I think Cox Radio should change the format on WMXQ (102.9 The Point) to "The Dove" format, which is Soft AC/Oldies. the format is very successful in Tampa and I believe that this will be a ratings winner in Jacksonville. After the format change, I think that WSOS should change their format from Soft AC/Oldies to smooth jazz because they can't compete with 102.9 because of the superior signal that they have (100kW vs 25kW), even after WSOS moves their transmitter closer to Jacksonville. I know that smooth jazz stations are disappering from the airwaves in many markets but I believe that a well-run jazz station or satellite-fed jazz station will be moderately successful on the First Coast. If you have any ideas, let me know what will be the best formats for these two underperforming stations.
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Some Suggestions for WMXQ and WSOS in Jax
- Thread starter olmjax
- Start date
Jazz has been tried it just doesn't work. You'll notice Jazz is being moved to HD where nobody will notice.
Sunny's transmitter move should help the stations ratings allot in Jax.
Sunny's is the blocker for WEJZ preventing a competitor from moving into the market.
That being said for awhile Jax had three country stations and Clear Channel lost to Renda.
So why couldn't the Point or a Clear Channel station put on a good AC and take on Renda's WEJZ?
It targets women 25-54 a demo advertisers want and WEJZ has the most to lose in that demo.
Don't be surprised if it happens..
Sunny's transmitter move should help the stations ratings allot in Jax.
Sunny's is the blocker for WEJZ preventing a competitor from moving into the market.
That being said for awhile Jax had three country stations and Clear Channel lost to Renda.
So why couldn't the Point or a Clear Channel station put on a good AC and take on Renda's WEJZ?
It targets women 25-54 a demo advertisers want and WEJZ has the most to lose in that demo.
Don't be surprised if it happens..
It's possible we could see another AC station move in to Jax, but didn't Cox try that already before MXQ went 80's and flipped to the Point? I'm assuming it didn't do well against EJZ, which is why they flipped...
It's really hard to say what they could do with MXQ, I believe SOS is in a decent spot and will be in an even BETTER place once they move the stick.
It's really hard to say what they could do with MXQ, I believe SOS is in a decent spot and will be in an even BETTER place once they move the stick.
Ahh yes, Tommy, Soft Rock 102.9. Another case where mediocre programming and the wrong talent resulted in anemic ratings. They were never a threat to WEJZ.
And I'm sure none of us want to recall that morning show disaster they had in Monk (sp?) and Kelly. The husband and wife team who brought up one boring event after another in their babies life day in and day out. Hearing about soiled diapers first thing in the morning - no thank you and the audience apparently felt the same way.
As I sit here drinking my morning coffee out of my Dave and Heather coffee mug, I'm reminded of how things once were and how I wish they were today. Now that was a morning show but the decision makers apparently saw differently. WMXQ does not perform well in time spent listening but from what I've been told, they do well in cume. I guess it's how you look at things. I think many tune in hoping to hear something good but they are gone fast. So that may be cume but that should tell you the issues they have. There is hope for them to continue with the format - but a lot of it is in the programming and that needs to improve.
As for WSOS, really what is the incentive to listen? They are automated all the time now and they sound it. A lot of the music can be heard elsewhere and for a typical Jax radio listener, they don't want to listen to a station that calls itself a local St. Augustine radio station. I think it's just a bunch 'o crap that they are there to block competition for EJZ. Gees, hardly anyone knows they even exist. They can do better -alot better. Maybe in time they will figure what they need to do for them to stand out and give people a reason to listen. While I understand business owners in St. Aug wouldn't want to pay Jax radio rates, I never understood why special rates for St. Aug business only couldn't apply to attract new/more business anyway for non-peak time periods. That's a subject for another day but in these tough times, I would think normal rules should be thrown out to attract business no matter where it comes from.
And I'm sure none of us want to recall that morning show disaster they had in Monk (sp?) and Kelly. The husband and wife team who brought up one boring event after another in their babies life day in and day out. Hearing about soiled diapers first thing in the morning - no thank you and the audience apparently felt the same way.
As I sit here drinking my morning coffee out of my Dave and Heather coffee mug, I'm reminded of how things once were and how I wish they were today. Now that was a morning show but the decision makers apparently saw differently. WMXQ does not perform well in time spent listening but from what I've been told, they do well in cume. I guess it's how you look at things. I think many tune in hoping to hear something good but they are gone fast. So that may be cume but that should tell you the issues they have. There is hope for them to continue with the format - but a lot of it is in the programming and that needs to improve.
