10 AM on 96.9, and...

[RedWingCJS278]

Re: Latest for 96.9....

Yes, and WAAF is just way too over the place. New rock, old rock, bad rock, good rock. The Bone needs tweaking, but not a huge amount. AAF is old and fading, ZLX is too timid, 92.9 is ridiculously narrow and stuck in the '90s, this station if done right can hold the rock audience in Boston.

 

[Tibbs4]

Redwing - your comments are excellent! I guess my logic (or complete lack thereof) should have included a third point. You come to Greater Media from NYC to make a statement. You Have to Win Big. What pieces of the pie do you take that allow that happen, without hopefully taking from yourself, and make a big showing?

My guess is some of this stunting is so well executed that there actually is some audience testing, similar to an old school auditorium sampling of songs and/or formats and from some of the info gathered, you may well see some changes to more that just WTKK! That may be the ticket to more rock on the other GM stations. All in all, this is actually very compelling old style radio surveying. Whether they are using it, I don't know. I also don't know what or when the real format will land. My guess is CJ has to at least be on the ground for this. He needs a little time to get the feel, etc.

Still, this has got to be really gathering some attention from the average listener that scans the dial and if that gets discussions started in the office on Monday....it is not a waste of time for the stunt.

 

[RedWingCJS278]

Re: Latest for 96.9....

And when I referred to 92.9 as being too narrow, I meant too stuck in the 'alternative' mindset. That's old hat, those of us who grew up during that time don't want doom-and-gloom all the time anymore, we're also nostalgic for 'Metal Health,' 'Tom Sawyer,' and 'Dirty Deeds.' AAF will give you all that, but then throw in crap like Dropkick Murphys and other hipster garbage. No, AAF is not a good example of a real rock station, not even by a longshot.

 

[RedWingCJS278]

Redwing - your comments are excellent! I guess my logic (or complete lack thereof) should have included a third point. You come to Greater Media from NYC to make a statement. You Have to Win Big. What pieces of the pie do you take that allow that happen, without hopefully taking from yourself, and make a big showing?

My guess is some of this stunting is so well executed that there actually is some audience testing, similar to an old school auditorium sampling of songs and/or formats and from some of the info gathered, you may well see some changes to more that just WTKK! That may be the ticket to more rock on the other GM stations. All in all, this is actually very compelling old style radio surveying. Whether they are using it, I don't know. I also don't know what or when the real format will land. My guess is CJ has to at least be on the ground for this. He needs a little time to get the feel, etc.

Still, this has got to be really gathering some attention from the average listener that scans the dial and if that gets discussions started in the office on Monday....it is not a waste of time for the stunt.

Well, thanks Tibbs, and that's exactly what I figure Greater Media is doing here, just testing what may work and what may not. Might as well give them our various opinions, and let them do what they will with it.

 

[Jimmy128]

Okay here's my opinion then GM, if people want The Bone (which I can't stand) then put it on WROR which is already lame and limpy.

Keep WBOS as it is.

Put Soul & R&B on 96.9.

 

[RedWingCJS278]

Okay here's my opinion then GM, if people want The Bone (which I can't stand) then put it on WROR which is already lame and limpy.

Keep WBOS as it is.

Put Soul & R&B on 96.9.

I could live with that, Jimmy, especially if we're talking about classic Motown and soul for 96.9. Any generation can groove with that.

 

[wcozBoston]

Hopefully, after 96.9 reaches their final format, attention can be moved to WBOS. A well programmed AOR station, similar to WHJY and WGIR but keeping the rock more current than classic rock, but not all heavy metal head banging rock either with good personalities and a good music selection. Bring in personalities from Boston or New England to be on it who know the market well. GM has a classic hits station that pulls good numbers on 105.7 so they have that covered. WBOS could easily dominate over WAAF if it were done right because of their full market signal. If they believe the Bone stunt is a real success, promote a new 92.9 on 96.9 then flip 96.9 to the rhythmic hits format. WBOS could become "Rock 92.9", where rock in Boston begins with 'BOS.

