Thoughts on Rock 106.1

[upstate29651]

* I know it's cheaper to make a spot in house & use that same spot on all of your stations. Triad, however, seems to use the same, tired presentation that would work on 107.9 & 98.3 on 106.1. Does Rock's target demo care about buying a new outdoor spa or top of the line patio furniture? I'd say no. In any event, I'm presuming Triad sells time as a package deal to hit all of their stations. However, it would be nice if the imaging on some of the commercials is more in keeping with an Active rocker. Monty Jett, your dulcet tones don't lend themselves very well to 106.1.

*Is 106.1 hellbent on not adding brand new rock? Example: Chevelle's had a new song, "I get it", out for a few weeks now, and it's been played maybe twice on rock. One of those times, I had to request it! Any particular reason why they're so slow in adding new releases?

*Is the afternoon guy "The Buzz" really "Just Phil" reincarnated? He kinda sounds like him.

*Who's the PD there nowadays?

G

 

[FilmCritic3K]

* I know it's cheaper to make a spot in house & use that same spot on all of your stations. Triad, however, seems to use the same, tired presentation that would work on 107.9 & 98.3 on 106.1. Does Rock's target demo care about buying a new outdoor spa or top of the line patio furniture? I'd say no. In any event, I'm presuming Triad sells time as a package deal to hit all of their stations. However, it would be nice if the imaging on some of the commercials is more in keeping with an Active rocker. Monty Jett, your dulcet tones don't lend themselves very well to 106.1.

*Is 106.1 hellbent on not adding brand new rock? Example: Chevelle's had a new song, "I get it", out for a few weeks now, and it's been played maybe twice on rock. One of those times, I had to request it! Any particular reason why they're so slow in adding new releases?

*Is the afternoon guy "The Buzz" really "Just Phil" reincarnated? He kinda sounds like him.

*Who's the PD there nowadays?

G

You're right on all points once again, G.

You can forget new rock being added in a timely and efficient manner on WFXH. They constantly miss the boat on that one. I mean, why add new rock when you can spin the same tired songs by Nickelback and Avenged Sevenfold and rely on the same boring, tired playlist? : The only time you'll hear diversity is during their 2-hour indie rock show "Underexposed" Sunday nights at 8PM.

Here's the playlist from last Sunday...

"Can't Believe A Single Word" - VHS or Beta
"Misery Business" - Paramore
"Goin' Under" - Argyle
"Hard Life Easy" - Satellite Party
"Wolves At Night" - Manchester Orchestra
"Do You Do You Dig Destruction" - Turbonegro
"Smokers Outside The Hospital Doors" - Editors
"Apocalypto" - The Ringers
"Grip Like A Vice" - The Go! Team
"Mutiny, I Promise You" - The New Pornographers
"Up In It" - Boys Night Out
"Papillon" - The Airborne Toxic Effect
"Every Day Is Like Sunday" - Fate or Trouble
"This Is For Real" - Motion City Soundtrack
"Hot Knives" - Bright Eyes
"Australia" - The Shins
"Fa-Fa-Fa" - Datarock
"Get Up" - Steriogram
"Enemy" - Jesca Hoop
"I'm Impressed" - They Might Be Giants
"The Angry Mob" - Kaiser Chiefs
"Rehab" - Amy Winehouse
"Honest Goodbye" - Bad Religion
"Break These Chains" - The Issues

Good luck seeing any of these songs in regular playlist rotation, aside from the once-in-a-while play at 3AM every other fortnight.

By the way, Dustin Matthews (alias Fletcher) is now at WFNX in Boston. No new PD has been named as of yet. That station needs an overhaul badly. It reports as an Alternative...it should be an Alternative, not an Active Rock station masquerading as one.

 

[Radio-X]

To defend the folks at Triad, I will say:

- Rock's average listener is probably a 25 year-old guy who is lower-middle class. He goes to bars and spends money on random crap for his truck and house. Sounds like they're targeting their demos to me...

- Your standard 25 year-old isn't too terribly interested in hearing bands like Motion City Soundtrack and Bad Religion. He likes stuff he knows, like Disturbed, Nirvana, and Godsmack with a little AC/DC mixed in. Sounds like they're targeting their demos again...

- A lot of Active Rock stations report as alternative. Most of your people outside of radio and music have no idea what "Active Rock" is. Alternative sounds a little more edgy and understandable than active rock.

- As much as I'd like to see another 96Wave clone in Savannah, this area just ain't Charleston. Outside of a few areas, Savannah is fairly low-income and low-educated. Plus, have you seen 96Wave's recent ratings? They are getting owned by 98X, a similar station to Rock 106-1.

That being said, an alternative station would be awesome in Savannah...but I'm just not sure of the viability of it. Given the explosive growth in Beaufort and Chatham Counties over the last few years, plus an art school that is doubling in size about every five years, and you might have a viable format by 2010-2012.

Radio-X

 

[FilmCritic3K]

To defend the folks at Triad, I will say:

- Rock's average listener is probably a 25 year-old guy who is lower-middle class...Sounds like they're targeting their demos to me...

Hey I'm 25 and not exactly raking in the dough. And speaking as a 25 year-old, as far as WFXH goes, to quote David Cross, "I'd rather hear the death rattle of my only child than listen to that..."

- Your standard 25 year-old isn't too terribly interested in hearing bands like Motion City Soundtrack and Bad Religion. He likes stuff he knows, like Disturbed, Nirvana, and Godsmack with a little AC/DC mixed in. Sounds like they're targeting their demos again...

