Year one of Z 97 and WSYB ownership under "Pam and Al's" Dad...

[NO DAG]

Well, well, well.. Let's see it was one year ago today that the now world famous heritage and successful AM/FM combo on Dorr Drive in Rutland, Vermont known as Z 97 / WZRT and WSYB 1380 became bait in a swap of stations between Albany based, Pamal Broadcasting, and Clear Channel.. The good people from Z 97 and WSYB were thrown into Camp Pamal with their other stations in Rutland Cat Country, WEBK, and WJJR creating a quasi-monopoly of 5 out of 6 commercials stations in 1 city being owned together.. Well, I'm sure there's the good the bad, and the ugly.. So allow me to give my opinion..
The Good -
- WSYB has a website now, though there is virtually no mention of it on the air..
- Putting Thad (Rutland's almost version of Mel Blanc) on as a producer with On the Air with Tim Philbin..
- Not chasing Jack Healey out of the building.. (yet ???)
- Returning the station to the Z 97 name..
- Getting Jackie Donovan for Z 97 mornings
- Getting DJ Vince on with Jackie Donovan for mornings
- Appearing not to screw up the WSYB Christmas Fund.
- Not turning WSYB into Air America to refect the liberal political views of those who program the station.
- Putting High School Football on Cat Country.. Mr. Marbles came to this board for consultation on that one.
- Giving Mandy a earned shot at afternoons.
- Keeping "Throwback Thursdays" pretty much intact.
- The Z 97 website is better than it's Merchant's Row FM stablemates by far..
The Bad -
- Going from Kiss-FM to Z 97 had no creativity whatsoever on the air, and in an on-premise promotion.. Yawn..
- Taking Judy Anderson off of WSYB News and Weather post noontime, and replacing her with someone whio doesn't even use his name (even though we know) on the air and basically does a very lazy job with the news, when he even does it.
- The departures of John Lawrence, J.B., and DJ Vince, and the impending departure of Ms. Donovan.
- Z 97's cleaning out the prize closet promotion, most of that stuff belongs in a dumpster.
- Why is there no school closing link on the Z 97 website, I don;t get that one..
The Ugly.
- When you giveaway a car, you need that one little thing in the beginning to make the promotion happen.. The car itself.
- The current logo for Z 97, again no creativity.. The former and most recognized logo from before would have worked just fine, saved on some office costs as well..
- The commercial loads on both WSYB and Z 97.. Too many PSA's on WSYB, especially the "Passing Gas" one, and Z97 sounds like an empty wasteland, kind of sad for what was once "The Official Ski Station"..

There you go..

 

[Dudeman2000]

Yes....what a glorious year for the crew @ Gilligan's Island...Here is my take JoJo:

Z97:
-The change from Kiss to Z...the single largest waste of a promotional opportunity in Rutland radio history
-The Z is back"....yes, we know already...
-The Z logo...like the rest of Pamal...designed to blend with the backround...why would wast the millions of dollars in Clear Channel research...just for the right COLOR...Purple and Green VS. Bright Yellow and Blue?
-The staff...once upon a time one of the best...now just left to some part timers, voice trackers and rookies...stuck in a building ready to collapse, bordering on criminal, with the next tractor trailer that drives by..."if you go there...bring a jacket"...when's the last time Labor and Industry has been there?
-Still waiting for the next "big" contest...you mean to tell me if I win an oven mitt I can't win again for 30 days? The biggest top 40 (is it still CHR?) in the region doesn't even hand out T-shirts or BUMPER STICKERS for crying out loud...does the oven mitt even have the Z logo on it? Doubt it.
-The music is about as close to the old WJJR as you can get...just add a little hip hop...apparantley the Proffessor takes direction from clients to mold the Zs everchanging identity.
-The Z website...I disagree with you JoJo on this one...WJJR's is better because it highlites Terry Jaye...don't you know that?
-Spots? Hearing the great Thad do a promo for a Fat Cat Fridays saying "yo"? Thats the best they can do? Besides...less commercials..more music right?

== THE FINAL RESULT? Z97 is now just a background station, like every other Pamal Rutland station, living in the shadow of WJJR and the Proffessor...anything else would require actual WORK from the Island castaways...

