An Open Letter To Dan Mason Re: 92.3

[DToTheJ]

I think that country would be a great idea for 92.3. If country were to go on the air, since there is no other country station that even bleeds into the market to speak of, an NYC country station would probably pick up handfuls of listeners from several other stations, mostly AC/hot AC. CBS should have just flipped 102.7 to country when they had the chance, even though they wouldn't be going head to head with WLTW, a majority of country listeners would hypothetically be WLTW's listeners.

I guess right now, WLTW might in some aspects qualify as the "de facto" country station since they've got some of the crossovers in their rotation... however I'm not sure how a country audience would gain hot AC listeners. Does the format apepal to the 'SUV-driving soccer mom' demo that much?

 

[kfsr]

Done right on a full-market signal, Country could flank WLTW and cut it in half. Drop the hats, boots, spurs and dung, please. I've even heard market-leading Country FM stations giving away tickets to rock concerts. Who wouldn't want half of what WLTW's got...obviously a lot of people.

 

[Hardrocker9]

Could we Pleeeaase just do K-Rock, again but different? Maybe with a new rock alternative lean, every few songs an alternative cut, but more of an YSP active Rock edge. I think it will get the ratings, 92.3 has been a landmark frequency for rock, i say country should go on 103.5, or even 94.7 if it is sold. Just my thoughts, Comments?

 

[DToTheJ]

92.3 has been a landmark frequency for rock, i say country should go on 103.5, or even 94.7 if it is sold. Just my thoughts, Comments?

Hey, and while we're at it, let's put beautiful music back on 105.1!

For the record, Clear Channel is maintaining 103.5's format to protect 106.7, even if 102.7 is attempting to pull its listeners away. If and when 103.5 flips, it will become Spanish.

 

[NJMike]

Let's also remember the rumors of Emmis' WQCD/101.9 being sold. A Country Top 40 format for either 92.3 or 101.9 would be an easier sell than what's currently on those frequencies!

 

[disney fanatic]

Re: An Open Letter To Dan Mason Re: 92.3...

Back to country on 92.3: I think "The Wolf" is more or less a "model" country format that Entercom's put on many stations (kinda like CBS has done with "Jack" - they don't own the trademark, I don't think). Hence, there's many non-Entercom wolves on the radio. Immediately, Cumulus' WSM-FM/Nashville comes to mind.

Besure to keep in mind that "The Wolf" is on at 94.3 and 97.3 in the Hudson Valley. It is a Cumulus station, not CBS. CBS does not own these stations throughout the entire Hudson Valley. WKTU has "New York Country" on HD-2. WCBS-FM is on HD-2 where they were playing oldies and even some classic hits. I don't really see classic hits would be a permanent fit for the New York City, but not right away. If you are in the Hudson Valley area, WBPM's "Classic Hits 92.9" is now playing the classic hits from rock and pop. I hope 92.3 needs a classic hits format. Maybe.

 

[feeball]

"True I might not like country music,"

There you go, you just said it.... And not many more people around here like country music either. Free FM is not doing that great but I think with all thats going on in talk radio, I would try to keep Free FM going until we get the slots/shifts moved around. Then if that doesnt work, switch to country. I think you got to give the talk format a little longer to catch on. Maybe all the Imus, JV&Elvis news gets more people listening... in turn maybe a boost in the ratings???

X

I would be the first person to tell you that the numbers for country stations wil definitely surprise you. Free FM is an absolute disappointment of titanic proportions. The most that can be hoped for as a result of the Imus comments or the JV and Elvis incident might be half a ratings point. Would that much of an increase justify keeping the stations? No. From many of the online sources that I have read and other trade publications, CBS Radio wants to eliminate Free FM in every market either by rebranding and keeping the talk format, or doing away with the concept entirely. If Free FM lasts another year, it will be because the ratings tripled. It might be safe to say that this time next year, Free FM will not exist.

 

[Jacko]

The long and the short of it is... CBS/Infinity tried this "shock talk" station several years ago with 102.7 WNEW, and it backfired. Now, they're trying it again on 92.3 Free FM, except the format/concept, at least on the East Coast, was centered around David Lee Roth. Remember him?! And it seemed from the imaging that CBS was going for the intellectual form of entertaining talk radio, not that DLR was going to cherry pick NPR listeners from a Carl Kasell newscast, but it was supposed to be something refreshing. Well, the DLR thing backfired, the ratings at rock-turned-Free FM stations tanked, and CBS went running to the two people that that caused the initial end of the prior FM talk format, Opie and Anthony, thereby throwing the .001% of intelligence that Free FM had completely out the window. And recently, with Imus being fired and the Dog House being suspended, CBS finds their talk radio market in a world of hurt. Everyone knew that Free FM was going to be a disaster to begin with, and, well, it is a disaster. And in an age where average listeners are complaining that there's never any good music on the radio these days and they're going to online sources for music, you wonder if CBS would give that any consideration, instead of relying on radio hosts that are bound to generate listener/group complaints, FCC fines and basically no listeners.

