FLY 92-1 vs Z96 in Ft Walton Beach

[jamesburlander]

Now that Fly has had a few months to settle into the market, who seems tobe winning the CHR battle there? Who has the better jocks? Imaging?
Any predictions on what the numbers will look like this book???

JB

 

[LouPickney]

> Now that Fly has had a few months to settle into the market,
> who seems tobe winning the CHR battle there? Who has the
> better jocks? Imaging?
> Any predictions on what the numbers will look like this
> book???

I know very little about Z96, but the stuff I've heard from Fly 92-1 has sounded great. While taking on a legacy station can take time, based on how good Fly sounded (from what I've heard), I wouldn't be surprised if it took a big bite out of Z96's audience.<P ID="signature">______________
Lou Pickney
Tampa, FL
RadioHotTalk.com & VarietyHits.com</P>

 

[Prattoholic]

> Now that Fly has had a few months to settle into the market,
> who seems tobe winning the CHR battle there? Who has the
> better jocks? Imaging?
> Any predictions on what the numbers will look like this
> book???
>
> JB
>

How much detail do u want?

Imaging:
I'll start by saying Fly caputres the 'Party Station' image better. Fly's imaging is fast but sometimes can be over produced, (sounds like someone is having too much fun with the Groove-Tools service over at Fly.) While Z's music promo's portray more a a variety, fusing 50cent with Clay Akien. Z is also adding a lot of adult oriented records while Fly is adding the more youthful hip-hop records.

Jocks:
I'm only familar with afternoons and nights.
Afternoons: i'd hand to Z just because as much as I respect Holmes, he's too long and his callers drag on. Gilligan is very smooth, can be boring at times, but is consistanly short and to the point.
Nights: easy....Fly's Dylan hands down,because he tries harder than JP over at Z96, JP just seems like he doesn't want to be there, while you can feel that passion from Dylan. While Fly's music SMOKES z's at night, example last night Fly was playing Ciara 'Oh' and Z96 was playing Howie Day 'Collide' to me that clearly states who should own "The Party Station" slogan

On a Side Note:
Who knows how long it will be before Z's Friday Night 80's will last, to me that Hot AC staple on a CHR. Going up against a produced mix show on Fly. And from what history has shown recently from similar CHR battles in other markets: Z96 just might get its ass handed right back to them.

Good Luck to both stations, should be interesting when the books come out.

 

[BHolmes]

> > Now that Fly has had a few months to settle into the
> market,
> > who seems tobe winning the CHR battle there? Who has the
> > better jocks? Imaging?
> > Any predictions on what the numbers will look like this
> > book???
> >
> > JB
> >
>
> How much detail do u want?
>
> Imaging:
> I'll start by saying Fly caputres the 'Party Station' image
> better. Fly's imaging is fast but sometimes can be over
> produced, (sounds like someone is having too much fun with
> the Groove-Tools service over at Fly.) While Z's music
> promo's portray more a a variety, fusing 50cent with Clay
> Akien. Z is also adding a lot of adult oriented records
> while Fly is adding the more youthful hip-hop records.
>
> Jocks:
> I'm only familar with afternoons and nights.
> Afternoons: i'd hand to Z just because as much as I respect
> Holmes, he's too long and his callers drag on. Gilligan is
> very smooth, can be boring at times, but is consistanly
> short and to the point.
> Nights: easy....Fly's Dylan hands down,because he tries
> harder than JP over at Z96, JP just seems like he doesn't
> want to be there, while you can feel that passion from
> Dylan. While Fly's music SMOKES z's at night, example last
> night Fly was playing Ciara 'Oh' and Z96 was playing Howie
> Day 'Collide' to me that clearly states who should own "The
> Party Station" slogan
>
> On a Side Note:
> Who knows how long it will be before Z's Friday Night 80's
> will last, to me that Hot AC staple on a CHR. Going up
> against a produced mix show on Fly. And from what history
> has shown recently from similar CHR battles in other
> markets: Z96 just might get its ass handed right back to
> them.
>
> Good Luck to both stations, should be interesting when the
> books come out.
>

Hey Prattaholic!
I have to say your observations are pretty fair. It was nice to read your views of the two stations. Do you live here in the area? You have a background in radio or just a fan?

