The AAA format here and around the country

[scottwmro]

Right now, my station is considered a “Hot AC” station. As I listen to the station, our ABC Satellite Format is playing a lot of music that comes from an AAA (Adult Album Alternative) Format, like what Lighting 100 is.

Since I’m not out to make a profit with my station, I just wonder if we went to an AAA format on AM, what would an audience think? I went to check to see how many AM stations in the U.S. are formatted AAA and I only found one out in CA.

The upswing to this is we would be the only AAA formatted station on AM in this part of the country. The downswing to this is we have an FM in this market already serving this audience, and I can hear them here in Gallatin, in the car, but not on a portable radio, but since WRLT’s signal is so weak up here, would the audience accept a station that is AAA on an AM station?

My thoughts were that the masses are moving and crowding the suburbs, and we would be giving them something that you can hear in Davidson & Williamson County, but not well in Sumner County. I’m just was sitting here toying with the idea in my head.

 

[Tibbs4]

Scott --- before Romer suggests 1.) turn it off and get a life; b.) Polka/Disco;

why not just come up with a novel approach:

WSCT - 1560 The Mist ... playing what Scott likes...

And I am accused of overthinkin' everything.

Bartender, bring us another magnum of Arbor Mist Cherry

 

[scottwmro]

Scott --- before Romer suggests 1.) turn it off and get a life; b.) Polka/Disco;

why not just come up with a novel approach:

WSCT - 1560 The Mist ... playing what Scott likes...

And I am accused of overthinkin' everything.

Bartender, bring us another magnum of Arbor Mist Cherry

Tibbs,
What a grand idea on a nasty day outside! I have nothing to do today, so I just sitting here thinking up of stupid thoughts.

I need a bottle of Arbor Mist "Sangria", with 2 Lobster Tails right now.

I have a hard drive I bought from Jim Barcus at Digital Juke Box with 5,000 songs on it. Of course, none of them current. I'd probably have to go to TM to get the music. They send it to you all on .wav format, which I can convert to mp3.

I COULD name my format after Romer, and let this thing Rock Out. I can see him jump in his car to come up and choke me (HA!) Chris ROMER, ROMER, ROMER...."For those about to ROCK".....Buddy does the news, what a great sound station!

Oh well.....God bless you all and have a good day, stuck inside. I wanted to get out and walk my dog today and get some exercise.

 

[courier37027]

Scott, didn't WRLT and WRLG try AAA and Americana formats in rural areas about twelve years ago? Both stations were simulcast on the Springfield AM and FM.

 

[scottwmro]

Scott, didn't WRLT and WRLG try AAA and Americana formats in rural areas about twelve years ago? Both stations were simulcast on the Springfield AM and FM.

Yes, Lester Turner (Tuned in Broadcasting) owned WRLG-FM, WDBL-AM & FM. WRLG and WDBL-FM did the Americana Format on 94.1 & 94.3, while WDBL-AM stayed country and catered to the local Springfield Area.

Saga bought WDBL-FM (94.3) from Lester, relicensed it to Oak Grove, KY, and now it serves the Hopkinsville, Ky/Clarksville Market. WRLG-FM (94.1) was sold to Salem and is now a part of "The Fish". WDBL-AM 1590 is now co-owned with WSGI-AM 1100, which is Lighting Broadcasting (Neil Perterson & his wife)

All of these stations I mention, except WSGI-AM, had a connection to WRLT, Lighting 100 at some point in the 90's.

Scott

 

[firepoint525]

I thought the Phoenix, WYYB-FM at 93.7 FM was the only station to carry the Americana format, from 1998-ish to about 2002. They were certainly the only station on which I could hear them, and I lived down in the (former) Harding Mall area at the time. I seem to recall that WRLG was only simulcasting Lightning 100 back about that time. I don't think I ever got a usable signal over 94.1 no matter where I lived at the time.

 

[Nock]

Thunder 94 was on both frequencies 93.7 and 94.1, actually 100 was simulcast on 94.1 when they first bought 94.1 and the dabbled in the Thunder format on 94.1 at night. Eventually they put the Americana on 93.7 with Thunder only on 94.1 eventually back to 100 on both frequencies.

Nock

 

[RMarino]

There was a AAA station on AM in Memphis on 1210 WMPS. I believe it was known as "The Pig." Evidently they didn't believe it was profitable enough and Flinn switched the signal to "Music Of Your Life" a few years ago. Although the Pig's AAA format still lives online.

