Pete MacKay and Steve Millin out at the Mountain

By Michael Roberts Mon., Mar. 30 2009 at 12:51 PM

Categories: Media

Pete MacKay.

An inside source confirms that Steve Millin and Pete MacKay, two mainstays of The Mountain, a classic-rock signal at 99.5 FM, have been laid off. Calls for comment to program director Dylan Sprague were referred to Amy Griesheimer, the market manager who oversees the Mountain for its owner, Entercom. If and when she replies to an e-mail inquiry, we'll provide more information. Until then, fans of Millin and MacKay, a Denver longtimer who won recognition as the city's top DJ as recently as the 2004 Best of Denver issue, are apt to feel that the Mountain just became less classic...

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Amy Griesheimer, Best of Denver, Dylan Sprague, Entercom, Michael Roberts, Pete MacKay, Steve Millin, The Mountain

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Dusty Saunders used to write "radio's revolving door." That aspect of the business hasn't changed in 20 years and other aspects have become far worse. Any fans of Pete's or of the old KBPI are invited to join our Facebook group at: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=105500881598&ref=ts
Another case of station management being out of touch with listeners. I agree with the listener who said that management can now tell their bosses they made their budget and they're due for their bonuses...what a rip. I've just taken The Mountain off my pre-sets on all my radios and also my online streaming. What's next--Bret Saunders getting the boot at KBCO??
Wow this is so depressing. I can't believe Pete got the axe. He was and is totally the best DJ ever. The Mountain has definitely downsized to a mere hill after this crazy move.
When I came to the Front Range in 2003 from a much smaller radio market, KQMT blew me away. I loved it, mostly because I heard songs I hadn't heard in years or had never heard before. I also liked the musical knowledge of the DJs, which they shared on the air. The DJs did not drive me away from the station, which is the best compliment I've ever paid to a commercial radio DJ. KQMT has gone downhill since then. I almost never hear anything really surprising these days. I still hear interesting musical trivia now and then, but I find myself listening to KQMT less and less. Changes driven by the desire for greater ratings are headed for the lowest common denominator, and unfortunately the lowest common denominator is more valuable to an advertiser than a sophisticated and intelligent but smaller audience. In a way, it's surprising that this kind of move didn't happen sooner.
The Mountain has been poor since long before Pete was let go. That being said, Pete was one of the bright spots, and I respect his career and hope that he ends up in a good place very soon. Also have to say that I enjoy Dan Mitchell a lot... have since the days of 99.5 the Hawk. The biggest problem(s) with the Mountain were initially trying to be too hip and cool, then trying to be the KBPI/KAZY of the 80's. Not to mention that I always felt that Van Morrison either owned the station or was servicing somebody who did. There was a time (and still sometimes is) when I could get in the car for 4 or 5 15 minute trips and never fail to hear a Van Morrison song. Nothing against Van (except that he isn't THAT good... he's ok with some great stuff here and there), but the Mountain turned me into someone who occasionally enjoyed hearing Morrison to somebody who despises him because I am so burned out on him from listening to 99.5 the Mountain. Whoever has programmed that station for the past 5 years sucks. It also isn't fun to wake up with a morning drive guy who puts you back to sleep... that has been the case with both Mike and Archer. I'm not a fan of 'Morning Zoo's" or the morons on 103.5, but for crying out loud, the Mountain has terrible morning radio, and has for a long time. Now I listen to my iPod in the car. No Van Morrison, no Mike Casey stories about his kids (nothing against his family, but I don't really care), no consultant-programmed radio. I'm the music director in my car and when I need traffic reports, I pause the iPod on the 10's (or 20's or whenever). Pete, we'll miss you. You were a great and never dull voice on the radio for many years. Hope to catch you again some time. Might even save the iPod playlist for shifts you aren't working.
Why should be be surprised that radio management is completely out of touch? Didn't we see this coming? Archer is gone. Now Pete McKay. Having grown up in Denver/Boulder as an avid radio fan, I've seen lots of changes in radio in the last 50 years. The dismantling of The Mountain is typical of the business-for inexplicable reasons, important decisions are often put in the hands of those who are not the best and brightest. Whomever made these most recent decisions to change the format; reduce the playlist to whatever it is now; tie the hands of people who know music; lay off people like Pete McKay and others; is simply out of touch with the music and the market. I suspect that The Mountain is in trouble financially. Maybe there was no choice but to make personnel changes to forestall failure. If it's a consequence of the format change, someone should face the consequences. I love music. I own a business with over 50 employees; I have historically had The Mountain as background music; that will have to change. I like Robbie Knight, Dan Mitchell, Mike Casey. I don't like the newly limited playlist. It's sad to see The Mountain go the way of KFML, KTCL, KCUV, the Peak and other gems that have made the Denver area a great radio market. Will miss you, Pete Mckay, and hope to hear you on some other frequency soon.
The Mountain made a serious mistake laying off Pete. He's not only a classical radio DJ who knows the Denver market, he was the personality of the Mountain. Reminds me of the movie "FM". Shall we start a riot at the Mountain and demand they get Pete back on the air?
I moved from the Mountain to KCUV and then KCUV went bust. The new format is terrible and I can't stand Robbie Knight. Back to the Ipod for me.
Well I guess it is time to give up the Mountain. Each time they have changed format I move closer and closer to KBCO. They had something good when you could count on them for Mtn Home Grown and not being the 9th caller.
I really have enjoyed Pete Mckay. The Mtn has been my favorite station for several years. They have just dropped a few notches in my book. Also, the station has become more and more mainstream. I remember when the Mtn first came on the air, they were much more spontaneous. For example, they would play a album side on the spur of the moment.
We can never have enough stations in Denver playing classic rock hit singles! We now have, what- KOOL, Mountain, Fox, KBCO and even Jack to some extent- and all play about 80% the same playlist. I don't know who the concultant is that these yokels are all using, but it sure would be nice to scramble these formats a bit and give us at least ONE that doesn't keep slamming us with that infernal Steve Nicks- yuk!
Actually it's both. I corresponded with Dylan about a month ago complaining about the new format change. He told me that the new format was much more successful than the old and that's the reason for the change. Since then the Arbatron ratings for the stations' came out and the Mountain went down considerably. In fact it's gone down considerably more since the beginning of the format change. Dylan was not straight with me. So now Dylan has to make up some money, and what better way to do that than to pink slip two expensive disk jockeys.
No, what's happening is this: dump everybody over 40 -- that's age and those who earn north of $40,000 a year in salary, so the company executives can get bonuses for making unrealistic budget numbers. Yes, it hurts the station, but the boss lives to earn a paycheck another day. Trust me, the listeners are the last things on these jerkwads' minds.
can we say format change???
http://www.995themountain.com/pages/2765014.php