What you don't understand is that iHeart and Entercom will NOT be hiring these people back, with the exception of isolated cases where a job happens to open up. They are not trying to make their brands 'better' and more 'local' with these cutbacks. They are trying to operate at scale with passable programming in an effort to reduce their expenses. Most of the local DJs I know of have acquired digital skills throughout the years, as it has become part of their job function. (i.e. iHeart just RIFd their Digital PD/afternoon host for a station in Sacramento). These companies are eliminating what they perceive as redundancies with technological solutions, as each brand slowly loses their spiritual connection with their listeners. The iHeart and Entercom centralized programming will likely not have dramatic immediate impact on the impacted brands; however, as they move to more generic and less local programming, listener bonding with these stations will gradually erode and the 'local radio' stations will be much more vulnerable to Spotify or Apple or whomever to compete with them for a nationally delivered radio experience (beyond straight streaming). These radio groups are slowly giving away one of their main benefits. (With that said, I fully understand that these groups are over-leveraged, and losing advertising to digital options, while trying to operate during a pandemic. They are in a tough situation, but they are not improving the impact of their programming)
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Entercom Launches Alt 98.7
- Thread starter atthestars
- Start date
What you don't understand is that iHeart and Entercom will NOT be hiring these people back, with the exception of isolated cases where a job happens to open up. They are not trying to make their brands 'better' and more 'local' with these cutbacks. They are trying to operate at scale with passable programming in an effort to reduce their expenses. Most of the local DJs I know of have acquired digital skills throughout the years, as it has become part of their job function. (i.e. iHeart just RIFd their Digital PD/afternoon host for a station in Sacramento). These companies are eliminating what they perceive as redundancies with technological solutions, as each brand slowly loses their spiritual connection with their listeners. The iHeart and Entercom centralized programming will likely not have dramatic immediate impact on the impacted brands; however, as they move to more generic and less local programming, listener bonding with these stations will gradually erode and the 'local radio' stations will be much more vulnerable to Spotify or Apple or whomever to compete with them for a nationally delivered radio experience (beyond straight streaming). These radio groups are slowly giving away one of their main benefits. (With that said, I fully understand that these groups are over-leveraged, and losing advertising to digital options, while trying to operate during a pandemic. They are in a tough situation, but they are not improving the impact of their programming)
You're confusing "better" and "local." Not the same thing.
iHeart has two of the most listened-to stations in Detroit, and the new programming hasn't hurt Entercom's ratings. In both cases, local staffs are able to localize the music and even some of the banter so it relates to local tastes and situations.
Spotify and Apple are national music services. They're how people "buy" music today. Users create their own playlists based on the songs they like. That kind of thing can't be done with broadcast radio regardless of where the programming comes from. Plus these streaming services require membership, and handing over personal information. That's not required for radio. You just turn it on, and it's there.
BTW keep in mind that both iHeart and Entercom are in the streaming business, so if users want to stop listening to on-air, and stream instead, that's fine with them.
IMO, the centralized programming execution is not 'better', while abandoning 'local'. Each company has fine air personalties, but not strong enough to make up for the local connection now missing from many of these markets. As far as Detroit, it does not look to me like WNIC or WMXD have been gutted the way iHeart is gutting a lot of their other stations, so it makes sense that those brands remain strong. Even in stations that are gutted, I don't know that the audience will make a mass exodus. It will happen over time as they gradually lose connection with the brand...or the brand loses connection with them. As for Spotify and Apple, they are not content to simply be playlists. Apple has already launched a couple of 'radio' brands, and guessing there are more on the way once they get comfortable with these. Spotify is also rumored to be exploring ways to offer their customers an experience more closely resembling radio as we know it. (And, not a lot of people go to iHeart or Radio.com for the purpose of streaming music. People use iHeartRadio and Radio.com to stream radio stations and maybe listen to podcasts)
That's your opinion. You're welcome to it. No one forces you to listen to anything. Lots of choices in every city.
Great job, Entercom!!!
They are ruining iconic alternative station 107-7 The End in Seattle before our very eyes. That station has gone from a 3.9 to a 2.3 in roughly two months' time. Extending the timeframe out to six months, the AQH share has dropped by more than 50 percent!
Alt 103.7 in Dallas is tearing it up in the ratings, too...LOL! (sarcasm) Why does Mike Kaplan still have a job?
Oh, did I mention 98.7 The Breeze just scored a 4.3? Even if they underindexed in A25-54, I suspect it isn't by very much. Probably upper 3's at worst. Those are perfectly decent numbers for this market. Blowing up the Breeze is sheer lunacy. In the past two decades, blowing up a station with such healthy numbers has NEVER occurred here.
