My thoughts on the sale of WMCR

[BobRoss]

WMCR {...} It is soul less. No humor. No heart. The announcers (not DJ's) are the most stiff a**ed sounding white people I've ever heard. Absolutely no personality or warmth at all.

I was once told by someone who worked at the station, maybe 5 or 6 years ago, that the "stiff a**ed" presentation was a dictate from Vivian Warren, the old lady who owned the station until recently. It was allegedly her wish that the songs never crossfade, the jocks never talk-up song intros, and they never talk until a song is faded all the way out. I'm surprised that (a) for the most part, that hasn't changed yet under the new ownership, and (b) that she actually allowed the station to keep adding current titles. It's so odd to hear one of those old-timey jingles going into a 2009 top 40 song.

I did recently hear one jock who actually had some energy, and he talked over an intro. But certain times of the day, like nights and weekends, some of these jocks sound so young, nervous and inexperienced, I wouldn't be surprised if they're underclassmen in college or maybe even still in high school. Probably the kids of some salesperson or a client. They clearly don't belong on the radio, yet, there they are.

 

[JakeLongwell]

Having read the article on CNYRadio, I feel somewhat vindicated for the views and opinions I expressed about the sale of the station back in March.

I'm sorry, but I don't agree that the old WMCR had no personality to it. I, for one, liked their presentation, and their variety/MOR format. It was unique, and they didn't try to imitate other Syracuse and Uitca stations.

According to the new website, the FM will be "the 80s, 90s, and more", and the AM will be "Oneida's news, talk, and sports leader". Note the apparent subtraction of nostalgia and oldies from the station's programming, something which I believe is a grave mistake on Jim Johnson's part. He is doing what so many other broadcasters are doing today, saying "screw you" to the older populations of the community. I hope this comes back to bite him you know where. This, coming from a 20-something, no less.

I'd like to think that the speciality shows that were/are still heard on Sundays will remain on AM, but I am not counting on it. After all, they can't be "sold", right?

As to Mr. Ross's comment about how the evening and weekend jocks clearly don't belong on the radio. Don't worry, sir. I am sure by this time next month, you will find them behind some counter saying "may I help you?" instead. Surely, that will set your mind at ease. Knowing that before too long, the deep voiced happy talking satellite DJ will replace them all.

Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if Johnson sends the whole lot of them packing. After all, everyone will have to be re trained. The amount of time and money involved in training the jocks to talk up intros, cross fade, follow a playlist and time clock... It will probably cost far more than it's worth. Besides, he didn't put that AudioVault in the station for display purposes.

Folks, call me what you will. I say this man has ruined a great radio station. You can wish him well with his new acquisition if you like. I, however, cannot second those well wishes. If anything, I can't wait for the day he puts the station up for sale. In the meantime, I can only hope that listeners and advertisers will revolt against these changes. It has happened before, and can happen again. People in rural America are very set in their ways, and often times do not like change. This is what I am hoping for.

Needless to say, I have lost all faith in commercial radio, of any kind. Sure, there may still be a few WMCR-like radio stations across this great land, but the events of the past 90 days have shown that nothing in this industry is sacred, and those stations, too, shall one day fall.

 

[theradiokid]

Jake,

You are 100 percent correct in everything you say. I too feel vindicated in everything I have written on these boards about WMCR. As I said before, what MR. Johnson did to those stations in the Southern Teer should have been a warning sign about what is to come. “Give the guy another chance.” People said. OK. Here’s the thing, though. Johnson has just taken over, and you can already see that Johnson is back to the same old corporate agenda. He learned nothing from owning the Banjoe Group. I said it before, I’ll gladly say it again: What Johnson did in the Southern Teer (WDLA, anyone?) should’ve been pointed out to MRS. Waren, and put before the FCC, and MR. Johnson, in my opinion, should never be allowed to hold a radio station license ever again.

Farewell, WMCR. It was nice to know you. OK. Bring in the Johnson demolition crew…

--The Radio Kid
(Oswego, NY.)
My email: [email protected].

 

[Adman4120]

I would like to make a few comments, if I may. There is no doubt that WMCR has been a very localized radio operation. Yes, it's true the on-air team, programming and sound quality were not in the same league as larger market stations. I am sure, some smaller operations sounded better, however, I do not think their goal was to sound like a big, slick operation.

Everyone has to remember that for whatever reason, the media from Utica and Syracuse never seemed to go after much of WMCR's client base. They just left this Oneida station stuck in between both cities...alone. In my view, most of the businesses that WMCR has had on their airwaves over the years either did not know any better that buying a Utica or Syracuse station might do better for them, or, they did not care and just wanted to be with the local station, garner some business and support them.

