AOR in Birmingham?

[kramerrox]

That's what I hear. I hear a CC station is gonna flip to AOR. Its about time! Bring back the days of Mark and Brian and a real rock station!!!!!!!

It WILL work in Birmingham, but someone has to grow BALLS and really let it hang out there. Whimpy aint gonna do JACK!

What have YOU guys heard? I'm Kramer from the old Kramer and Twitch show and I am from talladega, AL.

God BLESS the South!

Kramer

Stop hiding behind bullshit names.

 

[j-man2004]

> That's what I hear. I hear a CC station is gonna flip to
> AOR. Its about time! Bring back the days of Mark and Brian
> and a real rock station!!!!!!!
>
> It WILL work in Birmingham, but someone has to grow BALLS
> and really let it hang out there. Whimpy aint gonna do JACK!
>
>
> What have YOU guys heard? I'm Kramer from the old Kramer and
> Twitch show and I am from talladega, AL.
>
> God BLESS the South!
>
> Kramer
>
> Stop hiding behind bullshit names.
>

Yea. I have heard the same thing. Heard 106.9 will change formats from their 80's garbage. Terrible numbers, but great billing so don't look for it to happen anytime this year.

 

[clichemoth]

> > That's what I hear. I hear a CC station is gonna flip to
> > AOR. Its about time! Bring back the days of Mark and Brian
>
> > and a real rock station!!!!!!!
> >
> > It WILL work in Birmingham, but someone has to grow BALLS
> > and really let it hang out there. Whimpy aint gonna do
> JACK!
> >
> >
> > What have YOU guys heard? I'm Kramer from the old Kramer
> and
> > Twitch show and I am from talladega, AL.
> >
> > God BLESS the South!
> >
> > Kramer
> >
> > Stop hiding behind bullshit names.
> >
>
> Yea. I have heard the same thing. Heard 106.9 will change
> formats from their 80's garbage. Terrible numbers, but great
> billing so don't look for it to happen anytime this year.
>

Ah, but 106.9 isn't a CC station. Whatever they do next is likely contingent on the move Kramer is discussing, but he's not referring to them.

I would have a hard time believing Magic 96 or WENN would flip, that'd be illogical to the extreme. They could be conceding the unwinnable country battle and flipping the Bull, but that's not necessarily a great move.

That leaves Q, which would be the most logical choice on all counts. It's more expendable than the others and covers the ground area the X gave up. Sounds like it'll be more rock and less alternative, though still hitting similar demos to X.

That would then leave Birmingham w/o a true CHR, a hole someone would probably fill. 106.9 could just play more currents in order to fill it, which makes sense because a Q flip would benefit them most of all.

 

[ticoSD]

> I would have a hard time believing Magic 96 or WENN would
> flip, that'd be illogical to the extreme. They could be
> conceding the unwinnable country battle and flipping the
> Bull, but that's not necessarily a great move.

Maybe not Magic, but WENN probably could flip. A while back, I posted the thread about Hallelujah and if it was making money and the consensus was that it wasn't. The ratings alone wouldn't make since for a flip, but if the revenue isn't there, then all the ratings in the world won't save it.

> That leaves Q, which would be the most logical choice on all
> counts. It's more expendable than the others and covers the
> ground area the X gave up. Sounds like it'll be more rock
> and less alternative, though still hitting similar demos to
> X.
>
> That would then leave Birmingham w/o a true CHR, a hole
> someone would probably fill. 106.9 could just play more
> currents in order to fill it, which makes sense because a Q
> flip would benefit them most of all.

The Q is one of a handful of stations I usually keep my eye on for a flip. Heck, a year ago, I thought it was primed to go urban, until the ratings suddenly improved and now that Hot 107.7 beat them to the punch. A 106.9 flip to CHR--should Q abandon it--is conceivable, given that it used to be CHR years ago. Unfortunately, the WKXX calls aren't available. Personally, I think 106.9 may go Jack, but radio is strange to the point that I don't know Jack.<P ID="signature">______________
"...and the countdown continues until the neanderthals that govern college football do something about their pathetic postseason."--Tim Brando, Sporting News Radio</P>

 

[clichemoth]

> > I would have a hard time believing Magic 96 or WENN would
> > flip, that'd be illogical to the extreme. They could be
> > conceding the unwinnable country battle and flipping the
> > Bull, but that's not necessarily a great move.
>
> Maybe not Magic, but WENN probably could flip. A while back,
> I posted the thread about Hallelujah and if it was making
> money and the consensus was that it wasn't. The ratings
> alone wouldn't make since for a flip, but if the revenue
> isn't there, then all the ratings in the world won't save
> it.

