Another loss for minorities in Boston

[HHH]

Garrett

Garrett:

I am NOT advocating that Radio One should have sold to another minority company. Yes, radio is a business and Radio One probably got their best deal. Smart.

However, I am simply saying that anybody that plays the race card here....that there was some "conspiracy" by the owners involved to squelch black-oriented programming in Boston....is sidestepping the fact that the seller was an African-American controlled company. If the black community feels ripped off, they can start with Radio One's decision who to sell it to.

As far as the ratings are concerned, with another poster talking about close 12+ ratings, you really have to look at the demos to see the real ratings value.
Would you rather be #1 12+ with everybody over 65 or #5 12+ but #1 25-54? The latter is far more valuable, believe me.

 

[Mickey37]

The Clock

The best part of the transition from WILD to WAAF was the countdown. The computer-generated voice marking the time til 'AAF appeeared on 97.7 . The voice would say something like "T minus 15 hours, 8 minutes, 42 seconds (for example) and counting," non-stop. But every few seconds the voice would add something like a quick line from a movie or a pop song.

I had read on this board Monday about the looming switch, so when I tuned in Monday night, I was kinda surprised. I would up listening from the time I left work in Boston, til I got back home in the Merrimack Valley. It was much more entertaining than anything else on the radio at that point, and who knows if/when it will be heard again?

 

[Neanderpaul]

Paul: Yes, I am intolerant. I am intolerant to idiots who always have to cry that the Black Man is getting screwed over all the time...no matter what the situation is. The format change of the station is not racist against the Black Man or whatever. I get sick and tired of people bringing the Race Card into every situation possible. The sale and format change has nothing to do with race. Get over it.

Radio is a business, and not racially motivated. The sale and format change was a business decision between the Radio One people and the Entercom folks. Deal with it and move on.

If you want so-called "black music," listen to 94.5 FM. End of story.

I never said it did Shawn. You won't find a more passionate opponent of playing the race card than I am.

And what exactly is "black music?" There's no such thing, and your categorizing music based on skin pigment is no better than someone who'd play the race card. In fact, YOU are playing said card.

But...using your asinine assessment...I submit sir, that it's almost ALL "black music." White people stole Rock n' Roll. It was invented by "black" people, Specifically Bo Diddley, Big Joe Turner, and Big Mama Thornton in Memphis, and Chicago. And pioneered more than notably by Little Richard, Fats Domino, and Chuck Berry. Racist America appropriated it. You might wanna do a little research next time (yes..I am a Geico commercial..I'll have the roast duck with mango salsa) How about Jazz? Sorry...take a vist to Congo Square/Louis Armstrong Park in New Orleans. There you'll stand on the soil where Creoles gave birth to Jazz. How about Country? Hmmm...seems like white folks stole that too from the songs of the slaves in Mississippi.

You're not doing yourself any favors each time you post Shawn. You're painting yourself into a corner. Honestly, as someone who has been spoken to by past employers with regard to posting on message boards, I can tell you with every degree of certainty, these posts will hurt you professionally in the future.

Just a word of advice. Be very careful.

 

[odomski]

Paul: The "black music" comment was me repeating a quote from some rap artist who was interviewed in the Boston Herald. I didn't create that comment. I believe the article is in the beginning of this thread someplace.

I have NEVER been "spoken to by past employers" with regards to me posting on message boards. Other people I used to work with are the ones who have been "spoken to." My current employer and co-workers know I post here, and they have NEVER told me to stop posting. You sir need to do research before you post.

If a possible job interview of mine goes awry just because I post on message boards and I post my opinons backed up with proven facts, then that potential employer is NOT worth working for. You should understand that.

 

[fwdmo]

Sorry but jammin 94.5 is not a station aimed at Black listeners. And please don't shrug off black music as simply gangsta rap. Familiarize yourself with jazz, soul, old school, gospel. WILD-FM was not hip hop.

And yes there is a racial element to all this. Minority stations in Boston are put to different standards than radio stations that target white folks. Yesterday the ratings came out and WILD-FM did better than a host of rock stations, including WBCN, WBOS and WFNX. The former Mega 890 had done better than it's ESPN replacement.

How is WBCN considered a powerhouse in this market yet WILD-FM's format is not worth keeping when it does better? That's the hypocrisy of Boston radio.

This has nothing to do with racial standards, it's all about the bottom line. If WILD-FM was making the money that Radio One felt it should've, they wouldn't have sold the station.

