White Knight and Woxy.com 2006 - 2010
This site is in no way affiliated with WOXY or WOXY personel. Lord, they wouldn't have me either way.
Brief History of Woxy and 97x (from wikipedia)
WOXY.com was an alternative, independent, and freeform rock and roll radio station based in Austin, Texas. WOXY.com relied mainly on its own website to reach its listeners. WOXY.com programming at one time was also available at lala.com and WVXU HD Radio.
Originally transmitted solely from WOXY-FM at 97.7 FM in Oxford, Ohio, the station went by the 97X moniker as well as the tag line "The Future of Rock & Roll". Years later, "The Future of Rock & Roll" became one of the first commercial radio stations in the United States to completely transition from terrestrial FM radio to broadcasting solely as an Internet radio station at WOXY.com.
The station moved its studios from Cincinnati, Ohio, to Austin in 2009. In 2010, due to financial challenges, the station ended its online feed.
Purpose of this Historical Document:
Just after woxy.com shut down for the second time in 2006, a rather interesting busnessman by the name of Bill Nguyen caught wind of woxy's plight. Having never heard of woxy.com before, he liked what it stood for and how it might fit in with his lala.com enterprise.
In September 2006, Bill Nguyen started a [White Knight] thread on woxy's message boards and it was music to the boarder's ears. Bill was going to save WOXY and needed all the boarder's help. Strange, you may ask, that a man as rich and business savvy would buy an online radio station and need forum members ideas as to what to do with it, but that's how it went.
Over the course of the next few years, there were some minor woxy.com/lala integration, but nearly all the dozens of ideas that Bill proposed never came to pass.
In March, 2010, Woxy.com again shut it's broadcast down. This time after woxy.com was sold to Future Sounds and moved to Autin Texas. Shortly after, Bill Nguyen started yet another thread about reviving woxy.com [There's business and there's WOXY]
For the record, I do appreaciate what each person did do, which was give woxy a bit more time on the air than it would have had. And I commend them for that. Each of them, in turn, gave us a few more years of woxy that we wouldn't have otherwise had. Hat's off to them for that. It's a damn shame, however, when so much money is involved, that none of them seemed to know what the hell to do with a radio station once they had it.
This document is a record of those posts.
Index of Bill Nguyen's post in the White Knight Thread 2006:
Bill's Posts Round One:
19 Sep 2006, 06:55 AM
19 Sep 2006, 07:18 AM
19 Sep 2006, 07:43 AM
19
Sep 2006, 10:31 PM
20 Sep 2006, 12:19 PM
20 Sep 2006, 08:05 PM
21 Sep
2006, 02:34 AM
21 Sep 2006, 07:12 PM
22 Sep 2006, 10:05 PM
23 Sep 2006,
02:50 AM
23 Sep 2006, 11:25 AM
23 Sep 2006, 03:29 PM
23 Sep 2006, 03:56
PM
23 Sep 2006, 10:46 PM
24 Sep 2006, 05:12 PM
24 Sep 2006, 08:44 PM
26
Sep 2006, 01:37 AM
26 Sep 2006, 02:18 AM
29 Sep 2006, 04:08 AM
04 Oct
2006, 10:03 PM
05 Oct 2006, 06:00 PM
07 Oct 2006, 04:50 PM
09 Oct 2006,
10:09 AM
10 Oct 2006, 02:05 AM
10 Oct 2006, 02:22 AM
10 Oct 2006, 09:32
AM
10 Oct 2006, 09:49 PM
13 Oct 2006, 04:43 AM
13 Oct 2006, 04:58 AM
15
Oct 2006, 12:20 AM
17 Oct 2006, 02:31 AM
Round Two - The White Knight Returns, 2010:
Just when you thought it was safe to get on with your life>>
19 Sep 2006, 06:55 AM - White Night
Bill Nguyen
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 31
white knight...
Hey folks, we'd like to save woxy. You can learn more about us at lala.com, but we're very well funded and humbled by the great work the people here have done. Please tell the fab four at woxy to contact us.
19 Sep 2006, 07:18 AM
Bill Nguyen
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 31
Late night post
Sorry for the spelling error. I just came back from Costa Rica (surfing) and roxy is common surf brand. I'm not interested in anything other than chatting with the folks at woxy.com.
19 Sep 2006, 07:43 AM
Bill Nguyen
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 31
We've been day dreaming about creating a radio service where members create the shows. We have an amazing amount of technology, but it lacks some soul. I've never heard of woxy until tonight. I've been reading the forum and concept and felt inspired to try and continue the story.
Our business is fairly simple, we want music to be more about community (buying from one another and from artists) and less about tops down marketing (Wal-mart). If we're successful, the costs of marketing and distribution of music will dramatically fall and more money will go to musicians and to technologies that make music more available.
The Z Foundation is an example of our business being able to create economic benefits for musicians. We're still learning and still defining what we'll become but woxy seems like a wonderful place to help continue.
Fr. Z also believed in freedom of speech. If you have more time to learn about us, you'll see that we censor nothing.
19 Sep 2006, 10:31 PM
Bill Nguyen
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 31
Shivvy - I sent Bryan an email this morning. If possible, can you have him email me back with a # to call. If this works (and I'm hopeful) we'd like to make it happen as quickly as possible so there's no big lag between radio being back on the air.
Btw, just Google "Bill Nguyen" and you guys will get tons of information on me.
20 Sep 2006, 12:19 PM
Bill Nguyen
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 31
First, Jesse from the boards at Woxy.com emailed us at 'la la' and I responded so I hope that addresses the authenticity.
This is all happening real-time (I'm also traveling but back on Thursday) so I don't have a perfect plan for what we would for Woxy.
The first action would be to get it back online. Perhaps the second goal would be to support the Woxy.com brand and customers. It would not make sense for us to invest or acquire without making sure that everyone supporting woxy loved the idea.
