While many former Q95.5 employees were shocked when they faced the music of an abrupt format change by Radio One that left them jobless during the holiday season, the corporate switch in format from Hip-Hop (Q95.5) to Urban Adult Contemporary (FOXY 95.5) was business as usual for Garth Adams.
Adams, who has been assigned as the new FOXY 95.5 program director, was most recently on-air talent and music and program director for Radio One’s WTLC-FM in Indianapolis.
He was tapped for the gig in St. Louis “because of the success that we had in Indianapolis when our station went through a similar situation that Q95.5 went through, as far as being young and going to an older format,” Adams said.
Adams said the transition was abrupt, as usual, but explained that in the scope of things staff aren’t the owners of the radio stations where they work, so they have no choice but to make the best of the situation.
As for listeners, he said, “I kind of tell the children and grandchildren to hand the radio over to their parents and grandparents, because it’s now mom and grandma’s station.”
As previously reported here, the switch came after Radio One acquired controlling interest in Tom Joyner’s company, Reach Media, Inc.
This isn’t the first time that Adams has worked with (or against) the “fly jock.”
“Tom is family,” Adams said. “I was a Tom Joyner producer in Indianapolis, but at one point Tom was our competitor.”
Adams’ new responsibilities as PD for FOXY 95.5 include “overseeing music, promotions, talent and making sure the sound of the station fits the personality of the city,” he said.
The Indie native has had about three weeks thus far to get acclimated to St. Louis, but said he’s very excited and had already heard good things about the city.
“Just from the people I’ve met who have come from St. Louis to Indianapolis, I feel good about it,” Adams said. “I remember them because of their humbleness and friendliness.”
As for the FOXY 95.5’s format of R&B and classic soul, Adams said it’s what he’s been listening to his whole life.
“It’s what I’ve been playing in Indianapolis as a club deejay, and I’ve basically grown up with it,” Adams said. “I have responsibility for black radio, but so many times others don’t honor or study the music n and the records that they play are just a title and a name.”
Adams is keeping an open mind as the station continues to review applying talent. And hiring talent from competitors isn’t out of the question.
“Talent is talent,” Adams said.
“I’m making it a point that, everybody who approaches me, I do get back in touch with them within 24 hours to at least say I appreciate their interest in the new FOXY 95.5.”
Speaking of talent, Adams himself hit the airwaves last Thursday. While he doesn’t seem as excited about being on air as directing the station’s programming, he said he enjoys meeting callers and taking care of the music for them.
Adams’ smooth baritone voice is on air 2-7 p.m. weekdays and Saturday mornings from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
His main job, he said, is to make FOXY 95.5 the best across the board, adding that Clear Channel’s Urban AC station Majic 104.9 isn’t his only competition.
“I wouldn’t single out Majic, no more than a talk show, and I also see 106.5 as competition,” he said.
For Adams, who came up through the ranks of WTLC in Indianapolis,
stiff competition is business as usual.
