Or Cumulus promoting from within. He's on-air live in Buffalo after moving here and has added APD stripes at 97-Rock. That sounds like a pretty big step up from Erie.WGRF (97 Rock)/Buffalo Taps John Mathews As APD/Middays
This story says he was already working for Cumulus. Sounds less like a new hire, but rather adding more workload to someone already on the payroll...
The article says he will continue as APD and I assume afternoon host on the Erie station. I know it's only about 90 miles from Buffalo to Erie, but he can't be "Live & Local" on both. The previous 97 Rock midday host supposedly quit because he could no longer work from home. His replacement can't fulfill that "in studio" requirement in two cities.Or Cumulus promoting from within. He's on-air live in Buffalo after moving here and has added APD stripes at 97-Rock. That sounds like a pretty big step up from Erie.
My sources say he's live and local in Buffalo. Your take on the need for "Live" hosts is exactly what's wrong at too many radio stations these days. One of radio's biggest strengths in the past has been timeliness, particularly when major events happened. That, and local knowledge and programming aimed at a local audience are two of the biggest reasons radio has seen declines in both listeners and time spent listening in the Age of the Consolidators. (Cue "TheBigA" to tell us everything is better now than it ever was.)The article says he will continue as APD and I assume afternoon host on the Erie station. I know it's only about 90 miles from Buffalo to Erie, but he can't be "Live & Local" on both. The previous 97 Rock midday host supposedly quit because he could no longer work from home. His replacement can't fulfill that "in studio" requirement in two cities.
The Classic Rock format doesn't need "Live" hosts anyway.
What's left to say about the same 250 songs that have been in rotation for 40 years? Maybe it was a promotion, but seems more like addition by subtraction...
(Cue "TheBigA" to tell us everything is better now than it ever was.)
They overpaid for a group of major market stations and borrowed way too much money to do it. Operations aren't killing them. Interest payments are, and those rates aren't going to get better. They're the latest in a series of big players who were convinced that they could pay for big station groups by creating "synergies" and cutting their way to prosperity. A lot of those "synergies" became VT and syndication, consolidating sales staffs while cutting commissions, and using radio income to pay for digital expansion while station operations were cut. How's THAT working out for them?I've never said it's "better now." What I say is it's different now, and it's constantly changing. Staffing is a function of budget. That's always been the case. Fortunately, 97 Rock has the budget for a local DJ in afternoon drive. WBUF also has a local DJ in afternoon drive. How does that translate to audience or as you say "timeliness?" The existence of live & local DJs will not cause anyone to throw away their digital devices and instead return to OTA radio. Entercom was a company that always emphasized local staffing, local content, and local sales. How's that working now? The same people who ran the company then are still there now. What changed?
They overpaid for a group of major market stations and borrowed way too much money to do it.
They're the latest in a series of big players who were convinced that they could pay for big station groups by creating "synergies" and cutting their way to prosperity.
That's not exactly true. CBS Corporation was planning to spin off CBS Radio as it's own company. They even took out the $2 billion in financing that Entercom later assumed. But those two things are not mutually exclusive. Cost cutting can be done in order to preserve the long term viability of the enterprise, especially when the industry is going through substantial changes. That's what CBS Radio was doing. They were shifting their investment from on air to online. One example was Radio.com. My view is that the biggest mistake Entercom has made is not continuing in that process. I think the investment community agrees.You're picking and choosing a few facts that support your argument. CBS started cutting costs to make their stations more attractive for sale, not to preserve the long-term health of the enterprise.
Entercom followed the same path that put iHeart and Cumulus/Citadel into bankruptcy.
What baffles me is that several of the people that put their companies into bankruptcy are still heading those corporations. The ones that aren't left with many millions of dollars stuffed into their suitcases as they were ushered out the door.
I would say content is more important than "Live & Local". The jocks on a station like 97 Rock have no say in the programming. It's Radio By Rote. Nothing compelling about saying "Led Zeppelin up next after 9 minutes of obnoxious commercials". There are scores of stations across the country playing the exact playlist.My sources say he's live and local in Buffalo. Your take on the need for "Live" hosts is exactly what's wrong at too many radio stations these days. One of radio's biggest strengths in the past has been timeliness, particularly when major events happened. That, and local knowledge and programming aimed at a local audience are two of the biggest reasons radio has seen declines in both listeners and time spent listening in the Age of the Consolidators. (Cue "TheBigA" to tell us everything is better now than it ever was.)
The ratings are done by the same company with the same methodologies in every significant market in the US. So the format mechanics of stations will be determined by what produces the best results in the Nielsen system.I would say content is more important than "Live & Local". The jocks on a station like 97 Rock have no say in the programming. It's Radio By Rote. Nothing compelling about saying "Led Zeppelin up next after 9 minutes of obnoxious commercials".
