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EARL is coming

> I actually remember hearing that clip somewhere, saying
> their last goodbyes, and the moment finally arrives, and
> they announce that it is staying. It's always sad to see a
> heritage station go, but hey, to the guys upstairs, heritage
> means nothing
>

Yeah, its in the format change archive on this site. <P ID="edit"><FONT class="small">Edited by gooberj on 10/18/05 05:21 PM.</FONT></P>
 
> > I certainly hope the backlash is LOUD and CLEAR in
> > Knoxville! Yes ratings are obviously a reality...but I
> was
> > really pleasantly surprised and impressed to see the River
>
> > saved the first time because of listener response.
> >
> > But since Citadel put it on a much weaker signal, the
> > River's days were numbered anyway. Once again it will be
> sad
> > to see a small group of loyal listeners lose out to what
> in
> > reality is the bottom line in this business
> > of what we call radio.
> >
> >
> > booger!
> >
> I actually remember hearing that clip somewhere, saying
> their last goodbyes, and the moment finally arrives, and
> they announce that it is staying. It's always sad to see a
> heritage station go, but hey, to the guys upstairs, heritage
> means nothing
>
I wouldn't really call or consider them a heritage station, WOKI only ran the River format for about four years, first at 100.3 FM until this past summer, when they moved the format to 98.7 FM. Since WOKI first came on the air in Knoxville in 1974, they have been a free form station, where the DJ's chose the music played on their shows, then a Top 40 format (from late1979/early 1980 until the early ninties, a country format and a classic hits format, Eagle 100, until they became the River in 2001 or so. It's hard to consider a station a heritage station when they have been through as many formats as they have since first appearing on the air in 1974.
 
Let's Now Talk about WEST 105.3

> The AAA format is alive and well on WEST 105.3 lest we forget that. It's not like the limited few don't have a station to listen to. Personally I hope WEST has a nice upward tic because of the change.











River site is gone already
>
>
> I certainly hope the backlash is LOUD and CLEAR in
> Knoxville! Yes ratings are obviously a reality...but I was
> really pleasantly surprised and impressed to see the River
> saved the first time because of listener response.
>
> But since Citadel put it on a much weaker signal, the
> River's days were numbered anyway. Once again it will be sad
> to see a small group of loyal listeners lose out to what in
> reality is the bottom line in this business
> of what we call radio.
>
>
> booger!
>
 
Re: Let's Now Talk about WEST 105.3

> > The AAA format is alive and well on WEST 105.3 lest we
> forget that. It's not like the limited few don't have a
> station to listen to. Personally I hope WEST has a nice
> upward tic because of the change.
>

Alive? Bareley.
Well? Debateable.

Even with a signal (which West doesn't have), promotion (which West doesn't have,) and a killer staff and management (which West doesn't have,) the 'few' are still pretty limited. Couldn't make a nickel or capture enough listeners with a 100k blowtorch...sure as hell not gonna do it with a Loudon three-popper.If BOTH of West's listeners tell a friend, their promotion efforts are doubled.

Face it ...the river ran dry. The Frog wins. Done deal. Sorry.
 
Re: Let's Now Talk about WEST 105.3

> Face it ...the river ran dry. The Frog wins. Done deal.
> Sorry.
>
Wow...looks like the glass is half empty.<P ID="signature">______________
but wait...there's more!</P>
 
Re: Let's Now Talk about WEST 105.3

> "West 105-3" would get more pop for their buck if they dropped AAA and went oldies. The oldies audience may be aging and becoming less attractive to advertisers, but the audience would be a lot larger than that for AAA, and since no other station in the area is doing it; I would pick it up. It would be the best way to maximize that rimshot signal and make a few bucks in the short term. (that is if no other Knoxville FM with a better signal picks up oldies).
 
