What do YOU think about the state of radio in Orlando....

[DIZ Guy]

Since some major changes have occured in our market this year, I am curious about what you guys think about these stations, the good and the bad, so far this year...

Here is my take..

WJRR= I am still in the clouds on why they fired Pat & taco, I mean , c'mon, Pat Lynch WAS wjrr. Not only that, when they made this move they confused the hell out of the ordinary listener by moving Crash to mornings, screwing up the mid-day show which was a staple at the station. Mel Taylor sounds good at night, (I always liked her on O-rock), and Buckethead, even though I do not always agree with him, has a very well planned show with a good delivery, something that 104.1 should take note of (More on that later)...

WHTQ= Sounds tired as hell. Adding 90's grunge to the format, just like they did in tampa, would be a good idea...

Sunny 1059= An interesting format. I find myself tuning into this station alot because they play some forgotten gems...

WMMO= Always good, the ultimate station to play at the family BBQ...

102 jamz= I am not a fan of the music played on this station, but the jocks are pretty damn good...

WTKS= Is it me , or is this station becoming totally unlistenable???? The only show that I can stand to listen to anymore is Shannon Burke. You have 3 guys doing this show, and it is very funny and entertaining.

The Monsters= What is up with this show now!!!!! it sounds like that they have at least 20 people on the show, and they all talk at THE SAME TIME creating a HORRIBLE audio experience for the listener...The same goes for the Philips File. Somebody will start to talk, and you will hear two people talking over the person in the background....WTF!!!!!!!!! All trying to get their points in....I think that ALL of these guys need to listen to Buckethead to figure out how to do it right...It boggles my mind how Jim Philips let's this go on, hasn't that dude been on the air since the 70's ????????

There is my take....

 

[DJ Mo]

My personal taste on most stations in this market:

WPRK 91.5 The Best In Basement Radio
I LOVE this Rollins College station. (And I'm on it, too!) Unlimited playlist, LIVE & local DJ's, & total music variety that is not usually mainstream. Although some amateur DJ's on here needs some SERIOUS training, there are some great shows that play Underground Hiphop, Electro, Breaks, Dance, Freestyle, & House. You just have to know when to tune in. Once you find a show you like, you'll be hooked. This is the 1st station I tune to. Only thing I wish is for their signal to be stronger.

Star 94.5
Only complaint I have is their automated system overnights. Something isn't timed right with the voicetracking & segues. I love their Saturday Night House Party! For some reason, the personalities make me feel like I'm at home. Always warm & fuzzy here. This & 102 Jamz is tied for 3rd in my Top 3.

Magic 107.7
Too much John Tesh. Need I say more?

Smooth Jazz 103.1
Love it. They are adding more songs with vocals that isn't really considered smooth jazz, which I question. Some of them have smooth jazz elements & it works. This is my #2 most listened to station in Orlando. I'm a laid back & chill out guy, especially while driving around road ragers.

Power 95.3
I still despise this station because they took away "Party" a few years ago. However, aside from holding a grudge, I like the fact that it's got both a Spanish feel with Hiphop. I don't listen to all the crunk rap that goes on here, but it seems to sound fine for its format. Unfortunately, they mostly "Power Throwback" to early 2000's & the only 2 Pac song I hear is "Changes". What's up with that?

XL106.7
Too much repetition, as always. They've added a mixshow on weekends, which is good, but I usually don't tune in other than that. Stick is the coolest. I like that he adds in a mixshow during 5pm rush on Fridays.

102 Jamz
The mix of crunk rap & R&B doesn't do it for me. Not a big fan of listening to Tamia "Me" & then something like T-Pain or "hood music" right after. I like the variety, though. The main reason I listen is for the R&B & the "Back In The Day Buffet" at noon with DJ Caesar. This is tied for 3rd with Star 94.5 on my Top 3.

