97.1/The River’s Eddie Money experiment ends after three months
Loading ...After three months, rock station 97.1/The River has quietly ended its experiment with rocker Eddie Money as its morning host.
English Nick (AKA Nick Parsons), who has been on 96Rock, 99X and Rock 100.5 in years past, has taken over for now.
Tony Kidd, Cox Radio Atlanta programming vice president, said Money’s fame didn’t translate into any ratings improvement after he joined in early October. In fact, ratings in the mornings among 25-to-54 year olds, slipped from October to December, falling from 11th to 15th, according to Arbitron. And mornings remained the River’s weakest time slot.
English Nick now has a morning gig at the River, which may become permanent.
Money’s publicist has not returned emails, texts and calls for comment.
But Money, who had done the show from Los Angeles (some live, some pre-taped), shouldn’t feel too bad. The River is still playing some of his hits, including “Shakin’ ” and “Take Me Home Tonight.”
Join my Facebook fan page and Twitter.
By Rodney Ho, Radio & TV Talk
Join my Facebook fan page and Twitter.
By Rodney Ho, Radio & TV Talk
accessAtlanta Partner Sites
Sections
Advertise on accessAtlanta.com »
Reach the audience you want by advertising on accessAtlanta.com
Join the Access Atlanta Network »
Advertisers and Publishers, expand your reach by joining the Access Atlanta Network.
Tell us what you think about the site
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement | About our ads
© 2012 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
129 comments Add your comment
Ice Dream
January 3rd, 2012
3:10 pm
Wow.
What sheep Cox Radio must think FM listeners in this city are!
What will Cox Radio do for an encore to this remote-from-LA debacle, broadcast some station programmer’s iPod with pre-recorded traffic updates entered as every fourth or fifth “track?” Sheesh.
I’ve never been more thankful for the XM Lifetime Subscription my cheating ex-girlfriend got me.
(At least one good thing came out of that relationship.)
Jim H.
January 3rd, 2012
3:11 pm
Heck, I could have told them it wasn’t going to work if they had just asked…….
English Chuck
January 3rd, 2012
3:14 pm
Is Nick even “English”? Seems like he slips in and out of the accent.
Kidding aside, he’s a pretty solid DJ.
Jordan Graye
January 3rd, 2012
3:15 pm
What about Kate McCarthy? She should have been handed mornings at the NEW 97.1 The River.
jennywrocks
January 3rd, 2012
3:16 pm
Nick IS English (& awesome), Eddie Money will be missed and EDDIE MONEY STILL ROCKS!
Tony
January 3rd, 2012
4:02 pm
Much love for English Nick. I’ve heard him doing fill-in and weekend work on Atlanta radio for years. He really is a solid D.J., and he seems to be loved by the Atlanta radio and local music community (didn’t they have a large fundraiser for him a year or two back after he was injured in a car wreck?).
Still, sounds like there’s a new opening for Randy and Spiff, back on 97.1, where it all began. If not them, here’s hoping English Nick gets to keep the gig for a while. He’s earned the steady work.
old listener
January 3rd, 2012
4:03 pm
experiment, sounded like he was recording out of his basement then playing the cassette tape. more like a disaster
ExWKLS
January 3rd, 2012
4:36 pm
How was it that anyone possibly thought this would work? I continue to be amazed at the lack any kind of original thinking on the part of radio programmers.
And as much as I love XM, even their programmers seem to be unable to get beyond a few worn out songs. Man, if I hear “Psycho Killer” by Talking Heads, or “Personal Jesus” by Depeche Mode on First Wave one more time, I’m going to shoot my radio.
Rob
January 3rd, 2012
4:38 pm
I do not listen to ATL radio and have not in about 5 years. Its all the same ‘morning zoo’, laugh tracked, pre-canned bits. The Regular Guys are OK, but they copy a lot of stuff from other shows. I listen to Tampa radio every morning for the last 3 years.
Mike
January 3rd, 2012
4:41 pm
What about bringing back Randy and Spiff?!?! I stopped listening when they left for reasons still unknown. I loved those guys!! They were hilarious!!!!
Christopher Lowell
January 3rd, 2012
4:45 pm
I hate you 97.1! I LOVE EDDIE MONEY! SHAAAAKINNNNNNN!
jv
January 3rd, 2012
4:45 pm
Please, Randy and Spiff, and more oldies, please, please.
97.1/The River’s Eddie Money experiment ends after three months | ATLANTAboy.com | Gay Atlanta Celebrity, Film, Movie & TV News
January 3rd, 2012
4:45 pm
[...] more 97.1/The River’s Eddie Money experiment ends after three months at Radio & TV Talk… /* * * CONFIGURATION VARIABLES: EDIT BEFORE PASTING INTO YOUR [...]
JARED
January 3rd, 2012
4:47 pm
I heard that Eddie Money left b/c there is a national morning show in the works. He will take over for the Today Show on NBC.
BABY HOLD ON TO MEEEEEE
One in the Same
January 3rd, 2012
4:49 pm
Isn’t Jordan Graye (B98.5) and Kate McCarthy the same person? I think maybe yes!
Good idea too – bring back Randy and Spiff!!!
finally
January 3rd, 2012
4:50 pm
First Elle Duncan was Slam Dunked and now Eddie Money’s not doing the “Winnie the Pooh” Giggles in the morning and repeating the same 5 sentences over and over to noone’s amusement….maybe 2012 will be great!
Larry
January 3rd, 2012
4:51 pm
97.1 the River should play more classics outside the am radio classics that used to get played over and over and over and over and over.
THE ROAD NEVER ENDS TOUR
January 3rd, 2012
4:52 pm
when is he coming back to WILD BILL’S?
dawgs921
January 3rd, 2012
4:54 pm
Yes bring back Randy and Spiff! Atlanta Radio has really gone down hill! Radio stations play the same/most popular songs over and over again. Need some major revamping!!!
