Double Duty For WRXP Jocks

[buffalotom]

"wow condescend much?" Awww. No need for hurt feelings.

But if you're going to say you were spinning records long before WRXP, then you're going to need to put it in context. Brookdale Public Radio. Playing a Japan song as I type this. Used to them in college too. Haven't played them since.

 

[hubcity]

"wow condescend much?" Awww. No need for hurt feelings.

But if you're going to say you were spinning records long before WRXP, then you're going to need to put it in context. Brookdale Public Radio. Playing a Japan song as I type this. Used to them in college too. Haven't played them since.

Aww, yourself.  Sometime, when you get the chance, take a look at the below-the-line breakout for Market 51 and how we rate in comparison to both G-Rock and K-Rock (and RXP) in our market. Then realize how well-informed your attitude really is.

 

[nd2023]

Pulse 87 also plays Lily Allen's The Fear. I think they first played it last December. Very few songs cross the genre lines of rock and dance.

 

[p_herring]

I knew when I wrote that line about a guy in his truck, that's all somebody would zero in on.

Time to live in the real world p herring. If it's charting over at CMJ, in all likelihood it isn't going to play well on Commercial radio. That is fact. And although 'a lot and you mean a lot' of people like Alternative music, that isn't very scientific.

I tried to convey I am a fan of alt music too. Courteeners mention was supposed to handle that. BUT of the 15,000 songs on my ipod, I would only dream of playing 1000 of them on a commercial station. And that's too many.

Let's say KROQ is the best Alt station in the world. Agreed? Ok in the U.S.A. Here is their 1pm hour yesterday...

Muse - Starlight
Rise Against - The Good Left Undone
The Red Hot Chili Peppers - Under The Bridge
The Killers - This Is Your Life
The Ramones - I Wanna Be Sedated
Linkin Park - Bleed It Out
Kings Of Leon - Sex On Fire
Jane's Addiction - Been Caught Stealing
Depeche Mode - Wrong
Nirvana - Heart-Shaped Box
Weezer - Troublemaker
Weezer - Buddy Holly
Social Distortion - Far Behind
The Postal Service - Such Great Heights

It's not off the deep end playing crap. HIT records. Look a Postal Service track, KROQ MADE THAT A HIT 5 or 6 years ago. You got your core, Nirvana, Jane's, Red Hot's, Weezer. They get 'hip' with Kings/Leon, Muse and the Killers. New music from Rise Against (not that new.) and Depeche. Solid hour. I wish WRXP had one solid hour a day.

You can't just start playing whatever the kids think is hot at the moment. Because they usually don't think its hot for long. Everyone with a computer could say Vampire Weekend's next record is the best thing ever recorded in the history of the world!!!! But it if doesn't have a hook, it ain't going to see the light of day on the radio. See Tv On The Radio to prove that theory.

This isn't my philosophy, this is the way it works. The mold ain't going to be broken because 'a lot' of people like alternative music... dummy!

Maybe I am a "dummy" (can't tell if that's a 30 rock reference or if that's still considered an insult these days) but I think you misinterpreted my point. I am in no way saying that a commercial FM station should be some sort-of free-form college music nerd station where some guy lugs his record collection down Broadway to play the audience deep cuts while we take bong hits and lay on the floor. However, the problem with RXP is that there is no flow. A lot of alternative bands these days DO make accessible music. KROQ is a good example but they probably only play 15 currents a week. An ideal rock station should really be 60/40 familiar/unfamiliar. Meaning out of the hour, you might hear 4 new songs/currents along with 6 golds. That is, it's just enough to keep you interested but also familiar enough so you don't get bored.

The attitude of "Oh, this song isn't jamming a hook down your throat at all moments so my audience won't respond to it" is so painfully dated and yet it's still held onto because the boomer generation (which I'm assuming you are a part of and who unfortunately still holds control over the high positions in radio) still holds onto for dear life. You can't only rely on hits because you need to (get this) MAKE NEW HITS. And, how do you do that? By taking chances every once in a while and focusing on NEW MUSIC. I'm fine with a commercial rock station considering Kings Of Leon, Muse, etc. to be part of the "hip" portion of their playlist. My problem? No station in NYC really does it and when they do, they immediately feel that have to go back to a safe/old track (Billy Joel, Springsteen, Led Zeppelin, AC/DC) just so things won't get "too crazy." And why do I have to suffer because I'm educated, can think rationally, and appreciate a little left-of-center sound? I HAVE DISPOSABLE INCOME. Isn't that what advertisers want?

