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Winners and losers in Atlanta radio with all the changes

10:02 am September 5, 2012, by Rodney Ho

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Phew!

It’s been a whirlwind month in Atlanta radio for rock and pop radio listeners, unprecedented in the amount of change in such a short time.

Lets’ review:

- Hard rock station Project 9-6-1 last week became top 40 station Power 96.1 on one of the most powerful FM signals in metro Atlanta. (Clear Channel today announced it is making a Project station available on its phone app “I Heart Radio.”)

- Alternative rock station 99X at 98.9 on Saturday turned into a hard rock station 98.9/The Bone on a signal that doesn’t reach much beyond the Perimeter.

- Journey 97.9 on Tuesday transformed itself into a Q100 “spinoff” featuring the top 20 songs from that station on a signal comparable to that of 98.9.

- In a few weeks, adult rock station 92.9/Dave FM will switch format into a sports talk station on one of the stronger signals in the area.

- And back in May, the oldies station Atlanta’s Greatest Hits dropped its format to be All News 106.7.

So who are winners and losers if things don’t change yet again?

WINNERS

- Fans of top 40 radio. Clearly, the options to hear Flo Rida, Rihanna and Karmin have gone up since two more top 40 stations have appeared on the dial. We now have at least five stations playing a variation of current pop music, some with more of a rock/pop lean, some with a hip-hop feel: B98.5, Star 94 and Q100 plus newbies Power 96.1 and Q100’s 20 at 97.9. Wild 105.7/96.7 has started to veer more hip hop but still plays some top 40 songs. It’s fair to say Atlanta has never had this many choices on the top 40 front.

- Sports talk fans. There’s a reasonable debate about whether Atlanta is a good sports town outside of football. But for more than a decade, it has successfully sustained two AM sports talk stations – one which added a modest FM signal in 2010. But can Atlanta sustain three sports talk stations? Folks who love to listen to guys (and the occasional woman) gab about the Hawks, Falcons and Dawgs now have more options than ever thanks to CBS Radio and 92.9.

- Elvis Duran and Ryan Seacrest. Elvis Duran, the syndicated New York talk show host, had been on the weaker Wild 105.7/96.7 signal and gradually building a faithful audience seeking an alternative to the Bert Show on Q100. Now he’s been placed on the more powerful Power 96.1 signal and will face Bert on an even playing field. Seacrest, the ubiquitous media mogul and “Idol” host who began his career as a teen-ager at Star 94 in the 1980s, joins the mid-day slot in syndicated form, a place he held briefly a couple years ago on Star.

- Rock 100.5 and 97.1/The River. Fewer options for rock fans has to help the two remaining big-signal rock stations. It certainly can’t hurt them. Ratings-challenged Rock 100.5 could especially use the boost.

- The Regular Guys. With Project’s year-old Kidd Chris gone, the male-leaning veteran Regular Guys show on Rock 100.5 may be able to draw back some of its listeners who have left the past couple of years.

- Spotify, Pandora, Slacker, Sirius XM, your iPod. Alienated FM radio listeners are going to other options. And there are plenty, especially on your smartphone. Arguably, the fact so many rock fans were already going in this direction may have hastened the demise of stations such as Dave.

LOSERS

- Rock radio fans, especially those in their 30s and 40s. While classic rock fans can still enjoy the River and Rock 100.5, if you’re into acts such as Mumford & Sons, Avett Brothers, Cake, the Talking Heads, Jack Johnson, INXS, Dave Matthews Band, and Weezer, your options are or will soon be virtually gone from the FM dial in Atlanta.

- Pop fans who like songs from the 1980s and 1990s. Lovers of pop songs from the 1960s and 1970s are already bereft of FM options since Atlanta’s Greatest Hits went away in May. No Beatles. No James Taylor. No Bee Gees. B98.5 plays a few 1980s and 1990s cuts. Star will throw in an occasional nugget from the 1990s. But if you just want to listen to songs from those decades alone, Journey was it.

- Kidd Chris. After 15 months in Atlanta, he was starting to build momentum for younger males. New morning shows typically take two or three years to really get going so he was well on his way. The death of Project cut him off at a key moment.

- Most of the staff at Dave FM. With fewer rock options in this market, this makes it just much harder for on-air staff such as Steve Craig, Margot Smith and Rich Sullivan to find another job in Atlanta. Mara Davis, given her heritage in town, may have the easiest time landing somewhere else.

- Wild 105.7/96.7. The station was doing very well on a medium-sized signal, a top 5 station among 18 to 34 year olds. Even though Wild has gone more hip-hop in the past week to try to take away listeners from surging Hot 107.9, Clear Channel has turned Wild into a “flanker” to Power rather than its primary focus. That means resources that might have gone to Wild in terms of marketing and sales will likely be diverted to Power.

- Q100 (potentially). Q100 is a dominant top 40 station in town and has been for years. Power’s music mix is clearly targeting that station, even more so than B98.5 and Star 94, which skew older.

- 790 the Zone. This station does not have an FM signal and its night signal is tepid. It’s already at a disadvantage with 680/The Fan, which also airs on 93.7 and has a stronger night signal. So with 92.9 coming aboard, the Zone is immediately in trouble. (The Zone is available on the Star 94 HD-2 channel if you happen to have HD Radio.)

- FM radio in general. These changes in general result in fewer options on the FM dial. There’s no doubt many peeved listeners are going to seek friendlier climes and spend less time with old-fashioned free radio.

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By Rodney Ho, Radio & TV Talk

244 comments Add your comment

FormerRockJock

September 5th, 2012
10:11 am

First! and all of the above couldn’t be truer! Glad I have a CD changer in the car as the FM will be used less and less as time goes by!

ddd

September 5th, 2012
10:13 am

What’s your analysis / reporting tell you about why CMG, CC and Cumulus are seemingly ignoring upwardly mobile adults who listen to DAVE type music (if not the actual station)? Any insights into what the programming heads in town are saying. Is the pie of young kids that big that they can afford to dismiss smart music fans with money to spend?

Also, does WABE have legs with classical? I’ve heard rumors they are considering a format flip to attract younger audiences?

Iamkellyp

September 5th, 2012
10:23 am

With the demise of Dave FM, who is going to be playing ANY new, more alt type music and older alternative music. There is no one now playing The Black Keys, Alabama Shakes, Avett Brothers, The Cure, Smith’s, etc.

September 5th, 2012
10:24 am

What’s happening with Axl? Will they keep him on the Bone? God, I hope so. Radio in Atlanta sucks. Anyone have recommendations for online alternative and rock stations? Hate you Clear Channel!

Rodney Ho

September 5th, 2012
10:26 am

@ddd WABE has been trying to balance its smaller (but very wealthy, older) classical audience with its broader news/talk audience. Will they ever drop classical? That debate has been going on for decades. So far, they have held firm and doing very well.

As for the folks who like Dave-FM music, well, yes, that demo is being effectively abandoned by the big companies. My theory is that type of listener is already wandering off to other options such as Pandora, Spotify and Sirius/XM, which is why Dave’s ratings took a nosedive the past 18 months. So who left who first?

Rodney Ho

September 5th, 2012
10:27 am

@Iamkellyp. If you were thinking of going to Sirius/XM, now sure seems to be the time if you want to listen to those acts on radio. Or go on your smartphone apps. Lots of options there.

Wink

September 5th, 2012
10:28 am

Radio stations are being run by people who want to be perceived as “hip”. It’s not glamorous to cater to an older crowd. The thing is the younger Top 40 audience has no allegiance to radio. They can get their music from other sources. Adults 35+ (especially women) want to turn on the radio and get back to doing other things (work, etc). Someone is going to lose this battle. Some of the Q100 listeners will wander around the dial to sample the other choices. Star 94 has to figure out what to do with their morning show. B98.5 needs to return to its former glory as a soft rock powerhouse. A true radio programmer would let the Top 40 stations fight over the scraps and come up with something different.

newsfan

September 5th, 2012
10:42 am

You forgot one other “winner.” People who are news junkies. People in their cars that travel Atlanta roadways. With the addition of all news at 106.7, you can actually get real time traffic 24-7. And you can hear news anytime!

ddd

September 5th, 2012
10:42 am

Agreed, Wink. Something different and smart would stand out in this nonsense. For the time people spend in their cars here, having umpteen ways to hear Katy Perry seems a bit of overkill.

Disgusted

September 5th, 2012
10:45 am

Never wanted to, but looks like I’ll have to get subscription radio to listen to anything worthwhile while driving.

Thanks Clear Channel, it’s always good to know what big business thinks of my demographic.

BTW

September 5th, 2012
10:48 am

Before you all go give money for XM, why not explore any of the free or low cost Apps. With all due respect, satellite radio ain’t all that. There are better, less expensive ways.

World's Second Oldest teenager

September 5th, 2012
10:49 am

I listen to Scott Shannon’s True Oldies format on the internet at work (late ’60’s/early ’70’s is the all time best era in music radio) and when I am driving, I listen to local sports talk or Sirius/XM’s ’60’s, 70’s or “first Wave” (’80’s new wave/alternative) stations. Unfortunately, none of those exists on local radio here. In addition to those formats, if I were to listen to a contemporary format, I would want one that features songs that are edgy AND have great melody. The latter trait is very hard to find on radio today. The closest thing would be a contemporary alternative pop format, but none of these many Top 40’s we have now seems to want to do that. When I was in L.A. in 1982 and 1983 we had three FM top 40 stations and three AM’s and they all embraced the “new wave” alternative pop sound of the day.

Alan

September 5th, 2012
10:52 am

Any one have a guess why cumulus.com station portfolio has 97.9 fm listed as 99x?

Rodney Ho

September 5th, 2012
10:53 am

@Alan I presume nobody has updated that website. 99X used to be at 97.9.

fes

September 5th, 2012
10:57 am

I’d be curious to find out if Clear Channel, Cumulus, etc are shareholders of Sirius XM. They seem to drive people towards satellite radio a lot lately, and I wonder if it’s because they want share prices to increase.

