i101 vs Q101

[Robctas]

It's a very sad state of affairs when Q101 gets shut down for an attempted FM News station which lasts less than a year & it's replacement i101 is rating lower than Q87.7.

Q87.7 is a LP TV signal for crying out loud!

What an embarrassment, Merlin should apologise to Q101 listeners & return it to it's rightful home on 101.1 immediately.

 

[iyiyi]

Well... That's the whole problem! These fine folk have clearly demonstrated total lack of knowledge of the Alternative format, as have CBS and other major players. Some may even think the results indicate solid proof of The Peter Principle.

Corporate radio consistently fails to understand the Alternative format. KQX is doing better as a MacGyver FM than they had done on 101 for a number of years. Why? Because 87.7 is small enough to fly under the radar! Alternative on a big signal is always vulnerable to programmers devoid of musical imagination!

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[uncamark]

"I'm sorry, Mr. Michaels--your listeners are our shoplifters."

 

[chrocket87]

Well, that's a cute little bigoted response. By that logic, why do most markets have an Urban station?

 

[iyiyi]

Well, that's a cute little bigoted response. By that logic, why do most markets have an Urban station?

Typical response of a pedantic person! Really?

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[virtualpj]

Corporate radio consistently fails to understand the Alternative format. KQX is doing better as a MacGyver FM than they had done on 101 for a number of years. Why? Because 87.7 is small enough to fly under the radar! Alternative on a big signal is always vulnerable to programmers devoid of musical imagination!

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Whose radar? Is your argument that I would program the station differently if it was on a different signal?

"I'm sorry, Mr. Michaels--your listeners are our shoplifters."

Well, that's a cute little bigoted response. By that logic, why do most markets have an Urban station?

Actually, Mark is quoting a pretty typical reaction to Alternative listeners. I wouldn't assume he believes in it, personally.

There was a time, particularly with stations that did (and do) the hybrid Alt/Active thing, where the audience was less-than-ideal to sell, and there are only so many strip clubs and tattoo places you can get to advertise. Fortunately, the qualitative on our station is fantastic, and a far cry from the "shoplifter" stereotype that may have existed in the past on other stations in the format.

 

[nd2023]

I liked i101's format the few hours I heard it when I had a layover in Chicago back in March. They played all 90s songs for St Patricks Day weekend.

 

[iyiyi]

Whose radar? Is your argument that I would program the station differently if it was on a different signal?

Nope. What I say is: Alternative and their audience is greatly misunderstood. Does ANYONE believe KQX would have garnered any real takeover attempts had they always been at 87.7?

Would WRXP been so hacked up had they been a B1 94.7 rather than full big B 101.9?.

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[tjolsen]

Whose radar? Is your argument that I would program the station differently if it was on a different signal?
First off--thank's for chiming in, you do a fantastic job with the sound of the station. I think he means that the folks above you may h not have been willing to take a chance on such a creative and solid format on a bigger or more powerful station. Hard to say though.





Actually, Mark is quoting a pretty typical reaction to Alternative listeners. I wouldn't assume he believes in it, personally.

There was a time, particularly with stations that did (and do) the hybrid Alt/Active thing, where the audience was less-than-ideal to sell, and there are only so many strip clubs and tattoo places you can get to advertise. Fortunately, the qualitative on our station is fantastic, and a far cry from the "shoplifter" stereotype that may have existed in the past on other stations in the format.

I think the audience for alternative has changed and grown drasticly over the past year, given what is falling in to the format.

 

[virtualpj]

Nope. What I say is: Alternative and their audience is greatly misunderstood. Does ANYONE believe KQX would have garnered any real takeover attempts had they always been at 87.7?

Would WRXP been so hacked up had they been a B1 94.7 rather than full big B 101.9?.

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I guess that would be true, but I'm not sure I see what that has to do with the format. While I can't speak for Randy, I believe the interest was in the signal itself, and the fact that it was housing an unhealthy radio station, regardless of the format. Your statement makes it sound like he targeted its purchase because it was Alternative specifically. Any large signal would have been more valuable than a rimshot, translator, or FrankenFM.

First off--thank's for chiming in, you do a fantastic job with the sound of the station. I think he means that the folks above you may not have been willing to take a chance on such a creative and solid format on a bigger or more powerful station. Hard to say though.

I appreciate the nice words...we're trying hard.

To be fair, I believe he's talking about the purchase and flip of the 101.1 signal in July '11, not the return of Alternative on 87.7. But to address that idea, I'd argue that the decision to put (and keep) this format on 87.7 is due to the audience, specifically. Alternative listeners are engaged, tech-savvy, and have the interest and passion for seeking out things they love, even if they're a little more difficult to get to. Not every format can say that, as evidenced by the signal's predecessor (Smooth Jazz). No question being the loner in the format helps, too.

