• Get involved.
    We want your input!
    Apply for Membership and join the conversations about everything related to broadcasting.

    After we receive your registration, a moderator will review it. After your registration is approved, you will be permitted to post.
    If you use a disposable or false email address, your registration will be rejected.

    After your membership is approved, please take a minute to tell us a little bit about yourself.
    https://www.radiodiscussions.com/forums/introduce-yourself.1088/

    Thanks in advance and have fun!
    RadioDiscussions Administrators

B-102.7 Terra Haute... Buzzing toward CHR

M

Mid West Clubber

Guest
Has anyone heard B-102.7 lately, they are even playing Hip Hop and R&B tracks, and a Dance song from Cascada. Sounds like they are taking the early 90s adult friendly CHR aproach, All the hits, without the rap and Hard Rock, though they actually do play both on B-102.7. I think their problem is, they need to re invent and re launch the station. People still think of 102.7 as the soft rock, and earlier the beautiful music format. Doubt many people remember Power 103 WPFR, but I think an updated version of this would be a compliment to Mix fm and Party 104.3. I like the CHR like sweepers on B-102.7. They have the same imaging of B-93.7 in Greenville SC.
 
You're on it Clubber, but given the history of Crossroads Communications don't expect it. It may sound harsh but they have continuously made poor choises. I believe the current programer is the morning host Adam, who has ZERO experiance in programming. I'm not saying that the guy isn't capable of doing a good job but he needs guidence, someone to menter him. This was suggested to the G.M. by a employee who has 41 years behind him, and yes, he also had programming experience, he was fired. This GM also took himself off as co-host of the morning show which has left an opening, so if you know someone who has zero broadcasting experience and have always dreamed of being on a 50kw fm station, they need to apply.
Come on! Would any of you out there turn over your 50kw station to unproven, unexperienced people??
 
Actually I think 103.7 is something like 28,000 watts at 600 feet. WPFR Power 103 was 50 kw at 500 ft, not sure which onw would throw a better signal, probably WPFR. B-102.7 can be a bit patchy in Morgan and Monroe Counties,,,,, Yes I realize thats outside their target, but HI 99 comes in perfect here, So used to WMGI before npr put a 27 watt translater on 100.7 in brown county, therefore jamming WMGIs once listenable signal here.
 
WBOW-FM's transmitter is considerably farther south and west than WTHI-FM's or WMGI's. I'd expect their signal to be a bit worse than Hi-99's in the area. And I've had trouble picking up Hi-99 along IN-67 in Owen County. Possible they were doing xmitter work at the time (Sunday afternoon), because I'd expect it to be pretty strong there.
 
I would give the B some time to make it's mark. I don't think Rome was built in a day. Sometimes all you can do is do the best you can with what you have. The imaging is good, and the music is being tweaked as time goes along. It's easy to play armchair quarterback and suggest directions. Sometimes as a programmer you have to learn on the job in this crazy radio world we live in today. It's tougher to devote as much time as you want to every part of a successful station when you wear many different hats. Adam's a hard worker, and I can say firsthand that he is working his tail off to try to make the B the best it can be. It will be interesting to see how the ratings shake out in July. I think that will give an indication as to whether progress was made. Thanks for listening! Much love to Midwest Clubber for not giving up on his dance music after all these years.
 
Matt, I totally agree with you that Rome wasn't built in a day. Radio is a very sticky in peoples minds, and B has had some really bad programming in its past. When that happens, it behooves the owner to make a decision to change the brand/name of the station.

Listeners will always remember WBOW as the station that is secondary to Mix. While I am not a huge fan of Mix, thats just the stigma that listeners follow. When you are always "second fiddle" its hard to purge out the past.

If they were to tweak the name and image, drop B and maybe change it to:

TERRE HAUTE'S HIT MUSIC - Q102

Focus soley on the hits of the 90's and today, the station has a ton more potential. But keeping the sag heritage means nothing to the current audience.
 
The WBOW calls were put on 102.7 because when Crossroads purchased it from Bomar they were thinking about putting Classic Hits of the 60's and 70's on, and it was felt that the old calls could give it a boost, they didn't. Yea Rome wasn't built in a day but the B as had several bad books, so now it finally looks like some things are going to be addressed and I hope they work. But I also think a new look, calls should be done with much fanfair. I don't think it's out of the question that if done right with lots of thought they could overtake Mixx-Fm and nip at the heals of HI-99 in time. Good Luck.
 
I saw a TV spot for WBOW-FM today on WTHI-TV. Promoting their Match Game promotion.

"Its easy as 1 - 2 - B 102.7"

A little bit cheesy, but it is good for them to get it out there :)
 
PTBoardOp94 said:
I saw a TV spot for WBOW-FM today on WTHI-TV. Promoting their Match Game promotion.

"Its easy as 1 - 2 - B 102.7"

A little bit cheesy, but it is good for them to get it out there :)
Click to expand...

First of all, it's TERRE Haute.

Secondly, the people at Crossroads never learn. They keep making the same mistakes over and over again. There's a simple rule in business that they just don't get. It takes money to make money. If you're not willing to keep up your facilities, your staff, and your promotions, you're not going to impress clients or listeners.

They need to do something remarkable if they want to be taken seriously. This whole deal of "you might win 10 grand" isn't going to do it. Now, if they ACTUALLY gave it away, that might work. But then they'd have to follow up on that.

