If trends were really indicators

[jetfli]

If trends were really indicators, the Venus has hit the Fan, and knocked it (but not by much) out of first place as Nashville radio station most in need of a format change. They need to bail out of this format before any more damage is done.

So the awards for the stations most in need of a better use for its signal goes to:

1. Venus
2. Fan
3. Lightning

(Can anyone make a sentence using all 3?)

The awards for the stations most in need of an overhaul goes to:

1. 92Q (needs some freshness)
2. KDF (needs some excitement)

The award for the station most needing to understand listeners' opinions of a station are built around 24/7 programming, not just its drive times:

The Zone

I maintain that if they polished their all-day image, they'd finally crack the top 10 overall.

 

[ChrisPC]

> So the awards for the stations most in need of a better use
> for its signal goes to:
>
> 1. Venus
> 2. Fan
> 3. Lightning
>
> (Can anyone make a sentence using all 3?)

Venus needs to get more Fans, Lightning-fast!

 

[courier37027]

> If trends were really indicators, the Venus has hit the Fan,
> and knocked it (but not by much) out of first place as
> Nashville radio station most in need of a format change.
> They need to bail out of this format before any more damage
> is done.
>
> So the awards for the stations most in need of a better use
> for its signal goes to:
>
> 1. Venus
> 2. Fan
> 3. Lightning
>
> (Can anyone make a sentence using all 3?)
>
> The awards for the stations most in need of an overhaul goes
> to:
>
> 1. 92Q (needs some freshness)
> 2. KDF (needs some excitement)



>
> The award for the station most needing to understand
> listeners' opinions of a station are built around 24/7
> programming, not just its drive times:
>
> The Zone
>
> I maintain that if they polished their all-day image, they'd
> finally crack the top 10 overall.

I thought 92Q made a change hiring Kenny Smooth and Princess Ivory. Their music rotation seems less disco era r&b and more mid-80's/early-90's (Cameo, Bobby Brown, etc.) as their power gold music.

Lightning 100 is using a "new sound" slogan. They dropped Sue Wilkinson (the English accent voice) from their image of 15 years and now use a man's voice for ID's, maintenance, image, etc. I thought The Phoenix was a good idea and Lightning could adopt more of that genre. My thought is Lightning 100 is trying to be something between SM95 of old and NPR with music. Retro is a solid weekend program. Lightning may be handcuffed in its power and range by 100.3 FM in Hopkinsville.

106.7 The Fan: why was ESPN Radio so coveted? WSM-AM passed on the format years ago. And just six hours programming per day is local. The ratings are not reflective of a good business decision (so far). Bring back 106.7 The Planet: born 1997, died 1998.

 

[Gusdog]

> The award for the station most needing to understand
> listeners' opinions of a station are built around 24/7
> programming, not just its drive times:
>
> The Zone
>
> I maintain that if they polished their all-day image, they'd
> finally crack the top 10 overall.
>

This is really about Rome, and I know most of the folks on this board don't like Rome, there are a lot of people who do. I couldn't stand him at first, but I've grown to really enjoy his show.

The Zone has too many live sporting events to really do anything locally after Plaster & Co. They might be able to do better than Fox Sports, but how much difference would a different national affiliation make? Unless it was ESPN, I don't think it would be drastic. And the only reason I think ESPN makes any difference is because people love the brand so much that they name their kids after it; I don't even know what ESPN runs at night.

The 10-11 hour and the 2-3 hour are really awkward to fill, though I think they've done a pretty decent job with the 2-3 hour. And as much grief as GFX has taken on this board (especially from NSSB) for the Zone Replay hour, I've found myself listening to it over The Sports Brunch. It's not the best alternative, but I don't think it's as bad as it has been made out to be.

I guess I'm a Zone apologist, though that's not really my intent. I'm just a listener, and don't have any loyalty to them other than the facts that I can't find anything I'd rather listen to most of the time. I think they do a really good job. The drive time shows are the best sports talk in town, and I think they do pretty well the rest of the time.

 

[NotSoSilentBob]

> Lightning 100 is using a "new sound" slogan. They dropped
> Sue Wilkinson (the English accent voice) from their image of
> 15 years and now use a man's voice for ID's, maintenance,
> image, etc.


They didn't "drop" Sue Wilkinson. Unfortunately, she passed away last year. Out of respect for her, they decided not to pick up another British female voice, but go the complete opposite route and let a man do it.<P ID="signature">______________
Bob
Moderator, Nashville board
Radio-Info.com--Always Tuned In

"I don't spread rumors, but I sometimes make outrageous speculations with no factual basis."</P>

 

[courier37027]

> > Lightning 100 is using a "new sound" slogan. They dropped
>
> > Sue Wilkinson (the English accent voice) from their image
> of
> > 15 years and now use a man's voice for ID's, maintenance,
> > image, etc.
>
>
> They didn't "drop" Sue Wilkinson. Unfortunately, she passed
> away last year. Out of respect for her, they decided not to
> pick up another British female voice, but go the complete
> opposite route and let a man do it.
>

Thanks. I was not aware of her passing, but knew she was pursuing an acting career out west. I remember Ms. Wilkinson as part of the morning Lightning team with Jim Escue long ago. May she rest in peace.

