Wolf Update

[TheLaffer]

With the exception of ZZ Top, John Cougar, Eagles i'm kinda liking the new relaxed sound of The Wolf. It would be nice if Barry Corbin was played less but the music is easier to listen to. Has a bit more of an adult sound and the jocks are getting used to NOT talking over the intros. It just sounds like a CLEANER Wolf.

I think it can work but i do feel initially they're going to lose a lot of the Amy B Type listeners and will have to start from scratch. Maybe that's what they wanted anyway.

 

[VERITAS DE VOCE]

Isn't that Sebastian's M.O.? Blow crap up and then duck so the scattered bodies don't fall on his mahogany desk?

 

[KPLEXCOMPLEX]

I thought it was a balsa wood desk? Cumeless doesn't pay for mahogany.

 

[critic319]

It sounds like they've sucked the life out of it.

 

[little1]

So they've sucked the life out of something who's ratings have dropped in half in the last year? And that would be a problem because????

If they sucked the life out of something that was trending up, I could understand the bitching.

I'm just not sure I get the bitching and moaning over something that everybody claims was better under Brian Phillips to start with..

 

[Robert Bass]

I thought it was a balsa wood desk? Cumeless doesn't pay for mahogany.

They don't know where they are going to, nor do they like the things that life is showing them.

R

 

[KPLEXCOMPLEX]

Have you've been watching Grey's anatomy" again Rober?..oh oh this is a serious discussion after all Little one "is paid to be creative" ( which sums up part of the reason radio is in free fall ..but I digress and thats a topic for another thread) What were we talking about?,,oh yea. .......Yes Why are people "bitchin" about the WOLF? Answer: Because the current cure is worse than the disease.

 

[Robert Bass]

Have you've been watching Grey's anatomy" again Rober?..

Nahhhh... Just listening to Diana Ross.

R

 

[KPLEXCOMPLEX]

OMG! Well should redness and swelling occurs with a fever,be sure and see a physician immediately!

 

[Robert Bass]

That only happens with wolf bites.

Which reminds me... If we have a WOLF FM, where's HUNTER FM? Or even THEBOYWHOCRIEDWOLF FM???

(free time is my worst enemy)

R

 

[KPLEXCOMPLEX]

You forgot "CUB"-FM They play only one song Duran Duran's "hungry like the wolf"

 

[critic319]

So they've sucked the life out of something who's ratings have dropped in half in the last year? And that would be a problem because????

If they sucked the life out of something that was trending up, I could understand the bitching.

I'm just not sure I get the bitching and moaning over something that everybody claims was better under Brian Phillips to start with..

Evidently I should have elaborated. My point is that the airstaff sounds unnaturally sedated. The playlist sounds very much like something from a smaller market, maybe KQSM (also a Cumuless station) for example. The "fix" for ratings probably lies more in slight changes to the playlist rather than a massive reconfiguration. That's just my humble opinion. Dallas has always been a great city for country radio. It's just a little disappointing to hear KPLX sound like something that you could hear anywhere else.

 

[little1]

And maybe I should have elaborated.

So they sound 'unnaturally sedated'. their previous delivery had their ratings dropping by (??) half (??), correct? So that's where I'm saying I'm not sure I understand the criticism...

Some people seem to be criticizing because they liked the 'old' wolf better. I try not to let my personal likes and dislikes interfere with my opinions on what is or isn't 'good radio'.

(For example, I don't like the afternoon talkers on WBAP. I don't disgaree withthem politically as much as I don't like the negative, name-calling act. If you're trying to convert me politically, tell me how good your guy is, not how bad the 'defeatocrats' are. But my personal inability to listen to Rush, Sean or Levin for long doesn't mean that I can't realize that they're 'good' at what they do...)

So like I said, so their playlist sounds like something you'd hear in a smaller market. If their old playlist was responsible for trashing their ratings, why the "auld lang syne" for the old playlist?

