Dayton Ratings

[lovejamminoldies]

With Main Line back in business, it gets pretty interesting. HOT is doing much better than I thought. WROU does extremely well now.... I hear they do even better in offices. Channel 945 = Not a surprise... Fly, losing it a little, but this is just 12+ and Mix = down AGAIN

 

[alans613]

WHOA! I didn't realize how big Hot 102.9 was...an 8 share? They're the #3 station in town.
Mix is in bad, bad shape. A 4.6? A re-image is DEFINITELY in order there. A station that was once doing 8s and 9s, not to mention Billboard Station of the Year in 2000. The 80s have to go.
Fly is just 0.4 of a point away from jumping over Mix. It's time for Bob Zuroweste(The CC/Dayton GM) to jump in and insist on change on Mix, at least from a music perspective. From what I understand, they're also suffering in the demos as well. If Mix is CC's baby, then DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT before things get worse.

 

[only1moore]

I'm also surprised by WDHT's performance in this book, and they're really putting the hurt on Channel 945.

Speaking of Mr. Zuroweste, he might want to overhaul WDKF as well.

 

[alans613]

I'm also surprised by WDHT's performance in this book, and they're really putting the hurt on Channel 945.

Speaking of Mr. Zuroweste, he might want to overhaul WDKF as well.

IMHO, 'MMX, 'LQT and 'DKF need major, immediate changes, not next week, not next year, NOW. Someone isn't listening to their audience, who is leaving them in droves. 'LQT will probably get their yearly Christmas bump, but after that they need to adjust. 'MMX must drop the 80s. 'DKF is an absolute abandoned mess. Mix needs to go at the least 90s-today. The 90s are hot right now, the 80s are yesterday's news. They also need to focus more on current music. Let Lite have the 80s. Lite has dropped since Paul Ellis returned to mornings and they swapped out Kim Faris and moved her to afternoons, which was a move that left me puzzled. 'DKF should at the very least voicetrack local jocks in afternoons and nights.
On Mix, how does a station go from the top of the ratings to the toilet? Running the 80s into the ground is only part of the problem. I'm not badmouthing anyone here, and I think Jeff Stevens is a great guy, but he has to listen to what the audience wants. Ten years ago, the audience was hungry for 80s, ten years later, the audience is hungry for 90s-2000s-today. I hope Jeff makes changes at Mix...so far, i'm hearing the same old, same old. Hopefully that changes, and soon, or Mix could slide into the 3s.

 

[lovejamminoldies]

This is a very good discussion.

CC normally dominates the market. In this case, they're not! You know, I'm not surprised that Mix hasn't dropped the '80s. I think Jeff Stevens is hardheaded. Hate to say it... I know Bob is a pretty laid back, whatever type guy. I know some friends who worked there who wanted to flip 945 back to The Beat... Bob was alright with it, Jeff Stevens really didn't like the idea... and Brian Michaels was definitely considering it. Sure, this person could have given me wrong information, but hmm...

Bob didn't even know the station name when I called up there. He laughed at me when I suggested change.

Is CC that conceited that they don't even care what the public thinks about their radio stations? I acted as if I was a listener, not a radio nerd. WDKF is the ONLY CHR IN TOWN. I know some other PC stations that sound bad, but Channel 945 has to be the worst! They were getting better ratings when Drake programmed it. HOT 1029 is MURDERING them... why is CC continuing to let this happen?

Mix, on the other hand, I can't see them dropping into the 3's... if that happens, Jeff Stevens needs to reconsider his job. I hate to seem like I'm badmouthing CC, but I really hope someone from there reads this. I'm sending off an e-mail to Jeff Stevens today.

 

[lovejamminoldies]

Also, go to CC's website and look at Dayton's market. They don't even include Channel 945 in their station list... do they forget about it that much?

 

[Elephant]

It's not on their web site becaue Clear Channel doesn't technically own it. It's in The Aloha Trust. None of the Aloha Trust stations are listed on the web site.

 

[microbob]

94.5 along with the rest of the Aloha Trust Stations will be sold as soon as CC can find a buyer.

