Love is Dead! Welcome KTU copycat 93.9 Mia to South Florida!

[TonySantiago]

The new 93.9 MIA has a solid shot at being around much longer than both Studio 107, and the old Mega 103.5. Its a different era for dance music in Miami that can and will support the station just as long as the playlist stays fresh with a balance of new music and classic freestyle dance which Miami is known for.The key for 93.9 MIA's success is for them to target the audience that listened to Power 96, I-95 and Y-100 in the 80's. Studio 107 was ahead of its time with its dance/jazz/CHR hybrid it was. Too bad they didn't survive. Wonder how that station would be like today. The radio dial would probaly be a bit different.

And that will be the problem right there.

If you don't mind Rhianna, Justin Timberlake, Chris Brown, etc. then this works because that's as new as you're going to get. But for those that want a bit of "edge" for their dance music (see Pulse 87 in NYC), MIA won't do it. I say that because this station IS 'KTU for South Florida. For classic freestyle...MIA. For pop material...MIA. If you want Ercola feat. Daniela, Consoul Trainin, Sylvia Tosun, basically anything that BPM on Sirius XM is playing, MIA won't serve you.

That's where the disappointment is going to come from dance fans that want current and realizing that MIA is as good as it's going to get. Not knocking MIA, just calling the reality of it based on what has happened up here in NYC

 

[Soon Yi CIV.V]

This is not a Dance station, folks. This is Clear Channel's watered-down version of the Movin format, which is Rhythmic AC; not Dance.

Take a look at yes.com for the playlist of Clear Channel's Philadelphia Rhythmic AC, WISX. If the playlists aren't 100% the same, it's only because they're 99% the same. I'd venture a guess that, much like Clear Channel's all-Christmas stations, their Rhythmic AC's share a central music database and pre-programmed logs are being sent over from corporate to Miami (and to Philly). Pre-programmed logs! Isn't that awesome?

Mia isn't local for you guys any more than WISX is for Philly. Clear Channel puts zero effort into this stuff and expects some sort of return. You know, if they have luck with it, that's great. But if it fails, they have only themselves to blame.

 

[DJ Mo]

Simply drop the 70's & disco & you'll have my upbeat style, but slightly more mainstream... How interesting...

I grew up in Florida & heard Power 96, Y-100, & other South FL-based radio stations back in the late-80's to mid-90's. I've been waiting for something like this now that I have years of radio experience in 2 FL markets spinning this music. I think I'll slide the PD my resume very soon... :-X

 

[TonySantiago]

This is not a Dance station, folks. This is Clear Channel's watered-down version of the Movin format, which is Rhythmic AC; not Dance.

Take a look at yes.com for the playlist of Clear Channel's Philadelphia Rhythmic AC, WISX. If the playlists aren't 100% the same, it's only because they're 99% the same. I'd venture a guess that, much like Clear Channel's all-Christmas stations, their Rhythmic AC's share a central music database and pre-programmed logs are being sent over from corporate to Miami (and to Philly). Pre-programmed logs! Isn't that awesome?

Mia isn't local for you guys any more than WISX is for Philly. Clear Channel puts zero effort into this stuff and expects some sort of return. You know, if they have luck with it, that's great. But if it fails, they have only themselves to blame.

You called it Soon Yi!

And that's what I've been harping on as well.....RHYTHMIC A/C. This was the same exact problem upon trying to convince people in NYC that 'KTU was NOT a dance station. For those of you that like the format, that's great. But it's basically like going to an Applebees and buying a steak. The steak may taste fine but compare it to a Peter Luger, it's pale in comparison. For dance fans that want more of today's sound with an edge, that's why I say...DEMAND MORE! I don't say this for many markets but Miami/Ft. Lauderdale....there should have been a coalition started up down there years ago!

Get another dance station on the order of a Party 93.1! Because after the effect wears out regarding the "newness", you'll all be bored to death.

DJ Mo, good luck!

 

[icycool7227]

"smooth jazz" is not jazz.

"Smooth jazz" is re-orchestrated Muzak targeted toward narcoleptics who are musically illiterate enough that they will believe that any music that prominently features a soprano saxophone can be called "jazz". Throw in a couple of m7b5 chords, and they'll think they're really listening to some heavy-duty stuff.

Trust me, nobody sets out with the ambition of becoming a "smooth jazz" musician. Nobody's genuine artistic vision involves being photographed wearing white linen pants and no shoes, leaning against a grand piano in front of a tropical beach backdrop.

