COAST'S NEW NUT TO CRACK IS.......

[jeffryan]

Hey being sold out is encouraging. It means there won't be any firings later this year. Right? Right?

Hardly! Hosts of top rated shows are being shown the door (Q102's Booker here in Philly comes to mind). Expect Clear Channel to cut more staff once Lee & Bain take over. Why? Because Lee & Bain don't care about radio. They're going to trim the fat and sell to Randy Michaels and Sam Zell at Tribune. Jerry DelColliano is predicting it, and I think he's right on.

 

[wkrpfm]

Ted, it's time to leave insurance company....let's submit our morning show demo...one year in Florida has me hankering for Providence

 

[RadioNut]

For what in providence?...in radio?....its a ghost town here!!....go to boston where at least they have bodies in the buildings....haven't you read this board?...especially at CC....its 80% tracked or off the bird

 

[Skynet74]

Ted, it's time to leave insurance company....let's submit our morning show demo...one year in Florida has me hankering for Providence

You arn't thinking clearly Erica. You are going to give up beautiful weather for this crap up here? Radio is more of a mess now than when you left. You should think twice about this.

 

[za-rex]

Back in Providence as part of a morning show, maybe, but only as a pit stop because that's all this market is. For those who've been here mornings long enough to have a name it's a matter of how long the station will think you're worth what they're paying you. Why would you want to do any other shift? Do people actually enjoy it? Hold out for Boston. Since the topic of this thread is Coast they were advertising for a co-host. Go for it if the job isn't taken or take a long look at the closest ten foot pole.

 

[wknd92]

Ted, it's time to leave insurance company....let's submit our morning show demo...one year in Florida has me hankering for Providence

Me thinkest chain is being yanked on you all from the Sunshine State....

 

[jeffryan]

....haven't you read this board?...especially at CC....its 80% tracked or off the bird

Someone's paying attention! Everyone is best advised to avoid Clear Channel like the plague. Once this sale goes down, there's going to be more trimming of the fat. Anyone who thinks Lee & Bain will actually stay in the radio business is crazy.

 

[za-rex]

....haven't you read this board?...especially at CC....its 80% tracked or off the bird

Someone's paying attention! Everyone is best advised to avoid Clear Channel like the plague. Once this sale goes down, there's going to be more trimming of the fat. Anyone who thinks Lee & Bain will actually stay in the radio business is crazy.

But there isn't a whole lotta fat left to trim. Coast and B101 are down to morning shows only. Coast is one person temporarily I assume. People at B101 do double duty at other CC stations so they're pulling their weight. HJY has lost some people but still they've been spared the brunt I assume due to billing. The fat I see as far as on-air people is people being replaced by less expensive versions. S Danman seems like a nice guy but is obviously a bean counter. Maybe he can clue us in.

 

[jeffryan]

But there isn't a whole lotta fat left to trim....

Good point. Farid is the bean counter of all bean counters and they're in a similar situation over there (running out of talent to lay off, that is). So you know what Citadel's new model is?

Laying off high producers in the SALES department. His philosophy is that the sales will magically appear. Why? Because it's radio! Everyone wants to advertise on radio!

The new height of stupidity... even for Farid. We'll have to see if Clear Channel travels down this road as well.

 

[Skynet74]

Me thinkest chain is being yanked on you all from the Sunshine State....
[/quote]

Me Hopeth you are right.... otherwise you need to have a serious talk with your friend.

 

[Runrigger]

But there isn't a whole lotta fat left to trim....

Good point. Farid is the bean counter of all bean counters and they're in a similar situation over there (running out of talent to lay off, that is). So you know what Citadel's new model is?

Laying off high producers in the SALES department. His philosophy is that the sales will magically appear. Why? Because it's radio! Everyone wants to advertise on radio!

The new height of stupidity... even for Farid. We'll have to see if Clear Channel travels down this road as well.

So in these tough economic times maybe someone like Holland can tell what will happen with sponsors who usually spend a lot on radio. If business declines will they just keep spending and keep their hopes high or will they cut back and wait things out? Seriously, I'm a poor example. When I have to spend a lot more on necessities I end up spending more on luxuries just to ease the pain, but not everyone can.

