94.7 Updates

[MoldaMania182]

It appears whoever is encoding the artist names on the RDS and HD data is getting clumsy.

The RDS programs just literally pull the feed from the automation system, so basically it's a fat-finger mistake in the library itself in that case. I love the stations that end up with half their songs scrolling the Artist - Song IDs in ALL CAPS, and the other 50% in sentence case.

 

[Barry]

The one thing I find odd, in an otherwise very well executed format launch is that the calls have not been changed from WRXP to WNSH. The latter call, as we know, was parked in November at a Cumulus a/c station in Minnesota.
An article about Nash FM in Media Fishbowl states, "For now, though, a Cumulus spokesperson says the calls will remain untouched."
Even though call signs matter primarily to radio geeks, what purpose could be served by continuing to use WRXP, now that the format is no longer a secret?

 

[MoldaMania182]

The one thing I find odd, in an otherwise very well executed format launch is that the calls have not been changed from WRXP to WNSH. The latter call, as we know, was parked in November at a Cumulus a/c station in Minnesota.
An article about Nash FM in Media Fishbowl states, "For now, though, a Cumulus spokesperson says the calls will remain untouched."
Even though call signs matter primarily to radio geeks, what purpose could be served by continuing to use WRXP, now that the format is no longer a secret?

What I bolded is the key. All the industry trades and mainstream press running the story refer to it as Nash FM comes to 94.7 WRXP. In reality 99% of the audience doesn't know and doesn't care. It's just consistency for now is my guess. They will definitely go...soon enough.

 

[jh]

I've scanned through some of the other Cumulus-owned country stations around the country, and none of them are using the NASH-FM marketing.

At this point, I don't think anyone knows exactly what "Nash" will be... a satellite-delivered national format, a "premium choice" type of voice tracking, or just branding on local stations. It could even be an "ad network" to sell national spots on their country stations. It will be interesting to see how they roll "Nash" out nationwide.

 

[xmusicmatt]

Excuse me but is that the old wfme studios or is that a new place ?

From what I've gathered, Nash's studios are housed together with those of WABC and WPLJ, at 2 Penn Plaza.

It's clearly a studio co located with WABC/ WPLJ... FME kept their studios in NJ (Their TV station is there) not a part of the sale.. so this Nash FM is clearly coming from the Cumulus location in NYC. I am guessing WABC/WPLJ has not remodeled in years thus the cart racks built into the walls... Clearly one thing new in that studio is the OP-X automation running "Nash FM'"

 

[leethalweapon]

At this point, I don't think anyone knows exactly what "Nash" will be... a satellite-delivered national format, a "premium choice" type of voice tracking, or just branding on local stations. It could even be an "ad network" to sell national spots on their country stations. It will be interesting to see how they roll "Nash" out nationwide.

Is it just me, but it seems rather odd that they have launched an unproven product into America's number one radio market... I predict that unless it is localized, NASH FM will fail to get a foothold.

 

[htowler]

At this point, I don't think anyone knows exactly what "Nash" will be... a satellite-delivered national format, a "premium choice" type of voice tracking, or just branding on local stations. It could even be an "ad network" to sell national spots on their country stations. It will be interesting to see how they roll "Nash" out nationwide.

Is it just me, but it seems rather odd that they have launched an unproven product into America's number one radio market... I predict that unless it is localized, NASH FM will fail to get a foothold.

They are very Bold or very Stupid. If you want to prove a product, No better place than Market One

 

[mikerock]

The one thing I find odd, in an otherwise very well executed format launch is that the calls have not been changed from WRXP to WNSH. The latter call, as we know, was parked in November at a Cumulus a/c station in Minnesota.
An article about Nash FM in Media Fishbowl states, "For now, though, a Cumulus spokesperson says the calls will remain untouched."
Even though call signs matter primarily to radio geeks, what purpose could be served by continuing to use WRXP, now that the format is no longer a secret?

Hopefully they will launch those calls with Alternative on 103.9.

 

[MoldaMania182]

The one thing I find odd, in an otherwise very well executed format launch is that the calls have not been changed from WRXP to WNSH. The latter call, as we know, was parked in November at a Cumulus a/c station in Minnesota.
An article about Nash FM in Media Fishbowl states, "For now, though, a Cumulus spokesperson says the calls will remain untouched."
Even though call signs matter primarily to radio geeks, what purpose could be served by continuing to use WRXP, now that the format is no longer a secret?

Hopefully they will launch those calls with Alternative on 103.9.

Possibly, but I really doubt it. Alternative needs the whole area to really get numbers. Even with the move in that's not really going to happen with 103.9. Not to mention it's best servered areas largely overlap with the Peak. One of the Old Krock and New Rock 1019 RXP biggest strong holds was Long Island. Even with 94.7 that wouldn't have been great, actually I'm surprised no one mentioned that in 100 pages...

