• Get involved.
    We want your input!
    Apply for Membership and join the conversations about everything related to broadcasting.

    After we receive your registration, a moderator will review it. After your registration is approved, you will be permitted to post.
    If you use a disposable or false email address, your registration will be rejected.

    After your membership is approved, please take a minute to tell us a little bit about yourself.
    https://www.radiodiscussions.com/forums/introduce-yourself.1088/

    Thanks in advance and have fun!
    RadioDiscussions Administrators

WAAF sold to EMF....

I recall something like that from years back but don't recall if it was EMF. But they would not have been the only ones. I knew a guy in a city of about 30,000 who said he spent a huge sum for his FM, abides by FCC rules and spends almost (then) $100,000 a month on payroll and infrastructure to be a top notch radio station and if some little 100 watt LPFM comes on and takes even one of his listeners he will destroy the LPFM and never let the FCC off the hook on approving LPFM. As he put it, he'd see how much of the FCC's budget he could get them to waste on him and his challenges. Funny thing was he was a really nice guy. He was correct in his thinking an LPFM could cover his immediate small city and do just what he does for pennies on the dollar. That little city has has 3 LPFMs now and I doubt he's lost a listener.

Sure the panic over LPFM was really silly but hindsight makes that easy to see. I doubt EMF is opposed to LPFM now. I sort of wonder why they don't offer their programming as a 'programming service' to LPFMs in the same way EWTN, 3ABN, FBN, Radio 74 International and others do. They could do a 50/50 split on local donations.

If I recall, the NAB, NPR and many, many other organizations opposed LPFM. I was given some inside information on why LPFM is what it is. Originally it was to be a commercial 1,000 watt FM service and you could have more than one. Instead LPFM wound up as a 100 watts at 100 feet/30 meters non-commercial FM owned by state and/or federally recognized non-profits and only one to a customer. You might say there was enough of an uproar among full power broadcasters to diminish LPFM from 1,000 watts commercial to 100 watts non-commercial.
 
@bostonradio tweet:
>>WAAF was ranked 23rd overall in the January(2-29) survey by Nielsen Auduo released yesterday.

(It was tied with WERS and just a bit higher than WGIR-FM from NH). WODS was not much better. Not sure if I can quote actual numbers.

@bostonradio also said:
Both IHeart and Beasley have four stations each in Top10. Entercom only has two. If it wasn’t for Hill bringing his audience from AAF to EEi last summer, it is very safe to say EEI would be closer to AAF than to the Hub in the January standings. The only bright spot for Entercom.

(In the top 10)
Beasley: WROR #1. WBZ-FM #4, WKLB #8, WBOS #9

iHeart WXKS-FM #2, WBZ AM #3, #WZLX #6, WRKO #10

Entercom: WMJX #5, WEEI-FM #7
 
I know this is all you have to look at but as we try to tell you over and over these overall numbers mean nothing to us. It's all about how the target audience is being served not everyone and that can be so drastically different that this is just a waste of time.
 
Wow. Just tuned into WAAF and both Mistress Carrie and Mike Hsu are on the air. Looks like they're being given the rare chance to do a pre-flip wake for a couple days... Classy move by Entercom.
 
I'm sure I'm going to spark a fire here, but I am the only one who thinks that religious stations should stay out of the commercial portion of the band? Especially since they are buying all these high power stations in big markets (with tax free money) and running 99% satellite programming begging for more money. I still can't believe what happened to PLJ and now this.

Here is one perspective on “tax free” money:

Most non-profit groups spend everything that comes in. The don’t make a profit, so there is no taxable income.

Non-profit groups do save on a number of other things, depending sometimes on the state they are in. There may be exemptions on property taxes, savings on sales taxes and the like. But every such group, from the Red Cross to religions, are similarly exempted. Our nation was founded with principals that encourage individuals to support all kinds of initiatives rather than having the government control them.

Of course individuals who donate can deduct charitable donations from their taxes. Again, this was intended to encourage private versus government initiatives in many areas. If one compares the USA with other nations, they will find that there is far less citizen support in most other countries for things ranging from medical research to legal aid. Overall, the effect is part of the success of American democracy...despite the flaws that today’s combative politicians may emphasize.
 
That's very naive and incorrect. EMF has the same agenda as Entercom, Iheart and the rest= To Make Money.
EMF just uses "Jesus" as the brand...

For profit companies make money to benefit shareholders. Non-profit ones solicit money to pay for operations and to expand them.

in one case, income benefits owners. In the other, income benefits users. Totally different.

The Red Cross is not the same as Microsoft or P&G.
 
You know Dave, you get more bees with honey than you do flies with manure. I must ask, what'a with your guerilla style defence of EMF? I can see debating. But everyone, including myself, who doesn't agree with you 100% has been subject to your talking down to them. I just don't get it.
 
You know Dave, you get more bees with honey than you do flies with manure. I must ask, what'a with your guerilla style defence of EMF? I can see debating. But everyone, including myself, who doesn't agree with you 100% has been subject to your talking down to them. I just don't get it.

I don't even personally like their "K-love" format, but I admire how professionally it is done. I have only listened on occasion to understand what they do and how it effects overall radio listening. My perspective is that there are no more nor no less than 100 shares of radio listening, and every station is a competitor.

I also feel that EMF helps commercial broadcasting by removing stations from revenue competition in the cases where they buy commercial stations. And their format helps to keep overall radio listening up. So there are some pluses here.

