58-WCHS shakeup; Weekley in afternoon drive

[unchoopfan]

Major shakeup coming in the afternoon lineup at 58-WCHS, as veteran sports broadcaster Dave Weekley takes over the 3-6 p. slot currently occupied by "58 Live" with Rick Johnson and Mike Agnello. Weekley tweeted the news today: "@weekley: Fired up, coming home to WV to start new radio show! Airing on @58wchs (+ Morgantown, Clarksburg, other stations), beginning Mon.3-6 pm." Weekley's new show will originate from WV Radio's Charleston studios, with simulcast on WAJR and other WV Radio stations TBD.

The former WDTV/WCHS sportscaster and host of WCHS-AM's "Sports Page of The Air" most recently spilt time between his South Charleston home and St. Petersburg, Fla., where he did freelance work with CBS Radio sports radio 98.7 The Fan (WHFS-FM), the Tampa Bay Rays and MLB.com.

Agnello hosted today's "58 Live" solo, as Johnson is reportedly out at WV Radio after 40+ yrs. in the business. Charleston ESPN 104.5/1490 afternoon drive host and MetroNews contributor Frank Giardina is also reportedly out at 1111 Virginia St. after a 2 year stint with WV Radio.

[just saying]

WoW

[ralphallen]

I worked with Rick at V-100 and we both had worked at WCAW, so Rick has invested a lifetime in those stations and the group. In my view, he is an excellent programmer. He has worked closely with the consultants at McVay Media, Mike was my PD when I was OM at WCHS when Rollins owned it. McVay is the best in the business. Charlie Cook, Mike, Jerry, all exceptional people with the answers.

It is a very fluid industry, changes happen and we move on. John Potts, a respected programmer and mentor to me, often said, during times like these, that talent shall prevail. One door closes, the curtain falls on your play, the lights dim...and the show is over...so...you have to be preparing to open your show in another town perhaps, but if you have talent, you will find a stage and Rick Johnson certainly has talent and an added bonus...he KNOWS what the hell to do with a radio station! He would scare the absolute hell out of me if I had to program against him...knowing what he knows about why and how you do what you do...makes him a treasure...he is fine...Rick will be just fine...

Ralph Allen

[EZ103.3FM]

Are Carl Lee (Frank's partner) and 'the Drive' show on the ESPN stations gone also?

[unchoopfan]

WVRC/Charleston has pulled the plug on Charleston ESPN 104.5/1490 afternoon show "The Drive." Lee gone, along with Giardina. Jeff Adams takes over Operations duties previously held by Rick Johnson.

[TimeEnuf]

Bottom line, it is a money thing. The Drive was not making any money, for the number of people it took to produce the show. 58 live in the 3-6 time slot was doing fine as a money maker, but it is moving to 7-10pm slot, so that the MetroNews Network show, Hotline, can be produce in Charleston. It is a matter of MetroNews maximizing the resources of their XDS satellite system, for revenue, in the event of the almost certain loss of MSN money at the end of WVU Basketball season. RJ and Frank's departure pay for Weekly's salary and a possible pay raise for Jeff Adams and Dale Cooper......nuff said....

[unchoopfan]

New imaging for 58-WCHS rolled out this week, replacing the Jim Fagan-voiced imaging package. Eager to hear opinions on Hotline. Day One was sports-heavy, as expected.

[Big Media]

I miss Spike. Where the hell is he, these days?

[Shanen Wright]

Ralph is right: Rick is talented. If Bristol were savvy and RJ not tied down by a WVRC non-compete as part of a severance, Bristol should hire him and let him loose on 94.5. The current all-syndicated talk formula doesn't seem to be working (judging from ratings and the lack of local spots on there), and they could park the WBES calls back on the frequency where they were in the late 80s and 90s with a Soft AC format. I could hear it now, "two of Charleston's BESTs are back: Rick Johnson on 94.5 WBES."