Sports Fan

September 5th, 2012
11:01 am

You are forgetting another loser in this whole whirlwind of radio shake ups. This town will not support three sports talk radio station and you would assume that the weaker of the 3 signals will get hurt the most. The new Dave on FM will be able to be heard clearly all over Atlanta and even into Athens. 680 The Fan during the day can be heard in pretty far outside of the city but at night you lose the AM signal and the FM you still have to be fairly close to the Perimeter. The Zone a weak signal during the day and night why would people struggle to hear anything on it when you can pick up 2 others clearly. It seems like it will be only a matter of time before The Zone is a loser in the Sport Talk World

Jennifer

September 5th, 2012
11:01 am

Does Atlanta really need five pop stations? Especially one cycling the same 20 hits over and over again? Oddly enough I switched over to Journey last night because both B98 and Star 94 were playing Adele. I like Adele, but I don’t need to listen to her 3-4 times an hour since I listen to the radio for variety. The two country stations are just as bad. So basically Clear Channel and Cox just gave a big zerbert to their listening public. I don’t want to switch to satellite, an Ipod or search out other alternatives – I like FM. Just wish FM liked me….

bill hogue

September 5th, 2012
11:03 am

You would think a city the size of Atlanta would have better stations. Since moving here in June I have been very disapointed especially with the rock stations!

Rodney Ho

September 5th, 2012
11:05 am

@Sports Fan. Thanks. I added 790/The Zone. You are right on that one.

Sam I Am

September 5th, 2012
11:07 am

If my car had an AUX cable plug for my smart phone, I would never use the radio, especially with apps like “TuneIn”.

AllNews 106.7 is getting on my nerves, because many of their news readers cannot read!

Raven333

September 5th, 2012
11:11 am

Any word on the fate of 92.9 and 96.1’s HD radio channels?

Michelle

September 5th, 2012
11:11 am

Atlanta radio: as Keith Kalland used to say, “Stick a fork in it. It’s done.”

Melissa

September 5th, 2012
11:17 am

Good summary, Rodney. The message of it sucks, but it’s clear Atlanta radio has sucked for a long time. This just makes it even worse.

CaribouRancher

September 5th, 2012
11:26 am

Boy Michelle, I really do miss Keith Kalland and “The Kimmer”.

Mark

September 5th, 2012
11:28 am

I’ve been in ATL for over 30 years and am continually amazed and disappointed over the lackluster radio choices in Atlanta. Other markets seem to figure it out – what can’t we? For those familiar with WDVE (102.5) in Pittsburgh, you know what a great radio station is.

September 5th, 2012
11:31 am

First and foremost, we really lost when we lost the KIMMER. I do think Atlanta can handle an Oldies station, and most of Atlanta would love to have Randy and Spiff back. Depending on their on air personalities, yes, it looks like DAVE fm could give 790 a run for their money…I personally hope Nick and Chris switch to DAVE FM, other than that I have no desire to listen to anybody on 790. One obvious area to target in sports talk would be the time when 680, inexplicably, goes syndicated…I always turn off any station that isn’t local.

Tyrone

September 5th, 2012
11:33 am

Add Braves fans who prefer to listen to the games on AM to the losers list. 680 is anemic on the outer fringes of metro Atlanta. Next time the radio broadcast contract comes up for renewal they need to switch back to WSB-750.

USCLady

September 5th, 2012
11:33 am

I am so sad that Dave FM is leaving the airwaves. Yes, I am a middle age woman who still likes a new sound but not top 40. I like hearing my favorites like The Who, Talking Heads, Elvis Costello, but also like Mumford & Sons, etc. Dave FM plays what I like. Alternately, I listed to XM radio in the car most of the time but catch Clark Howard mid-day. I have to pick a new morning show and it will be most likely 97.1 The River. Atlanta also needs a solid classic jazz station, not contemporary jazz. I get my jazz on the internet from 2 stations in Carmel and San Mateo. As a former radio industry person, I see the Top 40 and sports stations battling for share and someone will fall. There are not enough ad dollars and a faithful audience to go around. Too saturated in these 2 genres. Also, hope Dave FM’s DJs get new jobs as they do a great job!

JMac

September 5th, 2012
11:43 am

Gave up on Atlanta radio a couple of years ago when I complained the first time about not being able to listen to Bruce Springsteen on the River, and again when 106.7 got rid of Scott Shannon. I believe Atlanta radio listeners must have a musical IQ of about 5 out of 100. This city has the worst radio choices of any city I have ever been in.

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September 5th, 2012
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Motocross Survivor

September 5th, 2012
11:49 am

Radio in this town sucks, and always has pretty much, and I’ve been listening in here for 35 years+. Actually though, the old Album Rock (the original 96 Rock) wasn’t bad, but it’s LONG gone.

steve

September 5th, 2012
11:58 am

my sources tell me jimmy baron is on the move.

SteveC

September 5th, 2012
11:58 am

How odd. Now that I have more disposable income than ever, I have ZERO stations on the FM dial worth listening to.

Satellite Radio Fan

September 5th, 2012
12:01 pm

Scrap it all and go with Sirius. Guaranteed you’ll find something you like.

Schlep

September 5th, 2012
12:01 pm

Been here since 79 and Atlanta radio has never been great with music stations. Never found one with really the right mix for me. It was fun early on with stations sponsoring happy hours and raft races. Now they broadcast from car dealerships.

Albert

September 5th, 2012
12:04 pm

ZERO stations on the FM dial, SteveC? Perhaps if you listened to classical music on radio, you’d find something worth listening to. As long as we have that, radio does not suck.

Liam

September 5th, 2012
12:08 pm

The biggest losers in ATL are the fans that go see shows like Godsmack, Warped Tour, Iron Maiden, etc. Without the big power modern rock format stations in the area, we aren’t going to get good tours in on a regular basis.

Hersy

September 5th, 2012
12:15 pm

I love DaveFM. You keep talking about how strong it is, but I can barely pick it up in my car at work in Gainesville, so it’s not THAT strong. So now I have to pay for satellite radio or go buy a smartphone to hear good music? No thanks. I’ll just utilize my CD player.

rob

September 5th, 2012
12:19 pm

Rodney, you didn’t mention that 790 can be heard on one of Star 94’s HD FM channels. That’s how I get better reception.

cindiluhoo

September 5th, 2012
12:26 pm

Life and Radio listening does NOT stop at 40. Those of us in or 50’s and 60’s would really like something to listen to other than Top 40, Country and News; or do we not count? With a city as big as the Atlanta area you would think everyone would have something to listen to. Come on, there was music before the 80’s.

OTP

September 5th, 2012
12:33 pm

It is strange to me, as the population gets older, (and usually has the money), they would cater to the very young audience. I long for the days of Quixie, 96Rock, and Z93!

alan

September 5th, 2012
12:35 pm

Radio in Atlanta has not been the same since 96 Rock left. Sad to see all the good rock stations
go but siriusxm is taking over and as it has already been said, you will find your listening pleasure
there.

hoodtechie

September 5th, 2012
12:36 pm

when will atlanta bring back a jazz station,all the other radio stations are replaying the top 30 songs for their station repeatly anyway.thank god for satellite radio.

Joe Stockton

September 5th, 2012
12:41 pm

The real problem is all the stations are owned by the few corporations.

Clear Channel is especially horrific! How many times have they shuffled their channels round? They kill a format on a station and then 6 months later put nearly the same format on a different station. And Cumulus, Cox and CBS react to Clear Channel and shuffle what they do.

Typical corporate insanity chasing the magic bullet trying to keep Wall Street excited as they drive the business into the toilet in the long term. Pitiful!

Alan

September 5th, 2012
12:45 pm

And the winner is Sirius XM.

Ima Hogge

September 5th, 2012
1:09 pm

Would also like to see 88.5 FM re-claim it’s real alternative format and begin playing some of the well-known ’90’s and early ‘00 era alternative bands that they introduced in the first place before the “suits” commercialized the format. It’s nice every once and a while to hear a band that I am familiar with. I understand introducing new artists but to do it 24-7? There’s no opportunity to hear anything more than once, which can be frustrating.

Sage of Bluesland

September 5th, 2012
1:20 pm

I agree on one of the “Winners” being sports-talk fans, as competition is good for those who have become complacent. I have alternated back and forth between 680 and 790 over the years–and will give the new station a try.

680 is practically unlistenable; 790 upped their game after nearly circling the drain–but their arrogance always gets the best of them and turns me off.

Here’s to a good third option and maybe some of the frauds like Perry/Belue/Kincade will be finally off the air…I can only hope….

Suggestion Box

September 5th, 2012
1:30 pm

A few ideas:
1. Try a format similar to the Classic FM that succeeds in the UK. Play “the hits,” favorite movements, etc. The days of the pretentious NPR hosts playing 30 minute symphonies is history.
2. 790 will likely be the one hurt most by Dave Sports. I prefer 790’s morning show (esp. when Steak is off) but the signal is pathetic. The rest of 790’s lineup is lame.
3. Not since Clear Channel threw WGST under the bus – and forced Hughes and the Kimmer into retirement – has there been a really listenable AND entertaining news-talk station in the ATL. The 106.7 effort is game but tedious.
3.

Shannon

September 5th, 2012
1:36 pm

But some how Moby survived. What a sorry excuse for air time.

V103 SUCKS!!!!!1

September 5th, 2012
1:51 pm

AND THEY LEFT THE V103 IN TACT ARE YOU SERIOUS!!!! I ONLY LISTEN TO THEM FOR THE COMMERCIALS.

