Open Letter To KTED

Open letter to KTED:

We generally leave you guys to your sour grapes, and try not to encourage more of it. However, the BS you guys are trying to sell as of late has reached epic proportions - and we figured it was time to set the record straight.

First of all, we're aware you got here first - that point, we won't argue. Based on a lot of feedback from Casper radio listeners, we became Rock 96.7 after people made it clear that they'd like more choice in rock stations. We certainly didn't set out to "clone" KTED - although we share some of the same music, we strive to be different. More DJ's, more local events and local music, more stuff to win, more community service, more stuff to connect with online, and the list goes on. Let's face it: At the end of the day, some will like you, some will like us, some will like both.

That's where the similarities stop, on our end. Interesting how the same people that cry the loudest about imitation are the ones who seem to do the most of it lately.

It all started with the A'Salt Creek Roller Girls - a local, charity-based group of kick-ass Casper girls who love to skate and pay it forward. They approached you in the beginning, and felt like they weren't being taken seriously, so they asked for our help getting the word out, and we obliged. Turns out, a LOT of people liked Roller Derby in Casper. Their original partnership ended up going badly, and we stepped in again to lend a hand, support our local team, and make sure that Roller Derby was on solid ground to continue in Casper. After that, you guys felt as if we'd "stolen" something from you. (Unfortunately, if you and your business associates had given these girls the time of day and dealt with them with courtesy, honesty, and respect, you'd still have a relationship.) Instead, the hard-on began.

Ready to get "revenge" on 96.7 and the Roller Girls - you set up a competing event on the same date as the Roller Girls next event to "steal their crowd" - (the KTED "Massacre-raid"), which ultimately ended up falling short of the intended purpose, as attendance wasn't what you had hoped for - while the A'Salt Creek Roller Girls were sold out. This irritated you and their former promoter even more, so you attempted to inflict more damage by bringing in a out-of-state Roller Derby team. Even tried to start recruiting your own team to put Casper's Roller Girls out of business. Obviously, Casper showed their preference for the home team, as your ticket sales were even more dismal than before - which only made you guys angrier. But hey, it’s about choice right? We suppose having a choice in Roller Derby is ok too, we guess – even if you and your dwindling bank account is the only thing asking for it. We did think it was a little shady to start a personal attack against a hometown charity group though, which is why we’ll be doing all we can to stand behind them and make sure they stay on top, and that Casper gets quality matches instead of ego and vendetta driven events.

In October of 2010, we contracted with the Extreme Midget Wrestling Federation for a show in February, and reserved February 2 at the Fairgrounds Industrial Building, after hearing lots of feedback from our listeners that it'd be something they'd like to see in Casper. True to form, you arrange a duplicate event months later in the never-ending quest to "stick it to 96.7". You'll spend the next two months pissing and moaning about how many video screens you're setting up to make your event better, how you're sick of being imitated, how we "wish" we were you, yadda yadda yadda. Same ol' situation, and really, it doesn't matter over here. Some people will go to our event. Some people will go to yours. Some people might even go to both. Why subject those that listen to you to complaining for months about it? Listeners get tired of that stuff anyway. We'll be focusing on telling the truth, putting our listeners before our ego, throwing them a kick-ass party they'll enjoy at a decent price, playing some good music, and growing 96.7 every day by listening to those who listen to us. Lot easier that way.

Coke doesn't spend their day bitching about Pepsi. Burger King doesn't lay awake at night whining about McDonald's. The people at Trojan don't cry in their rubbers because Durex came on the scene. They get out of bed every morning, put on their big-boy pants, and try to be better than the other guy.

To be honest - we actually kind of miss the KTED that lightened up a little, had some original ideas, and wasn't so serious and "entitled" - you guys were cooler back then. According to the last few rounds of radio ratings - seems a lot of Casper is feeling the same way. And that's why: choice = good!

Love,

Rock 96.7