Jimmy Baron and Yvonne Monet out at Dave FM; Steve Craig interim morning host
Jimmy Baron and Yvonne Monet's morning show is over after two years. CREDIT: Dave FM
Loading ...Dave FM, which has gone through five morning shows since its inception in 2004, is now looking for its sixth after letting Jimmy Baron and Yvonne Monet go this morning.
General manager Rick Caffey declined to say why they were let go but said the station will be “taking its time” seeking a replacement. For now, Steve Craig will cover as interim morning host.
That name may be familiar to 99X fans. Craig was the mid-day host at that station from 1992 to 2007. He then spent near three years in New York under Leslie Fram (now at CMT) working as a jock at WRXP-FM, a rock station that recently switched to news.
As a result, Craig lost his job and rumors instantly popped up that he would end up at Dave. He quickly nabbed some part-time work there and even came in one morning to gab with Baron and Monet, who are also former jocks at 99X.
[UPDATE on Friday, 11/11/11: Craig did his School of Musical Knowledge bit he used to do on 99X and WRXP. The quiz question was what was the theme song of "Chuck." Answer: "Short Skirt, Long Jacket," which he then played.]
It appears Christopher “Crash” Clark, the traffic guy, may stay on at V-103 but not Dave. [UPDATE: Renee Washington who had been doing traffic during afternoons on Dave, took over Friday morning.]
Dave FM’s ratings have fluctuated up and down over the years. Earlier this year, the station had some strong months but numbers sunk sharply over the past five months.
In January, the station had a 4.5 share, tied for eighth and a 6.2 rating among 25 to 54 year olds, worthy of third place. By October, it had sunk to a 2.0 overall share, of 18th place and a 2.6 rating among 25 to 54, ranking them 15th.
Baron and Monet’s morning show, which was recently cut back to 8:30 a.m. to 9 a.m., lagged behind the rest of the station. Management kept the show fairly music intensive.
In January, among 25 to 54 year olds, the show ranked 11th. By October, it was down to 20th. (Dave’s strongest day part for years has been mid-days featuring Mara Davis.)
Baron had an amusing gathering he’d do every month called “Dads Between Gigs” where unemployed dads could meet and commiserate in this lousy economy. Baron himself was unemployed for three years between 99X and Dave FM.
Scott Jameson, the station’s third program director since 2004, joined the station in 2009 and hired Baron. (The general sales manager John Riemenschneider was recently let go.)
People who listened in this morning heard Baron joke to a listener that his simple wish was to still be employed by his birthday, which is Nov. 13. “You’re good to go,” the listener said. “It’s only Thursday,” Baron said. Before the morning was out, his joke came true and he was unemployed.
Going back to the time when the station was Z93, the signal under different owners has been unable to find a stable morning show. None has lasted more than three years.
Here’s the parade of hosts since 1989. I’m repeating some info I wrote back in January, 2008.
1989: Barry Chase.
1989-1992: Chase & Woodside. The pair worked at Z93 when it was a top 40 station, the very first FM morning team in Atlanta back in 1974. Managemtent thought it would be cool to bring them back together as a team. Woodside, in an interview in 2008 recalls that their ratings were moving up (No. 3 25-49 at one point) until management told them to pull back on talking about themselves and shortening bits and such. Ratings went down and they were soon goners.
1992-93: Slats. Does anybody remember him and what happened?
1993-96: The Greaseman (Above, WZGC’s only syndicated show) He was a grating, loudmouth shock jock type who often got in trouble. He split the audience. Some loved him; too many hated him.
1996-98: Gary McKee (right). After a long illustrious run in radio, he was at the tail end of his career and was burned out. He has since retired from the business.
1998-99: Charlie & Company. This was a comedy-oriented show that wasn’t quite ready for primetime.
1999-2002: Dave Marino. He’s a talented guy who was never utilized properly or given room to breath.
2002: Moby. After a long successful stint at Kicks, Moby simply didn’t fit well in the classic rock mode and lasted only a few months. Management shoved him to traffic to try to get him to leave but he stuck around for several months getting a big paycheck and doing traffic while the “Mission Impossible” theme played behind him. He’s now doing a syndicated morning show heard on country stations in Rome and Athens.
