MP 103

[Ray D. Oh]

I never get to hear the station and was up in the Burlington area the other day. I wanted to listen because I was told they had a very good ratings book last time out. The music was all over the place but it was refreshing to hear some of the tunes. It actually worked. I do think that ever adding jocks to the mix would wreck the station. It's just not set up for that. It's getting the audience it is because it's different than any other station on the dial. I'm not a big fan of "jockless" radio but they did find an empty niche for an also-ran frquency and stuck with it...being rewarded with some ratings gains. That's better than Northeast usually does!

 

[edradio]

Like anything else though, it will lose its shine. It WILL get old. And like everything else at Northeast, it WILL eventually get screwed up...

 

[Oldbones]

I never get to hear the station and was up in the Burlington area the other day. I wanted to listen because I was told they had a very good ratings book last time out. The music was all over the place but it was refreshing to hear some of the tunes. It actually worked. I do think that ever adding jocks to the mix would wreck the station. It's just not set up for that. It's getting the audience it is because it's different than any other station on the dial. I'm not a big fan of "jockless" radio but they did find an empty niche for an also-ran frquency and stuck with it...being rewarded with some ratings gains. That's better than Northeast usually does!

In my corner of the Great North Woods it doesn't come in very well, but I enjoy it. Heard an interesting edit of Golden Earring's "Twilight Zone" the other day.
As far as jockless vs. live goes...well, there's not much live radio up this way anyway & it beats the birdfeed on WGMT or the "all 90s girl groups all the time" on Kiss 102.3

 

[NO DAG]

Northeast has done a great job with MP 103. Not sure if the revenue stream is following the good ratings success it's having. The 103.3 signal is the most underated signal in that market.

 

[Ray D. Oh]

They have a CP to move to the top of Mount Mansfield. Has that been done yet? That will increase their coverage to the Northwest quite a bit picking up more of Plattsburgh and St. Albans. The only other thing I neglected to mention before was their imagaing. Since it's the heart and soul of the radio station I think they could have much more clever and better produced liners. Plus they can use a greater variety. If anything burns out a listener it will most likely be that voice so much. better production values and better writing would help alleviate that potential problem.

 

[edradio]

The imaging will always be a problem until Northeast begins putting actual money into it. The imaging voice is IN HOUSE from another cluster and all the actual production is done from Dorset Street... Sorry, but good writing and production talent does not reside in South Burlington, if it's anywhere in Vermont, it lives in the woods of Colchester...

 

[StudioChuck]

I don't think the voice guy is in house. He is the same guy that does USA Television Network and Yellowbook. Unless that guy works for Northeast too.

 

[MassMusicMan]

Sorry, but good writing and production talent does not reside in South Burlington, if it's anywhere in Vermont, it lives in the woods of Colchester...

Not anymore. It moved to Seattle. ;D

 

[edradio]

From what I understand the guy they use is a staffer down at XRV... I know for fact that was the case when the station launched. I could be wrong about the current guy and maybe I missed the change, but they sound A LOT alike. Also, there's NO WAY NEB would shell out bucks for a national guy. Alice's imaging company was weak beyond compare... (if I remember correctly, they used Megahertz) Again, I could be wrong, but I'm pretty close to positive...

 

[StudioChuck]

Called the station today. Was told that the voice is a guy named Colter Rule. Indeed he is the same voice as USA TV. They also said he does work for Jello, Visine and Yellowbook.

 

[argytunes]

And how long do you think it'll take listeners to make the connection? ???

Sometimes "imaging" using the same voice is GOOD...but oftentimes it makes listeners say to themselves: "I know I've heard that voice from another radio or tv station"

So they spend the rest of their time trying to decipher the voice and completely forget about the station they're listening to...INCLUDING THE CALL LETTERS!

Canned liners...WHAT A CONCEPT! ;D

argytunes

 

[ianmckenzie]

To set the record straight on the MP103 liner issue, as I was there at the beginning, here are the basics on the timeline.

1. Yes, buffy and john at Megahertz studios were the voice of Alice - they do good voice work, and are now the imaging voices for MGX

2. MP103 did originally start with the voice of the morning show host for WXRV

3. After about a week to a week and a half, we decided to go in a different direction - and listening to the other "Jack" stations across the country - we contacted Colter Rule, who was the voice of the variety hits station in Detroit...yes, he also does Visine, Country Time Lemonade, U.S.A., etc. And they have been using him ever since. He's a real pro, and a good guy (who is relatively affordable- if anyone out of Burlington-Platts market needs a unique voice guy.

4. As far as if having cute, canned liners - and having a voice who people are trying to place - may be a distraction to the listeners - there has been a real positive 2-book trend - and we'll see in the new year if it continues.

Hope that helps.

- Ian "Scott" McKenzie - former P.D. - MP103.

 

[MassMusicMan]

4. As far as if having cute, canned liners - and having a voice who people are trying to place - may be a distraction to the listeners - there has been a real positive 2-book trend - and we'll see in the new year if it continues.

This has nothing to do with the familiarity of the image voice, it's because MP is the first station in Burlington that has bothered to play rhythmic gold titles with any regularity (Motown classics excepted.)

 

[Ozman]

where are they transmitting rom now?
if your talking the top of mt mansfield I might have the chance to catch em here in lyndonville...

They have a CP to move to the top of Mount Mansfield. Has that been done yet? That will increase their coverage to the Northwest quite a bit picking up more of Plattsburgh and St. Albans. The only other thing I neglected to mention before was their imagaing. Since it's the heart and soul of the radio station I think they could have much more clever and better produced liners. Plus they can use a greater variety. If anything burns out a listener it will most likely be that voice so much. better production values and better writing would help alleviate that potential problem.

 

[bigmarktgoddess]

I love to read peoples perception of varity hits station......Just in case you weren't aware, since the new PD took over just over a year ago MP 103 has continued to rise in the ratings. I believe it will continue, this PD knows that change is what is needed to stop on top.

As to things getting old, don't all radio stations? The difference is they don't change.

If only you all could take a listen to the rest the other varity hits stations across the US, MP is by far the best.

 

[nhradiochild]

Just in case you weren't aware, since the new PD took over just over a year ago MP 103 has continued to rise in the ratings. I believe it will continue, this PD knows that change is what is needed to stop on top.

I'm not sure that's entirely fair to Mr. McKenzie who appears to have a fairly level-head about things. While a station's success is measured in large part by a program director's actions, sometimes politics do come into play and while one PD may not be afforded the luxury to change something, another may. I can't say that this occurred here, but be aware that sometimes PD's have ideas that get canned that may have been better than the ones that get accepted (and do reasonably well on their own.)

Additionally, it's very refreshing to hear a former employee speak well of a station they are no longer a part of. Very professional. Pending a positive interview, I would probably hire the man.

It's nice to see a variety hits station getting kudos rather than raspberries. From the general vibe I get from here, MP103 seems to be doing quite well with their recent format switch. (Much to the chagrin of Alice lovers?) It's pretty interesting how Vermont broadcasters tend to stray a bit from the cookie cutter and manage to come out with some pretty listenable material, despite the fact they are so not metro.