13 February 2013
Radio's "Sly" may get last laugh - PoliticoDadio - Week of 13 February 2013
This entry was posted on 2/13/2013 1:29 AM and is filed under PoliticoDadio.
Information buffs of all things local media, no doubt already know long-time Madison, Wisconsin, radio personality John Sylvester, "Sly," has moved his shtick from "the city of the perpetually offended," down the road to Monroe, Wisconsin, "the town known for cheese and surrounded by corn."
A few years ago back in the 1990s Midwest Family Broadcasting in Madison brought "Sly" over to do talk radio. The old radio sage had been working for another company and was doing music radio with some chit chat. At that time Midwest hawked 1480 and then 1670 WTDY AM as all-local-news-and-talk-all-the-time. When the Great Recession came a'call'n around 2006 or so, it did not take Midwest Family long to slowly but surely dismantled the all-local-all-the-time format. By 2010 or so, all that survived of that original "local" rubric was..., "Sly in the Morning."
Then, just before the holiday season 2012, and in classic radio business crassness, "Sly" and the entire morning staff got...., canned - news, traffic, weather..., and "Sly." I don't understand the logic, well I do, but give me a break. Bang, 1670 put on some bad music and even worse non-local news and talk. Now they are pretty well transitioned to all-sports-all-the-time, and with a new moniker.
Hey! Here's an idea that no one has ever thought of. Let's put on all-lame-sports-all-the-time, emanating from points far away from good ol' Wisconsin, and with pontificating young snarky hosts, that most likely live in their moms' basements.
I get it. With lame national syndicated shows, come lame national advertisers and..., money.
But what of "Sly"?
Well, the radio gods apparently shone down kindly on ol' "Sly." After several weeks, and no doubt some nights of unemployed anxiety for said radio host, a local radio venue out of Monore, Wisconsin, picked him up. The Big Radio family of five stations has resisted selling out to big lame media. Sly is hosting a show from 3:00 to 6:30 p.m. Monday through Friday on 93.7 FM radio. For those that know his show up in Madison, the format has so far held fairly similar since down in Monroe.
Just between you and me, I am wondering if ol' "Sly" may come out of this mass-canning up in Madison with the last laugh. The power of 1670 AM was weak with around 10,000 Watts. "Sly's" new venue at 93.7 FM boasts 36,000 Watts. These new digs and increased power, encompass "Sly's" old listening area plus a whole new area on the Wisconsin / Illinois state line.
For those that know "Sly's" style, he can irritate both "right" and "left." And of course, that is right up ol' Dadio's alley. I had a chance to do an interview with a different show on 1670 up at Midwest Family regarding my journalist work in Iraq. Poetically, I also did a couple interviews down at 93.7. Both venues were kind to me. But, I do have a bit of a soft spot for Big Radio as I was actually interviewed by owner Scott Thompson both times on his own radio show on 93.7 FM.
The combination of "Sly's" experience, loyal fans, and loyal advertisers, coupled with the new frequency range of 93.7 could be a damn good merger just made for all parties concerned.
Personally, I am hoping it works out for "Sly." I am fatigued by the relentless grinding of workers into the dirt in the name of the "new norm" American economic rubric. And, I am sick of hundreds of unhappy stories emanating from this so called "Great Recession."
The Dadio for one..., will be tuned in to 93.7 FM in the afternoons at every chance.
