ATLANTA RADIO IS SO SO TIRED

[BIGSTICK]

I just came back from a short trip down to Hilton Head, and I must tell you on my way down I turned off my Sirius and scanned the FM all the way down, while I was there and on the way back.

My point is, is that it is amazing all the small town radio stations that are completely incredible when compared with the ------ that is on the Atlanta radio dial.

For instance Savannah has more variety than Atlanta. You can hear every format basically known to man in the Savannah area. Even towns like Vidalia, Statesboro, Metter, Dublin have station's that are far superior to Atlanta's.

This station in Macon which has the WPCH call letters, is incredible, you never know what they are going to play next. Here is the link to listen online http://www.peach965.com/cc-common/streaming_new/index.html?refreshed=yes

I am just sick, and really tired with what Atlanta radio offers its almost 6 million people. It is really a joke and embarassing.

I am a native of this town and I love it dearly, but when it comes to radio, we sound like market 300.

 

[alex4490]

I think Charlotte Radio Is Boring...nothing but country!

Is Atlanta Radio That Bad?

 

[gravelgertie]

Personally, I think so. I've listened to a few small market stations in South Georgia, the Fla panhandle and
in Alabama that sounded better than most of our major market Atlanta operations.

 

[RADIOGM]

I can't believe how a major metropolitan station like WSB AM has to lower their standards to run the "Rick and Bubba" show on Sundays. And on top of that, a "Rick and Bubba" show that is a week old of information talking about last week's Hurricane Dean just now making landfull. Yep, Atlanta is sounding more and more small market. You would think I'm listening to AM 750 Andalusia, Ala. This is the best they can come up with for programming - absolutely pathetic!

RGM

 

[JohnAllan]

The reason Atlanta radio is so tired, they won't take chances anymore! Simple example, when 99X first came on the air, WOW! They made a big splash and changed the sound of Atlanta radio! Now, they can't break a 2 share. And B98.5? They haven't changed their play list in over 15 years! I could go through the list of stations, but what's the point? Do I think I could do it better? Not with the current crop of owners and bean counters. In other words, I'm not really blaming the current PD's. Their hands are generally tied. But take heart, the listening public will change things eventually.

 

[jaxradidio]

Well, consider what makes a radio station "great." Plays your faves while also consistently introducing you to great new music. Has an identity and brand so strong the station has its own personality. Is heavily engaged promotionally and is seen everywhere something cool is happening with great branded giveaways. Has personalities you simply like spending some time with.

99X used to be that. 96 Rock used to be that. Power 99 used to be that. Star 94 used to be that. Z93 used to be that. On the urban side, a decent job is still being done of it. Kicks isn't too far off the mark.

Radio has yielded its role in introducing new music. Online and peer rec wins that now.
To take a brand like 96 Rock and erase it from the face of the earth shows what radio knows about branding these days.
No money for promotions. Now you can register for a chance to win a sticker, but only if you come to where we are, usually a mattress store. Whoopee.
The personality issue has been covered here ad infinitum. Managers with no clue how to entertain hiring cheap people who also have no real clue how to accumulate and grow a fan base, brought in on the recommendation of a consultant, who also couldn't entertain an 8-year-old.

The industry deserves to get whalloped by people who know better, using a different medium. But that still doesn't answer the question why Atlanta (now market #8!) has managed to be the poster child for "give up" radio.

 

[RTibbs]

I just want one station to be brash and seem like they are the place to be tuned. Project could maybe have gone that route but they seemed to prefer some cool underground approach. I want a Rock station that acts like they are balls to the wall the place to listen. Dave and the River are trying so hard to court the female demo they on a good day they seem wimpy.

 

[andyfrom88]

I just want one station to be brash and seem like they are the place to be tuned.

There is one.

88.5FM
www.wras.org

 

[TheRealOtherNeil]

I just want one station to be brash and seem like they are the place to be tuned.

There is one.

88.5FM
www.wras.org

Hear hear. And I'm calling a foul for tooting your own horn.

I think Jax has it correct. RTibbs too.

As far as chances you can take them in every format. The River doesn't have to play 300 songs that have been over-researched. They can dip into the deep-end of the rock pool. Trust me, no one will tune out permanently if you don't play "Lady" by Styx this hour. 99X can play Spoon and Bloc Party, no one will storm the station demanding more Incubus. V103 should be all over B5 featuring Bow Wow & Diddy and Pretty Ricky (I am so street you don't even know!).

I agree with those who say radio has become safe. It's too big business. There is too much money at stake. Taking a chance on an unknown or unproven commodity can cost a station thousands and the company millions. If you want new music, search the Internet. If you want to hear songs you like, get an mp3 player.

