A home for those who love almost everything about The Ticket (1310 AM, 96.7 FM, Dallas-Fort Worth), and who would like to discuss -- respectfully and fondly -- their thoughts on how (and whether) to eliminate the "almost."
Monday, March 3, 2025
Think Twice, Post Once
REMINDER: I WILL DELETE "ANONYMOUS" COMMENTS AND THOSE I FIND GRATUITOUSLY VULGAR, INSULTING, INCOMPREHENSIBLE, OR JUST GENERALLY ANNOYING, IN MY SOLE AND UNREVIEWABLE DISCRETION.
Thank you. A serious crackdown is desperately needed. Fairly certain it’s roughly 4 individuals using countless handles who are responsible for 95% of the bullsh.
Where else am I going to go for someone spamming an ancient blogging platform to practice what they learned at their community college creative writing class by defending the ratings of the midday show on a sports radio station?
Just wanna make sure I got the new rules down: attempting to insult another’s intelligence by claiming they attended community college and as a result possess inadequate grammatical skills is not an ad hominem, and not one writ large. Check.
Say, Harry. They didn’t see it. Ever thought of purchasing their attention for $690? But you best do it soon, as that option won’t be around too much longer. That particular steel toed boot is about to drop.
So weird that some of you obsess over a two hour show. Two hours of a couple of decent guys who might not be the most riveting personalities. What’s weirder is that you’re unable to tolerate any positive comment or defense of these two milquetoast, harmless guys who take up not even two hours of your optional listening day. As a great man once said, “I guess I just don’t get it.”
The Dallas cluster is one of their money makers with the Ticket at the top of the list. Unless they consoladate the production, sales, and engineering departments all into one, probably not much on air wise. KLIF might be up for sale if anyone would take it.
I don’t have any evidence to back this up, but I’ve been told, by people who I think are in a place to know, that Cumulus Dallas accounts for a ridiculously huge portion of Cumulus’s’s’s’s revenue. Like there’s Dallas, San Fran, and a couple of other old Susquehanna stations that make most of the money, and then all the podunk stations Lew Dicky overpaid for. And most of those podunk stations either lose money, just break even, or contribute negligible amounts to the P part of P&L. One thing I am sure of, in 2024 The Ticket was the top local billing station, and overall Cumulus had 3 of the top 7 stations by billing. Ratings drive revenue, and TT is on a ratings hot streak probably not seen since the Chapman heyday of KVIL in the 80’s. The musers have a TWENTY share men 25-54, and a 13 share with adults 25-54. C
I'm sorry to have taken so long. It must have been a bitch while I was gone.You mind if I sit down for a while? You'll reacquaint yourself with my style.
That’s right, pinchers. I’m back.
Anyone up for a skate? This trade deadline has my extended the curve of my stick.
I think they have been doing a good job of holding down the fort. The can't pull off the 8:40 bit, at least not to Muser standards, but I don't think you can hold that against them. I don't think many people can pull of the 8:40 bit.
the 8:40 bit is the most confounding of all fill-in obligations at the station.
i'm never quite sure what the P1's expect from anyone other than Gordon to do in that segment. I always feel like character voices almost always disappoint - because who's going to live up to the standard - but then feel like you've let everyone down when you do something other than that and attempt something different.
it very much falls into the "you knew the job was dangerous when you took it" territory, but after however many times I've filled in I've never, I'm always at a loss of how best to approach it.
Peter, are you guys mandated to do the bit when filling in? If not, and if it were me, I’d create a new segment. It’s an impossible pair of shoes to fill. So why not go a different direction. But whatever you do, don’t go the fate of man route. Aka, the worst bit in radio history.
Peter, Thanks for the insight. I don't know that anyone can pull of the 8:40 bit as well as the Musers. Even other stations don't do the same style of segment as well. It is the best I've ever heard in my years of listening to DFW radio. The only that has ever come close was the old KZEW Morning show.
Se7en: "one of the worst" - maybe? I still think Mystery Box had potential, and Sirios was kind enough to let me do it (maybe, in retrospect, he was allowing me to hang myself, lol) and the problem - iirc - was that I tried to do it over a few days. But at that point I was running on the premise that the worse it got, the more people wanted to see how I was going to pay it off. And tbf to me, it is the ONE 8:40 bit (of mine) that gets referenced to this day - so in many ways - it was "one of the best". ;)
But this relates to GashGuy's question - the expectation is to do a "bit", but that person, along with whoever they're hosting with, are free to come up with whatever they think is entertaining to the P1. But, as w/ the Mystery Box, it's a no win situation - you're never going to match Gordo, trying to be Gordo can be very cringe and when you create your own thing, it's still not Gordon, so it'll probably flop.
THIS! Dude! Thanks for pointing this out. I’d never have known I was listening to crap and why! I’m DONE! Cat, either get Sirois in here to do WTDS AND quit, AND apologize for forcing Dan and Jake to throw away their careers or you’ve lost a listener!
EXACTLY! That’s ALL Corbobbles does anymore these days! Bugs the heck outta Dina and me!
Maybe if Danny would’ve been more of a team player. Maybe if Danny wouldn’t have quit his Saturday show because he preferred to get shit faced at a certain East Dallas establishment over work, his ceiling wouldn’t have been capped and he’d still be at The Ticket. Guess we’ll never know.
All the shade thrown at Sean and Mino is laughable. Sean barely speaks during WTDS. Mino, maybe a few words more. Let’s see, who runs it and talks the most? Oh shit! It’s the latest cause du jour for the tiny bit vocal crowd: Monty. And yet, here you are bitching and conveniently leaving out the stump in the middle of the room. Shocked I tells ya. Shocked. Btw, Monto is killing it, like he always does. But you 4 fucks out there (Sam, is that you?) are obsessed. Guess you really miss all those hysterical Hitler references of old. Hoo boy, now that was some funny shit. Or not.
For real. TDZ will soon undergo a seismic shift. Won’t be its demise. At not least for the few months or so following the shift. Eventually, yeah, I can’t see how it’s not the end. But for a while I can see it going on for the sake of in some weird sense trying to do the right thing.
Says who? You? You’re not the boss of anyone, little man. Gotta be at least 6’1 to ride the ride. Oopsie. Ouchie. You don’t pass muster. Oh to be the impatient progressive. NOW! NOW! NOW! But hold on. Aren’t we future tense oriented? Then why so focused on the present? Giggle.
Nothing changed. No change. Tremendously non change. Again, son, please try to do your own thang. Get creative. Oh. Stop. The. Presses. You DID get creative: "I'm 6'3" 250 btw." Giggle.
It's happening. Brefore the first leaf falls, it will be here. Steel yourself, wee one.
Avoid the personal attacks, questioning intelligence, accusations of unreasoned bias, name-calling, and just general jerky and snarky positions that would disappoint you if you saw your child saying it about another.
Here's one quick tip: Avoid calling a commenter "pal," "buddy," "chief," and other passive-aggressive terms.
The antithesis to TC, the thinnest of the thin skinned. Skin so thin, his ego forever exposed. Or Fahy: up for anything, as long as he came off as an edgy rule breaker.
You went to the dirty areas, EA . You are quickly becoming Ticket Pat Verbeek. Well done.
If anybody is bored on this, the Lord's day, and considers themselves expert researchers, I could use a hand:
In which segment did the Corby nacho pile-on occur? I know I didn't hear it live, so it's either on the app or its on theunticket.
This second one is much tougher. In a bygone e-brake, one for which George was absent, one of the voters began with a fake George Dunham impression. He made it perhaps two seconds before the Musers hung up on him without comment and moved on. I know this on is on theunticket. The tricky part is the year. I want to say 2012.