Plus, V100 seems to have come out of Xmas a little hotter than they were before, and Charleston is definitely a place holding on to older demos. 94.5 as Soft AC w/RJ programming and on-air would surely bill more than what's on there now. I know Soft AC isn't a fad format or where many stations are going right now, but a few well programmed ones in older markets (WDUV in Tampa comes to mind) continue to be successful...

[Scott Reppert]

"Hotline" is dreck. Not the first definition of the word, but the second. I am actually driving home on weekday afternoons listening to nothing...

[djsandman]

A "Rock Ballad" format would work even better! I like Slacker Radio's version of their Rock Ballads, but it needs more selections.

Ralph is right: Rick is talented. If Bristol were savvy and RJ not tied down by a WVRC non-compete as part of a severance, Bristol should hire him and let him loose on 94.5. The current all-syndicated talk formula doesn't seem to be working (judging from ratings and the lack of local spots on there), and they could park the WBES calls back on the frequency where they were in the late 80s and 90s with a Soft AC format. I could hear it now, "two of Charleston's BESTs are back: Rick Johnson on 94.5 WBES."

Plus, V100 seems to have come out of Xmas a little hotter than they were before, and Charleston is definitely a place holding on to older demos. 94.5 as Soft AC w/RJ programming and on-air would surely bill more than what's on there now. I know Soft AC isn't a fad format or where many stations are going right now, but a few well programmed ones in older markets (WDUV in Tampa comes to mind) continue to be successful...

[just saying]

I've listened to parts of the "new" show.
It just has no direction.

[ralphallen]

The dance ends, the music fades, and enough is quite enough. I see so many excellent broadcasters that have been let go in markets all over this country in all sizes of markets and like I said, it has always had that element of insecurity about it. My five year morning show ended last Friday working for a very old friend. It was a part-time morning show gig, that I took in the beginning to keep my skills and timing sharp as I own a voice over production studio in my home, that has always done well, and I married well so I never needed the money. To me it was always about the love of the art and radio that made my life so rich and rare with good friends along the way. I started at WWNR in Beckley, was part of Capitol at WCAW and V-100, was OM at WCHS for a time, and spent a career with Randy Jay Dailey and had the honor of being the "voice" of the 16 member Nissan dealer's Association for a very long time, so I've had fun!

March 16th is my 65th birthday and it's my turn to sleep in...no more morning wake up calls at 4:20AM for me. I'll be winding down my voice over company in the next few years, and spending much more time taking care of ME and enjoying my life until it's time for me to go...We get so "into" our jobs, because we care so much about doing it right as we see it. I never needed "managed" because I had been mentored by the absolute best in the business...Buddy Blake...Randy Scott...Mike hammer...Gary Pallant...Roger Galloway...worked with pros like Mike McVay and Russ Wise, Tom Martin...and others...Paul Miles and Paul Howard...absolute professionals...gave me the gifts of their time and expertise that has served me so well in my life.

So when life hammers you...remember this..."THIS TOO, SHALL PASS!" I try to remember those words when my day isn't the best or life throws that big tragedy in your face and there is no one to turn to, and you just want to cry...and it hurts so bad that you can't even talk...

I did mornings at a station twice, recently hung it up after five years, it was time for me to go...and of course...you feel a sense of loss because of the people you worked with, you still have affection for...always will because you walked that path together...My old friend and I tried to talk it out but in the end...I was just done with it...and I couldn't dance anymore.

So when seasons change and you cannot dance anymore to the puppet masters of the world...I wish you love...and I wish you financial security...and peace...because if you stay in radio very long, you will be fired...you will have extreme heartache...along the way...You will quit because the place makes you nuts...when it happens, and it WILL happen...remember...you still have your talent...and your mind...and your pride...and your friends...and your faith as that may be...nobody gets through life without skinned knees, broken noses, and broken hearts...and occasionally broken homes, finances, and tragedy beyond my ability to tell you about.

