Star 94's Morning Mess OUT!

[JCMF3]

blogs.ajc.com/radio-tv-talk/2009/03/06/36-star-94s-morning-mess-canned/

Thank goodness. That show was such a "mess" anyways. I think that I highlighted this last year in another thread, but the show was indeed way too immature and just did not go with the demographic for this station. The Bert Show has been a HUGE ratiings grabber because of this. Q100 should be thanking Star 94 for this stupid decision.

Now they are left without a morning show...

[atlantaboy]

^Yeah that Morning Mess show came from WNOU/Indianapolis which was completely geared towards teens (always wondered how the could "fit in" to Star 94)

Since they have that Cindy & Ray show in the afternoons (which I really wish they didn't have so they could be playin music durin those hours), seems like they should just move them to mornings...

Or even better, take the Bob and Sheri show from WLNK/Charlotte (which is already simulcast all over the place) since they're both owned by Lincoln Financial

Surprised the Bert Show on Q100 is the #1 rated morning show in ATL though cause IMO it's really boring...

[tico]

Just like in sports, you never want to be the guy who has to follow THE guy. It was gonna be a tough act to follow for anybody doing the morning show at Star, given that Steve & Vicki (now at crosstown AC B98.5) helped brand Star and that they were a cash cow for them as well.

I never had a chance to listen to the Morning Mess, but from all accounts that I've read about them, they weren't a fit for the station and I figured it would be a matter of time before that was realized. As far as Cindy & Ray, mornings may be a better fit, but I remember earlier in the decade, rumors were flying about Star replacing S&V and that Matt & Ramona, who were at the Link in Charlotte at the time (are they still there?) would be the likely replacements.

BTW, I loved the Bert Show when I lived in Atlanta. In fact, I would rank it among the best mornings I've ever heard.

[atlantaboy]

Mar 7, 2009 16:59:44 GMT -5 @tico said:

I remember earlier in the decade, rumors were flying about Star replacing S&V and that Matt & Ramona, who were at the Link in Charlotte at the time (are they still there?) would be the likely replacements.

Yeah WLNK/Charlotte has made tons of $$$ (since the early 2000s) off startin up morning, afternoon, and even evening talk shows and then syndicating them to stations all around the Southeast...Matt & Ramona are still there doin afternoons, Bob & Sheri are still doin mornings, and they've got a similar show at night - IMO any of 'em would be an easy replacement for Star 94 (esp. since Lincoln Financial owns both)

WLNK is a Hot AC (and pretty sure both Bob&Sheri and Matt&Ramona go almost all to other HACs), but if the Morning Mess was too young for Star 94, guess it wouldn't hurt to err on the side of older audience...at least temporarily

IMO Bob & Sheri would be a surefire hit since they've got proven high ratings on almost every station they've been syndicated to...still think Star 94 listeners might want a locally-based morning show though

[tico]

Bob & Sheri used to be on an 80s station in San Diego...until they changed to the present day alternative FM 94/9.

I would think Atlantans would want a local show as well, and I'm not really a big fan of syndicated morning shows in large markets.

[atlantaboy]

Mar 7, 2009 20:11:25 GMT -5 @tico said:

Bob & Sheri used to be on an 80s station in San Diego...until they changed to the present day alternative FM 94/9.

Just wonderin if there's more than one "Bob & Sheri" show cause the one on The Link/Charlotte (that's syndicated around the Southeast) makes constant references to the Charlotte area (also can't imagine them on an Alternative station)

[tico]

This was more than five years ago when they heard in San Diego, so I'm sure it's the same ones. I'm not sure about the Charlotte references. I didn't listen to the show enough to notice.

BTW, what's with Charlotte being home to syndicated morning show? If I'm not mistaken, John Boy & Billy (mainly rock and country) and Ace & TJ (mainly CHR) are based in Charlotte.

[atlantaboy]

Mar 8, 2009 13:21:39 GMT -5 @tico said:

This was more than five years ago when they heard in San Diego, so I'm sure it's the same ones. I'm not sure about the Charlotte references. I didn't listen to the show enough to notice.

BTW, what's with Charlotte being home to syndicated morning show? If I'm not mistaken, John Boy & Billy (mainly rock and country) and Ace & TJ (mainly CHR) are based in Charlotte.