A few comments:
Very good ears on the GrooveTools. Our man behind the imaging DOES indeed have fun with it. I ASSUME it's fun he's having, he just shuts the door and giggles a lot, not letting us in until he's done. In all seriousness, I'm glad our imaging is done locally in house by someone who is eager to learn something new everyday. If this is what he can do in the first 90 days we've been on, I can't wait to see what he can do by the end of the year.

Regarding Z's "50 Cent to Clay Aiken" portraying variety... all I can say is that I would never have stiff songs/artists in my music promos.

Musically, Fly is the same station consistantly all day long. Whereas Z96 is an unfocused mainstream CHR by day, a rhythmic with no energy by night and then the 80's thing on Friday nights. They fault by trying to be all things to all people.

Jock wise: The length of my calls could maybe be shortened, in fact, it's something I should watch closer. However, they are generally entertaining or have some payoff to them plus they ALWAYS roll into another song, never into a stopset. Gilligan at Z HAS to be brief because he also has a huge spotload to clear every hour. In the end, I don't mind being a little long if it means being fun, upbeat, interactive and entertaining. It's better than being brief and boring. Who will people remember at the end of the day?
Dylan vs. JP... I don't even have to say it, you did. Dylan has passion, JP is like listening to water drip.
And morning wise, since you didn't mention it.... you have a choice: a LOT of talk on Z or music on Fly. Honestly, when Z DOES play music in the morning, they are really oddball stiffs or recurrents (ex: Kylie Minougue "Can't Get You Out of My Head" in AM drive????? That shouldnt be played AT ALL now.) or unfamiliar songs like Natasha Bedingfield's new one that they've been playing for weeks.
As far as The Party Station slogan goes, this area knows who the party station really is. Everyone is aware they followed us on that one.

And lastly, the Friday Night 80's thing IS ridiculous yes. Everyone shakes their head on that one. A seven hour complete format change on FRIDAY NIGHT when you are trying to be a rhythmic Mon-Thursday is ridiculous.

The only thing you made a mistake on is that FLY doesnt run a pre-produced mix show against the 80's show on Z. It's just a regular shift of us doing what we do best since during that time period we are the sole CHR in the market.

Our mix shows are: Mon-Fri 12 Noon Workout mixed by Melle Mel, Friday 5pm Bump In Yo Trunk mixed usually by Melle Mel, Sat 12 Noon Workout mixed by Doc Roc, Sat 7pm-2a CLUB FLY mixed by Melle Mel.

Again Pratt, thanks for the words. I can tell that you enjoy both stations, hopefully we can make FLY your favorite!<P ID="signature">______________
-brian holmes
APD/afternoons - Fly 92-1 Ft Walton Beach
Owner/Webmaster - www.ThePowerPig.com
An Online Tribute to WFLZ/Tampa
(now with 225+ free historical audio cuts)</P>

 

[Positive]

>While taking on a legacy station can take time, based on how good Fly sounded (from what I've heard), I wouldn't be surprised if it took a big bite out of Z96's audience.

Agreed. Z96 was able to capture the mainstream CHR, rhythmic CHR, and Hot AC positions in the market, leading to big shares, until Fly 92 came along. Wouldn't be suprising to see Fly capture at least 40% of the Z96 audience within its first book or two.

Good to see Holmes taking constructive feedback so well, and he is doing a very solid job on the station. Not bad for a guy who got "hired" at WFLZ more often than Rich Stevens, and Holmes KNOWS that is meant as a compliment!

 

[mountaineer]

Getting "hired" has never been a problem--if talent wins the day, BH has a leg up on most. Sometimes it ain't that easy; sometimes stations under seige make the right adjustments to blunt the attack and crack out the promotional checkbook to regain their ground. The question for Z is--how much is it worth to protect the value of the license? $100K? $300K? How much is Z worth right now? $5 million? Will they spend a half-million to avoid losing $3 million? Has Fort Walton ever seen a $500K promotional blitz? Does Fly have the resources to respond? Or would they turn to programming and say "Out-think 'em!" It'll be interesting to watch the next 2 or 3 books in FWB.

