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The origin of 93.3 THE PLANET.

S

Scooter Lesley

Guest
In May of 1996, a buddy of mine asked me to write a Radio piece for Creative Loafing. It was entitled "The Story of Those". To make it short (as if I knew how!), WBBO-FM Power 93, was sold to George Francis, and I believe(?)...everyone was canned. The station was either sold to...or something, but it became a sister station to WESC.
My friend, Allen Power, then GM, lauched Q-Country. This was their younger Country swing at WSSL. The events that followed are somewhat comical as WBBO had mad a move toward some type of new Rock 30-40 format, and it was working. When Q-Country debuted, the WBBO book surfaced, and they had spiked a 9-share!
A short time after that, Allen Power had to realize that Q-Country was a Flub! The way to go wasn't very clear until 103X flipped in April(?) to Oldies...No Mordern/Active Rock station, until Power would launch THE PLANET on September 13th, 1996. That makes it nearly 15-years old. So, Entercom readers, since Rock 101 will truthfully be 24 in December, instead of 20 like you have Boob-bid-ly advertized,
...why not go ahead a celebrate The Planet's ten year anniversary?
 
This station could be SO much better than it is. It reaches Charlotte, where they have quite a few listeners. Their positioners need to be updated, the air talent more reflective of a P1 M 18-34 format, a playlist that's 70% new, 30% currents/gold (no more cannibalizing off sister station's Rock 101 format), and overall be more aggressive in proclaiming who they are, what segment of the market they serve, and act like they own the joint!

No active rocker is going to win with Lenny Kravitz, Default Nickelback & a classic rock sone every 4th spin as part of their gameplan.

G
 
Good Lord, Scooter. I'm not sure what's more shocking....that you've just found this site or your ability to stir up hornets nests with folks! You have the gift!

Make sure you give props to Zakk Tyler who drove down with the 'station' in his car (in the form of cd's and the like). Allen does deserve credit for letting it on air and hiring Zakk, etc. however, it was Zakk's brain child. Then, it was 93.3 The Planet - Rock for your World and sometimes we'd say The Rock of Your World - 93.3 The Planet. Whatta dump the old Stone Avenue studios were - but it was fun!
 
Ahhh the good old days of Zakk Tyler! Nekkid swingers doing mud wrestling in the back, strange people coming in and out. He did a great job of setting up the station for what it was to become! And yes Craig, that building took the cake. Possums in Promotions, no heat in the dead of winter, mold problems like crazy, not to mention trying to work within two separate buildings! Worst building in the world... 2nd worst was the one on Rutherford St. that housed, Magic, B93.7 and WORD.

Radar
 
In addition to winning every Bart Simpson look-a-like contest between here, and Beute, Montana,...Zakk Tyler was, and still is brillant! Even though, Ron Brooks would have gladly accepted all trophies, Tyler was indeed, the Man. To give anyone else credit for the sound, and success of the station...is as wrong...as ugly mail-order brides. A good discussion point,...that needed clarification.
 
I have a question about this station, since I wasn't here in its apparent "glory days" - has it always been near the bottom of the stack as far as overall ratings go?
 
A reply to carolinaradio:
No, The Planet has not always been in the Ratings Cellar. At one time, it was a rollin' sack of hell, that even beat Rock 101 in a few dayparts. It got sold a couple of times, and eventually, via the same owner, became WROQ's "sister station"...how are stations female, yet they all have towers?? Anyway, since under the same umbrella...ella...ella,...there is no more...
com-pee-tis-un. WESC & WSSL are in the same little wicker basket, as well. In each case, one becomes the "stepchild", and sadly, it's The Planet wearin' the little red wig. As for the sound, it debuted on September 13th, 1996, and was listed in "R&R", Radio & Records Magazine as a "P2", Parallel two, reporting station, reporting their weekly playlist as a "Modern Rock" format. They had Punch, and Clout, but not anymore. I don't know enough about that format to coment on whether it is or isn't being Programmed correctly, but I have read the posts of others that do, and they are...drastically underwhelmed!
 
Scooter Lesley said:
A reply to carolinaradio:
No, The Planet has not always been in the Ratings Cellar. At one time, it was a rollin' sack of hell, that even beat Rock 101 in a few dayparts. It got sold a couple of times, and eventually, via the same owner, became WROQ's "sister station"...how are stations female, yet they all have towers?? Anyway, since under the same umbrella...ella...ella,...there is no more...
com-pee-tis-un. WESC & WSSL are in the same little wicker basket, as well. In each case, one becomes the "stepchild", and sadly, it's The Planet wearin' the little red wig. As for the sound, it debuted on September 13th, 1996, and was listed in "R&R", Radio & Records Magazine as a "P2", Parallel two, reporting station, reporting their weekly playlist as a "Modern Rock" format. They had Punch, and Clout, but not anymore. I don't know enough about that format to coment on whether it is or isn't being Programmed correctly, but I have read the posts of others that do, and they are...drastically underwhelmed!
Click to expand...
Like I have said multiple times, Entercom has a share of rock stations - and to my knowledge, most of them do decently and are respected. When Barnstable sold 93.3, I thought Entercom would clean up the processing, improve the sound, etc. but they have done nothing. Sometimes I wonder if the stepchild of Entercom Greenville overall is actually 98.9 (although they probably bill well). It seems like 98.9 is the most ignored. Magic has potential but they waste it. The Planet may, also. I don't call myself an active rock expert, but I think I've heard enough of the format to know that Planet is underwhelming. Especially in AM drive....ugh.

Good to see Greenville discussion - to be the largest market, I feel that we get the least attention online!
 
For me, I have had many years of experience in both Radio & TV.
When I convey any point, I get the ego label. However, my rep speaks loudly for itself, and I couldn't care less about any heckling.
So, with that said, I'll express a few programming pops:
What we have here is a lack of "Testicular Fortitude"!
Owners, if your station is doing poorly, locate the source of the poor decissons. Whoever is making the actually decissions that slate the on-air sound, and the promotions that fluff-it-out to the public.
Fire them!
Fire them in front of the #2 person, and hand him/her the job, with this, you have one (complete) book...to show or I will hire one of these out of work broadcast veterans that positively knows how! You are the owner! GM's do you want to look good in the eyes of the owner? If your local PD is being puppeted by the Corp PD or some little Consultant weenie,...their decissons,...and they blame your guy.
Approach the owners, and demand results. It's on you!
Grow a set!!
 
Scooter start a thread on your last statment that way it has a subject of it's own. If it is something people want to respond to when they will have a chance to do so.
 
A reply to freqdev:
Well,...if you want to make lite of my Southern english, have at it!
...but remember, my friends out number yours! Beside, how many #1 ranked stations have you worked at?
Wait!...the readers of this board...already know the answer!
 
Scooter Lesley said:
A reply to freqdev:
Well,...if you want to make lite of my Southern english, have at it!
...but remember, my friends out number yours! Beside, how many #1 ranked stations have you worked at?
Wait!...the readers of this board...already know the answer!
Click to expand...

one and still working in radio. and your last full time job in radio was when?
 
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