Honestly though, how many people (non-radio people that is) do we know who even know that AM exists except to listen to a game or to Rush?

 

[firepoint525]

There was a AAA station on AM in Memphis on 1210 WMPS. I believe it was known as "The Pig." Evidently they didn't believe it was profitable enough and Flinn switched the signal to "Music Of Your Life" a few years ago. Although the Pig's AAA format still lives online.

Honestly though, how many people (non-radio people that is) do we know who even know that AM exists except to listen to a game or to Rush?

In the county in west Tennessee where I worked at my last station before moving away from there, the girls' basketball team from one of the county's high schools went to the state tournament. The games were simulcast over both the AM and the FM, but for some reason, for the first game, we played separate commercials on each frequency. We found out from some of our advertisers that they didn't even know the AM existed until they found out their spots were being played there! For the final two games in the tourney (they went on to win state that year!), we simulcast everything, the game and the commercials! 8)

 

[scottwmro]

There was a AAA station on AM in Memphis on 1210 WMPS. I believe it was known as "The Pig." Evidently they didn't believe it was profitable enough and Flinn switched the signal to "Music Of Your Life" a few years ago. Although the Pig's AAA format still lives online.

Honestly though, how many people (non-radio people that is) do we know who even know that AM exists except to listen to a game or to Rush?

Finally, somebody is telling it right! I know of people who listen to AM in the 70's (non-media people) that have forgot what it was, and it's still there. AM has turned into a vast waste land. That's why I say the FCC should give us indepenent owners & operators an FM translator, then in 5 years, hand in the AM license is be strictly on FM only. Give us enough tower height and power simular to our daytime 5 mvm contours. I'd be happy then, but I know some jack ass is going to pop on this board and down my views on this. At least the NAB is pushing the FCC to do this.

 

[jetfli]

AM has turned into a vast waste land. That's why I say the FCC should give us indepenent owners & operators an FM translator, then in 5 years, hand in the AM license is be strictly on FM only. Give us enough tower height and power simular to our daytime 5 mvm contours. I'd be happy then, but I know some jack ass is going to pop on this board and down my views on this. At least the NAB is pushing the FCC to do this.

You are so right, but I have mixed feelings about how it should be done. I'd also want to see 1510 and 650 continue to exist as commercially viable FM stations, and I definitely don't think the FCC should have to bring over every little Spanish-language or preacher feature station, even if they do belong to independent owners & operators. Then I think they should fold AM and find another use for it.

 

[kyscott]

That's why I say the FCC should give us indepenent owners & operators an FM translator, then in 5 years, hand in the AM license is be strictly on FM only. Give us enough tower height and power simular to our daytime 5 mvm contours. I'd be happy then, but I know some jack ass is going to pop on this board and down my views on this.

I'll bite. There are lots of AM only stations making money across the land. I have three AM only clients that are doing quite well for themselves in towns with populations below 8000 people. If you can't, perhaps you should just turn in your license and go back to work at the car wash. Instead of bitching and moaning in a web form, go out and find something the residents of Gallatin and Sumner county are NOT getting from the Nashville stations and fill that hole. What makes you think that an FM signal is going to magicly translate into revenue for you if you cannot program a single AM signal? Don't give me this cop out line that "nobody listens to AM anymore". If nobody listened or cared about AM anymore, then no AM only station would be making money. Others are doing it, figure out their trick and emulate it.

Then again, it is just easier to bitch and moan about it. You don't have to actually go out and DO anything then.

 

[Mike Sheridan]

It's funny that AM station owners thing they should be given a license for an FM translator. In most areas the FM band is already a crowded mess. What happens once they get that FM translator and then decide they need more power? IMHO if you want to be on FM buy an FM station and sell the AM to someone who believes in AM.

 

[scottwmro]

That's why I say the FCC should give us indepenent owners & operators an FM translator, then in 5 years, hand in the AM license is be strictly on FM only. Give us enough tower height and power simular to our daytime 5 mvm contours. I'd be happy then, but I know some jack ass is going to pop on this board and down my views on this.

