Nashville's best radio....isn't transmitted from Nashville.

[NashvilleNative]

I've listened to Nashville radio all of my life, but this Christmas season I couldn't take it anymore. There was no Mix or Fish (since someone thought people would want Christmas music for over a month) and I can't stand 2 out of every 3 songs on i106, The River, or The Party (However, the Party is the best of the 3 in my opinion). I refuse to listen to WayFM due to the way they take advantage of translators and LPFMs; not to mention the use of "underwriters" (ha).

Now that the rant is over, to my main point. The best radio heard in Nashville...isn't transmitted from Nashville. My absolute favorite station is 95.1 WGGC out of BG, KY. I listen to it at home (Old Hickory) and on the way to work (100 Oaks area) and back every day. 95.1 WGGC and 94.7 WGSQ are better than any country station in "Music City." While I am a fan of Gerry House, I get annoyed with a commercial break every 3 minutes. I feel it's pathetic that little stations out of Bowling Green, Clarksville, and Cookeville run circles around Nashville radio.

"The Music is Right on Q"...Why not Cumulus? Clarksville/Fort Cambell's WCVQ 107.9, in my opinion, is an awesome station! I wish they owned and "repeated" on WFFH 94.1 so I could actually pull them in, however Hot AC/Mix stations really need a metro signal for office reception to give the River and Mix a competitor. If Star 97 had stayed on track and taken notes from Q it could fill a major void in Nashville radio. I know several of my friends in the 20-30 age range can't stand the teeny-bop music of the River, yet either fall asleep or are embarrassed to listen to Mix.

I was very disappointed to see 106.7 be a wannabe River. Washington DC has a CBS owned station called "94.7 Fresh FM" that is a mix between Jack, 92.9, and Q108. They refer to DC's lite rock station as "Washed Out" (their call letters are WASH). Since WNFN has nothing to lose I would have loved to have seen something similar to "Fresh FM" (or Q108 if 97.1 is staying rock). Since WNFN's transmitter has moved to the north farm they seem to have a good metro signal (but that's about as far as it goes).

My last thought for this book is a hypothetical for pro/con responses...If it's not broken don't fix it, so this is purely hypothetical. What if the Buzz moved to 102.5 and 102.9 became the Party with a more hip/hop rap flavor to satisfy cookeville and the south side of Nashville with an urban station, not to mention giving the beat an actual competitor. I understand the Buzz's numbers are decent and you wouldn't really want to mess that up, but to my knowledge Columbia, Manchester, Cookeville, McMinnville and Fayettville don't have an urban station. The only one I know of is Huntsville (103.1) WEUP with a signal on 92.1 out of Minor Hill/Pulaski. Just a thought. Maybe the slogan could be "This is what a 100,000 watt "beat" down sounds like."

Looking forward to hearing people's responses.


The new guy: I've been reading these blogs for several months now, but have never posted one myself. My demographic: I'm 22, grew up in Hendersonville, lived in Green Hills for 5 years and am now settled in Old Hickory Village.

 

[scottwmro]

I've listened to Nashville radio all of my life, but this Christmas season I couldn't take it anymore. There was no Mix or Fish (since someone thought people would want Christmas music for over a month) and I can't stand 2 out of every 3 songs on i106, The River, or The Party (However, the Party is the best of the 3 in my opinion). I refuse to listen to WayFM due to the way they take advantage of translators and LPFMs; not to mention the use of "underwriters" (ha).

Now that the rant is over, to my main point. The best radio heard in Nashville...isn't transmitted from Nashville. My absolute favorite station is 95.1 WGGC out of BG, KY. I listen to it at home (Old Hickory) and on the way to work (100 Oaks area) and back every day. 95.1 WGGC and 94.7 WGSQ are better than any country station in "Music City." While I am a fan of Gerry House, I get annoyed with a commercial break every 3 minutes. I feel it's pathetic that little stations out of Bowling Green, Clarksville, and Cookeville run circles around Nashville radio.

"The Music is Right on Q"...Why not Cumulus? Clarksville/Fort Cambell's WCVQ 107.9, in my opinion, is an awesome station! I wish they owned and "repeated" on WFFH 94.1 so I could actually pull them in, however Hot AC/Mix stations really need a metro signal for office reception to give the River and Mix a competitor. If Star 97 had stayed on track and taken notes from Q it could fill a major void in Nashville radio. I know several of my friends in the 20-30 age range can't stand the teeny-bop music of the River, yet either fall asleep or are embarrassed to listen to Mix.

