Buffalo August 12+ radio trends

[ckg279]

These are per RadioInisght.com and cover May-July.

1. WBLK/93.7 9.7(down .4)
2. WYRK/106.5 8.5(up .1)
3. WGRF/96.9 8.4(no change)
4. WBEN/930 7.4(up .6)
5. WHTT/104.1 6.5(down .2)

Other general notes:

*Look out for Kiss 98.5; it gained 1.1 from the last trend to finish at 5.8 .
*WEDG also made decent gains, as did WECK .
*WBFO continues to yo-yo in the trends; it finished up .1 to a 3.0 .
*WLKK's hot AC HD2 stream finished with a .2, while WBFO's The Bridge pulled a .1 .
*Don't ask about WLKK-FM.

Take it from here, folks.

 

[GlennT]

As Programming Brand Manager for BIG WECK, I am very proud of the 4.3 share WECK is now at. Think of how amazing that is... A 1KW independently owned AM getting a 4.3 share! True to his word, BIG WECK owner Buddy Shula has decided not to renew the Nielsen agreement as they were demanding a longer term, and more money because of the ratings increases. So, our swan song as a Nielsen subscriber is here. These are the last numbers you will see. However, you will continue to see the numbers from other stations that pay zero to appear. They are either minority-owed stations, women-owned stations, religious or public broadcasting stations. Buddy is simply discriminated against because he is a white male. If you want to see this policy that Nielsen developed a few years ago, just Google "Nielsen Subscriber-First Policy". You can read the actual policy text. Just wanted to give you a heads up. Buddy will be following -up on this discrimination agenda, and I am sure you'll hear more about it.

 

[SirRoxalot]

These are per RadioInisght.com and cover May-July.

1. WBLK/93.7 9.7(down .4)
2. WYRK/106.5 8.5(up .1)
3. WGRF/96.9 8.4(no change)
4. WBEN/930 7.4(up .6)
5. WHTT/104.1 6.5(down .2)

Other general notes:

*Look out for Kiss 98.5; it gained 1.1 from the last trend to finish at 5.8 .
*WEDG also made decent gains, as did WECK .
*WBFO continues to yo-yo in the trends; it finished up .1 to a 3.0 .
*WLKK's hot AC HD2 stream finished with a .2, while WBFO's The Bridge pulled a .1 .
*Don't ask about WLKK-FM.

Take it from here, folks.

WBEN is benefitting from a hot political season. They've gone from a 5.8 to a 7.4 in the last three months. Realistically, the 5.8 was a wobble since the previous book was a 6.5. Interestingly, WBFO got no such political bump. At least they've stopped the bleeding that's been going on since January.

Kiss is statistically back where it was before the 4.7 wobble last time out. They're basically maintaining, not growing. The "New 96.1" however is sinking fast. Their stat line of 4.4, 4.0, 3.4, 3.3 should be giving somebody at Townsquare an ulcer.

WECK's 4.3 is their best book since Nov. 2023 when they posted a 4.8. Both big books seem to have come when there was major JP drama - either coming or going. It will take a couple of books to see if it's programming genius or curiosity sampling. OTOH, we may not know publicly if he doesn't come to an agreement with Nielsen. Maybe that would be easier if he was a not-for-profit.

 

[RadioGuy1864]

Think of how amazing that is... A 1KW independently owned AM getting a 4.3 share!

Just for the sake of accuracy, your statement should read: "Think of how amazing that is... A 1KW independently owned AM with 3 FM translators getting a 4.3 share!"

 

[tbolt909]

The whining about discrimination from the White dudes at WECK is pathetic. Only Nielsen subscribers can use ratings during the selling process anyway. Ethics anyone? WECK has found an audience with its Oldies format. That's great. Constantly seeking praise and moaning about being cheated reeks of...😑

 

[TheBigA]

Buddy is simply discriminated against because he is a white male.

The white male thing has nothing to do with it. Buddy has been vocal about the ratings methodology since he became an owner.

 

[davideduardo]

The white male thing has nothing to do with it. Buddy has been vocal about the ratings methodology since he became an owner.

And in the process he has revealed a considerable lack of knowledge of statistics, random probability samples, Standard Error calculations, weighting, demographics and the like.

To his credit, he has acknowledged this even on same posts here. But a lot of what he objects to is irrelevant or meaningless.

And more so to his credit is the fact that he took a valueless AM station and has made it a major force in his market, serving an audience group that nobody else believed to be viable.

