WXBQ dominates again

[Pratte4Life]

The Bill Hagy I know is one of the biggest lowlifes I've ever met in my life.

We can get into a "Is not! Is too!" arguement about this, or our friends from Philadelphia and Charlotte can answer this question-

Let's say the guy retires tomorrow.

Do you honestly think WXBQ would cease to have the largest book in town? Do you think their ratings would be affected one little bit?

Or answer me this. You think it's Bill Hagy, or Garth Brooks and the country boom of the '90s along with the demise of rock at that period of time that allowed WXBQ to overtake WQUT for the top spot?

Hiring just the right guys? Do you mean like Bruce Clark?

Please, let's give Reggie Neal credit for his own talent, not Bill Hagy.

 

[TennStud]

hey Senor Steve Blevins!!!

It's your PD From WJTZ and fellow DB Graduate....Mr Carter...Did not know you were ill...Prayers and good wishes coming your way from Eastern Tennessee...Take care ny friend

 

[rtetro]

The Bill Hagy I know is one of the biggest lowlifes I've ever met in my life.

We can get into a "Is not! Is too!" arguement about this, or our friends from Philadelphia and Charlotte can answer this question-

Let's say the guy retires tomorrow.

Do you honestly think WXBQ would cease to have the largest book in town? Do you think their ratings would be affected one little bit?

Or answer me this. You think it's Bill Hagy, or Garth Brooks and the country boom of the '90s along with the demise of rock at that period of time that allowed WXBQ to overtake WQUT for the top spot?

Hiring just the right guys? Do you mean like Bruce Clark?

Please, let's give Reggie Neal credit for his own talent, not Bill Hagy.

Personally, I give Reggie all the credit in the world for his abilities. (Heck, if I didn't I wouldn't be listening to him online in Philly instead of our local country station, WXTU.) I would even give the same credit to Mark Tragler and Rich Quillen for their contributions.

The hypothetical question about Bill Hagy's retirement is interesting. I don't think the answer can be black or white. There's a lot of gray there, and not just on Bill's head . An answer would require knowing what, if any changes to the music a new PD would make, how his programming philosophy would juxtapose against Bill's, and many other factors. It's not that simple. If things remained the same (or nearly the same) the ratings would probably stay about where they are. There is too much momentum at this point to take the station out of the #1 position without really screwing it up. If, on the other hand, a new PD came in and made major changes, it's anybody's guess what would happen. It could become a total disaster. I think a bigger threat to that +/- 20 share would be for another full class C FM with a spectacular signal in the Tri-Cities to come in and do a complete country blitzkrieg. But even at that, I would be surprised if WXBQ lost more than 5 points - which would still leave them in specatular shape.

In so far as Bruce Clark is concerned, now HE TRULY IS one of the biggest low lifes going. But, it was my understanding at the time that it was Pete's (may he RIP) decision to bring him back. From what I saw there was no love lost between Bill and Bruce.

Now, as you note, I am in Philly - a long way from Bristol. I've been out of the loop for a good five years. But, I can only speak on what I observed while I was there. That is, Bill always treated me kindly. Even after I left, he has responded very kindly to the emails I have sent him.

Radio is a funny business, and sometimes personalities clash, so I do not repudiate anything said about anyone in this discussion. Each of us have our own experiences that contribute to our memories of co-workers and jobs.

My memories of my time at BBC are generally positive, and I still have contact with several people in Bristol. I wouldn't have traded my time at BBC for anything. It was a tremendous learning experience. And, as an engineer, I could not have found two better people to work with than Chuck Lawson and Bruce Arthur. Chuck is still a dear friend. And I am now getting reacquainted with a lot of other BBC people via Facebook. In the end, it was a great place to work - not perfect - but definitely a cut above a lot of other companies I've worked for.

 

[kd4rnc1964]

Best wishes to Steve Blevins. I thought when you signed with PRN you dropped the radio/news gig. Didn't even think of you being sick. About WGOC. Since it was ripped off of a 10kw stick on a very good location and humiliated to a 5kw(maybe 1kw?) in Kingsport and forced to die on a ratingless graveyard frequency, it has no comparison to any fm signal anymore. It definitely has no night signal. nothing. I put flowers on its grave after the frequency shift. I worked there back in the 90's and the "Top Gun" gave the rabbitt a migrane.
I don't even listen in the daytime. There's a Morristown station on 1300 with the same format/network and Greeneville has 1kw on 1340. Can't hear WGOC now. RIP Top Gun.