It wouldn't hurt them to sprinkle in some diversity. Then again, I realize I'm barking up the wrong tree with my request (as I'm more a fan of early '90s alternative rock and current indie rock) so I'll stick with my hopes a new alternative station will come to fruition some day soon.

- A lot of Active Rock stations report as alternative. Most of your people outside of radio and music have no idea what "Active Rock" is. Alternative sounds a little more edgy and understandable than active rock.

And again, I cannot understand this tactic. A Hot AC station shouldn't be allowed to report as Top 40, a Smooth Jazz station shouldn't be allowed to report as Soft AC, and an Active Rock station shouldn't be allowed to report as an Alternative station.

- As much as I'd like to see another 96Wave clone in Savannah, this area just ain't Charleston. Outside of a few areas, Savannah is fairly low-income and low-educated. Plus, have you seen 96Wave's recent ratings? They are getting owned by 98X, a similar station to Rock 106-1.

WZAT, back when it was alternative, married a great playlist, with terrific presentation, interesting weekly shows, and excellent on-air talent. G's point of there being a very real disconnect between WFXH and the advertisements it airs is spot-on. Every element of the station does not operate as a cohesive unit, thus as a listener it's a disconcerting, disorganized mess with no real focus; the playlist I've already mentioned.

That being said, an alternative station would be awesome in Savannah...but I'm just not sure of the viability of it. Given the explosive growth in Beaufort and Chatham Counties over the last few years, plus an art school that is doubling in size about every five years, and you might have a viable format by 2010-2012.

Radio-X

I sincerely hope so. The market's been asleep at the wheel for far too long. I really wish SCAD had been given the FM license it sought back in 1999. If that had happened, Savannah radio wouldn't be so staid.

 

[Radio-X]

Hey I'm 25 and not exactly raking in the dough. And speaking as a 25 year-old, as far as WFXH goes, to quote David Cross, "I'd rather hear the death rattle of my only child than listen to that..."

Welcome to the club, man! ;D 22k a year in Bluffton ain't too much these days

And again, I cannot understand this tactic. A Hot AC station shouldn't be allowed to report as Top 40, a Smooth Jazz station shouldn't be allowed to report as Soft AC, and an Active Rock station shouldn't be allowed to report as an Alternative station.

I agree with this, but it's tough for a radio person to define "active rock" or "alternative". Maybe most of us can conclude that Rock 106-1 is indeed an active rocker, but how can this be proven for sure? Ditto with hot ac and top 40's.

WZAT, back when it was alternative, married a great playlist, with terrific presentation, interesting weekly shows, and excellent on-air talent. G's point of there being a very real disconnect between WFXH and the advertisements it airs is spot-on. Every element of the station does not operate as a cohesive unit, thus as a listener it's a disconcerting, disorganized mess with no real focus; the playlist I've already mentioned.

Yes, but they never did too terribly well ratings-wise if I recall. There was more money to be made as a top 40 station than a second rock station to I-95.

I sincerely hope so. The market's been asleep at the wheel for far too long. I really wish SCAD had been given the FM license it sought back in 1999. If that had happened, Savannah radio wouldn't be so staid.

From looking at it, the application was filed at the same time as WLFS. WLFS' was flawless technically, and SCAD was looking to put about 40kW at 300', which would have required a station up near Statesboro I think to move. Not to mention SCAD's application had the COL as Savannah while WLFS decided upon the hamlet of Port Wentworth. Hell, you'd think with the 23k they charge kids to go there, they could have at least have hired a decent engineer! I do wonder why SCAD never bought one of the podunk AM's like 1400 though. Last I checked in '05, they wanted to do an LMA with an AM station, but they were charging too much for it.

Anyway, you can have SCADRadio. Waaaaaaay too off the deep end musically for me. I happen to like WNRN in my home state of VA...a nice non-com alt rocker with a nightly rap show, goth rock on sundays, dance music Sundays and Wednesdays...and THE DAILY FEED...check 'em out at wnrn.rlc.net. Still have my 91.9 bumper sticker on my car to this date!!!

Anyway, we'll get lucky one of these days. Somebody will pop an alt rocker up here eventually.

Radio-X

 

[FilmCritic3K]

Anyway, you can have SCADRadio. Waaaaaaay too off the deep end musically for me. I happen to like WNRN in my home state of VA...a nice non-com alt rocker with a nightly rap show, goth rock on sundays, dance music Sundays and Wednesdays...and THE DAILY FEED...check 'em out at wnrn.rlc.net. Still have my 91.9 bumper sticker on my car to this date!!!

Anyway, we'll get lucky one of these days. Somebody will pop an alt rocker up here eventually.

Radio-X

Oh I agree that SCAD Radio can be a bit eclectic and all over the map at times but my point was that at least it'd be something different on the radio here.

BTW, Chuck Cannon came into where I work today (technically, yesterday since it's early Saturday morning as I type this). I first met him many years ago at a previous job.

We discussed odds and ends. He's a really cool guy. I asked him to put in a good word about flipping WGZO, even though the signal's crap.

From what I've gleaned, I think the best bet would be not trying to reform WFXH, as it appears to me that the station is a lost cause, unless Triad would ever want to pull a 180 (not that they would). Therefore, we should just hope, like you said, that an enterprising radio owner/company fills the Alternative void sometime in the next decade.