Sound eerily familiar?

[BrettVW]

While no information is 100% accurate, according to Radio and Records, the ABC Radio Networks appears to be ready to announce their plans to replace Bob Kingsley on American Country Countdown with country singer Kix Brooks at the end of this year.

It is said that Kingsley may be starting another countdown, which leads me to believe this is not a voluntary retirement. Anyone know how old Bob is?

This sounds like it could be a carbon copy of what happened 2 years ago with AT40.

[Michael1973]

Actually, it sounds more like what happened to Casey in 1988 (at least, the part about Kingsley possibly starting a new show does...)

[BrettVW]

I forgot to post the link earlier. Here it is

www.radioandrecords.com/Newsroom/2005_11_09/streettalkcountry.asp

[Deleted]

first of all, I thought Bob Kingsley OWNED American Country Countdown now and it is only distributed by ABC.

Second, how odd that ABC wouldnt have learned a lesson from the last time. I know most of the people arent around, but good grief! ACC CAN survive if Bob Kingsley leaves the show and a replacement is brought in, it CANNOT...I repeat...CANNOT survive if Kingsley starts another show, it will be 1989 all over again.

[mstgator]

brettvw said:

www.radioandrecords.com/Newsroom/2005_11_09/streettalkcountry.asp

R&R has learned that ABC Radio Networks will make a special announcement today at 12:30pm ET, at which time they are expected to announce that Country star Kix Brooks, of the duo Brooks & Dunn, will replace 35-year American Country Countdown host Bob Kingsley.

The report makes it sound like ACC went on the air the same year as AT40, which clearly isn't the case. The show didn't debut until 1973, and Bob Kingsley didn't come onboard until 1978.

[Deleted]

Thats true, but Bob has worked on the show since it debuted I believe. He just became host in 78.

[Scott Lakefield]

Wow. It sounds JUST like 1988. I wonder when "Bob's Top 40" will start.

[Deleted]

Bobby's Top 40 has a better ring to it Scott.

[Topay]

On one hand, Kix Brooks is no Shadoe Stevens. He was one of the big whigs of the CMA, and a lot of country fans respect Kix. The main downside is that he's still a part of the current music scene. I can just imagine: "and coming in at #10 was Ronnie and I!" Is this a sign of Brooks & Dunn's retirement perhaps?

On the other hand, Bob is a HUGE part of ACC's success. If a "Bob's Country Countdown" comes out, and its format is similar to ACC's, then I can see ACC slowly dying out. Of course, BCC would have to use something other than Billboard, which may be a little uneasy on some.

I wouldn't mind seeing BCC. At least that way my college (Va Tech of the Atlantic Coast Conference)'s football conference and the countdown show won't share initials.

[BrettVW]

It reminds me of 2004 and AT40 because it seems as if a "regular radio guy" Kingsley is being forced out for a "big name" in the same way as Casey and Ryan.

It reminds me of 1988 because Bob is planning on getting another show started, and my guess is his fan base will move with him. Imagine if he gets picked up by Premiere...."Bob's Top 40" will probably move to all of the CC Country stations it isn't already on.

[BrettVW]

www.radioandrecords.com/Newsroom/2005_11_09/topstory.asp

Here's the official news. Seems more like a new show is coming, as Bob has no plans of even taking a week off. It also seems as if the current ACC affiliates will continue to run Bob's show, although I can't imagine that. I guarantee ACC affiliates will drop and stations will pick up "Bob's Top 40".

[Deleted]

The Clearchannel connection was my thought....and is why ACC is about to go down and hard.

How many domestic stations did Rick Dees lose when the show was no longer under contract to Premiere and thus was not forced to run?

ACC to my knowlegde isn't forced on any station, but if CC picks it up it probably will be, but because of Bob Kingsley will be gladly picked up by others(many of which will probably throw it in ACC's timeslot). I really feel like it's 1988 again.

[Deleted]

topay said:

On one hand, Kix Brooks is no Shadoe Stevens. He was one of the big whigs of the CMA, and a lot of country fans respect Kix. The main downside is that he's still a part of the current music scene. I can just imagine: "and coming in at #10 was Ronnie and I!" Is this a sign of Brooks & Dunn's retirement perhaps?

On the other hand, Bob is a HUGE part of ACC's success. If a "Bob's Country Countdown" comes out, and its format is similar to ACC's, then I can see ACC slowly dying out. Of course, BCC would have to use something other than Billboard, which may be a little uneasy on some.

I wouldn't mind seeing BCC. At least that way my college (Va Tech of the Atlantic Coast Conference)'s football conference and the countdown show won't share initials.

Or Bob could acquire the exclusive rights to use Billboard's chart. We dont know what will happen yet.

[Topay]

Perhaps. It's definitely way too soon to tell. I can't imagine ACC switching charts, though. Since 1973, the show has managed to keep the same chart the whole time. Perhaps BT40/BCC will go current AT40's route and use affilliate airplay only ("I'm Bob Kingsley bringing you the most radio-active country hits, determined exclusively by BCC's panel of stations...") with or perhaps without a recurrent rule.

[Deleted]

Honestly, I dont think it matters what ACC does, its on its way to the grave. So, they can go ahead and release the BB rights so someone else who knows what they are doing with them can use it.

Just to set the record straight to those who may wonder why this is so different from the way some of us reacted in 2003 when Seacrest was the announced replacement. It is because we knew Caseys time on CHR radio had come and gone and for the good of AT40 in the long run, a new format for the show was needed. That is not the case here, as the name of this post says; it is so eerily similar to 1988 that the only real difference is the format of music. So, if we follow the story to its conclusion, ACC is done for. Affiliates may have been loyal to the show, but the minute they find out 1.) Bob isnt hosting it anymore and B.) he has his own show starting. I think many or most will drop ACC in a flash by choice and some if Bob enters into an agreement with Premiere, by force.