For those of you following on the Party FM posts, you may often see me or other posters refer to what I call "The Big Picture". Even though I did explain my theory over on my New York Dance Music Coalition page on FB, I think it may be best to explain it here so that we are all on the same page.
To that, I am going to post up a link to a radio network in Québec:
http://www.radionrj.com/
Radio NRJ is a 10 station FM network (CHR) serving the Province of Québec, Canada (Montréal, Sherbrooke, Québec City, Trois-Riviéres, Saugenay, etc.) and portions of Southern Ontario. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NRJ_%28Quebec%29. The flagship station of the network is CKMF out of Montréal. (which BTW, was a great dance station back in the 80's)
Last year, driving along Route 37 along Northern New York State, I was able to tune in to NRJ (They were known as énergie then but the same network). Near Ogdensburg, I was listening to CKTF (104.1) out of Ottawa. Even though the personalities spoke French, the music was mainly English and on the CHR brand. I was getting closer to Massena, then merging into US 11 where I was able to pick up CKMF (94.3) yet at the same time still hearing Ottawa. Even though the stations are part of the network, both stations were doing DIFFERENT THINGS! And it wasn't just the commercials either. 94.3 was playing something by Nickelback while 104.1 was doing a "remix" (it was the first time since FOREVER that I actually heard "Coco Jamboo" by Mr. President! lol) Point being, even though NRJ Radio is a network, they were able to branch off their programming and talent to the markets they were serving. And at times, the full network was together.
That is why I often bring up as "the big picture" for Party FM. Right now, both 87.7 and 105.3 are running the same programming. The only difference are the commercial breaks where 87.7 caters more to NYC while 105.3 caters to LI (I can pick up BOTH stations from where I live in the Bronx so I do notice the difference). People may hate hip-hop, but if that is what is going to bring the station money...I am all FOR that, in the sense that perhaps down the road, JVC Broadcasting can be THAT financially strong whereas they can "split" the Party FM network to each individual market while still serving the network "brand". In that sense, 87.7 CAN be more dance leaning, as was its predecessor...Pulse 87 and 105.3 can cover more into hip-hop for Eastern Suffolk (since parts out there have a hard time pulling in Hot 97/Power 105.1 and for that matter Hot 93.7 - WZMX - out of Hartford with their hip-hop format.) yet still keep the Party FM "brand" intact. And if all that goes well, then I'd LOVE to see Party FM tap somewhere into New England (Boston or Providence) as well as other cities down the road.
Mega Media DID attempt to do this with Pulse (trying to set up an L.A., Chicago, and D.C. station) but there was no money to do it. Never was.
To that, I am going to post up a link to a radio network in Québec:
http://www.radionrj.com/
Radio NRJ is a 10 station FM network (CHR) serving the Province of Québec, Canada (Montréal, Sherbrooke, Québec City, Trois-Riviéres, Saugenay, etc.) and portions of Southern Ontario. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NRJ_%28Quebec%29. The flagship station of the network is CKMF out of Montréal. (which BTW, was a great dance station back in the 80's)
Last year, driving along Route 37 along Northern New York State, I was able to tune in to NRJ (They were known as énergie then but the same network). Near Ogdensburg, I was listening to CKTF (104.1) out of Ottawa. Even though the personalities spoke French, the music was mainly English and on the CHR brand. I was getting closer to Massena, then merging into US 11 where I was able to pick up CKMF (94.3) yet at the same time still hearing Ottawa. Even though the stations are part of the network, both stations were doing DIFFERENT THINGS! And it wasn't just the commercials either. 94.3 was playing something by Nickelback while 104.1 was doing a "remix" (it was the first time since FOREVER that I actually heard "Coco Jamboo" by Mr. President! lol) Point being, even though NRJ Radio is a network, they were able to branch off their programming and talent to the markets they were serving. And at times, the full network was together.
That is why I often bring up as "the big picture" for Party FM. Right now, both 87.7 and 105.3 are running the same programming. The only difference are the commercial breaks where 87.7 caters more to NYC while 105.3 caters to LI (I can pick up BOTH stations from where I live in the Bronx so I do notice the difference). People may hate hip-hop, but if that is what is going to bring the station money...I am all FOR that, in the sense that perhaps down the road, JVC Broadcasting can be THAT financially strong whereas they can "split" the Party FM network to each individual market while still serving the network "brand". In that sense, 87.7 CAN be more dance leaning, as was its predecessor...Pulse 87 and 105.3 can cover more into hip-hop for Eastern Suffolk (since parts out there have a hard time pulling in Hot 97/Power 105.1 and for that matter Hot 93.7 - WZMX - out of Hartford with their hip-hop format.) yet still keep the Party FM "brand" intact. And if all that goes well, then I'd LOVE to see Party FM tap somewhere into New England (Boston or Providence) as well as other cities down the road.
Mega Media DID attempt to do this with Pulse (trying to set up an L.A., Chicago, and D.C. station) but there was no money to do it. Never was.