RXP DEATH WATCH

[MistahTroof]

Lots of interesting ideas on potential formats for 101.9 here. Smart observations, market-aware recommendations, and big picture, listener-centric thinking.

If only the folks who are posting here worked for Emmis, they might actually have a shot with 101.9!

Unfortunately though, that's not the case: don't expect a format change, tweak, or flip. The company is running on fumes and they simply don't have the $$$ to afford a new format (consultant, air staff, marketing/advertising, etc.). There are company-wide layoffs, salary cuts, and expense reduction programs in place that would make such a move impossible, irrespective of how strong the new idea is.

I expect Disney to step in and buy 101.9 for ESPN and Radio Disney. I'm sure the negotiations are going on at this moment, and I expect the news to hit before years end.

 

[andreajesus]

Or I could see them switching to Classic Hits like CBS FM. In the PPM numbers CBS was a 4.9. They need some competition.

Considering that CBS-FM's audience is still, by an advertiser's standards, rather old (45 and over)...

they ARE?? they're going after (and doing VERY well with) that 25-54 audience, AND...in the latest PPMs, they were something like a 5.0...advertisers just GOTTA LOVE those kinds of numbers, baby!!

 

[wooder]

Also, what on earth has Leslie Fram done in the last five years to prove herself worthy of a PD gig in Market #1? Last time I checked, all she did during that time frame was drive the ratings of the station she programmed into the ground. If she can't program successfully in Market #11, who on earth thought she'd make a good PD in Market #1?

That's not entirely fair. As someone who was a big fan of 99X Atlanta (Fram's former station), I can tell you that it started sinking the minute the former owners took her autonomy away and began programming from the corporate offices. In addition, Cumulus took over in 2006 and they are notorious for destroying almost anything they touch. Her track record is one of the best in the business but in today's world of consultant-driven radio talented programmers are often not allowed to show what they can do. I do agree, however, that mixing classic rock with alternative just doesn't work. They need to go all one way or the other.

 

[neo11]

Or I could see them switching to Classic Hits like CBS FM. In the PPM numbers CBS was a 4.9. They need some competition.

Considering that CBS-FM's audience is still, by an advertiser's standards, rather old (45 and over)...

they ARE?? they're going after (and doing VERY well with) that 25-54 audience, AND...in the latest PPMs, they were something like a 5.0...advertisers just GOTTA LOVE those kinds of numbers, baby!!

Most of the listeners skew towards the 45+ end of the 25-54 spectrum. CBS-FM's 18-34 numbers are fairly low (though I am sure they are better than RXP's!). Doesn't mean the station is a failure...far from it. But there may not be enough audience in those upper demos to go around successfully.

 

[MistahTroof]

Also, what on earth has Leslie Fram done in the last five years to prove herself worthy of a PD gig in Market #1?

The answer's simple: she's been buds with the VP/GM of Emmis' NY cluster Dan "Empty Suit" Halyburton for years; it was his idea to bring her on board to fix the stinking mess that Blake "Worst P.D. in NYC History" Lawrence left behind before he was booted in June.

Incidentally, since Halyburton arrived at Emmis in '05, the hack hasn't produced or been responsible for one success story at any of the stations that he oversees (Kiss, Hot 97, CD101.9/RXP). Perhaps if he spent less time updating his Linkedin, Myspace, and Facebook profiles and more time actually doing something during his work hours, he'd have more to show for his tenure here. But given his shocking lack of competence, probably not...

 

[luperm]

I could see ESPN on 101.9 (with ESPN Deportes on 1050).

Or...why not a CHR? Z-100 is having its best showing in years. Why not try to do to Z-100 what Power did to Hot???

 

[almaniac27]

They're giving away 1,000 tickets in 31 days to see bands that no one (or at least the majority of listeners in the tri-state area) cares about.

Their website says Oasis, Coldplay, Neil Young, AC/DC and Smashing Pumpkins. Those are some pretty big acts, so I don't know what you're talking about.

