Sean Demery's take on 99X's rise and fall

[rho01]

If you want to read Sean Demery's take on the rise and fall of 99X, he write an extensive piece on his blog. You may not agree with everything he says, but it's thoughtful and well written. Check it out here:

http://seandemery.wordpress.com/

He ends it with this. (Funny, it's only been a few weeks since he left, but in his mind, it already feels like "several months.")

As for me I’m appreciative for the opportunity I initially had to be a part of the 99X team. It afforded me freedom, inspiration, numerous industry awards and never being in want of new job opportunities. For me the second time around not-so-much. It’s why I left 99X several months ago. It wasn’t worth doing something mediocre and not being with my family. I have left several good gigs over the years sighting family needs because in the end family is more important than being a cog in the wheel of mediocrity. Doing something that matters has been with me since the passing of Power99’s GM Bill Phippin. Life is way to short to do lifeless work. There are always new fulfilling battles to wag

 

[RTibbs]

I saw the link on the AJC and just read it. I thought it was awesome. I take back 85% of the needlings I have given Sean in the past few months here.

 

[RoddyFreeman]

That was outstanding, beautifully expressed and written.

 

[agentUrge]

Yeah, the legacy of 99x has become more respectable for me after reading that.

 

[TheMusicMan]

What a great read. A launch like 99X's would NEVER have happened in this day and age. As happy as I am for Q100, 99X's fate is certainly a shame.

 

[Talking Furniture]

Behold the power of the truth. Or maybe just the power of the point of view of someone who was actually there. Sean, Leslie and the rest of the 99X staff did the hard work that is required to maintain a good radio station over a long period of time. They had good times and bad. They were brilliant and not so brilliant. But they were there and they did the best they could.

99% of what gets scrawled across these boards is opinion based on second-hand knowledge, sad ignorance or silly babble. Most of it pales in comparison to Sean's honest communication.

Atlanta is lucky to have had 99X at all. It will be greatly missed.

 

[winreader]

That was outstanding, beautifully expressed and written.

Reading it objectively, it sounds a little like he's blaming others for the mediocrity of the morning show. Wasn't he hired to make it un-mediocre? It doesn't strike me as very sincere or honest. How sacred would Sean's family life have been if the show was a rousing success?

Whether Cumulus brings in S&V or TRG doesn't really matter. The point is, it looks as if they are going to start with a strong brand and play some offense when all the other companies are playing defense or not at all, hampered by budget problems, and paralyzed by corporate people in NY who are out of touch with what's happening at the local level.

The guy who said that "a launch like 99X would NEVER have happened in this day and age" is dead wrong. It's happening now! I don't think there are any topics on the front page of this board currently that don't have to do with what the Dickeys are up to. It's taking all the oxygen away from STAR 94 and DAVE FM who are also making changes. The number of comments Rodney gets on his blog anytime he writes about the Cumulus situation numbers several hundred each blog. That's good news for Cumulus, certainly, but also all of Atlanta radio which certainly needs a fresh injection of interest in the medium.

99X was a great radio station that simply ran it's course. There are no villians. It was all creative destruction. I have fond memories, and clearly so do thousands of others. It's time for some new memories and they just might be made starting next week.

 

[SalesWeasel]

That was outstanding, beautifully expressed and written.

Reading it objectively, it sounds a little like he's blaming others for the mediocrity of the morning show. Wasn't he hired to make it un-mediocre? It doesn't strike me as very sincere or honest. How sacred would Sean's family life have been if the show was a rousing success?

Whether Cumulus brings in S&V or TRG doesn't really matter. The point is, it looks as if they are going to start with a strong brand and play some offense when all the other companies are playing defense or not at all, hampered by budget problems, and paralyzed by corporate people in NY who are out of touch with what's happening at the local level.

The guy who said that "a launch like 99X would NEVER have happened in this day and age" is dead wrong. It's happening now! I don't think there are any topics on the front page of this board currently that don't have to do with what the Dickeys are up to. It's taking all the oxygen away from STAR 94 and DAVE FM who are also making changes. The number of comments Rodney gets on his blog anytime he writes about the Cumulus situation numbers several hundred each blog. That's good news for Cumulus, certainly, but also all of Atlanta radio which certainly needs a fresh injection of interest in the medium.

