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Juan 850 Brookfield/Danbury

Though the articles in AllAccess and RadioInsight state that the new format is Hispanic adult hits, a listen indicates that they are actually playing Regional Mexican music.
I believe the format has been lacking in the area since WQBU 92.3 (Garden City NY) dropped it, over a year ago.
WAXB 850 AM previously was classic rock The Hawk, feeding a translator on 94.5. The translator will continue as The Hawk, now receiving its signal instead from WDAQ HD4.
 
If Juan gets some traction on AM, I would not be surprised to see Berkshire throw it on one of their translators.
 
Though the articles in AllAccess and RadioInsight state that the new format is Hispanic adult hits, a listen indicates that they are actually playing Regional Mexican music.

As part of a diverse musical mix or as the lone element of the format? Are there many Spanish-dominant people of Mexican origin in the Danbury area? Out this way, there are enough in Wallingford to support a Mexican grocery and a clothing store, but none of the many Spanish-language stations and translators serving Hartford/New Haven play any Regional Mexican music at all. It's all of Caribbean (or New York) origin, whether merengue or reggaeton or romantic ballads.
 
As part of a diverse musical mix or as the lone element of the format? Are there many Spanish-dominant people of Mexican origin in the Danbury area? Out this way, there are enough in Wallingford to support a Mexican grocery and a clothing store, but none of the many Spanish-language stations and translators serving Hartford/New Haven play any Regional Mexican music at all. It's all of Caribbean (or New York) origin, whether merengue or reggaeton or romantic ballads.
José Santos' "Juan" format has a version for non-Mexican audiences. The format, originally created at KRCD in LA in 2000, is based on nostalgia songs from the prior 40 years. In each market, this can have a separate blend.

There is a lot of "Mexican Music" that may sound like it fits a Regional Mexican format but is really international, ranging from Juan Gabriel to the light rancheras of Luis Miguel...which were as big in Puerto Rico as in Mexico... maybe bigger!

Note: merengue (like salsa to some extent) is nearly dead with anyone under 45 to 50. It's all, bachata, pop and the genres you mention.
 
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I've listened several times. All of the music on WAXB sounds Regional Mexican. It's not at all like the Hispanic A/C on WQBU or WPAT.
Also, the Wikipedia article on the station lists the format as "Regional Mexican."
Maybe the music will eventually evolve to include other flavors of Hispanic songs, like Santos-programmed WEOK in Poughkeepsie. Perhaps WEOK can be described as a Spanish A/C that leans toward Mexican music.
 
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Today the music on Juan/WAXB is more varied, and no longer solely Regional Mexican. Among the additions is some reggaeton.
 
I've listened several times. All of the music on WAXB sounds Regional Mexican. It's not at all like the Hispanic A/C on WQBU or WPAT.
Also, the Wikipedia article on the station lists the format as "Regional Mexican."
Maybe the music will eventually evolve to include other flavors of Hispanic songs, like Santos-programmed WEOK in Poughkeepsie. Perhaps WEOK can be described as a Spanish A/C that leans toward Mexican music.
WPAT is not true A/C; it is "adult Dominican". It is principally Dominican bachata and rhythmic oldies, with a bunch of old ballads and pop songs and some very light, crossover reggaetón. The focus is about 100% Dominican, as over 1/2 of the Spanish dominant sample in NYC is Dominican (Newyorikans under about 60 are English dominant as they are in their third and fourth generations since the Puerto Ricans pretty much stopped migrating to New York in the late 60's... 50 years ago.

Bachata is a purely Dominican music. Yes, there have been some crossover hits outside of the Republic but you can count them on your fingers. So with about 50% bachata, WPAT is not paletable among non-Dominicans.

The Dominican population is almost entirely concentrated in the central areas of the NYC metro. There are essentially no big Dominican populations anywhere else.

WQBU is a more true gold based A/C. And, of course, it gets about 1/8th of the listening of WQBU.
 
Listened to 850 a bit today down toward New Haven. The music I heard through the splatter (from WRYM at 840) had a definite Regional Mexican lean to it. Maybe Berkshire doesn't care and told Santos not to bother customizing the format for a Connecticut audience.

The station isn't streaming yet. The link at radio-locator is dead.
 
Listened to 850 a bit today down toward New Haven. The music I heard through the splatter (from WRYM at 840) had a definite Regional Mexican lean to it. Maybe Berkshire doesn't care and told Santos not to bother customizing the format for a Connecticut audience.

The station isn't streaming yet. The link at radio-locator is dead.
This is hilarious... Obviously you forgot that this is the Christmas season, and JUAN is playing a variety of Christmas music on the station (of all styles). I think it is funny that you would think I don't care about my East Coast formats, like I do with my West Coast clients. :ROFLMAO:

Also, let's remember a few things about artist and music... They are all "main stream" in many cases. I am still trying to figure out how Banda MS can go to the Northeast and fill up a Casino auditorium (being they are the most popular Banda act at this time), and then how Marc Anthony cannot fill up the Nokia in Los Angeles (being that he is a big Tropical act).

The JUAN - East Coast version of the format plays the big Reggaetón, Bachata, and Salsa classics, on top of the big main stream Mexican artist (like Christian Nodal) on the playlist. It will play a big BANDA song, but the format was designed as a "Spanish Adult Hits" format, which gives us the opportunity to play a little bit of all of the hits. Don't be surprised with you hear a big Ricky Martin, Chayanne, Juan Gabriel and José José, next to Aventura and Grupo Niche, followed by a Alejandro Fernández or Vicente Fernández track. This is what "Tocando Lo Que Le Gusta" is all about (playing what you like or playing what he likes).

