Where's Imus ?

[lesabre]

Looks like Columbus Day is a Holiday in Nassau Broadcastingland in NH and VT.. Both generic flavored classic rockers WHDQ and WEXP are just, "playing the hits". Too bad they left their flagship morning shows in the dust, when the I-Dude is working.

 

[CrankyYankee]

They lost my ears this morning when I heard a whole song play and no "I-guy".
<P ID="signature">______________
"What's That?" "French Horns!"

</P>

 

[RonBastone]

Really. Who's the Nassau genius who decided since it's "a kind-of holiday" (even though it isn't for most residents up here)that the regular Imus listeners won't care if we block out a live Monday show and play classic rock all morning. Gee, what a great idea! Bet all the Imus listeners couldn't wait to hear "Turn the Page" again. Many people forced to go to MSNBC or something else on the dial. Great going guys. Nassau Geniuses at work again. Notice none of the other stations that carry national affiliates ever do this? What do they know you don't?

 

[MassMusicMan]

Re: Nassau and syndie shows

> Really. Who's the Nassau genius who decided since it's "a
> kind-of holiday" (even though it isn't for most residents up
> here)that the regular Imus listeners won't care if we block
> out a live Monday show and play classic rock all morning.
> Gee, what a great idea! Bet all the Imus listeners couldn't
> wait to hear "Turn the Page" again. Many people forced to
> go to MSNBC or something else on the dial. Great going
> guys. Nassau Geniuses at work again. Notice none of the
> other stations that carry national affiliates ever do this?
> What do they know you don't?

I have a friend who works for the Nassau cluster in Barre-Montpelier. He's told me that Nassau's programming strategy is to be intensely live and local, and to not air synidcated programs. In fact, I believe their flagship CHR (WPST Trenton/Philly) doesn't air any.

So perhaps Nassau just carries Imus because of the heritage/convenience/non-desire to pay an extra salary, and looks for any excuse to get him off the air, such as for a quasi-holiday like Columbus Day.
<P ID="signature">______________
"You know what your problem is? You put the (BLEEP) on a pedestal."</P>

 

[Oldbones]

Re: Nassau and syndie shows

> I have a friend who works for the Nassau cluster in
> Barre-Montpelier. He's told me that Nassau's programming
> strategy is to be intensely live and local, and to not air
> synidcated programs. In fact, I believe their flagship CHR
> (WPST Trenton/Philly) doesn't air any.
>
> So perhaps Nassau just carries Imus because of the
> heritage/convenience/non-desire to pay an extra salary, and
> looks for any excuse to get him off the air, such as for a
> quasi-holiday like Columbus Day.
>

You still need to pay a board op...unless things have changed in the past 3-4 years I don't think Imus' show is set up to be automated. What about the Wolf in Concord...did they carry Imus today? If so, maybe the decision to not carry the show (which in all likelihood was a "best of" anyway) was made by Q-106, not corporate. Maybe the board op needed/wanted the day off and there was no one who could cover?

 

[RonBastone]

Re: Nassau and syndie shows

The show wasn't a "best of"....that's why people are quesyioning the decision. The Wolf did carry Imus as normal. And whether made by coporate or local....a bad decision is still a bad decision.

 

[DidYouKnow]

Re: Nassau and syndie shows

> I have a friend who works for the Nassau cluster in
> Barre-Montpelier. He's told me that Nassau's programming
> strategy is to be intensely live and local, and to not air
> synidcated programs. In fact, I believe their flagship CHR
> (WPST Trenton/Philly) doesn't air any.
>
Not a lot of local here in Portland on the Bone.Stern in the a.m. Nikki vt'ed from the Hawk in N.J.on middays,Murphy in the afternoon seems to be local,and Alice Cooper at night.Don't know about overnights.

 

[valhallafred]

Re: Nassau and syndie shows

> The show wasn't a "best of"....that's why people are
> quesyioning the decision. The Wolf did carry Imus as
> normal. And whether made by coporate or local....a bad
> decision is still a bad decision.
>
Imus is done! I know, all of you small minded small market people out there who fear change are thinking "is he nuts?". Nope. Nassau(every small mkt company for that matter) should have a solid local morning show on every one of their Classic Rock stations. Don't be afraid. And don't go thinking that he'll suddenly be relevant again as soon as Stern goes satellite, because he won't be. Local is where it's at people. Don't worry about your competition picking up the I-man, it won't happen. When is the last time Imus welcomed a new affiliate? Serious question there because I have no idea. Look at what Greg and the Morning Buzz has done and that's not even a good show!

