More More Citidel

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Citidel Comment":

A.J., just in Alabama alone, it looks like Citadel owns three AM and eight FM stations, eleven in all...many around the Birmingham, Northport, Tuscaloosa areas, as well as Reform, Greensboro and Coaling, AL.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_radio_stations_in_Alabama

That's a lot of equipment and stations packed into that market area...country, urban-adult contemporary, sports talk, sports, oldies, "hot AC", news/talk, the whole gauntlet.

If these stations go out, there'll be a lot of shift over to other stations...unless, they weren't so great to begin with...then, it would be up to someone if they were to buy them up and keep the format or change. Living in Mobile, AL, there's no opportunity to hear them...and, even with a Wineguard log periodic antenna (a super-duper TV/FM receiving antenna), it's hard to hear anything at that distance under normal conditions.

Likewise, with the AM stations, since many cut their power at night (we have one in Mobile that cuts to 10 watts!)...it'd be difficult, unless one had a HEAP of real estate for a rhombic antenna! At that point, these are fixed receiving antenna...it would take acres and acres to build several to point in all directions!

Needless to say, I hope an equitable solution can be found to keep these stations alive and people employed. Bud, Mobile, AL

Citidel Comment

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Citadel is the Current Owner of KAAY":

Wonder who's going to pick up Citadel, if anyone? Cumulus just pulled a radio stunt...playing TV show tunes for hours, before a format change...they'd called themselves, "TV 104!". My daughter and I would listen to Rick and Bubba in the mornings, on the way to my taking her to school- and we're disappointed, now, that we can't get these two fine, hilarious gentlemen and their show. Radio is an ever-changing business, R&B will be picked up on another local station somewhere down the line....

I'd thought of calling and writing for a QSL card from
TV 104", but now that they've gone all satellite-fed, there's no one there, and I doubt that anyone at Cumulus would give a rat's patoot or even know what a station verification (QSL) was...

Goodbye, WYOR:

"After three years of middling ratings as a Country station, Cumulus Broadcasting pulled the plug on the “Kicks 104.1″ format and began stunting with a loop of TV Themes at 5:00pm on Wednesday, March 18, 2009. The following afternoon at 1:04pm the station picked up the satellite-fed version of the “Jack-FM” format after a brief sign-on announcement."

Country format gone, a wierd Top 40 mix being played now...not enough interest on MY part to listen, not the "Top 40" I'm interested in....Bud, Mobile, AL

Citadel is the Current Owner of KAAY

Citadel braces for bankruptcy: The stock market has already spoken. Citadel stock is worth four cents -- and less than a dollar for long enough to be booted off the New York Stock Exchange. Because the market has already priced in for the worst case scenario, the situation for equity holders is no doubt a lost cause. The market is saying Citadel stock is worthless. The NYSE gave up on them

Where is John Scuderi?

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Current KAAY Changes":

hey it's john scuderi - i did manage kaay sept 2006 thru december 2008 it was the best job i've ever had! Citadel turned me into a sales person, i was thankful not to be cut all together. But since I Love manageing christian radio I went to go work for Spirit 93.3fm kksp. contact me at radiobird7@gmail.com if you like to say hi.

Thanks for all your Prayers

Russell W. has left a new comment on your post "This blog may be shower for a while":

Godspeed, A.J. Prayers and thoughts from Georgia. Stay 50 kW strong.

--Russell Wells

Note on Timeless Tracks

vdog has left a new comment on your post "THANKS":

I also want to add my condloences.
I will keep you in my prayers.
A bit of sad news to pass along.
Timeless Tracks, a program that airs on Sunday Nights, will air its
last program this Sunday night on
K-106.3. Tony Warner has been the host of this program for several years. The music featured is music from the late 50's-early 60's. That era of music is seldom heard on local radio anymore.
There will be a big party celebrating the end of the program
Sunday night from 6-11PM.
..............................................................................
If you are a regular reader to this blog you know of Tony Warner's long running support of this blog and top 40 KAAY. Tony has done many feature programs on annaversery dates of KAAY. We have airchecks from one broadcast that featured many of the pervious jocks and and a rare voice appearance of of Pat Walsh.
Be sure and look up these cuts. Just do a search of this blog for "TImeless Tracks".
Thanks for the memories Tony and we all hope you will find a new home for "Timeless Tracks".

More on Mark Winston

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Mark Winston":

Mark was actually the afternoon drive jock and music director in 1977 and 1978 at KAAY. Mark produced most of the commercials for MidSouth Productions for the big regional concerts by the Doobie Brothers, REO Speedwagon, Queen, HeadEast, and many, many others. KAAY was known as "Sunshine Radio" playing Top 40 currents and oldies and was the number one station in Little Rock during that era. It was also referred to as the "Mighty 1090...K double A Y". During that time Little Rock and much of the US was still an AM radio market. The Program Director and AM drive DJ was "Dick Downes" from the big Top 40 station in Nashville. Mark was the first DJ in the country to announce the "silent" emergency ambulance arrival at Graceland in Memphis when Elvis was rushed to the hospital and he later announced his death. It was brought to Mark's attention by a listener who lived next to Graceland in Memphis and noticed the silent ambulance that had pulled into the Graceland circular drive. The 10 request lines were jammed with callers from all over the country wanting to learn more about the news. KAAY was known as the leader in news for the entire region. Mark was heard in 47 states and 13 foreign countries after the nightime pattern switched over. Mark was on the air every night Monday through Friday just before "Beaker" came on. On the walls of the newly constructed 3 story state of the art studios built on the mighty river running through Little Rock were pictures of all the great DJ's that had once graced the airwaves of KAAY. Amoung them were the legendary "Wolfman Jack" who made a special on-air guest appearance at the grand opening of the new studio facilities. To be on the air at KAAY was a memory I will never forget. Mark says, "to talk into the Electrovoice RE20 microphone that fed the Urei LA-4compressor/limiter then through the 31 band eq that was eque'd by the KAAY master audio engineers was incredibly inspiring to listen to through my KOSS Pro 4AA headphones. Just a hint of the really BIG sounding reverb unit made it even more of a DJ delight!
It was truly an on-air experience I will never forget and a wonderful stepping stone in my radio career".

THANKS

Thanks to so many of you for including me on your prayer lists. I understand I have been added to a list of Hams, Churches etc. For better coverage that KAAY today.

Here is just a sample of the notes I am getting:

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "This blog may be shower for a while":

My prayers are with you! I grew up listening to KAAY at night here in Kansas City. It was a great station to listen to! I just discovered your blog and it brings back so many great memories. Take care and get better.

Jim in KC

This blog may be shower for a while

I have cancer and am receiving chemotheropy treatments. I covet your prayers.
Please continue to submit material and comments, It may be a little slower getting them up.

A.J. Lindsey