Buffalo 92.9 WBUF Question

[davideduardo]

FWIW, It did hit number 1 on the hot 100 chart for Anka.

That has to be a perfect example of a song that was big in its day but which nearly nobody likes to hear today.

Sure, we don't want to hear novelty or period pieces like "Ballad of the Green Berets" or "Let It All Hang Out", but there are lots of seemingly acceptable songs that just did not age well.

 

[Yeziknoradio]

Break out the Hollyridge Strings! This just sounds so weirdly funny in 2024.

If an instrumental easy listening station could sign on and be around today, it wouldn't surprise me one bit if Afro Man's Because I got High would be the first song they play. A nice choice for a 2024 audience... (unfortunately, many of the other choices created by this same Youtube source do not fit the format. The song choices are just too heavy or don't sound right.)

 

[SirRoxalot]

FWIW, It did hit number 1 on the hot 100 chart for Anka.

FWIW, so did "Sugar Sugar" by the Archies. And "You Light Up My Life" by Debbie Boone - for WEEKS.

 

[Kent]

If an instrumental easy listening station could sign on and be around today, it wouldn't surprise me one bit if Afro Man's Because I got High would be the first song they play. A nice choice for a 2024 audience... (unfortunately, many of the other choices created by this same Youtube source do not fit the format. The song choices are just too heavy or don't sound right.)

Even if it was doable with contemporary tunes, I'm not convinced beautiful music would work like it once did, especially in the era of PPM. As David mentioned, it was a heavily TSL-driven format. The problem with TSL-driven programming is that most people don't listen as long as they say they listen, and the PPM picks that up. Plus, in the case of beautiful music's more contemporary version, Smooth Jazz, PPM revealed that unreported listening during the diary era was almost nonexistent. Granted, Buffalo is still a diary market, but, if anyone were willing to go to the expense of recording a library like that, it would have to play in major markets.

 

[Rusty Bridges]

That has to be a perfect example of a song that was big in its day but which nearly nobody likes to hear today. Sure, we don't want to hear novelty or period pieces like "Ballad of the Green Berets" or "Let It All Hang Out", but there are lots of seemingly acceptable songs that just did not age well.

Even though these songs weren't, this brings to mind the long-running "Stiffs" thread on this board

 

[Mike Sheridan]

There are far too many armchair quarterbacks here. Face it AM is dead, FM is dying. If you people want a mostly soulless computer of overplayed, overtested music with two 9 minute stopsets each hour don't be surprised when you can't find an audience. If you don't give people a reason to listen, they won't. In a medium that was once creative I see bland cookie cutter corporate programing. So flame on, but it's time to do something radical and shake things up. This thread should be closed due to boredom. I'm out.

 

[TheBigA]

In a medium that was once creative I see bland cookie cutter corporate programing. So flame on, but it's time to do something radical and shake things up.

Simple question: How much current music do you listen to?

Because if you don't like the music, it doesn't matter how creative or radical it is. It's all just noise.

It goes back to the question I asked you at the start: If we could bring back Shane at his prime, playing todays hit songs, would you listen?

Here's the reality: The thing that people are leaving AM/FM radio for has even LESS creativity, because it IS programmed by computer based on listening habits of users. You can name your favorite DJ. But there are no DJs at Spotify or the streaming channels. That's where people are going.

 

[davideduardo]

Here's the reality: The thing that people are leaving AM/FM radio for has even LESS creativity, because it IS programmed by computer based on listening habits of users. You can name your favorite DJ. But there are no DJs at Spotify or the streaming channels. That's where people are going.

And people... lots of them... love Spotify because it does not have annoying DJs and clutter.

Personal observation(s).

I used to consider the DJs "my friends" on the radio. That was because as a kid I did not have my own phone, long distance was horribly expensive and so my contact with "outside" was by the radio. Today, I use social media, texting and even old fashioned phone calls to chat with friends and family on several different continents. I don't want a DJ talking at me.

If I want music, i do not want interruptions with chatter. For example, I like the music on the 80's and 90's country channel on satellite. But all too often they have DJs talking way too much or about things that are "old news" or just chatter. I switch channels at that point. If I want confirmation of the artist and title, show it on the display and don't tell me the song is "Friends in Low Places" for the thousandth time!

 

[Yeziknoradio]

And people... lots of them... love Spotify because it does not have annoying DJs and clutter.

Personal observation(s).

I used to consider the DJs "my friends" on the radio. That was because as a kid I did not have my own phone, long distance was horribly expensive and so my contact with "outside" was by the radio. Today, I use social media, texting and even old fashioned phone calls to chat with friends and family on several different continents. I don't want a DJ talking at me.

