NEW RATINGS: B-98 UP, WWVA & 106.7 DOWN

[gregg75]

Christmas music has pushed B-98 up to #2 in the latest PPMs. That also knocked WSB-TALK
down to third.

WWVA is down which makes many wonder if the new format/signal is really working that well.
Would a better and stronger signal have made a difference?

106.7 is also down. I don't think this is a reflection of the new direction they have taken, but
I was expecting better numbers than these. The next book should tell more for them.

http://www.radio-info.com/markets/atlanta

 

[gregg75]

Q100 and Star 94 also took big hits. Looks like that may have been where B-98 got
a lot of their Christmas "guests". From 4.8 to 7.8 was a big jump for B-98..............
what's that maybe something like 55%! Ho Ho Ho

 

[RoddyFreeman]

Next report is likely to be even better for B98.5. It will reflect the rest of the Christmas weeks. I wouldn't read too much into this report and the next one because of Christmas music (which also helped The Fish). Stations like Q100 and Star 94 are the ones most likely to see temporary losses to stations that play Christmas music.

 

[jabba17]

It also looks like Bull is getting awfully close to Kicks. What do the real numbers say?

Is classic/heritage rock that much of a dud these days? Dave and Project are doing great (I'm not a big fan of either), while the NEW 97.1 The River and Rock100.5 are doing terrible.

Per Roddy's blog, I guess Cumulus is standing pat to see what CC does with possibly putting WGST on an FM. I doubt it will be 94.9, but might be 96.1, 105.7, or 105.3. 105.7 would affect Q100. 96.1 would affect Rock100.5. Patron continues to lose listeners while Groove or whatever they call it now can't find their groove.

As a side note, I have noticed WGST has quit burying the "WUBL HD-3" calls like a car ad disclaimer, now saying them like they want people to notice.

 

[Wildstyle K]

WWVA is down which makes many wonder if the new format/signal is really working that well.
Would a better and stronger signal have made a difference?
http://www.radio-info.com/markets/atlanta

I still stick to what I said before.

1. A better signal.
2. Fixed playlist.

That alone is a good start if WWVA wants to, or rather, if they truly want WWVA to successfully compete against WVEE and WWWQ. I don't know why I feel like; Instead of them trying something that may actually bring more success, people will just give up and say "it doesn't work". WWVA is not a station that can just win by default. It needs to be; Not only given a chance, but very well programmed and maintained to sound as decent as possible. I also believe playlist music arrangement is as important as musical selection when it comes to overall sound. You can tell WWWQ does not joke around when it comes to musical selection or playlist song arrangement. I'm not sure that the same could be said about WWVA right now..

Also, it's going to take time for people (in Atlanta) to "get used to" the rhythmic top 40 format and break their habit of listening to... whatever else they've been glued to. It's harder to get used to something that's been lacking for quite some time when it has "marginal reception".

 

[musicman3355]

WOW... a 2.7 to a 1.9. Whatever they're doing, it's not working. They should've gone rhythmic-leaning top 40/CHR, but there's no point since the 2 signals still won't make a full-market signal.

 

[gregg75]

I don't see WGST going to FM with the poor numbers they have. I guess they could
give them the WBZY signal (which would have been a better choice for the WWVA
simulcast than WWLG). I think Clear Channel MISSED that one.

 

[atlantaboy]

WWVA dropping from 2.7 to 1.9 has nothing to do with the signal (the signal was just as strong last month) - I'm not sure Rhythmic-leaning CHR would be a good move, just cause Q100 has shifted that way in the last couple weeks (except during the workday) - I think they should try either Gen X Radio or maybe Modern AC (since 99X is on such a weak signal - much weaker than the WWVA signal)

Also my gut says that 106.7 lost just as many listeners to Christmas music as Star 94 and Q100

Cumulus has to do something with WNNX - it's down to a 1.2 - it seems like a no-brainer to me to put 99X back on 100.5, or at least try something else - the middle-of-the-road Rock thing isn't working

