I listened to Rocky 92 today.

[Craven Sound]

And I must say the quality of the station is better than the Altoona version. I'm not saying the on-air talent is better, (note: this is no slam on any of the jocks) but the format is much more palatable. They don't claim to be "new" after every song, and they don't "rock a rocks rock off". I like the morning guy, maybe because he sounds a lot like Shawn McDowell; and the music sounds better. There are no crappy, 96khz sampled songs on the air; the library seems to have all good copies of songs. Has anyone else noticed this about the toon version? Maybe the program directors from each station can copy notes from each other and make each just a little better.

92.1>104.9

[Banned]

Isn't it irritating to be listening to a song and suddenly #@%#@^@&,
or blip, blip,blip.

Several area stations have this problem. You would think it would be easy to fix? Huh?

[ToonaRockGuy]

Maybe the program directors from each station can copy notes from each other and make each just a little better.

Maybe they could if the stations were the same. But they are not. Rocky 92 is more Classic Rock, Rocky 104.9 is more of a combination of Mainstream/Active, and Rocky in State College is a pure Active rocker.

We do the best we can with what we're given. I kind of take it as a personal affront, because I've been here since 1995, and we don't have everything perfect, but we damn sure try. I work my ass off here to make sure that the product is as good as possible, but I can't make gold out of crap. And for the record, the "New" will be gone in December. But you do have to remember a couple things:

1. There are still people here that have no idea we exist. Therefore, to them, we are new.

2. If I had a dime for every time someone bitched about Rocky's catchphrase, I'd own every one of you. But remember this: You're sick of hearing it. I'M SICK OF SAYING IT. But it's my job, and I don't make the decisions. I have to say it. You have the advantage, because you can change your station. I can't.

Sorry for the rant, but shit like this pisses me off.

[J Michaels]

Wooaahh!! Calm down there, big guy. I think everybody here digs you and the job you do, so it ain't about you - it's about decisions that I am sure everyone here knows are made above your head. NUTTIN' BUT LUV FOR YA, KEV!!!

That being said, I have heard more skips on 104.9 in the last year or so than I heard in the 30+ years of radio I heard before that, and that is NOT an exagerration. The sound quality I hadn't really noticed a probelm with, but I am dumbfounded by how many bad copies of songs 104.9 apparently has. It has gotten better in the last 6-8 months, but it still happens. Funny, but when radio used vinyl, I don't recall hardly ever hearing a skip. But computers and technology make everything better, right?

As for the Rockinest a Rock that Ever Rocked a Rock's Rock Off... I just kind of giggle when I hear that now, as I do with the "New" Rocky 104.9 phrase. Good to know that's on the way out.

[JayBird]

Rocky 92.1 has changed their format - first week it kicked ass...Mudvayne, Pantera, White Zombie, Chevelle, Tool, etc. Let's just say that the station is starting to SUCK again and play all classic rock. Well, maybe not all, but majority of it seems to be heading back to their old roots.

I just came back from North Carolina...the Outer Banks...which is known for being a "family" vacationing area. They had a station 98.1, that kicked so much ass I was embarrassed for our area. I heard the new Dope song and thought, holy shit - that's DOPE. I called 105.9 the X after attending a Dope show at the Rex...they don't even have a Dope single in stock. Down in NC we heard Killswitch, Shadows Fall, Taproot, Pantera, Tool, Mudvayne, etc.

We need a good ol Rock/Metal station...24/7. Now of this one hour slot on a Sunday night at 11:00 bullshit. No more Pink Floyd, Skynard, AC/DC, etc. When you claim to be a Rock station - then play Rock, not classic rock like the 10 others stations in our area.

[ToonaRockGuy]

We need a good ol Rock/Metal station...24/7. Now of this one hour slot on a Sunday night at 11:00 bullshit. No more Pink Floyd, Skynard, AC/DC, etc. When you claim to be a Rock station - then play Rock, not classic rock like the 10 others stations in our area.

Unfortunately, that will never happen in this market. Larger markets can take a chance and do it, but they almost never last. Bottom line with radio is that you have to be able to sell the station. It's all about the advertising dollars, and with a metal station, you wouldn't be able to sell enough ad space to bring in revenue to cover costs. Plus, this area (south central PA) is an overwhelmingly conservative area. That's a part of what drives radio programming. There's a lot more to radio than what you think.

It's a great idea, but just wishful thinking.

[Banned]

It's typical of everything. You've got to give the people what they want or they won't respond.

You can be the best band with the best musicians in the world, but if you play stuff nobody likes, people think you suck. Same with radio. Unfortunately, Johnstown is a little (a lot) behind the times, but, again, the newer format of 92.1 is a lot better (in my opinion) than the way it was.

I sold advertising for WQKK, and believe me, a lot of people just hated that station around here. Made it hard to make a living. I liked the station just fine, but, as you said, the advertising dollar is what keeps the radio business afloat.

What I do feel sorry about is that a lot of newer bands are losing out in our markets because they're not getting airplay. I've seen some great videos/songs on Fuse but I haven't heard any of those particular bands on the air. I don't remember when I heard Fallout Boy or Coheed and Cambria on the radio---just for an example.

But can anyone please everyone? I don't think it's possible so you just take what your given and work with it. If enough people speak out, maybe something can change.

Just some mindless rambling to think about!

