Now, for a while, we all knew that WJLK (94.3 The Point) was more of a Top 40 lean/Hot AC (similar sound to SOJO) but listening to them today, I guess they made their decision, as they are now "The Jersey Shore's Hit Music Channel." Well, it looks like another CHR flood for the Garden State, now with TWO CHR stations in Monmouth and Ocean. So, with press flipping G-Rock, and now Millennium declares The Point a CHR station, will these two wipe away the big NYC/Philly CHR staions, or will Z and Q continue to rule the Jersey Shore CHR fetish? As for the advertisers, if I may quote SoulCrusher, "Which Top 40 station will YOU advertise on?" To the listeners, "Which Top 40 station will YOU listen to?" It seems that radio today either really wants us to pay monthly for satellite, listen online to internet radio, or pirate your own or pirate an internet radio station stream, like caribbeanzoneradio.com in Elizabeth, and Streetz 96 in East Orange. So whats next, The breeze will be The Beatz? Or maybe NJ 101.5 will be Joynt 101.5.
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The CHR Wars: Now Playing In Monmouth & Ocean County!
- Thread starter d21ofnj
- Start date
At the moment the music mix still sounds like a Hot-AC (like WPLJ) to me.....They can call themselves "The Jersey Shore's Hit Music Channel" but they need to sound like a CHR if they want to be one...Plus a few years ago WPLJ called themselves "New York's Hit Music Station" and they still were Hot-AC....So really until we hear a music shift (like adding Hip-Hop and losing the 90's hits) and maybe even a name change (they could maybe bring back the K-94 or 'JLK-FM name) they are still considered to be Hot-AC...And plus would WJLK really flip to CHR when CBS Radio is about to launch one on 92.3?
At this point who knows. Nobody expected G-Rock to turn CHR, so I wouldnt put it past Millennium for The Point to be a CHR regards of 92.3, or "possibly" 102.7 flipping to CHR. This is the format that "brings in the money", and another reason why WJLK could go Top 40 is to take on Hit 106.
We are experiencing serious overkill in this area. You've got the countless classic rock stations and the so-called "Active Rocker" WRAT having very similar rotations ... they have 75% of their playlists in common, with the former stations playing Boston and Foreigner and the latter spinning new songs from the Nickelback clone factory (Saving Abel, Daughtry, Theory Of A Deadman, Shinedown...). Then there's plenty of "soft rock" or "lite rock" stations that have practically nothing to set them apart from the pack (The Breeze will do this on occasion ... maybe that explains why they have jumped ahead of the stalwart WOBM). And finally, we have the myriad different takes on a Top 40 format.
First you have Little Z-100 ... er, Hit 106, and then you have WJLK still using the 94.3 The Point branding but now dubbing themselves "The Jersey Shore's Hit Music Channel. Hit 106 is your typical CHR, perfect for those BENNIES who get upset when their beloved Z-100 doesn't come in crystal clear ... apparently they now even have a drive-time mix show which I'm sure will make them happy as they drive down the Parkway in their IROCs taking the occasional glimpse in the mirror while waiting in traffic to see how good their hair looks. 94.3 The Point is what Hot AC has now evolved into, which is essentially CHR without the hip-hop and with a few songs from outside of the last five years. Both are now mostly live and local during the week, but have "Otto Mation" running the show during the overnights and (for the former) a good chunk of the weekends, before they inevitably dedicate a few hours to Ryan Seacrest ... you know, like every other CHR in the country.
Being completely objective, I have to say that 94.3 The Point will emerge the victor in this battle. Not only is it much more established in the market, but as it stands currently, it's an easier sell to advertisers than Hit 106 which has a lot of kid appeal but won't win over many adults ... heavy on the bubblegum pop and shallow hip-hop, but short on the classic titles that will bring in the desired demos. I'm not saying this because I'm bitter over losing G Rock, but no fan of that format will even tolerate Hit 106 regardless of the CEO of Press' hopes and wishes, and I don't know any adults who will admit to listening to Britney Spears, Soulja Boy Tell Em, and some of the other rubbish heard here. I think both stations will have an uphill battle going toe to toe with some of the bigger Top 40 outlets (most of which have personalities 24/7).