Sagebasics

September 5th, 2012
2:03 pm

All News 106.7 is a winner for those listeners who prefer news to music. We’re all winners when they can drive home in the afternoon, pick up the local news, and not have to listen to Sean Hannity.

former RegularGuy listener

September 5th, 2012
2:12 pm

At least we still have “TheRiver” radio so we can hear Phil Collins’ classic “I Can Feel It Cumming In Her Hair Tonight……….Oh Lord” about fifty times a frigging day and I am willing to bet that The RegularGuys radio show will be another proud sponsor and supporter of next spring’s Gay Pride Parade and rally since most of their content for over a year has been homo-erotic. I liked their program much better when Larry W.A.C.H.S., SouthSideSteve and SeaBass still pretended to be half way straight. I hope Tim Andrews and Eric Von Haesller can find their own program. Looks like the internet has truly killed the radio star.

beachmom

September 5th, 2012
2:17 pm

David Byrne had a great quote about radio and Clear Channel, in particular. He was talking about different deals musicians can make, and Live Nation came up.

http://www.wired.com/entertainment/music/magazine/16-01/ff_byrne?currentPage=all

“I, for one, would not want to be beholden to Live Nation — a spinoff of Clear Channel, the radio conglomerate that turned the US airwaves into pabulum**.”

** pabulum: “Insipid intellectual nourishment”

The comment section on this blog has been more engaging than FM radio in Atlanta. Nice analysis, Rodney. I would just add one more group of losers: great artists whose music will never be heard on the radio in Atlanta.

dagadawgs

September 5th, 2012
2:18 pm

Liam hit it right on the head! Big rock acts will not be coming to Atlanta w/o a decent station to promote them. Atl radio blows

blkshepherd

September 5th, 2012
2:22 pm

You know your getting old or old when you finally decide to go out on the town to a nightclub after Years of staying home on friday and Saturday night..only to have the first 20 songs and two hours go over your head because Everything sounds the Same today, and then finally a song from the 1980s comes on and Its Like a Breath of Fresh air.

Even if the song from the 80s was Not one of your favorites..Its sounds so damn good you jump up and want to dance! I Never Never thought I would miss the 80s until the late 90s and 00s came in. All I had left was the Real Oldies station or my Own private collection.

Now that Radio has completely DIED(RIP) I guess the Only music worth listening to is what you have Downloaded from Youtube to your Mp3 player! RIP 60s 70s and 80s when we had Music of substance.

dagadawgs

September 5th, 2012
2:23 pm

Couldn’t agree more with former Reg listener. What’s up with the W.A.C.H.S nonsense? Also, I am waiting for them to have a circle jerk and loser eats the cracker. Excluding Tim and EVH. Was starting to enjoy Kidd Chris show.

Sam-A

September 5th, 2012
2:23 pm

OTP: Me too. Bring Paul Drew at Quixie in Dixie back, I’ll listen to AM again! And the OLD Z93 – not the pathetic one of it’s last couple years on the air before Dave Radio took over. Glad I’ve got a good CD collection in my car!

Highlander

September 5th, 2012
2:36 pm

Nice write-up, Rodney. Then again, it’s not news to many that radio in Atlanta has been in decline for quite a long time.

Personally, my radio listening is primarily news talk and sports talk now. When I’m listening to music in the car, it’s almost always through my mp3 player hooked up to the audio system. That way I don’t have to hear the same 10 or 12 songs every time I get in the car. And I don’t have to hear Adele every fourth song! (…Yeah, that’s a bit of an exaggeration, but not by much. There have been times when an over-played Adele song came on the radio and when I switched channels, another Adele song was playing!)

sports talk

September 5th, 2012
2:39 pm

Rodney,
Sports talk will really be just two stations instead of the one we have now. 790 AM can barely be heard outside the perimeter during daylight hours. Driving home from the airport at night, I lose the signal before getting to the perimeter. Pathetic.
Dave, depending on whom they choose as their personalities, will do well as they can be heard, day or night, well out into the ‘burbs.

Snowball

September 5th, 2012
2:40 pm

106.7 news format is TERRIBLE bring back the oldies!

Cherrie D.

September 5th, 2012
2:43 pm

There’s nothing great to listen to OTP. At 7pm tonight , it’ll be a week that my radio has stayed off since they took “The Project 96.1 off of the air. I’m depending on cd’s in the car and Jango and WSOU and old Punkrockalypse podcasts online at home. The http://www.facebook.com/SaveOurProject page has over 14,000 fans in a week. I think that alone says something about how pissed off that people are with Atlanta radio stations for their actions. I hope that everyone who lost their favorite stations keeps the fight going, Clear channel and Cumulas Corps. screwed us all !

Snozzwanger

September 5th, 2012
2:45 pm

I HATE it that Dave is gone, especially since the music has been so good the last few months. It’s seemed like “we’re leaving, but hear what web *could* have been without meddling consultants/corporate wonks interfering.” Not saying that’s what was going on, but that’s how it feels.

BTW: Rodney, in your (otherwise) excellent re-cap above you have ‘Journey’ as having been @ 98.9.

old dj

September 5th, 2012
2:52 pm

A few thoughts:

*Why hasn’t WABE dropped the Classical during the day? For me WABE get’s turned off right at “Second Cup”. In other cities, Public Radio is much more engaging.

*I’m surprised that there was not more mention of 88.5. A great station. But, I will agree aformentioned that they tend to play too much “new music”. However the late night Fri and Sat shows are still a treat.

*I liked The River for about 2 weeks. That is until I exhuasted the 150 tracks in thier playlist.

*95.5 can be entertaining, but once Bortz goes, I go… Plus half the reason I listen, is because “Second Cup” is lame

*The real winners in Atlanta are the Urban R&B/Hip-Hop, and Country stations… Neither of which I care for…

Highlander

September 5th, 2012
2:56 pm

@blkshepherd, exactly!! So-o-o-o-o much of today’s pop music sounds the same.

I know that’s an old complaint that’s been handed down through the generations, but positive proof happened a couple years ago when Beyonce and Kelly Clarkson both had hits that sounded alike because the same “beat” track was inadvertently used on both songs!

HENRY

September 5th, 2012
3:05 pm

I AGREE WITH THIS WRITING……..ALL THE GOOD STATIONS AND FORMATS ARE GONE…..BRING BACK “THE GREASEMAN” AND “JOHN BOY AND BILLY” TO THIS MARKET. I LISTEN TO RADIO OUT OF MACON.

Alana

September 5th, 2012
3:14 pm

I moved here from Miami during what I knew as the PRIME of ATL radio, rock was all the rage. I couldn’t have been happier as Miami has continued to move towards the Hip-Hop & Rap or Latin radio, your options are limited there. Over the past 10 years, ATL has taken the same route (with the exception of Latin radio), we have nothing but POP on the stations here, and the same 5 pop songs, to make it worse….. What happened to classic rock? This is just depressing…. I’ll be the girl with the ear-buds in on 85… Don’t worry, I can still hear you all honking

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Calling It Like It Is

September 5th, 2012
3:27 pm

I agree with the apps instead of satellite. But, if you are going to boycott the media companies, don’t download I Heart Radio, as it is owned by Clear Channel and Cumulus.

And…wasn’t there a deregulation years ago that said that one company couldn’t have a monopoly in any market?

Jody

September 5th, 2012
3:35 pm

Commercial radio is terrible. You want good radio tune in to 88.5 WRAS, 89.1 WRFG, and 91.1 WREK. Daily rotation at WRAS is fantastic. And for moring drive time – blues at WRFG. But the absolute best on radio bar none is every Friday nite on WREK Stonehenge. All of these stations are available on TuneIn but you can also tune in yourself with a real radio.

jeff

September 5th, 2012
3:40 pm

i still miss 96 ROCK

Luke

September 5th, 2012
3:41 pm

I am actually kind of glad. Some of the most frequent complaints about Atlanta radio stations were the lack of diversity in their playlist. Now with more people moving to internet radio stations, spotify, rdio, tune-in radio, etc. there will be a broader scope of music reaching more people. Good riddance to the crappy stations.

Stuart

September 5th, 2012
3:48 pm

Everytime I see a story by Rodney about radio stations and the subsequent comments, I think of radio in New Orleans. There is a guy named Bob Walker who was a radio legend there with a station called WTIX (like WQXI and some other top 40s back in the day) and he has a website with a couple of links concerning his opinion about the suits who run radio stations. You could probably replace the city name with Atlanta and it is probably the same opinion.
If anyone wishes to read it. Google Walker’s name and possibly WTIX. Otherwise I think the site is walkerspub.com but I am unsure.

Stuart

September 5th, 2012
3:49 pm

By the way, I like the photo of the lady.

trueblue

September 5th, 2012
3:53 pm

I love the 2-Live Stews, I hope someone will pick those guys up after 790 goes under.

JMac

September 5th, 2012
3:55 pm

There will never again be a time so wonderful as when Atlanta had 94Q, 96Rock and Z-93. Rock music in the Atl. was covered. Now, all we have is 100.5 and The River, both of which absolutely reek. Any rock/classic rock/classic hits station that refuses to play any or only one or two songs by artists such as Springsteen, Allman Brothers, Foghat, Seger, and Beatles, just to name a few, is not worth the time. Hear that Clapper??

ATL

September 5th, 2012
4:12 pm

Radio sucks in this town. Wish the River would play more than 25 songs over and over. More and more we use Directv music stations around the house. Choice of 70’s, 80’s, 90’s. Subterranean is the best. Satellite for everything else. Hair Nation is cool!!!

Murray J Siskind

September 5th, 2012
4:13 pm

My favoite radio station to listen to in Atlanta is Chattanooga’s NPR station at 88.1. Jazz, Wilco, Decemberists, Black Eyed Peas…I can pick it up on the northside most days…

Tim

September 5th, 2012
4:23 pm

For hip-hop fans, there is a new station at 94.5 (I guess they’re new, I just stumbled upon them last week). They’ve been playing some songs not heard on Hot 107.9. Hopefully they’ll continue.

@Jody

Yes, Stonehenge on 91.1 every Friday is good and definitely slept on. All the people who miss Classic Rock on radio should tune in. I also listen to the Friday Night Fish Fry (The Blues) at 6:00 p.m. sometimes before Stonehenge comes on. Then I listen to Wreckage (Heavy Metal) sometimes after Stonehenge. WREK 91.1 is very good on Fridays from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.

