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June 2005
June 30: Phew! Thanks Chastain commentators! Here’s something far less controversial—Kiss 104.1’s Flashback Festival
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Here’s the press release from Kiss 104.1 about its Flashback Festival in August 13 with the Gap Band, Keith Sweat and the Whispers at HiFi Buys Amphitheatre, where being loud, drunk and rowdy is far more acceptable than at Chastain:
ATLANTA’S BIGGEST ANNUAL OLD SCHOOL CONCERT RETURNS FOR IT’S 10TH YEAR!
Atlanta, Georgia (June 28, 2005) – Atlanta’s largest and longest running old school event celebrates a ten year run- “We are extremely excited and proud to host this incredible showcase of old school R&B talent,� said KISS 104.1 Vice President and General Manager, Tony Kidd.
Approximately twenty-thousand screaming KISS 104.1 loyal listeners will welcome the 10th Annual Flashback Festival presented by Design Essentials Salon System on August 13, 2005, 6:00 p.m. back to the Hi-Fi Buys Amphitheatre. With the rising cost of concert tickets, Flashback Festival is dubbed the best concert entertainment value of the summer. The Flashback Festival features distinct Old School and R&B performances by some of the music industry’s most legendary stars.
This year’s festival will include performances by 80’s crooner Keith Sweat “Make It Last Forever�, soul singers The Whispers “And the Beat Goes On,� funk masters The Gap Band featuring Charlie Wilson “You Dropped A Bomb On Me� and, just added, 80’s R&B Diva Angela Winbush “I’ll be Good.�
Flashback Festival 2005 ticket prices are $14, $16, $35.50, $45.50 and can be purchased at all Ticketmaster outlets or online at Ticketmaster.com, to charge by phone, call (404) 249-6400. For group sales (ten or more tickets) call (404) 443-5010. For up-to-date Flashback Festival information, go to www.KISS1041FM.com.
The 10th Annual KISS 104.1 Flashback Festival is presented by Design Essentials Salon System and sponsored Capital City Bank, Town Center Kia, Tradewinds Communities, and PZI Perrazzi Denim Jeans.
June 29: Garrison Keillor apologizes for miserable experience at Chastain
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Here’s Garrison Keillor’s comments about his awful experience at Chastain during a live taping of “Prairie Home Companion” last Friday. (He’s heard on WABE.FM/90.1). It’s at his web site http://prairiehome.publicradio.org/
“Saturday’s broadcast from Chastain Park amphitheater was not the show it might have been, and I am awfully sorry. The show (which was taped on Friday evening) was troubled by a large number of loud drunks sitting in the expensive corporate seats down close to the stage. This is an odd experience for me, to be standing on the lip of the stage and telling the news from Lake Wobegon and hearing people yell at me, “Tell the one about the dog” and “How’s the fishing this year?” and so forth. You could hear the wine bottles clanking for two hours. There were six thousand other folks in the audience who seemed to be fans of the show but all I could hear were the drunks snarfling and bellowing down below. And so the show as a joyless affair on stage, and when it was over, I walked off and didn’t return for a bow. I have never felt so miserable as I did Saturday. If Chastain Park were par for the course, I would’ve quit years ago. I apologize to the six thousand.”
June 28: Radio notes—Jake Ray update//podcasting//Atlanta Jewish Life
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Former Star 94 Steve & Vikki producer Jake Ray, let go after two years, has landed on his feet, producing for the Miss Jones morning show at New York City’s Hot 97 R&B/hip-hop station. That’s a great promotion. His sardonic wit gave the family-friendly Steve & Vikki show a bit of an edge.
Creative Loafing columnist Andisheh Nouraee does a podcast. Twice, he has made fun of 99X morning host Jimmy Baron’s wife Lisa Baron, who does a relationships column in The Sunday Paper. Here’s the link Baron also is the spokeswoman for Ralph Reed.
