Static gets louder as Roth snubs Hub
By Jessica Heslam
Thursday, March 16, 2006
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David Lee Roth’s radio days are numbered. Critics pan him. His ratings are horrendous. He’s difficult to work with and on air he’s dared his CBS bosses to fire him.
And the list goes on.
Roth - who replaced shock jock Howard Stern on the East Coast in January - snubbed the Hub.
The former Van Halen rockerwas scheduled to do his morning show live at Boston’s WBCN today and tomorrow but cancelled last minute, citing “scheduling conflicts.”
“It’s a matter of waiting for the blow up. He’s really interesting, but so far that hasn’t translated into a compelling radio show,” said Tom Taylor, editor of Inside Radio.
“I don’t think David’s having a good time,” Taylor said. “Radio is a lot harder to do than it sounds.”
Despite a big billboard and bus marketing blitz, WBCN has lost about 100,000 listeners from December to January when Roth took over. The station’s morning ratings dropped to 12th place from first.
The ratings for Stern’s West Coast replacement, comedian Adam Carolla, were even worse.
If Roth can’t come close to replacing Stern - who left CBS for XM Satellite Radio - who can?
Michael Harrison, publisher of Talkers magazine, said there are two obvious choices: syndicated talk jock Mancow Muller or former WAAF duo Opie & Anthony, who have an XM Satellite Radio show and were rumored to be in talks with CBS.
“Somebody is going to replace David Lee Roth,” Harrison said. “Radio people do much better on radio than non-radio people.”
Don Kelley, programming vice president for Greater Media’s five Boston stations, said WBCN could always return to playing music.
“People have given it a try and they’re not liking it,” Kelley said of Roth. “All you hear are stories about how he doesn’t want any input. That’s not the way to win.”
A CBS spokeswoman said there’s no truth to the rumor that Opie & Anthony are replacing Roth, who has turned down recent interview requests by the Herald because of “scheduling conflicts.”
jheslam@bostonherald.com.
:mad:
