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'DVE does it their way.

R

Radio_Realist

Guest
As I type this at 11:22 AM Saturday morning, while listening to WDVE's "What the F... Weekend", I'm listening to them playing Frank Sinatra singing "My Way".

I offer no comment, I simply report what I heard.
 
> As I type this at 11:22 AM Saturday morning, while listening
> to WDVE's "What the F... Weekend", I'm listening to them
> playing Frank Sinatra singing "My Way".
>
> I offer no comment, I simply report what I heard.
>

DVE's response to this kind of weekend is big. Are they tying it in with a charity, like they did with the Katrina fund?

I accept this kind of programming, especially for one day on a top selling station. They can get away with this.

However, seeing the response of the people in the regular newspapers and diehard RRK fans, Bob is not going to fly here in the Burgh. And, Jack will never either.


Mr. Music
 
> > As I type this at 11:22 AM Saturday morning, while
> listening
> > to WDVE's "What the F... Weekend", I'm listening to them
> > playing Frank Sinatra singing "My Way".
> >
> > I offer no comment, I simply report what I heard.
> >
>
> DVE's response to this kind of weekend is big. Are they
> tying it in with a charity, like they did with the Katrina
> fund?

I've heard no mention of anything like that.

> I accept this kind of programming, especially for one day on
> a top selling station. They can get away with this.

Yeah, a one-time stunt is a lot different from routine, day-to-day operations.

> However, seeing the response of the people in the regular
> newspapers and diehard RRK fans, Bob is not going to fly
> here in the Burgh. And, Jack will never either.

I know I sound like a broken record on this subject, but regardless of what those who claim to know what Pittsburghers want to hear, I can't see how the Bob format will keep WRRK's previous listeners, and I still don't see how Steel City Media expects to get new listeners to sample the new Bob format.

Most of those who might like Bob don't know it exists, and still think 96.9 is the home of Classic Rock. And those who DO know it exists are the ex-WRRK listeners who are now listening to 'DVE or something else.

I'm sure that those who work in radio part-time will make some snide comment about billboards, but the fact is, if Steel City doesn't do SOMETHING to promote the new Bob FM to get people to tune in and sample it, then it's going to fail. Now the usual crowd of "Hey, we work in radio" folks will simply say "People will sample it" with no explanation of why anyone would tune in 96.9 at random, and expect that explain everything.

I really wish I knew how radio stations can manage to get listeners to tune and and sample a new format without any sort of promotion or advertising in any other media, except in Steel City's newspaper that's so popular they have to give it away. Maybe they employ large numbers of Dionne Warwick's friends to implant the urge to switch their radios to 96.9 through psychic vibrations.

For the hell of it, I asked about a dozen people I knew who didn't use to listen to WRRK before the switch what they thought about the new "Bob-FM", and they all gave me the same answer, "What's Bob-FM?"

That sounds to me like a recipe for ratings failure. But then, that's only based on common sense. It seems common sense doesn't impress those who spend their workdays locked in little rooms staring at a mic.

BTW, as I was typing this response, 'DVE was playing "Ring of Fire", by Johnny Cash.
 
> > > As I type this at 11:22 AM Saturday morning, while
> > listening
> > > to WDVE's "What the F... Weekend", I'm listening to them
>
> > > playing Frank Sinatra singing "My Way".
> > >
> > > I offer no comment, I simply report what I heard.
> > >
> >
> > DVE's response to this kind of weekend is big. Are they
> > tying it in with a charity, like they did with the Katrina
>
> > fund?
>
> I've heard no mention of anything like that.
>
> > I accept this kind of programming, especially for one day
> on
> > a top selling station. They can get away with this.
>
> Yeah, a one-time stunt is a lot different from routine,
> day-to-day operations.
>
> > However, seeing the response of the people in the regular
> > newspapers and diehard RRK fans, Bob is not going to fly
> > here in the Burgh. And, Jack will never either.
>
> I know I sound like a broken record on this subject, but
> regardless of what those who claim to know what
> Pittsburghers want to hear, I can't see how the Bob format
> will keep WRRK's previous listeners, and I still don't see
> how Steel City Media expects to get new listeners to sample
> the new Bob format.
>
> Most of those who might like Bob don't know it exists, and
> still think 96.9 is the home of Classic Rock. And those who
> DO know it exists are the ex-WRRK listeners who are now
> listening to 'DVE or something else.
>
> I'm sure that those who work in radio part-time will make
> some snide comment about billboards, but the fact is, if
> Steel City doesn't do SOMETHING to promote the new Bob FM to
> get people to tune in and sample it, then it's going to
> fail. Now the usual crowd of "Hey, we work in radio" folks
> will simply say "People will sample it" with no explanation
> of why anyone would tune in 96.9 at random, and expect that
> explain everything.
>
> I really wish I knew how radio stations can manage to get
> listeners to tune and and sample a new format without any
> sort of promotion or advertising in any other media, except
> in Steel City's newspaper that's so popular they have to
> give it away. Maybe they employ large numbers of Dionne
> Warwick's friends to implant the urge to switch their radios
> to 96.9 through psychic vibrations.
>
> For the hell of it, I asked about a dozen people I knew who
> didn't use to listen to WRRK before the switch what they
> thought about the new "Bob-FM", and they all gave me the
> same answer, "What's Bob-FM?"
>
> That sounds to me like a recipe for ratings failure. But
> then, that's only based on common sense. It seems common
> sense doesn't impress those who spend their workdays locked
> in little rooms staring at a mic.
>
> BTW, as I was typing this response, 'DVE was playing "Ring
> of Fire", by Johnny Cash.