2003-04: Mara & Dunham: This was a quick fix after Moby. The pair was just starting to congeal as a team when CBS pulled the plug on Z93 and switched to Dave.
2004-06: Barnes & Firfer: Hoping to resurrect the magic of 99X, CBS hired Steve Barnes (right) with CNN’s Holly Firfer but without Leslie & Jimmy, it wasn’t quite the same.
2006-07: Firfer & Orff: This was a stopgap show, which actually did as well, if not better, than the Barnes days.
2008: Zakk Tyler. A complete non starter. Zakk couldn’t hack it and was out after less than ten months.
October, 2008: Tim Orff: Orff came back from a night jock spot to cover mornings for the next 11 months. He is now a night jock at Star 94.
August 17, 2009-November 10, 2011: Jimmy Baron paired with Yvonne Monet.
November 11, 2011– ??? : Steve Craig becomes interim host.
Coincidentally or not, local media planner Roddy Freeman wrote a column this week in his blog about Dave FM’s woes this week.
Join my Facebook fan page and Twitter.
By Rodney Ho, Radio & TV Talk
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246 comments Add your comment
Peter
November 11th, 2011
5:34 pm
Music sucks….. too much advertisements in general !
Denise
November 11th, 2011
6:36 pm
I loved JB and Yvonne in the a.m. This sucks! I guess I’ll go to XM. This really blows. I am a 60 year old woman, and this was the only station I listen to. Guess I’ll be changing.
KH
November 11th, 2011
7:04 pm
I was so dissapointed this morning!!!! Feeling badly for Jimmy & Yvonne.
Legend Before The Truth
November 11th, 2011
8:29 pm
Ross & Wilson were not fired for playing Queen’s ‘Another One Bites the Dust’ during the missing and murdered child crisis. Ross & Wilson were hired away to WABC in New York. Like the newspaper editor says in the move ‘Liberty Valance’, “When the legend is better than the truth, print the legend!” This apocryphal story seems just too damn juicy to ever go away. There’s a lesson to be learned here, and in all media consumption. But it won’t be, because the legend will always be more compelling than the truth.
MitKroy
November 11th, 2011
8:59 pm
Think Dave plays too much T.Petty & The Police? Whatta ’bout The Church “Under The Milky Way”. Once a year is fine; but every day? I agree Dave should choose a format and stick with it but not Classic/Adult Rock. Lord knows there’s enuff of that mess. Do Alterntive but do it right!!! Hiring Steve Craig would be a step in the right direction I just don’t know if he fits in the morning. He was mid-day at 99x & WRXP (for a while anyway) and I think that frees him up to play/talk about music. Go from there. It’d be a start!!!
Bill
November 11th, 2011
9:59 pm
I’d be interested to hear what happened with/to Slats during his short tenure at Z93. I wasn’t around then. Slats & I were occasional drinking buddies in Orlando in the mid 80s. I hear he’s back in Cleveland now, starting this past Monday.
one eyed jack
November 11th, 2011
10:02 pm
The best radio program in the city was the radio birdman show on 88.5 a few years ago… sadly it was claimed by a GSU graduation.
C.S.
November 11th, 2011
11:18 pm
Good Lord, people…what the heck?? If it ain’t broke, don’t “fix” it!!! I’ll still listen…only because the musical lineup is the only one worth a flip in Atlanta…but this morning’s show was a train wreck. Get the hook, already!! BAD MOVE, Dave…bad move.
d-ville J
November 12th, 2011
9:08 am
Jimmy sucked and his continuing bashing of anyone and anythng conservative made me tune out the show for good. Yvone will be missed.
Rebecca Brown
November 12th, 2011
9:37 am
Come on Dave Fm! Jimmy, Yvonne and Crash were great. What is next Sully, Mara and Margot? Why mess with perfection? Dave FM brass have now fired the only good morning show in Atlanta. I feel sorry for Steve. I hope he makes it without support from the station.
Rangerbob
November 12th, 2011
10:04 am
Dave who? I thought it was Jimmy & Yvonne FM..I`ll miss her laugh.It does`nt matter where anyone works anymore,It just typical knee jerk management decisions .And of course this shall pass too.