 

[CTListener]

The devil is always in the details, and details like these are important. Could be things are frantic. Could be they have "AC types" trimming and labeling cuts. Or, as it often happens to so many of us, it could be somebody just fat-fingered the info. It happens. But it should be corrected, ASAP.

XM had fat-fingered and just plain wrong artists and titles in its data display from day 1 to the day it was bought out by Sirius in the (nudge nudge, wink wink) "merger." Goerge Strait, Van Morriosn, Conway Twitty's "That's My Job" being displayed as "That's My Baby." Nothing was ever fixed. I wouldn't expect RDS details to be a top priority at Nash FM either.

 

[badjef]

RXP 2.0 was doing very well with no promotion or jocks. Lets see if Nash-FM can go from no ratings to up in the 2s in matter of 2 months like RXP did.

In choosing the Country format for its new NYC FM, Cumulus was much less interested in how well one type of music would do in the ratings versus another.

The selection of the Country format has everything to do with Cumulus starting a new national Country Music brand named "Nash." And it needs to flagship that brand in the biggest market.

Cumulus likely never considered any other format seriously. The Country format is all about a New York affiliate for a new "Nash" national brand.

The New York radio dial has a number of lower rated "flagships." CC just bought WOR as its talk flagship, ESPN bought WEPN-FM as its sports talk flagship, Disney radio has a low rated flagship etc.

Cumulus certainly expects its new Nash flagship to do fairly well in the ratings, but attracting potentially the highest ratings weren't the "primary motivation" in selecting Country Music as the format that would do the most for the big corporate bottom line.

In reading all of the posts in the "Thread of Speculation", yours seems the most plausible. It encompasses the issue of signal, the Country format troubles in New York, and makes the most use of the 40M price tag as a Brand in Market #1 in selling it Nationwide.

I think we are looking at the Country version of Bloomberg.

This also doesn't quite hurt Thunder as much because of their Shore Identity, in fact it might even help them.

Jeff in Sa-ra-so-ta!

 

[luperm]

At this point, I don't think anyone knows exactly what "Nash" will be... a satellite-delivered national format, a "premium choice" type of voice tracking, or just branding on local stations. It could even be an "ad network" to sell national spots on their country stations. It will be interesting to see how they roll "Nash" out nationwide.

Is it just me, but it seems rather odd that they have launched an unproven product into America's number one radio market... I predict that unless it is localized, NASH FM will fail to get a foothold.

I disagree. I think it will do quite well. And when it does, I would not be surprised to see other formats done in the same way.

 

[CTListener]

Maybe the music sells itself, but I would think some live, local staffing is necessary just to get New Yorkers familiar with artists many of them have never heard before unless they've been listening to out-of-market, satellite or Internet radio, or watching CMT or GAC on cable.

 

[ansky212]

Maybe the music sells itself, but I would think some live, local staffing is necessary just to get New Yorkers familiar with artists many of them have never heard before unless they've been listening to out-of-market, satellite or Internet radio, or watching CMT or GAC on cable.

Look at Nash's Facebook page. There are almost 2,000 "likes" in less than 10 hours. I think people in the NY area are a lot more familiar with country music than most people think. Someone mentioned that when rock was on 101.9 they only had about 500 "likes" during their entire run of the station.

 

[Barry]

Doesn't their slogan, "America's Country Station." make it quite clear the emphasis will not be on local programming? Cumulus could have called it "New York and New Jersey's country station," or something similar.
My guess is that there may eventually be a local morning show and possibly another in afternoon drive. The rest may be the same programming and personalities that will be heard in other places.
I don't think that should be a problem on a music station.

 

[davideduardo]

Look at Nash's Facebook page. There are almost 2,000 "likes" in less than 10 hours. I think people in the NY area are a lot more familiar with country music than most people think. Someone mentioned that when rock was on 101.9 they only had about 500 "likes" during their entire run of the station.

A Top 10 NYC station cumes 2 million or more. 2000 FB likes is nothing.

 

[XCountry285]

Better not be sattelite fed garbage.

 

[ansky212]

Look at Nash's Facebook page. There are almost 2,000 "likes" in less than 10 hours. I think people in the NY area are a lot more familiar with country music than most people think. Someone mentioned that when rock was on 101.9 they only had about 500 "likes" during their entire run of the station.

A Top 10 NYC station cumes 2 million or more. 2000 FB likes is nothing.

Yeah, but it's not like all 2 million people have a FB account or are going to "like" a station. It's all relative...and this was in just a 10-hour period.

 

[luperm]

Better not be sattelite fed garbage.

I am not sure if the typical listener will care if it is local or not - or if they will be able to tell. It can certainly be customized to sound local, even if its not.

 

[badjef]

Better not be satellite fed garbage.

The chances are even your favorite local TV channels are already.

Jeff in Sa-ra-so-ta!