Gay format for radio??

[taylorengineer]

Don't ask me why I'm asking.....it's a long story featuring peanut bets and barnyard innuendo.
Do you think a station (AM) could successfully program to the Atlanta "Gay" population/audience? Just what would the formatics be?
I'm thinking this would be music intensive which just doesn't seem to gel on AM. And I am thinking (possibly stereotypically) that gay prople, as a group, are not going to want news/talk.
I would think Air America would be a logical choice for reaching maximum numbers of gays?
Any "flaming" PD"s out there with some ideas?

 

[RTibbs]

I thought that is how Q100 was programmed, no? With Melissa and Bert being gay(one literally, one figuratively) they have their main programming covered and the rest of the music fits well. Considered them "All the hits Q1000 Atlanta's favorite closeted station.

 

[evnlee]

I would think Air America would be a logical choice for reaching maximum numbers of gays?
Any "flaming" PD"s out there with some ideas?

This is a dangerous topic. Somebody is going to get thier feelings hurt, and this topic will get closed faster the Rosie O Donnell's musical.

The call letters alone would be hilarious.

And Air America? Great fit. Starts off stiffly, but peters out in the end ;D

 

[WhatDoIKnow]

With the large gay population in Atlanta you would think there would be time on a independant station for this group of folks for issues and events of interest to be shared and discussed.

However, I would rather be an investor in a multi-level club catering to this crowd . . .

 

[RoddyFreeman]

The call letters alone would be hilarious.

Evan,

I'm from the Baltimore/Washington area, and for years through the 60's and 70's WGAY-FM was one of the highest-rated stations in the DC market with a beautiful music format. In the early 90's when the format died across the U.S., WGAY was forced to go soft AC (just like WPCH here) and then found itself mired in competition.

WGAY was owned by country music entrepreneur Connie B. Gay. He bought WGAY-AM first, and that became WQMR. As a matter of fact, there's a tribute site for WGAY! The url is wqmrwgaymemories.org

 

[PaulBWalkerJr]

I think a gay leaning format could work in a big market like Atlanta if it was done tastefully. Starting getting all dirty and sexual.. and it'll go downhill fast.

Me and a friend have talked about launching an AM Broadcast Station in Hawaii with that is managed/programmed for & by gay people.... now mind you, hawaii in Atlanta are two different things.. but again, it's definarelty viable.

I' already starting to see some gay cracks/jokes... let's keep this civil.

 

[evnlee]

Me and a friend have talked about launching an AM Broadcast Station in Hawaii with that is managed/programmed for & by gay people.... now mind you, hawaii in Atlanta are two different things.. but again, it's definarelty viable.

Well, Atlanta has the 3rd largest Gay population in the USA,so the numbers are there....

Here's a question, and please, people, don't get your panties in a bunch...

If the stereotypes are correct, then gay men would skew towards showtunes/club music while gay women would lean towards folk/rock formats....How would you begin to program a format that diverse?

Would you have set program times, like 'what the folk' with the Indigo Girls from 6-7pm, followed by 'Clubbin' with Ru Paul, from 7-8, etc....?

Lot's of ad $$$ available, though.....

 

[upstate29651]

Me and a friend have talked about launching an AM Broadcast Station in Hawaii with that is managed/programmed for & by gay people.... now mind you, hawaii in Atlanta are two different things.. but again, it's definarelty viable.

Well, Atlanta has the 3rd largest Gay population in the USA,so the numbers are there....

Here's a question, and please, people, don't get your panties in a bunch...

If the stereotypes are correct, then gay men would skew towards showtunes/club music while gay women would lean towards folk/rock formats....How would you begin to program a format that diverse?

Would you have set program times, like 'what the folk' with the Indigo Girls from 6-7pm, followed by 'Clubbin' with Ru Paul, from 7-8, etc....?

Lot's of ad $$$ available, though.....

Correct...and that means it would have to be on FM by default. Dance on AM? Nah.

G

 

[RobynWattsV2.0]

Me and a friend have talked about launching an AM Broadcast Station in Hawaii with that is managed/programmed for & by gay people.... now mind you, hawaii in Atlanta are two different things.. but again, it's definarelty viable.

Well, Atlanta has the 3rd largest Gay population in the USA,so the numbers are there....

Here's a question, and please, people, don't get your panties in a bunch...

If the stereotypes are correct, then gay men would skew towards showtunes/club music while gay women would lean towards folk/rock formats....How would you begin to program a format that diverse?

Would you have set program times, like 'what the folk' with the Indigo Girls from 6-7pm, followed by 'Clubbin' with Ru Paul, from 7-8, etc....?

Lot's of ad $$$ available, though.....

Hi Evnlee,

I need to point out a few things:

First off, there are many folks in the community that are in the middle and lower class income bracket. Also, not everyone in the community listens to club/dance music or showtunes, they listen to a wide range of music like everybody else. Both are common musconseptions about LGBTI people, which for the most part are not true.

Anyway, back to the topic:

Personally, I would go in a talk-oriented direction, with perhaps some music from LGBTI artists. Like any other station, the content has to be compelling enough to attract an audience long-term. LGTBI-oriented radio was tried before in other markets (Seattle & Orlando are two that I can think of off the top of my head), but failed for numerous reasons.