It’s a shame there is not more Blues and Jazz on the radio in Atlanta. And there is no Soul Music being played. You can hear some old-school R&B, but they never play Curtis Mayfield or Sly and the Family Stone.

Huffster

September 5th, 2012
4:25 pm

Insightful reporting and predicting, Rodney. All those highly-paid radio execs should have consulted you instead of their highly-paid, clueless consultants who recommended all these poorly-thought-out changes.

Madeline

September 5th, 2012
4:29 pm

When you say “surging 107.9″ do you mean it’s gaining on/or has surpassed,103.3 in ratings? In the rare instances when I do turn on the radio, it’s almost always to 104.1.. or 97.5.

Cammi317

September 5th, 2012
4:40 pm

It’s official, after Dave switches over I will have nothing to listen to on broadcast radio. Last week I was consoling myself with the fact that I would still have Journey, but they showed me…..

think about it

September 5th, 2012
4:46 pm

the one thing most of you are forgetting is the “WHY?”… It’s not as if some big wig just pulled the plug for no reason. They use ratings systems to track the amount of listeners they have. Low numbers mean lack of advertising on the station. When the Ad revenue isn’t there, they can’t keep the station going… Who’s to blame? The listeners not supporting the stations.

rachel

September 5th, 2012
4:49 pm

I am probably not old enough to know this for sure – but hasn’t every generation complained about the younger generations music “all sounding the same’? My mother even admitted her parents compained about her music from the 70’s and 80’s. I’m sure I will make the same complaint one day.

Katy Watts

September 5th, 2012
4:52 pm

I’m furious they turned the best oldies station, 106.7, into an all news station. BORING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Now I can’t find anything decent on the dial and that’s especially sad in a city as big as Atlanta.

michael

September 5th, 2012
4:57 pm

I love the River, but really miss 106.7’s music. It played classic rock, but included more variety of older hits….

kristoffer

September 5th, 2012
5:09 pm

My favorite stations were Dave and 99x. Now that they are both gone I will probably get an Sirius subscription. Someone else mentioned WXRT in Chicago for a station that seems to know how to play the right mix of rock music. I started listening online a few days ago and haven’t stopped. It’s kinda sad when you have to listen to a station out of state cause Atlanta can’t seem to get it right! http://wxrt.cbslocal.com/

GA Girl

September 5th, 2012
5:12 pm

I hate this!! Too much pop! I’m so sad they are taking 92.9 away. I LOVE that station! I enjoy Q100 as well, but I can only listen to the same song so many times!!

BravesFan79

September 5th, 2012
5:14 pm

I first knew things were changing for the worst when i started hearing hip hop on 96 Rock late at night years ago. The majority of people DONT want to hear all the same top 40 garbage that were told by Clear channel we HAVE to hear! Clear Channel you SUCK!

BravesFan79

September 5th, 2012
5:24 pm

As someone who listens to nothing but the radio, ive heard “That Nina”, “Ive been everywhere” and a few others SO MANY TIMES it makes me wanna punch the producers in the face. How about some old Outcast, how about some old Smashing Pumpkins or 311? The old stuff is the good stuff, when hip hop was golden, and rock. 2 bad stations arent “paid” to play it like they are the new stuff. Shame.

Frank

September 5th, 2012
5:27 pm

Rodney,

Have you heard any talk about 790 The Zone adding an FM signal anytime soon? I’d argue it’s long overdue, but it’s going to be crucial to the station’s survival once 92.9 flips to sports.

M915

September 5th, 2012
5:28 pm

atlanta radio was gone when 94q jazz flavors stopped

BravesFan79

September 5th, 2012
5:30 pm

Whos to blame? Not the “ratings” you blind fool. This is part of the NWO agenda, to push as much Lady Gaga and other low IQ no brains required music on the population as possible. Start em when their young, dumb down the population, brainwash the kids to fit your sick liberal agenda.

The Sanity Inspector

September 5th, 2012
5:47 pm

I actually welcome the return of all-news programming to Atlanta, with 106.7. Yes, it gets tedious if you listen to it all day–it obviously isn’t intended for that. But it’s better than having to wait for the top of the hour, as with the AM stations. Or sit through a snoozer of a feature about the plight of migrant Uighur rutabaga pickers in inner Mongolia, as on WABE.

Reverie

September 5th, 2012
6:10 pm

Four large Top 40 music-bots and no room for a good Jazz station with a relatively strong signal? They managed to completely annihilate 96Rock. WGST is a steaming pile of radio executive and they wonder why we grow further and further apart. I’m not in love with XM but I have it. I use TuneIn to listen to hard rock (KISS – San Antonio) and Progressive Rock such as Yes and Pink Floyd, ZZTop and the like. Everything I like has gone away and while I at the absolute height of my earning potential Atlanta radio executives decide to abandon me while they fight over table scraps. Top 40 is an absolute insult to real musicians and singers. Good-bye cruel world. I’m leaving here today. Good-bye, good-bye….good-bye.

ATLRadioInsider

September 5th, 2012
6:34 pm

What is Driving Pop Music in Atlanta?
http://atlradioinsider.blogspot.com/2012/09/whats-really-driving-pop-music-radio-in.html

ATLRadioInsider.blogspot.com

PMom_GA

September 5th, 2012
8:03 pm

Hmm, wasn’t Journey at 97.9? You have it as being 98.9.

Steak is a blow hard

September 5th, 2012
8:16 pm

When 790 goes under, will Steak’s family buy him another radio station? He is the sole reason why I refuse to listen to that station ….

Love DAVE FM

September 5th, 2012
9:11 pm

DAVE FM was the first station my 17-25 year old kids and I could agree on. I love the new fresh music out there and will hate my 1+ hour commute without it. Do you really think we all want to listen to news and sports talk? I’d rather listen to chalk screeching! What a terrible loss for Atlanta!!! Feels like the day music died!

Splavistic

September 5th, 2012
9:25 pm

Ha, and I just got an email for a focus group regarding local radio. I should go, tell them exactly what I did 10 years ago (i.e. internet radio is the better choice), then collect my $100. Sorry, but FM is just another URL and it has a really sorry format. I feel for the advertisers who have been clinging on to it for so long. Wake up.

dave

September 5th, 2012
9:30 pm

Absolutely disgraceful local radio changes. Do these idiot radio executives at Clear Channel think we’re all tweens who do nothing but listen to Bieber? Clear Channel has to be the worst company in this country. Journey 97.9 was the only station I listened to. 5 Top 40 radio stations? You have got to be kidding me. This is the worst radio market in the country by far. I’m so desperate, I stream radio stations on my computer from around the country when I get up for 2 hours before I go to work so I can listen to what real radio should sound like. Atlanta sucks and this is just more evidence of that.

September 5th, 2012
9:32 pm

What does Fat Face Steak Shapiro say about it?

Steve

September 5th, 2012
9:45 pm

Atlanta radio stations SUCK.

What are there, 7 or 8 pop/top-40/r&b crossover stations, 6-7 latino, 4-5 ‘current’ country.

Basically if you like hard rock, southern rock, classic rock, or classic country you have ZILCH. And please don’t tell me 97.1. The only people listening to that are the ones that can stand a Fleetwood Mac song one out of every four tunes.

XM is nearly as bad. Pandora for the win.

September 5th, 2012
9:46 pm

thank god for college radio stations and satellite radio, Atlanta radio has sucked for years

Donald Baxter

September 5th, 2012
9:47 pm

Do people really listen to music on radio anymore?

Cloudodust

September 5th, 2012
9:56 pm

I too am a 92.9 listener. When they make the switch, I’ll figure it out just like every other time formats have been reformatted over the course of my decades listening but one things for sure, I ain’t paying for radio. ‘Course, my current commute is 3 and 1/2 miles, so…

Ween

September 5th, 2012
9:57 pm

It’s 12 dollars a month, that’s like a drink. Xm is only way to go. I heard local radio in a shop last were and asked the owner how he listened to the annoying talk and commercials all day. Fm died in the 90s.

Shadyr

September 5th, 2012
10:01 pm

I was so happy when the brought 99X back, even if I am at the edge of the range and apparently one of like 10 people that still like alternative best. Guess this means I will be looking into getting XM for my car. *sigh*

Ryan Klesko

September 5th, 2012
10:03 pm

Tyrone, you can hear the Braves on 101.1 outside Atlanta up in Canton & North….

Cloudodust

September 5th, 2012
10:04 pm

Ween : Pennies make dollars. Toss in the monthly cost of every gizmo gadget known to mankind and I’m drinking the cheap stuff…Water.

Donald Baxter : Really. I do listen to some music and prefer the 92.9 format as it is today but in all truthfulness, 90% on my ear time goes to Talk Radio these days. Guess at 58, I’m livng up to the sterotype.

bmore chuck

September 5th, 2012
10:05 pm

91.9 WCLK Thank you for providing quality music and wonderful personalities. I love my Jazz in the city.

Ryan Klesko

September 5th, 2012
10:05 pm

Let’s face it… Pandora and others are driving this…. People want to hear the music they want to hear, when they want to… I have an older car and can pipe my I-phone right into the speakers now….

John Mc

September 5th, 2012
10:13 pm

More top 40 garbage and estrogen filled “male” radio hosts? Thank God for 790theZone.

Mike

September 5th, 2012
10:32 pm

So….if I were to work ITP and don’t want B 98.5 or Pitbull/Call me Maybe…my option are?

TheLazyComic

September 5th, 2012
10:42 pm

How about they all go off the air and do us a favor.

jeff

September 5th, 2012
10:44 pm

I miss the classic rock. I also wish someone would play some of the newer songs by artists who have provided great tunes over the years. I have the new cd by Clapton and Gregg Allman. Both are not the songs we are used to from the past but they are still good. I have been listening to more country since z 93 and 96 rock went away. All the best rock songs came from my generation 60’s- 80’s. Unless some decent musicians make it to the airwaves, radio as we know it is dead.

