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Cumulus New Stations - Any format changes?

Unless you slap Kidd Kraddick or Ace and TJ on in the morning, CHR is hard to win unless you have a lot of disposable money and are only looking for quick cume.
 
lovejamminoldies said:
FM Talk will NOT work in Cincy, lol. CHR, it is.
Click to expand...

I wonder why not. It works in Indianapolis (WIBC and WFDM) and Pittsburgh (WPGB). Even in Nashville WWTN-FM is beating heritage AM WLAC in the ratings. Speaking of Nashville, they have almost an entire AM dial on FM, with WWTN doing News/Talk, and sports on WGFX and WNFN. I think FM Talk can succeed in Cincinnati if it's done well. WFTK had potential, but Cumulus didn't give it much of a chance. That may be why it won't end up on 94.1, because that would be like Cumulus admitting it made a mistake with 96.5 and they're giving it another try. Maybe the only shot the format has on FM here would be if WLW moves to FM, but I seriously doubt that will happen now that Clear Channel is down to just WEBN and WKFS, which are doing pretty well. HD-2 would be a possibility if AM-HD goes under.
 
kentuckymedia said:
Unless you slap Kidd Kraddick or Ace and TJ on in the morning, CHR is hard to win unless you have a lot of disposable money and are only looking for quick cume.
Click to expand...

CHR is easy to win if done right and can be done so without a lot of money.

1. Competition - Kiss FM and to some degree Q102. Q102 leans adult, Kiss leans rhythmic but is slow to add new music.

2. Promotions - billboards are a waste of money, web 2.0 is a good tool but will only gain a niche audience. To build an audience you cross promote on sister stations, and target midday audience with office specific and personal promotions. This will require a small budget plus interns.

3. Music - Stay mainstream, play an expanded but proven gold library (1-2 hour) going back to 90 and maybe a couple of songs from the 80s. While this may go against narrowcasting the playlist, in the world of Napster, Itunes, etc...the 18-34 listener does not want to be held to 200 song playlist, even on a CHR.

4. Personality, personality, personality - local is good, good personalities is better. End the trend of don't say any more than 3 words and begin the era of only open up the mic if you have something informative, entertaining, intriguing, or interactive to say. Involving the listener is key to win in this format. In these "trying economic times" it won't cost a lot to fill a full airstaff.
 
almaniac27 said:
lovejamminoldies said:
FM Talk will NOT work in Cincy, lol. CHR, it is.
Click to expand...

I wonder why not. It works in Indianapolis (WIBC and WFDM)
Click to expand...
WFDM is a pea watt Rim Shooter and it doesnt even get ratings. WFDM also has the former Cumulus WWFT lineup. The only reason why WIBC is thriving is it moved from AM to FM with its heritage
 
CHR can be done on a shoestring budget, but in Market 28 its going to be a little harder.

Here is the thing, CC is now left with only two FM stations that do well in the ratings, so they are going to poor any marketing money they spent on WOFX and WNNF into these two signals now. While they will still run WKFS with only three local staff members, the other two dayparts have good staff in place.

Bonneville owns the other CHR in town and while it may not be as flashy as WKFS, its a solid station that has regained a good reputation. Its got money and Bonneville money at that, so literally GOLD BARS in the basement of Utah to back it up. If anyone is going to take on Q they better have GOLD BARS in their basements too.

WKRQ is a billing monster. In December the station was #3 right behind WUBE. In November it was #4 right behind WRRM.

WKFS bills in the Top 10 every month, but when your spending your agency dollars, your only going to spend it on two stations in that format at most..not three. Most agencies like WKFS ratings, but they are too young for the dollars that move.

WKRQ does well with core women, WKFS is a little broader with men and women alike.
 
But to refer to the basis of my earlier point, Q can't defend both fronts against a single company. Cumulus can attack the Q from the teen side (most vulnerable) with 96.5 and the adult side (traditional winner) with WARM. At the same time, they can squeeze WEBN on the young side with FTK on 94.1 and Fox on the upper end. The guy in the middle can't defend both fronts successfully.
 
kentuckymedia said:
CHR can be done on a shoestring budget, but in Market 28 its going to be a little harder.

Here is the thing, CC is now left with only two FM stations that do well in the ratings, so they are going to poor any marketing money they spent on WOFX and WNNF into these two signals now. While they will still run WKFS with only three local staff members, the other two dayparts have good staff in place.

Bonneville owns the other CHR in town and while it may not be as flashy as WKFS, its a solid station that has regained a good reputation. Its got money and Bonneville money at that, so literally GOLD BARS in the basement of Utah to back it up. If anyone is going to take on Q they better have GOLD BARS in their basements too.

WKRQ is a billing monster. In December the station was #3 right behind WUBE. In November it was #4 right behind WRRM.

WKFS bills in the Top 10 every month, but when your spending your agency dollars, your only going to spend it on two stations in that format at most..not three. Most agencies like WKFS ratings, but they are too young for the dollars that move.

WKRQ does well with core women, WKFS is a little broader with men and women alike.
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With CC reportedly cutting labor by 20% nationwide do you think they are going to put money into Kiss if someone aggressively went after them? Q102 is easy to beat as long as its done correctly, reduce spins in middays, add gold, and have a great office style air persona that talks about useless info that goes on in the workplace as well as pop culture things such as popular TV shows(Grey's Annatomy, Desperate Housewives, etc...). Also you will win in CHR by being new and playing more new music than either Kiss or Q does.
 
I don't know if I agree that Q can be damaged as easily as you say. Of course any radio station is vulnerable, but remember Q has Bonneville which has money. Q has got a top rated morning show and afternoon drive. Cumulus would slap on a syndicated morning show to save costs.

