Summer 2016 Ratings GSP

[awp69]

Ratings are out and some interesting moves.

http://ratings.****************/cgi-bin/rol.exe/arb191

One thing is that Magic is really struggling. For a while there last year, they had taken a solid lead of MY. But now a 2.8 (second in three quarters)? Yikes.

Also it's now been three straight quarters that B93.7 has edged out Hot 98.1 after mostly Hot leading that race in recent years. I think Entercom's "The Block" is definitely having an impact on Hot. It's doing quite well at a 1.4 on a translator and doing just what Entercom wanted.

Country still has two of the top three spots but dropped fairly significantly. WORD is up, which is probably not a shocker with the election (WGKT also got a good bump likely related to that as well).

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A little rant as a listener, I think X98.5's changes to move towards a more alt/active mix (less new music, more grunge and some active tracks) is hurting them. Summit took the reigns over from its PD last year who, IMO, had evolved it into a great alterative station worth listening to. And it was up to a 1.1 (1.4 in one trend as well). Now it's been on a slide and at a .8. I hope they're getting the message that the changes are backfiring. Just a comparison between X's playlist and other alt stations shows a huge gap in how alternative is programmed at most of today's stations. People that want to hear grunge/active already have the Planet and aren't the same audience as those who want to hear 21 Pilots and Fitz & the Tantrums. Most stations today play very little grunge and focus on new music and bands as alternative should and always has done.

 

[SaltyDog]

Ratings are out and some interesting moves.

http://ratings.****************/cgi-bin/rol.exe/arb191

One thing is that Magic is really struggling. For a while there last year, they had taken a solid lead of MY. But now a 2.8 (second in three quarters)? Yikes.

It's been a long time since I've looked at Greenville radio stations market shares. Over the many historical years, WSPA lost more than it won. I'm not 100% positive about that but I think so. I was unaware that WSPA was winning for a while.

 

[awp69]

It's been a long time since I've looked at Greenville radio stations market shares. Over the many historical years, WSPA lost more than it won. I'm not 100% positive about that but I think so. I was unaware that WSPA was winning for a while.

Traditionally, yes. But when MY first flipped to Hot AC about 4 years ago, it was a mess. And that mess lead to WSPA climbing in front. Part of Magic's problem probably now comes not just from MY but from Earth and Chuck on the older end of the spectrum.

Both MY and WSPA used to regularly get around a 5 share. Neither has done so for several years as the market dynamics have changed. But the 2.8 Magic has gotten in two of the last three books is the lowest I can ever remember it getting.

 

[101tm]

Mainstream AC has been in decline for the past half decade. Most viable AC's have evolved to an uptempo format focused on pop hits from the turn of the century to present. WSPA FM is stuck in a difficult position to gain market share, if they evolve they'll sound too much like WMYI for comfort, stay where they are and continue to have an eroding audience. I do believe EarthFM's musical evolution since a year ago including mainly 80s music and some 90s tracks has been the main culprit for WSPA FM's decline. Squeezed on the old end by Earth, Squeezed on the new end by My. Leaves a very small gray area to entice listeners with that dont want only older or only newer music. By far I think the biggest factor behind SPA FM's collapse has been the late 70s/80s focus on EARTH. When they evolved out of mostly 60s and 70s music with a lot of 70s ballads etc is when their numbers started going up and WSPA started going down. Chuck FM may effect things but I don't really consider them much of a factor in the market, they certainly arent covering anything new.

Earth FM beat WSPA FM in the last 2 books and almost tied in the one prior. Keep in mind that is a blowtorch signal vs a simulcast that covers the market decently but has a solid coverage gap between DT Greenville and Powdersville, and also in South Grenville. There is a lot of population in those areas not in the 60dbu of 103.3 or 95.9. I wish Salem could have purchased 103.9 instead of signing on 95.9, 103.3 and 103.9 go together very well (keep in mind 103.3 was signed on to cover areas 103.9 could not, really mainly a Spartanburg station)

I can't believe Entercom wont take the risk on 93.3 or 98.9 against Jamz considering the awful translator signal The Block has and how well it's been doing.

 

[tylerSC]

Traditionally, yes. But when MY first flipped to Hot AC about 4 years ago, it was a mess. And that mess lead to WSPA climbing in front. Part of Magic's problem probably now comes not just from MY but from Earth and Chuck on the older end of the spectrum.

Both MY and WSPA used to regularly get around a 5 share. Neither has done so for several years as the market dynamics have changed. But the 2.8 Magic has gotten in two of the last three books is the lowest I can ever remember it getting.

Since Magic seems to be struggling, perhaps Entercom could add Bob and Sheri in the mornings on 98.9 since they just acquired flagship WLNK in Charlotte. And perhaps integrate some of the AC formats. It would help since WLNK now has interference in Greenville County from a problematic LPFM signal. And while WLNK is not tops in the ratings, it is apparently a top biller and a good value. They must be doing something right regarding programming or demographics, and perhaps they could help WSPA. I would like to see Bob and Sheri once again have a strong signal in Greenville County, and perhaps Entercom could now protest the interfering WXRU signal on 107.9. Since it now interferes with one of their stations.

 

[AMRocks]

Is Greenville Spartanburg a PPM market or still diaries? I'm also guessing Entercom and Salem no longer purchase the book since all their stations are no shows in the ratings lately.

