The "New" 97.1 The River

[jabba17]

98.5 has made some cuts in the last few years. I forget the evening person’s name but they when started running Delia (formally on 94.9 Peach / Lite) in the evening shift went away. That money could have been used to keep the overnight live. Many people think The Delia Show on 98.5 will keep any new AC from being launched in this market. I don’t think there is a poor performing big signal station in Atlanta. A strong signal is required to reach suburbia and into buildings for “listen while you work”. 96.1 doesn’t count because I bet there I will bet was a “deal” made when Delia went to 98.5. If somebody else tries to run at 98.5’s revenue, they will most likely run “hot AC” and go around instead directly at 98.5. If I had an under performer, I would try to mess with Q100, The Beat or Star. If I could tie in with a TV stations’ newsroom I would go after WBS am. If I had extra deep pockets and could wait a couple of decades I would go after V103!

If CC tried to put a soft AC back in ATL they would take Delilah back in a second as soon as Delilah's contract with Cox was up (she is syndicated by Premiere).

Project 9-6-1 is still underperforming compared to where 96 Rock (or the Buzz, for that matter) was before the flip. Although, Rock 100.5 hasn't had much success cloning the old 96 Rock; exactly why is a topic in and of itself.

Peach had good numbers and could compete with--and sometimes beat--B98.5, before CC boogered them up. I'm still surprised that someone hasn't gone after soft AC in ATL. I thought someone would have once WJZZ flipped, to go after the environmental/free Muzak market.

You could make a run at WSB if you had a TV news department at your disposal. And a decent night signal. The former would be the easy part. Two words: winter drivetime.

Cox has had a man crush on V-103 for almost 2 decades. And still hasn't toppled them in the urban market. Look up "AURA" (ATL Urban Radio Alliance, a joint venture between Cox and Midwestern/Dickey for marketing 104.1 and 104.7 and 1340 to urban audiences) and see where that went. In total combined share, even Radio One with their assortment of Heathkit radio stations gets more share than Cox ever has had in that market.

 

[Wildstyle K]

V-v-v-v-Vee 103... The People's Station!!
They really discovered the secret formula to long term success exceptionally well!
They are somewhat unique in ways, too...

 

[LarryWachs]

Looks like they've gone from beaten down war horses to even more beaten down war horses. Thank god I share oxygen with people with the intellect to willingly tune into this fare!

 

[Uriah]

Jabba - "man crush" - LOL!

As to V103, critique all you want. However, when one of my clients advertises on V103 listeners show up and buy product. The last time they ran on a highly rated rock/pop station 3 people showed up for T-Shirts. Granted proper targeting had a lot to do with the success. What matters is that the client is happy with radio. I'll take success stories over ratings hype any day.

 

[jabba17]

Steve Winwood "Back in the High Life"
Steve Winwood "Higher Love"
Blondie "Heart of Glass"

How can you call yourself a legitimate rock station and play these songs? I wonder if they also play Eurythmics' "Sweet Dreams" too?

It's gotten weirder. I heard "Superstition" by Stevie Wonder last Friday on the NEW River. Are they doing some PPM analysis to see what sells better--classic AOR (leaning towards Rock100.5) or CHR oldies (leaning towards True Oldies)? River has a decent music mix (such as it is) and the proof of the pudding is in the eating, but it sure sounds schizoid.

Meanwhile, True Oldies is playing Pat Benatar and the Police, throwing the 80s oldies taboo in the trash. I truly feel oldy already.

 

[Knowsnews2]

Someone said it earlier and it bears repeating; the bottom line IS the bottom line.

To all of the "arm chair PDs" on here, here is the question: Does the "New" 97.1 The River make money for Cox? If no, then go ahead with your bashing. If, however, the station is making money for Cox, then you're just wannabes who, clearly, have no idea of what you are speaking. And, I've got news for you. The River is making Cox money.

 

[jabba17]

Someone said it earlier and it bears repeating; the bottom line IS the bottom line.

