-
Get involved.
We want your input!
Apply for Membership and join the conversations about everything related to broadcasting.
After we receive your registration, a moderator will review it. After your registration is approved, you will be permitted to post.
If you use a disposable or false email address, your registration will be rejected.
After your membership is approved, please take a minute to tell us a little bit about yourself.
https://www.radiodiscussions.com/forums/introduce-yourself.1088/
Thanks in advance and have fun!
RadioDiscussions Administrators
WCME-900-Brunswick - Now On Air
- Thread starter JIBGUY
- Start date
O
oldrover
Guest
Didn't you sell this? Or did the sale fall through? ???
Are ya still in the cozy little shack at the end of the gravel driveway on River Road? I worked there 3 times in 3 capacities for 3 different owners and have great memories of the place:
1978-9: Program Director of WKXA (country): Bob Papper was Owner and G.M.
1990: Acct. Executive at WCLZ ("The Breeze" - in the embryonic days of smooth jazz): Bud Stiker was G.M., George Baines was Sales Manager, Brian Phoenix was PD
1994-6 Production Director and PM Drive at WCLZ (Triple A): Riverside Broadcasting, Mike Waggoner was G.M., Brian Phoenix was PD (again!)
I was bemused by the fact that after the first gig, I wound up in the same funky little building 2 more times. Not the big time, but 3 sometimes challenging, always interesting places to work.
Nick Seneca
1978-9: Program Director of WKXA (country): Bob Papper was Owner and G.M.
1990: Acct. Executive at WCLZ ("The Breeze" - in the embryonic days of smooth jazz): Bud Stiker was G.M., George Baines was Sales Manager, Brian Phoenix was PD
1994-6 Production Director and PM Drive at WCLZ (Triple A): Riverside Broadcasting, Mike Waggoner was G.M., Brian Phoenix was PD (again!)
I was bemused by the fact that after the first gig, I wound up in the same funky little building 2 more times. Not the big time, but 3 sometimes challenging, always interesting places to work.
Nick Seneca
Nick Gerard said:
That cozy shack is gone.... as of about a year ago. Torn down by the then new owner Saga. Probably a good decision as the former owner just let it go, and became rotted and home to more critters than all the radio people that ever went through there.
WCME AM 900 is temporarily housed at WJTO-730 Bath... at the end of another gravely/dirt road, on the water, in West Bath.
T
talkjim
Guest
Although I'm known to some as the new "owner" of the new 900 WCME, I'm under no illusions--I'm simply the trustee of this license, which is ultimately owned by the people--particularly those in coastal Maine, who we plan to serve with this signal-- although the permanent launch is still several months away.
I've been extremely lucky to have had support and cooperation in this project from some of the best people I've ever met in this business. I'll start with Bob Bittner, whose listener-supported model for providing quality broadcasting at WJTO and WJIB/Cambridge-Boston is fast becoming legendary not onlly here in the Northeast but throughout the nation. His planning and foresight was a major factor in the smooth return of WCME this weekend.
I wish everyone reading this could have watched the cool, calm, and confident manner in which contract engineer and former WOKQ air personality Bob Perry returned WCME to the air Saturday night, with fidelity that I could not believe. I'm honored to know Bob.
Joe Reilly--the former ratings-raising PD of stations such as WTAM/Cleveland (he flipped this station back to its heritage calls from WWWE), WTVN/Columbus, and WIBC/Indianapolis, has been helping me plan this station. Along with his highly intelligent wife, Nancy, Joe has also accumulated a track record at successfully doing small-market full service radio in recent years as owner and morning host at WHLM-AM-FM in Bloombsburg, Pennsylvania, where he is known to his many listeners in central Pennsylvania as "Bobby Joe". Don't know if I would be undertaking this project without his help. "Bobby Joe" has forgotten more about radio than most of us will ever know.
I've also received some early help from Russ Long, the longtime morning host at WRNJ/Hackettstown, New Jersey, who will be returning soon to his hometown of Brunswick, Maine. Any guess as to what me may be doing with some of his time?
And yes, I acknowledge that with Bittner, Perry and Bobby Joe all involved, there has so far been a high level of Bob-i-fication at WCME. But believe me, it's not a problem. No--more like a blessing.
I've been extremely lucky to have had support and cooperation in this project from some of the best people I've ever met in this business. I'll start with Bob Bittner, whose listener-supported model for providing quality broadcasting at WJTO and WJIB/Cambridge-Boston is fast becoming legendary not onlly here in the Northeast but throughout the nation. His planning and foresight was a major factor in the smooth return of WCME this weekend.