> >While taking on a legacy station can take time, based on
> how good Fly sounded (from what I've heard), I wouldn't be
> surprised if it took a big bite out of Z96's audience.
>
> Agreed. Z96 was able to capture the mainstream CHR,
> rhythmic CHR, and Hot AC positions in the market, leading to
> big shares, until Fly 92 came along. Wouldn't be suprising
> to see Fly capture at least 40% of the Z96 audience within
> its first book or two.
>
> Good to see Holmes taking constructive feedback so well, and
> he is doing a very solid job on the station. Not bad for a
> guy who got "hired" at WFLZ more often than Rich Stevens,
> and Holmes KNOWS that is meant as a compliment!
>

 

[Prattoholic]

> Getting "hired" has never been a problem--if talent wins the
> day, BH has a leg up on most. Sometimes it ain't that easy;
> sometimes stations under seige make the right adjustments to
> blunt the attack and crack out the promotional checkbook to
> regain their ground. The question for Z is--how much is it
> worth to protect the value of the license? $100K? $300K? How
> much is Z worth right now? $5 million? Will they spend a
> half-million to avoid losing $3 million? Has Fort Walton
> ever seen a $500K promotional blitz? Does Fly have the
> resources to respond? Or would they turn to programming and
> say "Out-think 'em!" It'll be interesting to watch the next
> 2 or 3 books in FWB.


Brain to answer your question from earlier, im just a big CHR fan. And I actually enjoy listening to your afternoon show because your different and you actually interact with the callers. Just didn't want you to think i was dumping on you for no reason

When it comes to promotional efforts on both stations, the bottom line is Fly is pumping money into the station. While Z96 is taking money out of thier station. What i mean is:

Since Z96 had another number one book in the fall, instead rewarding thier employees they cut back. By consolidating jobs, and promotional efforts, example:
The spring promotion = 'Cumulus Corporate Super Star Fly Away Number 5025, That Nobody In North Flordia Has A Snowball's Chance In Hell At Winning'

Pretty much seeing how much money they can skim off of Z96, and hoping that they great numbers will still continue. Bad news when you have a new flamethrowing CHR Rhythmic in the next book. Unless Z starts taking it to the streets hard before Fly does. It could spell disaster for the Z crew.

Just givin it to ya straight

 

[BHolmes]

> > Getting "hired" has never been a problem--if talent wins
> the
> > day, BH has a leg up on most. Sometimes it ain't that
> easy;
> > sometimes stations under seige make the right adjustments
> to
> > blunt the attack and crack out the promotional checkbook
> to
> > regain their ground. The question for Z is--how much is it
>
> > worth to protect the value of the license? $100K? $300K?
> How
> > much is Z worth right now? $5 million? Will they spend a
> > half-million to avoid losing $3 million? Has Fort Walton
> > ever seen a $500K promotional blitz? Does Fly have the
> > resources to respond? Or would they turn to programming
> and
> > say "Out-think 'em!" It'll be interesting to watch the
> next
> > 2 or 3 books in FWB.
>
>
> Brain to answer your question from earlier, im just a big
> CHR fan. And I actually enjoy listening to your afternoon
> show because your different and you actually interact with
> the callers. Just didn't want you to think i was dumping on
> you for no reason
>
> When it comes to promotional efforts on both stations, the
> bottom line is Fly is pumping money into the station. While
> Z96 is taking money out of thier station. What i mean is:
>
> Since Z96 had another number one book in the fall, instead
> rewarding thier employees they cut back. By consolidating
> jobs, and promotional efforts, example:
> The spring promotion = 'Cumulus Corporate Super Star Fly
> Away Number 5025, That Nobody In North Flordia Has A
> Snowball's Chance In Hell At Winning'
>
> Pretty much seeing how much money they can skim off of Z96,
> and hoping that they great numbers will still continue. Bad
> news when you have a new flamethrowing CHR Rhythmic in the
> next book. Unless Z starts taking it to the streets hard
> before Fly does. It could spell disaster for the Z crew.
>
> Just givin it to ya straight
>

Hey Pratt-
Right on the money. Ain't it fun that even AFTER Fly 92-1 hit the air that Z CONTINUED to call their MAJOR PROMOTION a F L Y away. I love it. I think we'll start giving away $96 in Z cash soon, lol.
And yes of course we are doing Flyaways now.

Two other things I wanna point out:
Z not only has FLY eating at their younger end but Mix 103.1 eating at their upper end. Mix is well focused and sounds good.