I've enjoyed WiP in the morning. Monto and DJ are solid. They aren't the musers but I think they are on their way to being capable full time host at some point. I'm really trying to keep an open mind about Ham. I find him best in small doses.
In other news I really wish that there was an ignore function on this platform. some of you are not serious people.
Live report from Mayer’s Garden. Been here since 11:30. Donnie and Matt were super nice. Sean and Mino are good dudes. Very friendly and approachable. Looking forward to meeting Bob, Corby, and GXD. The place is pretty cool. A bit expensive, but you’re basically in UpTown, so it’s not surprising. Plus, I’m starting to think this is where every hot chick in Dallas lives. Smoke Show City.
I would actually think that a straw poll on the two would bring back way closer numbers....and just as Monty once said to DJ when he confused Creed with Nickelback, "I don't know which one you offended more but you offended one of them just now".
EA definitely has a "bigger" personality than Sean. I don't know if that makes him better or not. I think it depends on if you like that personality. I thought EA did fine in his producer duties on the HL, from the small sample I listened to. I don't think EA has the breadth of knowledge or skill that Sean does. I think EA would be fine in a producer role, like Danny's former role, but I don't think he's anywhere near ready to be a host. Sean, however bland he might be, is at least competent and able to keep a show moving.
Apples to oranges comparison. Bass is more of the traditional host who can facilitate segments, and play the straight man. EA isn't strong on talking so can't do any of that well but he is entertaining so he would be a great yuck monkey on a show.
was this a Sirios' bros latest Creative Well production? https://defector.com/the-mavericks-dont-want-to-talk-about-their-creepy-ai-video-in-which-anthony-davis-points-a-gun-at-his-head
The Dumb Zone isn't going anywhere. There are no seismic shifts happening no or in the near or medium term future. They are doing just fine. No butts are being held.
Actually, their audience continues to shrink it peaked over a year ago and has been slowly leaking subs ever since. Unfortunately they very quickly hit their ceiling. That doesn’t portend well. Could they hang on in their current form for a while longer? Don’t know. But I highly doubt it’s sustainable for the long run..
I’m told Ticket has another good book. In the prime money demo (adults 25-54, M-F 6a-7p) they have a “multiple share” lead over their next closest competition KLNO. Told they win in 6+, kill the Fan in Men 25-54. Details coming from Peet I’m sure, but my one question for the group:
For those of you that lament the loss of Norm, THZ, Sirois, etc, does the continued success of the station give you any pause, any reason to reflect on your beliefs and realize that your taste/preference may not match up with the general public? C
That's difficult to answer because there's no data to support what didn't happen. Would Sirois and Donnie have been a better show than the current invasion? I don't know. I don't think you can draw a straight line between Sirois lack of the success at the Freak with what would have happened if he'd been part of the Ticket, that had a structure and show parameters in place. I think the Freak was such a mess, of thier own making, that I don't know what can be learned from it. I think any of the host would have had a better showing on the Ticket than on the Freak. Clearly Julie was out of her depth, I don't know that Danny and Sirois were. They weren't successful but I don't know if that lack of success translates to the Ticket.
I would argue that the most likely outcome with the expats on the station would be that just like the current shows they would be pulling in good ratings. Sirios never showed to have the sports knowledge that Matt or Davey can express but I don't know that isn't a skill that can't be developed. I think for the most part there's nothing that Davey does as the third voice on the Hardline that Sirois couldn't do within that structure.
Ratings have no effect on whether I like or dislike any particular content. I didn't listen to Norm's show for over 10 years because I didn't enjoy it at all. I listen less and less to The Musers because I find it less and less listenable. I haven't listened to an entire Invasion or Sweet Spot episode, ever, because the bits I have listened to are not good.
I think KDF is mostly right. We'll never know how Sirois and Danny would've fared if they would've been given host roles at TT. Of course, it has been said by none other than Cat himself that Sirois was going to have Matt's position when Norm retired. Sirois made his decision, and I get it 100%. Unfortunately for him, Norm left not too long after. Having said that, I think a bit of additional evidence is out there that might at least indicate how they would've done if they had stayed on at TT. And, yes, Julie was far too out of her depth. No amount of Ticket structure would've saved her. It would've taken years for her to get up to speed, if ever. Sorry if I sound harsh, but it's the truth.
Someone else pointed this out a thread or so ago: Danny and Davey had a Saturday show, The Orphanage. Danny ended the show. It was not a mutual decision between the two. It was a case of Danny saying, "sorry man, I just can't do it anymore." I can guarantee you that right there Danny forever lowered his ceiling, and thereby put any idea of being a host into an early grave. It wasn't until he and Sirois were moved into AM drive at TF, that he began to seem genuinely prepared and professional. Until then, he, Sirois, and Rhyner basically did nothing but read lists with feigned interest. So you have a guy who had one big opportunity to show management what he's got and yet chose to punt; and who had a once in a lifetime opportunity yet decided during those first crucial months/roughly a year and change also to punt -- until it was too late. Upshot is I don't think there was a future other than producer at TT, and if there was, I'm not sure he would've had the drive to do what it takes.
Sirois is in some way similar and in others different from Danny. First, at TT, he had a 2 hour shift. It's a lot easier to shine when you get to pick your spots, have limited exposure, and aren't required to be "on" for 4 hours a day-5 days a week-month after year. If even a quarter of the stories are somewhat true, Sirois often had a difficult time keeping his partying and his job separate. Obviously hungover and some not so well hidden still buzzing shifts were not uncommon. That seemed to carry on at TF until forced to get up at 4:30 am for the AM drive show. At that point, like Danny, he seemed to literally wake up. And right along with Danny it was too little too late. TT being the juggernaut it is, I don't know if any sort of epiphany takes place in Sirois if he would've gotten Norm's slot. That the Pauline moment would've been his firing. So as KDF said, we'll never know with either Danny or Sirois. But I believe their time at TT and TF give us an indication.
To C's question I say the ratings show the overwhelming listenership is loyal to the brand, not to individuals. No different from rooting for your home teams. You loathe player A from team B; player A is traded to your team; now player A is "one of us." It's the uniform and what it represents, not who wears it. There is obviously a vocal section of listeners or now semi or former listeners who are extremely loyal, even fanatical about certain personalities -- which is fine. Those folks will never reconsider their stance.
I thought for sure that people would understand the implied nuance of my post, since we’re on the internet, a place famous for understanding nuance. My point is, there’s a difference between “this sucks” and “I think this sucks”. I fully understand that people think the Ticket has sunk in quality. But I also understand that almost no one under 40 has little idea who Greggo is and have no experience listening to him and OGW together on radio. Does the current HL suck compared to Mike and Greg. Maybe, but GW has failed at every radio job he’s had since 2007. Same with Mike at his one other opportunity. If these people are so great why have they not been able to recreate that elsewhere. Chapman was successful on KVIL then Kluv. Kidd on Eagle, then Kiss. Even Bo Robert’s on Q102, now on KZPS. Rhyner was a bit player on the Zoo, Greggo a producer for Galloway, they had one successful run together and have done nothing of note since. So look at Corby. High ratings with Mike, even better ratings with Bob. People clearly like him or hate him enough to listen anyway. My point being I don’t pretend to understand the public’s taste: but I’m adult enough to realize there’s things I don’t like, but I acknowledge that other people may like it. C
Clearly the public enjoys Corby was more than I do. I accept that there are many popular things I don't like. The question of popularity does or does not equal good is a question that's been debated on this board for a long time. I can't argue with the success of the current shows, does that mean they are better than what came before?