WSYB:
-Luckily for signal, Jack Healey is still in the building...
-Way to go sales! Other than Brian and Jack and the live games..."it can't be sold"....funny how Clear Channel was able to sell it...
-Web site? WHAT WEB SITE...STILL SEARCHING...
-The news...its AP and Rutland Herald Radio...as far as the "news guy"...why should he say his name...you should know who he is! Nuff Said!
-Philbin and Thad....not bad...too many buttons...Having hard time filling 3 hours...maybe another 3 minute commercial for one of his sponsors...
-How long will Rush be there? Will they make the same mistake made a few years back when Rush was taken away? While Dennis Miller is good...why not run something that's actually LIVE...so maybe...just maybe...a listener can take part of a national audience?
-The SHINING STAR for WSYB...local sports...no doubt the best in the state.

==The final result? WSYB much the same as before...but still takes a back seat to WJJR...what would have the coverage been like during the "Norricane" if Clear Channel was the owner? The oldest station in the state is no longer the "Community Radio Station"...

Luckily for Pamal, there is no real competition...so don't expect much improvement for ANY of the Gilligan run stations...why get better when you have the monopoly? Makes easy work for management....sleep in...etc... No one will tell...

 

[NO DAG]

Mr. Dudeman,
The website I stumbled on totally by happenstance is www.wsyb1380am.com.. There's nothing about it on the air.. .. I don;t think they position the station that way.. Isn't is AM 1380 WSYB ? At least a well produced promo for the website would sound better than hearing the "PSA of Passing Gas"

Is the Palatial Palace on Dorr Drive really in that bad of shape as I hear on the announcers say ? No space heaters around ?

Who came up with that term "Norricane" anyway ? There was no hurricane portion by any definition.

While Thad is a huge talent, a locally produced nightclub commercial needs a lot more ooopmh and attitude.. Where's the guy who produced the "Electra Night Club" commercials, you never missed hearing that commercial.. That was attiude with an "A"..

Forgot about the proclaimed "Norricane" Nor-Easter.. Since it was mostly a Rutland event, the coverage should have been on the true, self proclaimed, "We Your Source" news, talk and information station WSYB.. There were many threads about that. Kind of a waste for that so called regional station that all that coverage appeared on.. In this scenerio, do you think the folks working at DHMC in Lebanon really cared about a tree falling in front of Bertha's porch on Grove Street in Rutland ? I say not..

 

[RocketPower]

In response to Dudeman:

I totally agree with you on the issue of terrible working conditions at Dorr Drive. I've heard from several people (past and present) that it's just a wreck of a building, hot in the summer, freezing in the winter, filthy and in total disrepair. I'm sure they have space heaters but heat isn't the only issue in that building. Actually, the sub zero temps probably keep the smell of rotting rodents down.

I completely disagree with you on the music. No way, no how does Z sound like JJR at any point. The one thing that's been pointed out on this board is the fact that Z's music is on target for a top 40.

Considering what they have to work with, they've done a decent job.

In response to Jo Jo:

You make reference to Jackie leaving Z. It's been a couple of weeks since the thread about the opening at Z, yet she is still there. What gives?

 

[NO DAG]

Straight from the VAB to you RocketPower.. Looking for a gig ? While there are a great bunch people employed there, those people that work there totally outclass, outwork, and are a lot smarter than the two people in which Pam and Al's Dad have entrusted to manage those properties... Good luck..

PROGRAM DIRECTOR OPENING: Our WZRT - Lebanon/Rutland/White River Jct., is moving on to a larger market and we're on the search for our next leader. All applicants should have at least 1 year experience as PD, Music Director or APD. If you think you've got what it takes to grow this heritage top 40 station to the next level send your Mp3, Resume & Programming Philosophy to [email protected]. Duties include but are not limited to programming, music scheduling & morning drive host. NO CALLS or MAIL please!! Pamal is an EOE Posted: December 18, 2007

 

[Mr. Marbles]

Hey Jo Jo,
The "Norricane" coverage was an AWARD WINNING :-* show of WJJR's presence as a community server. High winds ripped through the area. I was up in the area that day and I thought the gang did a great job. There was some great coverage from one of the jock's house. He was walking through his yard and counting all the trees and branches that were down in his yard. I thought that was great coverage. As far as the "Z" goes, I'm sure the GM and Ops have got it covered. They know their stuff!!

