Guns, Roses, and MY 102.5?

[Scooter Lesley]

This afternoon, around 5:10pm, I heard "Sweet Child of Mine" on WMYI. I had to do a double-take, just to make sure, and then some near-death, sore-throated, Voice Tracker, whined, squeaked, and scratched his way into thanking everyone for listening in their office today. Who in the Flyin' Fudgecake is Captain of that ship? Shat!(past tense). How much longer before they shoot this lame horse? Awww-ful song, wrong format, Air Talent-less, still foolishly trying to acquire office listeners.
Only inexperienced VT's would crack a mic, without the benefits of Hot "Throat Tea". No wonder they have bottomed out!
Millions of dollars,...and Totally Unacceptable Radio!

 

[awp69]

still foolishly trying to acquire office listeners. 

Even though they still play an occasional "sleepy" song that belongs on more AC office-friendly stations, overall, I sincerely doubt they are still aiming for office listeners. They've been playing GnR for a while now and play pretty non-office friendly songs like "U and Ur Hand" and an occassional harder rock song that would do more to offend the office listener over the less agressive Magic.

Honestly, I still stick by my word that MY is much better as a Hot AC station now than they were a few months ago. More new adds and, overall, a more upbeat feel with fewer slow 80s songs.

That said, I do agree their on-air talent is a sore point - particulary the morning show which hasn't shown any improvement from when it started. They tout playing more music than any other station and with their staff, that's a good thing. I'd rather hear more music anyway no matter the station.

They probably won't survive just because they aren't getting the numbers. Their playlist is pretty good and I enjoy listening to them (still flip, but not as much as I did earlier in the MY format change). Just doesn't look like I'm in the majority when it comes to Hot AC around here.

Regardless, still feel there's a need for a station that appeals to 30-50s, as I've said many times before because other than Country, every other station either skews either too old or too young.

EDIT: Oh and even though it may sound out of place, GnR definately appeals more to my age group than Stevie Nicks or Michael Jackson. Much rather hear a popular 80s/90s rock song than some of the other shlock that also sticks out.

 

[CrazeeCarroll1]

I am not sure about now, but I know The Link would play Sweet Child o' mine from time to time so it must be one of those songs that test well. I listen to My from time to time when I stream it here from IL and to me it sounds good. Hopefully it will start to climb in the ratings, but times change and so does the music and if this does not work regroup and try something different, but also give it time to grow... CC1

 

[awp69]

I am not sure about now, but I know The Link would play Sweet Child o' mine from time to time so it must be one of those songs that test well. I listen to My from time to time when I stream it here from IL and to me it sounds good. Hopefully it will start to climb in the ratings, but times change and so does the music and if this does not work regroup and try something different, but also give it time to grow... CC1

Yes, I think the Link did play that song from time to time. Hopefully, they'll still give it some more time as they didn't really get their act together until March of this year....that first year really killed them with a sloppy mix that was half old-school, office-friendly AC and half "fresh" new music.

Don't know if CC will give them the opportunity. It may be hard to regain any audience lost because of the way they completely botched the flip.

And as far as office listening goes, I think when they're thanking those listening in the office, they're talking about those streaming it on their PCs/laptops. It's definately not an office-background type of station, but I stream them at work at times and if that's an "office listener", there's nothing wrong with that.

BTW, I was one of MY's biggest critics prior to the last few months, so at least I think they're doing more right than wrong now.

 

[CrazeeCarroll1]

I remember when MY first signed on (Aug) of 87 they did the 25,000 song stunt and launched in Oct of 87. For an AC station (During It's Day) it was one of the best AC stations that I had heard at the time. I know CC wants to shake things up, but maybe they could take a few notes from the old playbook and adapt it (If it can be done) in the HAC world. Funny thing some stations CC touches it can turn to gold, but seems a lot of times CC along with Cumulus things they touch can also turn to crud... CC1

 

[carolinaradio]

Clear Channel has several other "My" Hot AC's and they have all ditched the 80s. I still think that they could just do away with anything from before 1992-1993 (I choose those years because that's when groups like Goo Goo Dolls, Gin Blossoms, Matchbox 20, etc. that were staples of Hot AC started to form). 97.7 and 98.9 cover that era just fine. I would try to position myself as a somewhat older/adult alternative to B-93.7 than a younger alternative to Magic 98.9, or even in between the two. Instead of competing with 2, just compete with one. I think adult friendly CHR has more potential, anyway, though. What have they got to lose at this point?

