6 April 1998
ENTERCOM CORPORATION
To Whom It May Concern:
In less than a month, Entercom Corporation will take possession of a radio station in Gainesville, Florida--WRRX, 97.7- FM, popularly known as 97X. Although your company owns and operates dozens of stations across the country, I want to take a moment and tell you what I and nearly 2000 other people in this area think about our hometown station 97X.
The on-air staff--Ed Sherman, Jackson Heart, Moe Rodriguez and especially
Program Director Jerry 'Dog Boy' Gerard--
have been unstinting in their support of local music and musicians
for years now. This station is an outstanding asset to all musicians
local, regional, national and international. In terms of its support
for local music and musicians, 97X isn't just the best station in Florida--it's
one of the best in the country.
Their diverse and eclectic format, so different from most of the stations that Entercom operates, is more than a 'breath of fresh air' in our market--it is a hurricane of unparalleled creativity, thoughtfulness, imagination and innovation. 97X is not a station you listen to in the hopes of calling in and winning $1000, or because you love the wacky 'Morning Zoo Crew'--it's the station you listen to when you want to be amazed at what's coming out of your speakers.
It is no surprise to us that Jerry Gerard's numbers are the best in his time slot, even though 97X is only pumping out 6000 watts--you tend to develop a rabidly loyal following when you play the best new (and old) music around, and do it with dedication, zeal and an obvious love for the work. Simply put, Jerry Gerard is the best there is.
The entire staff of 97X--on air and off--are firstrate, and have been integral, we think, in the station's success. We would hate to see any of them lose their jobs in this takeover, though, sadly, everyone understands the nature of this business. In this package you'll find news articles, petitions and comment cards from nearly 2000 people in Gainesville and surrounding areas who are concerned with only one thing--keeping the format and staff of 97X the same. This grassroots effort was entirely coordinated by local musicians and loyal listeners in the last six weeks since the takeover was announced--no one on the staff of 97X has had anything to do with it, other than simply continuing to be the best radio station most of us have ever heard.
Very simply put, we love this station and the people that run it.
We patronize 97X's advertisers and appreciate the station's quirks.
I imagine that Entercom buys and changes radio stations every month, and
no one ever says a word in protest--but that's not how things are in Gainesville.
Here, we really care about these things, and I trust that you will listen
to and take heed of what these 2000 people--and those silent thousands
they represent who feel the same way--have to say about 97X.
Thank you,
Ned Davis