Who is to blame there? The local advertisers who didn't want to invest in the station? The listeners who didn't support business's that did advertise? Maybe a combo of the two? Regardless, race and ratings had nothing to do with it. WBCN may be in the basement in the ratings, but I bet they out-billed WILD 2 to 1 on heritage alone.

Take your discontent to the community who didn't support the station (advertisers, listeners), not the people who felt they weren't getting the return on their investment (Radio One).

 

[Neanderpaul]

Paul: The "black music" comment was me repeating a quote from some rap artist who was interviewed in the Boston Herald. I didn't create that comment. I believe the article is in the beginning of this thread someplace.

And yet you continue to make it about skin pigment.

Perhaps you should go back and re-read the post again Shawn. You direct people to listen to 'so called "black music" Those are your words Shawn. You typed them. you could have used the terms R&R/Hip Hop/Ethnically targeted. All kinds of euphemisms for the same thing, but your choice of words continues to paint you in an unflattering light.

I have NEVER been "spoken to by past employers" with regards to me posting on message boards. Other people I used to work with are the ones who have been "spoken to." My current employer and co-workers know I post here, and they have NEVER told me to stop posting. You sir need to do research before you post.

Apparently you have reading comprehension issues as well Shawn. I never implied you were. I identified myself as someone who's been spoken to. Whether or not you realize this Shawn, as an employee of a broadcast company, your words represent that company. Intentionally, or not. You can try to distance yourself, but the company can use these postings against you. I'm fortunate enough that it's never happened to me. But, I have had discussions with corporate people in the past with regard to this, and I know where the line is.

Take a step back before you attack Shawn. Don't type angry. Read. Process. Communicate rather than dictate.

If a possible job interview of mine goes awry just because I post on message boards and I post my opinons backed up with proven facts, then that potential employer is NOT worth working for. You should understand that.

I do. Just be ready to accept that your postings on a message board may someday disqualify you from consideration from even getting through the door. All I'm saying. You're still not doing yourself any favors.

Meanwhile, none of this has anything to do with the sale of WILD.

 

[hellskitchen85]

Ciao needs to move to Philly, there is hardly any white music there. That would make him happy.

So it looks like the trend is white people to Boston, blacks to Philly. I see an even exchange there since these markets are about the same size.

Good luck everyone, keep it real!!!

 

[odomski]

Paul: on the topic about "someone who's been spoken to..." I misunderstood your post. I did re-read what you said. I just simply misunderstood it at first. Maybe I should bow down to the all mighty former WAAF jock and beg forgiveness.

If your company has used what you have posted here against you, that proves they have nothing else better to do with their time. They should be worrying about managing their station instead of reading message boards all day. You have the right to give your opinios about radio and TV topics, just like I do. What you and I post here has nothing to do with our professional lives and relationships.

If you have problems with me, don't read my posts and/or go cry to the moderators.

Yes, this topic has gone way off. However, the "race card" crap was not brought on by me. It was brought on by Ciao...how the Black Man is getting screwed over, presumably because there is one less urban formatted station on local radio.

I don't know why we should even get back "on topic." This entire thread is worthless, and was created to start another racially-motivated message board war. The topic of the WILD-FM sale is discussed calmly in other threads, despite Ciao poisoning every one of those threads with the Blackie Getting Screwed crap.

 

[Neanderpaul]

Maybe I should bow down to the all mighty former WAAF jock and beg forgiveness.

If your company has used what you have posted here against you, that proves they have nothing else better to do with their time. They should be worrying about managing their station instead of reading message boards all day. You have the right to give your opinios about radio and TV topics, just like I do. What you and I post here has nothing to do with our professional lives and relationships.

If you have problems with me, don't read my posts and/or go cry to the moderators.

Yes, this topic has gone way off. However, the "race card" crap was not brought on by me. It was brought on by Ciao...how the Black Man is getting screwed over, presumably because there is one less urban formatted station on local radio.

I don't know why we should even get back "on topic." This entire thread is worthless, and was created to start another racially-motivated message board war. The topic of the WILD-FM sale is discussed calmly in other threads, despite Ciao poisoning every one of those threads with the Blackie Getting Screwed crap.

"Blackie getting screwed?" Outstanding.

You obviously have all the answers. Sorry to even attempt to give you some good advice.

My apologies to those who've wasted their time with this.

 

[ciao99]

Diversity on the radio

Ciao needs to move to Philly, there is hardly any white music there. That would make him happy.