There could be something to that, but I don't see WENN as being their first choice to blow up now that it seems to be finding an audience. Or even the second, really. If it is the chosen station, would Citadel go after the heritage calls for 107.7 once they were made available?
>
> > That leaves Q, which would be the most logical choice on
> all
> > counts. It's more expendable than the others and covers
> the
> > ground area the X gave up. Sounds like it'll be more rock
>
> > and less alternative, though still hitting similar demos
> to
> > X.
> >
> > That would then leave Birmingham w/o a true CHR, a hole
> > someone would probably fill. 106.9 could just play more
> > currents in order to fill it, which makes sense because a
> Q
> > flip would benefit them most of all.
>
> The Q is one of a handful of stations I usually keep my eye
> on for a flip. Heck, a year ago, I thought it was primed to
> go urban, until the ratings suddenly improved and now that
> Hot 107.7 beat them to the punch. A 106.9 flip to
> CHR--should Q abandon it--is conceivable, given that it used
> to be CHR years ago. Unfortunately, the WKXX calls aren't
> available. Personally, I think 106.9 may go Jack, but radio
> is strange to the point that I don't know Jack.

I don't think Jack really has a potential home here. Of course, a true AOR with a balance of old and new would stomp Rock 99's bland presentation into the mud, making it a candidate. . . but if 99.5 flipped in the foreseeable future, I'd bet on a talk simulcast due to the sports commitments. WJOX-FM, anyone?

 

[ALRocker]

> > > I would have a hard time believing Magic 96 or WENN
> would
> > > flip, that'd be illogical to the extreme. They could be
>
> > > conceding the unwinnable country battle and flipping the
>
> > > Bull, but that's not necessarily a great move.
> >
> > Maybe not Magic, but WENN probably could flip. A while
> back,
> > I posted the thread about Hallelujah and if it was making
> > money and the consensus was that it wasn't. The ratings
> > alone wouldn't make since for a flip, but if the revenue
> > isn't there, then all the ratings in the world won't save
> > it.
>
> There could be something to that, but I don't see WENN as
> being their first choice to blow up now that it seems to be
> finding an audience. Or even the second, really. If it is
> the chosen station, would Citadel go after the heritage
> calls for 107.7 once they were made available?
> >
> > > That leaves Q, which would be the most logical choice on
>
> > all
> > > counts. It's more expendable than the others and covers
>
> > the
> > > ground area the X gave up. Sounds like it'll be more
> rock
> >
> > > and less alternative, though still hitting similar demos
>
> > to
> > > X.
> > >
> > > That would then leave Birmingham w/o a true CHR, a hole
> > > someone would probably fill. 106.9 could just play more
>
> > > currents in order to fill it, which makes sense because
> a
> > Q
> > > flip would benefit them most of all.
> >
> > The Q is one of a handful of stations I usually keep my
> eye
> > on for a flip. Heck, a year ago, I thought it was primed
> to
> > go urban, until the ratings suddenly improved and now that
>
> > Hot 107.7 beat them to the punch. A 106.9 flip to
> > CHR--should Q abandon it--is conceivable, given that it
> used
> > to be CHR years ago. Unfortunately, the WKXX calls aren't
> > available. Personally, I think 106.9 may go Jack, but
> radio
> > is strange to the point that I don't know Jack.
>
> I don't think Jack really has a potential home here. Of
> course, a true AOR with a balance of old and new would stomp
> Rock 99's bland presentation into the mud, making it a
> candidate. . . but if 99.5 flipped in the foreseeable
> future, I'd bet on a talk simulcast due to the sports
> commitments. WJOX-FM, anyone?
>
I'd love to see AOR back in B'ham., but it never has worked. Count the stations that have tried it. K-99, 95 rock, Planet Rock 92.5, and even K-Rock (AM 1010) and if you want to go way back there was WJLN 104.7. So good luck if somebody does try it.