You are of course correct in stating that there is a difference between "This sucks" and "I don't like it" but I wonder when one is speaking about entertainment if that is a distinction without a difference. If one doesn't like it, is the quality of the product or the degree to which other's like it relevant?
C, while most listeners who don't care for the midday changes are of the mind of KDF (reasoned and reasonable), there is an online faction that appears to be incapable of making such distinctions. For them, if they don't like it, it is objectively awful and anyone who feels different (or, equally if not more importantly, indifferent) is a moron at best. But it doesn't end there. Whatever it is they don't like must be destroyed, no matter the cost. So if the hated thing is a show, the hosts are dehumanized. Once dehumanized, you can pretty much think or say whatever you want without impunity, guilt-free. Sounds a bit dramatic. But it is what takes place. You can see it in the countless comments left by what appears to be the same 3-4 people. I see this as well vis-a-vis THZ and former Ticket/Freak employees. However, it seems rather evident that the former is mostly done by 1-2 individuals who are obviously trolling, while the latter on the whole offer a genuine analysis, regardless of whether you agree, disagree, or find it redundant and/or unnecessary at this point.
Cool beans, Peter. Another butt kicker of a book. Though it must be noted that all day parts skid a bit and that all FAN day parts inched up ever so slightly. Regardless, the gap between all Ticket and all FAN day parts remains a chasm. Once again there’s gonna be some hurt butts out there. Haters gonna hate, regardless of facts.
Wouldn't the ratings have 2 weeks of the Musers and 2 weeks of replacement shows? So if it got the same ratings as the Musers it would be partially because of the Musers. Funny to look at 28 consecutive months of #1 ratings and think the Musers might be in any way expendable.
Wait for the next? Follow Peet’s link, the ratings for December are there when the Musers were off for the whole ratings month. And the bunch of fill-in, spare, retread, no talent , not ready for prime time, (and all the other comments thrown out about them) gaggle of guys still managed to pull a 17 share and be 1st in the market. A 17 or a 20 share in this day and age of fragmented markets, I don’t think yall realize what we’re seeing. As bad as yall think some shows are, they still manage to pull historic numbers. Maybe as someone said before it’s a testament to their branding. If so kudos to Catlin, John Michaels (if he’s still there, haven’t heard him mentioned in a while, and he’s Rhyners age, may be retired) and Steve Pryor, they were the imaging guys way back when. The always seem to be rolling out fresh promos ,and you hear them and immediately understand what the station is(as opposed to the effed up freak where no one knew their format) . Branding is tough, I’d argue that the Ticket may be one of the best branded stations in the country C
C. C'mon, man. Why you gon go and ruint TN with a realist understanding of how the world works. All we're lookin' for is a 'sode, man. Just gimme a 'sode. Need dem 'sodes. Gotsta have them 'sodes. Jonesin' for me a 'sode.
Um, the December 2024 Book covered the period of Nov 7-Dec 4, when the Musers were very much still broadcasting. They were gone for the period of the Holiday Book, which covered Dec 5-Jan 8. That Book does not matter one iota. Which is why they (and most everyone else leave during that Book.
Sorry, that was a brain fart from me, Quick Look at Reddit for a data point instead of looking it up for myself. And in the holiday book the ticket had 6-10a -16.6 10-1, 10.5 1-3, 8.9 3-7, 10.1 Or all well in line with typical ratings for those dayparts. So yes, while the red-dit brigade hates everything and everybody, the vast VAST majority of listeners listen to the station, no matter who is on. C
If you’re the type of person to still be listening to commercial talk radio even with its 50/50 split of content and commercials when there are thousands consequently millions of podcasts available, then I think you are also the type of person to not be bothered to change the station no matter what they put on the air.
There are every bit as many ad spots on pods as terrestrial radio. Please know what you’re talking about before chiming in. Really poor attempt at refutation by analogy.
The Dumb Zone down to just over 4,000 paid members. I was wondering why they no longer talk about what they will do when they hit 10,000. I said it at the time, leaving the Ticket was a bad decision of epic proportions.
The Freak fallout & J's rehab stint a few months after sure seem to connect the conspiracy dots that a PM 97.1 show was the desired goal. Then another possible window appeared to open with that Mavs weekly show with Machine....well, up until, yeah.....
I guess for a niche local podcast, they are getting by. But if everyone involved jumped into the Trust Tree, I would assume this current state is very nerve-racking and not at all where they thought they would be.
No dog in the hunt, but it is true the sub numbers plateaued a while back and have been slowly falling off since. I’m sure the ad spots are helping. But it’s also true, contra Big Harry, that other than some dude in his bedroom, podcasts now have every bit as many ads as radio or tv. Yes, for a price many pods have higher tiers with no ads, but doesn’t that in many fundamental ways go against the pod ethos. I’m now seeing pods, a last Amazon Prime, that offer tiers with fewer ads and even higher priced tiers for no ads.
Didn’t say it clearly, my bad. Their total subs is a bit under-around-ish 6k. Down nearly 1k from a year ago. Frog in pot. I couldn’t care either way. I never wish failure on others unless they’re truly vile humans. None of the parties involved are. Was just stating what’s easily verifiable and what it looks like to me. Might be wrong. If so, fine.
At the time, the Freak was spraying money at former producers, ticker readers, board ops, and anyone who mentioned KTCK on a resume. It's no surprise The Boyz expected a soft landing in their new digs. It's not even a secret anymore, is it? Jake mentioned somewhere their preliminary "feelers" with Freak management, but by then the genie was back in the bottle and the new paisano PD was probably asking Ben & Skin every morning: 'Who are all these old dues again and why was this supposed to be so great??'
Yeah, Dan and Jake absolutely expected drive time. You don't walk away from that kind of money for middays and security beyond imagination for a podcast.
Several people who were part of TF origins, but were iHeart front office types, have departed and I have since heard several of their independent accounts (some directly, some second hand). They range from the origins, to the players involved and the plan, the dollars, the resulting outcome and aftermath.
The consistency across the versions of events is similiar and I'd most politely offer that the most common, long-tail theory shared in this space, aligns very well.
As will on the Sunday at the end of the war of that that is TDZ. Those industry tales will be told sometime in early ‘27. There will be a thread oft proffered here that will track like a tick bloodhound on a dead duck.
And that’s exactly why no matter how hard they pinch, the ACTUAL unfolding of events and how the events ACTUALLY came to be — both Freak and DumbZone wise — are finally brought to light. . . . Weeeeellll, certain workin’ class dawg heroes from the upper-upper middle class socioeconomic strata, supposed generational talents, “My Leaders,” and various and sundry Deprived Of Living Wages Employees Who Worked Part Time Hours With Full Benefits, Insurance, and EarnedThousands Of Dollars Per Year Via Remotes And Ad Spots And Sponsorships- including brand new vehicles to drive…. That’s when you’ll see who the real Pied Piper is. That’s when you’ll begin to understand why hasn’t ___ and ___ and ___ gotten back in the game. It’s a bad and ugly business my friends. Notice how once the court hub bub settled down — I.e., who ACTUALLY won — certain Champions were never asked back on the local media scene. Coincidink? Not on your life. They know. By Feb !27, so too will you. Been saying it since Aug ‘23 td TDZ. TF….. before it launched: BTW. Very few at TT are any different as far as being self servings under the guise of being your radio buddy. Only difference is they were and are smart enough to read both the room and tea leaves. Plus, a few of them are genuinely talented.