We've found that fans of our station will figure out a way to listen, even if they don't have a radio with 87.7, whether it's on 101.1 HD2, the TuneIn Radio app, or streaming us on our site. If you're on this signal with the fourth Hot AC/Pop station, second country station, or fourth Classic Rock/Hits station in a market with strong leaders in each, it would be difficult to expect that kind of effort from an audience.

I think the audience for alternative has changed and grown drasticly over the past year, given what is falling in to the format.

I have no doubt that this is true.

 

[tjolsen]

just listening on the stream and meant to point out that while I love the station, the stream comes in very low- music tends to be a bit lacking in bass as well. Is this also true OTA?

 

[virtualpj]

just listening on the stream and meant to point out that while I love the station, the stream comes in very low- music tends to be a bit lacking in bass as well. Is this also true OTA?

Thanks, TJ...I'll check on the levels. I know they were very hot when we first launched.

The stream is true OTA with only a very few minor exceptions. We have a couple national clients (McDonald's, for example) that require that their spots don't air on the stream. In those instances, we fill for the 30 or 60 seconds until that spot is over. 99% of the station's stream is identical to the OTA product.

 

[MsInformation]

don't be surprised that if in 6 months all of this will be a moot point. the landscape of the dial could change, just give it time.

 

[iyiyi]

Yeah but... 101 has done squat in ratings since bouncing Alt. Alt on 87.7 is outrating 101!

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[MarkW]

Thanks, TJ...I'll check on the levels. I know they were very hot when we first launched.

The stream is true OTA with only a very few minor exceptions. We have a couple national clients (McDonald's, for example) that require that their spots don't air on the stream. In those instances, we fill for the 30 or 60 seconds until that spot is over. 99% of the station's stream is identical to the OTA product.

Would absolutely love it if you guys could move back to 101.1. I enjoy just about every dimension of 87.7's programming.

Cannot pick up 87.7 in my Ford Explorer!!! The in-dash receiver only goes as low as 87.9 MHz.

Probably only a matter of time until 101.1 is sold to EMF, Cumulus, or ESPN. 101's stationality is unbelievably poor. Has all the hallmarks of a placeholder format.

 

[uncamark]

Considering that Randy Michaels was meeting publicly in a restaurant with Larry Wert and Jimmy DeCastro this week, I would bet my money that within the next 12 months either the Loop or i101 will become WGN-FM--with Brandmeier back on terrestrial radio in mornings.

 

[iyiyi]

I guess that would be true, but I'm not sure I see what that has to do with the format. While I can't speak for Randy, I believe the interest was in the signal itself, and the fact that it was housing an unhealthy radio station, regardless of the format. Your statement makes it sound like he targeted its purchase because it was Alternative specifically. Any large signal would have been more valuable than a rimshot, translator, or FrankenFM...

Yeah, but... Why is that "unhealthy radio station" , relegated to a rim shot FrankenFM, soundly beating whatever formats they have been 'trying' on that large 101 signal since then?

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[virtualpj]

Yeah, but... Why is that "unhealthy radio station" , relegated to a rim shot FrankenFM, soundly beating whatever formats they have been 'trying' on that large 101 signal since then?

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That unhealthy radio station is gone. You're making an argument that's apples and oranges.

Q101 was unhealthy. Q87.7 is not. If Q101's version of the format were on 87.7, it would have the same problems it had before it signed off, with the added struggle of being on a weirder signal.

 

[MarkW]

Considering that Randy Michaels was meeting publicly in a restaurant with Larry Wert and Jimmy DeCastro this week, I would bet my money that within the next 12 months either the Loop or i101 will become WGN-FM--with Brandmeier back on terrestrial radio in mornings.

Excellent point. I completely forgot about the 'GN FM scenario.

I doubt 97.9 will be fading away. There is zero reason to replace that format with what essentially boils down to an experimental format. Unlike i101, 97.9 earns respectable ratings in demos that advertisers covet. Going full-on classic rock is something 97.9 should've done years ago.

Would be a twist of irony if 101.1 ever became part of the WGN brand. After all, wasn't it a WGN reject (Tisa LaSorte, I believe?) who had a big hand in ruining Q101?

87.7: Please do your listeners a gigantic favor -- never put the Manno Brothers on your airwaves!!! Seriously. They must've had compromising photos of Emmis' senior executives to remain on the air and get such horrible ratings for so long. The one with the lisp and feminine mannerisms was particularly talented -- just what I wanted to hear on a station that (at the time) played Korn, Deftones, Disturbed, Tool, etc.

 

[scanman1]

That unhealthy radio station is gone. You're making an argument that's apples and oranges.

Q101 was unhealthy. Q87.7 is not. If Q101's version of the format were on 87.7, it would have the same problems it had before it signed off, with the added struggle of being on a weirder signal.

True dat! Which is why I think it would be cool to hear the current incarnation of the format on 87.7 return to the full-market 101.1 and enjoy bigger success and listenership!