As for WSOS, really what is the incentive to listen? They are automated all the time now and they sound it. A lot of the music can be heard elsewhere and for a typical Jax radio listener, they don't want to listen to a station that calls itself a local St. Augustine radio station. I think it's just a bunch 'o crap that they are there to block competition for EJZ. Gees, hardly anyone knows they even exist. They can do better -alot better. Maybe in time they will figure what they need to do for them to stand out and give people a reason to listen. While I understand business owners in St. Aug wouldn't want to pay Jax radio rates, I never understood why special rates for St. Aug business only couldn't apply to attract new/more business anyway for non-peak time periods. That's a subject for another day but in these tough times, I would think normal rules should be thrown out to attract business no matter where it comes from.
Tony's blocking idea was conceived years ago by his consult and friend. Renda paid 7 million dollars for St. Augustines little local station WSOS. In my mind Renda saw Jacksonville and that was the intent for buying WSOS and to sure up Renda's Jacksonville cluster. TR needs more Jacksonville firepower to leverage cluster ad sales when competing against Cox and Clear Channel. The signal move north places WSOS more over Jacksonville and less over St Augustine, really it's caught between both markets. AJ was cut because of budgets cuts and lack of ratings. Well a station that doesn't even cover the metro won't have great ratings. What were they thinking? With their new signal I'd expect to see more changes, though remaining a jukebox format for the shortterm.
If you havn't noticed WEJZ is sounding younger and younger so just maybe Arthur Crofton will move to the B team and be your new Sunny morning team. He's the only old guy left..Expect more unforseen changes because that's radio.
Tony didn't pay 7 million for a station to go unnoticed and underperform.
If you havn't noticed WEJZ is sounding younger and younger so just maybe Arthur Crofton will move to the B team and be your new Sunny morning team. He's the only old guy left..Expect more unforseen changes because that's radio.
Tony didn't pay 7 million for a station to go unnoticed and underperform.
Pocket, thank you for giving more info on this and I can understand the points you have been trying to make. Maybe this is a personal shortcoming on my part but I trust nothing especially when it comes down from senior managment. I guess even those of us outside of radio have been screwed by managment at one time or another but radio is even rougher.
Here's what I don't trust. Let's say you are 100% correct and WEJZ continues to evolve younger. This would almost guarantee that Arthur would be out of place. You all have to understand that I have supported Arthur big time over the years and what I say now is not a slam to him but just a reality check. I actually think he is out of place there now if we have to be honest. I suppose what saves his butt is he still delivers the numbers and that's what it's all about.
I have this feeling if he eventually moves to Sunny, Renda Broadcasting wins and the talent draws the short stick. Think about this - if they flat out got rid of Arthur there would be adverse publicity and negative listener reaction that could hurt the station. It would be tough for his replacement and that would just not be a good business decision. Just look at the mess Cox caused themselves when they let L&T slip through their hands.
And so once Arthur is at Sunny, listener queries could simply be answered that he went to a sister station. At Sunny, Arthur would never have the audience he once had meaning his eventual departure whether by change of format or flat out firing for not acheiving numbers would result in minimal listener revolt. Maybe I'm reading to much in all of this but your comments made me think of this possible scenario. I don't trust any of these people and this time I hope I'm dead wrong.
Here's what I don't trust. Let's say you are 100% correct and WEJZ continues to evolve younger. This would almost guarantee that Arthur would be out of place. You all have to understand that I have supported Arthur big time over the years and what I say now is not a slam to him but just a reality check. I actually think he is out of place there now if we have to be honest. I suppose what saves his butt is he still delivers the numbers and that's what it's all about.
I have this feeling if he eventually moves to Sunny, Renda Broadcasting wins and the talent draws the short stick. Think about this - if they flat out got rid of Arthur there would be adverse publicity and negative listener reaction that could hurt the station. It would be tough for his replacement and that would just not be a good business decision. Just look at the mess Cox caused themselves when they let L&T slip through their hands.
And so once Arthur is at Sunny, listener queries could simply be answered that he went to a sister station. At Sunny, Arthur would never have the audience he once had meaning his eventual departure whether by change of format or flat out firing for not acheiving numbers would result in minimal listener revolt. Maybe I'm reading to much in all of this but your comments made me think of this possible scenario. I don't trust any of these people and this time I hope I'm dead wrong.