 

[The Beat]

Can anyone share the non-com LPFM numbers from Maximizer? Our station, WBWT, is also a rhythmic CHR and covers Greenville pretty well.

AMRocks- Greenville is still a diary market as I understand.

 

[AMRocks]

I listen to you guys all the time in the car -- at least I try to. I'm near TR and sometimes it's tough to get your signal.

 

[awp69]

Is Greenville Spartanburg a PPM market or still diaries? I'm also guessing Entercom and Salem no longer purchase the book since all their stations are no shows in the ratings lately.

It's still a diary market. Entercom and Salem just don't post their trends publicly.

But you can still find their 12+ numbers in the quarterly books.

 

[davideduardo]

It's still a diary market. Entercom and Salem just don't post their trends publicly.

But you can still find their 12+ numbers in the quarterly books.

It's not up to stations to "post" their books or trend numbers. The 12+ data is released by Nielsen to the trades and it only includes subscribing stations.

The only subscribers in the market are iHeart and Summit. Entercom and Salem do not subscribe, so their numbers do not appear.

 

[The Beat]

AMRocks- that's good to hear! Travelers Rest is just a little beyond our signal, with a few hills between us, if I remember correctly. We broadcast from Rutherford Road in Taylors. We, like every LPFM in the US, are still hoping for an upgrade to 250 watts someday. Still, our signal is not too bad for 47 watts ERP... most of the county gets a decent signal...

 

[AMRocks]

One thing I was surprised about when I listed to 101.5, was that there was a real lack of local content. Admittedly, I don't listen in AM Drive, since I'm not in my car in the morning. But the station, although it sounds good, is more of a music box. I haven't been exposed to many LP stations. I just expected much more local content. I thought that was the idea behind the LP stations. (I listen to WOLD-LP in New Jersey when I visit family and they are really awesome when it comes to local content and promotions.)

 

[The Beat]

We're an affiliate of WSPA-7 news and run news & weather every hour every weekday morning. We would add more local content- but that takes money and we can't run commercials. Hopefully that will change in the future with both the FCC petition we filed and the legal STA we requested. Thanks for the opinion though.

However, if our phones, emails & 80k social media fans/followers are any indication; lots of people appreciate our music driven approach. Hence my original question about numbers.

 

[awp69]

It's not up to stations to "post" their books or trend numbers. The 12+ data is released by Nielsen to the trades and it only includes subscribing stations.

The only subscribers in the market are iHeart and Summit. Entercom and Salem do not subscribe, so their numbers do not appear.

Then why are Entercom and Salem 12+ numbers published for the quarterly books?

Also, I have friends that work at Entercom in Greenville and know for sure they get the trends even though they are not published.

 

[davideduardo]

Then why are Entercom and Salem 12+ numbers published for the quarterly books?

Also, I have friends that work at Entercom in Greenville and know for sure they get the trends even though they are not published.

I should have said that they are not subscribed to trends, but are subscribed for the full book. That is not unusual for continuous measurement markets. Nielsen only published the 12+ data for stations that are subscribed.

 

[awp69]

I should have said that they are not subscribed to trends, but are subscribed for the full book. That is not unusual for continuous measurement markets. Nielsen only published the 12+ data for stations that are subscribed.

Yes. Just was chatting with one of my buds over there and found out they don't subscribe to the trends but only the books. I stand corrected.

I thought they were getting trends that weren't published. I was wrong.

Amazing that Summit which has enough financial troubles wastes money subscribing to trends.

But they seem to do a lot of stupid things there.
Like adding DJs to X98.5. That has never been the problem with that station. The mix of music has been. An alt station needs to be current. And they are far from it.

 

[AMRocks]

Amazing that Summit which has enough financial troubles wastes money subscribing to trends.
But they seem to do a lot of stupid things there.
Like adding DJs to X98.5. That has never been the problem with that station. The mix of music has been. An alt station needs to be current. And they are far from it.

I don't listen to X98.5 much, but when I do, I actually enjoy the jocks. 99.9% sure it's voice tracked, but they are not over the top annoying. Pleasant. Not a juke box like Chuck (which is, I assume, supposed to sound like a juke box.)

I far as the music mix, I like it, although I'm older than their demo. I like the mix of newer and older.

 

[awp69]

I don't listen to X98.5 much, but when I do, I actually enjoy the jocks. 99.9% sure it's voice tracked, but they are not over the top annoying. Pleasant. Not a juke box like Chuck (which is, I assume, supposed to sound like a juke box.)

I far as the music mix, I like it, although I'm older than their demo. I like the mix of newer and older.

The afternoon jock is voice tracked. The mid day one is local.

I'm older too but have grown really tired of grunge and most of the other older tracks are also played to death stuff that even the Planet plays.

Most alt stations today may play some of those songs but do it far less than X. I personally preferred when they were playing more non-grunge alt like Depeche Mode, New Order and The Cure in the main playlist. But that's personal preference.

My main gripe is the lack of new music. They are sorely behind probably every other alt station in new tracks. They tend to only play the Top 20 and even then a good many are only played at night.

Alternative is a genre that is known for breaking new music. Even if they aren't "breaking" it, they're still really dated when it comes to newer songs. 21
Pilots' "Ride" is still in power rotation for God's sake. That's sad.

I'm an alternative junkie and have been since the late 80s. X was doing great about a year and a half ago with the mix. Now it's basically recurrents and alt that even The Planet plays with just a smattering of new stuff.