Run the target demos, and tell me whether it needs improvement. Particularly given the purpose it's serving.
-
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
Big 95.5
- Thread starter jasonharper2013
- Start date
Run the target demos, and tell me whether it needs improvement. Particularly given the purpose it's serving.
While obviously the Chicago ratings don't bear this out, it seems as though they may be trying to be the WMMR of Chicago. WMMR is #2 in the 6+ ratings in Philadelphia, a similarly composed market consisting of a Classic Rock station, a AAA (albeit noncommercial WXPN) and an Alternative station.
Agreed that going with more of a Meat & Potatoes rock sound similar to WRIF may provide an increase in target demo attention.
The current sound is somewhat reminiscent to KDKB/Phoenix in its fading years which aired stuff like Matchbox 20 alongside the steady diet of RHCP/Billy Idol/Twisted Sister. KDKB was a great station nonetheless.
Agreed that going with more of a Meat & Potatoes rock sound similar to WRIF may provide an increase in target demo attention.
The current sound is somewhat reminiscent to KDKB/Phoenix in its fading years which aired stuff like Matchbox 20 alongside the steady diet of RHCP/Billy Idol/Twisted Sister. KDKB was a great station nonetheless.
Or perhaps the WDVE of Chicago. In either case, WMMR and WDVE have one thing WCHI doesn't have, and that's heritage. We find that when you talk about rock radio, heritage matters. It can't be bought and it can't be created.
I certainly agree with you on that point.
Both stations have great morning shows whose key pieces have worked in their respective markets for many years.
Music wise:
WDVE's playlist is largely rooted in the 70s, 80s and early 90s, but its song choices from those eras is a bit broader than what can be found on many classic rock stations ('DVE is more likely to include some deeper cuts on occasion), and just a handful of times daily, WDVE also spikes in current material (from artists with a classic rock-esque sound). It is an exceptionally well executed radio station.
WMMR is a pretty darn eclectic station, and it works incredibly well! What was then Greater Media pounced on 100.3's decision to dump Modern Rock and Joel Hollander-era CBS Radio's terrible mishandling of 94 WYSP. WMMR's playlist was updated, and Preston & Steve were hired for mornings. Those proved to be brilliant moves. WMMR includes a number of "oh WOW!" songs to appease the hipsters, enough classic rock to retain the station's accessibility for those who have listened for 30+ years, and enough crunchy rock & new rock to appease the headbangers. Indeed, WMMR plays a decent dose of currents & recurrents, something that is completely lacking from 95.5's playlist. They also steer clear from most of the sissy music (Journey, for example) that 95.5 plays.
I think a near replica of WMMR would work relatively well in Chicago; I am certainly inclined to believe it would be a lot more successful than the pile of garbage 95.5 calls a playlist ("Come Sail Away" by Styx played this afternoon; good grief). At least the brain-dead PD of 95.5 *finally* has added pre-Black album Metallica to the playlist, something that should have been part of the playlist since day one.
Maybe one of these days he'll decide to play Linkin Park and AC/DC more often than Creed and Journey!
KDKB was an underachieving "also ran" for pretty much the final decade of its existence and was almost always overshadowed by its better performing sister stations. True, there were small stretches within that period where the station sounded decent. I was not at all a fan of the era where post-grunge (Matchbox 20 is a great example) was being mixed with 80's butt rock.
Both stations have great morning shows whose key pieces have worked in their respective markets for many years.
Music wise:
WDVE's playlist is largely rooted in the 70s, 80s and early 90s, but its song choices from those eras is a bit broader than what can be found on many classic rock stations ('DVE is more likely to include some deeper cuts on occasion), and just a handful of times daily, WDVE also spikes in current material (from artists with a classic rock-esque sound). It is an exceptionally well executed radio station.
WMMR is a pretty darn eclectic station, and it works incredibly well! What was then Greater Media pounced on 100.3's decision to dump Modern Rock and Joel Hollander-era CBS Radio's terrible mishandling of 94 WYSP. WMMR's playlist was updated, and Preston & Steve were hired for mornings. Those proved to be brilliant moves. WMMR includes a number of "oh WOW!" songs to appease the hipsters, enough classic rock to retain the station's accessibility for those who have listened for 30+ years, and enough crunchy rock & new rock to appease the headbangers. Indeed, WMMR plays a decent dose of currents & recurrents, something that is completely lacking from 95.5's playlist. They also steer clear from most of the sissy music (Journey, for example) that 95.5 plays.
I think a near replica of WMMR would work relatively well in Chicago; I am certainly inclined to believe it would be a lot more successful than the pile of garbage 95.5 calls a playlist ("Come Sail Away" by Styx played this afternoon; good grief). At least the brain-dead PD of 95.5 *finally* has added pre-Black album Metallica to the playlist, something that should have been part of the playlist since day one.
Maybe one of these days he'll decide to play Linkin Park and AC/DC more often than Creed and Journey!
KDKB was an underachieving "also ran" for pretty much the final decade of its existence and was almost always overshadowed by its better performing sister stations. True, there were small stretches within that period where the station sounded decent. I was not at all a fan of the era where post-grunge (Matchbox 20 is a great example) was being mixed with 80's butt rock.
Last edited:
Only problem is lack of heritage. Radio listeners today don't scan the dial looking for something they like. They go to the same six pre-sets that they use all the time.
So perhaps in five years or so, after enough people replace their old cars, a few rock fans will discover WCHI.
There are plenty of recent new station launches that have seen considerably more success in the ratings than WCHI. Look no further than WBMX (granted, not a rock formatted example). Let's also not forget WCHI's initial numbers were quite a bit better than the two most recent surveys. That means listeners gave the station a chance and either gave up on it or have been listening less often.
Poor programming is the biggest reason WCHI's numbers are in the mud.
Poor programming is the biggest reason WCHI's numbers are in the mud.
Or they were leftover country fans who took a few weeks to realize the format had changed.
I would have to agree that Bryan Adams, Alanis Morissette and the like sound out of place on that station.
Last edited:
There are many explanations for why things happen. Not just one.
I have to side with MarkW here. Country fans not noticing a drastic format change like this for weeks and continuing to listen to the station reeks of a desperate attempt to have the last word in an argument rather than anything remotely logical.
And was it successful? Was it the "last word?" No. There are no last words here because no one really knows. That's what I'm saying. People are creatures of habit. It takes a while for them to change the stations on their pre-sets. I'm not saying that's the ONLY answer. If you've listened to current country music, it's not a "drastic format change" to go from country to rock. There are some who feel that's hurting country ratings too.
Now you come back with a scientific poll that asks Chicago radio listeners what they want in a rock station, and what changes in WCHI's programming might lure them to 95.5, that would be interesting.
I disagree. There are many more music arrangement similarities between CHR/Pop, Hot AC and Country than, say, hard rock and Country. Similarities are evident in stationality, too. Bobby Bones is the perfect example. His style of morning radio would fit very well on Hot AC - and depending on market - CHR/Pop. It would be a complete mismatch, though, for classic rock and hard rock.
Frankly, I would love to hear more guitar-based current country. It seems to be in short supply. Ironically, some electro-pop country comes from Keith Urban, a guy who used to do guitar lesson infomercials!
The fact of the matter is - based on ratings trends over the past few months, Rock 95.5 is clearly missing the mark, and those responsible for the music choices seem to be completely out of touch with what the market wants.
- Status