Let's talk about WECK's 3.6 share Oct Book...

[davideduardo]

The title of this thread (and all the other WECK threads) tell you all you need to know about Buddy's character. Other Radio "professionals" aren't constantly posting in this forum seeking praise. Nielsen probably doesn't care how Buddy spells their name as long as they get money from him.

And how many operators in the entire country are doing what Buddy is doing?

Buddy is making what appears to be a successful effort to program to a senior audience with a local station that was worth about what a nice single family home costs. He added translators, a local marketing effort and a strong local sales effort with direct accounts and local agencies.

His station is live with identifiable talent for an audience that cares about live talent.

This is a model that should be tried in every market. Yet all he gets here is snarky criticism for trying to make a lesser facility work by programming to a 50+ audience.

 

[davideduardo]

I wonder... were I to be a fly on the wall of, say, the top 10 radio stations in Buffalo, New York... would I hear a legitimate/meaningful concern over business being lost to, or not obtained because of, WECK?

I'm sure the few stations that are strong in 35+ are quite concerned, mostly because Buddy has very strong sales relationships in the market and is likely taking money off the table.

 

[Buddy Shula]

Since WECK is a top ten now and number 7 35 plus, I can tell you with certainty that we are taking local direct dollars out of the market and the clusters know it. In addition , we combine radio sales, with TV and billboards. Pretty good proposition for the local advertisers. I think David has got a good understanding who we seem to be dealing with in this board. I’m done talking. Let the results of my company do the talking. Meanwhile, I’ll be buying when the rest are selling. And be listening for our new and biggest FM translator in Q1. Otherwise, I’m done with the board. I have a job to do in providing great local content and leading my team, and growing my company. You won’t have to worry about me on this board anymore. I am taking time off There are obviously some good broadcasting posters, but many more jealous, bitter wannabes. I sincerely hope you like what you are hearing on WECK, but for my health, I have to get off this board, just like I got off Facebook. Just a time waster. Happy holidays folks. You can now judge WECK on your own , with no insight from me on what is really happening. Thank you Frank and David. I wish more real broadcasters actually participated here. WECK is now on the verge of becoming a national industry story. I hope you are paying attention, posters. Try to smile. Try to be in the corner of people that care.

 

[tbolt909]

And how many operators in the entire country are doing what Buddy is doing?

Buddy is making what appears to be a successful effort to program to a senior audience with a local station that was worth about what a nice single family home costs. He added translators, a local marketing effort and a strong local sales effort with direct accounts and local agencies.

His station is live with identifiable talent for an audience that cares about live talent.

This is a model that should be tried in every market. Yet all he gets here is snarky criticism for trying to make a lesser facility work by programming to a 50+ audience.

Your posts in other markets don't match your statement here. You have scoffed at people who suggest that formats aimed at upper demos are viable. You beat the drum of "Ad Agencies Don't want 55+", or "It's too hard to get a sale", "Nobody likes The Beatles", "Doesn't work with PPM", etc...
You have mocked Sebastian's WOW Factor. (I personally think the format is poor). It's great that WECK can succeed as an "Oldies" station using the Oldies name. You call it Toxic to advertisers on other forums.

Is it only small Mom & Pop operations that can program for upper demos? A well programmed AAA format could attract adults who want more than just the Golden Oldies. I'm talking about people in the 35-65 range. It requires effort which is something that corporate radio does not want to invest in. They are in "Wither and Die" mode. Entercom is slashing in every market. Radio is not relevant to many potential listeners because much of the current programming sucks. They have moved on long ago...

 

[davideduardo]

Your posts in other markets don't match your statement here. You have scoffed at people who suggest that formats aimed at upper demos are viable. You beat the drum of "Ad Agencies Don't want 55+", or "It's too hard to get a sale", "Nobody likes The Beatles", "Doesn't work with PPM", etc...
You have mocked Sebastian's WOW Factor. (I personally think the format is poor). It's great that WECK can succeed as an "Oldies" station using the Oldies name. You call it Toxic to advertisers on other forums.

Is it only small Mom & Pop operations that can program for upper demos? A well programmed AAA format could attract adults who want more than just the Golden Oldies. I'm talking about people in the 35-65 range. It requires effort which is something that corporate radio does not want to invest in. They are in "Wither and Die" mode. Entercom is slashing in every market. Radio is not relevant to many potential listeners because much of the current programming sucks. They have moved on long ago...

