things I would like to see...

[jcolletta275]

Re: generic-sounding could-be-broadcasting-from-anywhere stations

> > Aren't there already too many generic-sounding
> > 'could-be-broadcasting-from-anywhere' stations?
>
> The reason that stations have essentially sounded alike in
> most respects since the late 50's because a hit is a hit is
> a hit. The big songs will be big songs nearly everywhere and
> the style of announcing for specific formats will be the
> same everywhere.

If we go by what you're saying, David, then WHYI, since it's inception right up 'till the point that Clear Channel bought the station, was an exception to the rule... and it served them well! Look at their numbers back in the 70's and 80's compared to what they hold today. That's a pretty big gap there, wouldn't you say? You can't just make broad sweeping generalizations like that and expect them to apply to all stations (which is exactly what you're doing here).

No one is suggesting they should drop the modern CHR feel... that would be foolish. What we're saying is that they need to be geared more to their market in order to pull the numbers they did even as recently as back in the late 90's. Anything less in Miami (as in what WHYI is currently running) just won't cut it.<P ID="signature">______________
"Once a week, recovering illusionist Roy Horn reportedly visits Montecore, the tiger that mauled him. Though disturbingly, they’re conjugal visits!" -- Horatio Sanz
http://theradioblog.blogspot.com</P>

 

[954]

Re: generic-sounding could-be-broadcasting-from-anywhere stations

> > Than was before CC and consultants (David's expected
> > comments notwithstanding) homogenized and ruined radio.
>
> Consultants have existed since the 60-s in radio.

That's back when there was competition in radio,
before CC owned 1200 stations and became its own
main competitor. With about 30 stations from the
Treasure Coast to the Keys, per the station list
in their very own Clear Channel South Florida Trading Zone web site.

Now competition, such as it is, mainly determines
which of CC's pockets the money goes into. And
it's not competition; it's fine-tuning the split.

> Many have
> improved the quality of the on air product. The economics of
> radio are what causes owners to cut costs and limit other
> aspects of radio programming.

Thank you for the very predictable answer, David.

But making radio more profitible is not congruent with
making listeners happy.

Give listeners the minimum required to keep them around.
Voice tracking, generic formats, even replacing a sleazy
program with one that's sleasier.

That's why people are leaving radio in droves, to listen
to MP3 players, XM, Sirius, web radio, cable radio,
cable TV, concerts, and surely other technologies that
I can't even name.

Of course CC is laughing all the way to the bank, because
they also own a piece of those radio alternatives.

Excuse my cynicism. But I suspect my opinion is not rare.

73s from 954

"May the Schwartz be with you!" ... Yogurt<P ID="signature">______________
Prairie Home Companion Coming To Miami in Feb! South Florida Radio Pages (since 1995)</P>

 

[DavidEduardo]

Re: generic-sounding could-be-broadcasting-from-anywhere stations

> If we go by what you're saying, David, then WHYI, since it's
> inception right up 'till the point that Clear Channel bought
> the station, was an exception to the rule... and it served
> them well!

Whether it was Cecil, NormBob or Clear, there was continuity of format in an evolutionary fashion. In fact, from about 1978 to now, the same person has run the station... David Ross.

> Look at their numbers back in the 70's and 80's
> compared to what they hold today.

In a word, fragmentation. Y-100 pre-Y-95 is different than after Keith put this one on. Then Hot under Tanner, and Power and the fragmentation into rhythmic and CHR stations. Of course the shares are less. Same everywhere in the USA.

> That's a pretty big gap
> there, wouldn't you say?

No, I would not. It is normal fragmentation caused by more intense competiton.

> You can't just make broad sweeping
> generalizations like that and expect them to apply to all
> stations (which is exactly what you're doing here).

I am saying that music sounds "the same" not that it is identical... each PD will have a different flavor, but an AC in Boise will be pretty much the same as one in Orlando. This has always been true. There are flavors, but it is all ice cream.
>
> No one is suggesting they should drop the modern CHR feel...
> that would be foolish. What we're saying is that they need
> to be geared more to their market in order to pull the
> numbers they did even as recently as back in the late 90's.

That is unlikely to happen. The market, each year, is about 1% more Hispanic and that changes th ebalance. Y 100 is a nice 18-34 CHR.

> Anything less in Miami (as in what WHYI is currently
> running) just won't cut it.

Look at any market 5, 10, 15 yeaars ago. The station at the top is often less than a share point from the one at #10 today!

 

[DavidEduardo]

Re: generic-sounding could-be-broadcasting-from-anywhere stations

> > > Than was before CC and consultants (David's expected
> > > comments notwithstanding) homogenized and ruined radio.
> >
> > Consultants have existed since the 60-s in radio.
>
> That's back when there was competition in radio,
> before CC owned 1200 stations and became its own
> main competitor.