 

[NotSoSilentBob]

> Thanks. I was not aware of her passing, but knew she was
> pursuing an acting career out west. I remember Ms.
> Wilkinson as part of the morning Lightning team with Jim
> Escue long ago. May she rest in peace.

By the way, the new male voice is that of St. Louis-based Tom Calhoun.<P ID="signature">______________
Bob
Moderator, Nashville board
Radio-Info.com--Always Tuned In

"I don't spread rumors, but I sometimes make outrageous speculations with no factual basis."</P>

 

[jetfli]

> This is really about Rome, and I know most of the folks on
> this board don't like Rome, there are a lot of people who
> do. I couldn't stand him at first, but I've grown to really
> enjoy his show.
>
> The Zone has too many live sporting events to really do
> anything locally after Plaster & Co. They might be able to
> do better than Fox Sports, but how much difference would a
> different national affiliation make? Unless it was ESPN, I
> don't think it would be drastic.
>
> I guess I'm a Zone apologist, though that's not really my
> intent.

Now don't get me wrong, most of the radio I listen to is the Zone, as it's my personal preference when I'm not listening to other stations for my work. I like their local shows and all the live games. But I quit being a Zone apologist myself because I realize they're in a must-carry situation with Rome & Fox, so it doesn't do much good for me to keep carrying on about how I can't stand those shows. I just won't listen to 'em. And besides, the trades indicate there are some relationships being established with the ABC sale that will eventually bring ESPN to the station instead.

But for the present, my beef is there's is almost no synergy and no continuity in the Zone's day-in, day-out, on-air sound. It's like their programming is just a collection of shows and games that happen to air on the same sports station. There's really very little to link the two drive shows to each other, much less a 24/7 lineup. By "polishing their all-day image" I'm refering to both on-air imaging and off-air image.

Off-air they need to get their branding together. Their website is a mess. It would be great if they had the same clean, crisp look as the billboards on the website. They've used so many different slogans even recently. They need to pick one and hammer it.

I say these things because I'm a listener.

 

[jetfli]

> Bring back 106.7 The Planet: born 1997, died 1998.

By today's market, that would seem to me to be one of the best choices they could make. Maybe The Planet was simply ahead of its time.

 

[Gusdog]

> Now don't get me wrong, most of the radio I listen to is the
> Zone, as it's my personal preference when I'm not listening
> to other stations for my work. I like their local shows and
> all the live games. But I quit being a Zone apologist myself
> because I realize they're in a must-carry situation with
> Rome & Fox, so it doesn't do much good for me to keep
> carrying on about how I can't stand those shows. I just
> won't listen to 'em. And besides, the trades indicate there
> are some relationships being established with the ABC sale
> that will eventually bring ESPN to the station instead.
>
> But for the present, my beef is there's is almost no synergy
> and no continuity in the Zone's day-in, day-out, on-air
> sound. It's like their programming is just a collection of
> shows and games that happen to air on the same sports
> station. There's really very little to link the two drive
> shows to each other, much less a 24/7 lineup. By "polishing
> their all-day image" I'm refering to both on-air imaging and
> off-air image.
>
> Off-air they need to get their branding together. Their
> website is a mess. It would be great if they had the same
> clean, crisp look as the billboards on the website. They've
> used so many different slogans even recently. They need to
> pick one and hammer it.
>
> I say these things because I'm a listener.

I do agree with you about the website. It looks like an afterthought. I just saw the billboards for the first time today, and they look pretty good, but they certainly could use more.

As far as on-air imaging, I don't think I pay as much attention as someone who works in the business would. It probably does need some work, though it seems fine to me. But I would defer to you on that one.

 

[theradioman]

Jetfli is dead on about the Zone. nothing holds the station together. branding is awful. their producers are board ops. their program director walks around the building all day with a collection of schedules. with half an ass of purpose, continuity and strategy, 106-7 and 560 would be less than gnats. right now, the zone leaves both barely in the game.

 

[NotSoSilentBob]

Who is the PD there nowadays? Is it still Jay Walker?<P ID="signature">______________
Bob
Moderator, Nashville board
Radio-Info.com--Always Tuned In

"I don't spread rumors, but I sometimes make outrageous speculations with no factual basis."</P>

 

[bloglover]

> Who is the PD there nowadays? Is it still Jay Walker?
>
Darren McFarland has had the PD on a couple of times. His name is Kent Bailey. As to radioman's reference to the producers at the zone, it seems that both the morning show and afternoon show think highly of Paul Bible and Angie Smith as they are mentioned quite often by the hosts.

 

[theradioman]

it's not a producer's job to be thought of highly by the host -- the producer's job is to produce -- and help direct the talent. to tell the talent when he/she has gone on too long.