PITTSBURGH ARBITRON RATINGS: JANUARY 2011

[Boss Radio]

I don't disagree that if you listen to any one station the repetition will get to you, my argument is that there are a handful of songs that tend to show up on too many stations playlists and most of those songs are far from current. In fact one of the problems with Pittsburgh radio is that save for KISS, I would be hard pressed to find a station in Pittsburgh that isn't muddled in music that is 20+ years old, including the alleged alternative station which still views artists like Pearl Jam as cutting edge. Pittsburgh radio suffers from the old saying Mark Twain once made of Cincinnati when he said that when the end of the world comes he wanted to be in Cincinnati, because things happen 20 years later there. Things tend to happen 20 years after the fact in Pittsburgh radio as well. What sends me running for Pandora more than anything is simply a desire to hear something that was written after I was legally able to drink.

There are a lot of people in other markets who say the same thing about their local radio. People constantly complain about all the Skynyrd and other tired things on WDVE. Yet they're No. 1 in ratings, killing in revenue. So what's their incentive to change?

The local incentive to change their practices? Not much really, because they own enough signals to protect themselves from any real competition. The national incentive to change? They have a $4.5 billion debt payment coming due in 2014 and the idea of owning 7 stations to protect one or two may not become all that economically viable over the long term.

Actually, it would appear they're quite strong in Pittsburgh. DVE dominates and WKST and FM 104 are very strong. 3WS is currently underperforming but was strong with the Christmas format and had much better numbers through most of 2010. The X does well in its demo. 970 is something of a throwaway, but it serves its purpose and it's still doing better than some 5kw AM signals are.

 

[Parttimer]

See Part, a lot of what you speak of is before my time. And yes, I think a classic rocker, be it WDVE, the old WRRK, or the "Pratte4Life Dream Station" (WPDS?) has evolved from many of the bands you've mentioned. Chicago, for instance.

My criteria for a playlist on a rock station- "Is it hard? Is it fast?" If the answer to both questions is yes, then it belongs on a rock station.

Really, it shouldn't be any more complicated than that.

And you reflect the thinking of rock programmers of the last 20 years or so. Personally I miss the days where bands like Yes, Steely Dan, Genesis, the Police, the Cars and CSNY were among rock radio's core artists. I've always felt that making Rock and Alternative separate subsets ruined the format.

 

[Pratte4Life]

The problem is all of the bands you've mentioned ARE played locally on WDVE.

Now, someone will say "They're No. 1, don't fix what isn't broken!" I'd agree, and to be honest I think I've been hearing more of the harder stuff lately, though I get the feeling on Sundays they tone it down a bit.

I personally would like to hear a rock station that really rocks (to state an overplayed liner phrase). That's why I love satellite radio and can go for hours just playing Hair Nation and the Boneyard off on each other. Okay, that's me, I get that. But people are actually paying to be able to do that.

So I can't be the only one who when he wants to tune into a rock station doesn't want to hear "Piano Man." I can't be the only one who when he tunes in to a rock station wants to hear music that, well, ROCKS!

 

[MsMusicRadio]

What is WRRK doing right to beat out WSHH, WBZZ, WWSW, and Q92.9? Their website shows personalities on air 18 hours a day. Are they live ? Just askin since I don't listen to WDVE or the X ever.

 

[Boss Radio]

I can't be the only one who when he tunes in to a rock station wants to hear music that, well, ROCKS!

Of course not. There's Wayne...and Garth.

 

[Parttimer]

I personally would like to hear a rock station that really rocks (to state an overplayed liner phrase).

But DVE gets the highest 25-54 ratings in America. No other rock station comes close.

And while the hard rock approach is more laser-targeted towards 18-34 males, the format no longer gets the numbers it did when it played a wider variety of rock. Screaming guitars and cookie monster vocals get old after a while.

 

[Parttimer]

What is WRRK doing right to beat out WSHH, WBZZ, WWSW, and Q92.9? Their website shows personalities on air 18 hours a day. Are they live ? Just askin since I don't listen to WDVE or the X ever.

