Difference between revisions of "The Generator"

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Enlisting the help of another former [[The Rock|Rock]] associate [[Grant Hislop]], over the course of 2001 the sound of the station shifted to reflect this new focus, culminating in September, when the station relaunched itself as ''The Generator''. The original name pitched to the staff at the time was ''The Pig'' - which was unanimously derided.<br>
 
Enlisting the help of another former [[The Rock|Rock]] associate [[Grant Hislop]], over the course of 2001 the sound of the station shifted to reflect this new focus, culminating in September, when the station relaunched itself as ''The Generator''. The original name pitched to the staff at the time was ''The Pig'' - which was unanimously derided.<br>
  
−
Within a week of the launch party, almost half the staff were told they were being let go (continuing the cost-cutting measures that had begun the previous year, when almost all the staff were put on $80 a week - the maximum that could be earned whilst still recieving the dole). The number of paid staff continued to decline over the next few years, the station relying more and more on volunteers.<br>
+
Within a week of the launch party, almost half the staff were told they were being let go. The number of paid staff continued to decline over the next few years, with the station relying more and more on volunteers.<br>
  
−
In 2003, the [[Waikato Students' Union]] Executive made it a priority to wrest control of the frequency, and return it to student use. With outside help, the exec made a point of monitoring what the Generator was broadcasting, and comparing it to the guidelines (set down by the government) surrounding what a student frequency was meant to be used for. Several breaches of the rules were found - including but not limited to excessive advertising, lack of student management/involvement/concerns, and inappropriate advertising (at the time, one of the major advertisers on the station was a 'massage parlour'). The WSU gave the Generator 30 days in which to comply with the guidelines, or their lease on the frequency would be considered void. After the time limit passed, the WSU president made the decision (on advice from lawyers) not to press ahead with reclaiming the frequency, despite the majority of the executive in favour of doing so.<br>
+
The Generator continued to operate from the small building upstairs in Victoria Street, above what is now The $2 Shop. Upon [[Iain Stables]] investing in the company, a new studio was built and the Production Sound Booth built. Plans were underway to open a partnering station, The Generator began broadcasting Waikato-wide on another frequency (owned by Wayne Hendersen who became another shareholder). [[Nathan Muller]] became Programme Director and there was a boost in staff including new DJs, various Promotions Managers and the start of an advertising sales team.<br>
  
−
On June 9th 2006, The Generator was closed by owner Wayne Henderson. It has continued as [[Backbeat]].
+
A successful [[Battle of the Bands]] was held at [[Altitude]], owned by Laurie Weakes, who later invested in The Generator.<br>
 +
 
 +
With [[Joe Dennehy]] calling most of the shots, The Generator moved premises in 2002 to Level 3, Axa Building, Garden Place, despite reservations from the rest of the shareholders. Shortly after moving, a dispute caused Joe to flee from the building and the remaining shareholders appointed Dale Timms (Radioworks) as Station Manager.<br>
 +
 
 +
Late 2002 the staff were alerted to The Generator's financial demise by the sudden redundancy of one of the breakfast announcers, Marc Nickalls, and the redundancy of two advertising sales reps. One sales rep, Susan Spirig, was re-absorbed back into the company to her previous role as Schedules Manager as well as manage accounts as Office Manager. Despite perseverance, Susan resigned early 2003 due to discovering deception within the accounts and management/shareholders.
 +
<br>
 +
 
 +
The station continued to run despite [[Martin Dempster]] influencing the playlist insisting music such as "Black Sabbath" was played. Gradually the shareholders and staff abandoned the now failing company. On June 9th 2006, The Generator was closed by owner Wayne Henderson. It was rebranded as [[Backbeat]] later that year.<br>
 +
 
 +
== '''Announcing Staff''' ==
 +
 
 +
[[Nathan Muller]] <b>PD</b> (2001-)<br>
 +
[[Martin Walters]]          (2001-2002)<br>
 +
[[Glenn Dwight]]            (2001-)<br>
 +
[[Marc Nickalls]]          (2001-2003)<br>
 +
[[Slaveboy (Martin MacDonald]] (2001-)<br>
 +
[[Tariqa Howe]]            (2001-2001)<br>
 +
[[Spud (Martin)]]          (2001-2002)<br>
 +
[[Vaughan Smith]]          (2002-)<br>
 +
[[Gordon Lundy]]            (2002-)<br>
 +
[[Daile Lambert]]          (2002-)<br>
 +
[[Eddie Martin]]            (2002-)<br>
 +
[[Kerry Cooper]]            (2001-)<br>
 +
 
 +
<i>This is an incomplete list. Feel free to add to it.</i>
 +
 
 +
== '''The Generator Staff''' ==
 +
 +
Shareholders<br>
 +
[[Joe Dennehy]]<br>
 +
[[Grant Hislop]]<br>
 +
[[Martin Dempster]]<br>
 +
[[Jenny Dempster]]<br>
 +
[[Ian Stables]]<br>
 +
[[Laurie Weake]]<br>
 +
[[Wayne Hendersen]]<br>
 +
 
