before the Star burns out..

[Gregg.]

>>>One day the format will be Hot AC as Star 1-0-2 point 5; the next day it will be K-Love. Quite likely, a significant number of Star's present P1 base of 35-54 Women won't be offended by the change and a significant number will like the new K-Love format as much as they liked the former Hot AC format. Could be the smoothest format change and ownership transfer in EMF's history.<<<

Oh, I don't think we are fully understanding the 30 and 40-something year old women who listen to Star. The reason they listen is not so much for its musical style. CCM tries to copy that style so it will SOUND like Hot AC.

But the main reason 30 and 40-something women listen to Hot AC is so they can still be up on contemporary hits and contemporary artists. They can talk with their friends (and maybe their daughters) about Adele, Harry Styles, Beyonce, Rhianna, Ed Sheeran. Yet they don't have to sit through some harder-edged rap songs found on Top 40. And they get to hear some of their favorite hits from the early 2000s that Top 40 won't play anymore. Again, none of these stars or songs are on K-Love, even if the beat and melody sound similar.

Yeah, some young women may be Christian and their dials may stay on 102.5. But only a few. As is the case when other Hot AC stations switch to K-Love, you will see at first that the ratings go down below a 1.0. Then gradually, Christian listeners will find the station. That's what happened with WPLJ NYC.

 

[SirRoxalot]

As I said, there is no head on competition anymore for Audacy, as there has not been for years, (locally) and I have been very clear about that.

I think that Townsquare and the folks at The Breeze (or whatever the name is this week) would dispute that. 96.1 stands to gain listeners if they don't move the Star format to 107.7 and translator(s).

 

[Rusty Bridges]

I don't think we are fully understanding the 30 and 40-something year old women who listen to Star. The reason they listen is not so much for its musical style. CCM tries to copy that style so it will SOUND like Hot AC. But the main reason 30 and 40-something women listen to Hot AC is so they can still be up on contemporary hits and contemporary artists. They can talk with their friends (and maybe their daughters) about Adele, Harry Styles, Beyonce, Rhianna, Ed Sheeran. Yet they don't have to sit through some harder-edged rap songs found on Top 40. And they get to hear some of their favorite hits from the early 2000s that Top 40 won't play anymore. Again, none of these stars or songs are on K-Love, even if the beat and melody sound similar.

Yeah, some young women may be Christian and their dials may stay on 102.5. But only a few. As is the case when other Hot AC stations switch to K-Love, you will see at first that the ratings go down below a 1.0. Then gradually, Christian listeners will find the station. That's what happened with WPLJ NYC.

Good points. That noted, conventional reasoning indicates there is more about Star's Hot AC format that would be compatible with K-Love than had EMF purchased, say, 97 Rock. Imagine that transition. Wait. That already happened once before. Chortle.

 

[Majic rockstar]

One day the format will be Hot AC as Star 1-0-2 point 5; the next day it will be K-Love. Quite likely, a significant number of Star's present P1 base of 35-54 Women won't be offended by the change and a significant number will like the new K-Love format as much as they liked the former Hot AC format. Could be the smoothest format change and ownership transfer in EMF's history.

Lol! Right! I highly doubt that! If Star were the Breeze maybe, however their is a significant difference in music and presentation. You seem to think the average radio listener is stupid? Your opinion on the Star listener is way out in orbit!

 

[Rusty Bridges]

Lol! Right! I highly doubt that! If Star were the Breeze maybe, however their [sic] is a significant difference in music and presentation. You seem to think the average radio listener is stupid? Your opinion on the Star listener is way out in orbit!

Stupid? Not at all. Discerning, yes. Adaptive? To some degree. Whether Star's core listeners in the MSA adapt to the expected K-Love CCM format remains to be seen, but as many have pointed out, EMF is quite selective about subscribing to ratings. In most cases they don't, in which case, few here will be able to evaluate K-Love's performance compared to that of Star. "Gregg" earlier presented a cogent rebuttal to my post. He cited examples and case history with WPLJ New York, to which I replied, "Good points," which they certainly were, lacking any trace of twaddle.

 

[RadioGuy1864]

If you are in the market, or if you are not and listen on line, you will find STAR sounds more like KISS than the Breeze. Not to be too simplistic, but STAR is "Light CHR" I don't think many P1 STAR listerners will stay with K-Love.

 

[Yeziknoradio]

Are you saying that the STAR format is so bland and disposable that nobody will notice the change? You could be right. I expect some of the audience will opt out of the new format. When does STAR finally meet its Maker? Boot Hill Cemetery is ready to welcome another dead format...

It depends a lot on the true population of Christians in Buffalo and area. Then you have the population of engraved atheists that listen to Star 102. They won't want to hear Christian music come hell or high water. Christmas music, yes, because it's special for the time of year, but Christian music? No. They draw a line somewhere. They will follow Star wherever it goes.

