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107.5 format change?

When STAR came on they were pulling a 10 share for CHR compared to Power's 5 or 6 share. I remember when the Whale was finally going to lose their CHR R&R reporting status, Power was trying to position STAR as a Hot AC so they could get the reporting status. That's when STAR started throwing in Coolio's "Gangsta's Paradise" and Skee-lo's "I Wish". When Power became Alternative, STAR was enjoying anything from 14-18 share. As for 107.5, Classic Hits is enjoying good ratings in a number of markets. 107.5 unfortunately has never enjoyed good ratings for any format (except for 1 month of Jerry & Dave's first book on WBBI). I was up in Binghamton last weekend and enjoyed the mix. It was strange hearing KC & the Sunshine Band's "Get Down Tonight" (on the Bear). I wish them luck.
 
I've spent some time listening to Big, and I have to say the music sounds good. Everything was a hit back in the day, all recognizable, nothing off the wall. However, (and I'm not by any means trashing anybody), I was really surprised to hear the change. It seemed to me The Bear had respectable numbers for the most part. As for the billing status, your guess is as good as mine. The only problem the music is the same as Mix without currents and recurrents, with the exception of the more rock leaning songs. If Mix goes younger, it's going to sound more like Star. Too much head clashing in one cluster can't be a good thing. Maybe I'm wrong, but just wanted to throw my 2 cents in.
 
The same arguement could be made for Bear vs. KGB. Classic Rock unfortunately is an aging format. Classic Hits is like the new oldies. WCBS is #1 or #2 in the New York City market. Because of their heritage they can get away with more 60s than most Classic Hits formats. With Cool 100 still playing 60s, Big can afford to do a true Classic Hits formats which is another label for 70s and 80s oldies. As for Mix, AC has come along where you can do the format without the old stuff. Back in the day AC was oldies with lite current pop thrown in. Now AC and CHR have their own separate core artists. But with the current crop of dance music the line is being blurred between CHR and Hot AC. On a side note, I find it fascinating that Black Eyed Peas "I Gotta Feeling" has crossed over to the Lite AC chart. AC is not your Grandmother's format anymore!
 
Remember, the new 50 year old is the old 30 year old. Lady Gaga has a strong 50 to 60 year old appeal. Who would have thought that? Black Eyed Peas...the 50 year old love em'. Things have really changed.
 
As people are living longer, and people are staying "in touch" and "50" isn't old... is the exact reason a station like KTU in New York is doing so well. The format of Rhythmic AC mixing upbeat currents and upbeat 80's and 90's makes plenty of sense and is a money demo gold mine. The problem is actually knowing your market and what strikes a cord with the listeners. You have to have the right mix, and change it up regularly rotating the songs. If you're lazy with it, like many of the Movin' or Groove stations have been or were around the country, they explode on the scene and then burn out. If you keep it fresh (even the old songs) the public responds.

KTU wouldn't work format picked up and placed in Binghamton, cause it would be a little too urban for Binghamton, but with a tweak to some of the musical catagories, it could easily be a success in Binghamton, and you invite people to a music test and include some influential business people to be included in that dinner / music test... when a station comes on using their advice, trust me, the business community would accept it. If the official at work station can twist to "Today's Best Music" then people will listen to their upbeat favorites of the 80's, 90's and Now too.

Go to any Splash show downtown or at Number 5 and see the who's who in Binghamton "getting down" to their music and it's not hard to tell why KTU does so well in NYC... Splash mixes old and new elements to it's show - It's non offensive and fun!
 
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