Places where country is #1

[mjlarochelle]

Eventhough we often don't think of country music appealing to urban listeners, there are surprising trends in some markets. For example, in both Calgary and London, a country station is the highest-rated station in the market. BX-93 is the highest rated station in London, which I found hard to believe since I thought country was wildly unpopular in that region. Calgary is a large market and London is a mid-sized market; I would have expected country not to have much impact in places other than small markets.

Is this commonplace in some large urban centres in the United States?

 

[ticoSD]

> Eventhough we often don't think of country music appealing
> to urban listeners, there are surprising trends in some
> markets. For example, in both Calgary and London, a country
> station is the highest-rated station in the market. BX-93
> is the highest rated station in London, which I found hard
> to believe since I thought country was wildly unpopular in
> that region. Calgary is a large market and London is a
> mid-sized market; I would have expected country not to have
> much impact in places other than small markets.
>
> Is this commonplace in some large urban centres in the
> United States?
>

In the ten largest markets, it's not wildly popular, but ratings do show that there is an audience for it. There are no country stations in New York or San Francisco proper. It does well in Dallas and Houston. WUSN does very well in Chicago and I hardly ever associate Chicago with country music. In the remaining top ten markets, country stations are either in the lower reaches of the top ten or lower. Country did do much better in urban areas during the country boom of the early 90s.

Mainly in the U.S., the smaller the market, the better country performs, especially in the southeast, Midwest and the Rockies.<P ID="signature">______________
"...and the countdown continues until the neanderthals that govern college football do something about their pathetic postseason."--Tim Brando, Sporting News Radio</P>

 

[Jay_F]

> Eventhough we often don't think of country music appealing
> to urban listeners, there are surprising trends in some
> markets. For example, in both Calgary and London, a country
> station is the highest-rated station in the market. BX-93
> is the highest rated station in London, which I found hard
> to believe since I thought country was wildly unpopular in
> that region. Calgary is a large market and London is a
> mid-sized market; I would have expected country not to have
> much impact in places other than small markets.
>
> Is this commonplace in some large urban centres in the
> United States?
>


A country station is currently ranked #1 in 9 of the top 50 markets: Seattle, Denver, Las Vegas, Charlotte, Indianapolis, Raleigh, Austin, Greensboro, and Jacksonville. I just noticed that 3 of the 9 are located in the state of North Carolina.

Of course there are many many smaller markets where a country station is #1.

 

[John1]

> Mainly in the U.S., the smaller the market, the better
> country performs, especially in the southeast, Midwest and
> the Rockies.>>

Country also does well, #1 to 5 in many northeast markets, such as Rochester, Buffalo, Allentown, Portland, Scranton-Wilkes-Barre, Atlantic City...even markets where a few years back they said it would never catch on, like Boston & Philadelphia now have country stations often in the top 10 or better.

 

[Jay_F]

> > Mainly in the U.S., the smaller the market, the better
> > country performs, especially in the southeast, Midwest and
>
> > the Rockies.>>
>
> Country also does well, #1 to 5 in many northeast markets,
> such as Rochester, Buffalo, Allentown, Portland,
> Scranton-Wilkes-Barre, Atlantic City...even markets where a
> few years back they said it would never catch on, like
> Boston & Philadelphia now have country stations often in the
> top 10 or better.
>


I would say the biggest growth area for country radio over the past 20 years has been the Northeast (with the obvious exception of the NYC area). While some people criticize today's country as being "too slick", I think this has helped the popularity of country music in the Northeast region.

On the other hand,I think the sharpest decline has taken place in Houston. That used to be one of best country markets. Back in the "Urban Cowboy" era (the movie itself was set in the Houston area) KILT and the old KIKK were usually ranked 1 and 2 with large shares. Today the country share in Houston is nothing out of the ordinary. Much of the decline of country radio in Houston is due to how ethnic the market has become in recent years.

 

[regionear]

WUSN does very well in
> Chicago and I hardly ever associate Chicago with country
> music.

Being in the Chicago area most of my life.....

Country music may not be popular in the "downtown" Chicago area....in fact it isn't!

WUSN (and similar country stations) DOMINATE the suburbs that make up the Chicago DMA. More of the Chicago book comes from outside than inside city limits....