In the vein of things that are popular but I don't get is the April Fools Open. They must get good ratings for it to continue doing it, so I must be in the minority. I just don't get how listening to people play golf badly is amusing or entertaining. I don't golf so that might be the reason I don't get it but it seems like nothing more than an opportunity for the host that do golf to make fun of those who don't. It just seems like terrible radio to me.
What a bunch of meanies! Good thing we have you around to scold them, nay, shame them into better behavior. You, sir, are the standard bearer.!You, sir, instantiate what truly is the moral imagination!
It's because he approves of most of it. It amuses him. Does me too. Tell me, J, how often do you get a haircut? My hair has that curly/wavy Italian-American thing going on. Drives me nuts. When I was a young man, I desperately wanted a hair style like Omar Sharif's. But I always ended up looking like Frankie Valli's short bus cousin. I bet if I had hair like Mr. Sharif's, I'd gotten a lot more tail. We Italian-Americans love pussy. Banging it. Eating it. You name it. I also wish Jerry would've given me even half the years as he gave you to drive the thing into a mediocre oblivion. Do you think I could get a tv gig like you have? Would you mind putting in a good word for me?
Totally. You can TOTALLY tell he can’t stand ANY of them. TOTALLY clowning them. If he wasn’t getting paid….. Oh, wait, he’s not. Still. You KNOW he hates them! Good shit, my dude. Keep ‘em honest!
Isn't it clear to everyone that The Ticket is paving the way for Jake and Dan to come back into the fold in the next few years? They have been continuously bringing up Dan stories in a positive nostalgic light. Can't believe others can't see this. The show will come over to the Ticket and be branded The DumbZone. D & J will save face because they will be allowed to do some side pod stuff like livestreaming games under that moniker.
Due to circumstances beyond my control I heard pretty much a full day of broadcasting on the Fan. It made me wonder if there is any show on the Fan that you would bring over to the Ticket to replace a show? Even as unmoved by TSS or my dislke of Coby's radio persona there is nothing on the Fan that I would want on the Ticket.
It’s never not been that way. What’s more, as blah as The FAN is, it’s still better than most traditional sports talkers throughout the country. Reason being is that it competes directly with The Ticket and therefore tries to emulate it on a certain level.
One more ticker an hour, more calls, sayonara to the 8:40 bit, now 8:40 will be political talk
They really should have trolled their critics with more lazy changes: even more tickers, caller segments every hour, more replays from the previous show, Ticket audio vault every day, Junior will miss the last hour to watch his kid
A genuine question for this same person who cannot stop criticizing: What do you hope to gain from your almost daily comments? Does it feel good? I’m not getting it. Once or twice, sure. When something major or a particularly stupid/offensive/whatever occurs, understood. But your continued (and it must be said mostly poor and at times nonsensical) quips, nitpicking, and “inventions” are as silly as they are ineffective. It seems very personal for you. I will grant that you are consistent. But that’s not really a compliment.
Thank you. A serious crackdown is desperately needed. Fairly certain it’s roughly 4 individuals using countless handles who are responsible for 95% of the bullsh.
ReplyDeleteYou wanna say that to my face?
DeletePerhaps if you spent some time actually commenting on the state of the Ticket and leading discussion then some of this snark will go away?
ReplyDeleteFor real, do you listen to The Ticket anymore? Or any Ticket-adjacent or Ticket-competing content? The blog would benefit from it.
For at least 6 months it’s simply been, “Here’s a new post. Have at it.”
You like to tell people what to do and how to do it, yes? Glad I don’t have to deal with you IRL.
DeleteThanks pal, buddy and my chief
ReplyDeleteWoos hoos
ReplyDeleteTrying to get through this Sweet Spot appearance on The Musers. Couldn't make it more than 2 minutes. Yeesh.
ReplyDeleteWhere else am I going to go for someone spamming an ancient blogging platform to practice what they learned at their community college creative writing class by defending the ratings of the midday show on a sports radio station?
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DeleteJust wanna make sure I got the new rules down: attempting to insult another’s intelligence by claiming they attended community college and as a result possess inadequate grammatical skills is not an ad hominem, and not one writ large. Check.
DeleteSay, Harry. They didn’t see it. Ever thought of purchasing their attention for $690? But you best do it soon, as that option won’t be around too much longer. That particular steel toed boot is about to drop.
ReplyDeletePRIMO red. Nice work there, Pman.
ReplyDeleteSo weird that some of you obsess over a two hour show. Two hours of a couple of decent guys who might not be the most riveting personalities. What’s weirder is that you’re unable to tolerate any positive comment or defense of these two milquetoast, harmless guys who take up not even two hours of your optional listening day. As a great man once said, “I guess I just don’t get it.”
ReplyDeleteCMLS in another death spiral. I wonder how that will affect things at The Ticket
ReplyDeleteThe Dallas cluster is one of their money makers with the Ticket at the top of the list. Unless they consoladate the production, sales, and engineering departments all into one, probably not much on air wise. KLIF might be up for sale if anyone would take it.
DeleteDo have a URL with that info? Would be interested in reading it.
DeleteI don’t have any evidence to back this up, but I’ve been told, by people who I think are in a place to know, that Cumulus Dallas accounts for a ridiculously huge portion of Cumulus’s’s’s’s revenue. Like there’s Dallas, San Fran, and a couple of other old Susquehanna stations that make most of the money, and then all the podunk stations Lew Dicky overpaid for. And most of those podunk stations either lose money, just break even, or contribute negligible amounts to the P part of P&L.
ReplyDeleteOne thing I am sure of, in 2024 The Ticket was the top local billing station, and overall Cumulus had 3 of the top 7 stations by billing. Ratings drive revenue, and TT is on a ratings hot streak probably not seen since the Chapman heyday of KVIL in the 80’s. The musers have a TWENTY share men 25-54, and a 13 share with adults 25-54.
C
Sshhh. Don’t let The Hive hear of this. They might implode en masse. Specially now, as IT has begun its official wind down.
DeleteAre you talking about The Dumb Zone? Could you explain what you mean by "IT has begun its official wind down." I don't follow.
DeleteAkin to YouTube, here too one must speak in code, lest a certain set will melt like a particular witch from a 1939 film Liza’s mom.
DeleteGo away, dude.
DeleteI'm sorry to have taken so long.
ReplyDeleteIt must have been a bitch while I was gone.You mind if I sit down for a while?
You'll reacquaint yourself with my style.
That’s right, pinchers. I’m back.
Anyone up for a skate? This trade deadline has my extended the curve of my stick.
Talk soon
Go Dave.
ReplyDeleteAre you sighted?
DeleteGreat opportunity for Detty and Baldy to shine with The Musers off 2 weeks for Spring Break Vacation
ReplyDeleteUnlike The Gamblers, these guys do see it. What’s more, and unlike The Gamblers, they care.
DeleteI think they have been doing a good job of holding down the fort. The can't pull off the 8:40 bit, at least not to Muser standards, but I don't think you can hold that against them. I don't think many people can pull of the 8:40 bit.
Deletethe 8:40 bit is the most confounding of all fill-in obligations at the station.
Deletei'm never quite sure what the P1's expect from anyone other than Gordon to do in that segment. I always feel like character voices almost always disappoint - because who's going to live up to the standard - but then feel like you've let everyone down when you do something other than that and attempt something different.
it very much falls into the "you knew the job was dangerous when you took it" territory, but after however many times I've filled in I've never, I'm always at a loss of how best to approach it.
The box bit was one of the worst
DeleteGood stuff, Se7en. You’re a true original. Name reflects that.
