How to fix Richmond Radio....

[Dan_Evans]

In the spirit of DCRTV's editor who from time to time adds a rant on how to fix DC radio, I am going to make a list on how to fix up Richmond radio, and of course, all will be allowed to call me any name in the book, as well as add their ideas.

1. Note to Mainquad: either get a full sale of your group of stations ready, or keep WCUL on the air(even if it means going a month or two without DJ's). WBZU went a month on the air, playing alternative rock without the DJ's to get people ready for what was going to take place. Keep the signal going with a teaser besides the one we have been hearing since March. Then get the DJ's and get it all kicked off with a BANG! Keep the oldies on 100.3 and 107.3 and also country that rocks on 93.1.

2. Note to Cox radio: Allow 96.5 to play some more 80's alt since Y101 is too scared to dip into the archives of what got alternative rock started. About Y101, let it go 80's, they will never go full speed AHEAD with going with jabs at the X all day. Richmond has been waiting for 80's since Star 107 went oldies. That or get rid of Mix 103.7 and bring back the 80's on there with a harder edge to drive away the Flashback Friday listeners from Q94. Make Y101 a Rhythmic Contemporary Hit Radio station to go after Q94. Keep K95 exactly the way it is, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

3. Radio One: Don't change but one thing. You have a station that plays current R&B and Hip Hop, Let Kiss go all old school.

4. Clear Channel: Remember when you guys blew up a heritage rocker to send it to alternative? How much good has that done, NONE! All they are doing after elliot is play what was on Y101 30 minutes ago. Flip the X slightly, to mainstream rock(like MAX FM in Norfolk). The ratings bump will bury Y101. Keep WTVR, WRNL(except ditch the o's for the nationals) and WBTJ as they are. As for WRVA, is 5am-1am enough for conservative talk non stop? I would replace Dr Laura with Tom Leykis or LIONEL. Your idea for tweaking WRVQ was OK, but I still miss the OLD Q ZOO!

These are just ideas folks, no one is going to get fired. Ratings wise though, Richmond could be back into a real tight knit ratings war, if these things happen.

 

[Radio-X]

Re: How to fix Richmond Radio....X vs. Y

> 2. Note to Cox radio: Allow 96.5 to play some more 80's alt
> since Y101 is too scared to dip into the archives of what
> got alternative rock started.

I would love to hear 80's alt. on the air in RIC, but I'm getting bad vibes that it won't happen. The Planet goes after your "average Joe" guy, and probably wouldn't start cranking out the Cure or Depeche Mode...bummer

> About Y101, let it go 80's,
> they will never go full speed AHEAD with going with jabs at
> the X all day.

I have a feeling Y-101 is getting their tail whipped. They have gotten lower numbers the last two books courtesy of the X. I would tend to say Y-101 will go the way of WVGO and the Buzz, but what can Cox flip it to that:

- Protects K-95 (NOTHING Country)
- Protects the Planet (No oldies or the like)
- Protects Mix 103-7 (No A.C. or 80's-90's)

Sadly, despite the fact that Cox does 80's very well in the South (look at the Point in Jacksonville and Birmingham), 80's is a dying format. Hence Star 107 croaking.

> Richmond has been waiting for 80's since Star
> 107 went oldies. That or get rid of Mix 103.7 and bring back
> the 80's on there with a harder edge to drive away the
> Flashback Friday listeners from Q94.

I have a feeling the suits are quite happy with Mix's performance. They are probably #2 or #3 in billing at Moorefield Park Dr. Y is the big problem

> Make Y101 a Rhythmic
> Contemporary Hit Radio station to go after Q94.

Great idea! Seriously! RIC needs a Rhythmic CHR. Only thing, Cox will have to watch out from lawsuits from the parents of 12 year old emo kids who off themselves after Y-101 switches.

> Keep K95
> exactly the way it is, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

> 3. Radio One: Don't change but one thing. You have a station
> that plays current R&B and Hip Hop, Let Kiss go all old
> school.

