What the hell happened to WDET?

[bif]

They changed formats yesterday and they're almost all talk radio now. Fired Martin Bandyke, Judy Adams and a bunch of other folks. Now they're a clone of the Ann Arbor station. I guess that makes sense since their new General Manager is from WUOM.

[SharonRB]

1. It's about time, as far as I'm concerned

I hated the music they played and always listened to WUOM instead. Of course, now I usually listen to WDTW except when I'm in the car on the weekends.

[1gobluedem]

2. Talk, yes, but not exactly a clone

Their daytime talk lineup is much different that WUOM's; no Diane Rheam or Talk of the Nation. Democracy Now was a welcome surprise. And I think Ed Gordon will play well in Detroit.

I suspect this move was made to retake Oakland County. WDET was losing a significant amount of listeners and individual donations to WUOM in Oakland County and they want it back. Their last couple of pledge drives have considerably and consistently missed their goals.

I looked at the daytime Arbitron numbers for WDET, going back three years and SHARE, CUME, and, in some cases, AQH were all steadily dropping across those dayparts. Since, thanks to Newt and 104th Congress, CPB grants are now partially based on audience size (if listner money goes down your grant goes down), they had to do something to stop the bleeding and this is what they chose. Not surprising from a GM who comes from a news talk format that made huge financial gains when it switched from classical to talk.

My station, WEMU, remains committed to locally produced music during the day. If you're a jazz fan, I encourage you to try us out at 89.1 or online at www.wemu.org (yes, a shameless plug) :-).

[bif]

4. I love WEMU

But I'm on the east side and that shitty high school radio station from Warren interferes with your signal.

[1gobluedem]

5. Yes, that high school signal does interfere, unfortunately

Have you tried listening online? We have 100 Real Audio streams and 900 MP3 streams. I advise the MP3 stream because it's cleaner; we share the Real Audio with the EMU Library.

[butterfly77]

11. What are the call station numbers and what time is...

democracy now on?

[1gobluedem]

12. 101.9 FM

Democracy Now is on at 11:00 a.m.

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

23. I am not employed

by the community radio station I listen to, but am involved. Try www.kser.org in Everett Washington.
Where is WEMU? I grew up in Detroit.

[Strawman]

3. Looks like they kept Ed Love at least

That's good. And Democracy Now is part of the lineup. I like that. It doesn't look like a total clone of 91.7. It is sad to see those music shows disappear though. Too bad the good news/talk has to trade off with good music and not the crappy music on commercial radio. It's funny how in this country we can only have one public radio channel in each community and all sorts of commerical shit.

[ajacobson]

6. I'm happy about it.

I understand the economics behind the dumping of the expensive NPR shows, but I was pissed that they dumped the shows after raising a shitload of money by promising to keep the programming. That was a decision by people who are no longer at the station so I'm not going to hold that against them. The rest of my pledge is on the way.

[meganmonkey]

7. I am thrilled about Democracy Now - but overall I am so sad

I mourn the loss of the great music all day. I listen to WDET ALL DAY at work, every day. For the excellent variety of music. I almost cried when I realized what was happening.

x(

[bif]

9. Me too

I loved their music. What a great source of excellent music. We'll never hear this kind of stuff in Detroit.

[CoCre8tor]

13. Democracy Now! Whooo Hooo!

I love Democracy Now & Amy Goodman! Whoo Hoo!

If you haven't read her book, "The Exception to the Rulers: Exposing Oily Politicians, War Profiteers, and the Media That Love Them", it's well worth it! I was used to seeing Democracy Now on Free Speech TV on Dish Network, but I really came to respect Amy after reading her book!

Democracy Now in Detroit! I love it!!!!!

Mike

[meganmonkey]

15. Welcome to DU, CoCre8tor!

Hope you like it here :toast:

[CoCre8tor]

16. Thanks!

So far so good! It's nice to be around like-minded people!
:grouphug:
Mike

[DemDeb]

17. WDET

I agree -- I am very sad as well. I, too, listened to the great music all day, weekdays and weekends alike. Now WDET is very much like WUOM, which we could already receive in the Detroit area, and they have lost their unique quality. This is a tremendous loss to local music, innovative music and all kinds of great stuff that you can't find anywhere else on the radio dial. For the first time in nearly 30 years, I will not be donating to the station this year.

[Mich Otter]

18. Hi DemDeb

Welcome to DU.

[newyawker99]

20. Hi DemDeb!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Mich Otter]

8. Something to do with some shady dealings between DJs and..

someone who supplied their music.
One of my co-workers said there was something shady that happened and a couple of DJs were caught. I didn't pay much attention to what was said and didn't ask any questions.
Maybe someone else has the real scoop.

[1gobluedem]

10. Improper use and disposal of label-supplied CDs and perks

Is the official story. My guess is that the new GM wanted to make this change regardless but knew that firing a union employee would be difficult so he used the 'violations of Wayne State policy' as the mechanism.

