DJ Stoudt Voted one of Best Programmers in Radio Business

I guess what I'm asking is what has DJ done with WFNZ/WFNA/WSOC as an Ops Manager where he has done an above average to extraordinary job to get recognition as a top 15 radio programmer/ops manager in the Radio Industry by RADIO INK. Perhaps the folks who listen to WSOC-FM can point out some things since I don't listen to the station.

On the WFNZ/WFNA side, I haven't see anything above average to extraordinary on the air or in their promotions (outside of the WFNZ Doghouse on Morehead St.) that makes me say 'Hey, WFNZ/WFNA is a small giant in the sportstalk radio game!!!!!!!!!'. That's all I'm saying . . . .

 

i don't know what he's done.

 

If there's a lot more involved in being a station programmer/ops manager that's fine. Yessssssssssssssssss, with Solarte working at the BUZZ he would know a lot more about this vs. me. I'm just asking what has DJ done at the 3 stations that merited recognition as being one of the 15 best in the country according to RADIO INK . . . . Wouldn't being recognized by a national publication mean you've done something above the norm vs. just 'Hey, we made money last year'.

 

Ok, there's a lot more involved being an Ops Manager/Station Programmer . . . Please forgive me. I'm just asking what has DJ done above and beyond what the average ops manager/station programmer does on a day-to-day basis to get this recognition, that's all.

I thought with the small staff at WFNZ and due to its budget, there isn't a whole lot he can do to make the station stand out. I mean, their promotion/marketing budget is very small (its been years since I've seen a WFNZ billboard up anywhere in town) and they can't do anything with their small signal. I'll give him props on the WFNZ DOG HOUSE on Morehead St., especially the renovations for this past football season. But what else has he done to make WFNZ standout as a giant in the sportsalk radio industry (I never hear the station being mentioned in the same breath with WFAN/WEEI/KNBR/etc.)?

As far as WSOC-FM goes, if they are a still a top 3 overall station and the top country station in this market still, I will give him props for that. Again, folks who listen to WSOC-FM on a regular/semi-regular basis can vouch if its a better than average country station.

 

sure. And that's where the disconnect between you and the talent has arisen. He's talking about the part where you questioned what he organizes, where you're focusing on the merit.

 

Bingo!!!!!!!!! There's way more to the job than I realize, which I fail to recognize, which is my bad. My focus is simply on what DJ did to get the award running WSOC/WFNZ/WFNA as Ops Manager . . . . In this day of Corporate Radio, I was just theorizing that most Ops Managers/Programming Directors are told more what to do now in running a station vs. 20/30/40 years ago.

 

If DJ would have hired Hoopsradio way back in the day, he'd be Top 5 easy...

 

I used to intern on the GerryV and Matt show in '95-'96 every Tuesday and Thursday. DJ Stout was the Monday Wednesday Friday intern.

 

This was when WFNZ was still WRFX-AM, right? Studios were out at Radio Road (NW Charlotte off of Brookshire Blvd.)?