Up and down the dial...

I go away for a week and all hell breaks loose.

Let me say off the top that SAN DIEGO RADIO SUCKS. I know, you're going to e-mail me and tell me KPRI is a great station, but they play too much Rolling Stones, Beatles and Led Zepplin for my taste and too much crap in general. Although they may be smart enough to include an occasional Jonatha Brooke or Shawn Colvin song (other than "Sunny Came Home" for the latter artist), no radio station will ever make money programming themselves to satisfy me.

Today the San Diego Union Tribune had a cover article on radio and how it's losing listeners to both satellite radio and the iPod. I had never considered the latter, and the radio station formerly known as Star 100.7 has incorporated the "Shuffle" feature off of iPod into it's new format, known as Jack. Jack is an all-music format, except for the morning hours, when Jeff and Jer will still hold sway (God knows why). They dumped Jen Sewell and Anita in the afternoon, and kept Greg (God knows why, ditto). Jack right now, other than the morning DJs, is a DJ-less format. Just "clever" (this term used loosely) pre-recorded one-liners, and commercials, otherwise, all music. All, for the most part, really, really SUCKY music. I've heard predominantly 70s and 80s stuff so far. The program director of 100.7 (not named Jack) also insisted that they've cut their commercial times by 20-25%, a "significant revenue loss" for them. I would think laying off 2 DJs would help that quite a bit, and going to an almost-all recorded format even more so.

Jack is one of those brainchilds of some programming guru/consultant who decided that the iPod and satellite radio were stealing too many radio listeners. They came up with this format that seems like a shuffling of music. But they're ignoring the very important parts of satellite radio, that is, you can find a channel that fits your music preference, whether it be all country or alternative or sports. Trying to cram a broad spectrum of music into a satellite-like station without DJs is sheer lunacy.

When I first moved to San Diego in 1998, Star 100.7 became my default radio station of choice. I say default because they were the best I could find, and that is in no way a compliment. They had just hired someone at night and he didn't work out, so they promoted "Intern Jen" to nighttime DJ (they eventually went to rebroadcasting their morning Jeff and Jer show at night...how lame is that?). At that point in time, Jen was a breath of fresh air, a nice, perky voice on the air at night. When Jagger and wife Kristy moved over to a Clear Channel station in town, they paired Jen with Greg, a former DJ here who had moved on to another station elsewhere. And from there things went quickly downhill. With the exception of their producer/traffic reporter Sara, Greg and Jen quickly became unlistenable. Jen relied on her "source" to provide the "Daily Dirt", a gossip segment that I'm surprised didn't get them sued. This was presented as a Jen exclusive, but I'm sure it's a service that can be bought in any market across the country. While they're both currently off the air, I won't miss them. I got very tired of hearing of Jen's waxed woo-woo (much as I love a good waxed woo-woo), her wedding and diet plans, and Greg's repeated efforts to lose weight. The public seemed to love them, but Sara was the only voice of reason in the vast wilderness of the Greg and Jen show. Good riddance to them.

But calling a radio format by a person's name does not give it personality. Rather the opposite I think. Jack pretty much sucks ass (that's a technical broadcasting term for those of you who don't know it). Jack will be gone in 2 years or so, maybe replaced by a seasonal all-Christmas music station like Clear Channel did with My 94.1 two or so years ago. A Jack-less Christmas would be a "God bless us, everyone" type of feel-good gesture on KFMB's part. It's only been on for a week, but already I wish Jack would just jack off.

Comments

[Jack McNelly]

I do miss the DJ's (J & J), they did happen to be entertaining, even if only occasionally. For the most part, they just happened to be boring. The whole morning show consisted of nothing more than funny-less times and lots of commercials. Laura's sexy voice was the bomb, though.
Greg is incredibly talented and wish we could hear more of him and Sara. (I'm glad Jen's gone, even if not for her, though. She was as much as DJ material as I'm a sculptor... I'm a mechanic.)

[Gary]

Jeff and Jer move to My 94.1 in September sometime. They may be off JACK until that happens...I don't listen to morning radio at all.
Greg was supposed to be lingering at JACK, but they let Jen go.

[michele]

Where is Jeff and Jerr now? I miss them and their morning show. Also miss Greg and Jen. Can't stand Jack.

[Cindy]

Love Jeff and Jer and Greg and Jen. Hate Jack. So glad Jeff and Jer are going elsewhere. But I still miss Greg and Jen.

[dren]

I agree - I now only listen to my "homemade cd's". The new Jack format sucks! I miss my "Daily Dirt" Jen and Greg you guys were great and Anita - miss your afternoons too :) I think with so many people trying to change their format to supposedly acommodate the future of radio the more people will crave what they are missing - a good talk show that includes good music. This "we play what we want to play" - what??? I play what I want to play on my I-Pod and I listen to you because of your funny DJ's! Thanks for making me open my eyes to other raido stations Clear Channel.

[Lisa]

I moved here from Boston almost 7 yrs ago and my husband got my listening to Jeff & Jer because I had missed my morning show from back home. I did love it and sometimes found them annoying but overall, really liked their show. When Jack took over, their show changed and went downhill fast. I got the chance to travel a few months ago, back to Boston, and really did some channel flipping. I didn't know how much I missed Boston radio! You're right, San Diego radio does suck. I have to say that I do love the Jack format. For years, I have been wondering when something like this would happen and I'm happy about it. I don't own an IPOD so I have Jack. Now that Jeff & Jer are going to 94.1, I hope their old personalities come back because it's just been horrible the last few months!

[Lynn]

I agree, "Jack" is not very good, but I didn't really like Star either. Does anyone know what happened to Jagger and Kristy? I listen to J&J now in the morning because J&K are gone. No other morning show is tolerable for the whole morning, and Jack has too many commercials in the morning.

