MORE Bad News,RE: WSM-AM

Smiley Roberts · Post by **Smiley Roberts** » 11 Mar 2004 12:20 am

WSM shifts 'Classic Saturday' to Internet
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Nashville’s country legend station, 650 WSM AM, is removing Eddie Stubbs’ Classic Saturday from conventional radio beginning this weekend. Stubbs’ show was known for playing classics from the 1920s through 1970s.

By Craig Boerner, cboerner@nashvillecitypaper.com

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Ron Whitworth · Post by **Ron Whitworth** » 11 Mar 2004 2:38 am

What a shame Smiley...Thanks for the update..Everything is slowly goin' down the toilet-huh?..And they call it progress!!

John Floyd · Post by **John Floyd** » 11 Mar 2004 3:42 am

HowardR For Moderator
Howard,Might as well Move WSM to Dallas too!

Howard has the Helm!

Stephen Gambrell · Post by **Stephen Gambrell** » 11 Mar 2004 5:57 am

John, stop spending so much time with that picture of Howard. Those of us who care, are beginning to worry about you.

Leigh Howell · Post by **Leigh Howell** » 11 Mar 2004 8:41 am

Well, real country is still alive in my house!!!

Leigh

Joe Casey · Post by **Joe Casey** » 11 Mar 2004 9:29 am

I guess what will happen next is that wsm will drop the live performances of the GOO. It did seem that WSM has more of a National audience than a local. They don't measure ratings nationaly nor do sponsors reap any local harvest of dollars.Net result blame it on good Country music.Dothey still want to go to a talk format? There is more talk availible than music.

Some of us call it BS.

Janice Brooks · Post by **Janice Brooks** » 19 Mar 2004 2:36 pm

A new petition. Thanks to Bob Hemker and a few of the nashville guys whom had already signed
http://www.petitiononline.com/mod_perl/signed.cgi?jack24

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Janice "Busgal" Brooks
ICQ 44729047

Janice Brooks · Post by **Janice Brooks** » 19 Mar 2004 6:58 pm

to all my buddies the 30 some signitures today thank you

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Janice "Busgal" Brooks
ICQ 44729047

Ron Whitworth · Post by **Ron Whitworth** » 19 Mar 2004 8:55 pm

I am proud to sign this petition for the GREATEST Disc Jockey & radio personality that i have ever had the pleasure to listen to..All the new folks going into radio should be made to listen to at least a week straight of Eddie's shows to see how it should be done IMHO!!!!!!!! Ron

Cal Sharp · Post by **Cal Sharp** » 19 Mar 2004 10:54 pm

Eddie has a show on bluegrasscountry.org from Washington, DC. www.bluegrasscountry.org/schedule.php

Janice Brooks · Post by **Janice Brooks** » 23 Mar 2004 1:16 pm

Current count 316. Looks like some interest from Del McCoury's bunch and Jerry Dougless

HowardR · Post by **HowardR** » 23 Mar 2004 8:39 pm

John, even I'm begining to worry about you!

John Floyd · Post by **John Floyd** » 24 Mar 2004 2:04 am

Howard Why?
I'm not the guy who posted a picture of himself with no pants on

It also made you famous at the Dallas Show, Stick with me and they will be making a movie about you.

I have to hand it to you, you are one funny dude and I mean that as Humerous, not wierd.

Really liked the one with the mop on your head better, That one Cracked me up every time I saw it. Whats next?

Regards
John[This message was edited by John Floyd on 24 March 2004 at 02:10 AM.]

Pee Wee Rogers · Post by **Pee Wee Rogers** » 24 Mar 2004 6:18 am

Even thought Eddie Stubbs is not on WSM-AM, he may be heard on Siruis Satelite Radio.

Crystal clear Nationwide.

In your car or in your home with various attachments.

Pee Wee Rogers

Stephen Winters · Post by **Stephen Winters** » 24 Mar 2004 1:15 pm

My signature on the petition is number 528. Everybody sign it.

By the way, I saw some impresive names on the petition. Larry Cordle, Billy Walker, Carlene Carter, John Carter Cash, Merle Kilgore, Hank Williams Jr, George Jones........

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Stephen Winters
Sho-Bud Pro1
Peavey Deuce

Kevin Hatton · Post by **Kevin Hatton** » 24 Mar 2004 7:17 pm

This is great. Vince Gill, Ricky Scaggs c'mon
brothers!

Janice Brooks · Post by **Janice Brooks** » 26 Mar 2004 9:11 am

Up just over 700
BTW Kevin Ricky S just signed in as well as Dericks Bently.

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Janice "Busgal" Brooks
ICQ 44729047

Tom Kaufman · Post by **Tom Kaufman** » 26 Mar 2004 9:48 am

The following is an email that I sent to WSM's program director..along with his
Mr. Kaufman,

I am sorry that our changes to WSM have offended you so. I'll answer to your complaints as best I can. I am glad that you have internet accessibility and
will be able to listen to Classic Saturday. I understand your concern for those that won't be able to hear that show. Frankly though, while it might appear
that we are cutting them off, the facts are that the Classic Saturday had very low ratings. Albeit a passionate audience, very small nonetheless. We concluded
that the show veered so much from normal WSM music programming that it was counter to what needed to be done to grow the station. We kept it on internet
and satellite because we felt that the niche audience that the show attracted would seek it out.

You are correct that Eddie is one of a kind. Keep in mind that Classic Saturday pre-dates Eddie by a few years so this was not a problem with Mr. Stubbs
as much as the Classic Saturday music philosophy itself.

