The more we beat the hell out of the KYW, WPHT, WOGL, and WRFF discussions, one thing is becoming apparent. All of these stations seem likely to sound the most different in three to five years for various reasons.
1) KYW and WOGL, though highly billing stations, are watching their core audience get older as they continue to avoid gradually changing with the times. I wish I knew what the answer was with KYW, but it's clear with WOGL, much of the 60s music, regardless of genre, has to be phased out over time, and the station needs to sound more like WCBS-FM, WOMC, and KRTH.
2) WPHT is likely to change without any change of format. Again, to remain with conservative talk, it needs to remain relevant to a wide audience. That would indicate at least the possibility of new syndicated voices.
3) WRFF is doing all the right things with the current format, especially avoiding the niche, alt-rock fanatic approach to the playlist. The "occupy" comment doesn't represent this audience at all. It may be an audience that needs to be less male and younger for the format to survive. The tattoo parlor/DUI lawyer/paternity test/bail bondsman advertiser list isn't quite fair here either, and frankly seems more applicable to active rock. But who should want to reach the alt-rock audience, and how do you make success more likely? Whatever it is probably has little to do with what Y100 once was.
