Country---Can there be a # 1 & #2

[TheBigA]

These days, I'm not sure people care as much about being a reporter to the trades as they do about bringing dollars through the door.

Being a trade reporter brings dollars in the door.

 

[heydaybegone]

Being a trade reporter brings dollars in the door.

I thought ratings still brought dollars in the door? ;D

HDBG

BTW-- the minds are working on this thread!! It's all "compelling content" ;D

 

[theradiokid]

There's already a second country station in Buffalo: WXRL. They are a classic country station. Are they even a factor?

--The Radio Kid
(Oswego, NY.)
My email: [email protected]

 

[heydaybegone]

There's already a second country station in Buffalo: WXRL. They are a classic country station. Are they even a factor?

I was waiting for that. Obviously not (woulda popped up earlier) It's an AMer ...clearly holding it's own personal listenership. But watch your defintion of "classic country" station....it will bring more debates here ;D
FYI---not a player in this poker game...stakes are too high.

HDBG

 

[Philip_Airtime]

There's already a second country station in Buffalo: WXRL. They are a classic country station. Are they even a factor?

--The Radio Kid
(Oswego, NY.)
My email: [email protected]

You're quite right, Radio Kid. We shouldn't diminish WXRL just because it's AM. It's owned by a country legend in these parts -- Ramblin' Lou. It averages a one share. But I dare say its listeners and advertisers are extremely loyal. Just last week, a radio at the Y was playing country music. I presumed it was WYRK. But it turned out to be WXRL. Again, it's not a serious challenger to WYRK. But Ramblin' Lou no doubt holds his own, especially among the Earl's crowd in southern Erie County.

 

[chas108]

Being a trade reporter brings dollars in the door.

I thought ratings still brought dollars in the door? ;D

HDBG

BTW-- the minds are working on this thread!! It's all "compelling content" ;D

It's both. A good relationship with the industry still enables perks for listeners that can help drive ratings. Especially in Country.

 

[JustPastBuffalo]

Just last week, a radio at the Y was playing country music. I presumed it was WYRK. But it turned out to be WXRL. Again, it's not a serious challenger to WYRK. But Ramblin' Lou no doubt holds his own, especially among the Earl's crowd in southern Erie County.

1) Just curious. How old was the person "controlling" the radio?

2) Chas108, yours was one of the best posts I've read in a long while. Thanks for the history lesson and chronology of events.

3) Would you (plural) like to be the PD of a radio station taking on WYRK? What would it take to make a dent?

 

[Nick Gerard]

I agree - the post by chas108 was superb. Another contributor who makes the Buff/NF/Roch board likely the most literate and engaging on this website.

Nick Seneca

 

[heydaybegone]

3) Would you (plural) like to be the PD of a radio station taking on WYRK? What would it take to make a dent

What you're really saying (and has appeared throughout this thread) is really a defining barrier to entry. That's one of the reasons I started this thread, to get some thinking going and eliminate complacency. It has been good! (Chas108 gets a Peoples Choice Award---oh that went to the Awards thread ;D). And even though it's most likely a pipedream for anyone (again considering the barriers to entry)..any of us with a passion, AND a "top-to-bottom" knowldege of the biz would easily say "YES" to your question. To give that kind of a challenge to any programmer is like putting a baker in a chocolate factory!

As to what would it take? This is still radio...and I believe those answers are embedded in those who know...and will remain locked there until that opportunity presents itself ! ;D

HDBG

 

[JustPastBuffalo]

It's almost as if Sean Ross was eyeballing this thread when he wrote this column about Country competition.

 

[chas108]

You guys are too kind...thanks for having me.

And the only way I'd want to take on 'YRK is as follows...

1) Resurrect Cecil Heftel (13Q/Pittsburgh) from the dead or find a similar well-financed owner with enough passion to win.
2) Hire away a couple of 'YRK's key talents...since I only hear the station occasionally, you pick the best two.
3) I'd want at least a class B signal. Strong internet presence too.
4) Enough marketing budget to roll out TV/Outdoor campaign...although first of all I'd be resourceful in looking for free publicity opportunities.