Radio One IS Richmond's sucess story. These guys have rimshots and class A's and turn them into real competitors


> 4. Clear Channel: Remember when you guys blew up a heritage
> rocker to send it to alternative? How much good has that
> done, NONE! All they are doing after elliot is play what was
> on Y101 30 minutes ago. Flip the X slightly, to mainstream
> rock(like MAX FM in Norfolk). The ratings bump will bury
> Y101.

I think the X is doing that somewhat. I would now consider them a "closet" active rocker. All the industry papers have them under "rock" now. In the last six months, I have heard some old-school (like, 80's) Metallica and Danzig getting regular rotation. They aren't as clone-like as Y is anymore...I find them to be pretty listenable

> Keep WTVR, WRNL(except ditch the o's for the
> nationals) and WBTJ as they are. As for WRVA, is 5am-1am
> enough for conservative talk non stop? I would replace Dr
> Laura with Tom Leykis or LIONEL. Your idea for tweaking WRVQ
> was OK, but I still miss the OLD Q ZOO!
>
> These are just ideas folks, no one is going to get fired.
> Ratings wise though, Richmond could be back into a real
> tight knit ratings war, if these things happen.
>

In general, I think RIC Radio is still in a "holding pattern" until 98.9 signs on. Not much will change until then. So, staleness will continue to prevail for the next six months or so...bummer.

Radio-X

 

[Dan_Evans]

Re: How to fix Richmond Radio....X vs. Y

> Great idea! Seriously! RIC needs a Rhythmic CHR. Only thing,
> Cox will have to watch out from lawsuits from the parents of
> 12 year old emo kids who off themselves after Y-101
> switches.

Not our fault radio that people(mostly teeny boppers) think that Y101 actually has anything left in the tank but X potshots all day long. Now if they want to try to beef up the mornings, two shows could do it. Mancow or Lex and Terry. Lex and Terry are actually syndicated by cox, so the latter might work out. Let them use the tag line that 96X out of norfolk used until a few weeks ago, Hot Talk and Modern Rock. Mancow is featured on fox news every morning and can be funny as well. Actually, that should be the slogan for the X, given elliot and loveline, the latter makes LITTLE SENSE to me, never has really.

> I would love to hear 80's alt. on the air in RIC, but I'm
> getting bad vibes that it won't happen. The Planet goes
> after your "average Joe" guy, and probably wouldn't start
> cranking out the Cure or Depeche Mode...bummer

That idea, was actually a idea from Dave Hughes(of DCRTV, great site there as well as VARTV is). The DC classic rocker will even play Aerosmith from 1997, but won't play the smiths! I really think like you RadioX, that if it's not average joe classic rock, it won't go into the deeper stuff. The deepest we will see the planet go is Talking Heads Take Me To The River(GREAT REMAKE!). That and also Solsbury Hill by Peter Gabriel, which again is a great song!


> In general, I think RIC Radio is still in a "holding
> pattern" until 98.9 signs on. Not much will change until
> then. So, staleness will continue to prevail for the next
> six months or so...bummer.

Here I note, at 9:40pm Saturday night, take a guess what is teasing us more than the redskins on a sunday afternoon. If you guessed 98.9 you win. Seems like they want to be on just weekends only for now, so give it about 6 months to a year of the same old same old.....one last thing, how come Bopst can't land a good show on Sundays, in addition to his EXCELLENT show on the weekdays. I guess the FM suits are scared of radio genius!

 

[bopst]

Re: How to fix Richmond Radio....X vs. Y

Thanks for the kind words....

Sunday nights? Who wants Sunday nights? Isn't that the wasteland?

You know, in my mind, I have all the credentials to be rock/music radio. I've played in bands(GWAR, Alter Natives, Holy Rollers, etc.), released records on influential labels (Discord, SST, etc.) and booked shows for over 25 years. Also, I know a lot about music. I mean, if you are looking for a DJ who has lived it, well, I'm, excuse my French, the motherfuckin' man.