Re: Let's Now Talk about WEST 105.3

> > "West 105-3" would get more pop for their buck if they
> dropped AAA and went oldies. The oldies audience may be
> aging and becoming less attractive to advertisers, but the
> audience would be a lot larger than that for AAA, and since
> no other station in the area is doing it; I would pick it
> up. It would be the best way to maximize that rimshot
> signal and make a few bucks in the short term. (that is if
> no other Knoxville FM with a better signal picks up oldies).
>

Actually, Earl FM sounds almost exactly like The River did, give or take a few songs. I can't really tell a big difference in the two.

I think we'll be getting an oldies station sooner than we think. That can happen in one of two ways. The first is this - 98.7 and 95.7/106.7 are running basically the same formats. Earl is a little softer but still, they're basically the same. They'll get into a ratings battle like Hot and Wild did a while back. One of those stations will win, the other will fail and switch formats. I don't know which one it will be, but the looser could always pick up Oldies. OR, 93.1 The Point plays 80's 90's and now. Jack FM is mostly made up of 80's, 90's and now stuff also, with a few 70's and 60's thrown in. 98.7 is also playing alot of 80's 90's and now stuff. This is going to kill 93.1. I don't think 80's music is good enough to support three stations playing it. So, 93.1 would also have the option to pick oldies back up.

Give the format a little time to rest, then one of these stations bring it back and it might draw in some nice numbers - and if whoever would pick up oldies keeps in mind that there are thousands of songs to choose from to build the oldies format - not some 200 tired songs played over and over.
 
> I actually remember hearing that clip somewhere, saying
> their last goodbyes, and the moment finally arrives, and
> they announce that it is staying. It's always sad to see a
> heritage station go, but hey, to the guys upstairs, heritage
> means nothing
>

I kinda have a feeling that the whole format change when Citadel took over The River was nothing more than publicity to try to get more ratings. Now this is just my opinion, nothing more. I wasn't at Citadel and don't know anyone there, I'm just talking from what I feel, but never before has a big communications group listened to the listeners before changing formats. They didn't this last time before Earl soaked up the River. I get a strange feeling that they made alot of that up back then just to get more people to tune in and listen out of curiosity. They fired everyone that night at midnight, then played recorded call in messages where people talked about how bad they hated Phil Williams, then a few weeks later, he was back with most of the old River staff. I think Frank Murphy, Sarah, and Benny Smith were the only ones that didn't return. Citadel probably wanted to get rid of them anyway. If Citadel would have really wanted to change the format on The River when they took it over, I think they would have gone ahead and done so. They wanted to keep it around a little longer and see if they could boost the numbers. When they found they couldn't, they got rid of it.
 
Re: Let's Now Talk about WEST 105.3

> > "West 105-3" would get more pop for their buck if they
> dropped AAA and went oldies. The oldies audience may be
> aging and becoming less attractive to advertisers, but the
> audience would be a lot larger than that for AAA, and since
> no other station in the area is doing it; I would pick it
> up. It would be the best way to maximize that rimshot
> signal and make a few bucks in the short term. (that is if
> no other Knoxville FM with a better signal picks up oldies).
>

Agreed...any small operators in Knoxville or on the outskirts need
to wise up and jump on the Oldies niche that is now wide open!!!
It's a much more mainstream format with a broader appeal. With today's fragmented listenership...AAA, and other formats like it, can only work
if you have a bigger stick to reach a larger population sample.

booger!
 
Re: Let's Now Talk about WEST 105.3

Agreed...any small operators in Knoxville or on the
> outskirts need
> to wise up and jump on the Oldies niche that is now wide
> open!!!
> It's a much more mainstream format with a broader appeal.
> With today's fragmented listenership...AAA, and other
> formats like it, can only work
> if you have a bigger stick to reach a larger population
> sample.
>
> booger!
>

I may be mistaken, but back in the late 80's and through most of the 90's when West 105.3 was oldies, they pulled in around a 1.5 share or maybe even higher I don't remember. But that's awesome that they pulled in those kinds of numbers with such a week signal - the station hasn't seen numbers that high since. I don't remember if their programs were satellite fed or local, but the DJ's were incredible and did a great job keeping the music fresh. I remember for a while, they had a no repeat policy where they promised not to play the same song for 3 days or you won something. They played a great variety of oldies - everything from the 50's to the late 70's. I would like to see them go back oldies also. Luckily, where I live, I can pick them up loud and clear.
 
