Rocky vs Qwk Rock

[J Michaels]

OK - I have been soooo happy with the radio stations around here compared to Cleveland radio that it has been great to listen. But recent developments are beginning to change that.

I found out that the reason Qwk Rock in State College switched frequencies (97.1 to 98.7) was that it was bought by Forever Broadcasting, the same people who have Rocky 104.9 in Altoona. I have also heard that they want to make it into a "clone" of Rocky. Not great, but I like Rocky's format (they play any and all hard rock that rocks, whether it's new stuff or 80s hairbands or whatever, which is cool.) But it's never good to see one company dominate a market too much - variety is better, and sometimes the lack of it reaches absurdity. Let me explain.

Last night as I was driving home about 9pm I switched on Qwk Rock. Bawitdaba by Kid Rock comes on. Ehh... not in the mood for the Kid, so I switch over to Rocky, who is at commercial for the moment. When the ad is over, guess what comes on.... That's right - Bawitdaba. Super. I listen there for a minute, then go back to Qwk Rock, since the next song should be coming up. Kid Rock finishes, and the next tune is Boulevard of Broken Dreams, the new Green Day single (which is getting overplayed, of course, but that's another rant.) Ehh... not in the mood for that tune, so I go back to Rocky. Kid is just about finished, then comes a quick "station identification", and then... yup - you guess it - Boulevard of Broken fucking Dreams.

ARE YOU KIDDING ME!?!?!?!?!?!

Hey, Kev (James) - talk to the jerkoffs in the suits and tell them to get their heads out of their asses and realize that the balance between Qwk Rock's greater focus on new stuff could have been augmented by a little more variety, but turning both stations into clones of each other is going to hurt BOTH stations, and that playing the same fucking songs at the same fucking time is RIDICULOUS!!!!!!!!!




ok - sorry - I haven't had my coffee yet this morning... rant over........

[BDR]

WQWK has been at 97.1 since I can remember and the day it switched over I damn near wrecked my car. Luckily, I found out what was going on and quickly adjusted my presets.

I personally am unhappy with the strangle hold Forever has on the Huntingdon area. First of all, the switch to 98.7 has considerably degraded the Qwik Rock signal in our area. Careful where you drive, because it doesn’t come in everywhere anymore and even when it’s in, it’s not really in. They’re dicking with the music library, too; it seems like it’s becoming a little “poppy.” I’d really hate to see the station lose its edge.

The “Rocky” clone station on 104.9 isn’t a good option — the signal doesn’t come in very strong at all in most areas, but I don’t know if I could handle that anyway with that irritating tag line every three seconds ... “the rock that really rocks, Rocky 104.9 ...” (no offense, Kevin, but that is like nails on a chalk board while sliding down a banister that turns into a razor blade). They’re using that damn tag line on Qwik Rock, too, but the deejays have all stated on air they plan on “keeping it real” and it’s not used in excess the way they do on 104.9.

They have brought “Bob and Tom” back to the area on 98.7, which is a very good thing, but I’d trade it for the return of 97.1, the stonger signal and the previous programming.

Other options in Huntingdon? There’s 99.5 which is a PRR simulcast. I’m not a 13-year-old girl so that’s not workin at all. Then, 106.3 is WALY regurgitated. Gimmie a break. 97.1 is oldies. 106.3 is oldies.

Of course, 98.1 gives you a heapin' helpin' of today's best cunt'ry — yee ... haw. I'm sorry, but even if I were a country music fan and listened to that station, all of that "have a hoppy day" crap would insult my intelligence.

Speaking of Froggy, how long do you think it will take for 98.1 to bleed into the 98.7 signal? It's a little close for my comfort.

Finally, they took Huntingdon’s AM, WHUN, and went all-talk, which I kind of like, but it has the old folks in an uproar. That’s probably the only good move they’ve made down here, but it doesn’t involve music.

MERF out of Lewistown (not owned by Forever ... yet) is pretty much a PRR-ish top 40 thing.

Of course, old reliable 94.3 and 94.7 are both available in H-don, thank God, please don’t change, guys.

