Clear Channel Blows Up The Harbor. Now Evolution 101.7

[TonySantiago]

Spanish isn't a format, just like English isn't a format. There are many different Spanish genres.

That's why there are so many different Spanish AM stations.

As much as you guys hate us New Yorkers, lol, let me break it down this way. And to that, if someone can call David Eduardo in here, that would be beneficial because to me, he is the "go to" guy regarding Spanish formats in here.

In New York, you have MANY Spanish based formats. WSKQ (La Mega 97.9) has salsa, merengue, bachata, cumbia in the format. WXNY (X-96.3) is similar, though in a previous life, they were known as "La Kalle" (when they were on 105.9) and leaned on reggaeton, which was huge in the US in the early/mid 2000's though they still swear to it in Puerto Rico. There was a station in Long Island on 92.7 (WQBA) which leaned Mexican but they have also changed with a lean towards merengue. Add to the fact you have some Spanish speaking AM's in New York (now mainly talk/news and sports), it is a collage of formats.

I guess it's easier to lump it as "Spanish" because of the language but there is that variety.

 

[hotpatrick2004]

Maybe evolution is clear channels next gen x radio???

Not many of those left. But a dance format wont work everywhere but i wish them luck. But hey if they were gonna do a niche format like this why did they ever blow up wfnx makes no sense???

 

[trock]

Maybe evolution is clear channels next gen x radio???

Not many of those left. But a dance format wont work everywhere but i wish them luck. But hey if they were gonna do a niche format like this why did they ever blow up wfnx makes no sense???

Because CC doesn't own the intellectual property of FNX just the stick. I think the better question is. Why didn't they just launch this format right away? I't would have been a far less of a blow for people who liked FNX.

 

[Oldbones]

I think the better question is. Why didn't they just launch this format right away? I't would have been a far less of a blow for people who liked FNX.

Maybe because this is just a stunt format too? Let's face it, all-dance all-the-time isn't a format that has ever had much staying power. Thump, thump, thump 24/7 gets old fast...how long did Kiss 108 or WBOS last with a disco format?

 

[trock]

I think the better question is. Why didn't they just launch this format right away? I't would have been a far less of a blow for people who liked FNX.

Maybe because this is just a stunt format too? Let's face it, all-dance all-the-time isn't a format that has ever had much staying power. Thump, thump, thump 24/7 gets old fast...how long did Kiss 108 or WBOS last with a disco format?

It's not a stunt. I think people who actually like the music don't have an issue with the "thump thump" as you put it. I've been listening all day and been loving it. I't may or may not last it all depends how committed CC is to the format. I think this station is in a unique position. I don't think they need to do gangbusters numbers to survive. As long as they attract enough of the young demos and help keep Amp from eroding anymore market share. Harbor simply wasn't accomplishing any of that.

 

[indystorm]

Ditto...! ME!! I'd listen if they spoke English...... It goes back to what I say all the time.... Everybody thinks that people want to hear the same top 40 crap on the radio all the time, well it's just not true. People (like me) want a lot more variety in what is heard on the radio. That's why radio audiences keep going down. You can only take the same crap over and over and over again. This is why I think Evolution will do GREAT...! It's something new that isn't being broadcast in Boston. It's the same reason I think a lite rock station in Boston that only played lite rock from 65-95 would do very well. There's a LOT of music in those years, without any of the top 40 crap that's played everywhere today.

ok, I've rambled enough. My two cents.

I'm sure that those listeners are everywhere...

I hate top posting but I guess I must rather than throw the thread into disarray. Anyway ...
You make a Spanish station English and you lose the audience your advertisers are buying: Latinos whose primary language is still Spanish. There isn't a huge Anglo audience out there who'd listen to tropical music if only the announcers spoke English.

They should make those spanish stations English so more people can understand them. Then the ratings would go up.

Spanish on 101.7 was never going to happen. Not a chance. To us locals - Spanish is Spanish, is Spanish. Not so to the Hispanic
community, at large. There is a big difference between, say, Puerto Rican and Mexican and Nicaraguan. Foreign language programming is
not a panacea. It is a distinct art form/business model - and our company does more of it than just about anybody in the US....

 

[Saladressing]

The article in the Boston Globe seems to be implying that there will be no local hosts, just international DJs so basically all "piped in" if that's the case. http://www.boston.com/businessupdat...wfnx-signal/QlIPcasC4oOTIvYgpqTo0K/story.html

Interesting that the tagline for the new WFNX.com is "The Evolution of Radio".

 

[Signpost]

Listening to Evolution, I'm hearing a lot of repetition. I enjoy the format. It's like caffeine for the ears, a workday energy boost. One observation about EDM: it's the underpinning for most CHR hits. I remember listening to Kiss 108 for an hour when I and realized I hadn't heard a single guitar - or any other "real" instrument, except possibly a guitar in a Maroon 5 song, which may have been keyboard generated. Right now CHR has an acoustic streak going with hits from Train, Ed Sheeran, Jason Mraz, Mumford & Sons, Phillip Phillips and of course Adele. But most of the year CHR was essentially EDM, tightly produced and programmed.

Could be this new format isn't a risk at all, but an incredibly shrewd move. Would enjoy it a lot more if it was localized though - with Boston based voices making it relevant to our town. Pete Tong obviously piped in from London wears thin very quickly.

 

[robotique]

Pete Tong presents from London but hes also been playing DJ sets spun by other DJs recorded worldwide. Roger Sanchez's (who is a house music god btw) show is from NYC. Theres a show called Jetset Radio that has revolving DJs that is crazy dope! The nu-disco/indie dance show is interesting too.