[Craven Sound]

Wooaahh!! NUTTIN' BUT LUV FOR YA, KEV!!!:D

Ya, sorry to add to your irritiation, but they are taking the branding thing to the extreme. This is why I can't stand listening to Froggy, all of the ribbit crap and hoppy shit gets old really fast. I don't really mind some country music THAT bad, but all of the branding that goes into the stupid station makes me hate the genre as a whole.

[f.sciarrillo]

Sorry to be inturusive, but, I like the old 104.9 format better ...

Another thing - GET RID OF THE FROG !!! I like country, but I wish froggy would change there stupid scheme and format.. More veriety and not the same stinkin song every five minutes. I noticed recently that there are 5 froggy stations between here and pittsburgh. Man, was I going crazy with all that stupid hop a long, james pond, swamp crap .. I switched to JJJ - jazz station out of pittsburgh - to get rid of it .. When I listed to country most of the time, I listen to 102.1 out of dubois, that is when I can get it in, or sirius satellite. They have a lot more veriety than the forever stations ....

No offense to you toona, I know you are doing your job. It just gets rediculous when you have to listen to the same catch phrases and the same song every five minutes ..

[Punkinhead]

Rocky 92.1 has changed their format - first week it kicked ass...Mudvayne, Pantera, White Zombie, Chevelle, Tool, etc. Let's just say that the station is starting to SUCK again and play all classic rock. Well, maybe not all, but majority of it seems to be heading back to their old roots.

I just came back from North Carolina...the Outer Banks...which is known for being a "family" vacationing area. They had a station 98.1, that kicked so much ass I was embarrassed for our area. I heard the new Dope song and thought, holy shit - that's DOPE. I called 105.9 the X after attending a Dope show at the Rex...they don't even have a Dope single in stock. Down in NC we heard Killswitch, Shadows Fall, Taproot, Pantera, Tool, Mudvayne, etc.

We need a good ol Rock/Metal station...24/7. Now of this one hour slot on a Sunday night at 11:00 bullshit. No more Pink Floyd, Skynard, AC/DC, etc. When you claim to be a Rock station - then play Rock, not classic rock like the 10 others stations in our area.

There are many options in this area to combat this. Unfortunately they all cost you some $$$$. The first one is is to get Sirius or XM radio. I have Sirius and the metal station (Hard Attack www.sirius.com/hardattack) is phenomenal. Another alternative is something like an iPod hooked up in your ride. I have a couple thousand songs on mine and set it to shuffle and most of the time it's an all "Punkin'head" ride.

I'm sure you know of these but, I guess my main point is that there will never be a metal station in Johnstown and pretty muchly most of the metalheads have given up listening and just moved on to different ways of getting good music.



Sorry for the stupidly redundant post.....

[songsmith]

Aw, Toona! I hope you figured out I'm pullin' your chain with the "Rockinest Rock" thing... I know local radio pretty well for a relative outsider, and I know how a certain individual we know is about those taglines. I also know you're good at what you do, and paid your dues, and we all know that's how to get props from Johnny.
My wife happens to listen to your show A LOT. Maybe too much. You bastard. -------->JMS

[ZappasXWife]

Yeah Johnny I heard there's something funny goin on there...

[Imgrimm01]

Except for backyard rocker , ALL local Radio Blows ! Same 60 songs recycled all day every day , Blah Blah Blah ... Satellite radio is the way to go, you get what you like by genra, not what the corporate money hogs tell you that you should like. I mean NO offense to anyone here involved with radio I know that you have your jobs to do but I bet if you tell the truth you don't like local radio either.

[jim bagrosky]

I agree! Satelite radio is the way to go! You can hear what you want without all the "Steelers are going to the super bowl" songs and rehashed play lists day in and day out. Huge props to JP and the backyard rocker though for supporting the local live talent in our surrounding areas! You cant beat that!

I was shown a satelite unit a freind just purchased and he tuned in to a channel that was all UNSIGNED artist!! I couldn't believe it. It won me over from that point on.

[313]

Except for backyard rocker , ALL local Radio Blows ! Same 60 songs recycled all day every day , Blah Blah Blah ... Satellite radio is the way to go, you get what you like by genra, not what the corporate money hogs tell you that you should like. I mean NO offense to anyone here involved with radio I know that you have your jobs to do but I bet if you tell the truth you don't like local radio either.

I love the Backyard Rocker too. While vacationing last week, I heard another interesting way to integrate local music onto mainstream radio.
The radio station played a tune from local bands each hour at 8 after the hour. They called it "local on the 8's" - which most of you probably recognize as a play on Weather Channel's local weather reports. I thought it was a great idea.

[Possessed]

Another thing about the local radio that sucks is that when Rennis played brand new tunes that were on regular rotation on 105.9 the "X" (Pittsburgh) like new Zombie and Korn and such, people around here actually thought that we were playing originals. It made it pretty tough to play a bunch of new material when nobody around knows it. When your band already plays every heavy song on "The Rock"as it was once known and there are no new songs besides classic bands and Zepplin(not that there's anything wrong with that) it makes it tough to choose new material.
When I started we would hear a new song by the latest hard rock band and learn it within a week. Trouble is no new material on the radio no new songs. The bands in J-town that are doing well are the bands that play dance music or classic rock and that's pretty much it. I know the bands that have had any success playing new heavy music have had the success closer to the east coast. Just one more thing working against us musicians in this area. GO ORIGINAL SCREW EVERYONE!!!!!!!!!!
For those bands such as The Grimm that play all or mostly original music my hat's off to you. That is THE toughest thing to do in this area by far now matter what style of music you play.