99XWatch.org

New URLs?

A reader shares with me the following:

I have ... found the following web addresses, www.rock100atlanta.com, www.1005rock.com, www.rock100atl.com and www.rock1005.com have all been registered and temporarily pointing to the site of sister "Warm98" WRRM Cincinnati.

Overheard at 99XWatch HQ

January 21, 2005 7:00 am:

Can you believe how they're shilling for Bush?

January 21, 2008 7:00 am:

Can you believe how they're shilling for Paula Abdul?

Leslie, Jenners, Steve Craig Out at 99X

According to two sources Leslie, Jenners, and Steve Craig were fired today. From one source:

Jenners went first.
Then Fram.
Then Craig.

Keeping Axel, Matt C & Lewis, for now.

Update 1/14/2007 11:22 AM. 

Another source tells me the order was Leslie, Jenners, then Steve.

Retroplex Petition and John Dickey on 99X

Rebekka, a "concerned listener" has started an online petition to bring back Steve Craig's Retroplex, which was discontinued on 8/21.

Rodney Ho has an interview with John Dickey about 99X's future and sagging ratings.

“I think the morning show is doing a good job,” Dickey said. “I think the morning show is fine. One year is nothing in the lifespan of morning radio. We’re tracking fine. We love the [alternative rock] format. We love the results the format gets. In terms of listeners and what we do for the advertisers, the music and product has been great.”

English Nick Joins 99X from 96Rock

This morning's 5:00 Hour included some cross over conversation with 99X's newest talent, former 96Rock personality "English Nick" Parsons.  Parsons, according to Leslie Fram, "will be filling in on various shifts."  Nick has become sort of a local phenomenon with Metalsome Mondays which has evolved into Metalsome Incorporated.

Matt Jones is on vacation and will be returning to overnights next week.

Last Week for Mitch

A source close to the show tells me:

This will be Mitch's last week on the show for now.  We launched a national talent search last week so there is a possibility that Mitch could be part of a new show. [Hyperlink added.]

Mitch Evans in the last two years  has done three amazingly tough gigs:  1) worked with Barnes 2) succeeded Crash, and 3) added life to the listless "upgrade" show.  In a fair world, he would get a medal instead of an unemployment check.

Massey Replaces Mitch on Traffic

As previously reported by Rodney Ho on Radio Talk, Jamie Massey has taken over traffic from Mitch Evans.  Massey is doing the old Crash gig—both the 99X and Q100, morning and afternoon traffic reports.  According to a source close to the show, Mitch will continue to do sports for the time being, but adds "He's too good to be doing 3 minute sports segments."

You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.

It turns out, to Messrs. Dickey and Dickey "upgrade" means a temporary show to bide time until a permanent morning show can be brought in.  Hence the following post on AllAccess.com:

Wally Quits 99X

From Toucher via FredToucher.com 

Give Wally A ROUND OF APPLAUSE! He quit 99X today. People want to hire him. There is a station in the Top 3 markets that would blow him if he agreed to take a job there. Stand up for yourself I always say and good things will happen. So again THREE CHEERS FOR WALLY my good friend.

Needless to say, I've never been a fan of Wally's politics, but I am a fan of Wally the human being.  He is talented, funny, and genuine.  I expect that 30 years from now, I'll be singing "It's O.K. to Cry Now Wally" to cheer up my wife.

04/14/2006 8:18PM
Rodney Ho writes an excellent summary of the "Morning 'X'odus" on his Blog, Radio Talk.  He also has some interesting quotes in a post on Radio-info.com:

Wally just told [Ho] yes, he quit. "I got hosed," he said. "They kept silencing me. The new owners don’t like me." Yet he was trying not to be bitter: "It’s their choice. It’s their business. It’s not a surprise. They have the right to do that for me."

"I had to get out so bad, I didn't care," he added.

Morning Show Name Change

The 99X Website has published the name of the new morning show with Axel: "The Everything Alternative 99X Morning Show...With Axel, Jimmy & Leslie."   This precipitated an interesting discussion on Radio-Info.com.  Media buyer Roddy Freeman speculates:

The fact that Cumulus seems so interested in getting the morning show right suggests they plan on keeping the format, at least long enough to learn if a new morning show could save 99X in its current incarnation.

Another poster, "troone,"  offers additional analysis:

[99X] had a gigantic book in early 2001 and then like all the other rock formats, they settled into a 2 share mode, while flirting with a 3 in 12+ every so often. A lot of that was greater ethnic sampling in the Arbitron formula, which hurt a few of the white stations. Some of it was the fade of alternative music.

As one of the better posters on this board put it a few months ago: a rock station is boxed in somewhat by the competition and the reality of having to carve up a smaller audience. There are simply more people who "settle" on Elton John on Mariah Carey in their car than on Cake or Weezer.

I dont necessarily think 99x has become a "worse" station over the last four years. I do think they caught lightning in a bottle for a short period of time and now are having to - unfairly - answer for why it didnt continue.

At least they dont VT [voice track] like 94.9, 96, 98.5, and most of the black stations.