Here we are friends...mostly talent people...but friends that love radio very much...and Radio is a fickle mistress...she rewards us unequally and punishes us unequally for the love of her...as for me...the ride has been wonderful...and now time to hang up the earphones and sit by the fire...and continue to grow old...so thankful...for the rocket ride...try to remember, "It's just a job, it's NOT my life!" *AND usually, it's sure as hell ain't much of a stupid job no way!" LOL

There are more horses rear ends in the world than there are horses...I'm just sayin' Radio is full of them...watch yourself...
It is a high stress, nanosecond sort of business, on air, if you're doing it right, is usually not much fun...it's hard work...to make it look so easy...I CAN say this to you...NOBODY ever worked harder at the art and craft of it than I have...my desire to be the best dominated my life for decades...nobody wanted it more...that satisfies my soul...in my retirement.
Rock on!

Ralph Allen

[Hoosier Daddy]

Ralph,

Thank you for sharing that. What a wonderful tribute to a life well lived. My last regular air shift was in 1988 and I still miss the business. I'd go back tomorrow on a part-time basis if anyone actually hired air talent. I'm not sure how easy it would be to adapt to voice tracking multiple radio stations and all the other duties required of that one living person these days but I'd be willing to give it a shot.

You have an amazing perspective on your career ansd how it relates to your life. A lot of men view their career and all of the high and low points that eventually come with the territory as being the definition of their life, and that just isn't true. Your post ought to be printed and handed out to every newbie and then reviewed at every job change, promotion, and significant life event that person encounters.

Thanks again. Good stuff. Great advice.

[Dave Harman]

Ralph, that was one of the most personally touching, true things about radio that I've ever read. Thanks for writing it.

[Scott Reppert]

Ralph: you just made me realize after 34 years that I got into radio because I couldn't stand listening to the radio...

[ralphallen]

Now THAT is funny! I liked that! Why did we ever get into radio? Most of us sort of let it find US...and like I said...it is a bizzarre form of "show business"...with all of that drama in it. We got into radio because we couldn't stand listening to it...WOW! That is ponderous...I like that!

[Lester]

I got in to radio because of Paul McArther... night jock at WELK in Elkins... and because I loved music, but didn't realize it yet.

He was probably in the right market based on his talent, but at approx. 15 years old, I didn't know that. His dumb jokes and "skits" led the way to me doing dumb jokes and skits for him over the phone... then they started making on the air... and it was all over for me, for a few years at least.

As I got older, and the radio consolidation took hold, that level of fun was gone from radio... and "legalized payola" was destroying my other reason for loving it. When I was pulled from the air and moved to production to make way for the NEXT round of purchases (Capstar - one away from the Borg) I decided to quit doing computers for fun and work at them for a living. I came back in 2001 for a four year run as a part-timer at a (former) legendary classic rock station. One day, when we were between Program Directors, I played the 2112 Overture / Temple of Syrinx during afternoon drive and got 5-10 phone calls in the hour proceeding from listeners that thought it was the coolest thing they'd ever heard. It got back to the GM, and I was told to never do it again.

That's when I knew it might be time to go.

Yes, I miss it... sometimes... but what it has become would be just as sad to me as watching an episode of CHiPS. Not nearly as cool as it was in my youth.

[Scott Reppert]

I played the 2112 Overture / Temple of Syrinx during afternoon drive and got 5-10 phone calls in the hour proceeding from listeners that thought it was the coolest thing they'd ever heard.

See? That's WHY I got into radio in 1978! They told me to play the likes of Al Martino from 6:05pm-9:00pm. I immediately said, "This is ''39' from Queen on WTCS". I asked if I could play "My Way". They said 'yes'. I played The Sex Pistols version. The rest is history. I was even brought in to WMQC nine years later in order to "change things"...and we did.

