The Future of 100.9 - Christian Music?

[DToTheJ]

Based on developments first reported here in the "R.I.P. ROW" thread, this new thread is dedicated to speculation of what 100.9's next format will be.

The domains "1009thebridge.com" and "albanybridge.com" were reported to be registered anonymously on Monday. A Google search of the words "bridge," "radio" and "FM" bring up mostly websites of Christian radio stations. (I had first posted a reply in the "R.I.P. ROW" thread that the positioner may be akin to the AAA "River" stations... after all, what do most bridges complement? But I digress... And after this Google search, I hereby officially rescind that guess...)

If indeed a "bridge" will be opening for 100.9, does it mean there will be Christian music in their future? Maybe AAA? Feel free to discuss.

Also, it's possible the format change on 100.9 may not take place until the River Rats' season on WROW is done, as WKLI continues its regular playlist during the games on WROW, but that's just a theory of mine.

 

[Reporter]

I'll play the theory game....The purpose of a bridge is cross over to get to the othe side, right? I know, brilliant! Thanks! Water...Go over...

Not sure what Chrisitian has to do with a bridge...There are bridges in the city, country, etc..But the first thing that comes to my mind is, country. Could it be a Jack Format? The only other station I know that "Plays everything" is the Saint...

Now, wait...The gentleman who is a consultant for Pamal Broadcasting is Mr. Kelly. Mmmmmm....Maybe they all met. Mr. Morrell, Mr. Kelly and the GM, VP of Broadcasting and they had this conference...I'm speculating...

What is needed in this market? No Jazz...No Christian....No Top 40....No AC....No Hot Talk.....Another country?

 

[GSP163]

When Pamal signed on AAA 107.1 WXPK "The Peak" down in Westchester back in 2004, the name they were going to use was "The Bridge" (for the Tappan Zee Bridge).....However, because WRDR who uses "The Bridge" name has translators in the NYC area they ended up going with "The Peak" instead....Therefore, AAA could be very possible......But I wonder if they will have issues using the name since Sirius-XM has Soft Rock/Classic Hits station called "The Bridge".

 

[AMonFM]

The Bridge might end up being a local copy of the channel/format offered by Sirius/XM - a mix of AC gold & lite rock, or a variant with some AAA mixed in. Pamal could do the whole thing automated too, keeping costs down. AAA by itself never drew huge audiences in this market, and I cant see it being any more of a money maker than Magic is now.

Shame to see Magic getting relegated to the senior band, but it was inevitable. I just hope they get the processing right for music. 590 has the potential to technically sound very good when things are properly tweaked.

With 3 other Christian Music outlets on FM here (Pulse 96.7, Air 1 and K-Love), I highly doubt you'll see another added to the fray.

 

[vinyltapecd]

Anyone know exactly when 100.9 will stop broadcasting their soft AC format, and switch over to whatever junk they plan to replace it with??? I call it junk because NOTHING can be better than the music they have been playing all this time. I seriously thought they were one of the best radio stations in the country, and here they are, about to switch.

I noticed that their website has already been changed and it no longer says "Magic 100.9"...the front page has a big message saying that they are moving to 590 AM. Honestly, what is the point of listening to MUSIC on an AM station??? Even YouTube gives better sound quality, and at least it has a visual component to it as well.

 

[radioactiv911]

You have to remember, most of what Magic played was oriiginally on AM to begin with. A lot of the older generation like the AM sound, which is who listen to the songs originally when they were currents.

 

[RBW]

You have to remember, most of what Magic played was oriiginally on AM to begin with. A lot of the older generation like the AM sound, which is who listen to the songs originally when they were currents.

Thank you!!! This was the basis of my post in the "original" RIP blog ;D 8)

 

[MHVRadiofan]

You have to remember, most of what Magic played was oriiginally on AM to begin with. A lot of the older generation like the AM sound, which is who listen to the songs originally when they were currents.

A, NO! I am outside 100.9 service area and from what I hear the music is a bit old for me , but saying older people like listening to music on AM is like saying we ( I am 57) would rather turn in our I-pods or even CD for records . True, we listened to music on AM back in the day because that was all that we could listen to .Once we experienced the superior sound on FM we don’t want to switch back to AM. Older people will listen only because they have no choice. Broadcast companies put standards and oldies on AM because they don’t care about the band anymore. Except for the big news ,sports ,or talk stations AM is just a noisy wasteland.