The West Coast JUAN version is very Regional Mexican, but doesn't play any Reggaetón, Bachata, or Salsa (except right now since we are playing Christmas songs, and Tropical Christmas songs are PARTY SONGS, where Regional Mexican songs can be very depressing).

Enjoy JUAN in Connecticut.
 
Listened to 850 a bit today down toward New Haven. The music I heard through the splatter (from WRYM at 840) had a definite Regional Mexican lean to it. Maybe Berkshire doesn't care and told Santos not to bother customizing the format for a Connecticut audience.

The station isn't streaming yet. The link at radio-locator is dead.

José Santo has joined Radio Discussions. Let's hope he gives us some insight on this station!
 
(except right now since we are playing Christmas songs, and Tropical Christmas songs are PARTY SONGS, where Regional Mexican songs can be very depressing).
And then there is Sparxx...

... and those peces en el río.
 
WPAT is not true A/C; it is "adult Dominican". It is principally Dominican bachata and rhythmic oldies, with a bunch of old ballads and pop songs and some very light, crossover reggaetón. The focus is about 100% Dominican, as over 1/2 of the Spanish dominant sample in NYC is Dominican (Newyorikans under about 60 are English dominant as they are in their third and fourth generations since the Puerto Ricans pretty much stopped migrating to New York in the late 60's... 50 years ago.

Bachata is a purely Dominican music. Yes, there have been some crossover hits outside of the Republic but you can count them on your fingers. So with about 50% bachata, WPAT is not paletable among non-Dominicans.

The Dominican population is almost entirely concentrated in the central areas of the NYC metro. There are essentially no big Dominican populations anywhere else.

WQBU is a more true gold based A/C. And, of course, it gets about 1/8th of the listening of WQBU.
There is a big Dominican population in Providence, RI. I remember when consulting Fuller at WKKB about trying to cater to the population, but I did mention that Dominicans in the U.S. love the variety of Reggaetón and the great Bachata songs. The key is knowing how to program a nice mix of hits that can still let the listener feel at home with their station. The past success of WKKB was to make sure that they content and AM show matched the expectations of the listeners when they tuned in. There are some great Dominican tracks out there, but you have to know which ones to pick. You just can't play something from Santo Domingo because it's dominican. The selecting of great tracks is the key to a successful station that caters to the population.
 
This is hilarious... Obviously you forgot that this is the Christmas season, and JUAN is playing a variety of Christmas music on the station (of all styles). I think it is funny that you would think I don't care about my East Coast formats, like I do with my West Coast clients. :ROFLMAO:

Also, let's remember a few things about artist and music... They are all "main stream" in many cases. I am still trying to figure out how Banda MS can go to the Northeast and fill up a Casino auditorium (being they are the most popular Banda act at this time), and then how Marc Anthony cannot fill up the Nokia in Los Angeles (being that he is a big Tropical act).

The JUAN - East Coast version of the format plays the big Reggaetón, Bachata, and Salsa classics, on top of the big main stream Mexican artist (like Christian Nodal) on the playlist. It will play a big BANDA song, but the format was designed as a "Spanish Adult Hits" format, which gives us the opportunity to play a little bit of all of the hits. Don't be surprised with you hear a big Ricky Martin, Chayanne, Juan Gabriel and José José, next to Aventura and Grupo Niche, followed by a Alejandro Fernández or Vicente Fernández track. This is what "Tocando Lo Que Le Gusta" is all about (playing what you like or playing what he likes).

The West Coast JUAN version is very Regional Mexican, but doesn't play any Reggaetón, Bachata, or Salsa (except right now since we are playing Christmas songs, and Tropical Christmas songs are PARTY SONGS, where Regional Mexican songs can be very depressing).

Enjoy JUAN in Connecticut.
Thanks for the insight. I'm non-Hispanic, but I really enjoy most of the Regional Mexican genres and have always wanted to hear some here in Connecticut. Unfortunately, the splatter from WRYM is really bad here on the eastern fringe; I hope streaming will return someday.
 
There is a big Dominican population in Providence, RI. I remember when consulting Fuller at WKKB about trying to cater to the population, but I did mention that Dominicans in the U.S. love the variety of Reggaetón and the great Bachata songs. The key is knowing how to program a nice mix of hits that can still let the listener feel at home with their station. The past success of WKKB was to make sure that they content and AM show matched the expectations of the listeners when they tuned in. There are some great Dominican tracks out there, but you have to know which ones to pick. You just can't play something from Santo Domingo because it's dominican. The selecting of great tracks is the key to a successful station that caters to the population.

What many don't realize is that the Dominican Republic also has "regions". Bachata is predominantly from "the interior" of the country, particularly from El Cibao, the central zone around Santiago. The Merengue is very much Santo Domingo and the South coast.

The secret is to do talk programming... which is why I created El Gobierno de la Mañana on Z-101 in Santo Domingo 45 years ago and it's #1 in the DR to this day.

Most US immigrants are from the "interior", including some amazing baseball players!

And that is why the bachata rules on Dominican targeted stations. On the other hand, the merengue, more urban, is also mostly appealing to those over 45 or 50, just like salsa in Puerto Rico which gets little 18-34 listening but is #1 in 45 and over among music formats.
 
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