Steve Craig retires from 97.1 The River
So will he resurface on 99X after his non-compete expires? Let's hope so!
So will he resurface on 99X after his non-compete expires? Let's hope so!
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Steve Craig retires from 97.1/TOSOTR...let the 99X speculation begin!
- Thread starter upstate29651
- Start date
I noticed W249CK was off air. The HD feed has been working the whole time. Would be great to see him at 99X. But I’m surprised he’s leaving the #1 station in Atlanta. Who else might emerge over at 99X?
Better question is what will 97.1 do from 6-10? Cox - or whoever is the owner these days - knew this was coming, I'm told. It wasn't a surprise. So, they probably have someone ready to pop in. But who? And will it be a glorified music jock? Or will they go for a two or three person show?
Would they grab a 90s name? Like Steve McCoy or someone of that vintage? I guess Bailey and Southside make sense, once the dust has settled on their departure.
Would they grab a 90s name? Like Steve McCoy or someone of that vintage? I guess Bailey and Southside make sense, once the dust has settled on their departure.
Well, we of course don't know why Steve Craig left The River or what his plans are. But if he did leave to join the new 99X in 6 months (or whenever his non-compete ends), that does not sound like a good move on his part.
If the rumors are true, and Barnes and Jimmy Baron will be part of the new 99X, they likely would be doing it based on the 99X mystique and the attractiveness of being on air again. Cumulus is not going to be paying big full-time salaries to the staff. For Barnes and Jimmy, that's probably irrelevant since they both have separate money making ventures.
Steve Craig, however, would be leaving the relative security of the market's #1 station and moving to a station that might or might not be successful. He would be without work during his non-compete months. I'm guessing he was not making a fortune at The River, but would he really make much more than that at WNNX? If the 99X mystique and working with his former colleagues is motivating him to move there, I question the business wisdom of it.
Again, this is all speculation. We don't know the reason for Steve's departure from The River.
If the rumors are true, and Barnes and Jimmy Baron will be part of the new 99X, they likely would be doing it based on the 99X mystique and the attractiveness of being on air again. Cumulus is not going to be paying big full-time salaries to the staff. For Barnes and Jimmy, that's probably irrelevant since they both have separate money making ventures.
Steve Craig, however, would be leaving the relative security of the market's #1 station and moving to a station that might or might not be successful. He would be without work during his non-compete months. I'm guessing he was not making a fortune at The River, but would he really make much more than that at WNNX? If the 99X mystique and working with his former colleagues is motivating him to move there, I question the business wisdom of it.
Again, this is all speculation. We don't know the reason for Steve's departure from The River.
I don't know what a fortune in Atlanta morning radio is these days. But considering his ratings, obvious skill and his other musical duties, one could be confident it would be $250+ including incentives/bonuses. That might be the starting budget for the entire Morning X show.
I agree with you Roddy. The only reason to quit a job like that and go two steps backward is because he was tired of getting up at 4.
I thought for a one-man minimalist format he was terrifc.
I agree with you Roddy. The only reason to quit a job like that and go two steps backward is because he was tired of getting up at 4.
I thought for a one-man minimalist format he was terrifc.
97.1 has always been music intensive around the clock. Kaedy Kiely was a so-so fit in the mornings (still too much talk, plus she didn't like getting up that early), so putting her back in afternoons was a no-brainer. Other morning shows with a lot of talk never got traction on the station (e.g., Money in the Morning).
I highly doubt that Bailey would be a good fit for River mornings. SSS by himself might be a good fit, though.
Maybe the folks at Apollo, I mean Cox Media, saw an opportunity to cut costs--maybe centralizing playlist planning and VTing on-air. Wouldn't be the first time a business was penny wise and pound foolish.
And TOSOTR has yet to run a single ad. Maybe Cox sees little future for TOSOTR with a rejuvenated 99X.
It doesn't help that the Stripers' PxP has moved to WCON 99.3 (a great move) and the Gladiators' PxP seems to have moved completely online (not so much). Guessing those were pay-to-play deals--plus, I think Cox only picked those up to put the screws to WDUN, which had both teams' PxP before.
Agreed that Craig could carry a show by himself.
Maybe his departure is not a business decision, but a personal one?
He already has alternative income streams by being the play by play announcer for the Gladiators hockey team and the Atlanta United FC soccer club. Leaving the River could be a move to simply do what he already does, but doing it this time around for his "first love", 99X?
Sometimes, it's not money that motivates.
That would be my guess.
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