Alternative and Triple A Radio in Atlanta

[TheBigA]

You know, one of the things I see on this forum is that many of the folks on here are in the radio business and work for Clear Channel, Cumulus or some of the other corporations that have ruined radio.

For the record, I have never worked for either of the ones you mentioned.

The posts on these websites will not address the issue and keeps moving away from why this format is not in Atlanta, but again, there is no reason!!

I think a lot of people here in this thread and others have addressed it head on. I think Rodney Ho covered the story very well on his blog. But fans of the music refuse to accept or even acknowledge the facts. That's why you write that no one addressed the issue. If you check the ratings on the stations you list, they are among the lowest rated stations in their markets. That may be acceptable in Knoxville or Montgomery, but it's not going to cut it in Atlanta.

 

[atlantaboy]

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Come on, that's ridiculous - everyone in an entire market doesn't have the same musical taste at the same time - I'm sure you know that - and I'm sure you realize that the stations you mentioned all appeal to females, which has nothing to do with male musical taste in ATL - do you seriously think that most people that listened to Dave two years ago, when its ratings were high, are now listening to Q100, Power, etc.? It's a completely different demographic...

And I'm sure you also know that there are plenty of markets where Alternative and AAA stations are currently very profitable formats

 

[TheBigA]

And I'm sure you also know that there are plenty of markets where Alternative and AAA stations are currently very profitable formats

That's a relative judgement. I know the people at some of those indie stations, and they never use the words "very profitable." But they get by. Their stations are usually owned by people who've had those licenses for 20 or more years, operate in less than ideal studios, and pay their staff very moderate wages. That's how they can afford to run a format that isn't going to be Top 5 in their market, and it's more do-able in smaller markets rather than #9. They don't get national advertising, it's almost all local, and it's dependent on a vibrant local music community to keep them alive.

 

[Louis_009]

Guys head over to East Atlanta Village Radio EAVradio @ http://www.eavradio.com/ for AAA music on the internet from the former PD Margot of 92.9 Dave FM

 

[atlantaboy]

And I'm sure you also know that there are plenty of markets where Alternative and AAA stations are currently very profitable formats

That's a relative judgement. I know the people at some of those indie stations, and they never use the words "very profitable." But they get by. Their stations are usually owned by people who've had those licenses for 20 or more years, operate in less than ideal studios, and pay their staff very moderate wages. That's how they can afford to run a format that isn't going to be Top 5 in their market, and it's more do-able in smaller markets rather than #9. They don't get national advertising, it's almost all local, and it's dependent on a vibrant local music community to keep them alive.

???

We're not talking about "Indie" stations - we're talking about commerical Alternative, like KROQ and KYSR in Los Angeles, KDGE in Dallas, DC101 in Washington DC, etc.

Are you actually saying that the employees at KROQ or DC101 get paid "very moderate wages," and work at stations that aren't profitable? Huh?

 

[TheBigA]

We're not talking about "Indie" stations -

You may not be, but Dan6053 has been. He listed a bunch of indie stations in Mobile, Knoxville, Nashville, and Montgomery.

 

[atlantaboy]

^Gotcha - I see no reason though why someone can't start up an Alt. station similar to DC101 - Musicwise, Washington and Atlanta are pretty similar markets

Plus, Wild has low ratings and is musically completely unnecessary - even if Clear Channel were to simply match Wild's ratings with a new Alternative station, the billing would almost definitely increase (since Alt. bills higher than Rhythmic)

 

[acheron1982]

1- When someone says that alternative does not do well in conservative markets, they are not talking politics. A conservative market is a market that plays it safe. Your main corps like Cumulus, CC, Cox and CBS typically play safe in their formats. I think even the CHR junkies on this site will agree when arguing the "true" top 40 station in Atlanta. The only stations on the dial in Atlanta that could pull off a good alternative station is 94.1 owned by Lincoln Financial or 107.1 owned by, well I forget.

2- A good Alternative station plays many of the chart toppers like Mumford and Sons and MUSE but alternative also brings new stuff to the board. NEWS FLASH all you CHR folks; Lumineers' Hey Oh, Fun's Some Nights, and Gotye's Somebody that I used to Know was being played on alternative stations nearly 6 months before ever making it to top 40.

3- Number 2 leads to number 3. Atlanta likes hit music. Atlanta is not a big fan of anything new. Atlanta likes to see what Ryan Seacrest thinks sounds hot then it takes off. Alternative introduces bands for the first time. After that bands gets a few plays, if the pop culture pics up on it, it makes it to the charts and people start liking it. Atlanta is a very pop culture community and tends not to ride on the edgy side. Don't believe me, go to the clubs.

Now, will Alternative work in Atlanta? I actually think if its done right, it would. First, we don't need a cookie cutting alternative station. The alternative station can't have a narrow ass playlist like 99x. The perfect alternative station would cover the Alternative and AAA songs. It would also sneak in a few Active Rock songs from artist like Linkin Park and Seether.

Now- Please, PLEASE don't make the mistake that somehow alternative music listeners are all politically liberal folks. No, no one has said that but I get this idea some are suggesting that. One of the biggest alternative fanatics on the radio in Atlanta today is no other than Erick Erickson over at WSB Radio. Yes, the right-wing talking head that is the editor of red state. Alternative and AAA is not a Republican or Democrats format. Yes, a few formats could be considered that like Country and Hip Hop but Alternative (NOT ACTIVE ROCK) has a wide range of listeners.

