NJ101.5 WKXW June PPM Numbers Fall to New Lows

[Little Sal]

MedianJ.... a woman scorned.

This is a lesson to all radio stations who hires MedianJ aka Wally as a consultant, be very very careful...

 

[imhomerjay]

No one would make the mistake of hiring someone like that poster.

 

[spackelman]

Deminski and Doyle are a vast improvement

your kidding, right?

Listening to paint dry is more entertaining....IMO

Again, they are as bad if not worse than the previous 2 mouths.

 

[radioguy39nj]

Looks like the music's off this weekend on NJ 101.5 thanks to Hurricane Irene. Deminski and Doyle announced today they will be on Saturday and Sunday in their usual weekday timeslot.

Also, the ID's on the news now announce "The Townsquare News Network".

 

[bigtom101]

Looks like the music's off this weekend on NJ 101.5 thanks to Hurricane Irene. Deminski and Doyle announced today they will be on Saturday and Sunday in their usual weekday timeslot.

Also, the ID's on the news now announce "The Townsquare News Network".

Damn. And I was looking forward to my weekly gasps, awwws, and applause sfx fix on Big Joe Henry's show.

Hopefully they go into fast traffic with a corny joke to keep up continuity.

 

[MedianJ]

Could someone explain why NJ101.5 WKXW FM radio lost almost half their audience in M/S/U over the course of a couple of years and now languishes month after month after month in the 4's?
I surmise it could the following;
A weak program director who can't get sloppy shows like Dennis and Judi who veer off Jersey topics day after day on track. Jim Gearhart and Eric Scott, Deminski and Doyle are just fine, the others should go.
In their place, better cheaper syndicated shows along with expanded local Jersey news blocks. This option can solve two problems; first you eliminate an expensive salary of a PD who has done little but fail to get the PPM M/S/U numbers up and the other is cost savings in this predicted double dip economy where it's better to be pro-active than reactive.

http://www.radio-info.com/markets/middlesex-somerset-union

Radio is a business, not a hobby.

 

[dkocolin]

A weak program director

DRINK!

 

[iimutt]

..........A weak program director who can't get sloppy shows like Dennis and Judi who veer off Jersey topics day after day on track. Jim Gearhart and Eric Scott, Deminski and Doyle are just fine, the others should go.
In their place, better cheaper syndicated shows along with expanded local Jersey news blocks. ...

Syndicated programs would be a very poor solution. Dennis and Judi don't talk about Jersey all the time (and there's no reason they should) so let's replace them with a program that will NEVER talk about New Jersey?

Unless the plan is to heavily edit them before airing and truncate off portions of it, there is no way to fit commercials and an "expanded local Jersey news block" in there. The station would also be limited in the amount of commercial slots it could sell to begin with due to time constraints. Most syndicated programs also run their own commercials which leaves even less room.

They also don't have built in breaks for the station to use for traffic and weather reports. The breaks do not occur at scheduled times but when the hosts chose to insert them.

Ray Rossi and Michele Jerson are back on the air because fans wanted them back. They were airing recorded material after 11 pm but chose to put a live person (Ray) back in that slot. He gets calls so people enjoy his show and are listening.

Clark Howard mid-days would be an instant winner with increased revenue and cheaper costs.

While I disagree with a lot of what Dennis says, I would much rather listen to him and Judi than listen to Clark Howard. Clark is a good guy with good tips, but his show is more of an educational nature as it deals solely with personal finance.

Those who tune in to Dennis and Judi are most likely looking for a break from their workday. Someting that might help improve their mood or make them laugh.

 

[MedianJ]

Look at the breakdowns; all the shows you mentioned are underperforming. If you suggest comedy in the mid-days there are hundreds of better cheaper syndicated shows that can adjust their clocks to accommodate rather than the expensive and stale Dennis and Judi show.

