94.7 The Block

[Xale57]

Philly's rock station WMMR is getting good ratings, while NY can't support one. Their country station gets good ratings, but you saw how country did in NY. Philly is not comparable to NY.

I think Country did a lot better than expected. It may have not been seen in the city itself, but it did very well in the suburbs. Even in the city, it didn't have the lowest ratings. It lasted nearly 9 years which is a long time.

But regarding Soft Rock/Soft AC, it's not a bad idea and worth the try.

 

[Theater of My Mind]

Question most likely for David Eduardo...

Since the transmitter is in New Jersey, I'm curious how well 94.7 would perform in the overall NYC ratings if it ran a NJ-focused format that really dominated the NJ suburbs of New York but didn't attract much audience elsewhere in the market.

Obviously it wouldn't be the top station in the NYC market, but due to its signal limitations it's never going to be close to #1 overall anyway. I'm not suggesting they do this but I've often wondered what kind of results a strategy like that could produce, just in terms of the math.

 

[davideduardo]

Question most likely for David Eduardo...

Since the transmitter is in New Jersey, I'm curious how well 94.7 would perform in the overall NYC ratings if it ran a NJ-focused format that really dominated the NJ suburbs but didn't attract much audience elsewhere in the market.

Obviously it wouldn't be the top station in the NYC market, but due to its signal limitations it's never going to be close to #1 overall anyway. I'm not suggesting they do this but I've often wondered what kind of results a strategy like that would produce, just in terms of the math.

What your are talking about is a station that does better in the outer and whiter peripheral suburbs. The inner suburbs are very ethnic... think Newark, for example.

To do well in the total NYC ratings, a white suburban format has to cover the outer circle not just in NJ, but up the Hudson, SW CT and the outer parts of Nassau County and Suffolk. If it does not get all of those, it will be a suburban station for just one area.

In any case, country was that sort of format. There are already good AC stations and oldies stations coming from the ESB, so we are talking about a more marginal format and restricted coverage. I think they are better off with a rhythmic format with Hispanic, Black and central zone whites where the signal works better... maybe not the current format, but something in that area.

 

[Theater of My Mind]

What your are talking about is a station that does better in the outer and whiter peripheral suburbs. The inner suburbs are very ethnic... think Newark, for example.

Not necessarily. I was thinking of something more like a NJ news-focused news-talk format that doesn't lean right and white, but which has broad appeal covering covering news and topics in the region, including places like Newark and Jersey City.

Some of Audacy's news-talk stations in other markets do take a more centrist approach than typical for the format, and they're quite successful, so let's just say some programmer was smart enough to do it in this scenario. I realize it's totally hypothetical but I'm still wondering how that math could work.

 

[TheBigA]

I was thinking of something more like a NJ news-focused news-talk format that doesn't lean right and white, but which has broad appeal covering covering news and topics in the region, including places like Newark and Jersey City.

That sounds like the old WNJR that was similar to WVON Chicago. Anything in that format would appeal to older residents, and not where Audacy wants to be. You're not going to attract 25-49 with news/talk, regardless of where it's based.

WNJR (AM) - History - WNJR

One way to answer your question is to look at the radio stations people listen to in the rated suburban markets of Morristown or Middlesex/Somerset/Union. You'll see that people in those areas mainly listen to NYC stations. When they want NJ news, they listen to NJ101.5.

BTW the tower for WINS is in Lyndhurst NJ, not far from where the CP is for 94.7. WINS targets its news coverage as more suburban listeners, while co-owned WCBS is more oriented to the city. One way to use the 94.7 frequency for news would be to simulcast WINS.

 

[ksradiogeek]

BTW the tower for WINS is in Lyndhurst NJ, not far from where the CP is for 94.7. WINS targets its news coverage as more suburban listeners, while co-owned WCBS is more oriented to the city. One way to use the 94.7 frequency for news would be to simulcast WINS.

I thought WINS was more city-oriented and ‘CBS was targeted towards the suburbs?