 

[Stupidhead]

Re: Nassau and syndie shows

> > The show wasn't a "best of"....that's why people are
> > quesyioning the decision. The Wolf did carry Imus as
> > normal. And whether made by coporate or local....a bad
> > decision is still a bad decision.
> >
> Imus is done! I know, all of you small minded small market
> people out there who fear change are thinking "is he nuts?".
> Nope. Nassau(every small mkt company for that matter)
> should have a solid local morning show on every one of their
> Classic Rock stations. Don't be afraid. And don't go
> thinking that he'll suddenly be relevant again as soon as
> Stern goes satellite, because he won't be. Local is where
> it's at people. Don't worry about your competition picking
> up the I-man, it won't happen. When is the last time Imus
> welcomed a new affiliate? Serious question there because I
> have no idea. Look at what Greg and the Morning Buzz has
> done and that's not even a good show!
>

Agreed. Imus is all that station has left and it's holding them back from carving out any other identity other than "the Imus station." Why not put Imus on the country station like they did in Concord?

Have you listened outside of Imus lately? Now that Steinberg's gone, there are no heritage voices to lean on, nothing but the same old classic rock tunes and anonymous jocks. What's the deal, are they piped in from out of town? I don't even think anyone that was on-air when Nassau took over is even still on-air there. We'll see what the next book holds, but I think it's time to blow up the Q106 ID and re-brand the station, even if it stays classic rock. And yes, a good local morning show would be refreshing for a change.

By the way, I've hated this "The Valley's Classic Rock" slogan. With that blowtorch signal they cover so much more.

 

[Dudeman2000]

Re: Nassau and syndie shows

> > > The show wasn't a "best of"....that's why people are
> > > quesyioning the decision. The Wolf did carry Imus as
> > > normal. And whether made by coporate or local....a bad
> > > decision is still a bad decision.
> > >
> > Imus is done! I know, all of you small minded small
> market
> > people out there who fear change are thinking "is he
> nuts?".
> > Nope. Nassau(every small mkt company for that matter)
> > should have a solid local morning show on every one of
> their
> > Classic Rock stations. Don't be afraid. And don't go
> > thinking that he'll suddenly be relevant again as soon as
> > Stern goes satellite, because he won't be. Local is where
>
> > it's at people. Don't worry about your competition
> picking
> > up the I-man, it won't happen. When is the last time Imus
>
> > welcomed a new affiliate? Serious question there because
> I
> > have no idea. Look at what Greg and the Morning Buzz has
> > done and that's not even a good show!
> >
>
> Agreed. Imus is all that station has left and it's holding
> them back from carving out any other identity other than
> "the Imus station." Why not put Imus on the country station
> like they did in Concord?
>
> Have you listened outside of Imus lately? Now that
> Steinberg's gone, there are no heritage voices to lean on,
> nothing but the same old classic rock tunes and anonymous
> jocks. What's the deal, are they piped in from out of town?
> I don't even think anyone that was on-air when Nassau took
> over is even still on-air there. We'll see what the next
> book holds, but I think it's time to blow up the Q106 ID and
> re-brand the station, even if it stays classic rock. And
> yes, a good local morning show would be refreshing for a
> change.
>
> By the way, I've hated this "The Valley's Classic Rock"
> slogan. With that blowtorch signal they cover so much more.
>
Are all you people nuts?! Imus "done"?? His show is missing one day and everyone seems to notice! Many of you here may not like the "I-Man" but people do listen...no matter what any book tells you...Imus brings in a lot of business people, building contractors and the like. Being the only morning show in the US that covers any kind of current event, other than the latest happenings in the porn industry..and the inability of any local station to pay talent or even pay the talent to work on a GOOD show prep...Imus WORKS! With the pay scale...GOOD local radio is restricted to sports! Without the "yucks" of a national show...there would be nothing but music in the morning...if that's what you want tune-in to 92.1 kiss or MP103...

Like him or not...Imus will be around until he dies or retires...