Instead of trying to offer something that is different from anyone else, we have two stations that are presenting carbon copies of big-market stations that just pale by comparison. It disappoints me that we continue to see radio becoming so homogenized and dull. As mentioned before, with the exception of the Country format, we have every signal that reaches this area doing either CHR, "Soft Rock", or Classic Rock, with every station in each category virtually identical to one another. Do we blame the new technology that has emerged over the last 10 or 15 years? Maybe the Telecommunications Act of 1996 that created behemoths like Clear Channel, killed the industry's competitive spirit, and allowed three media outlets to control every station in Monmouth/Ocean Counties? As a medium, radio might not be dead, but I am deeply troubled by some recent developments. Hopefully we will see some thinking outside the box before they drive the last nail into the coffin.
When you have so many stations doing pretty much the exact same thing, there is bound to be at least one or two losers. Why there are some companies that seem to be completely willing to settle for mediocrity despite some obvious format holes is beyond me. But that's another post for another day. Anyway, may the best station win, and to the victor goes the spoils.
First you have Little Z-100 ... er, Hit 106, and then you have WJLK still using the 94.3 The Point branding but now dubbing themselves "The Jersey Shore's Hit Music Channel. Hit 106 is your typical CHR, perfect for those BENNIES who get upset when their beloved Z-100 doesn't come in crystal clear ... apparently they now even have a drive-time mix show which I'm sure will make them happy as they drive down the Parkway in their IROCs taking the occasional glimpse in the mirror while waiting in traffic to see how good their hair looks. 94.3 The Point is what Hot AC has now evolved into, which is essentially CHR without the hip-hop and with a few songs from outside of the last five years. Both are now mostly live and local during the week, but have "Otto Mation" running the show during the overnights and (for the former) a good chunk of the weekends, before they inevitably dedicate a few hours to Ryan Seacrest ... you know, like every other CHR in the country.
Being completely objective, I have to say that 94.3 The Point will emerge the victor in this battle. Not only is it much more established in the market, but as it stands currently, it's an easier sell to advertisers than Hit 106 which has a lot of kid appeal but won't win over many adults ... heavy on the bubblegum pop and shallow hip-hop, but short on the classic titles that will bring in the desired demos. I'm not saying this because I'm bitter over losing G Rock, but no fan of that format will even tolerate Hit 106 regardless of the CEO of Press' hopes and wishes, and I don't know any adults who will admit to listening to Britney Spears, Soulja Boy Tell Em, and some of the other rubbish heard here. I think both stations will have an uphill battle going toe to toe with some of the bigger Top 40 outlets (most of which have personalities 24/7).
Instead of trying to offer something that is different from anyone else, we have two stations that are presenting carbon copies of big-market stations that just pale by comparison. It disappoints me that we continue to see radio becoming so homogenized and dull. As mentioned before, with the exception of the Country format, we have every signal that reaches this area doing either CHR, "Soft Rock", or Classic Rock, with every station in each category virtually identical to one another. Do we blame the new technology that has emerged over the last 10 or 15 years? Maybe the Telecommunications Act of 1996 that created behemoths like Clear Channel, killed the industry's competitive spirit, and allowed three media outlets to control every station in Monmouth/Ocean Counties? As a medium, radio might not be dead, but I am deeply troubled by some recent developments. Hopefully we will see some thinking outside the box before they drive the last nail into the coffin.
When you have so many stations doing pretty much the exact same thing, there is bound to be at least one or two losers. Why there are some companies that seem to be completely willing to settle for mediocrity despite some obvious format holes is beyond me. But that's another post for another day. Anyway, may the best station win, and to the victor goes the spoils.