The only effective way to promote something is with billboards. Look at WDVE. They're always on top because they always have a billboard up, each month of the year.

104.7 is going the same way, too. They always have a billboard up, too, each month of the year. Lately, it's the Mt. Rushmore one (with a scraggly looking Rose! Believe me, she does not look like that in person) and before that it was for Rush.

If CC wants to get listeners back to 3WS after the holidays, they'd be smart to put up a billboard now promoting their new slogan, "Your Greatest Hits". Perhaps they should by TV. They used to always have tv spots. One of my favorite things they did was have the heads of Merkel and Dickson on their van. To me, that was very clever on their part, as the van is always someplace in or around town.

93.7 could've made a killing, but they had no billboards. No wonder DVE is still the king of rock. And, that is why 96.9, if they're serious about this Bob format, should be promoting it heavily with billboards and TV.

Mr. Music
 
Do you really think that people who only know radio, and who don't have a clue about how other media or advertising works could possibly accept the logic that
(1), most people listen to the radio while driving in their cars and
(2), an ad that they can act on immediately has the best impact, so
(3), a billboard about a radio station that a radio listener sees while listening to the radio has the best chance of getting them to take the action of tuning in that station to sample what it's broadcasting?

It's kind of scary that the people who work for a medium that exists to sell advertising has such a limited capability of understanding media in general.

> The only effective way to promote something is with
> billboards. Look at WDVE. They're always on top because
> they always have a billboard up, each month of the year.
>
> 104.7 is going the same way, too. They always have a
> billboard up, too, each month of the year. Lately, it's the
> Mt. Rushmore one (with a scraggly looking Rose! Believe me,
> she does not look like that in person) and before that it
> was for Rush.
>
> If CC wants to get listeners back to 3WS after the holidays,
> they'd be smart to put up a billboard now promoting their
> new slogan, "Your Greatest Hits". Perhaps they should by
> TV. They used to always have tv spots. One of my favorite
> things they did was have the heads of Merkel and Dickson on
> their van. To me, that was very clever on their part, as
> the van is always someplace in or around town.
>
> 93.7 could've made a killing, but they had no billboards.
> No wonder DVE is still the king of rock. And, that is why
> 96.9, if they're serious about this Bob format, should be
> promoting it heavily with billboards and TV.

Don't forget, Clear Channel OWNS the billboards in this town. Clear Channel is a media conglomerate staffed wtih people who understand the synergy between media. Steel City Media runs two radio stations and a crappy tabloid newspaper.
 
Spotted: A B0B-FM Billboard!

There is at least one Bob-FM billboard going southbound on McKnight Road near the I-279 N entrance. It has a big BOB-FM 96.9 logo and in big black lettering "We Play Everything".
 
Re: Spotted: A B0B-FM Billboard!

> There is at least one Bob-FM billboard going southbound on
> McKnight Road near the I-279 N entrance. It has a big BOB-FM
> 96.9 logo and in big black lettering "We Play Everything".

From Steel City's perspective, that's a good thing.

I've looked at their playlist on the yes.com website. They say they play "everything", yet I've seen no Frank Sinatra, no Frankie Yankovic, no Beethoven, no Mozart, no Broadway soundtracks, no Johnny Cash, no Dolly Parton, no Barbra Streisand, no Harmonicats, no Dave Brubeck, no Lawrence Welk, and no lots of other kinds of music that one would consider part of "everything".
 
Re: Spotted: A B0B-FM Billboard!

> > There is at least one Bob-FM billboard going southbound on
>
> > McKnight Road near the I-279 N entrance. It has a big
> BOB-FM
> > 96.9 logo and in big black lettering "We Play Everything".
>
>
> From Steel City's perspective, that's a good thing.
>
> I've looked at their playlist on the yes.com website. They
> say they play "everything", yet I've seen no Frank Sinatra,
> no Frankie Yankovic, no Beethoven, no Mozart, no Broadway
> soundtracks, no Johnny Cash, no Dolly Parton, no Barbra
> Streisand, no Harmonicats, no Dave Brubeck, no Lawrence
> Welk, and no lots of other kinds of music that one would
> consider part of "everything".
>
I agree with you Radio Realist. I think BOB FM should add some of the artists you mentioned above. There are so many other artists that could still be played from the 60's-today. If they do truely say we play anything, why not expand the playlist and not repeat a song an entire week or two? I rarely hear a current song on BOB FM.
 
