Y100 PD Dan Mason Leaves

[TheMusicMan]

There had been a rumbling posted somewhere to this extent a month or two ago. Apparently Dan Mason has left the PD post at Y100 after about 6 or 7 months. Purely going off the 12+ ratings, which are all that I can view, the numbers aren't spectacular but Y has been on a downward spiral for a while anyway, and he barely had a chance to see changes through. Best of luck to him.

Supposedly news with regard to his replacement could arrive very soon, possibly even Monday. All Access hinted that the new PD was last found in a major market somewhere in the Midwest. First name that came to mind - Rod Phillips, formerly of KISS/Chicago. Be interesting to see what happens. Hopefully whoever comes in next can put Y100 back in a competitive position in South Florida.

 

[John FL]

I'm no expert on today's Y-100 but unless CC gives the PD (new or otherwise) latitude and authority to make decisions at the local level, then this is just another name on an org chart whose main function is to make do with what they are given - playlists, imaging, talent, etc. etc. - all dictated by corporate.

XM does this neat Casey Kasem Top 40 countdown on the 70s channel every weekend. Today, they were doing top songs for various years as they did around New Year's. So what does this have to do with this thread?

Well, as I was listening to a 1979 playback today, I got curious as to how the national rankings compared to the Top 100 I happened to have at my fingertips from the old powerhouse WABC in NYC. While there were a few songs that were in close position, it was really interesting (although not surprising) to see some really wide variances to many songs. Regional differences were very obvious.

PDs back then had tons more latitude. They responded to what the community embraced. They were if you pardon the expression really in tune with their respective community. A good PD could care less what Casey Kasem said was #1 - if it wasn't selling in their market - they weren't compelled to play it.

There is no doubt that pioneers like Bill Tanner in the infancy of Y-100, knew the market and created a sound that was unique to South Florida. And the station was a winner. There were scores of times Y-100 of the 70s and early 80s was not in sync with national hits. And so in today's radio world, those with a Bill Tanner talent often have their hands tied behind them.

No matter who they bring in, unless they change the rules where only a small number of the "elite" make all the decisions regardless of market - then my expectations remain low.

Well folks, in just a few days I'll be in S. Fla and I'm sure I'll be listening around the dial. I like to keep an open mind but today's rules make for boring radio. I hope I'll find something that will surprise me. I'm sure I'll comment on my findings to my very favorite RI board.

Happy Holidays!

 

[Radaioman]

First of all JOHNJAX...it's "you COULDN'T care less" not you "COULD" care less...now and once and for all...Clearchannel does not make music choices or talent coices...and FYI..Y100's music mix is based completley on it's market specific research. It's a much different mix of music than CHR's around the country. And for that matter NOBODY is listening to Casey Kasem. I'm not really sure where you get your urban legends from but they make for an amusing post...No..you are no expert on S Fla radio...or radio for that matter if you believe what you type....sorry

 

[John FL]

Radaioman, thanks for the grammar lesson. I try to write as error free as I can but I am human afterall.

Where do I begin? Regarding Casey Kasem, I used him as an example that during his time the songs in the AT40 position often did not mirror what was happening in the community. As I read boards from all across the country regarding today's radio - the message is loud and clear - most formats sound pretty much the same no matter where you go. Do you really believe PDs at CC have complete authority to hire who they want or play whatever they want? No, I'm not an expert in radio but I know more than the average guy. If you chose to believe a PD today at a major communications organization has the same power and authority to call most of the shots at the station as they did a couple of decades ago then your opinion is in the minority.

And fianally, most PDs today get and keep their jobs because they are "Yes" men. They don't make waves or always pick a fight in what they believe. The few who are actually making the major decisions today are not really radio people - and that's why radio today is in the state it's in.

 

[Tookiebird]

There had been a rumbling posted somewhere to this extent a month or two ago. Apparently Dan Mason has left the PD post at Y100 after about 6 or 7 months. Purely going off the 12+ ratings, which are all that I can view, the numbers aren't spectacular but Y has been on a downward spiral for a while anyway, and he barely had a chance to see changes through. Best of luck to him.

Supposedly news with regard to his replacement could arrive very soon, possibly even Monday. All Access hinted that the new PD was last found in a major market somewhere in the Midwest. First name that came to mind - Rod Phillips, formerly of KISS/Chicago. Be interesting to see what happens. Hopefully whoever comes in next can put Y100 back in a competitive position in South Florida.

"His numbers aren't spectacular"

Just like Daddy

 

[Tookiebird]

I'm no expert on today's Y-100 but unless CC gives the PD (new or otherwise) latitude and authority to make decisions at the local level, then this is just another name on an org chart whose main function is to make do with what they are given - playlists, imaging, talent, etc. etc. - all dictated by corporate.

XM does this neat Casey Kasem Top 40 countdown on the 70s channel every weekend. Today, they were doing top songs for various years as they did around New Year's. So what does this have to do with this thread?

Well, as I was listening to a 1979 playback today, I got curious as to how the national rankings compared to the Top 100 I happened to have at my fingertips from the old powerhouse WABC in NYC. While there were a few songs that were in close position, it was really interesting (although not surprising) to see some really wide variances to many songs. Regional differences were very obvious.

PDs back then had tons more latitude. They responded to what the community embraced. They were if you pardon the expression really in tune with their respective community. A good PD could care less what Casey Kasem said was #1 - if it wasn't selling in their market - they weren't compelled to play it.

There is no doubt that pioneers like Bill Tanner in the infancy of Y-100, knew the market and created a sound that was unique to South Florida. And the station was a winner. There were scores of times Y-100 of the 70s and early 80s was not in sync with national hits. And so in today's radio world, those with a Bill Tanner talent often have their hands tied behind them.

