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4 FEB 04: FALLEN ARCHWAYS
Why are they smiling at the top of the hill on 13th Avenue - but they're frowning down the hill? Because new Columbus radio ratings show Clear Channel stations did very well, while most Archway stations fared badly. As they'd say at that other "Archway," that's the way the cookie crumbles....
For the first time in who knows how many years, WSTH "Rooster 106 FM" had better ratings than WKCN "Kissin' 99.3" in the fall battle of country music stations. But the folks at Kissin' soon may get a boost - since Valentine's Day is only ten days away.
But that's not all: among talk radio stations, WDAK beat WRCG in the ratings. The last time WDAK did that, I believe Dee Armstrong still was reporting there....
This week marks one year since WRCG made some big changes in its programs. Since then, its ratings have dropped by more than one-third. It makes you wonder if the managers believe in recycling - as in "Morning Magazine" recycling.
On the other hand, WDAK's rating number has more than doubled in the last year. You don't think the fall total actually was higher because Rush Limbaugh was in rehabilitation?!
To be fair, not all the news is bad at Archway. WCGQ "Q-107" had a nice gain in the fall ratings, to sit fourth among radio stations. So you might say the "Q" has found the "A...."
Clear Channel managers also can smile because of the breakthrough by WHAL "Hallelujah 1460." Its fall ratings tripled the score in the spring, when that spot on the AM dial had a mix of "Southern gospel" music and sports-talk. Maybe people in Columbus really do want music without a Southern twang to it.
(But c'mon, WHAL - are you serious when you say on the air you've become "Central Alabama's choice" for gospel music? I can't hear your station after dark at the north edge of Columbus, so I really doubt they're hearing you in Montgomery.)
I couldn't help noticing WMLF-AM 1270 didn't show up on the ratings report at all. If Jim Foster isn't careful, his "Southern gospel" music will be replaced by something even farther south - as in Mexican or Puerto Rican.
There's no surprise at the top of the radio ratings for Columbus. "Foxie 105" is the winner and still champion, with almost 18 percent of the listeners. This station is so dominant that some white musical acts might file a reverse discrimination suit against it.
Let's see what else crossed our eyeballs on Tuesday:
+ Columbus Mayor Bob Poydasheff called for a four-percent pay raise for all city workers, with an extra one percent for public safety employees. Instead of automatically doing this with a tax increase, how about asking the Assistant City Managers for a donation first?
(Councilor Skip Henderson said it's too early to talk about a four-percent city pay raise, since a one-cent sales tax hasn't been approved by voters yet. That's sure not stopping the Republicans in Congress....)
+ The Columbus Times held a community forum on police brutality issues, and only about 50 people showed up. Well, the number of shootings by Sheriff's deputies IS down so far this year -- by 100 percent.
+ Muscogee County school Superintendent Dr. John Phillips said his district has received more awards for excellence in the last two months than any other in Georgia. Maybe now the School Board will approve a Chief of Staff, to keep track of them all....
+ Backers of the proposed World Children's Center withdrew a lawsuit against Harris County. I think I know the deep-down reason why some residents oppose this project. With "Children" in the name, they're afraid Michael Jackson might show up.
+ Promoters of the "Leadoff Classic" softball tournament announced for the first time, both Georgia and Georgia Tech will play in the late-February tournament at South Commons. We estimate this news will increase attendance at the event by about 50.
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