The worst showing was Ray Rossi where the old re- runs were doing much better than him. Ray sounds like he's saying to himself why am I here when he's getting very little or no calls past 1 AM. The generous approx. 35 thousand they probably pay Rossi can be shifted to beef up the Townsquare digital news and information platform. It sounds like there's not much advertising during Rossi's shift anyway just mostly PSA's. Either get fresh cheaper shows in there or go syndication, in the very least you'll get the same or better numbers with an edge against an economic downturn.

Radio is a business, not a hobby.

 

[TimeIsTight]

The generous approx. 35 thousand they probably pay Rossi can be shifted to beef up the Townsquare digital news and information platform.

One of the few common threads that run through all of your posts is that the "expensive" PD should be replaced, and "expensive" air staff should be replaced and then you come up with a $35,000 annual salary figure for a host and call it "generous."

Understand, that in a multi-million dollar operation like NJ-101.5 saving $35-k is spit. That kind of money is NOT a problem for the multi-billion dollar backed Townsquare. There is likely no real problem with what they pay the program staff.

You're suggesting that they go out to Burger King and get some minimum wage types and put them on the air to save money? What a quick way to further destroy the value of a radio station that is certainly still worth tens of millions of dollars.

You're also suggesting that to save a few bucks they pick up syndicated shows. First of all, NJ-101.5 is a success because it is live and local and talks Jersey. Syndicated national shows would be another way to quickly destroy the franchise and station image. If you want to see how well syndicated talk shows do in the M-S-U market look at WCTC's numbers. That is what you do with a dying AM, not with a very viable high power FM with a legacy following and statewide reputation.

Also the mechanics of fitting NJ traffic and weather into a syndicated show would be a nightmare. Drop the NJ traffic and weather and lose the main reason people on the road tune in.

The Townsquare folks can afford the best advice in the country, and can afford the kind of talent needed to keep the station viable even if the economy turns sour again. Of the hundreds of stations Townsquare now owns, NJ-101.5 has to be one of the most important to them. If they think it needs fixing they will fix it. They are just getting started, over the next year there will likely be changes for the better, just give them time.

 

[SilverTonicFree]

Look at the breakdowns; all the shows you mentioned are underperforming. If you suggest comedy in the mid-days there are hundreds of better cheaper syndicated shows that can adjust their clocks to accommodate rather than the expensive and stale Dennis and Judi show.

The worst showing was Ray Rossi where the old re- runs were doing much better than him. Ray sounds like he's saying to himself why am I here when he's getting very little or no calls past 1 AM. The generous approx. 35 thousand they probably pay Rossi can be shifted to beef up the Townsquare digital news and information platform. It sounds like there's not much advertising during Rossi's shift anyway just mostly PSA's. Either get fresh cheaper shows in there or go syndication, in the very least you'll get the same or better numbers with an edge against an economic downturn.

Radio is a business, not a hobby.

Anyone can say "look at the breakdowns" and then spout off any stats they want. The breakdowns aren't public.

How about looking at my post in the OTHER thread you started about the same exact topic, and comment on how WKXW's numbers now are actually EQUAL TO or HIGHER than they were in "the past few years"

 

[TheBigA]

If you're going to approach radio programming like an accountant, then you're in the wrong business, and you could make tons more directing that approach somewhere else.

But if accounting is your main talent, then there are lots of creative ways to pay local talent what they're worth, without bankrupting the budget. Anyone who works with talent knows that, or, once again, is in the wrong business. There are lots of variables in talent pay. It's not just salary or syndication. One of the experts in that area was Bruce Williams. Study his career and you might learn something.

Radio may be a business, but it's also an art.

 

[MedianJ]

The discussion has been how poorly NJ101.5 under Johnson has been doing in the NEW PPM world. M/S/U numbers were almost an 8 just about two years ago and now languish in the 4's month after month after month. A similar fate may happen when Monmouth/Ocean goes PPM.

With sloppy expensive programs not discussing enough Jersey topics or just even staying on topic and random staff still popping into the studio interrupting the flow of the shows it's no wonder the PPM numbers are down and stay down. You can't just wish for better numbers you have to do something.

