DANCE-PHILLY???

[Dancerev889]

As CHRles said, best hope of dance in Philly is airplay on Wired. If enough people request Guetta, it's likely to get play considering its sister station found huge success with the track. I recall early on after Wired debuted that they tested a few dance songs (Kelly Osbourne One Word- Chris Cox RMX comes to mind) on the overnights. There's a few things helping this out- as it's been mentioned, the sister station is now a traditional rhythm/chr, and second, the hd-2 is an exclusive dance channel. Adding certain dance songs to the playlist will create good synergy between the stations- which will matter once advertising starts to become a factor on hd radio. Wired has already had a period where they repositioned the station (from CHUrban to CHR/Mainstream... back to CHUrban) so they are not averse to change. Thing is, David Guetta actually fits the format-- MUCH better than Fall Out Boy. It will reduce listener fatigue, increase TSL/cume and potentially attract more advertiser friendly demographics (potentially siphon some listeners from WISX and the upper end of the WIOQ demos). Seems like a no brainer!

As much as it hurts to say, maybe there's a few cities where this might not be the case (perhaps something warmer, like Tampa, Orlando, Miami, or Los Angeles), but I don't think a full blown Dance/CHR would find success in Philadelphia. At least not today....

First off get Wired out of your head. Wired is catering toward Suburban white males. They may play a few dance songs but its going to be with a hip hop lean. Wired was supposed to be more rhythmic when it first launched but they found they had a niche with the demographics they are going after now. They are kicking Q's butt in the morning, so dont expect any changes.

Guys stay off the Philly board with anything to do with dance, a lot of them are a bunch of haters and will just rip on you about it. I am speaking from years of experiences. The thing they dont realize is the guy that found this board was a huge dance fan and used to write the radio column in DMA. He helped me out a lot and got my name in the mag, while I ran WDBK.

In regards to Philly, support the two stations that you have that are in the market. I had this conversation with Tony and I will have it with you guys. The demographics for dance are in the suburbs on Philly not the city. Z 889 takes care of the South Jersey and a lot of Philly. You can hear the station a long 95 and even into Bala Cynwyd. We also hit Bucks County on 95.1. Kris takes care of south of Philly. Support what you got. How many other markets have two stations that play dance music? Q isnt going to change at least right now because of Clear Channel and the sale. That goes for 106 too. Why would Wired change when they are up there with Q? I know Kris has some big things about to happen and so do I. I finally have a staff that is helping behind the scenes that is going to help the station grow. The fact that I know have Glenn Kalina on staff, just increased our reputation and things are in motion.

 

[TonySantiago]

Guys stay off the Philly board with anything to do with dance, a lot of them are a bunch of haters and will just rip on you about it. I am speaking from years of experiences. The thing they dont realize is the guy that found this board was a huge dance fan and used to write the radio column in DMA. He helped me out a lot and got my name in the mag, while I ran WDBK.

In regards to Philly, support the two stations that you have that are in the market. I had this conversation with Tony and I will have it with you guys. The demographics for dance are in the suburbs on Philly not the city. Z 889 takes care of the South Jersey and a lot of Philly. You can hear the station a long 95 and even into Bala Cynwyd. We also hit Bucks County on 95.1. Kris takes care of south of Philly. Support what you got. How many other markets have two stations that play dance music? Q isnt going to change at least right now because of Clear Channel and the sale. That goes for 106 too. Why would Wired change when they are up there with Q? I know Kris has some big things about to happen and so do I. I finally have a staff that is helping behind the scenes that is going to help the station grow. The fact that I know have Glenn Kalina on staff, just increased our reputation and things are in motion.

Brett,

Based on my history, I am USED to getting ripped by the haters and naysayers about my thoughts regarding dance music. I was getting similar treatment on other New York boards in the past. This has always been a "fight" for me.....and one can thank college radio for that since my campus FEARED hip-hop back in 1984 (it was a New York college) and were afraid about what I had wanted to do regarding house music back in 1986.