If I want music, i do not want interruptions with chatter. For example, I like the music on the 80's and 90's country channel on satellite. But all too often they have DJs talking way too much or about things that are "old news" or just chatter. I switch channels at that point. If I want confirmation of the artist and title, show it on the display and don't tell me the song is "Friends in Low Places" for the thousandth time!

I like being informed in between songs. I like being reminded that I might need an umbrella if I am about to head out to shop (or whatever) I hate just listening to music. It feels like I am missing out on what's going on around me. I shouldn't have to tune into a news or news talk station to know what is going on locally. Those quick blurbs that hit a post are amazing, very useful and I hope it never goes away.

 

[davideduardo]

I like being informed in between songs. I like being reminded that I might need an umbrella if I am about to head out to shop (or whatever) I hate just listening to music. It feels like I am missing out on what's going on around me. I shouldn't have to tune into a news or news talk station to know what is going on locally. Those quick blurbs that hit a post are amazing, very useful and I hope it never goes away.

Weather? app on smartphone.
Traffic? app on smartphone.
Headlines: app on smartphone.
Artist bio: Wikipedia, but there is better...
Song title: Digital display.
Annoying: Teddy Turntable on stations with jocks who have nothing to say.

 

[TheBigA]

If I want music, i do not want interruptions with chatter.

I like being informed in between songs.

There, in a nutshell, is the problem. Everybody wants something different. There are lots of options available. That's why fewer people are listening to traditional radio. People want other things, and those things are available.

 

[davideduardo]

There, in a nutshell, is the problem. Everybody wants something different. There are lots of options available. That's why fewer people are listening to traditional radio. People want other things, and those things are available.

Of course, research music listeners under 50 or so about what they want / like / expect (an awareness-trial-usage study in research language) you will not find may... or sometimes any... who want talk between songs when music what the are looing for. "Morning shows" or their equivalent where music is a filler between bits is an exception.

 

[tbolt909]

There, in a nutshell, is the problem. Everybody wants something different. There are lots of options available. That's why fewer people are listening to traditional radio. People want other things, and those things are available.

It's unrealistic to expect people under 35 to have any affection for Radio. They've grown up with the unlimited options you mentioned. The older folks pining for the past are just pissing in the wind. Most of the jocks they liked are either retired or expired.

There are some things Radio could have done better, but that wouldn't have stopped the expansion of Internet and streaming options. Many people simply became bored with stale Radio playlists, long commercial breaks, and jocks who talked too much without saying anything worthwhile...

 

[SirRoxalot]

Weather? app on smartphone.
Traffic? app on smartphone.
Headlines: app on smartphone.
Artist bio: Wikipedia, but there is better...
Song title: Digital display.
Annoying: Teddy Turntable on stations with jocks who have nothing to say.

The problem is "Teddy Turntable on stations with jocks who have nothing to say." VT jocks, in market or out, tracking hours or days ahead. Syndicated jocks talking to a generic audience, not even a regional one in many cases. Radio's power used to be timeliness - being "in the moment," and with a sense of place. It's tough for even live and local jocks to be relatable when they're simultaneously "keeping up with social media," live-streaming, and tracking other stations (both in and out of market).

Radio's last bastion seems to be in the car where it can deliver weather, traffic, headlines, and other pertinent information without a driver having to look at or search info on a smartphone. There are plenty of distractions in the car already without adding smartphone use while driving, even if you've got "driver assist."

Big Corporate figured that the rubes outside the top 15 markets would be thrilled to be blessed with big city syndicated jocks spewing generic babble. On some topics it works, but only for a limited time. TSL already suffered enough with decreasing attention spans. Content irrelevant to many listeners literally pushed them to other audio sources, be it satellite, streaming apps, or podcasts.

Radio also focused on the converted, older listeners who already had the habit. Lack of opportunity thanks to fewer jobs virtually excluded younger talent who needed development. The minor leagues of off-hours shifts and small markets nearly evaporated. Anybody with a desire to communicate - including colleges and universities - gravitated to online offerings and podcasts. Most of the time, talent development is sorely lacking.

You'll tell me that the economic realities of radio forced those changes. The economic reality is that corporations overpaid and overleveraged themselves, counting on growth and synergies (a/k/a cuts) to forge a path to profitability. In most cases, even multiple bankruptcies have failed to do the trick. If anything, it put radio in the hands of vulture capitalists who want to pick the marrow out of the bones before they try to find another sucker to buy the real estate for more than the station license is worth.