 

[clichemoth]

> I'd love to see AOR back in B'ham., but it never has worked.
> Count the stations that have tried it. K-99, 95 rock, Planet
> Rock 92.5, and even K-Rock (AM 1010) and if you want to go
> way back there was WJLN 104.7. So good luck if somebody
> does try it.

Wouldn't have been my first pick for something to flip to, either. I mean, I love real rock and would listen to an AOR 103.7 with glee, but are the audience and billing really there?

A Fish-type CCM station would actually be the best bet for any flip around here, IMO, because the audience and billing would be there. WDJC only partially serves that demo, since they have too much talk and too much BWG that only really appeals to 40+.





>

 

[kramerrox]

People complain about not being able to sell ANY format. It can make money, but you have to program it a little smarter and leave out a lot of the blue stuff, but have BALLS. Take some risks, hire great talent and let them do their thing, play the hell out of the big records, have great promotions centered around the target and rake in the money.

WENN isn't doing bad with ratings, but I can't see it billing an assload. Now with the WRAX signal, now would be the time.

 

[msteven3]

> People complain about not being able to sell ANY format. It
> can make money, but you have to program it a little smarter
> and leave out a lot of the blue stuff, but have BALLS. Take
> some risks, hire great talent and let them do their thing,
> play the hell out of the big records, have great promotions
> centered around the target and rake in the money.
>

But see, there's the problem. Companies like CC will never do any of that. Even if they use local talent instead of VT, they still like to keep tight control over playlists. Consultants know best, you know. Doing what you propose is, in their eyes, too risky, and with the debt they amassed buying up half the stations in the known universe, they'd rather have a mediocre format that is guaranteed to make some money as opposed to a truly great station that might lose money. That's why, IMHO, companies like CC have destroyed radio in this country. They've sucked the life out of an entire industry just so they can make a fortune off of it, never mind the fact that terrestrial radio is losing market share every day to satellite radio and iPods.

Sorry, this wasn't meant to turn into a rant. I just don't think that the big conglomerates, especially CC, will allow the amount of local control you're talking about. If you have any doubts, head on over to the Mississippi board and look through the archives to see what CC did to WSTZ (Z106) in Jackson.

 

[johngarrett]

HEY Y'ALL


I JUST TALKED TO MANAGEMENT AT CC BIRMINGHAM.


THEY SAID IF THEY ARE GOING AOR--PLEASE LET THEM KNOW SO THEY CAN GET THE MUSIC LIBRARY READY.



JOHN GARRETT

 

[rwells2265]

> I'd love to see AOR back in B'ham., but it never has worked.
> Count the stations that have tried it. K-99, 95 rock, Planet
> Rock 92.5, and even K-Rock (AM 1010) and if you want to go
> way back there was WJLN 104.7. So good luck if somebody
> does try it.

Not necessarily....

Unless I'm mistaken, WJLN changed to C&W after K-99 went on the air.

WVOK-FM/WRKK K-99 was a fantastic, well-programmed, locally aware AOR. Remember the heavy competition they had with KICKS 106 in the 1979-81 period? In 1980, K-99 was ranked #6 in the nation in the Rolling Stone poll's "favorite radio station" category. Nobody could say K-99 "never worked."

95 ROCK was little more than a clone of sister station WABB-FM in Mobile -- which at the time called itself 97 ROCK. It was your typical "Superstars"-style AOR, in the mold of Atlanta's 96 ROCK and Memphis' ROCK 103. Problem was, B'ham couldn't support two AORs. K-99 went country in August 1982, after Brennan sold it. 95 ROCK then had AOR all to itself until 1984.

But 95 ROCK didn't change due to bad ratings; remember how it took close to a year before it completely transitioned to CHR I-95? Look at Dittman flagship WABB-FM, which did the very same thing at the very same time! 97 ROCK became 97-FM. Dittman's stations (Birmingham, Mobile, Memphis) all used the same formula.

K-ROCK (WPYK) had a crummy signal over B'ham ... it was a daytimer out of Dora, fer cryin' out loud! That didn't last but, what, six months? Now, doing AOR on AM wasn't entirely folly ... look no further than other Ala. stations rocking out in the '80s: WLSQ 950 "95 ROCK" in Montgomery (1980-87), WOOF 560 "ROCKIN' 56" in Dothan (1984-88) and the first WTAK in Huntsville, AM 1000 (1987-93).

