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Well we're a day and a half into "Classic Hits 103.9"... what will be the next NABCO move for WTDA?
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Alternative lol...
Anything rock, Hal fish supports.
Anything rock, Hal fish supports.
If you're getting essentially a zero share in a format after three years, after you have had over a 2 in the past (a joke for most markets but decent for that signal), then why wouldn't you try something else? I'm surprised they waited it out this long when there was obviously zero momentum with the big-mistake talk/sports format, especially after Beck defected. And I can see where it would be tempting to switch back to a version of a format that gave you your best performance to date. Whether it's going to earn a 2+ again is another question, but I'd sure wager that it will do better than the TALK-FM format. Almost anything would.
Such a disaster. Just sell it off and put it out of it's misery. I always thought the original Eagle classic rock format did very well. Why they abandoned it for these other failures is beyond me, but what do I know?
dawg4life said:
Actually, as you may already know, Nabco did do a Disco format on 99.7 at one point in the late 70's. It was WRMZ, Z-100, with a goofy-looking cartoonish Zebra in the logo. Sometimes they even called it Zebra 100. I remember the GM (who I believe was the still-current GM, Mark Jividen) saying that the station did pretty well, but that the Disco era had ended so they had to switch to something else.
The WRM stood for William R Mnich, Nabco's founder (that's also where the calls for WMNI originated).
Anyway, it would be interesting to know what people in the demo for the new format -- Baby Boomers -- think of the music mix on the new 103.9. I'd guess that much (not all!!) -- of the criticism is from people who are either younger or think that anything that says it rocks should be consistently harder and avoid stuff like Bob Dylan, Gordon Lightfoot or garage band songs. The more I hear it the more I like it. It's kind of like a broader and mellower (but still plenty of rockin) LVQ without the slobbering, aging lecher attitude (not that there's anything wrong with that
). I always had the impression that this is the direction the PD wanted 105.7 the Fox to go, while local CC management couldn't deal with something that had a list greater than 300 songs and that didn't rock hard enough (pure conjecture on my part). Some of the air talent on this Dial Global format is pretty good, and actually into the music. Hey, any music mix that can make it to Iron Mountain, MI, Yankton, SD and Indiana, PA has got to be pretty good stuff by Columbus (OH) standards, right?BTW, another plus for Nabco is that this is a PPM-friendly format. But some posters should be happy that CHR is, too. With all these rimshots, somebody is bound to eventually try a CHR (which is of no interest to me personally), or a more niched format such as 90's (which would be of personal interest) or even a Movin-style dance format (which would also be of personal interest). I doubt anyone will try AAA (another one which would be of personal interest).
Sorry that this turned into a rambler...
I was thinking a MOViN staton actually.
Nu_Roo_2 said:
WEGE switched from Classic Rock of the 70s and 80s to Ted FM in November of 2004. Ratings surveys from the newspaper showed Classic Rock WEGE hovered around a 2.0 share when it was a Classic Rock format.
WEGE switched from The Eagle, Classic Rock 103.9 to TED FM, under the moniker, "WE Play Everything"
Mr. Hal Fish said they switched to Ted FM back then because "They heard lots of complaints about cookie-cutter formats" Excuse me, isn't the NEW Classic Rock format a cookie-cutter format?
This is a very small piece of the article back then:
WEGE , WMNI MAKE CHANGES
Columbus Dispatch, The (OH) - Monday, November 8, 2004
Author: From staff reports
The Eagle has flown the coop.
The 1970s and '80s rock station known as the Eagle -- WEGE ( 103.9 FM) -- has been replaced with a new name and format.
"We've done lots of research over the years and heard lots of complaints about cookie-cutter formats," said Hal Fish program director.
gabigley1 said:
Sounds like a broken record. Maybe Hal needs another method of research.
If Hal Fish is being truthful about his "years of research" then he either needs to hire a new research firm or he needs to put the pipe down.
Here's Hal's favorite book: Radio for Dummies
Here's Hal's favorite part of the book: Our research has shown over the years that (insert format here) is the most popular music in (insert market here).
Here's Hal's favorite book: Radio for Dummies
Here's Hal's favorite part of the book: Our research has shown over the years that (insert format here) is the most popular music in (insert market here).
Around the end of the disco days at WRMZ, they signed up with ABC for a yet to be launched AC satellite format, but ABC scrapped it before it started. As I remember, that was when WRMZ changed to Oldies as WMGG, but my memory is blurred by all of the call sign and format changes there through the years.