 

[Pratte4Life]

Couple of things-

I happen to like the format of WGOC, but the problem is that the demographics are very old.

What I think WGOC did do in the 90s was not give WXBQ fits, but rather WJCW. WGOC passed WJCW in the overall ratings, took ETSU broadcasts away from them for a year, and were somewhat competitive in high school sports coverage.

It got to be where eventually the powers that be at Citadel had to buy the station, which then led to them putting it on automation, and then led to the station's demise.

Still, who do you sell the classic country format to? I think it is shortsighted to forget about the over-50 demographic, but that is the trend these days in broadcast sales.

Of course, every talk station in the market also gears towards over-50. While that probably speaks of the shortsightedness of the market concerning talk, one wonders if WFHG flipped to classic country if it wouldn't be more successful than the second-string news/talk format they have.

I hate to give them ideas- don't want 'em to do it- but such a move would save staff. Move the news/talk to the AM, where they would continue to get their Bristol sponsors and higher ratings. The Sports Fox, which never gained a following, is dropped when whatever contracts they have with FOX expire, with things like Virginia Tech and Virginia High continuing to operate on the same frequencies.

Rt- You essentially said, in a very long winded fashion, everything I have in that previous post.

You mentioned WXTU. Is this not the country's top rated country station in terms of CUME?

Now, since you believe WXBQ to be a better country station than WXTU, would this not speak of market size (the 4 million plus who live in the Philly area) and not quality of the station?

So why is it so hard for you to understand that having the monopoly on country is going to produce superior ratings in the Tri-Cities?

Give me one Tri-Cities FM stick with a country format that plays a few classic cuts (in comparision to WXBQ's usual "we'll try these new artists the record company is pushing on us" cuts) and we'll have ourselves a radio war!

 

[redneckriviera]

The thread started with a poster with far more enthusiasm than substance stating how we have to all bow down to WXBQ.

I disagreed. Received a lot of support.

Hey Pratte, I can't let you steal my thunder here as the provocateur of this never-ending thread. Go back to Page One and you'll see that after letting MM's self-congratulatory post ("Hey, ain't we great?") stand unchallenged for 4 days, I couldn't stand it any longer and tossed the first jab with a "Why doesn't HV have the balls to slap Country on 98.5 and kick some Rabbit ass?"

To your credit, you jumped in the ring and started throwing the body blows--you're much closer to the whole weird situation and know where the bodies are buried--and have kept them in Reality World when they heap more undeserved praise on themselves.

But, look, this isn't a Big Secret. Radio people coast-to-coast know that WXBQ is a solid slightly-above-average small market radio station that racks up big numbers because the two other Class Cs have been owned by chickenshit companies content to pick up the scraps instead of making the effort to knock them off their perch.

Stupid... but great for WXBQ!

 

[Pratte4Life]

It's rather telling the people who are propping up the station have been out of the area for years or are cheerleaders with limited writing skills.

Regardless, I'm starting a new thread about WKOS where we can either expand on the "should this station flip to country" or how to improve the non-existent ratings.

 

[dontknockit]

Woulda, shoulda, coulda... If TFM would flip...If Bill Hagy retires...
I didn't know prophets were still roaming the earth...please let me know your location, and I will send Weekly World News to come and cover your latest prediction.

If you don't like the fact that XBQ is on top, stop yapping and do something. Suggestions and knowledge are absolutely useless unless you put it to use...and I don't think tht posting them on this message board is utilizing your "talents."

By the way - just a suggestion....when I have a problem with someone, I find the more appropriate way to go about it is to contact them directly...only 13 year olds bash on a message board, even though it may be public knowledge who you are (despite your screen name.) Very juvenile, really.

Take Care ;D

 

[redneckriviera]

Woulda, shoulda, coulda... If TFM would flip...If Bill Hagy retires...
I didn't know prophets were still roaming the earth...please let me know your location, and I will send Weekly World News to come and cover your latest prediction.

If you don't like the fact that XBQ is on top, stop yapping and do something. Suggestions and knowledge are absolutely useless unless you put it to use...and I don't think tht posting them on this message board is utilizing your "talents."

By the way - just a suggestion....when I have a problem with someone, I find the more appropriate way to go about it is to contact them directly...only 13 year olds bash on a message board, even though it may be public knowledge who you are (despite your screen name.) Very juvenile, really.

Take Care ;D

As to Hagy, I don't know the guy and concur that personal attacks should be out of bounds.

