really gotta look to find them.
As far as Taylor Morgan goes, she quite possiblly could be a victim of the very sales-consultant-consolodation driven climate we are currently in. If a p.d. has never told her to ask herself "does the audience really care about what i'm getting ready to air?" then its a result of the exact things you speak of. If a p.d. has told her that, and she hasn't listened, its her fault. She does, however, work in radio and that certianly gains her a certian amount of respect. And I've had the pleasure of being airchecked by rufus...........he's forgotten more about radio than most of us will ever know.

 

[Jockamo]

Warlock, thanks for the compliments regarding myself and the rest of the 'QUT airstaff. That, at the time, was a rather formidable team. But, alas, my time on 'QUT was short lived. I lasted there only about a month when Rufus called me into his office and told me he was letting me go. The reason was that he thought I was not a "rock n' roll" DJ. Everyone else thought there was another reason I was let go, and his name was Scotto. Regardless of that, I just let it go and went on to my next job at US-99. I had been approached by Tom Sleeker the week before I was fired about working there and the opening was still available, so I took it. Rufus and I continued to be friends, and he apologized for letting me go, some seven years after the fact. I know he just wanted the best radio station he could get, and apparently I wasn't the perfect fit. No bad feelings...but I do appreciate the compliment.

Now, as far as Taylor is concerned, I know her fairly well. I have not listened to her on the air, because we happened to be working the same shift when I was in the Tri-Cities. But has anybody thought of the term "constructive criticism?" I have taken constructive criticism in the past and benefitted from it. I'm sure if Taylor took a long, hard look at it, she might change her ways and might gain some respect, from listeners and colleagues alike. Just a thought.

DK (Crossman)

 

[hunchbackbruce]

!

Let me just say that Taylor Morgan and Reggie Neal were voted as the Favorite DJ'S in the Tri - Cities by 4,500 readers of Magazine. Sure many people have gotten this award before but for the readers to vote her as A Favorite says they like her and most of all Know Her.

Last years winners were National so that was really wonderful to see Local On-Air Personailites get that type of award from Listeners in the Area..Not Jealous, No Talent, No Jobs.. Use to be's in the Market who have been fired and or just lost their jobs! Dennis maybe you need to listen to the PD more and maybe you would have a job in the Tri-Cities like Taylor has. Trust me that the PD's and consultants have talked to Taylor and like what she does! They must not have liked what you do or they would still have you on the Air at WXBQ right?? Dennis ....Taylor has the listeners respect...Trust Me..maybe she could care a less if you like her and or respect her. You are the loser who calls and shows up at a place where they fired you. Get a clue and listen to what you don't hear and that is that you have tons of nerve showing up at a place where the GM fired you! Hello! Maybe you need the respect of people.

Listeners can relate to Taylor because she does talk about her family and herself. She is REAL! Maybe you all need to start talking about yourself, your family, YOU... so listeners can put your face, your voice with you being a REAL PERSON.

Let's see.....a lady who has a national show and makes 3.5 million a year talks about herself all the time and we know all about her 6 kids. You make 25,000 a year and she makes 3.5 MILLION...who does it the right way?

Taylor has a Morning Show Job and where do you work. She worked in Nashville at WSM having her own morning show at 24 and recieved many many awards while there. She also worked in Houston on A Major Market Station.. New York......Dennis...What Valley was your station in again?

 

[hunchbackbruce]

OOh Dennis you were working the same shift as Taylor as a board op right?

 

[honkytonkbadonk]

J-STREET...I find it funny that on wtfm website there are pic's of Steve with his Halloween at Home and you said nothing about Steve. Seems maybe you hate Women J-STREET which is way you are still in the closet. Come on J-STREET give it to your guy like you want everyone to know.

Steve and Taylor put things on the website to make a connection with listeners. When there are no pictures up the station gets calls and emails asking for pictures up. What better then to see Steve Mann posing next to his Dream Car ( a ford taurus) and his links to car sites which every 36 year old women wants to waste her time visiting. Yet...You say nothing about Steve and his silly pic's and or links. Why are you just attacking Taylor? If you are going to bash Taylor about her Halloween Pic's then you have to do the same to Steve since he has up the same pic's of him at Home. His Baby eating corn ect........You freakin Loser go find a Job on Get a Job Street. Same for you Maddog1964. Where do you homeless loser's work?

Taylor is the GM'S Pet and you better not forget it. She can have you fired in a heart beat. She just got a guy fired yesterday when he refused to talk to her about her child and wouldn't look at her Halloween Pictures! J-STREET AND MADDOG 1964...you keep logging on to WTFM and checking out the pictures of Taylor for your lonely horny nights when your little beating boy won't give in! Just don't mess up Taylor's Picture please!

 

[Jockamo]

Let me just say that Taylor Morgan and Reggie Neal were voted as the Favorite DJ'S in the Tri - Cities by 4,500 readers of Magazine. Sure many people have gotten this award before but for the readers to vote her as A Favorite says they like her and most of all Know Her.