I was very disappointed to see 106.7 be a wannabe River. Washington DC has a CBS owned station called "94.7 Fresh FM" that is a mix between Jack, 92.9, and Q108. They refer to DC's lite rock station as "Washed Out" (their call letters are WASH). Since WNFN has nothing to lose I would have loved to have seen something similar to "Fresh FM" (or Q108 if 97.1 is staying rock). Since WNFN's transmitter has moved to the north farm they seem to have a good metro signal (but that's about as far as it goes).

My last thought for this book is a hypothetical for pro/con responses...If it's not broken don't fix it, so this is purely hypothetical. What if the Buzz moved to 102.5 and 102.9 became the Party with a more hip/hop rap flavor to satisfy cookeville and the south side of Nashville with an urban station, not to mention giving the beat an actual competitor. I understand the Buzz's numbers are decent and you wouldn't really want to mess that up, but to my knowledge Columbia, Manchester, Cookeville, McMinnville and Fayettville don't have an urban station. The only one I know of is Huntsville (103.1) WEUP with a signal on 92.1 out of Minor Hill/Pulaski. Just a thought. Maybe the slogan could be "This is what a 100,000 watt "beat" down sounds like."

Looking forward to hearing people's responses.


The new guy: I've been reading these blogs for several months now, but have never posted one myself. My demographic: I'm 22, grew up in Hendersonville, lived in Green Hills for 5 years and am now settled in Old Hickory Village.

Hey NashvilleNative,

Everyone laughs at me on this board, but I'm the ONLY AM Broadcaster that plays Hot AC on AM. If you have a decent car radio, you can hear my signal from Gallatin, its Magic 1560, Today's Best Hits. My station was an Oldies station for 13 years and at the time, Nashville still had an Oldies station. In August of 2006, I changed format from 60's-early 70's Oldies to Hot AC.

I'm 45 years old, and will be 46 in May. I like all the Current Hits from Hinder, Lady Gah Gah, Nickelback, Pink, Finger 11, Daughtery, No Doubt, etc. It's been funny, when I changed format, it woke up the Senior Band (AM) and I got complaints from dozens of people. I was even told that I did not qualify as a radio station owner! (HA!) I laughed at that comment!

Now that the station has been Hot AC for about 3 years now, it has built up a local audience. Now if somebody compains about my station's change, I just chuckle a bit and ignor them. It still happens every once in a while. I think it's funny!

We sound sort of like Q108. I can receive them here in Gallatin. We are on Satellite, using Citadel Media's Hot AC Format, with local stuff inserted in the Satellite Window Breaks.

I love this format. People my age want to hear the 70's and 80's Classic Hits. I played them so much; I don't care for them anymore. I like new, fresh, Current Adult Top 40, if you know what I mean. I guess I'm stuck, as I'm not a heavy party guy in their 20's, but I'm not an old man either!

Some think I'm stupid playing an Adult Top 40 Format on AM, but there are a few Oldies stations on AM I can get during the day if they want to go there, like WSGI 1100-AM in Springfield. Yea, it's live with a jock sitting there play CD's, but the Satellite Jocks have talent, and I can't afford to hire a Monday thru Friday fulltime staff. Suburban AM's don't make the money they once did. It's just a 1,000 watt AM, but I'm having fun with it. Hot AC does sound good on a good AM Radio!

 

[firepoint525]

"The Music is Right on Q"

I like Q-108 myself, but I they seem to be burning that slogan to death! Every time they crack the mic, they say that! I wish they'd give it a rest! I'm sure the station management requires them to say that, but it's beginning to get old! Still, I give them props for not completely selling out to Christmas music during the holiday season, although black Friday was a bit tough to take.

 

[NashvilleNative]

Hey Scott, I'm familiar with 1560. I remember listening when it was oldies and I listened the other day in the kitchen, as well as when I was driving around Hendersonville. It does have a nice playlist. I'll be honest, being a "youngster" I forget to turn on the AM radio a lot (other than 650 traffic report at 4:55). Sadly, the latest radio I bought for the home office is only Aux, iPod, or FM. I didn't realize this until last night when I went to go to AM and had to use another radio. Sad sign from Altec Lansing. Thanks for reminding me that you guys exist. I'll see if I can tune you in on my alarm clock, then you'll sound just as good as FM...just with better music.

