MARCH PPMS ARE OUT

[electroboy73]

  Just like the Cumulus CHR's are not going Hot AC. 

So, today Q100, along with the entire Cumulus block added...

Train "Save Me San Francisco" (no pop adds date)
Neon Trees "Your Surrender"
Hot Chelle Rae "Tonight Tonight"

Sorry, but anyone that doesn't think they're headed back towards the Hot AC end of the spectrum is kind of wrong :

WONDERFUL! So, basically Atlanta....(the number 7 market in the country) will be back to the way it was in 2009 and have little or no "decent" TOP-40/CHR! Wow...That is REALLY sad!

 

[Wildstyle K]

I'm somewhat shocked that people are just now realizing these changes would eventually come to play. The first day (even back before I made my dumb Star 94 post that turned out to be mostly inaccurate predictions and thoughts about B98.5) I saw how well done the new Star 94 playlist turned out to be and how great Star 94 was beginning to sound, I just knew that it would cause a reaction with Q100. I knew without a doubt something more was going to happen as a result, to some degree.

No, this isn't just me making predictions or being a gifted radio psychic here or making a lucky hypothesis. I just look at and analyze a few details, then apply certain events and things from the past to present events, which can usually lead to a very accurate future prediction!

In other words, notice that in the past, Q100 was always reacting in some way to what Star 94 was doing - up until the point Star 94 began to "fall", and then Q100 began to "lean off of" Star 94 a bit, feeling free to "experiment" a little. The combination of Star 94 falling a bit in ratings, changing program directors, changing their slogan, and also actually changing their label to Hot AC is all enough to cause one to subconsciously see the station "differently", and no longer as much as a threat, which will also cause anyone reacting to them to change their actions a bit as well. However, flash forward a little bit and now Star 94 (once again) has more of a "solid, well rounded" look and "the threat is back". Of course the natural reaction and result would be for Q100 to "react accordingly", once again. Now, take that psychology and factor in the business and competitive aspects on top of that, and..... well, you get exactly what's happening now.

You're only as free as the person you're trying to beat will let you be.. and anything you react to will at some level cause you to change your behavior every time they change or tweak their own behaviors.

Now, I'm not exactly sure what the entire Cumulus cluster is up to, but I can guarantee that what I've said ties in to what is currently going on at Q100 at SOME level. Every action causes a reaction, and especially more so if the action is done by someone or something that more personally or more directly affects you. ;D

I'm not saying that I'm desirably happy with everything that's going on. I'd also prefer Q100 to be more of a full, "traditional" chr, playing MORE hits, but it is what it is.

So, moral of the entire story?
LETS NOT FORGET ABOUT WWVA, FOLKS! WHY DO THEY ALWAYS SEEM TO BE FORGOTTEN? (There's no way you couldn't see this eventually coming - in MY post!)

 

[electroboy73]

So, moral of the entire story?
LETS NOT FORGET ABOUT WWVA, FOLKS! WHY DO THEY ALWAYS SEEM TO BE FORGOTTEN? (There's no way you couldn't see this eventually coming - in MY post!)

Actually KDM, I personally think WWVA is a great alternative to Q100. BUT...(coming from Gwinnett county), once you hit Buckhead, Midtown, and all over the city of Atlanta itself, both the 105.7 AND the 96.7 signal is horrible! It's fine in places like Lawrenceville, Buford, Woodstock, Roswell and Alpharetta. But in Atlanta (proper)....forget it. It's Very frustrating....especially if Q100 does shift to more Hot-AC.

 

[Wildstyle K]

all over the city of Atlanta itself, both the 105.7 AND the 96.7 signal is horrible! It's fine in places like Lawrenceville, Buford, Woodstock, Roswell and Alpharetta. But in Atlanta (proper)....forget it.

Well, I'm sure by now everyone already knows how I feel about the signal, so no need for me to even "remention it". Anyway, I looked at a map, hoping that all those cities of good signal strength mentioned were far from each other, and to my disappointment, I see that they are not. At least if they were, it would mean the signal would've been much more wide spread than I was hoping!