What's the answer? Beats me. I do know one thing. It sure ain't more consolidation. Maybe if they were forced to turn in the licenses of perennial losers so somebody else had a chance to do something innovative the medium might have a chance at relevancy. Anybody see that happening?

 

[TheBigA]

Big Corporate figured that the rubes outside the top 15 markets would be thrilled to be blessed with big city syndicated jocks spewing generic babble.

They're right. Steve Harvey is #1 mornings in Buffalo.

Tell me about all the local jocks on Spotify, based in Sweden. That's what the rubes want.

 

[CTListener]

What's the answer? Beats me.

The answer is music, music, music. No time, no temperature, no comments on last week's Bills game, no blather about the singers. MUSIC, just as the current generation that is being lost to radio is getting via various streaming services. They left radio BECAUSE of the relics of the Boomer years who were still talking over all the intros and taking 30 seconds to say "It's raining." and 60 seconds to read super-sped-up patter about a traffic jam 99 percent of the listeners don't gave a crap about (and of which more timely info is available online). The "local content" so revered by the pre-millennial generations is acid reflux-inducing to the generations radio needs to get back.

 

[radiofan2023]

@DavidEduardo and others have hit the nail on the head. What's even worse is when the voicetracking is louder than the music, so after turning the volume down to hear what the voicetracker is saying, you have to turn the volume up to hear the song.

 

[tbolt909]

They're right. Steve Harvey is #1 mornings in Buffalo.

Tell me about all the local jocks on Spotify, based in Sweden. That's what the rubes want.

I've always believed quality is more important than WHERE the content originates. Many local jocks blather just to hear their own voice. Droning on and on about themselves or giving Time & Temperature is tedious. However, if an announcer can offer details about local concerts, events, and artist information; then it can be relevant.

Classic Rock & Hits formats are so repetitive that there's nothing left to say about that music. Those formats are essentially museums now. Lifeless as wax...

 

[Mark1981]

I usually identify with Mike Sheridan’s comments on this board. But this time, I disagree. I find this thread fascinating. It’s anything but boring. The issues being discussed here are so pertinent to the future of the radio industry.

I’m stating the obvious here. There are no easy answers. I remember sampling 96.1FM a year ago, shortly after the demise of Star 102.5. A female announcer, who may have been voice tracking, was talking about the Bills before going into an advertising break. My reaction was I don’t know who you are. I don’t care what you think about the Bills. Her comments were vapid. Yet, she was probably doing what her brand manager wanted her to do.

Yet, when Shredd and Ragan talk about the Bills, I’m interested. Why? Because they’re market veterans. They have credibility in my eyes. It works!

In answer to tbolt’s question about whether Shane would succeed if you dropped him into a format playing today’s music, I, frankly, don’t think so. I can’t imagine a twenty-something listener would identify with a guy reading poetry between Taylor Swift songs. Shane was an amazing talent! Listening to him on KB and then GR55 was pure joy. But that was 40 to 50 years ago.

I don’t regularly listen to music on the radio anymore. Too many five to seven minute stop sets. I can hear the same songs ad-free on Apple Music. I do listen to WNED Classical. No long ad breaks — just a quick underwriting announcement or program promotion. Their announcers are concise in talking about the music. Stratton Rawson is a gem. It’s always an enjoyable listening experience.

On the other hand, a jazz streaming service I listen to is run by a veteran jazz announcer who doesn’t get it. He apparently made a name for himself in the New York City market. You’d think he’d know better. But in one of his breaks a couple of weeks ago, he began talking about listeners who were emailing him from around the world. He spent more than a minute talking about the various locations. I was shouting at my speaker “Shut up, already!” I don’t think I’ve listened to his stream since.

People say AM is dying. At least in Buffalo, there are two stations that keep me tuning in. In the midst of Bills season, I’m constantly listening to WGR. I refuse to listen to Bauerle or Bellavia, but I do tune in WBEN in morning drive and for hourly newscasts. It’s FM radio that I’m ignoring outside of public radio. I should check out Shredd and Ragan more. But that’s it.

I will fully admit I’m an outlier. The ratings show listeners still love WBLK, WYRK, 97 Rock, WHTT and Kiss. They must be doing something right. But ten years from now? Well, let’s just say I’m glad I don’t have to be the guy deciding how to keep my station relevant.

 

[TheBigA]

I will fully admit I’m an outlier.

Actually you fully fit the profile of men your age. Men your age hate commercials, no matter the number. They rarely listen to current music. They prefer sports talk but also like news. Even classical & jazz typically appeal to men your age. Yep. You're perfectly normal.