Those of you who think the new programming won't appeal to a sizable segment of the white population and that this format is highly dependent on ethnic listeners for success are mistaken.
Although there are some exceptions, urban stations, in general, usually draw an audience between 30 and 60% white. That may or may not amount to a "sizable segment of the white population," but it's usually a sizable percentage of an urban station's audience. The more segmented urban-based formats, like urban AC, typically don't see the same diversity in audience.
I think my 4 share prediction isn't unreasonable. Over the long haul, this is probably a 2.5 to 2.8 share worthy format, signal limitations notwithstanding.
If it gets enough of the audience within its main signal contour and they listen long enough, I suppose it could happen, but a 4 share out of the gate on signal like that would be TSL driven. I don't follow urban formats much, but I seem to remember your typical urban station is more cume driven than TSL driven. I tend to think it will probably debut in the higher 2-share range and burn into the upper 1's or lower 2's.
So what do you make of Audacy's decision to air the long goodbye? Was the air staff made to sign a legally binding document promising not to go rogue or else forfeit whatever severance pay they're getting? If not, that's an awful lot of trust and faith in WNSH's folks to keep it classy and say nothing bad about management or the new format. I still remember how wrong it all went when WCCC Hartford flipped to Christian music from classic rock after its sale to EMF and the jocks spent the last hour basically ripping Christianity with songs like "Highway to Hell." I'm sure the WNSH jocks' on-air restraint and class will serve them well in their quest for new gigs.
Your guess is as good as mine, though I don't think Katie & Company is going anywhere. So, she probably still has a job after this. Of course, all of us know why companies sack people with no notice and why some come into a new market and blow everyone out. You might or might not agree with what they do, but anyone who has been in this business long enough has encountered the reasons for those decisions. In general, you want to leave in as good of graces as you can when something like this happens. You're probably not going to work for Audacy for a really long time if you trash the company on-air when you're getting laid off.
In the case of WCCC, no one had any incentive NOT to rip EMF. EMF wasn't going to hire the WCCC jocks, and there were no other positions within the company. That might make other companies not want to hire those people, but, depending on the manner in which they do it, it's not going to matter as much.