So now that B and WJBR are already Christmas ...

[Route 222]

... what does that mean for "The Breeze?" My humble opinion? Repeat last year and play no Christmas music. Or maybe just one every 4 or 5 songs. But that's it for the season. What incentive is there for new people to listen to "The Breeze" playing all Christmas? Probably none. Maybe if they had flipped first. But now they'd be the third at the best and all the Christmas lovers are already listening to 101 and 99.5. People who hate Christmas music will go to "The Breeze" so keep up with the regular playlist.

Thoughts? Am I on or off base?

 

[AbrahamJSimpson]

I’d expect something similar, but strange things happen. As for WJBR, and I say this with all respect, it’s a non-factor (or close to it) outside Wilmington and that area. Within the whole of the Philly DMA, it’s not so much that the Breeze would now be third to start, it would simply be that the B is doing it so why bother. And I don’t believe there would have been a first-mover advantage.

I think they hold in place and use whatever opportunities that might provide them.

 

[Miguelito]

... what does that mean for "The Breeze?" My humble opinion? Repeat last year and play no Christmas music. Or maybe just one every 4 or 5 songs. But that's it for the season. What incentive is there for new people to listen to "The Breeze" playing all Christmas? Probably none. Maybe if they had flipped first. But now they'd be the third at the best and all the Christmas lovers are already listening to 101 and 99.5. People who hate Christmas music will go to "The Breeze" so keep up with the regular playlist.

Thoughts? Am I on or off base?

I agree that they will likely ignore Christmas altogether. If they wanted to play with the idea at all, they missed the window of opportunity. But actually, I don't think iHeart puts much (if any) thought into WISX. It's a jukebox. The entire station probably consists of a computer. I'm sure they realize they're going to lose listeners to the Christmas music on B101.1 but that's pretty inevitable.

 

[AbrahamJSimpson]

In fairness that kind of station can be mostly a jukebox and contribute to the bottom line. In mornings, they’re doing local contests and such, and they do have voices throughout the day, so it’s not a “total” jukebox. Just a partial one.

 

[Miguelito]

In fairness that kind of station can be mostly a jukebox and contribute to the bottom line. In mornings, they’re doing local contests and such, and they do have voices throughout the day, so it’s not a “total” jukebox. Just a partial one.

I just mean that it's automated and there's not, like, a jock or "board op" involved. I'm sure the library is "Premium" or whatever they call it when they mean it's not done locally. The voices are on the hard drive and the contests are national, right? What I'm saying is of all the stations in the cluster, this is likely the one they work on/think about least. It's an also-ran like Sunny was at the end. Still adding to the bottom line, of course, or it wouldn't exist. I think WJJZ on 106.1 even had that status toward its end. I have told the story here before: I was at the Philly offices once (I can't even remember why) and as I was being shown around, someone asked if I want to see WJJZ. I said sure and he opened a door to reveal what was basically a closet with one computer inside. I don't even remember whether there was a chair in front of it.

 

[AbrahamJSimpson]

I’ve heard Valerie Knight do local call ins (with the good old 273-1106 number) in the morning, and reacting in what sure sounded like real time to some technical hiccups. Today there was a fill in but Valerie’s voice giving the National contest text word. Go figure.

Not sure about what they’re doing in afternoons as it relates to having someone “live” or not. Or Memorex.

 

[Miguelito]

I’ve heard Valerie Knight do local call ins (with the good old 273-1106 number) in the morning, and reacting in what sure sounded like real time to some technical hiccups. Today there was a fill in but Valerie’s voice giving the National contest text word. Go figure.

Not sure about what they’re doing in afternoons as it relates to having someone “live” or not. Or Memorex.

I hope Valerie's live. She deserves better than recording tracks and calling it a day.

 

[AbrahamJSimpson]

Would be a cushy gig though.

 

[Miguelito]

Would be a cushy gig though.

But I imagine the pay would be garbage.