As to XBQ, the gist of this thread stems from the First Post, bragging about winning 59 straight forfeits.

In radio, as in any business, one should never underestimate the role of luck. And when it happens to you, the best course of action is to say a prayer of thanks and keep quiet about it.

 

[dontknockit]

As to Hagy, I don't know the guy and concur that personal attacks should be out of bounds.

As to XBQ, the gist of this thread stems from the First Post, bragging about winning 59 straight forfeits.

In radio, as in any business, one should never underestimate the role of luck. And when it happens to you, the best course of action is to say a prayer of thanks and keep quiet about it.

Forfeits?! Pssh, after 59, I wouldn't call them forfeits, even though I'm aware of your thoughts in that respect. There are (plenty of) other country stations in the market...so forfeit would not actually be the appropriate term...and I can only assume they are basking quietly, as I don't know who made the original post.

IM(humble)O, everyone thinks that every market is it's own little "oddity" as opposed to every other market...the reason for this, the reason for that, zip codes they do/don't reach, restructuring of that market....yada, yada, yada. What a load of crap. Yes - markets are different..but if anyone on this message board knew what it would take to beat XBQ, or anyone else in the Tri for that matter...I highly doubt they would be wasting their consulting talents posting here for free....however - if you can lend to me the name and contact information to a person of such genius - I'd happily pay them a mil for consulting, buy a cluster, and proceed to kick ass while tarring and feathering myself with the rest of the payload. ;D

 

[Pratte4Life]

I haven't personally attacked anyone. Everything I have said is the truth.

What other country stations are there in the market?

Marion doesn't count. Greeneville not promoting themselves into the Tri-Cities doesn't count.

WGOC on 1320?

 

[The Beav]

About Bill Hagy. I don't know him personaly, but I do have to give him credit for where I am now. I had the chance to work for XBQ back in early 2000 and I blew it. The reason, he liked my package but talking with him he said I didn't show the passion he was looking for. Ever since that time, in every interview I've always remembered that experience. I'm currently doing mornings in middle TN thanks to Bill Hagy. My passion has done more to add value to myself in interviews than any accomplishment that's listed on my resume. I say all that to point out like other posts that talked about how you have to have vision on how you want a station to sound, to make it great, imo, Bill Hagy does.

 

[redneckriviera]

As to Hagy, I don't know the guy and concur that personal attacks should be out of bounds.

As to XBQ, the gist of this thread stems from the First Post, bragging about winning 59 straight forfeits.

In radio, as in any business, one should never underestimate the role of luck. And when it happens to you, the best course of action is to say a prayer of thanks and keep quiet about it.

Forfeits?! Pssh, after 59, I wouldn't call them forfeits, even though I'm aware of your thoughts in that respect. There are (plenty of) other country stations in the market...so forfeit would not actually be the appropriate term...and I can only assume they are basking quietly, as I don't know who made the original post.

IM(humble)O, everyone thinks that every market is it's own little "oddity" as opposed to every other market...the reason for this, the reason for that, zip codes they do/don't reach, restructuring of that market....yada, yada, yada. What a load of crap. Yes - markets are different..but if anyone on this message board knew what it would take to beat XBQ, or anyone else in the Tri for that matter...I highly doubt they would be wasting their consulting talents posting here for free....however - if you can lend to me the name and contact information to a person of such genius - I'd happily pay them a mil for consulting, buy a cluster, and proceed to kick ass while tarring and feathering myself with the rest of the payload. ;D

LMAO... okay, maybe "forfeits" is an overstatement--instead let's say they've won 59 straight books in a three-station market where the other two choose not to compete. How's that?

BTW, if you go back through this thread you'll see that I've always been careful to note that WXBQ is a perfectly good radio station for a market this size. But don't kid yourself into thinking that a bright programmer with competitive resources couldn't take TFM or QUT and go head-to-head with XBQ. And don't think that there aren't plenty of bright people on this board capable of doing it... who already have better gigs--or who prefer to live somewhere other than Johnson City, Tennessee. I know, it's hard to believe...

 

[elchupacabras]

I haven't personally attacked anyone. Everything I have said is the truth.

What other country stations are there in the market?

Marion doesn't count. Greeneville not promoting themselves into the Tri-Cities doesn't count.

WGOC on 1320?

You called the man a "low-life" in one of your earlier posts. Is that not a personal attack?

I don't know Hagy personally either, although I have had friends who have worked for him. He may not be the most personable, from what I am told, but he is honest and does have a winning track record.

