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The Link

C

carolinaradio

Was listening to The Link last night and thought they sounded pretty impressive. They've found a pretty nice, upbeat spot between Hot AC and Mainstream AC. They sound a heck of a lot better than 104.7 and better than 102.9 (whose ratings, BTW, appear headed back in to the old "Lite" range).

Actually, until the last book, The Link was beating 104.7, 102.9, 95.1, and 96.1 with a 5+ share. Congrats to them.
 
The link does sound more like a Hot AC station...

It also amazes me how much better 98.7 Simon does their adult hits as opposed to 102.9. Simon seems to be adding more classic stuff from the 60s and 70s too.

I wonder if 102.9 will be flipping again soon...
 
98.7 is the best Adult Hits station I have ever heard. They play some new stuff from time to time, but it's almost like a classic hits station with amazing variety....mostly 70s and 80s pop and rock with good 90s music. They play so much more from the 70s that 102.9 won't play and avoid so many of the overplayed recent songs that 102.9 tends to play (I call them "Lite leftovers").

102.9 was interesting at first but has gotten old fast IMO. They're one of the most boring AH stations I've ever heard. Lots of competition for them...104.7, 107.9, 99.7, 95.7. I think they'd do better if they adjusted to a sound like 98.7 Simon has - that station does so well because they play stuff nobody else in the market is playing.

Older is key for 102.9's success. Most AH stations do well in markets where they offer music nobody else does. In Charlotte's case, that's older music.
 
Pretty true, turkey. However, I do think 102.9 has plenty of room wiggle room to go "older" while staying under 55. It's obviously working in the Triad with 98.7 Simon.
 
I like Bob and Sheri but I miss the Pam Stone show. Bring back Pam! Or put her on WBT after the Sat morning news. As for The Link, their music mix is much better than it was last year. But I really wish they would go back to their old antenna signal, as car reception in most parts of Greenville is now problematic. They had an outstanding, circularly polarized omnidirectional antenna for 20+ years, and then they changed to a side mounted antenna about 8 years ago. Their signal is now directed more to the east of their Gaston County tower, whereas before they had an outstanding signal in Upstate SC. But I still receive them well with rabbit ears at the house, and can even lock into their HD Radio signal. But their old signal was much better.
 
Personally, I am glad The Link has gone more music-intensive (wish they would in PM drive). I don't really miss all of the talk shows.

Gosh, I also didn't notice how HOT K-104.7 has gotten. They are playing a lot of stuff most AC stations won't play. Their playlist is similar to The Link's but not as good, IMO. I guess they are trying to cut in to Link.

I think playing all of this new stuff everybody else is playing is where 102.9 is going wrong. Enough "Stronger", "Some Nights", "Call Me Maybe"...I wouldn't play anything from the past few years.
 
@TylerSC: Did you hear Pam guest co-host for an hour with Anthony and Chad on WBT's Brad & Britt on New Year's Eve?
 
Yes I did hear Pam on WBT which reminded me that I still miss her show. I thought Sat morning was always a good fit for her type of program. It seems a shame for that broadcast studio they built in her house here in Upstate SC to be going to waste. And since they have phased out the talk on WLNK, I think they should consider moving her over to WBT on the weekends. Not all of their shows are hard edge political, and she would be a nice softer edge break on the weekends.
 
And also thought Anthony and Chad were good talk show hosts. Give them a regular talk show somewhere. I believe one of them is a music show host and the other a show producer on the Link or program director over there. But the music mix is much better now on the Link, as it had become rather tired and stale. Now I am listening much more, along with some 96.1 and 95.1.
 
Just to add about 102.9, I don't know if this is true, but the Wikipedia article for The Lake says they claim to be "tempo oriented", unlike WSMW/Simon.

Hmm....and who's getting better ratings?
 
carolinaradio said:
Just to add about 102.9, I don't know if this is true, but the Wikipedia article for The Lake says they claim to be "tempo oriented", unlike WSMW/Simon.

Hmm....and who's getting better ratings?
Click to expand...
Maybe I am younger then you guys but I really, really enjoy 102.9. I was in Cleveland a few weeks ago and enjoyed the Lake there as well which is an exact replica. A few of us around the office were talking last week, one woman who is 40, a guy who is 36, and myself. I am 40 and we really enjoy the station. They play some new stuff and just enough 80's and 90's. If they played music that was any older, we probably would change the station. It also seems that they turn the songs over fairly often. I am always hearing a song I haven't heard on the station before. The Link and 104.7 get boring and stale after a while. Esp. 104.7. I only wish 102.9 had some personalities, but I know that won't happen.
 
Actually, I'm younger than you ;) - I just enjoy the older variety that most other Variety Hits stations have without playing so many burned out AC songs from 2000-onward like 102.9 does. More a fan of the 70s, 80s, 90s. The Lake just seems to have an exceptional amount of overlap with other stations in the area, namely with the stuff from the past 15 years or so.
 
I totally agree with Jim. I listen to The Lake at least 10 hrs a day at work and everyday I hear at least 1 song they haven't played yet. If I listen to The Link or K1047 for a week straight at work I will hear the same songs over and over and a very uninteresting mix as well. We finally got a station that is not like the rest and to that I say AMEN. They also have 2 hour commercial free blocks 3 times a day. I can listen for more than half a day without 15 minutes of commercials an hour to drive me nuts. I say they are doing a great job and I'm glad their here and I say keep up the great work. By the way I am in my late 40's and love the mix. You really just never know what you'll hear next. By the way I hear quite a bit of 70's songs in a day. As I write this they are playing Meatloaf- Paradise by the Dashboard Light...A great 70's tune indeed.
 
carolinaradio said:
Just to add about 102.9, I don't know if this is true, but the Wikipedia article for The Lake says they claim to be "tempo oriented", unlike WSMW/Simon.

Hmm....and who's getting better ratings?
Click to expand...
You can take that to the bank. Mark Washburn quoted Steve Geofferies, Clear Channel operations manager. I made the addition to Wikipedia myself.
 
hschutte said:
The link does sound more like a Hot AC station...
Click to expand...
I heard Eminem, so please don't call it mainstream. Even though I heard Billy Joel too. It was the weekend both times, so it could have been special programming.
 
I don't really listen to AC like that, but I have to agree. I like the changes they've made to their music mix. It's sounding alot better.
 
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