The Y and The X operate that only 18-35 year olds are the only consumers worth catering too. Both stations are despicable copies of one another with clueless DJ's who know precious little about rock music. I mean, aren't kids supposed to rage against the machine instead of shilling for it? Those DJ's are Satan's little helpers and from my personal experience, they are painfully ignorant as to anything outside what the corporate office talks them. Screw those little kids & the suits that pull their strings...

<P ID="signature">______________
<a target="_blank" href=http://www.wclmradio.com/pages/bopst.html>The Bopst Show</a>
Monday-Friday (1-4 PM EST-USA)
WCLM 1450 AM
Richmond, Virginia
http://www.wclmradio.com
Request Line: (804) 231-7685

</P>

 

[VARTV]

Re: How to fix Richmond Radio....X vs. Y

> I would love to hear 80's alt. on the air in RIC, but I'm
> getting bad vibes that it won't happen. The Planet goes
> after your "average Joe" guy, and probably wouldn't start
> cranking out the Cure or Depeche Mode...bummer
>
> > About Y101, let it go 80's,
> > they will never go full speed AHEAD with going with jabs at
> > the X all day.
>
> I have a feeling Y-101 is getting their tail whipped. They
> have gotten lower numbers the last two books courtesy of the
> X. I would tend to say Y-101 will go the way of WVGO and the
> Buzz, but what can Cox flip it to that:
>
> - Protects K-95 (NOTHING Country)
> - Protects the Planet (No oldies or the like)
> - Protects Mix 103-7 (No A.C. or 80's-90's)

A gut feeling tells me Cox will stick with Y until some kind of decision from the FCC, about them moving to 100.9, is made...

<center></center>

 

[vaboi83]

RICHMOND NEW DIAL

91.1 Henrico Schools, plays Top 40 and should continue, more ppl listen and know about this station than u think. a bigger singal would work 2, on the west side of Henrico the signal is weak (Short Pump area)
But change the name from Mix 91.1 especailly w. Mix 1037, how about Hot 911, or Hits 911,

92.1 Keep this station the same it is working just fine

93.1 the WOLF - Stay as country, but get a better singal. Sometimes it comes in great then others it sucks. More promtion, I never see them out in Richmond

94.5 - Q94 - keep Q 94 the same but do add some more hip hop that comes into pop radio. Get rid of Carson Daily who is on the air weekday nights from 11pm-mid. IT is the same songs every night and get a Top 8 at 8 like the old days, or Top 9 at 9 (online 9 at 9 like the old days or online 8 at 8, etc u get the point). Make a flashback lunch everyday or do the High Energy Lunch Hour like the old days and play more flashbacks on flashback friday. You can hear a sweep of music w. no flashbacks. ALso do a different Free Ride on Friday night from 5pm-8pm, keep it flashback but get some better songs on it, and then at 8pm do a mix show on Friday night. Q94 has no mix show and a CHR/pop needs a good mix show. Some even do one after the clubs close at 2 on Friday/Saturday night, the station in Atlanta calls is AfterQ (Q100)

95.3 - keep, seems to be working fine.

96.5 Well i do not listen here, but I hear they are relaxed, maybe go classic hits instead of rock or change up the playlist then and do not be relaxed

96.9 Promote in Richmond, u have a great signal here, and the ppl that listen do talk about u being better than 96.5

97.3 Well a bigger signal would help and programs that do not sound like crap.

98.1 It is working, why change here. The only thing I might do is a local night show w/ local reqests and dedications instead of Dilah.