 

[ReggieBeas]

It is really funny that fans of each genre of music 96.9 has stunted with 1) get excited and think that format is going to be "the" format Greater Media is going with, 2) bash every other format as garbage that would never work in this market, and/or 3) ask for tweaks based on their personal musical preference. I must admit, Wednesday from 10am to 3pm I was going crazy, excited beyond belief that Boston could actually have another Urban station. But once Nova came on, I realized Greater Media was stunting. At that point, I went back to being a radio geek and looking forward to what was next.

I thoroughly enjoyed Power, Nova & Mike and tuned in whenever I could (I second the notion of releasing those formats as podcasts). I haven't listened to The Bone enough to have an opinion, but I'm sure it will sound just as good as the others. The brilliance in each format is that they sounded EXACTLY like the genre they were representing… I know in my head, especially when Power was on, I was thinking "how could this be a stunt when the attention to detail is so high?" But that's why I'm so excited for the final format, because it will be the best representation of whatever Cadillac and Greater Media decide to do.

I agree with everyone's opinions in that there are very valid reasons why each format could or could not work in this market (including Urban, but I'm biased because I'm the former PD for Urban AC/Urban hybrid 97.7 WILD-FM here in Boston). But speculations on what the ultimate format will be are just that, speculations, and I'm sure we will be shocked when the format is finally revealed.

 

[newhampshiredude]

It is really funny that fans of each genre of music 96.9 has stunted with 1) get excited and think that format is going to be "the" format Greater Media is going with, 2) bash every other format as garbage that would never work in this market, and/or 3) ask for tweaks based on their personal musical preference. I must admit, Wednesday from 10am to 3pm I was going crazy, excited beyond belief that Boston could actually have another Urban station. But once Nova came on, I realized Greater Media was stunting. At that point, I went back to being a radio geek and looking forward to what was next.

I thoroughly enjoyed Power, Nova & Mike and tuned in whenever I could (I second the notion of releasing those formats as podcasts). I haven't listened to The Bone enough to have an opinion, but I'm sure it will sound just as good as the others. The brilliance in each format is that they sounded EXACTLY like the genre they were representing… I know in my head, especially when Power was on, I was thinking "how could this be a stunt when the attention to detail is so high?" But that's why I'm so excited for the final format, because it will be the best representation of whatever Cadillac and Greater Media decide to do.

I agree with everyone's opinions in that there are very valid reasons why each format could or could not work in this market (including Urban, but I'm biased because I'm the former PD for Urban AC/Urban hybrid 97.7 WILD-FM here in Boston). But speculations on what the ultimate format will be are just that, speculations, and I'm sure we will be shocked when the format is finally revealed.

That's what I think has been most exciting about this launch: thinking about how good the final station will be while listening to stunts that sound really good music-wise. It's nice to see a company spending money and hiring the right people to launch a good station.

 

[KML0224]

How is the 96.9 FM signal in the suburbs? [Especially heading west!] I've been a long time listener of WJMN-FM 94.5. Their signal is crap in downtown, mostly between South Station and Downtown Crossing. One of the stations overloading every Walkman I've ever used (Sony or other personal stereos) has always been 96.9 FM. In fairness, some of the overload came from the other Prudential Center stations as well. At times, WJMN-FM would fade in and out somewhere between Exits 9 and 10 on I-90, around the point where WMAS-FM 94.7 of Springfield starts to interfere (heading back home towards greater Hartford along I-84).

 

[itsthesong]

You can get the WTKK signal (and most of the other pru based signals as well) well onto i84 in CT. It's not unusual to hear it past the exit for the UConn campus in Storrs. It's a potent signal for sure.

 

[stevensonair]

Radio 92.9 is a success. What possible reason would Greater have for diluting the brand and adding jocks?

 

[reelyreal]

WBOS could easily dominate over WAAF if it were done right because of their full market signal.

BOS already dominates AAF...

...

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!!

 

[RedWingCJS278]

It is really funny that fans of each genre of music 96.9 has stunted with 1) get excited and think that format is going to be "the" format Greater Media is going with, 2) bash every other format as garbage that would never work in this market, and/or 3) ask for tweaks based on their personal musical preference. I must admit, Wednesday from 10am to 3pm I was going crazy, excited beyond belief that Boston could actually have another Urban station. But once Nova came on, I realized Greater Media was stunting. At that point, I went back to being a radio geek and looking forward to what was next.