And So It Goes |
November 12th, 2011
11:52 am
[...] been a lot of news about radio lately and there’s not much I can say about it here (*sigh*). You can do me can do me a favor [...]
Buffdog
November 12th, 2011
2:42 pm
Kind of sad after the long hours they put in doing the charity event last weekend at CHOA. I donated because I listened to the AM show. I know the funds are for the chilldern but I wish I could rescind my donation in protest. Finally found a decent adult show to listen to and yanked again. Sorry…it’s Dave FM’s lost. I also attended most of the concerts promoted by Dave……but that too will cease.
Common Sense
November 12th, 2011
6:51 pm
Where can this station be found on the dial? Maybe putting the focus on DaveFM wasn’t so smart. I’ve been in Atlanta 17 years and still can’t think where the station is located.
Rodney Ho
November 12th, 2011
6:52 pm
@Commonsense. 92.9 . I guess I presumed folks knew that but never assume, eh?
linda
November 12th, 2011
9:58 pm
really disappointed that Jimmy,Yvonne,Crash and FK are gone. Now my ride to work will suck!!
MattMD
November 13th, 2011
3:53 am
Someone drag Frank Ski’s restaurant behind a truck.
My god, that place is horrible. If you get dragged there, at most get an appetizer and a drink and get the hell out.
Andy
November 13th, 2011
9:13 am
Now that Jimmy & Yvonne are gone, this listener is gone too. I didn’t much care for Jimmy but Yvonne is great.
Moi
November 13th, 2011
2:32 pm
Kellyc755 – you are thinking of the old 96rock group. They were the morning folks when I worked there. And for the record…Chris Rude is a TOOL! He is the most arrogant NOTHING of a person I’ve ever met.
Max Overdrive
November 13th, 2011
3:38 pm
Won’t be long that DaveFM is converted to another hip-hop or classic R&B station; just like the other 24 stations Atlanta already has that fits this category. Thank GOD for Mp3’s!!
Dave
November 13th, 2011
4:28 pm
In the morning, WABE, until Lois Reitzes starts at nine, then back and forth between 680 and 790, depending on how annoying each is.
Mark
November 13th, 2011
4:46 pm
Dave would do well to decide who they are. The format seems to change with the time of day, weekday/weekend, etc. Acoustic sunrise is very good, and their normal morning stuff is good, but on the weekend they seem to transform into B98.5. Choose, Dave.
Happy Camper
November 13th, 2011
5:05 pm
Hey Jimmy Baron, now you too know that you are a BIG FAT FAIL!!!! I am doing cartwheels now that he is gone. Whooooo Hoooooo!
Ded Zeppelin
November 13th, 2011
5:19 pm
DaveFM sucks. Project 96.1 sucks. Atlanta radio SUCKS. Can’t leave out the real culprit, however….Clear Channel ruined Atlanta radio.
Hurray!
November 13th, 2011
5:22 pm
I am SO HAPPY that they are getting rid of Jimmy. I used to love when they played music in the morning and Carter would give the news, but then they brought back Jimmy with Yvonne and that loser Crash. I accidentally listened two mornings after they brought them back. One time Crash was talking about Yvonne’s breasts. The second was after this year’s Pride and they were asking men how many drinks they had but they were bleeping it so it would sound like something else. Childish and disgusting. Bring back the music and Carter!!!! Love you, Mara!
Stevereeno
November 13th, 2011
7:00 pm
I wish Atlanta had a new music station. New artists. Not the top 40 though some yes.
Grace J.
November 13th, 2011
10:42 pm
Bring back Holly Firfir!!!!! She was the best thing mornings on Dave had to offer..
jj
November 14th, 2011
12:02 am
My favorite station is my ipod. It has the best host, too! Never gets in the way of the music…
I haven’t listened to commercial radio much since 1992. It eventually got replaced by CDs, then became obsolete with mp3s.
kim
November 14th, 2011
5:53 am
Seriously?!?!?!?! Jimmy, Yvonne, and Crash took me back to the old days of 99 x . I’m so upset i cant type! They is no point in listening to dave fm anymore. The music format sucks- you guys should look ininto infusing a better selection od artists. Hers a thought- bring back leslie fram! Ugh! Rating systems suck and now so does davefm **** GOOD LUCK JIMMY! YVONNE AND CRASH!!***
elizabeth stallard
November 14th, 2011
7:38 am
Big mistake two of the most uniquely innovative individuals on morning radio, anywhere. It is clear “the problem” lies elsewhere for the program. Yvonne is one of the best, bad decision folks!
