Re: Old History
> > Did I say that I am not an Art Sutton fan? No.
> >
> > First off...he did a good thing by getting WRGC. That
> > station needed something else, and Art brought that to the
>
> > station. But, I do have on reliable sources who are no
> > longer familiar with the station that they had a rough
> time
> > dealing with him and the corporate structure (I can go
> into
> > specifics, but I'll be nice). And as a listener and
> > observer of local radio, it showed itself on the air.
> While
> > I wouldn't say that our views are 180 degrees separate
> from
> > each other, they are more like 120 degrees (a mix of
> > indifference and "holy sh*t").
> >
> > As far as moving WRGC to 540...let me say this. I would
> > rather have a 24 hour operation with lower power than a
> > daytimer with a shitload of power. Again, I have seen
> > nothing saying that it would have nighttime operation. But
>
> > if he is bringing the FMs, that might be a muted point,
> but
> > I would still take the 24 hour option on an AM...and
> > possibly make it a news/talk or something like that and
> move
> > the AC format...or something a little more rockin'...to
> the
> > FM, whenever it comes in. Again, that's what I would do.
>
> > But...I am not Art Sutton.
> >
> > Besides, I am sure WPTF in Raleigh and WCNN in Atlanta
> would
> > love to see them move so it could help their signals. And
>
> > that could be part of the reason they are moving, too.
> >
> > And as far as the stations I own--I own none, and have no
> > desire to do so. I manage none--and have no desire to do
> > so. But in my years in this industry, I do know how local
>
> > radio can be run. I went from rural WNC to medium market
> > radio in the southeast--and I work for a place that isn't
> > part of any big radio conglomerate. The management
> > structure I work for isn't concerned with ratings and
> making
> > money as much as they are about putting out a good product
>
> > (and on a rather tight budget)--and that is a whole lot
> more
> > than I can say for some of the local radio station owners
> in
> > WNC...and there are quite a few of those.
> >
> > As far as any "digs" I took in my previous post about what
>
> > you might have seen as a dig at Sutton, they weren't. In
> > fact, I was making a dig more at the Childress' than
> > anything else. They had a hard time with promotions and
> > selling that station--this is a FACT. I know this was the
>
> > case. A lot of it had to do with Uncle Jimmy's politics
> > (though, I must admit, they are in line with mine). That
> > trouble shifted over when they sold the station because
> many
> > still saw it as "Uncle Jimmy's station"--the call letters
> > didn't help either, being that the station's name comes
> from
> > his son Ronnie, who was killed in a transmitter accident
> at
> > the station in the 70s back when it was WMSJ (for those of
>
> > you unfamiliar). And any digs that I do take at any
> > station's ownership come from my desire to see them do
> more
> > and do better...because they are capable of it. WNC is a
> > bit of a cesspool when it comes to radio--mainly beause
> you
> > can't get anything unless you're near a metro (thank you
> > mountainous terrain). And--ya know what?--it's a damn
> > shame.
> >
> > As far as moving FM's in...the 95.3 frequency just
> couldn't
> > work, I imagine, for a variety of reasons.
> >
> > They tried moving 96.7 WNCC in Franklin to Cowee Mountain
> to
> > get Sylva coverage, but I think Saga had a sh*it-fit when
> > they thought it would interfere with WOXL (it really
> > wouldn't have, because you can't get WOXL in
> Sylva...Balsam,
> > yes, another story, but still...). It would have been
> nice
> > to have seen that take place, though...but I would have
> > changed the format because anything that goes up against
> > 99.9 Kiss Country will have their problems (and country
> > never really sold very well in Sylva).
> >
> > I heard 104.1 WRBN was doing good where it is/was. I
> mean,
> > hell, that signal, last time I checked, reached very well
> > into at least 3 of Sutton's markets (4 if you count the
> > outskirts of Sylva, and 5 if you count a little of
> > Elberton). And moving 104.1 into Sylva might (emphasize
> > MIGHT) cause Clear Channel to have a hissy-fit because of
> > WQNQ on 104.3.
