jack-FM:

[Radio_bored-Op]

I am being Sincere w/ this Post:

- why doesn't the JACK format reeeely work...??? here in buffalo:

(A) it plays a little some thing for everyone. yes, while it
is "all over the place" and if u catch the tail end of a song,(you dont like)
one most likely will enjoy the next hit, *OR may be the reason you de-program
92.9 from the preset(AGAIN)...but, most of the time, the tail end
of a song, you may not like, but as a guilty pleasure, or
just forced to being subjected to some thing like, "ice,ice baby"
(for example) the last verse, you are singing along (alone) too,
and before you know it, the next song hits ya! and it is some thing ,
chances are - will LIKE since jack-FM's are the bi-Polar format! from one
to the other at the flip of a switch, haha.
(going from guns-n-roses, to eric clapton(unplugged) and after that, n'sync.)

( B) the iPod on FM:
as stated above, it isn't the top 10@10 + 10, it really is a deeper playlist...
which is always the number one arguement..."why do stations "OVERPLAY"
the same songs"? as if, there is ONE CHR station to serve the New England states.

(C) the DJ:
since most people will listen to their fave. station,
and as SOON as the DJ does the tag line
"...today's best music, xxxFM, " the *AVERAGE* listener will
flip the dial, either in their mind, saying "blah,blah," or thinking
outloud, wow, the same stuff over and over - the DJ never
says any thing new - which is a valid statement, because
the opening "liner" is always the same, during that book-or campaign.
>
Or, the dj's "so called" useless chatter, is prelude to a commercial,
so before that happens *FLIP * the dial.

NOW, jack FM, uses an OBVIOUS pre-Recorded TALENT
to VOICE OVER, where people know when that BIG ID VOICE GUY says...

" june 21, welcome to summer, only xxx's of days until Winter!, 92.9 Jack FM"
>(feel free to steal that if u wish : )<

listeners know the punchline is coming, and comin' fast !

ok, so an ipod-playlist which is favorable, and NO "annoying" dj's...
-
yes, that makes it difficult to have a career, and it bites when
there arent any traffic updates when you want them, which
may be the reason, PEOPLE have learned to flip during drive time,(or morning show)
but.. .. just chillin' in the afternoon, or at work, I CANT SEE how JACK FM can fail ?

-music, music, and More music!
no human element involved to TURN OFF anyone....what offends
some one, is making another pee their pants, laughing...with out
that element of chance, let the music speak for itself.

soo.....why doesnt it slam out numbers that would
set the world on fire...? i really am curious, so make
fun at my entry-level post if u must, but at the same
time , answer my question. thanks!

- i know, it is boring radio, yes, but it is safe,
even for the unpredictable playlist, it has a
very deliberate formula: ( and is programmed to be successful)

music,music,funny liner, commercial,funny liner, music,music and more music.

-on paper, that looks like a winner to me!

 

[SirRoxalot]

Winners and Losers

At the risk of being simplistic, here's the short answer...

People prefer to relate to other live people, not a machine. Jack is a machine. Stations that have live, personable, relatable talent on the air that delivers information and/or entertainment should - and do - beat jack. Good jocks don't "chatter". Good jocks find a way to entertain.

And, Jack isn't doing badly in its target demographics, which appear to be 25-49 men. It's relatively cost-effective. Is it as successful as that big signal should be? Maybe not, but Regent has much bigger problems with WJYE at the moment and is like to let Jack ride until that problem is resolved.

 

[Radio_bored-Op]

fair enough, that is what i was looking for - an answer,
if short cuts it, cool by me :

only thing - there are "*REAL*" people at the remotes,
happy hours, friday 'hot-spots' so the station has
"people" just not on the aire, and i know that sounds...
*ugh!* but, to the avg. listener, it is almost more fun
to hear the 'same ol' canned recordings, of what SOUNDs
like ( or really maybe actual recordings) of listeners -

(during the playoff run) "...this is stephen, from pominville, "
or, "Heather, from wheatfield, and jack FM is my.............., totally awesome fave. station"!

