If you ran the show at Cox Radio, how would you fix B98.5 and make it better?
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How to fix B98.5
- Thread starter oldies981fan
- Start date
Simple...more currents, a bigger playlist, and less voicetracking.
It's not just B98.5, the River and the other stations are being operated in the same fashion. The problem stems from corportate HQ up the road. I blame Bob Neil (the CEO). He and his team have it in their heads that having more than 300 songs on a playlist will kill a station.
They are probably taking the problems with the adult hits format (1000+ song playlists with no DJ's), and drawing their conclusions that big playlists are bad. If they did their homework (which I thought was a principle value at Cox), they would realize that people want variety. Logic also would tell you that the better the variety, the more people will want to stay tuned.
From what I understand, there are several people (on-air) that are not happy about the way things are being run. Kelly and Alpha were even complaining on-air the other day about losing their "ding" bell during their Nearly Impossible Question in exchange for a cow bell (Chick-fil-A is the sponsor of the contest - although as of this morning they have the ding bell back).
Look at the playlists for WWRM Tampa, WFLC Miami, WEZN Hartford, and KRTR-FM Honolulu. They are mostly the same. The currents that get added generally are the same.
The problem is Cox Radio corporate, not local manangement.
It's not just B98.5, the River and the other stations are being operated in the same fashion. The problem stems from corportate HQ up the road. I blame Bob Neil (the CEO). He and his team have it in their heads that having more than 300 songs on a playlist will kill a station.
They are probably taking the problems with the adult hits format (1000+ song playlists with no DJ's), and drawing their conclusions that big playlists are bad. If they did their homework (which I thought was a principle value at Cox), they would realize that people want variety. Logic also would tell you that the better the variety, the more people will want to stay tuned.
From what I understand, there are several people (on-air) that are not happy about the way things are being run. Kelly and Alpha were even complaining on-air the other day about losing their "ding" bell during their Nearly Impossible Question in exchange for a cow bell (Chick-fil-A is the sponsor of the contest - although as of this morning they have the ding bell back).
Look at the playlists for WWRM Tampa, WFLC Miami, WEZN Hartford, and KRTR-FM Honolulu. They are mostly the same. The currents that get added generally are the same.
The problem is Cox Radio corporate, not local manangement.
A
actuallyinatlantaradio
Guest
How about not doing anything?
Both of these stations (B98.5 and the RIVER) are performing in top 5 Arbitron spots in their target audiences.
The stations that need to change something (and quick) are the ones that have been around forever, used to have an audience, and can now barely get in the books period. *cough* 99X *cough*
If COX has found the "silver bullet" in a small playlist and people, in general, don't know that the station they listen to is voicetracked... what's the big deal? (And honestly, if they did know it was voicetracked, with the simple formatics of BOTH of these stations, who CARES if their voicetracked?)
Honestly, it is an obvious case of "if it ain't broke, don't fix it".
Their both performing, aren't they? And well.
Both of these stations (B98.5 and the RIVER) are performing in top 5 Arbitron spots in their target audiences.
The stations that need to change something (and quick) are the ones that have been around forever, used to have an audience, and can now barely get in the books period. *cough* 99X *cough*
If COX has found the "silver bullet" in a small playlist and people, in general, don't know that the station they listen to is voicetracked... what's the big deal? (And honestly, if they did know it was voicetracked, with the simple formatics of BOTH of these stations, who CARES if their voicetracked?)
Honestly, it is an obvious case of "if it ain't broke, don't fix it".
Their both performing, aren't they? And well.
W
War Of Attrition
Guest
oldies981fan said:
I'd blow it up and move 750 WSB to 98.5. The Atlanta market is getting so big in area and the amount of noise generated by the sprawl is making 750 less and less usable. Not to mention some of the worst ground conductivity in the country.
For Jai 41:
If you did your research (which unfortunately isn't a prerequisite of an online poster) you'd see that:
1) Research indicates that people don't know or care if a station is voice tracked.
2) Variety is a "code word" for "I want more song that I like... not songs that suck". If "variety" were truly a buzz - could you explain why the average I-pod has not more than 400 songs?
3) As pointed out, the stations (including those out of market stations you sight) all pull some great numbers. Last I checked, the number one AC in town was WSB-FM... which is why they can afford to charge me stupid rates.
And for Brent: Hello?! Let's look at this closely: FM: Frequency Modulation... AM: Amplitude Modulation. Now - you tell us how ground conductivity might affect an FM signal.
If you did your research (which unfortunately isn't a prerequisite of an online poster) you'd see that:
1) Research indicates that people don't know or care if a station is voice tracked.
2) Variety is a "code word" for "I want more song that I like... not songs that suck". If "variety" were truly a buzz - could you explain why the average I-pod has not more than 400 songs?
3) As pointed out, the stations (including those out of market stations you sight) all pull some great numbers. Last I checked, the number one AC in town was WSB-FM... which is why they can afford to charge me stupid rates.