> As I type this at 11:22 AM Saturday morning, while listening
> to WDVE's "What the F... Weekend", I'm listening to them
> playing Frank Sinatra singing "My Way".
>
> I offer no comment, I simply report what I heard.
>
A little while ago on DVE I heard House of Pain-Jump Around. That is just crazy.
 
Re: Spotted: A B0B-FM Billboard!

> > say they play "everything", yet I've seen no Frank
> Sinatra,
> > no Frankie Yankovic, no Beethoven, no Mozart, no Broadway
> > soundtracks, no Johnny Cash, no Dolly Parton, no Barbra
> > Streisand, no Harmonicats, no Dave Brubeck, no Lawrence
> > Welk, and no lots of other kinds of music that one would
> > consider part of "everything".
> >
> I agree with you Radio Realist. I think BOB FM should add
> some of the artists you mentioned above. There are so many
> other artists that could still be played from the
> 60's-today. If they do truely say we play anything, why not
> expand the playlist and not repeat a song an entire week or
> two? I rarely hear a current song on BOB FM.
>
I never hear anything on Bob, as I won't listen to it. However, I do check out the listings of what they play at http://www.yes.com/lookup.php?s=WRRK. And a big thank-you to whoever posted that link in the first place.
 
> Do you really think that people who only know radio, and who
> don't have a clue about how other media or advertising works
> could possibly accept the logic that
> (1), most people listen to the radio while driving in their
> cars and
> (2), an ad that they can act on immediately has the best
> impact, so
> (3), a billboard about a radio station that a radio listener
> sees while listening to the radio has the best chance of
> getting them to take the action of tuning in that station to
> sample what it's broadcasting?
>
> It's kind of scary that the people who work for a medium
> that exists to sell advertising has such a limited
> capability of understanding media in general.
>
Isn't that the truth!! They are very myopic when trying to sell their own product. Or, is it cheap? Or both.

>
> Don't forget, Clear Channel OWNS the billboards in this
> town. Clear Channel is a media conglomerate staffed wtih
> people who understand the synergy between media. Steel City
> Media runs two radio stations and a crappy tabloid
> newspaper.

That must make some at the Clear Channel building a bit upset. They are promoting only two of their stations. And, they are the ones that DON'T need the promotion.


Mr. Music
 
> Do you really think that people who only know radio, and who
> don't have a clue about how other media or advertising works
> could possibly accept the logic that
> (1), most people listen to the radio while driving in their
> cars and
> (2), an ad that they can act on immediately has the best
> impact, so
> (3), a billboard about a radio station that a radio listener
> sees while listening to the radio has the best chance of
> getting them to take the action of tuning in that station to
> sample what it's broadcasting?
>
> It's kind of scary that the people who work for a medium
> that exists to sell advertising has such a limited
> capability of understanding media in general.
>
> > The only effective way to promote something is with
> > billboards. Look at WDVE. They're always on top because
> > they always have a billboard up, each month of the year.
>
> >
> > 104.7 is going the same way, too. They always have a
> > billboard up, too, each month of the year. Lately, it's
> the
> > Mt. Rushmore one (with a scraggly looking Rose! Believe
> me,
> > she does not look like that in person) and before that it
> > was for Rush.
> >
> > If CC wants to get listeners back to 3WS after the
> holidays,
> > they'd be smart to put up a billboard now promoting their
> > new slogan, "Your Greatest Hits". Perhaps they should by
> > TV. They used to always have tv spots. One of my favorite
>
> > things they did was have the heads of Merkel and Dickson
> on
> > their van. To me, that was very clever on their part, as
> > the van is always someplace in or around town.
> >
> > 93.7 could've made a killing, but they had no billboards.
>
> > No wonder DVE is still the king of rock. And, that is why
>
> > 96.9, if they're serious about this Bob format, should be
> > promoting it heavily with billboards and TV.
>
> Don't forget, Clear Channel OWNS the billboards in this
> town. Clear Channel is a media conglomerate staffed wtih
> people who understand the synergy between media. Steel City
> Media runs two radio stations and a crappy tabloid
> newspaper.
>

It has been many moons ago that Clear Channel owned the billboard company in Pittsburgh. It has been Lamar for at least 5 years. They do own the bus shelters in the city of Pittsburgh..
 