Are there not out there like me? Does Radiohead not sell loads and loads of tickets? Do I like to turn off my ipod from time to time to get a sense of community and know there are others out there like me who crave the same fulfillment? The answers in order are yes, yes and YES.

 

[buffalotom]

Oh snap hubcity!!! But when I give a shit about Market 51 (and the ins and outs of the Jersey shore.) and how well college stations do against stations that don't exist anymore.... I'll stick my head in the f'ing oven. Just call me Benny Pies, townie!!!

Keep that youthful hubris kid, cause you're going to need it. And keep playing those Japan records... Cause I know for a fact, the Jersey shore loves the band that had their act stolen by Duran Duran 30 years ago.

And I guess I'll concede... Lily Allen records are the key to ratings. You're all right and I'm all wrong. Lily Allen's The Fear will test thru the roof and TSL will sky rocket because of her music!

[EDITinflammatory]

 

[Zeb Norris]

My point is... The Spoons and the Lily Allens of the world are great for specialty shows, College radio, noncoms, and Triple AAA. You know the formats that exist so a small percentage of the population can feel cool and more superior than the rest of us who just like a hook. A great PD once said, "the masses are asses." No offense to anybody, but people like to turn on the radio and sing-a-long. You can't sing along to Spoon. And Lily Allen has become useless. The novelty has worn off.

RE AAA; check the ratings and revenue for KFOG, KBCO, and KINK. Those stations "feel superior" because they kick ass and make buckets of money. And they all play Spoon. "Don't You Evah" has tested well for those stations and more.

Now I understand that commercial AAA isn't a factor in East Coast major markets. But commemts like yours just highlight your ignorance.

And your insecurity.

 

[videokilledtheradiostar]

How about triple duty with a vacuum in the other hand to clean the floors too! Try taking that up with the Labor board. Better be making a boat load of money and have a good lawyer. ::

 

[buffalotom]

I can't figure who has their head up their butt further? Hubcity or Zeb?

Hubcity - 90.5 The Night doesn't even show up in Monmouth/Ocean 12+ numbers. WBJB? I just checked at R&R and I don't feel like looking anywhere else. So let's try and keep a lid on your how awesome you do in above the line numbers against ghost stations. And stop projecting your failure on me.

Zeb - Ignorance and insecurity? You don't think AAA listeners aren't music snobs? That's just a total fabrication? They don't look down their noses at people and say things like 'comments like that highlight your ignorance and insecurity?" And then gallop away on their high horse? I love how you know west coast Liberal market AAA stations have nothing to do with this conversation, yet you sight them as example anyway.

Ive been talking strictly about programming a successful commercial alternative station in the REAL world. And this is all stemming from the fact that if WRXP continues to play Bad Co into Lily Allen, Aerosmith into Spoon, and Led Zep into Vampire Weekend, they will most surely fail. And if they flip to Alt, which I would love, they can't rely heavily on hipster, indie, press darling, Triple AAA adored buzz bands for ratings.

 

[p_herring]

Buffalotom,

I can't tell if you're too old or too stupid (most likely both) to realize that what we are suggesting can't be any worse than what RXP is already doing. Just this afternoon they played two ZZ Top Songs into Linkin Park's AC-friendly "Shadow Of The Day". Previously, they played Lily Allen into Yes. Do you REALLY think that would work better than adopting a slightly-eclectic leaning alternative format (a la FNX in Boston)?

 

[buffalotom]

This conversation is totally baffling!

WFNX? They have a .6 in Boston!!! Why the F would you want to model a station after that? And you have the balls to say I'm too old and stupid.

OH and Hubcity, keep taking the high road you're on. Typing one line of bologna pretending you actually have an advantage. How about you cough up those above the line or below the line numbers you were talking about.

The crap their doing now isn't working and switching to a Hipper than thou alt station definitely won't work either. WFNX!!!! You really are a dummy.

 

[hubcity]

You don't think AAA listeners aren't music snobs? That's just a total fabrication? They don't look down their noses at people and say things like 'comments like that highlight your ignorance and insecurity?"

Nobody in this thread is being more condescending and self-righteous than you are. You say we're "hipper than thou", but you're the only one dumping on other people's musical tastes. Pot. Kettle. Black.

Ben Gibbard left with his date once, and it's just been downhill from there.

 

[in3media_be1]

Some posts from this thread have been moved to Take It Outside


http://boards.radio-info.com/smf/index.php/topic,123992.msg1006089.html#msg1006089

 

[Zeb Norris]

I can't figure who has their head up their butt further? Hubcity or Zeb?

