Comments on: 99X… The Beginning , Middle and End http://seandemery.wordpress.com/2008/01/22/hello-world/ Anarchy is just a little disorganized. Fri, 26 Dec 2008 16:12:19 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Brian http://seandemery.wordpress.com/2008/01/22/hello-world/#comment-89 Brian Fri, 26 Dec 2008 16:12:19 +0000 #comment-89 Now that nearly a year has passed since 99X was finally put out of its misery, it's clear from the ratings that Cumulus was absolutely correct in removing the station from 99.7 and replacing it with Q100. The new Rock 100.5 has also fared well, much due to the return of The Regular Guys. Ditching the Susquehanna-approved version of the new 99.7 back in 1992 rightfully cost Rick Stacy his job. That was an $11 million radio station, and upper management didn't appreciate Stacy's rogue approach to programming their signal. Demery and Fram got lucky that they weren't canned too. Obviously 99X struck a chord with its listeners for 6 or 7 years, but the station should have been blown up in favor of Q100 a good five years ago. Over the long haul, what is considered in marketing and attitude to be non-commercial music will not thrive at commercial radio. 99X only worked because Top 40 radio had become crap in 1992. Now, any music that is commercially viable (read: any good), from rap and hip-hop, to R&B and pop, to rock and punk, can all be heard on Q100. Now that nearly a year has passed since 99X was finally put out of its misery, it’s clear from the ratings that Cumulus was absolutely correct in removing the station from 99.7 and replacing it with Q100. The new Rock 100.5 has also fared well, much due to the return of The Regular Guys.

Ditching the Susquehanna-approved version of the new 99.7 back in 1992 rightfully cost Rick Stacy his job. That was an $11 million radio station, and upper management didn’t appreciate Stacy’s rogue approach to programming their signal. Demery and Fram got lucky that they weren’t canned too.

Obviously 99X struck a chord with its listeners for 6 or 7 years, but the station should have been blown up in favor of Q100 a good five years ago. Over the long haul, what is considered in marketing and attitude to be non-commercial music will not thrive at commercial radio. 99X only worked because Top 40 radio had become crap in 1992. Now, any music that is commercially viable (read: any good), from rap and hip-hop, to R&B and pop, to rock and punk, can all be heard on Q100.

]]> By: Brian http://seandemery.wordpress.com/2008/01/22/hello-world/#comment-88 Brian Sat, 11 Oct 2008 20:50:04 +0000 #comment-88 In the 90s, I was living in Nashville, Tennessee. "What the heck does this have to do with 99X?" you ask. Hold tight. I'm getting there. Being only 4 hours from Atlanta, I would often take weekend trips down, and 99X was the soundtrack to each and every great weekend I spent there. Back in Nashville, I worked in a building which couldn't get local radio reception at all, so I turned to the internet, where I could listen to 99X via a live stream. Barnes, Leslie and Jimmy greeted me each morning, Steve Craig's Retroplex got me through until lunch time (remember, Nashville is an hour behind Atlanta), and on crazy days that I wound up working late, the evening shows kept me company. Thanks to 99X, I knew more about the traffic on the GA400 and at Spaghetti Junction than I did the traffic in my own city. It's 2008 now, and I live in Chicago. And with the demise of 99X, I worry for the future of the equally legendary Q101. Even though I lived in Nashville, I was 99X. In the 90s, I was living in Nashville, Tennessee. “What the heck does this have to do with 99X?” you ask. Hold tight. I’m getting there. Being only 4 hours from Atlanta, I would often take weekend trips down, and 99X was the soundtrack to each and every great weekend I spent there. Back in Nashville, I worked in a building which couldn’t get local radio reception at all, so I turned to the internet, where I could listen to 99X via a live stream. Barnes, Leslie and Jimmy greeted me each morning, Steve Craig’s Retroplex got me through until lunch time (remember, Nashville is an hour behind Atlanta), and on crazy days that I wound up working late, the evening shows kept me company. Thanks to 99X, I knew more about the traffic on the GA400 and at Spaghetti Junction than I did the traffic in my own city.

