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The Fall Book

P

Prize Hound

Guest
In the great words of "Crossamo", "My Oh My!!"

What a great book for WXBQ, and WTZR!! Guess Butch went back to the drawing board, and came up
with the right moves. I felt an obligation to bring up the Fall Book, since it's been quieter than the request
lines at the HOG here!!!

The mighty Rabbit jumps almost 4 shares, and climbs to 23.9, and Z jumps to number 4. But NO kudos
on this board?????

I remember how this board lit up when the Rabbit took a hit in the Spring. You were piling on like
Wynonna at the KFC buffet. But not a word, when 'XBQ's numbers bettered the combined total of the
next three stations.

I'm not piling on the other stations...There are several good people at them. But you get tired of seeing
former employees and others flaming the Rabbit when it falls back a notch or two, and never giving it
or the air staff that drives it any props.

If 'XBQ tanks, I'll be here to watch the fur fly. If another station tanks, I'll be here as well to see if justice
is served!!

The BBC should be commended for the success of it's 2 stations. But it's a safe bet it won't happen here.
 
Okay, if you need a pat on the back, congrats for a great book. A 23-plus share is great, but it's nothing new for the Rabbit. The station typically pulls over a 20, so it's nothing y'all haven't done before, but it is still impressive. A lot of that success is a gimme, though. This is East Tennessee. Country rules. WXBQ is a 100k station. And Top 40 music sucks anymore. That, to me, explains why the two top-ranked stations in the market are country and classic rock. But still, XBQ has a great airstaff with Richard and Steve, Reggie and Tragler. Still haven't figured out why they've decided to voice-track 7-midnight.
As far as Z-Rock, good job, but it is just one book. WGOC had a couple of real good books lately, but the station has fallen off a little. If Z Rock can maintain this position for two or three books, then we will see. Don't get me wrong, I am not bashing them. If I still worked at WRZK and we had a great book like that, I would be saying the same thing. A lot of it has to do with where the diaries are placed. I remember a few years back when QUT had a totally lousy book...horrible. Next book they were right back to number 2. Sometimes a station gets a big, wet sloppy kiss and sometimes they get slapped right in the face. That's why Arbitron gives a four book average with the numbers. With WXBQ and WQUT, they've shown their consistency. Z-Rock might be able to do it, too. But one book does not make OR break a station.
Plus, who really cares about 12-plus numbers anymore? Radio is so formatted, all anybody cares about anymore is their demo. 12-plus is just for bragging rights!
By the way, anyone know when the market is going to be getting the PPM's? Not perfect, but I do think it will help bring some consistency to the books.
 
Wow! There's begging for recognition, then there's BEGGING for recognition. Congratulations to ZROCK, do we think The HOG had anything to do with that? Yes probably. And about WXBQ. Country station plus TriCities Market equals #1 every book until the end of time. When a station that's going to be #1 if it's ran by a clan of monks goes DOWN, it's newsworthy, when it bounces back up to the same numbers it was before it went down... it's not. Those are probably your reasons why no one cares to scream their praises.

Now don't get me wrong, ZROCK has done a hell of a job beating KROCK and getting to where it is now... and even though WXBQ can run itself, that's not saying the man who put it together in the first place isn't a genius. There's nothing wrong with taking the easy road, it's smart and leads to the big bucks!

And good job with the brand new ID. I guess you didn't want to beg in public.
 
I've actually liked the HOG more than Z-Rock.

Now, is that my own personal tastes? Perhaps.

But I have seen very little promotion for the HOG. It's a rather unfortunate name for a radio station and what few billboards I have seen appear to be promoting a BBQ resturaunt instead of a radio station.

That probably has as much to do with Z-Rock's rise as anything.
 
