Mobile USED to be a very competative market...but the cluster days killed all that. stations don't need to pay good money since there is no competition for ad dollars, so the talent goes away. And the talent that does stay...well....it ain't pretty.
By the way, don't blaim the zew's numbers on the talent...there just is NO market here for the music they play. Mix it up at least with some stuff AVERAGE people want to here, and leave the rest to college stations.
I have worked on air and programmed at every top station in mobile (non-urban) over the past 25 years, and with some of the better talent before I retired, and it is sad to see the people on the air. Tim Camp? One of the best engineers ever in Mobile, so why does he think he can do an air shift?...sad. And chip at the rocket? Also a top notch production guy....but on the air? repeats that same old staff over and over and over "that little bad from texas, a huh huh huh" gimme a break. There is NO creativity anymore...just card readers.
I will say I have enjoyed Charlie Ocean on the Pirate lately, a nice one-on-one style...I have always thought charlie should move to a larger market...And Marty Martin is now doing PBS...good for her.
At least ABB can continue to be creative. Bernie is gone, and I hope the company stays independent.
But if the money is not there, and it won't be as long as two companies own most of the stations.....then mobile is destined to be yet another Radio graveyard.