Ratings

[ChiefEngineer]

So WKLU seems to be a big topic these days...

The big interesting point here is Hank, Track, ZPL, Jack, and others, are below the peeant signal of WHHH.

How is it these big conglomerates are being beaten by a lousy class A with signal problems in Carmel and Greenwood?

 

[ten_four]

...Hank, Track, ZPL, Jack, and others, are below the peeant signal of WHHH.

How is it these big conglomerates are being beaten by a lousy class A with signal problems in Carmel and Greenwood?

My thought would be having a unique format and a demographic that wants to listen to that format.

 

[bigtime]

Radio One bought all the variants of urban radio in the city. Nobody has any interest in challenging them.

 

[Ur-A-Dawg]

WHHH is the real number one!

 

[HarryWolper]

WHHH's signal strength is irrelevant because of its format. Being a rhythmic CHR, the format appeals to African Americans, who primarily live in Marion County. That's not to say its entire audience is black, but WHHH has a greater percentage than other stations, and it relies less on suburbanites than most other formats. Also, since listening in the car is so prevelant, teens/early 20-somethings from Carmel/Greenwood can pick up the station while they're out.

WHHH is doing a lot of things right. It also helps that they have Radio Now in the Radio One fold, though it's a little early to see the results from that move in the numbers.

 

[bigtime]

Even more important to their situation is having WTLC in their fold and staying out of their way.

 

[N_D_Radioguy]

Two words:

Diary placement.

 

[HarryWolper]

It could be "diary placement" (though I really don't think that's a valid idea). It could be an adjusted-sample due to small-reporting ethnic samples: WTLC-FM went up, too, which supports that idea (the fact that WTLC-AM went down hurts that idea, though).

It could also be that WHHH is doing the best job of serving the 18-34 demo (younger end) in the market. WHHH has won the 18-34 demo for the past 5 (I'm assuming this book, too, but I haven't seen the demographic breakdown). It has also dominated 18-34 women and even beaten X103 in 18-34 men once in 4 books (2nd in the others).

So I'm thinking racial adjustments and "diary placements" aren't the factors here. It may be time to admit (if you haven't already) that WHHH knows what it's doing.

 

[RDO]

It could be "diary placement" (though I really don't think that's a valid idea). It could be an adjusted-sample due to small-reporting ethnic samples: WTLC-FM went up, too, which supports that idea (the fact that WTLC-AM went down hurts that idea, though).

It could also be that WHHH is doing the best job of serving the 18-34 demo (younger end) in the market. WHHH has won the 18-34 demo for the past 5 (I'm assuming this book, too, but I haven't seen the demographic breakdown). It has also dominated 18-34 women and even beaten X103 in 18-34 men once in 4 books (2nd in the others).

So I'm thinking racial adjustments and "diary placements" aren't the factors here. It may be time to admit (if you haven't already) that WHHH knows what it's doing.

If this is true, it's interesting that a station that targets 18-34 would do do well. Isn't that the demo that is leaving radio for new technology?

 

[radioho]

If this is true, it's interesting that a station that targets 18-34 would do do well. Isn't that the demo that is leaving radio for new technology?

Congrats to WHHH and company for doing it the RIGHT way!

Carmel, Zionsville can't hear it? Please? So what -- the music played on HHH appeals to black teens, white wannabes, and white trash. A majority of which live inside Indy and will spend their money on 'recreational items' (i'm not talking sports or hunting gear) rather than expensive iPods, electronics, etc.

WHHH KNOWS who it's market is, where they are, and do a GREAT job of reaching them.

MOST of the other corporates (and the NON corporate) could learn a LOT watching the WHHH promotion and business plan.

 

[pot-up-the-bird]

I've said it before & I'll say it again HHH is my favorite station!!!! That would be even prior to the hiring of one of the top engineers in the biz. Don Payne cleaned the sound up & cranked it up. Doesn't sound like most of the compressed crap on the other stations. I do not fit in the typical demo, but I love to dance which is why I have been dedicated to HHH for years now. I turned my teenagers on to the station. Give you a clue I am over 40 & white. In regards to the other stations YAWN! Ho you just backed your azz up into a corner. I suspect Oasis will kick some azz with his hip hop station in Fort Wayne vs. his moldy oldies in Indy. KLU WILL MAKE YOU SNORE AT THE NURSING HOME. Careful Ho calling us white folk "white trash" civil rights commission may not take kindly to that. Bet the sisters in Fort Wayne can throw down the food, & keep Oasis fed well. Kudos to Don Payne for great engineering!!!! Oasis could only be so lucky!!!! WAY TO GO WHHH I KNEW YOU WOULD HIT THE TOP YEARS AGO! WHILE YOUR DRIVING PIMPED UP RIDES THE OTHER SUCKERS ARE IN PICK UP TRUCKS PICKING THEIR NOSE!

