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OKAY....MAYBE A TRUE CHR IN ATLANTA WAS TOO MUCH TO ASK....

E

electroboy73

The story has been beaten to death but, when Clear Channel brought POWER 96-1 on board, I actually thought the CHR "hole" in Atlanta would be much improved. (And it has...a little) But, somehow, I think the "excitement" of a new CHR is wearing thin...AND QUICKLY! The numbers have steadily been dropping....(although the April numbers are not out). But, most of my friends that I turned onto Power back in fall 2012 are now starting to give up on it....and terrestrial radio completely! Power still runs an EXTREMELY tight playlist with recurrents playing almost as much as some currents.

And finally...speaking of currents, lately I've been comparing POWER to Q100. And it seems that Q100 has actually added several rhythmic/rhythmic-leaning songs that Power hasn't even touched! It was actually refreshing to turn to our CUMULUS Atlanta CHR and hear....songs like, Ariana Grande - "The Way", and Emeli Sande - "Next to Me". What REALLY shocked me is that Q100 is also playing the new tech-house track by Will I Am, called "That Power"....Q's playing all these...but, NOT Power ??? The Will I Am song is about to be a Top 10 hit. I had such high hopes for Power but, it seems like instead of adding new songs that other stations have already added.....Power is just increasing the airplay of songs were already worn out 6 to 8 months ago! Other Clear Channel CHR's don't do this! Why is it Atlanta can't seem to get a good FULL-ROUNDED CHR.....and keep it!

I guess CHR + Atlanta (will always) = an ALMOST CHR! I just don't get it.

Thoughts?
 
Power has an extremely strange strategy IMO - it seems to be "play whatever CHR listeners can't currently hear on Q100" - so if Q100 is quick with a song, Power holds off on it - if Q100 drops a song, Power adds it back - if Power is big on a song, and then Q100 adds it, Power then backs off...

Power's tagline should be "Hit Music that You Can't Hear On Q100! And At a Faster Speed!"
 
atlantaboy said:
Power has an extremely strange strategy IMO - it seems to be "play whatever CHR listeners can't currently hear on Q100" - so if Q100 is quick with a song, Power holds off on it - if Q100 drops a song, Power adds it back - if Power is big on a song, and then Q100 adds it, Power then backs off...

Power's tagline should be "Hit Music that You Can't Hear On Q100!  And At a Faster Speed!"
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Couldn't have said it better. Why can't we JUST have a normal CC CHR that just plays Top 40! Other cities do it...WNOK/Columbia, WHQC/Charlotte, WAEV/Savannah.....heck, even PD Rick Vaughn's other CHR, WKSC/Chicago is more well-rounded Top 40. It's infuriating but, it's apparently a losing battle in Atlanta. Guess we'll find out when the April PPM's come out. Friend's of mine have said, "what happened to your new favorite station?" There's still so many holes where new Top 40 music just gets swallowed up.....(ONLY in this market). I was just in Augusta last week and, hell....I didn't even know there was a song out from that "Pitch Perfect" movie, or that Kelly Clarkson, Chris Brown, Drake and Emblem3 all have songs out....wouldn't know it by our 2 big CHR stations. I really think, I'm done! Lol.  ???
 
This is just my opinion, but I think the reason that Atlanta has never, and probably will never, have what some of you consider to be a "true CHR" is the strength of urban radio in Atlanta, particularly V-103.

Not many cities have a station like V-103 and I think that what has happened is that unlike most markets where CHR stations play a lot more urban music to kind of bridge the gap between themselves and the hip-hop stations, attracting some crossover of the African-American and urban market, in Atlanta, V-103 is such a strong station and has pretty much locked up that market.

I think that from the standpoint of Star, Q100 and Power, when they add those crossover songs, they find that it isn't drawing anybody away from V-103 and instead they alienate some of their current listeners.

There is and has been almost a complete segregation of Atlanta radio. It's not a racist thing but I think the CHRs knowing they just can't compete with V-103. 94Q/Star 94 never played anything even resembling rap or hip-hip and even make that a point in their marketing for over 20 years. Power 99 and Q100 have almost leaned more techno as opposed to urban. And Power 96.1 is still trying to find it's place. Wild/The Beat has been the only station I recall in all the years I've lived here that really tried to bridge that gap between the CHRs and urban stations in Atlanta, except I think they really probably leaned a little more urban than CHR.

While some people here seem almost offended that Atlanta doesn't have a "true CHR" station like other markets, it really doesn't bother me. I think it's probably smart radio programming.

