Wisconsin State Journal: Program changes at The Mic 92.1 rankle listeners

[bigtalkradiofan]

My Preface Note - I have no inside info or anything.

But I could see WXXM move to more of a "general" news/talk format.

The only hosts with a following in Madison are: Schultz, Miller and Maddow.

It doesn't seem like the advertisers have knocked down the door, since the last time that CC tried to get rid of the format a few years back.

Obviously the morning show will change, and it wouldn't surprise me if some of the nights/weekends changed along with it.

WXXM Program Schedule
6am-8am - ?
8am-11am - "The Stephanie Miller Show"
11am-2pm - "The Ed Schultz Show"
2pm-5pm - "The Dave Ramsey Show"
5pm-7pm - "The Rachel Maddow Show"
7pm - 6 am - ? (currently Air America Radio)

http://www.madison.com/tct/mad/topstories/432076

Program changes at The Mic 92.1 rankle listeners

Samara Kalk Derby — 1/12/2009 9:32 am
Wisconsin State Journal

Later he learned that Hartmann's Portland, Ore.-based program, which aired from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays on The Mic 92.1, had been replaced by "The Dave Ramsey Show," a nationally syndicated financial program that detractors call worthless.

A Friends of Progressive Talk meeting to rally around the Hartmann show will be held at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Dardanelles restaurant, 1851 Monroe St.

Clear Channel operations manager Mike Ferris, who brought the progressive talk format to WXXM (92.1) more than four years ago, will speak about the decision behind the format switch. Calls to Ferris on Sunday were not returned.

Another recent programming change is that the station's local morning drive-time host, Lee Rayburn, abruptly quit, according to his post on Facebook Friday afternoon. His status update merely reads, "Lee Rayburn has quit his job."

There have been no official announcements about his resignation, and attempts to contact Rayburn were unsuccessful. On Saturday, his name was removed from the station's Web site hosts list.

[Click link above for the complete newspaper article.]

 

[jh]

I think progressive (and conservative) stations need more than all politics, all the time, so adding some type of advice or financial program could be a plus. But since Ramsey is quite conservative, it would seem to be an odd choice for WXXM.

 

[bigtalkradiofan]

My Preface Note - So I take from this article - this was all just a publicity stunt for an underperforming Libtalk station a few days before the new Democratic Obama inauguration?

Announce you are dropping a show, wait for the listener outrage to create a media hubbub, one of the hosts quits in protest about the change - and then have a meeting with upset listeners and announce that you are bringing the show back.

Shrewd, and very well-played.

See the newspaper article link below for more info on the story.

http://www.madison.com/tct/top5/432528

Making waves: Complaints prompt The Mic 92.1 to bring back 'Thom Hartmann'

Samara Kalk Derby — 1/13/2009 10:29 pm
The Capital Times

A week after they replaced a popular three-hour progressive talk show with a financial advice program, officials at The Mic 92.1 announced that they are bringing "The Thom Hartmann Program" back.

The station's program director Brian Turany said he received between 350 and 400 e-mails from listeners who were upset by the change. Clear Channel's local operations manager Mike Ferris, likewise, was deluged by angry listeners.

The two men met with a group of about 50 devoted fans of the station Tuesday night at the Dardanelles restaurant on the near west side. Listeners bashed "The Dave Ramsey Show," a nationally syndicated financial program that Ferris programmed in Hartmann's 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. weekday slot in the hopes of attracting new listeners.

Starting this Monday, Hartmann will be back at his usual time, and Ramsey's show will be heard from 5 a.m. to 8 a.m. weekdays, a time slot left vacant by the recent departure of local morning show host Lee Rayburn.

[Click link above for the complete newspaper article.]

 

[jh]

I agree... if it was a stunt, it was brilliant.

 

[bigtalkradiofan]

My Preface Note - Two Thoughts:

1.) Sounds like it wasn't a publicity stunt.

I was waiting for the WXXM listeners to demand that Lee Rayburn get hired back for the morning show - like the last time he was separated from CC.

But it doesn't look like it is going to happen this time.

See the newspaper article below for more information.

2.) Past Precedence - Given that the station has announced format/program changes twice - and caved in to listeners twice...

What happens if the station continues to underperform and real changes need to be made - what happens then?

The listeners will protest again, and think it will work again - and the station won't cave - that situation could get messy quickly.

Sort of like the boy who cried wolf one too many times...

http://www.madison.com/tct/news/432767http://www.madison.com/tct/news/432767

Lee Rayburn talks of life after leaving The Mic 92.1

Samara Kalk Derby — 1/15/2009 10:14 am
The Capital Times

Lee Rayburn has mixed feelings about his decision to abruptly walk away from the job he loved more than anything: hosting the morning show on The Mic 92.1.

Rayburn handed in his resignation on New Year's Eve, after learning the local progressive talk station was going to replace the popular "The Thom Hartmann Program" with a financial advice show.

He told management he wanted to keep the daytime lineup progressive. Rayburn said he was willing to take a cut in wages and benefits to do it. After some negotiation, management didn't back down, he said.

But Tuesday night, officials at The Mic 92.1 reversed their decision and announced Hartmann's program would return. The personal finance show, "The Dave Ramsey Show," will fill Rayburn's old slot.

[Click link above for the complete newspaper article.]

 

[Barefootom]

This story is far from over. Air America just announced they're moving Rachel Maddow to mornings, where The Mic just moved Dave Ramsey. Now, what are they gonna do?!

AND, the long-rumored nationwide cuts in staff at Clear Channel stations are set to go down on Tuesday, January 20. I hope the last one out of the building remembers to turn out the lights...

 

[Darrel M]

I get the impression that CC Madison and The Mic's listeners will never ever see eye-to-eye in regards to what they think is best for the station. Management seems to underestimate the passion that the listeners feel for the station; the audience is very discerning about what they hear, and they won't blindly accept whatever CC puts on. However, those same listeners seem to overestimate management's commitment to the station and its format; WXXM is just another arrow in their quiver, and their only aim is to sharpen or replace it if they see fit.

As for Lee Rayburn, unless he fills in for someone on Air America sometime in the future, he'll never be heard on The Mic again. In fact, he'll be doing is thing online (more info here). If CC's cutbacks come to fruition as rumored, and if they affect Madison in any way, Rayburn got out at the right time, regardless of the reason for his exit.