Volume XXVIII • Number 33• August 23, 2002 TATTLER buddy (and fellow Rotisserie League member) Judd Zulgad – columnist for the Minneapolis Star-Tribune – shared a story worth tell- THE ing this week, showing how newspaper people and radio people some- times just don’t mix. Last weekend, at the PGA Championship tourna- MAIN STREET ment held in Minneapolis, Judd ran into Bryan Burwell, the newest St. CommunicatorNetwork Louis Post-Dispatch sports columnist (and former writer for USAToday and Baseball Weekly), who wanted to capture the mood of a state that A T T L E might see its first-place Twins – a team targeted for contraction just a few TT A T T L E RR months ago - go on strike. On his way to the golf course to cover Tiger- mania, he tuned into Clear Channel sports KFAN. Once at the course, The intersection of radio & music since 1974 Burwell found where the station was set up at and began to talk off-air to Tom Kay - Chris Mozena - Brad Savage Dan (The Common Man) Cole, who is on before Chad Hartman. The It’s a moment every PD waits for, but (usually) doesn’t happen: To have only problem is Burwell thought he was talking to Hartman. The next their station being mentioned on national TV (unless, of course, you’re day, he mistakenly quoted Hartman in the Post-Dispatch as saying: “No- the PD of WNEW…but that’s another story). Well, it happened to body cares anymore. We got two phone calls on it all day, maybe three. Mystar’s WZPL/Indianapolis PD Scott Sands, who had just settled in You have to remember what this town has already gone through. The to begin watching Tuesday night’s installment of The Letterman Show sad fact is, we’re no longer a baseball town. Nobody cares anymore.” when Indianapolis native David Letterman announced his newest fea- But it was the volatile, shoot-from-the-hip, tell-it-like-he-thinks-it-is Cole ture “The Phrase That Pays.” In doing so, Dave was explaining several who gave him the quote, not the well-measured, always ‘PC’ Hartman. examples of phrases that pay to Paul Schaffer and mentioned WWMX Needless to say, the gaffe caused an uproar. Twins sportscasters (and (Mix 106.5)/Baltimore and then WZPL’s slogan “Z99.5, The New WZPL former KCLD night jock) Dick Bremer and future HOF’er Bert Blyleven Plays Today’s Best Music.” Said Scott, “He just nailed it! I have jocks on took Hartman to task during last Saturday night’s Twins telecast on Fox my staff that have never gotten it right!” (If you’d like to hear the snippet, Sports Net. Blyleven said “Hartman should apologize to the viewers log onto http://www.wzpl.com/uploads/audio/Letterman-plugs-WZPL.mp3 and listeners,” and said he would not go on Hartman’s show again. That for the whole ‘ZPL mention.) Was Scott aware of the Letterman plan? led to a near-altercation as Hartman sought out Burwell the next day in “Caught me totally by surprise. I had gotten a call from someone who the press tent at the PGA and told Burwell that the statement has been saw an earlier Letterman and asked if I had seen it. Since we don’t get made by Cole. Burwell said his heart sank and he “apologized about 15 Letterman until 11:30PM, I tuned in and there it was!” Any reason WZPL different ways.” He left Hartman another apology on his voice mail Mon- was picked? “Damned if I know,” said Scott, “David DID graduate from day. Said Burwell, “I did the stupidest thing in the world. I assumed I college with our boss…but I don’t think that had anything to do with it. knew who I was talking to” and offered to go on Hartman’s show “to tell Besides, Letterman has stock in Emmis…who owns a WZPL competi- everybody I’m the moron.” According to Judd, Hartman probably won’t tor, WENS.” Needless to say, while WZPL hadn’t run a “Phrase That take Burwell up on the offer but appreciated the newspaper guy owning Pays Contest” for some time…it is now! (Trivia answer to what was the up to the mistake. Said Hartman, “These things happen.” And you won- first Letterman phrase that pays? Bite Me!’ First winner? Robin Will- der why radio folks don’t trust the newspaper... iams!) Mad At Gravity continues its dominance at active rock with KXXR (15x), Sheboygan Spring Book. Midwest rocker WHBZ grabs the crown in WRIF (7x), KQRC (11x), WJJO (12x), WDRK (23x), WKLQ (10x) and this first go-around for Arbitron in the market. WHBZ 11.1, WBFM 9.6, more! Don’t “Walk Away” from an obvious hit record. ARTISTdirect WHBL 7.4, WKLH 5.9, WTMJ 5.9, WAPL 5.2, WCLB 5.2, WXER 5.2, WXSS 5.2, WRIT 3.7, WKTI 3.0, WISN 2.2, WIXX 2.2, WKTT 2.2, WMIL Bloomington, IL Spring Book. Citadel Country WBWN is on top of the 2.2, WJUB 1.5, WLTQ 1.5, WLZR 1.5, WOGB 1.5, WOKY 1.5. Spring pack by a half share. WBWN 9.2-14.3, WBNQ 14.7-13.6, WJBC 14.7- books found in this TATTLER are 12+ persons, 6A-12P, M-Su, 6A-mid, 9.7, WDQZ 3.7-6.5, WRPW 5.5-5.8, WIHN 4.9-3.9, WGLO 3.1-3.2, WLS- Winter 2002 – Spring 2002 comparisons unless otherwise noted. Copy- AM 2.1-3.2, WPBG 2.5-3.2, WGCY 1.2-2.6, WGN-AM 1.2-2.6, WSWT right © 2002, The Arbitron Company. These results may not be used 1.8-2.6, WWCT 3.1-1.9, WBZM 1.2-1.3, WRVP 3.1-1.3, WSCR 1.2-1.3. without permission from Arbitron. Winter 2002 – Spring 2002 Martin Zellar and the Hardways are back with “Scattered”, the title Congrats to Mr. Ed Lambert on returning home to the Sacramento area song from the fourth studio album since the legendary Martin-led Gear to program Infinity’s Hot A/C “The Zone” KZZO. “Mr. Ed” was most Daddies disbanded. Martin has built up a solid reputation through con- recently Program Manager of CHR WWWQ/Atlanta. He spent plenty of stant live shows and regional airplay. It’s impacting AAA on September time in the Midwest as APD/MD at KDWB/Minneapolis and PD at WZEE/ 9; watch for it! Owen Lee Recordings Madison, as well as a stint as PD at KHKS/Dallas. Mr. Ed says he is happy to return to family and friends in his hometown! Norah Jones “Don’t Know Why” DEF Major spins at KALC (44x), KAMX (41x), KZSR (27x), LEPPARD KSTP (36x), KBCO (30x), “Now” WTBX (21x), WIOG (29x) and Rocklegendsand KMXV (22x)! Conclaveheadliners Added at WCIL returnwithamulti- and KFIZ! formathit! MAIN STREET MARKETING & PROMOTION, 4517 MINNETONKA BLVD, #104,MINNEAPOLIS, MN 55416 PHONE/FAX: (952)927-4487/927-6427 E-MAIL: [email protected] Westlife has another American hit with “World Of Our Own”, bulleting Detroit Summer Book Phase 1 Trends. N/T WJR stays in the lead. everywhere on CHR charts. These guys have sold over 15 million records WJR-AM 6.1-6.3, WVMV 5.9-5.7, WOMC 5.2-5.6, WWJ 5.3-5.4, WJLB worldwide with their patented, mass-appeal dance pop sound. Added 5.2-5.2, WRIF 4.6-4.3, WYCD 4.4-4.2, WDTJ 4.3-4.2, WMXD 4.0-3.8, this week at WKQI, WSNX, and WWAX! RCA WKQI 3.1-3.8, WNIC 3.5-3.6, WDRQ 3.7-3.5, WCSX 3.4-3.4, WMGC 3.5-3.0, CIMX 3.1-2.9, WKRK 2.1-2.5, WDTW 2.6-2.4, WDVD 2.1-2.3, As reported last week in The TATTLER, Carmen and Chris are out and CKWW 2.5-2.2, WDMK 2.3-2.2, WDFN 1.6-1.5, WXYT 1.6-1.5, WGPR Lisa Wright is in as morning host at Infinty’s ‘80s format “Mix 104” WXPT/ 1.1-1.4, WCHB 0.7-0.8, WMUZ 0.9-0.8, CIDR 0.9-0.7, WEXL 0.6-0.6, Minneapolis. Just after the change, WXPT PD Dusty Hayes was told WQBH 0.7-0.6, WSAQ **-0.4, WIOT 0.3-0.4, WTWR **-0.4, WRVF **- his position was being eliminated, with sister WLTE/Minneapolis PD Gary 0.4, CKLW 0.4-0.4. Summer Trends found in this TATTLER are 12+ Nolan now overseeing both stations as Operations Director of Infinity persons, 6A-12P, M-Su, 6A-mid, Spring 2002-May/June/July compari- FM Programming/Minneapolis. Meanwhile, WLTE/Minneapolis Promo- sons. Copyright © 2002, The Arbitron Company. These results may tion Director Amy Zindell is stepping down to start a teaching career. In not be used without permission from Arbitron. her place, Infinity has named market veteran Sarah Drexler as the group’s promotion goddess. (Back to Mix 104, Gary tells us no further changes While the FCC recently upheld Saga’s allegation that, in the sale of are pending.) The WXPT change wasn’t the only PD change made last Modern AC WYVR/Petersburg-Springfield, IL from LUJ, Inc. to Long Wednesday, as 4 year KAMX/Austin market veteran (and former KTCZ/ Nine, Inc., the parties had falsely certified the completeness of the sale Minneapolis PD) Jim Robinson also had his position eliminated.