 

[CTListener]

It depends a lot on the true population of Christians in Buffalo and area. Then you have the population of engraved atheists that listen to Star 102.

That sounds painful! I've got plenty of questions about religion, but no way I want anyone engraving anything on me!

Oh, and your last sentence -- "They will follow Star wherever it goes." That has a definite Christmasy ring to it...

 

[Majic rockstar]

Stupid? Not at all. Discerning, yes. Adaptive? To some degree. Whether Star's core listeners in the MSA adapt to the expected K-Love CCM format remains to be seen, but as many have pointed out, EMF is quite selective about subscribing to ratings. In most cases they don't, in which case, few here will be able to evaluate K-Love's performance compared to that of Star. "Gregg" earlier presented a cogent rebuttal to my post. He cited examples and case history with WPLJ New York, to which I replied, "Good points," which they certainly were, lacking any trace of twaddle.

NO!! They are not the same at all! How do you figure the general star listener will just stick with that preset! Nope! You can spit all the jargon you want however it is not a comparable format. Again have you looked at the playlists? Or let me ask this do you listen to Hot AC? I’m sure all these woman that one day hear Eminem, Adelle, Justin Beiber, Tupac and the many other current pop stars they are accustomed to hearing won’t NOTICE at all. LOL again your statement is stupid it’s like Comparing ice cream to horse manure. Once they hear the change they will delete the preset.

 

[SirRoxalot]

NO!! They are not the same at all! How do you figure the general star listener will just stick with that preset! Nope! You can spit all the jargon you want however it is not a comparable format. Again have you looked at the playlists? Or let me ask this do you listen to Hot AC? I’m sure all these woman that one day hear Eminem, Adelle, Justin Beiber, Tupac and the many other current pop stars they are accustomed to hearing won’t NOTICE at all. LOL again your statement is stupid it’s like Comparing ice cream to horse manure. Once they hear the change they will delete the preset.

I guess time will tell, but you seem to believe that people have very strict listening regimes. How many Star listeners are there because "it's what's on a work." At one point, I was a Star P1 because the place I worked had it on in the background all day, day after day. One person controlled the radio, and the rest of us did our best to mentally tune it out.

Even P1 listeners have their P2, P3, P4 and other preferences. Most listeners aren't as focused as radio listeners are and may very well take a little time to realize just what they're hearing. Some of them will flee immediately. Some will see if they like it, especially if they were listening to Star because they weren't fond of Kiss or some other stations. Some might actually prefer it because it doesn't have some of the current pop stars who serve as sketchy influences on their kids. It also isn't likely to carry nearly the commercial load that Star currently does.

I understand that this may be a huge loss to you personally, but you're not the typical listener. Will K-Love end up with a 4-share? Likely not. They don't care. They'll be reaching a lot of territory that isn't covered by ratings. How they do with donations will tell the tale, and you're not likely to know those numbers.

 

[Rusty Bridges]

NO!! They are not the same at all! How do you figure the general star listener will just stick with that preset! Nope! You can spit all the jargon you want however it is not a comparable format. Again have you looked at the playlists? Or let me ask this do you listen to Hot AC? I’m sure all these woman that one day hear Eminem, Adelle, Justin Beiber, Tupac and the many other current pop stars they are accustomed to hearing won’t NOTICE at all. LOL again your statement is stupid it’s like Comparing ice cream to horse manure. Once they hear the change they will delete the preset.

Some will stay, some will go. Some may not notice for a while. It's not like 97 Rock one day playing Ozzie and the next playing Barry Maniblow. I listen to Hot AC ... and cold AC. Sometimes tepid AC, and sometimes check out AC/DC. "Contracts ... neckties ... high voltage," an' all that. HVAC is cool too. Although sometimes warm. Frankly, the Star to K-Love debate isn't that important an issue to me, but some seem quite distraught at the forthcoming demise of Star. My most sincere condolences. So, OK, you're right. Although "ice cream to horse manure" is a bit over the top. Mixed metaphor. I would have stayed in the food family, maybe "ice cream to liver."

 

[tbolt909]

Frankly, the Star to K-Love debate isn't that important an issue to me, but some seem quite distraught at the forthcoming demise of Star. My most sincere condolences. So, OK, you're right. Although "ice cream to horse manure" is a bit over the top. Mixed metaphor. I would have stayed in the food family, maybe "ice cream to liver."

Maybe the STAR vs K-Love comparison is more like "Goat Droppings vs Horse Manure". Christian music is notoriously vapid stuff. STAR offers up the secular version. People will still have plenty of options to find a similar product when STAR goes Nova...

 

[DOB]

NO!! They are not the same at all! How do you figure the general star listener will just stick with that preset! Nope! You can spit all the jargon you want however it is not a comparable format. Again have you looked at the playlists? Or let me ask this do you listen to Hot AC? I’m sure all these woman that one day hear Eminem, Adelle, Justin Beiber, Tupac and the many other current pop stars they are accustomed to hearing won’t NOTICE at all. LOL again your statement is stupid it’s like Comparing ice cream to horse manure. Once they hear the change they will delete the preset.