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=atlan...code_result&ct=image&resnum=1&ved=0CCsQ8gEwAA

By the way, if it's fine in Lawrenceville, then I wonder why my brother and sister cannot pick it up in Snellville? Does anyone know if you can pick up any of those signals in Augusta, Macon, Gainsville, Carrollton, or Calhoun? Would I be getting my hopes up too high if I said Chattahoochie National Forest? Not that any of these places will benefit me in any way, but I'm just trying to get an idea of how powerful of a signal this station really has and how high I should get my hopes up because all this will play a role in not only how many people listen and "discover the music", but also in overall ratings and the "well-being" of the station.

I notice the more I zoom out, the smaller the coverage area seems to get! And most of those cities don't even show on the map anymore except for Roswell once you zoom out, so basically I guess the only major city it hits is Roswell. I hope I'm wrong.

Somebody please prove me wrong here...

 

[jabba17]

http://www.radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/pat?call=WWVA&service=FM&status=L&hours=U

Back in the 90s when it was WGST-FM (and, IIRC, further to the northwest) I could get it in the car as far as Covington, at which point it would start to break up and succumb to what is now WEKL, a 100K C0 out of Augusta.

We're only talking 20kW/C2. Building penetration is probably not that great; it probably looks better on paper.

 

[Wildstyle K]

So this is just 105.7 without 96.7... And what would be considered good ratings for a station with that level of signal coverage? This is surely (or most likely) not going to reach well above 4 or 5 share with the type of descriptions presented above... And who's going to develop a habit of listening if they can't even hear it at work or if most people cannot listen to it ALL the way to work or school (if they attend those places downtown)?

What was behind the whole idea of putting WWVA on such a signal situation in the first place if there was (allegedly) another signal they could've used, capable of reaching the main target area, but with even more outer coverage?

And how accurate is this?
http://www.radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/locate?select=city&city=atlanta&state=GA&x=9&y=4

 

[electroboy73]

And how accurate is this?
http://www.radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/locate?select=city&city=atlanta&state=GA&x=9&y=4

That's the weird thing about it. According to radio locator, the "local" coverage is massive (for it being only 20,000 watts). But, driving around right down in Atlanta's city limits, the static and the noise and the constant stereo/mono swapping that goes on....it's virtually unlistenable. (Atlanta proper sounds more like a "fringe" area. And as far as the simalcast on 96.7 goes, there's in/out static on there EVERYWHERE I travel....(100% static) once in North Atlanta) I mean college stations have more wattage than WWLG!

My point is why have "Atlanta's Party Station" when it's all fizzing in and out in "the city" of Atlanta?

 

[jabba17]

Wasn't there some question about WWVA's last move-in (to the Cobb/Cherokee line), where they had to give up some power and/or height to get closer in, and it raised the question as to what that move really actually bought them coverage-wise?

I thought I remembered looking at the contour maps and not seeing much difference where it mattered....

 

[Wildstyle K]

By the way, since this is somewhat related to what this whole topic has evolved into, I might as well bring this up very quickly. There is a myth that has been roaming around for the longest time about how "traditional" top 40 could not work in Atlanta, and I admit, I was almost completely hoodwinked into actually believing that this was true, even to the point where I was actually a bit nervous when WWVA went more mainstream and dropped the (so called) "Atl regional rhythmic sound" a few weeks ago. However, I'm not sure how many of you watch mythbusters, but I "discovered some information" somewhere that explained precisely why things are the way they are and have been the way they've been in Atlanta for the longest time in regard to certain chr stations and programming, and just like a radio-info version of Mythbusters, the myth has been BUSTED!

I will not get too deep into how I figured this out because the overall important thing here is for people to know that the reason there isn't been a traditional top 40 station, isn't because "it will never work", and based on certain things that have happened over time, I always knew that couldn't be the case. Pretty much, in lamens terms, what it all boils down to is a "series of unfortunate circumstances" that just happened to take place in Atlanta over time when it came to pretty much all the stations that attempted a chr format.

I'm going to attempt to explain it all in detail sometime later. I just need time to think about how to fully explain it all specifically in detail, verbally, which is why I don't want to get too deep, yet. It will not be some far out, mystical, mind-mystifying stuff, by the way. The entire reason for the ATL. situation is actually pretty simple (but somewhat difficult to explain), and once I explain it all, you'll be thinking "a series of unfortunate circumstances" doesn't sound as silly after all as some may think it does now... As a matter of fact, it will be more of a "duh..." than anything else.

