Dave FM story

[RR Piper]

I've always liked the format WXRT uses in Chicago. They've mastered combining old, new, rock and indie. 929 should try it....and stick to it.

One thing with Dave is I don't think they allow their talent to maximize their skill sets. It feels like they’ve even tamped down Mara’s shtick. I’ve always thought Yvonne needed to have a 80s mix show. Always been a fan of her skills. Seems the overall mismanagement has doomed Dave to the 1.5 they’re pulling.

 

[acheron1982]

Question: Is there a difference between Adult Album Alternative and Adult Alternative. I'm assuming it's two different ways to say the same thing but just wanted to make sure.

 

[carolinaradio]

There was a mention here about classic hits being for people in their 50s and 60s. While 60-somethings may listen to it (seems as if they would be too old for 80s music), classic hits isn't really trying to program to 55+. I think 40s and 50s would be a more logical age bracket. Now, if you're playing The Beatles, The Beach Boys, The Supremes, and the likes of (exclusively), it's a different story.

I can't think of a format CBS has a more solid track record with. Classic Hits is huge with them. If you listen to their stations for 5 minutes, you can tell why.

Cumulus has some good Classic Hits stations. Larger market examples being WLS-FM/Chicago, WGRR/Cincinnati, and KCMO/Kansas City. All 3 sound very good. They have some in smaller markets that are good also. I think they probably didn't plan on sticking with the format on 106.7 when they bought it so little effort was made.

 

[acheron1982]

Your right about 80's music and 60 year olds being to old for the decade BUT that is what the biggest complaint was with WYAY.

You know what, I'm just thinking out loud and probably should create a new thread for this but why did WYAY fail as a classic hits station? I think this is a perfect and debatable question because many of the classic hits (pop leaning) fanatics on this board have different complaints about WYAY.
Some complained when WYAY did more 80's and complained the format was too all over the board sorta speak. Others saw the addition of 80's as a good thing. I recall WYAY tweaking their format numerous times as a classic hits (pop leaning) format and don't understand where they went wrong. Everything some of you said they should have done they in fact did at one time and tweaked in a different direction. I'm confused.... ???

 

[jabba17]

Time marches on. Nostalgia (30s/40s) left the dial during the 1980s, 1950s golden oldies in the 1990s, and 1960s seem to be a hard sell after the Aughties.

1970s oldies classic hits is just as old today as nostalgia was in the 1980s. Where does that place 1960s Beatles/Beach Boys/Motown today? Not in a good place, I would say.

Any self-respecting classic hits station today would probably focus on the late 1970s through the 1980s. Hence all the nostalgia (not the big-band/close-harmony format, that is) for Z-93 and 94Q in their heydays.

I like the idea of rebirthing Z-93 as a classic hits station, jingles and all.

 

[MRFLASHPORT]

I'll second that. Growing up in Atlanta as a todller in the mid-late 1970's, in 1978 at 3 years old, I first listened to the radio. It was what my older sister says would quiet me. She listened to Z-93, and I can remember LINDSEY at night. I grew up listening to Z-93, as did most of the people I knew. We're all in our late 30's early 40's, so I am scratching my head trying to figure out why CBS or someone doesn't have a REAL classic hits station to target our demos. The River is well, like most Cox radio, a collection of washouts. No deep cuts, no B-sides, no R&B (which was a HUGE part of top 40 in the 70's-today), no country- remember the Statler Bros ELVIRA, Kenny Rogers/Dolly ISLANDS IN THE STREAM, Terri Gibbs SOMEBODY'S KNOCKIN- these were ALL a part of top 40 back then), all these and more SHOULD be an ARE in rotation on FOR REAL classic hits stations like CBS-FM in NYC, or KEARTH 101 in LA.

Instead, we have what sounds like some 28 year old single white female from Sandy Springs who's been divorced thrice over's Ipod shuffle playlist from 2008. It's sad. 92.9 has a great signal and a heritage to be proud of. Bring it back, WHERE ARE YOU STEVE MAPLE? as it was. yeah I know I'm dreaming.

When Dave first signed on in 2004 it's moniker was "Rock without Rules". I guess today it could be "Rock without..Rock"
I found a tape I made in the summer of 1994 of Z-93 when it was a classic rock station, Z-93 was doing a "Classic ROCKumentaries" show that weekend. I was glad to find it, Charles Henry was the host and for late night radio, it was AWESOME. He did liners from news headlines in the late 70s that weekend, and they played stuff I haven't heard in years Alan Parsons Project: "I Wouldn't Want to Be Like You", The Babys "Isn't it Time", etc. Took me right back to when I was a child listening to Lindsey. In fact, I remember it was kind of neat as I had just graduated high school, and it was looking back on my life to that point. I am glad I found that tape, I will be attending my 20 year reunion soon, and Z-93 was a part of my life.