It’s 2008 now, and I live in Chicago. And with the demise of 99X, I worry for the future of the equally legendary Q101.

Even though I lived in Nashville, I was 99X.

]]> By: Bill Phippen http://seandemery.wordpress.com/2008/01/22/hello-world/#comment-87 Bill Phippen Sun, 14 Sep 2008 14:58:34 +0000 #comment-87 Great piece on the station. I never knew what the story was after my uncles passing. The support from the Atl radio community was unbelievable at his funeral. Thank you for the kind words. Uncle was the best and you were all great people when we met. Great piece on the station. I never knew what the story was after my uncles passing. The support from the Atl radio community was unbelievable at his funeral. Thank you for the kind words. Uncle was the best and you were all great people when we met.

]]> By: Mark http://seandemery.wordpress.com/2008/01/22/hello-world/#comment-84 Mark Tue, 05 Aug 2008 18:03:22 +0000 #comment-84 Was in Atlanta 2 months of the year from 95 to 98. 99x was king and was responsible for most of my CD collection that no one hear in Ireland has ever heard off. I just got broadband and the first radio station i wanted to listen to was 99x...mmm, something not quite right i thought to myself, where's Axel, Barnes, Leslie & Jimmy....Sorry its all gone....you guys were great Was in Atlanta 2 months of the year from 95 to 98. 99x was king and was responsible for most of my CD collection that no one hear in Ireland has ever heard off. I just got broadband and the first radio station i wanted to listen to was 99x…mmm, something not quite right i thought to myself, where’s Axel, Barnes, Leslie & Jimmy….Sorry its all gone….you guys were great

]]> By: David Bachmann http://seandemery.wordpress.com/2008/01/22/hello-world/#comment-83 David Bachmann Tue, 29 Jul 2008 16:03:32 +0000 #comment-83 I don't know what took me so long, but I finally tracked you down. ;-) I am still steaming over the loss of 99X, but yes, it was losing itself. I understand the changing times, but Rock100? It’s a mixture of alternative and classic rock, while Project 9-6-1 is a mixture of alternative and heavy metal. Bleh. I want my alternative (and ONLY alternative) rock back. I had my suspicions of something bigger when you were leaving, but not THAT big. You were always one of my favorite DJs and I'll miss your wacky style... even the bullhorn. :) If you can find "Tank!" by Yoko Kanno & The Seatbelts, it's a great tune (from an anime show: Cowboy Bebop) that always reminds me of one of the best radio shows ever, The Swining Velveeta Lounge! God, I miss those days. I hope that you enjoy it and that you're doing well. Take care. Oh wait... After I missed the first 3/4 of the concert due to traffic (*@!#&$!), I keep lookin’ for more southeastern tour dates for the Silversun Pickups. But due to the sad state of alternative music, I doubt they'll return unless the band puts out another album. Do you know if they’re working on another one? Keep on swingin. I don’t know what took me so long, but I finally tracked you down. ;-)

I am still steaming over the loss of 99X, but yes, it was losing itself. I understand the changing times, but Rock100? It’s a mixture of alternative and classic rock, while Project 9-6-1 is a mixture of alternative and heavy metal. Bleh. I want my alternative (and ONLY alternative) rock back. I had my suspicions of something bigger when you were leaving, but not THAT big. You were always one of my favorite DJs and I’ll miss your wacky style… even the bullhorn. :)

If you can find “Tank!” by Yoko Kanno & The Seatbelts, it’s a great tune (from an anime show: Cowboy Bebop) that always reminds me of one of the best radio shows ever, The Swining Velveeta Lounge! God, I miss those days.

I hope that you enjoy it and that you’re doing well. Take care.

Oh wait… After I missed the first 3/4 of the concert due to traffic (*@!#&$!), I keep lookin’ for more southeastern tour dates for the Silversun Pickups. But due to the sad state of alternative music, I doubt they’ll return unless the band puts out another album. Do you know if they’re working on another one? Keep on swingin.

