WEQX Phones It In

[IllSeeWhatICanDo]

I am probably one of the station's most dedicated supporters. I've been listening to EQX since they hosted a discussion/seminar at my college in 1992, and though the station has had its ups and downs in the years since, the music is always cutting edge and top-notch, especially since the current PD took over a few years back. The "fun" element is missing in recent years, however. Things I miss include a dual-host morning show(I know Early EQX started out as a solo show, but it really found its identity with male-female co-hosts) Holiday weekend"happenings" like the all-request weekend(1999-2000?)Or, play the top 50 ALT albums in their entirety like the station did a few times back in the early 90's.(I don't remember if this was voted or arbitrary) Also, had a blast at EQXFest last summer-where's the 2008 edition? Give us more EQXclusive CD compilations, bumper sticker promotions,etc. Love the station and always will but it seems like there's less of a heartbeat there in Manchester these days. Perhaps a microcosm of radio in general?

 

[Johnny_45]

EQX started to fall around 2003 - it's the STAGNATION "domino" effect. You have Clear Channel on one hand making carbon-copy stations and formats across America and then you have CHEAP outfits like Pamal who treat everybody like dirt. Someday they'll cross somebody the wrong way. POINT: EQX can sit back and "forget" the supporters, because the supporters have NOTHING ELSE to listen to (except for internet radio, and we all know how much tahet sucks, technically speaking)!

I'm with you - PLEASE restore EQX to what it once was - a true beacon among the cash-hungry and the KOOKY!

 

[rokstar]

While I was never a huge EQX fan, I believe that radio has gotten away from what made it so popular. People would actually tune into a station and listen to the DJ as well as the music, now it is much different.
Before Howard Stern moved to Satellite, he said radio was a mom and pop business. Stop and think for a minute is he right? I believe so. I am a suppoerter of Independent stations like EQX. They have managed to last for a long time in this market and although the numbers havent always been huge they have always gone against the grain. While corporate radio staions like Clear Channel and Regent ruin what was once great about radio a company like Pamal boasts about how it's independently owned. Most people who work there are not happy and it seems to fall into the Corporate Radio category. A station like EQX is still here. Finally to all my fellow radio listeners and DJ'S and former DJ'S thank you for your input and hard work and dedication

 

[Willobee]

I am probably one of the station's most dedicated supporters. I've been listening to EQX since they hosted a discussion/seminar at my college in 1992, and though the station has had its ups and downs in the years since, the music is always cutting edge and top-notch, especially since the current PD took over a few years back. The "fun" element is missing in recent years, however. Things I miss include a dual-host morning show(I know Early EQX started out as a solo show, but it really found its identity with male-female co-hosts) Holiday weekend"happenings" like the all-request weekend(1999-2000?)Or, play the top 50 ALT albums in their entirety like the station did a few times back in the early 90's.(I don't remember if this was voted or arbitrary) Also, had a blast at EQXFest last summer-where's the 2008 edition? Give us more EQXclusive CD compilations, bumper sticker promotions,etc. Love the station and always will but it seems like there's less of a heartbeat there in Manchester these days. Perhaps a microcosm of radio in general?

Sorry it took me so long to notice this post. First let me thank you for the props. This is the most "fun" I have ever had in my career. EQX is one of the most adventurous commercial alternative stations in the country. To address your comment, I need to address the economy. While the corporate giants slash their budgets, EQX is still surviving with the same format after 24 years.

I can guarantee there isn't a station in the country as diverse, eclectic, adventurous and daring as EQX. The proof is in the pudding. We were recently named #17 in the Top 20 alternative rock stations in the country by Radio & Records Magazine. So, I would say we are doing a great job and offering music that nobody else does. The bottom line is, we are doing what we need to do to stay alive. Sometimes, that means cutting some features while maintaining the integrity of our product. Those specialty weekends and features, which take a lot of extra man hours to put together are lost on the typical listener. We just don’t have the manpower to continue some of those features. It’s a budget thing. We are an ever evolving, living entity that grows as our listeners grow and tastes change. Some artists and features lose relevancy.

Not everyone is as passionate about radio as you and I. We are still the only station in the market that counts down our top songs of the year. While we can't always please everyone, we do our best to offer a wide range of music. The other thing is we are always trying to grow with our listeners and their ever changes in tastes. We do as much research as we can to make sure we are giving our listeners the best selection of what is out there. We do however pride ourselves on being the only station that keeps a very deep library of gold music.