 

[TheBigA]

I thought WINS was more city-oriented and ‘CBS was targeted towards the suburbs?

Either way, if they want to reach suburban residents with news, they have an AM station doing it. No need for them to start a third news station in the market. But that basically leaves them with one less unduplicated revenue stream.

 

[Barry]

I think they are better off with a rhythmic format with Hispanic, Black and central zone whites where the signal works better... maybe not the current format, but something in that area.

The format of Party 105.3 in eastern Long Island comes to mind. A mix of rhythmic, dance and urban music.
WPTY Playlist

 

[Marcos_C]

That sounds like the old WNJR that was similar to WVON Chicago.

During the 1980s, WNJR was a mostly R&B music station, with top-of-the-hour newscasts from the National Black Network and a five-minute-long daily sports newscast from NBN. WLIB was the place to go to for black news/talk on weekdays.

 

[dcowboy7]

Cmon 0.9. 😁

 

[Jeffrey]

Not really. There are various urban formats, such as Churban, Urban and Urban A/C, all of which have significantly different total playlists and targets.

In general, though, "Urban" is used to describe primarily Black targeted stations.

And it's target is broader than Urban formats... it appears that its principal target is Hispanic, in fact.

In Chicago WVAZ, WBMX, WGCI, WPWX, WSRB plus a translator and a non commercial
I think Atlanta has about 7 urban formats

 

[nd2023]

Soft AC could work. Be lighter than Lite.
They should have flipped to soft AC immediately after blowing up country. At least they could keep some of the country listeners. Most country listeners don’t like classic hip hop

 

[nd2023]

I think 94.7 The Block will eventually sound like Q100.5 in Vegas, also owned by Audacy. That station is doing well in the ratings. It’s live and local most of the day with mixshows. I could also see the same show airing on 94.7 The Block, then delayed 3 hours and air on Q100.5

 

[TheBigA]

Soft AC could work. Be lighter than Lite.

It cannibalizes WCBS

 

[CTListener]

It cannibalizes WCBS

And would be a tough sell, since it would attract primarily 55+.

 

[TheBigA]

And would be a tough sell, since it would attract primarily 55+.

And any format decision will be made based on sales, not personal musical preference.

The fact is that The Block may only be a 1 share station, but if it gives sales access to a different demo, and makes as much as WNYL, it's a success.

 

[Barry]

Just not big enough to add an additional station to a buy.

Very small share and most of the audience duplicated on other "must buy" stations.

The above were offered as reasons why advertisers aren't very interested in the Country format in the New York area.
Doesn't The Block have the same issues?

 

[TheBigA]

The above were offered as reasons why advertisers aren't very interested in the Country format in the New York area.
Doesn't The Block have the same issues?

You're making a judgement based on three months. The station was country for almost 10 years.

You can bet that sales was involved in this format change.

 

[davideduardo]

In Chicago WVAZ, WBMX, WGCI, WPWX, WSRB plus a translator and a non commercial
I think Atlanta has about 7 urban formats

Again, "Urban", when used as a descriptor for formats principally appealing to Blacks, can be a label for quite a number of formats ranging from Black CHR to Black AC to Black Gold and even multi-ethic "Crossover Black Music". And then there are other formats with African American appeal, such as Black Gospel and even Jazz.

I see this "not all in the same bag" situation with stations in Spanish where there are the equivalents of CHR, Country, Churban, AC, Adult Hits, Gold and Dance among many other formats where most of the programming is in Spanish. Does anyone call most US stations "English Format"?

 

[Xale57]

It cannibalizes WCBS

I always found WCBS closer to sounding Classic Rock than AC. If it went to adding upbeat music, then it may hurt New 102.7.

And would be a tough sell, since it would attract primarily 55+.

I know Lite AC, first thing comes to mind is Easy 93.1 in Miami. But there's plenty of modern soft hits. I can think of Michael Buble, John Mayer as an example that many in their 30's-40's love.