 +
Station Manager<br>
 +
[[Joe Dennehy]] (2001-2002)<br>
 +
[[Martin Dempster]] (2002 Briefly)<br>
 +
[[Dale Timms]] (2002-2003)<br>
 +
 
 +
Programme Director<br>
 +
[[Nathan Muller]]<br>
 +
 
 +
Production Managers<br>
 +
[[Martin Walters]] (2001-2002)<br>
 +
[[Gordon Lundy]] (2002-)<br>
 +
 
 +
Creative Writers<br>
 +
[[Glenn Dwight]] (2001-)<br>
 +
[[Spud (Martin)]] (2001-2002)<br>
 +
 
 +
Office Manager/Schedules Manager<br>
 +
[[Susan Spirig]] (2002-2003)<br>
 +
 
 +
<i>This list is incomplete. Please add to it if you have more details.</i>
  
 
==See also==
 
==See also==
  
−
* [[Contact fm]]
+
* [[Contact FM]]
 +
* [[Backbeat]]
 
* [[WSU]]
 
* [[WSU]]
 
* [[Joe Dennehy]]
 
* [[Joe Dennehy]]
  
 
[[category:Radio Stations]]
 
[[category:Radio Stations]]

Latest revision as of 20:04, 1 September 2010

The Generator logo

Hamilton alt/rock radio station, 2001-2006.

History[edit]

After running UFM for three years on the 89.0FM frequency without much financial success, station owner Joe Dennehy decided to transform the eclectic, multi-genred playlist of UFM into one concentrating on commercial 'alternative rock', pitching the station as the thinking man's alternative to The Rock (a station Joe had worked for previously).

Enlisting the help of another former Rock associate Grant Hislop, over the course of 2001 the sound of the station shifted to reflect this new focus, culminating in September, when the station relaunched itself as The Generator. The original name pitched to the staff at the time was The Pig - which was unanimously derided.

Within a week of the launch party, almost half the staff were told they were being let go. The number of paid staff continued to decline over the next few years, with the station relying more and more on volunteers.

The Generator continued to operate from the small building upstairs in Victoria Street, above what is now The $2 Shop. Upon Iain Stables investing in the company, a new studio was built and the Production Sound Booth built. Plans were underway to open a partnering station, The Generator began broadcasting Waikato-wide on another frequency (owned by Wayne Hendersen who became another shareholder). Nathan Muller became Programme Director and there was a boost in staff including new DJs, various Promotions Managers and the start of an advertising sales team.

A successful Battle of the Bands was held at Altitude, owned by Laurie Weakes, who later invested in The Generator.

With Joe Dennehy calling most of the shots, The Generator moved premises in 2002 to Level 3, Axa Building, Garden Place, despite reservations from the rest of the shareholders. Shortly after moving, a dispute caused Joe to flee from the building and the remaining shareholders appointed Dale Timms (Radioworks) as Station Manager.

Late 2002 the staff were alerted to The Generator's financial demise by the sudden redundancy of one of the breakfast announcers, Marc Nickalls, and the redundancy of two advertising sales reps. One sales rep, Susan Spirig, was re-absorbed back into the company to her previous role as Schedules Manager as well as manage accounts as Office Manager. Despite perseverance, Susan resigned early 2003 due to discovering deception within the accounts and management/shareholders.

The station continued to run despite Martin Dempster influencing the playlist insisting music such as "Black Sabbath" was played. Gradually the shareholders and staff abandoned the now failing company. On June 9th 2006, The Generator was closed by owner Wayne Henderson. It was rebranded as Backbeat later that year.

Announcing Staff[edit]

Nathan Muller PD (2001-)
Martin Walters (2001-2002)
Glenn Dwight (2001-)
Marc Nickalls (2001-2003)
Slaveboy (Martin MacDonald (2001-)
Tariqa Howe (2001-2001)
Spud (Martin) (2001-2002)
Vaughan Smith (2002-)
Gordon Lundy (2002-)
Daile Lambert (2002-)
Eddie Martin (2002-)
Kerry Cooper (2001-)

This is an incomplete list. Feel free to add to it.

The Generator Staff[edit]

Shareholders
Joe Dennehy
Grant Hislop
Martin Dempster
Jenny Dempster
Ian Stables
Laurie Weake
Wayne Hendersen

Station Manager
Joe Dennehy (2001-2002)
Martin Dempster (2002 Briefly)
Dale Timms (2002-2003)

Programme Director
Nathan Muller

Production Managers
Martin Walters (2001-2002)
Gordon Lundy (2002-)

Creative Writers
Glenn Dwight (2001-)
Spud (Martin) (2001-2002)

Office Manager/Schedules Manager
Susan Spirig (2002-2003)

This list is incomplete. Please add to it if you have more details.

See also[edit]

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