Van ailin': Roth's morning radio show struggling

[musicradio77]

By LARRY McSHANE
Associated Press Writer

NEW YORK -- For recently minted DJ David Lee Roth, morning drive time is turning into a car wreck.

The former Van Halen frontman, barely into his fourth month as replacement for the departed shock jock Howard Stern, is the subject of rumors about his radio demise. Roth's four-hour show was already revamped once, producing an on-air tirade against management. And initial ratings were discouraging.

It appears that following Stern, radio's own rock star for the last two decades, is more difficult for the fast-talking Roth than staying on Eddie Van Halen's Christmas card list.

"He's a dead man talking," said Michael Harrison, founder of the trade publication Talkers magazine. "Based on reports from behind the scenes and critical reaction, coupled with early ratings, it's not looking good."

The once-spandexed lead singer has rarely hit the right notes since his January debut on New York's WFNY-FM (billed as Free-FM) and six other CBS Radio stations. In a recent broadcast, Roth claimed he was bombarded with four management letters in five days about content and predicted his show could be finished before May.

Several of his on-air sidekicks were dumped as the program struggled to find its groove. Roth disappeared from the airwaves for two days amid the turmoil.

"I think the radio industry expects this will end sooner than later," said Tom Taylor, editor of the trade publication Inside Radio. "It's widely expected in the industry that this won't go on. It's looking dark. It's looking bleak."

CBS Radio spokeswoman Karen Matteo declined to comment on the Roth show. But it was widely believed, even before Roth's choice, that replacing Stern was a near-impossible task _ particularly for an inexperienced broadcaster.

CBS Radio, realizing its dilemma, replaced the self-proclaimed King of All Media with several people, including comedian Adam Carolla. Roth landed the plum job in New York, the nation's No. 1 radio market.

Billboards and bus ads heralded the beginning of Roth radio as Howard sailed into the satellite radio sunset with his $500 million deal. It didn't take long for critics to tear into Roth's performance.

"Roth's show is ... skin-crawlingly awful," wrote Rob Sheffield in a Rolling Stone piece. "In these days of bland Clear Channel/Infinity corporate radio, it's bracing to hear a guy who has no idea what he's doing. ... Listening to Roth, you feel actual physical pain."

The nasty cracks soon spread to Roth's competition in the cutthroat New York morning radio market.

"He's a mess, and he's a loudmouth punk," said syndicated radio host Don Imus in a recent critique of Roth. Over on WKTU-FM, a Van Halen song was played on a Friday morning.

"David Lee Roth singing on that?" asked co-host Goumba Johnny. "More people heard him on 'KTU this morning than on Free-FM."

It wasn't this way back in October, when Roth was rolled out as Stern's replacement. The shock jock hosted the rock star on his radio show, and wished his successor well. But by March, indications from the Arbitron monthly trends suggested lackluster ratings.

Roth, bristling at what he considered management interference, responded by doing a show that sounded like a hostage tape. He later changed his tune, promising to stick with the program: "I'm going to give it a try. I've invested too much in this show not to."

He returned this week with a renewed enthusiasm, attempting to make the best of the situation.

"You just hope the bitterness and rancor don't continue, and that everybody finds a peaceable ending," said Taylor. "Watching a train wreck _ or listening to one _ isn't a great way to spend your morning."

[TJL]

I listened to his show for about a week, then I gave up.

I knew it was going to bomb. I give Diamond Dave credit for trying though.

I wonder when they're going to pull the plug?

[Ant-Lox]

I listened when it first started....it was okay, but i'll stick with Preston & Steve....

[Steve M.]

Bring rock radio back to 92.3 FM NOW!!!

[SBTB Geek]

I don't think Adam is doing too well here in L.A. either. He places after the other competitors--- Kevin & Bean, Big Boy, Ryan Seacrest, and maybe even after John Salley.

I like his show better than Howard's though.

[musicradio77]

Originally Posted by Steve M.

Bring rock radio back to 92.3 FM NOW!!!

No way, Jose! WXRK is in Cleveland, Ohio as K-Rock. Here is a link.

http://www.krockcleveland.com

[Steve M.]

Then call 92.3 FM in NYC X-Rock or something. Just bring some more rock and roll to this disco town!

[TJL]

Read a rumor in today's paper that Opie and Anthony are close to signing a deal that would have them take over Diamond Dave's morning slot...

[Steve M.]

Originally Posted by TJL

Read a rumor in today's paper that Opie and Anthony are close to signing a deal that would have them take over Diamond Dave's morning slot...

NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[musicradio77]

Here is another article from Billboard Monitor about Opie & Anthony will take over David Lee Roth, the "Just a Gigilo" morning show host.

O&A Get All 7 Roth Markets

By Paul Heine and Mike Boyle

In one of the first satellite-to-terrestrial radio syndication deals, XM Satellite Radio has an agreement in place to license its Opie & Anthony Show to CBS Radio in seven markets.

According to sources familiar with the situation, the duo, whose terrestrial radio career went up in flames in 2002, will bring David Lee Roth’s short-lived CBS morning show stint to a screeching halt within a few weeks.

Opie and Anthony will air on all seven stations where Roth replaced Howard Stern in January: WFNY New York, WYSP Philadelphia, WBCN Boston, KLLI Dallas, WNCX Cleveland, WRKZ Pittsburgh and WPBZ West Palm Beach.

Coming days before Winter 2006 Arbitron results will document Roth’s morning ratings disaster, the agreement allows CBS to air a three-hour version of the O&A show that will originate from its WFNY studios. CBS will have control over this portion of the program, which will simulcast uncensored on XM.

After they wrap their CBS show, plans call for the pair to travel the block or so to XM’s midtown Manhattan studio and put in another two-hours that will air exclusively on XM.

Since CBS is beholden to FCC indecency regulations, the first three hours of the morning show will be cleaner than the anything-goes environment the pair enjoy at XM.

Signatures are still being applied to the multi-year agreement, which gives CBS a morning lifesaver that previously paid ratings dividends for the company in New York, Boston and Philadelphia. It gives XM the right to have its star hosts plug the uncensored version of their show on CBS airwaves and further validates satellite radio as a content provider.

The hosts of one of XM’s 10 most-listened-to shows, Greg “Opie” Hughes and Anthony Cumia previously did afternoons for CBS predecessor Infinity Broadcasting at WNEW-FM New York and were simulcast on WYSP and WBCN. Fired after their infamous “Sex For Sam” broadcast, where a couple allegedly had sex in St. Patrick’s Cathedral at their urging, the pair sat on the beach for two years before XM hired them in August 2004.

Roth replaced Stern in seven markets in January, when Stern began a new 5-year deal at Sirius Satellite Radio.

CBS Radio and XM officials declined comment.

In addition to inciting anti-indecency crusaders, the deal will generate more fodder for Stern and his legal team. One issue at the center of CBS Radio’s lawsuit against Stern was how he gained financially from plugging Sirius on CBS’ airwaves for more than a year.

[Brian Damage]

Originally Posted by TJL

Read a rumor in today's paper that Opie and Anthony are close to signing a deal that would have them take over Diamond Dave's morning slot...

That rumor is true, they will air three hours of terrestrial radio of 92.3 and still have their gig on XM.