Atlanta Radio: Syndicated Personality Moby Retiring Friday

Moby

James “Moby” Carney, the veteran morning host, has announced that he is retiring Friday from his radio show, which is syndicated in the Atlanta area plis Arkansas and Missouri.

Moby is best known in metro Atlanta for his successful run at Kicks 101.5 as morning host in the 1990s.

He was let go by WKHX Kicks101.5 FM in 2002. According to Rodney Ho at  ajc.com, the program director at the time felt he was too rural corn-prone in his style for the suburbanites the station was trying to reach.

Rhubarb Jones, who had a fierce rivalry with Moby while at rival 106.7, ultimately became friends with Moby. “He was the hardest working competitor I ever faced ever,” said Jones, who now works as a senior development director at Kennesaw State University.

“His dedication to his show and his demanding of 150 percent of himself was why he was so successful… Moby was the first person to call me almost nine years ago when I lost my job at Eagle 106.7 after 23 years on the air in Atlanta. I will never forget that kindness.”

Moby took advantage of his country appeal by starting his own syndicated operation and added stations in small towns across America, including many stations around metro Atlanta. His slogan: “The biggest small town in America!”

That’s what he has been doing the past 12 years. Since he runs his own shop, he is able to retire at his own discretion.

“Why am I hanging up the headphones, other than, ‘Because of my wife told me to?’ ” Moby texted. “It’s just come to be time where sleeping past 3:30 a.m. seems like a good idea.”

Moby has been in radio for more than 40 years, going back to his hometown of Crossville, Tenn. He is in the Country Radio Hall of Fame and the Georgia Radio Hall of Fame.