WAIT AM 850 IS CHANGING FORMATS.

[radiotower40]

I turned on am 850 WAIT today, and their still running CNN HN, but, they said change is coming soon, and that is a promise.
Does anyone care to speculate what they are going to do. Are they going to broker it, do some sort of music, some type of
talk? I am a dreamer I know that, but, I'd love to see an EZ listening or lite hits type of format put on there. What do you
folks think they'll do?

 

[Link]

They should put on some local talk shows. If they gain traction, they could move them to their ratings trainwreck station when they finally give up on it.

Put Garry Meier on in middays, then broker wannabe talk shows around him.

Run soft a/c and broker investing shows or nursing home infomercials around the music.

 

[Link]

Put 9 back on and call it 8-1/2. Do it right this time.

 

[thenewageriseth]

Changing huh? I just passed by WCPT 820 and ran into a station NEXT to it-in between 820 and WLS 890 AM on my portable radio and they were playing CHRISTIAN music on this station, before I saw this POST.
I CERTAINLY HOPE THAT IS NOT 850 WAIT-WE HAVE ENOUGH CHRISTIAN STATIONS, THANK YOU.
No offense, but I'm just sayin'. We got enough of those...
Hopefully they will go back to the oldies, just like they did at least 5+ years back. I'd like to hear the likes of Frank Sinatra and Nat King Cole on that station again like in my pre-teens.

 

[radiotower40]

Changing huh? I just passed by WCPT 820 and ran into a station NEXT to it-in between 820 and WLS 890 AM on my portable radio and they were playing CHRISTIAN music on this station, before I saw this POST.
I CERTAINLY HOPE THAT IS NOT 850 WAIT-WE HAVE ENOUGH CHRISTIAN STATIONS, THANK YOU.
No offense, but I'm just sayin'. We got enough of those...
Hopefully they will go back to the oldies, just like they did at least 5+ years back. I'd like to hear the likes of Frank Sinatra and Nat King Cole on that station again like in my pre-teens.

No, unfortunately what you heard was WAIT, they changed in late February to an English/Spanish, religious music and
teaching format. I was hoping they would would do something different as well. Maybe something that would fill a hole in the
market, but what else should we expect from Newsweb. They claim to be one of the last locally owned radio companies. That
really means a lot when you are programming your stations worse than the big guy's. Just look at the former 9FM frequencies,
92.5, 92.7 and 99.9. These stations are simulcasting AM 820, and between the four of them combined they barely even make
a dent in the ratings.

 

[Prais]

TR said; Maybe something that would fill a hole in the
market, but what else should we expect from Newsweb. They claim to be one of the last locally owned radio companies.

They ARE "filling a hole in the market." Spanish Christian should do well. No competition and LOTS of Hispanic Christians, si? The "hole" YOU are in has already been filled by a zillion rock stations.

 

[radioman148]

TR said; Maybe something that would fill a hole in the
market, but what else should we expect from Newsweb. They claim to be one of the last locally owned radio companies.

They ARE "filling a hole in the market." Spanish Christian should do well. No competition and LOTS of Hispanic Christians, si? The "hole" YOU are in has already been filled by a zillion rock stations.

Makes sense. There aren't alot of spanish christian stations around.

 

[Prais]

As recently as a generation ago WOPA, WSBC, WCRW, WGES, WTAQ, WEDC, WEAW and others had Spanish, German, Polish, Greek, Italian, Croatian,and Korean language programs aimed at poeple for whom "those languages came EASIER than English." It was a very profitable niche for all of the stations listed (and others).

Today, there are many Hispanics (and still some Polish and other) immigrants who must survive while they learn English. The stations that serve them, serve a GREAT important need.

These folks have a right to a portion of the broadcast band as much as you and I, who are quite "over-served."

 

[Link]

Spanish Christian is a great idea. IMO Its a typical Newsweb screw up that they decide to play both spanish and english christian songs mixed together on the station. So its really bilingual christian station. I heard one ministry or paid program and it was in english.

 

[Prais]

Not so sure playing English and Spanish is a "screw up" - if it is planned or not.
It would acquaint the Hispanic listener w/English Christian tunes. That's a good thing.

(though there ARE exceptions) it would seem that particularly if you have children, a Hispanic household would be no different than any other "parents who were/are foreign born"; They may be in a situation where the nino's come home from school (where they must speak English) and mom and dad/gma and gpa get an "English lesson" about what the child learned/heard today. American Idol? Twitter? Chicago Cubs? Blagojivich? Computer? Olympis? English would be "taught" by the child to the parent just by dinner table conversation.

 

[radiotower40]

TR said; Maybe something that would fill a hole in the
market, but what else should we expect from Newsweb. They claim to be one of the last locally owned radio companies.

They ARE "filling a hole in the market." Spanish Christian should do well. No competition and LOTS of Hispanic Christians, si? The "hole" YOU are in has already been filled by a zillion rock stations.

I don't know exactly what "hole" YOU think I'M in Prais. I don't recall saying that WAIT should be changed to a rock
station, so please don't put words in my mouth. When I referred to a "hole" in the market, I was referring to people who
would like to hear some standard's or some Frank Sinatra or Dean Martin. Whether you want to believe it or not there are
a lot of people in the 50+ age group, who would like to have a station like this on the air.

