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

Live!

By Bob Andelman

The element of surprise is one of the reasons I love radio. Another is the way it enables us to use our imagination more than any other medium.

Growing up in New Jersey, I benefited from access to radio stations in the Garden State, New York and Philadelphia. Metropolitan areas like those, Boston, Chicago and Los Angeles are places where you could tune around the dial and occasionally find your favorite artist had dropped by a station in person. Maybe they were there to pump a concert or album, maybe the jock was a friend. But it happened and it was different.

Lately I've noticed the same thing happening on bay area radio stations. 98 Rock (WXTB-FM) has been the most aggressive in bringing artists live into the studio, introducing a great many new artists. 95 YNF is getting back into the game - one night recently the guys from Stranger came by Scotty Philips' evening show and banged out a few tunes on their guitars. While M.C. Hammer was in town last week, opening act Vanilla Ice (the guy who ripped off David Bowie/Queen's "Under Pressure" for the rap hit "Ice Ice Baby") quite literally rapped with Q105's Johnny D; the following morning, the Q's Alicia Kaye talked Special Generation into harmonizing a cappella.

This is a trend I like, no doubt about it. We know what kind of music these stations play - in-studio interviews and impromptu performances keep us tuning in for more.

Who's Tuning Who! Is the Tampa Tribune 's new radio columnist, Jay Moore, the same person who reported on the summer Arbitrons for the paper as "J. Whitaker Moore"?

Quotable Notable! "We play everything you always wanted to hear on 9YNF - if only they'd shut up." - Cleveland Wheeler, host of "The Breakfast Club" on WRBQ 1380 AM, carrying his feud with Ron & Ron to the AM.

Whatever Happened To ... ! WRXB (1590 AM) is on the move.

GM Gene Danzey tells us that he's streamlined the station's adult contemporary, R&B sound to be more consistent and less random throughout the day. And the jock line-up has been tinkered with as well.

For all you continuity buffs here's who's where at WRXB:

7 a.m. - David Rogers

11 a.m. - Barry O'Neal

3 p.m. - Ivan Summers

7 p.m. - Rob Simone

Midnight - Tony Rush

Danzey has also invested heavily in a new board and air studio that should improve that station's on-air clarity. "And it'll give the DJs some new knobs to play with," he says.

The new equipment went on-line Monday.

Oh, Well! In 1986, when I was doing the Tribune's weekly radio column, I took up the flag of Bay area senior citizens who were irked when WDAE (1250 AM) gave up local programming for a satellite nostalgia format. We kicked up enough stink that the station switched back.

Now, alas, DAE has given up the big band ghost for good and is simulcasting sister station W101. It was fun while it lasted.

It is a Mix-Up! We hear that when one bay area radio station adopted the "Mix" monicker, it P.O.'d a second station that was preparing a move under the same banner. Several sources tell us new logos and advertising were already completed. Que'll never guess who.

While we're on the subject, WNLT's switch of identity from "95.7" to "96" was certainly logical in terms of distancing itself from 95 YNF; remember the old WKRL and its attempt to establish a digital identity as "97.9"? In most cases, listeners don't seem ready to make the jump, although half-sizes (102.5, 88.5) seem to be okay.

What puzzles us is why NLT dumped its ID as "Lite Rock." Much as we hate the format's sound, the station had worked hard for years to successfully establish the handle among women and office workers. Why not become "Lite Rock 96"? That's a lot more appropriate than the potential confusion and alienation being caused by "Mix 96." And word is a call letter change is also in the offing.

Same old music - Phil Collins a-go-go - same jocks, same low-key style. Will Hix Nix Mix? Watch the station's fall Arbitron ratings for a plunge.

And Now for Something Completely Different! Tampa Bay commercial radio is soooooo much better than it was five years ago. Hell, it's better than it was one year ago.

How long has it been since listeners had a choice between two well-defined rockers (98 Rock and 95 YNF), two contemporary hit stations (Q105 and Power 93) and two alternative stations (WMNF 88.5 FM and WRBQ 1380 AM)?

And, nit-picking aside, the overall quality of the air staffs on these station is rising. When you hear people talk about Tampa Bay finally growing into its status as a major metropolitan market, you know they've been listening to the radio.

Wish List! If any program directors might be reading this, here's what RadioRadio would like to hear in the future:

1. Howard Stern.

2. An '80s music show.

3. Old-time radio comedies and dramas from the 1940s.

Just in case you've got some time to fill ...

