Big Hits - Y100.9 Format Flip

[adbuyer1]

Apparently the sales staff who started claiming they couldn't sell a radio station called "Oldies" because advertisers don't want "oldies listeners" now claim they can't sell a radio station called "Big Hits" because advertisers don't understand what "Big Hits" means or who the listener to the station is. I can actually understand that to some extent.

Maybe it has really always been the case, but in this poor radio station's recent history, it certainly seems like radio's sales staffs are now programming the radio stations. Best of Luck!

 

[oldrover]

The station's got listeners who buy things. That makes it sellable.

 

[True Grit]

Apparently the sales staff who started claiming they couldn't sell a radio station called "Oldies" because advertisers don't want "oldies listeners" now claim they can't sell a radio station called "Big Hits" because advertisers don't understand what "Big Hits" means or who the listener to the station is. I can actually understand that to some extent.

Maybe it has really always been the case, but in this poor radio station's recent history, it certainly seems like radio's sales staffs are now programming the radio stations. Best of Luck!

To me, 'oldies' is sock hop, doo-wah music. 'Big Hits', though a bit original, sounds vague. Why not 'Classic Hits'? Or is that already spoken for in the market?

 

[Underminer]

"Apparently the sales staff who started claiming they couldn't sell a radio station called "Oldies" because advertisers don't want "oldies listeners" now claim they can't sell a radio station called "Big Hits" because advertisers don't understand what "Big Hits" means or who the listener to the station is."

And your point is? It's been a year since the "flip." Same station, same music, different liners. You just noticed the change?

"The station's got listeners who buy things. That makes it sellable."

That;s the idea! One bad book doesn't kill a station--not in Portland, ME.

 

[newsbot]

WCBS-FM is kicking butt in New York calling itself 'Greatest Hits.' Nassau owns the 'Classic Hits' position in Portland. Too bad Saga never figured out how to position its 'oldies-station-by-any-other-name.' 'Big Hits' is an utterly meaningless slogan that communicates demographic insecurity to listeners, salespeople and advertisers.

 

[adbuyer1]

Underminer:

You're a good Saga foot soldier. I get that. You'll immediately defend all things Saga. Admirable. But it's time to leave the Kool-Ade at the station.

Big Hits DIDN'T have a bad book. It's seems to be quite good. As a matter of fact, when it was Oldies, it had great books; better than many, if not most, Oldies stations anywhere in the country. Ratings weren't and aren't the problem. Revenue is.

Listen to the station. Maybe, maybe, one or two commercials in a break then weather. And it's not the economy. It was this way last year and the year before that. They can't sell it!

I'm sure all of your competitors in the market place hope there is no coming format change on the station since it's not hurting their pocketbooks at all. I'm sure they want it to stay just as it is.

However today, no company can afford to have a full market signal underperforming so bad revenue-wise in their little portfolio. As I said, the coming change is one that is being dictated by the sales separtment and I question as to whether that is good.

 

[oldrover]

Sales having input on format is not necessarily a bad thing. Isn't the format the product? If you ran a restaurant, and gross sales and profit at breakfast were much better (or worse) when a particular special was run, wouldn't you make business decisions based on that knowledge?

Hello? Bueller? ;D

 

[adbuyer1]

Two separate issues. If the product is bad and the sales staff is complaining the format needs to change - fine. But in this case, there are ratings and very good ratings on this station and they can't sell it! So they're going to change the format to what???? Something else the staff can't sell?

I mean we're not talking about WZAN which has NO RATINGS in the last book. Hello - Bueller - No Ratings.

