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87.7 Cleveland's Sound

C

CleveFan

I'd figure it's better to start a new thread on the just launched station, which is now calling themselves the name in the subject above. (Better than "Clevelanders Rock" in my opinion) So far, the station sounds good. A few things...

1. The audio and signal is really impressive compared to what I've heard on and off in the past few months.

2. The music mix, which sounds like an Alternative-leaning AAA format, is playing mostly '00s gold with some newer (though unfamiliar to many) songs and very few classics thrown in occasionally. Perfect idea since the closest thing Cleveland has to Alt rock is 99X and some college stations/programming.

3. Some of the liners and promos have clips of old Cleveland jingles/intros (Higbee's, Revco and Hoolihan and Big Chuck) as part of "sounds" Clevelanders no longer hear.

4. The morning show with Archie starts next week. Don't know about Rachel Steele, who was the first jock to sign on as mentioned on the "87.7 Stunting" thread, and if there will be other jocks. I guess we have to stay tuned.

I'm really excited of the new station. After some strange testing and delays, I think it was worth the wait. Other verdicts?
 
This site was down or I would have posted this 6 hours ago. Big surprise finally that 87.7 is finally "real" and they sound pretty darn good, just had them on the car radio from maybe 12:30pm till 3pm, as I had to drive from West Park to Medina and back, strong signal and good audio all the way. The music mix reminds me of V1073, which I miss (I'm prolly one of the few who miss them).
 
Well if they go the music route of 107.3 I predict the station changes formats within one year. The AAA/Alternative format does not work in Cleveland. It has not worked no matter who has tried it. WENZ gone WMMS changed back to Rock, and WNWV back to Smooth Jazz. the only AAA format that has survived is 91.3 the Summit and will continue to be the only one. I will give them credit though so far no retreads from V1073 which is a point in their favor.
 
Wondering if 87.7 will use RDS? I haven't seen any RDS display on my car radio with them. Wondering if it's possible the way they're configured as the audio from analog channel 6. I also assume they can't add an HD FM signal, with or without subcarriers?
 
I was able to get a strong signal for the few minutes I was listening in my car between Wadsworth and Rittman. Not my style of music, but new station and local owners...I wish them the best of luck!
 
CleveRadioInsider said:
Well if they go the music route of 107.3 I predict the station changes formats within one year. The AAA/Alternative format does not work in Cleveland. It has not worked no matter who has tried it. WENZ gone WMMS changed back to Rock, and WNWV back to Smooth Jazz. the only AAA format that has survived is 91.3 the Summit and will continue to be the only one. I will give them credit though so far no retreads from V1073 which is a point in their favor.
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I agree with this but 107.3 wasn't really AAA. I listen to AAA stations almost exclusively but I hated 107.3. I rarely had it on. They might've called themselves AAA and they played some AAA artists but the bulk of the station seemed to be obscure classic rock. New AAA music and artists were hard to find there. It entirely turned off the AAA prime demo. 87.7 is much more AAA based from what I've heard so far. They are clearly going for a younger demo (going after the old radio92.3 audience) by having Blink 182 and the Offspring in the playlist- artists that most AAA stations would never touch. I am a bit confused at how Aretha Franklin and Lady Antebellum! fit in with Nirvana, Death Cab for Cutie, etc. but we'll see if they stay that broad as time goes on.

Overall, 87.7 sounds pretty good. I still prefer The Summit but I think this has some potential. Much more than 107.3 and its stale playlist ever had.
 
Hodge podge - last 15 minutes they played (now I forgot what is was now, LOL) a same tune as last night with the same automated female voice tag at the end saying song and artist both times, only place I heard the voice tag so far. Then the Alanis Morissette tunes "Hand In My Pocket", was wondering how they were going to handle the line "I'm scared but I'm chickensh*t", most stations you just hear the "sh" sound with the "it" part edited or faded out, but 87.7 decided to play it like a record skipping over that whole line, was very obvious and sloppy. On to the good points, they are playing a broad variety, as well as "lost classics" from the 60's and 70's, which really aren't that lost (Ride Captain Ride - Blues Image for example), but I think a little too heavy on the 90's alternative, unless that's what they're going for.
 
You say heavy on 90's alternative. I say kids who grew up on alternative in the 90's are now right in the middle of a prime advertising demographic. 90's Alternative is the new classic rock.
 
That's a good point rubberchicken, guess 90's alt would be "classic". Lot of good stuff in there though, guess wishing it was a little more than V1073. Hey, I'm pushing 60 and I like a lot of this stuff, LOL.
I remembered the tune they played twice so far with the canned tag, "Hold On" by Alabama Shakes. They played Boz Skaggs "Lowdown" as their lost oldie. I realize they just started and have to tweak and fine tune the playlists. They played a snippet of the old Lawson's "Big O" commercial from the 70's, cool. Also heard MIA "Paper Planes", since when is that alt? But I liked hearing it. They're thinking outside the box a bit which IMO is good. I think they should play more local artists too, even reaching back to the likes of Bocky and the Visions and the Choir for some lost oldies, and on thru now, have a "Cleveland Rocks" classic once or twice an hour, they are the new "Cleveland Rocks" station after all or whatever their banner says. Hopefully they'll get to that. And as someone else pointed out, maybe selections from the old Coffee Break concerts or even from the Agora. I haven't heard much talk yet, originally slated to be part talk, part music. Can do without all the talk, but would like to hear live local DJ's.
 