I would say this was the dumbest format change since AMFM dumped W4 Country for Alice around Labor Day 1999, but frankly, I think this move is worse than that one! W4 was getting long in the tooth and had seen a sustained period of ratings and revenue erosion. True, the smarter move likely would have been to attempt a re-tooling of W4. As I recall, the station was coming off a year where it billed about $4 million and averaged a 3.0 share in Persons 25-54.
Yes, Detroit Sports 105.1 was an utter flop, but I think that was much more of an execution issue as opposed to a format choice issue. The geniuses at Greater Media thought nationalized ESPN programming coupled with a local PM drive show with minimal sports content on a station called "DETROIT SPORTS" would do well here. Man were they wrong!
The corporate programming team at Entercom looks about as competent as the Detroit Lions organization at the moment.
They are ruining iconic alternative station 107-7 The End in Seattle before our very eyes. That station has gone from a 3.9 to a 2.3 in roughly two months' time. Extending the timeframe out to six months, the AQH share has dropped by more than 50 percent!
Alt 103.7 in Dallas is tearing it up in the ratings, too...LOL! (sarcasm) Why does Mike Kaplan still have a job?
Oh, did I mention 98.7 The Breeze just scored a 4.3? Even if they underindexed in A25-54, I suspect it isn't by very much. Probably upper 3's at worst. Those are perfectly decent numbers for this market. Blowing up the Breeze is sheer lunacy. In the past two decades, blowing up a station with such healthy numbers has NEVER occurred here.
I would say this was the dumbest format change since AMFM dumped W4 Country for Alice around Labor Day 1999, but frankly, I think this move is worse than that one! W4 was getting long in the tooth and had seen a sustained period of ratings and revenue erosion. True, the smarter move likely would have been to attempt a re-tooling of W4. As I recall, the station was coming off a year where it billed about $4 million and averaged a 3.0 share in Persons 25-54.
Yes, Detroit Sports 105.1 was an utter flop, but I think that was much more of an execution issue as opposed to a format choice issue. The geniuses at Greater Media thought nationalized ESPN programming coupled with a local PM drive show with minimal sports content on a station called "DETROIT SPORTS" would do well here. Man were they wrong!
The corporate programming team at Entercom looks about as competent as the Detroit Lions organization at the moment.
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Once again, the goal isn't ratings, but revenue, especially 6+ ratings. In my view, soft AC as a format has been the emperor with no clothes.
In a ratings context, I was referring to A25-54 numbers.
The Breeze was only around two years; Rome wasn't built overnight. Look at how long it took 103.5 Kiss FM in Chicago to catch up to B96 in billing despite Kiss 103.5 earning comparable to better ratings for several years beforehand. 98.7 was posting OK ratings numbers pre-COVID and over the past three survey periods appeared to be mounting a comeback of sorts.
I question how many salespeople in that building are capable of selling an Alternative format that will likely (a) disproportionately skew millennial with regard to cume and (b) won't have very savory numbers in any major demo category such as A18-34, A18-49, or A25-54. On rate, 98.7 will have to underprice the likes of WKQI, WRIF and WMGC by a staggering margin.
These are the same people who normally would sell WWJ, WOMC or 97-1 The Ticket. This type of format is way outside of their wheelhouse.
The Breeze was only around two years; Rome wasn't built overnight. Look at how long it took 103.5 Kiss FM in Chicago to catch up to B96 in billing despite Kiss 103.5 earning comparable to better ratings for several years beforehand. 98.7 was posting OK ratings numbers pre-COVID and over the past three survey periods appeared to be mounting a comeback of sorts.
I question how many salespeople in that building are capable of selling an Alternative format that will likely (a) disproportionately skew millennial with regard to cume and (b) won't have very savory numbers in any major demo category such as A18-34, A18-49, or A25-54. On rate, 98.7 will have to underprice the likes of WKQI, WRIF and WMGC by a staggering margin.
These are the same people who normally would sell WWJ, WOMC or 97-1 The Ticket. This type of format is way outside of their wheelhouse.
My understanding is they're selling alternative in ways other than traditional spots & dots. And there's apparently a lot of interest in that specifically in Detroit. The fact that Entercom has so many older skewing formats might have has something to do with why The Breeze was vulnerable.
But it's interesting that iHeart is getting far better demos with their alternative format. KYSR was Top 5 in 18-34 this month. WRFF was #2 in Philly, and KTBZ was #1 18-34 in Houston! Those are sellable numbers!
Good points. Of course, the Houston station has been around forever and has an enormously wide music landscape all to itself. Smartly, iHM programs an active - alt blend on that station.
