If there was something there to applaud, I would. There was NO mention of this new show on WLVL's website or FB page. This thread and the comments about it are directed at KurtLockport for starting a thread about a Talk Show with "Western New York's most famous, well-known caller" that the station that airs the program DIDN'T even bother to publicize on their own social media before the first show aired. If even Bill Yunhke, self-titled "Radio Maestro" didn't feel the need to talk about it, that shows that even he finds it to be Sunday morning filler. When WLVL or WEBR does do something worthy of applause, I'll applaud. But I DON'T need YOU trying to tell me that a nothing burger deserves a 5-star rating.
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New program on WLVL?
- Thread starter KurtLockport
- Start date
musicianslegacy
Banned
I know it's a reach for you to support a local station doing their best. Do you perceive them as a threat? Why would you go out of your way to continually criticize them? You are entitled to your opinion but you throw out insults like it's ok. It is not ok. Was WLVL attacking you? If you found the show to be over rated that could be relayed without the extremely derogatory comments. That's all.
Exdjted made a good point that even the station owner did not promote the show... probably because it is likely just "filler" in the least listened to daytime hours of the week, Sunday early morning.
What in the world is a "most famous well-known caller"? In what way is someone whose main skill is tapping buttons on a phone suddenly an important talk show host?
It's not a reach for me to support a local station or it's owners. I've been doing that for over 50 years. They're not a threat to me. I DON'T care about WLVL, WEBR, or any of these stations because they're not local to me. I've never been to Western New York, don't plan on going or give a crap about it. I don't live there. I hope Bill Yuhnke makes a million dollars. Whatever he does or doesn't do has no effect on my life.
What this does have to do with is KurtLockport starting a thread about something even the owner of said station didn't give any attention. That's because KurtLockport is from that area, and I suspect, is either employed by, or friends with, the aforementioned Bill Yuhnke. He over-promised and under-delivered.
It is okay to have an opinion. I fully support your right to post your opinion on here. But get your facts straight. I never attacked WLVL. But I have had to listen to people come on this board and describe themselves as "Radio Maestro" or "Buffalo Legend" or "The World's Foremost Beatles Expert". Those are accolades OTHER people bestow on you, not something you anoint yourself.
If WLVL garners ratings that are provable, and WEBR makes a million dollars in billing, I'll congratulate them. But when KurtLockport starts a thread like this, then I'm going to call HIM out on it.
You're entitled to your opinion. It would be nice if you extended that courtesy to people who disagree with you, instead of calling them ignorant.
musicianslegacy
Banned
Ok that was a response based on opinion and although I don't agree can appreciate the message without criticisms. The ignorance I was referring to was the fact that with Radios future in a threatened state it would be wise to come together despite the difference in opinions. Have a great night.
That's all I ask as well. I wish we could all get together and make Radio viable for the foreseeable future, but that's something that's out of our hands. You see, nobody can agree WHAT path Radio should take towards the future. The FCC is holding us back, and the marketplace is so horribly fragmented due to forces beyond our control. I know what I can do TODAY, but tomorrow is another question. My younger brother grew up in this business just like I did, but he now listens to podcasts on his 45 minute commute to and from work. The only terrestrial station he's listened to in the past 5 years is WMOT at MTSU in Murfreesboro. I can't even talk shop with him anymore because he really doesn't care about the business. That's why I come here.
If you could tell me what direction to go, and how to combat Pandora, Spotify, SiriusXM and the like while fighting a government that looks at us like a piggy bank and only cares about Radio when someone threatens to do away with AM Radio in a vehicle or when a Country musician tells them we don't already pay our fair share to them, please do. I welcome it. We all would. I started out when we still used 45's and LP's and worried about cue burn, and we manually wound carts to get past the splice or replaced the pressure pads ourselves. Now we're worried about digital, hacker attacks and AI. I shudder to think about the next 10 years and the advancements. Thank God I'm not a corporate GM having to worry about investors or share price. I only have to worry about keeping the lights on, and for the majority not named iHeart, Cumulus, Audacy or the like, that's what we do.
musicianslegacy
Banned
musicianslegacy
Banned
Now that's a discussion.
Wrong. I'm from the area and people here are/ talking about it. I don't know Bill Yuhnke and I don't work there. Were people excited about the show? Absolutely. WLVL hasn't had a Sunday program in my memory. It was supposed to be at 10 which would have been perfect for those of us who used to listen to polkas could now have an OPTION of something good to listen to. If you don't like it I could tell you don't listen to it but I'm not going to do that and instead I could say you can just keep listening. 😉
People don't "get excited" about a Sunday morning talk show done by an amateur on a couple of limited coverage stations that have nearly no audience... and I don't care if the station in question is KFI!
In a recent book, WLVL and its translator had an average of 300 listeners during the 6 AM to Midnight, M-F period (none under 55 at all). It had an average of none in middays and none at night and none on weekends. Its weekly total cume was just 6,000 total persons (WYRK, on the other hand, averages 8,500 people and reaches 190.000 people weekly in the TSA.
Ok if you say so.
Your numbers are off since we hear people call in non-stop for three hours every Saturday morning 7-10.
