Buffalo Cumulus was planning to shut down Talk 1270 last Friday

[spt87]

Here Are The Markets With The Largest Proportion Of AM Radio Listeners.

As broadcasters and lawmakers in Washington await word from nine automakers on their plans for AM radio in their vehicles, Nielsen is out with a list of the 141 markets

www.insideradio.com

One reason for Buffalo having a high percentage of AM listeners is that it has AM stations still putting content on the air people want to listen to. I think one reason for the decline in AM listening is the station owners have neglected them/decided FM is better and not to bother.

Look at the many AM's now simulcasting on full power FM's including WINS, WSB, KNX, etc. The AMs were still doing fine without the FM but the owners had a failing FM they didn't know what else to do with so they threw the successful AM on it justifying it to shareholders saying it will pull in better demographics. I don't know that that has proven true. People had no problem finding that stations on AM when they wanted that content.

When I'm visiting WNY I always listen to WECK on the AM since it covers a wider area and I don't need to keep flipping around. I thought I read on this board a while back that WECK AM had 40% of the audience with the other 60% split between the translators.

Nudge, nudge - run the AM in stereo if you have a transmitter like a Nautel with it built in. WJIB is running it in Boston/Cambridge. The current owner commented he was surprised by how many people listen in AM Stereo so when he moved the station from 740 to 720 he made provisions to keep it.

 

[TheBigA]

One reason for Buffalo having a high percentage of AM listeners is that it has AM stations still putting content on the air people want to listen to. I think one reason for the decline in AM listening is the station owners have neglected them/decided FM is better and not to bother.

It's kind of a chicken & egg thing. What your linked article doesn't mention is the audience for AM is mostly 55+, and that demo is not the one that attracts a lot of ad money. News and sports attracts a certain kind of money, but it's not because of AM. The fact of the matter is the real future isn't FM, but online streaming. That's what Good Karma is focusing on for its sports stations around the country.

The AMs were still doing fine without the FM but the owners had a failing FM they didn't know what else to do with so they threw the successful AM on it justifying it to shareholders saying it will pull in better demographics. I don't know that that has proven true. People had no problem finding that stations on AM when they wanted that content.

In the case of WINS, the station attracted an additional $10 million with the FM simulcast according to BIA. That more than made up for the loss of the alternative format it replaced.

 

[Buddy Shula]

Here Are The Markets With The Largest Proportion Of AM Radio Listeners.

As broadcasters and lawmakers in Washington await word from nine automakers on their plans for AM radio in their vehicles, Nielsen is out with a list of the 141 markets

www.insideradio.com

One reason for Buffalo having a high percentage of AM listeners is that it has AM stations still putting content on the air people want to listen to. I think one reason for the decline in AM listening is the station owners have neglected them/decided FM is better and not to bother.

Look at the many AM's now simulcasting on full power FM's including WINS, WSB, KNX, etc. The AMs were still doing fine without the FM but the owners had a failing FM they didn't know what else to do with so they threw the successful AM on it justifying it to shareholders saying it will pull in better demographics. I don't know that that has proven true. People had no problem finding that stations on AM when they wanted that content.

When I'm visiting WNY I always listen to WECK on the AM since it covers a wider area and I don't need to keep flipping around. I thought I read on this board a while back that WECK AM had 40% of the audience with the other 60% split between the translators.

Nudge, nudge - run the AM in stereo if you have a transmitter like a Nautel with it built in. WJIB is running it in Boston/Cambridge. The current owner commented he was surprised by how many people listen in AM Stereo so when he moved the station from 740 to 720 he made provisions to keep it.

BTW, I asked Inside Radio why WECK was not included in their study since WECK has just slightly less cume than WBEN. Their answer was “ because WECK has FM translators “

I get that, but as an avid listener of WECK, I can tell you the AM has better audio and a broader geography than our FM translators. The AM is consistent throughout the metro, the FM’s only cover certain areas.

 

[Buddy Shula]

As I said, compared to younger people with kids. The grocery bill of a boomer is a fraction of a family of five. A lot of the things you list don't advertise on the radio. You're a very lucky guy because you're an established salesman. Boomers are smart. They're not going to buy a life insurance policy or an annuity based on a :30 radio spot. You know that. That's why you host a long-form informercial show that gives the advertisers more time to explain what they're selling. That's why you break format. Right?

I do not host a long form infomercial show.

 

[davideduardo]

BTW, I asked Inside Radio why WECK was not included in their study since WECK has just slightly less cume than WBEN. Their answer was “ because WECK has FM translators “

I get that, but as an avid listener of WECK, I can tell you the AM has better audio and a broader geography than our FM translators. The AM is consistent throughout the metro, the FM’s only cover certain areas.