 

[lesabre]

Re: Nassau and syndie shows

> > > > The show wasn't a "best of"....that's why people are
> > > > quesyioning the decision. The Wolf did carry Imus as
> > > > normal. And whether made by coporate or local....a
> bad
> > > > decision is still a bad decision.
> > > >
> > > Imus is done! I know, all of you small minded small
> > market
> > > people out there who fear change are thinking "is he
> > nuts?".
> > > Nope. Nassau(every small mkt company for that matter)
> > > should have a solid local morning show on every one of
> > their
> > > Classic Rock stations. Don't be afraid. And don't go
> > > thinking that he'll suddenly be relevant again as soon
> as
> > > Stern goes satellite, because he won't be. Local is
> where
> >
> > > it's at people. Don't worry about your competition
> > picking
> > > up the I-man, it won't happen. When is the last time
> Imus
> >
> > > welcomed a new affiliate? Serious question there
> because
> > I
> > > have no idea. Look at what Greg and the Morning Buzz
> has
> > > done and that's not even a good show!
> > >
> >
> > Agreed. Imus is all that station has left and it's
> holding
> > them back from carving out any other identity other than
> > "the Imus station." Why not put Imus on the country
> station
> > like they did in Concord?
> >
> > Have you listened outside of Imus lately? Now that
> > Steinberg's gone, there are no heritage voices to lean on,
>
> > nothing but the same old classic rock tunes and anonymous
> > jocks. What's the deal, are they piped in from out of
> town?
> > I don't even think anyone that was on-air when Nassau
> took
> > over is even still on-air there. We'll see what the next
> > book holds, but I think it's time to blow up the Q106 ID
> and
> > re-brand the station, even if it stays classic rock. And
> > yes, a good local morning show would be refreshing for a
> > change.
> >
> > By the way, I've hated this "The Valley's Classic Rock"
> > slogan. With that blowtorch signal they cover so much
> more.
> >
> Are all you people nuts?! Imus "done"?? His show is
> missing one day and everyone seems to notice! Many of you
> here may not like the "I-Man" but people do listen...no
> matter what any book tells you...Imus brings in a lot of
> business people, building contractors and the like. Being
> the only morning show in the US that covers any kind of
> current event, other than the latest happenings in the porn
> industry..and the inability of any local station to pay
> talent or even pay the talent to work on a GOOD show
> prep...Imus WORKS! With the pay scale...GOOD local radio is
> restricted to sports! Without the "yucks" of a national
> show...there would be nothing but music in the morning...if
> that's what you want tune-in to 92.1 kiss or MP103...
>
> Like him or not...Imus will be around until he dies or
> retires...
>

I would think that most of the people responding think Imus is good. Imus does well in northern New England, the biggest reason is that most of the local morning shows are horrible in comparison. They speak, but they don't talk.

Nassau's mistake perhaps was anticipating a, "best of show", and it wasn't.
The two Nassau stations in question, WHDQ and WEXP, played music with no local announcers.

Tha listening routine was broken for a day, if you couldn't pick up the I-Dude on another non-Nassau station.

 

[argytunes]

Re: Nassau and syndie shows

> I would think that most of the people responding think Imus
> is good. Imus does well in northern New England, the biggest
> reason is that most of the local morning shows are horrible
> in comparison. They speak, but they don't talk.
>
> Nassau's mistake perhaps was anticipating a, "best of show",
> and it wasn't.
> The two Nassau stations in question, WHDQ and WEXP, played
> music with no local announcers.
>
> Tha listening routine was broken for a day, if you couldn't
> pick up the I-Dude on another non-Nassau station.

Frankly...I find Don Imus VERY BORING. [Wining about everybody ISN'T entertainment, it's WINING]!

But sadly...many of the 'local morning shows' in Northern New England aren't that much better!

I guess you can only 'HYPE' a bad morning show so many times before a listener gets wise...and grabs the box of CD's instead!!!

If the market honestly wants to try SOMETHING NEW...then stop listening to the New York or Los Angeles consultants. "You ARE what they EAT!"