Yes, he makes a lot of noise and can be irritating. But that seems to be his business plan and it seems to be working. Radio today needs more like Buddy and less like Pittman.

 

[TheBigA]

And in the process he has revealed a considerable lack of knowledge of statistics, random probability samples, Standard Error calculations, weighting, demographics and the like.

Lack of knowledge is fine. We're all born that way. The problem comes when it's explained clearly and he then refuses to accept it. That's a different thing.

 

[tbolt909]

Lack of knowledge is fine. We're all born that way. The problem comes when it's explained clearly and he then refuses to accept it. That's a different thing.

It's also illogical for a station to have 3 FM translators when the owner claims that 99 percent of the listening is done on the AM signal. The premise that Nielsen is being unfair to WECK is ridiculous. Advertisers who use an Oldies station should have a pretty good idea of what demos are listening to that type of format (with or without ratings data)...

 

[RadioGuy1864]

It's also illogical for a station to have 3 FM translators when the owner claims that 99 percent of the listening is done on the AM signal. The premise that Nielsen is being unfair to WECK is ridiculous. Advertisers who use an Oldies station should have a pretty good idea of what demos are listening to that type of format (with or without ratings data)...

To anyone who believes 99% of the listening is on the AM, I've got a bridge for sale--cheap too!

 

[Mark1981]

However, you will continue to see the numbers from other stations that pay zero to appear. They are either minority-owed stations, women-owned stations, religious or public broadcasting stations. Buddy is simply discriminated against because he is a white male. If you want to see this policy that Nielsen developed a few years ago, just Google "Nielsen Subscriber-First Policy". You can read the actual policy text. Just wanted to give you a heads up. Buddy will be following -up on this discrimination agenda, and I am sure you'll hear more about it.

I remember Buddy referencing this in an earlier post. And now Glenn brings it up. But I see no evidence of this in the local numbers that are publicly posted by Nielsen. WUFO is owned by an African-American woman, Sheila Brown. We’re not seeing WUFO numbers. The station has an N/A listed since June. The last public number, a .6 rating, was in May 2024. Either Nielsen changed its policy or WUFO is no longer subscribing. If religious station numbers are publicly posted, why aren’t we seeing WDCX’s numbers? They’ve never been posted here. Neither are K-Love’s numbers at 102.5. These are religious stations. Why don’t we see their numbers, Glenn? WBFO and WNED-FM’s numbers are posted because they’re subscribing stations. Yes, I did Google this. I saw a reference to a minority and public station exemption. But again, then why aren’t we seeing WUFO’s numbers?

One other thing. I KNOW this has nothing to do with race. And I rarely agree with tbolt. But I agree it’s rather ridiculous that Glenn uses the word “discrimination” in reference to his wealthy white station owner. I, indeed, look forward to hearing about Buddy has successfully challenged the policies of a behemoth like Nielsen.

 

[TheBigA]

I agree it’s rather ridiculous that Glenn uses the word “discrimination” in reference to his wealthy white station owner.

It's not discrimination when someone pays the standard rate. Companies offer discounts all the time. Senior citizens often get a discount. Everyone else pays the standard rate. In that case, it's not discrimination when young people pay standard rate. So this is trying to reframe the narrative as discrimination when the issue really isn't about the price but the methodology. Buddy doesn't agree with the way ratings are done, he doesn't like weighting, and feels they should change to suit him. They haven't, and he's been threatening to drop for years, and now he's following through. It's not discrimination when other owners follow those same rules.

 

[GlennT]

Owner never said 99% of listening is done on AM. Stop making things up

 

[GlennT]

Also, the one thing that unfortunately can happen on social boards like this is that you do not have to expose yourself by using an alias. I would bet that if everyone had to use their real name on this board, 95% of the comments would not be posted

I have, and Buddy as well, are not afraid to back what we say with our name. Apparently, many other people are

Please show me the post that says 99% of the audience comes from AM. You can’t, because it was never said.

T- Dolt , please explain what the “white dudes” club is that you mentioned. Are you equating WECK for being discriminating? If so, you should be pulled off this board

Let’s talk Nielsen so you can get this thru your heads. Buddy dropped Nielsen because they tripled his cost and term based on high ratings. He also saw plenty of irregularities in actual diaries like giving WSPQ in Springville that went dark about 10 years ago hundreds of quarter hours, recently.

