99XWatch.org

I guess I shouldn't have let SaveCrash.org expire...

I just read the news.  If you're interested, here's the old SaveCrash.org web site. 

Update 4/11/2009, 2:27 PM.

Here's audio from Crash's farewell show.

All in all...

Thanks to A.N. for letting me use his photo.

Jimmy Baron--Morning Host on DaveFM

From Radio and TV Talk:

After more than three years off the Atlanta airwaves, former 99X morning man Jimmy Baron has found a new job as morning show host on Dave FM.

Developing...

(Sort of) Funny Barnes Commercial

AirTran has a new commercial for its in flight internet featuring Steve Barnes.

"our agent called and said I think you are going to get fired today."

Rolling Stone doesn't mention them.  Neither does the Boston Globe.  But while Boston mourns the demise of WBCN, the biggest winner in the CBS Boston Radio shakeup may be The Toucher and Rich Show. 

The story may sound familiar.  CBS is moving its Alternative music station to internet only.  It's moving it's "Hot Adult Contemporary" station to the better signal vacated by the Alt-rock station.  And plugging a new station into the frequency vacated by the popular music station.  In this case, however, the new station will be sports-talk station -- "98.5 The Sports Hub" and the new morning show will be actually, the not so new morning show of Toucher and Rich.  

Interestingly, these changes seemed to come as a surprise to Toucher and Rich.

When the news of WBCN leaving terrestrial radio broke there was much speculation as to what would happen to the on air talent.

“I thought we were going to get fired when our agent called and said I think you are going to get fired today,” said Toucher.

The fate of the rest of the on air talent has yet to be announced.

While they may be changing stations and formats, Toucher and Rich assured fans this morning that they don’t have to worry about any massive changes to the show itself.

“This show is not going to be a sports talk show per say,” said Toucher. “It is going to be very much what it is now. We don't see a reason for [the show] to change.”

“We have been told that dating on demands, drunken recaps, all our popular bits will be the same,” said Shertenlieb.

Despite the furor over the demise of WBCN, T&R seem optimistic about the change.

“This is going to be a big, big thing,” said co-host Fred Toucher during the broadcast this morning. “What I know about who they might be binging in, this is going to be a great alternative to what is currently out there.”

“And if everything goes in the direction we are all hoping that it goes, its gonna be the show the way we have wanted to do it, with no songs,” added co-host Rich Shertenlieb.

Morningstar analyst says resignation of CMLS CFO could be "could be symptomatic of organizational issues."

This is a bit stale, but from the 7/2/2009 Morningstar "Stock Analyst Notes:"

[Cumulus CFO Marty] Gausvik's nine-year run as CFO came to an unexpected end with the after-hours release issued Wednesday. The company disclosed that Gausvik resigned "to pursue other opportunities." We think the vague wording and sudden nature of the departure raises a number of questions about the operational environment at the firm.

Corbett also writes that Morningstar is "maintaining [its] fair value estimate" of Cumulus stock, which suggests that Morningstar analysts weren't overly concerned about those "questions."  Although perhaps they should have been.

Jimmy Baron: Cinema Legend

Back in the day, I had thought about something like this, but never got around to it:

Five Fewer Days of Bert and TRG?

From Radio Ink:

Cumulus President/CEO Lew Dickey Jr. spoke with Radio Ink Wednesday, after word came out that the company is requiring all employees -- from himself on down -- to take five days of unpaid leave before June 1.

Since most Cumulus employees are at will, The Bert Show and Regular Guys may be among the few to whom this doesn't really apply, since they have contracts.  Of course they may have been inclined (or pressured) to renegotiate their contracts out of solidarity with other Cumulus employees, but it seems unlikely that five days of unpaid leave during a ratings period is good for either party.            

Thanks to a loyal reader for the tip.

Fram vs Bono?

New York Daily News radio columnist David Hinkley features Leslie Fram's comments in his Thursday Column. 

When U2'S new CD "No Line on the Horizon" came out last month, WRXP (101.9 FM) devoted a full day to the new record and the band.

So WRXP program director Leslie Fram says she found it interesting this week when U2 lead singer Bono, the beneficiary of this promotion, joined the call for radio stations to pay performance royalties every time they play an artist's music.

Thanks to an reader for sending this one to me.

Radio Geeks Only

A loyal reader provided me with a link to FCC information on the 99X Transmitter.