Bottom line: Forever is systematically taking over the Huntingdon airwaves and polluting them with crap. Please, at the very least, crank that wattage up a little on 98.7.

r:>)

[GetInWithIn]

This is why I listen to the Buzz....105.9.....always fresh music...and nothing changing. Accept to better. They are really sounding good these days with the addition od Chris and Jim in the morning......The signal is much better than qwks now too....i love 105.9 The Buzz!!!!

[GetInWithIn]

And you CAN get 105.9 in Huntingdon!!! lol

[BDR]

Cool, G, thanks for the tip. Gotta check that out.

r:>)

[MOONDOGGY]

When I first turned to 97.1 only to find OLDIES blasting in my already Pimp 1990 Cougar (jk), I immediateley switched to the CD and it's been that way ever since. Recently I've been doing more channel surfing with radio than I do actually listening to the music and that ain't right. Could we have an anti-benefit to help prevent one radio company from taking over the rest?

P.S.- The CD I have been listening to is Vai's new one with the Breed - Real Illusions: Reflections and it's pretty darn good.

[Craven Sound]

This is why I listen to the Buzz....105.9.....always fresh music...and nothing changing. Accept to better. They are really sounding good these days with the addition od Chris and Jim in the morning......The signal is much better than qwks now too....i love 105.9 The Buzz!!!!

I second that. There is NO source for Modern Rock in the Altoona-Johnstown area. Rocky is marginal at best and the Buzz doesn't come in too clearly in my area. If the Buzz were to put a translator near here, or up their power, the world would be a better place. Plus, I can stream Cris and Jim while I'm at work.

[ToonaRockGuy]

Okay, let me respond since this was apparently directed at me in the first place. I'm not irritated or anything, so any "mean spirited" comments herein are only irony, and should be taken as such.

I guess that all I can say is that hey, all this is WAY above my paygrade. I don't make the rules, I don't choose the music, I don't pick the taglines. Rob's been in media for a long time, and knows radio, so he knows what I say is true. All I'm trying to do on the air is the following:

1. Provide a kickass listening experience for you, the listener.
2. Try not to piss off the owners too much.
3. Make a living for my wife and kids.

There's nothing that I can do. I sympathize with all of you, and remember, for every song that you are tired of hearing, and every liner that you are sick of, I HAVE to hear it/say it EVERY FREAKIN' DAY. It's my job. I just try to do it to the best of my ability.

It's a free country, and you are all free to express your opinions. I can't promise that it will matter, though. But at any rate, if you want to express your opinion, drop a line to:

General Manager
Forever Broadcasting
1 Forever Drive
Hollidaysburg, PA 16648

Don't hate me, I just work here. We do what we can with the tools we are given, and personally, I think we do a pretty damn good job at it.

[bassist_25]

This is why I listen to the Buzz....105.9.....always fresh music...and nothing changing. Accept to better. They are really sounding good these days with the addition od Chris and Jim in the morning......The signal is much better than qwks now too....i love 105.9 The Buzz!!!!

Word!!! I use to listen to 93.1 on my way to and from school everyday, but it started to become apperent that they only had like a 30 song rotation. I got tired of hearing that damn "Here Without You Song" by 3 Doors Down every other hour. I flipped the dial one day and discovered The Buzz. I'm a much more happy camper now. The Buzz seems to push new singles, but they also play things that aren't super hits. They also have a big enough rotation list that you won't hear the same damn song 10 times a day. I like Rocky also, but I'm in an area that seems to lose its signal very often.

[J Michaels]

NOOOO! Kev, my post was NOT directed at you! My bad if it came across as though it was. I only added that last paragraph cuz I know you work there - and honestly do a great job.

To be honest, I love Rocky's format - a station willing to play cool heavy stuff that's new as well as older "metal" like Iron Maiden and hard rock from hairbands and stuff -- that, to me, TRULY covers all the "rock that really rocks" (sorry Rob). I have said that before, and the tagline doesn't bother me as much as Rob (tho it's lame that Qwk Rock is using the same freakin' one now.) I wouldn't even mind Qwk Rock's format moving in the diretion of Rocky's, tho it should maintain the focus on newer stuff that thay have had and which has made the station successful. But to have those two stations playing the same two songs at the same time is utterly and completely lame.

