Rodney's radio column on Friday

[knowsnews]

Has anyone read Rodney's story in the AJC on the Spring numbers? I quote...

"Clear Channel Atlanta's decision to shake up formats and move morning-show teams on five major stations this spring is making an early positive impact in the Arbitron ratings." Alongside the column is the box, showing the top 5 morning shows for both 25-54 and 18-34. Aside from Viva, there are NO Clear Channel stations listed. But this is the focus of the story?

Clear Channel paid about $13 million a year for the Braves on GST, and, in their first book as "BravesRadio" GST had less that a 1 share. LESS that a 1 share??? Where is THAT story? In Rodney's column, it's glossed over, the only mention being that the Braves didn't help GST. Ya think?

Star (of whom I am not a fan) made a great rebound, the Beat actually topped Q100 in all but the mornings (but still making big gains there), WSB flourished without the Braves, and 99X came back strong.

I'm just puzzled how anyone who has seen the Spring book can think that Clear Channel is the story.

 

[rho01]

I don't write my Arbitron stories on who is No. 1 or who tops the demos. I write my stories based on what I think are the most interesting trends going in the market during that period of time. It's hard to argue that Clear Channel wasn't the focal point of the spring. They made a monstrous number of changes and I simply pointed out how things were going. Four of their five stations showed some points of progress and I note that GST was the weak link. If you don't recall, Clear Channel killed Cool, moved Buzz to a new signal, moved Viva to a new signal plus a simulcast, moved Randy & Spiff, moved the Regular Guys, dumped Bob & Tom, added the Braves, and dumped Gene & Julie. That's a lot to absorb in a short amount of time.

I spend half the story at least mentioning some other interesting trends. And I even left a couple out, including a weak book from Kiss and a strong one from Kicks.

> Has anyone read Rodney's story in the AJC on the Spring
> numbers? I quote...
>
> "Clear Channel Atlanta's decision to shake up formats and
> move morning-show teams on five major stations this spring
> is making an early positive impact in the Arbitron ratings."
> Alongside the column is the box, showing the top 5 morning
> shows for both 25-54 and 18-34. Aside from Viva, there are
> NO Clear Channel stations listed. But this is the focus of
> the story?
>
> Clear Channel paid about $13 million a year for the Braves
> on GST, and, in their first book as "BravesRadio" GST had
> less that a 1 share. LESS that a 1 share??? Where is THAT
> story? In Rodney's column, it's glossed over, the only
> mention being that the Braves didn't help GST. Ya think?
>
> Star (of whom I am not a fan) made a great rebound, the Beat
> actually topped Q100 in all but the mornings (but still
> making big gains there), WSB flourished without the Braves,
> and 99X came back strong.
>
> I'm just puzzled how anyone who has seen the Spring book can
> think that Clear Channel is the story.
>

 

[knowsnews]

> I don't write my Arbitron stories on who is No. 1 or who
> tops the demos. I write my stories based on what I think are
> the most interesting trends going in the market during that
> period of time. It's hard to argue that Clear Channel wasn't
> the focal point of the spring. They made a monstrous number
> of changes and I simply pointed out how things were going.
> Four of their five stations showed some points of progress
> and I note that GST was the weak link. If you don't recall,
> Clear Channel killed Cool, moved Buzz to a new signal, moved
> Viva to a new signal plus a simulcast, moved Randy & Spiff,
> moved the Regular Guys, dumped Bob & Tom, added the Braves,
> and dumped Gene & Julie. That's a lot to absorb in a short
> amount of time.
>
> I spend half the story at least mentioning some other
> interesting trends. And I even left a couple out, including
> a weak book from Kiss and a strong one from Kicks.

Who said anything about you're not mentioning who is number 1? I simply stated that you spend so much time focusing on Clear Channel's "improvement" in the book, but spend almost no time commenting on their failures.

You had a huge write up last year when GST got the Braves, but did next to nothing when the first numbers come back and find the Braves actually did worse in the ratings than Randy Cross.

<P ID="edit"><FONT class="small">Edited by knowsnews on 08/05/05 11:59 AM.</FONT></P>

 

[Clark2]

Haven't seen the story to which you're referring, but it's always been pretty obvious that Rodney is a big fan of the Regular Guys. He comes across more like their PR guy, than a journalist doing a story. Other than that, though, I've found him to be fairly objective.

I would question why Clear Channel, or any other radio GROUP, would be the focus of a non-business-page story. I think 90% of your readers neither know, nor care, which group owns their favorite station. Why focus on Clear Channel, as a whole?

 

[trhodes96]

Why call yourself Braves radio?

I still have a problem with GST airing the Braves, or branding their station Braves RadioGST when you can't even hear the games at night. 96rock certainly had an incredible book at night thanks to the Braves. I think GST will re-adjust the format next yr, and not focus on the Braves as much. They need to blow up the staff and start over. There are still MANY changes to come at Clear Channel.

 

[BIGSTICK]

Re: Why call yourself Braves radio?

> I still have a problem with GST airing the Braves, or
> branding their station Braves RadioGST when you can't even
> hear the games at night. 96rock certainly had an incredible
> book at night thanks to the Braves. I think GST will
> re-adjust the format next yr, and not focus on the Braves as
> much. They need to blow up the staff and start over. There
> are still MANY changes to come at Clear Channel.
>

AMEN,

Or Clear Channel should blow up.
All they do is blow up station's anyway.

I was just in Hilton Head for vacation, and Savannah stations blow Atlanta's away. There is so much to choose from. My favorite is Oldies 98.3, this is timeless music, and a format that Atlanta definitely needs to bring back.

 

[RoddyFreeman]

> Clear Channel paid about $13 million a year for the Braves
> on GST, and, in their first book as "BravesRadio" GST had
> less that a 1 share. LESS that a 1 share??? Where is THAT
> story? In Rodney's column, it's glossed over, the only
> mention being that the Braves didn't help GST. Ya think?
>

Aren't you leaving out 85% of the equation? The $13 million also included airing the games on 96 Rock. While I'm sure Clear Channel hoped the Braves would help WGST, they certainly knew that most of the Braves games listeners would be at 96 Rock, especially since most of the games are at night.

And 96 Rock's numbers at night in the Spring book were quite good. I wouldn't call Clear Channel's getting the Braves a failure, as you say below.

 

[Part15rulesdude]

Re: Why call yourself Braves radio?

>Oldies is a great choice, and In Atlanta, what a format....
I hate to say this, but how good would this sound,
Oldies with the folks who played them when they were
new songs. I love jj jackson, but u know what? How
bout finding the rest of the WQXI staff and letting
them take a try at the format. A real oldies format
with more of the forgotton songs. Songs that really
do make you go hey theres a great song, Sorry, I was off
on a tangent, now, as far as braves radio go, Sell off that
poor signaled WGST, Stop trying to compete with WSB, Its a
tied up format, and better signal at 750 day or night.
WGST is over.. Unless any of us, can find something to put
on there, how bout a new format idea, un-regulated noise,
like chain saws , dogs barking,cats meowing,hammers,
jack hammers, and the like. Hey just an idea,