Access Atlanta > Entertainment > Radio Talk > Archives > 2009 > January > 07 > Entry
1/7: What’s up with Imus on True Oldies?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Recently, True Oldies 106.7 has been playing what seems to be only snippets of Don Imus in the morning and filling it in with mostly music. Paul O’Malley, the boss, was circumspect with me on why they are doing this beyond the fact Imus had been ill for a time.
But fans say his regular show based out of 770/WABC-AM in New York has been normal this week. True Oldies does seem to be airing relatively few ads so part of the music may just be filling in what normally would be advertising. (This tends to be a slack time for radio ads anyway, though the economy is probably exacerbating things, too. Then again, fewer ads benefits listeners who are getting more music.)
I listened to the tail end of the show this morning. (Imus runs on True Oldies from 6 to 9 a.m.). I heard him do an interview with Pat Buchanan from about 8:35 a.m to 8:45 a.m. Five minutes of ads, then “The Boys Are Back in Town” by Thin Lizzy at 8:50 and Sam & Dave’s “Hold On! I’m a Comin’ ” Oddly, they played about two minutes of Sam & Dave, played an “Imus/True Oldies” promo, then started the song over again. Strange glitch. At 8:59 a.m., Looking Glass’ “Brandy” played.
Checking yes.com, which tracks music airplay, True Oldies is playing 9 to 10 songs an hour during the Imus show. Assuming 10 minutes of ads and 3.5 minutes per song, that leaves about 15 minutes for Imus, maybe two clips worth per hour. Normally, Imus talks about 40 minutes an hour or so.
Imus fans— is this a good compromise so True Oldies can stay a music station? A couple of people have emailed me and said this has been the pattern for three weeks. We’ll see if this remains the norm from here on in.
Citadel, which owns Kicks and True Oldies, also runs Imus’ syndication. That’s why he is even on the station, which started last March once Citadel dumped Eagle and the country format. Imus has been on other stations in the market in the past but has never built a big audience. This is his first FM affiliate in Atlanta.
Comments
By Crude
January 7, 2009 10:14 AM | Link to this
I was wondering what the deal was with Imus, too. I usually listen to the Regular Guys and occasionally switch over to True Oldies to hear what Imus is complaining about.
In my opinion, what True Oldies is doing doesn’t make any sense at all. Loyal Imus listeners will not be satisfied with 10 minutes of Imus per hour. And people who listen to True Oldies for their tunes would probably be irritated with the Imus interruptions.
But this kind of thinking is par for the course for Atlanta radio.
By haystackboi
January 7, 2009 10:26 AM | Link to this
You asked to hear from Imus fans. Unfortunately, there are none in Atlanta.
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January 7, 2009 10:28 AM | Link to this
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By WNIR
January 7, 2009 12:23 PM | Link to this
Listen to WNIR @ www.wnir.com for a great morning show. It’s fun and puts all other morning shows to shame.
By John
January 7, 2009 12:58 PM | Link to this
Yes there are Imus fans in Atlanta. Either air the full show or forget it. This morning (Wednesday) they were (re)running Monday night’s sports results.
I enjoy the wit of Imus and his guests. Maybe too sophisticated for Atlanta. The lack of radio choices in Atlanta is….well, underwelming to say the least.
By nan
January 7, 2009 5:30 PM | Link to this
when are the lawsuits comin at STAR 94? a PD who has a sexual relationship with a certain afternoon personality is put in place? Don Benson should be ashamed of that decision! ATTN STAR STAFF: call a lawyer!
By lucky
January 8, 2009 9:55 AM | Link to this
I really miss listening to Imus and wish they would go back to the old format. His interviews are very insightful and provoking, and he is usually non-partisan in political interviews. His commentaries are different but still it is all very interesting, and certainly a big step ahead of Rush and Sean where there is no humor.
By Doofy
January 8, 2009 3:25 PM | Link to this
When did WGKA drop its early morning show with Joel Aaron?
By peter tinkham
January 9, 2009 12:05 PM | Link to this
I’m an I-Man Fan! The PD for WYAY-FM needs to go away!
The station has been running mostly music going on four weeks now! The Imus In The Morning Show was airing even went the I-Man was sick.
Hopefully Imus will get another affiliate in the ADI Atlanta.
By Don Nots
January 12, 2009 1:34 PM | Link to this
Imus has been off the air at 106.7? No wonder I’ve been listening to the station more in the morning. Listening to his show is painful, even when the guests are good. It is such a struggle to hear what he’s saying I usually end up changing the channel. When he talks it sounds like someone has taped his mouth mostly shut and dropped a couple of ‘ludes in his Sanka.
By Don (Notts)
January 12, 2009 1:36 PM | Link to this
Imus has been off the air at 106.7? No wonder I’ve been listening to the station more in the morning. Listening to his show is painful, even when the guests are good. It is such a struggle to hear what he’s saying I usually end up changing the channel. When he talks it sounds like someone has taped his mouth mostly shut and dropped a couple of ‘ludes in his Sanka.