We did talk, and yes....you, Glenn, Kris and Clint have to do what you HAVE to do. I will back off in that sense. SO YES, SUPPORT THESE TWO STATIONS - WBZO (Z88.9) & WMPH (Super 91.7). New York has 2 (if you want to count 'KTU - 3) rhythmic stations in the area so we do like the idea of having a choice between classics and currents.

Yet, if these guys keep on ripping on the Philly board, I'm going to keep fighting...with knowledge (sorry Brett..I had this same experience on past NY boards and I've never backed off.) Maybe it was the persistence that got us what we wanted, who knows. That thread did serve a good purpose of inciting talk about dance music for Philadelphia (busiest thread as of late). And if we "lit the fire under people's feet" then GOOD! The subject is out there and people are talking. You can NEVER change most of the people's mentality in there, but at the very least people know that....WE'RE HEEEEERRRRREEEEE!!!!!! Thank goodness Boston was more cordial and yes, I'll further investigate the market and ally with all of the "players" in the region.

Doug Fleming, God rest his soul, poured his heart into dance music. I never forgot. :'(

 

[Dancerev889]

Tony, that board is not going to help the cause. Pushing events in Philly will.

 

[TonySantiago]

Strange enough, I'm going on "The Radio Racket" tonight (2-22 @ 11PM - Eastern). I definitely expect some controversy going on with my views and opinions as well as some "lashing" from the hosts perhaps, but we shall see. I'll take my chances.

 

[Mid West Clubber]

And where can one here this Radio Racket? Is it available online? Anyway, I would help contribute to this thread more, but to be honest I dont know the Philly Market very much like I do alot of other markets. And admitedly, I dont remember much about the Dance History of Q-102 except for what I have read and heard. I think I only heard Q as a Dance station maybe once, this was before KTU, but after Hot 97, and this was only briefly, maybe for one hour by passing Philly on the interstate. Im like Tony though, I would have thought that Philly would welcome dance, and Boston would bash it,,, But IDK..... I guess thats why Brett and Kris focus on the suburbs and not Philly itself..... Signal would be another reason, except Z88.9 comes in good in the car driving in Philly, long as you aint near the skyscrapers or other broadcast towers. You can even hear Z at the Liberty Bell.

 

[TonySantiago]

http://www.radioracket.com/

I should be on sometime around 11PM

 

[CHRles]

Q-102's stereotypical core listener during its Dance heyday was young Italians. This was referred to in the trades (Billboard Magazine) on more then one occasion.

 

[TonySantiago]

Tony, that board is not going to help the cause. Pushing events in Philly will.

And yeah....push those events! ABSOLUTELY!!! It's as I have said, I will help but it is solely up to you guys in the Philly/So. Jersey area to take the lead on this. And indirectly, that board WILL help our cause! I WANT people to view the "haters". It's GOOD to see such disgust because maybe that will light people's butts on fire to want to finally get up and do something about this instead of just being "status quo" and at the same time "stick it" back to the haters!

I have NO regrets about approaching that board. Boston was VERY receptive and I DO want to work along in a constructive manner with the clubs, DJ's, fans, promoters, etc. up there. With Philly, we gotta draw these people out somehow and get them involved! Brett, you HAVE that capability! Yeah, I'm a man on a mission...but if it will help you, Kris, Clint, and the entire scene in Philly, then I'm embarking on the sidelines while you guys do the job! I got all of your backs.

 

[Dancerev889]

Tony, that board is not going to help the cause. Pushing events in Philly will.

And yeah....push those events! ABSOLUTELY!!! It's as I have said, I will help but it is solely up to you guys in the Philly/So. Jersey area to take the lead on this. And indirectly, that board WILL help our cause! I WANT people to view the "haters". It's GOOD to see such disgust because maybe that will light people's butts on fire to want to finally get up and do something about this instead of just being "status quo" and at the same time "stick it" back to the haters!