Wow, good job stereotyping an entire genre and not only insulting the artist, but the listeners as well. I'm sure they appreciate that. :

The format in it's current state is horrible, limited playlist, urban ac/ac songs being overplayed, and no real new artist. Love 94 was no exception, if anything it was probably worse being owned by Clear Channel. Let's be honest here, FM radio in general is dying. This new station may do well for now, but if CC takes the same route it's been taking with all of it's other station, it will die a quick death soon too.

Don't know what that post was quoting as it was the same message but people in Miami don't know good radio. This market is a joke really. There is still no hot AC of any kind so I am sure songs like "Chasing Pavements" and bands like Maroon 5 and Lifehouse never get played unless they have current hits on Y-100. Smooth jazz rules in my book.

 

[Grk_ScorpioInTheMIA]

This is not a Dance station, folks. This is Clear Channel's watered-down version of the Movin format, which is Rhythmic AC; not Dance.

Take a look at yes.com for the playlist of Clear Channel's Philadelphia Rhythmic AC, WISX. If the playlists aren't 100% the same, it's only because they're 99% the same. I'd venture a guess that, much like Clear Channel's all-Christmas stations, their Rhythmic AC's share a central music database and pre-programmed logs are being sent over from corporate to Miami (and to Philly). Pre-programmed logs! Isn't that awesome?

Mia isn't local for you guys any more than WISX is for Philly. Clear Channel puts zero effort into this stuff and expects some sort of return. You know, if they have luck with it, that's great. But if it fails, they have only themselves to blame.

You called it Soon Yi!

And that's what I've been harping on as well.....RHYTHMIC A/C. This was the same exact problem upon trying to convince people in NYC that 'KTU was NOT a dance station. For those of you that like the format, that's great. But it's basically like going to an Applebees and buying a steak. The steak may taste fine but compare it to a Peter Luger, it's pale in comparison. For dance fans that want more of today's sound with an edge, that's why I say...DEMAND MORE! I don't say this for many markets but Miami/Ft. Lauderdale....there should have been a coalition started up down there years ago!

Get another dance station on the order of a Party 93.1! Because after the effect wears out regarding the "newness", you'll all be bored to death.

DJ Mo, good luck!

Like I mentioned in my previous post, whatever chance Miami had at having a dance station on the air went up in smoke when Cox Radio make a mockery of the format. It gave all the other stations the idea that this format can't make it here. Miami is the dance capital of the world. Sure a dance station can make it, if properly programmed. Cox Radio will never have a clue as to what a real dance station sounds like. They would not even know how to program it even if they had an instruction manual in front of them. Wannabe dance stations with cheesy pop remixes do not and will never cut it here in Miami. Cox Radio's version of dance is what I consider a sham. Those out there who know and appreciate the true sounds of this genre will agree with me on this one. Whats really ridiculous is the fact that there are those still out there that wish Cox Radio would reinstate their lousy version of dance. Tony, we as "REAL" dance music fans need you to move your coalition to Miami, since you guys have "Pulse 87.7 FM in NYC. Its Miami's turn to get our real dance back.

 

[Grk_ScorpioInTheMIA]

Simply drop the 70's & disco & you'll have my upbeat style, but slightly more mainstream... How interesting...

I grew up in Florida & heard Power 96, Y-100, & other South FL-based radio stations back in the late-80's to mid-90's. I've been waiting for something like this now that I have years of radio experience in 2 FL markets spinning this music. I think I'll slide the PD my resume very soon... :-X

The only way that 93.9 MIA will make it is if the playlist is properly balanced with a good variety of old and new hits tailored to Miami's sound, not made to sound like anywhere, U.S.A. . Like I said in my post yesterday, what will help this station win in the ratings, its plain simple. They have to and MUST target the audience that grew up listening to Power 96, I-95, and Y-100 in the 80's when all three of these stations were kicking butt in the ratings. Those that were young during this time are the ones today who are in the most sought out demo with income. All three of these stations played plenty of freestyle, which is symbolic of Miami's classic sound. Yes, disco is alright to play, just as long as it is not shoved down our throats like Mega 103.5 did in 2002. If CC follows the lousy path Mega 103.5 took, we will see a new format appear soon. Hope this doesn't happen, but knowing how CC does things, it wouldn't surprise me if this version of Rhythmic AC fails.

