The Water Flows: A Year of the River

[jal41]

97.1 The River is now a year old.

What amazed most of everyone is that it became an overnight sensation (Top 5 12+), even though the playlist was small. And it was the key element that caused the demise of 96 Rock, something many people thought would never happen.

Cox pulled off the impossible.

 

[MCMagicCracker]

And I am proud to be a part of it. Happy birthday, 97.1 the River!

 

[livingfruitvirus]

It's not impossible to play 50+ minutes of songs an hour. It just seems every other company in town forgot that maybe people would like it if there was more music.

 

[Freebird Fantasia]

My only complaint about The River is I believe the station would benefit from having live DJs 24-7.

 

[Insideradio]

It's not impossible to play 50+ minutes of songs an hour. It just seems every other company in town forgot that maybe people would like it if there was more music.

Personally.... I can't stand the same songs. But I'll give it to them, it worked! I knew it was succesful when I started hearing it being played in more and more retail stores throughout the city. Not to mention my older friends having it locked into their preset.

That said, how can this format win in the long run? I don't get it. With Ipods, satellite, and the ability to burn Cd's of your favorite songs, how does this format survive?

 

[livingfruitvirus]

Personally.... I can't stand the same songs. But I'll give it to them, it worked! I knew it was succesful when I started hearing it being played in more and more retail stores throughout the city. Not to mention my older friends having it locked into their preset.

One thing I've learned about many baby boomers is they love to live in the past every now and then. The River may play the same ol' familiar songs, but something about its presentation makes the station much nicer to listen to. I'd like to say it's the small amount of commercials, and the limited DJ interruption. Dave FM has already gone for a "more music" approach and trimmed down their talking. I still think that a big reason people didn't listen to 96 Rock was because it was talk radio in mornings, sports in the evenings, and commercials-a-plenty.

That said, how can this format win in the long run? I don't get it. With Ipods, satellite, and the ability to burn Cd's of your favorite songs, how does this format survive?

I'd certainly like to see. Hopefully it doesn't pull a Viva.



[/quote]

 

[radiofriend1]

It's not impossible to play 50+ minutes of songs an hour. It just seems every other company in town forgot that maybe people would like it if there was more music.

Personally.... I can't stand the same songs. But I'll give it to them, it worked! I knew it was succesful when I started hearing it being played in more and more retail stores throughout the city. Not to mention my older friends having it locked into their preset.

That said, how can this format win in the long run? I don't get it. With Ipods, satellite, and the ability to burn Cd's of your favorite songs, how does this format survive?

if your name insideradio means you're in radio U are not supposed to *get it*. as long as the listeners do that's all that counts

 

[troone]

Isnt this station trending down? Would it be a shock if River was a 2.5 share three books from now? Not to me. Lets not hold the parade quite yet.

As for the River serving as the death agent for 96rock, I dont think you can make that a cause-and-effect. It was a systemwide bloodletting on all CC stations. Gotta make the books look good for the CC buyback.

 

[radiofriend1]

Isnt this station trending down? Would it be a shock if River was a 2.5 share three books from now? Not to me.

what makes u think they WOULD???

news flash: all radio stations go up and all radio statations go down. there's never ever been a single radio station that never has down books nor has there ever been a radio station that's gotten, i.e., a 7 share and kept it forever

if U don't like it that's fine. would it be a shock if they had a 7.5 three books from now? that and yours are both useless questions to ask

 

[RadioGaGa75]

I live in a part of rural Georgia where The River's signal absolutely dominates. I also work in the broadcasting biz. It's funny when I'm out talking with people, I stilll hear several folks talk about how the miss they old Fox 97. But at the same time, I hear people who say how they are glad 97.1 is back "more like they used to be." Now for those of us work in the industry, we know the distinct differences between a true Oldies format like WFOX used to be and Classic Hits like WSRV is now. It just reinforces the fact that a lot of older Rock music pretty much sounds the same to the average person. Most of the people in these parts could not stand the Urban experiment Cox did on 97.1. With the music they are doing now, it's more like the "good ole Fox 97 days" minus Randy and Spiff of course.

 

[CONSultant]

I wish Cox would capitalize on Randy and Spiff being free again. They'd be perfect on the River...wow that would be some irony, huh? I miss those guys. Now I have virtually nothing to listen to on the drive in...and I don't want to listen to CD's in the morning. Need that connected feeling. Don't get it anymore and Laura Ingraham doesn't come on until 9am.

 

[attaboy]

But wouldn't Randy and Spiff on the River just ruin what The River is all about: Little talk, Little Commercials, Little Clutter? Putting them on would just muck up the entire formula.

 

[redradioranger]

The trends show half the audience A 25-54 going out the window and the 18-34’s are down as well. It has nothing to do with whether you like the format or not, when the book comes out you’ll see over all listening is down. Let’s not debate it lets see what the Arbitron shows then we’ll have all 3 phases in not just the two showing the downtrend.

 

[starboy]

Like all formats that start off being built on music, they eventually have to bring in a good morning show to save their rears. Randy and Spiff would be great for the River, If only radio reacted logically.

 

[radiofriend1]

The trends show half the audience A 25-54 going out the window and the 18-34’s are down as well. It has nothing to do with whether you like the format or not, when the book comes out you’ll see over all listening is down. Let’s not debate it lets see what the Arbitron shows then we’ll have all 3 phases in not just the two showing the downtrend.

a-they aren't an 18-34 station so who cares?
b-they've been a top 6 25-54 station almost since their inception EXCEPT for this last trend. that's hardly "25-54 going out the window"

and in the real world of radio a "downtrend" would be, for example, a slide from perennial top 5 into a lower tier of the top 10 over a year or so trends

there are a lot of changes going on in the atl. market right now and the cume is flying around pretty good. sane people give things a chance to shake out before they start sticking a fork in a station