The Star Ledger is using more and more video to drive traffic to their website. Hire more video journalists for State House Steps and promote it much more. Then get a stronger PD in there to tighten up the on air presentation and get better cheaper shows.

These days you have to have a hedge against a possible double dip recession. Remember the former operator Millennium lost their Moody's rating during rough economic times.
Radio has become an expanded media business, not a hobby. Get smart people in management who can grasp and incorporate it.

 

[hubcity]

If you're going to approach radio programming like an accountant, then you're in the wrong business, and you could make tons more directing that approach somewhere else.

Sadly, accounting types tend to own radio stations these days. Their hammer is accounting, and to them, radio looks like a nail.

In my opinion, the *only* way accounting types will allow radio to be run like radio is by losing so much money at it that they stay away.

Occasionally, you'll find a solid creative/financial partnership, but they're few and far between.

 

[TheBigA]

Sadly, accounting types tend to own radio stations these days. Their hammer is accounting, and to them, radio looks like a nail.

In my opinion, the *only* way accounting types will allow radio to be run like radio is by losing so much money at it that they stay away.

Huh? How is losing money a good thing? I want to get paid for what I do. It's my experience that the way to keep accountants away is to attract the biggest numbers so they don't feel compelled to interfere.

 

[GSPGUY]

highest share wkxw has had in m/s/u was a 6.3 in february 10.

current share (with streaming added in) is a 5.1 in august 11.

cume is in growth mode in past few months.

 

[hubcity]

Sadly, accounting types tend to own radio stations these days. Their hammer is accounting, and to them, radio looks like a nail.

In my opinion, the *only* way accounting types will allow radio to be run like radio is by losing so much money at it that they stay away.

Huh? How is losing money a good thing? I want to get paid for what I do. It's my experience that the way to keep accountants away is to attract the biggest numbers so they don't feel compelled to interfere.

You've misread me. It's the accounting types that are meddling in the effort to attract numbers by trying to keep costs exceedingly low (thus stifling the attempt to attract numbers.)

Losing money isn't a good thing. It's just that with accounting types calling the shots creatively (or so they think) in an effort to make money, they'll lose it. Then maybe they'll take a good hard look at this "creativity" thing that seems like money thrown away, but is actually central to the success of radio. Or they'll get out of the business altogether and hand off to someone who has money and a sense of what radio's supposed to be.

 

[TheBigA]

You've misread me. It's the accounting types that are meddling in the effort to attract numbers by trying to keep costs exceedingly low (thus stifling the attempt to attract numbers.)

If you have to buy audience, then you're not doing a good job. Attracting an audience isn't about spending money, but about doing good radio. And I don't go for the idea that we should fail so they'll take their money and go someplace else.

 

[TimeIsTight]

M/S/U numbers were almost an 8 just about two years ago and now languish in the 4's month after month after month. /quote]

And don't forget what was happening at this time two years ago, we were in the last stages of a heated election for NJ governor.

NJ-101.5 is the station with a reputation that was built on the proposed "Toilet Paper Tax" by then governor Jim Florio. It was the reaction to his proposed taxes that put WKXW on the map, and on to the radio presets of many listeners in NJ.

Anger and hatred are great motivators. The problem now for WKXW is that its talk tends to lean-to the political right, and currently there is a very popular right-wing governor. They can't really attack him like they could a "lefty" and raise the anger, political temperature and interest level among their desired audience. Having a governor on your side is more boring than having one you can constantly criticize and make fun of.

NJ-101.5's lower ratings now than in a heated election probably has less to do with who the program director is, than who is running for state office. And like so many other problems in this state and country, the ratings dip at NJ-101.5 may have more to do with politics than most people would guess.

 

[SilverTonicFree]

The discussion has been how poorly NJ101.5 under Johnson has been doing in the NEW PPM world. M/S/U numbers were almost an 8 just about two years ago and now languish in the 4's month after month after month. A similar fate may happen when Monmouth/Ocean goes PPM.

Citation needed. Please provide a link showing that the M/S/U numbers were as high as you claimed.