Philly radio is probably the market with the most variety

[musicman3355]

As a LA resident, I have to say that Philly radio sounds great IMO. You guys are lucky to have much variety - there is the 2 top 40 stations (Q102, Wired 96.5), 2 hip-hop stations (Power 99, 100.3 The Beat), a Jack-like/Hot AC format (95.7 Ben FM), 4 rock stations (WMMR, WYSP, 102.9 MGK, Radio 104.5), 2 urban ACs (WDAS-FM, 107.9 WRNB), a rhythmic AC (My 106.1), a oldies/classic hits station (98.1 WOGL), a country station (92.5 XTU), and 2 Spanish stations (Mega 1310, Rumba 1480). Doesn't THAT sound like variety? LA radio is great too but Philly radio is better sounding IMO.

 

[htowler]

even more variety Q102 is Top 40 Wired 96.5 is CHR/Rhythmic

 

[nd2023]

Don't forget 2 suburban dance stations, Z88.9 and Super 91.7, as well as an HD dance station

 

[evolve991]

and good listener supported radio WXPN and its HD2 channel with Y-Rock,formerly 100.3 Y100 Phillys Modern Rock......and Preston n Steve......I'd say Philly has the superior radio market in the U.S.

 

[oasisrulz]

And probably the only large market with a Standards format (WHAT-1340), on AM, which was a staple in every large market in the 80's-90's...

 

[aindik]

I agree with the OP, too. Philly has more FM signals devoted to English speaking commercial formats than many other large markets. New York, for example, has 3 non-commercial stations (including Classical WQXR) and 3 Spanish-speaking formats in the commercial portion of the FM band. Philly doesn't have any of either, which allows for more variety in English speaking formats on FM.

I think this is why WYSP is having such a hard time finding a hole in this market to which to flip its format.

It is kind of funny that the OP doesn't list either of the top 2 rated stations in the market: B-101 and KYW.

 

[musicbox]

And probably the only large market with a Standards format (WHAT-1340), on AM, which was a staple in every large market in the 80's-90's...

And since we are mentioning Standards, we should include WRDV -FM (89.3-107.3-97.1)/WLBS-FM (91.7) which includes Big Bands along with the Standards. (weekdays, 6AM to 6 PM Mon-Fri) Also their specialty programing at night includes the Polka Party, Country Gold Classics, and Beautiful Music on Friday nights and Rock and Doo-Wop on weekends. Other nights a mix of Rock or Big Bands or Standards.

 

[SoulCrusher]

Meh. The rock radio stations are all kind of lame. You've got your '70s leaning classic rock (WMGK), your '80s leaning classic rock (WYSP), your token safe classic rock leaning heritage station (WMMR), and Radio 104.5, which is really more of an Alternative/Hot AC or Alternative/CHR than anything else. 104.5 never bills itself as Alternative in their advertising, and they have an extremely tight playllist of music - if you love repetition, I'm telling you, this is your station. Granted, it's not Top 40-level repetition, but they are easily the safest, most repetitive Alternative station I have ever heard. And they have, shall we say, very questionable taste in the music they play.

Radio 104.5 plays: Fall Out Boy, Paramore, Panic! At The Disco, latter-day Goo Goo Dolls, Puddle Of Mudd, Blues Traveler, easy-listening Police songs, etc.
Radio 104.5 doesn't play: I.R.S.-era R.E.M., Depeche Mode (aside from "People Are People" and Violator) Psychedelic Furs, The Smiths (other than "How Soon Is Now?", The Pixies, The Replacements, Bloc Party, Kaiser Chiefs, Arcade Fire, Spoon, etc.

I think this demonstrates what is wrong with the station - that and the fact that their target audience is one that somehow isn't tired of "Smells Like Teen Spirit", "Under The Bridge", and "Lightning Crashes" yet.