[janet]

Ditto to most of what's been said. Jack sucks. Truly, ridiculously sucks. The thing is, Jack has been foisted on other unsuspecting towns across America, too. Case in point: in April while visiting my sister, who had this unfortunate and inexplicable desire to move to Indianapolis years back, we saw a billboard screaming - guess who? - JACK FM. Same format. Went on air about the same time as the San Diego station. Just as sucky there... but actually worse 'cause you have to listen to it in INDIANAPOLIS.

[Tricia]

I agree with all the comments about "Jack." I think the new format is TERRIBLE, the music is AWFUL, and they made a BIG MISTAKE letting go of Jen.
Greg and Jen took a while to grow on me, but I came to love their show-supposedely, Greg and Sara will be back (without Jen), but I won't listen because I think the station sucks. The did the big FUGITIVE promotion to attract people and then WHAM-pulled the station we enjoyed right out from new and old listeners alike-Jack sucks so I've switched to KSON who has the only DJ's I can enjoy on San Diego radio.
BAD MOVE KFMB and TRACY JOHNSON!!!!

[kathy]

I miss Gregg and Jen. Does anyone know where they have gone? Star 100.7 would have been a major success if they dumped music all together and gave G&J a platform similar to Howard Stern. Jack blows

[Yvonne]

I like the music, but I just can't listen to J&J any more. I've never liked Laura and Tommy has gotten annoying.

I like J&J, Rick and Randy, but it's just to hard to listen to the show.

[Heather]

I agree that JACK SUCKS!!! What can we do??? But, I do have to disagree about the DJ's! I loved Greg and Jen, they were hilarious and I always wanted to call and say I would rather listen to more Dj's and less music on that station, I can't tell you how many times I was a few minutes late to work or school because I had to hear the rest of the bit that was on. Those Djs rocked and I think Jack made a huge mistake. I don't really car for most of the music, but wn't even listen to the station now because of what they've done. Now, I'm forced to listen to the annoying voices of some other radio DJ's who just aren't even close to as funny! I MISS YOU GREG AND JEN and I'm glad they had enough sense to keep Jeff and Jer, but I still won't listen, I can't allow them to make money until they fix what they've ruined!

[Holly]

I just moved to Raleigh/Durham North Carolina from San Diego. Talk about crappy radio, It sucks here! I really miss my Reggie show Brunch with Bob and any good music station. Even NPR isn't so good.

[Kevin]

WOW!!! I feel as though this website has taken the words out of my mouth!!! I HATE JACK!!!! I have never felt this upset over a radio station and for the past few years Star was the radio station I always listened to. Though the music was not that great it was like you said the best i could find and now it is gone. If KFMB really want their radio station to go to the dumps they just made the first and only step necessary step!!!
(P.S. I did not think Greg and Jen were that bad and the 10 Second Sound Off ruled!!)

[Corwin]

I actually agree with you on point. They advertise that they play what they want, but what they play is old no. 1 adult contemp. hits that have been off the radio for years. That's not a 'new' approach to radio, that's unearthing old B100 playlists, and deleting the KYXY-type songs.

However, you need to check your facts before slamming something to maintain credibility. Star/Jack 100.7 is not a clear channel station, and never has been. It's why Jeff and Jer left Q106. They didn't like clear channel, and wanted out. KFMB (of which 100.7 is a part of) is owend by a company called Midwest Television.

Bottom line on Jack: It was interesting for about a weekend, but the novelty wears off quickly. As far as a format, it actually wouldn't be so bad as a wekend-only thing. I'd probably listen to something like Jack-FM on a boombox on La Jolla shores, but in may car/office/home? No, I need a traffic report or two at least.

[Jake]

Did they do any market research on this change? Their ads come out and say "Don't tell us what to play, we will choose it on our own." At least with an iPod I can skip to the next song when the shuffle plays one I don't care for... Way to go Clear Channel, "soon... we will all learn to be dull."

[TOM]

Jack is a perfect reason to start listing to "home made" CD's downloaded from ITunes! This station sucks, as does the people running it. I wish I could say that I want to swith to one of their competitors like 94.1 but they both make me sick. Jack, go Jack off!!!!

[MsOktober]

What I think they fail to understand is, the generation that was listening to them as Star 100.7 isn't interested in Rod Stewart and Def Leppard ~ they want what who they been listening to which was Maroon 5 and Switchfoot. Those people will leave Jack in the dust and find another radio station.

[Anne]

I AGREE!!!!! Jack sucks! Their missing the point, its more than just the music. Somehow Jeff and Jerr always fair well and come out on top. I've got news for jack, the morning show is not the best thing Star had going for it. I'm so mad, I can't believe they did this. Does anyone know where Jen, Anita and the rest of the former Star family have gone? I'll be DAMNED if I ever listen to jack. Anne

[Richard Marcej]

Gary, it's not just San Diego. About three weeks ago a "shuffle-like" station popped up here in Philadelphia. Ben FM. Weird shuffle of songs, no DJ's, "witty" one liners from the actor who portrayed Peterman on Seinfeld.

The only way to listen to good music while at home, in your car or jogging are to listen to your own tapes/CD's/iPod. Always has been, always will be.

[Shell]

Radio sucks pretty much everywhere, certainly here in Phoenix, and back home in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. There is too much "talk radio," which sucks because most of the people who do the talking are maroons. The so-called "alternative" stations play mostly shite, and the "classic" rock stations seem to have maybe a hundred or so records on their playlist, that they play over and over again, ad nauseam. How many times can you hear "Stairway to Heaven" before your head explodes ? I like to listen to NPR, mostly.