A NEW FORMAT FOR A TRAID FM?

[tclodfelter]

Hello everyone!
I'm working on a possible story about the change at Oldies 93 for the Winston-Salem Journal and we're looking for comments from listeners and radio enthusiasts. If anyone would like to express an opinion on the format change, how it's being handled, and what it means to you, please drop me a line at [email protected], with your name, comments, contact info and where you're from. Thanks for your help.
-- Tim Clodfelter

 

[vchimpanzee]

Hello everyone!
I'm working on a possible story about the change at Oldies 93 for the Winston-Salem Journal and we're looking for comments from listeners and radio enthusiasts. If anyone would like to express an opinion on the format change, how it's being handled, and what it means to you, please drop me a line at [email protected], with your name, comments, contact info and where you're from. Thanks for your help.
-- Tim Clodfelter

I'm glad to hear it. The Journal has done a poor job of covering radio, except for SAM.

The Charlotte Observer does an excellent job in this area, and the News and Record is pretty good.

All my comments that would be of value to you can be found here. I'd just as soon not have mny name in the paper.

 

[berlin201]

"Oldies 93 is dead"...

NEXT WEEK ?? so this upcoming week? or the week after ? and so....
with all the CC's ruled out that leaves us with my new list and to be honest, the only ones that would be at risk:

92.3 WKRR (which won't matter to me, since WXLK's singal topples over Rock 92's out my way.)
98.3 WIST
98.7 WSMW

(but could there be a change in the Entercom group ?)
ahhh this is crazy.

Actually, 98-7 Simon (one of your picks) is an Entercom station. But didn't that station just flip to Simon a year and a half ago? ???
I'm not sure any of the Entercom stations will flip (unless they pull a Clear Channel and butcher Oldies 93); 102 Jamz is still solid in the market, and I don't see QMG being affected by WMKS.

In the meantime, we'll just have to see what happens; maybe whichever station flips formats will give KZL some competition, since CC didn't jump to that bait with WFMX/WMKS...

So it turns out my prediction was correct: "Oldies 93 is dead... the future starts" sometime on Thursday, according to the stunt that is currently playing. Hopefully the Triad will fare better than Charlotte did; two years after CC butchered WWMG Magic 96.1, they still don't have a replacement oldies station (at least not on the FM dial). At least in Raleigh, after CC butchered WTRG "Oldies 100.7," CMG swooped down three months later and revived the oldies format on what is now "Y-102.9."

So who's next in the Triad as far as format changes in 2006? First 94.5 The Beat flips to Spanish, then CC follows that up by killing WFMX and flipping it to "105.7 Kiss-FM. Now Entercom has joined in, picking up where they left off last year when 98.7 The Zone became 98.7 Simon. Stay tuned...

 

[carlosswicegood]

just curious, how would an alternative rocker fair in the GSO market ?


as far as MOViN 93.1? I could see that happening, since it does target the female 24-44 demo. that means it would go up against WMAG (which i'm assuming is aimed for the female listening audience since they have "Delilah" at night). Maybe that would give CC a run for their money. Like, o409 said, perhaps this is Entercom's way of saying anything CC can do, we can do better

just a thought

 

[DJTEKLYVE]

On October 3, 2006 the station began stunting for a possible format flip on October 5. Word is the station will start "Movin'," http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WMQX

 

[DJTEKLYVE]

Greensboro Ready To Get Movin?
Oct. 03, 2006
By Kevin Carter



Looks like Entercom oldies WMQX (Oldies 93)/Greensboro, N.C., is our next contestant to flip to Alan Burns' rhythmic AC Movin format.

In a note sent to advertisers, market manager Brent Millar explained why the change was coming, then dropped a huge hint: "Although Oldies 93 was a viable station, we discovered through research that the Triad listeners want something different...something new...it is time to Move On."

The station is currently counting down to what they say is a Thursday (Oct. 5) announcement of this new mystery format. The audio is accessible through the Oldies 93 Web site (www.oldies93.com), which now has this image posted: "WMQX-FM?" Stay tuned.

