Filed under: gospel, Hallelujah FM, people, Photographs, radio, Random shots, Reg's Coffee House, Reg's Coffeehouse, Sidewalk, The Vulcan, The X at 100.5, The Year in Review, urban issues, WBHM, WENN-FM, WRAX
It’s been an eventful year to say the least; it seemed to save it’s most unlikely storyline for the end of the year…
The Radio Carousel continued
After the loss of the alternative radio station for a sports talk station, we lost the area’s gospel station as a conglomerate felt that the best way to answer the hopes and dreams of one listener group was to shun another. When it was all said and done, the main issue here is not race, religion, or doing what could be called morally correct in providing a true local voice for music, no matter what the genre. If that were the case, many of these changes (save maybe the initial loss of the X) would not have happened. Instead, it was largely about money. We’ve already mentioned what could be the immediate future of this situation here. Here are some more links about the issue from December:
Reflections on the fan’s reflections on the radio carousel
The Ticker: The latest on “The Vulcan”…
Lift every voice: FM gospel supporters gather…
The Ticker: Help our youth, “Yea, Reg!”…
The situation at Sidewalk got heated. We shared our thoughts on turning up the fire too much on something that serves as an asset.
The post (to me) of 2006
This post meant more to me this year than any other, and it only occurred this month. I only wish that we all felt the calling to do this more often. It also reminded me how much fun carrying a camera has been this past year as I can save these images for a lifetime.
We’re through (until the next time we post)
I’m sure that many of you are heading out for the New Year, (if you haven’t already celebrated where you are). Sometime in the next 24 hours, we’ll share some thoughts for the coming year. I hope that all of you get to enjoy the end of this year comfortably and safely.
Happy New Year!
Cheers.
See also:
The Year in Review: January and a little December ‘05 too
The Year in Review: February 2006
The Year in Review: March 2006
The Year in Review: April 2006
The Year in Review: May 2006
The Year in Review: June 2006
The Year in Review: July 2006
The Year in Review: August 2006
The Year in Review: September 2006
The Year in Review: October 2006
The Year in Review: November 2006
Filed under: Birmingham Alabama, Birmingham, AL, Blogging, Bus Rapid Transit, Catalyst, city stages, Civic Engagement, Erik Jambor, Halloween 2006, other cities, parades, people, Sidewalk, The X at 100.5, The Year in Review
Quick looks
November began with a first look at a new rapid transit bus that could be used for the metropolitan area. We took a quick look back at a local Halloween tradition downtown along 2nd Avenue North.
We recognized the changing face of banking as names were replaced in the Birmingham skyline. I made three trips to New York in one year for the first time since my second year of college in Savannah; one of those trips let me see Homewood High enjoy the spotlight in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade.
For most of the month, I took a break due to the loss of my grandmother. If nothing else, it reminded me to enjoy life in all of its forms whenever you can.
Recognition and advice/opinion for projects
The end of the month led to the rest of the city finally recognizing the existence of the Bham Wiki, a chance to hear from those interested in the future of City Stages, whether it be through the comments section of this post, or through the comments collected from our attendance at the City Stages/Catalyst town hall meeting about what else could be done to aid the struggling festival.
The Radio Carousel begins
The end of the month also led to the beginning of what we’ve been calling “The Radio Carousel” in Birmingham, Alabama. It began simply enough with the loss of The X at 100.5. It continued well into the first part of December, but not before another significant event hit the cultural scene, the sudden resignation of Sidewalk’s founding director Erik Jambor.
We really weren’t sure how the year would end… we’re still not with hours to spare.
We’ll see you later today.
Cheers.
See also:
The Year in Review: January and a little December ‘05 too
The Year in Review: February 2006
The Year in Review: March 2006
The Year in Review: April 2006
The Year in Review: May 2006
The Year in Review: June 2006
The Year in Review: July 2006
The Year in Review: August 2006
The Year in Review: September 2006
The Year in Review: October 2006
Filed under: B'ham Wiki, Birmingham AL restaurants, Birmingham Alabama, Birmingham, AL, Christmas 2006, Herman Spivey, radio, Reg's Coffee House, Reg's Coffeehouse, Spivey's, The Radio Carousel, The Ticker, The X at 100.5, WRAX
The pending last days of the Christmas holiday craze leaves people running around town chasing down gifts, sending out cards at the last minute and hoping that you’ll be able to survive the trip to the parents or in-laws if it is in your future. There are a few things that have landed in the inbox for the site that need to be spread out to the masses.
Eat out December 27th and help protect children from predators
One item that has come across the info desk here is the chance to eat out shortly after Christmas and not being guilty about the leftovers that you have in your fridge. Head out to your local Jim N’ Nick’s restaurant on December 27th and know that a portion of the proceeds from the purchase of your meal, whether it be at lunch or dinner, will be going towards supporting a new non-profit called Making Children Aware of Predators (MCAP). The group is a new non-profit that goes into schools and works within an age-appropriate curriculum to teach children about predators, when to get an adult involved, how to spot a predator online, and other helpful information beginning during the 2007-2008 academic year. Current plans are for all students in Jefferson County schools participating in a MCAP class every week. So go on, eat a Pig in a Blanket next Wednesday; it’s for a great cause.
