The professor is back with an updated Burlington market review. I will focus on the FM band for the moment.
92.1 KISS-FM
No signal. No effort. Little market penetration. Non-player. They do TRY and be different from 95XXX by playing a much more urban playlist but their signal will never make it.
92.9 STAR
Talk about a radio station playing music all over the place. What is it with the oldies weekends? Let's try to be everything to everyone! The morning show is at least stable at this point. Though they sound too prepped on some days. Still, this station needs an enema. Very boring jocks that say very little. Promotions that are less than stimulating. The whole station isn't awful---just sounds very canned and not a whole lot going on. I think they are pushing the music too far---way too wide. The numbers this station gets with their 100,000 watt signal is embarrassing. Shame on you!
93.7 WUSX
The signal improvements are pretty good. Went with Jones Classic Country format. Not a bad move at this point. May pick up some more dollars from Addison County. As far as Burlington goes? Don't count on it. History shows that Northeast won't spend much money promoting it and this station ain't got a prayer of cracking WOKO without doing a great deal of that. The music will get it some numbers but the lack of any real local jocks will hurt. They are looking for a morning show but that seems to be all they will do local. Better than a simulcast of MP103 but it'll only go so far.
95.5 95 TRIPLE X
Looks like the money supply from record labels has dried up a bit. Just a $1000 giveaway for the book on the air now. Ben did a great job of getting $$$ for promotion from the labels as the ownership never put any money into it. The station is still a mainstream CHR and sounds very focused. Jock presentation is good---though I miss Sweet Pete at night. Morning show is still working hard to make it happen. Overall, the same consistency that has made this a good station for years.
96.7 THE ZONE
Another station that could use some more attention in the CC world. The sports additions are solid along with UVM men's basketball. The daily lineup is good----if you think Rush followed by Don and Mike makes any sense. They tried a local sports talk show at night that was pretty good---until the host got lured to UVM sports information with a salary he could probably live on. The Vt expos are passe....no one is interested. Overall this is a talk station that has some good point. They also have some pretty bad ones.
98.9 WOKO
What can i say? The only country station in town so it garners big ratings. Is it a bad station? Nope. Is it a great station? Nope. It's adequate. Good thing they bought the Buzz so someone wouldn't take that country and put a hurt on them. The morning show is so scripted it's laughable. Tom Richards is good in PM Drive. They should be doing much better promotions on this station--they can afford it. One shining light that's done right----their annual concert. It'll stay strong because of heritage, signal and exclusivity. Too bad.
99.9 THE BUZZ
Very targeted. Very much knows who and what it is. Know who they are talking to and how to talk to them. This station isn't supposed to be totally slick. It sounds like the lifestyle it's programming to and what's bad about that? My sympathies when Hall takes over because they won't get it. This could be the swan song for the Buzz as we know it.
101.3 CHAMP
Needs a new morning show. If they think they are going to win because Howard is leaving----think again. Those listeners were lured away before and won't be easy to get back. I actually like Alice Cooper at night. The rest of the day is okay. The music is pretty much on target. I do get sick of their "we're the best" attitude. Look at the ratings---you aren't. Perhaps the day you realize that you can begin to fix your problems. The station isn't in awful shape it just needs some new ideas and energy.
101.7 WCVT
Classical jukebox. Does it matter? 'Nuff said.
102.9 WCLX
Mom and Pop out of Addison County. Russ Kinsley got into the VAB Hall of Fame this year. For what? Playing bad albums cuts from old artists and not having a competitive station? A non-player in Burlington. Probably even a non-player in Addison County.
103.3 MP103
The "Jack" station in Burlington. This station is getting some play but will remain a tier-two station. No promotional support. Very little going on. The music on this station is is pretty much what it should be but the liners need to be updated alot more than they are and be much more clever. That's the only thing that keeps the station fresh---and they're blowing it big time. Guys---you can't just turn it on and then leave it alone. Even this format!
104.7 THE POINT
At least they know what they are. This station tends to be very consistent as well. The listeners like it and are comfortable with the presentation. The music is a bit all over but that's Triple A. I have no problem with their jocks---they fit the format. Plus, nice to hear live jocks on the radio. Not my favorite station but I appreciate them for what they are.
105.1 KOOL
A pretty good niche all to themselves. Lots of jingles and sweepers---though the voice-guy is a bit of a snore. The music is now firmly in the 60's and 70's...probably a smart move. The big problem with this station is that, outside of AM Drive, all the jocks are b-o-r-i-n-g. They are doing artist/song name/temp/time and that's about it. They need to have some fun and loosen up. Sound like the music! And I don't even want to talk about their weekend talent. Suffice to say it's the weakest (by far) in the market. Oldies needs fun jocks to go along with it. These jocks sound like they're more recorded than the 40 year old songs they're playing.
106.7 THE WIZARD
Well guys, Howard is almost gone...now what? This is a station being bought by Hall and I'm afraid that they will try to make this a community-based, vanilla rock station "in the Hall tradition". What that means is they'll replace Stern with a bland morning show that isn't close to being edgy enough and blow those listeners somewhere else. The lineup on this station is okay but they have to do something in AM Drive to keep their momentum...and more music won't cut it. I bet Hall blows this thing big time. They are way too conservative to understand what makes this station (and the Buzz) such successful billers. Good imaging on this station and it rocks more than Champ. Too bad this is the swan song.
107.9 VPR
A money-making machine. Typical pogramming with all the NPR offerings. Some good local offering as well. They need more Vermont news. Why not take some of that money and hire a real, fulltime news department? That is an actual hole in Vermont Radio that this station could fill nicely.
