His morning show co-host Jennie Grabel was let go last week, and now Chris Patyk, who was also the program director for The Mountain, news station KNST and the somewhat accurately named Funny 1450, has been let go by Clear Channel as part of their nationwide plan to not have so many actual people on the radio.
I’m not the biggest fan of The Mountain or any of Clear Channel’s stations in this market, but this seems like the move towards the nationwide broadcasts and wildly homogenized crap that everyone feared when the company was buying up every station they could get their hands on. At this point, if there aren’t personalities on the air that I care about and the music is the same here as it is in Tulsa and Toledo, why shouldn’t I just switch over to listening to Pandora stations that feature slightly more of the songs and artists I like and far fewer commercials?
The Mountain did an admirable job of connecting to the not-terribly-musically-adventurous-soccer-mom listening audience they cultivated between their Studio C performances and Jennie and Chris constantly out in the community, but I guess those days are likely over.
At least we’ll still have the music of Colbie Caillat to get us through this tough time, I suppose. Best of luck out there, Chris.
This article appears in Oct 27 – Nov 2, 2011.
OMG!
I have been a long-time fan of Jennie and Chris in the morning on 92.9. I don’t agree with getting rid of them at all; they were wonderful and gave me a minute in the morning while getting ready for work to connect to Tucson, my community. I find it incredibly sad that the morning shows on radio are getting so far away from the actual community they serve; Jennie and Chris were one of the last teams in Tucson and of Tucson. Wow. Guess I’ll have to join the new generation and listen to my rootless i-pod in the morning. I am sad; The Mountain has lost this “soccer mom”….
I really don’t understand how MegaCorporation radio conglomerates think they can deliver more money to their investors if no one is listening to them. I worked in broadcasting for 20 years here in Tucson and got out when the company I worked for demonstrated a “screw the listeners and viewers, and screw the advertisers…how can we juggle the numbers to make this month’s bottom line look good to Corporate?” attitude. That was back in 2003 and it’s gotten a heck of a lot worse since then! I have Sirius now, since they’ve made it clear that a listening audience is nothing more than an annoyance to them. I do feel sorry for all my friends still in the business.
Oh no! 1 person lost his job. The horror! Radio has been a dead end for at least 15 years. Lefty weeklies are next. You’re lucky you’re still employed, Gibson. Time to enroll in that massage therapy class you’ve always dreamed of.
So true I agree with DAN GIBSON and The Mountain did really good job on this.
@Feeling Shy: It’s funny that so many people with nasty things to say about me or the place I work don’t have the conviction to do so under their own names, no?
Well, there does seem to be an ad hominem or two operating down at the bottom of these pseudo-nymwars…
@Feelingshy- I pray for your sake that you are good at something, but in this economy, folks can’t even count on that. May you never lose your job, because changing that mind of yours would really hurt. Wind at your back, pal.
I feel bad for Feeling Sh(itt)y. I know what it’s like to be Feeling Sh(itt)y, but although I’m tempted to lash out at those around me, I’ve always found that putting more bile in the world will only leave me Feeling Sh(ittier)y.
I switched to Jennie and Chris after the radio show I used to listen too moved out of the area and lost tuch with it’s tucson roots. I liked listening to them in the morning and I hope they will be back on the radio soon.
I have to agree, this change was bad. I really enjoy listening to a person talk about the area I live in. I like the connection there. It’s like listening to your friend talk in the kitchen while we’re getting ready in the morning or while driving to work. The music was and hopefully, will stay good. Doubt I’m going to listen much after this though.
I cannot believe this! I have been listening to Jennie and Chris (and Blake) FOREVER! They were a very calming part of my hectic morning! WHY??? PLUS, this radio station was different in the fact that they had music that other stations didn’t play (more accoustic, more folk, more real???) Who’s going to play Brandi Carlisle when she has a new album out? Or Christina Perry (not the commercialized songs)? Josh Radin? All of these artists and more, really got out there in the Tucson airwaves through this radio station. I am in shock and very upset and 92.9 has lost a listener. Bring back what was once good and different!!!
I too am a shocked and upset 92.9 listener. My wife and I will no longer be listening to this station. Look..we listened to Jennie and Chris FOR A REASON, they are really good human beings, and have substance to the things they say and talk about. They are also positive! This “new radio station format” has no heart. I tell you, I listened to 92.9 the “My Music” or whatever, getting ready for work this morning, and my wife and I said to each other, “We’re done with this station!” Our prayers go out to Jennie and Chris that they find new and wonderful opportunities because they are truly, gifted, talented, and wonderful human beings. Should they pop-up on any other station let us know and we’ll be sure to tune in!
I miss Jennie and Chris. I agree with most that they were the Tucson connection that many radio stations forget about. What happened to the personal touch. I will not listen to that station any more. Sad sad day.
I miss the personal touch of the on-air people, Jennie, Chris, Delana (sorry not sure of name but she followed Jennie & Chris’ program, even Christopher who sometimes got on my nerves. Now, as another person said this station could be coming from anywhere, instead of being Tucson-based so I am not inclined to “stay tuned”. I liked Acoustic Sunrise on Sundays and hearing about the Studio C artists and performances, too. This now sounds too generic, not nearly as friendly and engaging like it was. I am not listening to this station all day like I used to and switch over to other stations to hear live people talk about local things. And they need to change out their ads instead of replaying the same ones over and over. Good luck to the former employees of 92.9, hope they come to their senses and bring you back. I Heart Radio needs to have a heart!
Do not like the change of letting go Jennie and Chris. The entire radio format and music has changed. I do not like it at all. 92.9 The Mountain, is no longer my favorite radio station. I have changed my listening preference back to the competing radio station. Mix FM 94.9. I really enjoy morning DJ’s who are directly involved with the public and share with us morning listeners. Lets hope coorporate America wakes the hell up and gets OUT of our radio stations. Yes less commercials are fine but not at the expense of listening to our favorite morning shows, and people who make a positive difference in our community.
Jenny and Chris, I wish both of you the BEST I hope all you, loved, appreciated and unemployed DJs across the U.S. will jon together and do something to make another positive difference in Radio Land. DJ’s Unite and make a difference once more. Thank you.