Your analogy is flawless, that is the best one I have seen in years, nice job.

My god lol
Hot Ac had to stop playing that creed 3 Chords Down garbage because it was killing their ratings.
It's insanity, highest level lockdown mental ward, to think that the Hot AC listener would stick around for beyond awful attempts at Sonic replication of that Creed stuff with lyrics about religion. They rightfully rejected the real thing, the creatively starved copies are a million times worse!
Sure, every now and then you will hear one that has some great inspiration lyrics. A great message that is well written. But it really doesn't matter since it's sonically Acme brand copycat 3 Chords Down.
Nothing against the K Love flock, they keep sending those checks even when the car won't start. I'm sure that they will be able to find some like minded Canadians with this signal. Mission accomplished for them. But don't lie about how the music sounds and don't act like the originals of that sound haven't already been soundly rejected by the Hot AC audience.

 

[Mark1981]

All this angst about Star 102.5! I’m way out of the demo. I’ve only listened to Star in recent years in the week or two before Christmas, because you know…

But on this very day, I was reflecting with my wife about the history of 102.5FM. While I was attending St. Bonaventure in the mid ‘70s, Rock 102 was huge. I did my Journalism thesis on the radio listening habits of St. Bonaventure students at the time. Rock 102 came in at a whopping 45%. The campus station, WSBU that I managed for a year in 1976, was second at 15%.

My first professional radio job was at an Olean station. I did the morning news. So, when I got up at 5am, I tuned in Rock 102. Because of its massive signal, Rock 102 aired the 5am WBEN AM farm show hosted by Jack Ogilvie (oldsters will remember that Al Fox had retired) to reach rural farmers. I have a memory of Jack sharing the news that Pope John Paul I had died.

The farm show eventually disappeared. But Rock 102 still aired newscasts from WBEN newscasters. I remember eating my cereal at 4:50 one morning when Lou Douglas informed me a neighbor I grew up across the street from me was severely injured in a diving accident. Yeah, it was a different time. A story like that made the news. And on a December morning in 1980, Lou shook me to my very core when he announced in that 4:50am newscast that John Lennon had been shot to death the night before. And, oh yeah, after waking up from a nap in March 1981, I learned from Rock 102 that President Reagan had been shot.

Later that year, I moved back home to Buffalo. I occasionally tuned in Rock 102. I do remember listening to Sandy Beach during morning drive on Majic 102, though I did think his “ugly bride” segment was cruel. The only time I truly heard Star 102.5 was at my YMCA, which used to pipe the station over its PA system.

i do lament the loss of this once powerful station to a religious broadcaster. While I won’t miss the latest iteration, I will hold on to my memories of 102.5 once the Star does “burn out.”

 

[Majic rockstar]

Again gentleman, Notice I say GENTLEMAN!, the way you speak for the average woman listener is kind of funny. One thing I have noticed on this page is that it is definitely a good ole boys club. I LOVE how their is not ONE single woman on this thread, come to think of it I can’t recall ever seeing a woman on any of these threads! So yeah Gentleman you sit here and tell me all about what the soccer mom will do. However I have the luxury of actually meeting an getting to know a great deal of female listeners of our grandfathered 110,000 watt flame thrower. And having been able to interact with these many different types of WOMAN ,who you all speak of and seem to speak for, I can emphatically say that they will notice. The crossover of songs is very limited and almost null! What will happen, and what Audacy( Radio Station Destroyer) knows will happen is they will all split to Kiss! And very soon you will see Kiss go to a 50/50 New/Gold approach so they can cultivate what little heritage they have left Ie. The name 💋 WKSE and Janet Reno and Nicholas Pickledip in the mornings. Top 40 is dead and so is radio due to companies like Autopilothorriblecorperateburrocacy. Now again you MEN can stop speaking for the very loyal and dedicated FEMALE Star listener they are alot smarter then you give them credit for. Good god Buffalo fired the last true younger (not young) radio talent who actually cared and had a true love and passion for the business in Dave Universal.

 

[tbolt909]

Good god Buffalo fired the last true younger (not young) radio talent who actually cared and had a true love and passion for the business in Dave Universal.

Wasn't he the guy Entercom fired for taking Payola and other shady practices? Nice example of "Passion". What's in the Buffalo water that creates these "Legendary Broadcasters" who have never worked in other markets...

 

[ckg279]

Wasn't he the guy Entercom fired for taking Payola and other shady practices? Nice example of "Passion". What's in the Buffalo water that creates these "Legendary Broadcasters" who have never worked in other markets...

Not to mention that Universal was quite the righty. (Neither here nor there nor making a judgement on his political beliefs-which is for another board at another time; I just wanted to mention it for the record.)