Worst Moves In Cleveland Radio

[johnbasalla]

I believe that when WIXY 1260 signed off as a "Top 40" station, they became WMGC and "Magic" was their handle. They played soft rock. I remember hearing "Someone To Lay Down Beside Me" by Linda Rondstadt on WMGC. It didn't last too long.

 

[Rusty Muck]

I believe that when WIXY 1260 signed off as a "Top 40" station, they became WMGC and "Magic" was their handle. They played soft rock. I remember hearing "Someone To Lay Down Beside Me" by Linda Rondstadt on WMGC. It didn't last too long.

You're correct... I missed that. The "Magic" name and lite rock format was otherwise a total coincidence from what became WMJI, although you can't help but think that then-advertiser and ultimate owner of 1260/105.7 Larry Robinson was inspired in some way.

And when WBBG was launched, it initially featured an all-talk format - including Bill Randle and Bruce Drennan! - that also didn't last long. Eventually - I want to say around 1980 or so, it finally took on the adult standards format.

 

[nightfly61]

The downward spiral of WGCL. In 1984 they were the best in Cleveland. Joe Bohannon, DannyWsright, Bob Travis, Tom Jeffreys, Phil Garner, Uncle Vic, Al Roker on Weather, & (E)ric Kramer. First they went through the "98.5" phase, tyhen the "All New G-98" phase, then flipped to WNCX.
I also wasn't too pleased when WLTF, "Light Rock 106.5" flipped.

How about when Triv swore up & down that if CC got rid of Marty Allen he would walk. They did. He lied. Poppycock!

 

[VODood]

Capulet, apologies for not posting sooner. Had some teeth extracted.

Nationwide flipped MMS from NexGen alternative (successful at that) back to AOR under Neumann. Bad move. When Nationwide sold to Jacor, about a year later, Jacor moved WMMS to mainstream. Brought in Mitch Todd from KRock/Detroit, Mitch of course had imaged NexGen and WMJI. WMMS added John Wells as station VO (retained Eubanks from NexGen Buzzard). Wells had been on sister WEBN since 1984. Brought on Tony Tilford as PD and WMMS took on a sound similar to Jacor's WEBN. As a mainstream, IMO, WMMS was rockin'. If I recall the numbers were good too. Great air staff, the standout being Tim Slats.

 

[Capulet]

Capulet, apologies for not posting sooner. Had some teeth extracted.

Hope you're recovering from the dental work. Thanks for the history on the 2nd time WMMS was flipped back to mainstream rock. Now its a talk station? Go figure.

Flipping WMMS to CHR IMO in the 80s remains one of the " worst moves in Cleveland radio ".

Like I said, if you haven't, read Hitmen. There was more going on than just
" concert presents " in the 80s. I get the impression most of the people on this forum have no idea how the CHR " independent promotion " aspect of the radio business really works. For one thing, most people working at a CHR never saw the indie, or had any idea how that worked. Thats okay. Makes no diffference to me how a man earns a living.
At one point in the 80s it was estimated that the record industry spent tens of millions of dollars to independent promoters for promotion to radio for airplay. Where did that money go? Read Hitmen. It's fascinating.

In the late 90s the indies started cutting group size checks to the coprporate office, by passing the PDs or anyone who might influence the playlists on that companies stations. The money went right to the corporate bottom line as profit. Jeff McClusky was the first to do this I believe. Google that. Read up on Randy Michaels and Bill Scull and Jacor and Clear Channel. Amazing business.

Thanks

 

[HHH]

Capulet, apologies for not posting sooner. Had some teeth extracted.

Flipping WMMS to CHR IMO in the 80s remains one of the " worst moves in Cleveland radio ".

I am going to say this one more time and, after that, just presume that you just don't have the ability to listen.

WMMS simply changed their reporting to CHR. They never actually became a singles-driven, short playlist CHR on air. They simply added select, industry-defined "CHR acts" (Prince, etc) along with the regular AOR titles, not one of which was ever cut from the playlist. You make it sound like they went to 18 current singles in rotation and never played albums durring this period.

Worst move? Not according to the ratings. They had their highest ratings during this period with 12s 13s and 14s 12+ (a record) and #1 spots is 18-34 men and women, and #1 25-54 men with bigger shares than before or after. So what makes this a "worst move"? Jusr because you didn't like it? Ridiculous.

And there's that Hit Men book again. You know when they are talking about Cleveland in that book it is pretty much about WGCL.
Once again, I know that you are not "mentioning any names" but to insinuate that the WMMS reporting change was made so that the programmers and talent could make money is just shooting from the hip. Bob Travis at GCL was the one with the Jag. His wife had one, too. I don't think he's working today. Last time I looked, all the old WMMS people are still working. So stop with the insinuation.

But the bottom line in radio is ratings, and the change brought WMMS the highest ratings it ever had, in all the right demos.

You call this a "worst move"? Yah, right.

 

[johnbasalla]

I agree that WMMS was a unique station. They were unique and interesting partially because they didn't do a corporately-approved generic format, along with winning personalities playing the music.

The bottom line in broadcasting is revenue... The ability to generate revenue. WRMR had good ratings... Top 5 overall some of the time, I believe... but they had a harder time selling time/generating revenue due to a lack of interest amongst the advertising community.

 

[Board Editor]

MOVED: TIO: Worst Moves In Cleveland Radio

Some posts in this topic have been moved to Take It Outside.

[iurl=http://boards.radio-info.com/smf/index.php?topic=187247.0]http://boards.radio-info.com/smf/index.php?topic=187247.0[/iurl]

 

[AllMightyVoice]

Capulet, apologies for not posting sooner. Had some teeth extracted.

Nationwide flipped MMS from NexGen alternative (successful at that) back to AOR under Neumann. Bad move. When Nationwide sold to Jacor, about a year later, Jacor moved WMMS to mainstream. Brought in Mitch Todd from KRock/Detroit, Mitch of course had imaged NexGen and WMJI. WMMS added John Wells as station VO (retained Eubanks from NexGen Buzzard). Wells had been on sister WEBN since 1984. Brought on Tony Tilford as PD and WMMS took on a sound similar to Jacor's WEBN. As a mainstream, IMO, WMMS was rockin'. If I recall the numbers were good too. Great air staff, the standout being Tim Slats.

I remember Slats, he was very good. Was an awful fit over at K-Rock after WMMS let him go. He would have been perfect on WNCX or WONE. I also remember Crankin' Craig as being a good a DJ over at WMMS post-Next Gen. I think he was there for a couple years, they did an article in the PD on him and how well things were going for him at WMMS...then a few weeks later he was let go. Ahhhh, radio.

Next Gen Buzzard was a great station, while I like V1073 okay the way they are, I can't help but thinking they'd sound so much better if they'd stop trying to copy WMMS from the 1970s and start trying to copy WMMS/WENZ from the mid 1990s