 

[oldrover]

I thought we were talking about WYNZ, not WZAN. Try to stay on your own topic, please. ;D

 

[Erie_Lackawanna]

Sales having input on format is not necessarily a bad thing. Isn't the format the product? If you ran a restaurant, and gross sales and profit at breakfast were much better (or worse) when a particular special was run, wouldn't you make business decisions based on that knowledge?
Hello? Bueller? ;D

and so it would be okay for programming to have input for sales? like "get out and sell the # (1 thru 5) station?" being a wiseass - but 'tis a valid point.

in the case of many of the top stations in portland (Saga, Citadel, Nassua & Atlantic Coast), the product IS good, and in some cases, BETTER than good. yet there are always challenges facing sales execs - it's a job i've always held in high regard as unlike selling cars or widgets or even a "video copy" of a tv spot - radio sales sell air. incremental, yes - but not something at all tangible.

as to being able to sell the concept (branding, format, etc) - that's where sales accumen comes into play. selling ratings from a computer program (Tapscan, Maximizer, etc) can be taught... but actually "selling" the idea - that comes with experience. there are few of the old-school sales types still in Portland, and there are times (such as in this current fiscal climate) that those few, hearty souls might somehow pool their talents and pass along some accumulated knowledge. short of saying "join forces and hold seminars," there is always a way to do that. (old school style - F.Parker Reidys. but hey, Jay's Oyster is still around!)

just my $.02 - (now, like my 401k, worth about $.0003)

 

[grover]

God Bless us All
Like others I've lived thru the Days of and Worked at
Great Radio stations like WHDH/BOSTON
WJBQ during its FIRST Success in the 70s
Etc....Its hard to watch all of this
BUT then again...look at Detroit
and the Auto Biz
or the Fishing Industry
Lets hope our Country finds its way Again
Remember When you Fire a Human Being you
Take so Much! His Self Esteem/His living/Health Insurance
You Hurt Him/Her and Family in WAYS you never Know?
Even Though I only had Met him a Couple of Times
"BILLY CHARLES" of Lucky 99 ELLSWORTH
Still Bothers me The Way HE/Myself and Many LIKE Him
Were treated!

 

[Remaster]

Even Though I only had Met him a Couple of Times
"BILLY CHARLES" of Lucky 99 ELLSWORTH
Still Bothers me The Way HE/Myself and Many LIKE Him
Were treated!


[/quote]

My advice would be not to let your work define your life. You set yourself for failure by doing so. Business is business because, it's just business.

 

[amguy]

Interesting thread....while it's true, that it is a business, it DOES affect our lives. I've been in radio for almost 47 years, probably far longer than most people on this site have been alive. I'm probably the longest running live DJ in the state. Joe Mc Millan adds another 38 or so. We started when radio was totally different. All programming was live, we cued up records, talked one-on-one with the listeners and played commercials on 16" 16 RPM discs or local spots on old Ampex 601s. Radio was local--it was fun! But, like everything in life, it changes. Most didn't like the changes as they came, but we adapted and continued--it was fun. DJ's had talent, personality--remember Woo Woo Ginsberg, Boom-Boom Branigan, Joey Reynolds and countless others? People listened to the radio to hear the DJs--music was secondary. That is gone--we old-timers miss that. The on-air talent was generally outstanding. Today? Well, it takes no talent to say things like: "And now, 45 minutes of commercial free music", or "and now, 12 in a row". Today's on-air, mostly voice-tracked announcers, don't have a clue about how their industry was many decades ago. What about spontaneity on the air, adlibbing, saying HI to people who toot their horns as they drive by the studio? Unheard of today. The listeners then were part of the programs, interactive and fun. Is the lose of all this part of the problem today? Would a revival of this kind of programming bring back the listeners, then the ratings and the income would follow? We'll never know, because it is gone--it's history--but it was a blast. Right, Joe? Joe McMilan was right, LIVE is always better. But, it's gone and we adapt and move forward. So be it--but it was great. By the way, I play "oldies", I mean the real oldies--Glenn Miller to Elvis, Dickie Doo and the Don'ts, Buddy Holly, Doris Day, Ray Conniff and hundreds of others. I remember the oldies. I was playing them when they were current hits. My generation is passing and another new generation of radio broadcasters is entering. I wish them the same success as Joe and I have enjoyed. But, I've gotta tell ya, we remember when radio was fun--OH, for me it still is. The wipper-snappers will have fun picking this post apart, but I was there when it was real, live and fun!