So it looks like the trend is white people to Boston, blacks to Philly. I see an even exchange there since these markets are about the same size.

Good luck everyone, keep it real!!!

Actually I love Philly's WDAS-FM. With WILD gone I listen to it on my computer at work now.

You don't know me. I support diversity on the radio of all formats. I criticize Boston's lack of jazz, latin and R&B just as much as I criticize New York's lack of rock and country stations. It stinks.

It just happens that in Boston's case, the cards are stacked heavily against getting minority programming on the air, despite the growing demographics and the decent ratings their stations achieve.

The same people in here who shrug off the loss of a black voice in Boston would probably be the first to whine about how rock and country have been eliminated on NY radio to make way for Spanish & Black oriented radio.

 

[ciao99]

Sorry but jammin 94.5 is not a station aimed at Black listeners. And please don't shrug off black music as simply gangsta rap. Familiarize yourself with jazz, soul, old school, gospel. WILD-FM was not hip hop.

And yes there is a racial element to all this. Minority stations in Boston are put to different standards than radio stations that target white folks. Yesterday the ratings came out and WILD-FM did better than a host of rock stations, including WBCN, WBOS and WFNX. The former Mega 890 had done better than it's ESPN replacement.

How is WBCN considered a powerhouse in this market yet WILD-FM's format is not worth keeping when it does better? That's the hypocrisy of Boston radio.

This has nothing to do with racial standards, it's all about the bottom line. If WILD-FM was making the money that Radio One felt it should've, they wouldn't have sold the station.

Who is to blame there? The local advertisers who didn't want to invest in the station? The listeners who didn't support business's that did advertise? Maybe a combo of the two? Regardless, race and ratings had nothing to do with it. WBCN may be in the basement in the ratings, but I bet they out-billed WILD 2 to 1 on heritage alone.

Take your discontent to the community who didn't support the station (advertisers, listeners), not the people who felt they weren't getting the return on their investment (Radio One).

And wasn't that one of the complains about Classical radio WCRB in Boston? That it should be making more money? And owner's could make more money with something else? Of course it could make more money. But it serves an audience and is constantly in the top 10. And yes there is a value to its programming. Just like there is a value to WILD-FM's programming.

 

[ciao99]

Paul: on the topic about "someone who's been spoken to..." I misunderstood your post. I did re-read what you said. I just simply misunderstood it at first. Maybe I should bow down to the all mighty former WAAF jock and beg forgiveness.

If your company has used what you have posted here against you, that proves they have nothing else better to do with their time. They should be worrying about managing their station instead of reading message boards all day. You have the right to give your opinios about radio and TV topics, just like I do. What you and I post here has nothing to do with our professional lives and relationships.

If you have problems with me, don't read my posts and/or go cry to the moderators.

Yes, this topic has gone way off. However, the "race card" crap was not brought on by me. It was brought on by Ciao...how the Black Man is getting screwed over, presumably because there is one less urban formatted station on local radio.

I don't know why we should even get back "on topic." This entire thread is worthless, and was created to start another racially-motivated message board war. The topic of the WILD-FM sale is discussed calmly in other threads, despite Ciao poisoning every one of those threads with the Blackie Getting Screwed crap.

I'm still waiting for an answer to which song you heard on WILD-FM that encouraged raping white women.

Your quote, just in case you need reminding:
"Yeah, the "black community" really got screwed that WILD is no more. Puh-leez. If you want to listen to that gangsta rap garbage that promotes violence, drug dealing, gang banging, and raping white women, listen to 94.5 FM"

 

[hellskitchen85]

Ciao enjoy WDAS!! They are the only good station in the CC Philly cluster. The rest of them suck especially the new Rumba crap. That is just bad!!!

The other stations in Philly need to take a good look at WDAs because they are going to succeed in the years to come. B101 could not even match up to the quality of that.

 

[HHH]

Ciao:

The WCRB-WILD(FM) comparisons ("both can make more money, but they saved WCRB why not WILD-FM?") is ignoring the fact that WCRB billed about 8 million dollars a year (WILD was far less), WCRB's audience is very affluent (WILD's is not), and Greater Media seemed sensitive to trying to work out a way that WCRB would saved by arranging the 99.5 spinoff to Nassau, a company which would protect the Classical format (WILD's African-American owners obviously didn't care about trying to arrange a place for the format in Boston).

If you play the race card in this, which is ridiculous because business is business, then how can anyone possibly give Radio One a pass in the "responsibility" department?

