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Magic purge

T

top4odj

When we enter the world of broadcasting, we know that things happen to us as individuals, and to fellow broadcasters who we become friends, even close friends with.

Today was one of those days. A Very WARM Welcome from the new ownership of Entercom, as they said Goodbye to Magic PD Ken Payne (a couple of weeks ago), Air Staffers Mindy Lang who's had been with them since the beginning, back in the 80s, Joe Johnson, another decades long staffer, Vance Phillips, just over a decade and the weekenders.

WLFY recently let go of long time announcer Ellen Jaffee and some weekenders as well.

Personally, they are all good friends and I wish nothing but the best to each and every one of them, and hope they get back behind a mic soon.
 
top4odj said:
When we enter the world of broadcasting, we know that things happen to us as individuals, and to fellow broadcasters who we become friends, even close friends with.

Today was one of those days. A Very WARM Welcome from the new ownership of Entercom, as they said Goodbye to Magic PD Ken Payne (a couple of weeks ago), Air Staffers Mindy Lang who's had been with them since the beginning, back in the 80s, Joe Johnson, another decades long staffer, Vance Phillips, just over a decade and the weekenders.

WLFY recently let go of long time announcer Ellen Jaffee and some weekenders as well.

Personally, they are all good friends and I wish nothing but the best to each and every one of them, and hope they get back behind a mic soon.
Click to expand...

That is sad news. I don't know Ken but know of him going back to his Orlando and Palm Beach positions. He knows FL and knows the odd MIA market. Not many do. I thought his naming as PD was a smart move.

Entercom seems to be as intent as Starbucks in bringing Seattle to Miami. Just as we like our café cubano we never liked the northwestern flavor of radio yet Entercom seems to think that its new Alternative format is hot s--t. I wonder what awful thing they will do to Magic.
 
Looks like the station was trending up (magic). Was the revenue not there? I still don't understand why they went alternative. They will need to learn the south Florida market.
 
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I’m in a state of shock and terribly depressed over this news. For many years, I’ve spoken of the Magic 102.7 family as my extended family. I’ve listened to Magic since Day One. There’s certainly a lot of memories for this listener. Yes, there is the business of radio and certainly I’m not privy to all the so called justifications for the decisions. I choose not to agree with it.

Here is a station that has certainly evolved musically. There is an incredible focus on 80s music. The Magic talent spoke of contemporary subjects which is critical in nostalgia formats. In my frequent South Florida visits, I heard Magic in a lot of places. It seems they were out and about in the community week after week after week. Many of the events saw big crowds. What the hell can anyone else expect? Gees.

This past summer was especially difficult for me. I was in South Florida most of the summer visiting hospice where my dad was. Mindy, Vance & Joe and their familiar voices and their warmth and personality helped me more than anyone can imagine. I can’t thank you guys enough.

Just started thinking of those old days at the Sunrise Musical Theater. So many great shows. Joe Johnson broadcasting “Juke Box Saturday Night” there. Enjoyed talking with him dozens of times. Mindy, well, I’ve had a crush on her for like forever. Mornings will not be the same without her. She’s an incredible communicator. I’ll never forget meeting and talking with her earlier this year. What an incredible accomplishment to be with the same station since the mid-80s!

I’ll close with this video. It captures the essence of what Team Magic was all about. This was something they didn’t have to do. They wanted to reach out to that ONE listener. In doing so, they reached out to many who may not have been experiencing the best of times. It’s local radio at its very best. We hear of profit and loss statements and the business of radio. This goes in the loss column for the community. Peace.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYhxmnxgoZQ&feature=youtu.be
 
I can't imagine them coming up with another format that's going to do better than what they had. Magic, while it was far from #1, did well. A solid #6, 6+, (almost #5 in the market and trending up) and I'm betting that their 35+ numbers were pretty good, too. Entercom must believe they can do better with revenue with another format. Unless, of course, they plan to stick with classic hits and just decided to cut their overhead.
 
I read that Gnarly Charlie was included as well. Way to go Entercom. Proving my point, these people running corporate are just way beyond stupid. They are killing radio. What a dumb move. I can tell you there wasn't a person I know who DIDN'T have Magic on 24-7 and button 1 on the radio BECAUSE of people like Mindy and Vance, Gnarly, Joe and the music they play. THERE IS NO OTHER PLACE FOR THIS MUSIC BTW. Unless you don't mind the hum of WAFC 590am or the slow hits of EASY.
 
Could this indicate Entercom flipping to a Throwback Hip Hop format (Q102) as it's had success in some of it's other markets? That and the new PD has Rhythmic experience throughout her career. If there has been any format hole in the Miami market it may be this.
 
AMRocks said:
I can't imagine them coming up with another format that's going to do better than what they had. Magic, while it was far from #1, did well. A solid #6, 6+, (almost #5 in the market and trending up) and I'm betting that their 35+ numbers were pretty good, too. Entercom must believe they can do better with revenue with another format. Unless, of course, they plan to stick with classic hits and just decided to cut their overhead.
Click to expand...


