WVLT - What Happened ?

[eatspaste]

HA HA HA HA HA...
What gets me is exactly what is going on. As long as the money comes in, no one cares about quality.
If the station was an actual commodity, it would have been out of business a long time ago.

Favorite quote from the WVLT website: "If you're looking for Cruisin' 92.1, WVLT in the Arbitron ratings, don't bother!" That one line says more than 8 pages of replies on a message board.

Not to mention that their website implies that they cover the entire states of Delaware and Pennsylvania.

 

[skipboy]

Geek Boy,I waited a while to talk about this station.Once,when I was on & traded my time to run the board for their brokered shows for my on-air time with the Lost 45s.Then I was asked to run the Sundays morning programming,which I refused since I was on overnight & would be there 12 hours straight without much chance to go out & get something to eat,not to mention kill my only day off from work.I was asked for Labor day weekend two days before Sunday,where I had a prior committment.I filled in for rap shows,talk shows,football games etc.But I drew the line on Sundays.It was one thing to fill in,then it became fill in for 6-12 weeks till we get someone.I did this for close to 4 years,then wasn't given an explaination by CEO/GM until 6-7 months later when I was visiting Dennis B's doo-wop show & was banned from visiting the station unless Lou Costello was there.The reason being I was turning his board-ops against the station.All I did was answer some of their questions,while the station had a break-in the Sales office and the staff was told I did it.When I asked GM which story was the right one,he tapped dance around the subject.
I am very happy for my time at WVLT,I met some great collectors & talked with some entertainers and made lots of new friends.It also showed me the sleazy side of radio & the crazy personalities that go along with it.All things must move on,and so have I.My internet show on Goldradio on Mondays doesn't have the local following & the inter-contact by phone which the radio show provided,but I have piece of mind that I don't have to look over my shoulder to wait for the other shoe to drop.And I don't have Corky & friends precede me.That's worth it all.I stopped taking my pills when I was taken off the air,Geek Boy.

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[GeekBoy]

Hey There Skipper ,
I really do understand and it's happened to a lot of us in radio so I can relate . But .....my original post was that the station had change from a viable commodity back to sounding like 3 different stations again . The issue that you have a conflict with Corky of some sort should not influence the fact that he had the music down pat and made the station hit the book in several different markets. You mentioned Lou Costello . As a midday jock Lou was getting the top book during the day in his 10am hour and his 11 am hour and then dropped a few points during his 12 noon hour. He was playing a very broad range of music and fast becoming one of the top jocks in the area. When the New Director came on board, The whole station including Costello fell .9 points. As a result, Fleetwood had now become the top Jock again only because of the fact that he plays a much broader range of music. It has become 3 different stations again which is deadly to ratings. I don't know this Corky guy at all but I do know he has a fantastic following and his Saturday show is very strong and whether or not you like him, He would be a great lead-in to any show . Hope you find what your looking for.

 

[skipboy]

The foundation of the ratings were started when Bill Marshall was the music director.The station made a change before the book came out,when WVLT made the AC & Wilmington books.As soon as the book was announced,Corky Warren composed an e-mail & took credit for the book.While this happened on his watch,the work was done before.Since you do not know Corky,there is no sense in talking about him.He is not worth the time or effort.The direction of the music is vastly better to expand the older music catalog & play what WOGL doesn't.The listening audience over 40 likes to hear more than the Top 500 Classics of the Greatest Hits Of All Time.There will always be people who don't want to move from the top hits,but this station doesn't get rated because the ratings don't cover Cumberland County.This station will never make the Philly book,but does have it's following.It's signal strength is directed towards Wilmington,not Philly or AC.I happen to like the changes to a deeper catalog,which seems to be in the minority of the people who read this board,and that seems to be why people listen in spite of the "club DJ's" and presentation.Dave Fleetwood does a great job on production & the final product is polished.His show tends to be British & later 60's,while the other 2 shows tend to play to the DJ's strengths just like Dave's show.This block programming may not be smooth in transition(flow),this I agree with.But the music programming is what people conclude as the music.Deeper may not be better to some,and time will tell with this approach.But since this station serves about a 25-30 mile radius from Vineland,it seves it's base which likes it's music programming.The talk & programs in the evening is brokered,which is the way the station's way to survive.I believe the flow is broken after 5PM by this approach,and that's the way of the world which this station must use to survive.Half a loaf is better than none.