NYC is missing several major radio formats: alternative rock, country and oldies. I hesitate to put in active rock, but between active and alternative, I think that a true-programmed alternative, a la anything on satellite or of the WWCD/Columbus or WFNX/Boston variety, would fare better than an active rocker. These formats should be on in NYC, but the real argument here is country, and a country station programmed for the New York market should be the first priority.

Jacko

 

[UncleBozzle]

Would it be a stretch to try some form of a country hybrid in NYC? Something similar to Dallas "Lonestar 92.5". Obviously it couldn't be twangy, but why not blend some rock into it? Some alternative, some classic rock, maybe even some Hot AC. Thinking outside of the box would get CBS where it needs to be. In an all too sensitive atmosphere this could be the way to go.

 

[TowerBuzz]

This is insane!!! the fact that you could even mention Dallas and New York in the same sentence just screams "there is no objectivity in my opinion"!. I get it Uncle you like country, they sing about God, it makes you feel good as you have posted in a previous post. Now back to reality: Many have argued to some degree successfully that NY is not a rock market, I dont know that I agree with that but the lack of a current based rock station for over a year and no one jumping to fill the hole would appear to support that argument. Rock is much more mainstream a format than country, sorry Im sure there will be those that will argue but it is, rock: it is not an aquired taste like country has been for a good many listeners. So if rock which is much more accessible is not an automatic format option, country is even less of one in the worlds most urban market. Im sure there will be a howl of opposition but there is no way to argue with that logic. Personally I dont even mind the "new country" so much..... so it is not a reflection of my personal taste as it so clearly is in most of the pro country posts here. All im saying is that just becuase it's the last format left that has not been attempted in the past few years in the market does not make it THE RIGHT ONE.

Country makes no sense and the failure of WYNY is something that the pro contry people pretend never existed. How anyone can justify that that is not an indication of whether country would or would not work in NYC is beyond me. Ive seen people try to say essentially that YNY doesnt mean that it wouldnt work, almost as if to say " Oh yny didnt count"

How is that possible?. True it was a good many years ago but if anything the markeet has gotten even more urban since then.

 

[icybluelake]

CAT COUNTRY 92.3

The "Cat Country" brand is Citadel's baby (i.e. Cat Country 96/Allentown). Citadel owns the name.

The other big thing is make sure the music is set sonically. Play Carrie Underwood, Tim McGraw, Rodney Atkins, Sara Evans and keep it young, hip and fresh.

Someone suggested this station should play Carrie Underwood every hour. She's only released 4 or 5 songs so far - I agree you need to keep it hot and hip, but you can't do the same 5 songs over and over.

Maybe DOG Country 92.3 would work instead?

(just kidding.)

I'd like to see something slightly innovative and different, certainly something appropriate for this market. I'm not saying country can't be done at all here. My preference might be for rock, either AAA or some kind of fresh approach to alternative, but maybe country can be done successfully without just taking a mainstream country outlet out of Houston or Atlanta, say, and trying to replicate it here. UncleBozzle's idea strikes me as maybe not a bad one -- starting with country and blending in some alternative and classic rock for example.

What about a freeform rock format -- something that brings a mix of good alternative and even indie rock to the radio? It might not bring big numbers, but might get people talking. I'd like to see CBS give people who might have turned away from terrestrial radio (or radio, period) a reason to tune in for a change.

I'm probably dreaming here and should keep in mind that whatever happens on 92.3 will have to be ratified by a gaggle of corporate radio people, i.e. oldies, classic hits, simulcasting an AM signal, etc. might be where they would go. It's just that the current format seems to be going about as well as our "progress" with the war in Iraq -- pretty much nowhere -- and trying anything halfway viable would be a better tack.

 

[kentuckymedia]

No matter what, I would assume that CBS is going to hire Coleman or Paragon to make the final decision. I would hope that one of those guys see this hole in the format and go after it. They launched Fresh and its doing well, now as for Free...I think that was a CBS move without a lot of research thrown under it.

What you could have here is a station built around New York, Designed by New Yorkers. I mean, fire listener comments between songs about how New York spells country...etc. The thing is this stations will need a LOT of promotional dollars behind it.

I have always been an avid fan of NYC getting a AAA/Alternative station. I think it would do well, but who really knows the extent of that. Maybe thats what Emmis could do.