Ive been talking strictly about programming a successful commercial alternative station in the REAL world.

No, you haven't. You slammed the entire format and the band Spoon. There was no context about flow or local market. And while I understand that some New Yorkers are in a bizarre way very provincial, San Francisco, Portland OR, and Denver ARE part of the real world.

BTW, Denver is not on a coast.

 

[Zeb Norris]

Furthermore, I direct you to this quote to see what acting superior truly looks like.

Basically WRXP is handing out promotions to all the people that will be out of work when the corporate d-bags realize a 1.1 is all they're going to get with classic rock, new music and alternative. They should have made Nik Carter General Manager. Leslie Fram should make herself Vice President of Super Awesome Segues!! That'll look great on her resume.

 

[Zeb Norris]

While this is what frank, tough criticism without a "d-b" attitude looks like.

I seriously doubt that RXP will see much of an increase at all. K-Rock scored its highest ratings during the day with O&A, and the music mix on the station is, for the most part, far different than what RXP plays, even with all of the classic rock in RXP's playlist. It's a totally different kind of listener.

The solution for RXP is, and has been, to focus the d*mn music! The mish-mash of classic rock, alternative, indie, new wave, etc. does not keep people tuned in for very long.

 

[Zeb Norris]

Now to ride away on my high horse...

Rotflmao

 

[hubcity]

Now to ride away on my high horse...

Rotflmao

You'd think you'd have checked that horse into rehab, or something...

 

[p_herring]

This conversation is totally baffling!

WFNX? They have a .6 in Boston!!! Why the F would you want to model a station after that? And you have the balls to say I'm too old and stupid.

OH and Hubcity, keep taking the high road you're on. Typing one line of bologna pretending you actually have an advantage. How about you cough up those above the line or below the line numbers you were talking about.

The crap their doing now isn't working and switching to a Hipper than thou alt station definitely won't work either. WFNX!!!! You really are a dummy.

RXP has a .9 last time we all checked. Is it really going to make a difference at this point? There more than 25 stations in this market, they can't all have a 4.0. Niche properties sell advertising all the time (though it's harder for radio of course). Also, someone who uses "dummy" well past the age of 40 is, well, probably the very word they love calling others.

 

[hubcity]

RXP has a .9 last time we all checked. Is it really going to make a difference at this point? There more than 25 stations in this market, they can't all have a 4.0. Niche properties sell advertising all the time (though it's harder for radio of course).

That's really why we're seeing the contraction in alternative; since radio station ownership is completely uninterested in any given format other than in its ability to make money, niche formats inevitably give way to broad appeal formats. People who love certain kinds of music, on the other hand, don't tend to own radio stations.

There are exceptions, of course, but the massive sale prices of the late nineties and the early naughts were enough to make many the most dedicated "in-it-for-the-music" owners grab for that big payday and early retirement. (Can't blame 'em, of course.)

 

[Zeb Norris]

RXP has a .9 last time we all checked. Is it really going to make a difference at this point? There more than 25 stations in this market, they can't all have a 4.0. Niche properties sell advertising all the time (though it's harder for radio of course).

That's really why we're seeing the contraction in alternative; since radio station ownership is completely uninterested in any given format other than in its ability to make money, niche formats inevitably give way to broad appeal formats. People who love certain kinds of music, on the other hand, don't tend to own radio stations.

There are exceptions, of course, but the massive sale prices of the late nineties and the early naughts were enough to make many the most dedicated "in-it-for-the-music" owners grab for that big payday and early retirement. (Can't blame 'em, of course.)

Well, that's part of it. IMHO another issue is the decision of many Alternative stations to target Men exclusively. When they made that decision, many then stopped including women in their tests. But they forgot that while Men like hard edged music, they like women more. If there is a woman in the car or the room who says "turn that shit off", it's going off.

Leslie Fram was very good at keeping Women in mind in Atlanta. She does have a natural advantage there.

Now, If I were programming WRXP, I WOULD eliminate the REALLY "Classic Rock" feeling stuff like stuff like Aerosmith and Bad Co. regardless of how well it tests. A smattering of Stones, Zeppelin, Floyd, and Beatles seems to fit better (again, in my opinion).

It's just really hard to appeal to a 25 year old AND a 54 year old. And while the cumulative exposure of Classic Rock means it does have some appeal to the younger end of the demo, including it can create flow issues.