Ray
January 3rd, 2012
4:55 pm
Wish they’d get rid of Larry and Eric’s ‘Tea Bag Breakfast’ on 100.5.
Bad enough the republicans took a dump on this country, don’t need a GOP campaign interrupting good music.
rwk
January 3rd, 2012
4:56 pm
This was no surprise to anyone. Everything was pre-recorded except for when he performed at Wild Bill’s recently. I’m surprised it lasted as long as it did.
Bring back Randy & Spiff. Retire “Maggie May”, “Dream On” and “Go Your Own Way” once and for all and play some of the classics we never hear anymore.
atlantaradiosucks
January 3rd, 2012
4:59 pm
yes– Randy & Spiff are the answer to all of ATL radio’s problems!
GO SPARTY!!!
Ron Burgundy
January 3rd, 2012
4:59 pm
IF I COULD WALK ON WATER….IF I COULD FIND SOME WAY TO PROVE…IF I COULD WALK ON WATER BELIVE IN ME….MY RADIO TALENTS ARE TRUE
Mary
January 3rd, 2012
4:59 pm
I love Eddie Money’s music but he’s no DJ. Thank goodness he’s gone.
Rascal
January 3rd, 2012
5:01 pm
No one under 40 has ever heard of Eddie Money
Reality Bites
January 3rd, 2012
5:02 pm
Bring back the greaseman!!!!!
To Rascal
January 3rd, 2012
5:05 pm
Are you serious? In athens they play take me home tonight at Flanigans Bar. And then I get Lucky. IM 25 and that is the best song on the planet.
Rascal
January 3rd, 2012
5:15 pm
Yes I’m serious, sorry about your poor taste in music
Johnny Bravo
January 3rd, 2012
5:17 pm
Atlanta radio has sucked since Mark McCain left.
Phred
January 3rd, 2012
5:20 pm
Another vote for Randy and Spiff here.
LaLa
January 3rd, 2012
5:23 pm
That’s not true @Rascal…..I know people under age 40 that have heard of Eddie Money and have been to his concerts!!!!
Andi L
January 3rd, 2012
5:23 pm
Would love to hear Jimmy Baron back on the airwaves!
Whatta Mess
January 3rd, 2012
5:25 pm
Guess you could say that they squandered their Money ….
XM Listener
January 3rd, 2012
5:25 pm
…and how long will it be “The new 97.1..the River???” Can’t believe they still play that tag..
urban redneck
January 3rd, 2012
5:27 pm
guess eddie’s got to use one of his two tickets to paradise to get back there……..
RK
January 3rd, 2012
5:30 pm
Put on Don Geronimo.
Rascal
January 3rd, 2012
5:31 pm
LaLa
January 3rd, 2012
5:23 pm
That’s not true @Rascal…..I know people under age 40 that have heard of Eddie Money and have been to his concerts!!!!
God you people don’t know how to not embarrass yourselves
Sluggo
January 3rd, 2012
5:31 pm
“guess eddie’s got to use one of his two tickets to paradise to get back there”
urban redneck just took the thread.
Hilarious!
GRAHAM
January 3rd, 2012
5:34 pm
I agree. Atlanta radio has sucked for a long time. You’d think we could find so descent talent.
This is Mrs.Norman Maine
January 3rd, 2012
5:35 pm
For God’s sake, do not bring back Randy and Spiff. Who ARE you people?
I like Eddie Money’s music but he was not good at the DJ thing. He always seemed awkward to me. By all means, continue to try different things but this one experiment just didn’t work.
And do not recycle the ghosts of Atlanta radio’s past, let them be.
Rascal
January 3rd, 2012
5:38 pm
I can’t believe people still listen to the radio, trapped in the 1950s I guess
NIKKI
January 3rd, 2012
5:38 pm
Rascal–I agree! Have a sense of humor, folks!
To the above poster concerning Larry and Eric (sorry too lazy to look)…yes Yes YES! TRG is dying–maybe already dead. It’s a bore. A joke. and this is coming from a long time listener! I think they may be waiting till the end of contract and moving on. I think thats a good idea.
The Real McCoy?
January 3rd, 2012
5:40 pm
Is this the reason Steve McCoy is leaving Denver to return to Atlanta? Aside from his family of course.
fat old gray haired rocker
January 3rd, 2012
5:51 pm
I may have heard this English guy and didn’t pay attention to his name.
Randy and Spiff would certainly appease the 54 year old end of the demographic. Not too sure about the 25 year old end.
And while we’re at it…how about a thirty day moratorium on any songs by Boston?
trickey dick
January 3rd, 2012
6:04 pm
Who cares about Money, as long as we have the regular guys. Cant get enough of the. Tim Andrews is a master of sound.
CA
January 3rd, 2012
6:06 pm
SIRIUSly folks, put out the 15.00 and get some quality music, along with NFL, CNN, CNBC, politics, Howard Stern, whatever you want. Whether it is Sirius or XM, do yourselves a favor. Forget ITunes and Pandora. The only thing that truly competes with Sirius/XM is Spotify.
Rascal
January 3rd, 2012
6:10 pm
No thanks, I’d rather listen to the same stale formats and “wacky” morning zoo crap every morning, and I enjoy sitting through a 1:1 commercial/music play ratio to do so. Yes I’m from the South, what of it?
LarryLarsen has DuckFeet
January 3rd, 2012
6:11 pm
1690 am is the best radio station in the city, by far……….
Rascal
January 3rd, 2012
6:16 pm
Make Neal Boortz a DJ at a top 40 station
Vince
January 3rd, 2012
6:20 pm
Let’s bring back “Chase & Woodside’!………….never mind.