CDs sent to radio stations for airplay are technically still property of the label and are prohibited from being sold because, if they so chose, the label could ask for their property back at any time. One of the allegations against Martin Bandyke is that he took CDs sent to him, that were not put into airplay rotation, to used record stores and sold them for personal profit. However, his attorney said that he sold the CDs and bought music not supplied by labels to play on the station and that the former GM was well aware of that.

Another allegation is that he used concert tickets for himself that were intended to be listener giveaways. Most stations, mine included, have trade deals with presenters that make tickets available to staff and for listener giveaways but arrangements with labels are different and usually don't go through the marketing department. My station also has a policy that on-air hosts must report anything that they accept from a promoter or label to the GM.

I'm certain that Wayne State does have a policy against taking incentives or gifts from suppliers but that it wasn't enforced at WDET until the new GM arrived.

[bif]

14. Thanks for the info

I've always had a great deal of respect for Martin and would never suspect him of doing something illegal. My impression of him was that he was truly in awe of the music and the musicians and when I heard he was ripping off the station, I had a hard time believing it. Thanks for sharing the inside information.

[DemDeb]

19. thanks!

Thanks for the welcome -- I'm mostly a lurker and appreciate all the insight I get here.

[Montauk6]

21. OHHHH, THAT explains everything!

We just came back from a 2-week Christmas break in Detroit, and I noticed the lack of music going on at 101.9; though I was so elated to hear wonderfully crackly voice of the lovely Amy Goodman (after seeing "Good Night, and Good Luck," I'm convinced that she may be our generation's Murrow) on Democracy NOW! but I was confused as to the absence of Bandyke et al. Good thing Ed Love is still hangin' in there evenings.

It was also encouraging to hear classical/jazz (REAL jazz) on 90.9, WDTR.

[Montauk6]

22. I guess recent events merits a kick for this one. WTF???

So, what do you folks think about the latest slashings at 101.9?

I just found out last Saturday when I tried tuning into Mick Collins show on the 'Net (I live in the Bronx these days). Everyone's history but Watroba and Arkansas (senior moment), plus Ed Love's been cut down to 2 hours.

And I love how the spin is always "well this is what people want." So, people clamored for overnight BBC News????

And don't get me wrong, BBC News is great, so is Democracy Now, BUT SO WAS THE *MUSIC* ON THIS ONE-TIME GREAT *MUSIC* STATION!, sorry to shout.

There was a lot of uproar last year when the first blow happened, what's the vibe like now?

[1gobluedem]

24. Well, I know my station has picked up some listeners

WDET has been losing support to WUOM in Oakland County so they are determined to slug it out with them by mirroring much of their programming.

I think once Ed Love is gone they will also abandon jazz completely. They know they can't take the PR hit if they fire Ed.

On edit: My station is NOT WUOM, it's WEMU. We have picked up music listeners.

[bif]

26. I just started listening and they changed it again

The 2 hour Detroit show is pretty damn boring. And Matt Watroba is the host?!?! Huh? I can't stand "World Have your Say" and now that's followed by a national call in show. I pretty much quit listening to WDET. Meanwhile CBC has gotten great! I love their evening lineup. 89.9 FM. Well worth checking out.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

27. Yeah, they cut even more music

I used to listen to WDET all the time, even sent money. They they hired Michael Coleman and he cut all daytime music and replaced it with talk. Recently, Ed Love got his hours cut so I miss a nice period of jazz. And, some woman (apologies, I can't remember her name) played good (if unusual) music from about midnight to 5, so I heard that when I got up. Now that's replace by (guess what) more talk. WDET is pretty much useless during my usual listening times.

I'll try 89.9 (and WEMU, if I can get it).

[1gobluedem]

28. That was Liz Copeland

She was great.

If you can't get 89.1, WEMU on the radio, try the website: www.wemu.org.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

29. Thanks for the name ...

I woke up with her for a long time. Then forgot her name? Doh! How embarrassing!

I'll try 89.1 in the car, I don't have the internets installed in my car yet. And my employer frowns on streaming audio/video on their network, unless it's company propaganda.

[1gobluedem]

30. If you're west of Telegraph

You should be able to tune it in. Weekends are also better when the high school in Warren is off the air.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

31. Maybe I got a new favorite station ...

I tuned in to WEMU just outside of downtown Detroit and listened to some nice soft saxaphone on the drive home (near Telegraph). I went out later and caught some easy Cuban music. Then some Brazilian music later in the evening. Mostly good reception in the car, just a few areas of static.

Not so much luck on my home stereo. Maybe I need a better antenna than the piece of wire that came with the receiver.

Thanks for the tip.

[1gobluedem]

32. Directional antenna works wonders

You can get them at Radio Shack, I believe.

[gasperc]

25. could care less, listen to 91.7FM when not listening to 1310am

I've never liked WDET line up