 

[TheLaffer]

And maybe I should have elaborated.

So they sound 'unnaturally sedated'. their previous delivery had their ratings dropping by (??) half (??), correct? So that's where I'm saying I'm not sure I understand the criticism...

Some people seem to be criticizing because they liked the 'old' wolf better. I try not to let my personal likes and dislikes interfere with my opinions on what is or isn't 'good radio'.

(For example, I don't like the afternoon talkers on WBAP. I don't disgaree withthem politically as much as I don't like the negative, name-calling act. If you're trying to convert me politically, tell me how good your guy is, not how bad the 'defeatocrats' are. But my personal inability to listen to Rush, Sean or Levin for long doesn't mean that I can't realize that they're 'good' at what they do...)

So like I said, so their playlist sounds like something you'd hear in a smaller market. If their old playlist was responsible for trashing their ratings, why the "auld lang syne" for the old playlist?

There's many reasons why The Wolf lost half their audience.

1:One change after the other with on air talent. It was gradual but over 18mos you lost Bobby Mitchell, Hollywood, Jeramy, Amy B moving to afternoons and Cody to mornings both moves in my humble opinion a big mistake.

2: A slight change in music when Cook arrived.

3: No more Big Promotions

Thosse are 3 majpr reasons the Wolf slipped. This kind of senario has happened so many times in both large and small markets and the SUITS never figure it out. :'(

Consistancy in programming keeps you on top. Moral of the story: Don't make changes when your succesful. Evolve yes, but not major changes!

I think the jocks are slowly sounding less contrived with this dry announcing delivery. However for the last couple overenight shows i've heard some guy that's just awful. Sounds like a hayseed from Longview. Get him off!!!

 

[KPLEXCOMPLEX]

I gotta agree with Laffer,when you kill the big promotions you placed the station on life supports. You have to get your name and what you do out there beyond the billboards and bumperstickers. You gotta get people wanting to place your call letters on their bumpers. If you don't have a solid promotion why should your bumper sticker be on their car? The announcers are just your "whats my liner?" warm bodies. I agree the shifting of personalities to different day parts started the down slide,now cumulus with its philosophy of being cheaper than clear channel is paving the way for more mediocrity. KSCS sees meat.

 

[bassassassin]

I miss working in Large D so much it hurts, 'specially with John Sebastian at the helm of KPLX now. You'd have to go back to KZEW to know who the hell I am, but after having worked alongside John for a year or so, I can tell you one thing...he'll take that bad boy up to #1 country faster than Grant took Richmond. He appears daft to radio people like you & me, but he's dumb like a fox. Mark me here...KPLX will rule the country market for Cumulus if they give him the tools to do the job. He's an uncanny individual and knows his stuff inside and out, naysayers notwithstanding. It's all about the music, stupid. Not truer words ever written. I read the article from the PDs at CRS stating otherwise, but when it comes down to the push and shove, John'll win.

I'm not sucking up to him on this ~ I'd NEVER want to work FOR him, because he takes his staff to task in a hard way and I don't respond well to that. I just know that when he has something in the crosshairs, it's dead.

 

[Robert Bass]

I miss working in Large D so much it hurts, 'specially with John Sebastian at the helm of KPLX now. You'd have to go back to KZEW to know who the hell I am, but after having worked alongside John for a year or so, I can tell you one thing...he'll take that bad boy up to #1 country faster than Grant took Richmond. He appears daft to radio people like you & me, but he's dumb like a fox. Mark me here...KPLX will rule the country market for Cumulus if they give him the tools to do the job. He's an uncanny individual and knows his stuff inside and out, naysayers notwithstanding. It's all about the music, stupid. Not truer words ever written. I read the article from the PDs at CRS stating otherwise, but when it comes down to the push and shove, John'll win.

You're just repeating what is already being said. KPLX may go up, but then John will likely jump ship to another boat. In other words, he's quitting while he's ahead. His track record should speak for itself.