Think of us a music store. While places like Tower have failed to places like Wal-mart, we hope to build the only true, music only retailer. Our strategy is to develop everything from end to end. I discovered music as a kid from radio. Given where radio is today, the world and 'la la' needs woxy to be a complete store. Folks could discover music through woxy and then buy the music in the same place.
Most importantly, woxy would become a viable business through scale on 'la la'. We're on pace to reach the top 1000 websites by late '06 or early '07. With enough traffic, woxy and advertising could finally work.
Beyond the traffic increase, I'd like to grow the community feel of woxy. We'd provide more tools for you to express your opinions and musical interests. Perhaps everyone at woxy could become DJs for their own spin on music.
All of this is just hopefully thinking until I hear from Bryan but that's my current thinking.
Thank you for welcoming me into the dialogue.
Regards,
bill
20 Sep 2006, 08:05 PM
Bill Nguyen
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 31
I posted on the site more about being inspired by the people and the place and less about a super business plan.
I'm not worried about the current size of woxy (not too big), we can fix that with great awareness promotion. I also posted b/c I want to know what everyone here things of the idea of an 'outsider' coming to its rescue.
Finally, I posted here b/c I'm worried that many of you will forever leave before I could work out a deal to get the stream back up. I've heard from a couple of folks at woxy but not Bryan (he's traveling I believe).
I'll try to stay up tonight and answer any questions. I'm very interested and very hopeful.
21 Sep 2006, 02:34 AM
Bill Nguyen
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 31
Bryan and I will talk tomorrow so I'll keep that part of the dialogue private. I'd like everyone here to know that I'm sincere in making it work.
Some responses - we'll never change the format or the location. As much as I love Palo Alto, California (think 74 degrees all the time), WOXY has such a tradition in Ohio that it would be foolish to move the station even if it is internet-only. I love the format and hope that it will continue to discover and inspire new, independent rock music.
The one big concern I have is keeping Barb. From what I can tell from the boards, she's a big part of the station. I'm sending her a message now, but I'd encourage everyone to reach out to her as well.
Finally, there's an article in the New York Times about our culture. It's entitled 'Death by Smiley Face' (http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/02/b...=rssnytemc=rss).
It describes how a company not purely focused on profits can be a significant threat to traditional players. One of the key characteristics of 'lala' is our transparency and sense of democracy.
If we're successful in saving WOXY and making it even better, I'll need you to not only know what my intentions are but help define the direction. It's an obvious risk because I'm raising expectations but I'd like you to know that I'm as nervous and as excited as you about the possibilities.
Regards,
bill
21 Sep 2006, 07:12 PM
Bill Nguyen
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 31
I haven't had time to read posts 94+ so I'll do that tonight and get back to everyone. It's been a busy day. I did connect with Bryan today and I can say we share a common hope and vision to making WOXY better than ever.
The next step is to speak with Mike, Matt, and Barb. It's important they're enthusiastic about the potential future. This is all happening in real-time so I apologize for not being able to reach everyone as fast as I'd like to.
Second, we need to create a fair deal for the angel investors (including some upside potential). Everyone should feel excited about the future.
I'll continue to post on this board b/c it's the best representation of the value and opportunity about WOXY.
If all works well, I hope to be flying to Cinn., OH very soon. Beers are on me.
Regards,
bill
22 Sep 2006, 10:05 PM
Bill Nguyen
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 31
Update - I've spoken with Mike, Shiv, and Bryan. The listeners and fans of WOXY have some amazing custodians carrying on the tradition in these guys. I hope to speak with Babs as well.
I expect to be in Cincinnati on Monday in the afternoon. I hope to explain our vision to the angel investors and propose a deal to acquire WOXY. As I've mentioned before, I have complete faith in Mike, Shiv, and Bryan and will have offers in hand for them to continue and guide WOXY.
If we can make this happen, we have several great things in mind. First, it's going to be free - no more premium service. Second, the audio quality is going to increase. We'll bump the audio quality at least by 3x. Third, we'll get this back up as quickly as possible (maybe as short as a week).
Finally, I want to find a way to thank Doug and Linda for their vision. I'm very much following in their foot steps two decades later.
I'm working on a way to hold an open gathering somewhere in Cincinnati on Monday night if you're interested in a beer and a 'hello'.
Regards,
bill
23 Sep 2006, 02:50 AM
Bill Nguyen
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 31
What's the location of 'Hoff'? Working on logistics for Monday night - might be a bit late in the evening depending on the discussions earlier in the day.
23 Sep 2006, 11:25 AM
Bill Nguyen
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 31
So, I'll plan on being at Hofbrauhaus (3rd & Saratoga, Newport, KY) at 8:30 PM on Monday night. Please join me for a beer and a discussion about music.
As many of you have said, this is not a done deal. I still need to work out the deal with the angel investors (not Doug & Linda). From everything I've been told by Bryan, the investors made this investment in the first place because they believed in webcasting and in WOXY.
I'm confident that after speaking with Bryan, Mike & Shiv that I'll have their help in building WOXY if successful in the negotiations to purchase WOXY. I haven't been able to reach Barb but will continue trying.
While it's not a done deal, your optimism is such an important component in letting my investors know what an opportunity this can become (because we'll need to invest millions to scale the oportunity) and to let the angel investors know how important it is that WOXY continue on the air with its mission.
23 Sep 2006, 03:29 PM
Bill Nguyen
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 31
Cyberfreak and Schek made some great points which should be addressed.
FAQs -
-------------------------------
- What changes are in store?
-------------------------------
First, this deal only happens because the program and music directors are on board. I'm confident that we have an offer that gets Mike and Shiv back to programming great music.