Mix 105.1
I wish they'd drop some of the rock songs & overplayed hits like Maroon 5 & Fergie. However, we got upbeat personalities & a woman voice in the afternoons that makes me smile. I like the Retro Bistro, Friday night 80's, & Sat. night party mix. I mainly listen on weekends because of the fact. I'd listen more if they were a mixshow format.

Real Rock 101.1
They've expanded their playlist since the fall of O-Rock, which I like. They mix it in pretty well. The jocks need a little improvement, though. I like Skratch-N-Sniff mashups, but I wish they'd sound a little more local on that show.

WMMO 98.9
Not a lot of stations play a whole song & let it fade out to the last second before the voicetracked person goes on. Station's music isn't really my cup of tea, but once in a while, they have my attention with some of their 80's music. Best quality sounding station here. Not overmodulated & the most sound clarity.

Real Radio 104.1
I listen to them a little overnights when they actually play music. Their playlist is not mainstream, is quite interesting, & there is no repetition, which I LOVE. The music is hit or miss. I usually stay tuned in when they play music like Beck, ATCQ, Portishead, Bjork, Faithless, & other Underground Hiphop & Electro-sounding music. Every once in a while I listen to SBK for the parody songs, but sometimes the way they talk about things are annoying. I heard this guy down in Ft. Myers on 105.5 The Beat a few years ago.

Mega 98.1
Good station for its format. Not a lot of reggaeton - Excellent! LOVE their "Pijama Party" mixshow on the weekend. They play Freestyle & 90's House sometimes! I understand some Spanish, so I know what they're talking about during their standard DJ breaks.

WHTQ 96.5
Sound quality is good. I like to rock out to 70's & 80's every once in a while. Another station where the jocks wait until the last second of the song.

Sunny 105.9
This station usually doesn't keep my attention for longer than 10 minutes. Although I like the variety, I sometimes hear the same songs again & have a brain fart when they go from 80's to 60's or vice versa. Good, but not exactly my personal cup of tea. Expect this new station to improve a little each ratings period, though.

Big 810AM
No problemo. I wish they'd be on FM stereo, though, because their online stream is in stereo format. I hate the fact that the AM signal is reduced at 6pm. Keep doing your thing, Scott Shannon!

I scan the dial manually & log my listening behavior every time I stop at a station to enjoy what each one of it brings. If there's nothing good on any frequency, I shove in a CD. I've omitted stations I received that's not particularly in this market.

 

[Fortner1073]

It's not bad with a HD tuner. When everyone is yapping about stupid crap in the morning, I can always find some music somewhere. I wish Big 810 was digital 8)

 

[sammyboo]

The best thing would be to have WHTQ put Pat & Taco on mornings.
Then put Slats on in afternoons. Don't forget, Slats was the 1st hire
on Q-96 as pm drive guy when he was swiped from nights at WDIZ.

BTW- Slats is v/t 3-7pm, sunday on WJRR. Probably the best preppped
show on air. Good attitude, content and the you can tell he doesn't
take the liner book in with the show done in 10 minutes like the others.

 

[johnknapik]

My Take is as follows:

WXXL: When they first dropped much of the hip-hop I thought it was going to bury them... I almost deleted them from my presets. Now I actually welcome the change... they play a few newer rock artists that WJRR won't touch (All American Rejects, Simple Plan, OneRepublic). The personalities are upbeat and entertaining.

WOCL: Sunny? Yeah, some disco here and some a few MOR rock songs and I'm about to fall asleep. I miss O-Rock. I appreciate the variety...but it's just the wrong songs for me. Deleted from my presets 2 days after launch.

WTKS: When music is playing, I listen. When people are talking, I don't. A great mix of alternative that is too popular for WPRK but not hard enough for WJRR. Artists like Interpol, She Wants Revenge, Bloc Party, and a mix of 90's alternative like The Pixies, Lush, Ministry. I wish they played this stuff all day, everyday.

