Somebody has to pay the bills. Right now they've figured out a business model that works for them.
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650 WSM's long term future
- Thread starter Murfradiojim
- Start date
Somebody has to pay the bills. Right now they've figured out a business model that works for them.
Sure, and even if streaming has more listeners than WSM-AM, as long as they can maintain the basics like maintenance and utilities, keeping such a heritage station around for historical value is worth it. In my mind, saying WSM has no value because of low 6+ ratings (which are useless anyway) would be like saying let's blow up Mt. Rushmore because less people visited last year.
There are people, mainly Native Americans, who want the Mount Rushmore presidents gone, but not out of concern over declining tourism.
Right you are! In fact, you can barely see "RADIO" at all.
Attachments
They popped up in the September book with a .5, but then went back to n/a for October. So no, they don't,
Someone who used to work there told me the streaming audience is much larger than what they get from on-air.
Their streaming server tells them how many users there are, and they pay music royalties based on that number.
I wonder:if I was a country artist and sang a song I wrote on the Grand Ole Opry, Would my music publishing royalty account be credited with both a radio play and a performance credit?
Did anyone say why they wanted to subscribe to Nielsen so bad, only to not subscribe anymore just months later?
The general belief is that they are gearing up for the big 100 year celebration for the Opry and WSM, and wanted to see how things look ratings wise, and what areas need improvement. WSM made some on air lineup changes just after that book came out.
In a nutshell, they want to do their best to look good for the party.
They, like a few other stations, pay for a few books a year. I honestly hate to say it, but did anyone catch the CMAs on Tuesday night? It ain't Nashville. It's now CountryWood. I don't think anyone under 60 is going to give a flip about the big 100 celebration. They know their audience and those people will enjoy some nice flashback moments but I sadly don't see this as moving the tourism dial all that much here in Nashville. I wish it could.
Don't you mean Wednesday night? Look, people have been complaining about the CMAs since Charlie Rich set fire to the card when John Denver won Entertainer of the Year. Have you been to Broadway lately? Is THAT Nashville? Come on Tibbs. The reason people go to Nashville is to drink. Do you honestly want more tourists? Tell me the truth.
I told ya I never slow down. It’s still Tuesday in July too me, BigA. Charlie Rich set fire too all kinds of things. He made you remember him. I even forgot that.
Did you watch the show? Production was incredible. It definitely current country. It’s what makes money. You know the drill for sure. It’s not what I prefer. But, I am not the audience.
To answer your questions: YES, YES, YES. Is it the Nashville that I wish for? No. BUT, I love all the new skyscrapers and energy. When is the last time you visited us, BigA? I am not complaining. It is what it is and it’s working. Well! Maybe too well.
My point is WSM-AM is a nice relic. Us radio folks dig this stuff. Most of the true WSM listeners are relics who don’t meet the needs of ads/agencies. The smart thing to do would be to put the Grand Ole Opry in downtown but away from the insanity of Broadway. The Eighth/Church Street, Union Station, the Yards/Gulch areas will become the new true downtown destination area. Put WSM on the street and be LIVE SO people can walk by and see it and surround it all with some smart shopping and semi educational history. That would do far better than online or on air, or Oprylost.
Did you watch the show? Production was incredible. It definitely current country. It’s what makes money. You know the drill for sure. It’s not what I prefer. But, I am not the audience.
To answer your questions: YES, YES, YES. Is it the Nashville that I wish for? No. BUT, I love all the new skyscrapers and energy. When is the last time you visited us, BigA? I am not complaining. It is what it is and it’s working. Well! Maybe too well.
My point is WSM-AM is a nice relic. Us radio folks dig this stuff. Most of the true WSM listeners are relics who don’t meet the needs of ads/agencies. The smart thing to do would be to put the Grand Ole Opry in downtown but away from the insanity of Broadway. The Eighth/Church Street, Union Station, the Yards/Gulch areas will become the new true downtown destination area. Put WSM on the street and be LIVE SO people can walk by and see it and surround it all with some smart shopping and semi educational history. That would do far better than online or on air, or Oprylost.
How would they make money? Ryman/Gaylord owns several venues downtown. Of course there's the Ryman Auditorium. They also own Blake Shelton's Ole Red and the new Category 10 in what used to be the Wildhorse. So they are profiting from the big downtown boom. I think at one point they had a WSM remote studio in the Wildhorse. Maybe you heard they moved the radio station out of the hotel and into the old Roy Acuff house. If you PAY for an Opry tour, you can visit the studio. They have a multi-media show that tells the history. In keeping with all things Gaylord, they do nothing for free. They charge for everything, including the popcorn.
IIRC Cracker Barrel is a sponcer of the Opey. Last time I was in one (last month) I felt like I was the youngest customer. There were some kids and parents with their grandparents but every table had someone older than me and I am retired. There are a few business that have a lot of 55+ customers. If I was running an ad campaign for Medicare supplemental insurance I would have to consider WSM.
The only problem is how many companies target 55+?
The only problem is how many companies target 55+?
A lot. The presenting sponsor of the Gand Ole Opry is Humana Insurance. So there's one example. The Opry gives their sponsors a unique ad package that includes visual sponsorship at the venue, and broadcast sponsorship on the media properties. Yes, it's an older demo, but it's part of an overall lifestyle package that goes beyond traditional broadcast advertising.
My view is that if WSM was a radio station owned by a typical radio owner where they only own radio stations and nothing else, and their only revenue source is advertising from that one radio station, they'd be in real trouble. When you put a radio station in a unified package with other products that are all aimed at the same customers, you're selling something bigger than just a radio station. That really should give current radio owners an idea of how to get out of their current hole.
Does anyone have a estimate of WSB's streaming numbers? A few posters claim it is bigger than the OTA. I am sure someone at an Ad Agency somewhere knows, but is that info like the money demos that are not general public knowledge.
If someone at Sirius XM is smart, they would find a way to put 650 on their free service. The Opry and Howard Stern just one preset button away from each other.
One of the problems with streaming numbers is you don't get the kind of demographic information that Nielsen provides. You get raw usage and geographic information based on ISP. That's why streamers try to get you to subscribe.
Why? SXM already carries the Opry, and between Willie's Place and Prime Country, it plays most of the music WSM plays, with no commercials. How would adding a commercial AM station that barely has a measurable audience in its home market benefit SiriusXM?