Sell WRR

[salemjedi54]

Which seems to me that the city needs to do a FORMAT FLIP of WRR more than selling it. There are non-commercial groups that own commercial stations, and make coin off their properies. I'm all for the city continuing to own the station, but maybe classical has ran it's course. Let a non-comm have that format, if they can survive playing it for donations. Pandering to a select few people that want a certain format isn't in the best BUSINESS intrest of a city that should get a respectable return on their investment. The current format doesn't and should be kicked on 101.1 IMHO.

Because the "Friends of WRR" say it must be classical or else.

 

[arnoldevns]

I don't think OKCRadioguy understands: the classical format is the reason for all the strong support for the station. The city will never change the format as long as it owns the station. Besides, it does pretty well with the format and would have a hard time getting the same kind of ratings/revenue if it ran another format that had numerous competitors in the market.

 

[little1]

the city needs to do a FORMAT FLIP of WRR more than selling it.

I respectfully disagree.
I think it needs a renewed marketing effort. WRR was pulling 3 shares just a couple of years ago. The 'qualitatives' are spectacular, but it should and could have a larger audience.

But "marketing efforts" cost money. And we're talking about a city that doesn't have the money to fix potholes, cut grass in the parks, or keep the libraries open. So the question becomes should the city spend X (10-s to 100's of thousands of dollars) to try and make a little bit more on WRR.

And I agree with you, the qualitatives are spectacular. But that audience can also be reached through other advertsing mediums. Which makes WRR a nice option, but they're not big enough to be a 'must-buy'. My wife works for an ad agency, making exactly those kind of decisions: deciding what advertising avenue (or mix of avenues) they're going to use, how much of the budget goes to each area, etc. WRR's problem is that there aren't as many advertisers wanting their older, richer (and whiter) audience, and more wanting the mass of the (25-54) population. So a lot of high-end advertisers end up using different ad mediums to reach that audience.

 

[grantchester]

But that audience can also be reached through other advertsing mediums.

No, the WRR audience is quite unique, and is the most effective medium, of all media that target that audience.
As far as investment into marketing, it's analgous to Redbird Airport (another municipal enterprise), if there are potholes on the runway, the amount collected from landing fees and hangar rentals will decline.
Long live WRR, as a municipally owned classical format radio (and on-line) station.

 

[Chuck]

WRR brings more to the table than just a little income for the city. It's more a "quality of life" issue, and one of the many reasons Dallas (the city) has been such a success. Having an active and thriving arts and entertainment community makes it an attractive place to live, as well as an attractive place for companies to move to. Just look at all the huge corporations that are based in the DFW area. It wasn't always like that.

In turn, those companies bring tax revenues, as well as quality employment. Employment means more business, which in turn brings more tax revenue. The current economic climate makes WRR look like a target, ripe for harvesting, but in the long term, that would be a huge mistake.

 

[amisdead]

It's more a "quality of life" issue, and one of the many reasons Dallas (the city) has been such a success. Having an active and thriving arts and entertainment community makes it an attractive place to live, as well as an attractive place for companies to move to. Just look at all the huge corporations that are based in the DFW area. It wasn't always like that.

LOL, Chuck. You aren't seriously saying that the reason why huge companies like ExxonMobile, AT&T and Comerica have relocated here is because the City of Dallas owns a mediocre classical music station, right? LOL!

 

[grantchester]

A vibrant arts scene is a factor.
WRR is a key part of that.

 

[amisdead]

The arts scene is only the tiniest of factors. The reasons why DFW has prospered are low taxes/cost of doing business/cost of living, a geographically central location and a massive airport with direct flights to everywhere. WRR isn't even on the map.

Besides, most major markets have a classical music outlet. The fact that this one plays commercials and is owned by the city is irrelevant. I say NTPB would do a much better job operating WRR than the City of Dallas ever has.

 

[Chuck]

LOL, Chuck. You aren't seriously saying that the reason why huge companies like ExxonMobile, AT&T and Comerica have relocated here is because the City of Dallas owns a mediocre classical music station, right? LOL!

Of course, WRR is not the only reason companies move to Dallas, but it is a part of it. Being a railroad, highway and air traffic center is obviously a large part the Dallas success story. So are higher educational facilities, banking, hospitals, and parks and recreational opportunities. Dallas has a lot going for it, but it is much more complicated than it looks.

When companies have a choice of places to move to (and incentives to do it) one of the things they look for is cultural, recreational and educational resources, not just tax incentives and transportation. Why? Because it makes it easier to keep existing employees (who have to move) and helps them acquire an educated workforce in their new home. A smart employer is one who has employees that actually like where they live and work.

In the past, Dallas has won the favor of lots of large companies based on its many features. The local arts community is very much a part of those attractions. WRR has a long history of being a part of that, as have been a lot of the "movers and shakers" who built the city. If you go through the list of "The Friends of WRR," you will find some very heavy hitters, indeed.

I have no doubt that someone else could run WRR, but if it were sold, there wouldn't be much of a guaranty that they would run it effectively (or at all) as a Classical station. In a metro area where it is possible to receive around 80 radio signals, it is refreshing to have something that is unique. Does the market really need another Hot AC, Hip-Hop, AOC, News-Talker, Sports, Religious or Country Station? There isn't much that is missing in the way of formats.

I'll let you be the judge about how well they are executed.

 

[Bob E. Nelson]

Of course, WRR is not the only reason companies move to Dallas, but it is a part of it. Being a railroad, highway and air traffic center is obviously a large part the Dallas success story. So are higher educational facilities, banking, hospitals, and parks and recreational opportunities. Dallas has a lot going for it, but it is much more complicated than it looks.

When companies have a choice of places to move to (and incentives to do it) one of the things they look for is cultural, recreational and educational resources, not just tax incentives and transportation. Why? Because it makes it easier to keep existing employees (who have to move) and helps them acquire an educated workforce in their new home. A smart employer is one who has employees that actually like where they live and work.

The Dallas area was supposedly a shoe-in for Boeing's HQ relocation from Seattle in 2001. D/FW narrowly (ans somewhat surprisingly) lost to Chicago. The reasons I heard were a more robust downtown and a livelier arts community for the Windy City. Were those really factors that made a difference?