 

[lovejamminoldies]

Yes, but isn't Big 106.5 in the Aloha Trust? I thought they had another one in there as well. Plus, how long is it gonna stay in that "aloha trust"?

 

[alans613]

Yes, but isn't Big 106.5 in the Aloha Trust? I thought they had another one in there as well. Plus, how long is it gonna stay in that "aloha trust"?

WDSJ and WDKF are the only two Dayton stations in the "Aloha Trust" that I know of.

 

[alans613]

This is a very good discussion.

CC normally dominates the market. In this case, they're not! You know, I'm not surprised that Mix hasn't dropped the '80s. I think Jeff Stevens is hardheaded. Hate to say it... I know Bob is a pretty laid back, whatever type guy. I know some friends who worked there who wanted to flip 945 back to The Beat... Bob was alright with it, Jeff Stevens really didn't like the idea... and Brian Michaels was definitely considering it. Sure, this person could have given me wrong information, but hmm...

Bob didn't even know the station name when I called up there. He laughed at me when I suggested change.

Is CC that conceited that they don't even care what the public thinks about their radio stations? I acted as if I was a listener, not a radio nerd. WDKF is the ONLY CHR IN TOWN. I know some other PC stations that sound bad, but Channel 945 has to be the worst! They were getting better ratings when Drake programmed it. HOT 1029 is MURDERING them... why is CC continuing to let this happen?

Mix, on the other hand, I can't see them dropping into the 3's... if that happens, Jeff Stevens needs to reconsider his job. I hate to seem like I'm badmouthing CC, but I really hope someone from there reads this. I'm sending off an e-mail to Jeff Stevens today.

LJO, it's obvious that CC/Dayton has gotten cocky just by Zuroweste's response to you. If he doesn't even know one of his stations in the building, even if it is just a "Laptop on someone's desk", that's just bad. What else doesn't he know?
I hate to say it, but the downfall of 'MMX is reminding me so much of Z-93's downfall...they went from 13s in 1990 to 8s then to the 6s in the 90s, and then 5s in 2000, to the 3s until they flipped to Fly. 'MMX has never done a 13 share that I know of, but they were at one time the #1 station in the market. Mix is NOT changing with the times. Heck, even some Hot ACs are playing some Rhythmic content. 'MMX is way too conservative with their playlist. Also, with Gen X stations popping up seemingly everywhere, why not throw on a "90s at Noon" type show and dump the stale 80s Time Warp Cafe? As a listener in 'MMX's core demo, they should be at least reading what i'm saying. I'm sure there are others out there that hold similar opinions. We want 'MMX to succeed. These 4s should be setting off alarms at CC/Dayton, not to mention 'LQT's drop into the low 5s. YIKES.

 

[lovejamminoldies]

Alan,

I always look forward to your responses! Good point relating it to Z93. It's hard to even imagine Mix being a Adult CHR station. They've always been so heavily 80s-influenced. They have a certain sound. Dumping it just seems hard to believe. Bob Z doesn't belong in the building since he doesn't know much about his radio stations, in my opinion! How long do you give it before we see changes at Mix and 945?

 

[Apollo7979]

I'm sorry to hear about the demise of 94.5. They were at one time a pretty good station.

They would probably be better off at this point to just dump the PC jocks and run just music with song/artist tags and sweepers. The PC CHR stations just sound too impersonal and disjointed from the overall sound of the station.

 

[lovejamminoldies]

Apollo,

I was thinking the same thing. They would do better ratings-wise as a "more hit music station". It's actually nice to hear a real CHR in Athens. All Hit 95XIL out of Parkersburg is one of the best-sounding CHR's I've ever heard. Reminds me of Z93. One of the reasons I'm glad I attended Ohio University!

Although, 12+ 102.1 The River (Premium Choice CC) does better... well, they did in the last book. It's such a shame what CC is doing, but I don't give it too much longer before CC Dayton sees some changes.