Way Downsouth

September 5th, 2012
11:01 pm

Atlanta has the most blues programming in the country on 89.3 WRFG. M-F 6-10am.
WRFG’s Sunday zydeco show is changing the format slightly, broadening the scope to be a “music of New Orleans”. It’s from 1-3pm.
Atlanta has the lamest NPR station around. Most offer a variety of interesting programming, ours only selects the classical & boring News.
You want new music, listen to WREK 91.1. . The name of their Friday nite classic rock show is StonedHenge.

Jrp

September 5th, 2012
11:33 pm

Ah the old 96 Rock! I do miss it.

PMC

September 6th, 2012
12:03 am

WABE has some excellent bumper music during their news portions of the day.

Wish I could get past Lois Reitzes voice. I just can’t do it.

Chuck

September 6th, 2012
12:31 am

I like WABE’s classical programming, and I am not all that old nor very rich. Late night classical listening is the absolute best. If they take it away, I won’t listen to FM at all.

nCNhonky tonk man

September 6th, 2012
12:43 am

Ok Harry sacs heres the deal, Journey 97.9 was a good station for us eighties teens.Good fomat played retro music xgeneraters remembers .To much PoP music now yall 5 stations competiing for less than a piece of the pie leaves someone out of luck. So V103 will finally fall,hahah just kiddih.No 96.whatever will be off the airwaves by christmas. Also star94 can sing cece penistons”finally” ,because they finally finished(should pf ran steve and vicky off when the goings get or got tough thanks Billy Ocean.
Now Sports talk Booooo t chattr .First Sports talk how to get the Axe wont be newcomer Dave SportsFm,its going be Steakyyyyyystation790 the clowns,oops 790 the zone. Why? Well the demise of tye show is the midday doufusss who pretend to knows.Not Mike Bell and Dave Archer. They will assume morning showpositions on Dave respectively! The low ratings are result pf the dynamic doe doe birds Two lame crew.One only ,andmi mean only knows Georgia Tech football,while the other Doug “i have aphd in ghetto slang,repetitive talk about cha know cha know ,and its bootlegs like use of words sealed the doomed network fate. Bye 790 ,hello Dave

John

September 6th, 2012
1:26 am

This should be a no brainer for Atlanta radio, just bring in JackFM like they have in Nashville, I’ve listened to many times and its perfect fit for this city…103.7 ChuckFM is the closet thing to 80’s type or 90’s music…Satellite radio has its moments, its all rotated but who cares. They took Project 961 away they took Journey away, they took 92.9 Dave…away…I mean C’MON already

Who Cares?

September 6th, 2012
1:36 am

It’s Atlanta radio, so there are no winners, only losers!

Shieldy67

September 6th, 2012
3:17 am

I must be out there because I never vote for winning party & must not like winning stations. I think Steak makes the AM show, can Dimino EVER shutup or even hear other opinions!?! I like Bell & Archer more than goofy arse Belue. Demographics make me an ’80’s person but hell, we’re not cool any more, just ask our kids!

Eric

September 6th, 2012
3:56 am

Atlanta radio gave listeners very fond memories in the old days.

- 92.9 used to be good as Z-93, before the name change to Dave FM. The change-over to sports-talk could and might seal the fate of either 680 The Fan… or 790 The Zone.
- I wasn’t old enough to remember 94.1 was as 94-Q. Star-94 was good back in the early days… and really hasn’t been the same for quite some time.
- 94.9 used to be good as Peach and Lite FM… and we can thank Clear Channel for ruining a perfectly good station, when they switched it to country music station The Bull.
- 96.1 used to be good as 96-Rock. Wasn’t too crazy about Project-9-6-1. Clear Channel ruins this station with new Top 40 station Power 96.1.
- 97.1 used to be good as Fox-97. Wasn’t too crazy about the short-lived 97.1 Jamz. 97.1 The River is very good, even though it’s not Fox.
- 98.5 used to be good as “soft rock”… and these days, it seems that B-98 is wanting to become another Top 40 station. In a way, I can see why Kelly McCoy left after 27 years.
- 99.7 used to be good as 99-X. Cumulus moved Q-100 to the frequency… resulting in us getting Rock 100.5.
- 101.5 still has Kicks… 103.3 with Atlanta’s longest-running V-103 name/format… we’ve got Kiss on 104.1 and The Fish on 104.7.
- It’s unclear if Clear Channel is considering overhauling 105.7, dropping Top 40 station Wild, and rolling out something different.
- 106.7 used to be good as country music stations Y and Eagle… Rhubarb Jones was very good radio personality. True Oldies and Greatest Hits took over, and were said to be good. We’ve now got the All News.

We’ve had great and talented radio personalities come and go. Steve & Vikki were on Star, and then B-98… and got disbanded. Cindy & Ray were good as an afternoon show, before moving to mornings… and got disbanded. Kelly & Alpha were good… their show also disbanded. Randy & Spiff have jumped from one Atlanta station to another (Fox, Cool 105.7, Lite FM, and True Oldies)… and no disbanding them. I remember Grease-Man, Moby, Gary McKee, and several others.

I guess Atlanta radio is becoming a joke… and has been for quite some time.

Carpetbagger

September 6th, 2012
5:28 am

Put a fork in Steak at 790. They are done. Hopefully, so is he.

Falcon60

September 6th, 2012
6:19 am

Thank God for my iPod. Atlanta radio on the whole sucks. If it weren’t for 97.1 the River and Rock 100.5 and country every now and then I wouldn’t turn my radio on at all. We need a true classic rock/oldies station. A good one to model here would be KZRO 100.1 in Mt. Shasta, Ca. It’s not owned by ANY of the conglomerates and plays oldies from 6:00am until 6:00pm and classic rock from 6:00pm until 6:00am. Music that is NEVER heard here. Wake up all you idiots running the airwaves into the ground! We don’t need multiple Lation stations, “urban” stations, and “talk” stations!!!

Falcon60

September 6th, 2012
6:20 am

That should be Latino stations…………..

steve

September 6th, 2012
7:02 am

I cancelled my Sirius subscription about a year ago and have been surviving listening to the radio. I am now calling them back. Dave FM was the only decent FM station.

The BEST music station in Atlanta is by far and away 1690 AM.

Jbone

September 6th, 2012
7:17 am

Atl/clear channel sux!

September 6th, 2012
7:19 am

“hawks, falcons & dawgs…” typical ajc….forgetting to mention the team that IS in the city of atlanta…typical. (go jackets!)

Atlradiosucks

September 6th, 2012
7:24 am

I have been listening to Dave for years and it is the only station we have for alternative. I can not stand hearing the stupid chit chat on the other stations, the stupid games. I want to hear music on my long drive to work and not the urban hip-hopp, ghetto crap and the same top 40 songs or country. I don’t want to hear people call in about their dating problems. They can’t come up with one station, that plays alternative? For God’s sake, Atl is a big city and our stations are a joke. Screw it all, I will not be listening.

hikerguy

September 6th, 2012
7:39 am

I work in radio. Here’s the deal – terrestrial radio (the kind with a tower that broadcasts signals) is dying. My prediction is that the radio world as we know it will be dead in 5 years – you’ll have a few centralized content providers that push a syndicated broadcast to the stations. What you hear in chicago will be what you hear in denver will be what you hear in atlanta. The listeners are all going digital.

The secret is this – Pandora is the number 1 station in all major markets. All of them. It’s why iHeartRadio exits. It’s why Entercom is going to launch a new player soon. New cars (where people listen) mostly have USB jacks that allow streaming from your phone. I just saw a Lexus commercial where Pandora is embedded into the onboard dash.

Get used to changes like this – they will continue and they will be fast.

Mal Murray

September 6th, 2012
7:39 am

Go “left of the dial” to WRAS, WREK and WRFG.

Vince

September 6th, 2012
7:42 am

Ha ha…HD Radio. That certainly brought back the listeners in droves.

Vince

September 6th, 2012
7:48 am

Oh, and TuneIn radio also has a lot of the Atlanta stuff, plus Adam Carolla, Kevin Smith, etc.

jebbery

September 6th, 2012
7:54 am

Just when you thought Atlanta radio couldn’t suck any worse…

September 6th, 2012
7:58 am

Jeez, the radio stations in Atlanta s**k. Even the rock stations stink. I thought the Philly area was bad but this is just awful.

Mike

September 6th, 2012
8:02 am

I’m not very loyal to any one station – I put the first preset on Star 94 and hit “seek” until I find a song I want to listen to.

I like the new 106.7 news station. Sometimes I listen to the syndicated shows on WSB, but when I want news (or traffic at an odd time) I go to 106.7.

But I’ll change the station immediately if I hear an awful commercial come on. Are there any reported cases of road rage caused by that Kars-4-Kids song?

Chris White

September 6th, 2012
8:03 am

So what about the 30 something to 40 somethings? I do not listen to top 40, I do not enjoy college football enough to listen to it on talk radio, and I want to rock…

Senor Coughee

September 6th, 2012
8:04 am

Atlanta radio sucks. Make that corporate radio sucks. You can hear much better music, AND a much wider variety of artists while driving through parts of rural Georgia, Tennessee, and Kentucky. Clear Channel has clearly ruined Atlanta radio.

Jason

September 6th, 2012
8:04 am

The amount of top 40 wouldnt be bad if modern Top 40 wasn’t so awful… I remember Z93 , 94Q and yes my favorite 96 Rock!! It’s bad, I liked the Journey a lot, when I heard Nicky Minaj on it yesterday I was very dissapointed. But the 35 and up demographic is going more and more to app’s and satellite radio, so the companies that own these stations dont feel the need to keep the 70’s, 80’s and old rock formats… Which is a shame because it is much better music than today’s stuff.

September 6th, 2012
8:11 am

Great reporting, sir and excellent analysis of the radio situation!