DeletePeter, are you guys mandated to do the bit when filling in? If not, and if it were me, I’d create a new segment. It’s an impossible pair of shoes to fill. So why not go a different direction. But whatever you do, don’t go the fate of man route. Aka, the worst bit in radio history.
DeletePeter,
DeleteThanks for the insight. I don't know that anyone can pull of the 8:40 bit as well as the Musers. Even other stations don't do the same style of segment as well. It is the best I've ever heard in my years of listening to DFW radio. The only that has ever come close was the old KZEW Morning show.
Methinks the am fill in boys are more than holding their own.
DeleteSe7en: "one of the worst" - maybe? I still think Mystery Box had potential, and Sirios was kind enough to let me do it (maybe, in retrospect, he was allowing me to hang myself, lol) and the problem - iirc - was that I tried to do it over a few days. But at that point I was running on the premise that the worse it got, the more people wanted to see how I was going to pay it off. And tbf to me, it is the ONE 8:40 bit (of mine) that gets referenced to this day - so in many ways - it was "one of the best". ;)
DeleteBut this relates to GashGuy's question - the expectation is to do a "bit", but that person, along with whoever they're hosting with, are free to come up with whatever they think is entertaining to the P1. But, as w/ the Mystery Box, it's a no win situation - you're never going to match Gordo, trying to be Gordo can be very cringe and when you create your own thing, it's still not Gordon, so it'll probably flop.
I was thinking you might do something totally different, and not comedic in any way.
DeleteDonnie-do feature story
ReplyDeletehttps://barrettmedia.com/2025/03/10/donovan-lewis-earned-dream-job-following-lessons-from-legends/
Good on Donnie. Glad he’s getting his well earned props.
DeleteWTDS has become unlistenable. & its pretty evident why.
ReplyDeleteTHIS! Dude! Thanks for pointing this out. I’d never have known I was listening to crap and why! I’m DONE! Cat, either get Sirois in here to do WTDS AND quit, AND apologize for forcing Dan and Jake to throw away their careers or you’ve lost a listener!
DeleteIt is bad. Danny used to sit out WTDS. He didn't like it. Perhaps they can convince Sean Bass to do the same. It is just not his thing.
DeleteSeems like WTDS has just become a platform for Corby to feign outrage over some past social injustice.
DeleteEXACTLY! That’s ALL Corbobbles does anymore these days! Bugs the heck outta Dina and me!
DeleteMaybe if Danny would’ve been more of a team player. Maybe if Danny wouldn’t have quit his Saturday show because he preferred to get shit faced at a certain East Dallas establishment over work, his ceiling wouldn’t have been capped and he’d still be at The Ticket. Guess we’ll never know.
All the shade thrown at Sean and Mino is laughable. Sean barely speaks during WTDS. Mino, maybe a few words more. Let’s see, who runs it and talks the most? Oh shit! It’s the latest cause du jour for the tiny bit vocal crowd: Monty. And yet, here you are bitching and conveniently leaving out the stump in the middle of the room. Shocked I tells ya. Shocked. Btw, Monto is killing it, like he always does. But you 4 fucks out there (Sam, is that you?) are obsessed. Guess you really miss all those hysterical Hitler references of old. Hoo boy, now that was some funny shit. Or not.
DeleteYou have 4 months to steel yourself.
ReplyDeleteIs this regarding The Ticket, or some other obscure product?
DeleteAdjacent.
DeleteThe obvious conjecture is that someone is leaving a podcast for the Fan shortly before training camp.
DeleteSomeone either put their thinking cap on or is inner-circle adjacent. Well done.
DeleteFor real. TDZ will soon undergo a seismic shift. Won’t be its demise. At not least for the few months or so following the shift. Eventually, yeah, I can’t see how it’s not the end. But for a while I can see it going on for the sake of in some weird sense trying to do the right thing.
DeleteSays who? You? You’re not the boss of anyone, little man. Gotta be at least 6’1 to ride the ride. Oopsie. Ouchie. You don’t pass muster. Oh to be the impatient progressive. NOW! NOW! NOW! But hold on. Aren’t we future tense oriented? Then why so focused on the present? Giggle.
DeleteI hear your side, it just keeps changing every few seconds.
DeleteYou're like a ride at Disney World!
I'm 6'3" 250 btw.
Nothing changed. No change. Tremendously non change. Again, son, please try to do your own thang. Get creative. Oh. Stop. The. Presses. You DID get creative: "I'm 6'3" 250 btw." Giggle.
DeleteIt's happening. Brefore the first leaf falls, it will be here. Steel yourself, wee one.
But:
DeleteAvoid the personal attacks, questioning intelligence, accusations of unreasoned bias, name-calling, and just general jerky and snarky positions that would disappoint you if you saw your child saying it about another.
Here's one quick tip: Avoid calling a commenter "pal," "buddy," "chief," and other passive-aggressive terms.
Thanks for the reminder, sport.
DeleteA ride at Disney World keeps changing? Um, OK.
DeleteFor EA - if you happen to lurk around this page:
ReplyDeleteGood Stuff, way to commit to the bit for some fun at your own expense. Unlike some of the other Ticket cohorts who take themselves way too seriously.
The antithesis to TC, the thinnest of the thin skinned. Skin so thin, his ego forever exposed. Or Fahy: up for anything, as long as he came off as an edgy rule breaker.
DeleteYou went to the dirty areas, EA . You are quickly becoming Ticket Pat Verbeek. Well done.
If anybody is bored on this, the Lord's day, and considers themselves expert researchers, I could use a hand:
ReplyDeleteIn which segment did the Corby nacho pile-on occur? I know I didn't hear it live, so it's either on the app or its on theunticket.
This second one is much tougher. In a bygone e-brake, one for which George was absent, one of the voters began with a fake George Dunham impression. He made it perhaps two seconds before the Musers hung up on him without comment and moved on. I know this on is on theunticket. The tricky part is the year. I want to say 2012.
Thanks!
Oddly specific. Wish I had some answers. But good luck to you and your bottom.
DeleteWinning.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteI've enjoyed WiP in the morning. Monto and DJ are solid. They aren't the musers but I think they are on their way to being capable full time host at some point. I'm really trying to keep an open mind about Ham. I find him best in small doses.
ReplyDeleteIn other news I really wish that there was an ignore function on this platform. some of you are not serious people.
The Corby Nacho Pile-on is at the end of the Ticketstock roundtable with Sam Gannon.
ReplyDeleteWith Sam’s Gannons in the mix, it truly is a sweet spot. Hubba Bubba.
ReplyDeleteWow, Detty is a complete energy vampire.
ReplyDeleteSo.....
Really? I think Detty consistently brings the juice.
DeleteLive report from Mayer’s Garden. Been here since 11:30. Donnie and Matt were super nice. Sean and Mino are good dudes. Very friendly and approachable. Looking forward to meeting Bob, Corby, and GXD. The place is pretty cool. A bit expensive, but you’re basically in UpTown, so it’s not surprising. Plus, I’m starting to think this is where every hot chick in Dallas lives. Smoke Show City.
ReplyDeleteSounds delish. Be there in 15. Save some for me.
ReplyDeleteUpdate. Corby is chunkier than I imagined. Bob’s a bad ass. OK, not gonna lie, a bit tipsy now.
ReplyDeleteHope your not driving.
Delete*you’re *
DeleteHuh.
ReplyDeleteYeah.
Wow.
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
DeleteWhat is even going on here? Who is referring to who? What’s the context? Who is this person supposed to be?
DeleteThese are the questions everyone is asking and will continue to be asking more and more and more in the days, weeks, months, and years ahead.