WMXJ was 15th in 25-54 in the last book, down from 11th in March. It was around 12th in billing last year.

35+ is not a sales demo.
 
radiolife3 said:
Could this indicate Entercom flipping to a Throwback Hip Hop format (Q102) as it's had success in some of it's other markets? That and the new PD has Rhythmic experience throughout her career. If there has been any format hole in the Miami market it may be this.
Click to expand...

I'd be more likely to think that they are going to try to make the classic hits format more rhythmic and less rock to respond to the musical heritage of Miami, but their move with the alternative station would seem to make that logical move questionable. The new PD has experience confined to California; Miami Hispanics being predominantly of Caribbean origin, have little in common with the tastes in music of the West Coast.
 
radiolife3 said:
Could this indicate Entercom flipping to a Throwback Hip Hop format (Q102) as it's had success in some of it's other markets? That and the new PD has Rhythmic experience throughout her career. If there has been any format hole in the Miami market it may be this.
Click to expand...

BINGO - This is what they will try in my view, smart thinking radiolife3.
 
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I declare this a station "suicide", because WMXJ is #6 overall in the 6+ ratings.

http://ratings.****************/cgi-bin/rol.exe/arb429
 
It looks like bird-brained move #2 for Entercom Miami. If they're gonna mess with the 12th highest biller, wouldn't they want to have something more foolproof in place than Rhythmic AC or Classic HipHop?
 
chrocket87 said:
It looks like bird-brained move #2 for Entercom Miami. If they're gonna mess with the 12th highest biller, wouldn't they want to have something more foolproof in place than Rhythmic AC or Classic HipHop?
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Look more along the lines of KRBQ in San Francisco which is listed as RHythmic Hot AC, but is really a CHR that controls currents and plays more than the average number of throwbacks.
 
AMRocks said:
It IS a sales demo -- but not one that many are interested in. Just ask those at Easy 93.1
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Nope, there are essentially no 35+ buys. 35-54 maybe. Or use of 35-54 heavy stations to combine in a buy with 18-34 and 25-44 heavy ones for reach and frequency.

35+ is a demo. It is not a sales demo. Sales demos are plain ole' demos that have advertiser demand.

Easy 93.1 started out like WDUV, but they discovered there is no non-Hispanic white community of any size in South Florida that would want all Manilow all the time. They adjusted severely, and are simply a somewhat "gold-ier" AC station that appeals to 35-54. The 55+ went down, and the 25-54 went way up; they went fro 14th in 25-54 in May and are now 7th in that demo.

WDUV adjusted as well, and went from 15th in 25-54 to just inside the Top 10.
 
DavidEduardo said:


I'd be more likely to think that they are going to try to make the classic hits format more rhythmic and less rock to respond to the musical heritage of Miami, but their move with the alternative station would seem to make that logical move questionable. The new PD has experience confined to California; Miami Hispanics being predominantly of Caribbean origin, have little in common with the tastes in music of the West Coast.
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Analyzing all the changes, including staff, ratings declines and ownership, I think the predictions of a full format shift are more likely than what I first imagined and predicted. Look at the Entercom "Rhythmic Hot AC" as a model. Essentially a CHR but with more and older throwbacks.
 
DavidEduardo said:


Look more along the lines of KRBQ in San Francisco which is listed as RHythmic Hot AC, but is really a CHR that controls currents and plays more than the average number of throwbacks.
Click to expand...
I meant Rhythmic Hot AC, as the RI article suggested it would go that way or Classic HipHop. My question is would these formats bill better than 12th in market? I know it's way too soon to tell how well KRBQ is billing, but how are KHTP/WBQT billing, if it's not too soon to tell regarding those either?
 
chrocket87 said:
I meant Rhythmic Hot AC, as the RI article suggested it would go that way or Classic HipHop. My question is would these formats bill better than 12th in market? I know it's way too soon to tell how well KRBQ is billing, but how are KHTP/WBQT billing, if it's not too soon to tell regarding those either?
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WBQT is closer to the old jammin' oldies format with more gold than KRBQ. KHTP is in a market that does not have either of the ethnic components that influence listening. Miami is over 20% African American and 50% Hispanic.

And KMVQ was 4th in San Francisco in the last book. They should certainly be able to monetize this.
 
They WERE doing better after they relaunched 8/1/2012 as "Miami's Greatest Hits."

Wasn't the whole point of bringing in Sam Zniber as PD in 2012 to have a multicultural perspective? The playlist was opened to include more rock.

DavidEduardo said:



WMXJ was 15th in 25-54 in the last book, down from 11th in March. It was around 12th in billing last year.

35+ is not a sales demo.
Click to expand...
 
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