Cumulus just launched an Alternative in Kansas City "Alternative Underground". This is the same type of format now in Chicago and New Orleans. Could this work in Atlanta? I'd say give this is a try and maybe it will take a stab out of Radio 105.7 - not like they are a real Alternative station.
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October 2015 Ratings.....
- Thread starter deejaywestbrook
- Start date
CC / iHeart most likely is getting some positive cash flow out of 105.7. I doubt that anyone on the air staff is making over $100K so a positive cash flow of around $1 million plus is possible. For a rim shot that is acceptable. A "big" signal should bill a lot more.
Alex beat me to it but yes, Cumulus has launched an alternative station in KC. I'm a little confused on that move though because KC already has a very popular alternative station produced by Entercom. It's got a lot of local following in the KC area as well. The Buzz, which is the Entercom station is a lot deeper than Cumulus new alt station BUT the Cumulus alt station is 10 times better than the iheart one here in Atlanta. I'm willing to bet Cumulus may do alternative as their first move but I just hope it's not on a translator.
I'd suggest Alternative going on either 100.5 or 106.7 (ideally 100.5) due to the stronger signal allowing it to reach listeners including the Athen's area.
Man, what a smart move that would be if that it actually came into play. You never know - new management under Cumulus, surely they have to be thinking about new options for their radio stations in the big markets. It's already happening in DC (107.3).
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Uh, 106.7 is by far the stronger signal of the two.
I'm sure he meant 106.7. I hear the idea but I'm reluctant to think it will actually work. I honestly believe active rock would do better (doesn't mean I don't like alternative though). Personally, let Entercom put alternative on the 101.1 translator... Now THAT would be alternative. Look at the playlist on The Buzz in KC vs this new Underground station in KC and you will see what I mean when I say Entercom is the best when it comes to Alternative.
I still believe some variety hits or AC station would be best on 100.5.
Last Songs Played on The Buzz
Love Me - The 1975
Spiderweb's - No Doubt
Cocoon - Catfish and the Bottleman
Gin and Juice - Snoop Dogg
Toes - Glass Animals
The Middle - Jimmy Eat World
The Ghosts of Beverly Drive - Death Cab
I Wanna Be Sedated - Ramones
Last Songs Played on The Underground
Harlem - New Politics
Nightlight - Silversun
Pardon Me - Incubus
Different Colors - Walk the moon
Gone Daddy Gone - Violent Femmes
Stressed Out - Twenty One Pilots
Still say Entercom (The Buzz) has Cumulus (The Underground) beat. We all agree they both kick the arse of Radio 105.7.
I still believe some variety hits or AC station would be best on 100.5.
Last Songs Played on The Buzz
Love Me - The 1975
Spiderweb's - No Doubt
Cocoon - Catfish and the Bottleman
Gin and Juice - Snoop Dogg
Toes - Glass Animals
The Middle - Jimmy Eat World
The Ghosts of Beverly Drive - Death Cab
I Wanna Be Sedated - Ramones
Last Songs Played on The Underground
Harlem - New Politics
Nightlight - Silversun
Pardon Me - Incubus
Different Colors - Walk the moon
Gone Daddy Gone - Violent Femmes
Stressed Out - Twenty One Pilots
Still say Entercom (The Buzz) has Cumulus (The Underground) beat. We all agree they both kick the arse of Radio 105.7.
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Oops I actually meant to say 100.5. I thought that was the stronger signal of the two and it reaches to Athens....
106.7 is by far the more powerful station. But 100.5 transmits from downtown Atlanta while 106.7 is a move-in broadcasting from north of Bethlehem, south of Winder. In the city, 100.5 has a more solid signal.
So, let me get this straight...
Alternative on ONE signal (okay, technically two counting 96.7) earns mediocre ratings in the money demo, has horrendous billing (among the lowest of any FM station in the market), and some of you are suggesting that Cumulus should flip its blowtorch at 106.7 FM to *that* format?!!!
Bear in mind, too, that Alternative as a format is highly cyclical. The format is at or near a "peak" in terms of quality new music right now. What do you think happens once the format hits its next doldrum? I'll tell you what happens - a repeat of 99X circa 2006/2007.
This doesn't need to be difficult. But Cumulus is run by a bunch of idiots, and they've apparently pulled the wool over some folks' eyes.