BTW, 929 Radio Atlanta will feature new music on Monday nights. Why Monday, because Tuuesdays are the day when discs drop, yo. Best Buy would sponsor it.

 

[tcsnrayp]

This station in Macon which has the WPCH call letters, is incredible, you never know what they are going to play next. Here is the link to listen online http://www.peach965.com/cc-common/streaming_new/index.html?refreshed=yes

I have been listening and it is a very well done station. But I am confused about your comment. It is an oldies format. Essentially an AC soft oldies library. That does not equal "you never know what they are going to play next" to me. It means they will be playing another oldie. Nothing wrong with that--but not exactly some big unique thing.

 

[louisNatl]

The reason Atlanta radio is so tired, they won't take chances anymore! Simple example, when 99X first came on the air, WOW! They made a big splash and changed the sound of Atlanta radio! Now, they can't break a 2 share. And B98.5? They haven't changed their play list in over 15 years! I could go through the list of stations, but what's the point? Do I think I could do it better? Not with the current crop of owners and bean counters. In other words, I'm not really blaming the current PD's. Their hands are generally tied. But take heart, the listening public will change things eventually.

When Q100 first signed on, they played a lot of cutting edge pop, hip hop, and techno.

92.9 Dave played a lot of progressive rock, AOR, and jam bands when they first flipped from Z93.

99X played the same edgy rock in the early 2000's that Project is playing now.

97 Jamz played a variety of music from the 80's, 90's, and now.

Star 94's HD2 station played music from as far back as 20's swing music all the way to contemporary pop with an emphasis on 80's hair metal, new wave, retro, and 90's alternative. This was truly a "what will they play next?" station that the original poster was describing.

While I enjoyed these formats, may they all rest in peace. With the exception of Project, these formats did not resonate well with Atlanta radio listeners.

Of course there's still the non-commercial stations: WRAS, WRFG, WCLK, WABE, WREK, etc.

 

[trusty]

Hey, we are a fickle market, and we are proud of it. We have a rich radio history here.

Problem is --- it's history. You can't have fun in a corporate setting, no matter how hard you try. I don't care who does it, or what format, I just want to hear a (commercial) station that dares to have naturally has fun. The listeners will pick up on that.

 

[andyfrom88]

Hear hear. And I'm calling a foul for tooting your own horn.

Tooting my own horn would be something like, "Hey for the best real rock and roll in Atlanta, turn nowhere else than 88.5FM every Monday night from 8 to 10pm, where you can hear rockabilly, garage, psychobilly, surf, and early rock and roll!"

I merely drew attention to a fine alternative to the regular rigmarole. ;D

 

[JohnAllan]

Hey, we are a fickle market, and we are proud of it. We have a rich radio history here.

Problem is --- it's history. You can't have fun in a corporate setting, no matter how hard you try. I don't care who does it, or what format, I just want to hear a (commercial) station that dares to have naturally has fun. The listeners will pick up on that.

AGREED!! If a station sounds like they are having fun on the air, then the public picks up on that. I think the big thing here is most stations in this market are OVER CONSULTED!! They limit the play list to 400 or so songs. They are shooting for someone listening for less than an hour. But why not shoot for longer listenership? If I'm listening at work (which I frequently do for 6 hours or more, so you can imagine how many times I change stations!), I don't want to hear the same song in an hour and a half! So maybe this market is primed for someone to come along with a broader playlist, nice humerous jocks (they don't have to be from Comedy Central, just good, upbeat people), and a fun image. It doesn't matter if it is AC, Country, CHR, or Oldies. This formula WORKS! EVERY time it is tried! WAKE UP ATLANTA!! It's time for GOOD radio again!

 

[bgwilde1]

I have to agree with the lack of big promotions.

The only thing that works are the three "c's", cash, car, Caribbean, and to be very visible everywhere.

I think 98.5 still does some big money and is at least consistent, but where do you see them around town? Only twice a year at the Galleria?

You cannot do a big promotion and look small. Conversely, you cannot look big and sound small either.

The last station I worked at, their idea of a promotion was to have me sit at the monthly chamber of commerce meetings and do the 100 (or whatever) days of summer. No big street presence, no good on-air promotions, nothing!

My last station not in this market, we hit the streets hard every weekend, had big promotions three out of four books, and had a good match of music and personalities that we had consistently high numbers for several years until the station was sold. After that, they killed live folks from 7pm to 5:30am and weekends, cut the promo staff to two, cut the big promotions, cut back on the consulting, and they tanked.

Most everyone who has followed the above formula has seen the same thing, much more so in this town.

If the station is not special, it does not mean anything to the listener.

I have to agree, radio in this town sounds bad and is very uninspiring to listen to or get involved with.