WHAT'S GOING ON AT COX JAX?

[Brother Bear]

So the blood bath continues. The Sales managers for WAPE and WMXQ quit the same day, and Jodi at the Eagle "resigns". Add up the firing of Cat Thomas from APE just a few months ago, Jay Styles getting bounced from middays after a disastrous tenure, the entire Zoo leaving last December after 12 years  and sitting out 6 months of non-compete then showing up across the street at Renda, and former midday man, APD, and MD Tony Mann leaving after 15 years to vanish from the Jax radio scene forever. Did all this start with Cox's inabilty to hold on to Lex & Terry and eventually lose them to CC?
It's a well known fact that the Jacksonville stations have been profusely bleeding green for some time, and rumor has it they are past the point of rescue as far as purging real talent to balance out the carnage.
So, who's next? Mark, Genny, & Dahmer have had no impact on the market and Rock 105 wallows in the ratings. Mark & Kris (The Morning Mess) on APE are a hollow shell compared to the show they succeeded and seem to be winning no friends as they apparently hold the entire city in contempt.
Bill Hendrich has taken a once formiddable group of stations and run them into the ground through mismanagement, ineptitude, or a blinding combination of both. Either that or he's little more than Bob Neil's lackey, and a shill for Rich Reis.
Gary Spurgeon must be smiling behind his desk at Renda.

[loganUSA1]

I think we need to touch on several things going on with the post below... first off my safe bet is that he is an angery ex p/t'er who never could cut it ANYWHERE and due to his lack of skill on the mic he resorts to bashing every radio company on the face of the earth... cause... he cannot cut it...

Ok... as a former p/t'er at Cox/Jacksonville I was around when several of the below transactions took place. I feel Cat was given a raw deal.  The morning show and Tony out grew the demo, WHICH HAPPENS IN RADIO.... OMG...sorry to break the news!!! Jay was, if I recall correctly was #1 in midday's his last book (Spring). I am not sure how that is "disastrous." From what I heard the cluster is hurting money wise and a cheaper person was brought in.

Gary was awful at running the company and Cox fell into the hole when Gary took over and his lack of major market background was a big reason. HUGE flagship stations like WOKV, ROCK 105, and WAPE should not be run by someone coming from Erie, PA!!!

I am now gonna sit back and enjoy the replys to this... I have always wanted to write on here... gawd I feel like I live in my mothers basement, eating cheetos, and watching porn... and oh yeah listening to radio 24/7... I love radio too, it just doesnt pay the bills!

[Brother Bear]

Welcome, logan, to your Mom's basement! here comes the volley!
If I recall correctly, Tony and The Zoo left with solid #1's in their target demo's. Perhaps 'disastrous' was not so much referring to Jay's numbers as his inability to e-nun-ci-ate.
As far as Gary being 'awful' at running the company, if that were the case, why did the Cox big-wigs put them where he did in the first place? They weren't experiencing the giant sucking sound of lost revenue until well after he left, correct?
We both agree that OKV, Rock 105, & APE were once giants in this market, but 2 of the 3 have fallen into tennament status and Gary Spurgeon has been gone too long to continue to be your scapegoat.
So here's my safe bet ... you're a part-timer who has no idea of what radio was before accountants and failed disc jockeys bought radio stations and ended up programming jukeboxes with dials ... I have no doubt you love radio like all of us here do, but until it's your mistress, mother, giver and taker of life, and you've seen it go through so many changes in such little time from a perspective other than a part timer, don't be so bold as to think you've seen it all and come across so high and mighty.
Oh, and one more question ... Why did Gary fire you? Or do you just hate people that get it?

[JaxRocks]

WAPE Sales Mgr is getting into ownership in his home state so dont think he was pushed
Jodi is getting a PD get soon to be announced-too bad she didnt get the Eagle gig here but Good for her.....Yeah they are cost cutting at COX like everywhere esle but these recent defections are just some good fortune happening  to good people...

As far as the rest...not sure about the Zoo's demo numbers but I think there time had passed for TOP 40...they should do well at GATOR...Tony Mann was still the best jock in the business , old or not...Renda screwed up by not giving him the keys to Movin' 100.7.... Jay was definitely more of a night guy...his 'style' was waay different than Tony's but the numbers were good.....

[AnotherCat]

I'm glad Jodi is getting a PD gig somewhere. She deserves it! Hope it's with a company that actually lets her participate in programming decisions.

[1250WTAE]

Having worked with the Renda GM in Erie, PA, I was very surprised to see that he had made the big jump from Erie to Jacksonville.  Was even more surprised when Renda made him the GM, after his Cox experience.  Don't know about it now, but in the 90's the Jacksonville cluster was Renda's top cash flowing radio stations.  The late Larry Garrett was a tremendous GM. 

Only other comment is, I also feel Renda pulled the plug on the oldies format way to soon!  Just feel the Movin format is a very poor flash in the pan.  But I will say The Gator, and Lite 96.1 are very solid. 

On the Cox side, there is no excuse for WAPE to not be #1. 

