MOJO GOES TO RADIO-ONE AND MOVES TO 100.3

[GaryTheThompson]

Radio One Buys Intellectual Property Of WMOJ


RADIO ONE has agreed to acquire the intellectual property of radio station Rhythmic Oldies WMOJ/CINCINNATI from SUSQUEHANNA for $5.0 million in cash. RADIO ONE expects to transfer this intellectual property to WIFE, which it agreed to buy in MARCH. RADIO ONE expects to close on WIFE within the next week, when the call letters will be changed to WMOJ.

RADIO ONE President and Chief Executive Officer ALFRED C. LIGGINS, III commented on the aqcuisition of the intellectual property of WMOJ saying, "This acquisition is a fantastic strategic move for us. First, it enables us to hit the ground running with our new CINCINNATI station. Second, it should provide us with a rapid revenue and cash flow ramp for this new station. Finally, this acquisition further solidifies our urban competitive position in the CINCINNATI market."

 

[gr8oldies]

It won't be the same MOJO..doubt Radio One will keep a live staff ike that on board. More than likely Tom Joyner does mornings and it will sound exactly like WROU in Dayton.

 

[brian_stevens]

It won't be the same MOJO..doubt Radio One will keep a live staff ike that on board. More than likely Tom Joyner does mornings and it will sound exactly like WROU in Dayton.

Note that the story says "from Susquehanna." Is this deal with Susquehanna or Cumulus? Is it unreasonable to think that there will be some form of noncompete to keep Cumulus from programming 94.9 with anything that might offer competition to the Cinti R-1 cluster?

 

[NoWayNoCC]

Is it unreasonable to think that there will be some form of noncompete to keep Cumulus from programming 94.9 with anything that might offer competition to the Cinti R-1 cluster?

That would be an antitrust violation. Granted, it happened once before when WOFX moved from 94.9 to 92.5, but it's still illegal.

 

[Arbitorn]

Cumulus sold to Radio One for among other reasons, the lack of desire for a head-to-head with Radio One.

So what do you do if you have a fresh field of undriven snow on maybe the best FM stick town?

 

[microbob]

Jack 94.9 could be a possiblity. I doubt wll see Movin in the market unless Entercom decides to do it in a few months.

 

[brian_stevens]

Cumulus sold to Radio One for among other reasons, the lack of desire for a head-to-head with Radio One.

So what do you do if you have a fresh field of undriven snow on maybe the best FM stick town?

Please pardon my earlier verbosity. Clearly the point was a desire not to compete. Might we see Star move to the tower of the same name?

 

[microbob]

Cumulus sold to Radio One for among other reasons, the lack of desire for a head-to-head with Radio One.

So what do you do if you have a fresh field of undriven snow on maybe the best FM stick town?

Please pardon my earlier verbosity. Clearly the point was a desire not to compete. Might we see Star move to the tower of the same name?

I didn't think of that. Star goes to 94.9. 965 goes 80's Classic Rock maybe?

 

[brian_stevens]

So what do you do if you have a fresh field of undriven snow on maybe the best FM stick in town?

Might we see Star move to the tower of the same name?

I didn't think of that. Star goes to 94.9. 96.5 goes 80's Classic Rock maybe?

96 Rock redux!

Actually I like the idea of some variant on variety hits / Jack.

 

[gr8oldies]

They could probably hang onto some of MOJO's females with Cincy's own version of Indy's Track (more of a female lean than Jack..and still with a decent share of Motown).

 

[brian_stevens]

You hit the bullseye earlier Brad. Kiesewetter has the story on the Enquirer site.

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060914/NEWS01/309140033

So who stands to benefit from the demise of the old Mojo?

 

[gr8oldies]

Maybe WGRR gets some, the rest split between WRRM and Mix, and some will migrate to the "new" MOJO ( I said earlier, and Kiesweiter confirms, a carbon copy of 92.1 in Dayton, 106.7 in Indianapolis and every other Radio One Urban A/C.)

Star moving to 94.9 is a possibilty. The remaining station will have to do what MOJO did, enhance WRRM without directly competing. That could be a tall order.

 

[brian_stevens]

Maybe WGRR gets some, the rest split between WRRM and Mix, and some will migrate to the "new" MOJO ( I said earlier, and Kiesweiter confirms, a carbon copy of 92.1 in Dayton, 106.7 in Indianapolis and every other Radio One Urban A/C.)

Star moving to 94.9 is a possibilty. The remaining station will have to do what MOJO did, enhance WRRM without directly competing. That could be a tall order.

Of course the other consideration for Cumulus is what can be done to minimize any benefit to GRR and Mix.

 

[hereinCincy]

Star to 94.9 seems likely.. Name change?? dunno. I think that would be a mistake. What will be done with 96.5? Sell-off?

 

[ouuc]

Why sell it off? There are some available formats that could make $$$$$.

 

[robmadden1]

Could we see them bring back smooth jazz back too Cincy on 96.5 if they move star to 94.9 since thats the one format we dont have?

 

[Apollo7979]

I'm going to guess that the format will be either rhythmic AC ("movin'") or adult hits. Smooth jazz has been tried before and seems to be downtrending nationwide. There's not really anything else they could do besides rhythmic CHR, and I seriously doubt that format will be done by Cumulus Cincinnati. Besides, if they wanted to keep an urban audience, they wouldn't have sold the intellectual property of Mojo to Radio One.

Personally, I would like to see a station like the old 97X back on the Cincinnati airwaves, but that type of out-of-the-box thinking is not what radio's about anymore.

 

[WyllyWylly]

Kill the only country competitor? I'm just not seeing that; too much money was paid for WYGY when Susquehanna acquired it to simply abandon it. Remember, Cumulus didn't just inherit a bunch of stations, they also acquired the debt of the company they swallowed. Cumulus needs to make some money off of this beast.

Getting the Star on a stick in downtown Cincinnati is a logical move but only part of the problem. You can get 96.5 clearly deep into KY, and although downtown coverage is a problem... so it is for 94.9 (and many other stations) depending on where you are in the city. There's a lot of tall buildings. The I-71 corridor going south into downtown is particularly rough on FM.

The other piece that needs work is the programming. Signal is nothing without content. The music is generally good, but some of those liners... just... don't... make... sense. I also don't see why there isn't some kind of on-air effort put into differentiating the station from WUBE, but that's a personal preference.

My prediction? The Star will be bigger and badder than it was, and we're going to see increased emphasis on building the brand. And, whatever happens on 96.5 after the move will be evolutionary, not revolutionary.

 

[gr8oldies]

"Movin" isn't a plan as the idea was not to compete with any of Radio One's Urban formats. My money is on either Jack or a female-friendly version of VH like Indy's Track.

 

[hipporadio]

The Vulture is on his final approach; the spectators are giddy over formats, frequencies, and frivolities; and some banker has the Brinks truck waiting (as are the iPods and DBS). 'Perfect occasion for the "Chuckle 'O The Day"... [question] - How many corporate MBAs does it take to screw-in a 23-million-dollar 3600-watt "Experiment In Broadcasting"? [punch-line] - One to sign the purchase agreement... And dozens to cycle thru formats and consultants desperately seeking to score a TWO-SHARE and that "expected" R.O.I. : GoooodDAY!