They will have full editorial control. The format of the station will be guided by them and their listeners (you). The spirit and inspiration for WOXY will continue unaltered.
I also believe in DJs. I'm not a fan of endless playlists without commentary and programming. Mike and Shiv bring this to the table.
'live' performances will become a bigger focus. We'll extend the capabilities of the Lounge Acts by opening WOXY SF. My plan is to build a live performance studio in the Haight Ashbury in San Francisco that is guided by Mike and Shiv. Listeners and members will be able to listen or view these performance via the Web.
You'll see more shows. The DJs may be new, but they'll be guided by Mike and Shiv's programming. You'll also see for the first time anywhere - listener created shows. I'm talking about taking all the technology that sits behind in the studio and putting it on the Web (no software required). Your shows could sit right along the main WOXY broadcasts. The shows may even include video components.
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- What do I want?
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My mission is to change the way artists make a living. Today, artists receive on average less than 8% of gross revenues from music sales. This is simply wrong. I believe we can reach 90% off all sales going to the musicians. In order to achieve this goal, lala must provide a complete environment for music authoring, distribution and purchase.
Today, trading CDs by mail and our own online record store dramatically decreases the price of acquiring music for fans without reducing the typical income for musicians. The lowered costs is driving dramatically more music discovery and experimentation. An average member on lala purchases or trades 10x more music than the average American.
But the key to changing the tables is distribution. The ability to have points of presence is why Wal-Mart today is the largest retailer in America. With their scale, they are dramatically reducing the number of titles available. Radio use to be the most powerful discovery tool. Take webcasting like WOXY and scaling it would provide a viable alternative to Wal-Mart. If I can grow WOXY by 10x each year, in a few years we could be reaching more music listeners and buyers than traditional broadcast radio. We'd be the platform for new music discovery. With the distribution control, we can bring new artists to market under a very different licensing model. They could be receiving 90% of the CD sales and lala would keep 10% for the distribution.
So instead of discovering music with traditional broadcast radio and buying a CD at Wal-Mart, music fans could discover music on stations like WOXY and from fellow-listener stations and purchase the music directly from the artists through lala.
-------------------------------
- What do I want from you?
-------------------------------
As soon as the deal is done, I'd hope you would tell all your friends and spread the gospel of WOXY. Growing a service online is best done by referrals. Unlike the past, we'll provide you better tools and incentives. We'll enable you to make WOXY more portable. We'll enable you to create your own stations to share with friends. We'll improve the quality so it can sound great at work and on the home receiver (we'll keep two stream sizes so the office network can handle the traffic).
In asking you to spread the word, I have a responsibility to listen. I hope you'll want to tell your friends because the music is great and we're the kind of people you'll be proud to support.
-------------------------------
- Barb
-------------------------------
My understanding is that she's made a commitment. I hope nothing but the best for her and leave the door wide open for her return or participation from MN. I'll need to be realistic given the Current may not allow her to broadcast from another station.
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- The business stuff...
-------------------------------
For those that are interested, it will be inexpensive to turn WOXY back online. We have dramatically better contracts in place for bandwidth, hosting (done in house) and licensing infrastructure. It will take a significantly larger investment to take it where it needs to go. We'll probably invest close to 5x the amount of money in the next year that WOXY has used over the last two and a half. The investment is spead across several key areas:
a) technology - creating an advertising infrastructure that can effectively serve local advertising (banner ads just don't work for a place where people listen not read). We'll also invest additional money to make WOXY portable (in the car, on a mobile phone, via the iPod). Today, listeners expect to have their entertainment everywhere they are. WOXY will meet that desire.
b) marketing - even the greatest products need some positioning. We'll run broadcast, Internet and print advertising about the return of WOXY and its great new features.
c) live and local - as much as I love a great webcast, I like live music a lot more. We'll move to build a concert festival that begins in the midwest based around WOXY (maybe a part of other festival at first) and support the event with an "Evening at the WOXY" where we take new artists supported by WOXY listeners to locations around the US. You'll be able to hear on the Internet and then see them live.
In all, I expect we could spend as much as $5-10m on WOXY over the next 12 months. I do not expect to recover the investment in the same time frame but I do expect WOXY to breakeven on a moving forward basis. That's okay. Most opportunities that are great require a period of investment.
23 Sep 2006, 03:56 PM
Bill Nguyen
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 31
We're still working on the economics for the live performances but we'd like to see some if not all free. We believe advertising can work but we'll determine this as we go along.
Yes, we'll include ads in the stream but they'll be much more relevant. Our streaming infrastructure allows us to place ads based on location. If you're in Cincinnati, you're not going to get an ad from a San Francisco Ford dealership. Our advertising strategy is to go local not broad based. The plan is to be 8-10 minutes of ads per hour.
I may be a bit slow to respond in a bit (going to head out with the family for a day in the sun).
23 Sep 2006, 10:46 PM
Bill Nguyen
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 31
Jspaceman - send your pitch for Richmond, VA over to our address (you can get on the website).
Advertising - It's all software so I'm sure we can find an alternative for ad-supported radio with a subscription service. It may take a while b/c everything we've seen online says very few people pay for subscriptions (about 2-3% max). Advertising in radio works a lot better when it's local and action driven. For example, the local car dealership has a sale, the department store had a holiday sale, Sony launches the PS3 and you can get it at X, Tom Petty is playing on Saturday at the X. The ad network we're working with will be able to serve ads in almost all global markets from Cincinnati to London. As we ramp the system, you'll get some ads about lala itself.
Integration - There's not much at the start. I want to get the station back on the air and introduce new listeners to WOXY. By early next year, you'll see a lot more functionality on the WOXY website but the radio show will continue to driven by Shiv and Mike.
Bryan - I think he's amazing and hope he'll join us in building both brands. So far, we share a common vision so my hope is he'll onboard.
