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Why is it, in this day and age, I will still see the upside down Zeta license plate on some cars here. What was it about that station that was so great that it hasn't been around for what, twenty years? Apparently there weren't enough listeners at the time to keep the format. Why does the idea live on?
D
DIZ Guy
Guest
Actually, Zeta 7 went away in the spring of 1981. Due to poor ratings (DIZ was kicking its butt at the time, however, they both pretty much had the same format if I recall) the station was turned into Joy 108 Fm. Fans of the Zeta flipped their Zeta liscense plates upside down in protest of the flip..
Even though I am a huge fan of the music that played on Zeta ( I absolutely DETEST Nu-metal acts like Avenge Sevenfold, Korn, etc..), WJRR wins because they have been on the air now for almost 16 years, where Zeta 7 was only on from 1978-1981...(Of course Zeta was WORJ from about 1970-1978, but that was a whole different radio station and is a whole different story....)
Even though I am a huge fan of the music that played on Zeta ( I absolutely DETEST Nu-metal acts like Avenge Sevenfold, Korn, etc..), WJRR wins because they have been on the air now for almost 16 years, where Zeta 7 was only on from 1978-1981...(Of course Zeta was WORJ from about 1970-1978, but that was a whole different radio station and is a whole different story....)
I was briefly in the market in the early 80's working for Nationwide who bought WBJW and WLOF from Roundsville. The PD and I were friends from way back so I would stay at his house. (We were working crazy hours anyway.) Late one night, we got into a discussion about AOR as I had my fingers in one in a northern latitude at the time.
As the story goes, WDIZ and Zeta were locked in a dual when someone at WDIZ realized that going after BJ was much more lucrative then sharing 18 to 24 year-old generally unemployed males.
This is where the story gets murky. WDIZ either flipped to take on WBJW, or it was well known they were contemplating it-- Either way, the folks on 107.7 instead of staying put, suddenly retooled for what would eventually be satellite delivered “Format 41”.
As they say, “Don’t everyone leave at once!”
WDIZ decided the demo wasn’t that bad after all –that is, if they were the only ones doing it. But most importantly, BJ was left untouched to rule for the rest of the decade.
As the story goes, WDIZ and Zeta were locked in a dual when someone at WDIZ realized that going after BJ was much more lucrative then sharing 18 to 24 year-old generally unemployed males.
This is where the story gets murky. WDIZ either flipped to take on WBJW, or it was well known they were contemplating it-- Either way, the folks on 107.7 instead of staying put, suddenly retooled for what would eventually be satellite delivered “Format 41”.
As they say, “Don’t everyone leave at once!”
WDIZ decided the demo wasn’t that bad after all –that is, if they were the only ones doing it. But most importantly, BJ was left untouched to rule for the rest of the decade.
M
MN Maniac
Guest
"This is where the story gets murky. WDIZ either flipped to take on WBJW, or it was well known they were contemplating it"
Or, perhaps this is where the story gets Mirsky! ;D
Or, perhaps this is where the story gets Mirsky! ;D
G
Grk_ScorpioInTheMIA
Guest
If you would like more details about the histories of both WDIZ and WORJ, just visit www.cflradio.net. That website has all the histories of every station in central florida.MN Maniac said:
Sorry. It’s been 25 years since being told the story and I have slept at least a couple of times since then.
Checking www.cflradio.net, WDIZ is listed as top-40 in 1979, so they did indeed flip. However, no mentioned when it switched back to rock, but I'm guessing it was before spring of 1984 as I was in town doing my thing about that time --I believe. Regardless, WDIZ was no longer a threat to WBJW when I arrived on the scene.
The interesting point is that both WDIZ and Zeta did appear to have abandoned the format about the same time in the early 80's.
Why? Well, I joked that they were sharing the "18 to 24 year-old generally unemployed male" demo. That statement is probably not that far from the truth as in those days the format was only successful in the northern rust belt cities. Think Cleveland (WMMS), Pittsburgh (WDVE) and of course, Shamrock's WQFM in Milwaukee (which owned WDIZ). Those cities had an abundance of young blue-collar, hard rock’in, beer guzzling males that provided enough fodder to make those stations hit respectable numbers.
