What Happend to 96.5 FM?

Maybe some of my readers in the Philadelphia Metropolitan Area will know what I’m referring to when I say – WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED TO 96.5 FM “THE POINT”???

I’ve never listened to a station with so much potential go so wrong. When it originally came on the air (maybe 2-3 years ago)… it was known as the 80’s station. I remember enjoying the nonstop 80’s blocks, many of which were by request. It then became apparent that their ratings weren’t climbing fast enough spinning nothing but 80’s. The Point’s format expanded to “The Best of the 80’s, 90’s & More”… I was willing to accept this change, as they were still predominantly 80’s with a little early 90’s and late 70’s mixed in. They were also the radio station associated with the Retro 80’s nights at both the Coastline in Cherry Hill, and Café Society in Marlton. It was also during this time that they picked up a Philly standard The Barsky Morning Show – previously broadcasted on 93.3FM WMMR. The Barsky Morning Show is a superior talk radio show that enjoyed every morning on my way to work, until recently. It was bad enough when The Point went pretty POP… playing Michelle Branch, Matchbox 20, and Avril Lavigne, but then last Tuesday it ALL went to hell.

Imagine my surprise when I tuned in for The Barsky Show last Tuesday morning, and instead of a talk show, I hear Eminem’s latest attempt to lower America’s musical standards. Knowing that very little of what gets played on the radio has to do with DJ musical tastes or the requests of listeners with enough fortitude to call the station, I accept that the playing of Eminem during The Barsky Show was a managerial/marketing decision. Just after my ears stopped bleeding, the next track came on…. Another piece of musical garbage that some might call Rap and/or R&B. It’s becoming increasingly apparent that The Point has decided to change formats… but not only that, they removed The Barsky Show from their line-up. Apparently White Boy Rap has a more appeal? (prolly to those fuckers in the tricked out Honda Civics who think they’re Vin Diesel or worse Paul Walker).

The Barsky Show is no longer on the air, and what started out as 96.5FM The Point “Philly’s 80’s Station” has become 96.5FM The Wild “Bangin’ Hip Hop and R&B”… ugh…

Am I the only one that noticed this shit?… Am I the only one that cares? Go Here – Who the fuck is Rocco?… is he the ass wipe DJ that was asking some Soccer-Mom if she was a MILF the other night, in the most cheesy and canned radio voice imaginable?

Comments

Please excuse any foul language that may ensue as i tend to get rather ... opinionated.

I tuned into 96.5 on my way home from Drexel last week and to my surprise and agony I was assaulted by the mixing derelict that is the current proprietor of "Wild!" 96.5 (what the fuck is so wild about it??), Rocco.

WHO THE FUCK IS ROCCO!?! FUCK ROCCO!

ahem...moving on...Chalking it up to an aberration of some wanna-be disc jockey pirating the airwaves from his industrial come janitorial lair, i fully expected the appropriate persons to reclaim the airwaves and hand it back into the able hands of 96.5 "The Point." Has this happened? NO.
For the past week ive had the displeasure of finding other means of gaining my music fix, none too stressful considering the innovative genius of Apple and Griffin technologies.
If by some cosmic hiccup enough people go to these blue vans propagating this mayhem and sign his petition ill take a spork to my left eye in frustration to the hopelessness of it all.

Yea...probably not.

[Denzel]

What´s about 96.5? I don´t know it?

[Jen]

I am so depressed about the change at 96.5. I was pleasantly surprised, after moving from Seattle, to find my favorite station was in Philly too, I have been a listener for years.
So…I was completely shocked when I realized the Barsky show and the great 80's were not coming back.
Does Philly really need another hip hop station?
Come On!!

[rich]

face it ,,,if they want ratings in philly ,,u gotta play some kind of hip hop shit ,,,,but with this station ,something fishy is going on,,,,A. there is no live DJ ,,its all ecorded ,,,B,. they only play like 10 songs ,,over and over ,,,i heard that Cingy song, Right Thurr Right Thurr,3 times in 3 hrs (i was forced to listen to this station because my supervisor in my shop likes it ),,so if anyone knows y they only play the same songs over and over ,,and y there isnt a live DJ,,,i would like to know ,,,thanx

Max 95.7 (WXXM) Philadelphia

[Tommy]

WHERE IS BARSKY NOW???

[gingermeister]

I can't believe that The Barsky Show has been pulled and that horrible hip-hop crap with the loser DJ (for lack of a more appropriate word) is supposed to be a "replacement." I thought Barsky and his crew were fabulously entertaining and the format DID NOT need to be changed! Big mistake, 96.5. Big mistake.

Relax everyone..... if you go to the website phillypoint.com they show Rocco, with his face "blacked" out..... it IS Barsky. Apparently he's on vacation for a few weeks, so they pre-recorded everything as "Rocco" who hi-jacked the station.... but you probably do need to fear as I think the rap is gonna stay....

[Anne]

I am really annoyed that there is no more Barsky and the Point!! I went to work one morning laughing, enjoying myself while listening to the Barksy and then came home listen to rap and hip hop, with the Barsky crew on the radio in the afternoon. The next morning, still rap and hip hop and no more Barsky. They were the greatest! Now when I'm driving my 1hr 15mins to work, I keep flipping through the stations because nothing I find is good, until I am able to get Z100 in and then leave the radio on that!