My take is that Birmingham wants a good AOR station, but except for K-99 and early (1988-90) ROCK 99, hasn't had one. ROCK 99 started out in the mold of K, but quickly degenerated into a 20-song playlist. I suspect that was timid management -- remember that for a long time AOR had that "you can't sell it, it only appeals to hippies" baggage.

What I'd love to see in B'ham is an adult rock format, more or less AAA currents mixed with the older, deeper classic rock, call it "K-(frequency)" and you'll get some big adult numbers. And hey -- for added fun, flip 610 to oldies and call it WXGN. (and raise Jim Taber from the dead to program it!!)

But no, I don't think it's a case of AOR not being successful in the 'Ham; IMHO except for K-99 it was a case of the wrong owners with the wrong stations at the wrong time.

My .02 (forgive the tarnished pennies, it's all I could find under the cushion)

*********
Russell W.
Savannah, Ga.
Birmingham native and wembaster of Birmingham Rewound:
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/bham.rewound

 

[TheDingo]

> HEY Y'ALL
>
>
> I JUST TALKED TO MANAGEMENT AT CC BIRMINGHAM.
>
>
> THEY SAID IF THEY ARE GOING AOR--PLEASE LET THEM KNOW SO
> THEY CAN GET THE MUSIC LIBRARY READY.
>
>
>
> JOHN GARRETT
>
and I say please rip your caps lock key off..

<P ID="signature">______________
100.3 The Dingo
Playing What YOU Want!
Requests open 24/7
requsets: http://thedingo.sytes.net
stream: http://thedingo.sytes.net:1003/96k.ogg
http://fox100.gooeylinux.org</P>

 

[johngarrett]

> > HEY Y'ALL
> >
> >
> > I JUST TALKED TO MANAGEMENT AT CC BIRMINGHAM.
> >
> >
> > THEY SAID IF THEY ARE GOING AOR--PLEASE LET THEM KNOW SO
> > THEY CAN GET THE MUSIC LIBRARY READY.
> >
> >
> >
> > JOHN GARRETT
> >
> and I say please rip your caps lock key off..
>


i do some real research. some real honest research and all you can add is TURN MY CAPS OFF!

Thank you mr marconi.

JOHN GARRETT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[SKIPPER]

HEY JOHN.... IF CC B'HAM NEEDS AOR MUSIC... THEY CAN COME TO MY HOUSE... I'VE GOT EVERYTHING THEY NEED.... BY THE WAY... HOW DO YOU TURN THE CAP'S LOCK OFF ON THIS THING...????????????
SKIPPER



















> > > HEY Y'ALL
> > >
> > >
> > > I JUST TALKED TO MANAGEMENT AT CC BIRMINGHAM.
> > >
> > >
> > > THEY SAID IF THEY ARE GOING AOR--PLEASE LET THEM KNOW SO
>
> > > THEY CAN GET THE MUSIC LIBRARY READY.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > JOHN GARRETT
> > >
> > and I say please rip your caps lock key off..
> >
>
>
> i do some real research. some real honest research and all
> you can add is TURN MY CAPS OFF!
>
> Thank you mr marconi.
>
> JOHN GARRETT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
>

 

[gotrock]

AOR QUESTION

Just exactly what type of playlist would we be looking at. Would this be older music that competes with 99.5 or more modern and heavier music that would make 100.5 look even wimpier?<P ID="signature">______________
got ROCK?</P>

 

[clichemoth]

Re: AOR QUESTION

> Just exactly what type of playlist would we be looking at.
> Would this be older music that competes with 99.5 or more
> modern and heavier music that would make 100.5 look even
> wimpier?
>
To be a true AOR, it'd need both. Not like 99.5 plays anything more progressive than the odd cut from "The Wall" or 100.5 isn't totally given over to future AC acts that frat-boys pretend to like to get laid anyway, so there wouldn't be much overlap. But it won't happen unless the good folks at CC-Birmingham obtain Skipper's record collection, apparently.