Going Once! 95's Annual Children's Home Benefit Auction hits the airwaves Dec. 7-9. PD Tom Marshall gave us a sneak preview of this year's goodies, which include the station's Mazda traffic vehicle. It comes with a sun visor that has been autographed by a number of rockers. You'll want to frame that sucker and keep it at home, out of the sun.

Autographed guitars from AC/DC, Eric Johnson and Steve Vai, a Meet the Beatles gold LP, autographed Aerosmith softball jersey, autographed Rolling Stones souvenirs, Alice Cooper's stage cane, a boxed Byrds set autographed by Roger McGuinn, plus CDs and posters signed by Eric Clapton, Sting, Billy Joel, Bad Co., Billy Joel and David Bowie are all in the treasure chest.

Restore the Shore! Speaking of benefits, WHVE (102.5 FM) has released a compact disc in conjunction with Windham Hill featuring Tuck & Patty, Scott Cossu, Michael Manring and Montreux that is now available exclusively at Bay area music stores. Two dollars from every purchase of "Restore the Shore" will go to the Clearwater Marine Science Center, home of Sunset Sam.

Rumor Central! Our sources suggest a West Coast broadcasting company may spin off its radio stations, including a big fat one in Tampa Bay.

Would You Believe! The "U Morning Crew"?

"Hey," yuks U92 morning man and PD Scott Robbins, "if it worked once, it'll work again!"

The crew, which began Monday, consists of Robbins, new WYUU news director Bob Schuman (late of WFLA 970 AM), producer/newscaster Maria Jannello and traffic guy John Levine. U92 adds Schuman in an attempt to become more of a full-service station. News will be offered twice hourly during the morning show and then again in the afternoon.

Also new to 92 is Mark Meyers, who's doing weekend fill work, as well as 7 p.m.-midnight Sundays. Meyers was once the midday man at WHBO (1040 AM).

We're Waiting! One of our legion - and legendary - RadioRadio industry finks jokes that our long-predicted change at one of Tampa Bay's two Metroplex stations did indeed occur. But, he notes, we got the stations wrong. Who among us expected WNLT to make a switch ahead of WHBO? (We're still betting children's programming is destined for the AM.)

Not 'The End'! Bob Hensler at WEND (760 AM) protested our joke about the station's silly, they-asked-for-it call letters.

We're getting even by warning fans of Jones Intercable's "The Richie Show" that host Richie Palaveda is negotiating with END about doing a one-hour, Sunday night audio version of his cable access program.

And, as a public service, here's a quick look at END's daily schedule:

6 a.m. - "American Sunrise"

10 a.m. - "Coffee with Cassie Jacoby"

Noon - "Sun Issues Forum" (open phones)

2 p.m. - "For the People" with Chuck Harder

5 p.m. - "Today's Business Journal," hosted by Sonny Bloch

6 p.m. - "Real Estate Action Line," also hosted by Bloch

8 p.m. - "Mid-Life" with Marty & Gayle Weisburg

10 p.m. - "Radio Free America," hosted by Tom Valentine

Midnight - "Healthy, Wealthy and Wise" with Dr. Ken Rehm

3 a.m. - "Psychic Astrology," charted by Ruth Rogers

5 a.m. - "Consumer Farm Hour" with Max Stewart

That'll teach 'em.

This Just In! WTKN (570 AM) now receives the newsfeed from CNN Headline News. In case of major breaking news, TKN will use CNN to supplement its regular Mutual News service.

Also new on TKN is "The Ways and Means Committee," a nightly meat and potatoes financial advice program hosted by Don McDonald. It began Nov. 12 and airs from 9-11 p.m.

Blue Light Specials! WYNF and WHVE responded to our persistent requests for details about special programming events. Here's what we've heard about for the coming weeks:

Nov. 18 - "Live at Morrisound" with the Rembrandts (95)

Nov. 18 - "UpClose" interviews and spins AC/DC (95)

Nov. 19 - "Rockline" talks to Deep Purple (95)

Nov. 21 - JVC Jazz Festival (102.5)

Nov. 26 - "Rockline" sings with Steve Winwood (95)

Write! Rite! Right! Our mailbox is your mailbox. Drop us a line at RadioRadio, c/o Players, P.O. Box 1867, Pinellas Park, FL 34664. And our fax is your fax: (813) 578-1414.