I guess this is why so many of us are here. Radio has been a part of our lives, a daily soundtrack, our soul, it's how we enjoyed music, met people (anyone else go on a Z-93 TACKY LIGHTS X-MAS tour! God that was AWESOME). We love the business, but the reality is it's an old model. I feel for radio, I really do.

Someone play Queen...Radio GaGa...and dedicate it to what we all know and love, the soul that once was great radio. Because now "all we hear is..radio gaga, radio ra ra..."
"you've had the time, you've had the power, you've yet to have, your finest hour..."
"radio was new....radio, SOMEONE STILL LOVES YOU"

-off rant

Wake up CBS. Bring back Z-93 the way it was meant to be. Or just waste another great carrier with news/talk/same20 songs over and over off a hard drive.

 

[BIGSTICK]

For those of us who yearn for change at this disastrous station. Here is there contact info. I have written emails already.

Studio Line: 404-741-0929

Email us: [email protected]

Address: 1201 Peachtree Street, Suite 800, Atlanta, GA 30361

 

[crguy]

MRFLASHPORT may be a radio geek like all of us but damn THAT is the reason we need a Classic Hits in this market. Get some personality jocks on the air, play the greatest hits of those times, have some fun simple promotions and we can all enjoy the ride!

Men and woman in their mid 30's thru 60's with money and families would flock.

Does anyone know if Dan Mason ever look at this site? He ought to see this entire thread. I hope Rodney sends his article to CBS corporate and maybe quote some of these posters.

 

[RR Piper]

I’m not an accountant, but this station is so poorly managed that it’s got to be used as a write-off on the books. Maybe to balance the success of V?

 

[atlantaboy]

MRFLASHPORT may be a radio geek like all of us but damn THAT is the reason we need a Classic Hits in this market. Get some personality jocks on the air, play the greatest hits of those times, have some fun simple promotions and we can all enjoy the ride!

Men and woman in their mid 30's thru 60's with money and families would flock.

Men and women in their 30s/40s are happy with The River - men and women in their 50s/60s would "flock", and advertisers would run the other direction

There is a reason Cumulus pulled the plug on WYAY - and a reason Cumulus is so reluctant to play 70s soft pop on Journey

 

[BIGSTICK]

MRFLASHPORT may be a radio geek like all of us but damn THAT is the reason we need a Classic Hits in this market. Get some personality jocks on the air, play the greatest hits of those times, have some fun simple promotions and we can all enjoy the ride!

Men and woman in their mid 30's thru 60's with money and families would flock.

Men and women in their 30s/40s are happy with The River - men and women in their 50s/60s would "flock", and advertisers would run the other direction

There is a reason Cumulus pulled the plug on WYAY - and a reason Cumulus is so reluctant to play 70s soft pop on Journey

BULL, BULL, BULL........

 

[radioworld]

I stopped listening about six months ago. I liked their music mix but something changed then. Up until that point Dave was all I listened to when I listened to the radio.

 

[trusty]

If CBS doesn't want to spend any money, just sign up True Oldies and be done with it. If I can tolerate the constant "AllNewsOneOhSixPointSevenAllNewsOneOhSixPointSevenAllNewsOneOhSixPointSevenAllNewsOneOhSixPointSeven" or "NewstalkSevenFiftyAndNowFMNightyFivePointFiveWSBNewstalkSevenFiftyAndNowFMNightyFivePointFiveWSBNewstalkSevenFiftyAndNowFMNightyFivePointFiveWSB" when I need the news, I can tolerate Scott Shannon's gravel road voice.

 

[atlantaboy]

I stopped listening about six months ago. I liked their music mix but something changed then. Up until that point Dave was all I listened to when I listened to the radio.

Same for me...

IMO here are the problems with Dave-
1. The Atlanta's Finest Rock thing clearly isn't working, so TRY SOMETHING ELSE!!
2. Dave's PD may be obsessed with The Police, The Cars, U2, and David Bowie, but the general public isn't
3. The woman who does the day shift will start improvising on and on about nothing, and trip up on her own words - no one wants to hear someone talk on and on about something they haven't even rehearsed

 

[wooder]

I stopped listening about six months ago. I liked their music mix but something changed then. Up until that point Dave was all I listened to when I listened to the radio.

Same for me...

IMO here are the problems with Dave-
1. The Atlanta's Finest Rock thing clearly isn't working, so TRY SOMETHING ELSE!!
2. Dave's PD may be obsessed with The Police, The Cars, U2, and David Bowie, but the general public isn't
3. The woman who does the day shift will start improvising on and on about nothing, and trip up on her own words - no one wants to hear someone talk on and on about something they haven't even rehearsed

The only one of these points that's valid is the second one. All Dave Fm does is change, that's exactly their problem. 'Atlanta's Finest Rock" is not the issue. It's what they play and how they present and promote it. And "the woman who does the day shift" is Mara Davis. She's only one of the most successful air personalities in the history of Atlanta radio. The problem is they don't let her talk ENOUGH.