 

[atlantaboy]

EDIT: WVEE is up 8.9-9.3 and WALR is up 5.8-6.5, so if I were Clear Channel I'd be leaning WILD towards Urban rather than CHR

 

[atlantaboy]

(Sorry to keep adding new posts lol)

After looking at the NYC and LA ratings, I would be careful if I were Star 94 or Q100 - both New York and L. A. had their Christmas AC stations shoot way up just like B98.5 did, but their Hot AC stations and CHRs stayed the same (WPLJ actually went up 0.2) - nothing says that the extra time spent listening to Christmas music on B98.5 would ordinarily be spent listening to other stations

Ratings have dropped since the new PD took Star 94 in a "new direction" (and froze its playlist) - I'm just saying maybe he should reconsider what he's doing and open up the recurrent/gold playlist, especially since Dave-FM didn't lose listeners to Christmas music like Star apparently did

 

[Talk_Dude]

Are the people who buy spots so stupid that they'll assume that once the stations that played Christmas music revert to their old formats they'll still maintain the same ratings?

 

[mike7586]

Ratings have dropped since the new PD took Star 94 in a "new direction" (and froze its playlist) - I'm just saying maybe he should reconsider what he's doing and open up the recurrent/gold playlist, especially since Dave-FM didn't lose listeners to Christmas music like Star apparently did

Agreed. Star's ratings aren't going to go up until they fix their playlist. Same with WILD. My biggest pet peeve with 105.7 (other than the signal strength) is their playlist. Why are they trying to copy 95.5 The Beat instead of being more original? They are still ignoring several new songs and if I hear Wacka Flacka whatever - No Hands another time on that station I'm going to beat someone. Despite a few pop songs, it still sounds too urban and it cannot compete with the other urban stations here. I don't know what they should do since nobody seems to think rhythmic CHR would work here (like Wild 94.9). ???

 

[upstate29651]

Cumulus has to do something with WNNX - it's down to a 1.2 - it seems like a no-brainer to me to put 99X back on 100.5

Agreed.

G

 

[bnaivar]

I had to check the date on this thread. Same subject, mostly the same stations as last year.

 

[jabba17]

I don't see WGST going to FM with the poor numbers they have.

Yes, but CC has to be drooling over WSB+WSBB's numbers. And WGST has Beck and Rush, and they are starting to get serious in AM and PM drive again, and WGST AM will never be a factor in drivetime with their night signal.

 

[jabba17]

WWVA dropping from 2.7 to 1.9 has nothing to do with the signal (the signal was just as strong last month) - I'm not sure Rhythmic-leaning CHR would be a good move, just cause Q100 has shifted that way in the last couple weeks (except during the workday) - I think they should try either Gen X Radio or maybe Modern AC (since 99X is on such a weak signal - much weaker than the WWVA signal)

Also my gut says that 106.7 lost just as many listeners to Christmas music as Star 94 and Q100

Cumulus has to do something with WNNX - it's down to a 1.2 - it seems like a no-brainer to me to put 99X back on 100.5, or at least try something else - the middle-of-the-road Rock thing isn't working

Modern AC would put them in the crosshairs of Dave.

106.7 may just be in transition--the older baby boomers have left, and the older GenXers haven't found it yet. But see my comment below, as it applies here, too.

I wonder if Rock100.5's problem is a format that competes heavily with iPods and satellite. They don't play new music, they play old favorites--just like your MP3 player, but with commercials and no ability to skip songs. Plus, older listeners can afford to pay for their music. That might explain why Project is doing so much better than Rock100.5.

I wonder what is the better approach with classic/heritage rock--stick with a small playlist of well-tested songs and go for the lowest common denominator with Stairway to Hotel Alabama, or go wide and deep and help listeners rediscover old favorites they haven't heard in a while and don't have on their iPod--like satellite does on their classic channels?

