PBRTV - Pittsburgh Area Radio/TV Mailbag

PBRTV - Pittsburgh Area Radio/TV Mailbag PBRTV - Pittsburgh Area Radio & TV

PBRTV Mailbag July 1-5, 2004

I'm reading with interest all the boo-hoo, bye-bye-B94 letters, and I see people are calling it either B94 or WBZZ, nothing else. So much for the recent repositioning strategy. The end of B94 strikes me like the end of KQV: lots of folks complaining, but relatively few listening. I also notice that someone at Infinity said that they were trying to make Star 100.7 into "a comfortable home for people who listened to B94 in the 80's and 90's." The content of your complaint letters seems to prove beyond a doubt that the "comfortable home" for older B94 listeners should have been B94! But it's too late to turn back now. Bring it on, K-Rock, and maybe you can take the big egos at DVE down a notch or two. (July 5, 2004)

With all the complaining being done about the format change at B-94 I can't help but wonder where everyone was when President Clinton and the FCC changed the law allowing media giants to own many stations in a single market. Without local ownership, opinions and complaints go unnoticed. Since there was no uproar about the Radio Act it paved the way for TV media to do the same thing. Pity (July 5, 2004)

I am extremely upset with Infinity's decision to change WBZZ-93.7's format. I've listened to B94 since the early 90's. What makes this even more depressing, is that a "major city" the size of Pittsburgh has NO top 40 radio station!! 96.1 Kiss FM and Star 100.7 sometimes play that type of music, but Star 100.7 is geared towards the 80's and KissFM is almost always playing Rap or R&B. I see a need for both of those stations, but there is definitely lacking a top 40 station in Pittsburgh! Infinity's decision created a huge market gap with an incredible opportunity for a new station to come in. I mean, come on Pittsburgh. Not to mention the big cities, small cities such as Toledo, OH, Youngstown, OH, Morgantown, WV, Lansing, MI, in addition to numerous rural places, all have true top-40 stations!! What I think Pittsburgh needs is a true top-40 station, that plays a variety of modern hits (pop, rock, some dance/techno (note there is NONE of this in Pittsburgh but there is in Toledo!), and some r&b and rap). This would bridge a huge gap and a lot of music enjoyed by people normally from 13-35 years old, which is the type of people this city is trying to retain and attract! I think a station like Boston's Kiss 108 FM with some dance/techno thrown in would be perfect for Pittsburgh. What do you think? How can this message be spread to make a difference? No offense to anyone, but do we really need all these classic rock stations in Pittsburgh? Thanks, Jon (July 5, 2004)

i still can't believe it... man does this suck. thank god i have several old tapes of their morning show (i used to tape it when i couldn't listen and listen to later in the day). guess i will have to live on re-runs. :( hey eric.....could you please post contact information on here for infinity radio (i guess that's who owns b94?) ??? If you could, it would be greatly appreciated. mike (July 5, 2004)

Eric's Response: All station contact information (for the major stations) is on the Address page.

All those blasts at the mailbag about B94????.....It hasn't been B94 for over a year!!! Infinity should have blown it up last year!!! (July 5, 2004)

Dear Eric I am very angry with the infinity higherups who decided to ruin a very good radio station. I had friends at the B. who were disc jockies including: Adam, Stupid Giutar Boy and Chris Mack. If Cheap Channel has any caring brains in their heads they will let the annoying kiss jocks go and allow Dave, Bubba, Brian, Shelley and all the other B. jocks take over that station. As far as K. Rock I hope that nobody in Pittsburgh listens and they lose money and ratings. Thanks for letting me put my two cents in. Brian from Mt. Lebanon. (July 4, 2004)

I am furious at the fact that B94 has been taken off air. I along with all of my friends and family listened to B94 all the time. I loved all the crazy stunts that the morning show did and all the fun that Melanie, Kobe, and Adam had with their job. I think that it is very stupid to take off one of the best morning shows on pittsburgh radio and replace it with Howard Stern. All the DJ's on B94 made my ride to and from work enjoyable and made the time go by quickly. Whoever made the decision to get rid of B94 is absolutly crazy. I know that I will not be listening to K Rock 93.7. I know that I am not the only person who feels angry and frustrated about loosing the best radio station in Pittsburgh. Maria (July 2, 2004)

Hello all, I was wondering if WBZZ let everyone go? Also does anyone know who will be the DJ's any rumors going around yet? I was thinking Melanie will still be there because, you still hear commercials for Starbucks and Kobe doing another ad and I forget who else... But was just wondering if anyone knew the DJ's who will be on the new K-Rock? Ryan (July 2, 2004)

Eric's Response: Chances are the commercials you are hearing could be finishing out their contract...or they may cross over to the new audience. As it said in the papers, some of the DJs may retain their positions with the new format. Others may appear on the other Infinity stations.