I wish everyone reading this could have watched the cool, calm, and confident manner in which contract engineer and former WOKQ air personality Bob Perry returned WCME to the air Saturday night, with fidelity that I could not believe. I'm honored to know Bob.
Joe Reilly--the former ratings-raising PD of stations such as WTAM/Cleveland (he flipped this station back to its heritage calls from WWWE), WTVN/Columbus, and WIBC/Indianapolis, has been helping me plan this station. Along with his highly intelligent wife, Nancy, Joe has also accumulated a track record at successfully doing small-market full service radio in recent years as owner and morning host at WHLM-AM-FM in Bloombsburg, Pennsylvania, where he is known to his many listeners in central Pennsylvania as "Bobby Joe". Don't know if I would be undertaking this project without his help. "Bobby Joe" has forgotten more about radio than most of us will ever know.
I've also received some early help from Russ Long, the longtime morning host at WRNJ/Hackettstown, New Jersey, who will be returning soon to his hometown of Brunswick, Maine. Any guess as to what me may be doing with some of his time?
And yes, I acknowledge that with Bittner, Perry and Bobby Joe all involved, there has so far been a high level of Bob-i-fication at WCME. But believe me, it's not a problem. No--more like a blessing.
Congratulations, Jim! Nice to see the photo on Scott Fybush's site. That brings back lots of memories. I used to 'throw the switch' every morning at WCME in the late 60's. Did mornings from 6-9. I stopped by the old site on the River Road yesterday on the way through. I had lots of good memories there. Nice to read Nick's comments about being at the end of the gravel driveway. And Bill, I listened to WJTO on the way through--what a great sound! Wonderful format. Back in the 60's WJTO was our competitor--great competitor though, when Porter Turner owned it.
Will WCME's power go back to 1,000 watts? And...what will be the format?
Will WCME's power go back to 1,000 watts? And...what will be the format?
T
talkjim
Guest
Thanks for the great posts here and the good wishes--not only pleasant to read but quite educational.
1000 watts day...66 watts night, and it will do what small market radio does best--as much as possible superserve the greater (and it truly is greater) Brunswick-Bath community. The key word will be LOCAL-local news, local sports, local events. I hope we can make it local to the point that people find it impossible to ignore-- because it's all about THEM, their friends, their neighbors, and maybe even about their lost dogs at times. Hyper-local.
"Takin' time to treat your friendly neighbors honestly"-Paul Simon. I still believe in this stuff.
1000 watts day...66 watts night, and it will do what small market radio does best--as much as possible superserve the greater (and it truly is greater) Brunswick-Bath community. The key word will be LOCAL-local news, local sports, local events. I hope we can make it local to the point that people find it impossible to ignore-- because it's all about THEM, their friends, their neighbors, and maybe even about their lost dogs at times. Hyper-local.
"Takin' time to treat your friendly neighbors honestly"-Paul Simon. I still believe in this stuff.
This is the biggest reason why I sold AM-900 to Jim after he approached me late last year (or was it earlier this year?)... because of his interest in doing local radio. And he would do a better job of that than myself. And because this makes just one more locally-oriented owner in Maine, a good thing, to bring the local-owner balance just a good bit higher, compared to the consolidators in Maine. So Jim, welcome to Mid-Coast Maine and may WCME prosper like the old days. I believe both the Bath & Brunswick stations are/are going to be kicking butt, as opposed to 15 years ago for both stations.
J
joewhlm
Guest
Jim,
Best wishes and luck in rebuilding a local station and WCME. (great call letters!)
Bob Bittner is obviously a very special person.
You had some kind words for me too...but the time may come when you curse me, as building a local station is a journey and not a destination...and the journey may get rocky at times.
We are into year 8 here in NEPA with The WHLM Stations. And let me tell you that it has been hard work...more work than any other station. Plenty of hours and little pay. BUT...I would rather eat a baloney sandwich than a corporate s h i t sandwich.
Corporate freedom is a great thing only topped by financial freedom.
Enjoy
Joe Reilly AKA Bobby Hatfield
Best wishes and luck in rebuilding a local station and WCME. (great call letters!)
Bob Bittner is obviously a very special person.
You had some kind words for me too...but the time may come when you curse me, as building a local station is a journey and not a destination...and the journey may get rocky at times.
We are into year 8 here in NEPA with The WHLM Stations. And let me tell you that it has been hard work...more work than any other station. Plenty of hours and little pay. BUT...I would rather eat a baloney sandwich than a corporate s h i t sandwich.
Corporate freedom is a great thing only topped by financial freedom.
Enjoy
Joe Reilly AKA Bobby Hatfield
- Status