• 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

WEJZ

W

wcrzx

Guest
Apparently Ed Fairbanks was let go as PD on Friday and Chcuk Beck wil now be PD of both WEJZ and WMUV and OP of Renda Jax.
 
This is quite intersting that this has happened..Why let Ed go? He was a great personalty IMHO. This something to be watched as to who will replace him. Also could this lead to a down fall of WEJZ as a top notch AC station? I hope not. Ed I do wish you the best in what you do for in the future.
 
From All Access..
Renda/Jacksonville Ups Chuck Beck To OM
[EDIT]



[EDIT-post truncated because originating material is copyprotected. Unauthorized use of copyrighted content is in violation of Radio-Info's TOS.]
 
This is so messed up completely...I wonder how Linda Baker feels about it? This makes me wonder as to say....is Gator Country PD Jeff Davis next? Better not be because he has built up a nice market share and knows the format inside and out. As for Ed he is another that belongs in the category of how to run an AC format.

I realize that since Ed has been let go and say if Cox flips 102.9 to AC they could easily snatch Ed pending if he has a non-compete or not. Does Renda even sign non-compete's?

Anyways..later
 
First off, I do wish Ed well. It seems people like Ed (and I'll explain what I mean in a bit) don't really have a place on the air anymore.

I'd like to acknowledge mhsbroncos for at least mentioning Ed's great personality. I would have liked to have read some inside stories of Ed's career and accomplishments at WEJZ especially. But I guess nowadays with so many people coming and going on the air, no one wants to bother. A shame when these things happen but I find the overall apathy in the Jax market is pretty much proof that people just lie down and play dead. Oh well.

I wasn't going to get into this at this time but when you mentioned Linda Baker, it made me think of some of the things I've been vocal about over the last year. It was obvious Ed and Linda had a mutual respect/admiration for each other and it wouldn't surprise me if they even considered themselves friends. But I'm afraid the over the fence chit chat did not go over well with the audience. The pace of the show suffered as a result.

If you look at 25-54, afternoon drive at WEJZ was slipping. It all comes down to numbers and I think the powers that be just wanted to ensure their cash cow remained competitive. As I listened to about 30 minutes of the show yesterday, it became clear to me where the station is heading.

I guess there is no other way to say this except by being direct. As I have been following long-term broadcasters, I began to realize that not only is the expectation to do well in 25-54 but the other expectation is that the on-air talent SOUND youthful. As I listened yesterday, the voice was younger sounding and there was a quicker pace especially during traffic report time. In fact Linda stumbled a few times maybe from nerves as she rushed through the report. I'm certain she feels rotten about what happened to Ed.

This is just my opinion but it seems it doesn't matter if you have programming talents or a friendly on-air personna. If you sound like you are up there in age, then you better begin to think about other income alternatives. Think about it. I mean no disrespect to great talent but the youthful obsession that exists has no doubt shut more doors on the likes of the Hoyle Demseys and Tom Murphy's of the world regardless of talent.

Finally, while on the subject of younger sounding voices, I wouldn't be surprised if Valerie Seagraves winds up doing an abreviated version of the news on the morning show. It's just a hunch but what do I know.

Best of luck Ed and thanks for keeping us company for many years on the ride home.
 
