The Burlington Bash

[Vermonster]

How about my review of Burlington radio? I just KNOW you all can't wait!

WOKO--Nothing changes here except the players every now and then...no one seems to notice or care. It's not a great station but not a bad station...just rather ho-hum. Consistency can win.

WEZF--I think they are sounding good. The Mike and Mary teaming was a home-run. I think the station is putting out a good product and on target to their demo.

WXXX--I don't hear much about them anymore. The morning show is still...in my opinion...often too edgy for the market and station. They are consistent but don't have the hip factor and sound old and tired.

Planet--This station does sound hip but can't seem to break the wall of Triple X. Will their morning show experiment of "2 mins and back to the music" gain them any ground?

Kool--Yawn. The station is a snore and has been losing ratings pretty consistently.

Buzz--Decent sounding station though seems to be aiming older than it used to. I think it needs to be a little more cutting edge.

Wizard--A lot of heritage....but can that sustain this station? The music is on and it does well in the 35-64 male demo so why not?

MP103--Whatever.

Point--This station sounds more familiar than it has in years. Continues to garner smaller shares but it seems to work for them.

Mix--Seems to be the typical Northeast poor effort at making something out of nothing. Well, it's still nothing.

ESPN--If you like sports and many males do...this is your station. They just made a change in PM Drive and jury is still out . Has been doing well in male demo and beats Wizard and Buzz often.

The main players. Overall, Burlington radio is pretty common but has consistency.

Your turn.

 

[stevensonair]

I've observed both these stations for some time.

1. Buzz seems to play a fair amount of "Active rock" that I didn't think had that much pull in the market. They play a set of pretty mainstream but hip enough alternative/modern rock then throw in a Puddle of Mudd or Korn track and I wonder who enjoyed the preceding four tunes and suddenly decided they wanted that. It's bi-polar. I doubt they'd suffer if they threw those tracks out entirely.

2. Point - for this market I never understood why they had to be as pop as they get at times. I like the station and their team, nothing but respect for them - but again, like with the Buzz, in a left-of center town, it seems there's plenty of room for a "mainstream" AAA that doesn't need to dip into some of the pop rock they spin.

Neither of these points is to criticize the staff - they obviously know what they're supposed to do and who they answer to. And in plenty of markets it would make absolute sense. But I never understood it in Burlington/Montpelier.

 

[Unregistered]

I've observed both these stations for some time.

2. Point - for this market I never understood why they had to be as pop as they get at times. I like the station and their team, nothing but respect for them - but again, like with the Buzz, in a left-of center town, it seems there's plenty of room for a "mainstream" AAA that doesn't need to dip into some of the pop rock they spin.

Even in a "left of center town", you can't get away with being the station that plays "obscure music for obscure people" (as I once read AAA described as). Maybe 20 years ago, but not today. Keep in mind that the Point has repeaters in the UV and St. J areas, and is doubtlessly trying to avoid being too hip for the room. What they're doing clearly works.

 

[Vermonster]

I tend to agree with Unregistered. People always say they want huge music variety but the stations which provide that are not anywhere in either ratings or revenue. The Point is more mainstream than in the past for a reason...revenue. The Buzz confuses me a bit more as it appears they could play a better mix of music for their core than is currently airing.