98.9 Whoever owns this, or will own it has alot of options.
Option 1: CHR/RHY, everyone talks about the old Hot 993 here, even though the signal was bad they would listen cause it was better than 921 and 1065. And the ratings did well, but I understand why Radio one killed it....it was hurting 921. A CHR/RHY will also make Q94 add more hip hop to their playlist.
Option 2: A Hot AC and do it well, then Q will have to decide to go more Hot AC or hop hop, but we need a HOT AC and better than B 103 did.
Option 3: a Jack/Bob FM and do 80's to today
- there could be more options

99.3 keep w/ 1057, add more urban oldies

100.3 - keep w/ 1073 but how about say Oldies 1073 and 1003 not just Oldies 1073

101.1 - Get rid or the awful Rock they play and the DJ's.
If 98.9 goes CHR/RHY then make their sister 1037 the HOT AC or a better AC station and make this one Jazz,
Option 2- This one AC/Hot AC/modern AC, whtever Mix 1037 is not (Entercom Norfolk has AC and Modern AC and it works)

But if 98.9 goes HOT AC or Bob/Jack then no question 101.1 should go CHR/RHY

102.1 - keep rock but be more like DC 101 in DC or FM 99 in Hampton Roads. Get rid or Loveline that show is soooooo OLD NOW, and get a bigger playlist but that will happen if it changes to a DC 101 or FM 99

103.7 - Get rid of the liner cards, be REAL RADIO !!! Get a much bigger playlist. You can hear the same songs ALL THE TIME. B 103 was so much better. Do better imaging/jingles 2....IT IS WAY TOO LONG. maybe even become HOT AC or bob/jack format but do it like Mix 1073 did it in DC. Some examlpe stations would be Mix 1073 DC, Mix 1015 Raleigh, B 1015 in Federicksburg, VA, Mix 1065 in B-more, 2WD in Norfolk.

104.7 - stay gospel, only one in town

105.7 - see 993

106.5 - MOre mix shows, and better mix shows, go less R & b, more Hip Hop, have a mix show both Friday and Saturday night and extend to the moring hours after the club closes for the "afterparty" and if 98.9 does not go CHR/RHY then make this station do that and still make more/better mix shows (but do it slowly not at once)

107.3- see 1003

Summary on names:

"Hot 911, Richmond's Hottest Music", or "Hits 911, Richmond's Hit Music Station"

"Blazin Hip Hop, Power 921 Jamz"

"931 the Wolf, Country That Rocks"

"All the Hits Q94"

"Today's and Yesterday Best Country K95"

"Classic Rock 965 the Planet" or "Classic Hits 965 the Planet"

"Richmond and Federicksburg Classic Rock Station, 969 the Bear" (yes i changed the name, not format)

"Richmond's Public Station 97.3 WRIR"

"YOur At Work Station, Lite 98"

If 98.9 goes CHR/RHY and Mix 911 does not take the HOT name then "Richmond's Hip Hop HOT 989" or "Richmond's Hip Hop HOT 99"- if there was a HOT then "Richmond's # 1 Party station PARTY 99", "Richmond's Energy Station, Energy 99", "Richmond's Wildest Station, Wild 99" (i'm goign w. 99 cause tof Lite 98 and Party 989 does sound as good)
If it is HOT AC then "989 the Point" "L 989" "989 RICH-FM"
If it is Bob/Jack then "989 Bob /Jack/Rich-FM"

"1057 and 993 Kiss FM"

"Oldies 1073 and 1003"

101.1 - if it goes CHR/RHY then see 98.9 for names, if ti goes anykind of AC see 98.9 also - or keep the name Y101, and make it "the New Y101" (96X did that when they went CHR/POP for a while in Norfolk keeping the X in the name)

"Richmond's Rock Station, 1021 the X"

1037 - no matter what kind of AC format Keep the name Mix "mix 1037" goes good w/ call letters WMXB

"Praise 1047"

"The Cap's City # 1 for Hip Hop and R & B 1065 the Beat"

 

[stevehendrix]

Re: How to fix Richmond Radio....X vs. Y

Ah....relax Bopst. Take a couple of deep breaths. Don't beat up stations by name.