No matter who they bring in, unless they change the rules where only a small number of the "elite" make all the decisions regardless of market - then my expectations remain low.

Well folks, in just a few days I'll be in S. Fla and I'm sure I'll be listening around the dial. I like to keep an open mind but today's rules make for boring radio. I hope I'll find something that will surprise me. I'm sure I'll comment on my findings to my very favorite RI board.

Happy Holidays!

Dan Mason, JUNIOR is no Bill Tanner. Come to think of it. Dan Mason, SENIOR is no Bill Tanner. Whaaaat!

 

[jcolletta275]

now and once and for all...Clearchannel does not make music choices or talent coices...

Thanks for the insult to my intelligence. When it comes to music, think about the following: Clear Channel owns MediaBase. Clear Channel stations use MediaBase research to form their playlists. The stations don't do this research themselves, that's MediaBase's job. If you think those surveys are 110% localized to the market they're being presented to, you're blind and deaf to the true situation.

As for talent choices, why do you think Clear Channel constantly moves talent among their own stations? How often have you seen someone from outside the corporation get in, especially coming from a competitor? I guarantee you this: not every PD or GM in the country has individually made up his or her mind to look solely inside the company for talent. It's pretty obvious that's a corporate mandate.

and FYI..Y100's music mix is based completley on it's market specific research. It's a much different mix of music than CHR's around the country.

No it's not. Take Shakira's "La Tortura" and Rockell's "In A Dream" out of their current top 40 spins and they sound like any other CHR in the country. In fact, the only other tracks in their top 100 spins that I would even remotely consider distinctly Miamian are Alice Deejay's "Better Off Alone" (though that did superbly well nation-wide), Debbie Deb's "When I Hear Music," Sonique's "It Feels So Good" (which, again, did well nationally) and Shabba Ranks' "Twice My Age". The rest of the songs that you wouldn't find on most CHR's top 100 that are on Y-100's are all songs that A) you'd likely hear on Open House Party or B) did well on CHRs, Rhythmics or Urbans in the past that Miamians held on to longer than most and pretty much adopted as their own. It's even further helpful to point out that the first distinctly Miamian track is located at #28... not bad for localism, but not that great, either. The next is down at #34, and the next is outside the top 40 all the way down at #42. Based completely on market research? Please. I think not.

I've found some of your opinions interesting in the past, but your ideas on this note are just ridiculous.

Back to the topic at hand, though, I get the gut feeling that Mason is getting tired of the corporate BS and has simply decided not to be a party to Clear's continued slow and painful killing of Y.

 

[Radaioman]

Johnjax and Josh....

Please trust me when I say that my post was NOT my opinion as an outisder looking in but fact from the inside. When I said that teh music was market specific, I did not say that Y100 doesn't play CHR hits. But their mix of songs is NOT the same as KIIS FM, Z100 or many other CHR's. The huge latin mix in the market has kept them away from many rock songs that you would find on a CHR. As for Mediabase, it is a toool. A guide. PD's and MD's use many other research tools, call out, focus groups, etc. Maybe San Antoinio guides stations in IOWA, but they do not pick or suggest music in NY, Philly, LA, Chicago or DC. You are also wrong about hiring jocks, Many CC jocks come from other markets from other comapnies. You guys have a huge conspiracy theory about everything. Go work at a CC station in a major market and then you might have a better idea of the autonomy and creativity peopel are afforded on the local levels.

 

[Tookiebird]

now and once and for all...Clearchannel does not make music choices or talent coices...

Thanks for the insult to my intelligence. When it comes to music, think about the following: Clear Channel owns MediaBase. Clear Channel stations use MediaBase research to form their playlists. The stations don't do this research themselves, that's MediaBase's job. If you think those surveys are 110% localized to the market they're being presented to, you're blind and deaf to the true situation.

As for talent choices, why do you think Clear Channel constantly moves talent among their own stations? How often have you seen someone from outside the corporation get in, especially coming from a competitor? I guarantee you this: not every PD or GM in the country has individually made up his or her mind to look solely inside the company for talent. It's pretty obvious that's a corporate mandate.

and FYI..Y100's music mix is based completley on it's market specific research. It's a much different mix of music than CHR's around the country.

No it's not. Take Shakira's "La Tortura" and Rockell's "In A Dream" out of their current top 40 spins and they sound like any other CHR in the country. In fact, the only other tracks in their top 100 spins that I would even remotely consider distinctly Miamian are Alice Deejay's "Better Off Alone" (though that did superbly well nation-wide), Debbie Deb's "When I Hear Music," Sonique's "It Feels So Good" (which, again, did well nationally) and Shabba Ranks' "Twice My Age". The rest of the songs that you wouldn't find on most CHR's top 100 that are on Y-100's are all songs that A) you'd likely hear on Open House Party or B) did well on CHRs, Rhythmics or Urbans in the past that Miamians held on to longer than most and pretty much adopted as their own. It's even further helpful to point out that the first distinctly Miamian track is located at #28... not bad for localism, but not that great, either. The next is down at #34, and the next is outside the top 40 all the way down at #42. Based completely on market research? Please. I think not.

I've found some of your opinions interesting in the past, but your ideas on this note are just ridiculous.

Back to the topic at hand, though, I get the gut feeling that Mason is getting tired of the corporate BS and has simply decided not to be a party to Clear's continued slow and painful killing of Y.

I work at CC and I can tell you Marc Chase and others was always on the phone giving me there two cents. Usually he was off base with his personal opinions. Thank goodness for research.