99X was a great radio station that simply ran it's course. There are no villians. It was all creative destruction. I have fond memories, and clearly so do thousands of others. It's time for some new memories and they just might be made starting next week.

This is the best post I've read on here in weeks. Thank you, whoever you are, for being objective and free of rancor.

 

[deadman]

That was outstanding, beautifully expressed and written.

Reading it objectively, it sounds a little like he's blaming others for the mediocrity of the morning show. Wasn't he hired to make it un-mediocre? It doesn't strike me as very sincere or honest. How sacred would Sean's family life have been if the show was a rousing success?

Cumulus wanted a safe and boring morning show that took ZERO risk. Sean decided it wasn't worth it, he missed his wife, and so he went home.

 

[SalesWeasel]

Cumulus wanted a safe and boring morning show that took ZERO risk. Sean decided it wasn't worth it, he missed his wife, and so he went home.

Are you kidding? Sean was horrible on that show. Jenners, et. al. did everything they could to liven it up and move past Sean's clumsiness, goofy jokes and contrived stories. What's done is done and those who were dismissed are very talented people. Leslie Fram is one of the most-respected programmers in the country who will find herself a home. Jenners is talented in his own right; a likable personality who is good at parodies, impersonations and off-the-cuff radio...he was hampered by the banality that was Sean Demery.

 

[RTibbs]

Cumulus wanted a safe and boring morning show that took ZERO risk. Sean decided it wasn't worth it, he missed his wife, and so he went home.
[/quote]

Doesn't add up. Sean isn't exactly risky and edgy though? And if that's the case why are they hiring the Regular Guys? They are not safe or boring. Sean and Leslie are too old for that station flat out. Sean wants a good night's sleep and a warm glass of milk. Leslie is still trying to be a hipster.

 

[TheMusicMan]

The guy who said that "a launch like 99X would NEVER have happened in this day and age" is dead wrong. It's happening now! I don't think there are any topics on the front page of this board currently that don't have to do with what the Dickeys are up to. It's taking all the oxygen away from STAR 94 and DAVE FM who are also making changes. The number of comments Rodney gets on his blog anytime he writes about the Cumulus situation numbers several hundred each blog. That's good news for Cumulus, certainly, but also all of Atlanta radio which certainly needs a fresh injection of interest in the medium

As "the guy" referenced in your post, please allow me to respond. You're absolutely right, Cumulus has done a great job stirring up hype and publicity - regardless of your feelings towards 99X, Q100, or whatever new format may end up at 100.5. However, you'd have a hard time convincing me that haphazardly blowing up the corporate-certified format in favor of the wishes of station employees, as described in Sean's blog, would fly today. Can you imagine the suits' reactions?

 

[smashedcd]

I remember is the early to mid 90s when all the KROCK type stations were signing off. Now its the stations that took those stations place signing off. The Alt rock format is dying. Good luck to all at 99X. Radio is changing. As it has been since 1996. 10 years from now coutry radio may be dead just like 99X is now..and 96 Rock..and Z93...well I think you get the point.

 

[monkeymanmoi]

From Sean's blog:

"They couldn’t understand what bands like the Shins, Silversun Pickups, Band of Horses, Arcade Fire, The Bravery, Interpol, Spoon, Against Me, Rise Against, etc had to do with 99X. These are bands that sell out medium sized venues in Atlanta with little or no airplay; they have massive internet and magazine prominence. These are the same types of building blocks we used in 1992; these are today’s building blocks for this music generation."

While I'm not sure about the music generation comment because I still seek out these new bands even though I'm in my 40's, I do know that I quit listening to the station when they stopped playing these newer bands. It's amazing to think how far off the tracks they got by listening to the "experts" who consult. 99X started with a gut feeling. Too bad that wasn't true 10 years later.

 

[OutOfTheBiz]

From Sean's blog:

"They couldn’t understand what bands like the Shins, Silversun Pickups, Band of Horses, Arcade Fire, The Bravery, Interpol, Spoon, Against Me, Rise Against, etc had to do with 99X. These are bands that sell out medium sized venues in Atlanta with little or no airplay; they have massive internet and magazine prominence. These are the same types of building blocks we used in 1992; these are today’s building blocks for this music generation."