That's it. The AM side will be coming soon. Comments?
92.1 KISS-FM
No signal. No effort. Little market penetration. Non-player. They do TRY and be different from 95XXX by playing a much more urban playlist but their signal will never make it.
92.9 STAR
Talk about a radio station playing music all over the place. What is it with the oldies weekends? Let's try to be everything to everyone! The morning show is at least stable at this point. Though they sound too prepped on some days. Still, this station needs an enema. Very boring jocks that say very little. Promotions that are less than stimulating. The whole station isn't awful---just sounds very canned and not a whole lot going on. I think they are pushing the music too far---way too wide. The numbers this station gets with their 100,000 watt signal is embarrassing. Shame on you!
93.7 WUSX
The signal improvements are pretty good. Went with Jones Classic Country format. Not a bad move at this point. May pick up some more dollars from Addison County. As far as Burlington goes? Don't count on it. History shows that Northeast won't spend much money promoting it and this station ain't got a prayer of cracking WOKO without doing a great deal of that. The music will get it some numbers but the lack of any real local jocks will hurt. They are looking for a morning show but that seems to be all they will do local. Better than a simulcast of MP103 but it'll only go so far.
95.5 95 TRIPLE X
Looks like the money supply from record labels has dried up a bit. Just a $1000 giveaway for the book on the air now. Ben did a great job of getting $$$ for promotion from the labels as the ownership never put any money into it. The station is still a mainstream CHR and sounds very focused. Jock presentation is good---though I miss Sweet Pete at night. Morning show is still working hard to make it happen. Overall, the same consistency that has made this a good station for years.
96.7 THE ZONE
Another station that could use some more attention in the CC world. The sports additions are solid along with UVM men's basketball. The daily lineup is good----if you think Rush followed by Don and Mike makes any sense. They tried a local sports talk show at night that was pretty good---until the host got lured to UVM sports information with a salary he could probably live on. The Vt expos are passe....no one is interested. Overall this is a talk station that has some good point. They also have some pretty bad ones.
98.9 WOKO
What can i say? The only country station in town so it garners big ratings. Is it a bad station? Nope. Is it a great station? Nope. It's adequate. Good thing they bought the Buzz so someone wouldn't take that country and put a hurt on them. The morning show is so scripted it's laughable. Tom Richards is good in PM Drive. They should be doing much better promotions on this station--they can afford it. One shining light that's done right----their annual concert. It'll stay strong because of heritage, signal and exclusivity. Too bad.
99.9 THE BUZZ
Very targeted. Very much knows who and what it is. Know who they are talking to and how to talk to them. This station isn't supposed to be totally slick. It sounds like the lifestyle it's programming to and what's bad about that? My sympathies when Hall takes over because they won't get it. This could be the swan song for the Buzz as we know it.
101.3 CHAMP
Needs a new morning show. If they think they are going to win because Howard is leaving----think again. Those listeners were lured away before and won't be easy to get back. I actually like Alice Cooper at night. The rest of the day is okay. The music is pretty much on target. I do get sick of their "we're the best" attitude. Look at the ratings---you aren't. Perhaps the day you realize that you can begin to fix your problems. The station isn't in awful shape it just needs some new ideas and energy.
101.7 WCVT
Classical jukebox. Does it matter? 'Nuff said.
102.9 WCLX
Mom and Pop out of Addison County. Russ Kinsley got into the VAB Hall of Fame this year. For what? Playing bad albums cuts from old artists and not having a competitive station? A non-player in Burlington. Probably even a non-player in Addison County.
103.3 MP103
The "Jack" station in Burlington. This station is getting some play but will remain a tier-two station. No promotional support. Very little going on. The music on this station is is pretty much what it should be but the liners need to be updated alot more than they are and be much more clever. That's the only thing that keeps the station fresh---and they're blowing it big time. Guys---you can't just turn it on and then leave it alone. Even this format!
104.7 THE POINT
At least they know what they are. This station tends to be very consistent as well. The listeners like it and are comfortable with the presentation. The music is a bit all over but that's Triple A. I have no problem with their jocks---they fit the format. Plus, nice to hear live jocks on the radio. Not my favorite station but I appreciate them for what they are.
105.1 KOOL
A pretty good niche all to themselves. Lots of jingles and sweepers---though the voice-guy is a bit of a snore. The music is now firmly in the 60's and 70's...probably a smart move. The big problem with this station is that, outside of AM Drive, all the jocks are b-o-r-i-n-g. They are doing artist/song name/temp/time and that's about it. They need to have some fun and loosen up. Sound like the music! And I don't even want to talk about their weekend talent. Suffice to say it's the weakest (by far) in the market. Oldies needs fun jocks to go along with it. These jocks sound like they're more recorded than the 40 year old songs they're playing.
106.7 THE WIZARD
Well guys, Howard is almost gone...now what? This is a station being bought by Hall and I'm afraid that they will try to make this a community-based, vanilla rock station "in the Hall tradition". What that means is they'll replace Stern with a bland morning show that isn't close to being edgy enough and blow those listeners somewhere else. The lineup on this station is okay but they have to do something in AM Drive to keep their momentum...and more music won't cut it. I bet Hall blows this thing big time. They are way too conservative to understand what makes this station (and the Buzz) such successful billers. Good imaging on this station and it rocks more than Champ. Too bad this is the swan song.
107.9 VPR
A money-making machine. Typical pogramming with all the NPR offerings. Some good local offering as well. They need more Vermont news. Why not take some of that money and hire a real, fulltime news department? That is an actual hole in Vermont Radio that this station could fill nicely.
That's it. The AM side will be coming soon. Comments?