The issue with AM is twofold. First, because of the crowding of the band, the standard was revised to have AM's sharply roll off before 10 kHz. Second, as I mentioned before, the average AM section in a radio for the last 40 years has rolled of around 5 kHz to 6 kHz. Both from the transmission side and the reception one, AM sounds pretty dull today.

 

[Buddy Shula]

I'd like to chime in with my own observations about radio advertising targeted at Boomers.

As a lot of people here know, I program KRKE in Albuquerque for Don Davis, with my format The Eighties Channel™. Don has given me complete control of programming and I have remote access to the station computers so not only can I upload the music logs, I can edit them in real time on the automation. Don says it's the easiest ad pitch he's ever had. We have a couple of the local casinos as regular advertisers, alongside several plumbing and heating companies (as well as other home repair/improvement clients), local restaurants, and even some B2B clients. Two clients who have been on KRKE without interruption, beginning not long after I installed the format in October 2022, are a landscaping business and a local mechanic.

Even if Big A is right about Boomers "not spending money" if you give them something they need to spend money on they will. That appears to be what Buddy Shula is saying, and WECK is proof. KRKE is more proof.

Correct, “Big A” is 100% wrong that boomers don’t spend more than any other demographic. If he can’t understand that, it’s hopeless, because he obviously does not know anything about qualitative data

 

[TheBigA]

“Big A” is 100% wrong that boomers don’t spend more than any other demographic.

I never said that.

 

[Buddy Shula]

The issue with AM is twofold. First, because of the crowding of the band, the standard was revised to have AM's sharply roll off before 10 kHz. Second, as I mentioned before, the average AM section in a radio for the last 40 years has rolled of around 5 kHz to 6 kHz. Both from the transmission side and the reception one, AM sounds pretty dull today.

Then WECK is the exception. It has the best AM audio in the market, and frankly, I have been told a million times that the audience likes listening to the nostalgia AM brings . Again, I couldn’t care less about under 55. This is a station for older audience. That’s what I like, and that is what works. If you notice, my way has kept me out of BK court. Doesn’t appear that way for the folks who want the “ younger generation “ They have suites in the BK courts 😡

 

[Buddy Shula]

I never said that.

This is what you said Sat at 709p about boomers

“They hold the most wealth because they don't spend anything, at least compared to people in their 30s and 40s”

 

[TheBigA]

This is what you said Sat at 709p about boomers

“They hold the most wealth because they don't spend anything, at least compared to people in their 30s and 40s”

You seem to feel all people over 65 live a life of luxury. You are mistaken. 75% of the demo lives on social security.

As I said in post #70:

I think my point isn't whether or not they spend money. That doesn't matter. It's whether or not they're persuaded to do so by advertising.

I stand by that.

 

[Buddy Shula]

You seem to feel all people over 65 live a life of luxury. You are mistaken. 75% of the demo lives on social security.

As I said in post #70:



I stand by that.

Stand by whatever you want. I know the facts. You contradicted yourself saying that boomers don’t spend. Now you’re backtracking.

You said he did not say that, and you did. You lied

 

[TheBigA]

You contradicted yourself saying that boomers don’t spend. Now you’re backtracking.

Most boomers DON'T spend because they live on fixed incomes.

Retirees Face Surprising Budget Gaps Today—How Do Your Monthly Expenses Stack Up?

The average retiree spent $60,000 per year in 2023, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Would you have enough to cover these expenses?

www.investopedia.com

Meanwhile:

Millennial Shopping Habits (2026): Trends & Spending Power

Latest data and statistics on the shopping habits and spending power of millennials. See how they compare to Gen Z, Baby Boomers and more.

capitaloneshopping.com

Millennials spend 18.5% more on retail than Baby Boomers (b. 1946 – 1964)

 

[tbolt909]

Some people still watch NBC, ABC, and CBS. However, it's nothing like it was 40 years. Sunday through Friday prime time viewing used to be ratings Gold. Now, it's a wasteland.
I don't expect a resurgence of music formats on AM anytime soon.

Sure, there are a few people who may still want to listen to music on an AM signal. Maybe for nostalgia or maybe their hearing isn't very good anymore. There are some folks still using printed Yellow Pages and looking for phone booths.

Some stations have always had better audio quality than others for various reasons. For those who want superior sound, they buy vinyl records and top of the line speakers for home listening. Radio is just easy to use...

 

[K.M. Richards]

I had the same experience as you. I already have VLC, but it wouldn't stream that file from the server. And after I downloaded the file directly, it still gave me that 404 error. Even the jingle packages, on a separate page, are recorded so low -- maybe -20 dB down -- that I needed to crank up my speakers just to hear it. This is a website that wasn't ready for prime time in 1999.

