How Does Clear Channel Decide Which Stations Stay Local?

[ScottBurns]

We all know that Clear Channel stations feature much voicetracking. Some stations, like WHJY, are primarily local. Others, like WSNE, are nearly completely voicetracked from either out-of-market or via Premium Choice. My question is how Clear Channel decides which stations are allowed to stay local. Consider the following factors:
1. Market size - I thought this played a role, but it is not always the case. WSRS, in tiny Worcester, is more local than many Clear Channel stations in other markets. As a matter of fact, it is more local than WXKS-FM in Boston.
2. Heritage - This probably plays a bigger role. WHJY clearly has Heritage. But so did WWBB, and the latter is now voicetracked via Premium Choice 20 hours of the day. Moreover, B-101 has local weekenders only one weekend (or is it now two?) per month.
3. Whether the station is personality-driven - This also probably plays a role. WHJY has always been personality driven. Many people think of its personalities - Paul, Al, Charles - before they even think of the music. But then again, is a station like WSRS really personality driven?

What are your thoughts?

 

[Runrigger]

In HJY's case they may be looking at revenue that could be lost by sacking household names. HJY is a way of life for some listeners. For all intents & purposes, Paul & Al & Charles are HJY. I'm a little surprised because there is really no other station in the market for them to go to if they were let go, but I think the station is just too successful to mess with as much as CC probably would like to. In B101's case, they did let go heritage jocks but also wanted an image change that started before Cruisin'Bruce & Big John were let go (7 years ago last Friday). Maybe WSRS' numbers are just too good for CC to want to mess with too.

 

[Kenny Atkinson]

In HJY's case they may be looking at revenue that could be lost by sacking household names. HJY is a way of life for some listeners. For all intents & purposes, Paul & Al & Charles are HJY. I'm a little surprised because there is really no other station in the market for them to go to if they were let go, but I think the station is just too successful to mess with as much as CC probably would like to. In B101's case, they did let go heritage jocks but also wanted an image change that started before Cruisin'Bruce & Big John were let go (7 years ago last Friday). Maybe WSRS' numbers are just too good for CC to want to mess with too.

Correction...CC did mess with WSRS.They rehired Bruce Palmer to let him go 2 years later and was toying with ID ing every single song by title and artist.Have not tuned in for a couple of years to see if they are still doing it.
The radio stations are now a 24/7 commercial for I Heart Radio.Now that they now letting in stations they don't even own.This past week they added K-LOVE and Air-1 to I HEART RADIO

 

[ScottBurns]

Kenny, CC has certainly messed with WSRS. But my point remains the same. WSRS still has more local jocks than stations in larger markets with arguably as much Heritage (such as B-101). WSRS is live and local for afternoon drive. B-101 has not been live and local during afternoons in about five years.

Runrigger, I agree with your points about Paul, Al, and Charles. But CC also allows 'HJY to retain local midday and evening hosts - both of whom, in another era, would be much more popular than they would be allowed to become today. And the fact that 'HJY is still local makes it a rare example of a quality CC product.

 

[DavidZ]

1. WSRS, in tiny Worcester, is more local than many Clear Channel stations in other markets. As a matter of fact, it is more local than WXKS-FM in Boston.

Tiny Worcester is the 2nd largest city in New England and the western boundary of the Boston market.

 

[DavidZ]

BTW, here is some additional info regarding tiny Worcester.

2010 U.S. census figures

Worcester – 181, 045

Providence – 178,042

From Wikipedia: Worcester was considered its own region for centuries; however, with the encroachment of Boston's suburbs, it now marks the western periphery of the Boston-Worcester-Manchester (MA-RI-NH) U.S. Census Combined Statistical Area (CSA) (Greater Boston).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Worcester,_ma

 

[Kenny Atkinson]

Kenny, CC has certainly messed with WSRS. But my point remains the same. WSRS still has more local jocks than stations in larger markets with arguably as much Heritage (such as B-101). WSRS is live and local for afternoon drive. B-101 has not been live and local during afternoons in about five years.

Runrigger, I agree with your points about Paul, Al, and Charles. But CC also allows 'HJY to retain local midday and evening hosts - both of whom, in another era, would be much more popular than they would be allowed to become today. And the fact that 'HJY is still local makes it a rare example of a quality CC product.

You're right! I said it before and I'll say it again. WSNE WHJJ and B101 should have at least two local jocks on and in the building while their shift is on the air.Just in case of changing weather,breaking news etc.There should be enough staff within the building to jump into action if computers crash and God forbid someone has to go live.

