Possible new format on WRZK?

[vchimpanzee]

So I hear from a little birdie that WRZK might be removing all their modern/alt rock songs and going to a classic rock format. I wonder if this is just a rumour or if there is any validity to it. I can understand why HVBC would make the switch (larger demographic in classic rock, more possible ad buys from national agencies and car dealers), but seems to me that WXBQ is more vulnerable right now than WQUT. I would've gone with a "young country" format over classic rock, but what the hell do I know? At least they're picking one format of rock and going with it, rather than playing a little classic rock and a little modern rock.
That is, of course, if this rumour is true or not. I guess the station just couldn't make it without me! (Just kidding!)

Peace,
TWSP

That would be a shame.

I was a WKPT listener, sort of. Not a good signal at night, but at one point it was about all I had.

Even back when they played beautiful music.

But even I can tell WRZK was a good station.

For some odd reason, it comes in very clearly in my motel room in Haywood County when I go there every June. Yet I can't pick up another Tri-Cities station.

 

[J-Street]

Now, Rzk flipping? I've heard that rumor for years. Here's my take: no flip. The 12 plus numbers don't mean anything. Both K and Z do pull numbers 18-34 AND 25-54. Add the 2 together and you'd have a number 2 or 3 player in some very key demo's. And its not just men, we're talking men and women. If there was a flip, classic rock makes the most sense. QUT pulls most of thier numbers with the morning cackle shack, and the other dayparts are hit or miss. And selling the AC/CR combo makes more sense than the AC/new rock they have now. I just don't think they'll let the new rock format go, and give up that 18-34 audience to electric and Z.

Normally, I would correct you with the 12+ numbers but since no one seems to think that matters, let's pull some 18-49 numbers. True, WQUT has it's best numbers from John Boy and Billy, but take a look at this...
(first column: summer numbers, second column: 4-book)

M-F 10a-3p
WXBQ 17.0 / 21.8
WQUT 17.6 / 14.1
WTFM 12.5 / 10.5

M-F 3p-7p
WXBQ 18.7 / 20.3
WQUT 14.2 / 13.2
WTFM 10.6 / 9.4

M-F 7p-12a
WXBQ 17.0 / 18.0
WQUT 13.7 / 14.2
WTFM 7.2 / 9.3

And no, no other station competed with those numbers except maybe WTFM's slightly lower numbers on 7p-12a. WQUT even beat WXBQ from 10a-3pm (over the summer) on weekdays...

"Hit or Miss?" HA! (please see above)

"Outside of morning drive, it's anyones game?" HA! (do i need to send you the book?)

"Stale?" HA! (what's your e-mail address?)

"[WQUT is] the most inconsistant in the ratings?" HA! (that 4-book doesn't say so buddy)

"You can't blame book placement for inconsistancy " HA! (who's blaming the book, I'm using it against you!)

"Obviously they run hot and cold?" HA! (who are you? Richard Quillen?)

"The music obviously is the same as every pure classic rocker anywhere" HA! (WXBQ is the same POP Country as everywhere else)

"Skynard has a bunch of tunes, how come I only ever hear 3. Same with Floyd, Aerosmith" HA! (That Harley guy played Young Lust once, I bet you can't even name that artist, hell you can't even spell SKYNYRD!)

"But I'm not there so I'm guessing, going by what I hear" HA! (if you're not HERE then what are you HEARING? Oh! You mean what your buddies say? Well my buddies listen to WGOC and WAXM but they're not in the top 3, I'm not going to listen to them and go program a station by what they say)

"I can hear no difference in the station now, than when I came to town years ago" HA (How can you even talk about a station when you're not listening to it at least semi-regularly? Jeez, this is getting boring to me)


For God's sakes, do your homework and at least TRY to sound intelligent. I agree with Crossman obviously, WXBQ's numbers are better to go after, no you're not going to beat them but many stations sitting at 3's right now could start getting a 5 taken from WXBQ.

And on a side note, the opening at WXBQ, is that the same one filled by that new Clay Walker guy? I have a tracking device on my MySpace and he's been stalking me! Yeah so I'm showing my age again but he's even younger and if you're reading this Clay, shoot me a message, we can be friends!

 

[bored-op]

Wow, mr. street, I must've hit a nerve, huh?

Classic rock IS a stale format. Your precious radio station sounds stale. My point is, The numbers, outside of mornings, move around more than anyone else in the top 3. Arbitron is flawed at best so there is always movement, but Qut moves the most. Your station does the same promotions at the same time every year like clockwork. Your station plays the same damn thing, outside of the occasional song no average listener has ever heard, over and over and as far as I can tell. Not being someone in the know (since you obviously spend a bunch of time in the pd's office with your nose up his arse), the music might be shifted around, but I sure can't HEAR it if it is. And what kind of ******bag gives a sh!t if I spell a band name correctly on a message board. As far as my E-mail address, forget that, I'll give you my home number if you like. Or better yet, meet for a beer.