 

[Bangorfan]

Re: Nassau and syndie shows

> > I would think that most of the people responding think
> Imus
> > is good. Imus does well in northern New England, the
> biggest
> > reason is that most of the local morning shows are
> horrible
> > in comparison. They speak, but they don't talk.
> >
> > Nassau's mistake perhaps was anticipating a, "best of
> show",
> > and it wasn't.
> > The two Nassau stations in question, WHDQ and WEXP,
> played
> > music with no local announcers.
> >
> > Tha listening routine was broken for a day, if you
> couldn't
> > pick up the I-Dude on another non-Nassau station.
>
> Frankly...I find Don Imus VERY BORING. [Wining about
> everybody ISN'T entertainment, it's WINING]!
>
> But sadly...many of the 'local morning shows' in Northern
> New England aren't that much better!
>
> I guess you can only 'HYPE' a bad morning show so many times
> before a listener gets wise...and grabs the box of CD's
> instead!!!
>
> If the market honestly wants to try SOMETHING NEW...then
> stop listening to the New York or Los Angeles consultants.
> "You ARE what they EAT!"
>
My God are people bitter on this thread. Imus is praised frequently in the trades, newspapers and by the listeners on his interviewing technique, humor and ability to continuously put people down to the point where they want to be on his show. Rather than industry "insiders" complaining about IMUS being on the radio, maybe learning from him on how to do a good morning show might be a new thought. As radio people we're wayyyyyyy too involved with what's on the air. Listen to it from a listener's point of view...and IMUS has a very good, very informative radio show.

Just my 2 cents...

BF

 

[valhallafred]

Re: Nassau and syndie shows

> My God are people bitter on this thread. Imus is praised
> frequently in the trades, newspapers and by the listeners on
> his interviewing technique, humor and ability to
> continuously put people down to the point where they want to
> be on his show. Rather than industry "insiders" complaining
> about IMUS being on the radio, maybe learning from him on
> how to do a good morning show might be a new thought. As
> radio people we're wayyyyyyy too involved with what's on the
> air. Listen to it from a listener's point of view...and
> IMUS has a very good, very informative radio show.
>
> Just my 2 cents...
>
> BF
>
I don't think that it's bitterness, so much as it's frustration. Imus, through no intentional effort on his part, has been part of the demise of small market radio. You really don't find Imus, Stern & co on too many small market stations. But with Corporations ruling the roost these days, even in small markets now, anything that makes it cheaper to operate gets the nod. Run a syndicated show here, pipe in a voice from Topeka there, etc. When a corporation is doing everything on the cheap, often things that make sense don't get done simply because of the costs involved. The day is coming when all small market programming will be syndicated in some way. It's inevitable. There's a distinct correlation between rates going down in smaller markets and corporate ownership in those markets going up. An independently owned radio station can only compete against the "pants dropping" corporate philosophy for so long. It's sad but true. Companies like CC, Cumulus, Cox, Nassau, etc, don't care if your businees grows through advertising on their stations, the bottom line doesn't have time for that. Neither do the shareholders! They just want your advertising dollars. Bitter? no, disappointed that our livelyhood is being yanked from us by a bunch of suits in a board room, definitely! It would be nice to see more "local" morning shows in small markets, but let's face it, it isn't all that likely. Ok, bash away people, you know you want to!

 

[RonBastone]

Re: Nassau and syndie shows

> >

> Bitter? no, disappointed that our livelyhood is being yanked
> from us by a bunch of suits in a board room, definitely! It
> would be nice to see more "local" morning shows in small
> markets, but let's face it, it isn't all that likely. Ok,
> bash away people, you know you want to!
>

I suggest you put yourself on the line and find a way---and there are ways---to purchase your own radio station and do the kind of radio you're talking about. Yes, it's hard to buy one but not impossible....especially in the small markets you are talking about. Give it a shot and do the kind of radio you want. It's easy for those who don't own to criticize those who do but it is possible for a person to put together a deal and buy a small market station. Try it. Though if it happens...I'll think you'll have a better perspective on the monetary challenges that cause some of the so-called "corporate" broadcasters to program in a way you disagree with.

 

[Oldbones]

Re: Nassau and syndie shows

> But with Corporations ruling the roost
> these days, even in small markets now, anything that makes
> it cheaper to operate gets the nod. Run a syndicated show
> here, pipe in a voice from Topeka there, etc. When a
> corporation is doing everything on the cheap, often things
> that make sense don't get done simply because of the costs
> involved. The day is coming when all small market
> programming will be syndicated in some way. It's
> inevitable. There's a distinct correlation between rates
> going down in smaller markets and corporate ownership in
> those markets going up. An independently owned radio
> station can only compete against the "pants dropping"
> corporate philosophy for so long.