FInally, Atlanta Jewish Life magazine profiles various Jewish radio broadcasters in town. The “Usual Suspects”-style lineup shot on the cover includes (left to right), Bert Weiss (Q100), Jimmy Baron (99X), Steak Shapiro (790/The Zone), Lois Reitzes (WABE/90.1), Larry Wachs (96rock), Clark Howard (WSB-AM), Holly Firfer (Dave FM) Matt Chernoff (790/The Zone), Nudge (Star 94), Billy Jaffe (Thrashers Radio), Mara Davis (Dave FM), Stu Klitenic (Braves radio) It notes that Bert is completely non-observant while Jimmy is much more so. Good photos, sort of a 19th century feel in the Wild WIld West. Fun anecdotes, too. Check it out. Here’s a link
June 27: Elmo Ellis tribute tonight at 7-8 p.m. on WSB-AM
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
This from Mike Kavanaugh, unofficial WSB-AM historian, off www.radio-info.com. For more info on WSB Radio history, check out his site www.wsbhistory.com
Please note that WSB Radio will devote 7p to 8p Monday night for a one hour tribute to Elmo Ellis hosted by yours truly. Hope you all can tune in. One story you will hear if I can coax it out of him, is the final visit to Elmo’s bedside by former WSB Radio News Director Aubrey Morris. Aubrey tells me he sat down and in his raspy high pitch voice said “Elmo….this is Aubrey Morris!”. Elmo grinned ear to ear says Aubrey - a memory he says he cherishes.
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June 24: WSB-AM legend Elmo Ellis has died
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Elmo Ellis, who helped shape and oversee WSB-AM from 1952 to 1982, died Friday morning of cancer. He was 86. Ellis was a true legend, helping radio transition to a news-oriented, listener-focused local station as TV became popular. He built a huge news staff, brought in a traffic copter when that was a novelty in the 1960s, developed theme days and contests and encouraged listener interaction. His dictum was local, local, local. He wrote poems and song lyrics, news columns and books. He was a tough cookie, a perfectionist who loved the radio medium and harbored deep loyalty among his staff. He thought many of the developments of the past decade, with the growth of syndicated talk and reduced news staffs, as appalling.
Last month, at the WSB-AM alumni reunion, he mustered what remaining strength he had to be there and received the only standing ovation. People approached him one by one, knowing how ill he was, to effectively say goodbye. He joked that he was being treated like the Pope.
Funeral service is scheduled for Monday June 27 at the Temple, 1589 Peachtree St. with burial afterwards at Arlington Cemetery.
June 24: Clark Howard’s political aspirations
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
A few years back, WSB consumer advocate Clark Howard pondered running for mayor, he was so disgusted with Bill Campbell. He didn’t.
Now there are rumors he might opt for some sort of political office at some point down the road. He’s obviously a major fiscal conservative; I’m not sure his stance on social issues. So should he stay on the radio, dispensing consumer advice to the nation, or would you think he’d make a good politician and actually survive and thrive in that nasty jungle?
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June 24: 680/The Fan’s Buck & Kincade reup contracts//Howard Stern dumped by E!
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
John Kincade, who has been at the Fan since 2000 with Buck Belue, has re-upped with the station for a three year deal starting August 1. “John is happy, David [Dickey] is happy, I’m happy,” said Kincade’s agent Norm Schrutt. Buck re-upped as well a couple months ago. “They have great chemistry and work well together,” said 680/The Fan prez David Dickey.
David said he’s currently testing co hosts with Perry Laurentino at the 10 to 1 p.m. slot. (Steve Dooley was let go a few weeks ago)
Schrutt, who also reps 2 Live Stews, said he watched the ESPN taping of the new “2 Live Stews” show Tuesday and was amazed to see eight people working the show: two (!) directors, a sound guy, three cameramen, a producer and the assistant to the producer. ESPN spares no expense.
Also, Howard Stern (not heard locally until he goes on Sirius in January) is going to be dumped by E! Entertainment Network, which has been running a highlights show for years at night, culled from his morning show. Here’s a link to the New York Post story.
June 23: Atlanta-based company gives $100K candy bar, not $100K
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
This is the fifth-largest radio company in America and is based in Atlanta but has no actual stations in Atlanta. Another company Dickey Broadcasting in the same building in Buckhead runs 680/The Fan. This reminds me of a Hooters waitress a few years back who thought the chain was rewarding her a Toyota when in fact, they gave her a toy Yoda. She settled the lawsuit out of court.
