Entercom Launches Alt 98.7

[MassMusicMan]

The format isn't a strictly rock format. Triple J here in Australia has been playing hip hop for years. I don't get the reason as to why people think "Alternative means Rock"

Limp Bizkit did a number on everyone's consciousness still felt 20 years later. Everyone forgot that New Order, Fiona Apple, and Fatboy Slim were a thing.

 

[MassMusicMan]

None of them really go with the new format. Chadd and Kristi will end up on some other AC (or even Classic Hits) somewhere else. Kim Adams and Sandy Kovach are probably out of work, unless they get recycled at WOMC. Afternoons were VT'd by Race Taylor in New York, so no loss there.

Unless they launch a compelling morning show, I expect the majority of the dayparts to be VT'd.

Good luck taking a run at Dave & Chuck. That they're only on four stations is astonishing to me.

 

[macattack]

I have to think that this Alt station has to have a different flavor from the Mike Kaplan national format in order to have any chance in Detroit, especially since the most successful attempts at Alternatives from what I've been reading and researching have been Active-flavored. (CIMX was on the Billboard Mainstream Rock panel, actually, not on the Alternative one). They go really pop like the Kaplan-programmed national format it's going to fail.

That being said, it's using the generic ALT branding like the Kaplan-programmed stations so I don't have high hopes for it to be anything unique or different. I feel like they did this sudden flip simply to cut costs.

 

[leethalweapon]

Here's my line up tip...

6-10 - Cane & Cory (NY)

10-3 - Nicole Alvarez (LA)

3-7 - Booker (NY) or Church Of Lazlo (KC)

7-12 - Kevan Kenny

12-6 - Bryce

This is based on what Entercom is doing with the format in other markets.

 

[TheBigA]

This is based on what Entercom is doing with the format in other markets.

Moving another morning show from a market to Detroit is possible too.

The country format is originating its night show in Detroit, so they may use this as another originating station.

 

[ksradiogeek]

The format isn't a strictly rock format. Triple J here in Australia has been playing hip hop for years. I don't get the reason as to why people think "Alternative means Rock"

I still remember hearing Daft Punk and OutKast on alternative radio roughly 20 years ago. They both fit the vibe of the format and alt’s target audience tended to support them. Now Juice WRLD and 24KGldn are on alt thanks to Spotify’s influence.

 

[Theater of My Mind]

Bell closed its Detroit sales office in 2017 and was almost surely doing little-to-no music research in the Detroit market for the past three years, with the head office having decided to focus on the Canadian side. Those stations have always been burdened with Canadian content music mandates that could at times be influential and interesting, but many of those Canadian songs suffered from overplay and burnout, and probably wouldn't score very high in music tests given to U.S. listeners.

Entercom's Alt format is going to sound a lot more mainstream with familiar songs tested and targeted to American listeners. It will do better in the Detroit market than either 89X or CIDR had done in years.

Over on the Canadian side, it made no sense for Bell to keep offering a couple of narrowly targeted formats, active rock and AAA, to the small Windsor market once they decided to target their advertising sales on the Canadian audience. The combination of Country and CHR should have more mainstream appeal and may get better ratings for Bell Media in the Windsor market. Just as noteworthy, the new formats are brands that Bell is operating in multiple markets across Canada making it easy for them to cheaply pipe in standardized playlists and national talent from out of town.

 

[TheBigA]

The combination of Country and CHR should have more mainstream appeal and may get better ratings for Bell Media in the Windsor market.

Your post reminds me that the Canadian country music scene is very strong, and there are a large number of artists who get airplay and attention in Canada, most of whom are completely unknown in the US. So even with competing country stations within range, due to Can-con rules, listeners to Pure will hear some artists they won't hear on WYCD or WDRQ.. This may also help broaden fan base for some Canadian country artists in the US.

 

[chrocket87]

And if Pure Country gets anything resembling a loyal audience that 89X had in its glory days, they will introduce a fair number of Canadian artists to an American audience. Back in the 90s/early 00s, they 89X played a huge role in breaking Canadian bands to Detroit. Our Lady Peace, while never a super-popular band nationally, was a core artist of 89X and they would often play back to back sold out shows whenever they played Detroit. They were also pretty instrumental in breaking bands like Sum41, Three Days Grace, and (yup, sorry for this) Nickelback to the U.S.A.

Here is an article that was written about this on the day when 89X announced their demise:

https://exclaim.ca/music/article/th...ak26AAboyRnErJaeys2J2txNcX9CyQahG5MrYoI2SECrA

 

[Kevin]

And if Pure Country gets anything resembling a loyal audience that 89X had in its glory days, they will introduce a fair number of Canadian artists to an American audience. Back in the 90s/early 00s, they 89X played a huge role in breaking Canadian bands to Detroit. Our Lady Peace, while never a super-popular band nationally, was a core artist of 89X and they would often play back to back sold out shows whenever they played Detroit. They were also pretty instrumental in breaking bands like Sum41, Three Days Grace, and (yup, sorry for this) Nickelback to the U.S.A.