Deletesomeone on reddit has this hso
ReplyDeleteEA > Sean Bass
food for thought
Lets go to the phones, light'm up 888-
DeleteI would actually think that a straw poll on the two would bring back way closer numbers....and just as Monty once said to DJ when he confused Creed with Nickelback, "I don't know which one you offended more but you offended one of them just now".
EA definitely has a "bigger" personality than Sean. I don't know if that makes him better or not. I think it depends on if you like that personality. I thought EA did fine in his producer duties on the HL, from the small sample I listened to. I don't think EA has the breadth of knowledge or skill that Sean does. I think EA would be fine in a producer role, like Danny's former role, but I don't think he's anywhere near ready to be a host. Sean, however bland he might be, is at least competent and able to keep a show moving.
DeleteApples to oranges comparison. Bass is more of the traditional host who can facilitate segments, and play the straight man. EA isn't strong on talking so can't do any of that well but he is entertaining so he would be a great yuck monkey on a show.
DeleteEA sucks. He has a giant bag of nothing.
DeletePlainsman thank you for muting the “they don’t listen” person.
ReplyDeleteI retract that Plainsman. Having a bad day. Sorry. I do better. Then I drive Lyft.
DeleteFirgot to say that person is correct. They don’t read this. Apologies again. Had the mantra wrong in that regrettable initial comment.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeletewas this a Sirios' bros latest Creative Well production? https://defector.com/the-mavericks-dont-want-to-talk-about-their-creepy-ai-video-in-which-anthony-davis-points-a-gun-at-his-head
ReplyDeleteThe Dumb Zone isn't going anywhere. There are no seismic shifts happening no or in the near or medium term future. They are doing just fine. No butts are being held.
ReplyDeleteNo one cares. But thanks for the PSA.
DeleteActually, their audience continues to shrink it peaked over a year ago and has been slowly leaking subs ever since. Unfortunately they very quickly hit their ceiling. That doesn’t portend well. Could they hang on in their current form for a while longer? Don’t know. But I highly doubt it’s sustainable for the long run..
DeleteIf you think a return to radio isn’t in play, you haven’t been paying attention.
DeleteIf you think a return to radio is in play, you haven't been paying attention.
DeleteIf you think a return to radio isn't in play when it is in play, you haven't been paying attention.
DeleteI’m told Ticket has another good book. In the prime money demo (adults 25-54, M-F 6a-7p) they have a “multiple share” lead over their next closest competition KLNO. Told they win in 6+, kill the Fan in Men 25-54.
ReplyDeleteDetails coming from Peet I’m sure, but my one question for the group:
For those of you that lament the loss of Norm, THZ, Sirois, etc, does the continued success of the station give you any pause, any reason to reflect on your beliefs and realize that your taste/preference may not match up with the general public?
C
That's difficult to answer because there's no data to support what didn't happen. Would Sirois and Donnie have been a better show than the current invasion? I don't know. I don't think you can draw a straight line between Sirois lack of the success at the Freak with what would have happened if he'd been part of the Ticket, that had a structure and show parameters in place. I think the Freak was such a mess, of thier own making, that I don't know what can be learned from it. I think any of the host would have had a better showing on the Ticket than on the Freak. Clearly Julie was out of her depth, I don't know that Danny and Sirois were. They weren't successful but I don't know if that lack of success translates to the Ticket.
DeleteI would argue that the most likely outcome with the expats on the station would be that just like the current shows they would be pulling in good ratings. Sirios never showed to have the sports knowledge that Matt or Davey can express but I don't know that isn't a skill that can't be developed. I think for the most part there's nothing that Davey does as the third voice on the Hardline that Sirois couldn't do within that structure.
Ratings have no effect on whether I like or dislike any particular content. I didn't listen to Norm's show for over 10 years because I didn't enjoy it at all. I listen less and less to The Musers because I find it less and less listenable. I haven't listened to an entire Invasion or Sweet Spot episode, ever, because the bits I have listened to are not good.
DeleteI like this art. That art is bad. So there.
DeleteI think KDF is mostly right. We'll never know how Sirois and Danny would've fared if they would've been given host roles at TT. Of course, it has been said by none other than Cat himself that Sirois was going to have Matt's position when Norm retired. Sirois made his decision, and I get it 100%. Unfortunately for him, Norm left not too long after. Having said that, I think a bit of additional evidence is out there that might at least indicate how they would've done if they had stayed on at TT. And, yes, Julie was far too out of her depth. No amount of Ticket structure would've saved her. It would've taken years for her to get up to speed, if ever. Sorry if I sound harsh, but it's the truth.
DeleteSomeone else pointed this out a thread or so ago: Danny and Davey had a Saturday show, The Orphanage. Danny ended the show. It was not a mutual decision between the two. It was a case of Danny saying, "sorry man, I just can't do it anymore." I can guarantee you that right there Danny forever lowered his ceiling, and thereby put any idea of being a host into an early grave. It wasn't until he and Sirois were moved into AM drive at TF, that he began to seem genuinely prepared and professional. Until then, he, Sirois, and Rhyner basically did nothing but read lists with feigned interest. So you have a guy who had one big opportunity to show management what he's got and yet chose to punt; and who had a once in a lifetime opportunity yet decided during those first crucial months/roughly a year and change also to punt -- until it was too late. Upshot is I don't think there was a future other than producer at TT, and if there was, I'm not sure he would've had the drive to do what it takes.
Sirois is in some way similar and in others different from Danny. First, at TT, he had a 2 hour shift. It's a lot easier to shine when you get to pick your spots, have limited exposure, and aren't required to be "on" for 4 hours a day-5 days a week-month after year. If even a quarter of the stories are somewhat true, Sirois often had a difficult time keeping his partying and his job separate. Obviously hungover and some not so well hidden still buzzing shifts were not uncommon. That seemed to carry on at TF until forced to get up at 4:30 am for the AM drive show. At that point, like Danny, he seemed to literally wake up. And right along with Danny it was too little too late. TT being the juggernaut it is, I don't know if any sort of epiphany takes place in Sirois if he would've gotten Norm's slot. That the Pauline moment would've been his firing. So as KDF said, we'll never know with either Danny or Sirois. But I believe their time at TT and TF give us an indication.
To C's question I say the ratings show the overwhelming listenership is loyal to the brand, not to individuals. No different from rooting for your home teams. You loathe player A from team B; player A is traded to your team; now player A is "one of us." It's the uniform and what it represents, not who wears it. There is obviously a vocal section of listeners or now semi or former listeners who are extremely loyal, even fanatical about certain personalities -- which is fine. Those folks will never reconsider their stance.
Forgot to add that when Sirois had to be "on" for 3+ hours, 5 days per week, month after year, he didn't have much on offer.
DeleteWho is lamenting the loss of Norm? 😂
ReplyDeleteOlds. I’m digging Donnie and Matt.
DeleteEaon gets a star for "Pauline moment."
ReplyDeleteI thought for sure that people would understand the implied nuance of my post, since we’re on the internet, a place famous for understanding nuance.
ReplyDeleteMy point is, there’s a difference between “this sucks” and “I think this sucks”. I fully understand that people think the Ticket has sunk in quality. But I also understand that almost no one under 40 has little idea who Greggo is and have no experience listening to him and OGW together on radio. Does the current HL suck compared to Mike and Greg. Maybe, but GW has failed at every radio job he’s had since 2007. Same with Mike at his one other opportunity. If these people are so great why have they not been able to recreate that elsewhere. Chapman was successful on KVIL then Kluv. Kidd on Eagle, then Kiss. Even Bo Robert’s on Q102, now on KZPS. Rhyner was a bit player on the Zoo, Greggo a producer for Galloway, they had one successful run together and have done nothing of note since.
