Another new Cox translator for Greenville?

[awp69]

The funniest song that's missing is "Burn It Down", Linkin Park's latest - as much as they play them, it seems like they would play it!

Oddly enough, I just finally heard it!

 

[awp69]

...and at lunch, Coldplay!

Interesting that they do seem to be responding to feedback. Still heavy on the '90s grunge, but nice to see them putting other things into the mix. They've been playing Young the Giant a lot.

 

[carolinaradio]

Fantastic! They do finally seem to be getting it together. IMO, they NEED to respond to the listeners. It's good that they are actually (seemingly) paying attention to feedback and adjusting accordingly. Way too little of that seems to happen in radio, or any business. The majority of the newer stuff must have been added in the past few days. I can take the '90s grunge as long as the current stuff is played. RHCP are rolling now as I type.

So, now it seems like they're playing most of the currents. That's great. I definitely listen to MY less now, and have actually not listened to the CHR's much at all in the past couple of weeks.

 

[awp69]

I still flip to 102.5 occassionally when there's a grunge song, Beastie Boys, Tool or the like that I'm tired of hearing. But I have in general, been listening much more to X98.5 than anything else. And the CHRs are further down the line after MY.

Played Passion Pit and Alabama Shakes this afternoon as well, so yeah, they are definately mixing in more currents. If I wanted '90s grunge/Beastie Boys/Tool/Rage Against the Machine/Puddle of Mudd and the like, I could have listened to The Planet. So I'm glad they're starting to expand their playlist and are sounding more open musically than The Planet ever has been.

 

[MarkSC]

This once again illustrates the folly of WMYI's Hot AC move. The guys who came aboard because it was "new" are gone as soon as the next "new" station arrives. The base for My is weak and and their audience is fickle.

 

[awp69]

This once again illustrates the folly of WMYI's Hot AC move.  The guys who came aboard because it was "new" are gone as soon as the next "new" station arrives.  The base for My is weak and and their audience is fickle.

I don't think it's so much that we're moving on just because of something "new". If a new country station showed up, I wouldn't have jumped ship on MY. I still do listen to MY on occassion because I do like to hear new pop/CHR that's more friendly to Hot AC (ie., not as rhythmic) and X98.5 does play a lot of older, grunge alternative that I used to like but just grew tired of.

Anyway, I still think MY definately has a place, at least for my listening. It really is more about the lack of stations playing newer rock..something at the time MY was playing more of than stations like B93.7. Yes, now there's a new station in town that at least hits a fair amount of that new rock that was missing from the area.

MY is focused more on a female audience that probably won't want to hear all of the heavier, grunge material on X. But I'm not a female and kind of fall in the same boat (which is a bit strange because I was big into alternative during the '90s grunge period). Quite honestly, the main reason why I keep listening to X98.5 for lengthier periods it to just to hear the newer music. But I still flip.

The more choices the market has, the better for the listener. In the end, it'll still end up in the ratings game, unfortunately. So we'll just see how it shakes out.

 

[awp69]

Just wanted to add a footnote here that, I admit, I'm not a typical listener. There's few stations in the entire country that I could listen to and not want to flip at some point or another (Radio 104.5 in Philly probably being one of them). My wife has satellite radio and even on it, there's not a single station I would feel would meet my listening tastes, so I'd even be flipping there.

I could listen to my iPod, but again, I like to hear new music so I like stations that expose me to new and different songs. So, yes, you could put me in the "fickle" category.

I come to these boards because I do like music so much and I enjoy talking about what's going on with radio in our market.

 

[carolinaradio]

Although I do still listen to MY, it is definitely different because of 98.5. MY really has little to keep me tuned in other than the fact that I like some of the newer music that isn't as rhythmic as 93.7. That's the main reason I tune in to them, and will continue to. Nothing else really has a draw. Certainly not the air talent (so much of what they say is obviously targeted at women, which is fine since that is who they are after, but some of the remarks are a turn off to any potential male listener, IMO). I do agree that the base audience is fickle compared to when they did Mainstream AC properly and Mainstream AC was a more popular format. Back then, the audience was just split with 98.9, and they had many long-time listeners that were more loyal, but now there are elements shared with 98.9, 97.7, 98.5, 93.7 - making themselves more vulnerable to a larger selection of stations. I'd venture to guess more of their listeners switch between 102.5 and other stations than in their previous AC incarnation.

I don't know how much of a male audience MY has, or if they even care about that portion - but I would think a lot of them would enjoy X, also. I don't really see 98.5 posing much of a threat to 102.5's female-heavy base overall, though.

I've tried satellite radio in rental cars and don't care for it. It all seems so fragmented and specialized. As far as "variety" on one station, I think terrestrial radio wins. X continues to improve, IMO. When they start playing commercials, I don't expect a ton of them...97.7 just does a couple of 2-3 minute breaks an hour, sometimes less.