Huh? Have you ever worked for one of those "independent" operators? My experience is that they are far and away bigger cheapskates than the corporate owners. I've worked for enough of these owners who nickel-and-dime everything to death, ratty old equipment that's held together with duct tape and gum while the corporate owners generally want to protect their investment. I'm sure there are small time owners who do things right, but many more are either too cheap or just undercapitalized.

 

[valhallafred]

Re: Nassau and syndie shows

> I suggest you put yourself on the line and find a way---and
> there are ways---to purchase your own radio station and do
> the kind of radio you're talking about. Yes, it's hard to
> buy one but not impossible....especially in the small
> markets you are talking about. Give it a shot and do the
> kind of radio you want. It's easy for those who don't own
> to criticize those who do but it is possible for a person to
> put together a deal and buy a small market station. Try it.
> Though if it happens...I'll think you'll have a better
> perspective on the monetary challenges that cause some of
> the so-called "corporate" broadcasters to program in a way
> you disagree with.
>
Listen, I hear what you and BobbytheD are saying. I'm intimately aware of what is involved with radio ownership. Having been in this business for many years, I've been in on purchases and sales from a management standpoint several times. With syndication and voice tracking from afar eliminating more and more jobs everyday, it's difficult to find anything positive that companies like CC, Nassau, Cox, etc, have done. Icon, what stations do you or have you owned? Would you fire someone who had been at a small market station for 10 or 20 years just to make the bottom line? Let's not limit this to small markets, the larger markets have already undergone the transformation to the corporate world. Have you listened to radio in a top 10 market lately? It sucks. The jocks and content are no better than Lebanon NH, or Burlington VT. What's worse is that they cram gigantic spot loads on top of it all. The product in general is quite inferior when compared to 10 years ago, hell even 5 years ago! I remember when computers first starting coming into radio. Everyone was so excited about how easy it was going to make their life. Little did they relize that impact would be severe for thousands of talented on air people. A GM in the UV once told me that he didn't give a rats ass about rates! He just went in and asked what their budget was and the pants dropping would begin there. I think radio needs to rediscover a very important word "integrity".

 

[argytunes]

Re: Nassau and syndie shows

> > My God are people bitter on this thread. Imus is praised
> > frequently in the trades, newspapers and by the listeners
> on
> > his interviewing technique, humor and ability to
> > continuously put people down to the point where they want
> to
> > be on his show. Rather than industry "insiders"
> complaining
> > about IMUS being on the radio, maybe learning from him on
> > how to do a good morning show might be a new thought. As
> > radio people we're wayyyyyyy too involved with what's on
> the
> > air. Listen to it from a listener's point of view...and
> > IMUS has a very good, very informative radio show.
> >
> > Just my 2 cents...
> >
> > BF
> >
> I don't think that it's bitterness, so much as it's
> frustration.

I definitely think FRUSTRATION is the correct word when it comes to radio in general. When a radio station 'coasts along on its reputation' ("we've been in the market for 50 years") instead of really providing the music, talk or some sort of good 'audio service' for its listeners, isn't this a reason for concern? [I'm willing to bet more than a few advertisers are wondering just how much "bang their getting for their buck?"

I think it's VERY FRUSTRATING for those of us who know the business, realize that there's room for improvements EVERYWHERE, and yet, are forced to either turn the radio off or accept the same tired sound!

Imus may do an excellent morning show (in BF's opinion), but he's hardly the standard-bearer to follow.

Neil Sedaka sang it best..."You Gotta Make Your Own Sunshine!"

argytunes

 

[argytunes]

Re: Nassau and syndie shows

> I think radio needs to rediscover a very
> important word "integrity".


Unfortunately, when it comes down to a choice of filling spot avails and grabbing the bucks that pay for 'em...INTEGRITY doesn't seem to matter?

To a radio station owner (or group) those 'financial balance sheets' seem to be much more important than the type of programming a listener is 'subjected' to!

Granted...you need advertising dollars to stay ALIVE in any market, but I often wonder if "playing it safe by trying to copy your competition" and "keeping the programming cheap" are more important than attempting anything different?

Of course, if a radio station's product isn't promoted CREATIVELY and FREQUENTLY, a listener won't have any reason to listen in the first place! With so many choices on Satellite radio, I doubt there's anybody who is 100% LOYAL to ANY PARTICULAR RADIO STATION these days?

argytunes