December 2017 Boston Radio Ratings.

[Least]

But isn't that new alternative music available at WERS and other college stations in the area?

To be honest, I'm not sure. However, usually the college stations play more of the musicians who aren't signed to a major label.

But, still, I would think that a commercial station that identifies as Boston's New Alternative would play new alternative. It's quite interesting that songs like Smells Like Teen Spirit are played a great amount on this new alternative station, yet also get decent playtime on a station that identifies as Boston's Classic Rock. Logically speaking, it can only be new or old. Either WBOS or WZLX has it right, and my money is on WZLX. So, WBOS is doing it wrong, and that might be why it doesn't have great ratings.

I want to say for them to spend a week listening to Radio BDC, see what Julie, Adam, and the rest are playing, then tweak the station to include those acts. Don't throw everything else out. Just, tweak the playlist a little bit.

 

[TheBigA]

Either WBOS or WZLX has it right, and my money is on WZLX. So, WBOS is doing it wrong, and that might be why it doesn't have great ratings.

Then again, maybe they'd do better giving up on new music altogether, given how well ZLX is doing, and how poorly WAAF and WERS are doing. Maybe new rock just isn't a workable format for Boston. Or maybe the mistake isn't the music, but the lack of identifiable local talent.

From what I can see, the collapse of WBOS ratings coincided with the simulcast of the Detroit morning show. That seems to be the reason why the station is tanking, not necessarily the music. I have no reason to believe that they'd get better numbers playing more music that fewer people know.

 

[Least]

Then again, maybe they'd do better giving up on new music altogether, given how well ZLX is doing, and how poorly WAAF and WERS are doing. Maybe new rock just isn't a workable format for Boston. Or maybe the mistake isn't the music, but the lack of identifiable local talent.

From what I can see, the collapse of WBOS ratings coincided with the simulcast of the Detroit morning show. That seems to be the reason why the station is tanking, not necessarily the music. I have no reason to believe that they'd get better numbers playing more music that fewer people know.

Good observation, but I propose this. WZLX is exactly what it advertises itself to be, a classic rock station. I wouldn't lump college radio into the same boat as commercial radio. So that leaves WBOS and WAAF. WAAF seems to be the "payola station". The last new act that they broke was Godsmack if I'm correct, and Godsmack gave WAAF so many points of the album sale for doing so. Outside that, WAAF is a hybrid of classic rock and established modern acts. Nowhere has WAAF been anything close to the grand days of WBCN in the 70s and 80s. However, WAAF doesn't bill itself as new rock. There's more new rock coming out of WGIR-FM and WHEB, and they are similar to WAAF in playlist, regarding older songs.

WBOS has the problems to which I identified earlier. In their case, I cannot pretend that the ratings dipped since the addition of the Dave and Chuck morning show. My suspicion is that the station identifies as one that would be more for people in their 20s, but plays mostly songs that would appeal to people that are roughly 35 or older. Their "new music" is mainly from the Linkin Park era. So, they have a morning show that is trying to get a footing into Boston, but identifies with Detroit and parts of Canada. Then they are trying to grab at the 20 plus crowd with music for the 35 plus crowd. It all boils down to the playlist.

I will close this post with this. Country is a booming format, as well as Top 40/Hot AC/etc. What's the one thing that rock/alternative isn't doing that Country and Top 40 does? That's playing new music. How is it that these companies will not get off the tired old songs in rock and alternative, yet will pump out new song after new song in these other formats, which perform much better? I'll leave off my conspiricy theory hat for now. But, it does have to do with the corporate level (on the east coast) not having a love for rock music or the amount of money it generates. Beginning with Stern's move to satellite, CBS headed the dismantelment of rock radio on the East Coast. It continued to thrive out West, but there was a systematic execution of rock radio, and it all began with the watering down of the playlist to remain heavily focused on songs from the 90s.

 

[TheBigA]

But, it does have to do with the corporate level (on the east coast) not having a love for rock music or the amount of money it generates.

I don't see how you can say that, given the success iHeart has with Alternative in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, and Entercom just launched alternative stations in New York and Dallas. In fact, David Field, Entercom CEO, has been very vocal that he likes Alternative music. I agree that the format typically under-performs financially, but that hasn't stopped iHeart or Entercom from their commitment to the format.

I stand by what I said about the morning show. Here's the discussion from September:

https://www.radiodiscussions.com/showthread.php?704607-August-2017-Boston-Radio-Ratings

Since then, the station has lost a big chunk of audience.

