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NJ101.5 WKXW June PPM Numbers Fall to New Lows

M

MedianJ

Shocking! NJ101.5 WKXW FM radio plummets to depths that are bearly keeping them in the 4's. With the continued use of non Jersey topics from Dennis and Judi - prime example "Where are you" a non compelling Jersey topic that only serves to feed the ego of those calling in and does nothing to keep overall listener interest. Remember friends calls do not necessarily translate into a good PPM number, they can as we are witnessing at NJ101.5 translate into a monumenal PPM failure.

The topics is this PPM world must I repeat must be compelling and Jersey to keep the listener tuned in. Weak PD Eric Johnson's job is to insure that happens. Non compelling topics like "where are you" generate some calls however hearing someone call in to say they are in their car or office does not accomplish the goal of keeping the interest of the dwindling NJ101.5 audience. Pick an actual topical compelling Jersey topic and take many short phone calls and you will boast these disappointing PPM numbers, why is this so hard to manage month after month there?

If weak PD Eric Johnson can not manage his hosts to pick compelling Jersey topics that work well in the PPM world then change is a necessity. These falling PPM numbers should put PD Eric Johnson on the termination radar however Eric Johnson should just do the correct thing for upper management after these extremely disappointing PPM numbers and resign.

Radio is a business, not a hobby.
 
In the overall New York market, WKXW's cume is up in the latest period from 564,000 to 582,000.

In the overall Philadelphia market, WKXW's cume is down by 5,000 listeners to 246,000.

In both major markets its rating number is flat at .7

In the latest, Middlesex-Somerset-Union breakout, its cume fell from 308,000 to 285,00 and its rating number dropped from a 4.8 to a 4.1.

And in the most recent Monmouth-Ocean numbers WKXW is by far the overall market leader with an 8.3, and more than double the closest NJ station WJLK with a 4.0.

A lot of WKXW sponsors are from Ocean-Monmouth, and they have to be very happy with the product.

Overall, there are both ups and downs as there are usually are with most ratings periods. Nothing really screams out as a major problem from one recent period to the next.

As to the topic of "where are you listening?" Perhaps the new owners are doing a bit of on-air research, and trying to gather a feel for exactly where their product is being consumed. Exactly where are people listening, and what else are they doing at the same time? Driving, working, resting, getting their teeth drilled etc.

The morning topic last week on red light cameras couldn't have been more Jersey, and more interesting to "most" listeners, but those top topics don't come in sufficient numbers to fill a compelling broadcast day all the time. There will always be dud topics, the idea is to have as few as possible.
 
We are the discussing the future which is PPM. In the latest M/S/U PPM NJ101.5 WKXW dropping to a new low of 4.1 is very disappointing. Once Monmouth/Ocean goes PPM I expect those numbers will drop in the same way M/S/U did.

Compelling topical Jersey topics will draw the audience in and the hosts have to keep them there with compelling engaging talk. Without a strong PD in place I expect futher decline in those all important PPM numbers. Weak PD Eric Johnson I expect will have to resign as he must realize by now he's not grasping how to program and firmly manage hosts in this new PPM world.

Radio is a business, not a hobby.
 
MedianJ said:
We are the discussing the future which is PPM. In the latest M/S/U PPM NJ101.5 WKXW dropping to a new low of 4.1 is very disappointing. Once Monmouth/Ocean goes PPM I expect those numbers will drop in the same way M/S/U did.

Compelling topical Jersey topics will draw the audience in and the hosts have to keep them there with compelling engaging talk. Without a strong PD in place I expect futher decline in those all important PPM numbers. Weak PD Eric Johnson I expect will have to resign as he must realize by now he's not grasping how to program and firmly manage hosts in this new PPM world.

Radio is a business, not a hobby.
Click to expand...

I don't know how much time you spend on national, regional, local, and financial news but there really is never a shred of optimistism out there. I listen to Dennis and Judy just to unwind and get away from what is going on out there. A little fluff talk every now and then is a great break.
 
Those non Jersey fluff topics might work for you Mickey however in this new PPM world it's not working to build a bigger PPM audience as we are clearly seeing in the disappointing drop of the M/S/U PPM's. at NJ101.5. The decline in the M/S/U PPM's numbers to their lowest levels are shocking, clearly the inability of PD Eric Johnson to stop the decline in this new PPM world is troubling, a change in management I expect may be forthcoming.

Radio is a business, not a hobby.
 
It's not just a NJ problem. Talk is down across the country, specifically because of PPM, but also because of the boredom over politics, and the lack of any real juicy gossip. What do you talk about?
 
I'm not disclosing the topics I would put on NJ101.5 here, that valuable information I would have to charge for and besides that's PD Eric Johnson's job for the time being to fiqure out. New Jersey 101.5 is in a unique position sandwiched between the media outlets of NY and Philly. PD Eric Johnson failing to manage his hosts to follow the time proven format is his problem until a change in management is made. These PPM numbers hitting a new low does not bode well for current PD Eric Johnson, he was given enough time to stop the slide and failed, I expect a change will occur due to these disappointing PPM numbers.