 

[johnqdoe]

just curious, how would an alternative rocker fair in the GSO market ?


as far as MOViN 93.1? I could see that happening, since it does target the female 24-44 demo. that means it would go up against WMAG (which i'm assuming is aimed for the female listening audience since they have "Delilah" at night). Maybe that would give CC a run for their money. Like, o409 said, perhaps this is Entercom's way of saying anything CC can do, we can do better

just a thought

An Alt or Active Rocker would get some ratings....but does anyone have the type of salespeople to sell it???

 

[Mr Winston-Salem]

I would go with Urban Gospel. Very little investment needed; it will rise to the top five instantly; it won't have any real impact on any of their other FM urbans; you can package it with the other properties and it brings in big $$$.

MOViN may offer some protection and force another change at Kiss down the road?

Has anyone been to the old studios at 93 Salem Valley Road in Winston-Salem lately? I'm sure the building is still there. What condition it's in is unknown. I would like to see photos of it, if anyone has them or is going that way. It's not really on the way to anything. It's near Marketplace Mall and Washington Park. From Peters Creek Parkway, take Link Road and turn right. I still have old airchecks (around 30 years old ) of WAIR/WSEZ Fresh Air Z-93.

 

[John FL]

I'm an outsider to the Triad market but I have listened to Oldies 93 via streaming basically for 1 reason - and that was to hear Pat Garrett and to listen to the overall sound of the station. There were a few things that I was aware of that he was recommending to give the station an even more unique personality. Pat, as many of you know by now lead a successful oldies station where I live (Jacksonville, Fl ) up to a few years ago.

I always had the utmost respect for his talent and his abilities. The nature of working in radio seems to require that a person has a good set of luggage and the flexibility to just be prepared to move at the drop of a hat. I'm not in the "biz" but certainly I don't know how a lot of you radio folks handle what is often dealt you.

As of this writing, I have no idea if Pat is staying with the station or is already gone. But I will say this. While I think all of us understand why business decisions are made, there is the human side to things that never come into play. Perhaps a little naive on my part but I wish communications companies would look at the entire picture before they do what they do.

Here in Jacksonville, the oldies station I refer to earlier went all Christmas a couple of years ago. Corporate (Cox Radio) made the decision we now know months in advance of the holiday season to flip the station to classic hits. The talent was fired on Christmas Day. How cold is that? There were some very fine people and they certainly didn't deserve that.

I was hoping Pat would find a gig back where I live but that did not happen. But if Pat won't be a part of whatever happens next at 93.1, how could these guys get him to move, put his home up for sale, disrupt his family and cause a ton of anxiety if their plan was in the works for 2 years to do something else.

Time will tell. Perhaps it's OK to dream but I hope when this stunting is over, Pat and the gang at 93.1 continue rocking on.

What really irritates me is that there are so many cases across the country where those who have a passion and love and TALENT for radio seem to have such a rough go of it. Thanks for listening to me folks as I get down from my box but I'm just disgusted how talent is treated....and to the 93.1 gang....take care....

 

[pbf1]

there is the human side to things that never come into play. Perhaps a little naive on my part but I wish communications companies would look at the entire picture before they do what they do.

As soon as Wall Street cares about "the human side," the companies will.

Meanwhile, the people that own the place(s) - be it/they publicly traded or privately owned - will do what they need to make money.

 

[manwhore]

While Movin' is the format du jour, there are already 2 Urban ACs in the market. Big hole for Alt and Active Rock, neither ever has been done well in GSO. Young Country available,or.....a little newer oldies spin, lose the "oldies" name.

 

[berlin201]

WMQX stunt program

Interesting capitalization on "Move On" don't you think? Could be pointing to the "MOVIN'" format. OR it could be misdirection.

October 3, 2006



Important Message to Our Valued Clients,



The radio landscape is changing forever in the Greensboro/Winston-Salem/High Point/Burlington market. Today at 9am, Entercom Greensboro began the process to launch a new radio station in the Triad.

