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Can B-96 be saved

I don’t think Audacy will unload individual properties in markets where they’re established and doing well. WBMX has done especially well lately, WBBM (780) does and bills well, XRT is a powerhouse, US99 has the country audience. Very very highly doubt they’ll sell Score. It costs a lot to run but also bills well, which is the same for most of Audacy’s other sports stations. They’d be smart to monetize B96 as long as they can, once the numbers finally reflect in the billing, they have The Score as a cheap backup solution for 96.3 instead of having to build a new format and a new brand.
And they sell packages of stations together to agencies who want a single contract for a multi-station buy that has solid and broad delivery ad campaign target.
 
And they sell packages of stations together to agencies who want a single contract for a multi-station buy that has solid and broad delivery ad campaign target.
If I'm not correct, don't most major companies do this? They sell the portfolio of the cluster to both agencies as well as even local businesses. This maximizes exposure among a range of properties.
 
If I'm not correct, don't most major companies do this? They sell the portfolio of the cluster to both agencies as well as even local businesses. This maximizes exposure among a range of properties.
Yes, station groups will package two or more stations together to match a potential client or buyer's target audience.
 
Looking over their recently played, no wonder this thing is in the ditch. The playlist is, frankly, everywhere and lacks much of a focus.
 
True. Even when CHR has seemed monolithic at first glance (Beatlemania, disco, New Wave, boy bands, etc.), there have always been songs that don't conform to the current musical trend on the playlist.
I just spent a day digitizing a Hi-Fi VCR tape I had made when I lived in Chicago: B-96's Top 96 of 1996 on 12/31/1996. (Six hours of it.) That was at the peak of its intense focus on dance-oriented CHR. Back then, it was also rather heavy on promotions and remotes, with a strong focus on personalities. Of course, that was 27 years ago.
 
A couple lineup changes today.

 
That's kind of what pop music is. It's whatever's popular. Not genre specific.
Being in CHR’s demo, I don’t find playing a “dirty south” rap track from 20 years ago in to a Taylor Swift song then something random like “Return of the Mack” what CHR is. Other gold heavy CHR’s have pulled this off because they’re more focused. WBBM-FM is pulling from too broad of an age range and most of these songs never would have been played together at the same time. WFLC is a good example of a rhythmic gold heavy/hot AC done well. Audacy also fixed WTDY in Philadelphia.

B is just playing a lot of older hip hop which isn’t my cup of tea, but it doesn’t seem to be working. Ratings are worse than they were with mainstream CHR. So I’ll admit I may be a bit biased. But there’s no way this thing is doing well as previously stated. Is it seriously a top biller?!

I do wonder what they’ll do for mornings. I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s just left as is. I can’t see Audacy spending money on a morning show given their current bankruptcy protection and the performance of WBBM FM.
 
Maybe make B 96 Hip Hop or Rhythmic CHR or go Hot A/C or Dance?

Hip-Hop is having problems like CHR is. At least in the 6+. Look at WGCI and Power 92. Classic is what is working in Chicago right now, and they already have it.

Doubt they'll go Hot AC. They were musically adult friendly for awhile as a Mainstream CHR. That was almost a decade ago. WTMX was their target. But that wouldn't work now unless they were more gold friendly. Dance, same deal. Current formats are having problems. There is a Mainstream AC hole but I doubt they'll do that.

As long as it bills OK they'll probably leave it.
 
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