One more thing, I told someone on the phone a few days ago that if Gene's blog is not yet up on the WTMJ website, just google it. Same for Gino's.
They acted like HOW DARE YOU suggest I google. It's not a naughty word - honest! So here, I did it for you:
http://genemueller.blogspot.com
http://ginosalomone.blogspot.com
Neither of these blogs is hosted by our site, so I do not know if they are going to be updated.
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Ramblings about Radio, Baseball and Life in General from the Program Director of 94.5 WKTI in Milwaukee.
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The KTI Program Director
- Bob Walker
- Milwaukee, WI, United States
- PD at KTI since 2001, Married With 2 Kids (8 and 4),
5 comments:
This comment will probably get negative feedback from readers but bottom line, we the listeners, played a key part in the disbanding of the morning team. Unfortunately, radio is just like a business and difficult and gut wrenching decisions are made based on ratings. Many of us loved Gene and Gino and felt they were our friends. Why weren't more of us tuning in? If so, they would still be our Morning Team. I feel partly responsible for letting them down because I wasn't a steady listener. Bottom line: We were all part of the decision.
This comment will probably get negative feedback from readers but bottom line, we the listeners, played a key part in the disbanding of the morning team. Unfortunately, radio is just like a business and difficult and gut wrenching decisions are made based on ratings. Many of us loved Gene and Gino and felt they were our friends. Why weren't more of us tuning in? If so, they would still be our Morning Team. I feel partly responsible for letting them down because I wasn't a steady listener. Bottom line: We were all part of the decision.
Agreed. Kind of like the restaurant that everybody loved having in town, but you had not eaten there in a while.
Bob,
You're the boss at KTI and you have some tough decisions to make, but I honestly it was a poor decision to break up the morning team. (I'm sure the decision to do this also came from above your head too, so I don't blame you all too much)
Anyhow, I guess only time and the next Arbitron ratings book will tell if it was wise or not. However, I will not be giving the new morning folks a chance. I have been flipping around and still haven't found a team on Milwaukee radio that I like yet -- so it might be just CDs from now on. It's still nice to hear Gene on WTMJ, but it seems they are constantly in commercials over there.
As others have mentioned, the final "morning show" last week was just poorly planned. I'm sure there wasn't a lot of notice to plan things -- but if change was in inevitable from you or the suits at Journal -- it would have been nice to go out in a special way... maybe even one final reunion show where you'd bring back Bob and Amy just for 3 hours one morning and include all the guests they've had over the years?
I know you did a lot of "looking back" when Bob left a few months ago (I was in one of the front rows at the retirement event at the theater in downtown Milwaukee), but I think a real send-off that lasted more than 10 minutes would have smoothed things out with listeners more and maybe would have gotten them to atleast sample and be more receptive to the new folks when they come aboard in a couple of weeks.
But hey, I'm in broadcasting and I know how "the business" works. I currently work for a news producer for a TV station here in Milwaukee (NOT Journal - THANK GOD!) and have been an on-air talent before.
I had friends (both on-air and off-air) lose their jobs when 104.3FM in Chicago went from being an Oldies station to "Jack FM" 2 years ago -- and the change between the station was almost as jarring as what you pulled with the morning show format flip.
I'm sure you're a pro at what you do as a programming director (and I mean that in all sincerity) **BUT** as I learned from working in television news... sometimes others (who don't work at a station) see things more clearly than those who work there and have an emotional investment in the product.
My best advice for the future of 'KTI would be to acknowledge that no one can take the place of the "old" morning team... pray the "new" morning team didn't sign any contracts yet so that you can ship them back to whatever cities they're coming from... move Lips and Dan to some other Journal station... and turn WKTI into a Jockless JACK-FM format.
I seriously think a format like JACK-FM or like "Nine FM" has in Chicago (all commercial breaks are just a minute long) would appeal more to your audience than this new morning team will. It might even get me to come back...
MAYBE.
In thinking about the demise of the morning show, I can see why they would have lost some listeners. I have been listening since the mid 80's and thought if "poo" would continue to be a daily subject, I would look for a new station. At times Amy brought a lot of value to the team with her wit, knowledge, and great communication skills. My one complaint about her was the repeated subject of "poo". In my opinion, she contributed to the demise of the show. Everybody loves Gino; he has a great personality, so adding him to the team by name was a positive move. I had high hopes when Jenna joined the team. I don't think the team of Gene, Jenna and Gino was given a fair chance.
In summary, I think "poo" reduced the ratings, and then management decided to dump the middle aged audience and court a younger audience. Hence, the new young team.
I have been station surfing and missing Gene and Gino greatly. I will find a morning team to listen to; however, it won't be on KTI.
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