STEVE & VIKKI SCAM

[Voicedude]

Having worked with both Steve and Vikki I can say that they are both first-class and people of total integrity...sorely lacking in this day and age. Any attempt to tarnish their reputations is totally moronic.

Congratulations to two pros.

 

[caller10]

It's a WIN-WIN-WIN-WIN. Win for Steve & Vickie, win for Cox, win for The Bert Show, and even a short-term win for The Morning Mess (as they got a gig). A small win for Nudge as he got to aircheck mornings for a few weeks. Maybe not even a loss for Kelly & Alpha, if they slide into mornings at 97.1 The River.

A definite lost for Lincoln Financial in billings for Star, and a lost for account executives at Star. Maybe employees at Star will have less income to save in their 401Ks, therefore less investment in mutual funds could cause a domino effect in our economy, plunging America into an even deeper economic recession. All these economic woes therefore being triggered by this Steve & Vikki scam, yeah nice going S&V. (I'm joking).

 

[RTibbs]

So I guess Lexie Kaye or perhaps Kate McCarthy will lose out on this deal.

 

[troone]

Kind of a weird quote from the Cox radio manager in a AJC story about S&V. Something along the lines of "Cox has always been a strong community supporter, therefore it makes sense....." or something like that. Kind of makes hiring a heritage morning show sound like donating $10,000 to the Atlanta food bank or something. Or that they were hired to do telethons. Nothing about their show or their approach or their track record, etc. It's more like "we're going to have S&V build Habitats for Humanity"...Like I said, a weird quote.

 

[itburnswhenipee]

Item: Vikki Locke announces she is gravely ill, and too sick to be on the radio. Then, a few months later, Vikki announces she and Steve are back on the air on a rival radio station, with no mention of the grave illness.

Truth: Star 94 is looking for younger demographics and seeking a younger morning show to anchor the new format. If Star 94 fires Steve & Vikki, there would be a public backlash, and public embarassment, for dumping a morning team that has given the station 18 years of service. So, they fabricate a story about Vikki's health.

What a scam.

I can say with the upmost confidence this was not a scam, on the part of the radio station, Vikki did have a blood clot.
Remember it was Vikki who announced her retirement because of her illness.

Yes, Vikki "announced" her retirement, but this type of bogus announcement benefits both Star 94 AND Steve & Vikki. A "retirement" announcement saves Steve & Vikki the embarassment of getting fired. Such an announcement also saves Star 94 from a massive, angry, public backlash for dumping a long-time morning show. Funny coincidence how the retirement comes up just as station management revamps the format for younger demos and a younger morning show.

Also, there are many radio personalities who get sick and just sit out a few months before coming back. They don't say they're "retiring" from radio and then mysteriously reappear a month later, after a miracle recuperation.

Finally, if it was merely a case of Vikki retiring due to illness, they would keep Steve, hire a replacement, and keep going on Star 94.

This one's pretty obvious.

 

[romer979fm]

They don't say they're "retiring" from radio and then mysteriously reappear a month later, after a miracle recuperation

do you not have a calendar...or is it just too confusing?
where did you come up with the "one month" scanario?

 

[Tibbs4]

Item: Vikki Locke announces she is gravely ill, and too sick to be on the radio. Then, a few months later, Vikki announces she and Steve are back on the air on a rival radio station, with no mention of the grave illness.

Truth: Star 94 is looking for younger demographics and seeking a younger morning show to anchor the new format. If Star 94 fires Steve & Vikki, there would be a public backlash, and public embarassment, for dumping a morning team that has given the station 18 years of service. So, they fabricate a story about Vikki's health.

What a scam.

Mr. Conspiracy Theorist ---

How in the living hell can you say Star 94 SAVED their reputation after Steve McCoy almost shelf destructed during their last airshift?
HE WAS F*I*R*E*D unwillingly by them and anyone with a brain listening knew it. Sorry, he's still the main character in the show. What
is a scam is you and most everybody else want to believe anything more than the simple fact that she decided many MONTHS before
Dec 1 to take time off/leave because she was worn out and tired and probably scared and worried what the outcome could be. When
she was given a clean bill of health after quite a long process she was recovered and was willing to be there (AGAIN) for her friend who
was out of a job. I don't think anyone really believed LF would can a superstar like Steve McCoy and not allow him to find a replacement
for Vikki that could have helped "young up" the listeners.