 

[Tibbs4]

I am 47, Scott, and act much older than you, and I like to listen to a lot of what you listen to. I also like
a fair amount of the music on WRLT (until they give us a triple play of tired sounding, whining women
trying to be folk singers near suicide) and loved (compliment, see!) the first two or three weeks of WRQQ when they changed from "Everything that Rocks" to "The Total Rock Experience." Then they threw in more
and more Bore Rock. Great the 10 billionth playing of "Open Arms" by Journey. Ruined in an instant with
"Mama's Gotta Squeeze Box" (the damn stupidest and worst song ever, IMO) and failing now because it's
not cutting edge at all, instead just another insult to listeners intelligence. I am not sure what the allure is, other than the fact that CONsultants are so lazy and unoriginal that they all copy each others playlists, in playing 25 year old + songs like they were released for the first time yesterday. I give props to Retro Lightning for playing some great off-the-wall music on Saturday morning. Today was 1971. The music was great and radio is so cookie-cuttered that what could be a near educational experience to re-live the years, etc. is to much of an effort and work. I agree Q-108 is decent, although I think its a bit less focused than it
was a while back, and it's signal has been tougher to pick up in SW Nashville. The fact that those of us over 45 don't want to stay stuck with all that music from our high school years (or haircuts from then either) is
what consultants have yet to figure out. It's not that hard. And, yeah, iPods etc have and will continue to push potential listeners away as stale precdictable radio continues to stay behind the curve. None of this applies to Rupert Holmes being taken off the air, btw...

 

[scottwmro]

I am 47, Scott, and act much older than you, and I like to listen to a lot of what you listen to. I also like
a fair amount of the music on WRLT (until they give us a triple play of tired sounding, whining women
trying to be folk singers near suicide) and loved (compliment, see!) the first two or three weeks of WRQQ when they changed from "Everything that Rocks" to "The Total Rock Experience." Then they threw in more
and more Bore Rock. Great the 10 billionth playing of "Open Arms" by Journey. Ruined in an instant with
"Mama's Gotta Squeeze Box" (the damn stupidest and worst song ever, IMO) and failing now because it's
not cutting edge at all, instead just another insult to listeners intelligence. I am not sure what the allure is, other than the fact that CONsultants are so lazy and unoriginal that they all copy each others playlists, in playing 25 year old + songs like they were released for the first time yesterday. I give props to Retro Lightning for playing some great off-the-wall music on Saturday morning. Today was 1971. The music was great and radio is so cookie-cuttered that what could be a near educational experience to re-live the years, etc. is to much of an effort and work. I agree Q-108 is decent, although I think its a bit less focused than it
was a while back, and it's signal has been tougher to pick up in SW Nashville. The fact that those of us over 45 don't want to stay stuck with all that music from our high school years (or haircuts from then either) is
what consultants have yet to figure out. It's not that hard. And, yeah, iPods etc have and will continue to push potential listeners away as stale precdictable radio continues to stay behind the curve. None of this applies to Rupert Holmes being taken off the air, btw...

Tibbs,
Now what is your problem?

 

[firepoint525]

Scott, do you carry high school football and basketball games?  Seems like those would be a financial windfall for your station.  As I have gathered from reading what you have posted up until now, the only time you break format is for church services on Sunday.

Tibbs, I like Retro Lightning, too.  It is appointment radio for me! By the way, I'm okay with music from my high school days (still listen to it!), just not the haircuts! ;D

 

[Tibbs4]

[/quote]
Tibbs,
Now what is your problem?

[/quote]

Scott ~ I am trying to be POSITIVE and not trash WRQQ in 2010. It doesn't matter and its not worth
the stress. And, you're not drinking Arbor Mist, so I can't get that limo driver to take me to Gallatin?
Sounds like a couple of pretty serious issues, huh! Really ~ no problems really. Take WMRO to 50 kw.
FCC being kinder and gentler in 2010, so we all can rock in Music City.

 

[scottwmro]

Scott, do you carry high school football and basketball games? Seems like those would be a financial windfall for your station. As I have gathered from reading what you have posted up until now, the only time you break format is for church services on Sunday.

Tibbs, I like Retro Lightning, too. It is appointment radio for me! By the way, I'm okay with music from my high school days (still listen to it!), just not the haircuts! ;D

On Sunday, we don't break for just church services; we're live all day long. From 12 noon until Sundown, we play Southern Gospel Music, with a live D.J., and take request. We even mix in Bluegrass Gospel as well. Sunday Morning is live preachers from the station. We only have two churches that broadcast their services live.

Basically, WMRO is Gospel all day long on Sunday, live. It’s been a tradition that WMRO is live all day on Sundays for the religious community and on Sunday Afternoons, we have even let people come in the station to discuss local issues live, but we mostly stick to live Gospel Programming all day.