Radio Rule #1: Don't burn your bridges.

Regarding "Sunday nights? Who wants Sunday nights? Isn't that the
wasteland?"

ALL of radio is a wasteland. You never know from one minute to the next who is tuned in and how they interpret what you're doing. In a car, full of people, each and every one of them will hear you and interpret you differently. How you use it to your advantage is the secret. AM, FM, Morning drive, Middays, Afternoon drive, Nights, Overnights, Weekends....what are YOU going to do with it? The answer: EVERYTHING you possibly can.

Sunday nights is a opportunity to aircheck your entire show for a promotional tape/cd. A Sunday nite gig on any AM/FM is special, because your listeners are the ones who REALLY want to hear you. Not the weekday drive to work/home crowd.

I noticed you didn't reply to my previous post to you on this string. I'd still love to see some wedding pix!

Cheers!
<P ID="signature">______________
Steve Shannon WELK,WINA
Steve Hendrix WRVQ,WRNL,WLEE
Starr Stevens WROV,WXIL,WKEE
The Real Steve Kelly WGH,WZCL,WLTY
Kelly Wayne WTVR,WKEZ
www.wrovhistory.com
</P>

 

[avalone]

Re: RICHMOND NEW DIAL

> 91.1 Henrico Schools, plays Top 40 and should continue, more
> ppl listen and know about this station than u think. a
> bigger singal would work 2, on the west side of Henrico the
> signal is weak (Short Pump area)
> But change the name from Mix 91.1 especailly w. Mix 1037,
> how about Hot 911, or Hits 911,
>
> 92.1 Keep this station the same it is working just fine
>
> 93.1 the WOLF - Stay as country, but get a better singal.
> Sometimes it comes in great then others it sucks. More
> promtion, I never see them out in Richmond
>
> 94.5 - Q94 - keep Q 94 the same but do add some more hip hop
> that comes into pop radio. Get rid of Carson Daily who is
> on the air weekday nights from 11pm-mid. IT is the same
> songs every night and get a Top 8 at 8 like the old days, or
> Top 9 at 9 (online 9 at 9 like the old days or online 8 at
> 8, etc u get the point). Make a flashback lunch everyday or
> do the High Energy Lunch Hour like the old days and play
> more flashbacks on flashback friday. You can hear a sweep of
> music w. no flashbacks. ALso do a different Free Ride on
> Friday night from 5pm-8pm, keep it flashback but get some
> better songs on it, and then at 8pm do a mix show on Friday
> night. Q94 has no mix show and a CHR/pop needs a good mix
> show. Some even do one after the clubs close at 2 on
> Friday/Saturday night, the station in Atlanta calls is
> AfterQ (Q100)
>
> 95.3 - keep, seems to be working fine.
>
> 96.5 Well i do not listen here, but I hear they are
> relaxed, maybe go classic hits instead of rock or change up
> the playlist then and do not be relaxed
>
> 96.9 Promote in Richmond, u have a great signal here, and
> the ppl that listen do talk about u being better than 96.5
>
> 97.3 Well a bigger signal would help and programs that do
> not sound like crap.
>
> 98.1 It is working, why change here. The only thing I might
> do is a local night show w/ local reqests and dedications
> instead of Dilah.
>
> 98.9 Whoever owns this, or will own it has alot of options.
>
> Option 1: CHR/RHY, everyone talks about the old Hot 993
> here, even though the signal was bad they would listen cause
> it was better than 921 and 1065. And the ratings did well,
> but I understand why Radio one killed it....it was hurting
> 921. A CHR/RHY will also make Q94 add more hip hop to their