The two stations will problary fight to the end. I use to listen to WJLK all the time but stopped awhile ago. Recently I starting listening again and it is not the same . Like you guys said all the point is missing is hip hop and it be Hit 106. Would the best thing for the point be a) a name change or b) add hip hop what you think? Also i been checking out hit 106 and one good thing is they add a differnt song at times so atleast they do not play the same songs over and over.
If The Point does change their name, they might as well bring back K94 instead of something crazy like Amp, Kiss, or Channel. If The Point adds hip hop to their rotation, then it will probaly sound like this station:
http://www.wild104fm.com
It would look a little abnormal for The Point leaning towards the rhythmic hip hop on their rotation, TFE akon, t-pain, lil wayne, but eventually they will with Hit 106 in the neighborhood. Oh, and let's not forget another CHR thats coming to the Jersey Shore live from NYC, coming to 92.3, or to what some people believe, 102.7, which I dont know why Fresh would flip.
http://www.wild104fm.com
It would look a little abnormal for The Point leaning towards the rhythmic hip hop on their rotation, TFE akon, t-pain, lil wayne, but eventually they will with Hit 106 in the neighborhood. Oh, and let's not forget another CHR thats coming to the Jersey Shore live from NYC, coming to 92.3, or to what some people believe, 102.7, which I dont know why Fresh would flip.
As for the overkill of chr's and classic rockers, can you honestly blame a company for choosing a format that makes money in the area?
Although, I have to agree with SoulCrusher on 94.3 vs Hit 106. I think they will emerge as the victor. It is much more established and has that legacy of success with local businesses. Hit 106 will find its place as Benny radio and probably fair decently during the summer months. Other than that, I don't seem as much of a threat to 94.3.
I do think it's possible for a station to bill themselves as a chr while still leaning away from hip hop and more towards hot ac and rock. It seems to me that part of what creates that cookie cutter sound is a strict adhearence to a format.
Although, I have to agree with SoulCrusher on 94.3 vs Hit 106. I think they will emerge as the victor. It is much more established and has that legacy of success with local businesses. Hit 106 will find its place as Benny radio and probably fair decently during the summer months. Other than that, I don't seem as much of a threat to 94.3.
I do think it's possible for a station to bill themselves as a chr while still leaning away from hip hop and more towards hot ac and rock. It seems to me that part of what creates that cookie cutter sound is a strict adhearence to a format.
I
i_work_in_radio
Guest
This is why the Point did something smart:
1) They changed their positioning without having to rebrand. The Point, as generic and boring as that name is, has been around for 13 years and has name recognition. "The best of the 80's, 90's blah blah blah" is beyond stale as was a lot of the music. K94? Why switch to a name that was around when their target audience was in grade school?
2) They're capitalizing on a PPM-friendly format without altering their playlist significantly. From what I've seen, they're not adding rap and hip hop, which advertisers aren't exactly lining up to associate with.
3) Their audience will likely become a little younger and more tech savvy.
4) The Point becomes more differentiated from WOBM, which will result in less cannibalization of both listeners and advertisers. Yes, one is Monmouth and one is Ocean, but the signals overlap quite a bit.
5) Because the changes are subtle and they're not starting from scratch like Hit 106, they won't go through the growing pains that Hit 106 inevitably will from both a ratings and revenue standpoint.
I don't work for Millennium or Press and I'm not a fan of CHR. I think G-Rock could have thrived if Press knew how to sell and promote it, but the fact that agencies believe in 15 year old stereotypes about alternative music fans is difficult to overcome. Press will get more agency money and I think the format flip was a solid move, but I don't like their chances going head to head with the Point.
1) They changed their positioning without having to rebrand. The Point, as generic and boring as that name is, has been around for 13 years and has name recognition. "The best of the 80's, 90's blah blah blah" is beyond stale as was a lot of the music. K94? Why switch to a name that was around when their target audience was in grade school?
2) They're capitalizing on a PPM-friendly format without altering their playlist significantly. From what I've seen, they're not adding rap and hip hop, which advertisers aren't exactly lining up to associate with.
3) Their audience will likely become a little younger and more tech savvy.