I thoroughly enjoyed Power, Nova & Mike and tuned in whenever I could (I second the notion of releasing those formats as podcasts). I haven't listened to The Bone enough to have an opinion, but I'm sure it will sound just as good as the others. The brilliance in each format is that they sounded EXACTLY like the genre they were representing… I know in my head, especially when Power was on, I was thinking "how could this be a stunt when the attention to detail is so high?" But that's why I'm so excited for the final format, because it will be the best representation of whatever Cadillac and Greater Media decide to do.

I agree with everyone's opinions in that there are very valid reasons why each format could or could not work in this market (including Urban, but I'm biased because I'm the former PD for Urban AC/Urban hybrid 97.7 WILD-FM here in Boston). But speculations on what the ultimate format will be are just that, speculations, and I'm sure we will be shocked when the format is finally revealed.

Urban would work if there were just a bit more black people in the region. Sure, a certain number of white people listen to that music, but not enough to make a difference. I think as many formats as possible should be on the air in any given market. I also think that, for 96.9, going with heavy classic rock for a spell wouldn't hurt. If, after three or four months, the numbers aren't there, try something else. Not much to lose here. If programmed right, The Bone can very much succeed in Boston, and with demographics with real spending power.

 

[Jimmy128]

They hired a program director from NY that did Urban and Pebbles as a morning host.

Do you think they will play Guns N' Roses, Aerosmith Def Lepperd, and Led Zeppelin?

 

[CTListener]

They hired a program director from NY that did Urban and Pebbles as a morning host.

Do you think they will play Guns N' Roses, Aerosmith Def Lepperd, and Led Zeppelin?

That's what I've been thinking all along. Maybe conventional wisdom about this market and its biases is about to be challenged.

 

[RedWingCJS278]

They hired a program director from NY that did Urban and Pebbles as a morning host.

Do you think they will play Guns N' Roses, Aerosmith Def Lepperd, and Led Zeppelin?

Then what is even the point these stunts, then? Could it be possible they're about to blow up 92.9 and put the Pebbles and their darling PD from New York over there? You're probably right about them going Urban, but they're not going to get higher numbers with that than they are with a focused, heavy, classic rock format. Not in this market. In another five-to-ten years, maybe.

 

[Jimmy128]

WBOS is making money as a jockless station and plays to a younger demographic than WROR with an aging audience.

That's why they should move The Bone to WROR rather than WBOS, and let 96.9 go some form of Urban.

Why do you think CBS blew up Oldies 103.3? Younger Audience. If you are 55 you might as well be dead. Yes I'm over 55.

Additional thought. Funny, the only formats anybody took seriously out of the four are Urban and The Bone.

 

[RedWingCJS278]

WBOS is making money as a jockless station and plays to a younger demographic than WROR with an aging audience.

That's why they should move The Bone to WROR rather than WBOS, and let 96.9 go some form of Urban.

Why do you think CBS blew up Oldies 103.3? Younger Audience. If you are 55 you might as well be dead. Yes I'm over 55.

Yeah, but I think that's starting to change as the Baby Boomers age. The Boomers still control the culture, and they have the bulk of the wealth. I think advertisers are going to be forced to adjust to that.

 

[CTListener]

WBOS is making money as a jockless station and plays to a younger demographic than WROR with an aging audience.

That's why they should move The Bone to WROR rather than WBOS, and let 96.9 go some form of Urban.

Why do you think CBS blew up Oldies 103.3? Younger Audience. If you are 55 you might as well be dead. Yes I'm over 55.

Yeah, but I think that's starting to change as the Baby Boomers age. The Boomers still control the culture, and they have the bulk of the wealth. I think advertisers are going to be forced to adjust to that.

Some Boomers may still be in the executive offices, but the culture is no longer being shaped by them. It doesn't matter whether the CEOs at General Media or Clear Channel or CBS Radio love '60s and '70s rock, the product that makes them money from advertising is hip-hop or dancey, ultra-rhythmic pop. They'll sit back and take the word of their hipper, younger tastemakers on what works and what doesn't. Nothing's going to change. As the Boomers age, they are going to die, or get sick, or lose mobility -- all things that will cut down or eliminate spending of all that money they've accumulated on anything but health care. What money they leave will go to children and grandchildren who have no use for '60s and '70s rock.