Here's the solution:
-106.7: flip it to a "Greatest Hits" format, but with more of a Variety Hits sound than Classic Hits. There is a BIG gap between B98.5 and 97.1 The River musically speaking. Cumulus needs to take advantage of that.
-100.5: Cumulus sort of had the right idea when they "merged" 98.9 The Bone with Rock 100.5, but it was poorly executed. What emerged was a mainstream rock station with an air tight playlist. What *should have* emerged was an aggressive Active Rock station that sounded more like the former Project 9-6-1. Flip 100.5 to straight up Active Rock.
I would not be opposed to doing the rock format on 106.7 and the variety/classic hits format on 100.5. Good midtown & downtown Atlanta signal penetration could be important for a format such as variety/classic hits, since such a format would be amenable to at-work listening.
FWIW, Atlanta radio stations don't care one iota how much listening occurs in the Athens area. Athens-area businesses are not going to pay Atlanta advertising rates - unless they have a specific desire to communicate to a Metro Atlanta audience. This talk about Rock 100.5's "weak signal" is overblown, too. I suspect Rock 100.5's city grade signal contour encompasses more people than either News 95.5, 97.1 The River, 104.7 The Fish or Newsradio 106.7. I'm guessing 80%+ of the folks within the Nielsen defined MSA boundaries should be able to receive WNNX-FM with little difficulty, especially if listening in the car or at home.
As for what Cumulus is doing in KC - stupid move. The station will be lucky to draw a 1.0 share, and I'm not sure why they'd be going after 96.5 The Buzz instead of 98.9 The Rock (which likely cross-cumes more heavily with Cumulus' classic rock station, 101 The Fox). This is what happens when you have a guy with a light resume and poor business sense such as Troy Hanson making corporate format decisions for their rock brands.
Alternative on ONE signal (okay, technically two counting 96.7) earns mediocre ratings in the money demo, has horrendous billing (among the lowest of any FM station in the market), and some of you are suggesting that Cumulus should flip its blowtorch at 106.7 FM to *that* format?!!!
Bear in mind, too, that Alternative as a format is highly cyclical. The format is at or near a "peak" in terms of quality new music right now. What do you think happens once the format hits its next doldrum? I'll tell you what happens - a repeat of 99X circa 2006/2007.
This doesn't need to be difficult. But Cumulus is run by a bunch of idiots, and they've apparently pulled the wool over some folks' eyes.
Here's the solution:
-106.7: flip it to a "Greatest Hits" format, but with more of a Variety Hits sound than Classic Hits. There is a BIG gap between B98.5 and 97.1 The River musically speaking. Cumulus needs to take advantage of that.
-100.5: Cumulus sort of had the right idea when they "merged" 98.9 The Bone with Rock 100.5, but it was poorly executed. What emerged was a mainstream rock station with an air tight playlist. What *should have* emerged was an aggressive Active Rock station that sounded more like the former Project 9-6-1. Flip 100.5 to straight up Active Rock.
I would not be opposed to doing the rock format on 106.7 and the variety/classic hits format on 100.5. Good midtown & downtown Atlanta signal penetration could be important for a format such as variety/classic hits, since such a format would be amenable to at-work listening.
FWIW, Atlanta radio stations don't care one iota how much listening occurs in the Athens area. Athens-area businesses are not going to pay Atlanta advertising rates - unless they have a specific desire to communicate to a Metro Atlanta audience. This talk about Rock 100.5's "weak signal" is overblown, too. I suspect Rock 100.5's city grade signal contour encompasses more people than either News 95.5, 97.1 The River, 104.7 The Fish or Newsradio 106.7. I'm guessing 80%+ of the folks within the Nielsen defined MSA boundaries should be able to receive WNNX-FM with little difficulty, especially if listening in the car or at home.
As for what Cumulus is doing in KC - stupid move. The station will be lucky to draw a 1.0 share, and I'm not sure why they'd be going after 96.5 The Buzz instead of 98.9 The Rock (which likely cross-cumes more heavily with Cumulus' classic rock station, 101 The Fox). This is what happens when you have a guy with a light resume and poor business sense such as Troy Hanson making corporate format decisions for their rock brands.
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LOL........................................................ Ok, I decided it's best that I don't give into the temptation to say more.