 

[Grk_ScorpioInTheMIA]

This is not a Dance station, folks. This is Clear Channel's watered-down version of the Movin format, which is Rhythmic AC; not Dance.

Take a look at yes.com for the playlist of Clear Channel's Philadelphia Rhythmic AC, WISX. If the playlists aren't 100% the same, it's only because they're 99% the same. I'd venture a guess that, much like Clear Channel's all-Christmas stations, their Rhythmic AC's share a central music database and pre-programmed logs are being sent over from corporate to Miami (and to Philly). Pre-programmed logs! Isn't that awesome?

Mia isn't local for you guys any more than WISX is for Philly. Clear Channel puts zero effort into this stuff and expects some sort of return. You know, if they have luck with it, that's great. But if it fails, they have only themselves to blame.

Does WISX in Philly play freestyle Soon Yi? Probaly not since it wouldn't work there. Philly isn't dance, its known for soul, motown r&b, and lots of rock. As long as CC makes their stations sound like anywhere, U.S.A. ,and not tailored to the cities their stations are in, they will continue to fail in the ratings. They probaly like to run things this way , so that they can have fun flipping stations and putting plenty of real radio people out of work. Once the suits and bean counters finally let real radio programmers do their job, then we'll all get good radio. Till then all I have to do, is Dream Dream Dream. :-[

 

[Grk_ScorpioInTheMIA]

"smooth jazz" is not jazz.

"Smooth jazz" is re-orchestrated Muzak targeted toward narcoleptics who are musically illiterate enough that they will believe that any music that prominently features a soprano saxophone can be called "jazz". Throw in a couple of m7b5 chords, and they'll think they're really listening to some heavy-duty stuff.

Trust me, nobody sets out with the ambition of becoming a "smooth jazz" musician. Nobody's genuine artistic vision involves being photographed wearing white linen pants and no shoes, leaning against a grand piano in front of a tropical beach backdrop.

Wow, good job stereotyping an entire genre and not only insulting the artist, but the listeners as well. I'm sure they appreciate that. :

The format in it's current state is horrible, limited playlist, urban ac/ac songs being overplayed, and no real new artist. Love 94 was no exception, if anything it was probably worse being owned by Clear Channel. Let's be honest here, FM radio in general is dying. This new station may do well for now, but if CC takes the same route it's been taking with all of it's other station, it will die a quick death soon too.

Don't know what that post was quoting as it was the same message but people in Miami don't know good radio. This market is a joke really. There is still no hot AC of any kind so I am sure songs like "Chasing Pavements" and bands like Maroon 5 and Lifehouse never get played unless they have current hits on Y-100. Smooth jazz rules in my book.

Those of us, including myself who were kids in the 80's understand and know what good radio once sounded like in Miami. The young generation here have no clue what good radio sounds like. Good radio consisted of the CHR radio wars of Power 96, I-95, and Y-100. It was good radio then, before CC and Beasley came to town helping screw up three once great radio stations. The young generation here think what Power 96 and 99 Jamz now play is good radio. That crap is what makes Miami radio sound like ghetto radio. Speaking of Hot AC, the closest Miami gets to it on the dial is 97.9 WRMF, a rimshot out of West Palm Beach. As for Smooth Jazz ruling your book, the format here was a sham, and done without any effort put into it. Love 94 had plenty of repetition, no variety, too much played out R&B, and no love songs. It surprises me here as to how they called themselves "Love 94" for so long and didn't play love songs. How dumb.

 

[TonySantiago]

Like I mentioned in my previous post, whatever chance Miami had at having a dance station on the air went up in smoke when Cox Radio make a mockery of the format. It gave all the other stations the idea that this format can't make it here. Miami is the dance capital of the world. Sure a dance station can make it, if properly programmed. Cox Radio will never have a clue as to what a real dance station sounds like. They would not even know how to program it even if they had an instruction manual in front of them. Wannabe dance stations with cheesy pop remixes do not and will never cut it here in Miami. Cox Radio's version of dance is what I consider a sham. Those out there who know and appreciate the true sounds of this genre will agree with me on this one. Whats really ridiculous is the fact that there are those still out there that wish Cox Radio would reinstate their lousy version of dance. Tony, we as "REAL" dance music fans need you to move your coalition to Miami, since you guys have "Pulse 87.7 FM in NYC. Its Miami's turn to get our real dance back.