 

[p_herring]

They're giving away 1,000 tickets in 31 days to see bands that no one (or at least the majority of listeners in the tri-state area) cares about.

Their website says Oasis, Coldplay, Neil Young, AC/DC and Smashing Pumpkins. Those are some pretty big acts, so I don't know what you're talking about.

Therein lies the problem. AC/DC and Van Halen fans usually don't want to hear there "hawd rawk greats" mixed in with Coldplay and Oasis (Pumpkins are pretty neutral by this point). By trying to be a jack of all trades the station ends up a master of none. K-Rock has a similar problem just not on a smaller scale (as their music range isn't as wide as RXP's).

 

[myke25]

PULSE 102...... ;D

 

[kevinsealy]

WRXP's Rock Experience format is nine months old and it's FAILING badly even with the PPM's which is supposed to help rock formatted stations.

Even *IF* Emmis switch the station @101.9 to a Country format, if they get a 1.7 that would be an improvement then what they've got now.



Thanks,
Kevin L. Sealy

 

[MarkW]

That's not entirely fair. As someone who was a big fan of 99X Atlanta (Fram's former station), I can tell you that it started sinking the minute the former owners took her autonomy away and began programming from the corporate offices.

In addition, Cumulus took over in 2006 and they are notorious for destroying almost anything they touch.

I am no big fan of Cumulus, but 99X's ratings tanked a good three years before they took over. Most programmers have to deal with corporate offices, consultants, etc. Those are no cop-outs for 99X's absolutely horrendous ratings performance while Fram was programming it.

The resurrection of "The Morning X" was a disaster, too.

People rightfully hold a great amount of respect for what 99X accomplished during the 90's, but it's 2008 for crying out loud. Fram hasn't done anything noteworthy in a very, very long time.

 

[adma]

I could see ESPN on 101.9 (with ESPN Deportes on 1050).

Sooner or later, somebody's gotta make the plunge with a non-music format on FM--I mean, all these other music-format suggestions sound like woebegone relics of pre-Y2K thinking...

 

[Ozman]

. Face it folks, the days of double digit numbers are over. What will it take for the radio industry to realize that times have changed and so must the business of how radio operates.

IMHO
a radio station that will realize that NYC is in need of active rock in the evening and does not play stale overplayed music. I gotta say I had the chance to listen to WCCC in redding CT over 92.3 K-rock for like an hour and I gotta say they did only play one song that k-rock plays.. should that tell you something?
yes.com it


Saving Abel - Addicted
Tool - Stinkfist
Tool - The Pot
11.10.2008 8:10pm
AC/DC - Rock 'N Roll Train
11.10.2008 8:17pm
AC/DC - It's A Long Way To The Top (If You Wanna Rock 'N' Roll)
11.10.2008 8:21pm
Megadeth - Symphony Of Destruction
11.10.2008 8:34pm
Megadeth - Almost Honest
11.10.2008 8:37pm
Mudvayne - Happy?
11.10.2008 8:42pm
Mudvayne - Dig
11.10.2008 8:47pm
Korn - A.D.I.D.A.S.

 

[andreajesus]

PULSE 102...... ;D

LOVE IT, BABY!! (I think Tony Santiago would HUG you on this one!! )

 

[neo11]

WRXP's Rock Experience format is nine months old and it's FAILING badly even with the PPM's which is supposed to help rock formatted stations.

Even *IF* Emmis switch the station @101.9 to a Country format, if they get a 1.7 that would be an improvement then what they've got now.

Thanks,
Kevin L. Sealy

Of course it would be an "improvement" but I don't think that's what Emmis or anyone else would be looking for. With a 1.7 they would still be battling it out for last-place among full-power commercial FM's in NYC. In fact, 'RXP's departure might give a small bump to K-Rock and push them over a 2 share in the PPM's (it's already almost there), leaving 101.9 with an uncontested race for last place once again.

 

[TonySantiago]

Myke knows how I feel Andrea! And yeah, Pulse being on a higher dial position would benefit everyone involved.