I'll bite. There are lots of AM only stations making money across the land. I have three AM only clients that are doing quite well for themselves in towns with populations below 8000 people. If you can't, perhaps you should just turn in your license and go back to work at the car wash. Instead of bitching and moaning in a web form, go out and find something the residents of Gallatin and Sumner county are NOT getting from the Nashville stations and fill that hole. What makes you think that an FM signal is going to magicly translate into revenue for you if you cannot program a single AM signal? Don't give me this cop out line that "nobody listens to AM anymore". If nobody listened or cared about AM anymore, then no AM only station would be making money. Others are doing it, figure out their trick and emulate it.

Then again, it is just easier to bitch and moan about it. You don't have to actually go out and DO anything then.

How ignorant you are! AM stations in suburban areas are the ones who are sufffering end up selling out to an ethnic individual of group, and not serving the community. Another thing you don't know about me is about my personal income. "I TAKE A "0" INCOME FROM MY LITLLE BUSINESS"! My income comes from somewhere else. As long as it's paying it's way, I'm fine. Besides, this is just a side business for me, so don't come blasting you comments at me that I'm going broke when YOU don't even know me.

Most suburban AM's are selling to the hispanics anyway and don't give me some B.S. that's filling a hole in the market or I need to program my station to fill a hole in the market. That's the LAST thing I want to hear.

Oh by the way, I have a detail man come to me and cleans my car, and my wife's car. If I want to be in the car wash business, I buy the damn car wash and I can make it run itself with good empolyees and I don't have to touch it.

I know you would just love to buy this station. It would cost you more money that what you have to buy it, and if I wanted to sell it, I would be asking way well over a million or so. It's paid for, and I can sit on my ass without a single advertiser or sold program and keep it running. Your just jelious I have something you don't

[EDIT]

***Gee, no wonder my blood pressure goes up. I have a friend whom is a retired broadcaster that lives in my community who told me to ignor folks like you before I have a stroke!

By the way, say all you want to say, I will not respond to your comments, and you can post all you want and be the one to look like a dumb a**.

[EDIT-inflammatory]

 

[Tibbs4]

I'm on my way with a truckload of Arbor Mist, Scott.

 

[deltas69]

hey scott ..if he's in nashville..you could cut his electricity off..lol ;D

 

[romer979fm]

here's an idea:
if you ignore certain posters...the poster usually goes away.

make your own conclusions

 

[yorkie9]

[EDIT-inflammatory]

Instead of Arbor Mist, today AM stands for Angry Management!

 

[scottwmro]

What's so funny is he knows my name, and thinks he knows all about my situation. He has no clue....

He doesn't have the balls to tell us who he his. Like I said, I'm just ignoring him.

Well, next up is to the bar at P.F Changs, and yes, being serve Arbor Mist with my dinner. MMMM...Life is gggggreat!

I'm sitting back in my chair, listening to Snow Patrol on my AM station. To hell what the world thinks about it.

I also have taken on a program and airing it for my friend Lt. Dan Buckley at Lighting 100. Normally, I wouldnot air programs (monday thur saturday) away from ABC, but this program was cool and Dan is a close friend of mine. Don't cost me nothing but the AC bill and it runs about 150.00 bucks per month. I run thier spots for free to help the sales rep convince the client thier are getting more for their money.

 

[yorkie9]

What's so funny is he knows my name, and thinks he knows all about my situation. He has no clue....

He doesn't have the balls to tell us who he his. Like I said, I'm just ignoring him.

Well, next up is to the bar at P.F Changs, and yes, being serve Arbor Mist with my dinner. MMMM...Life is gggggreat!

I'm sitting back in my chair, listening to Snow Patrol on my AM station. To hell what the world thinks about it.

I also have taken on a program and airing it for my friend Lt. Dan Buckley at Lighting 100. Normally, I wouldnot air programs (monday thur saturday) away from ABC, but this program was cool and Dan is a close friend of mine. Don't cost me nothing but the AC bill and it runs about 150.00 bucks per month. I run thier spots for free to help the sales rep convince the client thier are getting more for their money.

What is the program? Lt. Dan - class act. Speaking of music on AM, I am enjoying the stream of the WLS-AM (http://www.wlsaam.com) rewind right now - brings back the good ol days. Tonight, I'll head to the AM radio and listen with the pops and the fades. It's a shame my old transitor is long gone now. KyScott may think it's an easy solution for every station to sell out and vanish from what they once were (and we see it more and more) and everytime it happens we lose another one more piece of history and one more connection to what radio once was. It may be business, but it's a shame. Long live Snow Patrol on AM!

Happy Memorial Day all!