 

[acheron1982]

Let me make one more comment:

Mind you, I prefer alternative over any format any day. If alternative came to Atlanta tomorrow, I would argue that I would be the happiest on this board BUT rbfgnc said something that is actually true. Folks that listen to alternative are generally getting it online. Even when CC and Cumulus comes out with an Alternative station, typically, it trends way to safe for our liking.

When 99x was on the radio, how many of my alternative friends on this board actually listened to it. Their playlist sucked and they were weeks late getting the "new" stuff on like M83 and Naked and Famous. How many times did you hear Arcade Fire on 99X?

If Clear Channel decided to put out one of their lame alternative stations on 105.3 tomorrow, I would still likely listen to Got Radio - Alternative on tune in anyway.

 

[atlantaboy]

Come on, that's ridiculous - everyone in an entire market doesn't have the same musical taste at the same time - I'm sure you know that - and I'm sure you realize that the stations you mentioned all appeal to females, which has nothing to do with male musical taste in ATL -

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I think we've extensively covered why Dave flipped (i. e. CBS nationwide mission to start up FM Sports), and why admitting mistake would preclude any new FM Sports stations in other markets

99X flipped to another current rock format, so no clue how that's relevant

When you say "people favor more Rhythmic and Pop product than rock," that in turn means everybody in the market? I. E. let's flip every station to pop for the next 5 years, because pop is dominant, and then flip every station to rock when rock becomes dominant?

Are you serious? :

 

[atlantaboy]

When 99x was on the radio, how many of my alternative friends on this board actually listened to it.

That's back when we had a choice of listening to Dave - similar music with 10 times better sound quality

Completely different situation now...

Good point that someone made, though, about Wild's signal being poor inside the perimeter, which is where the bulk of Alternative fans most likely live

 

[acheron1982]

With the exception of 104.5 in Philly, the other CC stations that you listed below do in fact play it very safe with alternative and most alternative junkies will agree. 104.5 is a very unusual station that seems as if CC leaves alone altogether.

When saying an alternative station is being "safe", this could mean several different things but when you mentioned WEND in Charlotte, I figured I would use it as an example. Clear Channel puts out Premium Choice channels which, for some reason, does not include 104.5 in PHilly. Anyway, the "alternative project" is used for both the Raleigh and Charlotte station most of the day (unless they are live and local which is rare). The "alternative project" is very alternative hits oriented with lots of active rock. The Raleigh station was playing Metallica last night and that is NOT alternative.

 

[TheBigA]

I think we've extensively covered why Dave flipped (i. e. CBS nationwide mission to start up FM Sports), and why admitting mistake would preclude any new FM Sports stations in other markets

But that's not exactly true if you google Rodney Ho's ratings columns in the AJC. He tracks the station's long downward ratings spiral. This was all before the deal with CBS Sports. So clearly they were going to flip to something else before sports. Also if you look in other major markets, CBS put this new network mainly on AM stations, not FM.

 

[atlantaboy]

I think we've extensively covered why Dave flipped (i. e. CBS nationwide mission to start up FM Sports), and why admitting mistake would preclude any new FM Sports stations in other markets

99X flipped to another current rock format, so no clue how that's relevant

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???

No, it didn't - it flipped from Alternative to Active Rock - both 99X and The Bone are equally current-based

 

[acheron1982]

Active rock could be argued as a younger leaning format than alternative rock. I was a Zombie, Pantera, Manson fanatic when I was a teen but in the mid and late 20s, I have went more alternative which tends to be less "screamo" and more intelligent if you will.

DAVE FM folks- I feel you pain with no AAA in Atlanta but DAVE also got on my nerve by playing stuff too late. They were later with MUSE's Uprising than 99X was but then again, we are talking about similar but totally different formats.

I do believe DAVE is what killed 99x. When Dave came out, 99X went more active and stayed away from the more mellow hippi stuff. I prefer an alternative station that combines both AAA and alternative stuff.

 

[acheron1982]

No, I'm talking about the demographics of listeners and not the age of music. Active rock does play a wider range of years in rock than alternative and that is sad.

 

[atlantaboy]

I think we've extensively covered why Dave flipped (i. e. CBS nationwide mission to start up FM Sports), and why admitting mistake would preclude any new FM Sports stations in other markets

But that's not exactly true if you google Rodney Ho's ratings columns in the AJC. He tracks the station's long downward ratings spiral. This was all before the deal with CBS Sports.

CBS could've evolved the station into an Alternative format, though, which is what many AAAs have done to adjust to current musical trends

 

[atlantaboy]

I think we've extensively covered why Dave flipped (i. e. CBS nationwide mission to start up FM Sports), and why admitting mistake would preclude any new FM Sports stations in other markets

99X flipped to another current rock format, so no clue how that's relevant

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???

No, it didn't - it flipped from Alternative to Active Rock - both 99X and The Bone are equally current-based

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The Bone is playing about the same number of currents every hour that 99X was - Active Rock isn't any less current than Alternative - and again, I'm not sure of your point here either

 

[acheron1982]

Yeah, I think AAA is a lot like Classic Hits. There are two kinds of AAA stations; One leans older and one leans newer. The AAA station in Chicago leans new while the one in Savannah leans old.

 

[atlantaboy]

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What is your point?

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That's true, but what about all the people in the market that don't want to hear pop music, or that want some different stuff to listen to in addition? Are you really aruging that the entire radio dial be geared towards the domininat music format?