 

[Jockamo]

This quote from Maddog1964:

"Sorry guys,
Remember "US-99"(WUSJ) The predecessor to Electric 99-3. Besides having really bad management, they were a joke to many back in the 80's-early 90's. I think Crossman was there for a while. Uncle Dave Hogan was morning man(I think mornings, but he was there).Maybe if it's done better than they TRIED to do, oh well. Back to the Kibbles & Bits....."

I worked at US99 for about six months back in '89 doing afternoon drive, and I'll have to admit that it was one of my most favorite times in radio. True, the management was some of the worst that I'd ever worked for...but, I also worked for one of the best PDs that I have ever known in Tom Sleeker. Tom was one of the most supportive individuals that I've ever known in radio, and he knew how to get the most out of a jock. He's now programming a JAZZ station in Detroit.

When I was there, our best numbers were 5.5...not 'XBQ-like by any means, but not too bad. Dog, thanks for helping me to wax nostalgic.

 

[jockjock]

I think its smart for wrzk to make a change...they have to do something to make themselves different from z-rock....listeners don't know the difference between the stations.....

 

[J-Street]

Wow bored-op, you're more of a moron than I first thought. WQUT plays the same thing? You say the same thing! Even though I took everything you said and blew it out of the water, you came back with absolutely ZERO new arguments. Earlier, you stated that WQUT was going to blame the book and when you realize the book is IN THEIR FAVOR, you're going to start blaming Arbitron? You should be a politician. They're #2, they have been for a long time. That's the simple facts. As for them changing, you don't change much when you're as SOLID as they are. I can't stand WXBQ's pop-leaning country format, but I can't blame them for not changing it. It's working right now. And once again, you can't HEAR anything if YOU'RE NOT HERE! You're really not too bright, are you? As for the PD and my relationship with him, "what kind of ******bag makes accusations like that?" I might start calling you Mr. Corker or Mr. Ford, or maybe A**Gasket or Crossman. Is it just to hide the fact that your true problem with WQUT is because you just hate John Boy & Billy? What happened? Did John Boy's fat arse beat you out for valedictorian at the Southern School for the Ignorant? If you can't read the numbers, maybe you should go back there. I would meet you for a beer, but I don't visit the Sound or Hog Wild that often. Don't waste my time unless you have some NEW to say. And by something NEW, I mean something that proves those numbers wrong or something that backs up any of the ignorant things you've said, not a new accusation about who's head is in who's arse.

 

[bored-op]

Calm down, miss street, this is just a message board for OPINIONS. I did hear a new paul stanley tune on Qut today, so they obviously do have some sort of newer music influx. I stand corrected. But I also heard every other same ole same ole classic rock song that I'd expect. I also heard live spots and the jock reading a promo for the sales depts one day sale. I hate those. I don't have a problem with jb@b, they just don't appeal to me in ANY way. Its a chuckle hut and I only find humor in about 1 out of 4 of thier jokes. Thats my OPINION. You talk about numbers, and try to bang your almighty radio-godlike hand on the latest arbitron bible, but are only intelligent enough to regurgitate the latest 18-49 numbers and then stick a 4 book average behind it and expect me to take the time and energy to go back and spit out the 18-49 numbers from every book they've had in the last couple of years, because to track a trend takes more than the lastest book numbers and a four book average(and do the stations over there even get the summer and winter books)...............they could have had a 21 one book and a 2 the next, repeat again and it averages out.................I hope you can understand that. I simply said that they tend to have more unstable numbers over time. But open your ears and forget about THE FLAWED REPORT CARD CALLED ARBITRON. QUT is an average, complacent sounding, cookie cutter classic rocker. And its fine because they have a huge heritage, decent airstaff, a huge stick with no competition.....in format or with signal. I simply made the point if I were gonna make a run, I'd do an edgy classic rock. But No one else will make a run at any of the big 3 because they don't have the juice on any sticks in thier cluster. No format flip for RZK, just my OPINION.
Lighten up, man. Nobody's life is hanging in the balance here, its just radio. And I'm not Richard from the rabbit. I've never been to nashville sound or hog wild.

 

[J-Street]

"Do they even get the summer or winter books?"
I posted the Summer numbers. They were even better than the 4-book.

"Forget about Arbitron Ratings and listen?"
I can find more people that I know who listen to WQUT than listen to WXBQ, but I don't claim WQUT is #1. No one I know listens to WTFM or ELECTRIC. But again, unless you know about 10,000 people from different walks of life that you talk to on a daily basis, you don't go very much off that.

Listeners = Arbitron Bible Ratings = Sales = Success.