> It has been many moons ago that Clear Channel owned the
> billboard company in Pittsburgh. It has been Lamar for at
> least 5 years. They do own the bus shelters in the city of
> Pittsburgh..

I was under the impression that Clear Channel was a major shareholder in Lamar, or at least they were at one time.

To be honest, I haven't had occaision to deal with any billboard company since 1998. Thogh billboards are a great medium for some kinds of ad messages, they are not very good for others. And nothing I've worked on since '98 would have been appropriate on a billboard.

But, the important thing isn't whether Clear Channel, or a subsidiary of theirs owns the billboards or not. The important thing is that the suits at Clear Channel recognize that regardless of who owns them, they're an excellent medium for promoting a radio station.
 
RR ---

Billboards, esp. on interstates near downtown have great results while
people are sitting in traffic, etc. Also, TV works well depending
on the type of format and how catchy the commercial is. After 5 PM is
best. It often seems to click in the next morning while people are driving
in. Then hopefully, talk around the office helps build the station.
AM TV is not as effective in my opinion.

Bob's only been around a short time, but I agree, 100% that they better
get those boards up PRONTO. They are loosing $$$ and their chance to catch
on quickly. BUT, if other stations try to react by changing their formats
even for a weekend, they actually might send listeners to try Bob. Whether
they stay or not, is a matter to be dicussed later. And, BTW, for what it
is worth...I think the only VH format that has LT staying power is JACK
because it has a national buzz about it and any copycat format is seen
as a weaker substitute.

As for Jack in Nashville (#1 25-54 in two books) --- the billboards were
up May 13th - the day after the flip and are still up and are HUGELY
effective. As are, to a lesser extent, the typical Jack blender spots
on TV. Billboards are vitally important!
 
Re: Spotted: A B0B-FM Billboard!

> > There is at least one Bob-FM billboard going southbound on
>
> > McKnight Road near the I-279 N entrance. It has a big
> BOB-FM
> > 96.9 logo and in big black lettering "We Play Everything".
>
>
> From Steel City's perspective, that's a good thing.
>
> I've looked at their playlist on the yes.com website. They
> say they play "everything", yet I've seen no Frank Sinatra,
> no Frankie Yankovic, no Beethoven, no Mozart, no Broadway
> soundtracks, no Johnny Cash, no Dolly Parton, no Barbra
> Streisand, no Harmonicats, no Dave Brubeck, no Lawrence
> Welk, and no lots of other kinds of music that one would
> consider part of "everything".
>

It's obvious that you are NOT in BOB's or JACK's demo. I like
Cash. You'd have a tough time getting listeners with that music, sir.
Just the truth, not meant as an insult.
 
I only disagree about this one small statement of yours:

> I think the only VH format that has LT staying
> power is JACK
> because it has a national buzz about it and any copycat
> format is seen
> as a weaker substitute.

Only radio professionals (and maybe interstate truck drivers) pay all that much attention to the names of different radio formats. I do not dispute that among radio insiders (and those who participate in this and similar internet forums), Jack has a bigger national buzz. But among the vast hordes of radio listeners, including almost all the ordinary listeners here in Pittsburgh, there is no buzz whatsoever about any radio format that isn't currently played and promoted here in town.

Walk up to 100 radio listeners here in Pittsburgh and ask them which is better, Jack or Bob, and you'll probably get a blank stare from 95 of them. In a city that had a Jack station come on the air first, Bob might be seen as a copycat. Here in Pittsburgh, since Bob came on the air first, Jack will be seen as the copycat.

Then again, maybe Pittsburgh listeners are different, but it strikes me that people listen to whatever station here in town that plays the music that they like, and most of them couldn't care less what the format is called.
 
Re: Spotted: A B0B-FM Billboard!

> > say they play "everything", yet I've seen no Frank
> Sinatra,
> > no Frankie Yankovic, no Beethoven, no Mozart, no Broadway
> > soundtracks, no Johnny Cash, no Dolly Parton, no Barbra
> > Streisand, no Harmonicats, no Dave Brubeck, no Lawrence
> > Welk, and no lots of other kinds of music that one would
> > consider part of "everything".
> >
>
> It's obvious that you are NOT in BOB's or JACK's demo. I
> like
> Cash. You'd have a tough time getting listeners with that
> music, sir.
> Just the truth, not meant as an insult.

I wasn't talking about securing listeners, I was talking about calling the music selection "variety" or bragging that they played "everything".

The thing is, if I read an ad that said "Station XYZ plays EVERYTHING", then I'd assume that they meant EVERYTHING, including those artists I mentioned, which would make me NOT want to tune in. If they had pictures of people that I identified with and a caption like "They play everything we like", then I would repond positively.
 
Re: Spotted: A B0B-FM Billboard! that plays Anything

Actually, I saw a billboard for Bob on Rt.28 and it say's "We Play Anything" not everything
 
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