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

98 Rock Rebuttal: Tom Marshall

By Bob Andelman

Fourteen days ago I said some pretty strong things about what I see as a decline in modern rock programming at 95YNF - the self-proclaimed Home of Rock 'n' Roll. As a long-time listener, I feel the station is letting me down by sticking with aging artists to the exclusion of new performers. This is a point of view I've often expressed in person and by telephone to management of the station during the past two years.

I still stand by what I said.

At the same time, I'm not unwilling to present other viewpoints. Tom Marshall, WYNF's program director, took personal umbrage with my remarks. To be fair, I offered him the opportunity to respond in this issue. This is what he wrote, unedited:

"In the previous 'RadioRadio' column, Bob Andelman gave his opinion of the present state of 95YNF's musical programming. His perception is that the station has become too reliant on old rock music and not supportive enough of new music. As program director of 'The Home of Rock 'n' Roll,' I believe strongly in the music we put on the air. Towards that end I am constantly striving to provide programming that will be enjoyed by the largest audience possible, particularly those listeners in the 18-49 age group. "A great deal of people enjoy rock 'n' roll music. Typically people most enjoy the music they've grown up with. As a result older listeners tend to relate to rock music from the late sixties through the middle seventies. At the same time younger listeners are more excited by the new bands of the past five years. Of course, there are exceptions with certain bands that virtually all of the audience enjoys. This applies to heritage acts like Led Zeppelin and the Rolling Stones and newer names such as U2 and Def Leppard.

"As it is not possible to be both all things to all people and still garner the large share of listening audience we need to be profitable, we choose to focus on the most popular bands to form the core of our programming. It is no small coincidence that some of the biggest and most successful concert tours of the past two years have included the like of The Who, Rolling Stones and Paul McCartney. Most recently over 31,000 attended our tenth anniversary show featuring Don Henley, a superstar who first rose to prominence with The Eagles and has transcended that group's work with his critically and commercially acclaimed solo work. The reason we play music from well known heritage and classic rock artists is because the audience wants to hear it.

"What is most disturbing to me about Mr. Andelman's comments is that he fails to point out that 95YNF has and continues to play a significant amount of new music. We support releases from established acts like Eric Clapton, Heart, Aerosmith and others because those artists continue to record viable product on our station. At the same time we are exposing promising new acts like Alannah Myles, Jude Cole, Damn Yankees, Black Crowes, Smithereens, World Party and others because we understand the importance of pumping new blood into our format. Listeners get an opportunity to stretch their tastes even further with innovative and alternative shows like Charlie Logan's 'Radio Clash' and Russ Album's 'Wax Museum.'

"It all comes down to a matter of degree. It's a balancing act to present enough new and yet unfamiliar product to the audience while also giving the listener enough of the tried and true music to keep him/her listening in sufficient numbers to support our business. Let me assure everyone that no 'sea of complacency' exists at WYNF. On the contrary, I welcome input and suggestions from our listeners. We exist to provide entertainment for you. That the station has been successful in doing so for ten years is a testimony to that end."
Tom Marshall
Program Director
95YNF

What do you think?

Send your comments on the subject of heritage vs. progressive rock radio to RadioRadio, c/o Players, P.O. Box 1867, Pinellas Park, FL 34664. Or fax us at (813) 578-1414. Letters written in crayon are okay as long as they are sharp crayons.

Last Word on Watts! Tramonte Watts is history at the Q, in what will likely to be the last departure note from the station for some time. Let's get on with the new hires.

Live from LA! Q105 has picked up a new syndicated show broadcast live from Los Angeles called "Hanging with Hamilton." The host is "Hollywood" Hamilton, a one-time Q105 jock now working out of KISS in L.A. "Hanging" airs Sundays at 9 p.m. and there's an toll-free '800' number listeners can call to get on the air with Ham.

What, No WMNF News? Hey, Program Director Randy Wynne! Return our calls!

Catch the WHVE! Better latent than never, as Robin Williams says, here's the new lineup at 102.5 FM:

5:30-9 a.m. Steve Callahan and Linda Blake

9 a.m.-1 p.m. Bob Cummings

1-4 p.m. Blake Lawrence

4-8 p.m. Tammy Jett

8 p.m.-12:30 a.m. Don Brookshire

12:30-5:30 a.m. Mark Krueger

The new name on the chart is that of Bob Cummings, late of WFLZ when it was Z93 and "Good Time Oldies." Cummings has also worked at K-Lite in Houston and WCZY in Detroit. He's taken over the shift formerly held by Eric Davis, although the time slot is slightly different.

Answer to John Wertz of Pinellas Park! Did you actually see her do that?

Ahhhhhhh! More WHVE news.

One-oh-two-and-a-half PD Blake Lawrence is host of "Soundscapes," a new Sunday evening program airing at 10 p.m. "Soundscapes" presents New Age, acoustic and other melodic instrumental selections in a tidy packages. If you're into that type of music, this would probably be a good program to record and listen to again later in the car or at work.

Sold! That bizarre broadcasting dynamo, WTAN (1340 AM) in downtown Clearwater, has changed hands again, according to The Pulse of Radio, an industry publication. Drenik Communications, Inc. has purchased the station from Wagenvoord Advertising Group, Inc. for $990,000. Drenik is owned by Virginia Chargaris Nikitakis and George Bouris.