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Steve Dickert out at WKDF/Citadel

L

Lakeboy

Steve Dickert who's been a KDF since when he still had hair and was Steve "True Stories" Dickert, reading news for Carl P. in the mornings, is OUT. Word on the street is he got fed up with Citadel, who are having a hard time making back the huge pile of cash they had to shell out for the Titans deal.

this from Billboardradiomonitor.com...

Citadel/Nashville market manager Steve Dickert, whose charges include country WKDF and sports talk WGFX (the Zone), will exit the company in early October for personal reasons.

Amazingly, Dickert started as an announcer on WKDF, which was a rock at the time, in 1972. He was named GM for the station, then owned by Dick Broadcasting, in 1985. The company acquired then classic rock WGFX in 1993 and the stations became part of Citadel in 2000.

And despite what you might read elsewhere, Dickert tells Billboard Radio Monitor that no format changes being planned for either station.
 
Steve Dickert

Your conclusion about why Steve's leaving is pretty close.

Your SUBJECT line makes it look like they dumped him- out of respect to Steve, you may want to EDIT the subject line so it's more reflective of the real story.

> Steve Dickert who's been a KDF since when he still had hair
> and was Steve "True Stories" Dickert, reading news for Carl
> P. in the mornings, is OUT. Word on the street is he got
> fed up with Citadel, who are having a hard time making back
> the huge pile of cash they had to shell out for the Titans
> deal.
>
> this from Billboardradiomonitor.com...
>
> Citadel/Nashville market manager Steve Dickert, whose
> charges include country WKDF and sports talk WGFX (the
> Zone), will exit the company in early October for personal
> reasons.
>
> Amazingly, Dickert started as an announcer on WKDF, which
> was a rock at the time, in 1972. He was named GM for the
> station, then owned by Dick Broadcasting, in 1985. The
> company acquired then classic rock WGFX in 1993 and the
> stations became part of Citadel in 2000.
>
> And despite what you might read elsewhere, Dickert tells
> Billboard Radio Monitor that no format changes being planned
> for either station.
>
 
Re: Steve Dickert

>> >
> >
> > Amazingly, Dickert started as an announcer on WKDF, which
> > was a rock at the time, in 1972. He was named GM for the
> > station, then owned by Dick Broadcasting, in 1985. The
> > company acquired then classic rock WGFX in 1993 and the
> > stations became part of Citadel in 2000.
> >
> > And despite what you might read elsewhere, Dickert tells
> > Billboard Radio Monitor that no format changes being
> planned
> > for either station.
> >
>

Is this the same Dick Broadcasting that now owns WKZL and WKRR in the Greensboro, NC market?
 
Re: Steve Dickert

> Your conclusion about why Steve's leaving is pretty close.

> > Steve Dickert who's been at KDF since when he still had hair
> > and was Steve "True Stories" Dickert, reading news for Carl
> > P. in the mornings, is OUT.

What a real shame. One of the few good guys left in local radio management.

Don't believe there was a financial issue here, they're billing better than just about anyone in town, including groups with more or higher-rated stations.

What's the real reason he's bowing out? Well, out of respect for the old "True Stories" days, here's a (mostly) tongue-in-cheek top 10 list of reasons why he decided it was time to throw in the towel:

10. Jealous of old pal Duke's success with the Titans and Kats, he's signed on as the Preds' PA announcer just in time for the season.

9. Tired of taking complaints about Rome and Fox Sports. (Actually Ctdl's insistence that he air those shows could have a lot to do with it.)