4DaBirds

September 6th, 2012
8:13 am

I haven’t listened to Atlanta radio since getting Sirius Satellite radio back in 2008. The quality and choices were diminishing long before then. Atlanta radio hasn’t been relevant since the 90’s IMO. My subscription cost is well worth not having to listen to the cheesy crap you have here. Every day I hear great music, comedy and sports from hundreds of channels.

Mateo

September 6th, 2012
8:17 am

106.7 was a great station! Good variety of oldies and I would always hear something “new” on there. I’ve listened to 92.9 off and on since I was a kid and am sorry to see such an eclectic station go to talk.

All of the rest had lost me a long time ago but I basically listen to WABE all day now. The commercial free classical makes work a lot less stressful and the news coverage can’t be beat.

Musically, left of the dial is the way to go. 88.5, 91.1, and 91.9 are still good if you can block out the blathering college student DJs. AM1690 is the best music station in Atlanta regardless.

former RegularGuy listener

September 6th, 2012
8:24 am

The real losers are the fans of the RegularGuys. What was once fresh and exciting even after many years has became tired, boring but even worse, it has become predictable. W.A.C.H.S. will make some homo-erotic remark and then for the next 10 minutes you will hear W.A.C.H.S., SouthSideSteve and SeaBass slobbering all over each other. Tim and Eric are frigging awesome!!! I guess W.A.C.H.S. runs the show but it is obvious that he is the butt pirate captain of a sinking radio program. I had rather hear a chess match on the radio. It is too bad they do not listen and respond to what their listeners want. LONG LIVE THE INTERNET!!!

September 6th, 2012
8:39 am

I was so excited when 99X made its return a few years ago. Its the only station that I ever really made a connection with. Can’t stand Top 40, “talk” shows, or sports. I, and anyone else with similar tastes, have literally nothing to listen to in the morning. Not a fan of “hard” rock either. How did we lose ALL of the stations that played NEW alt/rock music?

I guess they rebranded 99X to the “The Bone” since all the fans got boned…

Guess I’ll pay for XM now.

peaches

September 6th, 2012
8:53 am

As long as their not messing with WCLK 91.9 and 97.5. I’m OK

September 6th, 2012
9:02 am

Five stations that play the same 15 songs every hour of every day. Joy!

Tucker

September 6th, 2012
9:03 am

Long live WRAS 88.5 FM!

Dee Osborne

September 6th, 2012
9:10 am

DaveFM is the only station I listen to on a regular basis. They have always had a good mix of music. I enjoyed it more prior to the format change a few months ago. I won’t buy Sirius. I’m not going to be fiddiling with my smartphone while I’m driving. I grew up on radio, now how will I get the music I like and knowledge about local events, like concerts, with no radio to listen to. Clear Channel is becoming somthing I hate. I hope the college stations pick up the pieces. I enjoyed 88.5 for many years. Guess I’ll give it another listen. Or, move to another state. It’s looking more like moving to another state will be the best option in the end.

Dee Osborne

September 6th, 2012
9:10 am

scott

September 6th, 2012
9:11 am

besides sports talk radio, radio in the ATL ABSOLUTELY SUCKS!

PMC

September 6th, 2012
9:12 am

The Telecom act of 1996 has been the death of radio. Allowing a bunch of accountants to try and run radio based on the least accurate ratings system ever created has led to a demographic that caters to people who don’t really like music.

Pop Music is music for people who don’t really like music.

Bring back media ownership rules. ONE Station in every market.

rick rock

September 6th, 2012
9:14 am

Atlanta, especially for it’s size, has the fewest and the worst listening options of any city in the country. Markets a quarter this size offer more genres and multiple options for the most popular genres. It’s really pretty pathetic.

James

September 6th, 2012
9:17 am

News Talk still rules Atlanta area.

bearcrazyman

September 6th, 2012
9:22 am

Unless there is a game or race on, who the F**K wants to listen to people yak yak yak their opinons about sports. Keep Dave FM you Dumb A#$

September 6th, 2012
9:23 am

So 97.9 is playing the top 20 of top 40…but since Q100 plays the same 9 songs, it will be the same play list.

@eidsonb

September 6th, 2012
9:25 am

For those of us on the southside of town we can get Rock 103 out of columbus if the stars align just right….good station

Cari

September 6th, 2012
9:26 am

I listen to Mara and Sully every day at work. Won’t be the same without them. All these changes hasten the death of an already week radio market. Once DAVEFM is gone I guess I’ll have listen to my old station from Baltimore via my Iphone during the day. Here’s hoping the DJs find a way to stay in Atlanta.

Gakabu

September 6th, 2012
9:26 am

sad….. and now…the ASO is out to pasture so those of us who loved 99x and DAVE but are diverse enough to like classical music lose too.

Gary

September 6th, 2012
9:34 am

I have XM. Best feature is Tune Select. You like a band, Select them and the player will let you know if they are playing on another station. I usually have 30 going, when I get sick of them I bump them. That way I get a nice diverse collection. Listening to First Wave channel and suddenly Bowie is playing on Deep Tracks and I switch over. I will keep listening for a while and then it tells me the 30 Secs to Mars is on another station click over there and leave it for a while. It really is the only way to listen to music.

FenderMan

September 6th, 2012
9:35 am

If your a middle aged rocker and want to hear a unpredictable playlist and you live on the upper northside, tune in to Thunder 104.3 in Dahlonega. If more radio was like these guys, in whatever format, ATL radio would be alive and well. No where else on terrestrial radio (in ATL) can you hear old Kiss, Blackfoot, Howlin Wolf, Reba, Johnny Winter and MotherTruckers. And their the only station that plays Gov’t Mule.

LarryLarson4President

September 6th, 2012
9:42 am

AM 1690 is the best radio station in the city, and it’s no contest.

Kirk

September 6th, 2012
9:49 am

Most of these changes are primarily with white music (ie. Dave FM, 99x, etc.) as opposed to the urban stations (V103/Hot 107.9). I’m African-American and I’ve really been enjoying Dave FM for the last few months, so I’m sorry to see it go. The main issue with all the Top 40 stations is the repetition–just like watching Atlanta TV news on weekends for periods longer than a half-hour.

Anita Rocks

September 6th, 2012
9:50 am

Loosing 96 Rock was a shocker. I will admit it was better back in the day. the 70′ s and 80’s rocked.
I knew it was heading to a downward spiral when little prissy boy joined the team.

Riley

September 6th, 2012
9:53 am

JAZZ!! JAZZ!! JAZZ!!!!! What about JAZZ???!!!!

CobbGOPer

September 6th, 2012
9:53 am

Apparently Atlanta’s radio gurus think the only people that listen to FM music anymore are 13 year old girls. Just means I’ll be listening to more Album 88 and WREK I guess, when I’m not listening to NPR, WSB (no WYAY, that station sucks for news despite being an ‘all news’ station), or my CD’s.

Sideline Dude

September 6th, 2012
10:04 am

Who cares? I only listed to XM/Sirus so I don’t have to put up with the endless commercials. Now if they could only offer this for TV.

JSmooveThunder

September 6th, 2012
10:15 am

I stopped listening to “regular” radio when WJZZ left the ATL’s airwaves a few years back. WCLK is good for a quick fix every now and then but the signal is atrocious!! A major city without a decent FM jazz station speaks “volumes” about what it thinks about music!!!

Rock On (yeah right)

September 6th, 2012
10:16 am

For you fans of alternative music, might I suggest KEXP in Seattle (streams online) or NPR music, which has streaming from music fetivals/events as well as streaming of whole albums. Right now, for instance, they are featuring the new stuff by David Byrne/St. Vincent and the xx.

Of all the changes, I’m really going to miss Dave FM. Who the hell is making these decisions on our behalf? Don’t they realize that there are still people out there like me who have to spend a lot of time in their cars, don’t have satellite radio and who would appreciate a listenable local station providing local news, traffic, etc. occasionally?

If you’re in the Northeast corner of the state, you can pick up signal from a great classic rock/album rock station out of Greenville in the 101 range. Why can’t our market support something like this when Greenville’s can?

Julie

September 6th, 2012
10:25 am

It’s hard to keep up with all the changes lately. I was really sorry to lose 106.7 as well as Randy and Spiff. They really got my mornings going

DELOIS

September 6th, 2012
10:29 am

I love my IPhone – have both Sirius and upgraded Pandora on it and lots of music – never have to listen to the radio again and no commercials on Pandora. I gladly pay the annual fee for that. Since I ride transit for work, I don’t need traffic reports either since I’m usually kicking back and relaxing and listening to music during my commute.

ohletsadmitit

September 6th, 2012
10:30 am

No one likes Cake in Atlanta or anywhere else. That somehow got lost in a few programming directors who kept forcefeeding Cake on Atlantans. NO ONE LIKES THEM THAT MUCH!!!!!!!!!

The Rev

September 6th, 2012
10:32 am

Elvis Presley, Judas Priest, and Hank Williams Sr. all rolled into one rock radio station: http://www.Garage71.com

It’s local, broadcast online, reacts quickly to listener input, and streams on any tablet, smartphone, and computer.

netradiojock

September 6th, 2012
10:33 am

After while All News 106.7 FM will lose me if they keep broadcast ACC & Georgia Tech games. They just need to be ALL NEWS. If they are gonna call themselves an all-news station, then they need to act like an all-news stations. The all-news format can work here in ATL without the ACC/GA TECH games.

Bubba

September 6th, 2012
10:36 am

Atlanta radio has to be dead if “The Regular Guys” are still on the air. Those two are unlistenable, if that’s a word.

old men

September 6th, 2012
10:46 am

790 the zone getting pushed out? Great! Count how may times Chris DMino repeats the phrase “the idea”

Jimmy Foley

September 6th, 2012
10:46 am

Why do we need 3 sports talk stations? This town is about as good for sports as Kansas City! Only one “World” championship ever and the college teams in this state ain’t worth a cuss either.

not telling

September 6th, 2012
10:55 am

They won’t be happy until every channel in Atlanta plays hip hop and R&B. I was born here but this place just gets worse and worse.