Just mention Sub Delicious and the callers are like vultures trying to get on the air for their deal on Dial A Deal. I listen to it every week and I'm under 55.
No, I do not say so. Nielsen does.
And how many in total call? Perhaps that is your entire audience.
I did not say there were no listeners. I just said that there were nearly no listeners.
A "full house" at a theater that holds 250 people is not the same thing as a "full house" at a stadium that holds 50,000.
Comments about WLVL and their audience...
First, my experience with WLVL is nearly 40 years ago, so (obviously) things change... but I bet it's not grossly different now.
The guy that had just bought the station at that time so long ago, was some supposed local (WBEN - I think?) radio sales guru turned station owner. He was a character. Let me say that again, he was a character. He also seemed to be spot on regarding what Lockportians liked, cherished, and wanted from WLVL. Knew the market? Man, did he ever. He also knew the limits. For example, even though WLVL transmitted a bit south, the then emerging population center of "East Amherst" was of no interest because of the quite different demographics. Again, he was a character... and, frankly, a good chunk of the station's small staff were characters too. Reminded me of WKRP meets Green Acres meets Beverly Hillbillys.
I recall an actual morning show news item, that went something like this... "This just in, John Doe of suchnsuch street veered off blahblah road on his way to work this morning. The car came to rest on the shoulder. He didn't hit anything and he was not injured." Paraphrased? Yes. Exaggerated? Nope.
Anyhow, the station didn't have many (absolute number-wise) listeners, but holy crap, those that they had, looooved the station. And the station was iconic and revered in Lockport, Rapids, etc. The other group that was collaboratively entrenched with WLVL was it's advertisers... a bowling alley in particular comes to mind... but also jewelers, an iconic Lockport Tire Shop, a stone restaurant, anything/everything Granchelli... and the list goes on. Let's face it, on a relative scale to the general public, ratings... well. sucked. But it worked. Yeah, 300 listeners in a morning seems dang low... but I'd not underestimate how meaningful they are.
Even in today's OTA radio environment, I'd think one would almost have to try to crash that station. I'm not a Lockportian, and I haven't listened to the station in decades, but I'd still root for them.
First, my experience with WLVL is nearly 40 years ago, so (obviously) things change... but I bet it's not grossly different now.
The guy that had just bought the station at that time so long ago, was some supposed local (WBEN - I think?) radio sales guru turned station owner. He was a character. Let me say that again, he was a character. He also seemed to be spot on regarding what Lockportians liked, cherished, and wanted from WLVL. Knew the market? Man, did he ever. He also knew the limits. For example, even though WLVL transmitted a bit south, the then emerging population center of "East Amherst" was of no interest because of the quite different demographics. Again, he was a character... and, frankly, a good chunk of the station's small staff were characters too. Reminded me of WKRP meets Green Acres meets Beverly Hillbillys.
I recall an actual morning show news item, that went something like this... "This just in, John Doe of suchnsuch street veered off blahblah road on his way to work this morning. The car came to rest on the shoulder. He didn't hit anything and he was not injured." Paraphrased? Yes. Exaggerated? Nope.
Anyhow, the station didn't have many (absolute number-wise) listeners, but holy crap, those that they had, looooved the station. And the station was iconic and revered in Lockport, Rapids, etc. The other group that was collaboratively entrenched with WLVL was it's advertisers... a bowling alley in particular comes to mind... but also jewelers, an iconic Lockport Tire Shop, a stone restaurant, anything/everything Granchelli... and the list goes on. Let's face it, on a relative scale to the general public, ratings... well. sucked. But it worked. Yeah, 300 listeners in a morning seems dang low... but I'd not underestimate how meaningful they are.
Even in today's OTA radio environment, I'd think one would almost have to try to crash that station. I'm not a Lockportian, and I haven't listened to the station in decades, but I'd still root for them.
"Green Acres" indeed. Funny, intended or otherwise ... since the owner's name was .... yeah, that.
Mr. Haney?
I'm glad someone actually understands it. And what you are saying that happened 40 years ago is the same today. The advertisers love WLVL and we the listeners love them. It's always great to hear Tom Milani from Sub Delicious in studio (p.s. the WLVL SteakBurger is amazing!) If the jewelry store was Scirto Jewelers, they're still in business and still on the radio. I'm surprised no one has accused you of being in station management yet.
And those of us in radio know how exciting and what a audience magnet interviews with clients are!
Without violating confidentility, I can say that as of 4 years ago (OK, pre-pandemic) the former owner was still taking home a comfortble living from the station. He kept his expenses low and the billing covered them and left some money on the table for him. Not too bad for a station like WLVL I have no idea how the pandemic and the ad downturn affected WLVL.
There are a lot of stations that were owner-operator propositions that did little more than provide a guaranteed income with no boss to report to. The owner would trade a lot of items, like their personal car and restaurants and A/C/heating for his home, and the station would produce a little cash.
When equipment failed, they'd get a loan. If the tower fell or there was a fire or flood, sometimes they did not recover.
The equivalent pay for many of these owners was less than that of a bank branch manager, but with huge responsibility to be on the air, work on holidays and never take vacations.
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