Face the facts as they are ... STAR IS SUNK. They have been bound and gagged by virtually everyone in the market. Atlanta has a
totally different radio dial than a year ago after everyone bitched to high heaven about how bad and boring and unchanging things
had been. The loser is NOT Steve McCoy. He always wins. That's the kind of person he is. With or without a sidekick. He needs to
be on AC cause he will win that demo perfectly. Star will have three more failed morning shows, an afternoon show that will be gone
soon (I would guess) and will flip to something even more stupid and do more knee-jerk reactionary moves.

How many more times does this have to been discussed???????

 

[RTibbs]

Why will Cindy and Ray be gone soon. I thought they got good ratings and just re-upped about a year ago?

 

[itburnswhenipee]

Why will Cindy and Ray be gone soon. I thought they got good ratings and just re-upped about a year ago?

Cindy will retire from radio with a severe case of tennis elbow. Then, she will make a miraculous recovery one month later, and team up with Ray on Smooth Jazz 107.9

 

[FloydB]

Why will Cindy and Ray be gone soon. I thought they got good ratings and just re-upped about a year ago?

Cindy will retire from radio with a severe case of tennis elbow. Then, she will make a miraculous recovery one month later, and team up with Ray on Smooth Jazz 107.9

Nah, you forgot. It'll be alcohol rehab

 

[FloydB]

There's nothing more that I can say, other than quote the "generic" post:

And he was all like "pffft" and she was all like "oh no he dit'nt" and he was all "shhhhhheee...."

ROFL! That's funny right there, I don't care who you are! This gets my nomination for quote of the Month (the year's still young)

 

[Muzikboyfl]

Yes, Vikki "announced" her retirement, but this type of bogus announcement benefits both Star 94 AND Steve & Vikki. A "retirement" announcement saves Steve & Vikki the embarassment of getting fired. Such an announcement also saves Star 94 from a massive, angry, public backlash for dumping a long-time morning show. Funny coincidence how the retirement comes up just as station management revamps the format for younger demos and a younger morning show.

Also, there are many radio personalities who get sick and just sit out a few months before coming back. They don't say they're "retiring" from radio and then mysteriously reappear a month later, after a miracle recuperation.

Finally, if it was merely a case of Vikki retiring due to illness, they would keep Steve, hire a replacement, and keep going on Star 94.

This one's pretty obvious.

---I'm in South Florida and we have legendary CHR station Y100 - Footy was the morning show DJ for nearly 20 years. He outlasted ALL the morning sidekicks and suddenly Kenny and Footy in the morning is no more. Back in 2006, Kenny Walker was let go and his contract was not renewed. Approximately a month later, Footy "retires" to make room for Z100 New York's Elvis Duran and the Morning Zoo. Z100 simulcasts on Y100 every morning. (Fantastic change to make). The weird thing with this situation is that CC hired Footy back with his own morning show on 610 WIOD-AM about 11 months after his "Hanging up the headphones retirement". I mean the whole week was about Footy's retirement and he would never return to radio. This was pretty much a CC move to get Footy out and Elvis/Zoo in and obviously keep Footy employed for several months until they were able to put him on the #1 AM talk station here in the Miami/Lauderdale market.

 

[itburnswhenipee]

Yes, Vikki "announced" her retirement, but this type of bogus announcement benefits both Star 94 AND Steve & Vikki. A "retirement" announcement saves Steve & Vikki the embarassment of getting fired. Such an announcement also saves Star 94 from a massive, angry, public backlash for dumping a long-time morning show. Funny coincidence how the retirement comes up just as station management revamps the format for younger demos and a younger morning show.

Also, there are many radio personalities who get sick and just sit out a few months before coming back. They don't say they're "retiring" from radio and then mysteriously reappear a month later, after a miracle recuperation.

Finally, if it was merely a case of Vikki retiring due to illness, they would keep Steve, hire a replacement, and keep going on Star 94.

This one's pretty obvious.

---I'm in South Florida and we have legendary CHR station Y100 - Footy was the morning show DJ for nearly 20 years. He outlasted ALL the morning sidekicks and suddenly Kenny and Footy in the morning is no more. Back in 2006, Kenny Walker was let go and his contract was not renewed. Approximately a month later, Footy "retires" to make room for Z100 New York's Elvis Duran and the Morning Zoo. Z100 simulcasts on Y100 every morning. (Fantastic change to make). The weird thing with this situation is that CC hired Footy back with his own morning show on 610 WIOD-AM about 11 months after his "Hanging up the headphones retirement". I mean the whole week was about Footy's retirement and he would never return to radio. This was pretty much a CC move to get Footy out and Elvis/Zoo in and obviously keep Footy employed for several months until they were able to put him on the #1 AM talk station here in the Miami/Lauderdale market.

