McAllister out at 97.1

[riggs]

Stoney has been crap since his WDFN days and does not belong on morning radio. Maybe he will keep his clothes on now

Exactly. Jamie will talk about Academy Award winners and his sports opinions are basically zero. Jamie is the ultimate fence rider.

You don't know what you are talking about. Jamie talks sports on his show all the time. When he guests on the morning show he talks about the pop culture stuff, which is what management wanted the morning show to do. You think Stoney's been crap, it's because he never was in a comfort zone talking about pop culutre bullshit. This was not his call, it was management's because they wanted to try to compete with non-sports stations in the morning.

The new morning show that starts Tuesday will sound totally different. It's going to be a sports talk morning show. If a super big non-sports event happens they will talk about that because it's bigger, but you are not going to hear pop culture crap anymore unless it has a direct tie to sports. The show is not going to try to be funny - if funny remarks come out of it - it will be in the natural course of conversation, there won't be any "bits" on the new show. They are going to have a lot of interviews (probably with nobody from the Lions because the Lions are whiny babies more concerned with publicity than winning). They will still do some contests too. But no more "what's your favorite ice cream" or "where is your favorite Michigan vacation spot". They might ask people what their favorite golf course in Michigan is, but golf is a sport.

The reason they are launching it after Labor Day is because it is just about the best time with a natural break in people's routines being over and the pennant races in baseball are in full swing, college football has had a game to talk about, the NFL is starting this week and hockey and basketball are around the corner. there is no better time to launch a sports-heavy show than right now. It would have been hard to do a month ago because things are so slow in August.

[riggs]

Stoney has been crap since his WDFN days and does not belong on morning radio. Maybe he will keep his clothes on now

Exactly. Jamie will talk about Academy Award winners and his sports opinions are basically zero. Jamie is the ultimate fence rider.

You don't know what you are talking about. Jamie talks sports on his show all the time. When he guests on the morning show he talks about the pop culture stuff, which is what management wanted the morning show to do. You think Stoney's been crap, it's because he never was in a comfort zone talking about pop culutre bullshit. This was not his call, it was management's because they wanted to try to compete with non-sports stations in the morning.

The new morning show that starts Tuesday will sound totally different. It's going to be a sports talk morning show. If a super big non-sports event happens they will talk about that because it's bigger, but you are not going to hear pop culture crap anymore unless it has a direct tie to sports. The show is not going to try to be funny - if funny remarks come out of it - it will be in the natural course of conversation, there won't be any "bits" on the new show. They are going to have a lot of interviews (probably with nobody from the Lions because the Lions are whiny babies more concerned with publicity than winning). They will still do some contests too. But no more "what's your favorite ice cream" or "where is your favorite Michigan vacation spot". They might ask people what their favorite golf course in Michigan is, but golf is a sport.

The reason they are launching it after Labor Day is because it is just about the best time with a natural break in people's routines being over and the pennant races in baseball are in full swing, college football has had a game to talk about, the NFL is starting this week and hockey and basketball are around the corner. there is no better time to launch a sports-heavy show than right now. It would have been hard to do a month ago because things are so slow in August.

[MWmetalhead]

I love the changes...LONG OVERDUE!

Did key talent threaten to walk if these changes weren't made? Or is this simply about eliminating a salary and finding a formula that works for the remaining pieces?

Surprised they kept Sarah. What does she actually do aside from reading traffic reports? Why not move her to 99.5?

It was great hearing the Michigan game on 97.1, crappy audio chain loaded with artifacts aside. The audio (last season) sounded fine on 106.9 FM in Grand Rapids. Not sure where the issue lies.

[audiophile]

It wasn't PPM artifacts was it?

[riggs]

I love the changes...LONG OVERDUE!

Did key talent threaten to walk if these changes weren't made? Or is this simply about eliminating a salary and finding a formula that works for the remaining pieces?

Surprised they kept Sarah. What does she actually do aside from reading traffic reports? Why not move her to 99.5?

It was great hearing the Michigan game on 97.1, crappy audio chain loaded with artifacts aside. The audio (last season) sounded fine on 106.9 FM in Grand Rapids. Not sure where the issue lies.

They did research and it wasn't coming back the way they wanted with P1 listners. I am guessing that Karsch & Anderson might sound quite a bit more sports-oriented than it has been for awhile. They won't do anything with Valenti & Foster and the night show will just be Wojo on for 45 minutes on nights where there are Tigers and Wings games and Wojo & Fithian and nights there are no games.

[audiophile]

I love the changes...LONG OVERDUE!

Did key talent threaten to walk if these changes weren't made? Or is this simply about eliminating a salary and finding a formula that works for the remaining pieces?

Surprised they kept Sarah. What does she actually do aside from reading traffic reports? Why not move her to 99.5?

It was great hearing the Michigan game on 97.1, crappy audio chain loaded with artifacts aside. The audio (last season) sounded fine on 106.9 FM in Grand Rapids. Not sure where the issue lies.

It wasn't PPM artifacts was it?

https://www.indexcom.com/whitepaper/ppm/

Listen to the PPM audio samples - it sounds like a quacking duck.

[MWmetalhead]

Doubt it. 97.1's audio normally sounds terrific.

[FAN]

Surprised they kept Sarah. What does she actually do aside from reading traffic reports? Why not move her to 99.5?

Seriously. She has nothing to add when anything sports related is the topic. So out of her element. I feel like they could find a much cheaper traffic person.

Did key talent threaten to walk if these changes weren't made? Or is this simply about eliminating a salary and finding a formula that works for the remaining pieces?

I could definitely see the rumors of Bill having altercation(s) with Valenti being true and a factor. And I bet Stoney was sick of being relegated to buffoon sidekick on his own show. I don't think Bill would have been pulling a paycheck that wasn't affordable for a station like 97.1 to cover if it was worth it.

