The Big Switch

[jmtillery]

With reguards to WHTQ. In this day of monolopy radio. Does the PD of a particular radio station even have a say of what kind of music the station airs? I thought it was all controlled by where ever the coorporate headquaters are and the local P/D just carries out their orders. WHTQ is just a typical cookie cutter cox consultant controlled classic crock station ;D WMMO is even worse with their format.

Good question FrankF. Actually in the corporate radio world, the local PD and even the GM have very little to do with local programming. Most corporate stations have a corporate Director of Programming who delegates programming responsiblities to the local station PDs based on whatever respective formats upper executive management has decided. Very few, if any, programming decisions are made on the local level.

 

[DJ Mo]

News/Talk is already on the HD2 channel of WHTQ.
And WMMO I think plays some of the Classic Rock that WHTQ plays.
I definitely think something's going to happen to 96.5 soon, whether it'd be just a reimage or a total format flip.

Personally, I see a huge format hole for 90's Rhythmic AC. I got requests for PM Dawn & KLF, and an "oh wow" caller when I played The Movement on my radio show just this past Friday alone. I also got a number of 90's requests prior to that like School Of Fish (rock) & A Tribe Called Quest.

I am high school Class of '99 & DJ'd my own reunion. Word got around that I played what they wanted & I ended up DJ'ing the Class of 2000 reunion just a couple weeks ago, which led me to a forthcoming wedding gig & probably 2001's reunion already. 8)

If anyone in Orlando flips a station (or plans to flip) to a 90's/Gen-X/Rhythmic AC format (or something of that sort), they will see my resume & aircheck at their inbox. However, if "I stink" on-air, but I come on time & am good worker, you make me PD/MD. ;D

Otherwise, I will continue to take your 25-34 listeners away one-by-one on a tiny 1000 watt FM 2 hours a week.
(BTW, if anyone here gets the 1st PPM numbers for WPRK-FM Fridays 5-7pm later this month, I'd really appreciate it if someone sends the data to me so I know how well I'm really doing under a ratings system. It's been ALL positive calls since Feb '09, except for the one time I played Goo Goo Dolls. Oops! )

Thanks!
Email: [email protected]

If you're curious as to how I REALLY sound live on-air...
http://djmoradio.podomatic.com

 

[Parttimer]

Sorry, parttimer, but Cox DOES NOT own Power 96 Miami. WPOW is owned by Beasley

My bad. Shouldn't type this stuff at midnight.

 

[Parttimer]

If you blow up WHTQ in favor of moving Power to 96.5 and WDBO to 95.3 , you lose the only younger non-minority male demos the cluster really has.

Just my 2 cents...

How do you figure Cox is losing the only younger non-minority male demo by blowing up WHTQ, when The Classic Rock Station is Classic Rock? Classic Rock targets, depending on the decade span, an older male demo generally 35 - 54, not a younger demo.

In a thread a couple of months back, I was talking about WHTQ's overall ranking, and another poster (who I believe is their current consultant) said that Bubba's morning show is #2 in males 18-34, and that was their target demo. But I'm with you on that one.

Regarding WLOQ, talk is an expensive format, what with the need for air talent and producers. It would be a stretch to think Gross would do something like that.

So by process of elimination you're looking at some combination of 102Jamz, Magic, Sunny and Mix for the country and talk formats. Magic and Mix generate the female numbers for their respective clusters, while 102Jamz is third in the CHR/Urban mix. So that would be your country station and Sunny goes talk.

 

[Buzz Jackson]

Actually in the corporate radio world, the local PD and even the GM have very little to do with local programming. Most corporate stations have a corporate Director of Programming who delegates programming responsiblities to the local station PDs based on whatever respective formats upper executive management has decided. Very few, if any, programming decisions are made on the local level.

I disagree. I think this is a common perception, unfortunately. But believe it or not, nobody tells me how to program my station. In fact, I hardly ever hear from corporate unless there's some kind of problem, which is not often.

 

[jmtillery]

I disagree. I think this is a common perception, unfortunately. But believe it or not, nobody tells me how to program my station. In fact, I hardly ever hear from corporate unless there's some kind of problem, which is not often.

Hello Buzz, and thank you for chiming-in. I was hoping to hear from one of the local program directors.

If you will please note, I said "Very few, if any (NOT ALL), programming decisions are made on the local level", hence leaving it open that some local program directors may actually have the freedom they should have to make local decisions. Apparently you are one among the few that has complete programming autonomy.

Allow me to pose a "what if?" question, Buzz.

Since you have complete programming freedom at your station, if you determined a complete format change (Ex: from country to active rock) was necessary in order to improve ratings in your target demo, do you have such freedom to make said changes on your own without first receiving corporate approval? Do you also have the sole freedom to determine your station's target demo (Ex: Adults: 18 -49; Males 25-54; Persons 35+, etc) as well as identify, determine, select and formulate your own format in order to attract the demo you have singel-handedly (or collectively with your subordinates) decided will best fit the station you are programming? Or, instead, would you need to draft a business plan outlining the above referenced proposed changes you believe are in the station's best interest, followed by presenting said plan to corporate HQ for review and approval?

