Alt 104.5's got a Woody

[atthestars]

The Woody Show that is. Everyone expected this right at the re-launch of 104.5 from "Radio" to "Alt." Instead, August 3, 104.5 goes from a Music-intensive morning show to a talk-intensive one.

My initial opinion, this will barely make a dent in Preston & Steve's numbers.

Link to Tweet Announcement

 

[andygradel]

I'm curious to see how it works/sounds from a pure technical perspective. Since they're based on the left coast, I'm guessing they're not going live at 3am PDT to feed east coasters, so will it be wall-to-wall voice tracking with generic or day-old bits?

 

[TheBigA]

Some interesting comments. I often read on these boards that people want personality, and personality is what separates radio from Spotify, but most of these people just want the music.

As we've said for a while, this station underperforms in terms of money, and mornings haven't been an important daypart for this station. So no big loss either way.

 

[radiodx10]

Personally I much prefer the 104 minute commercial free mornings they do. But I have a natural repulsion of morning shows, as a subjective persona opinion. I think some can be done well but it always is just cheap laughs and traffic reports. I listen to Morning Edition on WHYY anyway in the mornings if I want news/talk.

 

[atthestars]

Some interesting comments. I often read on these boards that people want personality, and personality is what separates radio from Spotify, but most of these people just want the music.

As we've said for a while, this station underperforms in terms of money, and mornings haven't been an important daypart for this station. So no big loss either way.

I think what Johnny did in mornings for a decade fit the station well. He knew they weren't going to de-throne Preston and Steve, but he didn't run it like a jukebox. He provided information, entertainment etc. It was still personality, it just wasn't wall-to-wall talk with a couple of songs each hour, and it fit the overall presentation of the station.

 

[chrocket87]

And I predict low 2 shares for Alt beginning with the September book. iHeart just pulled the plug on ANOTHER Woody affiliate just the other day (KLLT/St Louis). Haven’t they gotten the picture yet?

 

[TheBigA]

My take is iHeart is creating the Bobby Bones of alternative. A national brand they can build around a personality. He may get lukewarm ratings on FM, but that's not where the growth is anyway. Bobby doesn't get great ratings in most markets either. But he has a popular podcast, he hosts iHeart events, and he does a lot of TV. The minute Woody gets in a few more markets, expect to see him on some ABC reality shows. That was Bobby's pattern. The irony is that Bobby got his start at iHeart's alternative station in Austin. But they saw more potential for him in country. They were right.

 

[EasyBakeOven]

Woody actually starts his show live at 3AM on the West Coast.

 

[radiojomo]

And I predict low 2 shares for Alt beginning with the September book. iHeart just pulled the plug on ANOTHER Woody affiliate just the other day (KLLT/St Louis). Haven’t they gotten the picture yet?

Funny you mention that, because as I'm sure you know, Woody used to be on in St Louis on what is now know The Rizzuto Show.

Both morning shows had virtually the same exact segments! I would be curious to learn if either Woody or Rizz had beef with one another on that (once Woody arrived in St Louis on another station) or if it was mutually agreed upon. Who knows, who cares lol.

 

[MarkW]

My take is iHeart is creating the Bobby Bones of alternative. A national brand they can build around a personality. He may get lukewarm ratings on FM, but that's not where the growth is anyway. Bobby doesn't get great ratings in most markets either. But he has a popular podcast, he hosts iHeart events, and he does a lot of TV. The minute Woody gets in a few more markets, expect to see him on some ABC reality shows. That was Bobby's pattern. The irony is that Bobby got his start at iHeart's alternative station in Austin. But they saw more potential for him in country. They were right.

But how does that "personality" get monetized?

I don't see this move attracting many new listeners to 104.5, and those who came for the music will flee. Granted, there will still be a decent amount of music played, especially during the non-live portion of the show (prior to 8a ET). Look to Atlanta for an example of how this will play out.

How funny that the Woody Show was an enormous flop in syndication in his former home market of St. Louis...

 

[TheBigA]

But how does that "personality" get monetized?

There are other platforms where money is made, most of it online.

Think of the radio station as the way the recording artist thinks of the album. They make them, but few people buy them.

 

[DOB]

Remember, back in 1986 every one said that Howard Stern would fail in Philly and that he had no chance of taking on John DeBella who at the time owned morning radio in Philly.
No, that won't be the case this time around. WMMR with Preston and Steve are just too strong right now, and the Woody show sure as heck ain't Stern. However, it is a good move for rad---err ALT 104-5. This will increase their morning numbers for sure and also it might help them sell the station too. At this point anything could help.

 

[davideduardo]

Remember, back in 1986 every one said that Howard Stern would fail in Philly and that he had no chance of taking on John DeBella who at the time owned morning radio in Philly.

And much of the credit goes to Andy Bloom, who guided Stern as he antagonized DeBella to the point that John over-reacted and sort of self-destructed.

Bloom went on to do the same when he took Stern to LA and did the same with Mark & Brian.

 

[DOB]

If I remember correctly, it took Stern much longer to win in LA than it did in Philly.
Stern really killed it in the 80s and 90s, but we now know that those numbers were inflated by the diary versus the actual listening captured by the PPM, although the sample size is greatly flawed.