John C
November 14th, 2011
8:22 am
seriously!!! It was a lot better than the other morning shows that do nothing more than talk. I really enjoyed the show. I doubt it was Jimmy and Yvonne that caused the ratings to drop sharply over the past few months.
PTC Bernie
November 14th, 2011
8:53 am
What a waste. These guys were the best morning show in Atlanta. Typical Corporate mentality. Take something that works and change it. Time to expand my CD collection and pass on FM radio altogether.
Jimmy, Yvonne, Crash, you guys WILL be missed! Thanks for the good times.
B
Crash Fan
November 14th, 2011
10:05 am
I listened to Jimmy and Co.. LOVE CRASH…. 92 has way too many commercials… I can’t take Mara and her stupid Cheese of the day… so after the morning show I would switch stations… now no reason at all to listen to 92.
clix
November 14th, 2011
4:44 pm
You may agree or not but Steve Craig is the only pure DJ (and most professional) this city has had in a long time. No gimmicks, just about the music. I like Jimmy and Monet, and Crash, but if they can somehow land SC on a permanent basis, it’ll be a home run for the station. I listened to Jimmy and Yvonne fairly regularly but sometimes got turned away by some of the stuff they got into. I know now my dial will stay fixed on 92.9 during my morning commute. For the record, Jimmy is much better as the 2nd guy on a show. Welcome back Steve, and good luck…
Terri
November 14th, 2011
7:27 pm
Good bye Dave FM!!!!! Jimmy, Yvonne and Crash made my morning drives fun! No Jimmy stories and no Animal tales!!!!! Back to 97.1 I go. You got rid of the wrong people!!! Best wishes and Good luck to them, not Dave FM! Oh and the new guy definitely needs to go, BORING!!!!
jack
November 14th, 2011
11:08 pm
Enter your comments here
pglmf
November 15th, 2011
6:14 am
Yvonne has the sexiest voice on the radio. I could hardly wait for 5 am to hear her. I have missed her since the 99x days. What a bonehead move by dave fm mngt.
Brian
November 15th, 2011
8:21 am
Dave FM was terrible in the morning. Jimmy was annoying, and there were a million commercials. If I hear one more global BMW commercial I am going to scream!! Oh ya and Zero Rez..
Alicia
November 15th, 2011
10:57 am
I enjoyed Jimmy and Yvonne, and the show really seemed to gel once Crash came back to Atlanta. However, I wonder how much of the inconsistencies in the ratings was due to the predictable (almost down to the minute) and uninspired musical selections offered up in the mornings. I, for one, don’t need to hear Joe Jackson ever again, let alone every single morning.
Who was responsible for the music played in the mornings, the over-abundance of advertising and the cut-back in the show’s air time? Surely, not the talent. Jimmy, Yvonne and Crash offered something more to the Atlanta air-waves than the juvenile humor and shock-jock antics available on other outlets. For a maturing audience who likely listened to the Morning X in the good years (not the Toucher years), it was a bit like coming home. For me, there is a place on the Atlanta airwaves for that.
Steve Craig is an awesome DJ and I will continue to tune-in to hear him in the mornings. I was stoked to hear the College of Musical Knowledge this morning, but I doubt that he can fix the problems that Dave FM is experienceing, despite all of his talent. For Jimmy, Yvonne and Crash, I wish nothing but the best. And for Steve, I will continue to tune it. I just wonder what the House / Duplex of Retro Pleasure will be called, now?
Michelle
November 15th, 2011
11:46 am
Well this just sucks! Steve Craig is sooo boring and his voice annoys me. I miss Jimmy, Yvonne and Crash. Bad move Dave FM. I’m going down the dial, I guess….
eh
November 15th, 2011
12:00 pm
Well, they did it again. Why do I even listen…I liked Jimmy….there is nobody on the air in the morning that I like listening to….Dave FM was “my station”…..My opinion, Yvonne took Jimmy down….Jimmy was a nice guy and nice to everybody. I was getting really tired of Yvonne’s opinions, especially when they got political. I can listen to those other bozos if I wanted someone’s political opinions….
