May Philly Ratings

[atthestars]

Again, just the vanity numbers, but let's take a look and get the big one out of the way first.

WBEB- 3.0. They lost to both Ben (3.1) and the Breeze (3.2). Most other markets saw a rebound for their CHRs and ACs. But Philly was pretty "meh." WBEB down, WTDY down to a 1.2! WIOQ up slightly.

WDAS took the crown, down slightly. WMGK and WMMR look good.

KYW slides back, but not horrible. WHYY essentially flat. WPHT falls back to pre-pandemic levels.

WIP still holding strong with no sports.

 

[CassChopper96]

WLTW in NYC has to be one of the highest rated AC stations in the country. WBEB and WTDY are going down massively. Entercom must had did something to these stations

 

[atthestars]

WLTW in NYC has to be one of the highest rated AC stations in the country. WBEB and WTDY are going down massively. Entercom must had did something to these stations

It's weird. B101 seems to be like the Action News theme and the ticker sound on KYW... something you think would never fail. But in a time where at-work listening imploded (plus they've done a LOT of tinkering with the on-air schedule during the pandemic. Morning show shifted to 8-Noon and their producer solo hosted 6-8 for a while. Middayer Andrea Duffy was left go in budget cuts. Nights now tracked by the TDY Midday guy. All of that plus the Breeze chewing at their demo, and you get something like this. Unprecedented it seems.

As for WTDY, we've seen CHR drop heavy during the pandemic, but they have seen an absolute bloodbath. I don't see Entercom doing anything rash yet... wait to see if/when the world returns to normal if they can continue to give Q102 a run for its money, but still... those are dismal numbers in the vanity 6+

 

[radiodx10]

I have never seen WTDY that low on ratings. I am sure Corona is to blame for it, but that is just abysmally low. Doubt we'll see any changes as atthestars said, but certainly something to watch.

 

[Route 222]

Geez. I know these are just the vanity numbers and that we're still in pandemic mode, but what in the actual heck. I never thought I'd see the B fall from their lofty throne so badly. Philly finally has a more listened to AC-leaning station with The Breeze, although it's not like their numbers are that amazing either. More people are listening to classical on WRTI than B-101?! Let that sink in. As for WTDY, that actually makes me sad to see as I think they're the better sounding station against Q. Those numbers are just plain bad.

Despite all this, I still don't think we're going to see any knee-jerk format adjustment reactions to any of this until we have some semblance of normal again for a few months.

Still, wow.

 

[Radionerd408]

Geez. I know these are just the vanity numbers and that we're still in pandemic mode, but what in the actual heck.

It is pretty remarkable to look at the WBEB's chart falling from 18.6 share for Holiday (Christmas) to a 3 share ranked 15th overall. It will be interesting to see if they bounce back with people starting to head back to work, or if this will cause challenges until they start playing Christmas music again. Their 6+ Cume is still ranked top 3, which probably bodes well for them.

 

[CassChopper96]

first it was KROQ in Los Angeles and now its WBEB. Entercom is destroying these stations

 

[TheBigA]

first it was KROQ in Los Angeles and now its WBEB. Entercom is destroying these stations

How has the company destroyed them? What did they do that caused a pandemic?

 

[atthestars]

How has the company destroyed them? What did they do that caused a pandemic?

Both stations saw warning signs pre-pandemic (but the pandemic hasn't helped).

KROQ has found themselves being frequently beaten by crosstown KYSR. Replacing their longtime PD with the PD of WNYL in NYC, and canning the morning show with a well known talent haven't been great steps either.

WBEB has been slowly cut back ever since Entercom took over... removing jocks from overnights and nights. Again, the pandemic hasn't helped, with the release of their middayer (being replaced by the PD voicetracked, and now having a tracked early evening jock from sister WTDY). WBEB is also battling WISX being the most formidable AC competition in 20+ years.

 

[AbrahamJSimpson]

first it was KROQ in Los Angeles and now its WBEB. Entercom is destroying these stations

This is a simplistic and inaccurate take. You cannot print money that does not exist.

 

[TheBigA]

Replacing their longtime PD with the PD of WNYL in NYC, and canning the morning show with a well known talent haven't been great steps either.

They didn't "can" the morning show. Bean retired after 30 years and his co-host simply couldn't carry the show alone. What would you have done?

WBEB has been slowly cut back ever since Entercom took over... removing jocks from overnights and nights.

Do you really think either of those things affected the ratings? Be honest.

 

[Radionerd408]

As I understand it, WBEB had a history (under Jerry Lee) of dramatically outspending the rest of the market on research and marketing. I suspect those budgets have been cut, which may ultimately have impact on their previous dominance.

 

[TheBigA]

I suspect those budgets have been cut, which may ultimately have impact on their previous dominance.

He spent a lot because he only owned one station. That amount might be big in the context of one station.

You buy one potato, you pay more for it than if you buy a bushel.

Do you suspect he spent more than Entercom spends on research for all of their stations?

 

[Radionerd408]

He spent a lot because he only owned one station. That amount might be big in the context of one station.

You buy one potato, you pay more for it than if you buy a bushel.

Do you suspect he spent more than Entercom spends on research for all of their stations?

I suspect he spent a lot more on a per station basis. Why would you compare to "all of their stations"?
Whatever scale-based deals Entercom is getting, it is my understanding that WBEB (under Jerry Lee) ultimately got a lot more research product and a lot more marketing product.

 

[TheBigA]

Whatever scale-based deals Entercom is getting, it is my understanding that WBEB (under Jerry Lee) ultimately got a lot more research product and a lot more marketing product.

There's a lot of mythology when it comes to Jerry Lee. He was also a great self promoter.

The fact is that the AC format is down in lots of other markets besides Philadelphia. This isn't strictly a Philadelphia problem. If they could just spend the problem away, they'd do it.

 

[AbrahamJSimpson]

There's a lot of mythology when it comes to Jerry Lee. He was also a great self promoter.

The fact is that the AC format is down in lots of other markets besides Philadelphia. This isn't strictly a Philadelphia problem. If they could just spend the problem away, they'd do it.

And that self-promoted mythology also has the advantage of never having had to weather this situation. Let's also not forget that Jerry Lee made changes and cuts, including to the overnight position. It was only brought back for a short time.

 

[Radionerd408]

It is pretty remarkable to look at the WBEB's chart falling from 18.6 share for Holiday (Christmas) to a 3 share ranked 15th overall. It will be interesting to see if they bounce back with people starting to head back to work, or if this will cause challenges until they start playing Christmas music again. Their 6+ Cume is still ranked top 3, which probably bodes well for them.

Here we go in circles again Big A! My previous comment was in response to a comment which fully acknowledged the pandemic effect. The question I pose is how quickly they can recover. I think we've established that AC & CHR have generally taken a beating during the pandemic.

 

[TheBigA]

The question I pose is how quickly they can recover.

I don't think anyone knows. My point is that this isn't strictly a Philly problem or one caused by a single company. I think everyone is looking for the right combination of songs, talent, and presentation that will attract a bigger audience. What worked for Jerry Lee might not work under these circumstances just a few years later. He was lucky to get out when he did.

 

[CassChopper96]

i just noticed that wilimington WSTW is just 0.5 away from WTDY