I just noticed two more Entercom alternatives with horrendous books - San Diego (KBZT is at or near all-time record lows) and Miami (where The Flounder's numbers continue to slowly sink from already poor numbers).
At station after station, the audience seems to be shunning the recently installed programming changes. Changes in morning drive are probably hurting the ratings more than anything else.
I just noticed two more Entercom alternatives with horrendous books - San Diego (KBZT is at or near all-time record lows) and Miami (where The Flounder's numbers continue to slowly sink from already poor numbers).
At station after station, the audience seems to be shunning the recently installed programming changes. Changes in morning drive are probably hurting the ratings more than anything else.
Which is why they left morning shows alone at the country stations, and the country stations seem pretty stable.
I have to admit watching Mark and TheBigA go at it has been greatly entertaining. Not enough popcorn in the world. Keep it up!
I've noticed iHeart recently shifted WEND in Charlotte to an active/alt blend like KTBZ too - I wonder if iHeart is experimenting with reviving active sounds on the alternative format? Makes Entercom's decision to go more CHR/pop more interesting.
As for KNDD's woes out in Seattle - the audience expects a certain sound from that station and now the station sounds like New York. The longtime listeners have probably left the station - whether they are in the desired demo remains to be seen. I have to say that Detroit's history indicates that any alt station needs to lean rock and bring a uniquely Detroit/Canadian flavor (depending on who the primary audience is), but who knows, I don't have the exact data.
I also think that Entercom killed the Breeze to cut costs. Even if its ratings with the target demo were good, if they make more money with a mediocre-performing Alt with a nationalized staff, they're gonna do it. I'd be tempted to do it too.
I've noticed iHeart recently shifted WEND in Charlotte to an active/alt blend like KTBZ too - I wonder if iHeart is experimenting with reviving active sounds on the alternative format? Makes Entercom's decision to go more CHR/pop more interesting.
As for KNDD's woes out in Seattle - the audience expects a certain sound from that station and now the station sounds like New York. The longtime listeners have probably left the station - whether they are in the desired demo remains to be seen. I have to say that Detroit's history indicates that any alt station needs to lean rock and bring a uniquely Detroit/Canadian flavor (depending on who the primary audience is), but who knows, I don't have the exact data.
I also think that Entercom killed the Breeze to cut costs. Even if its ratings with the target demo were good, if they make more money with a mediocre-performing Alt with a nationalized staff, they're gonna do it. I'd be tempted to do it too.
Thanks! I will.
No clue why they put Lazlo on Alt 103.7 in Dallas. Seems like the listeners hate him based on feedback from their social media channels.
I'm gonna say that Kaplan's contribution to the format over the years has actually forced a lot of stations (in other corporate groups) to look at the music, and make it relatable to the current target audience. I think the format was in danger of aging itself out of existence.
I would argue that Entercom's direction is more reflective of the format's general state. Add to this, the current sound is also fairly female friendly, which may also be an easy selling point.
I agree, and from what I can see, iHeart re-evaluated their music, and has apparently won the alterative war, at least in most of the markets I can see.
So while Entercom was a pioneer in adapting to the genre, iHeart has done a better job of attracting a sellable audience.
K
Kevin
Guest
It’s interesting that the recent ratings show 98.7 “The Breeze” with a 4.3 and WNIC 100.3 with a 4.1, 98.7 should never had changed. Now perhaps we could see a change at WOMC after the holidays, could WOMC become “The Breeze” 104.3?
Both stations are owned by Entercom, so they know the sales data. As I've said, the ratings don't matter if there's limited ad money for the format.
It appears that Entercom has released most of the former air talent. So I don't expect them to revive the Breeze on another frequency.
I never could stand him on-air. He's always been a love him or hate him kind of air talent. You won’t find much middle ground.
Lazlo is, however, an excellent manager and has great relationships with artists. Kansas City has become a hot spot for the format and a must visit for every major act in the genre, and that’s due to Lazlo.
Only way that could happen would be if the bottom dropped completely out at WOMC. That’s usually Entercom's highest performing music station in the market. Odds of that happening might be a little better than either of us winning Powerball or Mega Millions, but it’s still not happening.
Problem is, Lazlo's no longer programming KRBZ. What it became was due to his leadership and team, and now as an "alt" with his hands off the music, that legacy and leverage isn't being put to work for the station. Which is unfortunate because he and the Buzz team created a great brand and incredible loyalty.
Lazlo used to be in Detroit on 97.1 and WYCD before he became a name in alt radio. I wonder if his show's coming to 98.7 soon?
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