By Bill Mee
January 13, 2009 12:53 PM | Link to this
I would like to see Imus completely off the air on 106.7. I like their music and other folks, but don’t listen to Anus, excuse me, Imus. He’s dragging the ststion down with some of the worst ratings in town.
By Keith
January 14, 2009 2:38 PM | Link to this
I’m glad to see this question finally addressed. I’ve been enjoying Imus in the mornings too, and was wondering why lately there were only 10 or so minutes an hour. On this morning’s 8:05 snippet, they even reran a newscast from last week!! Sounds to me like they’re slowly but surely dropping the Imus show, which is a shame, because I DO get a kick out of his grouchiness. I’m okay if they want to play more oldies too, but PLEASE, go with one or the other - pick a format and stick with it!
By Fred
January 14, 2009 4:09 PM | Link to this
I watch Imus on RFDTV getting ready for work. Listen on my long commute. I enjoy his show…his whole show. Lately I’ve been getting a rehash on radio of what I already saw on RFD..there’s always Boortz.
By Fred
January 14, 2009 4:11 PM | Link to this
I watch Imus on RFDTV getting ready for work. Listen on my long commute. I enjoy his show…his whole show. Lately I’ve been getting a rehash on radio of what I already saw on RFD..there’s always Boortz.
By chuck
January 15, 2009 7:15 AM | Link to this
True Oldies either needs to drop Imus or bring back all 40 minutes an hour. Whatever they are doing doesn’t work for me. I love the show and will be a loyal listener to the station that airs the show properly.
By Tom R
January 15, 2009 11:54 AM | Link to this
I too am not happy with True Oldies pretty much neutering the Imus show. Either clear the show or not. But I recognize their dilemma, in that the Imus show can be positively schizoid - breathtakingly lame locker room humor followed by some of the most incisive and thought provoking interviews on the radio anywhere. This business of 106.7 just running snippets is just bizarre, esp when Don will say “coming up later in the hour we have Bob Schieffer” and then the station plays music the rest of the hour. DUMB. If you want to see what is really happening just listen to 106.7 simultaneously the live feed at imusonair (dot) com and you will see he is not sick, not in re-runs, still doing the fine show he has always done.
By Susan
January 15, 2009 1:37 PM | Link to this
The less of Imus the better. I won’t even turn the station to the oldies until 9:00 because I hate him!
By G
January 15, 2009 2:32 PM | Link to this
They lost me from listening in the morning. Imus or nothing! Not happy with this format. Good-bye
By SamIAM
January 15, 2009 2:46 PM | Link to this
Although not a big Imus fan, I still believe if you’re going to run him during morning drive, then run him in entirety. The mix with music just isn’t working, even for us die-hard oldies listeners. Once again, Atlanta radio just can’t leave well enough alone!
By Sherona
January 16, 2009 11:08 PM | Link to this
Only when Kelly & Alpha return to their listeners will Atlanta radio be right.
By harry
January 19, 2009 2:18 PM | Link to this
WYAY is a joke. They need to either fish or cut bait with Imus. There are many I-man fans out there who are unsatisfied with this format. I just assume another station pick up the show, so I can hear it in it’s entirety.
Rodney- can you provide any insight as to why Comcast will not pick up RFD-TV? Comcast and RFD have a deal in place, but the Atlanta programmer will not add it to the lineup. Instead, we get to watch Reality TV channel and all the other junk Comcast promotes.
By JRByrd
January 20, 2009 12:51 PM | Link to this
only real losers listen to commercial radio anymore anyway. Its a junk heap. If you want to hear Imus just download his podcast. Oh…for those of you here a podcast is something you download from the Internet to your Zune or Ipod or iPhone or any mp3 player. And no its not AOL. and it does require you have half a brain to figure it out. Its about as tough as a 5th grade spelling test.
By Ben
January 20, 2009 1:12 PM | Link to this
I’m with harry. I am most unhappy with the preempting of the Imus broadcast. Last week the same clip was played from a previous day. I’ve switched to another station for my drive into work.
By Rick
January 23, 2009 2:05 PM | Link to this
I am with the other Imus fans. Been listening to him for many years and he has one of the few good shows on the radio. Gets the best guests and is a great interviewer. Looks like 106.7 is dropping him. I wish they would so he could find another home in Atlanta. I have written and called the station but, what a surprise, have got no response.
By Mary Anne
January 27, 2009 6:38 PM | Link to this
Hearing little snippets of the Imus show is so distracting that I turn off the show. I thought that it was a great improvement when the show moved to an FM station, but it was better to hear the whole show with bad AM reception than to have it cut into pieces. Please play the show in its entirety, or let it move to another station. Has Imus commented on this?