RADIO GA-GA
UPDATE! J OUT...BUBBA IN at 93 ROCK!
LOOKS LIKE I WAS RIGHT! (scroll down)
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Archives:
WXTB was the first ACTIVE ROCK radio station
in America,
I have the distinction of being the FIRST Morning Show Host at the first ever Active Rock station in America!
My small space in Radio History is secure.
Marla would join the show a few years later, and ruin the show.
(below) WXTB from WIKIPEDIA
The radio station was a huge ratings success, responsible for launching the Seattle bands in 1991 early on and the nu-metal bands of the mid to late 1990s before other stations across North America (besides such bands' home bases) caught on. Active rock's format and style would soon launch hundreds of stations across the United States and North America in the coming years and even affect the playlists of so-called modern rock stations that were becoming hugely popular in the mid-1990s.
WXTB-FM was also the home of the top rated Sea Bass & Marla Morning Show, and later the flagship of the former regional radio host Todd Clem, better known as Bubba the Love Sponge. He arrived on the air for the mornings at a time when the station was struggling to find a morning personality to replace the popular and highly successful Sea Bass who left when the Morning Show was at its peak.
After several unsuccessful Morning Show ensembles, WXTB hired Bubba to battle against other successful morning radio shows in the Tampa Bay area market. Mr. Clem's blend of shock radio and out of the mainstream guests drew many younger listeners to his show since its inception in the mid 1990s. Also appearing on the BTLS show was a young producer who Bubba gave the name Cowhead because of his "big, giant head."
Following a record fine assessed by the Federal Communications Commission in February 2004, due to then-alleged indecent content, Bubba Clem was fired as the morning host of WXTB-FM-which also ceased the program of Mr. Clem's carried by a number of affiliated stations mainly throughout the Southeast.
The station still continues its current active rock programming to this day and since December 1992 has hosted the Tampa Bay Children's Home auction and Pay for Play weekends (eventually taking over for the now-defunct WYNF-FM)-which auctions off rock memorabilia for donations and receives funds from donors in exchange for playing a wide variety of music requests (including those out of format).
WXTB was home to the morning show of Sea Bass from 1990-93. Sea Bass & Marla from 1993-1995. Bubba the Love Sponge from 1996 until his firing in 2004. He was succeeded by the Monsters in the Morning and later "The Buckethead Show."
OPEN LETTER TO 93 ROCK:
ADVICE TO KEVIN VARGAS: SNAP OUT OF IT HOMIE! DON'T BLOW IT! PULL OUT ALL OF THE STOPS! GET ULTRA LOCAL! NOW!
BGG is pathetic and is ripe for an ass whuppin'. Dude, are you gonna let a total clueless hack amateur PD like BRIE MILLER out Program you? How is this possible?
You should have paid more attention to WXTB and Greg Mull!
You claim to have been on the fore front of Active Rock back in the day but I was there on the front lines, deep in the trenches and I can tell you that you've missed the point entirely!
It's not just about the music.
The music should actually be the soundtrack to your station! Not the other way around. Think about it....the 'soundtrack to your station'.....
Do you get it yet Kevin? No you don't! Why not?
You also should have paid more attention to me when you had the chance instead of totally wasting one minute of your time with mediocre talent Doc Reno, who bailed on you anyway. Weak.
Also: Natalia sounds GREAT. She's really blossomed into a top notch sounding Pro and communicates really really well. Fantastic voice too.
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS! Showcase her, make a big deal out of her. In my opinion she's got the goods to be a local radio STAR right now!
Don't waste this girls talent Kevin! Let her open up the mid days and she'll own it in the first book. By the way, she's not paying me, I have no idea what so ever who she is, I'm going totally by what I hear on the air and what I've heard sounds great.
On the other hand: J needs help. I mean C'mon already. This is NOT a knock for crissakes it's the friggin truth! Beef up that Morning Show a bit and show some moe balls. No one gives a shit about "99 minutes of music every hour" when they're driving to work.
Here's what I hear: J's humor is forced. He's not a naturally funny guy nor is he very witty. Again, NOT a knock. It's an honest critique from someone (me) who knows all about this stuff. You're in MY world now bro!
On the plus side, J sounds fairly well informed and he sounds like a nice guy too. A competent broadcaster for sure but ultra weak on the most important ingredient: PERSONALITY.
93 Rock should take advantage of his strengths and also make a bold PERSONNEL move to compensate for the Show's weaknesses, which are painfully obvious. Nuff said there.
Makes sense doesn't it? Of course it does! I wrote the book on how to build a kick ass Morning Show, and FAST too. Real Talent can stand out immediately if they're allowed to (Natalia), and real Talent will always kick ass against incompetent crap. DUH!
So What are you doing Mr. Hot Shot
self proclaimed radio expert?
Glad I asked! Right now Mr. Hot Shot is swamped! I have no time what so ever for a weekend fling or part time radio gig. MORNING SHOW? I'll make time for something exciting but playing second banana to someone (anyone actually) and playing 79 songs an hour does nothing for me. I need to CREATE constantly or I get mentally sick. I get SUPER bored SUPER fast.
I'm whacked out hyper all day and all night. I never sleep. Sleep? Screw it. I hate sleeping! Life is for living Bro, not sleeping. Unless you're sleeping WITH someone.
Anyway I'm always super busy with a number of projects and along with my already heavy Surfing schedule I have about zero time left to do anything.
I've been approached for a full time on air position in Vero Beach but it didn't pay enough for me to leave my beloved sprawling Palm Beach 'estate'. I don't need it.
Another opportunity came up in Melbourne but when they referred to their pathetic offer of 40k as "a ton of money", I knew this was probably not the place for me.
BUT I'm always up for a realistic offer and I'll always listen to what someone has to say. In the meantime.........
UPDATE: Seems they like my stuff up in Mass. even though I never sent anything up there!
( I have an Agent) Been offered a pretty good Morning gig at a decent Rock station but moving to Mass from FL is just not gonna happen. I would freeze to death in about 4 minutes. I hate cold weather with a passion, Anything below 80 degrees is cryogenically cold as far as I'm concerned. I'll hold out for something a bit more tropical thank you.