As for Power's ratings drop, I don't think it has much as much to do with the music as it does the novelty of a new station wearing off and people shifting back to stations with live local talent. I've said from day 1 that Power would not compete for long with syndicated shows like Elvis Duran and Ryan Seacrest.
 
^I agree, but I don't think he's talking about the lack of Urban music (since he brought up WHQC/Charlotte and WNOK/Columbia) - more I think the fact that both ATL CHRs have such tight playlists

It's not just the CHRs, though - Star 94 has a tight playlist, B98.5, The River, and even Radio 105.7 - that spans Clear Channel, Cumulus, Cox, and Lincoln Financial Media, who all, over the course of time, have learned that familiarity gets the highest ratings here

Look at 97.9 - it's right out there, ready for CHR listeners who want more variety to their pop station - and it's getting a 0.3 - I think that's a pretty solid litmus test...

IMO if people were really dissatisfied with Q100 and Power, 97.9 would be getting at least a 1.0, since you can pick it up clearly 20-30 miles outside the city

I wouldn't be surprised if Cumulus has been using 97.9 as a test, to see if opening up their playlist would lead to higher ratings - and instead of Q100 dropping in the face of a tight playlist, it's now beating both Power and Star

IMO we've also got to keep in mind that CHRs with broad playlists (such as WHQC and WNOK) are in markets without current-based Hot AC stations - if Star disappeared, Clear Channel might be able to easily pull off a Channel 96.1 - WNOK has even less competition
 
atlantaboy said:
^I agree, but I don't think he's talking about the lack of Urban music (since he brought up WHQC/Charlotte and WNOK/Columbia) - more I think the fact that both ATL CHRs have such tight playlists
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My biggest point with all this was that when I heard CC was turning 96.1 into CHR, my first thought was....FINALLY, Atlanta is getting a full-blown, "ClearChannel-Top40" station...which (I THOUGHT) meant, it would be like any other "CC-Top 40". Much like the ones in Charlotte, Columbia, Savannah...(as an example only). But, also like having our own slice of Z100 or KIIS 102.7 right here in Atlanta. But, as it turns out...it seems like it is yet ANOTHER station that running a tight playlist...But STILL omitting songs that are widely being played everywhere else....i.e., Ariana Grande - "The Way", Emeli Sande - "Next to Me, Little Mix - "Wings", Chris Brown - "Fine China", Calvin Harris - "Need Your Love", Fun - "Carry On", Will I Am - "That Power", Imagine Dragons - "Radioactive", Kelly Clarkson - "People Like Us".....etc, etc, etc.

BOTTOM LINE: I feel like, if Clear Channel can't solve Atlanta's mainstream Top-40 gap (which so far, they haven't)...then, I guess I've lost all hope of it ever happening here.
 
electroboy73 said:
BOTTOM LINE: I feel like, if Clear Channel can't solve Atlanta's mainstream Top-40 gap (which so far, they haven't)...then, I guess I've lost all hope of it ever happening here.
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I think it's pretty rare for a new CHR to take on more established stations by going "Mainstream Top 40" - there's got to be a solid reason to listen to the new station over the old ones - I think that's why you see Power specifically going after hits that you can't hear on Q100, and ignoring hits that you can hear on Q100

Some of that same behavior BTW happened for years between Q100 and Star
 
The situation with WHQC/Charlotte BTW was extremely unique - WNKS had been the "Mainstream Top 40" at the time, WHQC on the Rhythmic-leaning side, and then suddenly WLNK flipped from Hot AC to an extremely passive AC/HAC hybrid - WHQC then jumped on the opportunity to fill the current-based Hot AC void, and thereby was able to program a station that was broader than WNKS

Without the Link flipping, I don't think they could've pulled it off
 
If we loose Power we go back to the 90s where all we had was one pop station that was adult leaning, was scared to play any rhythmic hits, and only played half of what was on the top 40 chart. I hope Power stays alive. I don't like the CC branded sped up music which I notice goes away during Elvis Duran and Seacrest. The processing is better on Q. Q has this slight hall or echo effect added to its sound that makes the stereo sound more alive. Power sounds more like I'm listening to it on my transitor radio. They need to work on these things. I agree they need to broaden the playlist. They do have AT40 which I enjoy listening to on Sunday mornings. I wish they would replay it again on Sunday nights or add Rick Dees to Sunday nights.
 
atlantaboy said:
The situation with WHQC/Charlotte BTW was extremely unique - WNKS had been the "Mainstream Top 40" at the time, WHQC on the Rhythmic-leaning side, and then suddenly WLNK flipped from Hot AC to an extremely passive AC/HAC hybrid - WHQC then jumped on the opportunity to fill the current-based Hot AC void, and thereby was able to program a station that was broader than WNKS