 

[awp69]

I do agree that the base audience is fickle compared to when they did Mainstream AC properly and Mainstream AC was a more popular format.  Back then, the audience was just split with 98.9, and they had many long-time listeners that were more loyal, but now there are elements shared with 98.9, 97.7, 98.5, 93.7 - making themselves more vulnerable to a larger selection of stations.  I'd venture to guess more of their listeners switch between 102.5 and other stations than in their previous AC incarnation.

I can see what you're saying as far as having more stations to compete with as a Hot AC format, but even though I still did flip prior to (and even more now with 98.5), I think the mix of music may be what helps MY stay alive. They may lose some male listeners to 98.5, but prior to that station, I listened to MY way more than any other station in the market. I would think the admittedly mostly female target group may listen to that station on a regular basis and only flip when there's something they don't want to hear  --- just as I do now with 98.5.

Anyway, I guess what I'm trying to say is that I think the mix MY has now is appealing to people in the 30s and 40s primarily and except for those wanting more overall rock, I think that audience should be fairly stable. Lots of people have one station as their primary focus and just flip during commercials or a song that they hate. I don't think that will ever change.

Magic is, IMO, the one who has more to worry about. If they don't do anything to change their stagnant sound, I think more and more listeners will migrate to MY (the younger audience) and Chuck (the older audience).

 

[freqdev]

i dont listen to any of the new stations but i am curious as you go song by song through the playlists of 102.5 and 98.5 as well as 97.7 how you determine what format a song or artist is. why does one song fit and another doesn't and another is missing from playlists? genius intuition?

 

[carolinaradio]

i dont listen to any of the new stations but i am curious as you go song by song through the playlists of 102.5 and 98.5 as well as 97.7 how you determine what format a song or artist is. why does one song fit and another doesn't and another is missing from playlists? genius intuition?

I would assume some form of market research is done in typical cases, but given that the two Cox stations are jukeboxes on small signals, I don't know if any investment was made in research for those. A station like X 98.5 may tap in to sister stations' resources, and there is an Alternative chart that most stations get their "current"/most popular tracks from - current hits naturally "fit" and deserve airplay. I have not looked song by song at what MY plays, but from what I hear, it is on target for what they say they are. When they were in a "transitional" phase, it was easy to tell what was wrong- they said they were Hot AC, but were only playing a select few amount of current songs on the Hot AC chart, with many new songs not being played that nobody else around here was giving airplay to. If you compared them to most other Hot AC stations, it was obvious where they were falling short from just listening for an hour.

Chuck FM can get away with anything, because they "play everything" (that a select group of the 25-54 target likely wants to hear). They sound good for their format, though. They lean more towards Classic Hits from the 70s and 80s, but that's a void in the market, so I say keep up the good work.

I do agree that the base audience is fickle compared to when they did Mainstream AC properly and Mainstream AC was a more popular format. Back then, the audience was just split with 98.9, and they had many long-time listeners that were more loyal, but now there are elements shared with 98.9, 97.7, 98.5, 93.7 - making themselves more vulnerable to a larger selection of stations. I'd venture to guess more of their listeners switch between 102.5 and other stations than in their previous AC incarnation.

I can see what you're saying as far as having more stations to compete with as a Hot AC format, but even though I still did flip prior to (and even more now with 98.5), I think the mix of music may be what helps MY stay alive. They may lose some male listeners to 98.5, but prior to that station, I listened to MY way more than any other station in the market. I would think the admittedly mostly female target group may listen to that station on a regular basis and only flip when there's something they don't want to hear --- just as I do now with 98.5.

Anyway, I guess what I'm trying to say is that I think the mix MY has now is appealing to people in the 30s and 40s primarily and except for those wanting more overall rock, I think that audience should be fairly stable. Lots of people have one station as their primary focus and just flip during commercials or a song that they hate. I don't think that will ever change.

Magic is, IMO, the one who has more to worry about. If they don't do anything to change their stagnant sound, I think more and more listeners will migrate to MY (the younger audience) and Chuck (the older audience).

I have to agree with you. I think MY has done quite well this year in finding their niche and properly programming to it. It's on target. The music is all that attracts me to MY...they are really gender-specific to me - if that's their strategy, fine, but by mentioning things like "your husband", etc., it seems like they're pretty much ignoring any potential male listener.

Quite honestly, I don't think Magic cares that they are losing audience share. Entercom puts no effort or resources in to that station.

 

[awp69]

X98.5 seems to be getting better every day. Don't think they'll ever let go of the grunge, but I like how they are now putting more emphasis on the new music with the bumpers in front of the newer songs with the band and title name. While I generally know most of the "new" bands they're playing, without DJs, I think it will definately help expose listeners to them and get to know them by name. The mix is sounding pretty good!

 

[carolinaradio]

X98.5 seems to be getting better every day. Don't think they'll ever let go of the grunge, but I like how they are now putting more emphasis on the new music with the bumpers in front of the newer songs with the band and title name. While I generally know most of the "new" bands they're playing, without DJs, I think it will definately help expose listeners to them and get to know them by name. The mix is sounding pretty good!

I agree! I heard that and thought it sounded like Channel 96.1 who does that with their very new songs. Cox puts out a good product -- I'm glad that they sound to be putting just as much effort in to this station as a 100,000 watter in Jacksonville. Especially helpful to do this because there may be listeners that aren't familiar with a lot of the material they're playing since this is a new format to the area.