Last years winners were National so that was really wonderful to see Local On-Air Personailites get that type of award from Listeners in the Area..Not Jealous, No Talent, No Jobs.. Use to be's in the Market who have been fired and or just lost their jobs! Dennis maybe you need to listen to the PD more and maybe you would have a job in the Tri-Cities like Taylor has. Trust me that the PD's and consultants have talked to Taylor and like what she does! They must not have liked what you do or they would still have you on the Air at WXBQ right?? Dennis ....Taylor has the listeners respect...Trust Me..maybe she could care a less if you like her and or respect her. You are the loser who calls and shows up at a place where they fired you. Get a clue and listen to what you don't hear and that is that you have tons of nerve showing up at a place where the GM fired you! Hello! Maybe you need the respect of people.

Listeners can relate to Taylor because she does talk about her family and herself. She is REAL! Maybe you all need to start talking about yourself, your family, YOU... so listeners can put your face, your voice with you being a REAL PERSON.

Let's see.....a lady who has a national show and makes 3.5 million a year talks about herself all the time and we know all about her 6 kids. You make 25,000 a year and she makes 3.5 MILLION...who does it the right way?

Taylor has a Morning Show Job and where do you work. She worked in Nashville at WSM having her own morning show at 24 and recieved many many awards while there. She also worked in Houston on A Major Market Station.. New York......Dennis...What Valley was your station in again?

First of all, I'm not jealous of anyone. Taylor and I are friends. I respect her. She's a good person and, to the best of my knowledge, a good jock. I worked mornings at a couple of stations while Steve and Taylor were on 'TFM.

Second of all, I did listen to the PD. I didn't agree with a lot that he said, but I always listened. I believe people enjoyed listening to me. That was not the reason I was fired. The reason I was fired is now in Greensboro at 93-1 The Wolf.

And thirdly, my station is not in any valley...it's in the Sandhills.

And don't talk about money. You can make all the money you want, but if you're not happy, it doesn't matter. I'm not making a lot of money down here, but I'm happy.

Working in Nashville is no big deal. I've listened to Nashville radio and it's no better than radio in the Tri-Cities...maybe just a little more polished is all. You could put any number of jocks in the Tri-Cities in Nashville and they'd do just fine. And I'm not saying anything about working in Houston. I've been looking for a co-host for a while now and some of the resumes I've been getting are from places like Houston, New York City, Chicago, Las Vegas, Atlanta, Miami, etc, etc. It must not be that good for other people to want to move from there to Podunk, North Carolina.

 

[J-Street]

Re: !

Wow honkytonk, and who do you think you are? Didn't know I offended anyone since I said the LEAST about Taylor than anyone on this board. I won't talk about something I'm not familiar enough with. All I said was that I enjoyed the girl who used to do love notes, but I was 8 years old for god's sakes. As far as your GAY reference. Let's see, I have many online accounts, instant messengers, etc. The only people who have "screen names" or "ids" titled "honkytonkbadonkadonk" are WOMEN! I don't need to tell you what that refers to. So am I right to assume that you're a woman? If not, then you should be accusing yourself of liking men. Have you ever heard the phrase about the person who is doing the accusing is usually the one who is guilty? Especially when accusations like that come out of absolutely nowhere! Just looks like you're looking for some entertainment and trying to stir things up and all I can say to that is GET A LIFE!

And for the record, I didn't mention Steve's pictures because it's just a few and not an entire life in pictures like Taylor's. Also, the conversation was about TAYLOR and not STEVE!

But as far as bruce here... The award you first mentioned is probably a big deal, but like you said, if many people have won it in this market, it can only be so big of an honor. That being said... the WSM thing is VERY impressive, makes me wish I knew Taylor so I could make some contacts. Good for her! We all know people pick on crossman here, but usually it's unfounded crap, myself included. But you backed it up with facts...

Dennis maybe you need to listen to the PD more and maybe you would have a job in the Tri-Cities like Taylor has. You are the loser who calls and shows up at a place where they fired you. Get a clue and listen to what you don't hear and that is that you have tons of nerve showing up at a place where the GM fired you! Hello! Maybe you need the respect of people.

That has got to be some of the funniest stuff I've read on here in forever! AHAHAH! (no offense crossman, admit it, it was funny)

 

[spindoctor1]

Nice to see everyone getting along in the Tri-Cities still.
Why in the world is Geek not in on the name-calling fest?
Crossman, keep up the armor dude. Let not the peasants
piss thee off. Most of them are liner readers anyway.
And YES I know the names behind the names (and your
lowly positons in radio).

Remember folks, you can kick butt 99 times in a row, but
the 1 time you get cranial-rectitus...is what you are
remembered for.

Just one more thing... if all of the aforementioned jocks are
the sh**, why are they ALL in a market like the Tri-Cities?
I mean, sure it's great radio, but if they are THAT good wouldn't
they be just as untouchable in a bigger market too?
Just a thought, but what do I know I'm just a monkey with a mic.

Time for the colonic!