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End of 2007 Best of Portland Radio poll

U

Underminer

Alright, gang, time to let it out--the good, the bad, the "Suzanne from CLZ" ugly. Let's dish:

1. What was the best-executed Portland radio station? The worst?

2. What PD got it done? What PD should be done?

3. What Portland morning show kept you entertained? What Portland morning show was 4 hours of talking and laughing at themselves?

4. Finally, what group was the best representative of what Portland radio should be?

Let 'er rip. I will decline for now, lest my place of employment become TOO obvious.

UM
 
1. The Wolf and #2 was way far behind. Their taking down of WPOR in the ratings that came out earlier this year was monsterous across the board. They stayed strong in the most recent ratings as well. Without question, that was the best execution.

2. Tim Moore. Let's face it, no one does a better job, or a more consistent job, book in and book out than Tim Moore with WJBQ and WHOM and it would seem he does it with very little resources to work with. He also has to do it in the same building where he is "second fiddle" to the guy who does it the worst. Here's an idea: instead of spending one penny marketing a really crappy product in WBLM, how about marketing the best morning show in Portland??? Why can't Citadel figure this out.

3. Q97.9 with, yes, Free Beer and Hot Wings second. As to the back end of this question, can't we all just guess what it clearly is.

4. I don't think it's a qustion of who's best but rather why WBLM and WCYY are the worst and they are. No if's, and's or but's about it.
 
I wish I could spend more time in the market than I do these days, but I'm tuned in when I'm there. I'll bite on the poll, and can't wit to see your take on these UM.

1. Gotta agree with adbuyer, The Wolf is one solid radio station. The keys are the morning show and the imaging. A really nice job of the "underdog" rising to the top.

2. Tim Moore definitely gets it done, with less than nothing to work with. He's always been a bright guy, and it's good to see him getting it done with such consistency. Worst PD? Well there's a lot of not so on the ball people sitting in the chairs.

3. Mornings I've got a tie: Q and The Wolf, in no particular order. The rest are just that, the rest. (Oh, and adbuyer? I think that if Citadel can get any kind of reasonable offer they'll be out of Portland faster than the Colts left Baltimore/Browns left Cleveland).

4. Best representative as a group? Not sure this is a valid comparison, especially since there's so much disparity in each building. The best package of brands would be the Nassau crew, but that's a product only comparison. Saga's sales team represents with the most class. Overall I don't see any clear winner.

Provocative questions, UM. Thanks for making the brain dead think a little to start the New Year! :)
 
I didn't know Suzanne personally, but man oh man, she was horrible. She was a waitress at a local watering hole who did weekend mornings at CLZ a few years back. Easily the worst part-timer on ANY Portland radio station. And that's saying something. Holy Cow, she was awful.
 
I DEFINITELY AGREE with the earlier comments regarding Tim Moore. ;)

The Greater Portland Radio Market is difficult to grasp...because few PD's, GM's, and owners want to try anything different when it comes to a format.

There will always been loyal and casual listeners to practically anything that goes over the air. But when there are other options---like satellite radio stations, computer or commercial cd's and (forgive me) LPS---I find it difficult to stick with any radio station in the area...or in New England! :-[

argytunes
 
radiothis! said:
I like things that are ugly, thus I inquire, "Suzanne from CLZ"? I love a good story.
Click to expand...
I used to work @ WRED back in the fall of 2000. Suzanna if it the same one that was there was horrible!
They used to have her do remotes from places around york county! The messed up part was I was the Full time jock but the sales manager hated me. So I never was assigned remotes, spots or anything! They gave them to Suzanne, who sounded worse than a First Year Broadcasting Student!!! The York County Bridal show was the worse...She insisted to do live drops, that lasted one break! Its was so bad JJ Jefferys called and said tell her to prerecord her breaks! She pissed a fit. A week later we were live on friday night at some sportsbar in saco where the Late DJ Johnny D was spinning! We if anyone knew Johnny he always had a angle on how to get on the air. He would wait till she started talking and he would talk over the house system. It was funny the two morons ended cancelling each other out! Sounded like shit....Just like I guess she still does!!
 
1. Best executed? You can call me wrong and I won't argue, but I'd give it to WGAN. To keep a 5kw AM all the way up at the top in this day and age is quite a feat, especially in an FM market like Portland.

2. Not to sound like an echo, but Tim Moore gets it done like no one else. Don't know him, but those who work for him would die for him. That could be his secret. Sometimes nice guys win.

3. Mornings? I don't get up before noon too often. But I'll say that Meredith et al on WJBQ sound major market.

4. Best group vote would have to go to Cary Pahigian and his Saga stations.
 
Ray ting

While I love a great am radio station, I don't think WGAN merits "station of the year" based on UM's intentions on this post only because it's on AM and simply generates good 55+ numbers. Let's recognize that less than 25% of the total programming day is locally generated (mornings and news reports), I think WMGX, within it's own building, did a better job in 2007.