 

[Dave Smith]

Abraham and Miguelito you need to take off your rose colored glasses and also need to

I’ve heard Valerie Knight do local call ins (with the good old 273-1106 number) in the morning, and reacting in what sure sounded like real time to some technical hiccups. Today there was a fill in but Valerie’s voice giving the National contest text word. Go figure.

Not sure about what they’re doing in afternoons as it relates to having someone “live” or not. Or Memorex.

...get real.Wow! Abrham and Miquelito both of you are so off base. First off both of you need to take off your rose colored glasses about B101. You both have mentioned in the past how The Breeze is automated and sounds sleepy. I can contend that b101 sounds automated! Besides Bill and Jen in the morning they have no soul! You think saying... "oh this song makes you feel good" is content? It doesn't connect. The middday and afternoon jocks on B have nice voices... that is it! They offer nothing else! WOGL is also soul less. That is why they have hired Kalina for mornings. Their numbers have erroded! Kalina is a talent and connects! He also has heritage!

Miguelito- that means little Michael correct? You visited JJz when? 1999? They changed format in 2006. So just because you saw a closet with a computer and no chair you assume ALL IHEART stations like Breeze are like that? WTH! This is 2019. I have seen the iheart stations. Very impressive studios for all the stations... DAS, Power, 104.5, Breeze and Q! Your story needs to be updated and is totally INVALID for today!

As for the Breeze... yes Valerie and Dan are LIVE! I know many who listen and enjoy their personalities. Listen instead of making blank statements. Either you adapt or you are no relevant. Yes radio has changed. It is run differently. You can't compare things to the Sunny days... many by the way were VT then too on Sunny! B 101 VTracks at night!
You are allowed your opinion. However, base it on today... not the good ole days. They are gone. Listen to recordings of wibbage, wip, Sunny and moan how radio stinks today. If you miss it so much listen to those recordings and stop bashing today's radio.
You will probably both bash me now, saying I am friends with iheart and hate b101. Not the case. Just trying to keep it real!

 

[Miguelito]

...get real.Wow! Abrham and Miquelito both of you are so off base. First off both of you need to take off your rose colored glasses about B101. You both have mentioned in the past how The Breeze is automated and sounds sleepy. I can contend that b101 sounds automated! Besides Bill and Jen in the morning they have no soul! You think saying... "oh this song makes you feel good" is content? It doesn't connect. The middday and afternoon jocks on B have nice voices... that is it! They offer nothing else! WOGL is also soul less. That is why they have hired Kalina for mornings. Their numbers have erroded! Kalina is a talent and connects! He also has heritage!

Miguelito- that means little Michael correct? You visited JJz when? 1999? They changed format in 2006. So just because you saw a closet with a computer and no chair you assume ALL IHEART stations like Breeze are like that? WTH! This is 2019. I have seen the iheart stations. Very impressive studios for all the stations... DAS, Power, 104.5, Breeze and Q! Your story needs to be updated and is totally INVALID for today!

As for the Breeze... yes Valerie and Dan are LIVE! I know many who listen and enjoy their personalities. Listen instead of making blank statements. Either you adapt or you are no relevant. Yes radio has changed. It is run differently. You can't compare things to the Sunny days... many by the way were VT then too on Sunny! B 101 VTracks at night!
You are allowed your opinion. However, base it on today... not the good ole days. They are gone. Listen to recordings of wibbage, wip, Sunny and moan how radio stinks today. If you miss it so much listen to those recordings and stop bashing today's radio.
You will probably both bash me now, saying I am friends with iheart and hate b101. Not the case. Just trying to keep it real!

Get a friggin grip.

 

[Steve Green NEPA]

It's not my money*, so I'll comment and say that Clear Ch .... oops ... 'IHeart' goes all-Holiday soon, perhaps to cut into the revenue for 2020 of the recently and somewhat enfeebled 101.1
They will go for the throat. And despite the mercenary sighs 106 gets, their older audience might be more forgiving toward Andy Williams, Nat King Cole, Brenda Lee and the Chipmunks.

