Kelly McCoy leaving B98.5 after 27 years in afternoons
Kelly McCoy, who has manned the mic at pop-rock station B98.5 for 27 years in the afternoons, is leaving Friday.
“I’m a very blessed man,” said McCoy, 59. “I have no complaints. I have no regrets. It’s been a great place to work. They treated me fairly.”
McCoy’s warm voice and upbeat personality on air has been truly a constant on the station, even as it has transitioned over the years from a softer rock format with plenty of Rod Stewart, Elton John and Phil Collins to a more current-based mix featuring Katy Perry, Bruno Mars and Lady Gaga.
McCoy, heard from 2 to 7 p.m. weekdays as well as voice-tracked on weekends, began his Atlanta radio career in 1978 at 790/WQXI-AM (”Quixie in Dixie”), which was the flame-throwing top 40 station of its day. He segued over to what was then called WSB 99 FM in early 1985.
One song McCoy said he thinks he’s played regularly since that day? Wham’s “Careless Whisper.” “Can’t say I’m not tired of that one,” he said.
When asked by people how he’s survived this long, McCoy said he gives a simple, lighthearted answer: “I do what I’m told.”
Tom Taylor, who runs radio news site radio-info.com, said this type of longevity is a combination of skill and luck. It’s rare for anyone to last 20 years in the same time slot at the same station, much less 27. Factors, he said, that helped McCoy: stable ownership in Cox and reliable pop radio format targeting soccer moms.
“He’s had consistently good ratings,” said B98.5 program director Lee Cagle, “and a consistently great name in the market.”
Cagle said he had known for awhile so he had time to find a replacement, who will be announced on Friday. He said it’s someone who is from out of town and not known in the Atlanta market.
Update on Friday April 27: Cagle said McCoy’s replacement is Mike Shannon from Louisville.
McCoy, not to be mistaken for B98.5 morning host Kelly Stevens, said he and his wife Cary will spend a month at his beloved beach home in St. Simons Island before moving forward. “I plan to retire from radio right now,” he said. “The possibilities are endless in the online world. I have some entrepreneurial ideas up my sleeve.”
In other B98.5 news, Cagle said the station is experimenting by dropping its long-running specialty weekends featuring either all 1980s music or a mix of 1980s and 1990s the past two weeks. Instead, the station is playing its regular rotation on Saturdays and Sundays. It’s too early, he said, to judge if ratings are being impacted, good or bad. “I’ve received some complaints,” he said. “But not a lot.”
Here’s an insider’s read on B98.5’s recent changes by Roddy Freeman.
Oddly, McCoy started a blog on the radio station’s site just a month ago here.
Join my Facebook fan page and Twitter.
By Rodney Ho, Radio & TV Talk
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75 comments Add your comment
Ricky
April 25th, 2012
11:11 am
I will definitely miss Kelly. My family and I were always saying that it was good to be able to listen to the radio and not have to cringe at the thought of inappropriate radio talk or music being played, especially when the children were around. A true class act. I wish him the best on his new ventures.
P.S. Don’t take away the 80’s weekend. I lived for the weekend when I knew I would be getting my endless dosage of 80’s music.
arlene
April 25th, 2012
11:11 am
Also, Kelly was a very gracious host,but many times the contest winners said “Cool” or “Wow” whenever they win. I think the words “Thank you” are not used enough. People, don’t forget your manners….some things never go out of style.But Kelly always seemed happy for the winners, thank-you or not.
Bruce Stevens
April 25th, 2012
11:18 am
If I were you and Cary I’d spend more than a month at the beach. Congratulations on the 27 years.
All the best,
Bruce
The Kimmer
April 25th, 2012
11:18 am
I need a gig
Grease Man
April 25th, 2012
11:19 am
Me too
Gary
April 25th, 2012
11:19 am
I must be getting old because I remember when I first came to Athens to attend UGA in 1977, my first radio job was at WRFC-AM and Kelly was the afternoon jock with the long hair and great voice. I knew he was too good for that market and sure enough, a year later he left us for Quixie. Congratulations on a great career and good luck in your “retirement”
jimbo
April 25th, 2012
11:54 am
Please, anybody but Jimmy Barrons.
Susan Miller
April 25th, 2012
11:57 am
Kelly, we will certainly miss you! I have listened to you for a very long time….The afternoon will never be the same! I wish you the very best for all the wonderful times your future will bring!!!
Dale O'Brien
April 25th, 2012
12:23 pm
Can I have my job back ?
JASon
April 25th, 2012
12:42 pm
“When asked by people how he’s survived this long, McCoy said he gives a simple, lighthearted answer: “I do what I’m told.””
This says a lot about the state of the radio industry in America.
American Mother
April 25th, 2012
1:15 pm
DO THEY NEED ANY HELP????? SERIOUSILY!!!!! cAN’T SPELL SO GREAT SOMETIMES, BUT I TALK REAL GOOD!!!