Please bring Jimmy back!!!….I don’t want to have to dig out my CD’s!!!….
Johnny Style
November 15th, 2011
12:57 pm
i liked Jimmy & Yvonne but there were way to many commercials so I stopped listening.
Mimi
November 16th, 2011
7:19 am
So disappointed Dave PM- This is a BIG FAT FAIL! Jimmy and Yvonne were great.
(Loved their chemistry, loved the Big Fat Fail, loved their maturity)
Guess I’m tuning into satellite radio now, can’t take the other morning shows with the squeekly 20 year old girls saying “like” every other word!
laylagalise
November 16th, 2011
7:41 pm
I really liked Jimmy, Yvonne, and Crash (who has mellowed a lot). If I wasn’t listening to NPR in the morning, I was listening to Davefm. All the other morning shows are so grating. They were amusing and made the morning drive pass faster. I like Steve Craig (more from his 99x days), but not nearly as much as Jimmy and Yvonne.
Sad
November 16th, 2011
8:35 pm
Good luck to Jimmy and Yvonne! The (somewhat) intellegent 40ish crowd needs a station that has a good balance between news and music that caters to us. Hopefully 92.9 will find a way to incorporate a little new music + good 80s + good 90s + NPR style news + traffic/weather.
a faithful fan for years
November 16th, 2011
11:35 pm
A big fat fail for Dave FM. As a 40 something that spends over an hour each morning stuck on 400, I have kind of grown up with Jimmy and Yvonne over the years. I was sad to see the whole 99x team get split up years ago and felt very lost and dismayed by atlanta radio until Jimmy, Yvonne and Crash came together again. I am very sorry to lose them again. I am too old and don’t care to hear about some 20 year old’s dating problems on the Bert Show, am too young to listen to steve and vickie (are they even still on?), and can’t stand to listen to the ever revolving door of xxx wannabes on Atlanta’s harder rock stations (though i generally still like the music). I want to like Dave FM, I generally like most of the music the station plays but I think the reason the ratings have dropped is that they play the same 5 songs over and over again all day. Even I get sick of U2, at least play a different U2 song, not “its a beautiful day for the 10,000th time! For that reason, I listened to Jimmy, Crash and Yvonne’s show in the am then turned the dial to something else each time I got in the car for the rest of the day because I was sure to hear the same songs at the same each day! All it takes is a little variety! I don’t care if the artist list is somewhat narrow. play some of their older stuff, mix in new songs. Quit playing the same damn 5 songs! As for why I liked Jimmy, Crash and Yvonne so much – unlike some stations – they have a real feel for the local flavor – they have lived and build their lives in the area. they cared about the area. Its sad that they got let go after spendng a weekend helping generate nearly $500K in donations for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. Listening to their show was more about in some small way like visting with neighbors (something I never get to do for sitting on 400 all the time) and keeping up with things that are relevant to me – the 40-50 year old that still has some kick left to them. Jimmy might have been annoying at times but we know that is just how he is – you kind of accept it like you do with an old high school friend and over time come to appreciate his point of view. Crash was the old party buddy that never really grew up (but can’t hang like he used to) and always has a story about his latest escapade and Yvonne was just right sweet kind soul that calmed everyone down and put Jimmy in his place when he needed it. sure the show was corny some times – but I looked forward to it. It had a old worn jeans homey feel. It made the 400 parking lot more bearable each day. It made me smile from time to time. I did not have to worry about turning the radio down so that my 6 year old would hear something he should’t. I will miss them and sincerely hope that some radio executive will hear this plea – and what is missing from Atlanta radio – and why so many are defecting for other forms of music entertainment. There is a place for local talent to help inform, entertain, amuse and sooth those that are stuck in traffic hell each day. And at 40 something and probably in my prime income earning years – I think that I am still relevant as far as advertising dollars go. Good Luck Jimmy, Yvonne and Crash – I hope to find you again soon somewhere else on the Atlanta radio dial……..