Unfortunately, if you look at the trends for Feb-Apr-Mar, they just fell down even more when they moved in to the Hot AC direction in that period. A 3.6 share in this market is just unacceptable in the long run. The Planet has rarely done that badly.

Most offices that I hear play a radio in the background have it on Magic. It depends on the type of business, though, I guess. I've heard Chuck FM and WSSL on in the background frequently also. I can only think of one or two places that I've heard play MY in the background since their change last year.

I'm not a fan of the air staff, either. I listened last Saturday night and the voicetracker was just talking away over the vocal part of several of the songs that didn't have much of an instrumental intro. Terrible. I do think Liz Ryals does a good job and has done mid-days there for a long time. Scooter, the PD who is running the show does AM drive.

I like it because they play a lot of songs from the 90s, 00s and even recent that have received very little attention around here. Then again, I guess there's a reason they haven't.

 

[pccrw]

Hot AC did not work in Asheville. Now My 102.5 and Star 104.3 (CHR) overlap tracks, which are both owned by Clear Channel. Funny thing is that I hear Star in more business than My 102.5 or Mix 96.5. 97.7 seems to not have the punch to make it in to buildings in downtown Asheville.

 

[carolinaradio]

Hot AC did not work in Asheville. Now My 102.5 and Star 104.3 (CHR) overlap tracks, which are both owned by Clear Channel. Funny thing is that I hear Star in more business than My 102.5 or Mix 96.5. 97.7 seems to not have the punch to make it in to buildings in downtown Asheville.

And if it didn't work in Asheville, which I consider to be more open-minded to music than Greenville, it won't work here.
Star's a great CHR.

97.7 in Asheville is actually a translator for Magic 98.9/WSPA. It's not 97.7 Chuck-FM in Greenville.

 

[awp69]

Since this is the most recent MY thread, thought I'd note that they're still doing pretty well in the "new adds" category. Heard Neon Tree's "Everybody Talks" today and haven't even heard that on B93.7 yet (they may be playing, just haven't heard it).

 

[carolinaradio]

Since this is the most recent MY thread, thought I'd note that they're still doing pretty well in the "new adds" category. Heard Neon Tree's "Everybody Talks" today and haven't even heard that on B93.7 yet (they may be playing, just haven't heard it).

I heard "Shadow Days" by John Mayer tonight, that's certainly not something B is going to play.

It's sad that the ratings got even worse in the time period that they went to more of a full Hot AC format (March).

 

[Scooter Lesley]

Well,...it's not as bad as that Aww-ful,...whatever the hell they (now)call it...crap on B-93, and it's not as structured as the short, shallow playlist on MAGIC. However, regarding MY 102, poster awp69 said it best, a few posts ago:
...they completely botched the flip!

 

[carolinaradio]

They could have done a clean flip in to straight Hot AC and it still wouldn't do well. It's a proven fact, Hot AC doesn't do well in the southeast, especially in a market as conservative as Greenville.

 

[awp69]

They could have done a clean flip in to straight Hot AC and it still wouldn't do well. It's a proven fact, Hot AC doesn't do well in the southeast, especially in a market as conservative as Greenville.

I agree that may be true. But still think the way the flip was handled probably ruined their chances even if Hot AC could do well. It just was a mess. Hindsight is 20/20 so who knows what would have happened. Probably still be doing lousy. But at least they would have given it their best shot. A sloooowwww transition to Hot AC over a year just was a poor decision whatever the case.

 

[carolinaradio]

They could have done a clean flip in to straight Hot AC and it still wouldn't do well. It's a proven fact, Hot AC doesn't do well in the southeast, especially in a market as conservative as Greenville.

I agree that may be true. But still think the way the flip was handled probably ruined their chances even if Hot AC could do well. It just was a mess. Hindsight is 20/20 so who knows what would have happened. Probably still be doing lousy. But at least they would have given it their best shot. A sloooowwww transition to Hot AC over a year just was a poor decision whatever the case.

It WAS the most botched transition I've ever heard. I remember posting the first set of music when they made the change and one of the songs was "Your Song" by Elton John. That was just awful, coupled with the months of no new adds. That wouldn't have worked anywhere. I knew from the start that the audience for Elton John was not going to want to hear Foster The People or The Killers.

 

[pccrw]

My bad I was referring to W249AR-FM which is on 97.7 in Asheville, a translator for WSPA-FM. I have heard 97.7 Chuck FM on WJMZ HD3 in certain parts on the city, it does sound very good also.

Back to MY 102.5, I visit Hendersonville the city of license frequently and there is still so much muti-path distortion. I cannot get a good HD lock there. I noticed that they have another construction permit to raise power to 44,000 watts with a tilt beam antenna. I wonder if this will fix the problem in South Asheville and Hendersonville.