You bring up a good point about promotion/marketing for WRZK, Pratte. Last month, I was in Kingsport and noticed that two of the mini-billboards, one on Wilcox Drive and another on Lynn Garden Drive, still had 95.9 K-Rock logo on them! Geez! I don't know if it's just something forgotten, but I would have to say it's just laziness. Why do I say that? Because right next to the K-Rock billboard on Lynn Garden, there was a billboard for WKPT-AM that said "Five Decades of Great Music", of course, referring to the Stardust format on the station from 1993-2005. Come on David, change your billboards, for God's sake! Of course, The WKPT Radio Network is now "All Oldies, All the Time!" And unless it's been changed, the WTFM Bread Truck still had a positioning statement on the back door that hasn't been used in probably ten years (The Best Songs...The Most Variety).
Those may be little things in the tapestry of life, but it's the little things that can make the difference between a 7.8 share and a 9.5 share over the course of three or four books. And still having K-Rock billboards up over two months past the changeover, well, it's just plain stupid.
Now some listeners may not even notice, but there are some who do. And they may not know what a positioning statement is, but I do think your loyal listeners notice little things like that. You have to brand yourself and do it well, not just half-ass it. Probably the best example of a station branding itself well is what WQUT did in the 1980's.
Dave Barnett and Steve Mann have told me numerous times that there are some listeners who still think they work at QUT. Why? Because the station became more than Brand-X Radio. WQUT became a synonym for radio, just like Wal-Mart and the department store and Coca-Cola for soda. So in other words, WQUT wasn't just a radio station...Radio was WQUT!! I hope that makes sense. It does in my mind, but that doesn't mean anything, in some cases. Additionally, as long as HVB is willing to let things like billboards and other promotional/marketing tools sit out and grow mold like bread not sealed in the bag, they aren't going to be able to brand any of their products.
And it is sad because when I first started working at HVB in early 90's, there was a promotions director who helped the PD and the GM brand WTFM. For the last couple of years, David has decided to forgo a promotions director. The results are clearly evident. Despite the fact that there are talented people on-the-air, it's all for naught because they've decided to let marketing the station become a minor priority.
Do you think people go to McDonald's for the great food? Nope. They go there because the company decided to make marketing a huge tool in their arsenal. And because of that, when you think fast food, you may eventually think Burger King or Hardee's or Wendy's, but the first one that pops in your mind is Mickey-D's! If a station wants to be successful, they have to do the same thing. It doesn't matter how good or how bad a station unless they first know you exist.
WTFM seems to be content with holding #3. Widener may not realize it or accept that fact, but his actions speak louder than words.
 
Prize Hound said:
In the great words of "Crossamo", "My Oh My!!"
Click to expand...

Hound, if you're gonna quote me, at least quote something that I actually said.

Congrats to 'XBQ and staff for the surge in the book. That's the closest they've been to the book when I was there (24-8). With Spring coming up, I'm sure Butch will have something up his sleeve.
 
Prize Hound said:
In the great words of "Crossamo", "My Oh My!!"

What a great book for WXBQ, and WTZR!! Guess Butch went back to the drawing board, and came up
with the right moves. I felt an obligation to bring up the Fall Book, since it's been quieter than the request
lines at the HOG here!!!
Click to expand...

Bill Hagy knows what he is doing! In my humble opinion, the previous books numbers was due to the way the books were distributed. That's why I am a firm proponent of the PPM. Hopefully this market will get it soon.

I noticed several of the comments on this thread mentioning that the numbers were because IT IS A COUNTRY FORMAT, AND THIS IS THE TRI-CITIES. Well, think that if you want to. Face the facts, Bill Hagy aka Butch has more programming knowledge in his little finger than all of the other PDs combined. (All this praise, and I don't even work there!) I have known Bill for a number of years, and I believe his attributes are:

1. He knows how to pick talent. Look at his stable...Richard, Steve, Reggie, and Tragler.

2. His knowledge of the music and his audience.

3. He has the ability to manage and get the best out of his on air personnel.

Go ahead and admit it. He's out-programmed the others again, and will continue to do so.

Carpe deim
 
Okay...Finally!!! This board needed a little attitude. A little sass. Charley Horse thank you providing the spark that those, like myself, who have been lurking in the shadows needed to get involved here. Anybody, including yourself, who doesn't think that WXBQ is #1 because of their format is a down right ridiculous person. I think moronic might be considered inflammatory, so I'll stick with ridiculous. Big Brother is watching, you know. Look, I don't know Bill Hagy. Until I read the last couple of posts I thought Bill Hagy was a television evangelist. He may be the greatest programmer this market has ever known. But it just doesn't matter. WXBQ sounds exactly like every other country station I've ever heard. It's imaging is slick. It's jocks are good. And they did pick a cuddly woodland creature as their logo. Sure. But there is no other "country" station in this market. There either fringe stations or niche stations. So don't get me wrong, I'm not knocking WXBQ. Or the reverend Bill Hagy. I'm just knocking anyone that says it's not because of the format. If Bill Hagy programmed an urban station, under the guise of MC Hay-G do you really think that it would be #1 here in this market? Or do you think he could take his country station to New Jersey and have the same success. It's laughable. As is your previous statement. And to say that he has more knowledge in his little finger than all PDS combined???. I think you've been mind molested my old uncle Hagy. That just doesn't make any since. What about John Patrick at WQUT? A Classic Rock station ranked above an AC and CHR? WTF? Or what about a station running without a PD, functioning just as it normally would based on the strength of it's MUSICAL FORMAT? Ball's in your court Charley horse. Explain some of those situations and tell me what Bill Hagy has done to make the numbers go up. Has he really changed anything from last book to this one? Now I'm only guessing, but I would say not. Maybe a promotion here or there. But that goes for every book. I know they've added MUSIC. COUNTRY MUSIC. IT"S THE FORMAT!!!! Now if you'll excuse...I'm going back to the shadows. By the way, Crossman/Jockamo, I thought you were changing. I thought you had rehabilitated yourself. But you've fallen off the wagon again. Everybody here knows how great you were at WXBQ...For one book. Do you have to take every opportunity that comes your way to bring it up. 24.8!!! I bet that's your ATM PIN and email password too. I'm gonna get a bumper sticker printed up with your sihlouette that says "Dennis Kelly : 24.8...Never Forget"" !!!
 