 

[jaleo23]

WENN calls migrating back to 107.7

> > > I would have a hard time believing Magic 96 or WENN
> would
> > > flip, that'd be illogical to the extreme. They could be
>
> > > conceding the unwinnable country battle and flipping the
>
> > > Bull, but that's not necessarily a great move.
> >
> > Maybe not Magic, but WENN probably could flip. A while
> back,
> > I posted the thread about Hallelujah and if it was making
> > money and the consensus was that it wasn't. The ratings
> > alone wouldn't make since for a flip, but if the revenue
> > isn't there, then all the ratings in the world won't save
> > it.
>
> There could be something to that, but I don't see WENN as
> being their first choice to blow up now that it seems to be
> finding an audience. Or even the second, really. If it is
> the chosen station, would Citadel go after the heritage
> calls for 107.7 once they were made available?

I co-sign. The format change occuring on 105.9, soon to be 105.5, isn't that far fetched. I have been hearing for year also that Clear Channel isn't very happy with the lack of revenue of that station. The WENN calls brought back to 107.7 would aid Citadel in migrating back the station back to its original name & format 107.7 WENN, a Mainstream Urban.

However, I wonder whether Clear Channel would be brave enough to jump back into the urban radio game when it switches over to it new signal and frequency. In the end they would still try to keep the WENN call letters

> > > That leaves Q, which would be the most logical choice on
>
> > all
> > > counts. It's more expendable than the others and covers
>
> > the
> > > ground area the X gave up. Sounds like it'll be more
> rock
> >
> > > and less alternative, though still hitting similar demos
>
> > to
> > > X.
> > >
> > > That would then leave Birmingham w/o a true CHR, a hole
> > > someone would probably fill. 106.9 could just play more
>
> > > currents in order to fill it, which makes sense because
> a
> > Q
> > > flip would benefit them most of all.
> >
> > The Q is one of a handful of stations I usually keep my
> eye
> > on for a flip. Heck, a year ago, I thought it was primed
> to
> > go urban, until the ratings suddenly improved and now that
>
> > Hot 107.7 beat them to the punch. A 106.9 flip to
> > CHR--should Q abandon it--is conceivable, given that it
> used
> > to be CHR years ago. Unfortunately, the WKXX calls aren't
> > available. Personally, I think 106.9 may go Jack, but
> radio
> > is strange to the point that I don't know Jack.
>
> I don't think Jack really has a potential home here. Of
> course, a true AOR with a balance of old and new would stomp
> Rock 99's bland presentation into the mud, making it a
> candidate. . . but if 99.5 flipped in the foreseeable
> future, I'd bet on a talk simulcast due to the sports
> commitments. WJOX-FM, anyone?
>
<P ID="signature">______________
If you don't like what I said....Oh hell, oh well. I have bigger fish to fry.</P>

 

[clichemoth]

Re: WENN calls migrating back to 107.7

> I co-sign. The format change occuring on 105.9, soon to be
> 105.5, isn't that far fetched. I have been hearing for year
> also that Clear Channel isn't very happy with the lack of
> revenue of that station. The WENN calls brought back to
> 107.7 would aid Citadel in migrating back the station back
> to its original name & format 107.7 WENN, a Mainstream
> Urban.
>
> However, I wonder whether Clear Channel would be brave
> enough to jump back into the urban radio game when it
> switches over to it new signal and frequency. In the end
> they would still try to keep the WENN call letters

Is there enough of the urban pie left in Birmingham for CC to grab a piece, though? I don't see that being the case right now. Unless they put together a singulatly amazing station with stronger promotion than they've generally done here, mobody would notice.

Rock, OTOH, is a great big gaping hole on the dial. Neither the X or 99.5 serve the audience completely. One's a little too soft, the other is way too narrow. Something along the lines of 95.1 in Huntsville would work well, IMHO.

I still think Q would be first on the block, though. Maybe a double-flip with it going rock and 105.9/5 going CHR?

They're most likely not really doing it, but it's the safest way to go. A solid male-skewing rock station would almost certainly have more revenue potential than gospel.

 

[passtheword]

> A Fish-type CCM station would actually be the best bet for
> any flip around here, IMO, because the audience and billing
> would be there. WDJC only partially serves that demo, since
> they have too much talk and too much BWG that only really
> appeals to 40+.


We could use a "Fish" here. WDJC does talk too much, commercials or otherwise. I've talked with other WDJC listeners who are saying the same thing. Who wants to hear a 10 minute commercial for a mortgage company? My wife jokes that WDJC should announce on air that they offer "30 minute commercial sweeps with limited music interruptions. lol

If Crawford ever decides to sell WDJC, somebody should run and tell Salem to go "sign on the dotted line".






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