WLOQ: The wife loves this station, If they flip we'll probably have to leave Orlando or go satellite. Personally I love the syndicated Mindi Abair show at night that plays chillout cuts from artists like Thievery Corporation. Then on saturdays they have the Jazz Odyssey with Everette Harp. Lots of 70's jazz and fusion like Donald Byrd, Lonnie Liston Smith, Brian Auger.

WJHM: They started to lean a little more R&B for awhile but seem to have balanced it out between Hip-Hop and R&B pretty nicely. The jocks are decent, nothing spectacular.


WJRR: They have added a few songs to the playlist since O-Rock crapped out but not enough alternative. AT LEAST they don't play the same Staind and Metallica songs every 7 minutes like they were before. I Don't listen during Lex and Terry or during the Buckethead show, simply not enough music.


WRUM: I liked the oldies before the flip but I listen to Rumba as well. I like the reggeaton a lot, although I don't understand more than about 5 words in Spanish. Rumba seems tighter and better produced than Mega.

WMMO: Not bad for a lite-rock station. A few duds here and there but anything is better than Magic...a fork stuck in my ear would be better than Magic. Eeech.

WNUE: meh..it's okay.

WHTQ: Sometimes they JAM... sometimes I can't take them. They need to ditch the ELP and add some hair rock. Others say 90's grunge, but I really don't want to hear that. I hear that on WJRR all the time. Just too many sleepy tunes on there at times. I really like Buckley though...great radio voice.

WPYO: Great mix of music... the jocks are always upbeat and sound excited to be on the air. Some reggeaton splashed in. Nice.

WCFB: I love this station, although they are starting to play more 80's R&B and I'm a bigger fan of 70's R&B. Either way, I listen a lot. I even find myself listening to Tom Joyner and to Michael Baisden although I hardly fit the demographic (34, white, male).

WPRK: Great music and the jocks are hilarious... so much dead air, rambling, uhhh's and errr's. But where else can I hear this stuff? Tons of new indie stuff that nobody else would touch. Great diversity too, the hip-hop shows, classical music. You name it.

WMFE: I love classical and tune in occasionally. I listen to WUCF more though.

WUCF: Big trad jazz fan, and this station does it well. Not afraid to play some edgy stuff. I love the Jazzworks show at 8pm with Tony Mowad. It reminds me of being back in Pittsburgh (it's syndicated from the 'Burgh.)

WPOZ: I like Christian rock and Hip-Hop but not the lite fluff they play on Positive Hits. It has no edge whatsoever... but everybody loves them... so more power to them for doing something good. I just don't listen. The station on 104.5 Reach FM plays MUCH better Christian music in the evenings. THAT I'll listen to.

 

[austingrace]

ok. may not hit all of the stations on this market so forgive me.
WOCL: i gotta be honest, i like the format. I do miss orock but sunny is a good station. They have a great variety.
WJRR: please don't get me started on them. i will give them one thing though, they have gotten a bit better since orock left but nothing to write home about. and i don't like that they have those hacks lex and terry on but whatever.

WTKS: I really like there music and SBK live. that's the only reason i listen to them.
WMMO: good station but not the best signal. the signal is kinda bad wheer i live in altamonte but it is in certain parts. but overall, i like them. good sunday morning acoustic as well.

WHTQ: sorry, not a fan. too many of the same songs over and over again.

WEUS: the best station here. believe it or not, there is something about hearing oldies on am. and the quality is actually good for am. I like scott shannon. he has a good radio voice. you get to hear oldies some people liek me have never heard before. Theer defanatly number one for me right now followed by sunny.
WLOQ: i'm getting a new apprication for them. they are a good station to turn at night to chill out to.
WCFB: quickly becoming another favorite. esp with michael baisdon. i like his topics and music. don't fit the group though. considering i'm white and 20 but he is good on the radio. I'm finding tom joiner quite enjoyable as well.