 

[alans613]

Alan,

I always look forward to your responses! Good point relating it to Z93. It's hard to even imagine Mix being a Adult CHR station. They've always been so heavily 80s-influenced. They have a certain sound. Dumping it just seems hard to believe. Bob Z doesn't belong in the building since he doesn't know much about his radio stations, in my opinion! How long do you give it before we see changes at Mix and 945?

ljo, here's a good one for you...A few months back, I emailed Jeff Stevens and made a couple of suggestions to improve Mix...one was to do an all 90s lunch hour one day a week...his concern on that one was they didn't have much of a 90s library. I even offered to let them have some of my CDs but they never bit. I have a large 90s CD collection as well! The other was a "Favorite 5 Weekend", sorta like their "Favorite 5@9" and "Favorite 5@5", but all weekend. He liked the idea, but they never did anything with it. This is in NO WAY slamming Jeff, because he is a great guy. However, it seems that he doesn't want to change Mix very much.
IMO, i'm hoping that they change at least Mix around the 1st of the year. They've got to change or they'll continue to sink. I don't see them doing anything with 94.5 unfortunately. CC has always flip-flopped on 94.5 over the years...One minute they want a full on-air staff, and the next minute they want all automation. What doesn't make sense is they do a good job with 106.5, which is in the Aloha Trust with 94.5, but 94.5 ends up being the unwanted, bastard stepchild. CC needs to realize that 94.5 is the ONLY CHR in town...they could be doing at least a 4 if they wanted, even with that signal of theirs.
Oh yeah...last night, I heard Mix play Taio Cruz's "Dynamite", so maybe change is on the way. We can only hope.
Jeff's gotta get with the game or get lost in the shuffle. I wonder what the station would sound like with Shaun or Brian programming it. I know Shaun's the APD/MD, but he's doing whatever Jeff says. When Allen Rantz was MD, Mix sounded incredible. The station sounded much edgier and hotter. Then when he left in December '06, the station went back to sounding softer again.
Also, they have got to do something with their SummerFest show...I wonder what kind of numbers SF did this year with those horribly outdated acts they had this year. They can get big acts for their "Concert For A Cure" but not for their annual show? I understand they have a budget, but come on guys! I think their lack of recapping it on the air says a lot.

 

[faaradar]

I've listened to the New Mix 106.1 in Philly...I think THAT'S how to reach the demo Mix needs to reach to reclaim the top in Dayton.

 

[lovejamminoldies]

So the question is...

Will we see change from Mix or 9-4-5 first?

I think Jeff Stevens is just as much stubborn with Mix as he is with 945. Do you think he's panicking with the sudden downfall of Mix? The drop in the ratings? The chance of an Adult Hits station beating you? I wonder...

Also, I did check out the new Mix 106.1 - good music mix, they're on Ke$ha and Jay Sean. I'll keep following them.

 

[lovejamminoldies]

Then again, Mix 106.1 also plays quite a bit of '80s. They mix it in with some currents... sounds like they still have a rhythmic ac lean. I'd like Mix 1077 to sound more like Mix 1079 out of Columbus. Heard them play Ke$ha's We R Who We R, wouldn't be surprised if they add Nelly's Just A Dream soon too.

 

[alans613]

Then again, Mix 106.1 also plays quite a bit of '80s. They mix it in with some currents... sounds like they still have a rhythmic ac lean. I'd like Mix 1077 to sound more like Mix 1079 out of Columbus. Heard them play Ke$ha's We R Who We R, wouldn't be surprised if they add Nelly's Just A Dream soon too.

I'm surprised they haven't played Nelly's "Just A Dream"...much like "Over and Over", this one has crossover appeal written all over it. "Just A Dream" sounds less like a rap tune and more like straight Pop/Rock to me. LOVE it! I've yet to hear the full version of Ke$ha's "We R Who We R" except for a brief snippet. I know WNCI is playing it, but I only listen to 'NCI sometimes.

 

[lovejamminoldies]

Yeah... NCI is good though. I've been checking out Hits 105.5 out of Sidney lately while in Dayton. Heard them play R. Kelly's Ignition, Chris Brown's Yeah 3x and Nelly's Just A Dream