The Shark Places Ad on AllAccess

[Jukebox Zero]

The Shark has placed an ad in AllAccess looking for a new on-air personality.

I only wish I could warn the job applicants about the state of Atlantic Broadcasting.

The ad should say "Must be willing to work for a company in financial ruins, willing to work for free, and willing to work for a station with a less than sub-par morning show. Oh and we are probably going to be closing up show soon, so if your relocating, look for a month to month lease."

What sucks the most is that because of the state of this business, some poor sap is actually going to pack up his/her life and move up here to work on The Shark, probably the worst programmed and worst jocked station in the state of NJ.

Here's the post:

Atlantic City Classic Rocker

Postby felix » Thu Aug 26, 2010 3:30 pm
103.7 the Shark, South Jersey's #1 for Classic Rock is now accepting applications for air personalities. Do you know the music? Can you make our workdays sound great? Send your stuff to [email protected]. Please put Atlantic City in the subject line. EOE.

http://www.allaccess.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=9680&sid=22d36b58b1c0672ffe8b76b7df5757ba

 

[Zackster]

The replies go to Alex DeMers - a well known consultant.

How To Apply - DeMers Programming
All job applications should be sent to [email protected]. Keep all file attachments under 2MB… We just need a short sample of your work to start out. ...
demersprogramming.com/Howtoapply.aspx - Cached

Why don't one of you crybabies send him a link to this thread,
oh wait, if he's any good, he already knows. I guess HIS
checks aren't bouncing.

 

[d21ofnj]

So is this thread somehow gonna be another "It's Wild's fault" meme?

 

[nd2023]

The Shark is Atlantic's cash cow.

 

[tom]

The Shark is Atlantic's cash cow.

They wish.

 

[Ned Braden]

The sad thing about this, is that, for all the bitching and moaning that gets done about the ownership, the talent and everything else that everyone thinks is wrong with Atlantic City radio, NOTHING productive will come of this job posting. Think - how many times over the last few years have you seen a posting for one of these stations, only to see that, before the post is a day old, that it's already been filled, usually by the guy who replaced the guy who just got canned. Perfect example: Michael James on WZXL and Shawn Patrick on The Shark. It was almost as if these two just swapped building keys as they met in the middle of the street they were crossing. Feel free to add names to the list...

I'm all for keeping it local and familiar to the listeners, but, for the life of me, I can't see how ONE of these owners, PD's, etc. can't hear how flat and stale the market has become. If there's one market that needs a jolt, it's A.C. Maybe one of them should actually take a chance on one of those hungry jocks, who haven't been polluted or jaded by radio sarcasm and irony, and give them a shot. Who knows? It may actually work....

 

[SoulCrusher]

Seems to me that Atlantic has the most invested in WOND, with its mix of local and syndicated talent. Compare that to Kool and The Shark, which are basically glorified jukeboxes at this point - both stations are completely lacking in personality, either by way of the music or their station IDs. Wild at least has a decent amount of on-air talent, but Kidd Kraddick has to go - put on a local morning show instead. I know WOND has been in its location for decades, but I think moving it to 103.7 with its vastly superior signal wouldn't be a bad idea. It would be a great alternative to NJ 101.5, and I'm sure it would see a ratings bump in-market and it would show up in the Monmouth/Ocean market as well.

 

[Who Cares]

NED, I couldn't agree more. The market is stale. I've stated some reasons in previous posts about how owners/gm's/pd's all think that everyone wants a mirror of their iPod, which means they want their talent to talk less and be talent-less.

But it's also the re-hashing of the talent you wrote about. Your example of Michael James and Sean Patrick was excellent. And, a few months ago the Shark had two circa 1995 ZXL jocks in Rich DeSisto and Barb LaRue.

This kind of stuff can and does (did?) happen in big markets, but in a market like this where the talent is lacking (I'm so tempted to name names, but that's not going to help anything) to simply hire the recently fired competition is stupid. Or, to hire away someone that isn't proven is stupid.

There is a world of talent out there...but with automation/voice tracking there's really no need for part-timers to cut their teeth, etc. Hence T-bone on ZXL doing PM Drive and pretty much all weekend.

Oh well, who cares?

 

[Ned Braden]

It's frustrating to someone like me, who grew up in the area, is familiar enough to not need an almanac or GPS to sound local and have cut my teeth enough to be considered experienced enough for the jobs that are posted. But because of the state that radio is in, was forced to take a job far outside the market. Ten years ago, my mouth would've started watering at the sight of a job opening in Atlantic City. Not any more. I've come to realize that it's a waste of time to apply. Now, when I see those job postings, I scan the websites of the competing stations down there, and bet against the house to see which jock from another station will fill the vacancy.

Whenever a station in A.C. posts a job on All Access, it should be accompanied by the music from 'Deliverance'.....

 

[Who Cares]

It's a shame that what you wrote is both true and hilarious (at least the Deliverance part). I wonder if what you say is true in most small markets. Automation has allowed owners to streamline and save money. Maybe it's not just AC. Regardless, it's sad.

 

[Tubbs]

...and in the process of streamlining and saving money they also dumbed down the product pretty far. Does it really matter who voice tracks, it sounds horrible when a pro does it let alone new people making very little money.

 

[Ned Braden]

It's a shame that what you wrote is both true and hilarious (at least the Deliverance part). I wonder if what you say is true in most small markets. Automation has allowed owners to streamline and save money. Maybe it's not just AC. Regardless, it's sad.

Where I'm at now - NO...the market I'm in now is at the bottom of the list of the 300 + Arbitron rated markets and in the time I've been here, haven't seen the 'recycle' factor that I've seen in Atlantic City. Philly is no better, either. They have the 'evil trinity' of 'MGK, MMR and 'YSP. See 'Kotz, Randy'...

 

[Who Cares]

...and in the process of streamlining and saving money they also dumbed down the product pretty far. Does it really matter who voice tracks, it sounds horrible when a pro does it let alone new people making very little money.

Can't say I disagree.