The repition of songs seems to be when they are inbetween actual DJ sets. This doesnt seem to last long. Once they put on a feature set that was recorded in a club or at an event (outside the commercial radio context) thats when you get to hear real underground house, progressive house, techhouse, electro, techno, acidhouse, drum n bass etc etc.

The dance music scene and club culture as a whole is global so the international lean in programming is actually a draw for dance music fans. To hear sets recorded at world famous clubs like Space in Ibiza or Pacha on terrestrial radio locally is a huge privledge. Im still trying to wrap my head around.

its going to be interesting how they work this format in a commercial radio context.

 

[4CX1000A]

I listened to 101.7 for a while on my way home from an errand.

Not only the DJ was a machine; even the musicians were machines. There was no personality. no sense of connection with another human being. I might as well have been listening to an old fashioned steam locomotive: Chugga chugga chugga chugga Chugga chugga chugga chugga...

This is the future of radio? This is supposed to beat the iPod?

Chugga chugga chugga chugga, Chugga chugga chugga chugga, Chugga chugga chugga chugga...

Yes, I remember Disco 93. But those songs at least had tunes. These songs aren't songs at all; there's nobody singing.

Do Cylons dream of electric sheep?

 

[saradio1]

I listened to 101.7 for a while on my way home from an errand.

Not only the DJ was a machine; even the musicians were machines. There was no personality. no sense of connection with another human being. I might as well have been listening to an old fashioned steam locomotive: Chugga chugga chugga chugga Chugga chugga chugga chugga...

This is the future of radio? This is supposed to beat the iPod?

Chugga chugga chugga chugga, Chugga chugga chugga chugga, Chugga chugga chugga chugga...

Yes, I remember Disco 93. But those songs at least had tunes. These songs aren't songs at all; there's nobody singing.

Do Cylons dream of electric sheep?

Sounds like you're not in Evolution intended demographic.

 

[raccoonradio]

I could take small bits of it (and I guess most of the songs are 3 min long, not like disco-extended
remixes) but generally it's for people half my age. And yes even if I can take stuff like punk
or found-sound collage, etc., not quite my style but some do like it. (Me, give me dance stuff
like Billy Idol, New Order, Kraftwerk --Tour de France, Pocket Calculator, some of the rhythmic
stuff like Donnah Summah..or back even further; Motown, dance crazes, Louis Prima, etc.!)

Times do change. There's a scene in the John Waters movie Cry Baby when a bunch of people
are going down the street doing...the Bunny Hop... Well, Evolution 101.7 isn't quite for me.

But...
NOW THIS IS DANCE! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3-dfl5YGi8
(Bunny Hop from Cry Baby)

 

[trock]

I think evolution has been making it pretty obvious who they are targeting. They have been shouting out every college in the city. Bye the way they were sounding great last night.

 

[reelyreal]

Their street team presence has been impressive as well. They seem to be doing it right. I don't really enjoy the music outside of a club scene for any more than 10 minutes at a time (I'm in the demo... 26, male, college educated, partier.) I do, however, think it's a great format for the signal, innovative for a traditional broadcast station, and is being executed well.

 

[KarsonWithaK]

Sorry, but I think 26 & college educated it out of the demo, too. To me, this is an 18-22 demo. I spent most of my adult life DJ'ing this music as I was building my on-air resume. I love the idea of an EDM station but I disagree that there is some sort of burgeoning scene in Boston that will drive the success of 101.7. Go to any busy night club in town and they are still playing the tried and true dance hits. Sure, there may be a few exceptions but the bottom line for me, is who goes to a club to hear music they don't know? Not many. AMP is now running mix shows on the weekend and they are using local (Joe Bermuda) talent.

I hope they do well as I like sound, but I think I'm in the very small minority.

 

[MassMusicMan]

Bermudez. ;D

I've known him a long time. I was happy to hear that Amp incorporated his talents into their schedule.

 

[KarsonWithaK]

Ha. Bermuda. It was past my bedtime. Sorry JB. ;D

 

[The Buzz]

The ratings were posted yesterday reflecting the first week of EVOLUTION listening on PPM Meters. They lost 50% of the Harbor audience. Not a good sign, with active meters for the week AVERAGING less than ONE.

Average Meters:
Fall 4 Holi 1 Holi2 Holi3
1.63 1.31 1.46 0.73 WHBA

 

[newhampshiredude]

The ratings were posted yesterday reflecting the first week of EVOLUTION listening on PPM Meters. They lost 50% of the Harbor audience. Not a good sign, with active meters for the week AVERAGING less than ONE.

Average Meters:
Fall 4 Holi 1 Holi2 Holi3
1.63 1.31 1.46 0.73 WHBA

Yeah this is not surprising, considering the station just launched and people have to find it. The Harbor's audience is not going to listen to Evolution, so all those listeners are gone. Hard to tell yet, especially by ONE week in ratings where the old audience is turned away. And, the Harbor had a lot more months to build up to that rating.

 

[raccoonradio]

and apparently no outcry for CC to reconsider via a facebook group...yes some posts on their facebook (not sure if still up!) by disgruntled harbor fans, just as 96.9's facebook is getting the
expected "bad move, Greater Media" posts by the talk fans.

When Mike changed to the WEEI simulcast (and now home base) there also was a facebook group
or two of people complaining. People mentioned the alleged variety but I said fear not much of
what they played could be found on other stations (and the playlist had tightened before
the flip, for that matter)