Since the WMRO is really a daytimer, my Sunday Afternoon jock stays on until time for us to go to night power. On some Sunday Nights, we just sign off at sunset, after his show, to give the equipment a rest.

In the fall, we do the Gallatin High Football Games, but we don’t do the Gallatin High Basketball Games. We found it was just too hard to sell the basketball games, and the guys that do the Football Games for me are drained physically from the High School Football Season.

 

[scottwmro]

Tibbs,
Now what is your problem?

[/quote]

Scott ~ I am trying to be POSITIVE and not trash WRQQ in 2010. It doesn't matter and its not worth
the stress. And, you're not drinking Arbor Mist, so I can't get that limo driver to take me to Gallatin?
Sounds like a couple of pretty serious issues, huh! Really ~ no problems really. Take WMRO to 50 kw.
FCC being kinder and gentler in 2010, so we all can rock in Music City.


[/quote]

I really don't pay WRQQ any attention. They were only good when they took the place of 96.3 in Nashville. After it changed, I've only listen to WRQQ maybe 1 or 2 times, for a long period of time, so I really don't have too much of a clue of what they are playing. I just assumed it was just another boring classic rock station, playimg the same ole songs.

In my honest opinion, they haven't made a big splash here, or everybody would be listening to it, and I'd hear about it. I don't even have a button set to 97.1 in the car. They really messed up taking that Oldies Format off. If they didn't want Oldies on 97.1, they should have put it on 106.7, but look who owns both stations. 106.7 has change format so many times, it's hard to keep up with what Mr. Dickey is going to do next, but it's not my station, or my headache, so I don't worry about them.

Can't drink Arbor Mist anymore. The bad news I got from my doctor two days before Christmas cut that out for good. As a matter of fact. It's been well over a year to a year and one half since I've had a glass of wine. I usually have one half glass of wine with my mother on Christmas Eve, but I couldn't do that this year, due to I got sick that night. I think it was something I ate.

I wished I could get higher power with WMRO, but there are two stations blocking me, one is a co-channel station and one is an adjacent channel station. Both stations are in Kentucky. In addition, I have to protect WQEW in NYC two hours after sunrise and two hours before sunset. As you know, that's called Critical Hours. I have a 309 mv/m limit towards WQEW during Critical Hours. In addition, don't have enough property for directional. I only have an acre and one half with one tower and the studio building, so I stuck with 1,000 watts during the day.

1560 is a horrible channel to be on. Besides Class "A", 50 KW, WQEW in NYC, 1560 is full of Class "D" or daytime stations with little or no night power. I was lucky enough to get a little night power, but it doesn't cover the city well at night. Too much interference. We also protect KNZR in Bakersfield, CA, since the FCC considers them to be a Class "A" station. I think really we protect WQEW and not KNZR. KNZR is outside the 700 mile protection range of a Class "A", Clear Channel Station.

 

[Tibbs4]

Hey Scott ~ I didn't intend to bust you on anything at all on my post. I am proud of you keeping
the station going and doing your own thing. I hope no one else read anything negative about you
in on that post. My only issues are with consultants ruining what was a good sounding station (to
me) for a couple of weeks, when RQQ moved away from harder rock last year. I just thought they
had a window and closed it to quickly before it proved itself. They did that a few times with various
re-invents of Star 97. I have never seen a company think it's not important to give the station some
time to prove itself, before throwing it away.

If anything, Scott, I was intending to say I was with you on your choice of music...unless you're playing
that damned "Squeeze Box" by the Who! Hehehe.

P.S. Scott, I did email you, so I hope you get that. I can never tell if the e-mails work on here. Happy 2010.

 

[firepoint525]

In the fall, we do the Gallatin High Football Games, but we don’t do the Gallatin High Basketball Games. We found it was just too hard to sell the basketball games, and the guys that do the Football Games for me are drained physically from the High School Football Season.

In west Tennessee, where I grew up, football is religion! So I'm not surprised that you carry football. What I never understood was when different stations carried the same game! It made more sense (because of night-time coverage issues) for the AM to carry the city high school's games, while the FM covered the county high school.

Basketball may not be as popular, but I'm sure that if there is enough of a demand for it, that one of the stations in your area will carry it!

 

[fireworks]

Even with Star 97's format changes each week (actually is was about 6 in a 3-year period), at least one of them worked fairly well. They had competent announcers that seemed to know what they were doing. Where are any of them now? Put those jocks back on, call it whatever you please, make mornings local again, and double the ratings (in some demos, that would mean going from a .4 to a .8 !)