 

[jmtillery]

Sorry, parttimer, but Cox DOES NOT own Power 96 Miami. WPOW is owned by Beasley

My bad. Shouldn't type this stuff at midnight.

That sometimes happens to me, especially when certain keys tend to "stick" on my keyboard. That's when I get typos, so I spend much time proofreading comments before I post. Even then, I sometimes still find a typo here and there, forcing me to edit.

 

[jmtillery]

In a thread a couple of months back, I was talking about WHTQ's overall ranking, and another poster (who I believe is their current consultant) said that Bubba's morning show is #2 in males 18-34, and that was their target demo. But I'm with you on that one.

Regarding WLOQ, talk is an expensive format, what with the need for air talent and producers. It would be a stretch to think Gross would do something like that.

So by process of elimination you're looking at some combination of 102Jamz, Magic, Sunny and Mix for the country and talk formats. Magic and Mix generate the female numbers for their respective clusters, while 102Jamz is third in the CHR/Urban mix. So that would be your country station and Sunny goes talk.

I remember the post. And, I agree that Bubba does attract a much younger male demo. There's no doubt about it. However, in conjunction with the rest of the WHTQ broadcast day, the format tends to attract a 35-54, 35-64 male audience in complete contrast to Bubba's morning demo.

For consistency reasons, it would be in WHTQ's best interest to do one of two things in order to reach and maintain a maximum and consistent target demo throughout the entire broadcast day. 1), If they are determined to remain rock, then a tweaking in the direction of Active Rock would be in order as this music format will compliment the Bubba morning show in keeping the desired Male 18-34, and 25-49 demo. This will give existing and prospective advertisers a consistent target demo throughout the broadcast day and more of a reason to want to advertise and continue to advertise.

And, although I am sure 96.5 is holding its own and doing fine now, it can be much better. An Active Rock format will also make WHTQ more competitive against the higher rated Clear Channel WJRR, again, creating format competition which leads to better radio for both stations.

Otherwise, I'll move on to the second point 2) that being I still believe the proposed WPYO move to the 96.5 dial position is consistent in creating and utilizing the highest and best use of that particular frequency for reasons I have already described in detail in earlier posts.

Regarding which stations I have in mind for Country and Talk, I'm not saying, even if you guess them correctly. Each time I say "No, it isn't that one", it goes without saying I have helped you to narrow the choices just a bit more until at some point there are only two stations remaining, which, or course, would be the stations I have in mind.

That's all from me for now.

Thank you for your comments, suggestions and constructive criticisms. I am looking forward to reading more from everyone later.

 

[Buzz Jackson]

Since you have complete programming freedom at your station, if you determined a complete format change (Ex: from country to active rock) was necessary in order to improve ratings in your target demo, do you have such freedom to make said changes on your own without first receiving corporate approval? Do you also have the sole freedom to determine your station's target demo (Ex: Adults: 18 -49; Males 25-54; Persons 35+, etc) as well as identify, determine, select and formulate your own format in order to attract the demo you have singel-handedly (or collectively with your subordinates) decided will best fit the station you are programming? Or, instead, would you need to draft a business plan outlining the above referenced proposed changes you believe are in the station's best interest, followed by presenting said plan to corporate HQ for review and approval?

I would need to present it to corporate for approval. But that's always the way it's been, pretty much everywhere. I think your point was that over the years there has been more day-to-day corporate programming - corporate music lists, corporate contesting, etc - and I'm saying that's not the case, at least at KIIM in Tucson.

 

[Stormychuck]

JMacTillery: Agreed 99.999%. I'm glad we agree on something, I've been saying all along, and only my personal opinion, WHTQ is long over due for a bulldozing, the station is old, its done and out lived its usefulness by today's standards.

True, as we've talked about this before another country music facility would add some flavor to the Orlando market, giving WWKA a run for their money, a new and updated country facility with your 24/7 idea with a nice, new fresh set of CHR type jingles and top dog on-air talent and on-air promotions would perhaps do wonders.

WDBO FM is another wise choice, and would work well, some poster's in here are quick to point out number's and why it wouldn't work as opposed to why it would, common misconceptions
are, let's say, demo's in the 18-24 range do not listen to news and that's exactly what it is, a misconception. My vote I'd run with the idea WDBO FM.

WJRR 101.1 FM they can hang out for awhile longer, their not really bothering anybody although I don't listen to em but I'm sure the have some sort of small following so leave well enough alone.

As a former employee/PD of COX Radio, COX is a very very fussy radio corporation, very set in their ways and have been as far back as I can remember, one can have the very best programming ideas in the world and COX is for the most part, not interested, enough said.

WOW JMTillery put Buzz Jackson right on the spot, that was a great question, doe's he have the authority to make corporate changes as a local PD, I'm afraid not. Thus he's still the Puppet.

All in all great observations, but then again JMTillery your in the business, you know what your talking about as opposed to some others who don't.

