Dumb Dumb Dumb

[Jersey Maiden]

As I pointed it out they had those problems for quite awhile but came along way fixing them and the ratings improved. You start off correctly with "failure of its execution" then go right back to "failed format". It was clearly the execution and not a "failed format" reflective of a problem with "alternative rock" since the station did improve.

My view is that in the particular situation of New York City, competing in this marketplace, the station was both a failure in execution, and a failed format. It was both.

Help me understand, in other threads, you did cite a narrowed playlist for giving RXP their best ratings in its final months. And have you changed your mind since saying this in June?

Was the station a "failure"? My question is, we all know that a rock station is not going to come into this area and get a 4.0 rating. Can a station survive with a 2-2.5 rating supporting this type of music? Is that viable?

Not when the ownership is under the gun meeting debt payments. Anyone who talks about this as strictly a format issue is ignoring the elephant in the room, which is that huge debt payments were coming due in the fall, and Emmis was not going to be able to meet them. This was not business as usual, so talking about this as the failure of a format is wrong, especially when the station got its best book ever as the sale was announced.

You're talking about Merlin. I'm talking about the alternative format. WRXP tried a series of approaches to the format, and none of them did well. As I said, there was a death watch on this board. It had nothing to do with Merlin. It had everything to do with Emmis and WRXP. Once Emmis put it on the block, it didn't matter who bought it. The format was going to change. Because either it was going to be bought by someone with an agenda (like ESPN or Merlin) or an owner that needed better ratings than he could expect from the alternative format.

There is no heritage station with this kind of format in NYC. So anyone who attempts it can't start with a heritage audience, and lacks the credibility to be able to mix musical styles into a format the majority of rock listeners will accept. I think that hurts any unique or untried format, including country.

Well, I did bring up an article arguing against the notion that rock (particularly alternative) is dead, so yes I was talking about the format. From your posts, I would imagine that you disagree with much of what Ross said but correct me if I'm wrong. Either way, I'd like to know your thoughts on it. To me, if RXP was getting similar numbers to Power 105.1 in the end, the format does have potential (not that I believe it's an automatic slam dunk). And RXP's sister in Chicago, Q101, had a rock format since 1992, so was this not a heritage station? Not that I've ever listened but I'm sure it has a similar playlist.

 

[TheBigA]

Help me understand, in other threads, you did cite a narrowed playlist for giving RXP their best ratings in its final months. And have you changed your mind since saying this in June?

I don't think I said they "narrowed their playlist." My comment, if I remember correctly, was that it was more diverse, taking in some classic rock, mixing in recognizable hits, and that diversity is what gave it it's best ratings. I believe the staff of the station didn't know the sale was coming, and was operating as though they needed to improve the ratings.

And RXP's sister in Chicago, Q101, had a rock format since 1992, so was this not a heritage station? Not that I've ever listened but I'm sure it has a similar playlist.

I don't know. My comments were about New York.

 

[Nate Wesley]

Of that "60% male listener base" I'm sure a part listened because of their wives or girlfriends. The RXP "Tākliberty Festival" was to be headlined by Coldplay. That's girlrock.

Not that girls listening to rock is a bad thing. Not by a longshot. I'm just saying it's not what men working on construction sites or in auto garages want to hear.

And it is with this post we learn the kind of worldly being who's being left behind formatically--Coldplay is rock music 'for girls'. Hmmm.

 

[Jake Hirsch]

Of that "60% male listener base" I'm sure a part listened because of their wives or girlfriends. The RXP "Tākliberty Festival" was to be headlined by Coldplay. That's girlrock.

Not that girls listening to rock is a bad thing. Not by a longshot. I'm just saying it's not what men working on construction sites or in auto garages want to hear.

And it is with this post we learn the kind of worldly being who's being left behind formatically--Coldplay is rock music 'for girls'. Hmmm.

A bit of truth and a bit of jest is what my statements are here, Mr.Wesley. : Maybe I should spell it out for you sooner in the future. You must not be used to laughing much. I take it you're an Imus listener?

 

[andreajesus]

It was like that with us for awhile with dance music so I know exactly what you're saying. There was a lot of good dance music in between 1992 - 1996. Eurodance could have actually been something here in NYC but being we had no station that covered it (until 'KTU showed up in 1996) a lot was missing.

Fight for it like I do with dance music. If you truly believe that there are the fans, then get 'em all together and rally up!

It may be the ONLY way to get YOUR music back on the air in any way possible - we had to fight for our oldies in NY - but we got it back - at least at FIRST.....

 

[Steve Green NEPA]

@ Tony S : I'm a caucasian married male who recently turned age {(recused)}. It must've been 10 years ago that we drove to see some friends back in my old digs of Queens/Long Island.

The most interesting station of them all was WPAT-FM 93.1. The only Spanish I know ia the pickup line 'Te ves bonita con espehuelas' I'm sure I spelled all that right.

I really enjoyed the 93.1 of the time. Perhaps the format was called 'Spanish A/C' ? Early afternoon Terrific, lilting music. Un-rushed jock delivery and spots. One song I recall sounded like a Spanish ABBA. Heck -- it could very well have been them.

93.1 was not only better than the musical ennui offered by the rest of the dial, but a LOT better.

 

[EddieTheRapFan]

One song I recall sounded like a Spanish ABBA. Heck -- it could very well have been them.

ABBA had several Spanish-language songs indeed.

 

[luperm]

Why did someone revive a 6 year old thread? How stupid.

 

[mjb1124]

(redacted)

 

[davideduardo]

Why did someone revive a 6 year old thread? How stupid.

There is a reason why more than a decade of posts are preserved here... occasionally an old post that is discovered by search has a relevant update or comment in the context of today's events in radio.

 

[nd2023]

I'm a Latino male and only can deal with ONE station....92.3 Now.

Blame corporate....

I miss 92.3...Now

 

[Jeffrey]

I miss 92.3...Now

Before its demise it was 92.3 AMP radio which was actually better than NOW.

I miss AMP too. I always thought it was better than Z100. Apparently many did not.

I wonder if CBS regrets their move to alternative. I have no idea about the demographics and what the new format means for advertising dollars for them but it isn't doing any better in the ratings than WBMP.

 

[ATSFGuy]

Didn't AMP hit the airwaves in 2009 or something?

What format was Z100? Did the AMP station in your area play more variety?