^ Believe it or not, Paper Planes got quite a bit of Alternative airplay. It made the Billboard Top 20. Now how Lady Antebellum and Aretha Franklin fit in with that playlist, I'm not quite sure.

rubberchicken makes a great point. I'm in that exact demo which is one reason 107.3 turned me away. Their classic rock was more from the 70s. And on top of that, it was usually obscure. That just drives away the younger listeners. There's nothing wrong with airing an old song, but it should be somewhat familiar if you're trying to retain younger listeners. To this point, 87.7's classics are more familiar and don't make me turn the dial. They would be wise to continue with that. AAA should be adventurous but there are limits unless you're a non-comm.
 
I used to love the obscure stuff on V1073, stuff that WMMS played back in the early-mid 70's that everyone forgot about. But then I was familiar with it, how many now remember most of that, and yep, you're right, if they're going for the younger demo (not pushing 60 like me, no one's demo, LOL), that demo would be saying "what the hell is this?". Unless it has some tinge of familiarity, maybe an early version of a later hit cover.
 
I just heard their 4pm station ID: "Broadcasting from the world famous Cleveland Agora, this is WLFM-LP 87.7". Hopefully they then will have access to the Agora's music archives.
 
I did hear Olivia Newton-John's "Physical" play last night. I thought that was weird for an AAA station. My guess is that they were playing that and other pop tunes to get those who just tune in and stay and sample its playlist.

I also heard Elvis earlier in the day, and that was also strange. Hopefully, there will be more adjustments made under Bender.

If WLFM makes a dent in Cleveland, would the other rock-oriented or leaning stations (WNCX, 99X, WMMS, The Lake) respond. I doubt NCX would, but maybe MMS? The latter responded by going in a more current-oriented move when 92.3 flipped from The Beat to Xtreme Radio in 2001, but that move was years ago.

The music mix is way better than 107.3 for the most part. That station overdosed on classic rock, Tom Jones covering Iggy Pop and Talking Heads (I thought his "Burning Down the House" was dreadful), and weird songs from both the past and present. Going more current with some 90's and 2000's is a good move.
 
Here's my initial take on the concept. If there ever is to be a commercial station that could and should take some chances, it's this one. Cherry-picking tunes that "seem wierd" for their format might be a good thing to do. Just because they may not follow "Programming Text Book 101" doesn't necessarily mean that they won't find an audience. The key is to pick the right songs so you can grow and hold on to an audience and work so that the advertisers will follow. There are a number of songs out there that just stand the test of time well and seem to always please most people... "Suspicious Minds" by Elvis Presley is but one example.
 
Negative...Negative....Negative comments ...Enough already...Stop comparing..Enjoy the music and the format for heavens sake..What is wrong with old with the new music..I am 48 years old and I can truly get into all the music this station is covering. That is why it is called "Cleveland's Sound" That title covers all demographics of listeners who live in this area. For all we know this may still be a "stunting game" they are pulling.Remember AAA is defined as ADULT ALBUM ALTERNATIVE.. That is what I am hearing..So grow up and let's be adults about this and support 87.7.
 
Grow up and support this station? I am sorry I must have missed the memo about how I am supposed to like and support everything that comes on the radio these days? I like AAA but I think the Summit does it the best and have a proven track record. AAA and Alternative stations in Cleveland don't last.
 
Los Angeles' "The Sound", from where the CLE station took it's moniker, is an album rock station.

For AAA.. I like Saga's "The Corner" in Charlottesville, VA and Saga's "The Mountain" in Asheville NC, both programmed by AAA/Allternative veteran Brad Savage.

And, there's KFOG http://www.kfog.com/ Not sure if it's as it was since Cumulus bought it.

The Summit? It's ok. Remember, it's a non-comm. That's a factor.

With that said... there's various AAA formats out there. Depends on the market. CLE is an older skewing market compared to L.A. or Charlottesville and certainly less eclectic than an Asheville (I've been there... quirky doesn't begin to describe the town).


http://thesoundla.com/

http://www.1059themountain.com/

http://www.1061thecorner.com/
 
Something I mentioned a few months ago, we all know as of now the station only has a few years to survive.
Should 87.7 see success, does Wilson make an offer for 97.1 from his old buddy Embrescia and move it down the shore closer to Cleveland?
AC format of WREO could move to 102.5

Just a thought.
 
VODood said:
Can't move it due to CBS' 97.1 in Detroit.
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I don't think WXYT has any sort of rights in the Cleveland market. If that were the case, 92.3 wouldn't be allowed due to WMXD in Detroit. As long as it doesn't come in in Toledo (sounds very staticy there), I don't think they'll have any problems moving 97.1 into Cleveland.
 
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