 

[Pratte4Life]

He has a winning track record the way the 1984 BYU Cougars had a winning track record.

I stand by that he is a lowlife.

Beav- Anyone in the business has a story like this.

You were young, you were ambitious enough to make it to where you are today, and you let a guy from Bristol tell you you aren't/weren't passionate?

Please!

 

[Pratte4Life]

I'm extremely happy. I don't have to put up with the backstabbing lowlifes on Valley Drive anymore.

And I get to expose them on here!

Which is not to say that everyone there is a backstabbing lowlife. To the contrary. The vast majority aren't.

But you know the adage about one or two bad apples destroying the bunch.

Rita- to know Bill Hagy is to know he IS a mannequin and a lowlife. To quote Pete Franklin referring to Chuck Noll- "This guy is dead! They just haven't told him yet."

Identify myself? Been there, done that. I don't hide behind a cloak of anonymity.

Tell it to his face? What do you want me to do, call him at home and yell at him? Sorry- I'm not John Mongle. I have higher standards and ethics.

The reason this thread has taken on the life it has is because I DO know what I'm talking about. I have, to paraphrase Steve Blevins, hit the button.

I'm exposing the dirty little secrets of Bristol Broadcasting.


Current ratings prove that their talk and music properties outside of WXBQ finish short in the ratings to their competition.

History shows that when WXBQ had competition, it was WQUT that was the top rated station in town.

 

[elchupacabras]

He has a winning track record the way the 1984 BYU Cougars had a winning track record.

I'm a BYU alumnus, by the way!

 

[SlopJockey]

It's so nice to see el chupacabre back on these boards. Your presence here has been sorely lacking.
On the issue of the good vs. evil Bill Hagy debate, I've never met the man so I have no opinion one way or the other. I do know that when something is working, why mess with it. WXBQ is enjoying an epoch of success and you can't blame the man for riding the wave as far as it will take him. How can you criticize him for NOT fixing what ain't broke?

Chupacabre, I saw one of your Ickeian Lizard men the other day. Creepy stuff.
Holla at your boy.

 

[elchupacabras]

It's so nice to see el chupacabre back on these boards. Your presence here has been sorely lacking.
On the issue of the good vs. evil Bill Hagy debate, I've never met the man so I have no opinion one way or the other. I do know that when something is working, why mess with it. WXBQ is enjoying an epoch of success and you can't blame the man for riding the wave as far as it will take him. How can you criticize him for NOT fixing what ain't broke?

Chupacabre, I saw one of your Ickeian Lizard men the other day. Creepy stuff.
Holla at your boy.

Thanks Slop!

 

[rtetro]

Rt- You essentially said, in a very long winded fashion, everything I have in that previous post. You mentioned WXTU. Is this not the country's top rated country station in terms of CUME? Now, since you believe WXBQ to be a better country station than WXTU, would this not speak of market size (the 4 million plus who live in the Philly area) and not quality of the station? So why is it so hard for you to understand that having the monopoly on country is going to produce superior ratings in the Tri-Cities? Give me one Tri-Cities FM stick with a country format that plays a few classic cuts (in comparision to WXBQ's usual "we'll try these new artists the record company is pushing on us" cuts) and we'll have ourselves a radio war!

Yes, WXTU does have excellent cumes...and not a bad share in the latest PPMs. But, like WXBQ, they do have a "sort-of" monoply in the market. They take a similar approach in their music selection to WXBQ. The difference in my mind is in the personalities. The WXTU people sound very generic, while the people at WXBQ largely sound like individuals.

I believe I stated in an earlier post that I do believe that someone with a powerful Class C signal went country they could indeed to some damage to WXBQ, but again, I don't think it was hurt them so badly that they would fall completely from their "pedistal." I could easily see them losing 5 points or more in such a "radio war." But, again, because they are so entrenched, it would be difficult to knock them from the #1 position. A 14 or 15 share is still going to keep them in the position of being a "cash cow."

By the way Pratte, like you, I enjoy the classic country format...so much so that I run a micro-power AM and internet classic country station.... www.classiccountry1630.org . It plays music from about 1950 until 2005. Of the four internet stations I run, this one gets the most hits. I have no way of knowing the demographics, but I know where they are listening. It's mostly the east coast, midwest, and southeast (as you might expect). The shocker is that about half of the listeners are in Europe. Now, I know it can't be my "brilliant" imaging (tongue in cheek), so it has to be the music.