 

[jmtillery]

I would need to present it to corporate for approval. But that's always the way it's been, pretty much everywhere. I think your point was that over the years there has been more day-to-day corporate programming - corporate music lists, corporate contesting, etc - and I'm saying that's not the case, at least at KIIM in Tucson.

Buzz, thank you for your quick response. Being the professional that you are, you answerd my question the way I expected.

I did notice you won an ACM Award for medium market personality of the year. Congratulations.

 

[jmtillery]

WOW JMTillery put Buzz Jackson right on the spot, that was a great question, doe's he have the authority to make corporate changes as a local PD, I'm afraid not. Thus he's still the Puppet.

Stormychuck, it is not my intent to put anyone "on the spot". I was simply attempting to identify autonomic boundaries on the local level at Buzz's station, hence the reason I posed a rather extreme example. I also recoginze there are wide variances in how much local autonomy exist ranging from station-to-station, market-to-market and company-to-company.

Interestingly there was a case in a major Florida market (major for Florida in relation to other Florida markets) where the very scenario I gave to Buzz actually happened. The final approval came from the corporate parent although the initial proposal came from the local station program director and general manager.

Regarding Cox Radio, as with any company, Cox can and will do whatever it believes is in the best interest of its advertisers and stock holders regarding all of its stations. If Cox recognizes the benefits of implementing my informal "proposal" and takes my advice as presented here, then that will be a Cox Radio decision. If Cox chooses to ignore my suggestion, then Cox must have a reason it feels is valid enough to leave its Orlando cluster "as is".

 

[Buzz Jackson]

Stormy, the original question was about day to day programming. In that respect, I have no corporate overlords. I would guess that if the station failed to perform as expected, I would hear more often from corporate, and they would try to dictate how I program the radio station. But as things stand now, I am not a puppet, and nobody above me pulls my strings.

I was making the point that the perception that radio is centralized is not necessarily the case. Be careful how you generalize.

 

[Stormychuck]

Mr. Buzz, my comments were not intended to put anybody's boxer's in a bunch, including yours,
my comments also include "ME" I've been that corporate puppet on multiple levels and to that end
it's only playing conductor of staff arrangements. Also Mr. Buzz, I did stream you the other day
on your 3-7 slot and your not to shabby, so from now on I'll be extra careful, Buzz I may be applying for a job with you........

 

[Earlyriser]

Hey all ye who prognosticate for their own jollies. Cox is private and has no stockholders to concern themselves with.

 

[jmtillery]

Hey all ye who prognosticate for their own jollies. Cox is private and has no stockholders to concern themselves with.

Even if Cox Enterprises, as a privately held company, has only one stockholder, it still has [A] stockholder holding Cox Enterprises authorized AND outstanding shares. ALL corporations, pubicly traded or privately held, it does not matter which unless said corporation is a boni-fide IRS recognized 501(c)3 Not-For-Profit Corporation, have authorized AND outstanding shares, normally in the form of what is known as Class A Common Stock. Other larger pubicly traded corporations often have multiple stock classes, in addition to Class A, such a Class B, C, D and sometimes E Class Common Stock. The main difference in classes normally has to do with the voting rights per stock class.

With that said, to suggest Cox has no shares authorized, this would render the entity known as Cox Enterprises invalid as a corporation. Hence, considering we are, in fact, talking about a corporation, I was correct when I said Cox has an obigation to its shareholders even if Cox has only one shareholder. I never once said Cox was a publicly traded company. I said it had shareholders, even it said shareholders are only a handful of Cox family members.

By the way, Cox Enterprises has published its 2009 Annual Report - http://www.coxenterprises.com/about-cox/annual-report.aspx - along with archived 1999 through 2008 Annual Reports complete with financials. It is unusual that a privately held corporation will publish an Annual Report and Corporate financial informatiom that is always required of public corporations per Securities and Exchange Commission rules governed by the Securities Act of 1934 and its admendments, but never required of privately held corporations.

 

[jmtillery]

Hey all ye who prognosticate for their own jollies. Cox is private and has no stockholders to concern themselves with.

FYI, before you explain the before mentioned Annual Reports and Financial Statements, I am well aware that Cox Enterprises acquired all publicly held shares in Cox Radio, Inc. last year, hence the reason for the Annual Reports and Financial Statements covering the time Cox Radio, Inc. was publicly traded.

 

[jmtillery]

my comments also include "ME" I've been that corporate puppet on multiple levels and to that end
it's only playing conductor of staff arrangements.

Stormy, I understand where you are coming from, as I, too, have played the role or "corporate puppet" although that has only happened with me once during my career. It can become very frustrating when you have the title while having no real authority to make any real decisions.

 

[DJ Mo]

Hmmm... Just noticed that WHTQ has higher ratings (AQH) in 2 other markets: Daytona Beach (2.4) & Melbourne (5.0, 5th place).
Do these numbers really mean anything?

 

[DToTheJ]

Wow, freaky, kinda like how WPLJ or WOR in New York usually gets respectable numbers, in some cases, above a 3 share, in the suburbs of New York City, but register only a 2 share in New York City proper.