WUSN would fare even better save some very good suburban country statoins....some with large heritage ( ie...WLJE Valparaiso, IN)

Also, I spent time in the Indy market where WFMS just KILLS....It depends just as heavily on the "burbs"....in fact, I believe the reason why they are #1 in Indy is because they PROGRAM for the burbs....WUSN does to an extent....but I feel they would highly benefit from a more "burb" friendly approach.

Country is alive an well....I think that if a "real" Country PD or MD is on the job....the music will carry a country station. I think that many country stations failed...partly because the "boom" died...and partly because jocks and
PDs were on country stations and had no business there!

You can tell (as a listener) if the station REALLY knows its country!

 

[John1]

Chicago has a long history of some very well programmed & powerful country stations, like WJJD and WMAQ, both of which I listened to in Pennsylvania when we had no local evening/nighttime country stations at the time. The audience may not have been downtown but the massive signals took those stations across the heartland.

 

[regionear]

The
> audience may not have been downtown but the massive signals
> took those stations across the heartland.

Exactly...in fact, I believe that another country station can not only be supported...but is warranted!

WUSN uses "America's Country Station..." as a sell line....somtimes using a "made in Chicago" mixed in....

I dunno about you...but I can think of TONS of ways to attack that.

Also, US99 may be pretty solid....but I can see some ways for another station to steal away from them.

They are really a Country AC....Country that is flat out for chicks...

Somthing with more of a "middle of the road" appeal....more traditional sound?

I would also add in more (and better) service elements....simialar to WFMS (which I also believe is a big part of their success)

I wonder the same thing about Jack stations.....with everyone targeting women 25-54.....What is everyone else supposed to listen to?

Can't guys buy things?

Tell ya this much...I am 27 and my wife is almost 30....my parents are 57 and 58....They have SOOOOO much more money to spend than us....and Radio wonders why cleints don't come back?!?

 

[MarquisP4]

> The
> > audience may not have been downtown but the massive
> signals
> > took those stations across the heartland.
>
> Exactly...in fact, I believe that another country station
> can not only be supported...but is warranted!
>
> WUSN uses "America's Country Station..." as a sell
> line....somtimes using a "made in Chicago" mixed in....
>
> I dunno about you...but I can think of TONS of ways to
> attack that.
>
> Also, US99 may be pretty solid....but I can see some ways
> for another station to steal away from them.
>
> They are really a Country AC....Country that is flat out for
> chicks...
>
> Somthing with more of a "middle of the road" appeal....more
> traditional sound?
>
> I would also add in more (and better) service
> elements....simialar to WFMS (which I also believe is a big
> part of their success)
>
> I wonder the same thing about Jack stations.....with
> everyone targeting women 25-54.....What is everyone else
> supposed to listen to?
>
> Can't guys buy things?
>
> Tell ya this much...I am 27 and my wife is almost 30....my
> parents are 57 and 58....They have SOOOOO much more money to
> spend than us....and Radio wonders why cleints don't come
> back?!?
>
> and you forgot WCCQ Joliet what do you think of it too? it's a suburb station, too and it's owned bt NextMedia. Anybody?

 

[MikeFromIndiana]

> > > Mainly in the U.S., the smaller the market, the better
> > > country performs, especially in the southeast, Midwest
> and
> >

WAMZ in Louisville is Usually on top, and Years Back PRe Infinity Days WUBE in Cincinnati was from Time to Time a Top Rated Station in Cincy

> > Country also does well, #1 to 5 in many northeast markets,
>
> > such as Rochester, Buffalo, Allentown, Portland,
> > Scranton-Wilkes-Barre, Atlantic City...even markets where
> a
> > few years back they said it would never catch on, like
> > Boston & Philadelphia now have country stations often in
> the
> > top 10 or better.
> >
>
>
> I would say the biggest growth area for country radio over
> the past 20 years has been the Northeast (with the obvious
> exception of the NYC area). While some people criticize
> today's country as being "too slick", I think this has
> helped the popularity of country music in the Northeast
> region.
>
> On the other hand,I think the sharpest decline has taken
> place in Houston. That used to be one of best country
> markets. Back in the "Urban Cowboy" era (the movie itself
> was set in the Houston area) KILT and the old KIKK were
> usually ranked 1 and 2 with large shares. Today the country
> share in Houston is nothing out of the ordinary. Much of the
> decline of country radio in Houston is due to how ethnic the
> market has become in recent years.
>