 

[nhradiochild]

Mr. Marbles,

You are program director of how many stations in your cluster? Is it 2 or more? If you had the ability to add another under your belt in your cluster, would you take it?

 

[NO DAG]

The "Norricane" coverage was an AWARD WINNING show of WJJR's presence as a community server.

Award winning ? Huh ? Just one station out of the quasi-monopolized 5 with a presence as a community server ?
The Nor'Easter, and all the posts that were written about that storm are just like that noreaster itself.. long since over, and long gone..

 

[Mr. Marbles]

First of all..Jo Jo you are the one who brought up the ""Norricane", that is why I commented on it. Second, NHRadiochild, I am not a PD, I am an OPS MANAGER. There are 5 Stations in my cluster, a Heritge A/C, country, AAA and 2 others. Look I come from a similar market and let me tell you...that after being in the Biz for several years and being a professor, Z and all the stations in that cluster sound the best they ever had :-* NUFF SAID!! CLASS DISMISSED!! THE GREAT HOUDINI has spoken

 

[NO DAG]

and all the stations in that cluster sound the best they ever had

I dunno about that, I think you'd find a lot of differing opinions on your opinion..

 

[nhradiochild]

First of all..Jo Jo you are the one who brought up the ""Norricane", that is why I commented on it. Second, NHRadiochild, I am not a PD, I am an OPS MANAGER. There are 5 Stations in my cluster, a Heritge A/C, country, AAA and 2 others.

Oh, sorry. LOL, I didn't realize the OPS manager title existed by itself anymore. (Except in the case of WNTK, where the owner does the programming.)

OK, say IF you were a PD of multiple stations, would you grab at another?

 

[NO DAG]

OK, say IF you were a PD of multiple stations, would you grab at another?

Please no, not that ;D

 

[Mr. Marbles]

Where are you going with this NHRadiochild? ??? and why are you laughing Jo Jo? do you even work in radio anymore?

 

[NO DAG]

Mr. Marbles.. I totally enjoy expressing my opinions and giving my honest take on these boards for all that it's worth.. Which could be just throwing in my 2 cents..

 

[nhradiochild]

To be honest, I was waiting for your reply to see where I was going to go with it. :-\

I guess I was just wondering how much is too much for one PD? (And initially, when I thought you were a PD, if you would bite at something that maybe you didn't have enough time to devote to it.)

 

[Dudeman2000]

You would think, that the the Great Houdini was a PD...he CERTAINLY would have the best staion in the market right? Even if the Professor is telling us the truth, you would think that ALL of his stations, in his role as "Ops Manager" would be all but flawless...right? Me thinks not...perhaps Mr. Marbles can explain the lack of spots on the once great WSYB? Or the excessive use of the "Gas" PSA that JoJo mentions....Lucky for WSYB, the beltless one has yet to scare away Jack Healey...no doubt that time will soon come...

Congratulations are due for Mr. Marbles...you've succeeded in your goal to bury the stations you've hated for all those years.

Great JOB! :

 

[Mr. Marbles]

THE GREAT HOUDINI does have the #1 station in the market ;D I would be interested to hear your MIXXED opinions on that subject Dudeman :-*

 

[NO DAG]

Number 1 with less than $10.00 rates on the streets, from what we hear.. You could be #15 and get the same results..Ratings mean zippo here, it's all about the $$$$$$$$.

 

[Mr. Marbles]

Jo Jo, what's going on with you ??? First you talk about ratings being important and then you say they are worthless and the only thing that matters is the $$$$$. Do you know what you are talking about ??? I'm a Professor...a Pro-fess-or. I know what I'm doing Maybe you should read a PD magazine and study up my student and then you can challenge THE GREAT HOUDINI

 

[NO DAG]

Mr. Marbles, I've been pretty consistant in my comments about what the ratings in Market 181 mean, and how disjointed the Lebanon market really is. I would not call being number one in a market in which only 3 stations out of 25+ that actually cover the entire market a huge OH WOW by any stretch.. I see your situation more by 'default' than actually working at it like in real markets. Your not that great, Houdini, and the only people you have made disappear were good people..