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Christmas Music

B

Buddy Shula

I was wondering from my brethren on this board, what your opinion is of Christmas music stations this year. From my standpoint, the latest book ended Nov 11th. The current 2 stations flipping to Christmas on Nov 1 were almost 2 weeks into the book we just received, and both stations did not do that well. There is no longer a ratings period until the beginning of January. So in essence, now thru Jan 4 are not rated.

it is my guess that Christmas music will not influence ratings this year. For some reason, no one I talk to seems to give a damn about it.

I would like to know others opinions on this.
 
Are you playing Christmas oldies on WECK? You should. There's a huge load of Christmas oldies from the 60s & 70s that aren't getting airplay. I'd start by playing the famous Beatles Christmas album that is often ignored.
 
I was wondering from my brethren on this board, what your opinion is of Christmas music stations this year. From my standpoint, the latest book ended Nov 11th. The current 2 stations flipping to Christmas on Nov 1 were almost 2 weeks into the book we just received, and both stations did not do that well. There is no longer a ratings period until the beginning of January. So in essence, now thru Jan 4 are not rated.

it is my guess that Christmas music will not influence ratings this year. For some reason, no one I talk to seems to give a damn about it.

I would like to know others opinions on this.
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Plenty of people do "give a damn," but how much of a "give" depends on who is being asked, how old they are and what they need this holiday season. Eddie behind the counter at the Quickie Mart will tell you he hates All Christmas music. Meanwhile it's the only thing his wife Brenda listens to. No doubt people will spend more minutes or hours each day with Christmas music as the 24th and 25th approach. The question is, from what source? The radio? "Alexa Play?" Or their own libraries and smart phones?
 
Buddy has answered his own question. Since the ratings are in hiatus, they will get no Xmas boost. The flip to all Xmas happens every year. Some of their listeners complain and tune out. Others may not even notice since these are "background" stations...
 
TheBigA said:
That is in PPM markets. Buffalo is a continuous diary market. So there is no "holiday" book.
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The "continuous measurement" in the diary world still has a 48-week-per-year cycle, with 4 "down" weeks. Those are parallel with the 13th "month" in the PPM. So, for all practical effects, the second week of December (starting on the 10th ) up to the first "Nielsen Week" in January (ending the 6th) are down in the diary world.

There are 12 4-week periods in the diary.
 
Buddy Shula said:
I was wondering from my brethren on this board, what your opinion is of Christmas music stations this year. From my standpoint, the latest book ended Nov 11th. The current 2 stations flipping to Christmas on Nov 1 were almost 2 weeks into the book we just received, and both stations did not do that well. There is no longer a ratings period until the beginning of January. So in essence, now thru Jan 4 are not rated.
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There is still the 4 week period from November 12 to December 9 with is the "December" book and they will be entirely in that one.
 
DavidEduardo said:
There is still the 4 week period from November 12 to December 9 with is the "December" book and they will be entirely in that one.
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STAR got no significant ratings increase last year during that time frame. The Breeze (formerly known as MIX and JOY) has no real identity and has seen mediocre ratings. Those are the two Xmas stations. PPM would be their only hope for higher Xmas ratings. Nielsen is not bringing that system to smaller markets...
 
These are great points and I am trying to apply these type of comments to WECK. We have be doing great without Christmas music, and no one has asked about it. So why do any? In the first week and a half of Christmas music this year, there was no increase in Christmas stations, infact there was a decrease. Look at the abysmal numbers for breeze, and jack had to flip format. These are two stations WECK beats, so my thinking is “ why deviate”?

plus, the ratings this month have already ended anyway. We could play an EBS signal thru Dec and it would not effect ratings.

my gut says that this a way different year. Holiday gatherings are not happening, retails stores are not crowded, traffic for in car listening is down. Plus as bolt mentioned, there are a hundred different music sources for Xmas music. I listen to satellite a lot and their are like 5 stations with no commercials. Then Pandora, then Spotify, then Apple Music, then you tube, does this really matter anymore to terrestrial radio?

WECK had a 71000 cume in Nov , mainly in Erie county, without Xmas music. Why change that ?

I am also thinking this may be a precursor for a breeze format change in January.
 
It's doubtful the Breeze will change format, but the format may be adjusted. It would not come as a surprise if the "relaxing" theme, which can sometimes impose tempo restrictions and listener misconception, is dropped. Doing straight ahead Lite AC that allows for successive uptempo hits and recurrents might be the tonic the format needs, at least for purposes in Buffalo. The station can retain the Breeze moniker. It has a heritage morning man and good leadership. It put its best foot forward launching two years ago. But unlike other markets where Breeze type formats debuted strong and maintained some momentum, Buffalo's Breeze seems to have calmed.
 
Buddy Shula said:
I am also thinking this may be a precursor for a breeze format change in January.
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Unlikely that Townsquare would flip a second station so soon after WBUF. I suppose it's possible, but to what end? They felt that JOY was too old. The Mix and The Breeze brands have done nothing to improve their position. They are just spinning in place.

