Universal ACclaim

[Element9]

According to published reports, Dave Universal will return to the programming ranks as PD of Town Square's Hot AC WJYE. Universal first made his mark in the mid to late 90s as Music Director at Kiss 98.5. He later became Program Director and through shrewd promotions and astute music selection, guided Entercom's CHR to dominance in teens and young adults. Under Universal's direction, Kiss became nationally recognized for breaking hits and new artists. Unfortunately, WKSE owner Entercom and Universal were later investigated by the New York state attorney general's office for music policies that were deemed outside the law and shady "play-for-pay" tactics wherein Universal received perks such as tickets to New York Yankees games.

WJYE isn't likely to transition to CHR under Universal's leadership, but expect the station to become more aggressive in promotions and on the street. Entercom's Hot AC Star 102.5 and Town Square's Joy 96.1 compete for Women 25-54. Star has won the Monday-Sunday battle and All Christmas Music derby, but insiders say less than a share now separates the stations' Monday-Sunday ranking and both are at least three shares behind Town Square's Country WYRK, which is #1 in the demo and scores double digits across the board and in all dayparts. Complicating matters for Star, CHR sister WKSE scores higher Women 25-54 shares in some dayparts, although both Star and WJYE beat WKSE in the coveted at-work midday cat fight.

Universal might start by dropping WJYE's annoying robo-backsells, which consultants insist differentiate WJYE from Star and WYRK. At the same time, it's also worth noting that both Star, Kiss and market leading WYRK rely on stronger local personalities to backsell their music.

 

[flybynight]

Universal might start by dropping WJYE's annoying robo-backsells, which consultants insist differentiate WJYE from Star and WYRK. At the same time, it's also worth noting that both Star, Kiss and market leading WYRK rely on stronger local personalities to backsell their music.

With Universal as PD, might there be an attempt to steal away from mornings, the nearly half-century old Janet Snyder?

 

[TheBigA]

Personally I'm just glad to see him back in radio.

 

[SirRoxalot]

Fly, Snyder would have to admit that she's not hip and 24 anymore, so that's not likely to happen. There have been several attempts to move her from Kiss to Star, and more than one PD has taken a bullet after trying to push her into that move. I also don't see Town Square shelling out the bucks required to do that. Remember, they're the guys who thought that Joe Chille was too expensive.

BTW, A, Universal hasn't really been out of radio. He's been out of the country programming a CHR that fringes into WNY, then out of a programming position, and generally humbled a bit. From what I hear, that's not a bad thing.

 

[Rusty Bridges]

WJYE was the only station on in our offices, but about a year ago Star was added to the mix. The office manager, a woman, usually selects the radio station, but some days the guy who's our business manager makes the choice. To the relief of the guys and a lot of women, he tunes in 91.7 Giant FM from Canada, Jack 92.9 or 107.7. The men in the office like 107.7, but around 11 o'clock as it gets busier and customer flow increases, the station is changed to something more familiar like Star, Joy and Jack, sometimes 104. The guys in the warehouse used to listen to 97 Rock all the time but for the last year it's been Shredd and Ragan. Giant and 107.7 also have been on back there a lot lately. Wasn't Janet Snyder on Kiss in 1984 when she was around 20 years old?