To all of the "arm chair PDs" on here, here is the question: Does the "New" 97.1 The River make money for Cox? If no, then go ahead with your bashing. If, however, the station is making money for Cox, then you're just wannabes who, clearly, have no idea of what you are speaking. And, I've got news for you. The River is making Cox money.

If it works, it works. Even if it sounds weird and doesn't fit into an established format--or constantly throws in songs that don't fit the textbook.

As an aside, there are more Cox fanboys on this site than for the other five C's...combined. But then again, they (along with CBS) are probably the only ones that aren't about broke (or flat broke in the case of Citadel).

 

[RoddyFreeman]

Someone said it earlier and it bears repeating; the bottom line IS the bottom line.

To all of the "arm chair PDs" on here, here is the question: Does the "New" 97.1 The River make money for Cox? If no, then go ahead with your bashing. If, however, the station is making money for Cox, then you're just wannabes who, clearly, have no idea of what you are speaking. And, I've got news for you. The River is making Cox money.

Here's a question for you, Mr. Knowsnews. I'm sure Roger Ebert, the famed movie critic for the Chicago Sun-Times, has panned movies that have made money. Does that make him a wannabe who, clearly, has no idea of what he is speaking?

If you're on the radio, you're in the public eye and subject to the public's opinions.

 

[RTibbs]

Sure they make money but it doesn't make it a great product. Outside of Kate Mccarthy's excessive salary not a lot of cost involved there.

To paraphrase Gt&GO. They sound awesome with their incredibly shallow 250 song playlist.

 

[Knowsnews2]

Someone said it earlier and it bears repeating; the bottom line IS the bottom line.

To all of the "arm chair PDs" on here, here is the question: Does the "New" 97.1 The River make money for Cox? If no, then go ahead with your bashing. If, however, the station is making money for Cox, then you're just wannabes who, clearly, have no idea of what you are speaking. And, I've got news for you. The River is making Cox money.

Here's a question for you, Mr. Knowsnews. I'm sure Roger Ebert, the famed movie critic for the Chicago Sun-Times, has panned movies that have made money. Does that make him a wannabe who, clearly, has no idea of what he is speaking?

If you're on the radio, you're in the public eye and subject to the public's opinions.

Yes it does. It's easy to sit in the bleachers and criticize when you've never known what it's like to be on the field. Program a station, deal with the corporate chiefs and the on air people and the listeners and the advertisers and all that being in charge entails. Live through that crucible before criticizing the success of others.

As Theodore Roosevelt said, "It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood...."

 

[jabba17]

Sure they make money but it doesn't make it a great product. Outside of Kate Mccarthy's excessive salary not a lot of cost involved there.

To paraphrase Gt&GO. They sound awesome with their incredibly shallow 250 song playlist.

Which now includes not one, but TWO Led Zeppelin songs to go with the Stevie Wonder--"Ramble On" and "D'yer Mak'er". And, to boot, while I wouldn't call them "deep" cuts, they aren't shallow burnouts like Stairway, either.

But to throw a bone to Knowsnews, it does show that I have been listening.

 

[RoddyFreeman]

Someone said it earlier and it bears repeating; the bottom line IS the bottom line.

To all of the "arm chair PDs" on here, here is the question: Does the "New" 97.1 The River make money for Cox? If no, then go ahead with your bashing. If, however, the station is making money for Cox, then you're just wannabes who, clearly, have no idea of what you are speaking. And, I've got news for you. The River is making Cox money.

Here's a question for you, Mr. Knowsnews. I'm sure Roger Ebert, the famed movie critic for the Chicago Sun-Times, has panned movies that have made money. Does that make him a wannabe who, clearly, has no idea of what he is speaking?

If you're on the radio, you're in the public eye and subject to the public's opinions.

Yes it does. It's easy to sit in the bleachers and criticize when you've never known what it's like to be on the field. Program a station, deal with the corporate chiefs and the on air people and the listeners and the advertisers and all that being in charge entails. Live through that crucible before criticizing the success of others.

As Theodore Roosevelt said, "It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood...."

Great response. Kudos on that one.