I guess the only place that Rocky and Qwk Rock overlap very much is here in State College, so maybe I am the victim of unfortunate geography on this one. But the corporate suits that think they know how to program music that I would bet 90% of them never liked anyway is pure folly. It pisses me off that these people think they know so damned much about something that they really DON'T know, but because they have the money and the power to do what they want, they get to do what they want -- they manage to screw things up in the process. By cloning Rocky at Qwk Rock, they are going to lose Rocky listeners in the State College area for one or both of two reasons: either the signal for Qwk Rok is stronger here, so people will leave Rocky altogether, or they will at least be splitting their listening (as I do) between Qwk Rock and Rocky. Furthermore, by changing Qwk Rock's format so much, they will lose alot of Qwk Rock's listeners who don't want to hear the older / hairband / whatever type stuff - the people that didn't listen to Rocky in the first place.

Anyway, Kev, PLEASE don't think I was aiming this as a jab at you. It totally is NOT. And I know that these decisions are made above your head, but you are also in a position to forward cmments to the higher ups, and that is the only thing I was suggesting. Email them a link to this discussion or something. Tell them you have been getting some negative feedback from listeners. But you do a great job there - the suits on the other hand......

[Quail Whale]

I like the Lion, on 90.7.

[RobTheDrummer]

I was talking to my buddy Jerry about the whole quick rock thing. He's pretty unhappy with it and if you ever hear him on the air, you can tell. He still trys to have a good time though and he's "testing the waters" with the new management. He also told me they get a song list on the computer from rocky and he said he started deleting the older songs and the 80's stuff from the list. He hates Bob and Tom, partly because they took his show off and partly because they suck... I'm at least happy that we have a decent rock station in this area, but I listen to qucik rock when Jerry is on. Other than that, I listen to the Buzz (I played dodgeball on the Buzz team...we sucked but we kicked the 8th graders' asses!!!) Whatever you do, don't listen to the Buzz when that Greg Matthews guy is on there....total flamer! Luv ya Greg!

[DMFJ03]

I boycotted radio about five years ago.

I hardly ever listen to it - which is why I have an extensive cd collection.

[ASB10]

It could be a whole hell of a lot worse for you guys. I live in Northwestern PA, and for years, the only rock station that we had was Mega-Rock 105.5, but lo and behold, after years of waiting....one day I discovered that I can get KROQ 93.7 loud and clear all around Clarion where I live and work....this has made life wonderful...but I noticed that Rocky (which I listen to when traveling in Altoona) is very much similar to KROQ, right down to the 41 minute rock blocks....but I am not complaining, for years I had nothing really good to listen to that provided any newer rock whatsoever....

[songsmith]

Quail, I totally agree on the Lion. I only listen during the 1pm-4pm slot, because they play anything, and I cannot overstress here... ANYTHING. I have heard a classic Patsy Cline song followed by an obscure Police song followed by a hybrid of techno and East Indian folk, then an Aquarium Rescue Unit live bootleg. The on-air talent flat-out SUCKS for toilet-paper money, you'd think college kids, especially communications majors, would be at least passable, and you'd be wrong... but what cool music. They're really hard to pick up on this side of Skytop, but worth it.---->JMS

[Quail Whale]

http://www.lion-radio.org/kpssite/home.php

you can listen on your PC on any side of Sky Top.

[Ron]

If you listen to The Lion, be prepared for it to disappear since the PSU office of student affairs has cut all of it's funding.
http://www.collegian.psu.edu/archive/20 ... ews-11.asp

[esa]

What other channel would Bob and Tom be on? I get them on 92.1 and then by 8:10 I lose them. * And I have to listen to ::shudders:: Bob and Mary in the morning cuz there isn't anything else morning show wise that comes through. le-sigh. I've been taking to going to cd's when I get out of range of hearing b&t...