Here is an article that was written about this on the day when 89X announced their demise:

https://exclaim.ca/music/article/th...ak26AAboyRnErJaeys2J2txNcX9CyQahG5MrYoI2SECrA

Thanks for the great read. Very enjoyable.

 

[Ryan Williams]

This move is all about cutting costs and increasing distribution of David Field's pet format. Detroit hasn't had an audience willing to support a pure play alt since the 90s. To succeed, any such station has needed a good morning show and has needed to skew edgy (with a decent dose of aggro rock), not snowflaky.

I wonder if there was any consideration to putting WWJ on 98.7. A simulcast would cut more costs than the new Alt and WWJ would get a big boost from being on FM. Also, Entercom has been adding FM channels for their News (and Talk) stations recently with the translator in Pittsburgh for KDKA and the KYW (coming this Monday).

 

[Kevin]

Your post reminds me that the Canadian country music scene is very strong, and there are a large number of artists who get airplay and attention in Canada, most of whom are completely unknown in the US. So even with competing country stations within range, due to Can-con rules, listeners to Pure will hear some artists they won't hear on WYCD or WDRQ.. This may also help broaden fan base for some Canadian country artists in the US.

I’ve noticed that for a couple of years with Windsor’s Country 95.9. Now what will be the fate of 95.9 will they stay or will they go, will we see 95.9 changing to a different format.

 

[ckg279]

I'm usually on the Buffalo/Niagara Falls/Rochester board. But seeing this news, I had to jump in and give an outsider's perspective.

As far as ALT 98.7 goes...odds are it's going to be just like ALT 107.7 in Buffalo when all is said and done: a syndicated morning show and precious little in terms of airstaff outside that. 107.7 has been a non-factor in the Buffalo market for decades; having its transmitter way out of the metro in Wethersfield, NY doesn't help matters....nor does flipping its format every few years. Also, I'd bet that ALT won't make money for the same reason ALT 107.7 isn't; they don't have club shows to promote.

 

[ckg279]

I wonder if there was any consideration to putting WWJ on 98.7. A simulcast would cut more costs than the new Alt and WWJ would get a big boost from being on FM. Also, Entercom has been adding FM channels for their News (and Talk) stations recently with the translator in Pittsburgh for KDKA and the KYW (coming this Monday).

Entercom tried that in Buffalo, simulcasting WBEN on 107.7.

It was a DISASTER.

 

[davideduardo]

Entercom tried that in Buffalo, simulcasting WBEN on 107.7.

It was a DISASTER.

The simulcast partner was on a very inferior signal that does not cover much of the population of the market. Not a good comparison.

 

[Kent]

I wonder if there was any consideration to putting WWJ on 98.7. A simulcast would cut more costs than the new Alt and WWJ would get a big boost from being on FM. Also, Entercom has been adding FM channels for their News (and Talk) stations recently with the translator in Pittsburgh for KDKA and the KYW (coming this Monday).

I doubt it. As hastily as the change was pulled off, Entercom seemed committed to the Breeze until it saw a chance to do one of its preferred formats. Although it says it's soliciting for multiple positions at the new station, I suspect Alt 98.7 will be regionalized, just like the rest of Entercom's alternative stations. So, it will probably be run pretty cheaply.

 

[leethalweapon]

Seriously, is the Breeze format a money maker, for anyone doing it? Was it making money for Entercom?

 

[MarkW]

Although it says it's soliciting for multiple positions at the new station, I suspect Alt 98.7 will be regionalized, just like the rest of Entercom's alternative stations. So, it will probably be run pretty cheaply.

Bingo.

I suspect the "we're looking to hire multiple on-air personalities" line from Ms. Kenyon is yet another lie from a radio exec. I feel really bad for Kim Adams as well as the morning team at 98.7 The Breeze.

I am not at all surprised Bell Media killed off 89X, but the fact they scrapped 93.9 The River definitely surprises me! The River was a fairly popular station in Essex County and from time to time has been the top rated commercial FM station of local origin in Essex County. Lately, 93.9 The River has been hovering around a 5 share in the Windsor/Essex market, Mix 96.7 around a 4 or 4.5, Country 95.9 around a 3.5 or 4, ditto 100.7/95.1 Cool FM, and 89X in the most recent book was an abysmal 2.3.

I have trouble believing Essex County can support two Country stations, and I'm fearful 95.9 is the one that will have to bite the bullet. That's a shame, because over the past 12+ months, 95.9 has significantly improved the quality of its programming.

 

[TheBigA]

I suspect the "we're looking to hire multiple on-air personalities" line from Ms. Kenyon is yet another lie from a radio exec.

I'm not convinced it's a lie. As I said, Detroit is an originating city for Entercom's country format, so I really expect them to do the same with alternative.

 

[leethalweapon]

I'm not convinced it's a lie. As I said, Detroit is an originating city for Entercom's country format, so I really expect them to do the same with alternative.

I imagine there will probably be some local weekend shifts, but weekdays will be national syndicated talent.