You contradicted yourself saying that boomers don’t spend. Now you’re backtracking.

Most boomers DON'T spend because they live on fixed incomes.

Which is why advertising services they still need works. Fixed income or not, when you need a plumber you have to spend the money. If you are a plumbing/heating/air conditioning firm, why not advertise your availability, quality of service, and reasonable rates?

In that category, we have no less than four such firms advertising on KRKE, consistently throughout the year.

And even those on a fixed income want to go out to eat once in a while. If I were a restaurant advertising on a older-skewing station, I'd highlight "senior menu" and "senior discount hours". Sure, they won't come in as often as younger people with more disposable income, but they'll be loyal if you are catering to their financial realities.

This is just off the top of my head. If I sat down for an hour and thought hard about it, I'm sure I could come up with many more examples.

 

[TheBigA]

Fixed income or not, when you need a plumber you have to spend the money. If you are a plumbing/heating/air conditioning firm, why not advertise your availability, quality of service, and reasonable rates?

Funny you should bring up plumbing. I just had my sink replaced. I didn't pick my plumber based on advertising. Same with my new car. I bought it online. Not based on advertising. That's the point I keep making. The issue isn't who spends money, but how they make buying decisions.

 

[davideduardo]

Funny you should bring up plumbing. I just had my sink replaced. I didn't pick my plumber based on advertising. Same with my new car. I bought it online. Not based on advertising. That's the point I keep making. The issue isn't who spends money, but how they make buying decisions.

That is why we may see a challenge to the Arbitron / Nielsen model of radio listening measurement based on the consumption models of consumers. The focus would be on sales, with sourcing of consumer media patterns being "reverse" linked to that data. Brands know that they can more efficiently advertise by reaching potential consumers of their products rather than users of a particular media outlet.

Internet data can track users to their online media usage, and they is why we get targeted ads on many sites. While imperfect, it is vastly more specific in reaching consumers than OTA radio and TV.

 

[tbolt909]

That is why we may see a challenge to the Arbitron / Nielsen model of radio listening measurement based on the consumption models of consumers. The focus would be on sales, with sourcing of consumer media patterns being "reverse" linked to that data. Brands know that they can more efficiently advertise by reaching potential consumers of their products rather than users of a particular media outlet.

Internet data can track users to their online media usage, and they is why we get targeted ads on many sites. While imperfect, it is vastly more specific in reaching consumers than OTA radio and TV.

Do a Google search for "Tires". Now, go to some random website and you will almost certainly see pop up ads for tires. Once you buy something from some website, you will get email blasts for similar products. That's advertising in 2025...

 

[K.M. Richards]

Funny you should bring up plumbing. I just had my sink replaced. I didn't pick my plumber based on advertising. Same with my new car. I bought it online. Not based on advertising. That's the point I keep making. The issue isn't who spends money, but how they make buying decisions.

Are you over 65, BigA? If (as I reasonably believe) you are not, then your experience will be different. Your example neither proves nor disproves my theory where seniors are concerned.

 

[TheBigA]

Are you over 65, BigA? If (as I reasonably believe) you are not, then your experience will be different. Your example neither proves nor disproves my theory where seniors are concerned.

Maybe...the question remains how do people make buying decisions? Especially older people. Do they listen to ads, or use the same service that've used for 40 years? Most HVAC want to get you into a maintenance contract for repeat business.

 

[davideduardo]

Maybe...the question remains how do people make buying decisions? Especially older people. Do they listen to ads, or use the same service that've used for 40 years? Most HVAC want to get you into a maintenance contract for repeat business.

My market has one of the oldest average ages in the U.S... greater even than ones like Ft Myers / Naples. The local TV stations have a saturation of AC/Heating unit advertising, all of them promoting a low-cost "cleaning and inspection". Of course, then they try to up-sell to a maintenance contract. With summer temperatures often exceeding 120° it is very important to have working AC. Many homes here have the building split into two or three separate AC zones so that, if one fails, the folks just move into a different area until the unit is repaired.

So the TV stations have lots of ads for AC services. They run mostly in the local news blocks, but also seem to be in the oldest leaning network night shows such as NCIS and Law & Order SVU. In news blocks, it is not unusual to see a different AC service company in each break.

So to answer your question, people obviously are looking for the best provider at the lowest cost. All services also mention replacement units, as the life of AC unites here is about half of what it might be in Florida or Texas.

Those advertisers hope to catch customers who are not satisfied with their current provider. In the summer, if you have been without AC for a whole weekend or more, you get desperate. And you call the first one that comes to mind from the ads. Interestingly, most try to humanize the ads by featuring the owner or the owner and his family or even with the family dog.