April Ratings

[SirRoxalot]

April rolling ratings are out. The only real moves are by WYRK, up a share to 10.2, and WGR-AM, down 1.3 to 4.0. WNED-FM's classical station went up .7 to a 2.8. Very little movement for anybody else. Any changes are well within the margin of error.

The only other item of note is that WBFO-FM-HD2, the AAA baby of Tom Calderone, showed up with a 0.1. WEBR didn't show up, indicating that they didn't buy the book.

Of course, these are only the 12+ numbers, your results may vary, do not take if allergic to ratings, member FDIC, and the rest of the usual disclaimers. See the numbers at Radio Industry News, Radio Show Prep, Radio Promotions, Radio Station Data, Podcast News.

 

[tbolt909]

WLKK The Rabid Wolf logs a sickly 1.1 share, while WYRK has a 10 share. This is another major debacle for Entercom/Audacy. What brilliant managerial mind thought that Country was the answer for 107.7? Alternative was bad, but this Cow Pie reeks even worse...

 

[davideduardo]

WLKK The Rabid Wolf logs a sickly 1.1 share, while WYRK has a 10 share. This is another major debacle for Entercom/Audacy. What brilliant managerial mind thought that Country was the answer for 107.7? Alternative was bad, but this Cow Pie reeks even worse...

The signal is only good for something in the ones…and country combines better with the cluster demos. It is not a. Failure, just a very secondary station

 

[tbolt909]

The signal is only good for something in the ones…and country combines better with the cluster demos. It is not a. Failure, just a very secondary station

You are the Radio historian. You know that's a false statement. Check the ratings when it was The Lake...

 

[davideduardo]

You are the Radio historian. You know that's a false statement. Check the ratings when it was The Lake...

That was long ago, and there are lots of changes, ranging from the quality of receivers to band congestion due to LPFM, translators and power increases. Today, there is no way it can get out of the ones.

 

[TheBigA]

WLKK The Rabid Wolf logs a sickly 1.1 share, while WYRK has a 10 share. This is another major debacle for Entercom/Audacy. What brilliant managerial mind thought that Country was the answer for 107.7?

To be honest they haven't put anything into this station. It's been almost a year since the flip. Other than a local morning show, it's all outside VT. Even website and social media are barest of bare minimum. So the cost is very small, and they get market presence for any national contesting or sales they want to do. Yes, it's minimal, but the costs are also small. I really doubt they're going back to alternative.

 

[tbolt909]

That was long ago, and there are lots of changes, ranging from the quality of receivers to band congestion due to LPFM, translators and power increases. Today, there is no way it can get out of the ones.

Really? Wrong again. It's not a signal issue. It's a bad content one. WECK-Oldies has a 3.8 now. They would have at least that or more on 107.7. Maybe ratings don't matter anymore, but it's disingenuous to say other formats couldn't do better on the 107.7 signal. The Bridge AAA format would likely be in the mid 3 range if they had it...

 

[Rusty Bridges]

To be honest they haven't put anything into this station. It's been almost a year since the flip. Other than a local morning show, it's all outside VT. Even website and social media are barest of bare minimum. So the cost is very small, and they get market presence for any national contesting or sales they want to do.

True to an extent, but Audacy bought a lot of television (significant GRPs) to promote the country format. Given that fact, one might expect better than paltry 1.1. Yet, it's a testimonial to WYRK's programming that after taking a mild wobble, WYRK is back in double digits Persons 12+. Frankly, tbolt does have a point: The Lake did put up competitive numbers, but as David notes, times and listener tastes change. The Lake was nearly 20 years ago. The Wolf sounds like it's on life support. Its opportunity to make a dent has come and gone. "Sixty minutes every hour" was a laughable, transparent positioning statement. Will radio ever learn that, today especially, you can't BS the listener? Funny, how a company can throw a lot of money at a format, but if listeners don't like what they hear the money might as well be shredded. And then there's 92.9 with a killer signal, trudging along at 1.6. Buddy rightfully laughs, but other Buffalo broadcasters are no doubt thankful that what's now on 92.9 doesn't take a significant bite out of their revenue.

 

[TheBigA]

True to an extent, but Audacy bought a lot of television (significant GRPs) to promote the country format.

Was it a buy or trade? You tell me.

Yet, it's a testimonial to WYRK's programming that after taking a mild wobble, WYRK is back in double digits Persons 12+.

Bob Barnett is a radio genius. I've been a fan of his for years. Audacy lost a lot when they lost him.

 

[davideduardo]

The Bridge AAA format would likely be in the mid 3 range if they had it...

And it would sell like it had a 0.5. That is a format for non-com stations today.

 

[Buddy Shula]

As you know, I have been saying that their should be a country station on 107.7 for 20 years. No one listened, and frankly at this stage of the radio industry, no one really cares. I was at WYRK for 10 years from the mid 80's to mid 90's. All on air. I then went to do PM drive at 107.7 WNUC on air along with sales.

NUC did not subscribe to the book until it was late in the game, although the company made more money with country than it had ever made with any other format on that frequency. I personally cleaned up.

When we did purchase the book, I will never forget that NUC had about a 100K cume (TSA). By the signals nature, it should be country, as it covers 13 counties, many rural.

The minute LKK changed to country, I knew I would not work from a ratings standpoint. They are making the same mistake in Rochester at 100.5, going up against the heritage station.

The problem is both cases is simple. There is no separation. You cannot expect to have wolf, as a non local, marginal signal, and most of all, playing what YRK does, make any kind of difference.