 

[Least]

I don't see how you can say that, given the success iHeart has with Alternative in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, and Entercom just launched alternative stations in New York and Dallas. In fact, David Field, Entercom CEO, has been very vocal that he likes Alternative music. I agree that the format typically under-performs financially, but that hasn't stopped iHeart or Entercom from their commitment to the format.

I stand by what I said about the morning show. Here's the discussion from September:

https://www.radiodiscussions.com/showthread.php?704607-August-2017-Boston-Radio-Ratings

Since then, the station has lost a big chunk of audience.

To be fair, that is more of an overall observation of the state of the formats for the last near decade. Yes, iHeart, in recent years, started to build upon alternative, and Entercom made a big statement when it merged with CBS. But, there is a big hole that still needs to be filled, specifically with what CBS did to the east coast. WXRK x2, WYSP, WBCN, and so on. Heck, even WRXP's second incarnation, which was just a place holder while Merlin tried to sell it. CBS pillaged rock and alternative radio on the East Coast, and wanted nothing to do with it.

They watered down the playlist, only allowed a handful of new acts, bowed to the interest groups by keeping a tight grip on morning radio, love or hate Opie and Anthony, CBS didn't help their show at all. Then, once these stations were depleted of listeners, they flipped the stations, one after the other. It wasn't the stations demise. It was CBS doing what it could to kill the format. And it's why I smile a little more that they're out of the radio business and that Entercom made a loud statement.

Again, that's just my conspiracy theory. I'm not saying that this is the case with any of the current owners or present stations. With the likes of WBOS and WAAF, I see it as stubborn owners who need to get with the times.

 

[TheBigA]

CBS pillaged rock and alternative radio on the East Coast, and wanted nothing to do with it.

And then CBS completely got out of radio, gave it to David Field, who seems to be a fan of Alternative. So what's your point?

 

[Least]

I'm simply stating that these two formats have been torn apart for multiple reasons over the last decade. We are still experiencing the aftermath of that. The owners invest so much effort into new music in other formats, yet haven't given that opportunity nearly as much in rock and alternative. They need to rethink these playlists. There hasn't been much of a change in nearly 20 years. Yet. many of these stations call themselves new or modern rock/alternative. It's hours from 2018, and they are playing songs from 1994. In 2000, were these new or modern rock/alternative stations playing songs form 1976? A Pink Floyd or Led Zepplin song here or there, but back then, I couldn't turn on WBCN or WAAF and hear a song like More Than a Feeling in heavy rotation. Yet, that's the equivelent when "Boston's New Alternative" plays Evenflow or Rape Me.

 

[MarcB]

Alternative or Modern Rock in Hartford. Not counting two translators which are also owned by WMRQ's parent company - WMRQ is the lowest rated Commercial FM station in Hartford. They're independently owned and operated and run on the cheap. I think outside of morning drive they are voice-tracked all day long. They've been on the air since May 2009. They're up to a 3.9 this ratings period, the highest I've seen their ratings in a long time. This past spring they started doing "90's Weekend" starting at 5PM Fridays. http://www.radio1041.fm if you want to sample it.

 

[TheBigA]

The owners invest so much effort into new music in other formats, yet haven't given that opportunity nearly as much in rock and alternative. They need to rethink these playlists. There hasn't been much of a change in nearly 20 years. Yet. many of these stations call themselves new or modern rock/alternative.

I think if anyone needs to invest in rock or alternative, it's the record labels. Those genres get a fraction of the promotion money given to country or pop. I see lots of bands operating with zero tour support, zero TV appearances, and zero label investment of any kind. Some artists have actually left the format because of lack of label support. If the labels who stand to benefit from this music aren't supporting it, why should anyone else?

 

[Least]

I think if anyone needs to invest in rock or alternative, it's the record labels. Those genres get a fraction of the promotion money given to country or pop. I see lots of bands operating with zero tour support, zero TV appearances, and zero label investment of any kind. Some artists have actually left the format because of lack of label support. If the labels who stand to benefit from this music aren't supporting it, why should anyone else?

That's a valid point.