4) The Point becomes more differentiated from WOBM, which will result in less cannibalization of both listeners and advertisers. Yes, one is Monmouth and one is Ocean, but the signals overlap quite a bit.
5) Because the changes are subtle and they're not starting from scratch like Hit 106, they won't go through the growing pains that Hit 106 inevitably will from both a ratings and revenue standpoint.
I don't work for Millennium or Press and I'm not a fan of CHR. I think G-Rock could have thrived if Press knew how to sell and promote it, but the fact that agencies believe in 15 year old stereotypes about alternative music fans is difficult to overcome. Press will get more agency money and I think the format flip was a solid move, but I don't like their chances going head to head with the Point.
Zackster said:
Could it be that this is why they work in radio to begin with?
"Pork Roll & Eggs" is pure juvenilia. In fairness, I tried listening a few times, and found it excruciating. This program might appeal to children who listen on their way to school, but adults will tune out. I guess I can see why "Pork Roll" isn't doing much standup anymore. Strike one.
The "listen at work" demo is critical for any radio station. You must have a strong listener base from 9-5 in order to pull the ratings you desire. Keeping Matt Knight on was a good move, as he sounds comfortable doing either an Alternative or CHR format, and his MD experience also makes him a good fit. However, it's a guarantee that his shift lost about 95% or more of his listeners as a result of the format change - no Alternative Rock fan wants to hear Britney Spears or Beyonce, and anyone who thinks they will is a moron. So that leaves them with the pressure of building a station and listener base from scratch. Going back to "listening at work": Would you rather listen to a station that does no repeat workdays and plays a mix that most adults won't find offensive, or one that slams its hits 80-120 times a week and plays a good amount of children's music and today's polarizing dumbed-down hip-hop? I know how most people would answer that. Strike two.
There is no way that there can be all this room for all of these hit music stations (don't forget that in the southern part of the market, we have WAYV and SoJo 104.9 - both are sounding very much like CHRs these days) and classic rock stations, and no room for even one Alternative station. It amazes me how broadcasters think we all want to hear Pink and Katy Perry or Skynyrd and Aerosmith around here. Believe it or not, there actually are some people who see just how shallow and moronic all of these acts are, who prefer something a little more ... you know, INTELLIGENT. And I'm sick of the stereotype that Alternative fans are all just geeks that carry their laptops around with them everywhere they go ... not true. Fact of the matter is that a lot of people still listen to FM radio, and this format change has left many of us nomads, scanning the dial hoping to find something worth hearing but ultimately failing. We have to resign ourselves to other more solitary forms of media until something worth hearing comes along.
Anyway, the competition is mounting, and I feel Press made a big mistake trying to scramble for a piece of a pie that's at least 80% finished. No one is going to convince me that money can't be made with an Alternative format, and I also believe very strongly that G Rock had far more adult appeal than Hit 106 - to that end, advertising could be a tougher sell, but maybe the sales team loves them some Britney and this move will inspire them. Instead of getting a new car, Press should have replaced some of the parts. There just was a lack of passion and commitment to the Alternative format on the part of the executives, and that fully explains why they didn't make the moves to ensure G Rock's solvency and opted to dump it instead.
As a radio fan, it disappoints me very much to see just how bland the FM dial is becoming around here, and Press is a major part of that. But for the sake of the old G Rock staffers, I hope Hit 106 is a success. I also hope that someone else recognizes the need for an Alternative station in Monmouth/Ocean, but that would likely be contingent on new blood entering the market ... I just don't see the old stodgy warhorses we have now giving it a shot.
The "listen at work" demo is critical for any radio station. You must have a strong listener base from 9-5 in order to pull the ratings you desire. Keeping Matt Knight on was a good move, as he sounds comfortable doing either an Alternative or CHR format, and his MD experience also makes him a good fit. However, it's a guarantee that his shift lost about 95% or more of his listeners as a result of the format change - no Alternative Rock fan wants to hear Britney Spears or Beyonce, and anyone who thinks they will is a moron. So that leaves them with the pressure of building a station and listener base from scratch. Going back to "listening at work": Would you rather listen to a station that does no repeat workdays and plays a mix that most adults won't find offensive, or one that slams its hits 80-120 times a week and plays a good amount of children's music and today's polarizing dumbed-down hip-hop? I know how most people would answer that. Strike two.