WMQX will announce the new format soon. Although Oldies 93 was a viable station, we discovered through research that the Triad listeners want something different…something new…it is time to Move On.



We have reviewed and researched this decision for two years! We promise to deliver more listeners to you than ever before! We will do our best to protect YOUR interests throughout this process!

You will hear a special on-air countdown program designed to attract vast numbers of listeners as the anticipation grows about the new format. Then on Thursday, October 5, 2006, you will receive more information about the new station. Rest assured, we will keep you updated with the latest information as it happens. We want you to know first and more importantly hear it from us first to ensure you have accurate information!

We feel that because of all the attention this new and exciting venture will receive coupled with the hundreds of thousands of dollars we are investing, there has never been a better time to advertise your products and services on 93.1! For those of you who are currently advertising with WMQX, an Entercom representative will contact you today to follow-up with any questions you have during this exciting time.

Thank you for your continued support,



Brent Millar
VP/Market Manager
Entercom Greensboro

I was thinking the same. It's gonna be either the Movin' format, or it will take on 107-5 with a CHR. any other guesses now, that we have it narrowed down ?
and, btw, what is the program that the 'countdown' stunting is using? sounds alot like that of the electronic voice that Microsoft uses when you set Windows up for voice recognition. ;D

I have to agree, it does sound like a robot counting down the seconds until the new station launches. Although I've seen posts on this forum from people who think that "Kiss" stunt loop that played on WFMX was annoying, the "Kiss" loop sounded more creative than the countdown stunt now playing on WMQX.
All the same, this has got to be a record for the number of radio format fliips in one market in one year--- WGBT, WFMX, and now WMQX--- and this list doesn't even include 98.7's flip from The Zone to Simon last year.

 

[carolinaradio]

I heard this morning that Oldies might be coming back to the Triad in the next week or so...does anyone know anything? Who would it be?

 

[berlin201]

"Oldies 93 is dead..."

I haven't heard anything about this, but I hope so. Any rumors flying around about possible candidates?

 

[carolinaradio]

That's just what someone that works for one of the clusters in Greensboro told me, they didn't say any more than that. If I find any more out I'll post it...I'm leaning towards WTHZ or WVBZ.

 

[vchimpanzee]

That's just what someone that works for one of the clusters in Greensboro told me, they didn't say any more than that. If I find any more out I'll post it...I'm leaning towards WTHZ or WVBZ.

If WTHZ doesn't the owner is crazy. How can he keep moving down, down, down in the ratings?

As for the Alamance County issue, last time I checked WPCM-AM was oldies. WBAG-AM is oldies and sports. They may have trouble at night, but they should be able to listen to oldies there.

 

[manwhore]

HITZ has flipped once already this year, keep flipping and the alienation level just rises. And theyr'e format exclusive in Greensboro and Charlotte with an up trend in both markets. VBZ in the toilet, Classic Hits may be a choice for them. Oldies audience dying off day by day. There's a reason everybody's dropping it. Agency buyers are 25 years younger than the average oldies listener. They're not buying.
There's always Polka Punk!!

 

[CCX1]

Knowing Clear Channel, WVBZ will have to do something male-oriented. They need the MEN for their national cluster. Maybe they could do News/Talk, or maybe the station will move to another market, as I've heard it rumored.

I'm also thinking that WSMW might be a candidate for the Movin format. That is not a healthy station. WSMW has got big problems. Yes, they're hanging on in demos, but TSL has not been great. They may very well do it if someone else doesn't beat them to it.

 

[iamdrunk]

WVBZ ................. or maybe the station will move to another market, as I've heard it rumored.

LMAO!

 

[berlin201]

That's just what someone that works for one of the clusters in Greensboro told me, they didn't say any more than that. If I find any more out I'll post it...I'm leaning towards WTHZ or WVBZ.

I seriously doubt it will be VBZ; not with the way CC butchered Magic 96 and Oldies 100.7. I have also heard the rumor about VBZ possibly moving (either to Raleigh or closer to Raleigh).