 

[GeekBoy]

I hear what your saying but your a bit off on your time line. Marshall was long gone when the ratings hit Donahue was MD prior to Corky . The ratings book was for Fall '05, Winter "05 and Spring " 06 . That was all Corky's watch. As I said before , The only way I heard of Corky was that he won the NJ Broadcasters award for best production in New Jersey. I heard he was a little stricked. But, He did get ratings and it was only because all 3 shifts sounded like the same station. Costello was quickly rising to the top of the heap with that format. Now, according to the books, Fleetwood, Randazzo and Corky's Saturday show are yeilding more listeners then Costello. I've been in radio over 40 years and with Costello's energy and personality, he could set the world on fire if he only played a broader base of music. By the way. I wish your Lost45's was back on. I love the specialty shows like yours and Doo Wop Diner.

 

[skipboy]

You are right about the time line that Norm Donahue followed Bill Marshall as music director.Norm followed what Bill did most of the time.Norm went on vacation & when he returned,Corky Warren was given the job.It was in August sometime around the middle of the month.As for numbers,it was the first time WVLT got mentioned in the Wilmington book,plus the second or third for the AC book.There is no ratings for Cumberland Co.,but you mention that Saturday programing gets higher ratings than Mon.-Fri. weekday shows.Where did you get that info?I don't doubt your word,but am not certain where you got your info.Walt has told me that Corky has a nice following,but for the life of me I don't understand how.Everytime I listen,It's usually a 3 minute ad-lib about a sponser,talk with his wife & a monologue about something that crosses his mind.He urges people to call with request or trivia answers,but hear the same people call week after week.I rather hear music than that.Randazzo is a cast-off from Quinn Broadcasting just like Corky.I can listen & like that Chris plays,but it's hard to get through the Saturday Morning parade of talk.Hard to figure that scores more than weekday oldies programming.

 

[GeekBoy]

Hey Skipper . When is your Lost 45's coming back on some other station. I really miss it . Your correct August was when Corky was hired and September the ratings started to rise. As for my access to ratings, I get the ratings from hour to hour....week day and week ends from my friends at Shore stations. As for call ins to shows, It really doesn't matter who calls into a radio show. For the most part, it's that way it iswith every radio show. I'm sure it was with your's too. But trust me. Corky's show has listeners up the wazoo with new ones every week! Ad libs and live spotsfor sponsors is the money root of good radio and saying whatever crosses your mind is what good radio is all about. Can't understand your bitterness there. I guess that's why they make chocolate and vanilla. As I said, I haven't heard him yet but you and the reports I get have peeked my interest. I hear what your saying about Saturdays because nothing even shows till 2 pm. Mornings are dead ( book wise) . As to your last question...I've been trying to get that point across and so far only a few have understood. YOU CAN'T GET REGULAR LISTENERS BY HAVING 3 DIFFERENT RADIO SHOWS ! Take the Lost 45's show for example. I loved it and it would work well in various different slots BUT, do you think it would work anywhere from 6 am to 7 pm week days? Of course not. Maybe a Sunday night would work best but a Friday or Wednesday would work also. Trust me. I know of what I speak. Good Luck to you.

 

[eatspaste]

The foundation of the ratings were started when Bill Marshall was the music director.The station made a change before the book came out,when WVLT made the AC & Wilmington books.As soon as the book was announced,Corky Warren composed an e-mail & took credit for the book.

This guy went out of his way to take credit for a 0.4 in Wilmington and Atlantic City? Wow, there's reason #564561 why this station sucks 24/7.

Here's breaking news: WVLT covers all of Salem County and parts of New Castle and Kent. It should show up EVERYTIME with more than a tiny fraction of one point! WJKS does! WVLT covers 80% of the Atlantic City market. It should show up EVERYTIME with more than a tiny fraction of one point!

WSOX from way out in York, PA, shouldn't be tieing WVLT in Wilmington!

but this station doesn't get rated because the ratings don't cover Cumberland County.This station will never make the Philly book,but does have it's following.It's signal strength is directed towards Wilmington,not Philly or AC.

The ratings DO cover Cumberland County. Cumberland County is part of the Atlantic City TSA, part of the Atlantic City market. And the station does show-up in the Philly book (almost everytime), but it's always below the 0.3 cut-off on R&R. And the signal is not directed towards or away from one city or another - it's non directional! Wilmington just happens to be closer!

Dave Fleetwood does a great job on production & the final product is polished.

What the hell is that loud buzz behind every spot?!

But since this station serves about a 25-30 mile radius from Vineland,it seves it's base which likes it's music programming.The talk & programs in the evening is brokered,which is the way the station's way to survive.I believe the flow is broken after 5PM by this approach,and that's the way of the world which this station must use to survive.