You are not seeing WUFO or WBKV in the ratings because they do not subscribe to….but guess who can see these numbers? Agencies and other media. FYI, for Aug, WUFO has a 1.5 share. WBKV has a 2.6 share. WXRL has a 1.0 share. These stations are female, minority owned, or non secular. Next month when the ratings come out, agencies and media will still see these numbers. Guess whose numbers they will not see? WECK. That is because it is not minority owned. Again , Google the Nielsen Subscriber First policy and you will see an anti discrimination clause that is actually discriminatory to Caucasian male owners.

You are confusing what you see on Radio Insight to what agencies and other media see.

Educate yourself, learn something, then report back. WECK is a top contending radio station, and every part of it has to do with Buddy’s vision. He controls every square inch of WECK, and takes it very seriously. Mr Eduardo is correct. There should be more Buddy’s and less Bob Pittman types who are bankrupting radio companies everywhere.

 

[TheBigA]

Google the Nielsen Subscriber First policy and you will see an anti discrimination clause that is actually discriminatory to Caucasian male owners.

Here's a link to an article about the Subscriber First policy:

Non-Subscribers To Vanish From Ad Buying Systems Under New Nielsen Policy.

In a major change with far-reaching implications for radio, advertisers and agencies, Nielsen will no longer include listening data for non-subscribing stations in the summary dataset that fuels the major

www.insideradio.com

You're using that term incorrectly. WECK isn't being asked to do anything that the vast majority of owners do. The vast majority of broadcast owners are white males. None of them feel they're being "discriminated" against. None of them have challenged the Nielsen policy on that basis. None of them have challenged the FCC policies that are aimed at encouraging minority and female ownership. Even Bill Yuhnke, who regularly posts here, has never cried about discrimination. It's crazy for the people in the majority to complain about a very small minority. The majority isn't being injured by offering a discount to a very small group of people, none of whom are a threat to WECK for audience or money.

Using your logic, it's discriminatory for radio stations and agencies to use racial, educational, and age demographics in its programming and buying strategies. Why does WECK discriminate against young people by not playing currents? That's discrimination based on age. Why do advertisers not buy time on radio stations that program to over 55s the way WECK does? That's discrimination. Yet this kind of decision making based on demographics happens every day and nobody complains or cries about discrimination. That's because it's NOT discrimination.

 

[GlennT]

Buddy is not the “vast majority of owners”

`WECK does not prohibit young people from listening to WECK. You are making ridiculous statements. Your statements are incorrect. You’re basically saying “if other white male owned non-subscribers aren’t complaining , why should Buddy?” That is a coward attitude. Perhaps Yuenke should complain, however, he does not have the ratings WECK has, so he has much less to lose.

Maybe they shouid.

Big A, are you seriously not even seeing what this is about? Even Nielsen agreed Buddy was correct, but “that was their policy”

Please understand….again…..Nielsens non-subscriber policy is that minority, women owned and religious will appear in agency and other media ranking. WECK will not! Only because it is not minority owned. You truly do not think that is reverse discrimination? WOW

You HONESTLY think this is not discrimination against white male owned? Here is the exact Nielsen language

“Carve-Out For Minorities And Non-Comms

The company has made an exception to the policy for minority- and female-owned broadcasters and non-commercial broadcasters. Broadcast companies that are Black-, Hispanic-, Asian- or female-owned or are a 501-C3 will continue to show up in the data, regardless of subscriber status.’

 

[Mark1981]

Well, Glenn, I’m man enough to admit that I misunderstood the Nielsen policy. I thought it referred to the public 12+ numbers we all see. Now, I understand that WECK will no longer be listed in the books other media and ad agencies pay for as part of their Nielsen subscriptions. I stand corrected.

That said, I do question your inclusion of the WUFO, K-Love and WXRL numbers in your post. I’m pretty sure you’re not allowed to do that according to Nielsen rules. Maybe I should report you! But I won’t. I’m retired. I don’t have a stake in any of this. I’m just interested in the goings on in Buffalo radio. Perhaps our esteemed moderator DavidEduardo can enlighten me if I’m wrong here, too. But I have seen posts removed from RadioDiscussions because numbers were shared that weren’t supposed to be made public.

And please, don’t lecture us about our user names. In my case, a few readers on this board know who I am. I use my first name, just like you. Some posters here wish to remain anonymous for their own personal reasons. Anonymity allows others who are still working in the business to be candid without fearing reprisals from their employer for criticizing a competitor or, perhaps, if they would like to apply to WECK at some future point.

