Rock929Boston twitter

[tbolt909]

Another recycling project of tired 80s hairbands and other relics. A pox on it.

Why not try an authentic "Alternative" approach? Classic Alternative artists from the 80s and 90s with a mix of new artists might create some interest. This "New Generation" playlist is laughable. And they wonder why so many people think that Radio blows...

 

[TheBigA]

Classic Alternative artists from the 80s and 90s with a mix of new artists might create some interest.

Then again, it might not. You've already made this proposal.

 

[MarkW]

Isn't that what WBOS basically was when it first flipped to "Radio 92.9" years ago?

I'll be stunned if Entercom doesn't flip a Boston area station to Alternative within the next couple weeks. I hope 103.3 goes that route; would be great not just for Alternative fans in the Greater Boston area but also Providence!

 

[Wimmmex]

I'll be stunned if Entercom doesn't flip a Boston area station....

I do think Entercom will react. The only question is - which station do they blow up? Amp Radio 103.3 or WAAF?

Considering 92.9 was a failure of an "Alt" station...I wouldn't count on it.

Most (if not all) of the Entercom stations are holding their own....why flip any of them to a format that failed?

 

[inorm99]

Considering 92.9 was a failure of an "Alt" station...I wouldn't count on it.

Most (if not all) of the Entercom stations are holding their own....why flip any of them to a format that failed?

It's not the format that failed, it's The crappy poor excuse for an alternative station that WBOS was.
This is Boston, not Des Moines.
If it's done right, they will stick around

 

[Wimmmex]

It's not the format that failed, it's The crappy poor excuse for an alternative station that WBOS was.

How do we know this is true?

If I was an Entercom exec, I wouldn't be too quick to jump onto a format that didn't appear to catch on and get traction.

If there is a "hole" for a format, even a badly executed format would shows some life...because people are craving it.

 

[promixcuous]

It's not the format that failed, it's The crappy poor excuse for an alternative station that WBOS was.
This is Boston, not Des Moines.
If it's done right, they will stick around

This is an excellent point. Boston is full of university kids. The execution of 92.9 as alternative was poor. Over-reliance on burned-out 90s tracks for most of its history, lack of connection to its audience, and really bad imaging. No cool factor, nothing compelling. The only personality was Amy Brooks, who is great. The morning show was totally off-brand and made people dislike the station.

So, the solution, despite the recent rise in ratings (attributable to fresher, newer music over last six months) was to have the dissonant morning show aesthetic take over the station and be the fourth station playing expiring septuagenarians AC/DC?

Surely voicetracking it from America's shining cultural diamond Detroit will make provincial Boston love it.

Come on. No vision at Beasley. They will lose.

 

[TheBigA]

This is an excellent point. Boston is full of university kids. The execution of 92.9 as alternative was poor.

And guess what? Those university kids have their own alternative radio station. It's called WERS.

There's also The River. There are also a few other stations doing various approaches to alternative.

There is no need for another alternative station in Boston. This entire conversation seems misguided to me.

I see no reason for any other profit making company, either Entercom or iHeart, to waste their time or facility with this format.

 

[promixcuous]

What all of you will learn soon is "New Generation Classic Rock" is nothing more than a bunch of overplayed safe crap that's been widely available on any number of stations for years.

In a vein effort to sound younger, every third or fourth song will be from the 90's. Probably no more than 15 - 20 artists from that era will be played. True classic rock fans will be disappointed by the lack of 70's rock, lack of deep tracks, and having to endure Linkin Park, Bush and Pearl Jam.

Listeners in their 30s and early 40s will be disappointed by the overabundance of 80's butt rock and thin supply of 90's & early 00's tracks.

This station is nothing more than a carbon copy of 98.7 The Shark in Tampa - also owned by Beasley. My guess is the same person or the same couple people are making the music decisions for both stations.

I do think Entercom will react. The only question is - which station do they blow up? Amp Radio 103.3 or WAAF?

Flipping Alt 92.9 just as the station was starting to build ratings momentum was STUPID!!! Music wise, the station has sounded terrific during the past few months. This change would've made much more sense a year ago, when WBOS's ratings were much worse and the playlist & stationality were ultra stale. Low 3's warrant a format change...seriously?!?! The station just came off its best ratings survey period in YEARS.

Long term, this station will probably fetch 6+ beauty pageant numbers in the mid 2's and will trail The Sports Hub, WEEI and WZLX by wide margins in Men 25-54.

This *does* seem to be the latest flavor of the moment format. This is the fourth or fifth station in a large or major market to flip to it since Christmas. Rock 100.5 in Atlanta has been programming this type of format - albeit with a higher percentage of 90's songs than the other adherents - for a couple of years.

Ironically, Beasley's 96 K-Rock in Ft. Myers once had a similar format, but wound up transitioning to Active Rock due to poor ratings!!!

Also a good post. Guys are listening to two sports stations, WZLX, or WJMN before they get to 92.9. But, hey, let's be 5th with aging men and appeal to the good mine of debt relief sponsors. Let's track which listeners can remember the most 800 numbers after a long day at a dead-end job.

 

[promixcuous]

And guess what? Those university kids have their own alternative radio station. It's called WERS.

There is no need for another alternative station in Boston. This entire conversation seems misguided to me.