The original newspaper story appeared in the Lexington Herald-Leader. The writer is a former Atlanta Journal Constitution intern Jamie Gumbrecht. Go Jamie! :) This is a re-written version from Associated Press. (The link to a longer version of the story is here
LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) � A Kentucky woman who won a radio contest has sued after the Atlanta-based company that owns the station tried to award her a candy bar instead of cash.
Norreasha Gill filed a complaint Wednesday in federal district court in Kentucky against Atlanta-based Cumulus Media Inc., which owns WLTO-102.5 FM in Lexington.
Gill says the station and its parent company breached a contract to pay $100,000 after a contest prize was revealed to be a Nestle’s 100 Grand.
Gill says in the suit that night host D-J Slick sponsored a contest to “win 100 grand.” The 28-year-old Gill won the contest by listening to the radio show throughout the night and being the 10th caller.
Before the family went to bed, Gill promised her children � ages 1, 5 and 11� that they’d have a minivan, a shopping spree, a savings account and a home with a back yard.
Gill says the station told her she had won a 100 Grand candy bar — not money. She says the station manager later offered her five-thousand-dollars.
But she says she wanted $95,000 more. In her words, ‘‘Nobody would watch and listen for two hours for a candy bar.’’
The station has declined comment.
Cumulus Media, which posted net income of $30.4 million in 2004, owns more than 300 radio stations in 61 mid-sized U.S. media markets.
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June 22: Thank y’all for your comments on 2 Live Stews
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
That was a great blog thread yesterday about the 2 Live Stews. Good healthy debate! To the person who said no whites listen to the show, that’s untrue. Nearly half the listeners to the 2 Live Stews are non-black. I know whites who “get” them and plenty who don’t. Like Andrew Saltzman, Zone co-owner, has said, the pair inspires passion, positive and negative. That’s a good thing. He said, the kiss of death is apathy. And plenty of folks who purport to “hate” them listen as well.
Will they be a long-term player? So far, so good, after 3.5 years. I anticipate they’ll get some sort of national syndication deal at some point. If you missed the Sports Illustrated story on them seven months ago, I’ll be happy to email you a copy if you email me at rho@ajc.com.
Cheers, Rodney
June 21: Radio notes: Ken Batie of WCLK taken off air// Dave FM’s Mitch Evans out
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Ken Batie, a long-time afternoon jock at jazz station WCLK-FM had his last day on air Friday. He will remain at the station handling special events. GM Wendy Williams said the station fell short on its fundraising from listeners ($250K instead of $300K) and is seeking to streamline its programming, make it more consistent during the day to hopefully drive more listeners and hopefully, money. I don’t listen to the station enough to know exactly how Batie’s departure from the air will achieve that but at least he’ll still be around.
And Mitch Evans has been let go as sports director at Dave FM, told by the boss Rick Caffey the station no longer needed the position. Evans is also suffering from vertigo right now, poor guy. He’s the third sports guy to lose his job in recent weeks: Chris Cotter is out at the Zone and Steve Dooley is out at the Fan. Evans used to work at 790 and had been at Dave for only a year, hired because of the Falcons. Mitch doesn’t feel Dave FM has promoted the Falcons particularly well and was annoyed that morning host Steve Barnes would vet his sports copy before he read it on air. He did like Holly Firfer and producer Alan Smith.
The Falcons have the option to leave Dave FM after this upcoming season. When Infinity signed with the Falcons, it was classic rock Z93. It’s now a more adult-sounding rock station. Are the parties still compatible? Dropping Mitch can’t bode well. Will WSB-AM grab the Falcons the first chance they get now that they no longer have the Braves (or the Hawks…)
June 20: 2 Live Stews get ESPN2 show
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Dogs and poodles, the 2 Live Stews are now on ESPN2.
Doug and Ryan Stewart � hip-hop sports talk hosts heard weekdays from 3 to 7 p.m. on 790/The Zone � have been given a weekly eight-show commitment on the sports cable network during its urban-flavored “Block Party� set of shows starting tonight through August 9.
ESPN2 will film the Stewart brothers at the Buckhead radio studios during the day, then edit the show to 30 minutes scheduled to air late Tuesday nights at 12:30 a.m. (Tonight, because of Wimbledon obligations, the show will air 1:30 a.m.)