I am having trouble finding the words to properly express how angry I am that there is no more Dave, Bubba, Shelly morning show. Who made the decision to pull a morning show team who has continually been voted the number one morning show? This person(s) is obviously off their rocker! I, along with MANY others, will not listen to the new B94 or the stern show. Dave, Bubba, Shelly, and Brian put me in a good mood every morning. I listened to them on my way to college every morning and then on my way to work every morning. It feels like a death in the family! These guys have shared my mornings with me for years. It's a shame that some guys in a suit, that have no clue what the people want, get to make these decisions. If the owner of any other radio station out there in the Pittsburgh area has even half a brain, they will move heaven and earth to hire the complete B94 morning team! 100.7 already has john. If they would get the rest of them, look for a major shift in radio station ratings. These guys MUST be together on the same station! Separately they will never be the same. These guys had a chemistry that can't be repeated by anyone else or any other combination. As far as the new B94 goes, I hope their ratings plummet (as I'm sure they will). I will not tune to that station again. And to the original B94 morning team, we miss you already!!!!! (July 2, 2004)

Eric, I just needed to complain about the change at WBZZ. I am 32 and my children are 4 and 8. WBZZ was the only station that we all could listen to together. I will miss the morning show more than anything. Thanks for letting me vent. (July 2, 2004)

Hi Eric, I grew up with B94 and over the more recent years just tune in for the morning show. I did not realize how much of an impact that crew had on my life until this morning when I tuned in and they were not there. I am still in shock. I understand the popularity of Howard Stern, and realize change is inevitable- but I feel strongly that the popularity of the morning show and the rest of the music, Dj's and material the station had to offer out weighs Howard in the long run. He has a group of listeners, but not as broad of a variety. I am just so sorry to see it go. I know I will not be tuning in. Good luck to Bubba, Dave, Shelly, and Brian! As for now I'll go to my digital satellite radio.-Amy (July 1, 2004)

Man does this stink. I am very very happy that Howard Stern is back to the Burgh but to cut B-94 and the DJ's for it isn;t worth it at all. Howard is always talking about quitting and all he does is whine anymore. His show is funny and amusing but it just isn't the same show. I'm gonna miss the morning show but what I am gonna miss most is the night show with Adam. His skits and remotes were great and made me laugh. I will miss his show the most. Something else is wrong here...what about the person who was supposed to win the intern contest? Talk about getting your hopes up. I have been pissed off at this for two days now and it's going to take awhile for me to get over it. Down with the new station. --Matt (July 1, 2004)

Eric's Response: Yes, I have received several inquiries of what is going to happen to the Intern. My best bet is that the intern will either A. Be hooked up with one of the other stations; B. Learn early on how cruel the radio world can be; or C. Anyone care to take a stab at C?

Dear Eric, First off thats a very nice name. The reason for this email is that I'm trying to get a hold of Giant Brian from WBZZ morning show. Brian and I had went to college together at Point Park and I was going to ask him for a favor. I was wondering if you had any information from him that you can give me. I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks so much. Its a shame what happened to Giant Brian and the whole WBZZ team. Sincerly, Eric (July 1, 2004)

Eric's (O'Brien that is) response: I don't have any contact information for any of the hosts other than at Infinity. I would just recommend giving the station a call at this point....unless by some miracle they all got jobs elsewhere overnight! And...yes...I like the name Eric...nice name you got there...you even spelled it right!