 

[ciao99]

Ciao:

The WCRB-WILD(FM) comparisons ("both can make more money, but they saved WCRB why not WILD-FM?") is ignoring the fact that WCRB billed about 8 million dollars a year (WILD was far less), WCRB's audience is very affluent (WILD's is not), and Greater Media seemed sensitive to trying to work out a way that WCRB would saved by arranging the 99.5 spinoff to Nassau, a company which would protect the Classical format (WILD's African-American owners obviously didn't care about trying to arrange a place for the format in Boston).

If you play the race card in this, which is ridiculous because business is business, then how can anyone possibly give Radio One a pass in the "responsibility" department?

No one's playing the race card by pointing out that the minority audience is put to different standards in this market. That's simply a fact. There are lots of underperforming radio stations in this market that no one questions. WILD-FM's ratings and billing were still decent.

At this point in time a UAC would be very viable on the AM band at the least. And ratings history of both WILD-AM and FM shows it would outperform some of Boston's duds like the Zone 1510, WBIX, ESPN 890, Disney radio, etc etc etc.

 

[Neanderpaul]

Ciao:

No one's playing the race card by pointing out that the minority audience is put to different standards in this market. That's simply a fact. There are lots of underperforming radio stations in this market that no one questions. WILD-FM's ratings and billing were still decent.

At this point in time a UAC would be very viable on the AM band at the least. And ratings history of both WILD-AM and FM shows it would outperform some of Boston's duds like the Zone 1510, WBIX, ESPN 890, Disney radio, etc etc etc.

If there's money to be made in it, some radio company will fill the void. Simple as that. Radio One made a great deal, and cashed out. And give Entercom some credit. A 30 million dollar signal upgrade is what they've just done. That's called commitment.

It's the respective companies' decisions to do business as they see fit. If there's a hole to fill, the line should be forming now. Are you listening Mr. Mindich?

 

[odomski]

I agree with the discussion that this format change and sale was a business decision, and not Entercom being against the African-American audience..as some people want to believe. I'm sure if Entercom felt that WILD-FM was bringing in suitable ratings, they would have left the format alone. Entercom has been trying to build a WAAF presence in Boston for quite some time now...and this is the way to start. It may work. It may not. We will have to see.

Paul: I have read your advice and I appreciate your comments in this thread. I enjoy reading your posts. However, I won't take advice that is basically supporting the person in this thread that is pissed off because the Black Man is supposedly getting screwed over. I'm sick and tired of hearing how the minorities are getting screwed over all the time. The format change and sale was a business decision. It seems that Ciao doesn't understand that. He just thinks they are out to screw over minorities. That's his problem. Perhaps he needs to round up the NAACP, Jessie Jackson, and Al Sharpton to rally outside Entercom's corporate offices and demand they put the "urban format" back on WILD-FM. This topic has gone far enough...mostly with worthless drivel. If we keep going, it will be longer than the currently nine-page thread on the Philly board about ESPN Radio and 104.5 FM.

 

[WLYNWAZNgm]

brokered time - an alternative...

note to Ciao in particular:

This sale/format change is not a racial slight. It happens in commercial radio all of the time. Commercial=commerce. Money. That's the name of the game... Try being entrepreneurial and see if you can grow an audience...WAZN and WLYN have air time available. I will be glad to talk to you at any time. Why not buy some time and do your own program? Start out small and see if you can make a go of it. If your intended market will not support one program, what makes you think that it would support an entire station? Don't sit back and moan about it - DO SOMETHING PROACTIVE.

Jeff Kline
General Manger,
WLYN/WAZN

 

[ciao99]

Re: brokered time - an alternative...

note to Ciao in particular:

This sale/format change is not a racial slight. It happens in commercial radio all of the time. Commercial=commerce. Money. That's the name of the game... Try being entrepreneurial and see if you can grow an audience...WAZN and WLYN have air time available. I will be glad to talk to you at any time. Why not buy some time and do your own program? Start out small and see if you can make a go of it. If your intended market will not support one program, what makes you think that it would support an entire station? Don't sit back and moan about it - DO SOMETHING PROACTIVE.

Jeff Kline
General Manger,
WLYN/WAZN

I'm oh so curious, how many white people have their programming limited to brokered AM stations with poor signals?

 

[WLYNWAZNgm]

Maybe if you knock that king-sized chip off your shoulder long enough to DO something...The world does not owe you... Lots of groups have had it FAR worse. If you don't think so, then you have a very limited knowledge of human history...