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WNOK

W

whopper

I think back to the great lineups of the past at WNOK...particularly Rush in the Mornings, TJ McKay, and Scott Summers...then I see the following item in All Access, it makes me both sad and mad! So "personality" radio CHR in Columbia is voicetracked all but morning drive:


CLEAR CHANNEL Top 40/Rhythmic WIBT (961 THE BEAT)/CHARLOTTE WIBT [EDIT]


[EDIT-post truncated because originating material is copyprotected. Unauthorized use of copyrighted content is in violation of Radio-Info's TOS.]
 
Okay...then...in my own words...

The night guy in Charlotte is now going to voice track WNOK afternoons, and a guy in Cincinnatti is tracking nights at WNOK. Sad.
 
Hey dude,

Thanks for the kind words and for remembering. I'm sad, too. Several years ago, Hootie's old manager, Rusty Harmon, told me this about the music business, "It's music...and it's a business, that's why they call it the music business." In retrospect, I guess the same could be said about the "radio business". Thanks again for remembering. Made my day.
 
How much do you want to bet that the reason that The Morning Rush hasn't been affected by the recent cuts at CCU is because of JR's contract that was re-upped about a year or so ago? If that hadn't happened, we would more than likely be "enjoying" the sounds of Kid Kraddick, Ace & TJ, or any other syndicated morning show by now.

And for the record, I'm not putting down JR, I'm putting down CCU since they are so hell-bent on saving a buck or two.

It's well past time that radio ownership limits was re-regulated!

Robyn
 
That explains the poor showing in the ratings as well... Scott you TJ and the rest were what made nok special not it is just a cyber jock cookie cutter station... CITADEL!!!! Here is your chance to live local CHR and give NOK a run for the money... CC1
 
Carroll, it is distressing to old school radio people like you, me and everyone else, to see the latest inception of radio present itself as a glorified retransmission of some other markets' morning, midday, pm drive or night show. Totally loses its relatability on a local level. Sure, anyone can say that there's graffiti in the back of Groucho's in Five Points. But how many can say there's a heart drawn around the words Bubba loves Rhonda (circa 1978) as you exit Groucho's in back? Tons of people can tell you about Tunnelvision over on Taylor, but how many can truly talk about how it's so real that sometimes at night (after a few cold beverages...at least), you really wonder what's just around the bend in the mural. A USC football game? No problem. State Fair? Easy. But can someone in Charlotte really talk with authority about how utterly crazy and fun it is when there's a home football game while the State Fair is in town at the same time? Unless they've been there, probably not. It'll be the little things that slip through the cracks. That's why I'm glad that Jonathon is still the franchise at WNOK. He knows Columbia. Brent Johnson knows Columbia, too. And people can say what they want about Jeff Roper, but I think he's a relatability MONSTER that strikes a chord with his listeners that few air personalities enjoy.

And Robyn, your words are probably truer than people realize. JR's a smart guy. I'd like to think (for loyalty and "blood, sweat and tears" reasons)that Clear Channel has recognized not only his value to Clear Channel, but his value to the Midlands. But then, look what market and revenue value got Dees in LA.
 
Thanks Scott for the reply... I agree 100% with what you say... I knew VT'ing would be a bad thing back in 1999 when Columbia had one mother of all thunder storms... It was shortly after Jammin' 100 was born... it was around 3pm when all hell had broke loose... I had already left PUB and was running mobile business at the time... We had an outdoor wedding reception to do that faithful afternoon when I decided to see what the WX was like... I knew that they were calling for some bad storms, but hey you got to make money and the gig paid me 800 bucks for three hours... I guess they had more money than they knew what to do with :). Back to the story a bad storm popped up over Columbia and knocked off SCQ when the lights came back on I heard this jock talking how pretty the full moon was and it was just a good night to take that loved one and just cruise to the moonlight... I knew eight years ago that Columbia radio was in trouble... If companies just understood that in order to make money you have to spend money... When it was JR, TJ yourself and Jeff Ryan doing nights and before that Thrills you guys had what clicked in Columbia radio... You knew Columbia and most importantly and this is what Clear Channel is missing with VT'ing you knew your audience... You knew there needs, wants, and their desires... You could always tell that when somebody called in for a request or when you guys just put somebody on the air... That is all gone and it is now showing in the ratings... WNOK is not top dog like it used to be and right now it is infested with a lot of fleas thanks to Clear Channel... You get what you deserve and right now CC Columbia is getting it... For those who may say I sound bitter... As a listener yes I am bitter... I am living here in Rockford which is nowhere as big as Columbia, and because we have such poor radio up here I now give Sirius $12.95 a month for me which is worth it because for the most part The Cloud Company and another company have turned their backs on the local community... Now I will get off my soap box... Green Beer for everybody :). CC1
 
CLEAR CHANNEL and radio in general

Wow these are some powerful posts here! You guys should be running things around here. My opinon is Citadel should put a LOCAL top 40 on 107.5 and blow WNOK out of the water and force them into a true HOT AC. Either that or Clear Channel needs to get the hell out of the market and let someone else take over the reign. Clear Channel should really be ashamed, but then again they have 2 stations (WXBT, WLTY) as ratings winners. But how long will that last? And on another note, WCOS should be their greatest dissapointment considering how much they have fell. Maybe it's not CC's fault, who knows, maybe it's BUSINESS In general. Look what IC did to Big DM's heritage and community presence! Radio business still does have heart too and care about the community when you look at some of the current happenings such as Oldies 98.3 returning to Savannah. Those are prime examples of when the people's opinion count. But, the bottom line is people still listen and hope for things to get better.
 