 

[vinyltapecd]

A, NO! I am outside 100.9 service area and from what I hear the music is a bit old for me , but saying older people like listening to music on AM is like saying we ( I am 57) would rather turn in our I-pods or even CD for records . True, we listened to music on AM back in the day because that was all that we could listen to .Once we experienced the superior sound on FM we don’t want to switch back to AM. Older people will listen only because they have no choice. Broadcast companies put standards and oldies on AM because they don’t care about the band anymore. Except for the big news ,sports ,or talk stations AM is just a noisy wasteland.

This is so true...I don't think ANYONE will voluntarily listen to music on AM if they have the option of FM. AM just kills the music and makes it sound like crap, while the dynamic range compression on FM adds a nice "boost" to the sound which actually makes certain songs sound better (subjectively) when compared with a CD version of the same song. If you listen carefully, you may notice that many of these old songs have a "fuller" sound when you hear them on FM radio (due to the dynamic range compression), but I guess it all depends on your acoustic preferences.

Anyway, it is a shame that all of the great music that Magic played is now being relegated to AM. For the record, I am 27 years old, but I think Magic's playlist is better than 90% of the homogeneous junk that they play on radio today. Many of my friends might make fun of me for liking this stuff, but I think that many of them secretly like much of the same stuff but don't want to admit it...just as I generally don't openly admit that I like this music in the first place. I can't say I like 50s music, but I think the 60s/70s/80s music that Magic played is some of the best music ever made, period. They had the perfect balance of traditional oldies like Beatles, Four Tops, CCR, Beach Boys, Four Seasons, Byrds, along with the artists you don't hear much on oldies radio anymore like Seekers, Petula Clark, Herb Alpert. Then they mixed this excellent variety with the "easy listening" standards of the 70s and 80s like Chicago, Neil Diamond, America, Lobo, Carpenters, Stephen Bishop and even ABBA! Last of all, they threw in some classics like Frank Sinatra, Elvis, and Bobby Vinton to create the PERFECT mix. Now it is all going to be replaced some CRAP...I am too angry to write any more.

 

[vinyltapecd]

Oh I forgot, the fact that they played Al Caiola's "Theme from the Magnificent Seven" makes them the best station ever.

 

[RBW]

This is so true...I don't think ANYONE will voluntarily listen to music on AM if they have the option of FM.

I guess that puts me (at 51) in a class by myself 8) (and in the minority by the sound of it)

I have to say though "Vinyl"... that your observations and tastes for someone your age are gloriously unique.
My varying tastes include the standards (but on AM) also smooth jazz and talk radio.

 

[DToTheJ]

Yesterday, T-U's Chris Churchill posted an article posing the question: "What radio format does the Capital Region need?"

He says the station should be (and just might be) adult album alternative - as previously suggested in this thread.

Full story:
http://blog.timesunion.com/business/what-radio-format-does-the-capital-region-need/17965/

 

[tower17]

It is funny though how Churchill is supposed to be a business writer who covers media and he knows actual little about the industry which he covers. I say this based on reading his media articles and blogs.

 

[Randal Marshall]

I'd bet on country. Benfer is one of those "take a point away from the leader with this signal to make our other signal (WYJB) number one again." Never mind actually programming WYJB better, or having more promotions and marketing, that is old school. Instead, they'll waste 100.9 on some automated country format that steals just enough from WGNA to make them loose there #1 ranking. Stupid. More bland dull radio for the capital district.

 

[Time Traveler]

I'd bet on country. Benfer is one of those "take a point away from the leader with this signal to make our other signal (WYJB) number one again." Never mind actually programming WYJB better, or having more promotions and marketing, that is old school. Instead, they'll waste 100.9 on some automated country format that steals just enough from WGNA to make them loose there #1 ranking. Stupid. More bland dull radio for the capital district.

And from what I understand about this company I wouldn't be surprised, but in this case, if that "Bridge" logo
is accurate, than I would highly doubt it...More likely AAA or some kind of Classic Hits/Rock format...