-
i do agree:
it is MORE EXCITING to know a warm body is on the other end;
but in this day and age, some/most people are eager to flip...
to SOME THING entertaining, the song *barely* ends before
the listener's needs to be entertained are being served....again.

i also "know" what you mean, it is FAR more EXCITING to
have some one put a "hot mic" on the line, and see where
they take you - either drive one nuts, and make them leave
the station, or have a listener hurry thru the song, to
hear THEIR "DJ" ( again, identifying w/ a real person)....

i just thought, for a moment, that the JACK-fm franchise,
is the NEW era of radio, and if done right could work

 

[SirRoxalot]

New Era (Not the Cap Company)

i just thought, for a moment, that the JACK-fm franchise,
is the NEW era of radio, and if done right could work

In my mind, live and local is the future of terrestrial radio. It can provide content that syndication and automation can't, if programmers will only let entertaining people entertain.

 

[Yeziknoradio]

Re: New Era (Not the Cap Company)

i just thought, for a moment, that the JACK-fm franchise,
is the NEW era of radio, and if done right could work

In my mind, live and local is the future of terrestrial radio. It can provide content that syndication and automation can't, if programmers will only let entertaining people entertain.

Exactly.
People don't want to hear an automated voice saying "Your iPod is now jealous..."
They want to hear something that reminds them of good reasons to have the ear glued to the radio instead of their ipod.

However, in today's changing times, it may become increasingly difficult to find ways to gain and maintain the attention of the average ipod/internet user.

Instead, the solution *may* be to be automated and go after the lower class that can not afford an iPod.
More ads for Liquidation stores, and less ads for Bloomingdales/Macys.

However, this thinking does make me wonder what Jack will do when the iPod prices crash as the newer models come out...

 

[ThePickleReport]

I think JACK-FM works fine---it's doing what is supposed to do. It's never going to be a top 5 station anyway 12+. It's arguably more successful than anything else they have had on 92.9 in the past 10 years.

 

[therealjm12]

Jack -FM probably does work fine in Buffalo for now and you are right it will never be a top 5 station. But the problem in Buffalo is that it is on a huge signal. It probably would do exactly what it is doing now on a good class A. 92.9 is such a waste and seems to have been a waste thru most of its history from what I read on this board. There is no need for me to listen to it. I have a CD changer in my car so when I want music I play what I want when I want. I don't have to listen to a bunch of crap I don't like or stuff I have never heard before and hope I never hear again.
Ok, I am in the biz but my views shouldn't held against because of that. I WANT TO BE ENTERTAINED ON THE RADIO!!!!!. I don't care if it is on AM or FM. I want to laugh, be informed, and be surprised by some great music and personalties. As I drive down the road I want to be involved with the radio. I don't want predictable radio - Jack, Bob, Fred, Fickle, they are all the same and exist simply to just cut costs. They have no other function, period.
Face it, the kids are listening to their I-Pods not Jack. Older people want a warm sounding friend on the radio.
In NYC CBS gutted one of the most successful stations in the country and put on JACK. They could have put JACK on the failing WNEW. This has now been shown to be one of the great blunders of all time. In L. A. they put Jack on a Failing station and have come out all right in the deal. So I guess what my point is Jack will work ok as a cost saving measure on a small station or a duct tape temporary repair job on a major station. Unless some inovations are made in Jack it has no future.

 

[Radio_bored-Op]

i disagree:

(Professionally, i differ from the opinion u expressed below)

Unless some inovations are made in Jack it has no future...
-
SERIOUSLY* who wants, to hear some 'jack-ass' who wont hold
u from song end, to commercial break...yes, a better talent
is a strong arguement, still - i think an ipod-FM station, with a listener having
no control, and being 'delighted/surprised' by the jack-fm "next song"
is a novelity that works. furthermore, it also plays the music...
nothing else. while a strong drawback is *yawn* there is not any
thing done, that can upset, or offend a listener.

do i listen to jack @ 92.9 ? no.

but when i do, i am lured into about 3 or songs or so.. simply
for the "what can they possibly play next ? " i will tune in
until it hits a commercial. it is a fast set of commericials,
or i am not paying attn, and it is back to the music, i may
stick around for a one or two more 'hits'
(versus, a "better" station, with a format) where i get bored of
the same songs ( as in 98, playing different artists, but all sounding the same)...
or, tuning into 106.5, and hearing the "one song" i know..at least w/ jack/929
u definately arent bored, *right away*

 

[Ron_Mexico]

Actually Jack has already become a Top 5 station in the advertising popular 25-54 demo. At least that was the rumor I heard. So somebody is obviously listening.

 

[Yeziknoradio]

Actually Jack has already become a Top 5 station in the advertising popular 25-54 demo. At least that was the rumor I heard. So somebody is obviously listening.

TWO WORDS: Three E's.

I have to agree. Without that, there will be a problem down the road...