 

[True Grit]

Interesting thread....while it's true, that it is a business, it DOES affect our lives. I've been in radio for almost 47 years, probably far longer than most people on this site have been alive. I'm probably the longest running live DJ in the state. Joe Mc Millan adds another 38 or so. We started when radio was totally different. All programming was live, we cued up records, talked one-on-one with the listeners and played commercials on 16" 16 RPM discs or local spots on old Ampex 601s. Radio was local--it was fun! But, like everything in life, it changes. Most didn't like the changes as they came, but we adapted and continued--it was fun. DJ's had talent, personality--remember Woo Woo Ginsberg, Boom-Boom Branigan, Joey Reynolds and countless others? People listened to the radio to hear the DJs--music was secondary. That is gone--we old-timers miss that. The on-air talent was generally outstanding. Today? Well, it takes no talent to say things like: "And now, 45 minutes of commercial free music", or "and now, 12 in a row". Today's on-air, mostly voice-tracked announcers, don't have a clue about how their industry was many decades ago. What about spontaneity on the air, adlibbing, saying HI to people who toot their horns as they drive by the studio? Unheard of today. The listeners then were part of the programs, interactive and fun. Is the lose of all this part of the problem today? Would a revival of this kind of programming bring back the listeners, then the ratings and the income would follow? We'll never know, because it is gone--it's history--but it was a blast. Right, Joe? Joe McMilan was right, LIVE is always better. But, it's gone and we adapt and move forward. So be it--but it was great. By the way, I play "oldies", I mean the real oldies--Glenn Miller to Elvis, Dickie Doo and the Don'ts, Buddy Holly, Doris Day, Ray Conniff and hundreds of others. I remember the oldies. I was playing them when they were current hits. My generation is passing and another new generation of radio broadcasters is entering. I wish them the same success as Joe and I have enjoyed. But, I've gotta tell ya, we remember when radio was fun--OH, for me it still is. The wipper-snappers will have fun picking this post apart, but I was there when it was real, live and fun!

That was a great read. I fall somewhere in the middle between just out of broadcast school and 47 of years experience, but can identify with many of the anecdotes you mentioned, and you're right; radio used to be a blast. No one (at least in Maine) gets in the biz to make a fortune, but at least back in the day, it was fun. Not anymore (with a few exceptions).

Btw, you might think about posting here more often. You have a lot to say, and say it well

 

[amguy]

Thanks, True Grit--you are very kind! I remember when you interviewed me on the 25th anniversary of the assassination of JFK. And that was more than 20 years ago. Those were the days in radio when you could do those things. It's nice to look back and remember, but technology demands that we move on. But, we were COMMUNICATORS, not programmers. We related to the listeners. When we did 'remotes', we took a portable studio with us--turntables, mixer, cart machines and carts and did the whole broadcast live from the site--no board operator back at the studio. Half the town would show up and watch and participate. That doesn't happen anymore. Today when it's snowing hard, I can play "A Summer Place", or in the heat of the summer I can play "Sleigh Ride". When Larry goes by the studio and toots his horn, I'll play a Dean Martin record. Try that voice tracking and using a play list. Today's voice trackers don't know the feeling you get when listeners call the station and wonder what's wrong if you miss your show. They'll ask for your address so they can send a get well card if you're sick. Those were good times. I'll not suggesting we have to go back to that, but today's crop of programmers need to appreciate how they got where they are today. We paved the way and had fun doing it.

 

[True Grit]

Thanks, True Grit--you are very kind! I remember when you interviewed me on the 25th anniversary of the assassination of JFK. And that was more than 20 years ago. Those were the days in radio when you could do those things. It's nice to look back and remember, but technology demands that we move on.

