The Enter-PLANET-tary Hate Club

[Scooter Lesley]

Now,...before y'all go Hate-in' on me, let me say that I don't have a dog in this fight. I'm just merely suppling a separate thread for what I believe to be a very sensitive subject amongst GSP market radio listeners. I did briefly work for the station, a little over a year in time; 98-00. I hosted a weekly 2-hour specialty show entitled; "The Upstate At Eight". It aired on Sunday night from 8p-10p, and much to my suprise, won several awards. I hosted two hours of unsigned local & regional Rock bands, many of which were playing local live gigs...Some great recordings.. I could talk about for hours. Oddly enough...for a 2-hour show, the readers of Creative Loafing voted me BEST LOCAL FM PERSONALITY for 1999. That was the extent of my involvment.
I also realize that many of you are very disappointed with the current sound of the station. As a Programmer, I honestly have no advice or ideas of what to change. So,...log in, and Post on, but please...stay on the subject...THE PLANET.
If you want to hate on ROQ, start another thread. This is the hear all, post all, read all, regarding WTPT-FM 93.3 The Planet.

 

[upstate29651]

Issue 1 is Paige.

A no talent big boobed woman on the radio is not an asset. A woman who can ENUNCIATE is a major plus! Also, the daypart she oversees is a trainwreck. WAY too soft & illogical for an active rocker. Ozzy into Default into Pink Floyd into Nickelback? Seriously?

G

 

[awp69]

It's hard to name any one thing wrong with the station. It's just a total mess.

1) They call themselves a "new rock" station, but yet still play things like Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin.

2) They only play what myself and a few others have called "redneck" rock as far as new material goes. Seriously, Chevelle, Five Finger Death Punch, Avenge Sevenfold, Seether, Staind, Shinedown....these are not representative of "new rock" as a whole. They're only the guitar thrashing, hard-driving drivel portion of today's rock. Where the hell are Fun., Goyte, the Black Keys, Florence & the Machine, Coldplay, The Naked & Famous, Death Cab for Cutie, Silversun Pickups, Neon Trees, Amberlin? That list could go on and on. Tons of new rock bands that are just pushed to the side for the mindless crap The Planet chooses to play. Even if they play the other stuff, there could at least be some balance and play some of more "hip" bands that educated people may like to hear.

3) The morning show is absolutely pitiful and embarassing.

Well, those are some starters. Really #2 is my biggest sore point. There's nowhere to go to hear more mainstream new rock in the area. And not everyone like to jam with the rednecks.

 

[carolinaradio]

^ I pretty much agree with the two above posts. I understand the concept behind "active rock" is older combined with newer, but "Dream On?" "Another Brick In The Wall?" "You Shook Me All Night Long?" "Money" (42 years old!)? Shouldn't these songs be strictly on Rock 101 now?

Also, the audio quality on this station is CRAP. I've never heard anything like it. It sounds like overprocessed noise coming out of an echo chamber. It's sounded like this since Barnstable owned them before 2005. Hell, the whole STATION has sounded the same since Barnstable owned them. That's the problem. The whole playlist of that loud, grinding, driving rock is awful, like I keep saying over and over. As I said in the other thread, the artists that awp69 mentioned above are probably considered "sissy" rock in their minds. Not all rock music is fast, hard noise.

A lot ofthe new stuff that's good is pretty much ignored here. Honestly, I'd love a good Alternative or AAA station in this market (I prefer those formats to mainstream or active), but I doubt it's ever going to happen. I like to listen to WRFF/Philadelphia and WEND/Charlotte on my phone quite often - both stations have a sound I could definitely live with here. WRFF is so much more pleasant on the ears...

That morning show is a pathetic representation of this market.

 

[freqdev]

did not know that the creative loafing awards carried any weight. i am impressed

 

[upstate29651]

Where the hell are Fun., Goyte, the Black Keys, Florence & the Machine, Coldplay, The Naked & Famous, Death Cab for Cutie, Silversun Pickups, Neon Trees, Amberlin?