I have NO regrets about approaching that board. Boston was VERY receptive and I DO want to work along in a constructive manner with the clubs, DJ's, fans, promoters, etc. up there. With Philly, we gotta draw these people out somehow and get them involved! Brett, you HAVE that capability! Yeah, I'm a man on a mission...but if it will help you, Kris, Clint, and the entire scene in Philly, then I'm embarking on the sidelines while you guys do the job! I got all of your backs.

See radio messages are not always the best place to get things start. A lot of people on the boards don't even work in radio or understand why things are the way they are. I call a lot of them armchair programmers. Pushing the cause to a radio board is not going to get the cause going, its spreading the word to the streets. Cause and effect. The scene in Philly sucks and is at the bottom of the barrel. Most of the big clubs have shut down and its become a lounge city. The scene is in AC now The problem with that is you have a mix of several different markets coming to down to the venues so its tough to make an impact in the market. The few clubs you have in Philly, Q or Wired are there and they arent helping the scene, they are playing the format. Radio these days is too safe. Just look at who owns the dance stations. CBS? Clear Channel? Nope. Its all small companies. KTU flipped to help its sister stations in the market. We need success stories before one of the big companies follows the cause. Energy in San Fran is a success but its to a niche audience. Hopefully Pulse 87 is a success but that too has baggage with it still being considered a TV station. I honestly believe this genre can grow and get popular on the non-com side of the band. Radio stations are very expensive to run these days and a lot of colleges and high schools cant afford to keep them going. Someone should look into investors to look into some of these frequencies. Maybe even do partnerships with the schools so that it can be a training ground for students. Look at all the religious stations popping up these days. Make dance music a religion.

 

[instigator]

You know the Atlantic City arguement(the scene) is very valid. The Buzz in Atlantic City was an all dance station that struggled in the ratings for about a year and a half .The station was picking up steam in the rating and climbed up to number 4. Guess what happened next?? Equity Communications bought the station. I was thrilled. I asked to be moved there(i was on WAYV at the time). within a week it was flipped to hip hop. I was crushed along with all the Buzz's growing fans. That area appriciates dance much better than Philly. when Boss 97 existed it was "the bigger than life" station.

In equity's defense there was a huge void in the market for hip hop the top 40s there wouldnt touch it. There is a huge urban feel in that market as well. someone should have started a hip hop station about 3 years prior and there ratings did increase...the eventually were number one.


It just seems like someone always has to swoop in and ruin the dance stations. The Buzz had a really good following and it was getting bigger. the hip hop station was needed but there were about 8 other stations that werent sucessful at all that could have flipped.

I know someone is going to dispute what I wrote but i worked at WAYV when this happened and followed it closely( I worked on air at WAYV but always listened to the buzz and monitered the ratings, what they were playing and so on). This is 100 percent acurate i was in the middle of it.

 

[whathadhappened]

Dance music is dead !!! Its fun to listen to it but remeber people radio is a business not an IPOD. Theres no outlet for dance music anymore and the format cant be sold. Give me your address and Ill send you my "Stevie B live on the block that rocks" CD. The covers a little scratched because its holding up my coffee table. I had a chance to work at WDBK when Hitman Bobber and Cuz flipped the format. It was great at the time but weve all moved on.

 

[Dancerev889]

Dance music is dead !!! Its fun to listen to it but remeber people radio is a business not an IPOD. Theres no outlet for dance music anymore and the format cant be sold. Give me your address and Ill send you my "Stevie B live on the block that rocks" CD. The covers a little scratched because its holding up my coffee table. I had a chance to work at WDBK when Hitman Bobber and Cuz flipped the format. It was great at the time but weve all moved on.

I guess you dont listen to the radio anymore. Check the BPM's at Top 40 my friend. Also a few more dance tracks maybe getting added to Top 40. There are tons of outlets for dance, get out of your cardboard box and take a look. Someone has been drinking the hateraide

 

[CHRles]

Forget it DanceRev, let him think and say Dance is dead. It's not like we're on here posting on a Dance board or something

 

[Mid West Clubber]

Yep....................... What Brett said.....