 

[radio_radio]

WHHH's signal strength is irrelevant because of its format. Being a rhythmic CHR, the format appeals to African Americans, who primarily live in Marion County.

Wow...are you a Mensa member?

 

[radioho]

WHHH's signal strength is irrelevant because of its format. Being a rhythmic CHR, the format appeals to African Americans, who primarily live in Marion County.

Wow...are you a Mensa member?

Why? do you disagree with Radio Radio's statement. Very accurate.

While the 'older baby boomer' station owners and general managers keep vying for the same, 'old guy' formats of class(less)ic rock ('hey, there's a Moody Blues song, wow, don't hear that more than three or four times a day, very original programming there fellas), WHHH has quietly built it's audience by giving it's listeners what they want, NOT what the OWNERS' listened to when THEY were teens.

There are three basic teen formats - Bubble Gum (preteen/early teen/moms); X103 (angry white males/twenty-somethings); and WHHH (covers broad ground with ALL teens/twenty-somethings/some parents).

So with that being the money-spending age groups, WHY are these old white guys (owners/GM) trying to please THEMSELVES with a Beatles song every hour?

 

[PTBoardOp94]

There are three basic teen formats - Bubble Gum (preteen/early teen/moms); X103 (angry white males/twenty-somethings); and WHHH (covers broad ground with ALL teens/twenty-somethings/some parents).

Um ... CHR/Pop?

 

[radio_radio]

WHHH's signal strength is irrelevant because of its format. Being a rhythmic CHR, the format appeals to African Americans, who primarily live in Marion County.

Wow...are you a Mensa member?

Why? do you disagree with Radio Radio's statement. Very accurate.

Ho...I was just having fun with the Harry Wolper....duh....WHHH signal strength is of no relevance as 99.9% of their fan base lives within Marion County....he was unknowingly playing the part of Mr. Obvious. I think you mis-read my pithy retort.

 

[radioho]

Ho...I was just having fun with the Harry Wolper....duh....WHHH signal strength is of no relevance as 99.9% of their fan base lives within Marion County....he was unknowingly playing the part of Mr. Obvious. I think you mis-read my pithy retort.

My fault. Very pithy indeed.

Um ... CHR/Pop?

I covered that with 'bubble gum.'

 

[dave388]

I see someone hit the nail on the head here.. 96.3 WHHH covers indianapolis and that it.
but my theroy is, there top spot wont last to long. i bet by spring they will drop and it will be back to the WFMS/WIBC/WFBQ top 3 again.

 

[pot-up-the-bird]

Anyone want to jump in on ths wager? WHHH has been climbing for years! Good work!

 

[Brn2talk60]

I've been checking various sites around this part of the country and noticed the ratings for Indianapolis. The top stations in your city somewhat mirror what's happening in New York City; the #1 station is WLTW which is a Soft Rock or Lite format and has been for quite a few years. In Minneapolis its WLTE that has done quite well, another Lite or Soft Rock format. I see your Soft Rock station there is at #4 in the ratings and scoring quite well in other demos, especially with women. I'd say its only a matter of time before your Soft Rock station in Indianapolis is at #1. The Country format around the nation is taking a real hit and seeing a drop in ratings with no new artist or songs that are appealing to the listeners, as it had for so many years. WHHH is also a reflection that people of all races are more open minded to different types of music and the whole racial aspect isn't playing such a big part in larger cities as it might say in a smaller city, population 200,000 or so. It seems historically music has crossed the color lines for many years and helped to bring people together. The Urban formats in New York City and Los Angeles seem to be doing quite well also. You might want to give credit where credit is due and see what it is that makes these formats so appealing to their audiences; they're not just Black and Hispanic.
There's a lot of new music coming from the afore mentioned formats where in the Rock and Alternative formats it seems to have slowed from a few years ago. I must add in the Urban / AC formats you've got some pretty good looking artists as well; that tends to influence people to some degree.
In Hip Hop / Urban the lyrics have been cleaned or are being cleaned up after the fallout over Don Imus.
Just something to think about.

 

[jegrant]

Seems to me that Radio Disney does a small but respectable job serving the Bubble Gum crowd in Indy - and the overall revenue probably makes it worth it. Someone is buying up all those Hannah Montana tickets, albums, merchandise, etc.

And for the Bubble Gum chewers that find Disney a bit too sugary, there is still Radio Now, albeit a little bit less of it, signal-wise, than before.

One thing I noticed about Radio Now's stream though - they still have an old "jazz" sounding music bed that plays during commercials (so that the commercials aren't streamed). Could they get a more "hip hop" or "pop" sounding music bed? It would help keep listeners interested. Even better - replace that music bed with recorded bits from the new morning show when it gets here.