“It’s going to be like Howard Stern,” said Doug Stewart, referring to the E! Entertainment Network’s daily 30-minute highlights show of the controversial shock jock’s radio program. “I don’t know how ESPN is going to melt down four hours into 30 minutes. Will they be able to get the true essence of the show? I don’t know.â€?
But he said he’s not ungrateful at all: “This is an incredible opportunity.â€?
The brothers, who call their radio fans dogs and poodles, have built a loyal audience at the Zone among men 25 to 54 thanks to a high-energy show that is more akin to Jay-Z than the lily-white Jimmy Buffett world of traditional sports talk.
The emphasis is on basketball and football more than baseball and golf. And on certain days, the pair will spend more time on Beyonce or Michael Jackson than Michael Vick or Chipper Jones.
“We consider it more like sports rap than sports talk,â€? Doug Stewart said. “We don’t spent time spitting out stats and reminiscing about players from 30, 40 years ago.â€?
Last November, a fawning six-page Sports Illustrated spread on the show, which dubbed them a “one-show affirmative action program,” drew the attention of independent ESPN producer Diane Houslin.
“We came down [from New York], saw them and thought they were amazing,” she said.
Former Detroit Lions defensive back Ryan Stewart had retired from the NFL and began doing fill-in work with the Zone in 2001.
He and his brother Doug, a mortgage lender, then pitched an urban-focused talk show for free to 790 management as an experiment. Realizing the potential, Zone owners Andrew Saltzman and Steak Shapiro quickly put them on payroll, giving them progressively better time slots over the past four years.
This month, the Zone moved the Stewarts to 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., considered the second-best time slot after mornings.
Norm Schrutt, the agent who negotiated the deal for the Stewarts, said ESPN2 has an option for a second season next summer.
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June 20: radio personalities’ web sites
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Some personalities have their very own web sites.
Neal Boortz updates at boortz.com is frequently and does a good job summarizing his show.
Clark Howard www.clarkhoward.com, with an even bigger staff, has a fairly robust site as well.
Fred Toucher of 99x at www.fredtoucher.com doesn’t update that often but he can be amusing.
Larry Wachs of the Regular Guys at www.regularguys.com updates at least three times a week. He currently is commenting on Jewish Life magazine, which does a story about local Jews in media (i.e. Jimmy Baron and Larry himself). He also has some nice things to say about fellow Jew Mara Davis of Dave FM — in a way.
Eric Von Haessler of the Regular Guys posts his Saturday WGST audio on his site, www.madpundit.com.
Then there’s V-103’s Ryan Cameron’s www.ryancamerononline.com. There’s a shot of Ryan on the Westin Peachtree, wearing a Hawks uniform. He also provides an audio greeting. He is currently announcing his big return on July 4 at the Southeast Athletic Complex Lithonia 5845 Hillvale Rd. follwed by a softball game against a group organized by Ludacris.
Are there any other personal sites you know of that are worth noting?
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June 16: Dave FM hosts Aimee Mann/Ben Lee pre-concert concert
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Aimee Mann, in a preview Thursday to her sold-out Atlanta Botanical Gardens concert, popped in to nearby Smith’s Olde Bar for a quick five-song acoustic set.
More than 100 Dave FM listeners enjoyed cuts from her latest album, “The Forgotten Arm.” Mann was amused playing in a dark bar at 1 p.m. with candles on the table. “It looks like we’re doing a creepy satanic ritual,” she joked, later adding, “Thank you for coming to the black magic cabal.”
Mann's opener, the jubilant acoustic folk singer Ben Lee made a surprise appearance and sang his incredibly catchy hit tune, "Catch My Disease." He changed a few lyrics to localize the song. "They play Lil Jon on the radio," he sang, instead of Good Charlotte and "They play Elton John on the radio," instead of Sleepy Jackson. (Ironically, Dave FM doesn’t play Elton John.)
Lee’s keyboardist, a barefoot hippy chick named Lara Meyerratken, played the key riff using a blue baby piano not much bigger than a tambourine. The crowd laughed. She later said she bought the piano for $25 at a Pomona, Calif. thrift store and used it on the actual recording of the song. It sure beats dragging in a baby grand.