What you seek is Alternative. Planet is "supposed" to be an Active rocker. Different creature altogether. Amberlin & Black Keys could cross over. The rest, not so much. As it is, Planet NEEDS more "grinding guitars" as is representative of an active rocker. Modern day alternative is what I call "car commercial rock" as that's the only place you seem to hear it anymore, and it seems to fit...that purpose only. But the "sissification" of rock is another sore subject with me.

G

 

[carolinaradio]

I wonder if the Upstate could support an alt. rocker. It's funny that the only stations in Columbia and Columbia playing new rock are alt. Personally, I like the sound of Alternative way more than the majority of new stuff that you hear on active rockers, and find the presentation much better - so I may never be fully satisfied with 93.3 as long as they're active.

Radio 1045 in Philadelphia is fantastic.. I started streaming them a lot after seeing it mentioned on here. The music takes first priority and it's not in your face at all. Guess its just my tastes.

 

[Gatekeeper007]

Philly has always had a flair for certain kinds of music

 

[CrazeeCarroll1]

Although it is 18 years later the last few months of what was power 93 then Q93 they were actually very alternative... Not sure what kind of ratings they got, but the music was pretty darn good with the likes of Live, Smashing Pumpkins, Pearl Jam, STP, Etc. To me that was when they sounded their best before the country twang took over then reverting back to Rock as "The Planet." Music has changed a lot since that time, but with Clemson Unv, and all the other colleges in the upstate a good alt rocker I bet would do good... CC1

 

[DudeFan]

What is "Rock" is in flux. As are most Alternative stations that spent the better part of a decade and a couple years playing **** rock.

The fact is that you cannot play Coldplay, Fun., Gotye and also Tool, Metallica, Alice in Chains, etc. There are two different psychographic audiences for those groups of bands and not much overlap. The fact of the matter is that to existing "ROCK" fans, Coldplay, Fun., Gotye, Counting Crows, Gin Blossoms, etc. do not ROCK. Not that they ever did. If you are trying to play to both camps, you are going to please neither.

 

[Scooter Lesley]

Well,...to shed some light on what CrazeeCarroll1 has posted:
During that brief time, a brilliant programmer, Bill McCown, was running things. It was a well thought-out programming path, that ended when the station was sold to (I believe?) Amcom General. When stations get sold...all the momentum stops.
Quite a good airstaft too: Logan Kelly, Bill Catcher...... I can't remember them all, but the one shinning moment was when the book came back. Even though it was sold, they were on the air, with that product...just long enough to...to get a 9-share!
They were,...indeed,...right on track,...but they ran outta track!
Timeline: Power 93(CHR), Q-93(Active Rock), Q-Country(Young Country), and The Planet(Modern Rock).
The Planet began September 13th, 1996.

 

[carolinaradio]

What is "Rock" is in flux. As are most Alternative stations that spent the better part of a decade and a couple years playing **** rock.

The fact is that you cannot play Coldplay, Fun., Gotye and also Tool, Metallica, Alice in Chains, etc. There are two different psychographic audiences for those groups of bands and not much overlap. The fact of the matter is that to existing "ROCK" fans, Coldplay, Fun., Gotye, Counting Crows, Gin Blossoms, etc. do not ROCK. Not that they ever did. If you are trying to play to both camps, you are going to please neither.

You have a good point. I haven't looked at the ratings for them lately, but last year, Alternative and AAA as formats seemed to be doing better in certain markets than they had been for a while, and more Alt. friendly groups tend to be getting mainstream success, like Foster The People, Fun., Coldplay, Gotye, etc. - I just find it funny that certain markets around here support only Alt. (Columbia, Charlotte) while certain markets support only active (Greenville, Charleston [although that market has an AAA]). Like I said, I'll likely never be fully pleased with Active Rock - I don't care for everything to be loud/fast.

