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87.7 Cleveland's Sound
- Thread starter CleveFan
- Start date
CleveFan said:
They certainly ARE going into classic rock territory.
I heard stuff like "You Shook Me All Night Long" by Zeppelin, Genesis, and Yes.
The question is whether the modern music audience is interested in these ancient classics from the old prog-rock era.
They are all over the place with the music. I really don't know who they are aiming for, except for a few die-hard music fans, which is certainly not enough to support a commercial station.
That is interesting HHH. I've heard a lot more Alternative tunes and artists than Classic, though maybe I've been listening at the wrong times. What I should have said was they're not going too much into Classic Rock territory. Thanks for correcting me.
I also heard Earth, Wind and Fire too this morning. They're throwing in some interesting tunes to get attention.
I also heard Earth, Wind and Fire too this morning. They're throwing in some interesting tunes to get attention.
People keep forgetting that the AAA format (Adult Album Alternative) with the emphasis on Album, means they can go alll over the spectrum of music. In the ancient classic prog era of using turntables. Disc Jockey's played any cut from the record . It could have been a rock track, a soul track, a jazz track, maybe Bobby Vinton ...no just kidding. But for heavens sake!! Stop tearing the station a new ***hole. If you love music and like listening long term to one station in a day ..Then let 87.7 do their thing. If you like repetition..Go up the dial..Take your pick. WLFM is playing the Cleveland Sound..Which means a broader playlist..Less boredom..
I'm not tearing the station Jim. You don't seem to like what a lot of people have to say here about the station (except for the morning show host).
For goodness sake, I was only mentioning Earth, Wind and Fire as an observation. Not a slam on the station. I applaud what they are doing in this market. I wish them nothing but success. Oh, and I know what AAA means.
You can like (or in your case, love) the station and you don't have to like what I have to say, but you need to respect others' opinions on this thread and this board. I respect everything you say and post, and you need to do the same.
For goodness sake, I was only mentioning Earth, Wind and Fire as an observation. Not a slam on the station. I applaud what they are doing in this market. I wish them nothing but success. Oh, and I know what AAA means.
You can like (or in your case, love) the station and you don't have to like what I have to say, but you need to respect others' opinions on this thread and this board. I respect everything you say and post, and you need to do the same.
Just for clarification, "You Shook Me All Night Long" is by ACDC.
87.7 would probably not be my kind of station from whtat I've heard of it, but anytime there's a format change, new station or a major schedule change or any other kind of radio news, we discuss it backwards amd forwards and every way possible..That's what we do..(Nothing wrong with that).
JIM4rock,
do you guys at 87.7 discuss how to respond or are you allowed to do it on your own?
do you guys at 87.7 discuss how to respond or are you allowed to do it on your own?
I am not putting down the station (except the morning show which seems to be universally panned). As a bit of a music connoisseur, I find their title selection a refreshing change.
However, how many music connoisseurs are there? Will the masses sit still for this? This is a commercial station, after all, and without a mass audience they are dead in the water from a financial standpoint. And the station does not seem to blend or daypart anything with any logic. The music is all just mixed up 24/7 with no rhyme or reason.
I am simply questioning the commercial viability of this station.
PS -- John: Led Zeppelin's song was "You Shook Me". I guess the "....all night long" is not part of the title!
However, how many music connoisseurs are there? Will the masses sit still for this? This is a commercial station, after all, and without a mass audience they are dead in the water from a financial standpoint. And the station does not seem to blend or daypart anything with any logic. The music is all just mixed up 24/7 with no rhyme or reason.
I am simply questioning the commercial viability of this station.
PS -- John: Led Zeppelin's song was "You Shook Me". I guess the "....all night long" is not part of the title!
CleveFan said:
Having "Inner Sanctum" on your schedule is almost like a kiss of death if youre an alt-rock or AAA station.
It starts on 107.9 which flipped to rap/hip-hop.
Then it went to 92.3 which flipped to sports.
After that it went to 107.3 which flipped to smooth AC.
I'm not goofing on the quality of the show, but it's striking that every station the show's been on winds up flipping to a completely new format and cancelling it.
Or the formats have a history of flopping in Cleveland. I guess we wil see who lasts longer: Sound or the Sanctum-less 99x.
In today's radio world, any show that has the longevity of "Inner Sanctum" has a good chance of running into a format change. "Inner Sanctum" was on, in the ballpark of 7 years on WENZ 107.9, then it lasted so long on 92.3 FM that the show lived through a change in call letters. In conversation with Jim Benson, co-host of "Inner Sanctum", I found out that as WKRK 92.3FM was flipping to sports, CBS offered to continue airing the program by placing it on it's HD2 channe.l. "Inner Sanctum" declined because they had so quickly been offered a spot on WNWV, 107.3FM. But in this wacky world of radio in the early 21st century, you never know what's going to happen even just a few months down the road. The point is ... "Inner Sanctum" has built a legacy of success, even through all of this.