While I'm not sure about the music generation comment because I still seek out these new bands even though I'm in my 40's, I do know that I quit listening to the station when they stopped playing these newer bands. It's amazing to think how far off the tracks they got by listening to the "experts" who consult. 99X started with a gut feeling. Too bad that wasn't true 10 years later.

I'm not sure you can say it's the fault of radio, though. In 1992, there was no myspace, no itunes, no downloadable ringtones, etc. "Gut feel" radio stations filled a need for providing exposure to the "cutting edge" music fans who wanted non-commercial stuff. That need no longer exists - just like the need for major record labels to market the stuff no longer exists. Times and technology have changed dramatically, and no medium will ever be the same as it was 15 years ago.

And selling out "medium-sized venues" is not a great indicator of a viable audience. 600-700 seats in a city of 4 million? Just a fraction of a percent of potential radio listeners. As these other avenues for music exposure have grown, people are accustomed to finding small niches where the kind of music they want is found. Radio stations cannot be successful filling small niches. (Unless you are one of 80 music channels on Sirius).

Finally, "Alternative" music has aways been a bit of an oxymoron to me. By it's nature, it is obscure and it's fans relish in being one of the few people cool enough to know about it. Yet these same fans scream about their beloved bands not getting major airplay or exposure. When something occasionally DOES break through the mainstream... it's no longer "alternative" and fans start bailing because the band has "sold out." It loses it's passionate appeal when it's on every station every 30 minutes. There's just no such thing as mainstream alternative.

 

[bclark71.]

Finally, "Alternative" music has aways been a bit of an oxymoron to me. By it's nature, it is obscure and its fans relish in being one of the few people cool enough to know about it. Yet these same fans scream about their beloved bands not getting major airplay or exposure. When something occasionally DOES break through the mainstream... it's no longer "alternative" and fans start bailing because the band has "sold out." It loses it's passionate appeal when it's on every station every 30 minutes. There's just no such thing as mainstream alternative.

Very well written, OutOfTheBiz. And 100% true.

 

[monkeymanmoi]

Finally, "Alternative" music has aways been a bit of an oxymoron to me. There's just no such thing as mainstream alternative.

I agree with much of your post. Times definitely have changed and I certainly have found other avenues to get the music I really want to hear. No doubt about it. But, if I'm going to listen to the radio at any time I would have preferred a station that was doing what 99X was doing in the early days. Nothing very radical about that idea. Just playing the good stuff from the present.

I don't really care about the term "alternative" that much. The word has really changed meaning from the time it was first used. Most rock fans have an idea what alternative means today whether underground or mainstream. I'm saying this as someone who's been into this stuff since the early 80's.

 

[Larry R.]

I think "sean" might have been thinking medium sized venues in Atlanta were more like the Fox 4500 and the Civic Center just over 3000, the Roxy 1500. I saw Arcade Fire there with The National opening about 5 months ago at the Civic Center and the place was sold out. I don't think I've heard much of either band on the radio and that includes 88.5FM. That's just one example.
If anyone on this board ever left the house instead of posting here, playing Playstation or surfing for porn then you might know that.
There's something to be said about the upsurge and groundswell on new artists even with all the new technologies that are out there.

 

[Salsa Shark]

Wait a minute, am I the only one with a memory? It was just a couple month's ago that Sean wrote a letter to the Ajc where he said:

"Look, 99X like in the 90s was a kick-ass station, we love working here and will continue to labor long hours of loving dedication to make it truly fruitful. All things worth doing take this kind of dedication. I’m not here to recreate the past. That was so then. This is now and I wouldn’t change where we’re headed for the world. OK, I’m done. Sean Demery"

http://www.accessatlanta.com/blogs/...iotalk/entries/2007/10/24/1024_99xs_15th.html

 

[WhyReason]

Oh please Salsa Shark, like you haven't changed your tune when the name writing your paychecks changed...

I think what Sean said then to the AJC was sincere. I think what he wrote last week was the truth. They did try to put out a good product. He's saying that they were micro-managed to the point where it was impossible to do so.

99x is gone- why are you all still pointing fingers? Finding someone to blame or tearing apart someone's reputation isn't going to change anything at this point. Get over yourselves.