That being said, I think the Upstate could support some kind of Alternative - maybe on another translator like 97.7 (should one pop up) or maybe on 96.7 should CC ever move away from gospel. Wasn't 103-X and its Alternative format somewhat popular? My understanding with formats like Alt. and AAA is that while they don't always rate very well, they tend to attract a more affluent audience than typical mainstream/active rockers.

Still, I think 93.3 could do much, much better with its presentation and playlist.

 

[CrazeeCarroll1]

I remember the launch of The Planet... One day it was country and then the next it was Rock... I Remember Jesse James Dupree from Jackyl actually doing the morning show for a few days when the launch took place. Honestly for me when I am in the mood for good alternative music I stream WXRY, Radio 104.5 out of Philly, or just crank out some tunes from Spotify. For me where I live there is no good Alt stations so for me it is the web... CC1

 

[Ssummers]

...Honestly for me when I am in the mood for good alternative music I stream WXRY, Radio 104.5 out of Philly...

Not to step on your toes, my brother, but isn't WXRY 99.3 Steve's station in Columbia?

 

[carolinaradio]

Yeah, Radio 104.5 if WRFF. I agree that they do a fantastic job. I think it's certainly beat CC's expectations for it. 99X in Atlanta is a decent alt. rocker, as well (last time I heard).

Does anybody know the scoop on 103-X in Greenville? Didn't it do fairly well in its short lifespan? I wasn't around here at that time. I know it didn't last long, though, because they went to oldies when WFBC ditched that format for CHR. Wasn't 98.1 in Greenville even some kind of rock before rhythmic, as well? Such a shame that 93.3 is all we're left with.

 

[awp69]

Yeah, Radio 104.5 in Philly is WRFF. It's also one of my favorite stations to listen to when streaming.

I'd love to get something even close to that around here. I do understand that The Planet is "active rock" but still think they're on the extreme side of that with the loud, driving stuff. And what they do mix in -- the Pink Floyd, Aerosmith, Led Zeppelin -- I don't think is considered "active". Plus they bill themselves as "New Rock 93.3 The Planet". If they're going to be using the "new rock" image, then IMO I would think they would be a more inclusive station as far as everything under that umbrella.

Whatever. I don't think they've had too many "good" books but maybe they look at the numbers differently. Even Rock 93.5 in Columbia is very balanced. Plays some of the harder, active-rock Chevelle type stuff, but they still do play slower stuff along the lines of things like Snow Patrol. It's not the best rock station in the world, but it's far better than the Planet.

EDIT: Opps....Carolinaradio beat me too it. Yes, 99X in Atlanta is still a good alternative rocker as well. I'm glad they made their way back to the airwaves after being relegated to HD radio and online.

I was here during 103X's short life. I know nothing about how well they did in the ratings. But they were a pretty good alternative station and I was sad to see them go. But that was also like 15 years ago. Think things change and a station like it may have better luck today -- even if they were a more mainstream rock station mixing alternative with traditional rock.

 

[Scooter Lesley]

Lookin' back:
98.1 FM has not always been the Awww-ful Urban Manure currently sliding through the airwaves. In 1994, owner, Wayne Gallamore, sold "The Great 98" WBFM-FM (Oldies) to Norm Alpert of Tampa. Norm sent his son Dave to run the station, which became "The Peak" (AC Oldies...[deep cuts]). Reportedly, it was bought for $950-thousand, ran for six years, and then sold to Cox for 6.5 Mil. As for 103X, it was on 103.9 FM, which was originally (WELP-FM) sold by (the late) Clettus Brazzell to Bob Harrison...(1985) Lite 104 WTLT-FM...sold to Voyager, Z-104....?????
103X had a good run, with Logan Kelly, Caroline, and PD "Meester Rick" (Schmidt). The PD was one of these guys that could snow his way into getting hired, then when crunch time arrives,...the station starts to slide. Personally, he was a nice guy, but Professionally, the only thing worse than his programming was...his toopay! It's all mathematical: When your 4-head, becomes a 5-head, you need 1-hundred, to buy a 2-pay!

 

[carolinaradio]

Yeah, Radio 104.5 in Philly is WRFF. It's also one of my favorite stations to listen to when streaming.