 

[Holland Cooke]

For starters, business from car dealers will never be the same.

maybe someone like Holland can tell what will happen with sponsors who usually spend a lot on radio.

Nobody's got a crystal ball.
But you don't need one to see some of the "headlines."

For starters, business from car dealers -- a radio staple -- will never be the same.

Sure, there'll be exceptions.
In the Providence market, Tarbox has spent plenty lately.
(Although "WE want to sell YOU a cah" is hardly a compelling benefit statement.)

But, generally, CAR DEALERS ARE SCREWED.

One well-written spot I just heard on the radio came-right-out-and-said-so.
Good afternoon from Seattle, where spots are all over radio and TV for a truck and SUV fire sale.
Vehicles from all-over are "SELLING FOR PENNIES ON THE DOLLAR" at a huge mall parking lot event.
And spot copy turns-lemons-into-lemonade by explaining WHY-you-should-buy-now:
Cost of gasoline ($4.45.9 here today) has made these vehicles unpopular.
Advertising explains that it's a buyer's market.
Smart.

At most stations, Sales commissions vary.
Reps earn X% for new local direct retail, Y% for local agency biz, Z% for renewals, etc.
X is always the highest.
"Development."

I'm impressed when-I-hear/see:
1. non-traditional advertisers;
2. "swimming-against-the-current;"
3. with copy that cuts-through-the-clutter.

Example of all-three-of-the-above:
Last week, in Fargo, I saw a REAL smart advertiser.
He's Remax agent Chris Thomsen, using billboards, with lean copy that grabs the eye.
Chris calls himself www.FreeTVguy.com
Buy a house through him -- whether or not it's his listing -- and he gives you a 42" flat-screen HTDV.

THAT cuts-through-the-clutter, vs. "WE want to sell YOU a house."
(As does the EXCELLENT spot that Joe Dias voices on WPRO.)

The silver lining to the housing slump is that RIGHT NOW is chance-of-a-lifetime for a qualified first-time buyer.
And Chris will toss-in the TV.

Look for my Red Sox jersey in the Safeco crowd Monday/Tuesday nights...
HC
www.HollandCooke.com

 

[Speaker of Truth]

"For starters, business from car dealers -- a radio staple -- will never be the same."

Amen brother..

I watched an AM FM combo in Ohio get battered after Time Warner got some agressive salespeople and sold the car dealers on cable TV..once you show a car dealer that he can be on TV for about the same price they pay for a radio ad.. you can kiss that business goodbye forever...

Then what?

You're already seeing the same thing in RI and MA..where Comcast is starting to get a clue, and going after mid level dealers...

Listen to a standard spotset, outside of Opie and Anthony on WBCN..Viagra ads, Work at Home ads, but not a car dealer to be found..how long can that go on? Think the Patriots can save them every third and fourth quarter?

There will be two music formats that will survive to one degree or another..Country and Hip Hop, or so says Jerry Del Colliano..if you aren't reading his "Inside Music Media" blog on a daily basis, you're missing out on solid top quality information...

I can see his argument..Country tends to skew older, while Hip Hop's African American audience in some cases has not adapted to a digital age for economic reasons..but that will change as their children are exposed to the internet at school..and acquire the technology over time..

You couldn't pay me to sell country..its a tough gig..lots of smaller clients who have stange demands when it comes to music..or who want to use their kids to voice copy..I've had to edit this nonsense..20 minutes of my time I'll never get back to cut and paste a kid who could only read in single sentences..my ears bleed at the memory..

Why Clear Channel isn't using an FM signal in Providence to carry Rush and Hannity I cannot understand..you can use the WHJJ AM signal in the same way WHTB is used in Fall River..low overhead, pull in some cash and use the signal for another purpose that can carry it for a few years..

 

[IdentityProgramming]

Holland:

I know you're primarily a news/talk programmer but what do you think of the idea of Coast going Classical?

No classical format in the market and lots of car dealers and restaurants with disposable incomes to spend on advertising.

It won't happen but what do you think of the idea?