I did a little bit of research on the Wolf name. There is a person who owns the rights to it, but anyone can use with with prior permission and I think there might be a couple thousand you have to throw at them. But thats nothing compared to the long term greatness this station could have. I mean, it could be a HOT station!

 

[TowerBuzz]

A AAA/alternative sort of hybrid makes a lot more sense than country. AAA becuase you keep the upper end of the demo where the suits perceive the money is, although the 18-34 demo has more buying power than any generation before of that demo. Maybe something more interesting like what cbs is doing in DC, AAA the Globe. It is a AAA but it's not a sleepy station, they definately rock compared to what you generally consider AAA. They're also tapping into the green movement, hybrid vehicles, wind powered tower, if you listen to the stream they talk about being green all the time. A little heavy handed at times but they must bet getting a lot of PSA credit!. Cbs does not have a great track record in that format though, Dave in Atl. was supposed to be the prototype for something they were hoping to roll out in other markets like Jack and it's been a pretty big dissapointment in Atlanta (which again is not New York, I know).

 

[UncleBozzle]

Perish the thought I mentioned Dallas and New York in the same sentence. I believe it was stated that it couldn't be as twangy, more with a NYC feel to it. The point was it could be a hybrid that crosses a few genres of music. Should it be straight out country? I'd imagine the experts would know best, but my thought is this hybrid could get people listening again. Keep it interesting, keep it deep, and keep it flowing and I think you'd create a buzz. You can call it whatever you want, Triple A/Country, but it would rock and it would get the positive attention that listeners and investors need to see.

 

[Jacko]

How about a country station similar to WKLB/Boston? Not any type of country/AAA hybrid or anything, but just a country station with a few minor tweaks from the "typical" country station that fits with a diverse market?

Jacko

 

[UncleBozzle]

Uhoh Jacko...they will now condemn you for mentioning Boston in the same sentence as New York. I would agree with you though, WKLB would be a good model. Of course the naysayers will say that Boston is far more lilywhite than New York, and that's why country works well there.

 

[DToTheJ]

Maybe something more interesting like what cbs is doing in DC, AAA the Globe. It is a AAA but it's not a sleepy station, they definately rock compared to what you generally consider AAA.

I do know that on Sunday mornings, 101.1 JACK FM airs a show called "Acoustic Sunrise" which is mostly AAA artists. Perhaps if Jack is sent packin', this program could be the proverbial foot in the doot for the next format on 101.1?

 

[TowerBuzz]

Uhoh Jacko...they will now condemn you for mentioning Boston in the same sentence as New York. I would agree with you though, WKLB would be a good model. Of course the naysayers will say that Boston is far more lilywhite than New York, and that's why country works well there.

Dude, now you're being silly. Can you actually with a straight face try to compare New York and Dallas? I was not being elitist but if you think that the socio-economic, and socio- ethnic make up of DALLAS is ANYTHING at all like New York, then you've not spent much time in NYC. All I was saying and rightly by the way is that an idea that would work in Dallas is no indication of it having any sort of prayer in NYC. It's almost like saying, " well if you like Pat Boone you're probably going to like 50 cent, because both are MUSIC". [EDIT]




[EDIT-inflammatory]

 

[UncleBozzle]

Tower, it had nothing to do with the socio-economics of the two. It was the concept, the theory. You would mix country with whatever would make it palatable to NY listeners. If that means adding some songs from 106.7 or WPLJ to make it something other than country in perspective than why not try it? Think outside the box dude. It's your nascient perspective that helps make radio so bland and cookie cutter.

 

[TowerBuzz]

Tower, it had nothing to do with the socio-economics of the two. It was the concept, the theory. You would mix country with whatever would make it palatable to NY listeners. If that means adding some songs from 106.7 or WPLJ to make it something other than country in perspective than why not try it? Think outside the box dude. It's your nascient perspective that helps make radio so bland and cookie cutter.

Dude I disagree with you because given the market in question it is not sensible. It has nothing to do with thinking outside the box. By that logic then you could say that radio is bland and cookie cutter because I dont think that a rock and disco hybrid would work either which makes as much sense as what you suggested. You're just slanted toward counrty because you love it, to the point where you're not objective or realistic about it being a vable format for NYC. I happen to love New Age music but Im not silly enough to think that there should be a whole station playing it in NYC. And you did compare something that works in Dallas and suggest that the same approach be taken in NYC which makes no sense at all given the vast differences in those two markets. Nobody is going to be experimental and "think outside the box" in the most important media market on earth because there is too much at stake if it fails. the last time someone tried to do something really different was Blink and peoplee here castigated it and CBS for attempting it. By the way "think outside the box' is probably the most overused buzz term in existence, anyone who uses it is usually stuck inside said box.