 

[secondchoice]

My point is why have "Atlanta's Party Station" when it's all fizzing in and out in "the city" of Atlanta?

It might be a ratings killer on 94.9 or 96.1 but CC for some reason does not what to go that way. CC does well with CHR and Urban in other top 10 markets so Rhythmic Oldies, CHR, Urban, and or a mix should not be that hard for them. I do not work for CC but just looking at it from and outsiders’ viewpoint, here is part of 105.7’s story. 105.7 was a Canton Ga station 3KW IIRC. After 80-90 a lot of suburban stations that were class A’s 3KW at 300 HAAT were able to up grade their signals to 6kw and or move to another frequency with more power and became a “move in” station. 105.7 did this, and at one time was a country station competing with Y106 and 101.5. They never did that well in the ratings (limited signal) but they made some money. CC out bid Cox for the Braves radio coverage. WGST had (and still has) questionable night time coverage in Cobb County so they LMA’ed and eventually bought 105.7 which became WGST FM. CC IMHO has made some serious mistakes in Atlanta like killing WPCH AC just before Christmas, allowing 96 Rock to decay (counting on The Regular Guys and forgetting the rest of the day), taking 105.7’s limited signal which was doing a good job “protecting” WGST the northwest of Atlanta and trying oldies, Mexican, and now CHR / Rhythmic. (If I left out a swap or mess up order of flips, I am sorry; I should write these things down when they happen.) CC will hold on to this signal and 96.7 just to keep them out of another broadcaster’ s (Salem) hands unless part of a swap to get a better signal in this or another Major (top 20) market. I personally thought 105.7 not 96.7 would do OK with Classic Country. CC will not admit a mistake and make 105.7 WGST FM again.

 

[jabba17]

I'm not sure of the complete move-in history of 105.7, but WCHK-FM was originally 105.5. WCHK-FM moved to 105.7 so they could move in closer and/or power up.

As an aside, this move to 105.7 made 105.3 possible (originally as a small class A, using the old WYAI heritage calls from the old 104.1 Y-104, sister to WYAY Y-106 at the time).

WCHK-FM did compete as a country rimshot ("From Conway to Garth") on the NW side, before Jacor (this was years before CC bought Jacor) LMAed 105.7 from McClure for a WGST simulcast. WGST/Jacor had the Bravos in 1992 (first time in years they were off WSB) before they LMAed 105.7 in (IIRC) 1993; in 1992, Jacor was simuling the Braves on Peach 94.9.

Also IIRC, Jacor kept the WCHK-FM calls for a while after the LMA--the TOH ID had a sotto voce "WCHK-FM, Canton" before the TOH WGST Atlanta splash, similar to what Cox is now doing for WSBB-FM, Doraville AM 750 and NOW 95.5 FM WSB, Atlanta's News, Talk, and Georgia Bulldogs Station!

WGST, with only 1kW night (slightly directional north-south) on someone else's clear channel, has poor nighttime reception pretty much anywhere OTP, not just in Cobb. You may be thinking of WCNN which has a hard night null towards Cobb and a harder null in Gwinnett north and east of the tower array in Peachtree Corners, despite 10k of nighttime power.

 

[Nyte Ryder]

Q100 added Pitbull yesterday. They are obviously going Rhythmic CHR. I wonder what Star added to make them do that?

 

[electroboy73]

Q100 added Pitbull yesterday. They are obviously going Rhythmic CHR. I wonder what Star added to make them do that?

What's strange to me about that is at the same time, Q100 is also playing more and more "NO-RAP" edits of some very popular songs! ??? All of a sudden, they're playing Katy Perry's E.T. (WITHOUT KANYE WEST) and just a little while ago I heard an edit of the song "Price Tag" WITHOUT B.o.B).... ??? So, what's up with that? So, who knows what Q100 is really up to....AGAIN! I guess all the improvements they've made as a more normal CHR will never be consistent....which is so annoying!

Any thoughts?