For lack of anything new and different that they haven't already tried, they could take the Adult Standards format that is on WMNI and try it on 103.9. And yes, I know someone will point out that the older demographics of that format are hard to sell, but at least it would be something unique on FM in the market.
It's unfortunate that when NABCO dropped the satellite service on WMNI for a while and went with their own programming for Standards, which I thought was a good idea at the time since the satellite service is typically too repetitive and narrowly focused, they made a complete mess of it by playing music that was way too old. I could see playing some of that music in special time blocks on a limited basis, but not as the mainstream playlist. It would be nice to see someone put together an essentially 60s-70s AC Oldies format that would go deeper into the charts since all of the current Oldies formats are very much more Rock oriented and only play the top 20 or so songs from each year.
How sadly ironic in the radio industry that everyone cries for something different since all of the stations sound the same, but when anything different is suggested, the programmers and consultants say they can't do it because it is different and nobody has ever done that. Instead, they just sign up for another cookie cutter satellite service.
For lack of anything new and different that they haven't already tried, they could take the Adult Standards format that is on WMNI and try it on 103.9. And yes, I know someone will point out that the older demographics of that format are hard to sell, but at least it would be something unique on FM in the market.
It's unfortunate that when NABCO dropped the satellite service on WMNI for a while and went with their own programming for Standards, which I thought was a good idea at the time since the satellite service is typically too repetitive and narrowly focused, they made a complete mess of it by playing music that was way too old. I could see playing some of that music in special time blocks on a limited basis, but not as the mainstream playlist. It would be nice to see someone put together an essentially 60s-70s AC Oldies format that would go deeper into the charts since all of the current Oldies formats are very much more Rock oriented and only play the top 20 or so songs from each year.
How sadly ironic in the radio industry that everyone cries for something different since all of the stations sound the same, but when anything different is suggested, the programmers and consultants say they can't do it because it is different and nobody has ever done that. Instead, they just sign up for another cookie cutter satellite service.
So I told a buddy of mine about 103.9 because he loves that genre of music. He's not into radio like we are or anything, he's just a regular Joe. So anyway, he just called me and said WTF is this crap? He said his 17 year old son could do a better job picking classic hit songs than what he heard on 103.9. He also said thanks but no thanks, I've got QFM.
I thought that his last statement was kind of funny about QFM.
Hal Fish, I have two words for you...
EPIC FAIL!
I thought that his last statement was kind of funny about QFM.
Hal Fish, I have two words for you...
EPIC FAIL!
jakej said:
I also agree with CatFM on this one, but have at least seen glimmers of creativity in other markets, whereas in Columbus that's been been totally MIA. OK, there may be a *few* cases through the year, but they have badly conceived or implemented; and/or poorly supported (referring to both insufficient promo/advertising and management that didn't really believe in it so they meddled or failed to give it a chance -- a truly insidious format-killer); or -- the grandaddy of Columbus problems: stuck with an awful signal.
Getting back to Nabco (and this also relates to some comments in earlier posts): While today it is always Fish saying, "our research shows this is the best" like a broken record with self-inherent contradictions, pre-Fish it was always the GM offering up, "Gee, we did exactly what the consultant told us, but it didn't work." After which they'd look for the new "magic: genie" consultant. Really enlightened.
gabigley1 said:
Actually, it's not quite as cookie-cutter as others. (BTW, for me "cookie-cutter" means "like the same approaches we've heard elsewhere *in Columbus* ad nauseum.) I've heard stuff I haven't heard locally in years, from "Tusk" to "Tupelo Honey" to "Rainy Day Women" to "All the Young Dudes. to "Tied to the Whipping Post." As well as a broader mix -- "Something to Talk About" always seemed boring on Sunny 95, but it sounds fresher coming after, say, "Midnight Rider" by the Allman Brothers (NOT Gregg Allman), or "Honky Tonk Women."
But despite the fact that I'm probably the only one that some positive feelings about 103.9, I still see much inconsistency. In fact, much of the time it's as boring as all get-out. While there have been long stretches that are very listenable, there have also been long stretches where it sounds VERY cookie-cutter and very boring -- either like a cookie-cutter Mainstream AC or a cookie-cutter Classic Rock. (And I'm not even mentioning the other elements, which leave a lot to be desires, e.g., playing music over the entirety of at least two newscasts this morning.) Some other posters mentioned preferring WODB) also from Dial Global, and I tend to agree. Since Dial cleaned up their act on that format a couple months ago, they sound much better and have a lot of consistency, something their Classic Hits format seems to need a lot more of. Hopefully they're next on the tidy-up list, because there are elements that are definitely positive and provide musical elements from all the other 35+ demo non-LP stations.
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