2006: The death of alternative radio?

[upstate29650]

Just wondering what people think about the prospects of two SC alternative stations biting the dust: WARQ & WTPT. To me, it seems like a real possibility.

G

 

[DudeFan]

> Just wondering what people think about the prospects of two
> SC alternative stations biting the dust: WARQ & WTPT. To
> me, it seems like a real possibility.
>
> G
>

I dunno Guru. My two cents is that the "rock alternative" format has run its course. But that just means rock-oriented alternative is going away. A station can be successful if it transitions to whatever the next flavor of "alternative" is or follows the course back to whatever a mainstream rock format is. I don't know whether anyone knows for sure what is the right course to take. I have my own opinion. We'll see what course that takes...

 

[TheWhiteDevil]

I actually just finished a trek around the state for the holidays and I checked out all the stations I could.

With regards to rock stations... The only two stations I see actually serving a rock audience are WKZQ in Myrtle Beach and WYBB here in Charleston.

Both were playing everything from Living Color, Pantera, Avenged Sevenfold, Van Halen. Good for them.

They play all types of rock. I've yet to hear any fringe acts yet, but I'm waiting. I think more fans are wanting to hear NEW artists that aren't on the Billboard charts(I'm one of them). Expose more artists and let the cd sales fall where they may.

 

[bugz]

As the only two true rock stations in Columbia (forget that 93.9 "rocker" that plays Bryan Adams ballads), WMFX and WARQ make great money. They own the male demos 18-54 combined. They spend zero money in marketing and have no parttime announcers. They run way too many commercials, at the expense of ratings. But that said, they don't have to do anything until they get a direct competitor. As for Fox, as John Boy & Billy goes, so do they. And both stations are owned by a company that mainly owns Urbans. Where is there a hole for them to do more Urban?

 

[DudeFan]

> As the only two true rock stations in Columbia (forget that
> 93.9 "rocker" that plays Bryan Adams ballads), WMFX and WARQ
> make great money. They own the male demos 18-54 combined.
> They spend zero money in marketing and have no parttime
> announcers. They run way too many commercials, at the
> expense of ratings. But that said, they don't have to do
> anything until they get a direct competitor. As for Fox, as
> John Boy & Billy goes, so do they. And both stations are
> owned by a company that mainly owns Urbans. Where is there
> a hole for them to do more Urban?
>

Great observations! Looking at the ##'s I was surprised at how little "sign on" kick WLTY got. Usually you put something new on and you get a really big spike. Didn't seem to happen. Of course, WLTY could account for the drop in Fox.

I am amazed about how many units WMFX and WARQ run an hour during prime dayparts. The only time I have heard more spots was when I worked for a station in a resort area and during the height of the summer season we'd run up to 18 minutes of spots broken down into 4 sets.

The urban market I think is probably now as saturated as a piece of French toast. It is only a matter of time before someone takes a run at a combined Fox and ARQ with a mainstream Rock/Classic Rock Hybrid (think WARQ c. 1992) or at WNOK with a tight CHR.

 

[Neil]

>
>It is only a matter of time before
> someone takes a run at a combined Fox and ARQ with a
> mainstream Rock/Classic Rock Hybrid (think WARQ c. 1992) or
> at WNOK with a tight CHR.
>

But who would fill those shoes? Would Inner City go top 40 with 93-5 and take 102 mainstream or would Clear Channel drop The Beat and go mainstream/active? And you are right, urban radio in Columbia is way over-saturated.

Neil