107.9 THE LINK FLIPS TO AC

[atlantaboy]

Just saw that Mediabase moved 107.9 The Link to the mainstream AC panel - I lived in Charlotte for most of the 2000s, and I was just really surprised that they made this move after such a long time as a Hot AC and Talk/Hot AC hybrid, and over the past year they've shot up from 2.4-4.7 in ratings (as a Hot AC) - and even more surprised cause Charlotte already has two AC stations

From looking at yes.com, it looks like The Link is now basically a "Fresh AC"-type station - just wondering what you guys think

 

[w00t]

Stone Temple Pilots is considered AC?

 

[atlantaboy]

Stone Temple Pilots is considered AC?

I guess - it must not be playing enough currents to be considered Hot AC by Mediabase

I think Mix 101.5 in Raleigh plays stuff like that, and they've been classified as AC for almost a decade I think

 

[vchimpanzee]

All the more reason for "Lite" to dump the name and the music.

Wikipedia does not reflect this change. Does the talk format stay, or are they really a music station now?

 

[Mike Sheridan]

From looking at the website I see they have added some older tunes to the mix, Michael Jackson, Billy Joel, Hootie, but the Guns N' Roses and some of the other Hot A/C stuff is there as well.

Could The Link be doing this because the other A/C's in the market have gone to Santa? Not a bad idea!

 

[vchimpanzee]

From looking at the website I see they have added some older tunes to the mix, Michael Jackson, Billy Joel, Hootie, but the Guns N' Roses and some of the other Hot A/C stuff is there as well.

Could The Link be doing this because the other A/C's in the market have gone to Santa? Not a bad idea!

If Guns N' Roses is still ther (other than "Patience") they're hot AC. I don't care for the term for some of these stations that are really adult top 40. It's unbelievable the garbage I'm subjected to after dark now just because I have to listen to a classic country station once I can no longer hear Nat King Cole and Barbra Streisand.

 

[atlantaboy]

^I think the difference is "Hot AC" needs to play a decent amount of current music (since it's the adult form of "Top 40")

Playing old tracks by Guns 'N' Roses doesn't make a station Hot AC - the AC station in Atlanta went through phases of playing Higher by Creed, How You Remind Me by Nickelback, etc., and I'm pretty sure WRAL/Raleigh plays stuff like that too

I guess that's what would make it different from the other Charlotte AC stations though (cause they're marketed as "soft" stations)

 

[w00t]

WRAL used to but they are just a straight up AC these days. I'm thinking WLNK is doing this to hold on to some of the audience who's listening to them because they don't want all-Christmas.

 

[atlantaboy]

^I'm surprised they'd let Mediabase move them to AC though if this were only a temporary stunt (through Christmas)

 

[w00t]

I just figured Mediabase decided what format they use to categorize. If The Link had to approve it then that is kind of weird.

 

[bchristi]

Does Charlotte really need three ACs? I have a feeling the market is now over saturated and that either Lite 102.9 or K-104 will flip in the near future.

 

[quadraphonic]

I just figured Mediabase decided what format they use to categorize. If The Link had to approve it then that is kind of weird.

That does seem weird.

 

[tophour]

I just figured Mediabase decided what format they use to categorize. If The Link had to approve it then that is kind of weird.

The station doesn't get to "approve" which panel they're on; it's solely up to Mediabase.

 

[atlantaboy]

I just figured Mediabase decided what format they use to categorize. If The Link had to approve it then that is kind of weird.

The station doesn't get to "approve" which panel they're on; it's solely up to Mediabase.

There must be a lot of political stuff that goes on though - CBS has CHRs that are Rhythmics, a Hot AC that's a CHR, and an AC that's a Hot AC, and none of them got moved

I'm almost positive (from a lot of stuff I've read), that the station gets a lot of say in the decision, especially if it's owned by CBS, Cumulus, or Clear Channel

 

[tophour]

There must be a lot of political stuff that goes on though

There is; a great deal of it comes from the label side rather than the radio side, however.

I'm almost positive (from a lot of stuff I've read), that the station gets a lot of say in the decision, especially if it's owned by CBS, Cumulus, or Clear Channel

The station is notified if they're getting moved and they can make their case, but the final decision rests with MMR. For example, Clear Channel wouldn't have "let" their Premium Choice stations get dropped from the panel if they had any real say, but they got punted nevertheless. The stations can also make adjustments to satisfy MMR's (yeah, that's how old I am) concerns.

 

[atlantaboy]

There must be a lot of political stuff that goes on though

There is; a great deal of it comes from the label side rather than the radio side, however.

