Should Jack Be A Dahl's House?
Written Oct. 30, 2007 by Sean Ross in Content + Terrestrial Radio with 3 Comments
Among some radio observers, the decision by CBS to move Chicago radio veteran Steve Dahl from N/T WCKG (pending its reported format change) to WJMK (104.3 Jack FM) seems like an odd fit: a talk host on a station targeting males moving to a music-intensive station with more of a male/female split.
But it's not such an off-the-wall move. Dahl's breakthrough success was at Album Rocker WLUP in the late '70s and early '80s, followed by an equally prominent stint at Rock 40 rival WLS-FM. Whatever you think of the "Disco Demolition" stunt that put Dahl and "The Loop" on the map, it was a good time musically for rock radio, and it's that era that Jack should be harkening back to--particularly if Dahl is willing to play at least a few songs per hour. And another veteran Rock team, CFOX Vancouver's Larry & Willy, turned out to be a surprisingly good fit for the first Jack-FM, crosstown CKLG.
Reader Comments
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Thank you, Sean. I agree with you on this.
My mailbox has received a number of emails asking me if, as someone with a history with Jack, I didn't think it was a bad move bring Dahl to 104.3. I had to disagree. We never believed that JACK-FM should be a jukebox with no (live) personality. When Amos and I created what later became an international radio format, we figured we would bring in some of the best in the business. We like DJs -- hell we ARE DJs! Many of the JACKs today have DJs and at the very least a strong morning show. Vancouver is a great example.
Bob Perry
Ever since Jack followed by Bob et. al. have come, it seems to me the stations must have talent.
But talent has to be talent. These are very different radio formats and as a result the talent must be very different.
While Steve Dahl may be just that, many others already heard on these "juke box" formats are so standard/typical they are killing the unusual concept.
Gotta look far and wide...even if it is of no previous radio experience...to find the people that FIT!
Where did Dahl have his greatest Arbitron success? It could very well have been when he was at WLS AM. That was the place he was "stuck" by the bosses and he vocally hated it. Anyone have old numbers to see how he did here in his personal hell as opposed more supposed greener pastures on FM?