(I used to write a bi-weekly column, RadioRadio, for Players magazine in the Tampa Bay area. The following story appeared in 1990.)

Alicia Kaye

By Bob Andelman

Remember the moment: Thursday, May 24, 1990 at 9 a.m.

That's the time when Alicia Kaye, late of Houston's Energy 96.5, first stepped into a WRBQ DJ chair that had been vacant for two months. Q105 took the first irreversible step toward its destiny, introducing the first of its next generation of air personalities. Watch for more new names and faces at the Big Q in the coming days.

"There's a war going on in Tampa," says Kaye, "and I was offered the opportunity to come fight it."

The "war" is of the close ratings encounter kind, between former champ Q105 and the usurper of its crown, WFLZ (93 FM), the Power Pig.

Kaye, 27, bills herself as an adult air personality, not one of the girls, not one of the boys. She has a one-year-old son and is married to a graphic designer.

"I don't try to be the sexy female who's there to seduce people," she says. "I'm like Roseanne Barr. I have a family. I have two dogs. I try to relate to people in that situation, people who are at work all day and have to go home and deal with family problems at night."

At Energy 96.5 (KNRJ) - and WTIC in Hartford, before that - Kaye handled the same 9 a.m.-2 p.m. midday chores she has inherited at Q105. She says it wasn't hard to leave Houston this spring after the station was sold and the new owners couldn't decide what to do with her.

"We never had a good morning show," she says of Energy 96.5. "We never had the cars and cash to give away. (The competition) was giving away a Porsche a week. We were giving away concert tickets and cassettes. Then they announced the station had been sold. When a station gets sold, everyone starts to worry."

Fortunately for her came the chance to work in Tampa Bay. In her first days on the job, Kaye has been besieged by a media hungry for the next developments in WRBQ's unpredictable tale. It's been a nice change of pace from the relative anonymity and quiet of her former station in Houston.

"It reinforces the fact this is a big deal, what Q105 has done," she says. "Everybody wants to know what's going to happen. It's neat for me."
Turn! Turn! Turn! Radio's revolving door took another few spins this week as winter ratings fallout continues. Former Q105 assistant program director Brian Christopher apparently has parlayed his hiring as WNLT (95.7 FM)'s new evening voice into the PD's seat with the firing of Chuck Crane. This, we hasten to add, is unconfirmed by GM Jon Pinch, who was out of town at deadline. But who are we to deny the rumors of a few at the expense of the many? ... Staying with the same company for another sentence or two, WNLT's sister station WHBO (1040 AM) has a different sound these days with the addition of the Satellite Music Network's "Kool" oldies format. That's two AM stations (WTKN is the other) to have gone satellite recently. ... Speaking of WTKN (570 AM), former talk show host Jay "Trailer Bats" Marvin inherited Joe Flores's former evening slot at WFLA (970 AM) on a temporary/tryout basis. It may be permanent or history by the time you hear this, but our vote is that he be hired full-time. ... WFLA no longer carries a Saturday morning talk show by Power 93's Tim & Tom, if you've been looking for it.

Why You You! Another Q105 alumnus moves down the dial this week when Jo Jo Walker switches To WYUU (92 FM).

"I had gotten a call from Mason (Dixon, deposed Q105 operation manager) to put a plug in for the guy," says U92 PD Scott Robbins. "He sees the handwriting on the wall for his people." Robbins, never one to let a cheap promotional opportunity/gimmick pass, began on-air announcements and sent out a press release about Walker's imminent arrival while the DJ still had two weeks of work left at the Q.

It's a great opportunity for Walker, who was buried in the overnights at 105 for five years but will assume the cherry 7 p.m.-midnight slot at U92 from Phil St. Bernard, who was let go. And it was nice of Dixon to look out for his friends, even though they don't work for him any longer.

Other U92 program notes: the station now carries "Cousin Brucie's Cruisin' America" program Saturday mornings at 7 and "Live From The Sixties with the Real Don Steele" on Sunday mornings at 9.

INSERT:

You You S'More! In the continuing relocation of former Q105 air staffers, Ward Smith - late of the Q Morning Zoo's "Gomez & Gomez" team - is now producer of Scott Robbins' morning show at U92. And on the personal side, he's engaged to marry Q105 traffic scout Nancy Alexander on Dec. 22.

Speaking of Mason! Once he gets untangled from his long-term contract at Q105, maybe we'll see him turn up in Tampa Bay again. One idea: morning man on a talk station. Drawback: AM doesn't pay as well as FM and there are no FM yakkers likely to appear any time soon.

Shock Me! According to a report in an industry magazine, The Pulse of Radio, Randy Michaels - an executive at the Power Pig's parent company, Jacor - allegedly assaulted a waitress at the Radio & Records Convention. The woman was refilling water glasses, goes the story, when Michaels supposedly "grabbed her, pulled her blouse off and pranced her about for all to see. Turns out the stunt was staged with a local 'working girl' to make the point about the importance of shocking your audience for memorability."

That's the old Power Pig mentality we know and love.

WARM Mail! I received a very nice letter from Bob Huntley, general manager of WARM (107 FM). It was addressed to me - or Current Resident. The letter was kind of long and promotional - I don't think the station really expected me to read the whole thing, which is why they highlighted certain portions in gold so I could skip to the good parts. To wit: " ... WARM 107 FM and to offer you $1,000 ... please give us a try ... more music with less talk ... that's what FM radio was meant to be ... we need your help ... listen ... Fill out one of the enclosed WARM 107 FM Listener Cards."

There was a list of sample artists and songs played on 107, but since they didn't highlighted any of them, I figured they weren't important.

Who Counts (And, Who Can't)! According to Billboard, the most influential radio stations in America are Z-100 and WPLJ (New York/New Jersey), KIIS (Los Angeles), KISS and WZOU (Boston), B-94 (Pittsburgh), Eagle 106 (Philadelphia), Q-107 and WAVA (Washington, D.C.), Power 99 (Atlanta), The Fox, WHYT and Q95 (Detroit), KDWB (Minneapolis), and our own Q105.

Candy-Coated Memories! 95.7's "M&M in the Morning" promotion reminds us of the ill-fated "M&M Boys" of a few years back. What station were they on? And whatever happened to those good ol' boys, anyhow?

Wanted: Eyes and Ears! The big ears of RadioRadio can only be in so many places at one time. If you hear a good rumor, program twist, spot an air personality in an unseemly place, or just have a question about radio, we'd like to hear from you. The address: RadioRadio, c/o Players, P.O. Box 1867, Pinellas Park, FL 34664.

As Casey Casem allegedly once said, keep your hands in your pockets and keep reaching for the stars!