GSP - Summer II trends

[awp69]

I'm almost hesitent to post this because I've realized how trends really aren't all that reliable since stations are routinely bumped up or down in the final book. Don't have the previous trends to go back to, but I know X98.5 got 0.9 on both of the Spring trends but had a 1.2 in the Spring book so even though it looks like it went down from Summer, it may have actually gone up a little. (Not that it matters since it's already slated to be blown up).

But anyway, here they are:
http://ratings.****************/cgi-bin/rol.exe/arb191

From what I understand Entercom recently renewed their Arbitron contract so they may have even opted out of trends. So that makes this even less important. But, the one thing that did get me curious is MY's ratings. The station has finally been trying to reimage itself after its' disasterous move to Hot AC and it looks like it may be paying off. The 4.9 they have in this trend is the highest I've seen for the station in quite a while.

That said, we'll see where they land in the overall book. The other stations are about the same.

 

[carolinaradio]

Entercom has never been included in the trends that are made publicly available. Just the full books. The listing them with N/A thing is new, though.

MY still isn't my ideal Hot AC, really, but the last time I listened to them, they sounded the best they have since they started trying to play Hot AC.

The X numbers are in the range that I had always expected from them, around a 1 share with tight fluctuations.

 

[awp69]

\MY still isn't my ideal Hot AC, really, but the last time I listened to them, they sounded the best they have since they started trying to play Hot AC.

Yeah, sounding "the best" since they flipped still isn't great. Nothing like even Star 94 in Atlanta. They may have ditched the '80s music, but they still have some stuff that doesn't sound like it belongs. They'll play Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" one minute and then play The Fugees' "Killing Me Softly" the next. Still a big "yuck" from me. And Zac and Marne still aren't a great team IMO. It's nice that they play things like Imagine Dragons, Capital Cities and such, but they just don't handle it in a very good way. To me, Hot AC should be pretty much all upbeat and that's something they still struggle with.

But maybe the semi-rebranding is buying them some time.

 

[awp69]

The X numbers are in the range that I had always expected from them, around a 1 share with tight fluctuations.

I still do firmly believe that the share or so they've been getting would be higher on a better signal. For instance, I think it would have likely at least matched Chuck's numbers if it had been on 97.7. Just don't think anyone could say that the horrible mornings, in particular would have no impact on ratings. I loved the station and even I tuned out when it was bad.

 

[tylerSC]

I think it can be hard for weak translator signals to attract a large audience. More limited. But I wonder do they need both 94.1 and 98.1 as a simulcast, and does Hot 98 still get good numbers? Perhaps that should change. I prefer 96.1, 95.1, and 93.7 for today's hit music format. And 96.1 audio quality is outstanding when you have a good reception or clear signal. Especially their HD Radio.

 

[awp69]

Thinking about these ratings, and I know it's a long shot, but seeing that The Road has been averaging around a share on 96.7 and X98.5 has been getting around the same and sometimes slightly better on a much worse signal, I think Clear Channel could seriously do better with Alternative on that spot. Their Radio 105.7 in Atlanta has been doing very well with a much more adult-leaning alternative variety (I've been listening and have been quite surprised at how much mellower they sound compared to X). I honestly don't think it's unrealistic to think it would do better than The Road. Remember, there's already a Classic Rock station here. While The Road has been doing "ok" and better than other efforts on that signal, if Alternative was pulling the same numbers on a signal that routinely had static issues even in the heart of its coverage area, I don't see why it couldn't do even better on a more consistant signal. It's not a translator but it would compliment WMYI in a way that could be a good sales combo as well. I wouldn't even mind a similcast from Atlanta.

Just a thought.

 

[carolinaradio]

The purpose of The Road is to siphon some male listeners off of Rock 101 to help boost the 2 country stations in those demographics where classic rock might have been cutting in to those stations. Rock 101's numbers aren't quite what they used to be, so it may be working. The classic rock format sells well with the country stations, I'd think, and fits in with the sports programming they carry. I just don't think X will be replaced.

I was factoring in the 98.5 signal when I made that prediction, but I didn't know it would be unlistenable at times even in Simpsonville. That signal is absolutely horrible. It was good outside of mornings, but B-98.5 in Atlanta and static absolutely destroyed it early in the morning.