So look at Corby. High ratings with Mike, even better ratings with Bob. People clearly like him or hate him enough to listen anyway.
My point being I don’t pretend to understand the public’s taste: but I’m adult enough to realize there’s things I don’t like, but I acknowledge that other people may like it.
C
Clearly the public enjoys Corby was more than I do. I accept that there are many popular things I don't like. The question of popularity does or does not equal good is a question that's been debated on this board for a long time. I can't argue with the success of the current shows, does that mean they are better than what came before?
DeleteYou are of course correct in stating that there is a difference between "This sucks" and "I don't like it" but I wonder when one is speaking about entertainment if that is a distinction without a difference. If one doesn't like it, is the quality of the product or the degree to which other's like it relevant?
C, while most listeners who don't care for the midday changes are of the mind of KDF (reasoned and reasonable), there is an online faction that appears to be incapable of making such distinctions. For them, if they don't like it, it is objectively awful and anyone who feels different (or, equally if not more importantly, indifferent) is a moron at best. But it doesn't end there. Whatever it is they don't like must be destroyed, no matter the cost. So if the hated thing is a show, the hosts are dehumanized. Once dehumanized, you can pretty much think or say whatever you want without impunity, guilt-free. Sounds a bit dramatic. But it is what takes place. You can see it in the countless comments left by what appears to be the same 3-4 people. I see this as well vis-a-vis THZ and former Ticket/Freak employees. However, it seems rather evident that the former is mostly done by 1-2 individuals who are obviously trolling, while the latter on the whole offer a genuine analysis, regardless of whether you agree, disagree, or find it redundant and/or unnecessary at this point.
DeleteHere's the ratings post: https://www.reddit.com/r/theticket/comments/1jjpsr5/february_2025_ratings_update
ReplyDeleteCool beans, Peter. Another butt kicker of a book. Though it must be noted that all day parts skid a bit and that all FAN day parts inched up ever so slightly. Regardless, the gap between all Ticket and all FAN day parts remains a chasm. Once again there’s gonna be some hurt butts out there. Haters gonna hate, regardless of facts.
DeleteUnless the Rangers get off to a red hot start I don't see the gap closing anytime soon.
DeleteCan't wait for the next book where the musers replacement shows get the same ratings as the musers, thus proving the musers are expendable
ReplyDeleteBack to the drawing board, son. It fell flat. What say we work on our originality?
Delete#TheyDon'tSeeAnyOfIt #TheyDon'tCare #YouLost #TimeToMoveOn #NewCareerPath #ManInTheMirror #LittleHandsLittleFeet #MicroPeenBlues
Wouldn't the ratings have 2 weeks of the Musers and 2 weeks of replacement shows? So if it got the same ratings as the Musers it would be partially because of the Musers. Funny to look at 28 consecutive months of #1 ratings and think the Musers might be in any way expendable.
DeleteSsshhh. You’re gun dun ruint The Narrative.
DeleteRatings are broken down week by week. I trust Peter will post that breakdown if asked nicely.
DeleteWait for the next? Follow Peet’s link, the ratings for December are there when the Musers were off for the whole ratings month. And the bunch of fill-in, spare, retread, no talent , not ready for prime time, (and all the other comments thrown out about them) gaggle of guys still managed to pull a 17 share and be 1st in the market.
ReplyDeleteA 17 or a 20 share in this day and age of fragmented markets, I don’t think yall realize what we’re seeing. As bad as yall think some shows are, they still manage to pull historic numbers.
Maybe as someone said before it’s a testament to their branding. If so kudos to Catlin, John Michaels (if he’s still there, haven’t heard him mentioned in a while, and he’s Rhyners age, may be retired) and Steve Pryor, they were the imaging guys way back when. The always seem to be rolling out fresh promos ,and you hear them and immediately understand what the station is(as opposed to the effed up freak where no one knew their format) . Branding is tough, I’d argue that the Ticket may be one of the best branded stations in the country
C
C. C'mon, man. Why you gon go and ruint TN with a realist understanding of how the world works. All we're lookin' for is a 'sode, man. Just gimme a 'sode. Need dem 'sodes. Gotsta have them 'sodes. Jonesin' for me a 'sode.
DeleteUm, the December 2024 Book covered the period of Nov 7-Dec 4, when the Musers were very much still broadcasting. They were gone for the period of the Holiday Book, which covered Dec 5-Jan 8. That Book does not matter one iota. Which is why they (and most everyone else leave during that Book.
Delete“Um.” Yeah buddy. Ticket, but specially The Musers, are on the down slide.
DeleteSam?
Sorry, that was a brain fart from me, Quick Look at Reddit for a data point instead of looking it up for myself.
DeleteAnd in the holiday book the ticket had
6-10a -16.6
10-1, 10.5
1-3, 8.9
3-7, 10.1
Or all well in line with typical ratings for those dayparts. So yes, while the red-dit brigade hates everything and everybody, the vast VAST majority of listeners listen to the station, no matter who is on.
C
"the vast VAST majority of listeners listen to the station, no matter who is on"
DeleteExactly. Musers are expendable.
When The Musers do retire, I think you’ll find this assertion woefully (for the station) incorrect. We’ll see in a few years.
DeleteIf you should ever leave me. Well, life will still go on, believe me. The world could show nothing to me. So what good would living do me?
ReplyDeleteI get around.
I’m a real cool head.
If you’re the type of person to still be listening to commercial talk radio even with its 50/50 split of content and commercials when there are thousands consequently millions of podcasts available, then I think you are also the type of person to not be bothered to change the station no matter what they put on the air.
ReplyDeleteThere are every bit as many ad spots on pods as terrestrial radio. Please know what you’re talking about before chiming in. Really poor attempt at refutation by analogy.
DeleteThe Dumb Zone down to just over 4,000 paid members. I was wondering why they no longer talk about what they will do when they hit 10,000. I said it at the time, leaving the Ticket was a bad decision of epic proportions.
ReplyDeleteThat is the Substack numbers. Slow frog in pot thing happening.
DeleteThe Freak fallout & J's rehab stint a few months after sure seem to connect the conspiracy dots that a PM 97.1 show was the desired goal.
DeleteThen another possible window appeared to open with that Mavs weekly show with Machine....well, up until, yeah.....
I guess for a niche local podcast, they are getting by. But if everyone involved jumped into the Trust Tree, I would assume this current state is very nerve-racking and not at all where they thought they would be.
No dog in the hunt, but it is true the sub numbers plateaued a while back and have been slowly falling off since. I’m sure the ad spots are helping. But it’s also true, contra Big Harry, that other than some dude in his bedroom, podcasts now have every bit as many ads as radio or tv. Yes, for a price many pods have higher tiers with no ads, but doesn’t that in many fundamental ways go against the pod ethos. I’m now seeing pods, a last Amazon Prime, that offer tiers with fewer ads and even higher priced tiers for no ads.
Delete*a la Amazon *
DeleteWell if that's the substack number Rico then they have over 8000 paid subscribers, because they also have over 4000 Patreon subscribers.
DeleteBut they don't because the Patreon number is 4083 and the Substack number is over 1000
Didn’t say it clearly, my bad. Their total subs is a bit under-around-ish 6k. Down nearly 1k from a year ago. Frog in pot. I couldn’t care either way. I never wish failure on others unless they’re truly vile humans. None of the parties involved are. Was just stating what’s easily verifiable and what it looks like to me. Might be wrong. If so, fine.