 

[KyleSmith1988]

Trying to listen to X98.5 this morning and I'm hearing B98.5 Atlanta over X from the Cowpens/Gaffney area.
Atlanta skipped over Paris Mountain and I'm getting a pretty good signal from WSB-FM this morning...
Earlier WOMG-FM was also interfering.

 

[awp69]

Trying to listen to X98.5 this morning and I'm hearing B98.5 Atlanta over X from the Cowpens/Gaffney area.
Atlanta skipped over Paris Mountain and I'm getting a pretty good signal from WSB-FM this morning...
Earlier WOMG-FM was also interfering.

That's amazing to get the Atlanta signal that far up. Even prior to X, don't think I've ever heard B98.5 in the Greenville area.

X was breaking up a bit here and there this morning, but overall sounded pretty clear. Assuming it's weather related. And just gotta throw this bone in since I was jumping on the station for playing so much '90s grunge, I listened for about an hour and half this morning and only heard one grunge song (Soundgarden)! Not sure if it's the morning drive, but the focus seemed to be on lighter alt rock (Coldplay, Of Monsters and Men, Foster the People, Modest Mouse, etc.).

 

[carolinaradio]

I always have a little static on 98.5 in the morning. I'm close enough to not have another station interfere with it, but the signal is weak. It gets better by mid-morning. Before they signed on, it wasn't uncommon for me to get WOMG clearly at times.

I agree that this station sounds fantastic! I don't hear much grunge anymore, either. That's what it sounds like most of the time when I listen. I really can't suggest that they change anything. I do wonder if they need to mention The Planet and The Rise Guys so much, though - I question whether the X-98.5 audience would have even listened to 93.3. There's a big difference.

 

[awp69]

I do wonder if they need to mention The Planet and The Rise Guys so much, though - I question whether the X-98.5 audience would have even listened to 93.3. There's a big difference.

Yeah, I agree. The promos, primarily aimed at The Rise Guys, are getting a little old. As much as I dislike The Planet, the music -- particularly in the past few weeks -- is quite a bit different. The plugs make it sound as if the difference is the talking and The Planet's personalities. They should concentrate on what really separates them....the music. The biggest crossover with The Planet is mainly the grunge and the occassional song from bands like Tool and Beastie Boys (seems like X has really cut back on the BB).

Probably 75% or so of the songs on X are things The Planet would never touch primarily for not being "loud" enough. While you might hear something from Muse on The Planet, I doubt they'll ever play their latest, "Madness".

 

[vchimpanzee]

I do wonder if they need to mention The Planet and The Rise Guys so much, though - I question whether the X-98.5 audience would have even listened to 93.3. There's a big difference.

Yeah, I agree. The promos, primarily aimed at The Rise Guys, are getting a little old. As much as I dislike The Planet, the music -- particularly in the past few weeks -- is quite a bit different. The plugs make it sound as if the difference is the talking and The Planet's personalities. They should concentrate on what really separates them....the music. The biggest crossover with The Planet is mainly the grunge and the occassional song from bands like Tool and Beastie Boys (seems like X has really cut back on the BB).

Probably 75% or so of the songs on X are things The Planet would never touch primarily for not being "loud" enough. While you might hear something from Muse on The Planet, I doubt they'll ever play their latest, "Madness".

If you think The Planet has problems, I had a tire that was low and it needed to be patched. The man checked and found another tire needing to be patched. All of this took long enough for a DJ to talk a while and then play two songs. One was by Shinedown. The other was "Ragdoll" by Aerosmith. Now that's a station which is all over the road. One area station is pure alternative (not actually alternative, and some argue it's active), and two are classic. There is another station which this one must have been. I've heard they're more active now than they used to be, but apparently not "active" enough.

 

[awp69]

I realize it hasn't been long enough for X98.5's ad sales staff to show what kind of audience they're getting. But it's a little disconcerting that since they've left the commercial free flip period, I've noticed almost no difference. Seems like I hear an ad maybe once every few hours and it's just that ... usuallly one ad.

Of course, that's good for us listeners, but not so good for running a radio station. I'm sure The Planet is fighting tooth and nail to keep any advertisers from jumping ship.

It's a translator so obviously it isn't going to take as much revenue to keep it going. I doubt the first "book" is going to show much. But ratings aside, it's still advertising that will keep them on the air.

Probably too soon to be concerned. Just thought they'd have at least a little more advertising after having a month to line some things up.

 

[carolinaradio]

Seeing that it's not an extremely wide-reaching signal, I wouldn't worry. It takes a while for even a full signal station running a new format to start signing advertisers a lot of times.

A similar situation is Chuck-FM....they just ran a handful of "mom and pop"/very local ads for the first few months, but now they seem to have a decent roster of advertisers, considering. I don't think it's any cause for alarm. The station has to build a following, get out there. It's still probably unknown to a lot of advertisers. Seeing that there is very little overhead, I doubt they have to make much.