98 Rock loses Kirk and Mark
98 Rock (WIYY) in Baltimore (WIYY) was possibly the last good station left on FM in Baltimore. As a subscriber of Sirius and XM Satellite Radio, I seldomly listened to the station but when I did, I enjoyed the show and program that Kirk McEwen and Mark Ondayko did in the mornings. It was a staple of Baltimore radio and it comes as a surprise (well, sort of considering the strong arm of terrestrial radio) that they will no longer be on the station.
In a related cut, 92Q (WERQ) in Baltimore cut its Big Phat Morning Show hosts, too, Troy Johnson, Marc Clarke and Sonjay (Mark Clarke remains on the station). So much for listener ratings and the audience that followed them and the morning show on 98 Rock.
In February (February 1, 2007) at the earliest, Kirk and Mark will be joining 105.7 Free FM (WHFS). Until then, they are to serve on a 90-day compete-clause as outlined in their contacts with WIYY. They will take over The Jocks in the morning (currently sitting in the morning slot at WHFS) and Mickey and Amelia will take the morning slot in place of Kirk and Mark at WIYY.
In the meantime, it just shows the strong arm that FM and terrestrial radio exercise. Sometimes it’s not about popularity of a station or how many listeners a station receives, how loved the DJ’s are, or how long the station was in the market. Kirk and Mark left because their contracts were up in February and they couldn’t strike a deal with the station, unfortunately. After all, 104.3FM in Baltimore was previously Classic Rock (which can’t really be found anywhere else on FM in Baltimore except for 100.7 The Bay (WZBA), 102.7 WXYV was previously Current Hits Radio and Top 40 with Priestly (who now works on XM Hitlist at XM Satellite Radio and previously worked on the 90’s on 9 before the channel on XM was demolished and switched hands and lost all DJ’s), and 99.1 WHFS was an alternative station which switched to Spanish Hits Radio.
It’s a disappointing day in Baltimore for rock fans. I’m curious how many people are going to follow Kirk and Mark to 105.7 in February or if all hope has been lost in terrestrial radio in Baltimore and the switch is being made to satellite radio providers. Either way, I doubt it’ll be the same when they return to the air in February.
Comments, as always, are welcome.
Posted: October 30th, 2006 under Music.
Comments: 15
Comments
Comment from Karin
Time: January 23, 2007, 1:41 pm
I am so TOTALLY HAPPY to find where Kirk and Mark will be. I heard a quick “blurb” on 105.7 that said something about KMS and 105.7. I quickly got onto this site to find out they begin on Feb 1. I no longer listen to 98 Rock since their departure. I really enjoyed KMS in the mornings and Mickey and Ameilia in the afternoons. Mickey and Ameilia just could not replace Kirk and Mark in the morning. My radio dial will be on 105.7 in the mornings beginning Feb 1. Thanks guys for the information!
Comment from Tony
Time: January 30, 2007, 8:04 am
Keep KMS on 98 Rock….The Junkies are sooo much better than KMS… Let the Junkies stay on HFS!!
Comment from Maura
Time: February 2, 2007, 10:30 am
Thanks for telling me where I can find kirk and Mark. I couldn’t tolerate Mickey’s obnoxious voice in the afternoon there is no way I could take it in the mornings. KML was the only reason to tune into WIYY. How can you compare Class with tackiness?
Comment from Chad
Time: February 9, 2007, 12:39 pm
These guys stink. They are so boring. At least the Junkies were unique and funny. Who cares if they were from D.C. Why does this town despise all things D.C. anyway. Its not D.C.’s fault that the Colts moved! Get over it!
Comment from Gladys
Time: February 12, 2007, 12:11 am
I wish Kirk and Mark the best…I try to listen to them, but that station gets a lot of interference in my area…I like Mickey and Amelia, but they are better in the afternoons. Shame on 98 Rock for losing the winners.
Comment from Leni
Time: February 21, 2007, 9:43 am
I loved to listen to KML when Lopez was still alive on 98Rock. I still listened after his death but it just wasn’t the same. It’s hard to replace that magic team and I think KMS wasn’t any where as comical. I will tune into 105.7 to check out Kirk and Mark and I wish them the best in their new endeavor.
Comment from Jay
Time: March 11, 2007, 9:59 pm
Kirk & Mark suck on HFS. They should have swallowed a bit of crow and stayed at WIYY. Mickey is doing fine in the morning, now that he has toned down. 98 Rock will go on, but Kirk and Mark most certainly will not.
Comment from A
Time: March 29, 2007, 9:30 pm
Good riddence. The only reason I listened to WIYY when they were there was to hear Lopez - these guys have no talent and are just boring. They aren’t missed.
Comment from bridget
Time: April 16, 2007, 7:33 am
Lopez was the main reason I listened to 98 Rock, starting long before KML. I like Kirk; never much cared for Mark, the trailer park redneck, but he’s really improved a lot. Mickey is infinitely worse–not funny, not smart, not entertaining–a total loser. I listened to 98 Rock much less when Lopez died, and won’t listen at all without KMS. I still miss Lopez.
Comment from Ryan
Time: April 16, 2007, 12:34 pm
Completely agree, bridget. Mickey doesn’t have any talent and his jokes aren’t even funny regardless of the state of mind you’re in. Lopez is still definitely missed, there’s no doubt about that.
Comment from nelson
Time: April 26, 2007, 11:00 am
I think of lopez often when I listen to fm rock radio, like the two previous comments I listened to 98 rock mainly soley for Lopez’s news reports and the earlier in his career “The Daily Lopez” intersting short subject in in the news I still have on a “laugh hard” wristband that I got when Lopez was first sick. Nothing on radio will, for me, ever come close to Lopez
Comment from Paul
Time: June 11, 2007, 4:25 pm
I didn.t know where Kirk & Mark went .Thanks for having posted info. Miss Lopez the most, but always liked Kirk & Mark. Not sure about Sbegal. Feels strange listening to M & A in the mourning, but getting use to.Sometimes good things move on. Many thoughts for the Lopez family,still. Good luck!
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Comment from James
Time: September 19, 2008, 2:59 am
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Comment from JC
Time: November 20, 2008, 1:23 am
It’s interesting that I find you’re blog now… when Kirk & Mark have been booted from WHFS 105.7. It’s also interesting since they have lots of sports coverage during their morning show. They would’ve fit right in. Well that’s free radio for you, we’re just not allowed to have any variety. If you want variety you’ll have to pay for it! Just like TV. The best viewing is on cable or satillite. Very little good free TV. — I don’t listen to 98 Rock at all anymore. I only listened to it because of KMS. Poor Speigel. The Junkies can be really annoying. They come in very clear where I live. I could barely hear 105.7. The only stations I can hear well during the daytime are the high-def. 102.7 is high-def & is completely automated; though excellent variety. I love that it’s just like listening to a DJ at a party rather than a radio station that plays all the same kind of music. — My wish is that Kirk & Mark get hired in the DC area market, we have several Classic Rock/AOR stations here. That would be SWEET! Then I wouldn’t need to jump between The Junkies, Mix 107 & WTOP. So long K&M. Really enjoyed when you were relaxed & felt like to could talk about anything…no I’m not talking about HFS, I’m remembering KickAss 98 Rock back in the ’80s.
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