 

[kilamanjero]

Ratings have dropped since the new PD took Star 94 in a "new direction" (and froze its playlist) - I'm just saying maybe he should reconsider what he's doing and open up the recurrent/gold playlist, especially since Dave-FM didn't lose listeners to Christmas music like Star apparently did

Agreed. Star's ratings aren't going to go up until they fix their playlist. Same with WILD. My biggest pet peeve with 105.7 (other than the signal strength) is their playlist. Why are they trying to copy 95.5 The Beat instead of being more original? They are still ignoring several new songs and if I hear Wacka Flacka whatever - No Hands another time on that station I'm going to beat someone. Despite a few pop songs, it still sounds too urban and it cannot compete with the other urban stations here. I don't know what they should do since nobody seems to think rhythmic CHR would work here (like Wild 94.9). ???

I believe Rhythmic CHR could work here, but the signal is a problem for Wild. I actually enjoy the competition Wild generates for WVEE. It's forcing V-103 to add a huge variety of songs from both urban and rhythmic charts while keep true to their urban contemporary core format. They are starting to sound like their Washington, DC sister station, WPGC, during the Jay Stevens-era (1993-2006). Competition makes the established stations prove their worth and experiment with different song choices in their playlist.

I don't think CC is going to give up on Wild just yet, but they are going to have figure out where they fit in this market. The diverse population of the market can support such format especially with the huge LGBT population here. Wild's song choices needs to be more of rhythmic crossover with some pop tracks like their San Francisco sister station, but they need to be willing to venture into trying new songs territory as well.

 

[ShawtyBlack_ATL]

Ratings have dropped since the new PD took Star 94 in a "new direction" (and froze its playlist) - I'm just saying maybe he should reconsider what he's doing and open up the recurrent/gold playlist, especially since Dave-FM didn't lose listeners to Christmas music like Star apparently did

Agreed. Star's ratings aren't going to go up until they fix their playlist. Same with WILD. My biggest pet peeve with 105.7 (other than the signal strength) is their playlist. Why are they trying to copy 95.5 The Beat instead of being more original? They are still ignoring several new songs and if I hear Wacka Flacka whatever - No Hands another time on that station I'm going to beat someone. Despite a few pop songs, it still sounds too urban and it cannot compete with the other urban stations here. I don't know what they should do since nobody seems to think rhythmic CHR would work here (like Wild 94.9). ???

I believe Rhythmic CHR could work here, but the signal is a problem for Wild. I actually enjoy the competition Wild generates for WVEE. It's forcing V-103 to add a huge variety of songs from both urban and rhythmic charts while keep true to their urban contemporary core format. They are starting to sound like their Washington, DC sister station, WPGC, during the Jay Stevens-era (1993-2006). Competition makes the established stations prove their worth and experiment with different song choices in their playlist.

I don't think CC is going to give up on Wild just yet, but they are going to have figure out where they fit in this market. The diverse population of the market can support such format especially with the huge LGBT population here. Wild's song choices needs to be more of rhythmic crossover with some pop tracks like their San Francisco sister station, but they need to be willing to venture into trying new songs territory as well.

Wild forcing V103 to switch up it's playlist???? Wild hasn't even done an ad campaign since switching formats and name. There are still some that don't even know they exsist.

 

[gregg75]

I don't see WGST going to FM with the poor numbers they have.

Yes, but CC has to be drooling over WSB+WSBB's numbers. And WGST has Beck and Rush, and they are starting to get serious in AM and PM drive again, and WGST AM will never be a factor in drivetime with their night signal.

BUT, WSB AM was already Top 10 when they moved to FM. I just don't see a below 20 station
(WGST) moving to FM. If they could rise to about 15 which would require them to TRIPLE the
audience they already have..................maybe then, but that would take some doing on their part.

Moving to FM to just double the ratings, isn't a good move.

 

[gregg75]

change that....

WGST moving to FM just to double THEIR ratings, isn't a good move.