And also, the difference between us and them is that we all enjoy coming to work everyday. We are very much a family at Fly/Mix/Wave with managers that go out of their way to make sure everyone is happy. I'd bet big money they can't say the same across the street.<P ID="signature">______________
-brian holmes
APD/afternoons - Fly 92-1 Ft Walton Beach
Owner/Webmaster - www.ThePowerPig.com
An Online Tribute to WFLZ/Tampa
(now with 225+ free historical audio cuts)</P>

 

[tibbs]

> >While taking on a legacy station can take time, based on
> how good Fly sounded (from what I've heard), I wouldn't be
> surprised if it took a big bite out of Z96's audience.
>
> Agreed. Z96 was able to capture the mainstream CHR,
> rhythmic CHR, and Hot AC positions in the market, leading to
> big shares, until Fly 92 came along. Wouldn't be suprising
> to see Fly capture at least 40% of the Z96 audience within
> its first book or two.
>
> Good to see Holmes taking constructive feedback so well, and
> he is doing a very solid job on the station. Not bad for a
> guy who got "hired" at WFLZ more often than Rich Stevens,
> and Holmes KNOWS that is meant as a compliment!
>

I have to agree, Holmes is the first (and probably last)
radio person to take comments and try to improve. If I
had a station in Destin, you'd be the man! Look foward to
hearing you live sometime soon! Refreshing to hear what
you think. Go get 'em.

 

[tibbs]

> Getting "hired" has never been a problem--if talent wins the
> day, BH has a leg up on most. Sometimes it ain't that easy;
> sometimes stations under seige make the right adjustments to
> blunt the attack and crack out the promotional checkbook to
> regain their ground. The question for Z is--how much is it
> worth to protect the value of the license? $100K? $300K? How
> much is Z worth right now? $5 million? Will they spend a
> half-million to avoid losing $3 million? Has Fort Walton
> ever seen a $500K promotional blitz? Does Fly have the
> resources to respond? Or would they turn to programming and
> say "Out-think 'em!" It'll be interesting to watch the next
> 2 or 3 books in FWB.

Two or three books is a couple of years in FWB. It'll be interesting.
Crumulus may have paid $5M for WZNS, but it ain't worth that.
$2M max, and that's to much. Especially at $6.00 a spot, you
have to run like a 100,000 30-sec a month to break even. I
think that is supposed to be a joke, but might be factual.

Where Z has the edge, besides time on the air -is the great signal .
That's where they may beat FLY. Is FLY still 25kw or 50kw?
My limited experience in that market showed the FLY format
was obvious even back in 1995/1996 when Z was stilled tied
up in court by the dentist Mix flipped from Jazz.
'BLX showed well in books.

 

[BHolmes]

> Two or three books is a couple of years in FWB. It'll be
> interesting.
> Crumulus may have paid $5M for WZNS, but it ain't worth
> that.
> $2M max, and that's to much. Especially at $6.00 a spot, you
>
> have to run like a 100,000 30-sec a month to break even. I
> think that is supposed to be a joke, but might be factual.
>
> Where Z has the edge, besides time on the air -is the great
> signal .
> That's where they may beat FLY. Is FLY still 25kw or 50kw?
> My limited experience in that market showed the FLY format
> was obvious even back in 1995/1996 when Z was stilled tied
> up in court by the dentist Mix flipped from Jazz.
> 'BLX showed well in books.
>

If Z is only getting $6.00 a spot that's their own fault, and a shame. I can tell you we're already getting way more than that with no numbers. And our clients have gotten very noticeable results fast.

Z does have that monster 100kw signal vs our 25kw, however Wild 98.7/Tampa only had a 50kw signal that didn't even cover all of Hillsborough County and they were able to dent 93.3FLZ's HUGE 100kw signal. Fly covers everywhere we need to: Ft Walton Beach, Destin, Crestview, Sandestin. It will certainly be funny if we beat them with 75% less power, ROFL.
Z's signal only gets them coverage in Pensacola and north of Crestview that we don't...and who really cares about that.<P ID="signature">______________
-brian holmes
APD/afternoons - Fly 92-1 Ft Walton Beach
Owner/Webmaster - www.ThePowerPig.com
An Online Tribute to WFLZ/Tampa
(now with 225+ free historical audio cuts)</P>