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What station will change format in 2024

WFMT changes from Classical to Heavy Metal

Lol - but in all seriousness, I wonder if Chicago will get another CCM station. Educational Media Foundation seems to be buying anything it can get.

A dedicated sports station could also come to the FM dial.

As for what station - who knows? Maybe one of the rimshots. Or maybe one of the underperforming classic rock stations.
 
But in all seriousness, I wonder if Chicago will get another CCM station. Educational Media Foundation seems to be buying anything it can get.

A dedicated sports station could also come to the FM dial.

As for what station - who knows? Maybe one of the rimshots. Or maybe one of the underperforming classic rock stations.
We need an analysis of how the new(er) management team at EMF is proceeding on acquisitions that are big-market expensive signals. It looks like they have slowed down a bit and are more frugal.
 
My take is that the companies that own radio stations see no upside in changing formats. They cost money and the new formats don't lead to improved ratings or revenues. People don't scan their radio dials anymore, searching for new formats. They simply go to their established pre-sets. The only place I see format change happening is if a station is sold. In that case the new owner will flip to a format of their choice that likely won't be popular with normal listeners.
 
What station do u think will change format in 2024
Probably the most likely of the major stations is WSHE - it's an extremely weak link in Hubbard's stable and many months it lags behind fellow straggler WCHI. Whether it will be outright flipped or simply retooled I don't know, and for all I know Hubbard may do nothing. There isn't a clear place for WSHE to go if Hubbard opted to do a format flip - it would have to be in direct competition to another station, and that's always an incredible risk.

iHeart has struggled with WCHI as long as I can remember - but the "neo-classic rock" format is doing marginally better than the country format it previously had, so I suspect iHeart will stick with it for at least another year.

I don't see any other major stations in the market with a notable chance of flipping unless there is an unexpected sale.
 
Educational Media Foundation seems to be buying anything it can get.
EMF already has three signals in Chicago in 97.9 WCKL, 94.3 WAWE and the 97.5 translator running Gateway Christian's Boost programming. If there is any major market where EMF does not need to expand further it is Chicago.

We need an analysis of how the new(er) management team at EMF is proceeding on acquisitions that are big-market expensive signals. It looks like they have slowed down a bit and are more frugal.
100% correct. Even in the few markets that they "need" like Dallas where there are multiple stations available, they are sticking to their formula and not willing to overpay. EMF is still a willing buyer (and there is apparently a PPM market purchase coming soon), but they appear as if they will be much more calculated with their acquisitions and you may even see them willing to sell some non-core assets.

That's what they're doing with their other big flop: KPNW in Seattle. Total disaster.
Commercial AAA is one of the formats that takes the longest to build an audience. The station is supposedly billing well, but the reason commercial AAA launches are few and far between are the time it takes to gain traction. This is a long term play and far from a disaster.
 
WLS gains a simulcast on 101.1.

“WKQX going from Alt-rock to Alt-right”. 😉
I know you're joking, but they just spent a lot of time and effort to get the Q101 branding back. WKQX's Alternative format isn't going anywhere unless we have a KVIL/KEGL situation where a rival shows up or retools into their territory and blows them out of the water.
 
Probably the most likely of the major stations is WSHE - it's an extremely weak link in Hubbard's stable and many months it lags behind fellow straggler WCHI. Whether it will be outright flipped or simply retooled I don't know, and for all I know Hubbard may do nothing. There isn't a clear place for WSHE to go if Hubbard opted to do a format flip - it would have to be in direct competition to another station, and that's always an incredible risk.

iHeart has struggled with WCHI as long as I can remember - but the "neo-classic rock" format is doing marginally better than the country format it previously had, so I suspect iHeart will stick with it for at least another year.

I don't see any other major stations in the market with a notable chance of flipping unless there is an unexpected sale.

100.3 is and always has been a flanker for WTMX. They tweak it. They don't usually outright flip it. What they have on there now evolved from AC to Adult Hits to a more narrow variation of Adult Hits. The AC format before that evolved from a short lived Modern AC format, AC before that, Adult Hits before that
 
I'm thinking that Good Karma wants ESPN 1000 to be on 100.3 HD 1. The only way to do this is buy 100.3 out right from Hubbard as they are already paying leasing fees for 100.3 HD.2. This way, they are less dependent on AM 1000's signal which will have issues in the far northern suburbs once the relocation is completed to the WCPT Joliet site.
 
I'm thinking that Good Karma wants ESPN 1000 to be on 100.3 HD 1. The only way to do this is buy 100.3 out right from Hubbard as they are already paying leasing fees for 100.3 HD.2. This way, they are less dependent on AM 1000's signal which will have issues in the far northern suburbs once the relocation is completed to the WCPT Joliet site.
The same Good Karma that recently announced they weren't going to pick up an option to buy 98.7 in NYC from Emmis when the LMA expires next year? The one that said they had enough presence on digital and AM to make an FM unnecessary at that price?
 
EMF already has three signals in Chicago in 97.9 WCKL, 94.3 WAWE and the 97.5 translator running Gateway Christian's Boost programming. If there is any major market where EMF does not need to expand further it is Chicago.


100% correct. Even in the few markets that they "need" like Dallas where there are multiple stations available, they are sticking to their formula and not willing to overpay. EMF is still a willing buyer (and there is apparently a PPM market purchase coming soon), but they appear as if they will be much more calculated with their acquisitions and you may even see them willing to sell some non-core assets.


Commercial AAA is one of the formats that takes the longest to build an audience. The station is supposedly billing well, but the reason commercial AAA launches are few and far between are the time it takes to gain traction. This is a long term play and far from a disaster.
What I have noticed about the AAA format and what many listeners don't realize is that some programmers look at the format as a "singer-songwriter" format. When listeners are hearing songs they don't believe "fit" the format they don't realize that the artists are being featured as those who not only sing but also write their own music. If they would look at the format in this light and have a more open mind it could lead them to be more accepting of the variety that at times seems to be a bit extreme. The artists are being honored for being creators as well as performers.
 
The artists are being honored for being creators as well as performers.
Except that isn't unique to AAA. Taylor Swift's career was built on songwriting, and she doesn't get played on AAA.

In terms of radio airplay, the songwriters are the ones who get the royalties, not the performers. So that has redirected the emphasis on songwriting in most formats. The country format is a singer-songwriter format, and has been that way going back to Jimmie Rodgers and Hank Williams.
 
Except that isn't unique to AAA. Taylor Swift's career was built on songwriting, and she doesn't get played on AAA.
Taylor Swift has been played on AAA, but not the bulk of her songs. Usually what gets promoted to AAA tends to be more introspective and acoustic-leaning material and not the stadium-pleasing hits. "exile" even hit the top 10 on the AAA chart a few years ago.
 
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