[jstyles]

HAHA

It's funny I would always read what people wrote when I was in Jax and I never got mentioned... lol... this thing is like the Perez Hilton of radio... well it's sad that I just found out who BrotherBear is... considering I worked with him at the APE and had nothing but respect for that person. e-nun-c-ate... lol... I learned a long time ago not to burn bridges in this biz... after all its about who you know as opposed to individual talent. All ill say is COX is in a rough spot... but so is everyone else in radio...sales and revenue our down in almost everywhere city and cluster across the country... Cox, Clear Channel, Renda, Cumulus, Citadel, Entercom, CBS, etc, etc... Bottom line I loved my time in Jax, on air and in the clubs... Its still a great station, but hey the Yankees cant win the world series every year... BUT they win and stay consistant... In this radio day in age I am very lucky to have not spent a day on the beach during my transition and even stay'd with COX proving a statement I made before... thanks somewhat in part to a dear friend higher up in COX family. Disater was me playing O-Town - All or Nothing 2 hours in a row one fall night in 04 (tho TSL was #1 that book 18-34 for us at night and I believe I had a 17 share... JBT is just a monster at night I think they had a 20 share that book lol)... but Steve if that is you, sorry I couldnt pro-nou-nce better! Best of luck to you at Gator I am glad that you, Ami, and Eden all found a place in Jax, and did not have pick up your lives and move somewhere else... I am very happy for you guys!

btw

www.hot981.com

my new station!!!

- Jay Styles

[JohnJax]

Only other comment is, I also feel Renda pulled the plug on the oldies format way to soon!  Just feel the Movin format is a very poor flash in the pan.  But I will say The Gator, and Lite 96.1 are very solid. 

True.  But it gets back to everyone marching to the beat of the same drummer. There are a few powerful decision makers in radio.  Do they always make the correct decision?  Of course they don't.  Many just follow like sheep.  Oldies would have served Renda better - period.  It would be refreshing to see more independent thinking, a return to local programming and to see those in charge recognize format potential and not just do what everyone else does. Perhaps the current way of doing things will see today's oldies return, especially if the format continues to do well in other markets.

HAHA

All ill say is COX is in a rough spot... but so is everyone else in radio...sales and revenue our down in almost everywhere city and cluster across the country... Cox, Clear Channel, Renda, Cumulus, Citadel, Entercom, CBS, etc, etc... .... but hey the Yankees cant win the world series every year...

   

Interesting how you made a reference to the Yankees and winning.  I think to a large extent, the Yankess have performed very well for decades because Steinbrenner has literally raided the competition and offered big bucks to the very best in talent.  It may not be totally fair but it comes down to you get what you pay for. If revenue is down, do you think it has something to do with the product offered? Over the years, talent has been restricted to the point that they are no longer relevant.  The easy fix for Cox and others is to slash payroll and to pay as little as they can for those on the air or to give them so many different hats to wear.  This is a short term solution in my humble opinion. 

Terestial radio has the potential to do much better.  Listeners respond positively to local community involvement and in hearing a friendly voice that makes them feel like they are listening to their best bud. And when that best bud promotes a product or service, I think that is a very effective route. 

I just returned to town after spending a week in South Florida.  Both going and coming, I drove during morning drive.  Radio is a vast wasteland through most of this state.  Talk about dull and boring.  If I were an advertiser, I certainly wouldn't pay much to air an ad.  And if the prime time of radio is terminal, things are certainly not good.

Interesting about South Florida is Cox Radio's WFLC - the Coast is performing very well and has virtually tied with the long time AC heritage station.  One of the reasons I think is they have a lively morning show and the talent is given some liberty to actaully say something.  Plus the station is staffed on the weekends.  Yes, Miami is a much bigger market than Jax but I don't believe we deserve anything less.  People respond when there is something worth listening to,

I don't feel sorry for Cox Radio.  They get what they deserve.  There had tremendous talent over the years here in Jax that has been replaced by something quite forgettable.  And offering limited formats and discounting large segments of the listening audience doesn't help either.   
     

[1250WTAE]

I agree with your post JohnJax.  Should have listened to our LPFM oldies station coming down 95 South in Flagler Beach!  I like to think we are doing it the right way, for over 5 years now. 

Does anyone have any airchecks of Renda's short lived oldies FM?  Would like to hear how they sounded. 

[JohnJax]

With a little research of Flagler Beach radio, I'll assume you are talking about 93.3 - WFBO.  Hey, you need to promote better in posts...LOL.  Anyway, thanks I'll check it out.  With the holidays around the corner, I'll be heading back to South Florida and I'll tune in on the way.

And to tie in to the subject of Cox Radio, it made me think of the importance of empowering people.  You appear to be pleased with "doing it the right way" and that's the way it should be.  I often wonder what kind of core values a company like Cox has.  They don't seem to trust their teams to do the right thing, be creative and responsive to local markets or to make decisions. 

It's a no win situation. Imagine being a PD there where you are handed a playlist, don't allow your talent to talk much and given a promotion that is used in similiar formats across the franchise.  And of course you are totally responsible for the ratings and revenue.  Not a good business decision if you ask me.  Talk about not being the captain of your own destiny.  I've learned a long time ago that those who operate and manage this way are totally insecure. 

And to your last point, Renda's attempt at oldies in Jax was in a word a disaster.  They just had the wrong people in place who did not understand the format potential.  Ironically, they were getting it together when they flipped. They made a big blunder all the way around.  I'm still hoping they come to their senses and down the road take the route WCBS-FM did in NYC.  Admit the mistake and return the format to the people.  Take care....