The deal - This is fairly straight forward. We want to provide a fair deal to the investors with some upside if they choose, create a package that provides the creative flexibility and economic upside for Bryan, Mike and Shiv (more cash, more upside), and we want to engage Doug and Linda with a stock incentive.
The 'big' item to keep in mind is the purchase of WOXY is only the initial investment. Over the next 12 months, we're likely to spend more building the station that it was actually purchased for a couple of years ago. We're definitely taking a risk, but my entire career has been about pursuing opportunities that others didn't believe made sense. It's one of the advantages of being a college drop out.
24 Sep 2006, 05:12 PM
Bill Nguyen
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 31
One big request, don't delete any of your posts...this will become one of the greatest stories ever written by hundreds of people. A friend who is also new to WOXY checked out the message board last night and said, "this story needs to be told".
To Buzzstein, I'm incredibly grateful for the email and will keep your story in mind when I'm in Cincinnati tomorrow.
Another thought on advertising, there's bound to be ads you'll here and say "what?" but that's just the nature of a business model where we get something we want for free. As yvette7ica mentioned, it's also a great way to expose WOXY to a whole new world of partners. If we're going to create and support music festival around WOXY, we'll need beverage sponsors and they'll likely begin with radio ads before they do a festival sponsorship. Whether yvette7ica knows it or not, that's a very keen marketing and sales observation.
Sheck is also smart about the Clear Channel observation. It's ideal if we could replicate their ad model and distribution. The key is make it more personalized which they are not. This the wonderful paradox of WOXY and the Internet, you can make more money by being niche and personalized than you can be a one size fits all. I'll take their sales system but I'll keep the spirit of WOXY.
I'll provide another update around 9PM EDT this evening but my bags are packed and ready to take the flight in the morning.
24 Sep 2006, 08:44 PM
Bill Nguyen
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 31
Hi everyone, I'm ready to head to Cincinnati tomorrow morning. We'll be working on the deal and I plan to have an answer for you by the time we meet for beers. I can't tell you how excited I am about meeting some of you and bringing WOXY back on air.
From my brief conversation with the investors, I strongly believe they've wonderfully represented your interest and passion in the WOXY. If I'm fortunate enough to become the new sheperd next week, I'll keep their commitment and the vision originally provided Doug and Linda.
Here's the Future of Rock and Roll.
Regards,
bill
26 Sep 2006, 01:37 AM
Bill Nguyen
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 31
Thank you
Over the last week, I've seen the best parts of community online. While many websites describe themselves as a community, they're no more than a bulletin board for folks to catch up. It doesn't matter if it's called GeoCities or MySpace, it's just a big email account.
WOXY is dramatically different. Started by Doug and Linda and carried on the airwaves for more than two decades, WOXY became a place where people built memories and shared experiences through music.
While WOXY is broadcasted across the Internet to far reaching places, it always carries a bit of Cincinnati, OH and the incredible kind spirit of the people here. They're independent and believe that music is more than just some form of content but it's a part of their culture and their lives.
Over the next year, I'll work to tell music fans across the States and the globe that independent music started in Oxford, OH and it foster in your city through WOXY.com. The music scene in San Francisco during the 60's changed a generation and believe that what's happening at WOXY could turn the tide of 'one size fits all' music.
What was started in Ohio may change music forever and define it's future.
We'll be providing some ideas for how you can help WOXY later this week and next week will be an amazing moment for WOXY and the future of Rock and Roll.
More than ever, I feel incredibly grateful for the opportunity to continue the tradition you've built.
BAM....
29 Sep 2006, 04:08 AM
Bill Nguyen
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 31
-------------------
Update
-------------------
We've worked through most of the small details and I'm hoping for some additional good news. I spoke with both Doug and Linda (founders of 97x) and hope they'll be a big part of WOXY moving forward. During our conversation, they shared some of their ideas and motivations for creating 97x.
We both believe that independent music (regardless of genre) will have a wider role in our society with the blossoming of the Internet. The same way the Internet gave us choices in opinion, WOXY will continue to lead the effort to provide choice in music.
Part of the vision is to spread the message globally. We're creating plans to establish WOXY live studios in San Francisco, Austin, Los Angeles, New Orleans, potentially Virginia (at the suggestion of some of you), London, and Tokyo. Expect to hear a lot more live music.
Alongside the flagship Cincinnati station, we hope you'll join the revolution and advocate independent music by being a DJ. We'll launch a free service where you'll be able to create your own station with call-in numbers and voice overs - the same stuff we have in studio. The vision is that the next great DJs will come from you, our listeners.
For those at work and on slower connections, we'll continue to provide alternatives in low bandwidth and high bandwidth streams.
-------------------
Timing
-------------------
Our current estimate is that we'll be back on the air by October 10th. I had hoped it would be as early as tomorrow but we still need to finish some paperwork and get the technology setup.
Expect that we'll do something special to kick off the broadcast.
-------------------
Advertising
-------------------
We've set a target of growing the listener base by 5x (500,000 listeners by the end of March 2007). A larger listener base assures WOXY's long term viability.
Because growth will come first, You'll be hearing and enjoying WOXY mostly advertising free. We may experiment with certain partners or sponsors but our primary goal is exposing more people to the gem that you have in WOXY. Focusing on advertising could take away from our mission to deliver the radio station you deserve.
-------------------
No, thank you...
-------------------
I appreciate all the notes of support, but it's time to turn your attention to spreading the story behind WOXY. In the next week, we'll provide you with great tools to help spread the word.
Keep the great questions and feedback coming.
04 Oct 2006, 10:03 PM
Bill Nguyen
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 31
Bryan and I have been on the east coast telling to the story of WOXY ahead of the broadcast next Tuesday. As we tell the story, we find it more amazing each time.