That is only 8% of the total stations in the USA. That is not a monopoly.

> With about 30 stations from the
> Treasure Coast to the Keys, per the station list
> in their very own Clear Channel South Florida Trading Zone
> web site.

And that is 4 different markets. There are well over 120 stations from Stuart to Key West, which is an area larger than Connecticut!

> Now competition, such as it is, mainly determines
> which of CC's pockets the money goes into. And
> it's not competition; it's fine-tuning the split.

Out of nearly $300 million in Miami/FTL billing, Clear takes 20%. That is hardly a monopoly.

> > Many have
> > improved the quality of the on air product. The economics
> of
> > radio are what causes owners to cut costs and limit other
> > aspects of radio programming.
>
> Thank you for the very predictable answer, David.

Over the last 5 decades, only around half of all US stations have been profitable. Profitability determines the ability to improve programming.
>
> But making radio more profitible is not congruent with
> making listeners happy.

How can you say that? If a station does not serve listeners, it has nothing to sell to advertisers.
>
> Give listeners the minimum required to keep them around.
> Voice tracking, generic formats, even replacing a sleazy
> program with one that's sleasier.

Each station or operator understands that the best programming attracts the largest number of listeners. However, in some makrets the amount of radio revenue can not support everything one wants to do. And, since it is a business and always has been, a position that attracts listeners without overspending is essential.
>
> That's why people are leaving radio in droves, to listen
> to MP3 players, XM, Sirius, web radio, cable radio,
> cable TV, concerts, and surely other technologies that
> I can't even name.

People are not leaving radio at all. In fact, the attrition over the last 20 years is less than 2%. On the other hand, listening spans _have_ declined, but this is due to the full array of leisure time activities, including greater time spent excercising, longer working hours, as well as satellite, the Web, iPods, etc.
>
> Of course CC is laughing all the way to the bank, because
> they also own a piece of those radio alternatives.

They own less than 1% now of XM. They have a web presence for the statons, but nothing huge. Other than that, they have nothing of what you say.
>
> Excuse my cynicism. But I suspect my opinion is not rare.

Yes, here only. And it is an opinion, unfounded in fact.

 

[jcolletta275]

Re: generic-sounding could-be-broadcasting-from-anywhere stations

> Whether it was Cecil, NormBob or Clear, there was continuity
> of format in an evolutionary fashion. In fact, from about
> 1978 to now, the same person has run the station... David
> Ross.

That's not necessarily true. They've gone from CHR to Hot AC to AC back to CHR throughout the years. Sure each format smoothly flowed into the next at the time, but I wouldn't say there was always continuity.

> > Look at their numbers back in the 70's and 80's
> > compared to what they hold today.
>
> In a word, fragmentation. Y-100 pre-Y-95 is different than
> after Keith put this one on. Then Hot under Tanner, and
> Power and the fragmentation into rhythmic and CHR stations.
> Of course the shares are less. Same everywhere in the USA.

I'm acounting for fragmentation. Even considering how many other outlets there are in the market, WHYI's current numbers are nothing compared to what they once were.

> > You can't just make broad sweeping
> > generalizations like that and expect them to apply to all
> > stations (which is exactly what you're doing here).
>
> I am saying that music sounds "the same" not that it is
> identical... each PD will have a different flavor, but an AC
> in Boise will be pretty much the same as one in Orlando.
> This has always been true. There are flavors, but it is all
> ice cream.

And what I'm suggesting is that Y should return to it's own flavor instead of the bland vanilla they've become.

> That is unlikely to happen. The market, each year, is about
> 1% more Hispanic and that changes th ebalance. Y 100 is a
> nice 18-34 CHR.

Which is exactly the problem. If they catered to the fluctuations in the market as they should be doing, they'd be doing a lot better in the Arbs than they are now.

> > Anything less in Miami (as in what WHYI is currently
> > running) just won't cut it.
>
> Look at any market 5, 10, 15 yeaars ago. The station at the
> top is often less than a share point from the one at #10
> today!

True... but at the same time, that's still a fraction of a share point away from being at the top. And on top of that, WHYI currently isn't even anywhere near being able to claim that much. They're getting their rears handed to them.

Post 1033 dedicated to WKFR, Battle Creek, a station that needs some work itself, but is definitely doing better than they were six months ago... and definitely doing better than WHYI.<P ID="signature">______________
"Once a week, recovering illusionist Roy Horn reportedly visits Montecore, the tiger that mauled him. Though disturbingly, they’re conjugal visits!" -- Horatio Sanz
http://theradioblog.blogspot.com</P>