At the same time, taking a cue from southern fried rock, country was morphing and attracting that demo through out the south. This could explain the vacuum for a time as Orlando was a big country town in more ways than one in the early 80's.
It was the genius of the dynamic duo of Kent Burkhart and Lee Abrams that made album rock truly mainstream and successful. The one I had my fingers in at that time had a 15 share after Lee was done with it. There was some consternation in the ranks, as to achieve those numbers, the playlist got very tight.
It would be interesting to know if either WDIZ or WHTQ used Burkhart/Abrams. In my mind, the WDIZ/WHTQ matchup was the more interesting battle. Zeta and WJRR are from two completely different eras with almost two completely different demos.
My guess is WJRR is aimed at 18 to 34 and 25 to 44 respectively. Far older than what Zeta could ever do in the 70's.
Tx
Checking www.cflradio.net, WDIZ is listed as top-40 in 1979, so they did indeed flip. However, no mentioned when it switched back to rock, but I'm guessing it was before spring of 1984 as I was in town doing my thing about that time --I believe. Regardless, WDIZ was no longer a threat to WBJW when I arrived on the scene.
The interesting point is that both WDIZ and Zeta did appear to have abandoned the format about the same time in the early 80's.
Why? Well, I joked that they were sharing the "18 to 24 year-old generally unemployed male" demo. That statement is probably not that far from the truth as in those days the format was only successful in the northern rust belt cities. Think Cleveland (WMMS), Pittsburgh (WDVE) and of course, Shamrock's WQFM in Milwaukee (which owned WDIZ). Those cities had an abundance of young blue-collar, hard rock’in, beer guzzling males that provided enough fodder to make those stations hit respectable numbers.
At the same time, taking a cue from southern fried rock, country was morphing and attracting that demo through out the south. This could explain the vacuum for a time as Orlando was a big country town in more ways than one in the early 80's.
It was the genius of the dynamic duo of Kent Burkhart and Lee Abrams that made album rock truly mainstream and successful. The one I had my fingers in at that time had a 15 share after Lee was done with it. There was some consternation in the ranks, as to achieve those numbers, the playlist got very tight.
It would be interesting to know if either WDIZ or WHTQ used Burkhart/Abrams. In my mind, the WDIZ/WHTQ matchup was the more interesting battle. Zeta and WJRR are from two completely different eras with almost two completely different demos.
My guess is WJRR is aimed at 18 to 34 and 25 to 44 respectively. Far older than what Zeta could ever do in the 70's.
Tx
Just to set the record straight, Orlando in the mid 1970's was one of the Top Rock Radio markets in America. I programmed WORJ from 1972-1975. (Before the idiot, new owners changed its name to Zeta 7).
WORJ was not Zeta 7. As WORJ, we had dominate ratings in many key demos. After reading TX's analysis, I actually went through some old boxes in the basement and found an old ARB market Report for Spring 1973.
(6AM-MIDNITE, Mon-Sun) WORJ was #1 in Men 18-24 (31.4 share), #1 in Men 25-34 (18.8 share), #2 in Men 18+(12.4 share), #2 in Women 18-24(13.7 share) and #4 in all listeners 12+ with a 7.7 share. WORJ was a great Radio station with a large audience in a Great Rock Town. If I can find the ARB's from 1974 and 1975, it will show that the station had built on those 1973 numbers. WORJ only started it's downward move after Rounsaville bought it and changed a legendary station into something called ZETA 7. WORJ is remembered by all who were there as a pivotal Radio experience in their lives and the actual rating numbers prove those memories to be correct.
I'm sure WJRR or any station in Orlando would love to have a 7.7 share today.
Sorry, didn't mean to rant, but those days at WORJ were magical and I hate when there significance is lost in time. By the way that 7.7 share was the highest ranking by any Progressive Rock Station in America at that time. Something to be proud of Orlando. You were the Greatest Rock Market in America.