As listeners you've started an amazing revolution. For the first time ever, a company was purchased not because of investors or bankers but by their customers. You made all of us at lala believe in what WOXY had built and in a way I hope you began to believe in the future of music.
When I started lala, a sage friend said, "everyone has it in them and you can help bring that out." I never understood the impact of that ideal until I came onto the WOXY boards and became convinced by you. Listeners really do own the future of music - not Clear Channel, not Wal-Mart, and not me. It's yours.
So beginning next Tuesday, we'll return WOXY to the airwaves and continue the vision started by Doug and Linda. We're also proud that the angel investors, Doug, Linda, Bryan, Mike and Shiv are all a part of the future. I'm also proud that Doug and Linda have entrusted with the 97x trademark. We will find beautiful ways to re-introduce the legendary mark to a new generation.
This time around, we're going to provide you will amazing technology to spread the word behind WOXY's direction of independent music.
To answer some of the many questions, we'll start back the service without many ads. The reason is that we want the technology serving the ads to be great. Adveritising can be fun and informative and that's our bar. Until we're happy with the quality, we won't make you the guinea pigs.
There's been so many wonderful theories about how I came upon WOXY but it really did start with a conversation with Megan (at lala). She mentioned that Internet radio was the future. When I did a web search, I found WOXY. My entire love affair with WOXY really did begin with the message boards. I'll be anxiously awaiting the show on the 10th just as you will.
05 Oct 2006, 06:00 PM
Bill Nguyen
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 31
She is also well read (longer story). If I'm on the road and you can't reach me, shoot over ideas to her. She's great at bringing ideas from many folks to useful action on my part. Three cheers to Megan.
07 Oct 2006, 04:50 PM
Bill Nguyen
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 31
Why not a big event? We still have so much to do. First, we're working to implement a couple of streams by Tuesday. We'll then work on implementing an improved quality stream (within days).
We'll then begin a nationwide search for add'l DJs to support Mike and Shiv. My preference is to add a woman or two. Balance is a good thing and I miss Barb. Ultimately, we'll let the listeners vote on the top 10 DJs.
We're working on real estate and partnerships to establish the remote WOXY studios. We've also worked out a deal with Doug and Linda for the 97x trademark. I'll need to think about how to properly honor that brand.
We have a lot to do and the goal is to make it great. I'm not too concerned about making back our investment. I'm thrilled just to be putting quality back in radio.
I'll need your help in telling your friends, creating your own great radio shows, and giving us lots of feedback. I absolutely love reading this thread for ideas. As we've said, you brought back WOXY. As much as the angels and team at WOXY have done over the years, you're the ones that made it happen. You're a first.
09 Oct 2006, 10:09 AM
Bill Nguyen
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 31
We're beginning to get the word out and we'll post on here as news comes in. Tomorrow may be a bit hectic making sure everything works or fixing everything as it breaks.
10 Oct 2006, 02:05 AM
Bill Nguyen
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 31
The revolution will be re-broadcasted...
If you miss the 10:10 AM broadcast, don't fear. We'll re-broadcast it again. I'm sure many things will go wrong like we haven't figured how to get through every office firewall, you overwhelm our traffic load and we can't serve all the streams, or I post the stream on roxy.com instead of woxy.com (inside joke for the folks on the threads when I just joined).
Like you, I don't know the first song, I have no idea what Mike, Shiv and Bryan will play. I'm smiling from ear to ear and glad we're on our way back.
Long live 97x - the future of rock and roll!!!!
10 Oct 2006, 02:22 AM
Bill Nguyen
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 31
First, I messed up and forgot to setup an email to all the folks that registered on the mailing list. It should have been sent out.
To make up for it, you'll add be added to the beta list which means you'll see improvements to the site and service before launch. I'm sorry I missed this one.
I'll also offer the first t-shirt celebrating the return of WOXY at cost. It's not free pants, but it's a good deal on what I hope will be a great item to tell friends about.
Onto the issues at hand. Rachel/Toronto brought up a fair point that maybe members should not help in the hiring decisions. I respectfully disagree.
One of the main reasons WOXY disappeared on September 15th was the technology's inability to project your passion for the station. To protect its future, you'll need to be participants in this journey. Participating can mean everything from providing ideas for improving the station to voting as a group on how to improve its direction.
While my preference is to hire a woman in the DJ chair (in Cincinnati or maybe in SF), I want that choice to belong to the listeners. I'll ask Mike and Shiv to narrow the choices down to ten candidates but I'm going to leave the final decision up to you. Maybe in the future we all get promotions or pay raises based on your feedback.
While all these ideas may be a bit extreme or new, think of them as the first steps in handing the future of this station to it's listeners. 97x will only prosper and survive in this new age of media if the listeners become participants.
10 Oct 2006, 09:32 AM
Bill Nguyen
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 31
overloaded...you're receiving significantly more traffic than expected
We're working on this right now.
10 Oct 2006, 09:49 PM
Bill Nguyen
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 31
What a first day back. At the peak (which lasted almost all day which is unheard on the Web), we broadcasted an amazing 100 Mb/s. We'd easily be in the top 500 websites with those stats.
More later tonight, but I'm glad everyone came back and please continue to tell your friends, co-workers, family, and the guy wondering what happened to his gig at Tower Records that WOXY/97x is back. BAM!
13 Oct 2006, 04:43 AM
Bill Nguyen
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 31
My friends joke that I must go around trying to predict the future.
When I see Tower Records going out of business, when I see Clear Channel has become and the advent of things like JACK FM by CBS, and when I see iTunes being given away with airline tickets and hamburgers I get nervous.
So lala (and now WOXY) is my reaction to corporate radio. They're not even viable businesses, but there attempt to squeeze the last bit from broadcast radio is endangering music. Even Myspace is not much better. They were asked in a recent interview if artists would ever be compensated by MySpace. The response was, "they should sell more t-shirts."