WJHM: I have to admit, i really like these guys esp at 12 noon when they go old school. that is fun because they play all the rap songs i grew up with witch is nice to hear. and steeve harvy catches attention as well. the jocks are good considering the state of radio today.
WXXL: not a fan of the music but theer jocks are good.
WPYO: lost me when they flipped to power. good jocks on heer. the morning show is funny as well at times.

reach fm: interesting stuff at night. sometimes they have christian rap witch is kind of cool to hear. it's cool to hear positive rap. but the sound quality is bad because 1047 out of deltona comes in at times and kind of blocks them out.
WOMX: they are OK. do not listen to them much but sometimes they play good stuff esp on saturday night.
as for 1003 and 981, do not listen all that much. can't understand them but sometimes they play cool music.
WUCF: nice to hear these college stations esp this one becuase they play jazz and it's a nice break from comercial radio.
WPRK: does not come all that well here in altamonte. have to use a good radio but it is worth it. they are excelent. nice to hear underground stuff. they are funny at times as well.
WKAA: i used to like them as a kid. tune it in just to hear country because i like it a little bit. i think it was better back in the day though.

As for wpoz, they do not get any play at all on my radio because i'm not in to that type of music.
WMFE: is interesting at times. they have good news on there. and sometimes it's nice to hear classical music as well.

WDBO: two reasons only i listen to this station. magic games and clark howard. and sometimes news but not all that much.

WFLF: gets no play except when they have the magic on the finish line or something like that. and the digital nation is good as well.

and that's about it. i know i missed stations but those are the stations i felt like mentioning.

 

[livingfruitvirus]

The Monsters= What is up with this show now!!!!! it sounds like that they have at least 20 people on the show, and they all talk at THE SAME TIME creating a HORRIBLE audio experience for the listener...The same goes for the Philips File. Somebody will start to talk, and you will hear two people talking over the person in the background....WTF!!!!!!!!! All trying to get their points in....I think that ALL of these guys need to listen to Buckethead to figure out how to do it right...It boggles my mind how Jim Philips let's this go on, hasn't that dude been on the air since the 70's ????????

When I lived in Florida in the 90s I'd tune into WTKS-FM frequently, but now it's just unlistenable. In Philips' case, I think he knows he can do whatever he wants with his show and people will continue to listen. He's been on the air forever, so he's another one of these local hosts who has an audience that has listened to him for so long that they simply continue to listen out of habit. Almost like their day isn't complete unless they tune into his show, regardless of whether or not it's good. The Monsters I can't listen to because of all the talking. They'll take a call, and then two others will talk over him right away. That and lame parody songs with the cast giggling over them. Who knows how much longer they'll put up with Clear Channel or 104.1. It's very obvious they're tired of being local and want to be syndicated.

 

[youreallcrazy]

The Monsters= What is up with this show now!!!!! it sounds like that they have at least 20 people on the show, and they all talk at THE SAME TIME creating a HORRIBLE audio experience for the listener...The same goes for the Philips File. Somebody will start to talk, and you will hear two people talking over the person in the background....WTF!!!!!!!!! All trying to get their points in....I think that ALL of these guys need to listen to Buckethead to figure out how to do it right...It boggles my mind how Jim Philips let's this go on, hasn't that dude been on the air since the 70's ????????

When I lived in Florida in the 90s I'd tune into WTKS-FM frequently, but now it's just unlistenable. In Philips' case, I think he knows he can do whatever he wants with his show and people will continue to listen. He's been on the air forever, so he's another one of these local hosts who has an audience that has listened to him for so long that they simply continue to listen out of habit. Almost like their day isn't complete unless they tune into his show, regardless of whether or not it's good. The Monsters I can't listen to because of all the talking. They'll take a call, and then two others will talk over him right away. That and lame parody songs with the cast giggling over them. Who knows how much longer they'll put up with Clear Channel or 104.1. It's very obvious they're tired of being local and want to be syndicated.

wow, i agree with DIZ Guy and the fruitvirus...only i have one question...