As far as getting folks to pay for the premium service, its simple economics. Unlike an AM or FM station where your costs stay the same no matter how many
listeners you have. On the internet we are charged per song per listener per length of time on-line. These charges include artist and musician royalties
as well as publishing royalties. These costs have risen to astronomical heights in the past few years. We are simply trying to offset costs to be able
to continue to offer this service as well as add some additional features to wsmonline.

On the mention of who's making decisions, let me say that while any major decision has to be signed off on by others in the company I can safely say that
these have been ones that I have implemented. It was my mission to grow WSM. You mentioned that it doesn't matter how much profit we make if we don't have
listeners. Well, in radio you don't make a profit without showing that you have an audience and honestly until we began to make changes we had very few
listeners. I am proud to say that WSM has grown incredibly well ratings and revenue wise in the past year.

I'll close by saying that I am a Country fan as much as anyone. That's why I am here. My decisions are not personal; they are based on hard facts that we
have gathered to make the best decisions to keep these great WSM letters on the air as a Country station. There may be some adjustments that we all need
to go through, but in the end I feel that if we save this wonderful place it was all worth it.

Brian Landrum
Program Director
WSM Entertainment
2644 McGavock Pike
Nashville, TN 37214
(615) 871-6241
(615) 871-6384f
blandrum@wsmonline.com

-----Original Message-----
From: Tom Kaufman [mailto:tomcat53@comcast.net]
Sent: Thursday, March 25, 2004 7:10 PM
To: Landrum, Brian
Subject: Concerns Over Changes To WSM AM

Dear Mr. Landrum:
I have listened to WSM-AM for quite a few years now..and have enjoyed
the station a great deal. Although I am from out-of-town, I either listen
at night, whenever the reception will allow it..or I listen to the audio
stream. I listen because of the fact that..at least..up until now, it's one
of the few places where I can count on hearing good country music..as well
as the Grand Ole Opry. However, some changes seem to be taking
place..changes that bother me! First, there's the thing of taking Eddie
Stubbs off of 650 on Saturday mornings. As I mentioned, I listen a lot over
the internet. So I'm lucky in that..at least..for now, I'll still be able
to listen to his "Classic Saturday" show. But what about the good folks
who, for whatever reason, can't afford to have access to WSMonline..or to
Sirius Satellite Radio? Aren't you kind of cutting these folks out? I know
that many people feel the way I do; Eddie is a "one of a kind"; he doesn't
just play the music. He knows this music backwards and forwards. I hope
I'll always be able to hear WSM's audio stream..and will always be able to
hear Eddie over the internet. However, I don't think it's right to take him
off of the airwaves..leaving a good many of the local listeners without
benefit of being able to listen to..and learn from this man!
Second, I don't think that it's right to force folks to pay to listen
to WSM! Maybe I don't fully understand what it is that you're doing. But
I, for one, depend on the archived section to hear the programming that I
miss over the weekend..namely the "Classic Saturday" show..as well as the
Grand Ole Opry as I am usually not home on Saturday nights. It would seem
to me that (and maybe this isn't what you guys are trying to do) but it
almost looks like you're penalizing those of us for being able to have broad
band; some of us pay a right good bit to have the enjoyment of listening to
your "high band" audio stream. Therefore, I don't think it's fair to ask us
to pay more!
I realize that this probably isn't all your doing; you have people over
you that are making the decisions. Let me say that, in my opinion, they're
thinking with their pocketbooks..and not paying attention to their
listeners..and without listeners, it just doesn't matter how much "profit"
is made! In closing, I sincerely hope you will take these things into
serious consideration; bring Eddie Stubbs's "Classic Saturday" back to the
airwaves..oh..and while I'm at it..if I may be so bold to suggest one more
thing..please let him have a more free hand in selecting the music for his
show during the evenings! He has so much to offer. I implore you to not
get away, thus, taking a big chunk out of AM 650..WSM!
Best Regards,
Tom Kaufman
Denton, Maryland response. His response just further proves to me that he just doesn't get it..or is looking at the "money" factor..and "To he**" with what listeners think!

Kenny Dail · Post by **Kenny Dail** » 26 Mar 2004 10:28 am

Tom, I believe you are correct about the "money thing" at WSM. The bottom line as he addressed your questions, ultimately led to the money factor even if it means tampering with our cultural, historical artifacts and eliminating/destroying priceless never to be recovered recordings. As they say "money greases the wheel" and without grease the wheel will eventually stop turning.

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kd...and the beat goes on...

[This message was edited by Kenny Dail on 26 March 2004 at 10:35 AM.][This message was edited by Kenny Dail on 27 March 2004 at 09:38 AM.]

John Floyd · Post by **John Floyd** » 26 Mar 2004 6:02 pm

Remember when Cable TV first Started and Because it was a subscription Service, There were no Commericials, Now its wall to Wall Comericials and The Subscription Fees have skyrocketed. Somebody is making some big bucks out of deals like this and it damn sure ain't the listener. I'll be happy to buy the Subscription service as soon as WSM gets rid of the commericials.[This message was edited by John Floyd on 29 March 2004 at 10:28 AM.]

Janice Brooks · Post by **Janice Brooks** » 30 Mar 2004 9:27 am

Just passed 900 and got a major media sig
Chet Flippo

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Janice "Busgal" Brooks
ICQ 44729047

Janice Brooks · Post by **Janice Brooks** » 31 Mar 2004 7:08 am

Look for more media coverage on Friday.

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Janice "Busgal" Brooks
ICQ 44729047