 

[ScottBurns]

Last I checked, Worcester is market number 115. The city might have slightly more inhabitants than Providence, but given the way that Arbitron calculates market size, Providence is more important.

Nonetheless, my original point stands: Clear Channel allows some stations to remain largely local, even in market 115. It is amazing, and somewhat puzzling, that there are station in top 20 market cities that are barely local at all.

BTW, here is some additional info regarding tiny Worcester.

2010 U.S. census figures

Worcester – 181, 045

Providence – 178,042

From Wikipedia: Worcester was considered its own region for centuries; however, with the encroachment of Boston's suburbs, it now marks the western periphery of the Boston-Worcester-Manchester (MA-RI-NH) U.S. Census Combined Statistical Area (CSA) (Greater Boston).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Worcester,_ma

 

[fmradio1]

It's pretty simple....CC stays local if paying a talent generates more ad revenue than automating that shift. Think about some of the examples in this region.

Paul, Al & Charles on WHJY. Rock stations around the country are struggling. WHJY isn't. They have incredible heritage, and they can monetize it with paying just a few local salaries. Makes sense.

Matty on Kiss 108. The guy just keeps putting up ratings. The station is in first place, and that's with one other live jock. They could easily plug in Elvis Duran, but they haven't, because of the business Matty brings in. He's worth every penny. He didn't work out on WSNE but that's OK. He doesn't have the same following in Providence.

WTAG and WSRS - Both stations have been heavily automated, but they tend to be local in the drives since they sell their "local news and community events" angle in comparison to the Cumulus stations (even though they have more local jocks on their stations) and all the out of market signals.

CC figures as long as they are selling enough ad time to compensate for those extra salaries and still make their target profit margins, they'll do it. If it will hurt sales or ratings to automate, they won't. It's a market by market, station by station, daypart by daypart decision.

 

[ScottBurns]

I find it hard to believe, however, that local and live middays and nights on Kiss 108 would not generate as much revenue as automating the shift. Nonetheless, your point is well-taken.

 

[DavidZ]

WTAG and WSRS - Both stations have been heavily automated, but they tend to be local in the drives since they sell their "local news and community events" angle in comparison to the Cumulus stations (even though they have more local jocks on their stations) and all the out of market signals.

Except WTAG's "local news" is from one of the CC news hubs. Pretty sad state of affairs when they used to be (and not that long ago), the #1 choice for local news with actual reporters on the street and news anchors in their Paxton studios 7 days a week.

In fact, IIRC, Carolyn Cronin (now on WPRO-AM) won an award for her coverage from the scene of the Worcester Warehouse Fire.

And on another note, it wouldn't surprise me if CC starts syndicating Jay Severin to afternoon's at their New England stations to justify paying his salary.

 

[mistermicrophone]

I find it hard to believe, however, that local and live middays and nights on Kiss 108 would not generate as much revenue as automating the shift. Nonetheless, your point is well-taken.

It's not about live and local. It's about CONTENT. A majority of KISS 108's cume does not realize that Jackson Blue is neither live nor (no longer) local, but he is engaging and entertaining. As for Seacrest, he's providing a non-traditional midday show by CHR standards. Even though the interviews and chats with celebrities are just chopped up bits from his morning show in LA, a live and local talent couldn't provide the same show.

Don't get me wrong, I would love for more live and local opportunities in this business, but I also understand that voicetracking and syndication are necessary evils that, if used wisely, can help stations in their long-term success.

 

[Numo]

Its not about city proper populations its city market populations.
Greater Providence is the 37th largest Metro market in the country, Worcester is 67th.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Table_of_United_States_Metropolitan_Statistical_Areas

I struggle to understand why people in MA consider everything from Portland ME to new Bedford to be "Boston" where anything outside of Providence proper is considered????

BTW, here is some additional info regarding tiny Worcester.

2010 U.S. census figures

Worcester – 181, 045

Providence – 178,042

From Wikipedia: Worcester was considered its own region for centuries; however, with the encroachment of Boston's suburbs, it now marks the western periphery of the Boston-Worcester-Manchester (MA-RI-NH) U.S. Census Combined Statistical Area (CSA) (Greater Boston).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Worcester,_ma

 

[Numo]

Also as far as numbers go..

Grater Providence is the 2nd largest market in New England @ 1.6Million

Greater Worcester is Half that @ just under 800K. Greater Hartford @ 1.2Million and Greater New Haven @ 862K both top Worcester...

So tiny Worcester is a pretty fitting label...