8. Titans Radio being traded for a first-round draught choice.

7. Ctdl always complaining his promotion budget was higher than Marconi's.

6. Ctdl wanted him to bring into the Zone this guy named Blake...

5. Ctdl discovered 104.5 was no longer Rockin' Hits (if you've seen Ctdl's website, you know what I mean).

4. Ctdl forcing Darren to become a shock jock.

3. When Ctdl insisted KDF lose the "Legends," he thought it meant he had to go.

2. Wants to start a new Jack ripoff, "George." All George Jones, George Strait, and George Plaster, all the time.

And the number one reason he's throwing in the towel:

1. Tired of Ctdl always suggesting KDF return to Classic Rock...
 
Re: Steve Dickert

> Is this the same Dick Broadcasting that now owns WKZL and
> WKRR in the Greensboro, NC market?

Yes, that's all that is left of a once-proud empire that spanned the Southeast, including the powerhouse WIVK in Knoxvegas. <P ID="signature">______________
Bob
Moderator, Nashville board
Radio-Info.com--Always Tuned In

"I don't spread rumors, but I sometimes make outrageous speculations with no factual basis."</P>
 
Re: Steve Dickert

It's a shame to see Steve go, but I would think he would
have hit the wall years ago. Citadel has turned out to
be one sad disappointment. I am ashamed to admit that I
think that the company is so full of suits with no vision
that they'll never get on track and see their full
potential. I think all of us who have been around the
block as listeners and insiders wish Steve the best.
He's put in a lot of hours and energy and fought for
what he belived in for many years. Job well done, sir.
 
I am not a radio industry insider

by any means, just a fan, but I could not have been more shocked than if I had read: "Cumulus sells Nashville stations to Bill Barry."....Doug "NashRadio"
 
The last white hat in Nashville radio Management-

Steve Dickert represents all that is right with our industry!
 
Dickert forced out

A salesperson at Citadel, who will remain anonymous, told me that Steve was "forced out by Citadel higher-ups". Same holds true with former GSM Paul Lyle, who was let loose a few weeks ago.

The Citadel nosedive started last fall, on both stations. KDF's can be blamed on weak programming, that god-awful jingle package, and the rise of The Wolf (or was the rise of The Wolf based on the fall of KDF?). The Zone's lack of consistency, I believe, is to blame for its dip. The common thread is the weak programming, but was Dickert to blame? Probably not.

<P ID="signature">______________
Bob
Moderator, Nashville board
Radio-Info.com--Always Tuned In

"I don't spread rumors, but I sometimes make outrageous speculations with no factual basis."</P>
 
Re: Dickert forced out

> The Citadel nosedive started last fall, on both stations.
> KDF's can be blamed on weak programming, that god-awful
> jingle package, and the rise of The Wolf (or was the rise of
> The Wolf based on the fall of KDF?). The Zone's lack of
> consistency, I believe, is to blame for its dip. The common
> thread is the weak programming, but was Dickert to blame?
> Probably not.

I doubt it too... KDF does a lot of things right; they would be number one without the same competition. But then again, that is the challenge, you must compete in the part of the sea where you swim.

Also, I've been told over and over again, by people who should know, that it is corporate ownership that is forcing the Zone to carry the Rome and Fox programming that weakens the station, not local management. If that is true, then I cringe when I think what is in store for the future.

Now rumors are running wild. One has KDF staying country, but adopting a "Duke" format like Citadel has in Chattanooga. Another has the Zone moving to KDF and 104.5 going to talk, similar to Citadel's 100.3 in Knoxville. Another has the Zone staying put and KDF becoming talk like 100.3 and going head-to-head with 99.7 for talk powerhouse rights. Someone else said they got an offer for Titans Radio they couldn't refuse. Then there's that Susquehanna-Citadel-Cumulus buyout speculation and station swap rumor.

What is the truth? Maybe it's buried somewhere in the rumors. Maybe there's not much change for the future. Maybe there's a big surprise coming soon. Just one more happening in what has been a big year for local radio upheaval.
 
FOUR non-music FM-ers?

> [One rumor] has the Zone moving to KDF and 104.5
> going to talk, similar to Citadel's 100.3 in Knoxville.