[Trish]

I, too am extremely disappointed that the Barksy crew is gone. I've followed them from station and station (luckily finding them as I would begin to switch channels). On what turned out to be the last Monday of the show, I heard Barsky say he was excited about some new idea he had, so on Tuesday when I heard the 'janitor' and the new music, I thought it was Barsky's joke!! I listened each day waiting for the crew to return to no avail, and finally decided I had to find out what happened and here I am! What a shame! I really felt like I knew them and really enjoyed starting my day with them...Barsky has talked about this kind of thing happening in this business but with no warning...it is really sad for the others and the listeners!!

[Trish]

I, too am extremely disappointed that the Barksy crew is gone. I've followed them from station and station (luckily finding them as I would begin to switch channels). On what turned out to be the last Monday of the show, I heard Barsky say he was excited about some new idea he had, so on Tuesday when I heard the 'janitor' and the new music, I thought it was Barsky's joke!! I listened each day waiting for the crew to return to no avail, and finally decided I had to find out what happened and here I am! What a shame! I really felt like I knew them and really enjoyed starting my day with them...Barsky has talked about this kind of thing happening in this business but with no warning...it is really sad for the others and the listeners!!

[Maria]

Is it true gingermeister? Is that Barskey? If anyone knows if they are comming back please e-mail [email protected]. I have nothing to listen to in the am now!

[Andrew]

Hey... I have a novel idea... why dont you try listening to NPR and paying attention to what's going on in the world?

Check out www.barsky.com They have a link to a Phila Inquirer article written by Michael Klein on 11/18 that says "Paul Barsky, the station's big ticket morning man, will remain. The fate of the rest of the on-air staff is unknown. The station, which will change names, will be jockless for several weeks."

I suggest you send an email to Beasley Broadcast Group at [email protected] to let them know you want the Barsky show back on the air in the mornings. If they'll do that, I can live with (or turn off) the repetitive music the rest of the day!

[MARCUS AURILLIUS]

IS ROCCO THE SAME SUCKY BOSTON DJ THA OPIE AND ANTHONY TORMENTED. GOD I HOPE SO ROCCO YOU SUCK....DAVE THAT IS. CANT WAIT FOR O/A TO COME BACK AND KICK YOUR BUTT,

THIS NEW STATION SUCKS DONKEY DONG AND SHOULD NOT EVEN BE ON THE AIR HOW MANY MORE HIP HOP WANNABES CAN WE HAVE,, SUCK IT

YOUR MOMS BOX

Barsky is ROCCO its a scam!!!

[Amy]

I am extremly upset that barsky isn't on the air anymore. I just loved that station. the new station SUCKS! We want the old radio station and BARSKY back! That morning crew was excellent!

[Guy Incognito]

Rocco is Ben Maxwell from the morning show. I emailed him when this first happened and asked when Barksy would be back. He said soon, but that was probably a month ago.

[Chrissy B.]

Wow! I finally found a place to voice my opinion about the point. I also felt like I had nothing else to listen to. I couldnt believe how upset it made me to learn there was no more Barsky Show! I was so angry that I did email The Beasly company.They actually responded to me with their apology for how I was feeling about the change. I made the switch to mix 95.7. Its an okay substitute for the music. Too much christina aguwhatever and britney spears though. There is no substitute for barsky however. I feel like I lost five of my dearest friends (and malady too).

[Chrissy B.]

Another comment I wanted to make. Did anyone else out there think this was a huge joke besides me? I emailed Barsky and asked when the joke was going to end and got no response. Not even an explanation. I also notice like others did the same songs playing over and over again. Who plays Baby got back anymore anyway? I remember Ben saying once that he had a small collection of hip hop stuff. What about all of the contests that were going on at the time they went off the air. What about the great ratings they were getting? What about Eric? He just bought a new car!
On the other hand does anyone think a company would risk losing so many listeners for a huge joke? Even if it is for Barsky. And if anyone remembers when "The Point" first went on the air they played the same songs over and over too. I can only say I am extremely angry and upset about the change.Any music but hip hop. Thanks for giving me a place to vent. Did anyone else email The Beasly Broadcasting Company?

[Yo Barsky Raps]

Rocco is Ben. I have spoken to him a couple of times. We should not be too hard on him. A guys gotta eat right?

[Chrissy B.]

Not being hard on Ben. Being hard on the evil demon who took over him and the overseers who ruined the station. Spoke to him a few times too and he doesnt seem too happy about what happened either.

[Carl Voellm]

The change to 96.5 is hard to believe, the crap they are playing now you can not listen to or even understand, I can not believe that the sponsors would pay any money to advertise on this station. Barsky come back, please

[Cole]

Just a thought. Listen closely to Rocco's voice. Remember the times that Barsky would use his "South Philly" voice in one form or another as part of the show? Hmmmm..... Sounds very familiar to me. I don’t think we have heard the last of Barsky.

[Chrissy B.]

Rocco is Ben Maxwell. He emailed me when I had a few oppinions on the new station that I emailed to him. He said he doesnt know whats going to happen. Email rocco and see what he says to you