I'm almost positive (from a lot of stuff I've read), that the station gets a lot of say in the decision, especially if it's owned by CBS, Cumulus, or Clear Channel

The station is notified if they're getting moved and they can make their case, but the final decision rests with MMR. For example, Clear Channel wouldn't have "let" their Premium Choice stations get dropped from the panel if they had any real say, but they got punted nevertheless. The stations can also make adjustments to satisfy MMR's (yeah, that's how old I am) concerns.

Thanks for the info, man (you sound like you know what you're talking about lol)

Sorry to get off topic, but I'm just wondering what your take is on why Mediabase didn't move all those CBS stations? (Mix 106.5 Baltimore to CHR, KAMP to Rhythmic, or Fresh DC to Hot AC) - Or do you think Mediabase suggested it, but CBS had objections?

 

[radiolives]

If 94.7 Fresh FM in Washington D.C. should be labled Hot AC instead of AC. What should Fresh 102.7 NYC be labled as?

 

[carolinaradio]

Fresh 102.7, Fresh 94.7 Fresh 105.9 are HOT AC's. I have no idea why they are considered AC. Do they sound like Lite 102.9?

AC is heavy on 70s and 80s with conservative hits from today. Fresh FM's are typically 80s-now, with some 80s but heavy on 90s and newer songs- many too aggressive for the typical AC format.

I don't see how WLNK is AC at all.

 

[atlantaboy]

If 94.7 Fresh FM in Washington D.C. should be labled Hot AC instead of AC. What should Fresh 102.7 NYC be labled as?

This is the current Mediabase playlist for Fresh FM/Washington DC...unlike Fresh in NYC, it's definitely a Hot AC

This is why I was thinking it was a political thing - if CBS allows Fresh/DC to be moved to Hot AC or KAMP to be moved to Rhythmic, that's opening up a "can of worms" as far as the other Fresh AC stations and its other Rhythmic CHRs

1 1 THE SCRIPT Breakeven 40 39 1
5 2 KATY PERRY Teenage Dream 37 33 4
2 3 SHINEDOWN Second Chance 37 38 -1
4 4 TAIO CRUZ Dynamite 36 35 1
3 5 PINK Raise Your Glass 36 36 0
7 6 TAYLOR SWIFT Mine 36 31 5
6 7 SARA BAREILLES King Of Anything 29 31 -2
10 8 MICHAEL BUBLE Hollywood 28 27 1
11 9 PLAIN WHITE T'S Rhythm Of Love 28 27 1
8 10 NEON TREES Animal 27 29 -2
9 11 ONE REPUBLIC Secrets 27 28 -1
15 12 LIFEHOUSE All In 26 23 3
14 13 USHER F/ PITBULL DJ Got Us Fallin' In Love 26 24 2
13 14 SICK PUPPIES Maybe 25 24 1
16 15 BRUNO MARS Just The Way You Are 22 22 0
12 16 CHRISTINA PERRI Jar Of Hearts 22 25 -3
21 17 TRAIN Marry Me 22 19 3
32 18 DAUGHTRY September 21 14 7
25 19 TRAIN Hey, Soul Sister 20 18 2
22 20 BLACK EYED PEAS I Gotta Feeling 19 18 1
28 30 TRAIN If It's Love 17 17 0
36 31 KATY PERRY California Gurls f/ Snoop Dogg 16 13 3
34 32 FRAY Never Say Never 15 14 1
31 33 LIFEHOUSE Halfway Gone 15 15 0
30 34 KATY PERRY Hot 'N' Cold 15 13 2
40 35 COLBIE CAILLAT Fallin' For You 12 10 2
42 36 LADY GAGA Poker Face 12 10 2
38 37 OWL CITY Fireflies 12 12 0
52 38 COLDPLAY Viva La Vida 11 5 6
55 39 LADY GAGA Just Dance f/ Colby O'Donnis 11 4 7
58 40 LADY GAGA Telephone f/ Beyonce 11 3 8
50 41 MATT NATHANSON Come On Get Higher 11 7 4
44 42 NE-YO Closer 11 10 1
67 43 KATY PERRY I Kissed A Girl 11 1 10
46 44 KEVIN RUDOLF Let It Rock f/Lil Wayne 11 10 1
39 45 TAYLOR SWIFT You Belong With Me 11 12 -1
54 46 FRAY You Found Me 10 5 5
49 47 PINK Glitter In The Air 10 8 2
41 48 MILEY CYRUS Party In The USA 9 10 -1
33 49 JASON DERULO In My Head 9 14 -5
35 50 LADY GAGA Paparazzi 9 14 -5

 

[InSearchOfGear]

Does Charlotte really need three ACs? I have a feeling the market is now over saturated and that either Lite 102.9 or K-104 will flip in the near future.

K104.7 is committed to the format. Lite is committed, which I gleaned from interviewing for the PD post there, and Link is doing quite well under PPM. Don't look for anyone to flip in the near term. The AC abttle will heat up in 2011. Look for at least one of them to skew much younger than the other 2.