B96's J Niice talks about morning show changes


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Posted by chicagomedia.org on November 28, 2008 at 12:38:57:

In Reply to: Eddie & Jobo fired from B96 posted by WOW on November 21, 2008 at 11:26:09:

The B96 Morning Show...

...(sigh)

It's just about every radio personality's DREAM to have their voice heard in morning drive but not too many people think about the realization of that dream within this context or under these circumstances...It was really strange that day my supervisor pulled me into his office and told me the news.

"We're pulling the plug on the morning show. We will need you to fill-in until further notice".

Those were two huge pieces of info to digest. Of course I would GLADLY do whatever my superiors require of me...but what about the crew? I couldn't believe I would be an integral part of the dismantling of a Chicago "monument" 20+ years in construction.

I started out in this business as street-teamer on a station in Washington DC. I was once told by a superior that I would never make it out of my "vacuuming the promotions truck" duties and on the air. Shortly after landing a part-time on-air job on that station (hehehe) I moved on to Cleveland, the Cayman Islands, Miami and now the 3rd largest city in the country CHICAGO! If being so fortunate to hold down a midday show here wasn't enough, I was now being asked to relieve one of the country's most well known morning shows on one of the largest stations in the US.

It was a silent victory for J Niice that day. A victory muted by the feelings of sadness for a crew that I had learned, in my short time here, was respected, loved, and deeply intertwined into the cultural fabric of this great city. WHOA. Its a crazy business.

Like I tried to explain on the show on Monday morning, the reasons behind certain decisions in this business would make no sense to most on the outside. Likewise most higher-ups may feel that the devastation and loss felt by a long time listener who now considers their favorite radio host a friend, cannot outweigh the factors that would lead them to remove the program from the radio. Its an incredible disconnect but it is a reality in this business.

In my short time here I've learned so much from Eddie, Jobo and Erica. I can only HOPE that I have a fraction of the success that they've had in this business. Just yesterday one of my neighbors told me a story about one of the guys talking about the death of his father on the air. That shared experience made my neighbor feel close to him even though he had NEVER met the morning show. THAT "my friends" (had to borrow that one Sen. McCain) is the POWER of radio.

I do empathize with the people who miss their old morning show. Its a piece of home that's no longer there. As someone who's left home and doesn't get a glimpse of neither the place I grew up in nor a single family member for months at a time, trust me I know the feeling of displacement. As someone who's lost a parent in tragedy I know what it's like to not know who to blame for your sadness.

So, here I am ready to go to bed. In the morning I will rise when few are awake. I'll arrive at the studios of B96 Chicago. I am given the task to play songs for Chicago, deliver content and prizes. Many may probably NEVER accept the decisions made by the people I work for. If you are one of those people reading this please know that I am not responsible for the decision that my place of business has made and that I understand how it feels on your end. Also understand that my job, as was Eddie, Jobo and Erica's before Monday, is to complete our tasks at our place of employment until notified to no longer do so.

We in radio are so very fortunate to have jobs that affect YOU the listener so deeply for those MANY days when OUR job is done well. Unfortunately ours is a job that affects you equally when we no longer do it.

Awesome job Eddie, Jobo, and Erica!
- J Niice


See ya in the morning....


(J Niice's blog)


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