To say that programing a LGBTI radio station is challenging would be an understatement! Most people outside of the community don't realize that there is a lot of fragmentation from within the community. For example, some gays and lesbians don't want anything to do with transgendered folks and vice-versa, which is sad. Why is it that way? I don't know nor do I think anyone really knows why. When all is said and done, ignorance is the true enemy!

There is more that I could write about it, but it's best just to stop here.

Paul: Good luck with you and your friend's venture. And if you can get a gig for me, let me know!!! (LOL)

Robyn

 

[dmcco01]

Sirius has a gay-themed channel don't they. What do they play? The few times I've heard it it was talk radio.

 

[70sdj]

Be sure to listen Sunday night when "Mike Rose plays his favorite show tunes" as an on air audition!

 

[lilburncommunityradio]

That's just wrong. Question is, Why does everyone seem to hate Mike Rose?
Is it because he is trying to get back into radio?
Is it because he has gotton back in, and the ones who hate can't get back in?
Is it simply because your JEALOUS of Mike and what he has accomplished?
Comon folks, this thread isnt about WGST, Mike Rose, The Kimmer,Wayne no offense, or any other FIRED Clear Channel employee.
Now, will gay radio work? With today's mindset in that we all need to realize that the gay movement is afoot, there's nothing that any straight person can say or do to change this fact. So if Gays want thier own format, then let them push for it.
I personally am not GAY, but for those who are, Get a station, format it, and see what happens. OR, try a community radio station, Low power yes, but its a start.
No reason to not try this avenue. Anything is possible.

Sorry for the above comment's about said radio station, but this is just madness.
Everytime anyone posts anything about something different, NEW, or just plain makes a comment: DAMN we have to mention something about WGST or its previous employees. Can we not find anything to talk about other than this?

 

[kenhawk1160]

Do you think a station (AM) could successfully program to the Atlanta "Gay" population/audience?

Mancow Muller did this thing while he was at Wild 107 in San Fran called the Gay Dating Game. It was highly popular, but done tastefully. If you go that angle, you might see some success. But if you do a gay bit on the air AND make fun of gay people while doing it, you're asking for trouble.

In Pittsburgh, back in the early 90's, Paulsen and Krenn did a bit called "Bradley and Victor's Cosmetic Corner", with two guys with lisping dialogue that were talking about everything from current events to Pittsburgh sports. They pushed the envelope, but didn't get dirty or demeaning with it. It's all a matter of presentation.

In short I would say, do some gay-themed bits that are gay-friendly, but I wouldn't built an entire station's future around an actual format.

 

[PaulBWalkerJr]

I agree, if it's kept tasteful thats fine. As a gay man myself, it pisses me off a little bit when people do stupid skits that push it too much.. there's often no reason for it.....and in the end, people just get pissed off and angry about it.

 

[kenhawk1160]

As a gay man myself, it pisses me off a little bit when people do stupid skits that push it too much.

If you do gay-themed promotions that don't glorify or demean the gay culture, but rather in the middle, I think that's the best way to go. To try and execute a full-time gay format would not fly. At least in the commercial sense. I don't think you could get advertisers to support it. If you set it up as a not-for-profit, there might be some hope for survival. My concern is how much the Christian Coalition is going to go after any of the station's clients and say "we're going to picket your business if you don't pull your ads." I remember one promotion that Jeff and Jer did in San Diego back in the early 90's called Stop the Violence...it was a march to end violence among minorities, and the gay population was one of them. The station they were working for organized this, and in one publicity shot, was Jeff and Jer (both married with children) doing an open-mouth smooch. Not exactly my taste as a straight guy, but the message was clear, and I think they got it out (pardon the pun) effectively.

 

[abyrd]

Q100 has a gay programed show. I do not think an AM gay station would be successful but if it were FM then I think it would be highly successful!

 

[weee]

Q100's Melissa Carter is part of the show. It's called Radio With A Twist. There are 3 hosts to the show I think the other 2 are in NYC and L.A. (with Melissa obviously in Atlanta), and it's in syndication, the affliliates are on radiowithatwist.com

I agree with what Paul Walker said..as long as it's kept good and not outllandish, and it doesn't sound like it is, I like it, I listen on the Boston affliliate.

 

[PaulBWalkerJr]

The trend today is to go way overboard with things and be as rude as possible.

I could deifnately see a gay leaning/themes/programmed radio station in San Francisco working.

I wouldn't necessarily call it, "Gay 108" (just an example)........ but make it a very open and welcomming place for gay people.. and you'd be surprised how well it could do.

 

[kenhawk1160]

Me and a friend have talked about launching an AM Broadcast Station in Hawaii with that is managed/programmed for & by gay people.... now mind you, hawaii in Atlanta are two different things.. but again, it's definarelty viable. I'm already starting to see some gay cracks/jokes... let's keep this civil.

Paul, my wife and I just got back from our honeymoon in Maui. There's a Class A FM CP at 107.5 in Kihei, in the south portion of the island. The bidding opens at $1500 in January when the FCC auctions that channel and others. Nobody grabbed it during the last auction. If you and your friend are well-funded, you might want to look into this.

 

[Jeffrey]

There are already some gay stations on HD. One being Hartford, CT.
I do believe that in order to attract gay listeners you'd have to do a talk format and somewhat politically oriented. When it comes to music gay people don't have specific genres that are preferred contrary to popular stereotypical beliefs therefore there is no specific kind of music that would attract gay listeners. Airing speciality shows featuring gay and lesbian musical artists could be an attribute but certainly wouldn't draw any sort of listenership if it was all that aired.