I met a few Dave FM folks including Margot and Eric, the two newer jocks, but missed ever-elusive program director Michelle Engel, who was at a doctor’s appointment with her child. Oh, well.
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June 16: Q100 and Jennifer Wilbanks
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
My colleague and Peach Buzz writer Rich Eldredge did this item today about Q100’s Jeff Dauler creating a Web site www.suejennifer.com:
Normally, Q100 “Bert Show” producer and co-host Jeff Dauler is content to play the funny guy.
Not so Thursday.
After he and the rest of the morning show got through reading the AJC’s front page story on how runaway bride Jennifer Wilbanks and her fiance John Mason may be scoring a sizable check for their “life story” from a book publisher, Dauler was feeling plenty dissed (The couple also plans to further publicize their story in an NBC News interview scheduled to air next week).
By mid-afternoon Thursday, the Dauler-devised website, www.suejennifer.com was up and running and looking for a few good lawyers. Via Blackberry, Dauler told Peach Buzz he is investigating whether or not he can file a class action lawsuit against the Katie Couric kiss-up.
On the website, he explains: “It is my hope that in the very near future that a team of qualified and enthusiastic legal professionals will soon be involved … My intentions are not to generate income for members of the class, but rather to prevent Ms. Wilbanks and Mr. Mason from earning any income at all as a result of the events earlier this year. I intend for all proceeds of the suit to first be used to repay the agencies who spent money on the search, and for the balance to be distributed to a selection of charities to be determined in the near future. Do not let Jennifer Wilbanks and her fiance profit from her actions!”
The Web site’s home page features the now-infamous photo of Wilbanks being escorted by uniformed police officers while cowering beneath a festively-colored afghan. Dauler says he feels betrayed by the couple’s actions, especially after devoting considerable radio airtime to the story when the public thought Wilbanks had been abducted.
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June 15: Q100 files application to strengthen signal
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The FCC has accepted an application from Q100 that could give the top 40 station a much stronger signal and enable them to better penetrate office buildings and further into Gwinnett County. This would better enable Q100 to compete with Star 94 and other stations for its target 18 to 34 female audience. Q100 in general lags behind Star 94 (which has a full-market signal) except in the mornings, where the Bert Show is competitive with Steve & Vikki.
Q100 currently has a 3kw directional signal at 955 ft. (class C3) from the top of the Westin Peacthree Plaza hotel downtown. The new filing would give them a 12.5 kw directional (Class C2) at the same site at 978 feet. A station owned by Clear Channel in Greenville, S.C. is blocking Q100 right now from the northeast, but Clear Channel appears to have come up with a deal with Susquehanna (owner of Q100) to downgrade.
June 14: Former Atlantan David Brown to leave NPR’s “Marketplace”
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
“Marketplace” host and former Atlantan David Brown is leaving July 29 after less than two years in that role. Kai Ryssdal takes his place. The show is heard on local NPR affiliate 90.l/WABE-FM at 6:30 p.m. weeknights.
Here’s the link to the memo announcing Brown’s departure.
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June 14: WGST update// 99X free concert series
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Former WSB talker David Paul, filling in on Sunday night for WGST, supposedly walked off after three minutes. Publicity stunt? Hard to say.
“He froze up,” GST PD Bruce Collins said. “We gave him a shot but unfortunately, it did not work out.”
As for the search for a morning host, Collins said they are still on the hunt and are in no rush.
And here’s the press release from 99X on their free concert series July 9- August 13:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ÂÂ
WEEZER, CAKE, GARBAGE, THE BRAVERY AND CHEVELLE
AMONG ARTISTS SLATED FOR 99X DOWNTOWN ROCKS @ UNDERGROUND ATLANTA
ÂÂ
99X’s FREE summer concert series in Atlanta.
Every Saturday July 9 to August 13, 2005, from 7 to 11 p.m.ÂÂ
ÂÂ
Atlanta, Georgia (June 14, 2005) – 99X Everything Alternative has
assembled a stellar lineup for its free summer concert series in
Downtown Atlanta. Weezer, Cake, The Bravery, Chevelle, Ben Folds,
Garbage, The Dead 60’s, Stereophonics and Caesars are among the artists
that will perform for six Saturday nights, July 9 through August 13 at
Underground Atlanta.