Re: Let's Now Talk about WEST 105.3

They were all satellite back then. They tried the 70's format after that and then AC then 80's and AAA and ...and ...and...and...

> I may be mistaken, but back in the late 80's and through
> most of the 90's when West 105.3 was oldies, they pulled in
> around a 1.5 share or maybe even higher I don't remember.
> But that's awesome that they pulled in those kinds of
> numbers with such a week signal - the station hasn't seen
> numbers that high since. I don't remember if their programs
> were satellite fed or local, but the DJ's were incredible
> and did a great job keeping the music fresh. I remember for
> a while, they had a no repeat policy where they promised not
> to play the same song for 3 days or you won something. They
> played a great variety of oldies - everything from the 50's
> to the late 70's. I would like to see them go back oldies
> also. Luckily, where I live, I can pick them up loud and
> clear.
>
 
Re: Let's Now Talk about WEST 105.3

Sister Horne Radio station, WLOD "Cool 98.3" in Sweetwater already does oldies. They run Scott Shannon's "True Oldies Channel" most of the time. I wonder if they may consider simulcasting the format on "West 105-3" now also? The True Oldies Channel that long time NYC programmer Scott Shannon produces does a good job and plays many deeper oldies. In fact, they just picked up a Chicago affiliate as "94.7 the Zone" flipped from alternative to oldies with the network. I'm thinking Horne might fill the oldies hole by also putting it on 105.3 soon.
 
>
> I kinda have a feeling that the whole format change when
> Citadel took over The River was nothing more than publicity
> to try to get more ratings. Now this is just my opinion,
> nothing more. I wasn't at Citadel and don't know anyone
> there, I'm just talking from what I feel, but never before
> has a big communications group listened to the listeners
> before changing formats. They didn't this last time before
> Earl soaked up the River. I get a strange feeling that they
> made alot of that up back then just to get more people to
> tune in and listen out of curiosity. They fired everyone
> that night at midnight, then played recorded call in
> messages where people talked about how bad they hated Phil
> Williams, then a few weeks later, he was back with most of
> the old River staff. I think Frank Murphy, Sarah, and Benny
> Smith were the only ones that didn't return. Citadel
> probably wanted to get rid of them anyway. If Citadel would
> have really wanted to change the format on The River when
> they took it over, I think they would have gone ahead and
> done so. They wanted to keep it around a little longer and
> see if they could boost the numbers. When they found they
> couldn't, they got rid of it.
>
Yeah, they tried to keep "the River" around, at least in name, and run it as cheaply as possible by cutting the bottom line and hiring cheaper talent. From this point, it was doomed. For the AAA format to be successful, it requires dj's that are truly music fans and that are very knowledgeable about different artists and types of music. You can't simply throw on minimum wage college interns to read liner cards and expect it to work. Where AAA does work, it is because of heritage and involvement and dj's that truly "live" the format and lifestyle. Look at stations like WRLT "Lightning 100" in Nashville and the way they present the format. They don't have a huge signal, but they have a staff that is dedicated to these artists, and a reputation for being truly involved in the music and also in community and social events that the AAA audience is into. This is a very passionate format and the only way to make it work is to really go all the way and hire people who really live and breath it. Not just throw on some liner card readers who don't know the artists or stories behind them. Also, they should have stayed true musically to the format instead of trying to draw in more "pop" listeners with the modern AC/pop alternative stuff they did for awhile. I really don't know that this area is progressive enough to truly support a real AAA format, but one thing's for sure, Citadel wasn't willing to put the bucks and real effort into it to see. They simply ran it as a cheap, overly commercialized afterthought, and that is one thing that the AAA core audience will not accept.
They should have looked at heritage AAA's like WRLT, KBCO, KFOG, WBOS, etc. and put that kind of passion into it if they really believed in it.
 