How does this battle take place? My plan is that every listener can become a participant. On lala, everyone that receives a CD also is sending one out. On WOXY, I hope that everyone that listens will create stations to spread the awareness of WOXY and their favorite bands they find on the station. Journalism is not far behind. If we can bring the commerce (lala), listening/distribution (WOXY), and writing/evangelism (TBD) together, we've re-created the entire music industry except this time it will be run by citizens.
To be clear, I'm not against the labels. They're very good at producing music. From taking an often dysfunctional group of people and helping them improve their art. But, the role of the labels to support distribution has been hiijacked by Wal-mart and corporate radio.
We'll slowly bring things together with your guidance. I'm in no hurry. At some point, I hope you'll be joined by millions of others.
Btw, thank you for welcoming me into your community.
13 Oct 2006, 04:58 AM
Bill Nguyen
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 31
As a branding question, I would agree that it's important that WOXY maintain a high level of quality. But surviving as a mid-west only brand is incredibly dangerous for the long term.
Think of Apple for a moment. When I grew up, Apple was a PC. In the years ahead, it may be viewed as the new Sony for consumer electronics. Along the way, the brand always stood for individualism with a sense of cult-like style.
You're completely in your right to rally for what you believe WOXY should stand for. Until 10/10, I had never heard WOXY on the air. After nearly 48 hours of listening (remember I really don't sleep much), WOXY reminds me of my adolescence. I viewed everything as possible and deeply wanted to be considered as my own individual. I see the brand as indepedent.
With styles like Alt Country, Hip Hop, Rap, and Punk (all played regularly on WOXY), the definition of Rock and Roll is more difficult to define. I've always viewed Rock and Roll and independent as being the same - a stand against the mainstream.
When we open up studios in Austin, you'll likely have 10x more Lounge Acts with the exact same bands that Mike and Shiv want broadcasted. They're just more likely to go through that city (or even San Francisco or Los Angeles). When we have more acts playing, it just doesn't make sense to limit it to a single channel - that's so 1930's.
If you hear something you love on WOXY (think ESPN) like Wilco, wouldn't you want to hear more of it on a sister channel (think ESPN2 or ESPN Classic - which in a way is WOXY Vintage).
Change is always scary especially when it involves something with a heritage of 23 years. I'll make a promise to you. I won't change it without talking to you first. And if the last month has proved anything, I'll keeping addressing every single issue until everyone is bought in.
15 Oct 2006, 12:20 AM
Bill Nguyen
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 31
When I spoke with Doug and Linda, they were so excited to hear we would take WOXY/97x to new places. The future can always be a bit scary, but you'll be a part of the conversation.
I should try to take another trip back to Ohio. I'd love to continue this dialogue in real time. We'll also setup a chat channel for those that can't make it in.
Quick feedback - I have no interest in being XM. They're basically regular radio dumped into a satellite signal.
17 Oct 2006, 02:31 AM
Bill Nguyen
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 31
All due respect to Lee, but 'f*ck him'. WOXY is absolutely beautiful because of the music and because of the fans. Sure, there's less people listening to WOXY as some of the channels of XM but not realizing the intense passion you have for music is foolish. Look what passionate listeners did for Sirius when they signed Howard Stern. It was a big audience but deemed too fickle and would not follow him.
XM didn't get it right with Howard and they didn't get it right with WOXY.
What I know for sure is that broadcast radio had one advantage over Internet radio until today - being live. WOXY brings that aspect to lala and we'll never look back. We'll get more DJ, more live programming and we'll provide more choice than ever (and it won't be limited by bandwidth - doesn't that sound so 1900's?)
I'm worked up b/c everyday I get amazing emails and letters from WOXY listeners and I'm more pumped than ever.
Long live the future of Rock and Roll.
Goals for woxy:
Bill Nguyen layed out several goals, promises and statements concerning woxy's future. There's a LOT of them and here are the highlights in the order they appeared on the woxy boards:
- The first action would be to get it (woxy streams) back online.
- The second goal would be to support the Woxy.com brand and customers.
- woxy would become a viable business through scale on 'la la'
- I'd like to grow the community feel of woxy.
- We'd provide more tools for you to express your opinions and musical interests.
- Perhaps everyone at woxy could become DJs for their own spin on music.
- I'm not worried about the current size of woxy (not too big), we can fix that with great awareness promotion
- We'll never change the format or the location.
- (I'll need you to not only know what my intentions are) but help define the direction.
- ...First, it's going to be free - no more premium service.
- ...Second, the audio quality is going to increase. We'll bump the audio quality at least by 3x.
- (Mike and Shiv) ...will have full editorial control. The format of the station will be guided by them and their listeners (you).
- 'live' performances will become a bigger focus. We'll extend the capabilities of the Lounge Acts by opening WOXY SF. My plan is to build a live performance studio in the Haight Ashbury in San Francisco that is guided by Mike and Shiv. Listeners and members will be able to listen or view these performance via the Web.
- You'll see more shows. The DJs may be new, but they'll be guided by Mike and Shiv's programming.
- You'll also see for the first time anywhere - listener created shows.....Your shows could sit right along the main WOXY broadcasts. The shows may even include video components.
- We'll enable you to make WOXY more portable.
- We'll enable you to create your own stations to share with friends.
- We'll improve the quality so it can sound great at work and on the home receiver (we'll keep two stream sizes so the office network can handle the traffic).
- We'll also invest additional money to make WOXY portable (in the car, on a mobile phone, via the iPod).
- We'll run broadcast, Internet and print advertising about the return of WOXY and its great new features.
- We'll move to build a concert festival that begins in the midwest based around WOXY (maybe a part of other festival at first) and support the event with an "Evening at the WOXY" where we take new artists supported by WOXY listeners to locations around the US. You'll be able to hear on the Internet and then see them live.
