DJ Laz tried to bring it back and showed a little focus on the Freestyle days when he was over at the now defunct DJ 106.7. The ratings never took off and SBS pulled the plug after about 18 months. I am in the select minority that I liked hearing this music and all the mixing they were doing over there. Now that he is at Hits 97.3, he is using some of his influence there and it is putting pressure on Power96, Y-100 and My93.9. As stated above, it is a minority who like this music and I don't think it's enough to make a station profitable.
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Power to Amp?
- Thread starter AMRocks
- Start date
DJ Laz tried to bring it back and showed a little focus on the Freestyle days when he was over at the now defunct DJ 106.7. The ratings never took off and SBS pulled the plug after about 18 months. I am in the select minority that I liked hearing this music and all the mixing they were doing over there. Now that he is at Hits 97.3, he is using some of his influence there and it is putting pressure on Power96, Y-100 and My93.9. As stated above, it is a minority who like this music and I don't think it's enough to make a station profitable.
I don't disagree, but didn't guys like Kid Curry and Tony the Tiger (former program directors) also have a hand in the station's success? Curry's departure circa 2006 seemed to have coincided with the station going the urban route and hitting a bit of a snag. Just yesterday, I read an article where one of the head honchos at Power 96 was asked why the station found itself in a bit of a rut around that time and he admitted that Curry's absence may have helped throw Power 96 into a bit of a tailspin for a while. Judging from the numbers you provided, it seems they recovered nicely once urban really took off a few years later.
I think it's safe to say that while Power 96 may actually be doing better now than in the 90s, it has the feel of a completely different radio station for various reasons:
- It feels much more corporate and cookie cutter: Power 96 has the same playlist as its three main competitors (y100, MY 93.9, HITS 97.3) and just sounds like a station you can hear anywhere else -- whether you're in New York, LA, or San Antonio. That wasn't the case in the late 80s through mid 90s. The station was a major force behind the freestyle movement in South Florida. The word "dance" became synonymous with Power 96. Granted, Power 96 didn't have as much competition back then, either. It was mostly a battle between Power and y-100 until Party 93.1 and 99 JAMZ started to make waves.
- Not as much mixing: One of the many great things about the old Power 96 was that its programming was replete with mixes throughout the day (morning, lunch hour, afternoon, late nights, etc.) While they still feature mixes to this day -- I know DJ Zog, who has been with them since 1996, does afternoon mixes -- they just don't seem as prominent. In the 90s, they did a better job of marketing their mixers, and likely had more of them on the payroll. There was DJ Laz, Felix Sama, Eddie Mix, Zog, Jammin Johnny, DJ Rene, Dancing Danny B, Ballistic Billy, Phil Jones, and the list goes on. Which mixers do they have now? I only know of Zog and Cato K., but to be fair, I don't listen to Power 96 nearly as much anymore.
- Advertising events at nightclubs: If you listen to some of the sound clips floating on the internet from the 90s, you'll notice that every other commercial was an advertisement for some event that Power was hosting at a nightclub that weekend. (The jocks, like Tony the Tiger and Dimas Martinez, lent their voices for these spots.) I don't hear as many of them these days. Does that mean Power 96 is operating on a significantly lower budget, or just doesn't sponsor as many of these events?
- More experienced and/or colorful jocks: Every single jock back then was fun and lively. I don't know what it is, but I just can't immerse myself in the morning and afternoon shows they have now. J.P., Big Lip, Lucy Lopez, Afrika, Ivy -- they sound like nice people, but lack the charisma that Cox, Kid Curry, Tony the Tiger, and so many others brought to the airwaves back then. Most of these heavyweights had also been in the business for years before coming to Power 96. Going back to my first point, perhaps today's jocks are more limited in what they can do and say on the air because of corporate regulations. Could it be that the earlier cohort had a bit more breathing room when it came to creativity? Not sure.
- Callers requesting songs: Back in the day, people would call in and request songs on the air. Also, Power 96 had an actual "request line" dedicated to taking requests from callers. This doesn't seem to be the norm anymore.
- Thousand dollar Thursdays: Remember this? Caller #9 would get $1,000 every Thursday throughout the day. I think it was a great way to build interest in the station and keep listeners from turning the dial. They still do other promotions that keep people involved, but they don't seem as fun.
