They're picketing outside WCCC today

[reelyreal]

I laugh every time I see another ignorant blog comment or facebook post about the "corporate greed" and "drive for profits" at Marlin. You've gotta be kidding me. If you want to talk about a broadcast company that's stuck to their musical roots as much as possible at every station they've owned, let's talk about the Tangers.

This isn't about profits. This is about paying the bills.

Many rock fans (not all) don't want to acknowledge the fact that their laser-sharp focus on a tiny slice of the rock spectrum is what's killed rock radio. You just can't generate enough interest in a station to sell enough ads to pay the bills with such a narrow focus.

Mass appeal is the name of the game in BROADcasting. Always has been.

 

[progressivetalk]

I think that WCCC's move to incorporate more classic rock into their playlist will help the station. The last ratings book saw the station climb about half a point.

 

[RadioMan203]

The topic subject reminded me of the episode of WKRP in Cincinnati when the old folks picketed the station.

You never see anybody picketing McDonalds when they discontinue the McRib! The station has to do what it needs to in order to survive. Besides, there's many more corporate groups whose stations are much worse!

 

[gmspectre]

It is interesting that this is happening to WCCC since they have had this holier than thou attitude for the longest time, celebrating the format change of WMRQ in the early 2000's as a victory. It's funny to see that attitude bite them back.

However it's funnier listening to the experts on this board talking about how the change is so great. So let me get this right, there's a unique station with a fiercely loyal audience. I know you have your Arbitron, and I know it's a very accurate system that is totally flawless in it's approach, but the great thing about technology is that there is a direct line from the consumers to the corporations and when the general response to the change is overwhelmingly negative, there's something wrong. I'm not seeing people compliment the new songs, and the complaints are mostly that they already have stations that play those overplayed songs. By the way, for all the talk about a narrow focus, there aren't a whole lot of new songs that you don't already hear everywhere else or are even consistent with the prevous playlist whenever a station decides to add music.

But I know you experts and all the people like you who run the radio stations know what you're doing. You are a shining example of why it's a thriving medium that will survive for many years to come.

 

[reelyreal]

Nobody said anything about ratings, dude. I also never said anything about liking the direction the station's gone in. I don't see this working either.

This is about REVENUE. If the ultra loyal fanbase translated into enough advertising revenue to pay the bills, they'd still be playing straight-ahead active rock. Fan loyalty doesn't pay the CL&P bill. The Arbitron rankers don't pay the SoundExchange bill.

CBS and Clear Channel completely dominate and control the national buys in Hartford. Sure, there's some left for everyone else, but Marlin, Buckley, and Red Wolf need to depend on local ad buys. That's who they're working to please right now.

42,993 facebook fans don't generate revenue.

Then again, you'd have to get down off your high horse and mingle with us who actually work in the business full time and have for decades to see what's going on.

 

[Arby Tron]

I think that WCCC's move to incorporate more classic rock into their playlist will help the station. The last ratings book saw the station climb about half a point.

The programming shift happened after the time period for the February monthly. Read the Facebook quotes of the people who were loyal fans and feel that the station crapped all over them, comparing the station to River and WPLR. The next few months will see the station numbers dwindle.

 

[RonTheEngineer]

I think that WCCC's move to incorporate more classic rock into their playlist will help the station. The last ratings book saw the station climb about half a point.

The programming shift happened after the time period for the February monthly. Read the Facebook quotes of the people who were loyal fans and feel that the station crapped all over them, comparing the station to River and WPLR. The next few months will see the station numbers dwindle.

LOL you actually think what you think MATTERS! The songs are the crap they put between commercials. "Ratings" are meaningless, its all down to the savvy of the sales staff and if they can sell you swampland in FL. A radio (and TV) station is not there to entertain you, its there to make money for the owners. Entertaining you is totally incidental. Get over it. Tune out, there are 5 to replace you.

I know its brutal but the truth often is!