you mentioned the monsters wanting to be syndicated. how syndicate-able are they? i think the problems that there are to complain about...talking over each other...stale cast...stale product...are what keeps them from being syndicated! i always thought that the monsters would work NOWHERE except central florida, and i dont know if you can even gauge how well they do on their XM stream...all in all...i think the Real Radio ride is just about over...if only there was a way to find out how many NEW listeners Real Radio gets per year...i'd bet not many...there is nothing to be ashamed about if you work at real radio...i just think their days are behind them! Keep the Monsters in mornings, move Phillips to 540 SOMEWHERE, and bring in a new format to 104.1...

im sure that this wont be a popular point, so i apologize in advance if i upset anyone

 

[livingfruitvirus]

wow, i agree with DIZ Guy and the fruitvirus...only i have one question...

you mentioned the monsters wanting to be syndicated. how syndicate-able are they? i think the problems that there are to complain about...talking over each other...stale cast...stale product...are what keeps them from being syndicated! i always thought that the monsters would work NOWHERE except central florida, and i dont know if you can even gauge how well they do on their XM stream...all in all...i think the Real Radio ride is just about over...if only there was a way to find out how many NEW listeners Real Radio gets per year...i'd bet not many...there is nothing to be ashamed about if you work at real radio...i just think their days are behind them! Keep the Monsters in mornings, move Phillips to 540 SOMEWHERE, and bring in a new format to 104.1...

im sure that this wont be a popular point, so i apologize in advance if i upset anyone

Actually CC did syndicate them, to an extent, for a while. They were on in Jacksonville, Tampa, West Palm, Naples (the whole station was simulcast), and a couple other cities north of Florida. I think even a Missouri station had them, but eventually their entire network dropped them one by one. The feed wasn't very generous to the local station. I remember the West Palm station would say "Now more Monsters, on Real Radio 94.3" while the "Real Radio 104.1" jingle played under it. XM still carries them, but the XM channel they're on is Clear Channel owned and isn't given any money to actually acquire programs, so the Monsters stay on because they do the simulcast for free. Over the many years they've been on it, they haven't been paid a single cent for it, and the ads get blocked so there's absolutely no monetary benefit. The Spring 07 arbitron said XM152 has a 6A-12A AQH of 1000 people 12+, so who knows. I'm sure XM appreciates all the free advertising though.

I forgot to mention before, I DO like the music on 104.1. I made it back to good ol Orlando back in March and gave the stations a listen. It was the first time I heard Sunny and it wasn't bad.

 

[DIZ Guy]

You guys wanna know something strange about the Monsters, check this out....

I have a very sick relative that lives in the town of Springdale, Arkansas. They have an old vinyl record store there, kind of like Rock-n-Roll Heaven here. I was up there to see my relative, and I went into this shop. I am looking through the used DVD's, and come across a Monsters DVD....Automatically I was like "What the hell is this doin' here!!!!". Not only that, but there were at least 10 copies of these things...

I told the owner who they were, and he had NO IDEA that the DVD's were there....


Strange...

 

[BIG APE]

You guys wanna know something strange about the Monsters, check this out....

I have a very sick relative that lives in the town of Springdale, Arkansas. They have an old vinyl record store there, kind of like Rock-n-Roll Heaven here. I was up there to see my relative, and I went into this shop. I am looking through the used DVD's, and come across a Monsters DVD....Automatically I was like "What the hell is this doin' here!!!!". Not only that, but there were at least 10 copies of these things...

I told the owner who they were, and he had NO IDEA that the DVD's were there....


Strange...



I Hocked them for a drink several years ago! BIG APE!

 

[eyg2181]

never lived in Orlando, but when i lived in Vero Beach, 96.5 was where it was at. much better than WKGR out of the Palm Beaches.

i was actually quite shocked at this. i found the station when i was moving down, about 2 hours north of Orlando, and left the dial untouched for 4 hours and it was still clear as day in Vero Beach. i was only in 9th Grade at the time (only 4 years ago) and remember talking about rock music with some people, and a few kids said "96.5 WHTQ is where its at" that and Pirate 95.9... not many mentioned WKGR.

