• Get involved.
    We want your input!
    Apply for Membership and join the conversations about everything related to broadcasting.

    After we receive your registration, a moderator will review it. After your registration is approved, you will be permitted to post.
    If you use a disposable or false email address, your registration will be rejected.

    After your membership is approved, please take a minute to tell us a little bit about yourself.
    https://www.radiodiscussions.com/forums/introduce-yourself.1088/

    Thanks in advance and have fun!
    RadioDiscussions Administrators

Morey Launches 'FM Channel Casting'

G

GSP163

From R&R.com

Later this week, The Morey Organization will transform all three of its Long Island properties — Classic Rock WBON, Dance WDRE and Alternative WLIR — to commercial-free jockless stations in an attempt to combat satellite radio, iPods and Internet radio. Additionally, WLIR will flip to a Smooth Jazz/Chill/AC hybrid known as "FM Channel 107: NeoBreeze," with WBON rebranded as "FM Channel 98: Long Island Rock" and WDRE morphing to CHR/Pop as "FM Channel 105: Party Hits."

All three stations will be overseen by PD Harlan Friedman, and WDRE PD Andre Ferro will exit soon. Airtime will be sponsored by advertisers, but no commercials will air during the paid time. There will not be an airstaff, and the stations will feature very little imaging.

"We realized with all the clutter and the talk about 'Less Is More,' we had to stand out in the crowd, and we had to make our advertisers feel special," TMO President John Caracciolo tells R&R. "What we're trying to do is something positive for the advertisers and simultaneously for the listeners as well. It'll be clean, it'll be clutterless."

<P ID="signature">______________
V

NOT NEW YORK....
NOT PHILADELPHIA....
PROUD TO BE NEW JERSEY....</P>
 
While the attempt at something new and unique is interesting, I forsee another trainwreck by these folks.
<P ID="edit"><FONT class="small">Edited by CTNYRADIO on 09/12/05 09:21 PM.</FONT></P>
 
> While the attempt at something new and unique is
> interesting, I forsee another trainwreck by these folks.
>

Unique? Maybe.

Interesting? NOT!!!

No radio station is going to get anywhere being a clone of sattelite.
 
I was wondering why the website says Channel 98, Channel 105 and WLIR. Why are they waiting so long to change the LIR logo? Why is LIR the only FM Channel that they are promoting to have improved streaming?

Anyway, I appreciate the innovative thinking over at TMO, I just don't think I will be that interested in listening after my initial sampling. Why listen to that when you can get the real thing on SIRIUS? One of the best features of SIRIUS is the clear signal and availability across the US. You cant do that with 107.1, 98.5 or 105.3.

I am also not sure about the idea of having a lack of branding. I loved the LIR brand. I like that SIRIUS is branding their channels and working on their imaging. My biggest issue with Sirius is that the formats are a little too narrow and I have to change channels to hear all of the types of music I want to hear.
 
> > While the attempt at something new and unique is
> > interesting, I forsee another trainwreck by these folks.
> >
>
> Unique? Maybe.
>
> Interesting? NOT!!!
>
> No radio station is going to get anywhere being a clone of
> sattelite.
>
Right you are. To combat satellite, you have to be live and local. Especially in a suburban market like eastern Long Island.
 
> "It'll be clean, it'll be clutterless."

It'll be.. Muzak. Does anyone think this NeoBreeze has a chance against WEHM?
 
The nerve of these guys...

One upon a time 92.7 WLIR stood out by playing great stuff, in addition to great people like Malibu Sue, who practically owns a generation of hearts here. Andre, Larry the Duck, later on the English Muffin, that's WLIR.

But Party105? People aren't going to remember Party because they played certain music, but because of Skywalker, Phathead, Vic the Latino, Ballistic Bob, Astra, Nikki.

The Bone still belongs to Eric Davis, with a nod to others like Ed Robinson and Rob Rush.

I don't think anybody had time to be "the voice" of 107.1 LIR.

Did you see the press release? It states a plus of FM casting is the lack of "annoying radio personalities." You mean the people whose personalities a business was built on? That's just low.

Who are the highest paid radio people? Talk show hosts. Next is the morning show. Talk and good personalities obviously mean something.

In a time when WBLI and WBAB have cross-over artists, (Nickelback, Finger Eleven, U2, etc.), music cannot be the voice of a station. You need a personality and a name and a face in the studio, answering the phone and handing out bumper-stickers.

People who welled up at the loss of 92.7 should know the true colors. I'm not a business major, but I smell some kind of tax write-off. That's just speculation, but from what I've read, it doesn't sound too far-fetched.

This "casting" stuff makes for a unique idea, true, but the rules of the local radio game are still the same. Look for WALK, WBLI, WBAB, WEHM and WLNG to absorb the few undecided listeners left out there.
 