There is no way that there can be all this room for all of these hit music stations (don't forget that in the southern part of the market, we have WAYV and SoJo 104.9 - both are sounding very much like CHRs these days) and classic rock stations, and no room for even one Alternative station. It amazes me how broadcasters think we all want to hear Pink and Katy Perry or Skynyrd and Aerosmith around here. Believe it or not, there actually are some people who see just how shallow and moronic all of these acts are, who prefer something a little more ... you know, INTELLIGENT. And I'm sick of the stereotype that Alternative fans are all just geeks that carry their laptops around with them everywhere they go ... not true. Fact of the matter is that a lot of people still listen to FM radio, and this format change has left many of us nomads, scanning the dial hoping to find something worth hearing but ultimately failing. We have to resign ourselves to other more solitary forms of media until something worth hearing comes along.
Anyway, the competition is mounting, and I feel Press made a big mistake trying to scramble for a piece of a pie that's at least 80% finished. No one is going to convince me that money can't be made with an Alternative format, and I also believe very strongly that G Rock had far more adult appeal than Hit 106 - to that end, advertising could be a tougher sell, but maybe the sales team loves them some Britney and this move will inspire them. Instead of getting a new car, Press should have replaced some of the parts. There just was a lack of passion and commitment to the Alternative format on the part of the executives, and that fully explains why they didn't make the moves to ensure G Rock's solvency and opted to dump it instead.
As a radio fan, it disappoints me very much to see just how bland the FM dial is becoming around here, and Press is a major part of that. But for the sake of the old G Rock staffers, I hope Hit 106 is a success. I also hope that someone else recognizes the need for an Alternative station in Monmouth/Ocean, but that would likely be contingent on new blood entering the market ... I just don't see the old stodgy warhorses we have now giving it a shot.
With all this CHR congestion, everyone always says that CHR is the money-maker. If that's the case, then why don't we make ALL stations play CHR only? I'm sure every station wants to make money and get high ratings in the Arbitron. Whatever happened to the days where you know what station identifies themselves by their pure format? Like to hear AC/DC, Areosmith, Led Zeppelin, you know it was WNEW, Hearing Tupac, Notorious B.I.G, you know it was Hot 97, to hear Amber, Kylie Minogue, you know it was KTU (when it was a real dance station) but now it seems like Katy Perry, Pink, and Beyonce is heard on 94.3, 94.5, 95.1, 96.5, 97.1, 99.3, 100.3, 102.1, 103.5, 104.9, 106.3, 106.5. Please someone teach the suits a radio history lesson and take them back to when ORIGINALITY was the best source to get your PPM and green. Seems like those days in radio won't EVER repeat itself. It was nice knowing and hearing that every station on the frequency was once a ONE pure format. Now radio is trying to shove a new form of "free satellite radio" to us but won't convince everyone to get HD Radio with their low powered signal.
But back on topic, it seems that majority are going for the veteran station. I don't know why some people go with the "if there's no hip-hop on a CHR, then it's NO CHR." How about some stations that have NO ROCK on their playlist and say they are a CHR, like Wired and The Buzz.......whoops, I mean "KIIIIISSSSSSS FM." In my book, The Point was a CHR for a while, regards of their "best hits of the 80's, 90's and Today" they have been using. Hit 106 basically killed alternative to just add hip hop to The Point's CHR. But dare to flip ONE CHR with the other 20 in this state, all hell would be raised, flip the ONLY format in the Jersey Shore that made it's mark on the dial, oh, they won't care no one will protest or show support because the Arbitron said so. I don't see why Hit 106 could be on HD, it's not like CHR was a popular demand in Monmouth and Ocean, regards of B98.5 getting the plug pulled by Press when it was in their hands.