> >
> > Nothing may be secret with the FCC, but I don't see any
> big
> > discussions on this forum or anywhere else about it about
> > the possiblity of it coming into town. Not very many
> people
> > watch the FCC's website for updates on WNC radio...just
> > saying. And WNC radio doesn't get enough coverage on this
>
> > forum, anyway...this forum is for both Charlotte and WNC,
> > and there's way too much stuff on here about stations that
> I
> > can't get unless I am on the other side of Asheville.
> >
> > I do watch the FCC stuff...but that's because I have
> nothing
> > better to do on some occasions than look some stuff up
> about
> > my good ole' hometown.
> >
> > I'd like to know what sort of bullsh*t I was slinging,
> > though. This stuff hadn't been mentioned on this forum
> > before, and many might have been unfamiliar with it. Call
>
> > it "producer's syndrome"--this coming from being that I am
>
> > an actual producer and writer for several programs where I
>
> > work. "Producer's syndrome" is where you suppose that the
>
> > average person (be they on-air personality, listener, or
> > viewer) just dropping by does not know the history behind
> a
> > certain subject. I fill them in. And--yeah, I put in my
> > two cents, but that's my right.
> >
> > It was a scoop because no one had been talking about it.
> > And...hell, if you put two and two together (moving 680 to
>
> > 540, bring 104.1 in to Sylva), it adds up. Just sort of
> > solidifying the connection here, that's it.
> >
>
> Jay and MtnRadioMan....no offense taken as I actually enjoy
> these posts. I've long past the point of different opinions
> bothering me.
>
> MtnRadioMan is a very bright guy and has a passion for radio
> not commonly found with someone his age. Our major
> difference was over the songs which should air over WRGC. Of
> those who once worked at WRGC, he's the one with the most
> natural talent. He just thought certain songs should air and
> I didn't..but he wasn't fired for it. In fact, none of the
> guys who worked with us, who also were worked for the
> Childress family were fired by us, they left. They each
> contributed a great deal to the station. None of them really
> spent that much time around me and we didn't know each other
> that well but I feel like everyone who comes along in a
> station, makes a contribution and moves it forward. People
> get other opportunities and move on.
>
> Here are some facts.
>
> As long as I own WRGC, it will continue to have nighttime
> operations regardless of which channel it operates on.
>
> I also hope one day to bring Jackson County its own local FM
> service but WRGC will likely still remain the most popular
> station there. We don't have to have a FM there to make
> money.
>
> As to Glenville and the Clyde filings, we were paid a good
> bit of money recently to dismiss those petitions along with
> WNCC's move to Cowee Bald. The plan for WNCC to put a signal
> over Jackson County was actually filed prior to my ownership
> of either WNCC or WRGC but I left it in the FCC system
> because I felt WNCC putting a signal over Sylva would
> diminish WKSF's ratings in Jackson County. It just so
> happens in the last ratings book, WRGC beat WKSF. I think
> with a better signal on WRGC, we'll do even better along
> with improved local programming and sales.
>
> WRGC had more than its share of instability during our
> ownership...a fact that I am not proud because most of it
> has been self-induced. It was also a very emotional
> transaction for the Childress family which did not make our
> acquisition like others we have made. We've not paid as much
> attention to it as we needed to and frankly when Jimmy
> decided to sell, we really weren't "ready" to buy another
> station. But, I had tried for 15 years to buy it from him
> and didn't want to miss the chance.
>
> WRGC has never lost a penny for us and has now returned to
> making a very solid and good profit for us. It's without a
> doubt, the most successful AM operation west of Asheville. I
> am very fond of the station and the market...in fact I
> always have been since I first visited the area as a kid.
>
> MtnRadioMan, I'm going to create a company wide programming
> director's job to oversee the programming of all our
> stations. You should apply. I've always been impressed with
> your knowledge of that facet of this business. I'm a left
> brained kind of guy...but radio needs right minded people to
> be in the programming department. I also suspect that had we
> worked more together...we would have developed more respect
> for each other, especially had you not snuck some songs on
> the air that weren't on the playlist!
>
> Drop me an email some time.
>
Sorry, MtnRadioDude...not Man.