Radio is a business, not a hobby.
 
MedianJ said:
I'm not disclosing the topics I would put on NJ101.5 here, that valuable information I would have to charge for
Click to expand...


Wow...you obviously don't work in radio.

Radio is a business, not a hobby. We don't pay for talk show topics.
 
And Walter Sabo wants a talk format at the new 101.9 in NYC?This is a good idea why?
Dennis and Judy need to be more "daring" as they once were,otherwise
the listeners are having fun changing the station.People want exciting,but I dont think corporate
gets that.They want safe family programmming.LOL
 
I listened to D & J yesterday morning for a little while. They were having people call in and tell stories about how they were able to get through airport security with items that are not allowed on planes. That topic has been beaten to death over the past 10 years. A few weeks ago they were discussing whether or not the state of NJ should sell advertising on state vehicles. Yawn.
 
I read on another board that Raquel Williams has left NJ 101.5 and is reportedly headed to 101.9 New York. Is this true?

If so, it's just another sign that Randy Michaels and Walter Sabo are serious about doing a quality FM news/talk station in NYC. They signed a whole bunch of talent away from WINS. :)
 
radioguy39nj said:
I read on another board that Raquel Williams has left NJ 101.5 and is reportedly headed to 101.9 New York. Is this true?

If so, it's just another sign that Randy Michaels and Walter Sabo are serious about doing a quality FM news/talk station in NYC. They signed a whole bunch of talent away from WINS. :)
Click to expand...

She's still on the NJ101.5 website under the news team section. I found a post on another board reporting it but no real source or followup, nor were there any comments from anyone.
 
Every time MediaJ says "PD Eric Johnson", take a drink.
Every time MediaJ says "weak PD Eric Johnson", take a shot.
 
MedianJ said:
I'm not disclosing the topics I would put on NJ101.5 here, that valuable information I would have to charge for and besides that's PD Eric Johnson's job for the time being to fiqure out.
Click to expand...

Ding ding ding ding ding ding... Winner! MedianJ is Walter Sabo with his remark above, as you noticed be never denied he wasn't Walter Sabo.

MedianJ is like a woman scorned... I pity any radio station that hires then fires him.
 
Little Sal said:
Ding ding ding ding ding ding... Winner! MedianJ is Walter Sabo with his remark above, as you noticed be never denied he wasn't Walter Sabo.

MedianJ is like a woman scorned... I pity any radio station that hires then fires him.
Click to expand...

Honestly, Sabo's frying bigger fish right now. I'm thinking they're more like someone who liked and trusted Sabo, then got unceremoniously jettisoned when Sabo left. And they're waiting for the phone to ring...
 
Given the repetitive points recited over and over, it sounds more like Rain Man.
 
"One minute 'til Wapner..." ::)

Speaking of flicks...

MedianJ said:
Radio is a business, not a hobby.
Click to expand...

"Listen to me, you [expletive]... Radio is a business, and you've just cost us $40,000!" - Angry DC 101 suit, "Private Parts"
 
The latest M/S/U PPM numbers for NJ101.5 WKXW- FM radio ticked up a little, unfortunately they are still languishing in the 4's down from the 7's a few short years ago. Deminski and Doyle are a vast improvement over the ill fated worst sounding show in the over twenty one year history of the station Casey Bartholomew and Ray Rossi. Currently, we focus on the PPM market numbers to determine how non PPM markets will fare once they go PPM, the future for 101.5's Monmouth/Ocean numbers appear to suggest downward movement.

What to do now?

It is always more prudent to be pro-active rather than reactive in this environment of a slowing economy with reduced ad revenue projected. Changes could be under consideration at the current time as Townsquare management appears very savvy, intelligent and determined to turn a profit.
The Dennis and Judi show is still sloppy, a stronger manager is required to get them back on track if Townsquare decides to keep this tired out of material sounding show. Another option is if Dennis and Judi can't be fixed a better, much cheaper syndicated show which can get much better numbers can be added. Many syndicated shows can do better topics than " where are you now" a lazy topic staple of the Dennis and Judi show. In addition stations across the country are realizing that only their big money making morning and afternoon drive time shows should be in house to start saving them money as soon as possible in this ever burgeoning double dip recession.
These stations outside of AM and PM drive times maintain a local presence by providing the audience with local news, traffic and weather information with quality syndicated shows, it's a win win. Programs like Clark Howard in this economy are booming simply because they are providing information in a compelling entertaining way that the typical listener is seeking. The listener gains nothing from listening to non-compelling topics such as what we label as "lazy radio" from hour long topics like "where are you now ?"
Kudos on higher numbers since the fall of 09 to PD Joe Kelly who took over SoJo after PD Eric Johnson was relieved of his duties in order for Johnson to focus on 101.5. Looking at the steep trending lower numbers in PPM M/S/U over the past year and a half at 101.5 it may have been better if Johnson didn't focus on it.
In this slowing economy the objective is to get the best show on the air at the cheapest cost, it all comes down to the profit margin.
Radio is a business, not a hobby.
 
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