* * * * * * *

* Lol. I bear the same given and surname as my paternal Grandpa. He was a professional bookmaker who told both my Dad and me not to gamble.

* * * * * * *

Abraham, Miguelito, Matrin and John are correct. WJBR doesn't count. WJBR was the best-sounding soft-A/C format in the era when I worked at Kiss 100 and EZ-101. But WJBR never dented the Philly book in any impressive way

 

[AbrahamJSimpson]

I did say morning was live as best I could tell based on what I heard. I openly said I didn’t know about afternoons.

I don’t think I passed a personal judgement about B 101 and its relative soul in the middays or afternoons. For what it’s worth, since I was invoked, I think what they do works just fine. Radio not being a strictly one platform medium, I’d cite Andrea Duffy as someone who has a solid social media extension of her on-air presentation.

Back to the Breeze, I’m sure I have made some quips about it being sleepy. That’s just soft AC. It’s fine—I’ve also been complimentary of their success and doing a decent job bringing the format to town. I’ve knocked the voice imaging, yes. No argument. But also framed it as a purely personal taste.

I grew up on WIP. Loved it. Would t want it today and have said it would never work. I don’t expect anyone to operate that way. And I was one who understood the business reason to move to voicetracking nights at 101.

So, um, not sure exactly what some of the criticisms are. And no rose colored glasses. Like any entity, they have successes and challenges. By and large, they’ve done well on their space. Is that unreasonable?

 

[Miguelito]

It's not my money*, so I'll comment and say that Clear Ch .... oops ... 'IHeart' goes all-Holiday soon, perhaps to cut into the revenue for 2020 of the recently and somewhat enfeebled 101.1
They will go for the throat. And despite the mercenary sighs 106 gets, their older audience might be more forgiving toward Andy Williams, Nat King Cole, Brenda Lee and the Chipmunks.

* * * * * * *

* Lol. I bear the same given and surname as my paternal Grandpa. He was a professional bookmaker who told both my Dad and me not to gamble.

* * * * * * *

Abraham, Miguelito, Matrin and John are correct. WJBR doesn't count. WJBR was the best-sounding soft-A/C format in the era when I worked at Kiss 100 and EZ-101. But WJBR never dented the Philly book in any impressive way

I was listening to WJBR yesterday. In years past, they seemed to have a really odd playlist that frequently turned me off. Last year, it sounded like they were more mainstream. They sounded more like the almighty, wonderful, best-ever B101.1, who I will defend to the ends of the earth*--as was pointed out by the guy who signed up a new name just to go off like a lunatic. Anyway, the point is: Yesterday, they again sounded weird to me. I didn't listen for too long. I'll stick with my very favorite station of all time, Philly's Official Christmas Station, B101.1!*

*- Regular readers will understand that this is sarcasm, knowing that I am hardly a WBEB super-fan or apologist.

 

[AbrahamJSimpson]

Also, blanket statements, not blank statements, Davey. (That means little Dave.)

 

[Irishfl]

I don't think 106.1 will go all Christmas, even on Christmas. I would slowly start adding some songs to the rotation after Thanksgiving. 1 every 2 hrs to start, and increase each week so you are at 2 or 3 every hr by Christmas. Not sure if they will do something like this, I suspect probably nothing.

 

[richt1014]

B101 is still all Christmas. I think this is the first year they are continuing nonstop Christmas after Christmas Day.

 

[Gregg.]

That's quite unusual. Some stations that go all-Christmas for a month before Dec. 25th may still play one holiday song per hour between Dec. 26 and Dec. 31. But it's usually Winter Wonderland and Sleigh Ride, nothing too specific about Christmas.

In NYC, Lite-FM stayed with Christmas music for a few hours overnight, but this morning it's the regular format.