Building both musical credibility and focused, strong personalities would be priorities. And since I believe a Classic/Young approach would still yield a marginal audience at best, while vulnerable to shifting tastes...this would be a full-frontal assault with no less a goal than taking 'YRK clear out of the format. A five-year plan with a total, focused commitment from owner to jock.

And then I woke up...most owners didn't think this way even way back when. And since nobody thinks this way now, the only way someone's going to beat Townsquare at this game is if they take their eye off the ball. It's theirs to lose.

 

[TheBigA]

And then I woke up...most owners didn't think this way even way back when. And since nobody thinks this way now, the only way someone's going to beat Townsquare at this game is if they take their eye off the ball. It's theirs to lose.

It's been my experience that programmers usually don't take their eye off the ball, they get pushed.

 

[heydaybegone]

And then I woke up...most owners didn't think this way even way back when. And since nobody thinks this way now, the only way someone's going to beat Townsquare at this game is if they take their eye off the ball. It's theirs to lose

Excellent!!! The final phase is posted! ;D
Anything done prior to this would be designed to create the flinch!!!

Still...Just Past Buffalo is still correct in his question of "how"? (yes, you have some there...but those are no-brainers...and might I suggest "not out of the box" enough"?)

HDBG

 

[heydaybegone]

It's been my experience that programmers usually don't take their eye off the ball, they get pushed.

"A'...I don't disagree.....but that's the point!! ;D


HDBG

 

[TheBigA]

"A'...I don't disagree.....but that's the point!!

Yes I know, and I think we all agree there's no one in Buffalo who has all the right tools to do the pushing.

 

[heydaybegone]

Yes I know, and I think we all agree there's no one in Buffalo who has all the right tools to do the pushing

Page check!! Which page are you on?

Are you back to grass roots that nobody in programming can do it, or the purse strings are not in place? Big difference.
Just asking ;D

HDBG

 

[TheBigA]

Are you back to grass roots that nobody in programming can do it, or the purse strings are not in place? Big difference.

You need the right combination of signal, money, programming, and desire. No one has those 4 things.

 

[chas108]

And then I woke up...most owners didn't think this way even way back when. And since nobody thinks this way now, the only way someone's going to beat Townsquare at this game is if they take their eye off the ball. It's theirs to lose.

It's been my experience that programmers usually don't take their eye off the ball, they get pushed.

I understand and agree...but I've seen times up close where a competitor came to town and the heritage leader's PD over reacted and shot themselves in the foot...and again in the chest. Challenger wins.

 

[TheBigA]

It's been my experience that programmers usually don't take their eye off the ball, they get pushed.

I understand and agree...but I've seen times up close where a competitor came to town and the heritage leader's PD over reacted and shot themselves in the foot...and again in the chest. Challenger wins.

That's what I mean. Sometimes a company will do this for no other reason that to annoy the guy at the top.

 

[Paul_Warren]

And the only way I'd want to take on 'YRK is as follows...

1) Resurrect Cecil Heftel (13Q/Pittsburgh) from the dead or find a similar well-financed owner with enough passion to win.
2) Hire away a couple of 'YRK's key talents...since I only hear the station occasionally, you pick the best two.
3) I'd want at least a class B signal. Strong internet presence too.
4) Enough marketing budget to roll out TV/Outdoor campaign...although first of all I'd be resourceful in looking for free publicity opportunities...

Chas, you've just described a situation that generally would only occur in the case of a competitor with deep pockets and a vendetta. Because if you had those four things going for you, the logical thing to do from a business standpoint would be to take down a weakling in some other format, not go after an entrenched, quality competitor such as WYRK.

I was in just such a situation in 1987. I went to work for a station managed by a former sales manager of the top-billing AC in the market, who'd been let go for reasons unknown, and was personally committed to vengeance on his former employer. We spent over a million dollars moving and upgrading the transmitter site, and launched an Oldies/AC with over 100 billboard showings in market 58. We lured back an excellent morning team which had left the market years earlier, and in general preempted every response we could anticipate. We not only crushed the heritage competitor, but became the #1 AC in the nation by AQH share.

It was a thrilling ride, but there was, of course, no way to make that pencil out long-term. Today's owners aren't so likely to find capital with such loose oversight of the overall business plan.

By contrast, what we did at WBUF in the early 80s was actually more satisfying, in part because we did it with what looked like inadequate resources.