Boston needs an Urban Contemporary station.

[Baholden1994]

I'm always amazed that people keep suggesting Rock formats in the NYC forum and Urban formats in the Boston forum If it would work in that market, wouldn't you think it'd be there by now?

Boston doesn't have any Urban formats yet they have 2 Spanish stations on AM (even Seattle has an Urban despite being even less Black % than Boston)... NYC has a classic rock station (Q104) but since the demise of RXP last year, there hasn't been any other Active or Alternative stations

I know right New York lost awesome Alternative Rock station K-Rock 92.3 three years ago and it's now a Top 40 station called 92.3 Now which plays more Hip Hop than Z100. They even lost 101.9 WRXP over a New Talk station called FM News 101.9 FM I couldn't believe to say this but New York City is the largest market in the country without any new rock outlet over analog radio at least if you have HD Radio you could listen too Alternative Rock on Q104.3's HD2 signal and they are even the largest without a Country station you could listen too Country on Lite 106.7's HD2 signal in NYC. Boston took off my favorite Rock station three year's ago WBCN 104.1 to the Sports Hub 98.5 then they swap Mix 98.5 to 104.1 in August of 2009. Then the change that's happening too WFNX on 101.7 might make Boston go without a Modern Rock station but i bet Radio 92.9 is Modern Rock because they do play a lot of good Alternative Rock songs. I sure hope 101.7 becomes an Urban outlet not a simulcast of Talk 1200 because they already simulcast on Kiss 108's HD2 signal and it would suck if they put it on 101.7. Boston did have an urban format at one time on 97.7 before WAAF took over. From the years 1999 to 2005 it was Mainstream Urban Hot 97.7 then It became Urban AC WILD 97.7 from 2005-2006 and 2006-present it's now WAAF 97.7/107.3 and they were on 107.3 in Worcester before it was on 97.7 in Boston and before 2006 WAAF had staticy reception for Boston unless you had the antenna up in the car or the wired antenna for the stereo. New York at least has three urban outlets like Mainstream Urban's Hot 97 and Power 105.1 and Urban AC WBLS 107.5, they just lost Urban AC Kiss 98.7 and now it's a simulcast of ESPN AM 1050 which the 1050 signal is going to be a Spanish ESPN sometime this fall. Now former Kiss 98.7 is called ESPN New York 98.7 FM.

 

[Baholden1994]

Boston is the largest market in the country without an Urban outlet.

 

[danikayser84]

With WFNX going away, I'd bet WAAF and/or Radio 92.9 will be welcoming former WFNX listeners Did Jam'n do anything like that when 97.7 changed to a WAAF simulcast?

 

[surfin bird]

Even though LYN is coming off as hostile and combative, he's right on the money. Unfortunately, just because one format works in another market, doesn't mean that it work work here. An Urban AC Market here wouldn't last because...well...how about we face it...Boston isn't exactly known as black friendly. Sooooooooooooo, also take into account simple demographics. An Urban AC station would last in places like Philly, DC and Detroit.

Now, if you were to rephrase the title of the thread to "What do you think would realistically work as a successful format in Boston?" and watch how the tone changes into responses. Because it cannot always be about what YOU want to work in Boston.

And if radio fails to adapt with the changing times, and the various stations continually make the same mistakes that caused to lose revenue/listeners in the first place, then those consequences fall directly on the GM's shoulders as well as the PD's.

 

[Baholden1994]

Even though LYN is coming off as hostile and combative, he's right on the money. Unfortunately, just because one format works in another market, doesn't mean that it work work here. An Urban AC Market here wouldn't last because...well...how about we face it...Boston isn't exactly known as black friendly. Sooooooooooooo, also take into account simple demographics. An Urban AC station would last in places like Philly, DC and Detroit.

Now, if you were to rephrase the title of the thread to "What do you think would realistically work as a successful format in Boston?" and watch how the tone changes into responses. Because it cannot always be about what YOU want to work in Boston.

And if radio fails to adapt with the changing times, and the various stations continually make the same mistakes that caused to lose revenue/listeners in the first place, then those consequences fall directly on the GM's shoulders as well as the PD's.