But there are still voids that need to be filled and if smooth jazz can't come back, then the two on my mind would be either country or to STRICTLY focus on an alternative rock aspect (as in what 92.7 'LIR/'DRE did).

 

[TonySantiago]

The answer's simple: she's been buds with the VP/GM of Emmis' NY cluster Dan "Empty Suit" Halyburton for years; it was his idea to bring her on board to fix the stinking mess that Blake "Worst P.D. in NYC History" Lawrence left behind before he was booted in June.

I'm going to defend Blake Lawrence here.

The guy knows DANCE MUSIC and perhaps what he was trying to do with CD101.9 was take it a different direction without totally deviating from the jazz format by going "smooth". It may not have worked, thus the mistake that we call 'RXP, and maybe he got into something that was probably going to be a train wreck any way, no matter who PD'd it.

If a station in another market decides to go dance/rhythmic, aka a Pulse 87, anytime soon, I'd say hire Blake in a heartbeat.

 

[Countryspitfire]

I have done some research. And with every Country concert selling out in NYC, in the past 2 years, record sales being pretty good for the format, and the fact that PLJ and Z100 play 3 Country Artists as crossovers (only 1 has headlined in NYC), plus the demos... Country would in fact be a good choice.

We are talking soccer Moms, businessmen (yes...businessmen!!!), and many other everyday people. You would be surprised. The average Country listener in the Northeast does NOT fit the stereotype.

In tough times, like now, Country listeners come out of the woodwork for relief and to get away from the everyday.

As far as revenue, it is very viable as well. The format is actually BEING considered by a company.

 

[MistahTroof]

I'm going to defend Blake Lawrence here.

The guy knows DANCE MUSIC...

Tony, I don't disagree that, while at XM, his work on the satcaster's dance channel was satisfactory.

But upon arriving in NYC in '04, his scorecard as a PD at a high-profile commercial station in the #1 market would suggest unbelievable ineptitude:

NEW YORK CHILL - tanked in ratings, flipped back to smooth jazz in '05.
CD101.9 - tanked in ratings, flipped to RXP in '08.
WRXP - plummeted in ratings, future status tba.

His "skill set" would suggest that he's best suited for a job at a non-comm or at satellite, free from the pressures of ratings, sales departments, and competition. But here in New York, he was clearly out of his league - and 101.9's current challenges can all be traced back to Emmis' failure to dump him when New York Chill went south.

 

[neo11]

I have done some research. And with every Country concert selling out in NYC, in the past 2 years, record sales being pretty good for the format, and the fact that PLJ and Z100 play 3 Country Artists as crossovers (only 1 has headlined in NYC), plus the demos... Country would in fact be a good choice.

We are talking soccer Moms, businessmen (yes...businessmen!!!), and many other everyday people. You would be surprised. The average Country listener in the Northeast does NOT fit the stereotype.

In tough times, like now, Country listeners come out of the woodwork for relief and to get away from the everyday.

As far as revenue, it is very viable as well. The format is actually BEING considered by a company.

People keep bringing up these arguments over and over again, and they just don't hold water:

1. So country concerts sell out in NYC? It's a metropolitan area of 18+ million. Of course they can sell out a 15,000 or 20,000 seat concert venue! So can numerous ethnic concerts as well. So can just about any format. Shall we put on a 24-7 Polka format on 101.9? How about 24-7 Brazilian or Greek or Korean? They sell out 15-20,000 seat concert venues in NYC as well.

2. Record sales: record sales are high in NYC because, again, it's the largest metro area in the country, so it will obviously have the highest volume. That alone does not translate to high ratings, or even mediocre ratings.

3. Crossover artists are exactly that: crossover artists! There's a reason why only *those* songs/artists are heard on Lite FM or Fresh or PLJ. That is far, far different from a station with a full rotation of country music, most of which would not be pop/rock crossovers. The success of three crossover hits on some stations does not equate to success for a full-time format in the genre that would mostly consist of non-crossover hits.

Again, country stations have not done well here in any of their most recent attempts, including the suburbs. That's the most telling statistic of all.