I’ve only been in Pittsburgh since 1999, having moved here from San Jose, CA. I can understand everyone being upset that B-94 is gone since they grew up with the station. I’m not a Stern fan but I do believe in the First Amendment. Infinity is just rubbing it into Clear Channel’s face by putting Howard back on. I was hoping the rumors of a format change was going to bring a good active rock station to town. After the first day I think its leaning a lot more towards a DVE type station than The X. As I am typing this I just heard Bennie and the Jets and I Drink Alone and only one song the X would play (Talk Show On Mute). I hope these guys at K-ROCK can fine tune this more towards active rock and less of this classic rock crap. I can get that on Channel 97 or DVE. There’s much too much classic rock in this town. Scott, Cranberry Twp. PS - Eric I really like your website. (July 1, 2004)

Eric's Response: Thank you!

I'm happy that Howard Stern will be on the Pittsburgh airwaves. Everyone has the right to speak their opinion without censorship. I'm not a big fan of Howard Stern however I feel that Clear Channel's choice of removing Stern was the wrong answer. Another wrong answer was changing the format of WBZZ 93.7 to all rock. WBZZ has been a favorite since I was a teen. I'm 32 now and I still listen to WBZZ for today's hit music. My favorite has been the morning show with Dave, Brian, Bubba, and Shelly. It was comforting to listen to the morning show when I would drive into work or college. The morning crew is the best team on radio. I remember when Bubba was known as Bubba The Goat boy and the morning crew of Quinn and Banana. I don't understand the change unless it was for Stern's benefit. Pittsburgh has become a depressing town with the money situation, sports teams loosing, lack of jobs and great music. Again I'm happy that Stern got the upper hand however I'm depressed that Pittsburgh had to loose a great radio format because of it. Wendy in Irwin (July 1, 2004)

My morning's drive into work today, just wasn't the same. Something was missing. It was Dave-Bubba-Brian-Shelley. When I heard the news yesterday, I felt the same way as if four of my best friends had died. I will sadly miss the laughter of the morning show. It always started my day, and I am sure most of the Pittsburgh viewers, off to a really good start. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Dave-Bubba-Brian-Shelley for the great job they did each and every morning. Thanks for giving me a great start to everyday. I will pay my final respects to WBZZ. Louanne (Robinson Township) (July 1, 2004)

I think it's really awful that hometown radio has been replaced by the content of radio that is now wbzz. I immediately began searching the airwaves for another station that was personal to the area in which I live but why was I put in this position. It's such an abomination that Howard S. is still permitted airtime but more of an abomination that he has replaced personal radio - radio at its best. Patty (July 1, 2004)

i have a reply to this WBZZ change..In my opition i think the Pittsburgh Radio market sucks. There are no Smooth Jazz Stations no Jammin Oldies no Top-40 stations because i know that Clear Channel is going to change 96.1 WKST to some other station. i know 96.1 Kiss is changing you ever notice the change in music and the name of the station? 96-1 Kiss FM now it's 96-1 Kiss. Kiss FM played Top-40 music...now Kiss is playing Hip and R&B with 1 pop song every 5 urban songs on the playlist. usually Clear Channel is known for changing a station every 5 years. so don't be surprized. i'm living in harrisburg right and the station here are even crappier but i'm moving back. do you think this is a competion The X vs. K-Rock...or is there any ideas of The X losing ratings and pulling the plug on The X? Vic (July 1, 2004)

Eric's Response: I do not see The X or DVE going down anytime soon. It might pull at The X a little bit.

I must say that I think what has happened with WBZZ and particularly the morning show crew, Dave Bubba Brian and Shelley, is a travesty to Pittsburgh. Everyone keeps talking about the top 40 music but they are missing what really made the morning show and all the WBZZ jocks special. It was not the music format they played at all. When you tuned into WBZZ in the mornings you heard REAL Pittsburghers as jocks, talking to REAL Pittsburghers at REAL Pittsburgh locations. They had bits where they would determine who had the best pizza in the burgh and they would continually promote other local businesses and organizations with special events. Those are the things that will be missed above the music. I think it is very rare to find a station that is as connected and involved in its community as WBZZ was. The morning jocks especially seemed more like friends than radio hosts. They shared their lives with us on the air and they made me personally fell like had real friends on the air. I will miss that most of all. I will never listen to 93.7 again. Chris (July 1, 2004)

After the "wardrobe malfunction", America finally woke up and fought back from all the crap that's been on TV and radio for a long time. The FCC was finally doing their job. Its that a lot of people are upset because of the approach. They should have been doing this all along but they were too lax. Clear Channel got fined and they got rid of Howie as a liability. Infinity still needs to wake up. Just my 2 1/2 cents. (July 1, 2004)