Playing better music. I don't understand why they even have jocks, it's a canned format. You can hear exactly the same thing in the Erie area on 94.7 (which I think comes from Canada).

 

[Pratte4Life]

Saying screaming guitars and vocals get old is like saying coffee isn't part of a well balanced diet.

Based on the last posts from Part and Boss, I have become a huge Who fan. I really do hope I die before I get old!

 

[Parttimer]

Saying screaming guitars and vocals get old is like saying coffee isn't part of a well balanced diet.

As usual, you missed the joke by glossing over a couple of words.

Screaming guitars and cookie monster vocals get old after a while.

That was sort of a rip on modern metal. I actually love loud stuff, and listen to channels like Underground Garage on satellite quite a bit.

I just think rock radio was better when it was broader.

 

[Boss Radio]

I really do hope I die before I get old!

Too late.

 

[Pratte4Life]

Okay Part, please explain to me what words I glossed over.

Don't take it personally. Just explain to me what I glossed over.

And despite Boss' petty personal insults to the contrary, there is no place for Piano Man on a rock station.

I'm almost to the point where I'm not sure there are any places left for pianos.

 

[Boss Radio]

Okay Part, please explain to me what words I glossed over.

Don't take it personally. Just explain to me what I glossed over.

And despite Boss' petty personal insults to the contrary, there is no place for Piano Man on a rock station.

It was a freaking joke. If you're a Journey fan, you're probably over 30.

 

[Parttimer]

Okay Part, please explain to me what words I glossed over.

Screaming guitars and cookie monster vocals get old after a while.

Cookie monster. It's why they were in bold.

Do you actually read this stuff before you respond?

 

[Pratte4Life]

Yes I do. It's just that I've been known to write punchlines that even Dennis Miller would say are somewhat obscure, but I'm just not getting what you're saying.

JOURNEY Boss? JOURNEY?

I had hoped that band had been banned (and not a moment too soon) in this locale ever since the Pens and Red Wings met in the Stanley Cup Finals.

 

[MsMusicRadio]

Journey needs to be hung on hooks in a meat pacing plant until they give up how the Sopranos really ended. Did Tony get whacked? Busted? Nothing at all?

 

[cingram]

And despite Boss' petty personal insults to the contrary, there is no place for Piano Man on a rock station.

That depends on what kind of "rock" station it is. Classic Rock? Sure. Classic Hits? Sure. The rock-type
Jack and Bob stations? Sure. On the other hand, if you'e got a head-banging Hard Rock station, clearly it
doesn't fit.

C.

 

[Pratte4Life]

PIANO MAN ISN'T A ROCK SONG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What else belongs on a rock station, classic or otherwise, if Piano Man does?

Buck Owens?

Frank Sinatra?

The Notorious B.I.G.?

The Kingston Trio?

Destiny's Child?

I'm done arguing about this because it is like trying to argue that sand is not wet. And anyone trying to tell us Piano Man belonged on WRRK's Classic Rock format is essentially trying to tell us sand is wet, and I think the arguements used to try to defend its presense on a rock station, or, by this point, the actual existence of the song, bear this out unequivocally!!!!

If I ever see Billy Joel now, I'm not going to make him walk through Bedford-Stey alone, I'm gonna throw him into a bar there and make him play Popeye Doyle!!!!!!



































Gotta admit, Part, that was a lot funnier than Cookie Monster.

 

[Raymond]

If I ever see Billy Joel now, I'm not going to make him walk through Bedford-Stey alone, I'm gonna throw him into a bar there and make him play Popeye Doyle!!!!!!

I'd make him play the WHOLE Piano Man, not the edited version! Yes, even though I think it is an overplayed worn out tune.

I see your point about sand being wet. But, I always equated Billy Joel being on WRRK as something different...more akin to being on a light rock station, rather than a heavy rock station like DVE. (yes, I know and agree, DVE plays many of the same worn out songs in their own right). It's kind of like back in the day, I always enjoyed WYDD, but never saw them as the rock station that DVE was. Perhaps it's just my perception of what a rock station is and that DVE always played the part because they were always positioned as a rock station.