Listen. I get your point. WECK numbers won’t be shared. But those from minority, religious and public stations are. An argument could be made that’s unfair. But Nielsen is doing the costly research and has every right to set its own policies whether you like them or not. As Big A has posted, it’s not discriminatory. If Buddy wants to play with the Big Three ownership groups in our market, then he should pay up. God knows, WECK is making money given the heavy spot load and should be able to absorb the added cost for a Nielsen subscription. It’s his choice not to. But stop crying foul. Buddy is obviously a savvy salesman who excels in nurturing client relationships. I’m sure WECK will survive.

 

[TheBigA]

`We do not prohibit young people from listening to WECK. You are making ridiculous statements.

You're calling the paying of a standard rate "discrimination." It's not. If it was, someone would take them to court. Private companies can offer people discounts for any reason. Buddy could offer a special rate for women-owned businesses. It would be great PR. It wouldn't be discrimination.

Please understand….again…..Nielsens non-subscriber policy is that minority, women owned and religious will appear in agency and other media ranking. WECK will not! Only because it is not minority owned.

No. Only because Buddy doesn't want to subscribe. He has the option to subscribe and he won't. Then he uses another reason to deflect. If they charged him MORE because he's white, that's discrimination. Or if he's the only owner treated this way. But all the other owners have the same choice.

The company has made an exception to the policy for minority- and female-owned broadcasters and non-commercial broadcasters. Broadcast companies that are Black-, Hispanic-, Asian- or female-owned or are a 501-C3 will continue to show up in the data, regardless of subscriber status.’

The policy is the policy, and everyone knows it. Private companies are free to operate the way they want. Nobody forces Buddy to play black or female artists. If he wants to make a policy about women or minorities, he can.

Meanwhile, Alex Meruelo is a Cuban-American Hispanic owner of four radio stations in LA. Last year, he felt he was being overcharged by Nielsen. So he unsubscribed. Even though he's Hispanic, his stations didn't appear. Nielsen contacted him and made a deal he approved and now they're back.

Meruelo Media Cancels Subscription To Nielsen Ratings.

Meruelo Media, owner of four FMs in Los Angeles, has stopped subscribing to Nielsen’s PPM ratings service, effective with the Holiday survey. That means ratings for heritage rocker KLOS, rhythmic

www.insideradio.com

 

[GlennT]

Well, Glenn, I’m man enough to admit that I misunderstood the Nielsen policy. I thought it referred to the public 12+ numbers we all see. Now, I understand that WECK will no longer be listed in the books other media and ad agencies pay for as part of their Nielsen subscriptions. I stand corrected.

That said, I do question your inclusion of the WUFO, K-Love and WXRL numbers in your post. I’m pretty sure you’re not allowed to do that according to Nielsen rules. Maybe I should report you! But I won’t. I’m retired. I don’t have a stake in any of this. I’m just interested in the goings on in Buffalo radio. Perhaps our esteemed moderator DavidEduardo can enlighten me if I’m wrong here, too. But I have seen posts removed from RadioDiscussions because numbers were shared that weren’t supposed to be made public.

And please, don’t lecture us about our user names. In my case, a few readers on this board know who I am. I use my first name, just like you. Some posters here wish to remain anonymous for their own personal reasons. Anonymity allows others who are still working in the business to be candid without fearing reprisals from their employer for criticizing a competitor or, perhaps, if they would like to apply to WECK at some future point.

Listen. I get your point. WECK numbers won’t be shared. But those from minority, religious and public stations are. An argument could be made that’s unfair. But Nielsen is doing the costly research and has every right to set its own policies whether you like them or not. As Big A has posted, it’s not discriminatory. If Buddy wants to play with the Big Three ownership groups in our market, then he should pay up. God knows, WECK is making money given the heavy spot load and should be able to absorb the added cost for a Nielsen subscription. It’s his choice not to. But stop crying foul. Buddy is obviously a savvy salesman who excels in nurturing client relationships. I’m sure WECK will survive.

Everything you are saying is assumption. You should be given a medal that you’re admitting you’ve been wrong.

You know zero about the financials of Buddy, WECK, or anything else. What if the heavy spot loads are all no-charges and Buddy uses it as a loss for his station WKEY in Key West?

You know zero about the circumstances. You are assuming against people who know the facts.

So you don’t believe the numbers for the other stations I mentioned? Seriously? We cant post them? Who says? Nielsen? They are not the FCC, and we no longer subscribe. We can do whatever we want. Everyone fears Nielsen. Why? It’s a broadcast ratings company. WECK does not have to follow ANY Nielsen rules if we are not a subscriber.

As David said, “there should be more Buddy’s and less Bob Pittmans “

 

[RadioGuy1864]

I think we've entered the Twilight Zone.