Somewhere in my box o' stuff I'm pretty sure I have a reel of the CBS Radio special put together to commemorate that sad event. The station's owner back in '88 was actually in Dallas on that day, reporting for (I think) a St. Louis daily newspaper, so it was interesting to talk to him, too. Unfortunately, I don't have our interview. Sorry about that.

 

[JIBGUY]

Radio WILL come back (in a few years) to partially the way it was 30-40 years ago. It will HAVE to; just to be different than peoples' i-pods and other newer media. However, the large conglomerates have no idea how to do that and they do not understand the concept. And that's understandable, since they're in the cold and impersonal banking or investment business. - I recently heard someone say that from now on, radio stations will have to be "in the relationship business", rather than "in the broadcasting business"....

 

[grover]

Hope CHUCK IGO
and CARY PAHAGIAN
Both Friends will be Okay!

 

[radiothis!]

I wouldn't worry about Cary. There's no stopping him! I used to give Chuck a hard ribbing, but there is a guy who knows radio. Not just the behind the scenes part either--he really makes that morning show sound lived in.

As one of those young guys who loves radio, it was thrilling working in the Portland market with some of the men and women who made me want to be "in" radio. But as one of those young guys who was recently canned, I'm throwing in the towel. People keep asking if I'm going back--and at the risk of sounding like a loser, I can't see the point.

Radio needs to be interactive. It needs to be inventive. It needs to give people a reason to listen. Like it or love it, talk radio has figured that out (and truthfully, liberal talk radio is starting to figure it out too. I don't think we need the fairness doctrine. With Maddow and Olbermann becoming household names, I don't think it will be long before we'll hear them on the local airwaves). Locally, JBQ's morning hosts know it. MPBN knows it.

Unfortunately, the rest of the market has their hands tied. I realize that at this point, the cuts are to keep the sky from falling. But where is the farm team now? How do you develop new talent? The answer is a.) you don't and b.) even if you do, most markets aren't interested in building new talent, they're interested in molding new talent in their image. And everyone, advertisers, listeners, (secretly) our fellow broadcasters know that the old "image" ain't working.

So we're at an impasse. As much as public radio pledge drives annoy me--let's face it: the future of radio rests on listeners' support and major sponsorships (as in, a car dealership [when the economy gets better] buys out an afternoon of programming). To gain the sort of listener support that brings cash, you have to have a product people can't live without. Sadly, people can live without most of today's radio.

 

[Oldbones]

DJ's had talent, personality--remember Woo Woo Ginsberg, Boom-Boom Branigan, Joey Reynolds and countless others? People listened to the radio to hear the DJs--music was secondary. That is gone--we old-timers miss that. The on-air talent was generally outstanding.

There is a strong tendency here to remember the past thru rose colored glasses. Yes, there were some outstanding talents back in the day, but there a whole lot more who were nothing but "Johnny Deejay". Why do you think Bill Drake was so successful with his tightly-formatted, liner card approach to radio 45 years ago? Because he (correctly) realized that most jocks had very little to say, and took forever to say it. Have his principles been taken too far? Absolutely, but even back then he knew most listeners tuned in for the music, the dj was just there to tie it all in together. Why do you think WMEX got away with (except for Arnie G.) "house names" for his airstaff? How many "Dan Donovans" or "Fenways" were there anyway?

Yes there were exceptions. Joey Reynolds was one of them. By his own admission, he was a comedian...he got into radio because that was the only venue available at the time. He had talent, and it showed.
I'm not so sure about Arnie & Boom-Boom. I'm more inclined to think that both were just in the right place at the right time. Arnie's whole schtik was his horns, buzzers and other assorted sound effects. He had the good sense to get out of it in the mid 60s while he was still on top...his act was getting tired if he'd hung in another couple years he would have sounded really dated & unhip.
I don't know why everyone seems to remember Boom-Boom. I'm guessing it's because he was at WPTR in afternoon drive for so many years. I certainly don't remember him as being any great shakes, and while airchecks of him seem to be pretty rare, those I've heard don't contradict that. The only thing that stood out about him to me was that he always sounded like he was out of breath.