And that is because TV and the Internet have made the same songs "hits" in each musical audience subset or group, nationwide. Why is that surprising to you wen Kellogs Corn Flakes or the Ford Mustang are national consumer brands?There are scores of stations across the country playing the exact playlist.
Music radio was live in the 50's and 60's and 70's because for most formats automation was too expensive and too inflexible. As technology improved, more and more things could be "automated" and we got our morning show on Saturday and Sunday or our midday talent on overnights.As the Rock artists continue to die off, I suppose it's helpful to have a live body on hand to play some tunes and discuss it.
Many will, many will not. Not the entire adult and teen populations use each of those multiple times a day.Of course, most people will find out first on Twitter or Facebook when breaking news occurs.
And do advertisers care about any of that? They buy ratings points and GRIPs, not lifesyles and jobs. They don't seem to give a flying f--k about the things you seem to think are important.Radio can't go back to the days before the internet. A station like 97 Rock is a huge turnoff for many people. Yes, they have their base blue collar listeners. The same people who've been listening for 25 years. Nobody else cares because the content is bad...
You don't seem to think that growth is important. Does this station bring in any new listeners to the Radio Tent? I would expect that this station has an audience that is 85 percent White men over 50. They are on the same trajectory as WBEN. The advertisers will start to care when the demos aren't desirable (as you've said many many times)...And do advertisers care about any of that? They buy ratings points and GRIPs, not lifesyles and jobs. They don't seem to give a flying f--k about the things you seem to think are important.
You just changed the subject. It was how stations sell ratings points and GRIPs, not, to any extent, income levels of station listeners.You don't seem to think that growth is important.
No. The radio tent is slowly contracting, due to things that are not controllable such as people being willing to pay for ad-free or limited ad services.Does this station bring in any new listeners to the Radio Tent?
Buffalo is not a market where a huge percentage of sales comes from national agencies. Local agencies and local advertisers are far less focused on demographics.I would expect that this station has an audience that is 85 percent White men over 50. They are on the same trajectory as WBEN. The advertisers will start to care when the demos aren't desirable (as you've said many many times)...
Can you play "Hotel California" for my girlfriend?The article says he will continue as APD and I assume afternoon host on the Erie station. I know it's only about 90 miles from Buffalo to Erie, but he can't be "Live & Local" on both. The previous 97 Rock midday host supposedly quit because he could no longer work from home. His replacement can't fulfill that "in studio" requirement in two cities.
The Classic Rock format doesn't need "Live" hosts anyway.
What's left to say about the same 250 songs that have been in rotation for 40 years? Maybe it was a promotion, but seems more like addition by subtraction...
Freeeee Bird! Putting local yokel callers on the air is the lowest form of Radio. I wonder if any 97 Rock listeners will know or care if the new midday host is "Live & Local". Nobody seemed to notice when the morning show got fired over ignorant jokes...Can you play "Hotel California" for my girlfriend?
Do you have any data that says Males 12-34 are seeking out Zeppelin and Skynyrd as "New To Them" music.?
You make a legitimate point about the popularity of Hip Hop, Country, etc. among young listeners, Bolt. "Grandpa's vinyl collection" actually made laugh. Would be a good name for a feature if it weren't so condescending, but as Homer Simpson once remarked, "It's funny 'cause it's true." My observations about 12-24, 12-34 Males being attracted to Classic Rock is a combination of anecdotal evidence and observation tempered with some "Holy mackerel! surprise" when friends have quoted Men 18-34 shares in markets like Philadelphia, Middlesex County, NJ; Pittsburgh and Buffalo, wherein the Classic Rock stations were Top 5 in demo in certain rating periods. To the point 'A' makes, Classic Rock has made an impact on young adults in video games, on-line gambling sites where a snipet can be heard from time to time used as staging (weird, hearing that, it almosty sounds accidental, but nothing is accidental when it comes to gaming and gambling) and popular games like Guitar Hero. And yes, Classic Rock is aging as a format. Boomers aren't 43 anymore. But to paraphrase the line from the classic Irish Spring TV ads, "...kids like it, too."Rusty, Do you have any data that says Males 12-34 are seeking out Zeppelin and Skynyrd as "New To Them" music.? That age group is more likely listening to Hip Hop, Rap, Country or even Taylor Swift with their girlfriends(And not on the Radio). Sure, a handful find their Grandpa's vinyl collection because records are "cool" again. I'm very skeptical if many 12--34 year olds are listening to that station. David can probably provide Nielsen numbers...