The only real issue I have with Saga is the blatant "smoke and mirrors" job it did with WYNZ. As some one, who posts here very regularly pointed out, the change to Big Hits took place because of all the whining coming from the sales department that they couldn't sell "oldies". So as someone, who posts here very regularly pointed out, they changed the name but still play the same 43 year old songs. The problem is, it's not working. Listen to the station. You can still drive a truck through the amount of available inventory. Not just in January, but in October, November and December as well. That's the beauty of radio; you can't hide how well or not well you are doing. Apparently the only people who think WYNZ is something other than oldies is Saga.

I find that weak, very weak.
 
adbuyer1,

Spot on, unimpeachable points that you made.

However (and here comes the "but"), just because a chunk of WGAN's listeners are over 55 does not diminish their status as a hot overall 12+ entity. WGAN's desirability to timebuyers is more a quantitative thing than it is a qualititive thing.

And given that, in 2008, the 55+ population are now statistically proven to be as brand-switchable as any demo bracket, I'd argue that those who target only 25-54's are living in 1985. Not that you are one of them, but you might agree that many time buyers have not "gotten current" with the realities of the new marketplace? Maybe?

And at the risk of sounding like a real smart-butt, is Frank's programming (and I admire what they're doing) any more locally-generated than that of WGAN? Was "Sympathy For The Devil" or "Born To Run" recorded live in their studios? My argument would be that WGAN has to venture outside of their studios more times in any given 24 hour period to generate their content than does any other Portland station.

Okay, I don't want to come off as a jerk here, especially since your entries are consistently among the very most intelligent and perceptive. Forgive me for pushing it a bit to make my point?

Now slap me if you must! (smile)

Cheers and much respect,
Ray
 
I disagree with the assessment of WGAN. It's the only radio station in Portland (beyond MPBN) that has a full time general assignment reporter. Also, live hourly newscasts are no small feat. Afterall, most MGX (or ahem, Coast 93.1 content) is tracked well in advance.

Yes, they have a lot of satellite talk, but they are also live on mornings 7 days a week. Still wish they had more live programming, yes...I don't understand what's so hard/expensive about having a local gardening show...but honestly, looking at their weekday schedule--where would you insert more local talk? This is a station that, for a small market, is truly good at what they do.

I do agree that Big Hits is weak, but you gotta admire them for er...sticking to their guns?
 
Ray and Radio This

I want to make sure I'm not creating confusion here. The assessment I made of WGAN is only in relation to whether this station would be a "station of the year". WGAN is a very solid News Talk station for any market. They do all of the fundamentals very well. They met the expectations one would have of them and ultimately that was my point. I think when we look to choose a "station of the year" we're choosing one that exceeded the expectations of you, me and the market. It is why I feel, that in their own building, WMGX did a better job with a format that has tough competition on either ends of them; WHOM in the upper female end and WJBQ in the youger female end.
 
I think it's crazy to compare a news/information format and one that's music/personality! At least WGAN and WMGX have "targeted" their LISTENERS and (I assume) desired demographic?

While the stations that comprise the Greater Portland Radio Market take very few risks, there's usually some degree of consistancy in most of the formats that are offered.

argytunes
 
Gary:
Come on! Go back to the orginal post. It asked, what was the "best executed" Portland radio station. It did so, cleary implied, inclusive of ALL formats. That is why it is completely legitamate to make a comparison of WGAN vs WMGX or WTHT, WJBQ, WJJB or whatever. It did not say "by format".

It's like you just jumped in, reading the last two posts, and commented completely out of context. Details, man. Pay attention to the details!
 
adbuyer1:

Did one of the original questions involve a music or news format? NO! But it seemed stupid (to me anyway) to attempt to compare a music oriented radio station with one that has a news/information/talk format!

So this is the reason I responded the way I did!

I can pick apart the bad Greater Portland Radio stations if you want me to, but the moment I start---somebody working for one of them will go on the defensive! :eek:

argytunes
 
Thanks, adbuyer1, for your last post.

Agreed. When all is said and done, WMGX, WHOM, and WJBQ went above and beyond the call of duty for getting it done in 2007.
 
OldSparky said:
Bet you didn't know that Suzanne wrote a book in 2003. The quality was on par with her radio work. ;)
Click to expand...
What Book was that...."How to sound like Crap on the radio?" or "Radio for People with no Talent"?....lol I crack myself up sometimes!
 
argytunes said:
adbuyer1:

Did one of the original questions involve a music or news format? NO! But it seemed stupid (to me anyway) to attempt to compare a music oriented radio station with one that has a news/information/talk format!

So this is the reason I responded the way I did!

I can pick apart the bad Greater Portland Radio stations if you want me to, but the moment I start---somebody working for one of them will go on the defensive! :eek:

argytunes
Click to expand...


TOP 5 Bad Greater Portland Radio Stations....Here we go!
5. WMPG ..Im sorry its a college station w/ 2 sticks and trying to hard to be a Commercial Station!
4. WPOR...The morning show should be Jon and the people riding his coat tail. cuz he their only talent.
3. WTHT...Simply put Bring back the "Thunder 107.5 Logo and format!!!
2. WRED...Other than the Lisa G and JJ the station has potential to kick butt.just got to find a good PD First!
1. WJBQ...Tim Moore maybe a good, but the only good talent on there Is Rob "Steel" Synder the rest suck!



Now that is my overall views on the top 5 Greater Portland Stations.....As Fred Nutter would say" Thats our opinion, We welcome yours"!
 
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