The CHR Wars: Now Playing In Monmouth & Ocean County!

[d21ofnj]

Because Top 40 is the "Money Maker", according to the suits that own these stations. all stations wanna see $$$ and dont care about being original. So which Top 40 station would attract more advertisers and listeners? who is going internet radio as a listener or broadcaster? Find out on the next episode of the PPM books

 

[IknowwhatIknow]

My guess is that it won't be that many. At least not enough to make programmers/owners start running scared. That will take an awfully long time. It is the same story in the music business though. The higher-ups are fighting a different kind of war, against a new opposition, and they are using the same old techniques. Radio has more competition than radio now. Time to start looking at the bigger picture. But you know, and I know that radio doesn't like change and it takes forever for change to happen. Hopefully owners and PDs will get with it before they completely destroy the industry.

 

[d21ofnj]

Well, currently listening to 92.3 Now online, and I will admit, this is something NYC should've had, a NYC version of "Wired", not only competing with Z, but taking a swing to Hot and Power as well as The Point and Hit. Let's see where the ball shall roll.

 

[Raider57]

The new Now 92.3 sounds more like a hip hop format, rather than a top 40 format. It seems NY has 3 Top 40 stations. I kinda consider 103.5 KTU as a Top 40 since most of the songs are similar to Z100 and other Top 40 stations

 

[nd2023]

Now there are parts of New Jersey inundated with CHR stations

Z100
Q102
Now 92.3
Wired 96.5
Hit 106
94.5 PST

And parts of Connecticut and Long Island inundated with CHR stations
Z100
Now 92.3
KC101
Kiss 95.7
106.1 BLI
101.7 The Beach

So too many CHR stations isn't only a problem in New Jersey.
When there's tropo this summer, we will be able to get 10 CHR stations!

 

[d21ofnj]

Since CHR is about "making money" I guess Gov. Corzine can invest in a CHR station to help the state budget

 

[SoulCrusher]

Another CHR that puts a solid signal into much of our market. That renders Hit 106 even less relevant than they were before. How many hit music stations do we need? I understand that FM Radio has far more competition these days than they had 20, 10, even 5 years ago, but this is absolutely ridiculous.

Wherever you go in the entire market, you have an insane amount of Top 40, soft rock, and classic rock options. There are a plethora of really glaring format holes right now, most notably Alternative with the loss of G Rock. Radio 104.5 and WJSE are non-factors with their weak signals that only reach segments of Ocean County, and stations that play classic rock exclusively (Q104.3, 105.7 The Hawk) or primarily (WMMR, WRAT) could never suffice.

There's only so much room in each of these formats, and there is inevitably going to be a loser in all of these categories. Press is being highly proactive in promoting Hit 106 (something they had not done with G Rock ever since they switched the Ocean signal from 98.5 to 106.5 in '06), but I'm still trying to figure out what makes Hit 106 different. From my vantage point, they're just another station that plays the hits. The morning show is irritating and not funny, and while there's some good personalities throughout the day, this station is pretty much "about the music", and I'm not seeing anything that makes them stand out at all with the exception of one or two "oldies" (by CHR standards) per hour during Matt Knight's shift. And while I can appreciate that the station has a more local focus than others, this music appeals to predominantly tweens and teens that don't have the means to attend any events they may promote.

There's plenty of intelligent adults around here. Where's our station?

 

[ccuphl]

Another CHR that puts a solid signal into much of our market. That renders Hit 106 even less relevant than they were before. How many hit music stations do we need? I understand that FM Radio has far more competition these days than they had 20, 10, even 5 years ago, but this is absolutely ridiculous.

It's interesting to note that Hit 106 is already not the new hit music station in Monmouth County.

The preset-button pie is divided yet again!

 

[d21ofnj]

So with 92.3 NOW, not to be confued with 97.5 NOW, I guess the war is even greater for Press when it comes to Monmouth and Northern Ocean now with 92.3 even though they are directing themselves to a rhythmic CHR like Wired 96.5. I think the best move for Press right now is to keep 106.5 a CHR since Central and Southern Ocean doesnt really have as much Top 40 coverage as Monmouth and Northern Ocean, and bring back alternative rock to its proper home on 106.3. I said earlier if Hit is gonna get numbers, its gonna come from 106.5's end. This is how B98.5 got its numbers. As for 106.3's end, it has 3 other CHR's to claim victory. Wow.....once Memorial Day weekend comes, it's gonna be hard to tell these CHR's aprt, especially if 92.3, 94.3, 100.3 and 106.3 are playing the same song at the same time. Can you say CHR all summer long?