If it were me, except for technical and audio improvements, I probably would not change much of anything. It has been successful and no other media has bother them. If they start dabbling into the same type of formats as Utica and Syracuse stations and try to be like them, you have to wonder if those bigger market stations will take exception and start to call on WMCR clients and educate them on how few listeners they really do have.

Even though WMCR never billed as much as many of the Utica and Syracuse stations, their bottom line in many instances was better than the big operations because of their shoestring operating budget.

It will be interesting to see how things pan out as time goes forward.

 

[JakeLongwell]

I agree with Adman. Trying to duplicate the success of stations like, say, Y94, or WSYR, in hopes that you will lure listeners in your area away from said stations, is pointless. Most people will see that for what it really is.

The "uniqueness" could have been and should have been retained. Simply trying to outdo your big city competition won't help. Rather, I honestly think it will cost them listenres and advertisers.

If the stations must lose their uniqueness, and adopt formats, I would have tried to offer something that isn't already being done in the area. I expect most of WMCR's audience is in the 50+ demo. That being said, I would have put some kind of oldies or nostalgia format on the AM, maybe even classic country, just something different. Instead, people will be able to hear a bunch of third tier syndicated talk fare that no one will likely care about or want to listen to.

I also agree that WMCR's bottom line was probably far less than that of most larger corporate radio outfits, even with such luxuries as live jocks until 10 pm seven days a week.

I think that's the one thing I am most displeased with in this whole mess. You can't tell me that live announcers will still be heard every night after 6:00, and on weekends. And you can tell me it's not 1969 anymore, and that we just don't need live bodies on air during non peak hours, but I am not buying it. Sure, it would have been very easy for the previous owners to bring in automation back in the 80s or 90s when it started becoming fashionable for small town stations to do such things, but, they didn't. Even in recent years with the economy in the toilet, and with radio stations cutting costs left and right, they still kept an all live and local presence even on weekends. Now, with a new owner, suddenly we have to cut costs? Again, not buying it. Sorry.

 

[JimmyJames]

I was once brought into a situation where there had been an incredibly strong local station in a very small market. It was at the time, one of three commercial stations in the entire region. Since then, a full power public radio station from a statewide network has been added.

The station's competition was satellite classic rock on AM and country on FM from a town about 20 miles away. The station itself ran a hybrid of adult contemporary (gold and current) with some oldies, classic rock and light country mixed in. It was also the most popular station in the region. Even vacationers sent emails to express their enjoyment of the unique format. Deep but not "weird" - just a lot of good songs from yesterday and today. And they'd step off the charts to play something that wasn't charting but was just good enough to fit.

New ownership comes in, and thinks "no one's listening" to the old format as it's "too chit chatty, too hokey." Misreads the local growth in "young families" to justify a flip to CHR. Later backtracks to 80s-90s and now. However, even this is mishandled due to playing the wrong songs from that era, including 80s hard rock in morning drive which alienates the remaining older audience who still will tune in for local news and announcements on their morning drive. Loses long time sports play by play and midday announcer to competing AM station.

End result, the station is struggling along with one veteran DJ and 2 broadcasting school grads, one of whom has issues with speech, delivery and overall originality. The current music is picked seemingly at random, skewing towards the rock side of the CHR chart, but also with some random oldies and the hard and soft extremes of the 80s and 90s. The station has some advertisers but nowhere near the amount they had before. Most business owners don't believe those who would shop with them listen to that station.

The variety format on this station before was held together by live DJs who discussed local events, had a clean sense of humor, and had the freedom to sequence the music and choose from the library. And this station was successful. The irony is that the attempt to make the station "more professional" actually has made the station sound more juvenile and alienating to the adult population.

While WMCR may have had its issues with talent and music mix, those can be smoothed out without losing the essence of what makes the station unique. Sadly, in most of these cases, the format is simply flipped to a tighter playlist without focusing on the strengths of small market variety.

 

[Element9]

I've listened to WMCR from time to time while in the CNY area. It's a unique, local radio station, but to call it "great" is a stretch. It's not great. It's local. It's hokey and dis-jointed. Yes, it's unique and it has it's place in Oneida. For whom and how many? I honestly couldn't say.

WMCR is a station that radio geeks like us flock to and say (only because we're so sick to death of large market radio stations that voicetrack and sound more canned than Campbell's) "Oh, what a gem! What a cool little station! I wish I owned it." To call WMCR "great" demeans those stations that actually were or are great. WMCR may be unique, but it sure ain't WABC, WLS, WKBW, WHEN or WNDR in their prime.