 

[carolinaradio]

Back to MY 102.5, I visit Hendersonville the city of license frequently and there is still so much muti-path distortion. I cannot get a good HD lock there. I noticed that they have another construction permit to raise power to 44,000 watts with a tilt beam antenna. I wonder if this will fix the problem in South Asheville and Hendersonville.

I noticed that when they adjusted the signal, most of the "holes" in and around Greenville that plagued them cleared up greatly. They may be willing to trade the WNC coverage off for more solid coverage here. I wonder if the WNC signal is even important to them, since they never mention or attempt to include that area (none of the upstate stations do, really). Funny that it would be bad in the COL, though.

Just to add about 97.7 (the WSPA-FM translator), I'm surprised Entercom keeps it with Mix 96.5 having an AC format.

 

[awp69]

Interesting to hear the station continuing to evolve. And as someone mentioned on the CHR board, Hot AC tends to "break" rock singles like Neon Trees' "Everybody Talks" (which I do believe MY was playing before B93.7) but the opposite of course happens as well. Hits on CHR are now migrating in bigger numbers it seems to MY as if they don't want to fall behind B. Not entirely sure how long these have been on the playlist, but it seems they've added Carly Rae Jepsen's "Call Me Baby", Demi Lovoto's "Give Your Heart A Break", Karmin's "Brokenhearted" and Haley Reinhart's "Free". Surprised they haven't added Ellie Goulding's "Lights" as that would be a good fit.

Nothing groundbraking, but they're still going fairly strong with new adds. And seem to be aiming more at B93.7 than anything. Perhaps it will evolve into an adult-leaning CHR.

And even though these aren't necessarily the kind of songs that I'm in love with (still like the more rock oriented stuff), at least they leave most of the more rhytmnic stuff to B.

 

[carolinaradio]

It looks like they are also playing "Free" by Graffiti6, "Guardian" by Alanis Morissette, and even "Wild Ones" by Flo-Rida. I heard Katy Perry's "Wide Awake" earlier today also.

http://www.mediabase.com/mmrweb/7/stationplaylistrequest.asp?c_let=WMYI-FM

If Hot AC doesn't get them anywhere (which I doubt), a true flip (not transition like they did last year, start with a clean slate) to an adult-friendly CHR like Channel in Charlotte would probably do better. I don't think B93.7 could hold up well with serious competition.

 

[Scooter Lesley]

Well,...I guess I'll (again) toss my continuous, unchanging stance out on the poker table. As I have said, in an eariler rant, Hawk, Tom & Heidi deserve better. How can they ever(EVER!) pull any respectable adult numbers, with the Awww-ful playlist that they have been given. Box it up, tape it shut, and mail all those worthless Hip-hop Rap records to Hot 98. Let them "Churban" all they want. That crap is crippling what B-93 could(possibly) do! Even if you had to drop your reporting status...ratings & revenue are more important. There is more than enough new Pop product available to fix, and fill the void. The same can also be said about MAGIC. John & Lauren are a young, second generation...team that deserves an honest chance. How can they push forward with the Awww-ful playist that they have been given. Burnt, toasted, over played AC songs, such as "Your Smiling Face"...give it a rest!! +Plus a stack of worthless Country-crossover records:
Carrrie Underwear...Lady Anti-venom. If they are marketed as a Country artist, no AC airplay!
Again, there is more than enough new AC product available. MAGIC could be in the Top three, if management could see the light to overhaul that...Awww-ful playlist. Finally,...MY 102.5 WMYI-FM.
I still say Poster, and Think Tank member...awp69...said it best, and I again quote:
...They Completely Botched The Flip!

 

[awp69]

If Hot AC doesn't get them anywhere (which I doubt), a true flip (not transition like they did last year, start with a clean slate) to an adult-friendly CHR like Channel in Charlotte would probably do better.  I don't think B93.7 could hold up well with serious competition.

I still like the Hot AC format, but if it fails, I definately could deal with a more adult-friendly CHR. Although they still have the more rock oriented Hot AC singles in there, all the new adds mentioned in the past few posts (save Alanis) are very much CHR breaking hits. Haven't tracked the charts to see how those same songs are doing on Hot AC. But it's not the typical John Mayer/Fray type of stuff that dominates a lot of Hot AC. Not sure if it's a little "test" or if they'll do a painfully slow transition again, if they do go to adult-leaning CHR.

Just was surprised to suddenly hear quite a few new more pop CHR songs suddenly introduced seemingly all at once.