Hot 97.7 did take a lot of Jam'n 94.5 listeners away in the early to mid 2000's because Hot didn't keep playing the same songs over and over and over again but Jam'n did have better radio reception then Hot did because Jam'n is a strong Class B and Hot was a weaker Class A but not as weak as Hot 106 signal in Providence. A lot of people in Boston didn't want to listen to Jam'n anymore from the years Hot was around and I heard a lot of people we're mad when they went out of business even a lot of white's liked Hot 97.7 which i am. If any music format should be in Boston how about a Mainstream Urban Hip Hop and R&B station because Hot 97.7 had good success until they switched to Urban AC WILD 97.7 and I bet if they never switched format's I would bet you they would still be on the air till this day or they would've went out of business may be because of bankruptcy.  I started listening to Jam'n 94.5 once again when they switched format's to Urban AC because when I was younger I liked listening too Hip Hop more than slow R&B but I did know some of these R&B artist when I was younger like the ones R. Kelly, Alicia Keys, Usher, Mariah Carey, Mary J. Blige, Mario, Ne-yo, Jamie Foxx, and these ones I heard of when I became a preteen Trey Songz, T-Pain, and many of the ones that air on Mainstream Urban Hip Hop stations.

 

[Baholden1994]

I'm always amazed that people keep suggesting Rock formats in the NYC forum and Urban formats in the Boston forum If it would work in that market, wouldn't you think it'd be there by now?

Boston doesn't have any Urban formats yet they have 2 Spanish stations on AM (even Seattle has an Urban despite being even less Black % than Boston)... NYC has a classic rock station (Q104) but since the demise of RXP last year, there hasn't been any other Active or Alternative stations

Seattle has an urban? The only station they have that even comes close is KUBE and they play the same music Jam'n does.

Well they do have Urban's on the AM though but no one really listens to the AM anymore and Kube 93 is very similar Jam'n 94.5.

 

[Baholden1994]

Boston certainly does not "need" it. If you think radio here is dull, try traveling
to other places. How much Ryan Seacrest does anyone really "need"?
Another option would be to lease time on an existing station. No conflict of
interest here - I am not interested. Start out small, and try to grow an audience.
If you cannot make it work a few hours per week, then it definitely will not
work on a full-time basis.

SiriusXM Satellite Radio has several Urban Contemporary stations or anyone can listen to Urban stations from other cities on the worldwide web if available which most of them are but some of them have crappy quality online.

 

[trock]

The only way you are going to hear mainstream urban in Boston is if someone with deep pockets and great investment in the format is willing to buy or Lma a signal. Like Mr. Nash did with WILD. It would probably happen on am side of the dial since the corporations (outside of colleges) have taken over FM. It's also painfully obvious that everybody is too scared to take on the mighty CC who's two signals (which happen to be the only ones dabbling with "urban" songs) are obliterating the competition. Which is why I give the chance of them turning 101.7 urban about a 5% chance.

 

[Ciao9999]

There's plenty of good Urban AC stations on the internet. For example WLTJ HD2. If standard radio gives us less choices, there are alternatives.

Why is it only minority listeners are expected to reach out the internet? Boston is a minority majority city. Why can't European-American males listen to sports on the internet instead of only Jazz or R&B listeners?

 

[Ciao9999]

Hartford's demographics seem better suited to supporting an urban AC than do Boston's, yet it's not being done there either. WYBC does well in New Haven -- at least in 12+ numbers -- but its puny signal peters out halfway to Hartford. If it were attracting advertisers with money to spend, you'd think the format would be in Hartford, too, but for whatever reason, music for a mature black audience just doesn't have the suburban crossover appeal that hip-hop and other teen-oriented genres do, so urban AC remains a non-starter here, just as it does in Boston.

WYBC is #1 in New Haven. Proof that even in white majority markets an Urban AC can succeed.

 

[danikayser84]

You cannot voicetrack talk or sports radio, and there's no expensive music royalties involved Plus, every city has different teams and sports/talk shows, it can't be just one single sports station online...

Niche formats (such as Libertarian Talk, Polka or Jazz) tend to do better as a streaming service online rather than terrestrial...

 

[Ciao9999]

I'm always amazed that people keep suggesting Rock formats in the NYC forum and Urban formats in the Boston forum If it would work in that market, wouldn't you think it'd be there by now?

Boston doesn't have any Urban formats yet they have 2 Spanish stations on AM (even Seattle has an Urban despite being even less Black % than Boston)... NYC has a classic rock station (Q104) but since the demise of RXP last year, there hasn't been any other Active or Alternative stations

Of course Urban and Urban AC will make money in Boston. Just like a radio station can make money with Rock in NY. The thing is due to demographics, a radio station can make more money duplicating already existing formats on the dial. Which is why in both cities, consumer choice is lacking.