I guess we'll just have to wait and see what happens with DC 107.3 over time. The only reason I care is because I (currently) live in DC.
On somewhat of a related note, now that I think of it, it's crazy how I was all hyped up about Atlanta hopefully and finally getting a good top 40 station with a good PD/MD on a good signal... and then it happens almost precisely how I like (with electronic music show(s) included and everything)....
THEN I end up moving - TO DC, out of all places.
Not what I expected to happen in life, but this is the type of things relationships cause sometimes. Oh well.
Anyway, I plan on moving back to Phoenix. Maybe someday Atlanta might be my home again. Who knows...
Wish you all the best with your alternative and variety hits & oldies wishes.
THEN I end up moving - TO DC, out of all places.
Not what I expected to happen in life, but this is the type of things relationships cause sometimes. Oh well.
Anyway, I plan on moving back to Phoenix. Maybe someday Atlanta might be my home again. Who knows...
Wish you all the best with your alternative and variety hits & oldies wishes.
I'm guessing Cumulus is making more money with a slice of the classic rock market than they would with alt or active. Both alt and active are fickle.
There is, though, a big gap in the Adult/Variety Hits area. The oldest music in ATL is on the two classic rock stations, and then nothing else until you get to B98.5 and the occasional 80s/90s. Journey did reasonably well, and so did Atlanta's Greatest Hits.
I'm an alternative fan and listen to the classic rock stations more than I do Radio 105.7 What a horrible example of alternative. Mark makes a point about active rock. I say go active/alternative. What that means is instead of active with classic rock mixed in, how about active with some harder alternative mixed in. I would also tweak the station in one direction or another depending on the national trends (alternative vs active rock).
With the exception of a handful of active rock stations, most are what I always considered mainstream. Little new stuff, little old stuff and a whole hell of a lot of 80s and 90s. Exceptions would include Iheart's active rock in Denver and Entercom's active rock in KC and Greenville SC. The cumulus active rock in Macon is about 30% all classic rock. What ever happened "modern rock stations" that played both alternative rock and active rock? Now, it appears the alternative station sound more like a cross between Alt top 40 and AAA stations. I do agree with Mark on the Variety Hits format but I do believe it would be better on 100.5. There are already variety hit stations in many of the smaller cities in north Ga, including 103.7 in Athens.
KDM Project - Want to hear a horrible top 40 station? Move to St. Louis. IHeart's Z1077 in St. Louis will drive you bananas.
With the exception of a handful of active rock stations, most are what I always considered mainstream. Little new stuff, little old stuff and a whole hell of a lot of 80s and 90s. Exceptions would include Iheart's active rock in Denver and Entercom's active rock in KC and Greenville SC. The cumulus active rock in Macon is about 30% all classic rock. What ever happened "modern rock stations" that played both alternative rock and active rock? Now, it appears the alternative station sound more like a cross between Alt top 40 and AAA stations. I do agree with Mark on the Variety Hits format but I do believe it would be better on 100.5. There are already variety hit stations in many of the smaller cities in north Ga, including 103.7 in Athens.
KDM Project - Want to hear a horrible top 40 station? Move to St. Louis. IHeart's Z1077 in St. Louis will drive you bananas.
Would classic country work in Atlanta?
It depends how far back into classic country they went. You might get big 6+ numbers but the agencies (which control most of the money in the market) seem to be concentrating on Urban and the sub 40 demos.
IMHO: you would have to stop in the early 1990's or late 1980's. A forty year old most likely would not be familiar with music that was played before they were 10 years old. 2015 - 30 = 1985.
IMHO: you would have to stop in the early 1990's or late 1980's. A forty year old most likely would not be familiar with music that was played before they were 10 years old. 2015 - 30 = 1985.
Every classic country station I've heard go back to at least the 70s. Only going to the early 90s would kill it.
Isn't 98.9 classic country?
Also, didn't 94.9 The Bull lean classic country at the very beginning?
96.7 was Classic Country The Legend for a year or so beginning on December 26th, 2007, before being dumped in favor of simulcasting Wild 105.7 (and now Radio 105.7). The 96.7 frequency has always seemed to be a testing ground for formats unless they were a simulcast for another northern metro frequency. At the time, the Legend was supposed to be a flanker for 94.9 the Bull.
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