Here is the monthly billing for Cincinnati CHR

WKRQ: J08 #4
J08 #4
A08 #3
S08 #3
O08 #4
N08 #4
D08 #3

WKFS: J08 #9
J08 #10
A08 #9
S08 #8
O08 #10
N08 #11
D08 #9

WNNF: J08 #14
J08 #15
A08 #14
S08 #14
O08 #12
N08 #14
D08 #14

Sure, Cumulus could launch a CHR and surprise us all. And even KS said that it will work together with WRRM as a partner. With WRRM consistantly jumping from 3rd to 5th and back to 3rd, Q could easily be their target. However WGRR is not the next station waiting in the wings. It would allow CC to jump into the Top 5 billing wise. KS also said that the changes wouldn't be immediate and large, they would be minor modifications. I think they have something with WNNF, just needs a better focus.
 
kentuckymedia said:
I don't know if I agree that Q can be damaged as easily as you say. Of course any radio station is vulnerable, but remember Q has Bonneville which has money. Q has got a top rated morning show and afternoon drive. Cumulus would slap on a syndicated morning show to save costs.

Here is the monthly billing for Cincinnati CHR

WKRQ: J08 #4
J08 #4
A08 #3
S08 #3
O08 #4
N08 #4
D08 #3

WKFS: J08 #9
J08 #10
A08 #9
S08 #8
O08 #10
N08 #11
D08 #9

WNNF: J08 #14
J08 #15
A08 #14
S08 #14
O08 #12
N08 #14
D08 #14

Sure, Cumulus could launch a CHR and surprise us all. And even KS said that it will work together with WRRM as a partner. With WRRM consistantly jumping from 3rd to 5th and back to 3rd, Q could easily be their target. However WGRR is not the next station waiting in the wings. It would allow CC to jump into the Top 5 billing wise. KS also said that the changes wouldn't be immediate and large, they would be minor modifications. I think they have something with WNNF, just needs a better focus.
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KS saying there won't be any major changes probably means there will be. There is no reason for a manager to show their hand before they make the move. Such as Bob C telling the media that Jerry Narron is his guy, then firing him days later. Hot AC will not work in this market. You have a strong Adult leaning CHR marketed as a hot ac in sales in Q102 and a step sister station AC in WRRM, not to mention the other hybrid Hot AC/AAA in 97.3. That is why unless they go with an all 80s or all 90s format its probably going to be a CHR.
 
How quickly we forget. I almost forgot Jerry Narron....I would have if his brother, Dusty Baker, wasn't his replacement.....

I say no format changes until summer, at the earliest, and then, only mild changes.
 
It could be a CHR. But thats just a risky format to play with. It takes money to start with a new launch.

What about a hybrid Full Service Polka Jazz station? WOFX will be a harder classick rocker which will protect WGRR. WFTK will be that Active Rocker as always. WRRM will remain AC, but what about WNNF? Radio 94.1 is doing...okay, not mountain climbing or anything, just...okay.

Kiss and Q burn up the CHR money coming into the market. Cumulus needs money, what makes quick money in a non-election year? They have two rockers, an oldies, an ac...what makes money?
 
CHR is HARD to make money, but Q is so women/job-friendly, they can do it. If Cumu did a CHR, it better be damn interactive and fun. Kidd Kraddick & tons of music all day LOL.

What else makes money?

Rhythmic AC.... women-friendly, job-friendly, but POOR RATINGS and hard to sell.
Oldies.... WGRR got that locked down.
Rhythmic Oldies.... hmm... with MOJO gone? Nah, thats done. MOJO is Urban AC and unless the real MOJO returned, it would do nothing.
Not another rock-based or country-based station, that will go nowhere though country is easy to sell.
CHR that plays ALL THE HITS and isn't afraid of new music like WNOU in Indy or any of the "Hot Hit Interactives" will be the key. Cumulus, can you do it? We see how you're treating Hot 102 in Lexington. They could do better here.
 
Here's what I see happening in Wisconsin...

WZNN/Green Bay and WWWX/Oshkosh aren't a part of the swap, and will be put in a trust.  I have a feeling that WWWX will simulcast WZNN.  WZNN has no jocks except for their PD, WWWX has a history of simulcasting Green Bay (the current WDUZ-FM), and both are alternative (WWWX tweaked from active rock a few months ago).

Cumulus CHRs tend to be on the safe/whitebread side of things... Jan Jeffries is the dictator of Selectors there.  And they love to use Kraddick.

How about an Alt Country format (Steve Earle, Drive-By Truckers, Hank III, Neko Case, etc.) in Cincy?  Too small of an audience, too much "strange" music to keep curious folks hooked between stuff they will like it.  Even Cross Country on XM has changed it's positioner and musical leanings.
 
When does the switch officially take place? I noticed that WOFX and WNNF's streams no longer work on my wifi radio, so CC might have pulled the plug.
 
microbob said:
According to Kieswetter, both stations are now originating from the Cumulus Complex as of this morning. The Fox now sounds harder than it did before, the little bit I heard this morning. WNNF still sounds the same to me.

http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbc...9535-a7c95895b116&sid=sitelife.cincinnati.com
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Both of the station's websites are down. Haven't heard any jocks on the Fox yet. Kiese says that Gary Jeff hasn't been hired by Cumulus.

Man, Cincinnati.com needs to clean up their URLs. There's no need for a URL that long. Off topic, but their whole website sucks. It's slow, hard to navigate and ugly.
 
I agree with your comments about the new cincinnati.com website redesign. Next time I'll use tiny url.

The Fox jocks are gone for now except for Bob & Tom. Radio Now was all jukebox anyway for the most part.
 
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