First, the WOW Factor is a bizarre format on a very rimshot signal in a very young and highly ethnic market. My objection is not to the ideal of building a station focused on older demos, but one which goes from "White Rabbit" to "Here in the Real Word". And Sebastian has a history of strange formats, going back to EOR, which he had, unsuccessfully, on another Phoenix ultra-rimshot and a similar rimshot in WPB.

National and regional ad agencies do not like and do not buy 55 and over audiences. That is a fairly immutable condition.

But Buddy is showing that locally operated stations with strong relationships among advertisers and local ad agencies can work. This is pretty much a first. But the model of local management, familiar local talent and a community that tends to be older and stable appears to be working. But this is pretty much the first case of this being successful.

To the contrary, stations under group ownership ranging from WHLI on Long Island to KIXI in Seattle that have done senior-focused format are dead (WHLI) or fairly unproductive. Other very mature audience stations like Cox's WDUV have been unable to monetize good numbers and have shifted to much younger format variants. Suburban ones like WMTR outside NYC have been on long revenue declines. Other start-ups like Saul Levine's gold-based AM in LA are admittedly "not even able to pay the light bill". And the strange FrankenFM ME-FM in Chicago gets little sales and looks more like a promotion for the TV operation.

The situation here is that Buddy took a position that nobody, self included, thought would work. But his combination of programming and strong connections to the advertising community in the market and ability to ignore national and regional agency transactional business has proven there is a model for this approach but it is one that demands a very special ownership / management situation.

This type of station does not seem viable within group clusters. Sellers will peddle the easy to sell stations, and this is not an easy sell. In a cluster, sellers won't make the extra effort when they can make more in less time selling the "big" formats with bigger numbers. It takes a single-station focus for this to work, apparently. And that is because the real issue is not programming, but sales.

As to AAA, this is a format that just hasn't worked anywhere it has been launched in the last couple of decades and is only still working in a few markets where the station has firmly entrenched itself with local agencies and advertisers... Portland and Denver are examples. In most places, older AAA stations have flipped, and newer launches have not survived except for a few non-commercial stations (which have really small audiences for the most part).

 

[four4rock]

<snip>

But Buddy is showing that locally operated stations with strong relationships among advertisers and local ad agencies can work. This is pretty much a first. But the model of local management, familiar local talent and a community that tends to be older and stable appears to be working. But this is pretty much the first case of this being successful.

<snip>

This type of station does not seem viable within group clusters. Sellers will peddle the easy to sell stations, and this is not an easy sell. In a cluster, sellers won't make the extra effort when they can make more in less time selling the "big" formats with bigger numbers. It takes a single-station focus for this to work, apparently. And that is because the real issue is not programming, but sales.

<snip>

I think it would be more accurate to say that "But Buddy is claiming..." rather that "But Buddy is showing..." We don't REALLY know, do we? There are countless examples of businesses that APPEAR to be doing well, only to be realized to have been suffering (many to the point of outright insolvent failure) all the while. Simple "foot traffic" alone - which, I suppose in radio is measured by ratings - doesn't tell the whole story... not by a long shot. Appearances can be (and many times are) deceptive... particularly when the appearance is generated by a so-called sales & marketing genius.

Also, given the repeated claims that additional stations will be bought to sister with WECK, one wonders how that "single-station focus" would play out. If it ever actually happens.

 

[Rusty Bridges]

Chet Musalowksi had the foresight to change the call letters from WNIA to WECK in the late 70s after purchasing the station from the estate of Gordon Brown. For those unaware, 'weck is the abbreviated name for the kummelweck roll on which roast beef is piled. "Beef on 'weck" is a Western New York staple which crosses generations. Chet's foresight to obtain the WECK call letters was pure genius. To this date, the highest ratings on the 1230 frequency came under Chet's ownership. WECK first attempted to do a Top 40 format using the slogan "WECK-the Roll that Rocks." But the format didn't take hold. Chet signed Al Hamm's Music of Your Life format and WECK became a winner, consistently scoring in the 5 to 7+ range Persons 12+ without any FM translator. The station owned Persons 55+ or 60+. Chet was an astute sales person, manager and promoter who knew how to sell and cater to that demographic. WECK staged regular seasonal dinner-dances that were sold out. IIRC, Chet sold WECK to CBS-Infinity when the consolidation boom hit. There very likely would be no "W-E-C-K" if not for Chet Musalowski.

