Listeners are not idiots. Most of the stations that have had the same format for MANY years are going to the "default" station in that market for that format regardless of all the 'fly by night' wannabes that go into a market and CLAIM to be better.
These stations end up changing formats until they find something that sticks. People know this. They are not going to stray from their 'comfortable' station for gimmicks, goofy-13-year-old humor promotions, and self-professed bravado.
Indy is a perfect example of this - WFMS, WFBQ, WIBC, etc. have been airing the same formats for YEARS! Their little competitors nipping at their heals come and go. WKLU went from Big Band, to Oldies, to a strange form of "who knows what" kind of old classic rock, finally to a basic classic rock station that all of a sudden assumes it deserves respect in the market because of new studios? Just ONE example of the ever-changing formats and owners in Indy.
Same thing in Fort Wayne, when the smoke clears, there will have been numerous format changes from spanish, to country, to dance, to? They will continue to change year after year, while the bigboys stay the course and continue to develop MARKET RESPECT!
You'll get the mom and pops to change their advertising patterns, but the staples in any market are going to stay with what they know works - and that won't be a station that is brand new bragging they are already overtaking the mainstay.
I don't fault ownership for trying, as would I, but to say the bigboys are scared? C'mon - history is always on the side of the mainstays.
If Russ stays in the Fort Wayne market as country for more than two years, he may develop a respectable following, but it will take several years of community respect to overtake. You cannot DEMAND respect with liners on your station - it has to build from outside in.
And why am I accused of being 'negative' when I speak out against the 'little guy?' History backs these points - this is not a 'rah rah for the little guy' board. Truth hurts - deal with it and adapt.
Stay the course, prove it's about the product for the community and not the profit in your pocket. That takes years, not weeks.