I'll give the station this much - up to this point, they have been successful. But it's just a matter of time before people tire of their ridiculously safe approach to the Alternative format. Also, if they ever got some competition, it would definitely have an impact. The combination of very timid programming with little to no talk means that they don't have much of a hook. Give Philadelphia a somewhat more adventuurous approach to the format with some talk, and the listeners will follow.

 

[instigator]

Soul Crusher to go one step further ..where is the active rock? You can't hear current Korn, Sevendust, Marilyn Manson on Philly radio...and there isn't an outle fr alternative emo either: Hawthorn Heights, The Used, New Found Glory..ect...Three of our four rock stationsare stuck in a time warp.

 

[DToTheJ]

Maybe Radio 104.5 should hire Leslie Fram away from WRXP in New York. She has previously worked in another Top 10 market (Atlanta). Among the bands listed above, WRXP, while all over the road in their "rock experience" approach, does play Spoon. I know this because I heard a promotion for a station meet-and-greet with the band in the context of "spooning". Awful.

 

[evolve991]

You wanna talk about "Lame Rock Radio"? Slide down 95 to Baltimore....we have 1 thats ONE Rock format here....98Rock. It leans so hard on 'Mullet Rock' that its nearly falling over. Of course theres WRNR Annapolis but thats almost AAA now and isn't recievable in alot of the area. If you happen to own an HD radio you can drive closer to DC for HFS. If you have internet access you can listen to 97Underground for Metal and of course HFS and RNR but the discussion was about FM main signal broadcast which is absolutely lousy here. I began listening to Philly radio in 78 when my parents dragged me across the river and into radio range of Philly. Until 1983 Baltimore/DC radio gave me little choice and since 2005 its been the same. Philly is lucky. Philly ROCKS. I do agree that Philly needs a full blown Alternative FM but its alot better than below the Mason Dixon line.

 

[Steve Green NEPA]

Left out in this variety cornucopia were Country (WXTU) , Jazz (WRTI nighttime, which is when Jazz should be played :- ), and a pretty good sports-talker in WIP.

About 100 miles north of Phelly, here in picturesque Metro Quakake PA, there is quite a bit of variety. And Schuylkill County is an un-rated market! A lot of the fare on both AM and FM is Philadelphia-oriented, of course. But we get the jazz from a WRTI translator or two, and there are several Country stations, the variety of which goes all the way back to The Grandfathers Of The Pioneers. Another form of variety is on 97.9 out of Hazleton because they change their format every month. WVIA translators and WQSU Selinsgrove are there for the Prairie Home COmpanion, Car Talk, and even more Jazz and some Modern Rock.

And in case of a toxic-waste train crash emergency, we have good ol' Clear Channel on 99.7 out of Mount Carmel (WVRZ) and a No Repeat Voicetracked Work Week on their Bill Country 95.3 out of Shamokin.

We get talk from The Big Talker 1210 (along with a Phillies game if and when). Reading's WEEU 830 is an *excello* full-service A/C. Oldies 1410 from Lansford is sit-throughable, and when they sign off at sundown we got the internet.

Tiny WPAM 1450 Pottsville has some nice tunes available in their classic rock library. Their former sister station WAVT 101.9 (T-102) can be an all-day listen if necessary, with their 80's/Gold-based Hot A/C .... they'll play ANYTHING.

Magic 105.5 out of Tamaqua is there for any fans of overprocessing and listener fatigue. WZZO Allentown is a wonderful background rocker for people who work in foundries. WWSM 1510 from downstate Lebanon puts a nice signal here and they play traditional C&W that the artists themselves have forgotten they ever did. WGRC's Contemporary Christian station on 91.5 can throw you a coupla good hooks per hour. Dial neighbors KYW 1060 and WKOK Sunbury 1070 have the all-news stuff taken care of. 94 KX out of Sunbury and Fire 106.5 out of Bloomsburg give good car radio.

If they ever took a Book for Schuylkill County, two dozen stations would show up in it.

But the point is well taken -- Philadelphia does have that variety, eh?