I'd love to get something even close to that around here. I do understand that The Planet is "active rock" but still think they're on the extreme side of that with the loud, driving stuff. And what they do mix in -- the Pink Floyd, Aerosmith, Led Zeppelin -- I don't think is considered "active". Plus they bill themselves as "New Rock 93.3 The Planet". If they're going to be using the "new rock" image, then IMO I would think they would be a more inclusive station as far as everything under that umbrella.

Whatever. I don't think they've had too many "good" books but maybe they look at the numbers differently. Even Rock 93.5 in Columbia is very balanced. Plays some of the harder, active-rock Chevelle type stuff, but they still do play slower stuff along the lines of things like Snow Patrol. It's not the best rock station in the world, but it's far better than the Planet.

EDIT: Opps....Carolinaradio beat me too it. Yes, 99X in Atlanta is still a good alternative rocker as well. I'm glad they made their way back to the airwaves after being relegated to HD radio and online.

I was here during 103X's short life. I know nothing about how well they did in the ratings. But they were a pretty good alternative station and I was sad to see them go. But that was also like 15 years ago. Think things change and a station like it may have better luck today -- even if they were a more mainstream rock station mixing alternative with traditional rock.

I know 103X had Stern and it didn't go over well. That might have hurt that station greatly.

I don't know how, by any stretch, 93.3 can say "new rock" - they skew EXTREMELY old, musically, even for an active rocker IMO - unless their logic is that since sister station Rock 101 is "classic rock", it's considered "new rock"... If 96.7 The Buzzard would've been around now, I think they would have had more impact on 93.3, since they've only gotten worse in the past 4-5 years. Speaking of Alternative, it would've been interesting if CC would have tried that format on 96.7 instead of mainstream/active.

I read a fair share of bad comments about Rock 93.5 on here, but I honestly don't think they're that bad at all. They're no 99x, 106.5 The End or Radio 104.5, but it's better than anything we've had here in ages as far as rock goes...at least MY plays some new alt. material (although very limited) and a decent amount of lighter 90s rock.

 

[awp69]

I know 103X had Stern and it didn't go over well. That might have hurt that station greatly.

I don't know how, by any stretch, 93.3 can say "new rock" - they skew EXTREMELY old, musically, even for an active rocker IMO - unless their logic is that since sister station Rock 101 is "classic rock", it's considered "new rock"... If 96.7 The Buzzard would've been around now, I think they would have had more impact on 93.3, since they've only gotten worse in the past 4-5 years. Speaking of Alternative, it would've been interesting if CC would have tried that format on 96.7 instead of mainstream/active.

I read a fair share of bad comments about Rock 93.5 on here, but I honestly don't think they're that bad at all. They're no 99x, 106.5 The End or Radio 104.5, but it's better than anything we've had here in ages as far as rock goes...at least MY plays some new alt. material (although very limited) and a decent amount of lighter 90s rock.

Forgot about Stern. I do remember there being a bit of an uproar about him coming here and I think I remember them taking him off the air even before they started their demise. I was never a big Stern fan myself, but did like having an alternative rocker around here.

I used to think 99X was great, but Radio 104.5 has kind of taken the cake as far as my favorite alt. rock station. But as you mention even though Rock 93.5 may not be the best of the best, I'd still take it any day over The Planet. Of course, that's not saying much.

 

[vchimpanzee]

Lookin' back:
98.1 FM has not always been the Awww-ful Urban Manure currently sliding through the airwaves. In 1994, owner, Wayne Gallamore, sold "The Great 98" WBFM-FM (Oldies) to Norm Alpert of Tampa. Norm sent his son Dave to run the station, which became "The Peak" (AC Oldies...[deep cuts]). Reportedly, it was bought for $950-thousand, ran for six years, and then sold to Cox for 6.5 Mil.

And before it was rhythmic, it was talk.

However, it was best (in my opinion) as a standards station prior to the early 90s. They even did this with 100,000 watts for a while.