 

[atlantaboy]

And "the woman who does the day shift" is Mara Davis. She's only one of the most successful air personalities in the history of Atlanta radio. The problem is they don't let her talk ENOUGH.

This statement really doesn't make any sense - she's talking more now than ever, and Dave just booked a 1.3 share

 

[RadioGaGa75]

MRFLASHPORT may be a radio geek like all of us but damn THAT is the reason we need a Classic Hits in this market. Get some personality jocks on the air, play the greatest hits of those times, have some fun simple promotions and we can all enjoy the ride!

Men and woman in their mid 30's thru 60's with money and families would flock.

Does anyone know if Dan Mason ever look at this site? He ought to see this entire thread. I hope Rodney sends his article to CBS corporate and maybe quote some of these posters.

WCBS-FM is such a fun station to listen to. You have a wide-range of music from the 60's through the 80's, top-notch imaging with a nostalgic flair, and personalities who are all-things New York. A well-run, well-programmed classic hits station might do well in Atlanta. It certainly helps to have somebody like Dan Mason at the helm. Props to him for telling JACK to hit the road a few years ago in New York. He's a radio guy and gets it. The only problem is is that even CBS, like the other big dogs, is controlled by Wall Street. As somebody told me a few days ago, Wall Street thinks about tomorrow and not today. A lot of those traders are already convinced classic hits/oldies is knocking on death's door. So Dan might have a tough time pitching classic hits for Atlanta to Wall Street. Hats off to him if he can convince them Atlanta could support a solid classic hits station. I think it would be really cool to see a 92.9 logo that looks similar to the one currently used by CBS 101.

 

[TheMusicMan]

I'd honestly credit just about every point made in this thread with some level of accuracy. The diagnosis of Dave's ailments is multi-faceted.

1. Inconsistent music selections and positioning. One second they're trying to be 99X part deux, the next they're doing "Finest Rock" with an emphasis on classic material, then they're more modern again...and those are only their stances within the last 12 months.

2. Morning show musical chairs. Little explanation needed here.

3. The alternative/AAA music cycle. On page 2, scripps made a most salient and overlooked point. Look at the music during winter/spring 2011, when Dave was soaring. Black Keys, Mumford & Sons, Florence + The Machine, The Decemberists, Adele (although she went on to become much bigger) and so forth were all having their moments and garnering mainstream interest, and Dave OWNED those acts in Atlanta. The only other station of consequence to remotely toy with those artists was Star 94, which conveniently leads to the next point...

4. The (re-)ascent of Star 94. One could easily argue that they became a more mainstream and accessible adult alternative station than Dave ever could be.

Similarly, look at how stratified this market has become. If you're not doing urban or some form of contemporary pop (Star, Q, B, and arguably Fish), it's become awfully hard to crack the Top 10. Rock formats have struggled mightily; even country radio has seen better days in Atlanta.

5. The jocks absolutely have their moments of PPM-unfriendliness. I love listening to Mara; have always found her much more interesting than most jocks in this market. But even I, the rare type who listens to radio inversely (i.e., listens for jocks and imaging more than music), have caught myself changing the station because I feel she's talking too long. Margot is also guilty of this, especially when she delves into a 30-second explication of the obscure track she's about to play. If I'm changing the station, what do you think the average listener is doing? And again, no digs intended at Mara or Margot, whom I both find immensely talented. But let's be realistic.

There's even more to it than this, really, but it's a start.

 

[atlantaboy]

4. The (re-)ascent of Star 94. One could easily argue that they became a more mainstream and accessible adult alternative station than Dave ever could be.

I think there's a lot of validity to this - Lindy jumped extremely early on Gotye, the new John Mayer, and most recently Ed Sheeran - essentially, blocking Dave from being the station to break cutting-edge AAA

Six months ago, Star was playing the same 50 pop/rock songs over and over - now it's a completely different station, with a much broader playlist, that's not afraid to jump on cutting-edge new tracks quickly - I feel like if Mumford & Sons had come out this past spring, Star would've been all over them (thereby blocking Mumford fans from listening to Dave)

In addition to all this, I just found out Dave's been doing an all-80's new-wave weekend - they're trying to be the station that attracts guys in their 40s that grew up on Billy Idol, The Cure, English Beat, Psychadelic Furs, etc. (and of Course The Cars, The Police, Peter Gabriel)

Sorry, but that's such a narrow window of musical taste, there's just no way they're going to survive like this - it's either going to have to be overhauled to current-based Alternative, rhythmic-leaning CHR, or classic hits - or maybe Modern AC like KCTZ/Minneapolis (which has ratings that are through the roof!)

 

[jabba17]

I still think that Dave should segment their dayparts. Workdays play AAA for the commuter, soccer mom, and LWYW crowd, weekend days play retro, and play harder/newer alt evenings to get the younger folk after the geezers turn it off.

It would make for a reasonably consistent sound and theme for the station while targeting listenership for each daypart. This formula won't work forever--nothing ever does--but it was successful for B98.5 for years.