It was with “mixed” feelings I read the news that my radio alma mater, “Mix 96. 5” WMT-FM has switched formats to country.
Now, radio format changes are nothing new, and not limited to the corporations that now control much of what you hear. Even in the days when most stations were locally owned, demographic and market changes often dictated a switch.In fact, one of the biggest format-change firestorms I can remember also involved WMT-FM.Way back in 1982, my friend and mentor Rick Sellers (who now owns KMRY) changed WMT-FM’s format from Beautiful Music to Soft Adult Contemporary to attract the Baby Boom audience.
Rick soon discovered that Hell hath no fury like an Andre Kostellanetz fan scorned. Letters and phone calls poured into WMT, and dozens of angry letters to the editor were printed. WMT engineers even went so far as to purchase and install external antennas for the most vocal complainers so they could more easily listen to the area’s remaining Beautiful Music station, KFMW in Waterloo.
A few months later, when KFMW became Rock 108, the shit hit the fan all over again, but that’s another story.
The original “96FM” was largely automated. They literally just switched out a set of Beautiful Music tapes for AC tapes. But WMT was founded on personality, and Rick intended that his FM station have the same kind of air personalities that made WMT-AM a community institution.
Unfortunately, local legends like Jerry Carr, Steve Carpenter, Gary Edwards and Rick himself already had jobs, so Rick had to work with the material at hand.
And his first acquisition was a punk kid working across the street at KQCR (now Z102.9).
I arrived at WMT-FM in April of 1983. A few months later, Tim Boyle was summoned from crosstown KCRG-AM (now KGYM, see what I mean about format changes not being anything new?). By the late 80s, Wayne Johnson, Brian Schellberg and Lonnie Levine solidified a memorable lineup.
Later, 96 1/2 would be the home of great personalities like Tom Cook, Carla Davis, Eric Walker and current residents Randy Lee and Kathryn Foxx, both of whom were originally hired by me. (Clear Channel-You’re welcome). But that’s another post.
Actually, Cedar Rapids was a pretty-happening radio market at the time. Up and down the dial, cool people were doing fun things on the air. Mark & Glen (Those Guys in the Morning) at KRNA, which was also the rock and roll home of current KCCK jazzer Bob Stewart. Gary & Todd at Q103, whose radio descendants are Z’s Schulte & Swann. And the Bears (both of them) at KHAK.
Even more than a quarter-century later, the things I did as a 96 1/2 FM DJ form the core of my radio bio.
Broadcasting live from a hot-air balloon (“People of Cedar Rapids… My Name is Frosty Mitchell, and I’m Not Wearing Pants!”), doing my show live via satellite from underwater at Disney’s Epcot Center, tossing typewriters out of a cherry picker in Greene Square Park.
One April Fool’s day, we pretended WMT-FM was a 60’s era “Boss” Top 40 station, complete with period music, jingles, commercials and news from the spring of 1963 (“Scientists predict flying cars by 1987!”)
Buck Wheeler’s Traffic Chopper, Uncle Wayne’s Noontime Oldies Challenge, Lonnie’s Night Veggies, the Rock & Roll Weekend Oldies Show; the list goes on and on.
But the primary product of 96 1/2 was music. Eschewing consultants, our format was a potpourri of 60s and 70s oldies, pop currents and the occasional independent release that struck our fancy.The record industry actually took some notice for what was happening in little Cedar Rapids, honoring us for the small part we played in launching the careers of artists like Luther Vandross, Tracy Chapman, Bonnie Raitt and others. I proudly display those Gold and Platinum records in my KCCK office to this day.
Unfortunately, not much of the above would be possible in today’s environment. The local music director is no more. Songs are all programmed from the corporate office, and thirty minute commercial-free music sweeps don’t leave much room for fun antics.
But for me, the greatest disappointment in the new radio model is the disappearance of the music personality. Once, a DJ who could deliver interesting content in the 20 seconds between the end of the song and the beginning of the commercial was a valued commodity.
Today, not so much. The trend is more Ryan Seacrest, less Carla Davis.
Clear Channel is upfront about replacing local announcers with out-of-town voice tracking, saying the product is better. Imagine how different our local stations would sound, however, if their corporate owners used their resources to train local announcers and help them get better, rather than replace them, also providing pipeline of future talent. Professional sports understands the benefits of a farm system, but broadcasting doesn’t seem to get it.
Now, local talk radio is still alive, although it tends to be a little “angry white guy stirring the pot” for my taste. And, I would be remiss to not mention the quality and entertaining work being done locally by the great folks at KMRY, Z102.9 and KCJJ.
Another friend and mentor who taught me a lot, Mary Quass, along with Jeff Winfield and much of their 90’s-era KHAK team are also keeping the spirit alive in a variety of midwest markets in their NRG Media group.
Meanwhile, at the public radio end of the dial, both statewide Iowa Public Radio and local stations like KCCK are prospering, despite threats against NPR and CPB funding.
And the good people still at our local Clear Channel and Cumulus operations try hard to make good radio within the restrictions and budgets laid down by their higher ups. But by and large, decisions affecting the media licensed to serve our community are made by people who will never live here.
Fortunately, local radio is by no means dead in the Cultural Corridor. KMRY, Z102.9 and KCJJ are energetic operations serving audience and community well.
Times change, and as I said previously, format changes are the rule, not the exception.
I hope that the model of a creative person sitting in a room, interspersing a little wit in between cool songs, will continue to be something people want to have in their town.
As for Mix 96.5, the 2011 version bore little resemblance to the one I worked at.
But I’ll miss it just the same.