EQX is still a business and we could not survive as a commercial radio station without doing what we are doing. It’s the nature of this business. The reality is that my job is to get the most listeners, not expose the most new music create special features, and while it's cool that sometimes those goals intersect, they don't always. The course taken is not for musical extremists but to staying in business. That being said, our lowest common denominator still far outshines those at any other station. Thanks for being passionate and I respect your comments.

 

[MisterBilge]

Willobee - a tip of the hat in your direction sir, for keeping the passion of radio going at a truly unique radio station. Almost a quarter century with the same owner and the same format. Where else do you find that? You continue to make your presence felt in the closest large population center to the station - a 75 minute drive away. Your station's been the spawning pool of great programmers like Jim McGuinn and Gary Schoenwetter and crazy people like Ian Barrett. What other owner drives to the top of a mountain in a raging blizzard to get a transmitter back on the air? Look at what EQX has done - sometimes with, maybe 3 or 4 people and a cat. You have a dog there too, don't you? And now a Darwin. Again. When jocks get old, retire and are sitting in rocking chairs on the front porch of the Old Announcers' Home, they'll be telling stories of the legendary stations. They'll be telling EQX stories. Keep up the good work!

 

[Zeb Norris]

Hey Willobee!

I was gonna say lots of stuff in your defense, but you already said it, and said it well.

Not many fun to work at stations left in the entire COUNTRY anymore... we're a couple of lucky guys!

Zeb Norris (WNCS up in Montpelier)

 

[Johnny_45]

Willobee & Zeb!

Happy New Year ---- I believe I have the key to restoring the "old glory" of EQX: after all, why on earth would people perceive a "difference" if there wasn't one? A station so diverse, eclectic, adventurous and daring shuld BE just that! Don't you agree? So what's wrong? My suggestions are below!

You said "The reality is that my job is to get the most listeners, not expose the most new music create special features" WRONG! You get the most listeners by jumping on whatever is "viral" at the moment!

Find a few new helpers, some "hungry" kids who wannabe in radio with all their hearts and mesh with your music format. Then, listen and act upon their IDEAS.

Pretend you are on a shoestring budget or even NO budget and BRAINSTORM and IMPROVISE. With all the bands on MySpace it's not too hard to "meet" them online, start playing their stuff and score exclusive interviews etc.

Find what and who is hot on You Tube and hotlink it to the EQX webpage.

Make the EQX webpage slick but EASY to navigate (for an example of how NOT to build a website look at wgy.com) and SIMPLE so it loads fast in any browser ---- offer STREAMS of material for listeners!

Special "Rap" and "World Music" shows (if done right) could air on weekends and would attract new listeners as well as entertain the regulars.

And say YES to personalities. Last month my autodial landed on WCDB and I heard an amazing show with a guy and a gal playing rap music - the most interesting thing (that made me keep the dial on 90.9) was the conversation - the bantering back and forth that everyone in my car could relate to and laugh along with or at. That was Howard Stern's approach way back from the wNbc days.

 

[Willobee]

Johnny,

Happy New Year to you too. Let me address some of your points.
First, I feel there is no need to restore the “old glory” of EQX as we are celebrating “new glory.” EQX has a solid heritage, but that doesn’t mean we can’t change and grow. We are not trying to live in the past, just include a taste of our heritage as we continually move forward. I feel that we are already daring. We are one of a handful of stations that takes chances on new artists and actually breaks new artists. Record labels rely on our daring to help them build a story.

“Jumping on whatever is ‘viral’ at the moment” is not IMHO original. I would prefer to lead rather than follow. However, that being said, we do try experimenting with new ideas. “Pretend we are on a shoestring budget or even NO budget and BRAINSTORM and IMPROVISE.” PRETEND???? Who’s pretending???? All we DO is brainstorm and improvise. That’s how we continue to survive and stay true to our mission statement. Ironically, we will be starting a new feature on Early EQX that will spotlight artists from MySpace and Facebook. Not sure about the interview part, as not too many listeners could give a rat’s ass listening to unknown bands talking about themselves. We also recently tried a You Tube contest asking listeners to make their own video birthday greetings to EQX and win a trip to NYC.

As far as our website goes, while it is clunky, I must refer back to BUDGET. We do the best we can with what we have to work with.
That being said, I feel that I do so much more with less than any PD out there.

Finding new helpers? I assume you mean interns. It’s illegal to hire “helpers” without paying them. And it’s not easy getting students to schlep all the way to Manchester, even if they are “hungry”. Most of them have no clue about paying dues in this industry. However, I read EVERY e mail personally and take all ideas under advisement.

