I've been listening to see what they are doing with the station. Was wondering what happened to Justin Tyme? I heard Scott Lowe all week. Also thought they had a night person? On the website they took down the jock lineup. Thought they would have created a whole new website by now.
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B98.5
- Thread starter radiofan10
- Start date
Turnpike Tuner said:
I don't think Star or WYRS are anything like LIFT. I have heard a lot of artists on LIFT FM that you don't hear on faith based stations and their morning program is kind of crazy. I was listening when their dj, Cheryl, mentioned that they were the first station in the US to play, Stan Walker, the hottest artist in Australia. It's a pretty amazing station.
I don't know why they let go of Matt or Shawn. I don't know them but thought they were the best sounding on the station. Whoever is on the mid day now has to go!
Turnpike Tuner said:
Wow, that was fast. Hadn't Justin just taken over Matt Knight's positions, both on-air and off? I guess Press wanted immediate results, or maybe they weren't too pleased with the dance-leaning direction the station was going in. In any case, they seem to be really quick on the trigger.
With the exception of The Breeze & WHTG-AM, Press Communications micromanages its stations to death. They are forever fine-tuning every last detail, obsessing over minutiae, and constantly changing up them up - often for reasons completely unknown.
Want proof? Exactly how many PDs did G Rock (and prior to that, G106.3) go through during the 8 years that Press owned it? Does anyone from K98.5 (which launched about four years ago) remain on Country Thunder 106?
They even let people go for no rhyme or reason. I believe very strongly that letting Brian Phillips & Jen Ursillo go was a pivotal point for G Rock, and played a part in the ratings decline at the station.
Worst of all, they make these changes and don't make any effort to promote them. When Terrie Carr became PD, management finally showed some confidence and backed off a bit, and the station sounded much better as a result. They could have easily won back the audience that had given up on it during all the years where they fluctuated between an Alternative-lite and a Hot AC sound. But they completely failed to capitalize.
I don't know who is responsible for these moves, but this is where Press is going wrong. They can blame the programmers, DJs, and audience all they want, but whoever is makng these boneheaded decisions is the one who's really to blame for any shortcomings they have experienced. They killed G Rock with their ineptitude, blamed various staffers instead of an oversaturated market for Hit 106's low ratings, and are displaying a complete lack of understanding of why B98.5 had the following that it did. Instead of being personality driven, it's an automaton: a soulless hit music machine. The Thunder move may pay off, as it's clearly their top priority right now (I've even seen TV spots for it). But the best thing that could possibly happen to 98.5 is Press selling it. It would be far better off in more capable (and patient) hands, providing the area with a format that Press wouldn't know how to earn a profit with (or would micromanage incessantly, killing it from the inside).
Want proof? Exactly how many PDs did G Rock (and prior to that, G106.3) go through during the 8 years that Press owned it? Does anyone from K98.5 (which launched about four years ago) remain on Country Thunder 106?
They even let people go for no rhyme or reason. I believe very strongly that letting Brian Phillips & Jen Ursillo go was a pivotal point for G Rock, and played a part in the ratings decline at the station.
Worst of all, they make these changes and don't make any effort to promote them. When Terrie Carr became PD, management finally showed some confidence and backed off a bit, and the station sounded much better as a result. They could have easily won back the audience that had given up on it during all the years where they fluctuated between an Alternative-lite and a Hot AC sound. But they completely failed to capitalize.
I don't know who is responsible for these moves, but this is where Press is going wrong. They can blame the programmers, DJs, and audience all they want, but whoever is makng these boneheaded decisions is the one who's really to blame for any shortcomings they have experienced. They killed G Rock with their ineptitude, blamed various staffers instead of an oversaturated market for Hit 106's low ratings, and are displaying a complete lack of understanding of why B98.5 had the following that it did. Instead of being personality driven, it's an automaton: a soulless hit music machine. The Thunder move may pay off, as it's clearly their top priority right now (I've even seen TV spots for it). But the best thing that could possibly happen to 98.5 is Press selling it. It would be far better off in more capable (and patient) hands, providing the area with a format that Press wouldn't know how to earn a profit with (or would micromanage incessantly, killing it from the inside).
Don't want to turn this into a dance music topic but come to think of it, if it is the case management is not pleased with the dance leaning sound of the new B, well, so be it. In all fairness, it would be nice to have a dance station on terrestrial or such as 967party.com, but I would rather management pull dance off if this is the case of Justin's firings. The reason is, if management doesn't understand the real aspect of dance music and still follow that "techno benny fist pumping" mentality, then that will add yet more trouble for the dance genre in order to sell. I have no problem with B being dance lean and was appreciated that Hit did it's dance lean too, but if these guys believe the stereotypes, then why bother having mixshows? If they are not gonna run it right, and let the PD do it's job, then why botheradding the format on? I could say that maybe the pressure was on them ever since they heard about an internet stream next town over ;D but hey, leave the dance programming to people who KNOW and UNDERSTAND the dance format if you're only going to run it to the ground 
My opinion.