Tiffany

September 6th, 2012
11:09 am

I have been in mourning for Dave FM for the last several weeks now, since I first heard about them going to all sports talk (what the heck?!?). So bummed! And I didn’t realize Journey was going to stop playing 80’s and 90’s – they’ve become one of my other favorites recently. I don’t want to shell out for Sirius XM, but am disgusted with these changes in our radio options. I’m 37 – am I so old that radio is no longer playing my songs? Really?! Sheesh! One of my favorite things about Dave FM is that I am introduced to good new, alternative music at the same time as getting to hear my old favorite alternative groups. This sucks!!

MaraGold

September 6th, 2012
11:10 am

hopefully the new sports talk station brings in some knowledgeable, big time people who know sports, talk sports and don’t spend half the time on personal stuff or unrelated BS like restaurants, movies, celebrities, etc. Just talk sports—all sports, not just atlanta stuff, which gets boring since most of the teams suck.

Moose

September 6th, 2012
11:14 am

Why don’t the djs get together and do their own radio station.. Pirate Radio! Give the radio stations back to the djs and people who listen to music, not the PR guy that hears 2 seconds of a song and says, “Yes!! thats its” or the evil Pay to Play.. we all know that happens.. Bring back the days of the djs that played music! not this 9,600 songs in a row with no commercials that feature only 250 songs…

Beyond the Middle of the Road

September 6th, 2012
11:15 am

The only time I EVER listen to live radio is to listen to a LIVE sporting or news event. I always listen to CD’s, Pandora, Sky.FM or my own vast MP3 collection.

Taxi Smith

September 6th, 2012
11:17 am

Not much time for radio in the taxi, but when I do have it on it ain’t tuned into music. I’m strictly a talk radio guy, mostly sports, can’t stand politicians. You have CD and Mp3 for music, so why even bother with music radio?? Not for me.

BullDawg Rick

September 6th, 2012
11:19 am

Go to your local library, checkout all the CD’s, rip em onto your desktop/laptop, get some blank CD/R’s & make your own easy listening for your drive.. I have done this for 10 years.. I have my own “greatest hits” whenever the radio air plays “junk” & it seems like that’s about all that’s left on the air in the ATL is “junk”… In the words if NIKE…. Just Do It!

September 6th, 2012
11:20 am

I would encourage any fans of music radio to listen to WMLB AM 1690 – it’s a total jewel and Atlanta is better off for having them around. They play a diverse mix of roots music, true true oldies (i.e. songs from the 1950s and 60s) and adult alternative. They mix in just the right amount of talk and comedy as well. Hands down, the best music station in Atlanta. If only they could broadcast on FM as well!

ylojkt

September 6th, 2012
11:20 am

Still pissed about losing Project 96.1, the best station we had ever had in Atlanta. Liam is right, without a station that promotes the concerts of the bands we like to see, the rock shows will start to dwindle more and more. Was looking at the list of upcoming shows for the next couple of months on the LiveNation site and every one that I wanted to see was being promoted by Project96, how will they sell tickets without anyone knowing about the shows?

Tom B

September 6th, 2012
11:24 am

At least the HD stations continue to play rock. Best of all, no DJ’s (or 40 year old male radio hosts trying to lure in teenage boys with banter about sex), free, and commercial free. FTW!

tspec

September 6th, 2012
11:25 am

I didn’t know they still had “FM/AM” stations, thank god for satellite radio!

Blues Professor

September 6th, 2012
11:28 am

Commercial radio in Atlanta is awful. I don’t know why anybody listens but then, I can’t explain why millions of otherwise intelligent people watch reality TV either.
Listen to non-commercial, community radio, WRFG 89.3 FM, for roots-oriented music, hand-picked by a knowledgable staff of volunteer DJs. They have blues, classic R&B, Americana, bluegrass, jazz, reggae, and a whole lot more.

tarheel

September 6th, 2012
11:48 am

I hate all the changes. I loved Dave. 99X was my station when i first moved to Atlanta over 13 yrs ago. Pop/Top40 controls the airwaves because that audience engages. They’re at events, and they support the advertisers(lemmings?). If you like a station and want it to stick around, don’t just listen. That means virtually nothing anymore. CC, Cumulus, etc all follow the money, which is in Top40 right now. Support the stations you love by PARTICIPATING, not just listening.

enz

September 6th, 2012
11:52 am

Atl radio is horrid. Especially our sports talk stations and all rock…Get Sirius

Chuck Fan

September 6th, 2012
12:04 pm

103.7 ChuckFM is the best new station, but I think it’s range is limited. Can’t stand listening to top 40 stations. I love not hearing a DJ!

dje5717

September 6th, 2012
12:07 pm

Thanks goodness for satellite radio as well as other options, Atlanta has the WORST radio in the USA

eazye

September 6th, 2012
12:11 pm

i remember how cool it was to listen to 96 rock growing up in the 80’s and the music channel on tv69…the “rip off” mtv….lol they played all the music videos if you didn’t have mtv…z93 96rock…. turtles record stores with the turtle stamp booklets…. now we don’t even have record stores… and who remember PEACHES record stores???. .as some people say, the past always seems to be better

eazye

September 6th, 2012
12:16 pm

how many atlanta natives are still around??

woodrow

September 6th, 2012
12:18 pm

I used to listen to top 40 but when they started switching formats I quit listening to radio altogether about 5 years ago.

It all stinks...

September 6th, 2012
12:21 pm

That is why I’m listing to SirusXM Radio.

savior

September 6th, 2012
12:48 pm

Does this mean we finally get rid of hamburger shapiro????????????

Please God say it’s finally so!!!!

tom

September 6th, 2012
12:49 pm

who cares i have spotify – radio dj’s suck any way

kevinofconyers

September 6th, 2012
1:01 pm

You’re complaining about V103? Have you seen the numbers they do?!!! They’re leading in Atlanta radio and it isn’t even close (not talking opinions — Im talking NUMBERS). Regardless of how you or I may feel, they aren’t rebooting that one ANYTIME soon.

Toby

September 6th, 2012
1:09 pm

It’s good Steve Craig is getting off the air. That guy is stupid: he’s full of himself, is full of trivial information, is deeply confused about economics in the broadest sense… good riddance. It is weird how much pop we have here now, but, I listen to 90.& (GPB) & 90.7 (WABE) & they are awesome; people who listen to NPR are the most well informed in the nation too, so, hey that’s good. We’re all very lucky.

Toby

September 6th, 2012
1:10 pm

90.7 (GPB) & 90.1 (WABE)

Glenn

September 6th, 2012
1:20 pm

I’m not sure where the people are getting their numbers from, but virtually everyone I know listens to Dave FM exclusively and no one asked us. I have no interest in “pop” music or Top 40, nor do most of my friends or family, and my wife isn’t interested in sports, so we listen to Dave; this is fairly consistent with dozens of our friends. I would also suggest we’re the people with the disposable income the advertisers are aiming for. I guess new artists in Atlanta will suffer unless they are mentioned by word of mouth because most of us aren’t going to bother to listen to the radio anymore. Can you say iPod?

Southern Comfortable

September 6th, 2012
1:21 pm

First of all I have two letters for y’all: XM! When Z93 became DAVE FM I NEVER tuned in again, then my beloved 96 Rock became Project 9-6-1 and Y106 became a latin station. Atlanta radio had officially gone down the toilet. I bought XM and never looked back!

Southern Comfortable

September 6th, 2012
1:26 pm

And another thing……Z93, 96 Rock, Y106, etc. lasted for DECADES for a reason. How long have the stations lasted that took their place? If it aint broke don’t fix it!

fred

September 6th, 2012
1:28 pm

I glad I’m not alone. You’d think Atlanta of all places would have a good, 60’s, 70’s, 80’s Pop station. 97.1 plays the same old stuff day after day….no variety. 98.5 hits some every now and then. Please bring back SCOTT SHANNON, the best DJ on the planet. Try Magic 98.1FM out of Hawkinsville. They are GREAT but weak signal.

Runned Offt

September 6th, 2012
1:41 pm

Clear Channel is already on their 3rd FB page since their format mistake! They’ve had to make new ones when their moderators couldn’t keep up with the number of negative posters. Guess when a few thousand rock fans get irritated, it’s hard to keep up with the necessary deletions.

Disheartened Listener

September 6th, 2012
1:52 pm

I am very upset that they have taken away the older listening stations and replaced them with Top 40. I like all different types of music and I want a variety of radio stations on my radio dial. If we are going to have the same types of stations cycling the same music/news formats why do I need a radio at all? I could just load everything on my iPod or use my SmartPhone.and get what I really want. I loved Journey, I also like the oldies channel, country music, hip hop, pop, jazz, classical, big band and I could go on and on. I cannot be the only one with such tastes. Why I we being spoon fed the same stuff over and over!

Chipster

September 6th, 2012
2:03 pm

@Rodney – not sure if this has already been covered, but there are already FOUR sports stations in Atlanta…680, 790…and 1230 (Fan 2 ) and 1340 (Fan 3). Fan 2 is ESPN Radio and Fan 3 is Fox Sports Radio, but has Dan Patrick and Jim Rome. Rome signed with CBS last year and now CBS is building out a sports talk radio network…perhaps there’s a story there?

atlantathrunthru

September 6th, 2012
2:06 pm

The real losers are modern rock fans. im 22 and i enjoy all types of music but project 96.1 with its current rock for younger adults was by far everyone i knew’s favorite station. also 99x with alternative rock was always option 1a, where is anyone going to be able to listen to tool, chevelle,incubus, three days grace and so on. I realize 98.9 “the bone” is close to project and 99x but i will not be considered a “boner” anytime soon.

Lyndsey Marie... 3 thumbs up

September 6th, 2012
2:08 pm

Why hasn’t anyone hired “Radio Boy” Christopher Clandro or Chad “Mr. Personality” Scotttt?

Boned in Gwinnett

September 6th, 2012
2:11 pm

The big problem with the bone is they can’t even get their signal to reach Buford…..

the who were wrong

September 6th, 2012
2:27 pm

Rock radio is dying all over America. Sirius here I come.

