Is WKAF in trouble?

[jsr4l]

With the monthly ratings coming next week, and the station's consistent downhill slide with ratings, do you think WKAF is in trouble? Imaging and logistics-wise, it probably made more sense to skew more Pop, but the 97.7 playlist isn't really all that conventional in my opinion. I doubt WBQT listeners want to hear a playlist with both Madonna and Ice Cube, and I bet Magic listeners won't either.

If Iheart thought Urban AC wasn't doable for the station, they should have went the route WBQT was going from 2013-2014 (Urban-leaning Rhythmic AC) before it became a WJMN clone. I just feel like sticking to a certain sound in particular would be ideal to keep dedicated listeners, instead of having a variety of sounds that cater to completely different tastes. What are your thoughts?

 

[Retro]

As I have mentioned recently 97.7 "The Beat Of Boston" augments those who grew up on Kiss 108 and Jam'n 94.5 (which also includes a few tracks from WZOU that Kiss 108 never played, but let's not get too particular though.) Marketing wise, it's a sell. Now if can only get 94.5 out of the gutter, then it would be a really big sell!

As far as rstings, it really is too soon to tell! As long as there isn't dramatic slip, then they not going to change just yet.

With thst said, it is my humble opinion is just a holder until they figure out what is better to do with the frequency.

 

[Superdave2351]

I think it says a lot that a format isn't going to be that long-term when you keep using an old call letter that doesn't have anything to do with the station's slogan. Surprised that WODS still hasn't changed too.

 

[davideduardo]

I think it says a lot that a format isn't going to be that long-term when you keep using an old call letter that doesn't have anything to do with the station's slogan. Surprised that WODS still hasn't changed too.

Actually, it means that in PPM markets... and even in diary markets today... call letters are of no significance unless a station wants to make them so.

Why waste thousands of dollars on legal fees to change calls when you are going to mumble them once an hour in a buried ID?

 

[freqlost]

I notice WKAF has only 2 DJs.
Clarence Barnes 9-2
Romeo 2- 7

 

[Retro]

It is hard, perhaps even silly to think that iHeartRadio thinks or would actually invest in the present format. I think that they use the station as an additional point along with WXKS-FM/WJMN. My thinking is if they were in fact serious about WKAF, they would put some "real" effort into programming the station instead. This would include. but not limited to promotion, announcers iost, if not all of the day parts. And perhaps most importantly. they would be programming it with purpose by either building the brand name, a very specific demographic. Last, but not least. change the format.

 

[freqlost]

Today I heard the Eurythmics - Sweet Dreams on there.
I thought that was out of place.

 

[Retro]

Today I heard the Eurythmics - Sweet Dreams on there.
I thought that was out of place.

I am just curious as to why you would say that? While I have not given them enough listening to see if they are still positioning themselves as "If you listened to Kiss 108 during the 1980s, and Jam'n 94.5 during the 1990's, then this is your station!" Have they tweaked since then? In all likelihood they have.

 

[jradioguy1]

With the monthly ratings coming next week, and the station's consistent downhill slide with ratings, do you think WKAF is in trouble? Imaging and logistics-wise, it probably made more sense to skew more Pop, but the 97.7 playlist isn't really all that conventional in my opinion. I doubt WBQT listeners want to hear a playlist with both Madonna and Ice Cube, and I bet Magic listeners won't either.

If Iheart thought Urban AC wasn't doable for the station, they should have went the route WBQT was going from 2013-2014 (Urban-leaning Rhythmic AC) before it became a WJMN clone. I just feel like sticking to a certain sound in particular would be ideal to keep dedicated listeners, instead of having a variety of sounds that cater to completely different tastes. What are your thoughts?

I personally don't think it's a long term format. That being said I'm not sure what iHeart would really replace it with. Maybe they could bring back a "Evolution" electronic dance type of format to 97.7.

 

[CTListener]

I personally don't think it's a long term format. That being said I'm not sure what iHeart would really replace it with. Maybe they could bring back a "Evolution" electronic dance type of format to 97.7.

A format that's never done well in the ratings anywhere, with a negative perception of its listeners among advertisers to boot. Yeah, that's the ticket. Maybe, when Ecstasy is legalized ....

 

[jradioguy1]

A format that's never done well in the ratings anywhere, with a negative perception of its listeners among advertisers to boot. Yeah, that's the ticket. Maybe, when Ecstasy is legalized ....

