What Happened At WABB-FM?

[ScottBurns]

Having not been to the Mobile area in about a year, I was distressed to read below about the blowout at WABB. Given what CHR radio has become, WABB has always been my favorite station. The variety, the imaging, the jocks (I lived in two markets in which Jammer worked during the 1990s), and the fresh variety of music - as well as its unbelievable signal - made me a huge fan of the station.

My question is: What happened? Why has nearly the entire staff been replaced within the last year? Where did Jammer go? I thought that Mr. Dittman's daughter was committed to running the station in the same manner that the late Mr. Dittman ran it. It shocks and saddens me to hear that the programming has been cheapened to the point that syndicated shows are running twice per weekend. Last year, not only was the Sunday night request show hosted by a live jock, but there were two live jocks (Cooter and Mena).

I hope that WABB can regain its prominence.

 

[alex4490]

Hey! Good Question! Well, WABB is in the "rebuilding" process right now. They have a new PD and hopefully things can shape up in the next months or so, (or less than that)! I have been noticing new hits and not a lot of recurrents that they love to do.

 

[radio po boy]

From what I've heard through the grapevine, here's what happened. There was no blowout. People resigned over time. Mat & Jay first. Then Johnathan. Then Jammer. Mostly because of something so simple as the change at the top. Betsie came in and expected a more diciplined, business-like approach. Some people couldn't handle it and quit. Others got the axe. Deserved or not it's not my place to say because I don't know. I also hear the transistion from Bernie to Betsie was pretty rough. Jammer got alot of undeserved poo-poo thrown in his direction. I'll leave it at that. Regardless of what happened or how, sometimes a station just needs to reload and refresh. It happens more than you think and it was probably going to happen eventually at WABB anyways. But to get back what's going on now. I can hear a difference in the music in the past several days. Right now it's somewhere between where Jammer had it a year ago, and where it was over the summer. Give it some time and let things shake out.

 

[jjmac]

Mostly because of something so simple as the change at the top. Betsie came in and expected a more diciplined, business-like approach. Some people couldn't handle it and quit. Others got the axe.

My impression is that nothing had anything to do with people not being able to handle a "more disciplined, business-like approach". And nobody got the axe. Everyone that left, from what I understand, left of their own free will with little to no pressure from management. That's all

 

[hertzkeeper]

Here's the truth about the staff changes in the past year at WABB. You can make what you want of it.

The following people were fired since the death of the longtime owner: Midday girl, overnight man, numerous weekend and parttimers, AM morningshow host, receptionist and several salespeople.

These resigned mostly from pressure or pay cuts: National Sales Manager, Business Manager, Traffic Manager, Chief Engineer, Executive Secretary, Program Director, Night Guy, Morning Show Hosts, Music Director, and several sales people.

There are only about 5 people working there now that have been there more than one year.