My opinion.I don't know about the dance music factor, but I think with the bigger radio signal they will do much better in the ratings now that country gets more into Monmouth County. Personally I don't think the current format on 98.5 will do well. Of course it will do better than the oldies format. The one that is now simulcast doesn't sound good yet. I love Big Joe but I was driving in the area recently and whoever was the DJ in the midday didn't sound like they wanted to be there. There were also a number of technical glitches too.
First of all thunder 106 i think been on for a month and i enjoy it most of the time.But i still think it needs improvment the midday girl is a little off and why voicetrack randy davis when u have kris mcneil? Furthermore im not sure is b98.5 is gonna work in ocean county. Press didnt see how horrible that morining show before the ended hit. They will problary be press communications biggest problem.
blueclaws1210 said:
"Kris McNeil" (a.k.a. Don Tandler), like Randy Davis, does double-duty for Press Communications. He appears on-air (though I'm pretty sure it's VT) and is PD for WHTG-AM. I understand the appeal of having a well-known personality hosting the show, but I think it's ridiculous that they're putting so much effort into promoting the station, yet have VT after 7:00 PM. That means the Thunder 106 studios are only manned just over half of the day. It's foolish to not at least have a live show from between 7 PM & 12 AM.
As for B98.5, I'm predicting that it will pull about half of the ratings of Hit 106. And that will be an absolute disaster, regardless of how much of the market it covers. Monmouth & Ocean both have more than enough Top 40 stations. If Press can't make money doing something else, my advice to them would be to sell it. Listeners in the area will be better off for it. At least maybe we'll get something other than the same tired hit music, classic rock, soft rock, and country for a change.
Signal is a big issue with this station. I have trouble getting it clearly even in Toms River. Country did well there because of the rural nature of the listening area, but CHR wont do well there, esp when most of the areas where the CHR audience is cant hear it clearly.
I do love the dance lean of the station (they're even playing Stereo Love!) but I dont know if there's enough folks in Ocean Acres to support the format.
A current rock, AAA, or alternative format could do better in the area.
Wild 102.7 should buy the 100.7 translator to expand their format to Ocean County instead of that Magic 100.1 junk (and the funny thing is 100.1 is quite strong in Toms River, so the 100.7 signal is just overkill).
I do love the dance lean of the station (they're even playing Stereo Love!) but I dont know if there's enough folks in Ocean Acres to support the format.
A current rock, AAA, or alternative format could do better in the area.
Wild 102.7 should buy the 100.7 translator to expand their format to Ocean County instead of that Magic 100.1 junk (and the funny thing is 100.1 is quite strong in Toms River, so the 100.7 signal is just overkill).
Re: B98.5 sounds great
I like b98.5 better than hit 106. Their audio quality sounds great so does their music what a great station. I wish the were a atlantic city radio station. wayv, wzbz and sojo aren't that good. this how every chr top 40 station should be, not to be afraid to play dance music and throwbacks. wayv and sojo edit to many of the songs that's annoying. But I don't like the voice imaging on b98.5 but that's not an issue the music rocks. They sound like the original b98.5 good music still.
I like b98.5 better than hit 106. Their audio quality sounds great so does their music what a great station. I wish the were a atlantic city radio station. wayv, wzbz and sojo aren't that good. this how every chr top 40 station should be, not to be afraid to play dance music and throwbacks. wayv and sojo edit to many of the songs that's annoying. But I don't like the voice imaging on b98.5 but that's not an issue the music rocks. They sound like the original b98.5 good music still.
mjb1124 said:
The dance is still there, I heard "We No Speak Americano" yesterday, in addition to older cuts like "Be My Lover" and "More and More". That older stuff isnt even played on Party FM. B98.5 sounds great, but like I said the signal is kinda iffy. But if they can get listeners driving through the Barrens to/from ACY than that could help ratings. But Party FM here on the island is in a similar situation, the 105.3 signal is strongest in the Barrens, yet they are doing well despite that.
Audio processing is good too. 106.3 processing remains messed up, which really sounds bad with country music. Maybe Press is too cheap or cant afford a new 106.3 airchain?
Re: B98.5 sounds great
I totally agree. Music is spot on. One of the better programmed CHR's I've heard for sure.
tomie said:
I totally agree. Music is spot on. One of the better programmed CHR's I've heard for sure.
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