> playlist.
> Option 2: A Hot AC and do it well, then Q will have to
> decide to go more Hot AC or hop hop, but we need a HOT AC
> and better than B 103 did.
> Option 3: a Jack/Bob FM and do 80's to today
> - there could be more options
>
> 99.3 keep w/ 1057, add more urban oldies
>
> 100.3 - keep w/ 1073 but how about say Oldies 1073 and 1003
> not just Oldies 1073
>
> 101.1 - Get rid or the awful Rock they play and the DJ's.
> If 98.9 goes CHR/RHY then make their sister 1037 the HOT AC
> or a better AC station and make this one Jazz,
> Option 2- This one AC/Hot AC/modern AC, whtever Mix 1037 is
> not (Entercom Norfolk has AC and Modern AC and it works)
>
> But if 98.9 goes HOT AC or Bob/Jack then no question 101.1
> should go CHR/RHY
>
> 102.1 - keep rock but be more like DC 101 in DC or FM 99 in
> Hampton Roads. Get rid or Loveline that show is soooooo OLD
> NOW, and get a bigger playlist but that will happen if it
> changes to a DC 101 or FM 99
>
> 103.7 - Get rid of the liner cards, be REAL RADIO !!! Get a
> much bigger playlist. You can hear the same songs ALL THE
> TIME. B 103 was so much better. Do better imaging/jingles
> 2....IT IS WAY TOO LONG. maybe even become HOT AC or
> bob/jack format but do it like Mix 1073 did it in DC. Some
> examlpe stations would be Mix 1073 DC, Mix 1015 Raleigh, B
> 1015 in Federicksburg, VA, Mix 1065 in B-more, 2WD in
> Norfolk.
>
> 104.7 - stay gospel, only one in town
>
> 105.7 - see 993
>
> 106.5 - MOre mix shows, and better mix shows, go less R & b,
> more Hip Hop, have a mix show both Friday and Saturday night
> and extend to the moring hours after the club closes for the
> "afterparty" and if 98.9 does not go CHR/RHY then make this
> station do that and still make more/better mix shows (but do
> it slowly not at once)
>
> 107.3- see 1003
>
> Summary on names:
>
> "Hot 911, Richmond's Hottest Music", or "Hits 911,
> Richmond's Hit Music Station"
>
> "Blazin Hip Hop, Power 921 Jamz"
>
> "931 the Wolf, Country That Rocks"
>
> "All the Hits Q94"
>
> "Today's and Yesterday Best Country K95"
>
> "Classic Rock 965 the Planet" or "Classic Hits 965 the
> Planet"
>
> "Richmond and Federicksburg Classic Rock Station, 969 the
> Bear" (yes i changed the name, not format)
>
> "Richmond's Public Station 97.3 WRIR"
>
> "YOur At Work Station, Lite 98"
>
> If 98.9 goes CHR/RHY and Mix 911 does not take the HOT name
> then "Richmond's Hip Hop HOT 989" or "Richmond's Hip Hop HOT
> 99"- if there was a HOT then "Richmond's # 1 Party station
> PARTY 99", "Richmond's Energy Station, Energy 99",
> "Richmond's Wildest Station, Wild 99" (i'm goign w. 99 cause
> tof Lite 98 and Party 989 does sound as good)
> If it is HOT AC then "989 the Point" "L 989" "989 RICH-FM"
> If it is Bob/Jack then "989 Bob /Jack/Rich-FM"
>
> "1057 and 993 Kiss FM"
>
> "Oldies 1073 and 1003"
>
> 101.1 - if it goes CHR/RHY then see 98.9 for names, if ti
> goes anykind of AC see 98.9 also - or keep the name Y101,
> and make it "the New Y101" (96X did that when they went
> CHR/POP for a while in Norfolk keeping the X in the name)
>
> "Richmond's Rock Station, 1021 the X"
>
> 1037 - no matter what kind of AC format Keep the name Mix
> "mix 1037" goes good w/ call letters WMXB
>
> "Praise 1047"
>
> "The Cap's City # 1 for Hip Hop and R & B 1065 the Beat"
>
i Can Hear 969 Fine Here In Powhatan, and Your right About If They Promoted Here In Richmond Like 3WV Can Be Herd Here Prety Good As Well