[Punkinhead]

I used to listen to QwikRock when it was in Johnstown but, after it switched to the Rock, the only things I ever listen to on radio are Bob and Tom. I have Sirius now, so all I listen to is Hard Attack. All metal, all the time

[ZappasXWife]

Yes, the Lion 90.7 is also my favorite when in State College. Great music USUALLY, excellent variety. Of course its only for the music, because, right on songsmith, those kids that work there(well, generalizing here) seem to not have the slightest idea what the music is they're playing except when they play rap, that seems to excite them. I always thought college towns were a mecca for alternative music but this place is like rap/pop hell. I can hear the music shaking my building as the cars roll by. Whats that about? Wonder when this station is slated to disappear, I had heard about that.

[GetInWithIn]

Whatever you do, don't listen to the Buzz when that Greg Matthews guy is on there....total flamer! Luv ya Greg!

You taght him everything he knows about flamin' though Rob...don't leave that part out!!!! LOL

[lonewolf]

When I lived in S.C., we called WQWK "QWICK POP".

[shadesofjuneGuitar]

At least in Altoona and State College you have access to good stations.... I live in Johnstown and the only freaking choices I have are, "The ROCK 92.1 and Hot 99.1" .... There are a few others, but for the most part, that is it ...

Let's analyze this for a moment .... The ROCK = about 85% Classic Rock and 15% Adult Contemporary Rock (Nickelback etc). HOT 99 = about 95% SHIT and 5% Bearable SHIT.

You have to think about this for a second and then you have an answer to the question local musicians have been asking for years, "What happened to the music scene in Johnstown?"

The sad fact is that when J-town lost its prgressive rock station, in this case QWK-ROCK, the live music scene went down, down, down.... AND THAT'S WHEN THE DJ's TOOK OVER. Over the past few years, it has been a Rollercoaster around the region, but it will never be the same until new, progressive rock returns to the area.

So basically what I am saying is ... HELP ME ... I NEED MUSIC THAT IS NEWER THAN 1984!!!!

[Punkinhead]

At least in Altoona and State College you have access to good stations.... I live in Johnstown and the only freaking choices I have are, "The ROCK 92.1 and Hot 99.1" .... There are a few others, but for the most part, that is it ...

Let's analyze this for a moment .... The ROCK = about 85% Classic Rock and 15% Adult Contemporary Rock (Nickelback etc). HOT 99 = about 95% SHIT and 5% Bearable SHIT.

You have to think about this for a second and then you have an answer to the question local musicians have been asking for years, "What happened to the music scene in Johnstown?"

The sad fact is that when J-town lost its prgressive rock station, in this case QWK-ROCK, the live music scene went down, down, down.... AND THAT'S WHEN THE DJ's TOOK OVER. Over the past few years, it has been a Rollercoaster around the region, but it will never be the same until new, progressive rock returns to the area.

So basically what I am saying is ... HELP ME ... I NEED MUSIC THAT IS NEWER THAN 1984!!!!

No kidding. Every hour the playlist goes like this:

Something from Def Leppard
Something from U2's first 2 albums
Something from Lynyrd Skynyrd
Something from either Billy Squier or Idol
Something from either Nickelback or Green Day
and repeat.

And it's not different songs. There are 3 songs from each band that you hear 8 times a day.

When this station started I called them and pleaded for them to play something that someone my age would like to hear. They offered to play Judas Priest. Not knocking Priest but I'm more into Lamb of God than I am them, as are most people my age who like the heavier side.

[gymnast]

I live near J-town, and the radio along with the music scene has lost its perk. I worked at shooters for a while, and after hearing the same songs over and over from the lovely guy getting paid more than me to play a song (real live juke box woo hoo) I pretty much went nuts. I totally loved it when we would have the occasional band cuz Lou would always have a smart ass comment on the sign when you come in the door about the cover being 5 instead of 3 because "these are people that actually have musical talent and can play instruments". I remember the days when you had to decide which bands to see in the j-town-ebensburg area, but lately I've been driving out of the area (bedford, somerset) in search of good live music.
The switch to the ROCK made me a total scanner! There are times I drive home from work (an hour drive) and the whole time my radio is on scan cuz there is nothing on I care to listen to.