Let’s talk about weekend specialty shows. Been there, done that, and continue to do that. We still air more specialty programming than anyone. Shall I list them? Coffee House, EQX-posure, Download, Passport Approved, Sunday Rewind, Gott Game, and let’s not forget a show that I put on the air a few years ago, Jam N Toast, which has become one of the most popular time slots on our weekend schedule.
I tried Paul Oakenfold’s radio mix and we also had the long running Jazz Traks, which I dropped due to lack of interest. As far as attracting new listeners, we do everything we can to do that. But at some point you have to weight the return on the investment. If it works and doesn’t cost a lot of money to do, we do it. But the bottom line is…we DO IT!

Lastly, as far as personality goes, while the star at EQX is the MUSIC, we still have some of the best personalities we can get in this neck of the woods. Case in point, Nikki and Donna Frank have been part of EQX in one form or another for over a decade. Not an easy feat to keep people motivated to work in a little house in the mountains.

As PD here for 4 years now, I put my balls on the line every day. The return on my investment has been vast. While growing new devoted listeners all the time, and garnering numerous awards, the daring and cutting edge philosophy of EQX lives on. I would put this station side by side with stations in any major market and feel good about what we do here. I am already working on our 25th anniversary celebration.

Happy New Year.

 

[Johnny_45]

Now THAT'S the kind of response I like!
LONG LIVE EQX!

 

[Gadon]

Best station around.. Period.. Happy New Year !

 

[KingofZing]

Bring back Mark Dark from the mid 90's he ruled!

Johnny,

Happy New Year to you too. Let me address some of your points.
First, I feel there is no need to restore the “old glory” of EQX as we are celebrating “new glory.” EQX has a solid heritage, but that doesn’t mean we can’t change and grow. We are not trying to live in the past, just include a taste of our heritage as we continually move forward. I feel that we are already daring. We are one of a handful of stations that takes chances on new artists and actually breaks new artists. Record labels rely on our daring to help them build a story.

“Jumping on whatever is ‘viral’ at the moment” is not IMHO original. I would prefer to lead rather than follow. However, that being said, we do try experimenting with new ideas. “Pretend we are on a shoestring budget or even NO budget and BRAINSTORM and IMPROVISE.” PRETEND???? Who’s pretending???? All we DO is brainstorm and improvise. That’s how we continue to survive and stay true to our mission statement. Ironically, we will be starting a new feature on Early EQX that will spotlight artists from MySpace and Facebook. Not sure about the interview part, as not too many listeners could give a rat’s ass listening to unknown bands talking about themselves. We also recently tried a You Tube contest asking listeners to make their own video birthday greetings to EQX and win a trip to NYC.

As far as our website goes, while it is clunky, I must refer back to BUDGET. We do the best we can with what we have to work with.
That being said, I feel that I do so much more with less than any PD out there.

Finding new helpers? I assume you mean interns. It’s illegal to hire “helpers” without paying them. And it’s not easy getting students to schlep all the way to Manchester, even if they are “hungry”. Most of them have no clue about paying dues in this industry. However, I read EVERY e mail personally and take all ideas under advisement.

Let’s talk about weekend specialty shows. Been there, done that, and continue to do that. We still air more specialty programming than anyone. Shall I list them? Coffee House, EQX-posure, Download, Passport Approved, Sunday Rewind, Gott Game, and let’s not forget a show that I put on the air a few years ago, Jam N Toast, which has become one of the most popular time slots on our weekend schedule.
I tried Paul Oakenfold’s radio mix and we also had the long running Jazz Traks, which I dropped due to lack of interest. As far as attracting new listeners, we do everything we can to do that. But at some point you have to weight the return on the investment. If it works and doesn’t cost a lot of money to do, we do it. But the bottom line is…we DO IT!

Lastly, as far as personality goes, while the star at EQX is the MUSIC, we still have some of the best personalities we can get in this neck of the woods. Case in point, Nikki and Donna Frank have been part of EQX in one form or another for over a decade. Not an easy feat to keep people motivated to work in a little house in the mountains.

As PD here for 4 years now, I put my balls on the line every day. The return on my investment has been vast. While growing new devoted listeners all the time, and garnering numerous awards, the daring and cutting edge philosophy of EQX lives on. I would put this station side by side with stations in any major market and feel good about what we do here. I am already working on our 25th anniversary celebration.

Happy New Year.