"And I'm not Richard from the rabbit"
It was a Joke! HAHA. HEHE. LOL. LMAO.

My time = Pretty much wasted today.

 

[bored-op]

Seems like to me, master street, that you've had problems with most on this message board. Does this make me the idiot? Insert the latest college cool internet initials here.

You enjoy siting what you deem to hard and rational Arb numbers, that anyone in the radio bussiness worth thier salt, deem shaky at best. IF I had the market coverage, budget, patience and a healthy reasearch project to back up my gut, I'd make a run at QUT in this market. I don't have anything but some shaky numbers and my gut, and ITS JUST AN OPINION. And I'd be doing a rock format because thats what I have a passion for.

Obviously I've wasted my time today as well, have a nice night.

 

[ass gasket]

Entertain the Ass Gasket here!!
I love it !!!
J-Street - you are doing a Great Job. Reminds me of the kind of SH*% I have gotten stirred up here in the past. Just don't get the discussion closed as I have in the past.
Bored-Op's post are exactly what her name reflects - BORING - just like her "on air show." And the "off-air show" is no better!!!
Crossman can't find a hat to fit his head.
JockJock, TWSP and Turd Gerkin are the only sensible ones who replied to you, besides me of course.
Keep up the good work J. Make them eat their own vomit coming from their rotten mouths!!!

 

[TurdGerkin]

I like Bored-Op's fire in the belly. He's right too, he's got the right to his opinion. We all have the right to be wrong. So let us not fault him/her/tranny for such a thing. Thing is, asking for the budget, time, and coverage to start up a station that will compete with the QUTs and XBQs of this market is what every pipe dream PD would ask for. Unfortunately, nobody will ever get that. Why? Because any owner/GM/power suit "worth their salt" probably doesn't want to squander their budget, time, and coverage on a losing battle. I'm not an expert, but I do work in this business and I have a pretty decent grasp of how to interpret arbitron numbers. These shaky numbers that are being referred to...I just can't seem to find'em. And Bored-Op this not a witch hunt directed towards you. But, I honestly can't find them. Outside of your top tier markets where a .5 drop would shake the earth, Arbitron numbers are always gonna flip a few here and there in the various demos and time slots. We all do that. I just don't see how anyone would call them shaky. As for John Boy & Billy, I find approx. 1.66 out of four jokes humorous. But damn...Look at those numbers. Plus this market is Nascar crazy, and that's where JB & B has got everybody nailed in the money demo. Just out of curiousity, what do you think the mornings should sound like at...say...QUT or XBQ? Music intensive? What? If you were starting a station to realistically compete with one of those two...What would you do with the mornings?

 

[gcc5582]

You All are gonna have Coronaries by the time you reach mine and Crossman ages!!!!!

 

[Jockamo]

This articulation from Ass Gasket:

"Crossman can't find a hat to fit his head.
JockJock, TWSP and Turd Gerkin are the only sensible ones who replied to you, besides me of course."

I don't have a problem with my head. I know what I can do and I know what I can't do. I've been in this business long enough to be confident in my ability, just like gcc and other veterans. And let me know when you say something sensible. I haven't heard it yet. If you want to say something sensible about radio, I'll be happy and willing to hear it. All you do is make fun of other posters. That's not sensible...that's stupid.

 

[TightwadSquarepants]

It's funny how quickly a spirited conversation can turn into a pissing contest at this place. Come on, guys, radio people are supposed to stick together. Especially us low paid jocks! Let us all unite against our oppressor...the management types who live in 600-thousand dollar houses and drive porsches and lexuses (sp?). If we don't stand together, we will all hang apart!

And GCC, I finally figured out who you are! Sorry, I am a little slow, George! Hope you are doing well!

And on a completely unrelated note, I feel like I cheated on my wife last Friday night. I got to run a DB ballgame on WKIN. After 15 years of doing that for WKPT, it really did feel like cheating. Then I have to tell myself that my "wife" was the one that kicked me out of the "house!"

Peace,
TWSP

 

[J-Street]

You ran a DB game on WKIN? So you're the reason why the #2 ranked team in the state LOST in the first round of the playoffs for the first time in many years! Nah, just kidding. Go Toppers! Thank God it's Basketball season.

People seem to enjoy stealing my lines in here. My favorite would be bored-op and his "I feel like I've wasted my time today." The only waste of time is making the same argument over and over and over and over and over with no new facts or "opinions" for that matter. And yes, there should be more "and over's" there but I don't want to waste anymore time. I also like "you seem to make everyone mad in here." Smooth tactic, turn the group against me. That seems to have backfired just a bit, don't ya think? Only a select few elite in here have earned the term "ignorant." But seriously, I agree with Turd, everyone is entitled to their own opinion, I just enjoy proving opinions wrong when I can back it up WITH FACTS. I don't use logic such as "Pluto is no longer a planet therefore Britney Spears must be single again." For instance, I hate John Boy & Billy therefore WQUT must suck! Hey, does calling a man "miss" make you feel like more of a man? I've always wondered that.