JAN SNELL HOUSTON AKA AMERICAN MOTHER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WAR EAGLE
April 25th, 2012
1:23 pm
Kelly McCoy- You are a HOF candidate. Professional in every way. Grew up listening to you after the McKee show with Willis, Redneckerson, Yetta and Dr. Joe. As for B 98.5, I know you have a play list, but please, don’t go the way of V103 aka Repeat EVERY 3- and play the same songs 8 times a day! People get sick of it after the 3rd time it is played that day. Songs of the 1960’s mix well with the 70’s and 80’s- play some B side songs or lessor known ones.
Kelly, I wish you the best. I still have the tape you sent me while you were at QXI- Silverbird and Honey comb. That station was the best to listen to all day long. Enjoy!
ATLgal
April 25th, 2012
3:14 pm
Cagle is the one to blame for the slumping ratings. He’s the one who ought to be job hunting right now, not Kelly McCoy. I love the format switch, but where is the big community service outreach from this station -Q100 and Star seem to have it down. Also, what is up with no getting to hear the funny trivia answer guesses? Everything this station does feels so contrived and “inside the box”. They don’t let their on-air personalities have… personality. That is why the Bert Show does better. Not to mention, what demo does Vikki fit into now? She’s too old to relate to the moms and the young adults that listen. Kelly Stevens and Jessica are fun -just wish there was someone more fun for them to play off. And at least bring back the 80’s weekends for the summer!
ATLgal
April 25th, 2012
3:20 pm
And having met Kelly McCoy, I can tell you, if they’d let him -he’d have been absolutely hilarious on-air. Again, there’s that “inside the box” thinking at Cox. While professional, he’s got that Regular Guys sense of humor that’s tongue and cheek. In fact, I think it’d be hilarious if they recruited him now.
I hope he starts his own radio show -like the one steven van zandt does.
dave meszaros
April 26th, 2012
2:31 am
Nice picture, his nose isn’t as brown as I remember it.
Dee
April 26th, 2012
4:23 pm
A lot of people do what they’re told in radio and still end up being let go. And how can anyone think Kelly Stevens and Jessica are “fun”. He’s a doofus and she’s awful. I’ll admit Vikki had better chemistry with Steve McCoy (both of them are pros) but the current B98 morning show is a train wreck. The new music doesn’t help either. Bruno Mars??? Adele every 10 minutes??? It’s time for another soft rock station to emerge in Atlanta and show the Cox folks how it’s done. They have dropped the ball over there.
Charles in NYC
April 27th, 2012
11:56 am
Kelly McCoy is a giant who’s immaculate voice will be greatly missed daily on Atlanta radio AND TV!
As has been said before, simply the best on and off the air. A tremendous mentor, he plucked me from obscurity in 1988; I owe much of my success in television and radio to this tremendous man, friend and talent. May the wind be always at your back and the sun shine brilliantly on your face always Kelly Mac! Listening to you is like getting a good massage. PS: eh, where’s the hook?
jamestaylor
April 27th, 2012
3:09 pm
He’s got the smiling face of a friend
Still you’re not quite certain you know him
The smile turns into a grin
What do you owe him
You know you owe him
Company Man…..
rob
April 27th, 2012
4:01 pm
Good Luck Kelly!!!! your awesome and we will miss you!!!!
enjoy!!!
i Love Mccoy all the way to the moon
April 27th, 2012
5:25 pm
Kelly truly and honestly you are the reason i listen to radio. When i moved to this country, i loved radio from my home country, and it was just so different here…too fast music without much sense. One afternoon in an attempt to figure out the radio stations, McCoy voice came on and it has been down hill from there.
Best of luck McCoy…and thank you for stating on today’s show that you don’t care about where a person is from or what they do if they have a good heart. Not too many people live on that virtue.
My dream since i was 10 has always been becoming a radio personnel (I’m a few steps a from becoming one) and though i never got to meet you, i got a lot from you that and I’m taking it with me. I will miss you on air.
WSB 98.5 PLEASE…this station does not sound like it used to…the 80’s are just about gone…who knows what will happen without McCoy
MarkATL
April 27th, 2012
8:38 pm
I wonder if Alpha would be interested in taking that slot now that McCoy is retired.
radio guy
April 28th, 2012
8:50 am
Enter your comments here
Word is that Kelly’s replacement will come from Louisville, and the person while in ATL will VT their Louisville airshift. Sounds like “retirement” is a $ deal.
Star
April 28th, 2012
4:02 pm
WOW!! What a shock!! I’ve been listening to Mr. Kelly for like 22 years. Will be weird not hearing his voice anymore. I wish you the best of luck! And, you will truely be missed!
James Greek
April 29th, 2012
11:22 pm
At radio guy the person coming from Louisville nights well stay in Louisville and vt their Atlanta shift.
James Greek
April 29th, 2012
11:23 pm
Might as well