I guess Citadel will give their Sundown In The City conerts to WIVK now that The River's gone and their other stations are talk or sports.
 
Re: Let's Now Talk about WEST 105.3

> Sister Horne Radio station, WLOD "Cool 98.3" in Sweetwater
> already does oldies. They run Scott Shannon's "True Oldies
> Channel" most of the time. I wonder if they may consider
> simulcasting the format on "West 105-3" now also? The True
> Oldies Channel that long time NYC programmer Scott Shannon
> produces does a good job and plays many deeper oldies. In
> fact, they just picked up a Chicago affiliate as "94.7 the
> Zone" flipped from alternative to oldies with the network.
> I'm thinking Horne might fill the oldies hole by also
> putting it on 105.3 soon.
>

I've heard Scott Shannon's True Oldies on 98.3 a few times. That signal is so weak, it's hard to pick it up. I agree, Scott Shannon does an incredible job presenting the format. He's got one of those classic dj "voices" also. I'd like to see West 105.3 start running his oldies station too. I'd like to see how it would do on one of the stronger FM signals.
 
It's all business.


> >
> > I kinda have a feeling that the whole format change when
> > Citadel took over The River was nothing more than
> publicity
> > to try to get more ratings. Now this is just my opinion,
> > nothing more. I wasn't at Citadel and don't know anyone
> > there, I'm just talking from what I feel, but never before
>
> > has a big communications group listened to the listeners
> > before changing formats. They didn't this last time
> before
> > Earl soaked up the River. I get a strange feeling that
> they
> > made alot of that up back then just to get more people to
> > tune in and listen out of curiosity. They fired everyone
> > that night at midnight, then played recorded call in
> > messages where people talked about how bad they hated Phil
>
> > Williams, then a few weeks later, he was back with most of
>
> > the old River staff. I think Frank Murphy, Sarah, and
> Benny
> > Smith were the only ones that didn't return. Citadel
> > probably wanted to get rid of them anyway. If Citadel
> would
> > have really wanted to change the format on The River when
> > they took it over, I think they would have gone ahead and
> > done so. They wanted to keep it around a little longer
> and
> > see if they could boost the numbers. When they found they
>
> > couldn't, they got rid of it.
> >
> Yeah, they tried to keep "the River" around, at least in
> name, and run it as cheaply as possible by cutting the
> bottom line and hiring cheaper talent. From this point, it
> was doomed. For the AAA format to be successful, it
> requires dj's that are truly music fans and that are very
> knowledgeable about different artists and types of music.
> You can't simply throw on minimum wage college interns to
> read liner cards and expect it to work. Where AAA does
> work, it is because of heritage and involvement and dj's
> that truly "live" the format and lifestyle. Look at
> stations like WRLT "Lightning 100" in Nashville and the way
> they present the format. They don't have a huge signal, but
> they have a staff that is dedicated to these artists, and a
> reputation for being truly involved in the music and also in
> community and social events that the AAA audience is into.
> This is a very passionate format and the only way to make
> it work is to really go all the way and hire people who
> really live and breath it. Not just throw on some liner
> card readers who don't know the artists or stories behind
> them. Also, they should have stayed true musically to the
> format instead of trying to draw in more "pop" listeners
> with the modern AC/pop alternative stuff they did for
> awhile. I really don't know that this area is progressive
> enough to truly support a real AAA format, but one thing's
> for sure, Citadel wasn't willing to put the bucks and real
> effort into it to see. They simply ran it as a cheap,
> overly commercialized afterthought, and that is one thing
> that the AAA core audience will not accept.
> They should have looked at heritage AAA's like WRLT, KBCO,
> KFOG, WBOS, etc. and put that kind of passion into it if
> they really believed in it.
>
 
Re: Let's Now Talk about WEST 105.3

The reason it's hard to pick up is most class A FM's are licensed for a 300ft tower. The sweetwater Fm has it antenna on top of it's AM tower which is only around 150 ft. Kinda zaps you range.