I do see some good things happening over there, though. Doug finally got the message and abandoned the morning show. They are advertising that they are looking for a new sales manager and a promotions director (something they haven't had for quite some time). So at least they're trying.
 
They need to hire me and I can at least dominate in the selected demo they give me... Not being cocky, but after shaking my head over the lack of effort for the small investment in solid program basics and engineering upkeep, I can make others think me or one of my peers look like a fabulous PD, just doing the basics and building from there..... If they were smart, Danny Wayne needs to be called and let him do a true Adult CHR or Hot AC... He's there and did well with Mitch Cooley in the old Vincennes days at the then WRTB... The old Brazil owner in those days was scared that Green Broadcasting would pop into TH and knock him silly (when Brazil was CHR)..... God! There are second half of our career guys and gals wanting to settle into a regional medium or smaller market and have fun... Just my opinion through my tinted sunglasses... "Give 'em a dose of old John Rook or Joel Denver consitant forward motion and promotion".... ;D
 
skippertthomas said:
They need to hire me and I can at least dominate in the selected demo they give me... Not being cocky, but after shaking my head over the lack of effort for the small investment in solid program basics and engineering upkeep, I can make others think me or one of my peers look like a fabulous PD, just doing the basics and building from there..... If they were smart, Danny Wayne needs to be called and let him do a true Adult CHR or Hot AC... He's there and did well with Mitch Cooley in the old Vincennes days at the then WRTB... The old Brazil owner in those days was scared that Green Broadcasting would pop into TH and knock him silly (when Brazil was CHR)..... God! There are second half of our career guys and gals wanting to settle into a regional medium or smaller market and have fun... Just my opinion through my tinted sunglasses... "Give 'em a dose of old John Rook or Joel Denver consitant forward motion and promotion".... ;D
Click to expand...

You can be as cocky as you want regarding Crossroads' stations. It wouldn't matter if they hired you or anyone else to program those stations. Without funding and without keeping up with engineering, they aren't going to get better. The owners simply don't want to invest in their products. As I've mentioned before, the entire group will continue to decline so long as the owners fail to understand the concept of "it takes money to make money." And you're certainly not going to get better if you are trying to run 4 stations with 3 live talents.
 
And besides that, if you have a proven track record, and experience in programing, THEY DON'T WANT YOU!!
When the book is out I'm guessing that the B 102.7 may be up a little, but not close to what it should be, WSDM and WAXI will be about the same. Crossroads should have kept Brian Thomas and had him help with programing, plus he was an excellent on air talent.
I've heard that the only fear that the folks at 918 Ohio Street (WTHI) had was if Crossroads had turned over the B to Thomas and had him run it. We'll never know.
 
It seems like they dont no whether to be CHR or AC... The playlist is pretty trainwrecked going from 80s George Micheal into current rhythmic hip hop hits.
 
radio lover said:
Come on! Would any of you out there turn over your 50kw station to unproven, unexperienced people??
Click to expand...

Thankfully, that DID happen to this 28 year old with 5 years radio experience. It happened 20+ years ago and he scored seven #1 books. Years later, I had lunch with my former GM/owner and asked him the big WHY question. He told me that he could write off 7 years of bad business from our "pals" at the I.R.S. If I did well, they could sell it and score big. But most importantly, he saw "something special" in a young man and wanted to give him a chance.
So maybe this young man in Terre Haute is getting his chance. I wish him the very best.
 
That sounds right.. Give the kid a chance.. We go where the odds are against us, and we do it with a lot of sweat... 'CIL-FM's hey day came from just that.. Easy Listening old owner with a younger son... Ended up Billboard Station of the year... It tood a desire to 'proove'... Money without passion won't cut it..
 
Wazzie said:
radio lover said:
Come on! Would any of you out there turn over your 50kw station to unproven, unexperienced people??
Click to expand...

Thankfully, that DID happen to this 28 year old with 5 years radio experience. It happened 20+ years ago and he scored seven #1 books. Years later, I had lunch with my former GM/owner and asked him the big WHY question. He told me that he could write off 7 years of bad business from our "pals" at the I.R.S. If I did well, they could sell it and score big. But most importantly, he saw "something special" in a young man and wanted to give him a chance.
So maybe this young man in Terre Haute is getting his chance. I wish him the very best.
Click to expand...

I guess I'm confused. This DID happen or IS happening?
 
I guess we can all speculate on what will happen, and I'm all for giving someone a chance, and I'm glad it all worked out for you, also I hope that who's programing B-102.7 does well, but if you've listened to them and noticed the previous post, they sound like two different radio stations. Maybe this is what the B is shooting for? When the book comes out, then we'll know if it's working.
 
What the B is shooting for seems to be to try to take a little piece of every possible format. I'm thinking maybe they're going to try a Jack style format with Hot AC and CHR. If not, they probably just don't know what they're doing. The book for 102.7 has gone up of late, but the programming has changed hands so many times that it's hard to keep up. I won't be surprised if they go up, but I'm betting on a downward spiral.
 
I dont know about all that,,, Im usually not a Hot AC listener, but I do like B-102.7,,, Its pretty much a CHR, but I dont have to set through Offensive Rap songs like LIL Wayne Lollipop, and I can here a bit of 80s and 90s thrown in.. They play all the current CHR hits, even the NON RAP Rhythmic hits,, where most Hot ACs lean on Recurrents and Gold, B-102.7 is breaking alot of new music
 
Status
This thread has been closed due to inactivity. You can create a new thread to discuss this topic.


Back
Top Bottom