ÂÂ
The station that has provided over 1 million music fans with free live
entertainment since 2001 will continue its mission this summer with 99X
Downtown Rocks @ Underground Atlanta. Each Saturday night concert will
kick off with one of 99X’s favorite local artists like Second Shift
whose call and response rock is set to change peoples perception of the
kind of music coming out of Atlanta. After getting the crowd warmed
up, music fans will enjoy dynamic sets from some of the biggest names
heard on 99X today. Highlights include visits from UK alternative rock
stars Stereophonics and The Bravery, a NYC band known for their deep
seeded allegiance to the punk movement and part of the current crop of
new-new wave bands like the Killers, Interpol and the Strokes. In
addition to the up-and-coming stars is a strong veteran line up
featuring Sacramento bred Cake and the deadpan stylings of vocalist
John McCrea- now 5 albums strong, along with critically acclaimed geek
rock gods Weezer and supercharged sexy pop rockers Garbage.ÂÂ
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PERFORMER SCHEDULE FOR DOWNTOWN ROCKS @ UNDERGROUND
July 9:                    Cake, Stereophonics, Caesars
July 16:                 Weezer, The Bravery, The Dead 60’s, local
July 23:                 TBA
July 30:                 Ben Folds, TBA
August 6:             Chevelle, Seether, Crossfade, local
August 13:           Garbage, TBA
*Schedule subject to change. Stay tuned for more performer
announcements.
ÂÂ
The massive performance stage, built exclusively for the 99X series,
will be located just a short walk from the Five Points MARTA station at
the intersection of Upper Alabama and Pryor Streets and will feature
live music from 7 to 11 pm, each Saturday. Immediately after the
performances, concertgoers are invited to party until 3 a.m. in Kenny’s
Alley, host of the official 99X Downtown Rocks @ Underground after
party.
ÂÂ
Downtown Rocks @ Underground is free to 99X Freeloaders. Sign up
online at 99X.com or at 99X Downtown Rocks @ Underground. 99X
Freeloaders get exclusive offers from 99X and Atlanta area businesses,
which include discounts for concerts, restaurants, spas, theaters and
more.
ÂÂ
For the most up to date information on 99X Downtown Rocks @ Underground
and 99X New Rock and 90’s Alternative, please visit www.99x.com.
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June 13: 99X changes its slogan
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
99X has ditched its unwieldy “New rock and ’90s alternative” line for the much cleaner “Everything alternative.”
What are your favorite radio station slogans local stations use? B98.5 always amuses me with its “voted No. 1 again for most music while you work.” The mystery is: who actually votes? And why did they vote again?
Kiss 104.1 is also funny because the jocks always say “104.1” twice. They used to be at 104.7 until 1999 and after they moved to 104.1, the station wanted to make sure listeners remembered where it was. Six years later, you’d think folks who know Kiss would know it’s 104.1 by now. But subliminallys, it surely helps if listeners received an Arbitron diary.
June 9: Hollaback Girl huge No. 1 top 40 hit
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Star 94, Q100 and 95.5/The Beat are all playing Gwen Stefani’s “Hollaback Girl” in monstrous rotation. Q100: 74 times in the last week. Star 94 52 times, and the Beat? A whopping 95 times. Hot even played it 7 times and V-103, 4 times. That’s 235 times or once every 43 minutes on average.
The Beat is playing a version with the curse word she uses about 30 times by using the first two letters, leaving virtually no doubt what it is. On more conservative Star, the song’s curse word is subbed out with “Uh!” or some whistling sound. I bought it off itunes with the curse in it and it’s rather jarring to hear it unadorned.
Are you all sick of the song yet? I still like it and in top 40 radio, it is the most played song in years, outdistancing other big hits like “Complicated” and “How You Remind Me.” I’m not sure, though, if it has the staying power of those two songs because it has a bit of a polarizing, novelty feel to it.