I think we may have heard the last of Bill. He's pushing 60 and I can't think of a program in town he could possibly fit with.

[MWmetalhead]

Riggs - missed your last post earlier today. That was very interesting info you shared earlier; thank you for doing so!

Based on those results, it sounds like 97.1 had some vulnerabilities that 105.1 failed to exploit successfully - as many of us suspected.

97.1 has generally taken measures to protect its back side, even when no legitimate direct competitor existed. Basically creating a timeslot for Jamie & Wojo a number of years back is perhaps the best example. Hiring Mike Stone is arguably another example.

Doubling-down on real sports talk - even if it's half-assed sports talk at times (*cough* Anderson *cough*) - will make it more difficult for iHeart or anyone else to launch a formidable competitor to 97.1. Tigers & Wings are locked up for a good long while and it sounds like Valenti, Stone, and presumably Jamie are as well.

So, it's Fithian and Wojo, eh? Valenti will have a field day busting their balls during cross talk. Fithian mails-it-in all too often during his lengthy weekend shifts; hopefully a shorter show plus working with Wojo will make him better. I actually like the pairing. Out of 97-1's existing talent pool, Fithian would've been my choice, too, for that vacancy. Wojo works best when he's paired with a straight-laced co host. Fithian fits that role well.

I will say this: I would love to hear Sean Baligian on 97.1's airwaves, either as a replacement to Scott Anderson (I can dream, can't I?) or as a weekend host.

[BKRPDM]

Surprised they kept Sarah. What does she actually do aside from reading traffic reports? Why not move her to 99.5?

Seriously. She has nothing to add when anything sports related is the topic. So out of her element. I feel like they could find a much cheaper traffic person.

Did key talent threaten to walk if these changes weren't made? Or is this simply about eliminating a salary and finding a formula that works for the remaining pieces?

I could definitely see the rumors of Bill having altercation(s) with Valenti being true and a factor. And I bet Stoney was sick of being relegated to buffoon sidekick on his own show. I don't think Bill would have been pulling a paycheck that wasn't affordable for a station like 97.1 to cover if it was worth it.

I think we may have heard the last of Bill. He's pushing 60 and I can't think of a program in town he could possibly fit with.

Bill's not pushing 60, he is only 53.

[helios987]

Early 50's and having kids, what's he thinking?

[FAN]

I thought he's closer to 56 or 57.

Anyone listen this morning? I tuned in off and on from 6 - 8 while working out and getting ready for work and the show was nearly entirely sports focused. Sounded good. They did a bit of back to school stuff but it was nearly all tigers and college football. Sara's clearly lost and the annoying producer is gunning for that 3rd man spot but I'm sure they will iron stuff out.

They did mention Bill and Stoney was really laying it on my eyes did a few barrel rolls.

[MWmetalhead]

Continuous sports from 615 to 745 when I was listening. So far...so good!

Sarah's role seems to be live commercial reads and traffic reports...LOL.

I find it funny how the third guy would talk with no one mentioning him by name. Who the hell was that? Don't get me wrong ..would much rather listen to that mystery guy than Sarah. The unknown third wheel is also less irritating than Tom Mazeway, I might add.

[riggs]

Riggs - missed your last post earlier today. That was very interesting info you shared earlier; thank you for doing so!

Based on those results, it sounds like 97.1 had some vulnerabilities that 105.1 failed to exploit successfully - as many of us suspected.

97.1 has generally taken measures to protect its back side, even when no legitimate direct competitor existed. Basically creating a timeslot for Jamie & Wojo a number of years back is perhaps the best example. Hiring Mike Stone is arguably another example.

Doubling-down on real sports talk - even if it's half-assed sports talk at times (*cough* Anderson *cough*) - will make it more difficult for iHeart or anyone else to launch a formidable competitor to 97.1. Tigers & Wings are locked up for a good long while and it sounds like Valenti, Stone, and presumably Jamie are as well.

So, it's Fithian and Wojo, eh? Valenti will have a field day busting their balls during cross talk. Fithian mails-it-in all too often during his lengthy weekend shifts; hopefully a shorter show plus working with Wojo will make him better. I actually like the pairing. Out of 97-1's existing talent pool, Fithian would've been my choice, too, for that vacancy. Wojo works best when he's paired with a straight-laced co host. Fithian fits that role well.

I will say this: I would love to hear Sean Baligian on 97.1's airwaves, either as a replacement to Scott Anderson (I can dream, can't I?) or as a weekend host.

I don't know that it would be Fithian with Wojo, but I am guessing there is no permanent 6pm host since it's only a two hour show even when there isn't a Tigers/Wings game.

And there was tension between McAllister and Valenti because Valenti bagged on his topics.

First day wasn't as sports as a thought it would be, but it was absolutely more sports and very little pop culture. I think Sara will do more than traffic and live reads at certain times, but with the Lions starting their season and the Tigers in a pennant race, it's going to a lot of sports.

[dumbboardposter]

Let's give another perspective. First, bullshit on Bill and Valenti not getting along. A lot of you guys take MV's ball busting as actual animosity. I'll admit that some personalities at the station are more sensitive than others and don't care for his being a smart ass, but it's not real. Mike is extremely talented and competitive, but overall a genuinely nice guy.

CBS cutting ties with Bill reflects 97.1 decision to acknowledge reality: Dave and Chuck own the morning in Detroit, and it's time to start adjusting to that. When a true number one morning show emerges, other stations must decide their strategy. I've been in plenty of programming meetings where the PD said matter of fact, "Drew and Mike set the agenda."

They accepted the market shift toward Dave & Chuck, and made some room in the budget. End of story.