> I've heard Scott Shannon's True Oldies on 98.3 a few times.
> That signal is so weak, it's hard to pick it up. I agree,
> Scott Shannon does an incredible job presenting the format.
> He's got one of those classic dj "voices" also. I'd like to
> see West 105.3 start running his oldies station too. I'd
> like to see how it would do on one of the stronger FM
> signals.
>
 
> I guess Citadel will give their Sundown In The City conerts
> to WIVK now that The River's gone and their other stations
> are talk or sports.
>
I think Citadel will either do away with the Sundown In The City concert series or let another station in Knoxville, such as WIMZ or B-97.5, take it over. If WIVK retains the rights to Sundown In The City, it will go all mainstream country. I just can't imagine WIVK promoting a concert series feature such diverse acts as Drive-By Truckers, Robert Randolph & the Family Band, Buddy Guy, John Mayer, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Robert Earl Keen, etc., none of which fits into WIVK's format or playlist. At least with the River, you could expect to here those artists played occassionally on the radio. <P ID="edit"><FONT class="small">Edited by jwk1979 on 10/21/05 04:26 PM.</FONT></P>
 
> I think Citadel will either do away with the Sundown In The
> City concert series or let another station in Knoxville,
> such as WIMZ or B-97.5, take it over. If WIVK retains the
> rights to Sundown In The City, it will go all mainstream
> country. I just can't imagine WIVK promoting a concert
> series feature such diverse acts as Drive-By Truckers,
> Robert Randolph & the Family Band, Buddy Guy, John Mayer,
> Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Robert Earl Keen, etc., none of which
> fits into WIVK's format or playlist. At least with the
> River, you could expect to here those artists played
> occassionally on the radio.
>
If West 105.3 sticks with AAA they might be interested in keeping the Sundown series going. WDVX would be another good station to sponsor the event.

It might be interesting to see what Sundown would be like if Citadel gave it to WIMZ. If B-97 gets it, then everyone might as well bring a blanket and pillow and sleep through the whole thing. I remember WIMZ's Hot Summer Nights concert series and they brought alot of great classic rock acts to town and some great cover bands as well. They might be able to do the same with Sundown In The City. If that does happen and we get some classic rock acts, I'm sure the concerts won't be free. BUT, I just hope that anyone who might come don't try to pull a trick like The Stones did and charge $2000 bucks for a ticket. That might hurt attendance just a slight little bit.
 
Re: Let's Now Talk about WEST 105.3

98.3 dropped True Oldies Channel a few months ago. They are segueing a format I like to call "Playing what we have." You might hear Chuck Berry back to back with a Springsteen LP cut from the 90's. It's heavy 70's oldies but all over the road. Sort of early Jack without the attitude, the signal, the programminng knowledge, the IQ, the sales staff, the audio quality, the promotion, etc.

They still call it Kool 98.3 and are running the same sweepers they ran when they were oldies before Scott Shannon.... Sad, sad, sad.

> Sister Horne Radio station, WLOD "Cool 98.3" in Sweetwater
> already does oldies. They run Scott Shannon's "True Oldies
> Channel" most of the time. I wonder if they may consider
> simulcasting the format on "West 105-3" now also? The True
> Oldies Channel that long time NYC programmer Scott Shannon
> produces does a good job and plays many deeper oldies. In
> fact, they just picked up a Chicago affiliate as "94.7 the
> Zone" flipped from alternative to oldies with the network.
> I'm thinking Horne might fill the oldies hole by also
> putting it on 105.3 soon.
>
 
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