They need to sell these stations. This ain't gonna work. May they burn in hell. Maybe I'm still bitter from them killing of the WLIR simulcast that used to be on 98.5 that I used to be able to get from time to time in the car up in Central CT. Hell even with the righ antenna I used to sometimes get them (98.5) on a stereo in the house. I remember listening to Islanders Hockey on it.

I rememer sometimes 105.3 used to come in at my hosue in Central CT on my stereo with the right antenna on Sunday Mornigns. And they used to carry CopNet Radio. I miss that show. No station in CT carries it.
 
This move by the Morey Organization seems to me to be purely economic.

By eliminating the airstaffs of all three stations, Morey's payroll costs have probably dropped by 75%.

But I think Morey will sell off the three stations. Something tells me that the stations aren't doing well financially at all. They should be.

Could these three Morey stations be sold?? And if so, could they end up in the hands of one of the companies that own FM stations in New York City and be used to rebroadcast some of their New York FM stations, giving them strong signals in the Hamptons??
 
> The nerve of these guys...
>
> One upon a time 92.7 WLIR stood out by playing great stuff,
> in addition to great people like Malibu Sue, who practically
> owns a generation of hearts here. Andre, Larry the Duck,
> later on the English Muffin, that's WLIR.
>
> But Party105? People aren't going to remember Party because
> they played certain music, but because of Skywalker,
> Phathead, Vic the Latino, Ballistic Bob, Astra, Nikki.
>
> The Bone still belongs to Eric Davis, with a nod to others
> like Ed Robinson and Rob Rush.
>
> I don't think anybody had time to be "the voice" of 107.1
> LIR.
>
> Did you see the press release? It states a plus of FM
> casting is the lack of "annoying radio personalities." You
> mean the people whose personalities a business was built on?
> That's just low.
>
> Who are the highest paid radio people? Talk show hosts. Next
> is the morning show. Talk and good personalities obviously
> mean something.
>
> In a time when WBLI and WBAB have cross-over artists,
> (Nickelback, Finger Eleven, U2, etc.), music cannot be the
> voice of a station. You need a personality and a name and a
> face in the studio, answering the phone and handing out
> bumper-stickers.
>
> People who welled up at the loss of 92.7 should know the
> true colors. I'm not a business major, but I smell some kind
> of tax write-off. That's just speculation, but from what
> I've read, it doesn't sound too far-fetched.
>
> This "casting" stuff makes for a unique idea, true, but the
> rules of the local radio game are still the same. Look for
> WALK, WBLI, WBAB, WEHM and WLNG to absorb the few undecided
> listeners left out there.
>

VERY profound post - I agree 100% on everything that you said, radiorad. The personalities are what make the radio station the station that you listen to. The jock is supposed to be your "friend on the radio." When you are in the car, at work, or anywhere and listening to the radio, the voice you hear behind the mic is supposed to be there and "keep you company." Even properly voice tracked automated stations do the trick, because they at least have something there. We've all heard the automated stations, and they tried them in the past, and it never took off. Yes, sometimes less talk is better, but I can't see the fully automated station craze to grow.

I'm a bit surprised to see TMO doing this, because when they sold off 92.7, they assured the listeners that their intention was to serve Long Island. While that is a broad statement, it is up to the listeners and advertisers to see if this change truly "supports Long Island." Does (eastern) Long Island want 3 automated stations with modified formats that already exist similarly in the market? The ratings and listener responses will tell.

In my opinion, there are a few things that TMO can do to minimize the negative responses and really impress their listeners and advertisers with this move. Will they do it? Who knows. But there is enormous potential for them to create a huge buzz that will cause the larger, automated stations like WCBS-FM to follow suit.

In terms of the down sizing, it's an excellent business move for them, because they will save tons on their payroll costs and temporarily increase profits. I'm not sure how the stations do financially, but either they are not doing well and they must cut back on expenses or this is just a way to maximize profits. I'm sure most of the staff was "per diem" so there's even less of a worry about severance pay. It's basically, "So long, farewell, thanks for everything."

Keep in mind, though, that their market is seasonal, so the summer time is when they must book the most, and the winter is likely to be quieter, unless they make more money from the live promotions and ads. But now it looks like they're going to lose the live promotions sector, because with no jocks, there's nobody to make appearances. Also, this likely means that all brokered shows are going to be over, so they will lose the money they make on those promotions as well.

Time will tell how this plays out. I'm curious to see the responses once the changeover takes place. This should be an interesting few months for East End radio. I'm going to make another trip out there after the changeover and get a feel for what they have going on out there.

Josh<P ID="edit"><FONT class="small">Edited by JoshM on 09/13/05 05:20 AM.</FONT></P>
 
> This move by the Morey Organization seems to me to be purely
> economic.
>
> By eliminating the airstaffs of all three stations, Morey's
> payroll costs have probably dropped by 75%.

Absolutely. Like I said in my previous post, most radio staffers are probably per diem, so there's not even the worry about severance, benefits, etc. Plus, even after that, once those payouts are done, they're done for good and they just need to pay those that keep the stations alive.
>
> But I think Morey will sell off the three stations.
> Something tells me that the stations aren't doing well
> financially at all. They should be.