 

[secondchoice]

Q100 added Pitbull yesterday. They are obviously going Rhythmic CHR. I wonder what Star added to make them do that?

What's strange to me about that is at the same time, Q100 is also playing more and more "NO-RAP" edits of some very popular songs! ??? All of a sudden, they're playing Katy Perry's E.T. (WITHOUT KANYE WEST) and just a little while ago I heard an edit of the song "Price Tag" WITHOUT B.o.B).... ??? So, what's up with that? So, who knows what Q100 is really up to....AGAIN! I guess all the improvements they've made as a more normal CHR will never be consistent....which is so annoying!

Any thoughts?

This tinkering with songs might become a regular thing. IIRC stations can get week delayed, hour by hour reports from Ambition’s PPM. In theory a PD could add a song, and see what it did to that hour’s PPM. As for a potential Star / Q100 war, I doubt Cumulus will battle Star. I predict they will react and let Star call the shots. Cumulus has a difficult chore of keeping their stations running while trying to digest the Citadel stations. Citadel’s upper management could not handle the ABC stations so any upper level leadership will have to come from Cumulus, new hires, or a couple of levels down. I predict a lot jobs will be lost at both Cumulus and Citadel. The Citadel “suits”, will land safely using their golden parachutes. Unfortunately most of the folks “downsized” will not have a parachute.

 

[FLjack2]

Dont you remember WAAAAY back when Power 99 was playing Michael Bolton in middays? And look what happened to that station......

 

[atlantaboy]

Q100 added Pitbull yesterday. They are obviously going Rhythmic CHR. I wonder what Star added to make them do that?

What's strange to me about that is at the same time, Q100 is also playing more and more "NO-RAP" edits of some very popular songs! ??? All of a sudden, they're playing Katy Perry's E.T. (WITHOUT KANYE WEST) and just a little while ago I heard an edit of the song "Price Tag" WITHOUT B.o.B).... ??? So, what's up with that? So, who knows what Q100 is really up to....AGAIN! I guess all the improvements they've made as a more normal CHR will never be consistent....which is so annoying!

He was being sarcastic cause he refuses to believe that Q100 could've possibly added the new Maroon 5 song in response to it being a huge hit on Star 94

You're right, Nyte Ryder - it's impossible - Q100 pays absolutely no attention to what Star 94 is doing :

 

[carolinaradio]

lol, why is Q100 (a CHR) so scared of Star 94 (a Hot AC)? It's almost funny. Z100 in NYC isn't afraid of PLJ....

 

[atlantaboy]

lol, why is Q100 (a CHR) so scared of Star 94 (a Hot AC)? It's almost funny. Z100 in NYC isn't afraid of PLJ....

Much different situations...PLJ gets pretty low ratings in and around NYC - it mostly stays on air because it does so well in New Jersey and suburbs which are further out

Star 94 used to get solid ratings in ATL, before Q100 moved to 99.7 - it dropped a couple years ago (when the switch to 99.7 was made), but now it's trending up again

Even more importantly, Star gets REALLY good 18-34 numbers for a Hot AC (I don't think PLJ comes close) - I think that's why they stayed under the "CHR" label for so long

Chicago has a similar situation with WTMX, but Kiss/Chicago (unlike Q100) is completely ignoring TMX and scraping the bottom of the ratings share barrel - for some reason it's high in cume, but I'm sure the situation would be better if they concentrated more on the Hot AC which is trouncing on them share-wise

 

[carolinaradio]

Good points, taken.
The funny thing is how Cumulus is using their Star 94 "attack strategy" on all of their other CHRs, in some markets where there isn't even a Hot AC. I guess they just model them all after Q.

 

[Nyte Ryder]

He was being sarcastic cause he refuses to believe that Q100 could've possibly added the new Maroon 5 song in response to it being a huge hit on Star 94

You're right, Nyte Ryder - it's impossible - Q100 pays absolutely no attention to what Star 94 is doing :
[/quote]

You're half right Atlanta Boy. I was tweaking you. I do believe Star's success is probably impacting Q100 somewhat. And there is more than enough evidence that there has a slight slide to the right. But still, using your logic, an add of Pitbull does fly in the face of your point just a bit. I agree, you said a slight shift.