Nonetheless, the good thing is that just because the old Power 96 is gone doesn't mean we can't enjoy the music they played back in the day. I'm crossing my fingers that someone will decide to launch a heritage/freestyle/throwback station someday.
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My gut tells me that MY 93.9 is going to tank sooner or later. We already have 3 other stations playing the same music. Power 96 and y-100 at least have brand recognition and a long history on their side. HITS 97.3 has DJ Laz and is local, just like Power 96. What does MY 93.9 give us? Mario Lopez's syndicated show in the afternoons? Big whoop.
But, yeah, freestyle music/90s dance just doesn't appeal to that many people in South Florida anymore. There are probably more people here interested in Spanish music (salsa, etc.) than EDM.
There is always going to be a following for every genre (freestyle, dance, disco, 70s, emo, heavy metal, etc.) The COXs and Clear Channels of the world, though, are only going to latch onto whatever is in style and makes them money. Right now, it's all about pop/Top 40 music.
Power 96 "failed" to evolve with dance music while dance music was evolving. They simply shifted away and focused more on hip-hop/top 40 pop music. I understand radio is a business first; however, as a listener I do not have to accept their changes, which is why I moved on.
As for salsa: that "died" some time ago.
As for salsa: that "died" some time ago.
I'm with you. I hardly listen to it anymore, except maybe when I'm driving home from work (if there's nothing better to listen to).
If I'm not mistaken, Power did play select electronica/dance songs released in the late 90s/early 2000s. (I think many were featured on "Late Night Laboratory" with George Alvarado.) But once Party 93.1 burst onto the scene, it's almost as if they held a gun to Power's head and said "drop dance or else."
I keep thinking how things might have been different if Party 93.1 had never come into existence. Power 96 might never have altered its format.
Regardless, a lot of their jocks started leaving in the late 90s. Joe Nasty and Dimas Martinez left around 98-99, and Felix Sama and Bo Griffin -- if I read correctly -- were fired around 2001 because of the morning show's awful ratings. I believe Don Cox also left that year.
Everyone knew that sooner or later, there'd be a shakeup. To me, the station's glory days were from the late 80s through 2001.
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I misread this part and now realize that you were indeed talking about Kid Curry.
Even though Curry remained with the station in the capacity of PM until 2006, I started losing interest between 1999 and 2001, when, as I mentioned above, Joe Nasty, Dimas, Sama, Cox and Bo were either fired or left for other opportunities.
When Al B Slyk, Lucy Lopez, Baby Brie and company joined the station, the jocks began skewing younger and more urban. Nothing wrong with that, but I could never get into the station as much as I did in the mid 90s. It seems they tried harder to be louder and more rambunctious, and it started getting on my nerves after a while.
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Alan,
Doublejm1 was referencing dance music, not hip-hop. The latter is the reason why many of us stopped listening to WPOW.
Alan,
Why is SouthBeachRadio.com - Miami now playing lounge/ambient music?
Why isn't Miami EDM - South Beach Radio listed on your website (along with the former)?
Hi Jay, we combined MiamiClubMusic.com and SouthBeachRadio.com into just one station since we now own both.
Also we launched www.ClubMusicRadio.com and ElectronicDanceMusic.us which was a factor here at SFLRadio.com
Even more changes coming as we grow this format.
Thanks
Alan
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Alan,
Thank you for your response. However, I had questions related to the TuneIn streams listed below:
Did you just put something into those streams like you did with SouthBeachRadio.com last year when you inserted the French music stream?
Jay,
Our stations do very well in france however that should not be heard on our us based streams anymore.
In simple terms you are viewing our old tunein pages and we have made changes. Best to launch our stations from our station websites or main site at www.internetradio.us - Alan
It looks like WPOW is shifting to Top 40/CHR. Mediabase has moved the station to the Top 40/CHR panel as November 20, 2015.
G
Groove1670
Guest
The Miami Sound is done. Power has kept up with the times, and has done well with the transition. 1989 Power has passed.
Wouldn't this create an identity crisis? Why?
THERE'S ALREADY A "96.5 AMP RADIO"!!! But it's in Philly. The name is already used by Power 96's sister WZMP-FM. I think these should be the new call letters of "POWER 96" in the event it switches to Amp.