- I expect we could spend as much as $5-10m on WOXY over the next 12 months.
- Our advertising strategy is to go local not broad based. The plan is to be 8-10 minutes of ads per hour.
- By early next year (2007), you'll see a lot more functionality on the WOXY website...
- ...but the radio show will continue to driven by Shiv and Mike.
- Over the next year, I'll work to tell music fans across the States and the globe that independent music started in Oxford, OH and it foster in your city through WOXY.com.
- We're creating plans to establish WOXY live studios in San Francisco, Austin, Los Angeles, New Orleans, potentially Virginia (at the suggestion of some of you), London, and Tokyo. Expect to hear a lot more live music.
- We hope you'll join the revolution and advocate independent music by being a DJ. We'll launch a free service where you'll be able to create your own station with call-in numbers and voice overs - the same stuff we have in studio. The vision is that the next great DJs will come from you, our listeners.
- We've set a target of growing the listener base by 5x (500,000 listeners by the end of March 2007).
- In the next week (posted Sept. 29, 06), we'll provide you with great tools to help spread the word.
- This time around, we're going to provide you with amazing technology to spread the word behind WOXY's direction of independent music.
- We'll then begin a nationwide search for add'l DJs to support Mike and Shiv. My preference is to add a woman or two...... Ultimately, we'll let the listeners vote on the top 10 DJs.
- We're working on real estate and partnerships to establish the remote WOXY studios.
- (I'll need your help in telling your friends), creating your own great radio shows...
- If you miss the 10:10 AM broadcast, don't fear. We'll re-broadcast it again.
- (reguarding woxy's email list) you'll be added to the beta list which means you'll see improvements to the site and service before launch.
- To protect its future, you'll need to be participants in this journey. Participating can mean everything from providing ideas for improving the station to voting as a group on how to improve its direction.
- While my preference is to hire a woman in the DJ chair (in Cincinnati or maybe in SF), I want that choice to belong to the listeners. I'll ask Mike and Shiv to narrow the choices down to ten candidates but I'm going to leave the final decision up to you.
- On WOXY, I hope that everyone that listens will create stations to spread the awareness of WOXY and their favorite bands they find on the station.
- When we open up studios in Austin, you'll likely have 10x more Lounge Acts with the exact same bands that Mike and Shiv want broadcasted. They're just more likely to go through that city (or even San Francisco or Los Angeles).
Some interesting statements:
- Bill says how much he misses Barb, but in another post says "Until 10/10 he had never heard woxy".
- Bill: "There's been so many wonderful theories about how I came upon WOXY but it really did start with a conversation with Megan (at lala). She mentioned that Internet radio was the future. When I did a web search, I found WOXY." (-editor: I did a google search on "internet radio" and woxy was burried on page 6)
Bill seems to have great faith in the woxy boarders:
(-editor: I'm not sure if these statements are just panderings to the woxy boarders already inflated feelings of self importance or just a slick sales job. I doubt a handfull of board regulars had much to do with 97x's fame. That credit has to go to the DJ's, Doug and Linda)
- ...your optimism is such an important component in letting my investors know what an opportunity this can become.
- The format of the station will be guided by them (Mike and Shiv) and their listeners (you).
- As listeners you've started an amazing revolution.
- My entire love affair with WOXY really did begin with the message boards.
- When I started lala, a sage friend said, "everyone has it in them and you can help bring that out." I never understood the impact of that ideal until I came onto the WOXY boards and became convinced by you.
- As we've said, you brought back WOXY. As much as the angels and team at WOXY have done over the years, you're the ones that made it happen. You're a first.
White Knight (2006-2009) - 2010
On March 23, 2010, Woxy.com once again shut down it's stream. And almost as if on cue, Bill Nguyen started another thread on the woxy message boards. Understandably, again, stirring up another storm of activity. He even had the temerity to sign the post: white knight (2006-2009) (people can call you all god-like and stuff, but you shouldn't refer to yourself that way.)
This time, however, Bill's participation faded fast. What further boggles the mind is that he's back, asking the same borders (though many fewer by this time) the exact same questions he asked back in 2006. It seems he doesn't know what to do with the station now any more than he did back in 2006. I'm sorry, but if you're going to invest a million dollars in an endever, you better bring professionals in to set up a business plan, not rely on the posts of a bunch of forum campers with too much time on their hands and no business experience.
I think Bill just liked the attention he got from this evengelical following. Who wouldn't?
24 Mar 2010, 01:02 AM - There's business and there's WOXY
About 3 1/2 years ago, I learned about WOXY. It's original, core mission changed forever how I saw my company Lala. WOXY was the spark.
Hearing about what just happened, I can't help but wonder how we could do this better. If you have any sparks on how WOXY could be more, please contribute. I'd like to hear about;
(a) How do we better spread the word? Think more Farmville/Facebook and less traditional word of mouth.
(b) What's a better way to guarantee the future, how do we pay? Think more wikipedia.org and less Clear Channel.
(c) What is WOXY's mission? Discovery is at the core, but are we ambitious enough? Are we trying to expose new music to only a niche audience or can we introduce great music to everyone?
Regards,
Bill
white knight (2006-2009)
24 Mar 2010, 06:27 AM
A couple of ideas jumped out;
1. international - WOXY has always had a broad following, and most of the growth may be outside the US. WOXY as a music guide to western culture.
2. genre - We talked about multiple WOXY streams at Lala. More and more, indie rock is the mainstream (we saw in purchasing data that held up well as we scaled.) If we foster great, new bands, we should continue to follow them. I agree that some level of repetition is critical for building loyalty to a new artist.