In Atlanta, the most popular song the past seven days is actually Mariah’s “We Belong Together,” an altogether conventional ballad but being played on six radio stations. Kiss (2), the Beat (95), Hot (36), Star 94 (38), V-103 (50) and Q100 (50) for a total of 271 spins or once every 37 minutes.
June 8: Clark Howard’s 50th birthday party this Saturday//promos for MM/Vibe
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
WSB’s Clark Howard is celebrating his 50th birthday Saturday night at the Crown Plaza Ravinia. $50 tickets to support the Genesis project, a transitional shelter for homeless newborns and their families. Food, drink and dancing (imagine watching Clark dance!) And does anyone think he looks remotely 50?
Here’s the link for more info
And this coming weekend is the big Music Midtown/Vibe showdown. Music Midtown is being promoted on virtually every radio station — even stations that don’t have sponsorship stages such as Star 94. V-103 is pushing Vibe after years of having a stage at Music Midtown, which now has Hot 107.9, Kicks 101.5, 96rock and 99X. How do y’all like the radio promos and do you think Atlanta will be able to handle it?
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June 8: 99Xer Chris Calandro let go//680-Fox’s Bill O’Reilly cruise cancelled
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Christopher Calandro, a former morning phone guy for the 99X morning show who also used to do swing shifts and weekends over the past four years, has been out for several months with a severe staph infection to his right knee. He’s had two surgeries and has a third one planned in August. He came back recently to work part time but was let go Tuesday. He said he wasn’t given a reason for his dismissal.
Here’s a link to the Daily News story about Bill O”Reilly’s cruise called “The Battle for American Valuesâ€?in November being cancelled for lack of interest. Considering how popular his show is on Fox, this is surprising. O”Reilly is also heard in the early afternoon on 680/The Fan.
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June 5: Shuffle at 790/The Zone
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Chuck Oliver and Chris Cotter are out at 790/The Zone while 2 LIve Stews get the higher-profile afternoon drive time slot (3 to 7 p.m.) starting Monday. Former V-103 sports man Chuck Smith joins Matt Chernoff for noon to 3 p.m. and Chris Dimino goes solo from 10 to noon.
Is this a good move?
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June 2: Hot’s Rashan Ali gets a cable show
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
This is in Peach Buzz today, courtesy of fellow staffer Sonia Murray:
Radio host branches out
Next up in the line of Hot-107.9 announcers turned nationally known talents may be Rashan Ali.
On Memorial Day, the lead host of Hot’s morning show “The ‘A’ Team” made her debut as co-host of TV One’s “Bid Whist Party Throwdown.”
The funny thing is she didn’t have a big viewing party at her Cobb County home because, alas, she can’t get TV One. So instead, she went over to “A” Team member Akini’s house and watched it there.
“I felt pleased about it,” Ali told Buzz Wednesday. “But I’m so hard on myself. So I was like, ‘Why did I do that? Why did you do this?’ … Like in the beginning [of the show] I was looking to the side for some reason.
“And I talk to myself on TV because the inflections on radio and TV are so different,” she added. “It’s like, ‘WE’RE THE ‘A’ TEAM ON HOT-107.9!’ on one, and you have to have a conversation on the other.”
Ali felt more assured about her first national TV appearance, however, when she got an e-mail from her best friend in Philadelphia saying she was “poised and pretty.” Then there were the male listeners who called while she was on the air to say her husband’s a lucky guy.
As for her future career plans, “I’m not a person that has that one dream,” Ali says. Like rapper Ludacris and MTV personality La La who preceded her at the station, she wants to be “a multimedia success.”
Ali says she should know within the next two months whether “Bid Whist” will be picked up. In the meantime, reruns of the card game show are scheduled at 8 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday.
May 31: 105.3/The Buzz lineup firming up
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Some guy based in Dallas, Ayo, is manning mornings at the new 105.3/Buzz. Ali, a holdover from 96.7, is holding fort at middays. Former 99X night-time guy Whip is now going to handle afternoons. Night-time slot is still open. Loveline, the syndicated show, continues from 10 to midnight.
The station started at 105.3 three weeks ago with a lot of 90s grunge and very few current songs. This past week, it has amped up the currents, though still not quite as many as 99X.
How do you like the Buzz so far vs. 99X?
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