 

[BigBoy41]

The 106.3 morning show is the worst. I put it on to check (wishing for the old music ) yesterday in my car.
Is that the morning show? or just an interim thing. its hard to believe they would have replaced the old morning show for that.

 

[GSP163]

I think the best move for Press right now is to keep 106.5 a CHR since Central and Southern Ocean doesnt really have as much Top 40 coverage

I would move the CHR back to 98.5....I would leave the 106's linked since together they have a great coverage area with them together....With 106.3 & 106.5 together you can listen on the GSP from Exit 145 (I-280) to Exit 25 (Ocean City)...With 98.5 you can get to about AC before 98.3 WTKU bleeds in.

and bring back alternative rock to its proper home on 106.3

As much I would love to see "G-Rock" back it will not happen.....Therefore, the only format I can see Press doing that might have a shot is to take the Country format from 98.5 and move it to 106.3/106.5.....Yes 106.5 will have major overlap with 107.3 WPUR but in Monmouth 106.3 would have the format all to themselves....Plus they will pull listeners even outside their primary coverage since they will be the only Country station anywhere close to NYC.

 

[SoulCrusher]

It may not be over the air, but I do know that Millennium begain streaming "shore alternative" a few weeks ago. It will be intresting to see what they do with that.

It's actually a very good mix, but unfortunately it's merely an HD station/online stream, which means I can't listen to it in my car or any time I'm not on the computer. There's a number of FM stations in the market that aren't performing that well, and you wonder why none of them are giving an Alternative format a shot ... in some instances you know that it would be a surefire improvement over what they have now in terms of ratings. FM radio is so lousy and homogenized around here that I can't go anywhere without bringing along some tapes (yes, you read that correctly) or CDs when I go for a drive.

I think the best move for Press right now is to keep 106.5 a CHR since Central and Southern Ocean doesnt really have as much Top 40 coverage as Monmouth and Northern Ocean, and bring back alternative rock to its proper home on 106.3. I said earlier if Hit is gonna get numbers, its gonna come from 106.5's end.

Back in the B98.5 days, we didn't have Wired 96.5 or 99.3 KISS-FM, and Hot AC had more of a pop/rock lean at the time. Now, on stations like WAYV and SoJo, you can hear Britney Spears and Pussycat Dolls titles, and the former actually played Kardinal Offishall's "Dangerous" when I tuned in one time. So I would definitely say that in Ocean County, there are easily as many CHR options as there are in Monmouth.

As much I would love to see "G-Rock" back it will not happen.....

I have to agree. While the on-air personalities had a tremendous amount of passion for the Alternative format, unfortunately the same cannot be said for the suits at Press Communications and their sales staff.

I imagine that they will stay the course with Hit 106, but they are not even going to be the #1 CHR in Monmouth/Ocean. I expect them to be #2 or even #3, especially if we're counting WJLK as a CHR as their new imaging seems to indicate

On the upside, the sales team got the format that they apparently pushed for, so maybe they will show some of the fire that they lacked when G Rock was on the air.

So, in Monmouth/Ocean, the only rock stations we have now are dinosaur rockers ... and that includes WRAT, which had a good mix when they signed on back in '95, but Greater Media purchased it and turned it into an 'MMR clone, and they have not tinkered with the format one iota since G Rock was dropped.

There is money to be made with an Alternative format, but it's going to require not having a stodgy and conservative mindset. People have to drop their misconceptions of it being a format for frat boys, and recognize its potential with intelligent adults, many of whom at this point grew up on it. Most integral to its success will be the jocks/programmers, management and sales team having a mutual passion for the format.

What we have now just flat out doesn't cut it. A slew of stations that play the same old tired moldy oldies, along with a couple that mix them with today's Neanderthal rockers (Nickelback, Hinder, Saving Abel, Shinedown, etc.). There needs to be another option - something far more interesting than what's currently being offered. Until that happens, radio is dead to me.