At least WECK as Oldies has an identity. Oldies means Pop/Rock mainly from the 60s. The audience for that music will still use Radio. That's the conundrum facing the corporate groups. They could try AAA or Oldies. They might get good ratings with older demos, but they don't know how to sell it (and don't want to try)...
 
tbolt909 said:
They might get good ratings with older demos, but they don't know how to sell it (and don't want to try)...
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Good ratings don't matter if they don't bring money. Keep in mind that Entercom is already getting older demos with WBEN, so they obviously don't mind programming to older demos, and they know how to sell it. How many stations do you want aiming at people over 50?
 
TheBigA said:
Good ratings don't matter if they don't bring money. Keep in mind that Entercom is already getting older demos with WBEN, so they obviously don't mind programming to older demos, and they know how to sell it. How many stations do you want aiming at people over 50?
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That's a weak example. Entercom has no choice in this case. WBEN is the right wing crazy talk station. It's hanging on based on its longevity and the older demographics in Buffalo (Old White Men). How is this format doing in PPM markets?

WLKK Alternative Buffalo is aimed at younger demos and it has a 0.8. The Edge, The Breeze, WBUF are behind WECK at the moment. Seems like 40-70 year olds would be realistic targets for Radio...
 
Element9 said:
It's doubtful the Breeze will change format, but the format may be adjusted. It would not come as a surprise if the "relaxing" theme, which can sometimes impose tempo restrictions and listener misconception, is dropped. Doing straight ahead Lite AC that allows for successive uptempo hits and recurrents might be the tonic the format needs, at least for purposes in Buffalo. The station can retain the Breeze moniker. It has a heritage morning man and good leadership. It put its best foot forward launching two years ago. But unlike other markets where Breeze type formats debuted strong and maintained some momentum, Buffalo's Breeze seems to have calmed.
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I think the problem with this station is it’s a boring jukebox with commercials. Nothing to get excited about at all. No one is racing to their cars excited to turn on the breeze. It’s really a shame that stations with these great signals are nothing burgers. Shake it up guys!
 
tbolt909 said:
That's a weak example. Entercom has no choice in this case. WBEN is the right wing crazy talk station. It's hanging on based on its longevity and the older demographics in Buffalo (Old White Men). How is this format doing in PPM markets?

WLKK Alternative Buffalo is aimed at younger demos and it has a 0.8. The Edge, The Breeze, WBUF are behind WECK at the moment. Seems like 40-70 year olds would be realistic targets for Radio...
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The problem with the demo you mentioned is stockholders do not want to hear that young people don’t like radio anymore. The industry is perceived as old by young people, but wall street does not want to hear that.

Wall Street does not care at all about ratings. If it did, half the stations would change format. It cares about quarterly profit. Nothing more. Local PDs may care about ratings, but corporate could give a shit.

These companies are so in debt up to their eyeballs, there will be no recovering. Q1 is going to be a bloodbath in all departments. I think WECK is in a very good position to pounce on the bloodbath. We have no debt.

The FCC is looking at the possibility of allowing translators to originate programming. This would be incredibly good.
 
tbolt909 said:
Unlikely that Townsquare would flip a second station so soon after WBUF. I suppose it's possible, but to what end? They felt that JOY was too old. The Mix and The Breeze brands have done nothing to improve their position. They are just spinning in place.

At least WECK as Oldies has an identity. Oldies means Pop/Rock mainly from the 60s. The audience for that music will still use Radio. That's the conundrum facing the corporate groups. They could try AAA or Oldies. They might get good ratings with older demos, but they don't know how to sell it (and don't want to try)...
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Jack or breeze should be news, talk, or sports. But you bring up a good point. Nobody knows how to sell anymore.
 
Jack or breeze should be news, talk, or sports. But you bring up a good point. Nobody knows how to sell anymore.
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All news and sports require massive investment in talent. Is Townsquare in the position to take that type of risk? The company owns a dominant news-talk FM, NJ 101, so it has experience with the format. Of the two formats, sports would be the one that would seem to present greater possibilities for WBUF, which skews heavier with men than women would have the inside track. WMSX will continue to pursue women. It's in the frequency's DNA. WBUF would have to secure the rights to at least one, if not both of the two major Buffalo sports teams in order to surpass WGR. If WGR lost the Bills and the Sabres, it would be over. To prevent the loss, Entercom would do everything/anything possible to hold on to the teams.

Now that WBUF is more rock oriented, it could go after the Bills much like 97 Rock had the Bills years ago. But this would require studio and plant infrastructure, engineering investment and most of all, air talent that knows sports. Making such an investment isn't likely in a Covid-19 economy. It's easier and more efficient to put a music-based format on an FM.

But who knows. Stranger things have happened.
 
I don't see Town Square putting big money into any expensive format in Buffalo. Getting rights to the Bills and/or Sabres would be a major investment when pro sports games are becoming more available on TV and online.
 
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