And for Brent: Hello?! Let's look at this closely: FM: Frequency Modulation... AM: Amplitude Modulation. Now - you tell us how ground conductivity might affect an FM signal.
ClarkKent said:War Of Attrition said:
Are you NUTS? The top billing AM station in the US obviously isn't hurting because of ground conductivity. :
Top billing? There's an AM in New York that would like a word with you.
W
War Of Attrition
Guest
ClarkKent said:Are you NUTS? The top billing AM station in the US obviously isn't hurting because of ground conductivity. :
No one said WSB-AM was hurting. They are doing quite well. The question you should be asking is how much better they could be doing if they were on the FM band where the younger demos live.
FYI, I don't know where your data came from but 750 WSB is not even close to being the top national AM biller. In fact, it isn't even in the top 5.
A
actuallyinatlantaradio
Guest
Last I checked, WSB-AM was doing the best in Atlanta under V103 (which isn't their demographic).
I would think that WSB-AM should keep on keepin' on with what their doing...
I would think that WSB-AM should keep on keepin' on with what their doing...
actuallyinatlantaradio said:
Sounds great, but Bob clearly never got the memo. He has consistantly "fixed" stations that were humming along in a top-rated position and taken them right out of contention. One great example I know a good deal about is WZZK in Birmingham. Dominant market leader when Cox took it over. Cox basically fired everbody in the building on and off the air and it dropped almost out of the Top 10. Only recently have the climbed back up, after spending a ton of money hiring an all-talk morning show for a successful music station.
I believe if you look closely, you'll find the success of WZZK fairly closely parallels the tenure of one James J (Jerdan) Bullard as its General Manager.
I'd ascribe its fall from dominance to the gentleman who is running the market for Cox. It's possible he bore the station some animosity, in that it kicked his ass soundly all the time he competed with it. However, the Beach Boy's interest is in Cox stations in a market taken as a whole. And, in that light, they ain't doing bad in Birmingspam.
I'd ascribe its fall from dominance to the gentleman who is running the market for Cox. It's possible he bore the station some animosity, in that it kicked his ass soundly all the time he competed with it. However, the Beach Boy's interest is in Cox stations in a market taken as a whole. And, in that light, they ain't doing bad in Birmingspam.
Doesn't B98.5 have Bob Neil written all over it, down to the hourly clocks? Didn't he create the station's sound?
What really needs to be fixed? Ratings are good, especially since 94.9 left the format. And I'm guessing billings are good since Dan Kearney runs the station.
As far as WZZK, I don't think the station had serious direct competition for years until Clear Channel flipped a station to country several years ago. The two stations became neck-and-neck. But Rick & Bubba coming over to WZZK from WYSF has recently propelled WZZK to near to top of the ratings.
What really needs to be fixed? Ratings are good, especially since 94.9 left the format. And I'm guessing billings are good since Dan Kearney runs the station.
As far as WZZK, I don't think the station had serious direct competition for years until Clear Channel flipped a station to country several years ago. The two stations became neck-and-neck. But Rick & Bubba coming over to WZZK from WYSF has recently propelled WZZK to near to top of the ratings.
WZZK had little competition because, each time someone tried it, they found themselves steamrollered into oblivion. $250K spent today to run a competitor off the format is cheap compared to the 4 0r 5 share of the money pie he might develop and continue to milk. One erstwhile competitor was quoted as saying 'If I give away a car, ZZK will give away the dealership". He wasn't kidding either. Took 18 months to bust him out. He never was a factor in the market.
Realize that, although the methodology has changed with the changing ownership situation, the way to success is still the same. There is a finite number of listeners, the only way to increase yours is to take them away from someone else. If you can keep them from ever migrating to that someone else, it's a less expensive proposition than luring them away.
It is a war, and in war, if all else is equal, the defender will win the battle. Read Sun Tze and von Clausewitz.
Realize that, although the methodology has changed with the changing ownership situation, the way to success is still the same. There is a finite number of listeners, the only way to increase yours is to take them away from someone else. If you can keep them from ever migrating to that someone else, it's a less expensive proposition than luring them away.
It is a war, and in war, if all else is equal, the defender will win the battle. Read Sun Tze and von Clausewitz.
J
JoJoMorales
Guest
Not sure anything in the Cox Atlanta cluster can really be considered broken. All their stations are doing quite well in their respective targets and I believe they're still the highest billing cluster in the country.
What I WOULD like to see them eventually do with one of their FM's is All News. Any calls with a "B" in it would work fine on 98.5 and rechristen one of the other sticks with the WSB-FM calls for the news format. Any of their rimshots in Mono would completely cover the market.
I'd start with a simulcast of Scott Slade in the morning, then split off after that with All News on the FM side. With the resources already in place at WSB-AM/TV it would be much more economical for Cox to pull this format off than anyone else in this market. Would love to hear people like Lynn Russell, Bobbi Batista and David Goodnow on a station like this.