Potential Call Letters:
WMMP-FM (last used by Charleston, SC TV station) "Miami's AMP Radio"
WFLP-FM (used by low-powered Everglades station) "FLorida's AMP Radio"
WFMP-FM (last used by Twin Cities, MN station)"Florida's AMP Radio"
WAMP-FM (if American Family Radio would let CBS Radio take it's call letters from them)
They may make up another call letter sequence, but here is the ones I can think of.
THERE'S ALREADY A "96.5 AMP RADIO"!!! But it's in Philly. The name is already used by Power 96's sister WZMP-FM. I think these should be the new call letters of "POWER 96" in the event it switches to Amp.
Potential Call Letters:
WMMP-FM (last used by Charleston, SC TV station) "Miami's AMP Radio"
WFLP-FM (used by low-powered Everglades station) "FLorida's AMP Radio"
WFMP-FM (last used by Twin Cities, MN station)"Florida's AMP Radio"
WAMP-FM (if American Family Radio would let CBS Radio take it's call letters from them)
They may make up another call letter sequence, but here is the ones I can think of.
Wouldn't this create an identity crisis? Why?
THERE'S ALREADY A "96.5 AMP RADIO"!!! But it's in Philly. The name is already used by Power 96's sister WZMP-FM. I think these should be the new call letters of "POWER 96" in the event it switches to Amp.
Potential Call Letters:
WMMP-FM (last used by Charleston, SC TV station) "Miami's AMP Radio"
WFLP-FM (used by low-powered Everglades station) "FLorida's AMP Radio"
WFMP-FM (last used by Twin Cities, MN station)"Florida's AMP Radio"
WAMP-FM (if American Family Radio would let CBS Radio take it's call letters from them)
They may make up another call letter sequence, but here is the ones I can think of.
First, why would a station that is very high in the ratings change its name? They can change the music mix of music as they have done several times in the past and keep the name, which has equity with today's listeners.
Second, nobody cares about the call letters today except media buyers.
Insanity
So, since we're all arguing between which one was "better" and then throwing in the old' "lets go to the internet for music"
I'll just throw in my 2 cents for the fun of it.
1. Radio is not like it use to be. Until big owners get out or get it, it will continue to fade off into the sunset
2. For what it's worth, Power and HITS both suck. There, I said it. Boring radio, horrible music.
Now, want to talk about good stations? I'll tell you some real good stations that typical corporate radio destroyed for no good reason
1. 97.3 The Coast. By far this station was more popular than that annoying, pathetic, bull crud of a PPM system says it was. Want to know how successful a station really is? Ask their advertisers and their fans. If it has a large following, great response to ads and so on...then it really is good. I have never and WILL NEVER pay attention to ratings and PPM. ANTIQUATED. PERIOD. FIXED!!!! I will never buy it. The days of phone calls to ask if you listen are over. Digital tracking is crap. Let me know those select people you give those machines to, I'd like to see how they really use them HINT HINT ON THAT CEILING FAN GUY
The Coast was popular, it was enjoyed, it had a loyal fanbase and they ruined it. Had they kept it with the talent it had, moved it to a more "80's/90's/2000's" format, it would have been excellent. Listeners would have loved it. But no, 1980 is too old. Has to be turned off and lord knows it CANNOT compete with their new found love, EASY.
Truth is, it was one of the remaining best and now it's long gone, never to come back. Sad really, just goes to show you what those PHD 25 year old college grads really know..
2. 939 MIA, prior to adding the crap, was one heck of a dance station. It was played everywhere, it was listened to by many and it was fun. For what they're doing right now, they would have been better off leaving it where it was. Now it's like a ipod on shuffle. How many times can we play Taylor Swift in one day? Let's count them....
Frankly most stations in SFL are just no good. I'm glad we have Magic 102.7 starting to pickup on the fact that there's a huge HOLE for us normal people who don't listen to Spanish and don't want to fall asleep with EASY/LITE/REFRESHING FOR BOTH!
Now, since I know everyone will attack me for this, let me put one more big one out there. Hey Iheart, thanks for killing SHE 103.5, it isn't like we didn't like that station. I mean gee, a format that works worldwide but apparently it doesn't in Miami (BS)
Long live WAFC 590am, goodnight - Mad at radio dude
So, since we're all arguing between which one was "better" and then throwing in the old' "lets go to the internet for music"
I'll just throw in my 2 cents for the fun of it.