WMID does oldies (on AM) without running any brokered stuff. WTKU is oldies without brokered programming. Why does WVLT need to sell time to anyone who knocks on the door? I mean, WJKS is going after downtown Wilmington and 97.3 is focused on Atlantic City. Besides WSNJ, they could have interior South Jersey all to themselves! Vineland, Millville, Bridgeton, Hammonton, Salem, Glassboro, Pitman, etc.

 

[skipboy]

First,the buzz is bleed-over from WMIZ-Am in the background when they open the mike.I believe they also have a phone line hum for call-ins.As for bitterness toward that station,I have none.They can make some noise with the format,but choose not to.Some things happened in the background that left me bewildered why anyone would believe that the station might straight out it's problems.It's always the same,it won't change.The signal strength reaches AC on a good reception night.Does not reach Wildwood very well at all,and is directional due west.The signal can be picked up towards Concordville,PA.fairly well,and can get it in the car in spots in Philly,West Chester,Chadds Ford...etc.but not all the time.You cannot pick up the signal in a home unless you have an outside antenna.As for the Lost 45s,that can be at a time slot for late evenings or weekends nights.It may not be great radio for some,but the average listener wants to hear music they remember,tried & true classic tunes.My type of show was not for everyone,but some listeners did enjoy hearing something different.Reasons why it's not on changed with different explanations each day.The only thing I can say was it was a management decision,whatever the reason was.Corky's show & format does not appeal to me,let's just leave it at that.The original question was why there was three different playlists with three different directions.Sometimes they like to play deeper,but when you do that,that's not tried & true format that the suits in charge agree with.Since I'm familar with the music that's played(deeper catalog),it appeals to me.But as soon as you do this,some people who like the tried & true songs speak-up.Finding the mix to appeal to all,the percent & how-to is up to debate.I'm sure that this type of "niche" doesn't appeal to some,and we will hear from others in this forum that don't agree.But I think they have a right to try,whether right or wrong.Finally,the Lost 45s is on internet radio at www.goldoldies.com on Monday evenings 8PM-midnight.So many songs were released during the 50s-60s that you can never run out of material.Thus,the lost 45s theme.I'm thankful that I was given the oppertunity to broadcast,either on radio & internet,Again,I state there is no bitterness toward that station,I'm happy to be on the internet.
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[crandazzo]

hi gentleman first let me say hello and happy holidays! let me respond to post #85,there are some real mental problems going on here and as far as being referred to as a "cast-off"from wsnj think what you want friend, but i had a nice 8 year run there and i did'nt have to buy air time to get on the air ! i went over applied for the job did the air check and got the job and built up a great following some of which are still listening to me now, and was the last voice on the air when the mighty 107.7 was shut down. i don't care about anything but getting on the air to play music and have fun.i do know that some of the people that are not allowed in the station are not allowed there now because of suspected equipment tampering and interfering in too many shows. i still listen to my friends at wsnj and the new guy jim williams is one of the better csb graduates i've heard,he actually has a personality!as far as wvlt not being in the book i believe corky stepped down because of runaway jocks who wont stick to the format so instead of see his work not being put to use he figured why bother let, someone else do it. i hope you all enjoy it while it lasts because stations like our [independent]wont be around much longer.for all you people who say you don't like us, it seems you spend a lot of time tuning in to see what's on.for all that do' tune in to you're favorite shows and check me out saturdays 2-4 p.m.thumbs up to tommy-t for trying to straighten out our audio with all those gremlins in the audio cabinets.HAVE A HAPPY NEW YEAR!

 

[JimWilliams]

So you're the one person who found out I had a personality! Thanks, for the kind words and thanks for listening, CR, I appreciate it.

Just to correct you though, I never went to or graduated from CSB, not for a lack of wanting to get there...just a lack of finances. I am a graduate of Cumberland County College for what that's worth.

 

[skipboy]

Funny that the equipment tampering continued after some people were let go.As for jocks who don't pay to play,it's not so at that station after 5PM.Unless you trade your on-air time for board-op,you pay.Chris,I enjoy listening to some shows on that station,but the bottom line it is difficult to listen to some of the brokered programs.That's why there is an off knob on the radio.

 

[crandazzo]

no problem jim you see how the rumor mill spins out bad info, so now i am even more impressed. rock on brother i hope you go far!

 

[JimWilliams]

no problem jim you see how the rumor mill spins out bad info, so now i am even more impressed. rock on brother i hope you go far!

Thanks...what else has the rumor mill spinned. Better yet, I'm in a rumor mill?!? Again thanks much.

To all others: You may now return to your regularly scheduled thread already in progress.