Mitch Evans/Mike Bell

September 6th, 2012
2:35 pm

Randy! Oh my god!

Chris

September 6th, 2012
2:55 pm

Hopefully this will inspire 88.5 to bring back good alternative college music, like they used to play from the 70s through the 90s. It’s been a mess of mostly junk music since then. They were first to play Bob Marley, Jane’s Addiction, Pixies, The Cure, The Cult, Smashing Pumpkins, etc… in Atlanta. We need that type of good programming back.

Asll1

September 6th, 2012
2:58 pm

Atlanta radio—maybe the worst of any big market in the u.s. I went with XM 4 years ago and haven’t looked back. They must make money here, but the quality is very low.

September 6th, 2012
3:01 pm

1690 am is the best radio station in town. Eclectic mix of good music and occasional humor.

I was there

September 6th, 2012
3:11 pm

Ryan Seacrest started at Star 94 in the early ’90s, not the 1980s. He would’ve been too young, considering his 15th birthday came just a week before New Years Day 1990.

Mike

September 6th, 2012
3:13 pm

Joe South died yesterday in Flower Branch, and I don’t think there’s a single radio station in Atlanta that would even have “Games People Play” or “Rose Garden” to play in his memory.

Big Hat

September 6th, 2012
3:18 pm

Do any stations use their call letters anymore (small FCC requirement) or is that just too 20th century?

Butch

September 6th, 2012
3:47 pm

Please go away Seacrest. We don’t want you here seeing as you couldn’t get syndicated before and now you had to alienate people who are loyal listeners and want to different radio in order to get your way. I’ve completely switched to XM but the quality of sound on XM isn’t very good to me compared to FM at least in my car. It sounds so compressed and flat but it’s better than supporting any of the FM stations around in this town. I might turn into the River but 99X is too weak of a signal to hear the rock that I want.

NoCal

September 6th, 2012
3:55 pm

I feel bad for all my former neighbors in the ATL who like rock radio. 96 Rock was a high school staple in the mid 80s and 99x was cool for a while, but decent rock radio hasn’t existed in Atlanta in a long time. If you have the I Heart radio app, find 98 Rock in Sacramento. Great mix of new and old rock: Tool, Godsmack, Seether, etc with a nice dose of Ozzy, Floyd, Tom Petty, etc. There is a lot I miss about living in Atlanta, but radio isn’t one of them.

levelhead

September 6th, 2012
5:24 pm

HA HA I’m jamming in my car to 91.9 the Jazz of the City. Thanks to all of my DJ’s who keep me entertained all day. So if you see me in my Mercedes rocking to the beat its all about WCLK 91.9. PROUD MEMBER!

RockMusicFan

September 6th, 2012
6:17 pm

I’m SO disappointed with how Atlanta radio is turning out! I’ve been a fan of 99X since day one, and now they’re gone… again. Dave FM is one of the last great rock/alt stations out there! Do we really need so many Top40/pop/hip-hop stations?! And more sports talk?! Really? Guess I need to look into streaming audio on my smartphone.

Robert Owens

September 6th, 2012
8:40 pm

You should do a story about Clear Chanel’s sneaky take over and destruction of Atlanta’s traditional Rock Station Project 9 6 1 (formerly Rock 96) With out warning Clear Channel changed the format to Canned top 40 music. ( already several stations in north Georgia broadcast in this format)
The listeners are forming a boycott and revolt. Go to face book and see:https://www.facebook.com/Project961Undead (nearly 5000 members) https://www.facebook.com/KeepProject961?ref=stream (a little less than 10,000 members and growing)
so you see its not just a small thing, Its a movement against corporate greed.
Operation Cut The Power
‎[BOYCOTT] As promised, we are sharing the first sponsor on our list of Clear Channel/Power 96.1 advertisers. Today we are starting with…McDonald’s.
Please help get the message out that Atlanta will not be ruled by cooperate greed. give us back project 9 6 1.

Roswell Grandpa

September 6th, 2012
9:01 pm

These changes don’t really affect me. In the mornings I like 640am for Art Maring doing traffic, and now I’m getting into this Rob and Dave show, very far right but hey that’s me. I also like 90.1 for NPR in the afternoon and occasionally 97.1 River Music at night for the wine parties. Does anybody else miss the Kimmer on 640?!

Ghoti

September 7th, 2012
6:44 am

No Dave? No more commercial radio for me. I detest talk radio and abhor pop.

College radio, here I come. And I’m 47.

Highlander

September 7th, 2012
7:46 am

“And another thing……Z93, 96 Rock, Y106, etc. lasted for DECADES for a reason. How long have the stations lasted that took their place?” – Southern Comfortable, September 6th, 2012, 1:26 pm

Brilliant!! Excellent point! At the risk of dating myself, you used to listen to Z93 if you wanted rock & roll, 94Q if you wanted to hear Pop (Top 40) and 96Rock if you wanted to hear Hard Rock. And Y106 “owned” Country music in Atlanta.

As someone pointed out, much of where we are today is the result of deregulation from a few years back. No single corporation should be allowed to own so many stations in one market. They (FCC) don’t allow it for TV, so why for radio??

hotlanta linda

September 7th, 2012
8:32 am

Atlanta is my home for 34 years, and I love this city w/ so much to offer. So what`s up w/ the people deserting LIVE radio? The human touch can`t be replaced by a computer stream, period! In the last several years,all music styles considered, the worthy stations seem to have been shot down. I`ve had plenty to listen to in 34 years, but NOW is the pits!! Dave and!!! 99X TOO??? BIG request to Rock 100 – PLEASE expand your playlist and!!! dj family.Even much needed/loved WCLK let half their airstaff go !##**!!?? WHY?? I won`t even get to the loss of large fan-based Smooth Jazz a few years ago….. I`m heartsick – most of my `radio family` is being put out on the streets, homeless!!! What can we in the audience do???

I don't heart radio

September 7th, 2012
8:55 am

Oh come on, like Atlanta really needs another station to play Katy Perry…… our radio stations are a total joke!

hotlanta linda

September 7th, 2012
8:58 am

I was interupted….Must add the loss of WYAY as our quality country listening, only to see the oldies that took their place go too….WBCX is trying to pick up the oldies in daypart programming – I heard a LIVE dj in the early morn and thank goodness for their jazz/smooth and alternative shows. The left side of the dial has shorter shows as a whole, but it`s what we have to support!!!

hotlanta linda

September 7th, 2012
9:01 am

PS – THANK YOU Highlander!!!!

Mary Lou Alto

September 7th, 2012
9:34 am

When I moved here 5 years ago I immediately listened to DaveFM. Now with getting 2 new cars along comes Sirius XM, and I love it too, especially when we drive to SC or out of the Atl listening area. But I love to have a connection with the city of ATL, the people, the events, the concerts….and the great music from Dave. There are no sports worth talking about all day/every day in this town, sorry folks. Except when the Yankees come…and the Giants December 11th….

Q100 almost former listener

September 7th, 2012
1:56 pm

If Bert Weiss does “Throwback Throwdown” ONE more time, I am gone. Tracey Kinney, can you not come up with anything better? Rodney, thank you for pointing out my other options. Please — HOW is this entertaining for the listeners? The faux “I believe that Michelle Obama was actually cussing in her speech” was also idiotic. You ran those fake callers not once, but 15 times. Oh, SO clever. (So stupid.) Truly, I’ve listened to Q100 for years, and these two things are just grating.

What's going on with Atlanta radio? - Page 8 - City-Data Forum

September 9th, 2012
10:27 am

[...] [...]

Gabrielle Nistico

September 9th, 2012
12:42 pm

I’m a voiceover talent & coach as well as a former radio personality. Lots of radio and TV folks look to get into voiceovers after their broadcasting careers come to an unfortunate close. While I hate to hear that the ATL market was hit so hard with all these recent changes, there is a potential silver lining for many radio people in voiceover.

Coincidentally I’m in town on Sept. 15th – offering a workshop on the business of voiceovers, how to get started and how to properly prepare for your new business venture. I did – so can you. I help radio people to avoid the pitfalls and rocket towards success in VO. Details are here http://vobiz091512.eventbrite.com/ if anyone is interested. This is a really affordable session and it’s a 1/3 the cost of private lessons for the same material. Hope to see you there.

Gabrielle Nistico

September 9th, 2012
12:42 pm

Gabrielle Nistco

September 9th, 2012
12:48 pm

While I hate to hear that ATL radio people have been hit so hard by all these changes – it’s a common occurance across the country. There may be a silver lining for those that lose their broadcasting jobs in the form of voiceovers. I did – so can they. The voiceover acting world offers cast-off radio people a much needed potential for income.

Coincidentally i’m going to be in Atlanta on Sept 15th offering a workshop on the Business of Voiceovers and how to get started. I’m a voice actress and coach with 20 years plus. I can help the out-of-work radio folks in the marketing create a plan for success in a new but not totally unfamiliar industry.

Here are the details – http://vobiz091512.eventbrite.com/ would love to see you there. This full day workshop is being offered at 1/3 the cost of private lessons so it’s affordable for those that may have just lost their jobs too. Hope to see some of you there.

Gabrielle Nistco

September 9th, 2012
12:50 pm

oops – sorry about the triple submission – I was having trouble getting the first one to load – so i submittted twice and thought i’d lost the entire thing so I rewrote it. It was an honest mistake – sorry. I don’t know how to delete the first two.

Dennis

September 9th, 2012
6:58 pm

Gabby,

No problem with multi-posts, especially since you made it clear it was an honest mistake.
I’ll be at workshop among the many newbies to gain good info.

On the subject, from what you’re seeing, is this a national thing with stations lately? Are big corps just looking at ad $$$ or demographics or anything else?

ralph

September 10th, 2012
9:53 pm

Why is radio SO BAD in Atlanta? Everywhere I travel has much better stations.

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Winners and losers in Atlanta radio with all the changes

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