TurdGerkin said:
By the way, Crossman/Jockamo, I thought you were changing. I thought you had rehabilitated yourself. But you've fallen off the wagon again. Everybody here knows how great you were at WXBQ...For one book. Do you have to take every opportunity that comes your way to bring it up. 24.8!!! I bet that's your ATM PIN and email password too. I'm gonna get a bumper sticker printed up with your sihlouette that says "Dennis Kelly : 24.8...Never Forget"" !!!
Click to expand...

Turd, I'm not trying to toot my own horn. If I were, you would know it. I'm just proud to have been a member of the staff of the then number one country music station in the U.S. in the top 100 markets. Admit it...if it had been you, I know you would have been proud, too. And I don't take every opportunity to bring it up. If that were the case, I would have mentioned it every time I posted on here. I don't beat a dead horse, but you, on the other hand...

Now, to the aforementioned 'XBQ. Turd, you nailed it on the head. It's a country station. What they do is nothing new. Sure, I was on the number one country station in the entire country. And what do I attribute that to? Sheer luck. During that particular book, the numbers just went our way. There are just more country listeners in the market than in any other format. And there's no other country station in the market to compete. That's why 'XBQ was number one, and that's why they'll continue to be number one. Even if Butch didn't have a Spring promotion, 'XBQ would probably still be number one. I attribute that to loyalty and the fact that there's not another country station to compete with 'XBQ. You're right, Turd...Hagy has not changed a thing and he's not likely to. He tinkers with the music when he shouldn't (example #1: Toby Keith's "Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue" is less than two minutes long because he took out the part about putting a boot in your a**; example #2: taking out Ralph Stanley's part in Josh Turner's song "Me and God"). How can you take out parts of songs that people want to hear and still endear yourself to the listeners? It apparently doesn't matter to Butch...he can do that and still be number one because, hey, where else can people go to get their country? Programming genius? I don't think so.
 
Jockamo said:
example #2: taking out Ralph Stanley's part in Josh Turner's song "Me and God"). How can you take out parts of songs that people want to hear and still endear yourself to the listeners? It apparently doesn't matter to Butch...he can do that and still be number one because, hey, where else can people go to get their country? Programming genius? I don't think so.
Click to expand...

I don't know where the hell you get that one. I was listening to XBQ yesterday and heard that song. No one has cut out Ralph Stanley's part in the song.

[EDIT]

[EDIT--inflammatory]
 
From Crossamo
My, but 'XBQ took quite a hit! And Butch goes back to the drawing board. I was surprised by WIVK in the Tri-Cities...their best book to date. And 'GOC continues to surprise. I knew there was a market for classic country. Now, if someone had had the initiative to put that format on FM, the numbers would've been even bigger. Congrats to Daddy O Don, Hogan and company for a good book. And good luck to all in the next book...I'll be watching.

P.S. Rumor has it that a Tri-Cities jock may be leaving the market for family, fame and fortune somewhere else. I want to wish him all the luck in the world. I hope you get whatever it is that you want. God be with you.
Click to expand...

That was from your post in August '06 in the thread "The New Winter Book is out".

I DID misquote you by adding the "OH MY". Obviously, you took no pleasure in seeing
the Rabbit take a hit, and the "Oh My" implied otherwise. ::)

And I think most would agree with Turd. You never forget to remind us that 'XBQ's numbers haven't been the same since YOU left.

And CharleyHorse is right. 'XBQ plays the version WITH Ralph.

And there ARE other Country stations in the market. WMEV, WIVK, WGOC, The Eagle, WXLZ. Last time I checked, they were mentioned within the ratings, fringe or not.

And..if beating WXBQ is SO easy, why hasn't someone stepped up to the plate, and taken a swing?

If simply BEING a Country station's all that's needed to dump the Rabbit, why are you fooling around
with formats that SIMPLY don't work???