AS I said, 107.7 should have become a gold-based country format, promoted heavily, and all over Buffalo on the streets, with local personalities.

YRK is becoming a better station, because of the wolf. They sound tighter, they have adjusted some, and an excellent female air talent in PM drive. Very smart. Bob is truly a very great PD, and I agree, it's Audacy's loss. My best memories of radio were in country radio. There is simply nothing else like it. The listeners live it. It's a lifestyle.

 

[davideduardo]

AS I said, 107.7 should have become a gold-based country format, promoted heavily, and all over Buffalo on the streets, with local personalities.

I wonder if they are afraid of the older demos? Perhaps that station should move to "Casa de Buddy" and you'd have classic country and oldies and own the 55+ retail market!

YRK is becoming a better station, because of the wolf. They sound tighter, they have adjusted some, and an excellent female air talent in PM drive. Very smart. Bob is truly a very great PD, and I agree, it's Audacy's loss. My best memories of radio were in country radio. There is simply nothing else like it. The listeners live it. It's a lifestyle.

One of the best experiences in my career was the few years that I was overlooking WTNT in Tallahassee, the dominant traditional country station in the market. The listeners were loyal and fun to meet, the artists were super when we sponsored concerts and the staff and I are still in contact. Of course, that 12 share was fun, too.

 

[Rusty Bridges]

Was it a buy or trade? You tell me.

Fair question. The point is, Audacy promoted the daylights out of it with tons of TV.

 

[TheBigA]

Fair question. The point is, Audacy promoted the daylights out of it with tons of TV.

What did they promote? "Nobody plays more country?" Was Liz part of the TV? She started in September.

 

[Buddy Shula]

Fair question. The point is, Audacy promoted the daylights out of it with tons of TV.

Audacy did not promote the daylights on TV with the wolf. . WECK does.

TV audiences are older, and what wolf is doing is a younger country format. Many older people despise newer country music. They have been disenfranchised since Shania Twain and the newer Garth came on the scene.

If it was me promoting a format almost like YRK, I would have slaughtered the area will billboards and digital and I would have taken the position that YRK does not even exist. It’s deeper in philosophy, but it would work. At least to get listeners to sample

But like I said, my format would be gold based. George Strait, Randy Travis, Reba, Brooks and Dunn, Hank Jr , Haggard, Clint Black, Alan Jackson.

Don’t think I’m not trying to get that frequency! But these companies just do not want to sell piece meal.

 

[SirRoxalot]

I find it interesting that since Bob Barnett's move from WBEE to WYRK we've seen a strong recovery for WYRK and a significant decline for WBEE. This book WBEE went from an 8.3 to a 7.1. Maybe Audacy should have held onto him. Overall, Audacy has seen a general ratings decline on over 95% of their Buffalo/Rochester stations over the last four books. I don't know if the "savings" from syndication and VT was enough to offset the loss of listeners.

 

[CTListener]

I wonder if they are afraid of the older demos? Perhaps that station should move to "Casa de Buddy" and you'd have classic country and oldies and own the 55+ retail market!

They could probably avoid the 55+ curse by taking to the '80s-through-'00s (with a very few '70s and '10s) approach that seems to be working well in Dallas for KPLX. No classic Charley Pride and Statler Brothers, lots of classic Tim McGraw and Brooks and Dunn.

 

[tbolt909]

I find it interesting that since Bob Barnett's move from WBEE to WYRK we've seen a strong recovery for WYRK and a significant decline for WBEE. This book WBEE went from an 8.3 to a 7.1. Maybe Audacy should have held onto him. Overall, Audacy has seen a general ratings decline on over 95% of their Buffalo/Rochester stations over the last four books. I don't know if the "savings" from syndication and VT was enough to offset the loss of listeners.

Hang on to him? Working for Audacy isn't indentured servitude (although it may feel like it). He found a better option. He'll probably be able to leave WYRK on his own terms(retire) instead of waiting for the Axe to fall at Audacy. Smart strategical move...

 

[SirRoxalot]

Hang on to him? Working for Audacy isn't indentured servitude (although it may feel like it). He found a better option. He'll probably be able to leave WYRK on his own terms(retire) instead of waiting for the Axe to fall at Audacy. Smart strategical move...

Ever heard of the concept of negotiations where two parties discuss terms and reach a contract that is agreeable to both of them? Audacy could have retained Bob's services if they had agreed to terms that he was comfortable with. Instead, they continue with their policy of contraction and cost-cutting. Well, they reduced their costs in Rochester and Buffalo. They've lost a number of good people in both markets. We'll see what their "savings" have been worth when we see revenue numbers. Audacy apparently hasn't paid attention to what happens when you try to "cut your way to prosperity."

BTW, "bolt," how about shocking us someday and coming up with a positive post on this board. I can't remember any from you.

 

[tbolt909]

Ever heard of the concept of negotiations where two parties discuss terms and reach a contract that is agreeable to both of them? Audacy could have retained Bob's services if they had agreed to terms that he was comfortable with. Instead, they continue with their policy of contraction and cost-cutting. Well, they reduced their costs in Rochester and Buffalo. They've lost a number of good people in both markets. We'll see what their "savings" have been worth when we see revenue numbers. Audacy apparently hasn't paid attention to what happens when you try to "cut your way to prosperity."

Whoever said Audacy is trying to be prosperous. They are circling the drain. Contract negotiations are "take it or leave it" these days. He left it...