If I owned WMCR, you guys would be calling be a dooshnozzle (in the event you haven't already) because I'd make changes. But I wouldn't throw the baby out with the bath water.

The new owner has to make changes to WMCR AM & FM. It's 2009 and he has to create a product that he can sell on the street. The key is to make the changes for the better, keep the localism and get rid of the hokey crap.

Hockey and local aren't the same. Hokey = bad, small town radio. Local = Good localism and service to the community that sound professional and well presented.

Bob Savage's 1040 WYSL Avon-Rochester is a local news-talk station that sounds very professional. 1410 WDOE Dunkirk, much the same.

WMCR? It's like going into your grandmother's basement or garage and finding a few cool items worth saving among the wall-to-wall clutter of junk that's best thrown out.

 

[BobRoss]

WMCR is a station that radio geeks like us flock to and say (only because we're so sick to death of large market radio stations that voicetrack and sound more canned than Campbell's) "Oh, what a gem! What a cool little station! I wish I owned it."
(...)
Hokey and local aren't the same. Hokey = bad, small town radio. Local = Good localism and service to the community that sound professional and well presented.
(...)
WMCR? It's like going into your grandmother's basement or garage and finding a few cool items worth saving among the wall-to-wall clutter of junk that's best thrown out.

Amen. The entire format and presentation don't need to be tossed, but there do need to be some changes. And for everyone who sings the praises of WMCR, how often and how long do you actually listen? Do you really enjoy hearing it for hours on end, or are you just defending a small-potatoes operation just because it's a small-potatoes operation?

 

[doctorcomputer3]

Thats a good point Bob. I listened all day yesterday because I read this post. The station is 10 minutes away from my beautiful lake home. The studios are across from Pepi's pizza but where is the tower? Marty Santy used to tell me that it was stuck on the roof of their studios, sideways. The programming is FINE. Laid back is perfect for Oneida, Camden, Hamilton etc. I would stick with the "No talk over the words" and there is a good reason for it.

 

[JakeLongwell]

Unfortunately, I don't have the option to listen to WMCR all day. I would if I could, though.

The only chance I have to hear them at the moment is via a remote controlled web receiver that is located near them. This receiver only tunes AM and Shortwave, not FM, so I can only listen to 1600, and since it is a public receiver, if someone else wants to use it to tune other stations, I have to stop listening.

From what I have heard thus far this week, I believe they are implamenting the new AC format already. I heard mostly 80s and 90s tunes with one 70s cut and one current. The jock didn't do any talk overs, but the songs were tight. I also heard the Open Line host comment that there were engineers in the studio who were waiting for him to wrap up so they could get to work. So I am guessing the cart machines and CD decks are being ripped out as we speak.

I also heard a promo for their upcoming broadcasts of little league baseball. This just goes to show what a unique station MCR really is. What other station do you know of that broadcasts little league games? I've known many small stations in my lifetime that were much like WMCR, but none of them ever broadcast little league, let alone high school baseball. They usually stuck to HS football and basketball.

This begs another question and point to ponder. With the AM going all spoken word programming, will there still be sports on FM? I would think there would have to be, especially if the event in question is held after dark, when the AM is at low power.

Oh, and regarding the location of their tower. The towers for AM and FM are at separate sites. One is on Forest Ave, the other on West Elm Street Ext. If you can, catch their sign on and sign off announcements while they are still shutting down at night. All the technical details are there.

 

[doctorcomputer3]

I can send the sound over to you, Jake. Email me or PM on this board and I will set you up. Basically it looks like many are interested in WMCR staying the way it is, and I agree. Updating the equipment is always fine, I have an automation system here that is reasonable and just as good as any Windows automation software. Lots of work making a library of digital music but they may be all set with that. I heard them clicking the cart machines in the background. 80's and 90's is a bad thing. The people that are already there seem to do well with a "free form" format and pick good music. There are better, but they're pretty good. Little league baseball is good but you would think putting that on the AM, supported by a webcast would be a better Idea. Full time news on the FM is good in my book but they may want to backtime to the top of the hour and pick up CBS, then local. That would really remind me of old time radio and the time,news, sports and weather are never a bother to people of my age as long as its brief. These days it would also be unique. Lets hope they dont change the station too much. The "talk-ups" dont really matter too much but not talking over the music isnt a bad thing although it's a very old approach. Not just old, but very old. If they found a common ground between very old and new, it would probably still sound comfortable to the country folk around here.