Without the Link flipping, I don't think they could've pulled it off
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Yeah...good point. I sort of remember when all that happened in Charlotte too. And as a side note, if Atlanta had a fantastic sounding CHR like WNKS to begin with, none of this would even matter. Lol
 
RadioDoogie said:
If we loose Power we go back to the 90s where all we had was one pop station that was adult leaning, was scared to play any rhythmic hits, and only played half of what was on the top 40 chart. I hope Power stays alive. I don't like the CC branded sped up music which I notice goes away during Elvis Duran and Seacrest. The processing is better on Q. Q has this slight hall or echo effect added to its sound that makes the stereo sound more alive. Power sounds more like I'm listening to it on my transitor radio. They need to work on these things. I agree they need to broaden the playlist. They do have AT40 which I enjoy listening to on Sunday mornings. I wish they would replay it again on Sunday nights or add Rick Dees to Sunday nights.
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AWESOME POINTS, Doogie. And that's just it. Anything is better than what we had (even as recent as 2009). Just figured once we got a new full-power CHR...(especially one owned by Clear Channel), that the problem would be solved. Little did I know, it would seemingly be shooting itself in the foot! Lol. Sad that it is a CC-CHR but still, we'd have to be up at 7AM on a Sunday morning and listen to AT40 in order to hear most of the hit songs that POWER should be playing to begin with!  ::)
 
I have been an avid radio fan since 1984. Lived in Memphis growing up and here since 93. I traveled quite a bit and always noticed that most cities played AT40 on Sunday mornings. I remember reading that it is a time of the week that is less invasive to advertising and programming. Most listeners are in church and are not listening to the radio at that time. Not sure why Power or Q or even Star won't pick up Dees. I miss him after Journey left in September. Maybe he's too "old" sounding. I'm even surprised Star doesn't play the Billy Bush countdown. Most stations across the country I noticed have axed Dees except for those long running CHRs that are mom and pop owned. Back to the topic...I just don't understand why a CHR like Power can't just play the entire top 40 chart in rotation. Play all 40 songs in rotation, throw in some recurrents and maybe some hits from the past you haven't heard in awhile and it will be all good. Just my thoughts...what do I know?
 
RadioDoogie said:
Not sure why Power or Q or even Star won't pick up Dees.
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Because those stations get better ratings with tight playlists - playing Dees/AT40 on Sunday night would mean listeners tune in and hear unfamiliar songs (at a time of day that many people listen)

BTW Electroboy Power starts AT40 at 7 a. m. Sunday morning on purpose, at a time when very few people are listening, so they don't have to worry about people changing the station when they here songs they aren't familiar with or don't like...
 
RadioDoogie said:
I just don't understand why a CHR like Power can't just play the entire top 40 chart in rotation.
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Because in ATL, unfamiliar songs, or songs too many of their core listeners dislike, cause people to flip to another station

Also, Q100 is already mainstream Top 40 - Power would have to compete by claiming "we play more hits," or "we play Top 40 in a more exciting way", and apparently neither of those strategies seem to work in this market - otherwise, a whole lot more people would be listening to 97.9
 
That makes sense about Sunday night. Bert's Hometown Countdown is on Sunday morning and repeats Sunday night. I see your point that his countdown plays only songs heard on Q100. Don't the ratings meters shut down on the weekends or certain times on the weekend? Okay...maybe add Dees to a Saturday morning or even put him on Q100 20 at 97.9? I may be campaigning for a lost cause.
 
My original point of all this.....is I just figured once Atlanta got a new full-power CHR...(especially one owned by Clear Channel), that we would finally have that one station that would play the much fuller CHR playlist that the hundreds of other Clear Channel CHR stations play in other cities. Atlanta listeners cannot be so EXTREMELY unique that we can't have a CHR station that sounds more like the dozens of other, (successful) Clear Channel CHR's....some that are not that far from here.

And the REASON that Atlantans are so afraid of "unfamiliar" songs on the radio here is because we haven't had a good, full-on, "one-stop", HIT MUSIC station in this market for so many years that it would drive them away?! That's just crazy to me! All I'm saying. :)
 
electroboy73 said:
Atlanta listeners cannot be so EXTREMELY unique that we can't have a CHR station that sounds more like the dozens of other, (successful) Clear Channel CHR's....some that are not that far from here.
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You'd have to be comparing Atlanta to a large market with a new Clear Channel CHR going up against an established mainstream CHR, with a current-leaning Hot AC in the market

I can't think of any other large markets that are in the same situation
 
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