Newfoundland Media Stew: HITS FM 99.1

This is the first in a number of blogs dealing with the local St. John's Radio market. I will examine the morning show teams as well as the drive-time host while offering my opinions on what works and what doesn't. First up....

99.1 Hits FM, Newfoundland # 1 Hit Station

Hits FM is Newfoundland's home to Top 40 radio like Justin, The Pussycat Dolls, and the insufferable Black Eyed Peas (Don't get me started on the Peas). It's hip, it's happening, and it's down right boring!!!!!

Randy Snow and the Hits FM Morning Show (A+ for the original title there guys) are a very competent bunch. They all have excellent, clear radio voices, and can be professional when reading announcements and the news but they are also not very exciting. Hit music is suppose to be on the cutting tip with new fresh beats (don't tell me I'm not down with the kids) and a radio station that promotes itself as the home of such music should reflect this image as well.

Randy Snow has been in the radio game a long time but seems to have lost his fire and is going through the motions. If you check out his pics on the website you can feel his enthusiasm for the job. Oh and btw, Randy if you are reading this, just because it's warm and raining does not mean we will have a thunder storm as you like to predict everytime we have warm rainy weather.

Bill Gregory, the news reader and comedian of the bunch, has a voice tailor made for radio. His voice will never irritate your ears I just wish he would stop playing the randy school boy who can never get laid. After years of listening to him ramble about his lack of success with the female species, I feel like setting up a fund to buy him a bride.

Leanne Sharpe, the third member of the team is often regulated to laugh track or sitting in silence. When she is on the air alone, she is actually not bad. She gives opinions on songs and doesn't tend to ramble on. But on the morning show she seems overwhelmed by the two lads.

Their drive time guy is Brad Michaels...you know the guy who they proclaim is the oddball in the 5 o'clock countdown six-pack. This guy is about as wild as the rice on my supper plate. Again another great radio voice but very little charisma in his delivery. He kinda makes me sleepy, enough said.

Ingredients to add

How about adding a little personality to your hosts. I can feel them lurking under the surface they just need to rise.
More pop-culture...Hit's FM is all about today's Hit Music, well how about more relevant references to the events and people that are help shaping what is being considered popular music. Stuff like The Scandal of the Week or Breakout Artist .
Gossip....come on we all want to know what K-Fed and Phillipe did to ruin such sweet romances!!!!
A fire in Randy Snow's belly... this guy was great on the Dawn Patrol but has definitely lost a step and tends to ramble like an old man ordering sandwich in Tim Horton's. GET TO THE POINT!!!!!

Ingredients to remove

Terry Hart's Good News Report. While I think it's a great idea, it is as misplaced as Ron Hynes opening for My Chemical Romance. The report should be shifted to another station in the fold.
The same lame contests that have been running for years. Every now & then they use their brains and come up with some great promotions like the French Kiss Contest. The goal is to make your station water cooler talkable.
Easy winners for every contest. Sure it's nice to make sure you have a winner but for god's sake make them work for it every now and then, besides having the quickest speed dial finger.

Ingredients that are just right

The 99 second news breaks are the perfect length. Don't bore your audience with reality. That's what CNN is for.
The music format is a good mix of current and mainstay songs that will please a wide range of Top 40 listeners.
Randy Snow & The Hits Morning team. They do seem to go through the motions too often but they are a good mix and just need to freshen up the show.
The music format is unique in the St. John's marketplace.

Morning Show Rating