Reg’s Coffeehouse returns to local terrestrial airwaves Sunday
One of the casualties of the radio carousel currently taking place in Birmingham, Alabama was the loss of a local carrier of Reg’s Coffeehouse. As I’ve discovered while writing posts about all of the changes recently the loss of Scott Register on local radio is one of the main reasons that many were upset with the demise of The X at 100.5. Well, Reg will be returning to local radio complete with an additional hour of programming. The show will now be broadcast from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. every Sunday beginning this week on Citadel Broadcasting station Y94.5, WYSF-FM, the flagship station for the Rick and Bubba Show. The show has continued to be broadcast in syndication since the format change at 100.5 last month. For those that miss hearing him, check out his site since archives of the syndicated show are available.
UPDATE: Click on the following link to read the story as it appears in today’s Birmingham News:
Reg’s Coffee House to return, The Birmingham News, December 21, 2006
Visit Spivey’s Hobby Store this weekend and remember “The Toy Man”
Herman Spivey was a well respected member of this community for many years. He was one of the first merchants I ever had the pleasure of speaking to one-on-one at his store’s former location on Tuscaloosa Avenue. He sat me down and talked to me for more than 2 hours that first time. I felt quite helpless in Chicago last summer as I found out that the building, a historic theater, had gone up in flames, knowing the amount of work that he and his wife, Carolyn has put into it. I knew how badly he wanted to reopen for his customers, and because he truly loved what he did.
Because of the cloud that I’ve been in recently due to the recent death of my grandmother (among other things) I was not aware that Mr. Spivey had passed away on November 29 at the age of 79. I had recently gone to visit the store at its new location and spoke with his wife in October. She relayed to me how upset he had been about not being able to come out and visit weith his long time customers. I’d always said that I would come over and get a model car once he got settled in at the new location at 1509 Lomb Avenue. This Friday and Saturday, December 22 and 23, many of his long time customers and I will get the chance to do just that as the store will be open one more time. Here’s the note that was on the door to the business as I drove by today:
I’d ask those that stumble across this to spread the word.
We’ll have more later including a look back at February.
Enjoy the day.
Cheers.
Filed under: AL, Alabama Politics, Birmingham Alabama, Birmingham, AL, Civic Engagement, Clear Channel, clearchannel, Commentary, Hallelujah FM, radio, The Rambles, The X at 100.5, WENN-FM, WRAX
Some more site changes on tap for 2007
Considering it’s almost the end of 2006, I’m figuring that I need to save some stuff for 2007. So we’re going to catch up on some photo posting during the next few days. We’re also going to begin our year in review of the blog tomorrow morning. This is basically a great opportunity to go back, see which posts were the most visited, post links to them, and give those that have recently joined us here on the site a chance to catch up before we start rambling again in 2007.
Of course, if something really cool comes up, we’ll have to write something about it. I’ll be frank; when the computer crashed several months ago, many of the basic tools I used for “producing” this blog were lost with it. I’m using the next few weeks to see what I can come up with to design a newer, more friendly blog for the new year. For those of you that didn’t see this coming, you should have. I did go to an art school. I can’t pass up a chance to do something a little crazy. I’m hoping to give the site a slightly more Birmingham feel than it already has. If you’ve got any ideas for changes to the blog or votes for the coming year, I’d get them in via the comments section soon. A couple of first “final rambles of the year” though:
Enjoy it while you can, it’s starting to heat up soon
A phrase that has long been tied with the holiday season is “Peace on earth. Goodwill toward men.” We are enjoying an extremely peaceful time in the city… before the start of the 2007 election cycle. One hope is that the upcoming elections maintain a level of peace and civility. More important than specific interests and personal goals should be the goal of serving the people of Birmingham, Alabama to the best of their ability and doing what is right. Hopefully people will see this upcoming election as an opportunity to speak to what they would like to see happen. I refuse to consider “supporting” anyone on this site for obvious reasons as well as the fact that I have no horse in this race. Birmingham must choose what is best for itself. I am only one voice in the sea of public opinion and I’ll be interested in seeing what comes up for discussion as time goes on.
The radio carousel: What’s next
One would have to assume that some station in the coming weeks will make the switch to a gospel format in Birmingham, Alabama. This past weekend’s rally made it sound like another company was taking a hard look at making it possible. While it may be possible to bring the format back, and while 105.5′s new format has received a favorable reception into the market, the question remains “Will we be right back in this situation in a few years?”
Radio is a business, as John reminded us in a comment to a post last week. The future of both all three of these format changes in town is the viability of these formats to make money for their companies. People listening need to translate to people buying goods advertised on the stations, including increasing support of locally and regionally owned businesses that choose to advertise on these stations. If this is not done, it will not matter how many times we bring back “classic alternative” and gospel.
…and finally,
Thanks as always to everyone that has decided to stop by this little piece of the blogosphere and see what we have to say. We’ll see you tomorrow. Enjoy the holidays everybody!
Cheers.