That would bring the grand total of non-music FM-ers (with 99.7 and 106.7) to four. This market is unique enough in that it has two sports FM-ers. I wouldn't buy this particular one, but if 103.3 needs a boost musically, a "Duke" like format may be the way to go.<P ID="signature">______________


New York City Radio and TV</P>
 
Re: FOUR non-music FM-ers?

> > [One rumor] has the Zone moving to KDF and 104.5
> > going to talk, similar to Citadel's 100.3 in Knoxville.
>
> That would bring the grand total of non-music FM-ers (with
> 99.7 and 106.7) to four. This market is unique enough in
> that it has two sports FM-ers. I wouldn't buy this
> particular one, but if 103.3 needs a boost musically, a
> "Duke" like format may be the way to go.
>

Any station going to talk format in Nashville would be handicapped if they planned to use any syndicated programming. Most of the major players in syndicated talk radio are locked up by WWTN or WLAC.

I think it's just another wild rumor.
 
Re: FOUR non-music FM-ers?

> >
>
> Any station going to talk format in Nashville would be
> handicapped if they planned to use any syndicated
> programming. Most of the major players in syndicated talk
> radio are locked up by WWTN or WLAC.
>
> I think it's just another wild rumor.
>
I agree probably is just rumor, Also agree on WTN and WLAC locking up most nationally syndicated talkers. Wouldn't it be a novel idea to have some local talk especially during p.m. drive time. only local talkers other than sports are Gill (his 3 1/2 hour monologes are just boring), Valentine (Great show, bad time slot people who have no acess to radio at work like me cannot listen), and Mark Christopher (only heard him once, was not impressed)

I don't see 103.3 or 104.5 flipping however there is room for improvement in Nashville for talk radio.
 
Re: FOUR non-music FM-ers?

> > I think it's just another wild rumor.
> >
> I agree probably is just rumor, Also agree on WTN and WLAC
> locking up most nationally syndicated talkers. Wouldn't it
> be a novel idea to have some local talk especially during
> p.m. drive time.

I wouldn't bet on any of the rumors I listed as going around. It would be a safer bet that things are staying pretty much the same. It seems apparent that some competitors are taking advantage of an exit situation to spread the rumors, if you ask me.

WTN and WLAC do not have all of the syndicated talkers locked up by a long shot. Maybe some of the most popular, but there are plenty more to go around. If Citadel were to open up a talker in this town, you bet they'd most likely bring in Rick & Bubba for mornings and HHH for mid mornings. Then there are many scenarios they can pull out after that.

The fact that more talk is coming to FM is known industry wide. I found it to be a big talking point at NAB. It's just a reality in a world that now includes iPods and satellite radio.
 
Re: FOUR non-music FM-ers?

> > > I think it's just another wild rumor.
> > >
> > I agree probably is just rumor, Also agree on WTN and WLAC
>
> > locking up most nationally syndicated talkers. Wouldn't it
>
> > be a novel idea to have some local talk especially during
> > p.m. drive time.
>
> I wouldn't bet on any of the rumors I listed as going
> around. It would be a safer bet that things are staying
> pretty much the same. It seems apparent that some
> competitors are taking advantage of an exit situation to
> spread the rumors, if you ask me.
>
> WTN and WLAC do not have all of the syndicated talkers
> locked up by a long shot. Maybe some of the most popular,
> but there are plenty more to go around. If Citadel were to
> open up a talker in this town, you bet they'd most likely
> bring in Rick & Bubba for mornings and HHH for mid mornings.
> Then there are many scenarios they can pull out after that.
>
> The fact that more talk is coming to FM is known industry
> wide. I found it to be a big talking point at NAB. It's just
> a reality in a world that now includes iPods and satellite
> radio.
>

Hallerin Hill is a local Knoxville guy who was also on here for a time, so I don't consider him a syndicated talker. I'm not sure Rick and Bubba would appeal to an audience who wants information in morning-drive, but then again, I have never gotten their appeal. To me, they seem like a knock-off of John Boy & Billy.
 
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