Note for Crossman, AssGasket is back to his old tricks again. If it makes you feel better, I wear a size 9 3/8 hat. You don't have to waste your time taking up for yourself with everything he says.

 

[bored-op]

Look, J-steet, lets just agree to disagree. Jb @ b have a huge audience and the cume on Qut drops signifigantly after AM drive. I don't have any problem with them, I just don't like thier show. No big deal. The drop in cume tells me that a bunch of audience goes somewhere else or back to thier I-pods or xm or whatever. The cume is still good after mornings but a bunch goes somewhere. As far as the rest of the station, its ok. Classic rock is Classic rock. I think an edgier version, more edgy than QUT but more upper demo friendly than the other 2 new rock stations, could pull a little from all 3 and have a solid audience who might not like the edginess of some of the newer rock, but don't like the lighter side of classic rock. I think there is an audience for a newer version of classic rock that plays a little more of the 80's and '90's rock, with carfully selected new stuff. Especially now that you can buy maiden and judas priest tour shirts at the GAP. To answer gcc, I think mornings would be tough.....music intense, deliver the info and plan on mornings to not drive this station. J, Before you pull you pistol to shoot me in the face, its just my opinion. If I'm coming across as bashing QUT, I'm not. On top of that, I know absolutly nothing about country, so I couldn't give you an opinion. Squarepants is right. We're all lucky to have radio jobs these days, and we've got bigger problems than arguing amongst ourselves on message boards. I pods, xm, sirius, cosolodation, and so much competing for listeners attention are the things to worry about. Olive branch extended, street, can we move on?

 

[TurdGerkin]

Dude...Did you ever make a mistake. J-Street is allergic to olive branches. The last time someone offered one of those, he broke it in half and performed a prostate check. Be careful.

 

[J-Street]

Well I haven't seen those cume numbers you keep referring to, but honestly, I don't care so much. All I can say is message boards are SO MUCH FUN! Start some talk about country music and I could analyse the stations to death, but isn't that what we're all here for? If classic country is your thing, tune to WGOC, but if "newer" country is your thing, with a good mix of 90's etc, tune to WAXM. And if Pop Country is your thing, go WXBQ! Well there's a truck race on, it doesn't kill my brain cells quite like talking about radio.

 

[gcc5582]

TWSP......I Knew you could do it,JM. Throp told me he also longed for the good ole days of 222 Commerce st with me.you,and Scottand of course,The Nature Boy, Doing the Soecial on Saturday night. Hope all is well also with you and all of your family.Let me be the first to say to you..."Happy Holidays."I don't really don't know what the "Baby Rockers" should do but there isn't enough untapped audience in that genre or demo for both to survive....That's for sure.

 

[TightwadSquarepants]

George, yeah, those were the good old days. I always enjoyed running ballgames on Friday night during the football season. Up until about the time they made a certain person "sports marketing director" at WKPT and he sucked all the fun out of it. I love how they give that title to someone who doesn't do anything but complain to the GM every time the PD does something with which he disagrees. Did he ever help out running ballgames? No. He just got angry if the PD couldn't find someone to cover a game, but never offered to help out or even learn how to run games.
I don't know Bill Meade that well, but I can say that in the few months I have been here at Citadel, I have seen him help out in the studio. The other person to whom I am referring didn't even run his own board for "his talk show" until about 8 years into its run.
Another thing he liked to do was to make sports programming decisions without consulting the PROGRAM DIRECTOR. I could never understand why Holston Valley decided to give essentially equal power of the PD to someone else. I guess the thinking was that the sales department knew how to program the station better than the programming department, which is how it was, probably still is and always will be until they run a historic Tri-Cities radio station into the ground with no jocks, far too many infomercials, Charlotte Bobcats Basketball and many other problems.
I have always compared KPT's situation to being in a hole. Instead of trying to climb out, they think if we keep digging, we'll eventually come out the other end. Anyone else see the flaw in the logic? I loved WKPT. It is where I first started in radio and I put a lot of my heart and soul into making that station the best it could be. I knew we would never be number one, but I always thought we could be competitive with WJCW, WKIN and WFHG if we didn't prostitute the station out for anyone with five bucks in their pocket. But instead of thinking about taking a hit in the present to build, they were willing to mortgage the future and it was frustrating as hell to me. More than anything, I think, our disagreement in philosophy on this point led to my demise at 222 Commerce Street.
Sorry, I know it was off subject for this post, but GCC got me on a soapbox talking about the good old days. Thanks for your indulgence.
Peace,
TWSP