Michaels is a core broadcaster. Some very talented people will be lining up to work with and for him because he knows radio inside out. He's demanding, mercurial and far from perfect, but the guy brings his "A-game" and his competitors know it.
The experts here say that Country won't work in NYC, but the experts may be viewing Country by way of an outdated paradigm. If Country, as it's done in some highly competitive Northeast markets, could be properly implemented, programmed and promoted, it's more than conceivable that it could draw P2 listeners from Lite and Fresh while building a core of P1s and surprise a lot of people.
Randy is all about surprising people.
Like most posters here, I expect WRXP to flip to talk. But if anybody could give the Country format wings in Market #1, Michaels is that guy. Under his guidance, it's not inconceivable to imagine Country scoring in the Top 10, Women 25-54 and making steady, incremental gains. If anybody could turn shares into dollars, I'd expect Michaels could. Country is long past its Urban Cowboy phase of the 80s. Today's successful Country stations are current intensive and alive. Arguably, Country is the new AC.
