Re: devil's advocate
> *** I beleive Tom programmed 96.9 back before it was COOL..not sure of the format (before my time in Jax) and was a News director in Boston so I think he could handle it...like someone said earlier he knows the music and the format so well it could only be a good thing for him to be PD...
Good points, especially considering I had forgotten about
> those launch promos! "It was a nice vacation, but we're
> back, and we can really shake 'em down."
>
> In hindsight, it may have been easier on everyone if they
> launched the new station with the same music as the old
> Cool, then slowly transitioned into what Renda wanted, which
> really is Classic Hits, similar to Arrow when it was
> launched over 10 years ago. That may have caused a ratings
> spike intead of alienating potential listeners from the
> get-go.
>
>
>
> > When the new KOOL was launched it promoted itself as being
>
> > back (a la COOL 96.9) and if that was the intent, it was
> > very short-lived. I've said a number of times the station
>
> > needed to identify what they wanted to be and then stay
> the
> > course.
> >
> > They had the perfect opportunity to benefit from the deep
> > emotion that existed when Cox Radio pulled the plug on a
> > beloved and still advertiser-friendly format. What
> followed
> > showed a total lack of planning on Renda's part. The fact
>
> > that the old station name (but with a K) and call letters
> > replaced Arrow made many of us think that the music and
> the
> > format was back. I recall one Beatles weekend and that
> was
> > nothing more than a twin spin at the top of the hour.
> > Ridiculous.
> >
> > There is some fine syndicated programming such as Beatle
> > Brunch and Dick Bartley's American Gold that could have
> > helped the station along with its identity. Instead,
> Blues
> > plays on Sunday morning. EEGADS.
> >
> > The oldies format as it was had staying power. Granted,
> the
> > audience skews older but in the case of the former Arrow,
> so
> > what? Arrow was not a money-maker and they had no other
> > place to go but up. I maintain that they could have
> > increased their revenue by appealing to the advertisers
> who
> > supported the format from 96.9. If the station was
> > programmed correctly from the get-go and that requires
> > understanding of the music, the curious listener would
> have
> > not only found KOOL, but they would have added it to their
>
> > favorite station list.
> >
> > To answer one of your questions, I say yes, I would have
> > liked seeing KOOL play a minimum number of 70s songs per
> > hour (no more than 3) when they were launched and that
> > strategy should have been maintained through the year.
> I'm
> > surprised they didn't try to establish their base (core
> > oldies audience) and then gradually program to expand the
> > audience SOME.
> >
> > Just yesterday when I turned on the radio, Hotel
> California
> > was playing. It turned out it was playing on WMXQ, The
> > Point. Lately, I literally have to look at my radio
> display
> > to figure out what I'm listening to as so many stations
> > sound the same. KOOL could have represented something
> > different among so many sound-alike stations. It would
> have
> > set them apart and for a low-power, non-money maker - the
> > strategy is one that should have been pursued.
> >
> > I really wouldn't know if Tom would want the programming
> > headache of the current WKQL. But I think if he were
> asked
> > and he did accept, I betcha....he would do a better job
> than
> > what preceded him.
> >
> > Finally, stations doing a 50/50 mix of 60s/70s will
> continue
> > to face challenges. Since I've gone on way too long as
> is,
> > I'll save that topic for another day.
> >
> > Apologies for the wordiness here....I just have a lot of
> > passion about this subject.
> > > Just asking. No flames, please! I am not (nor am I
> > related
> > > to) Briggs W. Bickley, Sr.
> > >
> > > 1. Has Tom Murphy ever programmed a radio station?
> > >
> > > 2. Do you think Tom wants to program Kool?
> > >
> > > 3. What might happen if he did?
> > >
> > > 4. Would we be so hard on Kool 100.7/WKQL if it had
> > another
> > > name? Kool, Sunny, and Eagle to me are just different
> > takes
> > > on "classic hits," and in time, that will become even
> more
> >
> > > true. (For Pete's sake, Tom Kent played "I Can Dream
> > About
> > > You" by Dan Hartman last week!) In that context, I am
> not
> >
> > > too disappointed in the 60's-early 80's music available
> on
> >
> > > the dial around here. As for anything before that,
> sure,
> > I
> > > know it's missing. Which leads to...
> > >
> > > 5. What would happen if an exact clone of Cool 96.9
> > > launched today? Would it be a contender in the current
> > > landscape?
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > > And yet I have that sinking feeling Renda will
> continue
> > to
> > >
> > > > reward from within and give PD duty to the Arf. Maybe
>
> > the
> > >
> > > > guy could/would do a good job but I think KOOL
> requires
> > > some
> > > > major tweaking. It also wouldn't surprise me if Briggs
>
> > has
> > >
> > > > double duty. This is not the time for hoping for the
> > best.
> > >
> > > > It's time to chose experience over grandfathering...I
> > hope
> > > I
> > > > am dead wrong with what I think Renda will do. At any
> > > rate,
> > > > Tom Murphy has my vote!
> > > >
> > > > > Briggs can have SOS..........
> > > > >
> > > > > Murphy should be the PD of KOOL......
> > > > >
> > > > > Jacksonville deserves a #1 Oldies station and he's
> the
> >
> > > > only
> > > > > one that can pull that off!
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > >
> > >
> >
>
<P ID="signature">______________
"What's so funny 'bout peace, love and understanding!"</P>