Quote from SoulCrusher, "And I'm sick of the stereotype that Alternative fans are all just geeks that carry their laptops around with them everywhere they go ... not true. Fact of the matter is that a lot of people still listen to FM radio, and this format change has left many of us nomads, scanning the dial hoping to find something worth hearing but ultimately failing."
This is where corporates WANT us to do, pick up WIFI with our iPhones or internet radio access to our car stereos or just listen to our iPods. Then they wonder why pirate stations are popping up like crazy. But lets say if someone does the move and puts up an alternative pirate, you will see how fast the FCC will come there and get them blasted within a few days, look at that dance pirate on 95.3, but to the Caribbean and Hip Hop pirates like Streetz 96, Roadblock Radio on 90.1, and Caribbean Zone Radio on 107.9, the most the FCC will do is send memos out and not go after them.
But back on topic, it seems that majority are going for the veteran station. I don't know why some people go with the "if there's no hip-hop on a CHR, then it's NO CHR." How about some stations that have NO ROCK on their playlist and say they are a CHR, like Wired and The Buzz.......whoops, I mean "KIIIIISSSSSSS FM." In my book, The Point was a CHR for a while, regards of their "best hits of the 80's, 90's and Today" they have been using. Hit 106 basically killed alternative to just add hip hop to The Point's CHR. But dare to flip ONE CHR with the other 20 in this state, all hell would be raised, flip the ONLY format in the Jersey Shore that made it's mark on the dial, oh, they won't care no one will protest or show support because the Arbitron said so. I don't see why Hit 106 could be on HD, it's not like CHR was a popular demand in Monmouth and Ocean, regards of B98.5 getting the plug pulled by Press when it was in their hands.
Quote from SoulCrusher, "And I'm sick of the stereotype that Alternative fans are all just geeks that carry their laptops around with them everywhere they go ... not true. Fact of the matter is that a lot of people still listen to FM radio, and this format change has left many of us nomads, scanning the dial hoping to find something worth hearing but ultimately failing."
This is where corporates WANT us to do, pick up WIFI with our iPhones or internet radio access to our car stereos or just listen to our iPods. Then they wonder why pirate stations are popping up like crazy. But lets say if someone does the move and puts up an alternative pirate, you will see how fast the FCC will come there and get them blasted within a few days, look at that dance pirate on 95.3, but to the Caribbean and Hip Hop pirates like Streetz 96, Roadblock Radio on 90.1, and Caribbean Zone Radio on 107.9, the most the FCC will do is send memos out and not go after them.
You can start a pirate station of any format, and stay on the air for years. Most pirates are of minority formats because the people running it think it's their right to run a pirate station. If someone started an alternative rock pirate station on the Jersey shore, I can bet that it will stay on for years. Many of the pirate stations in Newark are in a really bad part of town, and the FCC inspectors wouldn't want to risk their lives to raid a pirate station, which would magically come back on the air in a matter of days. Think of Streetz 96. They got a NAL a few weeks ago, and they came back on the air the next morning.
If there were a legal Carribean formatted station on the air in New York City, there would still be pirates in Newark. The pirate stations are making serious money selling commercials.
If there were a legal Carribean formatted station on the air in New York City, there would still be pirates in Newark. The pirate stations are making serious money selling commercials.
Well, it's official...K-Rock is dead this Wednesday at 5PM....we welcome 92.3 Now to the Monmouth and Northern Ocean County area.....so let's hear it for 92.3, 94.3, 94.5, 100.3, 106.3,and 106.5 serving the best in Top 40!
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B
BigBoy41
Guest
Awful...no O&A even? I like Classic rock...but I can't hear the same stuff over and over anymore...WHTG changed my musical tastes away from classic....wouldnt a station want to be even slightly different? isn't it harder to compete for money with 6 other carbon copies? doesn't seem good for the new HTG....
d21ofnj said:
Is K-Rock definitely getting flipped or is this just speculation? And how do you know they are going Top 40?
--As an update, I just checked out the NYC board, and saw the 923now.com site, but again, is this definite?
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