Eric, It is always hard to see change come. I also remember the first days of B-94 and listened to them through the 80’s and 90’s before moving out of town. When I did come back to town, I rarely listened as I found that my appetite for Top 40 had waned, as it was a diet of rap and hip hop. My only thought is that if there was a loyal 20-50 audience that loved B-94 in the glory days of Big Hair, flipped collars and Duran Duran, why not capitalize o that by using the Star format at B-94 and move Stern to 100.7? But in the words of some country song from the 90’s "Life always changes nothing stays the same, How Can I help you say Goodbye." (July 1, 2004)

I thought it was a very bad joke! Hate the new radio station I want Dave, Shelly and Bubba back What a stupid idea to change Mornings will never be the same... Why does all of the good things in life change Susan - Bruin, PA (July 1, 2004)

I, for one, am glad to hear Howard back on here in town, and not have to listen to him by alternative means anymore. If people don't wanna listen to him, fine, go to other stations, but it is hard to deny that he was a presence in morning radio here. I do wanna say that its also great to have a nice mix of music to listen to on K-Rock, and welcome its arrival. One last thing to all the Howard haters that think of the former B-94 as so great and such.....They were nothing but cheesy Howard wannabe's...as are most morning shows that run on main FM stations are. Viva Stern!!! Robert from Bethel Park (July 1, 2004)

I have been listening to DVE for about 30 years (I'm 41), and though I did not listen to B94 that much, when I did I found it to be enjoyable because it played NOW. It lived in the present with no regards to the past or future. This I will miss. I will always listen to DVE and the X, but where will I get my pop fix? And their morning show was funny. It sucks to get old and lose your past, but this is the present that we have lost...Gonzo from Ligonier (July 1, 2004)

Hi Eric: Just a couple of comments about the transition of (as some of us in the biz used to call it) "that bug station" - the bee has been swatted. Howard is a good revenue stream - and more entertaining then Quinn. (IMHO) I’m sure it was not a surprise to the jettisoned air talent. As one who has went through a regime change at WYDD in 1989 - Metro Music, Power 105, then the 9 month Rick Sklar machine called Energy 105 in the 80’s, I feel the collective pain of the air staff at the B. My replacement at Energy was Stereo Quad Susie Wadd. I remember the first song on the air the evening Energy 105 launched - broadcast live from Metropol: Donnie Osmond’s "Soldier of Love". Hey now. That was worth waiting for. I recall when I was music director at YDD in 1979 here in New Kensington, we had NO budget, but we (at times) went toe to toe with DVE. If I get a chance to chat with Keith at Infinity, I would suggest bringing back the WYDD call letters and/or the spirit that the station still represents in the fuzzy memories of us geezers. I’d also pluck former YDD news maven Rose Ryan Douglas from KDKA and migrate her to K-Rock. Chris DeCarlo would be a great addition to the staff at 93.7 too. Hersh - where ya hidin? Heard he was selling real estate. We need some real variety and local folks on the air in real time in this market. A rock station would work if it played music for the rest of us. Intelligent, interesting, eclectic, and profitable. Look at Radio Paradise on the web. And it could be very successful, if programmed and processed correctly. Check out the HD Radio demos on the ibiquity website. I could get into discrete six channel sound anat - in my car or home. That would be very cool. Let’s see if we can put our money where our collective mouths and wallets are. Clarke Ingram nice to have you back on the air again. Thanks for the bandwidth Eric. I was watching Return of the Pink Panther the other day, and this quote from the movie reminded me of radio daze gone by. Inspector Clouseau is walking his beat and comes upon a beggar with his accordion and a small monkey on a street corner. Clouseau is about to write him a ticket for performing without a license. The beggar says: "I am a musician, and the monkey is a businessman. He doesn't tell me what to play, and I don't tell him what to do with his money." Just a random thought for the day.... Mike Kirven (July 1, 2004)

It is my opinion that some things need to stay the same when they are good! Pick up Howard Stern on a Pittsburgh Channel and you will have people that listen. Personally, I can turn him on and off easily BUT Why kill a good radio station. I enjoyed BZZ, and all its names since I have been a teen. My kids enjoyed it too. Now none of us will. Sad! (July 1, 2004)

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