I see no reason for any other profit making company, either Entercom or iHeart, to waste their time or facility with this format.

WERS is a AAA station; it's Alternative for people in their 40s and 50s. It's gold heavy, and soft. It's great, but it is unappealing to twenty-somethings. It's not a station for university students or recent grads, or people forming opinions about brands, which it why supposedly owners often drop stations appealing to Boomers for a CHR or hip-hop or country audience. Same with 92.5, which is a rimshot and doesn't reach south of downtown well.

 

[CTListener]

And guess what? Those university kids have their own alternative radio station. It's called WERS.

There's also The River. There are also a few other stations doing various approaches to alternative.

Don't forget that all those college kids were high school kids less than four years ago. And high school kids have been turning away from rock and toward hip-hop, EDM and other rhythmic genres for at least two decades.

 

[TheBigA]

It's great, but it is unappealing to twenty-somethings. It's not a station for university students or recent grads,

Do you think there is strong demand from such a group for a broadcast FM station? What kind of research do you have on this?

Maybe there is no market for such a station?

 

[inorm99]

How do we know this is true?

If I was an Entercom exec, I wouldn't be too quick to jump onto a format that didn't appear to catch on and get traction.

If there is a "hole" for a format, even a badly executed format would shows some life...because people are craving it.

Simply by listening to it for a small amount of time and it should be obvious it sucked

 

[TheBigA]

Simply by listening to it for a small amount of time and it should be obvious it sucked

The irony being that WBOS was among the highest rated alternative stations in the country, and had just experienced a big increase in audience, with similar numbers to the legendary WXRT in Chicago. A greater percentage of Bostonians listen to WBOS than New Yorkers listen to WNYL.

But the fact is this station didn't change formats because of ratings or quality of programming. It changed because the new format has the potential to make more money. And that is the bottom line.

 

[Eli Polonsky]

Same with 92.5, which is a rimshot and doesn't reach south of downtown well.

I was surprised how their 10 watt southerly directional booster on the Hancock brings them right into the South End, Jamaica Plain, Roxbury, etc... it now sounds like a full power nearby station right in that immediate area.

 

[Wimmmex]

Simply by listening to it for a small amount of time and it should be obvious it sucked

Based on your vast experience as a programmer?

Or your vast experience with Public Radio?

Or based on your past predictions? ("WBZ will be filled with syndicated talk.:.)

 

[Jacko]

While it's hard for someone like me to tell exactly why WBOS's numbers had gone up recently by looking at the 6+ numbers--was it the morning show finally gaining traction, or the updated music, it does seem odd that now they flip. The truth is, listeners to alternative and indie music are listening more and more to streaming services for new music than the radio. Most of their listeners will likely just go to these. Even Boston's Indie617, the streaming station that's essentially the continuation of WFNX, updated its logo to include the word "alternative" yesterday, perhaps to catch a few former Alt 92.9 listeners.

It's funny to think that now there is no true alternative FM station in most of southern New England--between Boston, Providence, and the Cape. The closest ones are in Hartford, Springfield, Manchester (Vermont!), and Portland.

 

[MarkW]

Most (if not all) of the Entercom stations are holding their own....why flip any of them to a format that failed?

LMAO!!! Have you seen the ratings of WODS or WAAF lately?!?! I would contend "holding their own" is NOT a good thing.

WBOS in the latest ratings survey was outperforming both, and by wide margins, too.

It changed because the new format has the potential to make more money. And that is the bottom line.

While I don't disagree the new format has more upside potential, I predict that upside potential won't at all be realized.

 

[radioface]

LMAO!!! Have you seen the ratings of WODS or WAAF lately?!?! I would contend "holding their own" is NOT a good thing.

WBOS in the latest ratings survey was outperforming both, and by wide margins, too.



While I don't disagree the new format has more upside potential, I predict that upside potential won't at all be realized.

I'm assuming you are basing on 6+ numbers. You can not judge a stations success by that. How much revenue does the station generate is the question. WAAF and WODS both bill well. Also AAF in AMD and Mid-day do very well with adults 25-54. Hillman is always top 5. All you need are two solid dayparts to be a successful revenue generating station.

As a fan you may not like this, but we seem to forget, as much as we don't like it, radio is a business.

 

[raccoonradio]

WKRP first episode
Andy, to station owner Mrs Carlson: Well, I liked the sounds this morning.
Mrs Carlson: Young man this radio station is a business. It is not here for your personal listening pleasure!

Andy: Ma'am, I know it's a business. That's why this station has no choice but to change its format.
Les: But there are already a lot of rock and roll stations in Cincinnati!

Andy: Well, why do you think that is, Les?
Les: Well, I think it's a plot of some sort.
Andy: No, Mrs Carlson, rock and roll is where the money is.
Mrs Carlson: How much money?
Andy: Well, I think we can break even the first year, second year--
Mrs Carlson: Second year? I'm talking about now.
Andy: Second year, we maybe clear $800,000 after taxes. These things take time.
Mrs Carlson: Too little and too late!

Arthur Carlson: Too little? Mama that's profits, not losses.
Mrs Carlson: I can sell this station right now for five times that. I want a faster turnaround!
Andy: Ma'am? Well, I personally cannot work that way. I guess I _am_ fired.