 

[Buddy Shula]

I think it would be more accurate to say that "But Buddy is claiming..." rather that "But Buddy is showing..." We don't REALLY know, do we? There are countless examples of businesses that APPEAR to be doing well, only to be realized to have been suffering (many to the point of outright insolvent failure) all the while. Simple "foot traffic" alone - which, I suppose in radio is measured by ratings - doesn't tell the whole story... not by a long shot. Appearances can be (and many times are) deceptive... particularly when the appearance is generated by a so-called sales & marketing genius.

Also, given the repeated claims that additional stations will be bought to sister with WECK, one wonders how that "single-station focus" would play out. If it ever actually happens.

You are simply a dumb person. I can tell you with all certainty that WECK is in better financial shape than most other Buffalo Radio stations. Dude, 3.1, 3.7, 12 plus. The number speak for themselves. 50plus TIED with WHTT with a 6.1 share! FM translator #3 in March. A big one. Go back and keep guessing. The facts speak for themselves.

 

[Buddy Shula]

Chet Musalowksi had the foresight to change the call letters from WNIA to WECK in the late 70s after purchasing the station from the estate of Gordon Brown. For those unaware, 'weck is the abbreviated name for the kummelweck roll on which roast beef is piled. "Beef on 'weck" is a Western New York staple which crosses generations. Chet's foresight to obtain the WECK call letters was pure genius. To this date, the highest ratings on the 1230 frequency came under Chet's ownership. WECK first attempted to do a Top 40 format using the slogan "WECK-the Roll that Rocks." But the format didn't take hold. Chet signed Al Hamm's Music of Your Life format and WECK became a winner, consistently scoring in the 5 to 7+ range Persons 12+ without any FM translator. The station owned Persons 55+ or 60+. Chet was an astute sales person, manager and promoter who knew how to sell and cater to that demographic. WECK staged regular seasonal dinner-dances that were sold out. IIRC, Chet sold WECK to CBS-Infinity when the consolidation boom hit. There very likely would be no "W-E-C-K" if not for Chet Musalowski.

Your going back to to the 1980's for the success of WECK? Are you serious???? You know how many years ago that was?????? Do you know how much competition WECK had in the 80's???? None. No Pandora, No XM, No Alexa, No Spotify. You are delusional. WECK has a 3.7 share right now, a year into our oldies format. When we get translator 3, you will see the 5 to 7 share. Who gives a **** what Chet did almost 40 years ago????? How does effect us now. Send me a resume, so I can tell you to go wait tables at Alton's.

 

[davideduardo]

Send me a resume, so I can tell you to go wait tables at Alton's.

Waiter, bring me the Chicken Souvlak, please.

 

[Rusty Bridges]

The tribute to Chet Musalowski was intended as a historical perspective. Yet the current owner responded by lashing out at the post in typical hysterical manner. Why would this be? Perhaps because despite his success, he's insecure and craves attention and validation. Very sad, but not surprising. Don't wait for the resume, bud. I'd prefer to serve at Altons, which BTW, David, serves a mighty fine souvlaki. Greek.

 

[tbolt909]

Your going back to to the 1980's for the success of WECK? Are you serious???? You know how many years ago that was?????? Who gives a **** what Chet did almost 40 years ago????? How does effect us now.

Simple math = A 55 year old in 1985 is now 89(or not). Maybe Buddy can hire this Muskowloskieski guy to plan some dinner dance parties at the Lawrence Welk Last Breath Ballroom. WECK may not be getting the 6 shares of Yesteryear, but the ratings are respectable for 2019.

Buffalo really seems to wallow in nostalgia. The current incarnation of WECK even tries to "look back" with its lineup of veteran talent (Some doing old style Schtick). Many Radio listeners must think it still "is 1985". Some of the stations haven't updated their painfully stale playlists since the 80's...

 

[Rob Piotrowski]

Otherwise, I’m done with the board. I have a job to do in providing great local content and leading my team, and growing my company. You won’t have to worry about me on this board anymore. I am taking time off There are obviously some good broadcasting posters, but many more jealous, bitter wannabes. I sincerely hope you like what you are hearing on WECK, but for my health, I have to get off this board, just like I got off Facebook. Just a time waster. Happy holidays folks. You can now judge WECK on your own , with no insight from me on what is really happening. Thank you Frank and David. I wish more real broadcasters actually participated here. WECK is now on the verge of becoming a national industry story. I hope you are paying attention, posters. Try to smile. Try to be in the corner of people that care.