 

[promixcuous]

I'm simply stating that these two formats have been torn apart for multiple reasons over the last decade. We are still experiencing the aftermath of that. The owners invest so much effort into new music in other formats, yet haven't given that opportunity nearly as much in rock and alternative. They need to rethink these playlists. There hasn't been much of a change in nearly 20 years. Yet. many of these stations call themselves new or modern rock/alternative. It's hours from 2018, and they are playing songs from 1994. In 2000, were these new or modern rock/alternative stations playing songs form 1976? A Pink Floyd or Led Zepplin song here or there, but back then, I couldn't turn on WBCN or WAAF and hear a song like More Than a Feeling in heavy rotation. Yet, that's the equivelent when "Boston's New Alternative" plays Evenflow or Rape Me.

Totally agreed. I lived through the early 90s in my 20s. I never want to hear Pearl Jam again, especially on a station that should be playing new music.

 

[mistermicrophone]

I'm simply stating that these two formats have been torn apart for multiple reasons over the last decade. We are still experiencing the aftermath of that. The owners invest so much effort into new music in other formats, yet haven't given that opportunity nearly as much in rock and alternative. They need to rethink these playlists. There hasn't been much of a change in nearly 20 years. Yet. many of these stations call themselves new or modern rock/alternative. It's hours from 2018, and they are playing songs from 1994. In 2000, were these new or modern rock/alternative stations playing songs form 1976? A Pink Floyd or Led Zepplin song here or there, but back then, I couldn't turn on WBCN or WAAF and hear a song like More Than a Feeling in heavy rotation. Yet, that's the equivelent when "Boston's New Alternative" plays Evenflow or Rape Me.

This isn't a new fad. In the late 80's and early 90's, I remember working in an ice cram shop in high school and college and listening to those very (now) classic rock songs of the late 60's through the 70's, blended with the hair bands of the day. Today, it's no different. In the Alternative format, Evenflow is a proven hit. It tests well with the demo and it (presumably) scores highly in compatibility scores with the current music on WBOS. Evenflow also gets airplay in Active and Maistream Rock for this very reason.

As for their positioner, the "New" in their title is moot. There are very few stations that are literally what they claim to be.

 

[mistermicrophone]

I think if anyone needs to invest in rock or alternative, it's the record labels. Those genres get a fraction of the promotion money given to country or pop. I see lots of bands operating with zero tour support, zero TV appearances, and zero label investment of any kind. Some artists have actually left the format because of lack of label support. If the labels who stand to benefit from this music aren't supporting it, why should anyone else?

This has been the case for many years now. And it's unfortunate.

 

[Methuselah]

"Well, hold on now!" - Jeff Kuhner

I like Mike Siegel; very intelligent and articulate; no nonsense. But he's only been covering for Kuhner since Christmas, not for most of December.

True. However, much like how 1 bowl of Super Colon Blow is equal to 3,000,000 bowls of regular Colon Blow, one day of Siegel is like 3 years of Krazzzzzy K0000000nah.... .

 

[Least]

This isn't a new fad. In the late 80's and early 90's, I remember working in an ice cram shop in high school and college and listening to those very (now) classic rock songs of the late 60's through the 70's, blended with the hair bands of the day. Today, it's no different. In the Alternative format, Evenflow is a proven hit. It tests well with the demo and it (presumably) scores highly in compatibility scores with the current music on WBOS. Evenflow also gets airplay in Active and Maistream Rock for this very reason.

As for their positioner, the "New" in their title is moot. There are very few stations that are literally what they claim to be.

Where I don't disagree with you, I find less of playing of new music on these new music stations than there was in the past.

 

[TheBigA]

I find less of playing of new music on these new music stations than there was in the past.

Looking at their Mediabase playlist, it's not that they're playing less new music, but they play new songs less often. Perhaps that's to combat repetition. That's a common complaint for listeners of OTA radio stations. They have five songs in heavy rotation, getting 45 spins a week. Other alternative stations would give heavy songs more spins. Maybe 75-80 spins a week. But that means you'd hear those same songs every three hours. In other new music formats like Top 40 and country, currents in heavy rotation get even more spins a week. But WBOS is playing pretty much what other stations in their format plays. Beck is #1, but he's also #1 nationally. So while he may be a 90s artist, this song of his is obviously a big hit for this format. I see a lot of Imagine Dragons in their play list. Green Day is also in their Top 5, but it's also getting a lot of national play.

That's really the only criticism I can see in their music list. If it was me, I'd play the currents more often, but some constant listeners would complain about the repetition. As I said earlier in this thread, I'm sure the college stations are playing more of the indie acts. That's great for them. That's why they're here. Maybe you should listen to them more often.