Clear Channel has given the boot to 107.5 FM morning show duo Vinny Kice and Brooke Shealy. A week ago today was their final show; instead, the station will now use voice tracking to import a Texas-based Clear Channel morning team, “Kidd Kraddick in the Morning,” but make it sound as if the show is local. The FCC is investigating the acquisition, as it’s thought to give Clear Channel an unfair dominance over the local market. The Hook has the story in this week’s issue. For more information on Clear Channel from a more jaded perspective, see the brand-new ClearChannelSucks.org.
News and meta-news about Charlottesville, VA, since 2001.
Sideblog
Police announced this afternoon that their investigation into what was initially believed to be a fatal fire on Rugby Avenue is now a homicide investigation. #
The Virginia Supreme Court has denied George Huguely’s appeal. His second-degree murder conviction will stand, WRIC reports. #
In a carefully worded story, and not citing specific sources, WTVR reports that forensic evidence belonging to Jesse Matthew Jr., the main suspect in the disappearance of Hannah Graham, matches forensic evidence collected during the investigation of Morgan Harrington’s 2009 murder. #
In the wake of Hannah Graham’s disappearance, and the evidence that came from private security footage, city officials are revisiting the question of installing security cameras on the downtown mall. #
Both Charlottesville Registrar Sheri Iachetta and former Electoral Board member Stephanie Commander have turned themselves in to the police on
foursix and four felony counts of embezzlement, respectively. #Ten years ago, the National Institutes of Health budget doubled and schools like the University of Virginia built massive new research facilities. A decade later, those buildings remain largely underutilized. NPR visits UVA in this story on the effect of federal binge and spurge spending in the sciences. #
In 2012, Council approved a new student housing complex on West Main—now some council members are questioning whether what they were shown matches what was built. #
The Architectural Review Board has approved a bike-themed mural on West Market, below the McGuffey Art Center, although at least one member expressed concerns that it might look like the bicyclists were riding away from Charlottesville’s downtown. #
City Police Chief Tim Longo is meeting with city leaders to work on protocols regarding the use of military surplus police weapons in Charlottesville. #
A 100-year-old Colonnades resident received military honors for her service in the WWII Women’s Army Corps #
-
Archive for Sideblog »
Unhappy about this? I’m sure that the folks at 107.9 would love to hear your feedback. Give them a ring at 964-1075. Call early, call often. And if first you don’t succeed…
*Really* unhappy about it? Head on over to clearchannelsucks.org to find out about the systematic, borg-like assimilation of local radio into the Clear Channel machine.
Whoops- correction: 107.5 The phone number is correct for Mix 107.5 – Just a typo on the station ID.
Didn’t they boot the previous pair as well? I forget their names, the ones that spent the weekend in the doghouse at Hydraulic and 29 to raise SPCA money?
Seems like they are mowing through the local talent.
This new show better be so good that it simply can’t be missed, otherwise 107.5 will suffer even worse ratings as I do not expect Cville to be to tolerant of actions like this.
Personally, I wouldn’t be caught dead listening to any of that ‘Morning Zoo’ crap. Pure pap, if you ask me (which of course nobody has). But if there must be Morning Zoo-type pap for the Great Unwashed to wake up to, I’d rather it be local pap.
Hint: you’ll be a better citizen if you listen to NPR’s national news on 88.5 FM in the morning rather than some over-caffinated DJ reading bad jokes off of a cheat sheet. Best of all- no commercials. And no Clear Channel.
Actually, in all fairness, the previous duo, Hal and Naomi, weren’t local. CC imported them from (I think) Alaska, where they actually had pretty good ratings. After 5 minutes you just knew they didn’t have a prayer here, and losing them was one of the good moves CC actually made.
Note: Vinnie Kice was the morning jock displaced when Hall and Naomi were brought in. When they left, he moved back to mornings. I hope he gets a decent slot somewhere – he’s one of the best commercial djs in town. He’s no Professor Bebop (WTJU), but, well, who is?
Yes, Clear Channel sucks.
To read more about their corporate background and culture, check out the Salon article, Radio’s big bully.
what took them so long to get rid of Vinnie and Brooke!!! They were to fake for my taste. Good luck on your wedding Brooke!
I listen to NPR off an on. Their news and humor shows are great, but they do live up to their Saturday Night Live parody with some of their stories during All Things Considered.
One thing — what is the difference between a commercial and the hosts of MarketPlace saying “GE, we bring good things to life” while playing the GE jingle in the background?
Yes, but is Kidd Kraddock real? Is this the first step towards robotic DJs? Has anyone seen Don Imus, Opie, Mike, Don Geronimo, Howard Stern all in the same room?
Soylent Green! Soylent Green!