99x will last longer you can bank on that.
99X is not a real radio station. Just a computer program. Backed by big money of Smear Channel. They can run polkas 24/7 and it will last an eternity as long as the money is there. But the ratings will not exist. Just like it is now with alternative music. BTW. Did you stop listening to 91.3 Mr Insider? 87.7 is all hands on operation. From gaining advertising revenue up to the control boards at the Agora studio. WLFM has just started. Just like the days of early 107.9 the end. We were all wondering about the music until it progressed into a powerhouse on the dial. WLFM has a concept that will keep it around. But only us who knew great radio in the 70s and 80s can understand what WLFM is up to.
Jim4Rock, what DO you do at 87.7, anyway? 
Seriously, 99X may win the longevity battle if only because it's a Station In A Closet, running a CC Premium Choice format that isn't going away, and taking combo ad buys with WMMS/WAKS.
It costs them almost nothing to run.
There is the prospect that one day, CC will want to do something else with 99.1 and change format.
It didn't take Nostradamus to predict 87.7 picking up Inner Sanctum. The show and station mission are compatible, there are ex-92.3 people (at least one, Rachel Steele) at the Agora, etc.
I don't see it as a "station killer". How could a weekend specialty show do that, anyway?
No, alternative rock/AAA is a rough format to compete with in Cleveland, from The End through 92.3, V107.3, etc. There is a nice base of passionate listeners for the music, but can it ever be a "big" commercial success, big enough and for a long enough time to convince a station to stay with it?
Who knows, though...92.3 may have stayed alt-rock (even in its last jockless state) if CBS didn't see sports radio as a nationwide mission.
But that state with no air personalities is telling. CBS thought the only way they could make money off the alt-rock format was to turn it into basically a jukebox (much like 99X is today).
Seriously, 99X may win the longevity battle if only because it's a Station In A Closet, running a CC Premium Choice format that isn't going away, and taking combo ad buys with WMMS/WAKS.
It costs them almost nothing to run.
There is the prospect that one day, CC will want to do something else with 99.1 and change format.
It didn't take Nostradamus to predict 87.7 picking up Inner Sanctum. The show and station mission are compatible, there are ex-92.3 people (at least one, Rachel Steele) at the Agora, etc.
I don't see it as a "station killer". How could a weekend specialty show do that, anyway?
No, alternative rock/AAA is a rough format to compete with in Cleveland, from The End through 92.3, V107.3, etc. There is a nice base of passionate listeners for the music, but can it ever be a "big" commercial success, big enough and for a long enough time to convince a station to stay with it?
Who knows, though...92.3 may have stayed alt-rock (even in its last jockless state) if CBS didn't see sports radio as a nationwide mission.
But that state with no air personalities is telling. CBS thought the only way they could make money off the alt-rock format was to turn it into basically a jukebox (much like 99X is today).
99x sure sounds like a real station, if of course you live within range of their mighty 250 watt signal. 87.7 unfortunately still sounds too often like I'm listening to it on a transistor radio. The audio is very flat. And honestly if given the choice between no jocks or "Just Archie".....I'm thinking that's an easy decision.
In all seriousness though I think Cleveland radio is MUCH better off with both 87.7. and 99x on the dial. 99x is a big improvement music-wise over the old radio923 and 87.7 is a truely independently owned radio station, which could be a big breath of fresh air once they get their feet on the ground.
In all seriousness though I think Cleveland radio is MUCH better off with both 87.7. and 99x on the dial. 99x is a big improvement music-wise over the old radio923 and 87.7 is a truely independently owned radio station, which could be a big breath of fresh air once they get their feet on the ground.
SixOnTheFloor said:
As far as 87.7 sounding "flat", I have one radio in the house, it's one of those "emergency" portables with a solar panel and a crank as well as batteries, and I can tune it to exactly 87.75, you should hear the difference on even a tinny sounding portable like this. Being exactly on target frequency seems to bring a much more robust signal, more bass, than either the 87.70 or 87.80 sidebands. I haven't hooked headphones in yet, as the speaker is mono, but will play thru headphones in stereo. I also noticed a stronger signal on 87.75, rock solid even if I move the radio around, but get some weak spots using the sidebands, so the station may travel further on receivers that pick up 87.75. Too bad most receivers won't pick up the exact freq. Can 87.7 add a little more EQ to the signal for the sidebands? But may oversaturate the 87.75 freq?
I'm glad we have both 87.7 and 99.1, both great alternatives to what is already on the radio dial, even though you can also get 99.1 on 100.7 HD2.
My portable gives SW so now I can set my watch to WWV again, old SW bit the dust, and sometimes the Internet gov't time site is too congested, especially around daylight time changes and New Years. It also has a 150 - 520 Khz AM band with nothing on it, strange they would provide that on a US version of the radio.
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