3. business model - let's set this aside. If there's a big enough audience, the model will become more clear. We haven't reached a big enough audience. This issue of scale is a big thing for me. I strongly believe the music that WOXY recommends is the kind of music that most people can love. They just don't know it yet.
4. Async vs. linear - This came up in several responses where the competition is all on-demand and WOXY is traditional linear radio. If we transitioned some of the product to be playlist driven, we'd have a product that listeners can use in ways more similar with other digital services.
5. Participation - I love ratings and games. I'd encourage the 'game' to create social breadcrumps - each time you rate something your friends would know about it on Facebook. The volume of breadcrumps is very important because it may take dozens of breadcrumps to get a friend to try WOXY and it make take hundreds of breadcrumps to remind them to return.
24 Mar 2010, 11:07 AM
I'm still reading, but I love the idea of the bar/theater idea. Why not turn WOXY into a palace in Austin and use the broadcast to bring in concert goers/listeners to the location.
24 Mar 2010, 01:03 PM
Bill Nguyen:
Radiofreebree
You're right. I love the work done by the DJs, but I'm not the one to fix WOXY. That has to come from the DJs and the listeners. I can help fund WOXY, but the future belongs to the people that run it. (Sorry, I have to step in here: What the Hell? The whole problem with woxy over the years is that it was left to people with NO business savvy to run woxy straight into the ground, over and over. This line says everything you need to know about Bill's approach to woxy.com "I'm not the one to fix WOXY!" If not you, Bill, then who? It's your money for crying out loud (well, your investors money) - editor)
When we brought WOXY back in 2006, the opportunity to do something great belonged to the team. They need to be visionary, persistent, and have all the traits that helped Doug and Linda through the years. In that way, I'm just an interested financier. And it's true that I'm here for only a window of time, but they have to provide a great vision for how it's going to be better in that window. Clock is ticking.
24 Mar 2010, 10:06 PM - The Board is further whipped into a Frenzy
(at this point, the boarders are practically grovelling at Bills Jesus-like robes)
Bill Nguyen:I am going to take a day or so to digest the feedback. At a high level, I'm confident I can give Woxy another shot at life. Bryan and I chatted today, and I'll let that thread progress.
But saving Woxy must include the following;
1. Continue
to be curated (DJ'd) music discovery
2. Free
3. Reach a broader
audience through improved social marketing (i love the BAM suggestion)
4.
Located in Austin
5. Better leverage and enhance the brand
6.
Appeal to a wider audience by providing a better live experience
(like performances Austin can attend).
Like Woxy, I don't go down without a fight.
29 Mar 2010, 05:53 AM - And then the other shoe drops:
Quick update, John from Future Sounds (who was fired shortly after) is working on plans that should come to some resolution by end of week. I'm preparing my own plans in case that does not work out.
I'm reviewing the comments again, and would be happy to help anyone putting together a wiki. There are some gems in here.
Regards,
bill
And That's the Last Anyone Has Heard of Bill Nguyen:
So, confilicting messages from Bill indeed. And with that, Bill is never heard from on the boards again (or anywhere else relating to woxy.com).
Some 73 pages later, the White Knight's 2010 thread has devolved into bickering and resentment, with half the camp still believing that Bill will come riding back in on a golden unicorn to save everything, and the other half resigned that it's over, but still wanting to discuss the whole mess.
Now of course, there's many many things that went on behind the scenes that the boarders are not privy too and wild speculation abounds. But until the primary parties come forth with some information, we'll never know.
Strange that the woxy.com borders, as all-powerfull and integral to woxy's success as Bill led them to believe they were, apparently don't deserve an explanation as to what the hell's going on.
I assume that all the primary players are all wrapped in None-Disclosure-Agreements. Even the former DJs are remaining mum.
So, That's That, or Is It?
So, just when everyone was finally beginning to move on from the whole mess, another post pops up about potential new owners, but otherwise, the news blackout continues. Inquiring emails have, thus far, been ignored.
What We Do Know:
- Doug and Linda Balogh sold woxy (97x) in January 2004.
- May 14, 2004 "Angel Investors" pumped some money into woxy.com to keep it going until they ran out of cash in 2006. I speculate that his "Angel" investor didn't want to be identified because they knew they'd be hit up for more money when Woxy went down again (and it would).
- In September 2006, Bill Nguyen invested his company's money (lala.com) and bought woxy.com (without telling the other share holders), bringing it back to life again in October 2006 with grand plans to change the world as we know it.
- 2009 Bill Nguyen sells woxy.com to a virtually unkown entity called Future Sounds, who then moves the whole woxy outfit to Austin Texas, where, one week after the most successful SxSW ever, they close down woxy again, due to lack of funds, surprising the hell out of everyone.
Now, we find out that Bill Nguyen has sold lala.com to Apple. It's very interesting that he sells woxy.com just before the deal closes with Apple.
Is it because Apple wanted nothing to do with woxy.com and demanded it not be part of the deal?
Is it because Bill Nguyen new, if included, woxy.com would be shut down by Apple forever and thus selling it off beforehand he could save woxy for another day?
Who knows, no one's talking.
Random Rantz:
It occurred me that all through these myriad forum posts (both in 2006 and again in 2010) that none of the woxy DJs (or Bryan) ever got involved in the forum conversations. You'll note towards the end Bill Nguyen flat out says that it's the staff that will have to come up with the vision to succeed, he's just supplying the money. Makes you wonder why the staff never got involved in these historical forum conversations about their very future... They may have felt slightly burned by recent events and having felt they were shit on, why participate now? Undoubtedly, they were involved in conversations behind the scenes, it just seems strange that they were not part of this online brainstorming session. Perhaps since any of the talked about changes directly affected their role in Woxy, they weren't too keen to participate.
It all seems very disjointed with one hand not speaking to the other. More behing the scenes, backroom dealings we'll never now about.