MAX-FM 97.7 & 99.5 Impressions from an Out-Of-Town Person

[SgtPepper9876]

My brother lives in Cincinnati, so I have the chance to sample the radio scene when I come over there for a visit (I am from east central Indiana). When I was last over there a couple weeks ago, I decided to give MAX-FM 97.7 and 99.5 a listen. I had read a lot of criticism of these stations in the past, so I was a bit surprised when I actually heard it.

WOXY 97.7 (I could never pick it up on 99.5) was crisp and clear from the moment I picked it up east of Batesville, IN, along I-74 until I finally started losing it while in Dayton (I went home a different route). I can recall reading that when the trimulcast was first flipped, it sounded like a sub-par internet stream. All I can say is that its sound quality was on-par with the "big city" stations the entire time I was able to receive it.

I can't comment on the posts about the looping of 12-hour segments since I was only in the area for less than that amount of time. What I can comment on is its presentation and music selection (at least from what I heard). The time I was able to listen, I think it was much better than Indianapolis' 104.5 JACK-FM. The music played was a better variety (save for Rob Thomas' "Lonely No More" which I could forever do without, but I digress). The imaging was quite good and very professional sounding to my ears.

So what are your opinions on MAX-FM now? From what I understand, it is not even coming close to making a dent in things over there, but I have to say that I like what I heard.

 

[nocece]

I'm finally able to just barely pick up 97.7 in Bellevue. I think Max FM is better musically than the few other Jack-type stations I've heard, since it's the only one I've heard that's not just a repackage of the rock AC stations of the '90s.

Of course they repeat way too much, like other Jack-type stations. Just not as much as other formats.

The defunct Cincinnati station that Max FM reminds me of the most is the now-forgotten WYLX (Alex @ 97.3) of the late '90s, although WYLX was strictly classic hits.

 

[keys2]

I don't think musically it's as interesting as it was when the station was nameless. There seems to be less of an element of surprise now. I did hear quite a few "oh wow" cuts before...stuff I hadn't heard on traditional FM in a while. Now it's mostly standard fare, more 80s-based, and stuff I can hear everywhere else. It's just all mixed together. Lots of Fleetwood Mac, Foreigner, Loverboy, with the occasional "Proud Mary" thrown in. Ho hum.

I was also thinking about their contest to name the station. Did they ever run a promo saying who the winner was? Probably not, because I still think it was all a bunch of hype. Does anyone here really believe that a casual listener submitted the name "MAX," a moniker that just happens to be associated with quite a few 80s stations across the country?

None of this matters anyway because eventually it will go to Radio One and the format will become hip-hop like HOT 102.9 in Dayton while the WIZ becomes more solidly Urban AC, or they will take it smooth jazz.

 

[nocece]

> I don't think musically it's as interesting as it was when
> the station was nameless. There seems to be less of an
> element of surprise now. I did hear quite a few "oh wow"
> cuts before...stuff I hadn't heard on traditional FM in a
> while. Now it's mostly standard fare, more 80s-based, and
> stuff I can hear everywhere else. It's just all mixed
> together. Lots of Fleetwood Mac, Foreigner, Loverboy, with
> the occasional "Proud Mary" thrown in.

Yeah, it's nothing to get excited about. These Jack-type stations probably have less variety than any format did 10 or 15 years ago. I've been disappointed with the ones I've heard, after all the hype that's surrounded this format.

> I was also thinking about their contest to name the station.
> Did they ever run a promo saying who the winner was?

They keep running a promo that says there's 46 people who picked the right name, and they're going to have some drawing to pick the winner.

> None of this matters anyway because eventually it will go to
> Radio One and the format will become hip-hop like HOT 102.9
> in Dayton while the WIZ becomes more solidly Urban AC, or
> they will take it smooth jazz.

Smooth jazz is a dying format that never really worked in this market to begin with.

 

[keys2]

> They keep running a promo that says there's 46 people who
> picked the right name, and they're going to have some
> drawing to pick the winner.


Really? I haven't heard it. I'd be surprised if they had 46 total entries much less 46 people who actually suggested the name MAX.


> Smooth jazz is a dying format that never really worked in
> this market to begin with.


It is enjoying a bit of a resurgence, albeit a small one. The WAVE actually got good numbers in Cincy. Problem was, as I understand it, advertisers didn't want to buy it because it was perceived as a background station and their commercials were supposedly not heard by the listener. Radio One does use the format in some of its clusters as it is a nice fit when selling Urban, Urban AC, and Hip-Hop/Dance CHR. If Radio One ends up with only one other station besides the WIZ, my bet would be on a HOT 102.9 Dayton type format versus Smooth Jazz anyway.