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Beneath The Surface

E

Element9

Not so long ago, Entercom had two very strong radio stations in WKSE and WTSS. They performed sensationally on the street, in the ratings book and in revenue. Insiders more familiar with the vagaries of billing and P/L say the stations continue perform well, although Kiss may have lost a half a step over the last year.

The Summer book apparently was not kind to Star, as WJYE, Jack and WHTT nibbled at the edges or took some bites out of the 25-54 pie. This presents a serious threat to one of Entercom's main revenue generators and it's more serious than "let's play the wheel of format game," boys and girls.

This is MONEY we're talking about.

The re-assignment of Sue O'Neil to WKSE is curious, to say the least. Other threads have offered commentary on the elements of programming and the formats of both stations. It could be there's something more complex going on in the halls of 500 Corporate Parkway, Amherst. Quite likely, there's something afoot as well at 401 City Avenue, Bala Cynwyd.

It's likely the new Kiss PD is about to be announced. It's also likely that O'Neil's nudge to the younger side of the hall has greater ramifications. From this vantage point, it appears O'Neil's move from Star to Kiss is not a vote of confidence.

Infinity's Jack has presented Star with serious "near format" competition. Star's once strong positioning as a station that offers "the biggest variety" has been effectively blown to pieces by Jack, which offers an erratic mix of music far greater (and admittedly more erratic) than Star.

Star now has the problem Kiss had only a year ago, that being to define and convey to the listener "what the station is and to whom it appeals." In the face of intense competition on the upper and lower end of the the 25-54 Women demographic, this is a formidable task.

It appears Entercom thinks the person to solve those problems is someone other than Ms. O'Neil.
 
> The Summer book apparently was not kind to Star, as WJYE,
> Jack and WHTT nibble at the edges or take sizeable bites out
> of the 25-54 pie. This "nibbling" presents a serious threat
> to one of Entercom's main revenue generators. This is more
> serious than "let's play the wheel of format game," boys and
> girls.
>
If they overreact on the basis of Jack it's a mistake. Jack's history in most markets is, it builds to an early peak as people sample it...then TSL dives, followed in due course by a fall in the AQH numbers that drive ad buys. We're seeing that happen in markets like Toronto where Jack has seen its best days and may be headed toward consignment to the formatic scrap heap if the fall numbers don't jump (something Jack stations don't do unless they have a strong personality lineup). I'm not even talking about markets like New York where Jack cratered right out of the starting gate.

Jack ain't gonna make it. Without Stern in the mornings as a crutch (they'll apparently have no morning show at all, just 24/7 music off the hard drive) its days are numbered. Anyone want to guess what the NEXT format at 92.9 will be?
 
A Return to???

> If they overreact on the basis of Jack it's a mistake.
> Jack's history in most markets is, it builds to an early
> peak as people sample it...then TSL dives, followed in due
> course by a fall in the AQH numbers that drive ad buys.
> We're seeing that happen in markets like Toronto where Jack
> has seen its best days and may be headed toward consignment
> to the formatic scrap heap if the fall numbers don't jump
> (something Jack stations don't do unless they have a strong
> personality lineup). I'm not even talking about markets like
> New York where Jack cratered right out of the starting gate.
>
>
> Jack ain't gonna make it. Without Stern in the mornings as a
> crutch (they'll apparently have no morning show at all, just
> 24/7 music off the hard drive) its days are numbered. Anyone
> want to guess what the NEXT format at 92.9 will be?
>

True, and this happened to Rhythm Oldies and other "flavors of the month". Jack has a true shift in culture with their format. Does anyone sense a "free FM" coming to market 52 in the future? (presuming the for sale sign is removed). Maybe a sports talk/rock station? Grab the sabres from AM, should the NHL get more than 10 fans?

I personally miss Don/Mike when they were on. They have made 'neutered' radio work pretty well, and had a good balance of regional and national guests.

Now, what about Sue's replacement on PM Drive on star?
 
> The re-assignment of Sue O'Neil to WKSE is curious, to say
> the least. Other threads have offered commentary on the
> elements of programming and the formats of both stations. I
> would suggest there's something more complex going on in the
> halls of 500 Corporate Parkway, Amherst.
>
> Quite likely, there's something afoot as well at 401 City
> Avenue, Bala Cynwyd.
>
> It's likely the new Kiss PD is about to be announced. It's
> also likely that O'Neil's nudge to the younger side of the
> hall has greater ramifications. It appears from this vantage
> point, O'Neil's move from Star to Kiss is not a vote of
> confidence.

I'm not sure I agree, Nine. I get the feeling that Sue O'Neill has been reassigned to Kiss because they were having problems finding a PD they liked, and Brian B. Wilde hasn't got the juice to deal with Janet Snyder & Co. Sue O'Neill has the chutzpah and street cred to get Janet & Nicholas's attention. Brian B. Wilde will continue doing music.

Sue will also continue to oversee both stations. Hiring a PD for Star ought to be a lot easier than hiring a PD for Kiss. I don't think you have the same ego problems with Rob Lucas and Roger Christian that you have with the Kiss Krew.

It also may indicate a new direction for Star. The playlist was getting awfully short, and obviously was impacted by other moves in the market. Fresh blood may help refocus Star, and Sue is in the perfect position to mediate between the two.

The thorny problem is how to realign the two stations. Do you let Kiss continue the current evolution into a Hot AC? Let Janet & Co. and Donnie Walker age along with their audience? Or, do you move those two over to Star, hope the audience follows, and rebuild Kiss as a real CHR?
 
Re: A Return to???

> >
> > Now, what about Sue's replacement on PM Drive on star?
> >
> Im betting between Dave Maci or Dan Rinelle
>
Both high quality picks with active histories with the station.
Any chance of a female in this role?
 
> >
> If they overreact on the basis of Jack it's a mistake.
> Jack's history in most markets is, it builds to an early
> peak as people sample it...then TSL dives, followed in due
> course by a fall in the AQH numbers that drive ad buys.

You make a valid point here, with which I do not disagree. However, as George Allen, the venerable football coach of the Los Angeles Rams and the Washington Redskins often proclaimed, "the future is now." And it appears Infinity, smitten with Jack in so many other markets, is interested in "now" more than "a year from now."

>
> Jack ain't gonna make it. Without Stern in the mornings as a
> crutch (they'll apparently have no morning show at all, just
> 24/7 music off the hard drive) its days are numbered. Anyone
> want to guess what the NEXT format at 92.9 will be?
>

There've been so many over the years. But let me offer this: Stern may be as much a hindrance to the uniformity of Jack as a high powered mp3 player. Having said this, morning drive radio without a few warm bodies does not appear to be a Top 5, 25-54 ratings attraction, at least to this writer.

-9-
 
Re: A Return to???

> > >
> > > Now, what about Sue's replacement on PM Drive on star?
> > >
> > Im betting between Dave Maci or Dan Rinelle
> >
> Both high quality picks with active histories with the
> station.
> Any chance of a female in this role?
>
Susan Hunt.................
 
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