1. Radio is not like it use to be. Until big owners get out or get it, it will continue to fade off into the sunset
2. For what it's worth, Power and HITS both suck. There, I said it. Boring radio, horrible music.
Now, want to talk about good stations? I'll tell you some real good stations that typical corporate radio destroyed for no good reason
1. 97.3 The Coast. By far this station was more popular than that annoying, pathetic, bull crud of a PPM system says it was. Want to know how successful a station really is? Ask their advertisers and their fans. If it has a large following, great response to ads and so on...then it really is good. I have never and WILL NEVER pay attention to ratings and PPM. ANTIQUATED. PERIOD. FIXED!!!! I will never buy it. The days of phone calls to ask if you listen are over. Digital tracking is crap. Let me know those select people you give those machines to, I'd like to see how they really use them HINT HINT ON THAT CEILING FAN GUY
The Coast was popular, it was enjoyed, it had a loyal fanbase and they ruined it. Had they kept it with the talent it had, moved it to a more "80's/90's/2000's" format, it would have been excellent. Listeners would have loved it. But no, 1980 is too old. Has to be turned off and lord knows it CANNOT compete with their new found love, EASY.
Truth is, it was one of the remaining best and now it's long gone, never to come back. Sad really, just goes to show you what those PHD 25 year old college grads really know..
2. 939 MIA, prior to adding the crap, was one heck of a dance station. It was played everywhere, it was listened to by many and it was fun. For what they're doing right now, they would have been better off leaving it where it was. Now it's like a ipod on shuffle. How many times can we play Taylor Swift in one day? Let's count them....
Frankly most stations in SFL are just no good. I'm glad we have Magic 102.7 starting to pickup on the fact that there's a huge HOLE for us normal people who don't listen to Spanish and don't want to fall asleep with EASY/LITE/REFRESHING FOR BOTH!
Now, since I know everyone will attack me for this, let me put one more big one out there. Hey Iheart, thanks for killing SHE 103.5, it isn't like we didn't like that station. I mean gee, a format that works worldwide but apparently it doesn't in Miami (BS)
Long live WAFC 590am, goodnight - Mad at radio dude
The big owners are the only ones with the money to deal with massive, national competition for content from Apple, Pandora, Slacker, etc. And even some of them have debt issues that impede their efforts. But the small broadcasters are not going to "save radio" as the only "salvation" is to move into new distribution systems and onto new platforms.
Power is the #5 18-34 station, with two Urbans and two ACs, WFEZ and WLYF, slightly ahead of it. And Power averages a cume between 975,000 and 1,025,000. Apparently few people share your opinion.
.
The Coast went away because Cox found themselves in a "Catch 22" situation. Multiple failures with the former WTMI including dance and rock resulted in a "soft AC format" like WDUV. Nice, except it was targeted at a group in short supply: non-Hispanic folks over 55. So they ended up making it more 25-54 friendly, and it began eating The Coast's lunch... and dinner. So they decided to go with the one that was going to give the best results... partly because it had developed a nice Hispanic following: WFEZ.
One cute anecdote does not damn the whole system. The key is that advertisers use PPM data to place billions of dollars in advertising each year because it is what they asked for and what they trust. The PPM, which measures just TSL and cume, is better than a system that measures cume, TSL and memory.
As I said, they already had a format that filled that niche and was doing better than The Coast had been doing.
What the heck are you talking about?
Dance tends to get a bit of public place exposure, but it does not get listening as the aforementioned Cox attempt proved.
Ah, that explains why Magic has lost 1/4 of its share since 2015 began. And why they recently changed PD for someone with more Hispanic experience.
It was Paxson that changed WSHE to Planet Radio and "modern AC" around 1997. Clear Channel did not buy it until the year after, and went with Jammin' oldies. iHeart did not become Clear Channel's name until nearly a decade and a half later. Paxson changed WSHE because it was not making money. And that was 18 years ago.
Or are you referring to the 11-month May of 2012 to April of 2013 return to a quasi-SHE that was such a failure it did not even last a year?
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K
K.M. Richards
Guest
Oh yes. Mr. One hundred-and-twenty-one posts knows more than the entire rest of the industry about what is popular.
Lucky for us you don't have to pay attention to ratings and PPM, since you have no decision-making power.
And with a post like that one, no one would ever hire you and place you in a position to make decisions. Miami radio is doing just fine without your "help".
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