 

[GSP163]

Has anyone read the comments over on the 101.9 WRXP website about the K-Rock flip?.....While there are many that are mad about the K-Rock flip there are lots of people posting how pissed they are about the G-Rock flip....I wonder if the management over at Press read those comments yet.

http://www.1019rxp.com/Blog/TellUs/blogentry.aspx?BlogEntryID=10025054

 

[MarcR]

Has anyone read the comments over on the 101.9 WRXP website about the K-Rock flip?.....While there are many that are mad about the K-Rock flip there are lots of people posting how pissed they are about the G-Rock flip....I wonder if the management over at Press read those comments yet.

http://www.1019rxp.com/Blog/TellUs/blogentry.aspx?BlogEntryID=10025054

Alot of those posters also make the same argument that you frequently read on this board, that 'RXP should ditch some of the classic rock they play and add more Alt-Rock.

 

[SoulCrusher]

The CHR field is even more crowded than previously thought. I actually spent a little time listening to WAYV tonight (they caught my ear by playing the latest Carolina Liar and Offspring singles) and here's a sample playlist:

Lady GaGa - Poker Face
Uncle Kracker - Drift Away
The Fray - You Found Me
Natasha Bedingfield - Pocketful Of Sunshine
Jesse McCartney - How Do You Sleep?
Lenny Kravitz - American Woman
Miley Cyrus - See You Again
David Cook - Light On
All American Rejects - Dirty Little Secret
Britney Spears - Circus
Real McCoy - Another Night
Maroon 5 - Wake Up Call
Ne-Yo - Mad
Pink - So What!
Katy Perry - Hot N Cold
Hinder - Lips Of An Angel
Kelly Clarkson - My Life Would Suck Without You
Rihanna - Rehab
Blues Traveler - Runaround
Taylor Swift - Love Story
Timbaland / Nelly Furtado - Give It To Me

Some people question exactly what type of format they're trying to do ... but you know, it looks an awful lot like a CHR to me. Songs in bold have all been played often on the Johnny-come-lately Top 40 station, Hit 106.

It's serious overkill in this market. You've got CHRs from the north, west and south, and now there's a huge vacancy with not a single modern rock format serving the market.

Something's gotta give. You can't have all of these stations doing more or less the exact same thing - with both Top 40 and classic rock, there is inevitably going to be losers. What I want to know is what is it going to take for someone to abandon ship and provide the market with formats that are completely missing?

 

[d21ofnj]

Something's gotta give. You can't have all of these stations doing more or less the exact same thing - with both Top 40 and classic rock, there is inevitably going to be losers. What I want to know is what is it going to take for someone to abandon ship and provide the market with formats that are completely missing?

The only rock station serving the Monmouth/Ocean market is WRAT. It seems they are the only one that can make a difference in their playlist and give this market a boost, unlesss The Hawk decides to drop the classic rock format and go modern. There are two ways that someone will abandon ship, but most likely we know which way is more possible. One, which is how the numbers will determine the faith of the format. If a Top 40 station fails, THEN they will realize what kind of a bad move they made and go back to what they originally were, or Two, a station that has the grapefruits to just say "let's be different and give this market a twist, something that bridges the gap." Until then, your best choices is Hubcity's Alt Rock Radio or ShoreAlternative.com at this point.

 

[hubcity]

Until then, your best choices is Hubcity's Alt Rock Radio or ShoreAlternative.com at this point.

I'm shocked and stunned!

altrokradio.com (and, yes, altroCkradio.com also works.)

Incidentally, since I'm actually on the radio these days: 90.5 The Night, every Friday night, playing things that, sooner or later, will disturb you.

(Marketing? Me?)

-Sean

 

[BigBoy41]

How are all of these hit stations doing at the shore? does anyone know? some have to be doing better/worse than others

 

[d21ofnj]

How are all of these hit stations doing at the shore? does anyone know? some have to be doing better/worse than others

We'll find out once the ratings are posted. Although I do know majority on this board want to see Hit score a huge low, while The Point will have a high rating. As for WAYV, SoJo, and Kiss-FM, this should be interesting since Hit 106.5 is rimshotting Ocean City

 

[d21ofnj]

Sorry to bring an old topic back, but after skimming through the dial waiing for the QXR/La Kalle swap, I happen to pass through 94.3 and for an "Hot AC station to play Kanye West, Keri Hilson, and Ne-Yo's "Knock You Down", there you have it. 2 CHR stations in the shore. I don't care what anyone says, WJLK IS CHR. I know I'm gonna get the whole "It is a Hot AC" speech or "Monmouth-Ocean" CHR's don't reach the cities, well, guess what? ONE of these TWO can skew a new format.