C’mon, Buddy. You’ll never be “done with this board” as long as you keep coming back to see what anonymous posters are saying about WECK. There’s a reason more “real broadcasters” don’t participate - same reason why Bill Belichick doesn’t share much info at Patriots press conferences: why give the competition the advantage?

 

[Buddy Shula]

C’mon, Buddy. You’ll never be “done with this board” as long as you keep coming back to see what anonymous posters are saying about WECK. There’s a reason more “real broadcasters” don’t participate - same reason why Bill Belichick doesn’t share much info at Patriots press conferences: why give the competition the advantage?

I actually agree with this. Good point Rob. For once, a post that is a very good insight. Yiu are very correct in this. For the record, I am a huge Belechek / Brady fan. My favorite team because they are winners. Thank you for this post.

 

[Element9]

This particular board seems to be one of the most active on the entire Radio Discussions website for markets its size. Quite likely half the people who post across these boards (all markets, including Buffalo-Niagara Falls-Rochester) presently work or have worked in media, that is, radio, television and advertising. The other half are radio fans, P1 listeners who listen to radio more closely than most others. They're like hockey or football fans who know the game. The average Joe or Jane doesn't give a fig about debating ratings, policy, rules and regulations, translators, DJs and formats. The posters here are not the average Joe or Jane. They revel in debate and opinion most likely because they've had some experience in the field. Some posters use monikers or pseudonyms to protect themselves and the information they reveal, or to protect the privacy of their friends who are still working. That happens to be my position.

 

[davideduardo]

This particular board seems to be one of the most active on the entire Radio Discussions website for markets its size. Quite likely half the people who post across these boards (all markets, including Buffalo-Niagara Falls-Rochester) presently work or have worked in media, that is, radio, television and advertising. The other half are radio fans, P1 listeners who listen to radio more closely than most others. They're like hockey or football fans who know the game. The average Joe or Jane doesn't give a fig about debating ratings, policy, rules and regulations, translators, DJs and formats. The posters here are not the average Joe or Jane. They revel in debate and opinion most likely because they've had some experience in the field. Some posters use monikers or pseudonyms to protect themselves and the information they reveal, or to protect the privacy of their friends who are still working. That happens to be my position.

Good analysis.

You are right. As I check nearly every board in my dual function as radio groupie and poster / board moderator, I'd say that this board is definitely among the top few. Others with a nice mix of radio industry folks and informed radio listeners are Boston, Phoenix and Seattle. Of course, the two huge markets of New York and LA get lots of activity, but the Buffalo board is indeed spirited and worthy of following.

Looking at it from a different perspective, the Buffalo MSA and the McAllen-Brownsville markets are close in rank. How many insightful and interesting posts do we see about that other market?

 

[SirRoxalot]

I've heard that they've got better authentic Mexican, but we beat them in souvlaki and fish fries. They reportedly have a problem with smoking in the boys room. We're WAY better at handling snow.

 

[Prescott Joe]

And how many operators in the entire country are doing what Buddy is doing?

Buddy is making what appears to be a successful effort to program to a senior audience with a local station that was worth about what a nice single family home costs. He added translators, a local marketing effort and a strong local sales effort with direct accounts and local agencies.

His station is live with identifiable talent for an audience that cares about live talent.

This is a model that should be tried in every market. Yet all he gets here is snarky criticism for trying to make a lesser facility work by programming to a 50+ audience.

Listening to WECK is a pleasure, even from 2,500 miles away. It makes me recall my childhood back in
W.N.Y. and many, many good times! The late Lew Silverstein, another visionary, brought music to those
50+ until his passing. His legacy lives on and the format he started, back in 1981, continues to this day
as KAHM, FM 102.1 Like Lew, Buddy is a sharp, smart, talented guy who isn't afraid of hard work or
bucking trends...... and he's going to laugh all the way to the bank!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[davideduardo]

I've heard that they've got better authentic Mexican, but we beat them in souvlaki and fish fries. They reportedly have a problem with smoking in the boys room. We're WAY better at handling snow.

McAllen is widely famous for its "snow".

 

[flybynight]

Some posters use monikers or pseudonyms to protect themselves and the information they reveal, or to protect the privacy of their friends who are still working. That happens to be my position.

This tape will self-destruct in 5 seconds. Good luck, Jim.