A
AJ Davis
Guest
Just to set the record straight... When I was let go from my position with Renda and Sunny 94.1, I was told it was a budget cut - ratings was never an issue, at least as far as I could tell - it wasn't brought up to me - ever. Local management seemed to have a realistic vision of any numbers a 25kw facility on a 300 foot stick at the World Golf Village could have in greater Jacksonville. Plus, when the atmosphere got "juicy" the interference from the stations in Tampa and Savannah was unacceptable in Jacksonville. I wasn't in on the decision, but I'm guessing the only reason the station eventually re-targeted St. Augustine after changing the COL to Fruit Cove, was for the revenue - they're running a business, hopefully for profit. In my humble opinion, the only way Sunny could attarct a larger audience would be to offer a totally unique format to the market - for example, Oldies or maybe a more pop oriented version of 60's and 70's classic hits. JohnJax has noted several times that WSOS played many of the same softer songs you can hear on the Eagle, the Point, and it's big sister Lite 96.1 WEJZ. So it is what it is. But after, several decades in this biz, it's my observation that revenue and clients come before the listener these days - in other words, we got it backwards - but that's a whole other story. Without any outside marketing and so many choices for the public, I actually think Sunny did fairly well. While I'm sorry it ended so abruptly - I enjoyed working with everyone at Renda over the last six years and feel grateful for the opportunity.
FYI - The day they let Arthur and or Jim Byard go, there'll be an earthquake in Florida! Happy Listening!
FYI - The day they let Arthur and or Jim Byard go, there'll be an earthquake in Florida! Happy Listening!
like every other business radio is struggling and more so than others. Competing business models, changing listening habits and revenue shortfalls will all lead to more industry changes. Consoladted operators and the clones, are being forced into broadcasting cheapened/cloned content over multiple channels. Ryan Seacrest and friends will be coming to a market near you. As was mentioned with WSOS, in general up and down the dial radio sounds the same. The bright spots remain local talent people, but these true one of a kind professionals are rare and sadly dying breeds.
The only thing consistent in radio is change, glue down your station coffee mugs, shakes are ahead...
The only thing consistent in radio is change, glue down your station coffee mugs, shakes are ahead...
AJ you're missed.. hope you're well
W
wannabepd
Guest
Sunny 94.1 was unique when it was first signed on in 2005. The station had a sound all it's own and there was nothing else in the market like it. We made efforts to target the content to Jacksonville knowing that there were listeners that could actually listen south of downtown. We always looked at St. Johns county as the primary market but the ratings were going to come from Duval county. We actually achieved the highest ratings that signal ever had with that approach. Sunny is not a station you sell with ratings but it helps when you can show a customer in St. Aug that we could drive traffic from Jax, which we were able to do with some success. When the changes were made at Sunny in the early part of 2007 it was no longer unique and the station has been a disappointment ever since. Renda lost focus of that they wanted that station to be from the get go. Tony had the right idea but he allowed people around him to steer him in the wrong direction. There were bad decisions made with the staff and programming in 2007. Sunny was a nice station to listen to and it was easy for the listeners to enjoy the music they had not heard on a radio in decades. They new every song and that positioning statement carried allot of weight. It was strong in every way. People would listen for a song they didn't know and they would call. It worked to some degree. I can't speak for anyone else who has been a part of Sunny 94.1, but I liked being a part of the station before the progamming changes were made. It had potential to be more then it was if Renda had remained focused on what he wanted it to be.
He wants money... The station will always struggle Without a long term vision and commitment.
jukebox radio doesn't really perform that well. It's like listening to a strangers ipod with commercials.
He'll crack the code sooner or later, though it will take a few format flips..
jukebox radio doesn't really perform that well. It's like listening to a strangers ipod with commercials.
He'll crack the code sooner or later, though it will take a few format flips..
B
brianv
Guest
Sounds like WMXQ flipped to something way different than a soft AC - pop alternative!
www.x1029.com
I opened the streaming player and looked at the most recently played songs and it was Green Day, Three Days Grace, and Red Hot Chili Peppers.
Hmmm...anyone actually in broadcast range care to discuss?
Brian V.
www.x1029.com
I opened the streaming player and looked at the most recently played songs and it was Green Day, Three Days Grace, and Red Hot Chili Peppers.
Hmmm...anyone actually in broadcast range care to discuss?
Brian V.
You have better online choices. Unless you like surveys, pop ups, ads and poor streaming quality..
Sounds like the feed is coming off the radio...
Sounds like the feed is coming off the radio...
I don't know what COX is thinking....18-29 rocker market? It's already filled in JAX. They've got the shock jox to go with it! Why do you cater to low IQ (read no money) age sets? You're filling a need that is ALREADY filled. If they would've done the '80's format properly...with a variety of songs...not just Bon Jovi every hour...the station would've been hugely successful. It's not like the 80's lacked for music! The brain trust for COX is brain dead! I suppose they are doing their best to keep Sirius in business. MORONS 
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