What I do object to is arguments involving their non-profit status (generally based on a lack of understanding of the principles of our nation's legal structure), their programming and even their particular belief in a supreme being. I also object to things like your simplistic vision of letting a sold station's staff do what they like on the air while the authorization is pending.

In other words, I object to inaccuracies and prejudices. Both have run rampant in this thread.
 
Last edited:
@bostonradio tweet:
>>WAAF was ranked 23rd overall in the January(2-29) survey by Nielsen Auduo released yesterday.

(It was tied with WERS and just a bit higher than WGIR-FM from NH). WODS was not much better. Not sure if I can quote actual numbers.

@bostonradio also said:
Both IHeart and Beasley have four stations each in Top10. Entercom only has two. If it wasn’t for Hill bringing his audience from AAF to EEi last summer, it is very safe to say EEI would be closer to AAF than to the Hub in the January standings. The only bright spot for Entercom.

(In the top 10)
Beasley: WROR #1. WBZ-FM #4, WKLB #8, WBOS #9

iHeart WXKS-FM #2, WBZ AM #3, #WZLX #6, WRKO #10

Entercom: WMJX #5, WEEI-FM #7

However, in revenue it is different.

Entercom has 4, iHeart has 4 and Beasley has two in the top 10.
 
Last edited:
I don't even personally like their "K-love" format, but I admire how professionally it is done. I have only listened on occasion to understand what they do and how it effects overall radio listening. My perspective is that there are no more nor no less than 100 shares of radio listening, and every station is a competitor.

What I do object to is arguments involving their non-profit status (generally based on a lack of understanding of the principles of our nation's legal structure), their programming and even their particular belief in a supreme being. I also object to things like your simplistic vision of letting a sold station's staff do what they like on the air while the authorization is pending.

In other words, I object to inaccuracies and prejudices. Both have run rampant in this thread.

Well of that I have nothing but respect. As for my objections in our debate. I still object to you in that discussion, mainly that regardless of the right, to silence the air staff of th exiting station being childish. However, your opinion here is valid and with merit. Now, for me personally, I stated that I have a biased position towards religious media outlets who ask for donations. That is due to the rampant Jim Bakker types. It is wrong to imply that on EMF. Still, that is what the hang up is. For others, theres a whole political aspect that is not appropriate for this forum. As for me. They legally bought the frequency. Its theirs. Will I listen? No. I will trade my WAAF preset for another station, probably one of the college stations.

Regarding our argument, the sad part is that EMF didn't silence the staff. And, the staff aren't pulling the "childish antics" that you referenced WCCC doing. Carrie and Hsu have been nothing but cordial about it on the air.
 
Well of that I have nothing but respect. As for my objections in our debate. I still object to you in that discussion, mainly that regardless of the right, to silence the air staff of th exiting station being childish. However, your opinion here is valid and with merit. Now, for me personally, I stated that I have a biased position towards religious media outlets who ask for donations. That is due to the rampant Jim Bakker types. It is wrong to imply that on EMF. Still, that is what the hang up is. For others, theres a whole political aspect that is not appropriate for this forum. As for me. They legally bought the frequency. Its theirs. Will I listen? No. I will trade my WAAF preset for another station, probably one of the college stations.

That is actually a very nice and precise summation. :)

Regarding our argument, the sad part is that EMF didn't silence the staff. And, the staff aren't pulling the "childish antics" that you referenced WCCC doing. Carrie and Hsu have been nothing but cordial about it on the air.

I did not reference WCCC. I referenced an experience with a rock station in LA that converted to Spanish Regional Mexican.

There have been many experiences with stations being sold and the soon to be former staff saying or doing things that were disrespectful, harmful or illegal. Those of us in the business are aware of those stories, and we take steps to avoid future incidents. That is why in staff reductions those who are dismissed are escorted while picking up their possessions and leaving the stations... we have seen what happened when that did not occur.
 
David wants to believe that EMF is totally pure and philanthropic. Does anyone question where they got the $10 million to buy WAAF? They are a calculating corporation that makes big money for its top management. Do any of these "Christians" ever read the historical quotes attributed to Jesus and his thoughts on money & extreme wealth? EMF is a business.

If people want to support this type of product, they are free to do so. EMF will gladly take their money...
 
Does anyone question where they got the $10 million to buy WAAF?

I know. They got it from donations from listeners. There's no reason why rock fans couldn't do the exact same thing.

As I said, rock fans did it in Seattle. Seattle is a smaller city than Boston. $10 million is not a lot of money to raise from passionate people.
 
Wow. Just tuned into WAAF and both Mistress Carrie and Mike Hsu are on the air. Looks like they're being given the rare chance to do a pre-flip wake for a couple days... Classy move by Entercom.

Plenty of heritage stations do this, especially before being sold to EMF. Think WPLJ, WCCC, WLUP, etc.
 
David wants to believe that EMF is totally pure and philanthropic. Does anyone question where they got the $10 million to buy WAAF? They are a calculating corporation that makes big money for its top management. Do any of these "Christians" ever read the historical quotes attributed to Jesus and his thoughts on money & extreme wealth? EMF is a business.

If people want to support this type of product, they are free to do so. EMF will gladly take their money...

Now gee, why don't you directly quote what Jesus said about wealth?
 
Now gee, why don't you directly quote what Jesus said about wealth?

The one I see most frequently is “How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”
 
The one I see most frequently is “How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”

Now who said that EMF has wealth? They use their resources for the kingdom.
 
Status
This thread has been closed due to inactivity. You can create a new thread to discuss this topic.


Back
Top Bottom