Back in the day I had this theory for music programming: two "sucker songs" followed by a "hammer" song. In other words, give 'em two things that will draw them/sucker them in (let's say "Roll With The Changes" backed up with "Hollywood Nights") and then hit them with the hammer (Brownsville Station's "Lady Put The Light On Me"). The problem over the last twenty years is that no one is allowed to play the "hammer" songs anymore...you might hear from listeners (in a positive way!).

Chris, you have been promoted up at least five notches in my book for revealing what you did in that post!!!

[the jive talkin one]

The dance ends, the music fades, and enough is quite enough. I see so many excellent broadcasters that have been let go in markets all over this country in all sizes of markets and like I said, it has always had that element of insecurity about it. My five year morning show ended last Friday working for a very old friend. It was a part-time morning show gig, that I took in the beginning to keep my skills and timing sharp as I own a voice over production studio in my home, that has always done well, and I married well so I never needed the money. To me it was always about the love of the art and radio that made my life so rich and rare with good friends along the way. I started at WWNR in Beckley, was part of Capitol at WCAW and V-100, was OM at WCHS for a time, and spent a career with Randy Jay Dailey and had the honor of being the "voice" of the 16 member Nissan dealer's Association for a very long time, so I've had fun!

March 16th is my 65th birthday and it's my turn to sleep in...no more morning wake up calls at 4:20AM for me. I'll be winding down my voice over company in the next few years, and spending much more time taking care of ME and enjoying my life until it's time for me to go...We get so "into" our jobs, because we care so much about doing it right as we see it. I never needed "managed" because I had been mentored by the absolute best in the business...Buddy Blake...Randy Scott...Mike hammer...Gary Pallant...Roger Galloway...worked with pros like Mike McVay and Russ Wise, Tom Martin...and others...Paul Miles and Paul Howard...absolute professionals...gave me the gifts of their time and expertise that has served me so well in my life.

So when life hammers you...remember this..."THIS TOO, SHALL PASS!" I try to remember those words when my day isn't the best or life throws that big tragedy in your face and there is no one to turn to, and you just want to cry...and it hurts so bad that you can't even talk...

I did mornings at a station twice, recently hung it up after five years, it was time for me to go...and of course...you feel a sense of loss because of the people you worked with, you still have affection for...always will because you walked that path together...My old friend and I tried to talk it out but in the end...I was just done with it...and I couldn't dance anymore.

So when seasons change and you cannot dance anymore to the puppet masters of the world...I wish you love...and I wish you financial security...and peace...because if you stay in radio very long, you will be fired...you will have extreme heartache...along the way...You will quit because the place makes you nuts...when it happens, and it WILL happen...remember...you still have your talent...and your mind...and your pride...and your friends...and your faith as that may be...nobody gets through life without skinned knees, broken noses, and broken hearts...and occasionally broken homes, finances, and tragedy beyond my ability to tell you about.

Here we are friends...mostly talent people...but friends that love radio very much...and Radio is a fickle mistress...she rewards us unequally and punishes us unequally for the love of her...as for me...the ride has been wonderful...and now time to hang up the earphones and sit by the fire...and continue to grow old...so thankful...for the rocket ride...try to remember, "It's just a job, it's NOT my life!" *AND usually, it's sure as hell ain't much of a stupid job no way!" LOL

There are more horses rear ends in the world than there are horses...I'm just sayin' Radio is full of them...watch yourself...
It is a high stress, nanosecond sort of business, on air, if you're doing it right, is usually not much fun...it's hard work...to make it look so easy...I CAN say this to you...NOBODY ever worked harder at the art and craft of it than I have...my desire to be the best dominated my life for decades...nobody wanted it more...that satisfies my soul...in my retirement.
Rock on!

Ralph Allen

So that was your voice! At Mountainet we always looked forward to getting our weekly tapes with the "Friendly Datsun Dealers" spots! (what the hell is Nissan?)

Thanks for the lookback. Your work is definitely noted, and appreciated!