]]> By: Ray Pippin http://seandemery.wordpress.com/2008/01/22/hello-world/#comment-82 Ray Pippin Mon, 14 Jul 2008 16:57:24 +0000 #comment-82 I will never forget The Swinging Velveta Lounge or The Verve. Those were some good times. I will never forget The Swinging Velveta Lounge or The Verve. Those were some good times.

]]> By: Troy Coverdale http://seandemery.wordpress.com/2008/01/22/hello-world/#comment-80 Troy Coverdale Sun, 22 Jun 2008 14:24:19 +0000 #comment-80 Sean, I'm sitting here on a Sunday morning in northern Colorado, enjoying another edition of "Organic" online, as has become my weekend tradition...A search brought me here. I came of age in the radio business just as you, Leslie and the rest were bringing 99x to life. In fact, I first heard the station in December of 1993, when I was in Atlanta for the "Winter Baseball Meetings". I whiled away many hours that weekend just listening on my Walkman to many of the songs I had been spinning on the college station at Kansas State. But it was the approach--the presentation, the attitude, the knowledge--that made it work. I tip my cap to all of you for putting 99x together and proving it could work. Sean, I’m sitting here on a Sunday morning in northern Colorado, enjoying another edition of “Organic” online, as has become my weekend tradition…A search brought me here.

I came of age in the radio business just as you, Leslie and the rest were bringing 99x to life. In fact, I first heard the station in December of 1993, when I was in Atlanta for the “Winter Baseball Meetings”. I whiled away many hours that weekend just listening on my Walkman to many of the songs I had been spinning on the college station at Kansas State.

But it was the approach–the presentation, the attitude, the knowledge–that made it work. I tip my cap to all of you for putting 99x together and proving it could work.

]]> By: Tom Barnes http://seandemery.wordpress.com/2008/01/22/hello-world/#comment-75 Tom Barnes Thu, 05 Jun 2008 14:51:17 +0000 #comment-75 Hi Sean Great to see you blogging! BTW-- wasn't there an "unnamed consultant" involved in the launch of 99x? ;) I failed history. Hope you are loving Park City. Hi Sean

Great to see you blogging! BTW– wasn’t there an “unnamed consultant” involved in the launch of 99x? ;) I failed history.

Hope you are loving Park City.

]]> By: Allen http://seandemery.wordpress.com/2008/01/22/hello-world/#comment-70 Allen Mon, 05 May 2008 21:45:31 +0000 #comment-70 You know man.. I loved this... For alot of us, we grew up listening to you guys. I was in my car the day that WAPW went away. I was pissed, but was immediately a fan of 99x. I was not the candy music that our sisters were listening to. I went to three big day out and a Chinese New Year. I can honestly say for 8 years my radio rarely left 99.7. You, Leslie, Barnes, Axel, Jimmy and Steve are apart of Atlanta history. Here's to the good ole days!! You know man.. I loved this… For alot of us, we grew up listening to you guys. I was in my car the day that WAPW went away. I was pissed, but was immediately a fan of 99x. I was not the candy music that our sisters were listening to. I went to three big day out and a Chinese New Year. I can honestly say for 8 years my radio rarely left 99.7. You, Leslie, Barnes, Axel, Jimmy and Steve are apart of Atlanta history. Here’s to the good ole days!!

]]> By: Keith "Phoneboy" Cunningham http://seandemery.wordpress.com/2008/01/22/hello-world/#comment-69 Keith "Phoneboy" Cunningham Thu, 17 Apr 2008 23:41:13 +0000 #comment-69 Sean, You're an artist. Reading your words was like watching my favorite movie. I smiled, laughed and wept. Thank you for everything! Especially the memories. Sean,

You’re an artist. Reading your words was like watching my favorite movie. I smiled, laughed and wept. Thank you for everything! Especially the memories.

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