 

[billcross]

As some know, I worked extensively in Orlando radio, including a stint at Real Radio (truth in advertising: it was the worst radio experience I had in my career).

The Monsters were indeed syndicated breifly, including Southwest Florida (where I now make my home). They flopped in every market outside of Orlando.

If you cast your memory back to their beginnings - it was "The Russ & Bo Show" - two guys who bought their way onto the weekend line-up at TKS. I thought that show had real appeal - but in the "aw, how cute, some amatuer guys doing their own radio show" kind of way.

You can draw your own conclusions about what it says about the Orlando market, but the show not only succeeded, it succeeded far beyond anyone's wildest expectations. Yet, to me, it still sounded like a group of amateurs putting on their idea of a "big time" radio show.

I have been amazed that they've lasted this long.

 

[DIZ Guy]

Hey Bill Cross, I used to listen to you every morning with Jeff Cohen on the old "Y-106 Breakfast Club" from about 84-86...

I always thought that you guys had the best morning show in Orlando back then and I also thought that 106.7 sounded the best that they ever had during that time....

Ahhh...the eighties....

 

[billcross]

I'm sure Jeff would be grateful for your post. He is retired from radio and living in Richmond, Virginia.

 

[kentraco]

Whatever happened to Rooster Rhodes?

 

[BRH]

Yes, I would definately agree that 106.7's best period was during the Y106 days. (and even the short lived WCAT, "Y106 the Cat" was great too). But speaking of 106.7, what is up with XL recently. I was streaming them the other week and they sounded horrible. What's with the awful adult lean and the basically non-existent sweepers and boring, laid back presentation? Granted, XL never sounded that great, but now they seem to have almost went back to their old Hot AC type sound.

Why can't anyone put a fun, young leaning mainstream CHR on in Orlando anymore? Is there really no hole in the market for this? Do they think everyone in the 18-34 demo wants nothing but hip hop and urban (ala Power and Jamz)? Or are the Orlando market's demographics aging (along with a lot of FL)? Anyway, I'd love to see someone put on a really fun, non adult leaning mainstream CHR (like the new KKHH "Hot 95.7" Houston) in Orlando. How come it was possible in the past with a great station like WHLY "Y106", but not now? Or if not a fun mainstream CHR, how about the return of a dance station like "95-3 Party"? (definately my all time favorite Orlando station)?

Anyway, I was just wondering if anyone else thought that XL's new direction and presentation sounded boring? I'll be in the Central FL. area next month and I think I'll skip XL and listen mostly to the other area CHR's ("93-3 FLZ" Tampa, "103-3 the Vibe" Daytona, and "107-1 A1A" Melbourne). I know A1A and VYB also lean in an adult direction too, but at least their presentation is not as lame and boring as XL's.

 

[DJ Mo]

XL now has Andy Kovacs (from FLZ) Friday & Saturday nights. Funny bits with more pure dance music & Saturday night Breaks with DJ X. Probably one of the best changes in Orlando radio this year in my opinion.

 

[DIZ Guy]

HAHAHAHAHA....Rooster Rhoades....

I recall that he was the BJ-105 morning show from about 84-86 that was in competition with Y-106....

How about Jim Steel or Rick Stacy??????

You really wanna go back.....how about JJ Walker!!!!!!!!

Y-106 was definately "Hot-Rockin' Flame Throwin' WHLY...Y-106" back in those days....

I recall that the station went downhill about June of 86' when it seemed to my young listening ears that all of the jocks that I liked vanished......and so did Casey Kasem on Sunday Mornings....

Around that time BJ-105 started to get popular again with our friend BILL CROSS on in the mornings, fresh from Y-106.....

Nowwadays, I think that I would rather listen to a goat giving birth than XL 106.7!!!!!

 

[kentraco]

I beat Rooster in a rowing event during a 1985 charity competition among radio stations - weakening him just enough to allow the "Breakfast Bunch" to seize the morning slot.

You're welcome, Bill.