Yeah Bob&Sheri have been on the Link in Charlotte since the late 90s, so I guess they syndicate out further than I thought (i. e. San Diego) - and yeah ur right about Ace & T. J. and John Boy & Billy...I think it might be that other Charlotte stations were seein how much $$$ WLNK was makin off syndicating Bob/Sheri, so Kiss 95.1 decided to syndicate Ace & T. J., The Fox 99.7 decided to syndicate John Boy & Billy etc.

[banks]

The Morning Mess would have fit better on Star 94 if they were a real mainstream CHR, as in add some rhythmic and hip hop to the playlist. I wish they would go straight CHR (what Q100 *was*) since they aren't doing so well right now. But if it ain't broke, don't fix it?

Star is actually playing more music during Seacrest's voicetracked time than the two drivetimes were. A new morning show (that does play some music) versus an established show (with little to no music). During PM drive, a morning show type show (with the same amount of music during AM drive - maybe a little more) versus a station playing 12 or so songs (Q100). Connect the dots.

Problem is easily fixable...move Cindy and Ray to mornings, and find another afternoon DJ. Did I mention...this will save them money, and perhaps add hip hop to shift towards a real mainstream CHR. Not all CHRs are made for 12-24 and not all are made for 18-34 and not all are made for 18-49. In most markets (except in ATL) with two CHRs, one tends to skew younger and the other one skews older, it's called squeeze play. Having two co-exist going after the older end doesn't make any sense.

[tico]

Mar 8, 2009 19:31:24 GMT -5 banks said:

The Morning Mess would have fit better on Star 94 if they were a real mainstream CHR, as in add some rhythmic and hip hop to the playlist. I wish they would go straight CHR (what Q100 *was*) since they aren't doing so well right now. But if it ain't broke, don't fix it?

Problem is easily fixable...move Cindy and Ray to mornings, and find another afternoon DJ. Did I mention...this will save them money, and perhaps add hip hop to shift towards a real mainstream CHR. Not all CHRs are made for 12-24 and not all are made for 18-34 and not all are made for 18-49. In most markets (except in ATL) with two CHRs, one tends to skew younger and the other one skews older, it's called squeeze play. Having two co-exist going after the older end doesn't make any sense.

Good idea, but Star will be taking a huge risk. They own (or have owned) the coveted 18-44 female demo in Atlanta, especially the ones over 25--to the point where they could just print money. You risk alienating them and sacrificing a cash cow by going all-out CHR. You gotta tread very carefully with that.

[banks]

Well they used to own the 18-44 crowd, which is why I suggested it.

Well if it ain't broke, don't fix it?

[atlantaboy]

Mar 9, 2009 10:16:34 GMT -5 @tico said:

Mar 8, 2009 19:31:24 GMT -5 banks said:

The Morning Mess would have fit better on Star 94 if they were a real mainstream CHR, as in add some rhythmic and hip hop to the playlist. I wish they would go straight CHR (what Q100 *was*) since they aren't doing so well right now. But if it ain't broke, don't fix it?

Problem is easily fixable...move Cindy and Ray to mornings, and find another afternoon DJ. Did I mention...this will save them money, and perhaps add hip hop to shift towards a real mainstream CHR. Not all CHRs are made for 12-24 and not all are made for 18-34 and not all are made for 18-49. In most markets (except in ATL) with two CHRs, one tends to skew younger and the other one skews older, it's called squeeze play. Having two co-exist going after the older end doesn't make any sense.

Good idea, but Star will be taking a huge risk. They own (or have owned) the coveted 18-44 female demo in Atlanta, especially the ones over 25--to the point where they could just print money. You risk alienating them and sacrificing a cash cow by going all-out CHR. You gotta tread very carefully with that.

Yeah the thing about Star 94's audience is it tends to be very wealthy (and bring in tons of advertising dollars)...they basically own the wealthy white suburbs (sorry to generalize lol), and that'd be huge risk to give up I think

Not sure they'd wanna go to rhythmic-leaning CHR or even 12-24 mainstream (both Q100 and briefly WBTS tried it when they first started out, and ratings were pretty low)...I think it's cause in ATL the Urban stations are so huge that they basically own R&B and hip-hop, leaving the CHRs basically to cater to the rest of the musical spectrum - even Q100 has learned that when it adds more hip-hop to the daytime playlist, ratings go down and not up...