circpro
09-13-2006, 04:46 PM
http://www.accessatlanta.com/blogs/content/shared-blogs/accessatlanta/radiotalk/index.html
Not surprisingly, ratings-challenged Dave FM has split up with Steve Barnes, the morning co-host, after two years. Barnes, who successfully helmed the Morning X at 99X for a decade until 2003, teamed up with Holly Firfer of CNN in 2004 and for the first six months showed promising ratings growth. But the station has seen a steady decline the past year and the future for Barnes looked grim in recent weeks. He has sued his former employer for slander and copyright infringement and got a black eye from giving away his dog.
Dave hired Barnes to try to grab 99X’s older audience. But people on this blog have complained that Barnes’ morning show was dull and lacked enough spark or personality to build an audience.
Starting Monday, Dave FM will focus on a “more music” morning show, with Holly still in place. Eric Olsen, the afternoon guy, is gone, too, with Sully taking over.
Michelle Engel, the program director, said, “There’s no hard feelings, no animosity” related to Barnes. She said he’s a personality-based morning host who likes to gab and Dave is now opting for less talk, more music. In fact, Dave’s new slogan is “Where the music matters” instead of the old “radio without rules.” Dave will keep Mara and her lunch hour, the “Circle of Friends’ concerts, Margot’s new music show on Thursdays, and Little Steven’s Underground Garage on Sundays. Dave, which goes jockless just for next week to introduce its “more music” approach, will add a 5 p.m. retro hour focused on the 80s and a softer side on Sunday mornings (similar to 99X’s Organic X).
Obviously, Dave is a bit hamstrung in its imaging because it still has to air the Falcons games but this philosophical shift (which isn’t really all that different from their original focus) means the future of the Falcons on Dave FM is up in the air. (The radio company signed on to the Falcons when it was still Z93.).
Barnes’ reaction to what he called a mutual amicable parting of the ways: “I don’t agree with their philosophy. It’s all good. I have no regrets.” As for Firfer: “I had a blast working with her.” He also felt I had “accelerated a witch hunt” against him with the lawsuit and dog coverage in recent weeks. Seriously, he has provided the only big news in radio for the past six weeks. It’s been slow!
He said management in recent weeks had already added more music to the mornings (six songs an hour as opposed to his preferred three or four). Dave will be more like 10 to 12 songs an hour in the mornings.
Barnes hasn’t ruled out another Atlanta radio job (but is on a noncompete agreement for the next few months to get his severance). He will focus for now on getting his new thriller film starring Corbin Bersen to DVD called “Last Sunset”. Here’s the imdb.com reference to the movie He said he’s barely in the film, that he produced it. (He played a televangelist, he says.)
He did apologize for not talking to me more openly while employed at Dave FM. The reason: contractually, he felt hamstrung by management. And management there doesn’t exactly encourage open dialogue with media though I do have a friendly rapport with Mara Davis because she’s just a cool cat.
Fuck more music... WE WANT O&A
What do I expect from a hole for a PD....
Not surprisingly, ratings-challenged Dave FM has split up with Steve Barnes, the morning co-host, after two years. Barnes, who successfully helmed the Morning X at 99X for a decade until 2003, teamed up with Holly Firfer of CNN in 2004 and for the first six months showed promising ratings growth. But the station has seen a steady decline the past year and the future for Barnes looked grim in recent weeks. He has sued his former employer for slander and copyright infringement and got a black eye from giving away his dog.
Dave hired Barnes to try to grab 99X’s older audience. But people on this blog have complained that Barnes’ morning show was dull and lacked enough spark or personality to build an audience.
Starting Monday, Dave FM will focus on a “more music” morning show, with Holly still in place. Eric Olsen, the afternoon guy, is gone, too, with Sully taking over.
Michelle Engel, the program director, said, “There’s no hard feelings, no animosity” related to Barnes. She said he’s a personality-based morning host who likes to gab and Dave is now opting for less talk, more music. In fact, Dave’s new slogan is “Where the music matters” instead of the old “radio without rules.” Dave will keep Mara and her lunch hour, the “Circle of Friends’ concerts, Margot’s new music show on Thursdays, and Little Steven’s Underground Garage on Sundays. Dave, which goes jockless just for next week to introduce its “more music” approach, will add a 5 p.m. retro hour focused on the 80s and a softer side on Sunday mornings (similar to 99X’s Organic X).
Obviously, Dave is a bit hamstrung in its imaging because it still has to air the Falcons games but this philosophical shift (which isn’t really all that different from their original focus) means the future of the Falcons on Dave FM is up in the air. (The radio company signed on to the Falcons when it was still Z93.).
Barnes’ reaction to what he called a mutual amicable parting of the ways: “I don’t agree with their philosophy. It’s all good. I have no regrets.” As for Firfer: “I had a blast working with her.” He also felt I had “accelerated a witch hunt” against him with the lawsuit and dog coverage in recent weeks. Seriously, he has provided the only big news in radio for the past six weeks. It’s been slow!
He said management in recent weeks had already added more music to the mornings (six songs an hour as opposed to his preferred three or four). Dave will be more like 10 to 12 songs an hour in the mornings.
Barnes hasn’t ruled out another Atlanta radio job (but is on a noncompete agreement for the next few months to get his severance). He will focus for now on getting his new thriller film starring Corbin Bersen to DVD called “Last Sunset”. Here’s the imdb.com reference to the movie He said he’s barely in the film, that he produced it. (He played a televangelist, he says.)
He did apologize for not talking to me more openly while employed at Dave FM. The reason: contractually, he felt hamstrung by management. And management there doesn’t exactly encourage open dialogue with media though I do have a friendly rapport with Mara Davis because she’s just a cool cat.
Fuck more music... WE WANT O&A
What do I expect from a hole for a PD....