The last time the format was tried here was on the 680 signal, with an iffy post sunset signal and only a fraction of the resources Cox has in their Atlanta portfolio. The previous failure of the format here should not be a deterrant for Cox as they are uniquely positioned to pull it off, and do it right. This is the only major market I've lived in without an all news station. Love to hear one here using the WCBS/WTOP template. I think it would be a resounding success.
What I WOULD like to see them eventually do with one of their FM's is All News. Any calls with a "B" in it would work fine on 98.5 and rechristen one of the other sticks with the WSB-FM calls for the news format. Any of their rimshots in Mono would completely cover the market.
I'd start with a simulcast of Scott Slade in the morning, then split off after that with All News on the FM side. With the resources already in place at WSB-AM/TV it would be much more economical for Cox to pull this format off than anyone else in this market. Would love to hear people like Lynn Russell, Bobbi Batista and David Goodnow on a station like this.
The last time the format was tried here was on the 680 signal, with an iffy post sunset signal and only a fraction of the resources Cox has in their Atlanta portfolio. The previous failure of the format here should not be a deterrant for Cox as they are uniquely positioned to pull it off, and do it right. This is the only major market I've lived in without an all news station. Love to hear one here using the WCBS/WTOP template. I think it would be a resounding success.
A
atlantachristmas
Guest
Have you guys noticed that B98.5FM is doing the All 80's Weekend??? Like they used to do back when 105.3 WMAX was on?
I stopped listening to WSB-FM when Bob Neil poisoning began in the early 90's. That's about the time when the same 20 song playlist of washouts (a signature of a Cox or ClearChannel FM swirly bowl) or whatever Selector farts out, the annoying constant self-promotion jingles and segues, and doing away with original Atlanta sounding programs like "Atlanta's Love Songs with Rebecca Stephens" (now THAT was a great show, superb host, and original flavor long gone in the AC market in the ATL).
Yeah, so WSB-FM is doing great as the last AC (sans 96.7 who's feeble rimshot takes a Yagi to pull in) holdout.
This is based on data from the what, all of 500 people still listening to this format around here? Radio is dying, Cox, ClearChannel and Cumulus are doing their level best to FedEX it into history. I believe the only thing that will turn it around and bring it back to it's glory are true LOCAL sounding stations, programmed by PEOPLE not computers and consultants (I've got Winamp to do that!) with LOCAL programming and personality, otherwise stick a fork in it, it's done.
oh so 98.5 is doing "all 80's weekends" wonder how long it will be until Star 94 starts their 80's show (again)?
Yeah, so WSB-FM is doing great as the last AC (sans 96.7 who's feeble rimshot takes a Yagi to pull in) holdout.
This is based on data from the what, all of 500 people still listening to this format around here? Radio is dying, Cox, ClearChannel and Cumulus are doing their level best to FedEX it into history. I believe the only thing that will turn it around and bring it back to it's glory are true LOCAL sounding stations, programmed by PEOPLE not computers and consultants (I've got Winamp to do that!) with LOCAL programming and personality, otherwise stick a fork in it, it's done.
oh so 98.5 is doing "all 80's weekends" wonder how long it will be until Star 94 starts their 80's show (again)?
I would destroy the format entirely and rebuild a great oldies station but...this would not be a typical 100-300 song playlist determined by the research. I would start by making no more than four 2-minute spot breaks per hour. Then, hire great air talent that listeners can RELATE to. Third, program music from the 50's thru the 70's but play ALL OF IT! Sure we'd hear Jerry Lee Lewis and Elvis but also Herb Alpert and Dionne Warwick. Maybe a bit of Sinatra followed by the Beatles. How about the Doors and a little Peggy Lee afterwards.
Yes, this would skew toward an older demo BUT, that's the largest audience out their right now and they are not being served at all. If it's not rap or pop, who cares...right? Well, let's show folks how radio used to sound. It's all in the jocks and how they into the songs...how they relate to the audience. News at the top and bottom of each hour weekday mornings for about 3 minutes or so. Heck, I'd even let the sales department sell entire hours to one client if somebody would pay enough. All so that listeners can ENJOY radio listening again.
If done right, this could be just a blast to pull off...or we can continue to voicetrack until the cows come home, take our paychecks and remain part of the mindless radio conendrum. If nothing else, it's worth a shot!
Yes, this would skew toward an older demo BUT, that's the largest audience out their right now and they are not being served at all. If it's not rap or pop, who cares...right? Well, let's show folks how radio used to sound. It's all in the jocks and how they into the songs...how they relate to the audience. News at the top and bottom of each hour weekday mornings for about 3 minutes or so. Heck, I'd even let the sales department sell entire hours to one client if somebody would pay enough. All so that listeners can ENJOY radio listening again.
If done right, this could be just a blast to pull off...or we can continue to voicetrack until the cows come home, take our paychecks and remain part of the mindless radio conendrum. If nothing else, it's worth a shot!
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