Gary Begin
Consultant
Identity Programming
Jackson, TN
www.garybegin.com

 

[za-rex]

Well I'm not Holland but you cited car dealers and restaurants with disposable income.
Car dealers has been discussed when it comes to their future advertising on radio.
The kind of restaurants that might benefit from advertising on a classical station are probably hurting and I don't think Applebees and Chilis are going to buy classical.
Then there's the format and the market for it in Providence. It doesn't fit well with what CC is looking for considering their other Providence stations and would be a tough sell.

 

[Holland Cooke]

Classical? Gas!

I'm a BIG Classical fan, and enjoy having one nearby when I'm home (WCRI, whose transmitter is ON Block Island).
But it's a misunderstood format, too often typecast as for-people-who-look-like Albert Einstein.
Position it right, and it's for-people-who-look-like Ally McBeal.
It's "relaxing."

 

[Skynet74]

I'm a BIG Classical fan, and enjoy having one nearby when I'm home (WCRI, whose transmitter is ON Block Island).
But it's a misunderstood format, too often typecast as for-people-who-look-like Albert Einstein.
Position it right, and it's for-people-who-look-like Ally McBeal.
It's "relaxing."

I agree. Definitely relaxing. I used to tune in "CLASSICAL" every night when I went to bed and would just leave it on all night. I sure don't look like Albert Einstein..lol.

 

[wknd92]

It's not a question of it is relaxing, would it be profitable? That is the question....Citadel, CC, Cumulus, Hall, Greater Media, etc would have to see some bottom line profit for it to be considered. Seeing as it appears that CC, Entercom & Citadel are having trouble filling the local spots, they'd have to look long and hard to see if there would be profit with that format.
There well may be seeing as the baby boomers are getting older and possibly turning to Classical music, is there enough of an audience that would make sense to turn a frequency over or is there enough coverage currently that another station would not make sense profitwise

 

[Holland Cooke]

"It's not a question of it is relaxing, would it be profitable?"

Here?
We'll never know.

Now that Farid's stock is back-near-a-buck, he's probably heaving-a-sigh-of-relief. He and the Gordon Gekko-look-alikes taking over Clear Channel probably aren't thinking, "Hmmm. That Classical FM on Block Island. They're onto something..."

Because owners are afraid of the format, it tends to be consigned to secondary sticks, as it is here.
Note how WCRB/Boston's present owners moved the format to lesser signals when they bought it.
Ditto for Bonneville in Washington, when they moved WTOP's all-news format from 1500AM to 103.5FM, formerly Classical WGMS.

This strategy isn't specific to Classical.
All sorts of niche formats end up on smaller signals.
You need to give listeners A REASON to tune-in.
Formats perceived (rightly or wrongly) as "more mass-appeal" end up on more-massive-signals.
Alternative took roots on rimshot sticks.

ANY format can make do-re-mi if it's managed right.
I think that, for instance, Reggae could click...IF done properly.
Would it be #1? Nah.
But it could make money.

Because the-station-is-the-star, Classical or Reggae or something else "special" it needn't be expensive from a local talent standpoint.

Properly promoted, a Classical or Reggae station could play-Arbitron's-game-well in diary markets; because diary methodology is a memory test, and this format is more-different-than the-difference-between "Hot AC" and "Adult CHR," whatever that is.

Hindsight is 20/20; and if I had a do-over for WSNE circa 1982, I should've gone Oldies, which was dark in the market.
Motown, Frankie Valli, Beatles, Lovin' Spoonful; and the pre-disco mid-70s hits a #1 WPRO-AM played.
But noooo...

Our we're-not-as-icky-as-Pro-FM ("What FM was MEANT to be, W-S-N-E) act was too subtle.
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88oPeNAaMvw)
Instead of being-a-suit-in-an-office, I should've returned as Holland Cooke, a Pete Rose-type player/coach.
Oldies would've been a franchise then, like Classical could be now.

HC
www.HollandCooke.com

PS RE profitabilty: I don't know this specifically, but I THINK Classical costs less in terms of ASCAP and BMI.
After all, it's "the best mix of the 1700s, 1800s, and 1900s..."