Regards
Lee Arnold
WORJ was not Zeta 7. As WORJ, we had dominate ratings in many key demos. After reading TX's analysis, I actually went through some old boxes in the basement and found an old ARB market Report for Spring 1973.
(6AM-MIDNITE, Mon-Sun) WORJ was #1 in Men 18-24 (31.4 share), #1 in Men 25-34 (18.8 share), #2 in Men 18+(12.4 share), #2 in Women 18-24(13.7 share) and #4 in all listeners 12+ with a 7.7 share. WORJ was a great Radio station with a large audience in a Great Rock Town. If I can find the ARB's from 1974 and 1975, it will show that the station had built on those 1973 numbers. WORJ only started it's downward move after Rounsaville bought it and changed a legendary station into something called ZETA 7. WORJ is remembered by all who were there as a pivotal Radio experience in their lives and the actual rating numbers prove those memories to be correct.
I'm sure WJRR or any station in Orlando would love to have a 7.7 share today.
Sorry, didn't mean to rant, but those days at WORJ were magical and I hate when there significance is lost in time. By the way that 7.7 share was the highest ranking by any Progressive Rock Station in America at that time. Something to be proud of Orlando. You were the Greatest Rock Market in America.
Regards
Lee Arnold
i found this station when i was in my early teens, heard a live bob seger system concert - at the time didn't know much about bob. After hearing that concert - i think it was recorded at the old eddie graham sports stadium, could be wrong bout that - i always had WORJ on my clock radio. When they changed to zeta, i worked in a grocery store in pine hills and the morning show jock on Zeta 7 - thom robinson, shopped in our store. He gave me some t-shirts and license plates. very nice guy.
Hey Music Man 11--That Bob Seger show Is actually up and streaming at the WORJ tribute site.
www.worj.com
Click on LIVE CONCERTS and scroll down.
Bob Seger Band
"Live" at Exposition Hall
Orlando, Florida
May 13, 1973
www.worj.com
Click on LIVE CONCERTS and scroll down.
Bob Seger Band
"Live" at Exposition Hall
Orlando, Florida
May 13, 1973
wow, hat, thanks for this site......i just had two major flashbacks - haven't listened to the bob seger concert yet. but the commericals.....spent a lot of time at the pine hills drive in and the northgate theaters as a kid. I even remeber seeing a post for fritz the cat at the old theater.....
you programmed that station???? it was awesome. i had forgetton mike lyons worked there. i remember listening to him with karen sheldon on diz a few years later on the rude awakening....
you programmed that station???? it was awesome. i had forgetton mike lyons worked there. i remember listening to him with karen sheldon on diz a few years later on the rude awakening....
Glad you're enjoying the WORJ tribute site.
I have a WORJ streaming station playing 24/7 at http://www.live365.com/stations/worjradio
You most likely would enjoy listening to that. We feature thousands (over 7000 and growing)
of songs from the WORJ music library and some old WORJ features from time to time.
Check it out and see what you think. It's a pretty cool time warp.
Working on getting some of the old staff to make appearances.
Mike Lyons-Neal Mirsky-Bill McGathy-Doug Van Allen-Steve Mack.
Regards
Lee Arnold
I have a WORJ streaming station playing 24/7 at http://www.live365.com/stations/worjradio
You most likely would enjoy listening to that. We feature thousands (over 7000 and growing)
of songs from the WORJ music library and some old WORJ features from time to time.
Check it out and see what you think. It's a pretty cool time warp.
Working on getting some of the old staff to make appearances.
Mike Lyons-Neal Mirsky-Bill McGathy-Doug Van Allen-Steve Mack.
Regards
Lee Arnold
rounsaville, they owned WLOF at one point....
mr. arnold, were you hanging out at the UCF radio station around 1980 with the likes of dave bacynski, amanda barrett and david wills???
mr. arnold, were you hanging out at the UCF radio station around 1980 with the likes of dave bacynski, amanda barrett and david wills???
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