Neil I have a great passion for the biz... Although it will be nine years this December I still have the passion to get back in the biz even if it means just PT... My problem is that since my blindness is getting worse there are not to many PD's willing to give me a chance here in Rockford... Such as life though... I think what you are seeing is a trend in radio in general on a very slow decline... With Sirius XM and the new WIFI/Satellite service SLACKER RADIO there are more choices in listening than what was around just a few years ago... When I worked in radio I put an amazing amount of show prep together just to make my time on the air stand out from everybody else... I had more people thought I was being piped in from somewhere else and when they learned I was apart of the community it really made our little station stand out... Like Scott said you can pipe in anybody, but if they don't know the heart and soul of your community and I don't mean google everything you want to know, but real heart and soul I think you would find a lot of stations do better in the ratings... CC1
 
Thanks Scott for your words of wisdom. It distress me that a lot of the old school talent that has more experience is being pushed out the door or demoted in order to save money.

Hey Neil, wanna know a secret? I've was one of the lucky households that filled out a diary in the last trend. The sad part was, with the exception of WXRY, I couldn't find another station in town that was worthy of my listening time. Much of my listening habits are now devoted to internet, MP3s, and old airchecks that I've saved.

Robyn
 
I don't blame you Robyn, but the only problem is WXRY's signal. It's too bad that such a classy and original station that cares about Columbia only has a LP signal. I was in Lexington last night and got a pretty clean signal on WXRY, so I was pretty surprised there. I know if I could do anything to help, and if everyone else got together, there has to be someway to help these guys get a bigger stick. Would 99.1 be a open frequency for Columbia to use? (Of course if 99.3 wasn't there)

Neil
 
I agree that JR/TJ/SS/Thrills was a legendary line-up on WNOK. Everytime I drive down Gervais past the old building, I remember those days. I got to pop in a couple times when John Haskins was doing overnights and weekend syndication. Can anyone say "Hoop Shot" tourney during Open House Party?

The open allocation left by WBAW is a potential move-in. However, the allocation has a site restriction and must be built first before it could be moved. That would be a lot of money out of pocket just to abandon it by a COL change.

There are rumors that CCU will be selling to someone else in town. That means at least one of the stations would be spun off. WXRY would greatfully accept a tax-deductible donation of one of the facilities, given that we'd operate it as a non-comm. :)

Thanks for the compliments, guys.
 
There are rumors that CCU will be selling to someone else in town. That means at least one of the stations would be spun off.

Would that be Double O? They are the only players in Columbia that could take on more than one of the sticks. There was a rumor that Double O tried to buy Citadel's Columbia properties (one of Double O's main guys used to work for Citadel and still has a good relationship with them) but it never got to the money stage.

What do you think the odds are that Double O gets CC? Count me among those that believe CC will sell Columbia to someone. Especially after seeing all the voicetrack patch work they are doing now.
 
Thanks for the kudos, Steve. "He likes me...he really LIKES me!" I can't remember whether JR hired Haskins or whether I did. I do know his tenure was short lived. Also, I still feel a bit nostalgic about 1717 Gervais Street myself.

As for CC selling, I can't imagine them getting rid of WNOK or WCOS, so maybe one or two of their "lesser" performing properties? Wouldn't surprise me in the least if Harold was lurking in the background of a "deal in the works" that involved CC and Double O. Catdaddy's a crafty one. Hard to believe he was a part timer when I was a full timer at 'ZLD.
 
I am not sure Harold has the bankroll to take over any cast-offs. He may, though. Harold, if you're out there, would love to network!

Haskins wasn't at NOK long before he came over to 'ARQ. What a talent!

I don't think anyone could feel nostalgic about the WNOK Pickens Street studios.
 
DudeFan said:
I am not sure Harold has the bankroll to take over any cast-offs. He may, though. Harold, if you're out there, would love to network!

Haskins wasn't at NOK long before he came over to 'ARQ. What a talent!

I don't think anyone could feel nostalgic about the WNOK Pickens Street studios.
Click to expand...

Harold's quite tight with the Double O people, so maybe his "network" is the currency he brings to the table. Wasn't he one of the first to bid on the Forest Acres frequency when it became open for bids?

As for Haskins, I could've sworn he said he was at 'ARQ before 'NOK. Could be senility manifesting itself, though.

And...agreed, no love lost for the "Pickens Street Palace"...at all.
 
Harold actually brokered the deal for WJES and for WWNQ. So he picked up some cash. I am only speculating, but I would imagine that if Harold would have had the resources, he would have picked both facilities up for himeself rather than settling for a brokerage fee.
 
Yo Summers, what's up? Holla at yo boy. To all who are posting, thanks for remembering real radio! That was when radio was fun, now...well, what are ya gonna do?
 
Yep, it's true in what they say that you don't know what you got untill it's gone. :(

BTW-OT: Is there any significate meaning behind WNOK's call letters?

Robyn
 
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