Actually, we HAVE no dance capital of the world in the U.S. I'd give that to London, Berlin or Ibiza.

Well, lets put it this way, Cox doesn't have to run such a station, right? As long as it's someone as well as getting the right peeps in there to do a station justice. Me personally, I had no problems with Phil Michaels Trueba (the PD of Party 93.1). It may have been about 5 years ago but things have changed within dance music in terms of the sounds. I think this time around, such a station in SF could work out as long as one dance genre doesn't blow away everyone else.

As for a coalition down in the region, since I can't be there to know, someone down your way has to start it up! I'll pass on the "tools!"

 

[Soon Yi CIV.V]

Does WISX in Philly play freestyle Soon Yi? Probaly not since it wouldn't work there. Philly isn't dance, its known for soul, motown r&b, and lots of rock. As long as CC makes their stations sound like anywhere, U.S.A. ,and not tailored to the cities their stations are in, they will continue to fail in the ratings. They probaly like to run things this way , so that they can have fun flipping stations and putting plenty of real radio people out of work. Once the suits and bean counters finally let real radio programmers do their job, then we'll all get good radio. Till then all I have to do, is Dream Dream Dream. :-[

They actually do play a fair amount of freestyle. Philly's very close to South Jersey and during the '80s and '90s, South Jersey was exploding with freestyle and it leaked into Philly--especially during Q102's wannabe-dance-station phases. So it seems to work pretty well here because it has some roots.

Philly is a fairly good market for dance music and I personally think it's great but we don't really have any commercials FM's that can support a pure Dance format. Our market conditions are actually better suited for a Rhythmic AC but the Clear Channel one took two whole years to sound decent. They wouldn't play any currents because they felt they had to protect their sister station CHR. They still have a lot of work to do but it's coming along slowly! I pretty much boycotted WISX until recently but nowadays I'd be adding quite a bit to their cume if they'd give me a PPM.

With '80s and '90s tracks by the likes of Cynthia & Johnny O, Cameo, Lil' Suzy, Shannon, Starpoint, Robin S, M/A/R/R/S, Stephanie Mills, Next, Lisa Lisa, Company B, Diana King, Blu Cantrell, I can't really complain.

 

[marioj]

I'm here on vacation in Miami and have had the opportunity to check out MIA for myself. Good, high-energy songs (for the most part) for now; wonder what'll happen when the commercials start up. Not sure about the station's reception in WPB, so if a Palm Beach listener marks down "MIA" in their diary, does 92.1 or 93.9 get the credit?

 

[davideduardo]

I'm here on vacation in Miami and have had the opportunity to check out MIA for myself. Good, high-energy songs (for the most part) for now; wonder what'll happen when the commercials start up. Not sure about the station's reception in WPB, so if a Palm Beach listener marks down "MIA" in their diary, does 92.1 or 93.9 get the credit?

Miami goes PPM in 3 months, so no real issue... and the Miami stations really don't benefit from listening in WPB anyway. They show "below the line" in the WPB book, but generate no sales from that.

And, in any case, 80% or so of diary entries are by or include the exact frequency.

 

[strangelove]

Sounds like Smooth Jazz is back on at 93.9 HD-2. Where will the WIOD HD simulcast land next?

 

[theradiokid]

I live in New York state, and listen to “M.I.A” online now. I like the station. The only advice I’d give to CC Miami is to add live, energetic jocks to it’s presentation.

As for the “Move To The Music” slogan on “M.I.A,” expect a lawsuit, because that is one of the slogans Alan Burns uses on his “Movin’” stations.

--The Radio Kid
(AKA Oswego Jeremy, as nicknamed by George of the Radio Racket.)
My email: [email protected].

 

[strangelove]

They need them some JoJo Cookin!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQEj_ZkQ-j0

 

[Grk_ScorpioInTheMIA]

I live in New York state, and listen to “M.I.A” online now. I like the station. The only advice I’d give to CC Miami is to add live, energetic jocks to it’s presentation.

As for the “Move To The Music” slogan on “M.I.A,” expect a lawsuit, because that is one of the slogans Alan Burns uses on his “Movin’” stations.

--The Radio Kid
(AKA Oswego Jeremy, as nicknamed by George of the Radio Racket.)
My email: [email protected].

CC probaly paid Alan Burns royalties for the right to use that slogan.