This is actually pretty common: A successful and legendary air personality ages, and simply becomes too old for the demo. Don Imus was a Top-40 disc jockey at one time, and got pushed into Talkradio. Cousin Brucie was a Top-40 deejay and became an Oldies deejay (playing songs that were Top-40 during his prime).

Having Steve & Vicky continue on Star would be like having Don Imus doing nights on 95.5 The Beat.

 

[Dano in Atlanta]

JUST THE FACTS:
- Vikki had a serious blood clot that was life-threatening, and potentially deadly!
- Vikki and Steve knew in early '07 that their contracts would not be renewed at the end of 2007.
- Their standard six-month non-compete included media interaction, interviews, comments, etc.
JUST MY EDUCATED OPINIONS:
- As producer of the show for four years, I can tell you that NOBODY WORKED HARDER for their station. They kept LONG hours and dedicated lots of time above and beyond their contractual obligations. Add a 3:00 a.m. wake-up call, and it takes a toll on the body!
- While Vikki's blood clot was serious enough to quit the business and cut back the schedule, it was being treated aggressively and there was always the potential for the clot being "cured" and allowing Vikki a normal life. The timing is purely coincidental, I assure you!
- S & V have always "taken the high road" - even with the humiliating "going-away" spectacle at the station on their last day. I couldn't have been as professional as S & V were on that day ... I probably would have said exactly what I was thinking! They didn't deserve the low-class treatment they received.
- S & V have a loyal following - even with the under-30 crowd - and especially with the females who control the disposable income. This group WILL follow S & V to B98.5!
- If S & V are allowed to do their regular show on B98.5, it will be a HUGE boost to Cox, and a nice "tweaking" to the sound of the station - slightly more contemporary but still more professional than the Under-25 amateur shows!

Don't get me started on the MM ... I haven't received my last paycheck yet!

 

[Tibbs4]

Mr. B --- incredible first post, sir! Are you able to tell us if you'll be going over to B-98.5 with Steve & Vikki?
That will be a great fit. You are spot on correct on your facts. Having known Steve since 1978 or so, he's
managed to do what so few others can do and that's keep his feet on the ground and keep laughin' at the
Star! Sorry, that was tacky and totally unlike your post! I have never asked him if he reads this RI board,
but there's about to be a day that electricity useage will spike on their first day back on the air.

 

[romer979fm]

I have never asked him if he reads this RI board

the answer is 'yes'...

 

[Tibbs4]

Well, then --- I will toast Steve (and Vikki.) I know she used to enjoy a little vino. Steve would read this
board, because he cares alot about people and what he can do better, etc. It's just the way things work
with him.

Mr. McCoy your prayers have been answered and you deserve it. Preacher Dan would be smilin!

 

[emanon17]

Dano-

You are correct in your suppositions!! It's obvious you were privy to alot of info regarding "how things went down!"
But, I ask you this: "...It was a fore-gone conclusion 'that S&V would end up at B!' "
So what was Star's plan when they let them go and signed the MM?? I mean, the decision makers at Star really aren't as foolish as ya'll have suggested. So... what do you believe was their plan?? You KNOW they had one, right?? You're talking about Benson. He is a strategist! So, what was his plan?? Just musing here... but offer yours!!

JUST THE FACTS:
- Vikki had a serious blood clot that was life-threatening, and potentially deadly!
- Vikki and Steve knew in early '07 that their contracts would not be renewed at the end of 2007.
- Their standard six-month non-compete included media interaction, interviews, comments, etc.
JUST MY EDUCATED OPINIONS:
- As producer of the show for four years, I can tell you that NOBODY WORKED HARDER for their station. They kept LONG hours and dedicated lots of time above and beyond their contractual obligations. Add a 3:00 a.m. wake-up call, and it takes a toll on the body!
- While Vikki's blood clot was serious enough to quit the business and cut back the schedule, it was being treated aggressively and there was always the potential for the clot being "cured" and allowing Vikki a normal life. The timing is purely coincidental, I assure you!
- S & V have always "taken the high road" - even with the humiliating "going-away" spectacle at the station on their last day. I couldn't have been as professional as S & V were on that day ... I probably would have said exactly what I was thinking! They didn't deserve the low-class treatment they received.
- S & V have a loyal following - even with the under-30 crowd - and especially with the females who control the disposable income. This group WILL follow S & V to B98.5!
- If S & V are allowed to do their regular show on B98.5, it will be a HUGE boost to Cox, and a nice "tweaking" to the sound of the station - slightly more contemporary but still more professional than the Under-25 amateur shows!

Don't get me started on the MM ... I haven't received my last paycheck yet!