As for J-Street....Thanks for making my point. 'Nuff said.
 
I wonder how CharleyHorse's lips feel after the a** kissing we all just witnessed? I think if you get that raise you're seeking, you should share it with the rest of us. I'm sure Hagy is a great PD and I don't want to take anything away from him, but some of the stuff Charley said was just a little ridiculous. Turd made the points on that one so I won't. The #1 reason WXBQ is #1 is because it's a COUNTRY station, but the #2 reason is it's history and downright habit listeners. If you follow the station back through time, I'm pretty sure it was the original WOPI. That's the point I was trying to get across earlier about people throughout the years at WXBQ doing a good job making that audience. But now they're #1. They're as far in the lead and they're probably ever going to get. There's nothing wrong with that. Hagy can sit back and enjoy. There's no great programming skills involved in keeping that station where it's been forever. Not saying he doesn't have the skills, but there's no need to use them. But I have to mention the air talent comment... The full-timers you mentioned are good, but please don't tell me you include their part-timers in that statement.

PrizeHound, How did I make your point?
 
CharleyHorse said:
I don't know where the hell you get that one. I was listening to XBQ yesterday and heard that song. No one has cut out Ralph Stanley's part in the song.
Click to expand...

My apologies if I was wrong. The source I have said they heard the song and Ralph was nowhere to be found.
But I'm right on the Toby Keith song. It was that way when I was there.
 
Many of the points made during this thread can not only be said about XBQ, but also the other stations in the top 3. Signal, format and heritage DO go a long way, but have any of you ever worked for one that has been mis managed. I have. And if you don't think bad programming can flush a 20 share away, think again. If it is so easy to take on the rabbit because they have NO competition, how come someone else hasn't taken one of the stinkers in thier chain and tried it? Most on this board think it would be a breeze to shave 5 points from XBQ and be a player. I don't see any of the other companies chomping at the bit to do it. The only company that actually could would be Citadel. But for some reason they have not. Country could chop up TFM's audience, so they won't. If someone wants a chunk of the country pie here, they will need 2 things: really deep pockets and a lot of resolve.

Bottom line, I think HVBC have enough sense to know that and know it could screw up TFM. And Citadel's powers that be have weighed the cost of stealing 5 or 6 points from XBQ, and it does not make sense. Say what you want about Bill Hagy, but he has spent his entire career forging relationships with people in the country music industry.....he has a lot of respect.....so he can do whatever he wants. He has earned it. You can call it ass kissing, but It is the truth.

As far as up and down shifts in numbers, when you have a 20 share and go up or down 3 or 4 points, is no different than a 4 share station moving .5 to 1 share either way. The top 3 stations in this market all have heritage, signal, decent talent and safe bible belt formats. Every other station is either niche or signal impaired. All victims of demo and coverage. Not to mention much smaller budgets and staffs. Outside of the top 3, getting ratings is like playing the lottery.
 
J-Street said:
I wonder how CharleyHorse's lips feel after the a** kissing we all just witnessed? I think if you get that raise you're seeking, you should share it with the rest of us. I'm sure Hagy is a great PD and I don't want to take anything away from him, but some of the stuff Charley said was just a little ridiculous
Click to expand...

Wish I could get a raise. But would never get one because of the comments I made, but secondly I don't work any more, so I can't get a raise. I just know Bill, and I know radio. I will say that each of you astute individuals have made good points, and each of them have some validity.

I'm done talkin' now
 
J-Street said:
The #1 reason WXBQ is #1 is because it's a COUNTRY station, but the #2 reason is it's history and downright habit listeners. If you follow the station back through time, I'm pretty sure it was the original WOPI.
Click to expand...

To set the record straight ---- WQBX is the original WFHG-FM from the early 1970's.
 
You're right mr. d but so am I. In the 1960's, WOPI was paired with WKPT, then was sold to and became WKYE. It was sold after that and became WFHG, then it was changed to WXBQ. All of this is on WOPI.COM.
 
Mr. Street,

Did you know that your station, WQUT, was originally WJHL - FM?

It began broadcsating in 1948 as WJHL - FM, then was sold and changed call letters to WJCW-FM.

Then changed call letters again to WQUT and boosted from 25,000 watts to 100,000 watts.

source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WQUT
 
Well actually I did know that, or at least read it somewhere before. I don't claim to be the know-it-all about station's histories. I can credit my WOPI knowledge to a Country & Bluegrass Music class I took 3 years ago, got interested in WOPI and stating investigating. I even went looking for the current version of WOPI, found the transmitter (I think), small building the size of 1 room, somewhere in Bristol near WXBQ.
 
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