Very true, but also the market that they are in is different. 2004 was their first year booking SOLELY on the East End. 2005 was their second year and 3/4 of the way through it (now), they've made these "strategic" moves. In the past, they had 92.7 (and towards the end, 107.1 too) to balance out their bookings and do well covering the populous Nassau county, Queens, NYC, Westchester, Jersey, etc., markets. They were able to cover a more stable area, with the same ads on the staitons for years (Croxley Ales, to name one). Once they sold off 92.7, yes, they received 62m, but that was a one time payout. After they weren't able to sell spots on 92.7 (for all I know, they could have been selling that station until they day they transfered it), they were reliant upon the bookings for the East End properties, the LI Press and using the capital from the sale. 62m is a lot of money, but factoring in operating expenses, salaries, etc., I can understand why changes occur.
>
> Could these three Morey stations be sold?? And if so, could
> they end up in the hands of one of the companies that own FM
> stations in New York City and be used to rebroadcast some of
> their New York FM stations, giving them strong signals in
> the Hamptons??

I wouldn't doubt it. I'm sure TMO would be able to build these stations to sell, ether as a cluster or individually to Clear Channel, Infinity or any other broadcaster. It would be very interesting to see if any of the NYC stations simulcast on the East End. I wonder if Infinity were to buy one, if they would create a "Jack" on the East End. Now, that'd be interesting...<P ID="edit"><FONT class="small">Edited by JoshM on 09/13/05 05:22 AM.</FONT></P>
 
"By eliminating the airstaffs of all three stations, Morey's payroll costs have probably dropped by 75%."

Doubt it, most payroll at most stations goes to upper management and sales. The jocks probably had pretty lousy salaries anyway, many were probably hourly.

Nope, I don't think payroll costs is the reason this is being done, I think they think this is the way people want their radio's to sound. I disagree with that theory, but I think that is what's going on, not payroll cutting (for the sake of payroll cutting).
 
"Keep in mind, though, that their market is seasonal, so the summer time is when they must book the most, and the winter is likely to be quieter, unless they make more money from the live promotions and ads."

This was quite true with Party 105.3, which cuts back most of the dance tracks in Fall/Winter, and takes on quite an urban direction. It was especially evident this past winter, when perhaps only 20% of the music they played would be considered dance.
 
This whole thing seems to reek of TMO running out of money. I dunno what they did with that 80 million or so they got from selling 92.7. They sure didn't put it into their radio operations, nor the Long Island Press.
Perhaps Jed Morey used it for his own political interests. I'll be suprised if these formats last more than a year. This will be a temporary thing until TMO sells the group.
 
> "Keep in mind, though, that their market is seasonal, so the
> summer time is when they must book the most, and the winter
> is likely to be quieter, unless they make more money from
> the live promotions and ads."
>
> This was quite true with Party 105.3, which cuts back most
> of the dance tracks in Fall/Winter, and takes on quite an
> urban direction. It was especially evident this past winter,
> when perhaps only 20% of the music they played would be
> considered dance.
>

Party105 is also stuck between the new Blaze 101.7 and WBLI (I'm not even counting any CT stations). Those who want to hear dance on Party were disappointed when they cut back on the dance to compete with the Top 40/CHR of WBLI and the hip-hop of Blaze 101.7. I really liked Party105 - I thought their dance stuff was great. I'm also wondering if they add more dance during the summer because that's when the clubs on the East End are open and it gets people in the mood to go out, which intermingles with the promotions they would be running at the clubs. I'm disappointed to see the format tweaked. Eastern LI doesn't really need another Top 40 station, especially when it's the biggest one on LI right in the prime of your market.

As for WLIR, I'm surprised that they want to touch that station, because it was unique and it had pretty high ratings. I can't post the ratings here, but if you look in the Riverhead/Hamptons book, they were the highest they've had on that station that I've seen! Maybe they just couldn't sell the format to advertisers.

And for The Bone, they're ranked higher than WBAB/WHFM and WRCN, their main competetion. Again, maybe they can't sell the station, but that's an issue of the sales force more than the "success" of the format.

Who knows - this "FM Channel Casting" is a unique move. Maybe it'll be good. Only time will tell...
 
I understand what they are trying to do but #1 Satellite Radio especially Sirius still has on air jocks although most shows are voicetracked radio still needs personality. Another issue is how can you compete with satellite radio when it is nationwide?? Party 105 had horrendous reception and this won't hange so what good is this move really?


Mike Bordes
Mixshow DJ
Sirius 62 Remix
Mondays 9PM EST, Fridays 2PM EST and other various times in rotation
Clubnetradio.com
Wednesdays 2PM Eastern
 
Status
This thread has been closed due to inactivity. You can create a new thread to discuss this topic.


Back
Top Bottom