DeleteAt the time, the Freak was spraying money at former producers, ticker readers, board ops, and anyone who mentioned KTCK on a resume. It's no surprise The Boyz expected a soft landing in their new digs. It's not even a secret anymore, is it? Jake mentioned somewhere their preliminary "feelers" with Freak management, but by then the genie was back in the bottle and the new paisano PD was probably asking Ben & Skin every morning: 'Who are all these old dues again and why was this supposed to be so great??'
ReplyDeleteYeah, Dan and Jake absolutely expected drive time. You don't walk away from that kind of money for middays and security beyond imagination for a podcast.
It is a very small business.
ReplyDeleteSeveral people who were part of TF origins, but were iHeart front office types, have departed and I have since heard several of their independent accounts (some directly, some second hand). They range from the origins, to the players involved and the plan, the dollars, the resulting outcome and aftermath.
The consistency across the versions of events is similiar and I'd most politely offer that the most common, long-tail theory shared in this space, aligns very well.
As will on the Sunday at the end of the war of that that is TDZ. Those industry tales will be told sometime in early ‘27. There will be a thread oft proffered here that will track like a tick bloodhound on a dead duck.
DeleteAnd that’s exactly why no matter how hard they pinch, the ACTUAL unfolding of events and how the events ACTUALLY came to be — both Freak and DumbZone wise — are finally brought to light. . . . Weeeeellll, certain workin’ class dawg heroes from the upper-upper middle class socioeconomic strata, supposed generational talents, “My Leaders,” and various and sundry Deprived Of Living Wages Employees Who Worked Part Time Hours With Full Benefits, Insurance, and EarnedThousands Of Dollars Per Year Via Remotes And Ad Spots And Sponsorships- including brand new vehicles to drive…. That’s when you’ll see who the real Pied Piper is. That’s when you’ll begin to understand why hasn’t ___ and ___ and ___ gotten back in the game. It’s a bad and ugly business my friends. Notice how once the court hub bub settled down — I.e., who ACTUALLY won — certain Champions were never asked back on the local media scene. Coincidink? Not on your life. They know. By Feb !27, so too will you. Been saying it since Aug ‘23 td TDZ. TF….. before it launched: BTW. Very few at TT are any different as far as being self servings under the guise of being your radio buddy. Only difference is they were and are smart enough to read both the room and tea leaves. Plus, a few of them are genuinely talented.
DeleteJesus dude. Even a random word generator can produce more logical strings of thoughts than your rambling incoherent steam of unconsciousness
DeleteIn the vein of things that are popular but I don't get is the April Fools Open. They must get good ratings for it to continue doing it, so I must be in the minority. I just don't get how listening to people play golf badly is amusing or entertaining. I don't golf so that might be the reason I don't get it but it seems like nothing more than an opportunity for the host that do golf to make fun of those who don't. It just seems like terrible radio to me.
ReplyDeleteWhat a bunch of meanies! Good thing we have you around to scold them, nay, shame them into better behavior. You, sir, are the standard bearer.!You, sir, instantiate what truly is the moral imagination!
DeleteDon't be mean to Mommy Ticket! She's perfect and can do no wrong.
DeleteNow you’re on the bus, Harry! Welcome, old chum. Happy to have ya!
DeleteI'm learning today that Jitterbugs don't have skip ahead buttons so you don’t have to listen to podcast ads.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
DeleteOh, Harry. You just don’t get it. You always have been three steps behind. Poor baby.
DeletePlainsman's commitment level to keeping the comments section in line is LOW. It's LOW.
ReplyDeleteIt's because he approves of most of it. It amuses him. Does me too. Tell me, J, how often do you get a haircut? My hair has that curly/wavy Italian-American thing going on. Drives me nuts. When I was a young man, I desperately wanted a hair style like Omar Sharif's. But I always ended up looking like Frankie Valli's short bus cousin. I bet if I had hair like Mr. Sharif's, I'd gotten a lot more tail. We Italian-Americans love pussy. Banging it. Eating it. You name it. I also wish Jerry would've given me even half the years as he gave you to drive the thing into a mediocre oblivion. Do you think I could get a tv gig like you have? Would you mind putting in a good word for me?
DeleteMr. L4G, I am enjoying the purposeful over-laughs. Keep up the fantastic work, & hit'm straight.
ReplyDeleteTotally. You can TOTALLY tell he can’t stand ANY of them. TOTALLY clowning them. If he wasn’t getting paid….. Oh, wait, he’s not. Still. You KNOW he hates them! Good shit, my dude. Keep ‘em honest!
Deletehow big a boy are ya?
DeleteWhat’s the square root of 6,047?
DeleteIsn't it clear to everyone that The Ticket is paving the way for Jake and Dan to come back into the fold in the next few years? They have been continuously bringing up Dan stories in a positive nostalgic light. Can't believe others can't see this. The show will come over to the Ticket and be branded The DumbZone. D & J will save face because they will be allowed to do some side pod stuff like livestreaming games under that moniker.
ReplyDeleteYou’re precisely why I’m coming after Delta 9 THC
DeleteDigging this angle. We need more content from you, beastly one.
DeleteDue to circumstances beyond my control I heard pretty much a full day of broadcasting on the Fan. It made me wonder if there is any show on the Fan that you would bring over to the Ticket to replace a show? Even as unmoved by TSS or my dislke of Coby's radio persona there is nothing on the Fan that I would want on the Ticket.
ReplyDeleteIt’s never not been that way. What’s more, as blah as The FAN is, it’s still better than most traditional sports talkers throughout the country. Reason being is that it competes directly with The Ticket and therefore tries to emulate it on a certain level.
DeleteHow was anyone convinced by the April Fools bit? It was so clearly an April Fools prank and it happened at 8:40.
ReplyDeleteP1s are idiots. Hence, the continued high ratings.
DeleteUnlike you, who’s commenting on a Ticket fan site. Self awareness much?
DeleteThey still don’t see it. Time to move on. Sam?
Buddy...
DeleteMusers change in format
DeleteOne more ticker an hour, more calls, sayonara to the 8:40 bit, now 8:40 will be political talk
They really should have trolled their critics with more lazy changes: even more tickers, caller segments every hour, more replays from the previous show, Ticket audio vault every day, Junior will miss the last hour to watch his kid
Except most of what you say isn’t true. Liars lie.
DeleteA genuine question for this same person who cannot stop criticizing: What do you hope to gain from your almost daily comments? Does it feel good? I’m not getting it. Once or twice, sure. When something major or a particularly stupid/offensive/whatever occurs, understood. But your continued (and it must be said mostly poor and at times nonsensical) quips, nitpicking, and “inventions” are as silly as they are ineffective. It seems very personal for you. I will grant that you are consistent. But that’s not really a compliment.
DeleteYo 11-2. That was The Musers April Fool’s Day joke. Dumbass.
DeleteBoot. Titanium toed. Dropped. Decisions made. Will be made public within two weeks.
ReplyDeleteCarry on.
Very much hoping this pertains to you announcing your permanent departure from this site.
DeleteEddie! Thought we had a relationship here. You disappoint me,
DeleteMajor station announcement Friday morning. It's all over, isn't it? Or maybe just JubJam.
ReplyDeleteFlipping to Tejano. You’re late to the party, pal. Everyone already knows.
DeleteAs dumb as steel toed boot guy is, I have a feeling he’s right about something this time
ReplyDeleteWhy? Explain.
DeleteCMLS is a smoking DEAL at $0.36
ReplyDeleteSam? You at it again, bud?
DeleteBig fan of Rear View Mirrors and Sunsets‘ post
ReplyDeleteNew insubstantial post.
ReplyDelete