 

[chrocket87]

Contrary to the majority of posters, I think an Urban or Urban AC could work in Boston. The Black population in Boston-289,000, may not be all that large, but the format works in markets with even lower Black populations. Toledo, with a quarter of the Black population, has TWO Urban stations and an Urban AC and all three seem to be doing well. I would think CC would want to target this community, as they have no stations serving them and the 101.7 signal better covers an Urban-listening crowd than who would be listening to Conservative talk. I don't think Urban or Urban AC would be a massive success in this market, but there's no way some form of Urban programming can't be profitable.

 

[JustinT]

the 101.7 signal better covers an Urban-listening crowd than who would be listening to Conservative talk.

The limitations of the 101.7 FM signal are critical. If the person who makes the final call understands its coverage, then Spanish or urban seem like possibilities. If not, then prepare for conservative talk… or Jack.

 

[WBIMDJ]

With WFNX going away, I'd bet WAAF and/or Radio 92.9 will be welcoming former WFNX listeners Did Jam'n do anything like that when 97.7 changed to a WAAF simulcast?

If anything, I'd say 92.5 the River WXRV is closer to FNX's listeners than those stations. As of right now, they share the most currents. I think 92.5 profits more from WFNX going away...and I even heard a promo on it saying so! "The mighty WFNX has been sold...so now there's only ONE choice for independent radio in Boston. Keeping the Independent spirit strong, 92.5 The River"

Me as a WFNX p1 listener, I'll most likely have 92.5 as my #1 preset once they're gone.

 

[WLYNWAZNgm]

I am neither "hostile", nor "combative". I AM, however, a third-generation
Boston area boy, and have been in this business for many years. I have seen many
stations/formats come, and I have seen them go. I do not even bother to read posts by certain
posters - they may have many thousands of postings, but they never have
ANY CLUE what they are talking about... Then there are the ones who say the same
silly things, over and over and over again. As if saying it enough times will vindicate them.
NOT GONNA HAPPEN! My only point is that this is a BUSINESS. If you think you have
all of the programming answers, then get a bunch of like-minded individuals together,
either lease some time, or buy an existing station, and have at it! Just be ready to put
up your OWN cash to make it happen. Best of luck to you - you will need it!

 

[CTListener]

Hartford's demographics seem better suited to supporting an urban AC than do Boston's, yet it's not being done there either. WYBC does well in New Haven -- at least in 12+ numbers -- but its puny signal peters out halfway to Hartford. If it were attracting advertisers with money to spend, you'd think the format would be in Hartford, too, but for whatever reason, music for a mature black audience just doesn't have the suburban crossover appeal that hip-hop and other teen-oriented genres do, so urban AC remains a non-starter here, just as it does in Boston.

WYBC is #1 in New Haven. Proof that even in white majority markets an Urban AC can succeed.

It's No. 1, but I bet it bills far less than WPLR, WKCI, WEZN or WEBE. Advertising agencies profile listeners, and the profiling isn't pretty when it comes to the urban AC audience.

 

[carmen]

tend to do better as a streaming service online rather than terrestrial...

streaming is terrestrial

 

[surfin bird]

UMMMMMMM Okay...I'm not exactly sure what being a "third-generation-Boston area boy" has to do with anything, but WLYN, instead of feeding the trolls, or the posters who you see as trolling, why doesn't someone who has all of these years of industry experience suggest what you would think could be a successful format in Boston? Or, what format could bring in the most revenue in this city?

Since radio is desperate for new ideas, then why not listen to those who have the ideas that might work? Just because you're not keen on a certain format, doesn't mean that it couldn't work. I'm pretty sure that most here won't go the extra mile to buy a station. But, someone else might be watching and take into account what someone like LAUROJIM has to post regarding a new format. You're right, however WLYN. There are some dullards on here who are full of bark and/or malarkey. They post inane babble and are often wrong. So, my advice, and you can choose to take it or leave, is to ignore them if they upset you that much. You're just going to be sweeping sand into the sea. Good luck with WLYN bro. I'll be sure to tune in sometime, sir.

 

[dumber than a box of hair]

Just because you're not keen on a certain format, doesn't mean that it couldn't work.

Fine. Present a business case for that "certain format." Convince us it will work from a *business* standpoint. (Not you specifically. That was for those people who think they have all the answers.)

WLYNgm is correct. All we ever see on this board is "Boston needs format (x)..." without any business justification whatsoever, and no recognition that if a format had a chance of succeeding *as a business,* an existing station would be all over it like a cheap suit. It all comes off like "everyone needs to hear MY favorite music." What we *really* need is a huge dose of "put up your money and your time and get it done...or stop whining."

someone else might be watching and take into account what someone like LAUROJIM has to post regarding a new format.

IOW, someone is going to program a station based on posts to this board. Thanks. I needed a laugh.