Well stated JJax...I would like to take this one step further. I think it's ALL about numbers, but it's the numbers on the books, not so much the ratings. It is the art of cutting the cost of doing business. If you look at what has been going on at Renda for instance, there is something that can't be over looked. They have let a number of salaries go. Arf, Tom Murphy, Briggs or (Kyle Stevens) whatever his name is, Ed and Dixie just to name a few. These are all PEOPLE who were part of the product. Not one of those salaries has been replaced. Not one. Cox has been doing this for over 2 years now. CC is operating the same way. These owners are banking on the idea that it really makes no difference how talented the talent is, as long as they don't pay a large salary or a bonus. I believe that it will be sooner rather than later there will be very little live talent on the air after morning drive M-F in this market and markets across the country. If you own a station and you find that you can get nearly the same ratings with out a larger budget for talent, what would you do? I think Renda is in trouble to some degree because they are behind in this trend and their revenue share reflects that. You really should hand it to Tony, he held on to the old way as long as he could but he is not as competitive as he would like. All of the names I mentioned and countless others have worked hard to make a living in radio. Some more talented than others but they all love what they were doing and now there really is no where for them to go. I was in radio for some time and I can tell you, I no longer use radio for anything other than news and traffic. There's nothing out there that I am willing to spend time with. There was a time when that was not the case. WLS when I was a kid.....I was hooked to every word John Records had to say and the way he presented the music. Today we have Boomer and Robbie and L&T. That is it for morning radio in jax. Nothing else that is compelling in any way. There are those who listen to Arthur Crofton because it's Arthur, It's a routine. Don't think for one minute that anyone who is doing a live shift in Jax is safe. KFI in LA is still working on a new idea, computer talent for the news breaks. The bottom line is this....fewer product related jobs in radio is the reality, and the jobs there are, will not pay the bills. This trend will continue as long as owners can achieve the profit margin they are looking for. It's ALL about the cost of doing business.
 
While I agree with some of your points I beleive that a few are misguided. As we are all aware radio is a cutthroat business. Ratings drive rate. If you don't have any ratings you can't get enough money to pay salespeople, backroom staff and on air, so the first to go is on-air. Both Arf and TM were let go due to a format change that needed to happen. will they put jocks on WMUV, who knows. I imagine once they can increase the billing it will happen. Dixie let on her own accord and still works ofr Renda in sales. I imagine within a couple of months Dallas will havea new partner. In terms of market share I beleive Renda with its 3 stations is doing well and is beating the market on a consisten basis. The group in trouble is Cox.

Just my 2 cents worth.
 
Is Greg Parker the new permanent afternoon DJ now? Can someone confirm? He does real well with the format. Also if anyone notice A.J. "Doc" Davis is now doing mornings at Sunny 94.1. That could boost the station really good. Later.
 
Ed Fairbanks did sound a little too much like and old time MOR jock. I don't know him, he could be a great guy, a great programmer, etc but he sounded old-timey. To tell the truth John Dalton does too so one wonders...One of the trends over the last few years has been toward more natural voices that don't sound like radio announcers. Personally I like that a lot but it puts the announcer-ish guys and gals regardless of age in a change it or lose it position. It sounds dated and old. I have always liked Greg Parker, he would sound awesome in PM but doesn't he work in banking or some other professional level job that has better salary and more stability.
 
Just a quick note of my appreciation for the kind words and well wishes. It was a fantastic 10 year ride at WEJZ, although not always "stress free"! During my time with Renda I had the opportunity to work with some truly wonderful, talented, professional, folks whom I am proud to call friends. I leave with no regrets and with my integrity still intact.

Ed Fairbanks
 
Yes Eddie my friend, they were ten fantastic years. I’m proud to have shared that time with you. You are a First Class act. I wish you the best.

Bob
 
Eddie:

I’ll never forget the day we moved the studio. John (Dalton) was at the old studio spinning CDs.

You started the on-air computer playing the same song as John. I turned on the new link and John turned off the old.

Your song was ending and, headphones in hand, in a studio filled with most of the staff, you turned to me and asked, “what do I do now”, and I said just do what ever it is you do.

You were the first to broadcast from the new studio beginning at 3:00pm, Friday, January 10, 2003.

As I recall, we got the “Delilah” receiver hooked up with less than ten minutes before “Show Time”.

Don't forget, you will always be known as: "That guy who's on before Delilah".

As Tony Renda Jr. put it: We just moved from the outhouse to the penthouse.

Bob
 
Status
This thread has been closed due to inactivity. You can create a new thread to discuss this topic.


Back
Top Bottom