Just a suggestion. I honestly don't know what type of format could work on 97.7? It's signal is not strong like it's sister stations. As per Radio-Locator it's only 2,050 watts. But hey Marijuana is already legalized here in MA. Shrooms passed in OR and DC, so let's just shelve that EDM format idea until a Shroom question reaches us in MA.

 

[Eli Polonsky]

I personally don't think it's a long term format. That being said I'm not sure what iHeart would really replace it with. Maybe they could bring back a "Evolution" electronic dance type of format to 97.7.

iHeart knows first hand that didn't do well here, they tried it on 101.7 as WEDX for a year and a half in 2013-2014 (and then for another five years on HD subchannels).

 

[UrbanTeenager]

The moment they tweaked the format it had no chance. It's the same as 96.9 with no brand and no personalities or continuity and a weaker signal. I think they won't let 96.9 be the victor but they really need to change the larger JAMN to something more AMP-like but not AMP and make the smaller 97.7 (Boston-Brockton) signal an Urban Contemporary with syndicate programming.

 

[BJSteigner]

The station isn't in trouble...It's the programming that's in trouble and very disturbing. They need to put House Music DJs on the weekends and bring Caribbean Music Sunday Nights.....<I don't know if it might work though.

 

[CTListener]

The station isn't in trouble...It's the programming that's in trouble and very disturbing. They need to put House Music DJs on the weekends and bring Caribbean Music Sunday Nights.....<I don't know if it might work though.

Weekend specialty programming would be of little benefit to the station no matter how many fans it attracted. The advertisers want to reach regular weekday listeners who spend at least an hour or two with the station daily during their commutes, or longer while at the office or at home, not once-a-week listeners to a show featuring music that doesn't even fit the format.

 

[MarkW]

The programming stinks and everyone except the corporate radio apologists on this forum knew so the instant the prior format was dumped. iHM ruined a rock solid station from a listener acceptance standpoint, and that's a shame.

 

[Retro]

The programming stinks and everyone except the corporate radio apologists on this forum knew so the instant the prior format was dumped. iHM ruined a rock solid station from a listener acceptance standpoint, and that's a shame.

Do you mean WZLX? WKAF was programming adult R&B for at least a year before divesting it to iHeartRadio.

Also, just to reiterate again, I personally think ( just like a lot of here) think that the current format is only a place over until they decide what they realize want to f l do with it.

Finally, from a marketing, station cluster sales advantage, the existing format very easily complements WXKS-FM & WJMN.

 

[CTListener]

Do you mean WZLX? WKAF was programming adult R&B for at least a year before divesting it to iHeartRadio.

Also, just to reiterate again, I personally think ( just like a lot of here) think that the current format is only a place over until they decide what they realize want to f l do with it.

Finally, from a marketing, station cluster sales advantage, the existing format very easily complements WXKS-FM & WJMN.

Maybe the reference was to the years that WKAF originated no programming of its own, instead simulcasting WAAF's rock programming in an attempt to serve more of the Boston metro.

 

[Retro]

Maybe the reference was to the years that WKAF originated no programming of its own, instead simulcasting WAAF's rock programming in an attempt to serve more of the Boston metro.

They flipped formats several times within the past 10 years. After Entercom both purchased and attempted to enhance the signal into Boston, they had very instantly flipped to a simulcast of 107.3.

 

[davideduardo]

The advertisers want to reach regular weekday listeners who spend at least an hour or two with the station daily during their commutes, or longer while at the office or at home, not once-a-week listeners to a show featuring music that doesn't even fit the format.

Actually, advertisers don't pay much if any attention to how long a listener spends with a station each day or week. What they look at in the agency versions of the Nielsen software is the number of listeners that hear each spot.

"Reach & Frequency", the math that gets you both per-spot impact average and total number of "hears" of each spot based on cume, is not implemented much any more. Just AQH persons per spot.

So, in a simplification, I am saying that they don't care how long you listen... just if you heard a spot and how many others did, too.

However, your point is most valid: advertisers buy when the most listeners are using radio. That is Monday to Sunday, 6 AM to 7 PM. Very little agency buying is done on weekends (except some Saturday 6 AM to 3 PM). The problem with weekjend specialty shows is that it is hard to tell if the audience is within the target of the advertiser since the data is so scant.