R

 

[TheLaffer]

I miss working in Large D so much it hurts, 'specially with John Sebastian at the helm of KPLX now. You'd have to go back to KZEW to know who the hell I am, but after having worked alongside John for a year or so, I can tell you one thing...he'll take that bad boy up to #1 country faster than Grant took Richmond. He appears daft to radio people like you & me, but he's dumb like a fox. Mark me here...KPLX will rule the country market for Cumulus if they give him the tools to do the job. He's an uncanny individual and knows his stuff inside and out, naysayers notwithstanding. It's all about the music, stupid. Not truer words ever written. I read the article from the PDs at CRS stating otherwise, but when it comes down to the push and shove, John'll win.

I'm not sucking up to him on this ~ I'd NEVER want to work FOR him, because he takes his staff to task in a hard way and I don't respond well to that. I just know that when he has something in the crosshairs, it's dead.

Mark me here...KPLX will rule the country market for Cumulus if they give him the tools to do the job.

The Wolf did rule the market with Brian Phillips and Paul Williams. Then Susquehanna checked out and brought in Cumulus. The Wolf didn't need a new pd , The Wolf needed to stay the course but the stupid SUITS screwed it up again.

I agree it IS all about the music but the right personalities and BIG promotions are a close second. I like Sebastians new sound. No it's not the fast paced sound but i think it sounds more natural and i also happen to think the music is becomming better. More mainstream. Even heard some Texas Country tonight.

For my partner Jake, i know you want to do all those corny bits but my friend you are sounding less irritating doing what your doing now. Even heard a good joke you told. Sounded well delivered without some loud noisy bed speeding you up.

As for KSCS they see meat alright but the current pd doesn't have the goods to seize the moment. That is one bad sounding station!

Robert Bass...

Where were you, didn't see you when i was listening to the guest speakers. Get your IRIONSIDE ass out there next time

 

[rimshot]

I agree with you Laffer about KSCS. On an earlier post I mentioned that they have KPLX down right now, and they COULD put a stake in their heart and take over again for good if they would just stop this poor generic programming. Dorsey, for the most part, has been around so long that management probably leaves him alone with stupid ideas. I think they know that he still enjoys it and still cares about the show, but the rest of the day is so BORING. Bill Kinder was a sleeping pill in afternoons, and now he's a midday nap. Nothing personal, I hear he's a great guy, but he's just a big 'ole cowboy who happens to be on the radio. With all the years he's been on the air, I bet MOST country listeners couldn't even tell you his name. And Stubie Doak in afternoons? Years ago his laid-back-sittin-on-the-back-porch-golly-gee approach was OK for Young Country in the evenings because that station was full of "different" personalities and it was a different time. It doesn't work today. If you were visiting Dallas and turned on KSCS in the afternoon to see how this "legend" of a country station sounded, you would think the overnight guy was filling in. He's just not major market country. Ever been to Nashville? Listen to those guys. (most of them anyway). And that's NOT a major market. As far as the evening show is concerned, just one glance of Brother Van's picture on their website says it all. GOOFY. He says stupid things and does stupid stuff. The show is purely ridiculous. I know that country has trouble pulling numbers at night, but this is NOT the way to do it. Don't you think that there's a reason he's not part of the morning show anymore? WAKE UP KSCS! You're wasting time while the Wolf gets their S%## together! There is talent already in this town that can re-charge KSCS. Some on the air now, and others not. It's not too late.

 

[Robert Bass]

Where were you, didn't see you when i was listening to the guest speakers. Get your IRIONSIDE ass out there next time

LOL! I knew you were coming, so I made sure to stay hidden. ;D

Actually I stayed in our suite, to help keep an eye on things since everyone else was in the Leadership room.

I was also working on music stuff

I understand Blake had a very good presentation on the topic of not letting physical limitations stand in your way!

R