I am Catholic and I have no objection to Religious stations. For you to say that there are no other stations in this market
that play a format aimed at the Hispanic Christian market is not true. WMBI AM devotes a lot of their programming to the
Hispanic Christian community. WSBC AM 1240 also has programs geared to the same community. WNTD also has a whole
block of programming on Saturday's in Spanish. The new WCGO/WONX 1590 AM also has these types of programs as well.
To say that there are NO other stations that have this type of format is being dishonest to say it in a nice way. Just to point
out to you the programming on WAIT is bilingual, it is hardly a full time Spanish language station. I have already heard hour
long blocks that are in English that are not in any way geared toward the Hispanic community!

Prais, Could you please point out to me exactly where I said this should have been made a rock station? I would also like
to know when I said every station around should be a rock station? I would also like you to tell me what station in the Chicago
area has a "rock" format? Are you talking about The Drive? That Sir is a CLASSIC ROCK station. The Loop? That is a hybrid
CLASSIC ROCK/80's ROCK station with a few current's thrown in. Q101? WXRT? If you ask someone who is a fan of NEW ROCK
MUSIC, Chicago has not had a REAL ROCK station since the demise of 94.7 The Zone a couple years back. So now that I've
thought about it maybe WAIT should have changed to a REAL ROCK station as there is "hole" in the market for it.

This is the third time you've responded to one of my post's by throwing in unnecessary comment's about me and not my post,
and I would appreciate it if you would stop. If you disagree with what I post, it is your right to post your opinion, as to why you
think I'm wrong, but, the tone of your response is not called for. comprende?

 

[Prais]

Comprende, si. I just didn't want a long post so I was quite direct. Don't take things so personal. There are plenty of trouble makers on radio info. Read the Boston board. Right or wrong, being direct is my solution.

TR said; "I don't know exactly what "hole" YOU think I'M in Prais"

Please read my post again. YOU are NOT in ANY hole. I said "there is a hole in the (Chicago) market for a Spanish Christian station." I too would enjoy a standards station, but it is NOT going to happen because the demographics are TOO OLD and NO national advertisers would partcipate so you'd need a LARGE EXPERIENCED LOCAL sales team. In this economy nobody is stupid enough to try that.

I lived in Chicago til I was 17, moved away to college and, because of crowds and corruption, never returned. I live in a great place that is a horrible satellite programmed radio market, with NO creativity. From 71-73 I worked for wedc and wcrw. I PUT 2000 OLDIES ON CART FOR wind. 1973-85 my wife and I owned 4 radio stations. We "got an offer we couldn't refuse" and since then I'm in a business that (to me) is much more rewarding that radio.

I'm 60 years old so (to me) the fm dial is ALL ROCK. Classic, schmasic. It's my view, that's all. if it's not oldies, to me, it's ALL the same noise. I'm an ordained Catholic deacon. WMBI and the other stations you mentioned are well and good, but in a place with 40 English language stations and a growing Hispanic population, THAT is certanily where the growth and opportunity is for a local sales team.

Unnecessary? "One man's trash is another mans treasure." I calls 'em as I sees 'em.
Peace!

 

[[email protected]]

When I referred to a "hole" in the market, I was referring to people who
would like to hear some standard's or some Frank Sinatra or Dean Martin. Whether you want to believe it or not there are
a lot of people in the 50+ age group, who would like to have a station like this on the air.

I worked for WAIT...(the original one in Elmhurst) when they played "Big Band" music during the 80's. Eventually the owners changed formats to something else, (EZ Listening Rock WXEZ-AM 820), because they couldn't make any money with it. Sad but true.

At that time our competitor was WJJD and they too eventually changed format for the same reason...they couldn't make any money...and that put an end to Big Band music on Chicago radio...with the exception of some low power station here and there.

Anyway...as unfair as it may seem...radio broadcasting is all about the money...therefore the owners must program the station to attract advertisers and Big Band music doesn't do that very well.

Maybe someday an independently wealthy person will buy a station and pour their money into it and put some Sinatra back on the air.

 

[Prais]

Correct. There are NO national advertisers who go for the older demographics. You'd need a large (expensive local sales team. Not very practical.

 

[audioguy]

I do find it odd that there is no interest in advertising or programming for older Americans, given that our demographics keep skewing older with each passing year. Never mind though, perhaps it is time to stop whining about the decline in programming variety and quality and look to new media channels. At least we now have the option of listening to AM 740 at night without IBOC interference, and they do have a pretty good lineup of adult standards. The FM, classical 96.3, is nice too (on the Internet).

Anyway, I remember the day that AM 850 first popped up on my Realtone 6-transistor radio on the way to school. I believe that its original call letters were "WCLR", which I think stood for Crystal Lake Radio, and I think they were initially only a 250 watt station. But they came in pretty well in my town in the western Chicago suburbs. I don't recall exactly what the format was, but I remember that it was interesting, and that I used to tune in fairly often. I think they might have played a variety of music, perhaps including classical. Probably someone on the board remembers more about it than I do.

I was pretty excited when I picked them up over in Michigan at our summer cottage on the old Grigsby Grunow, with a long wire antenna. I thought that was doing pretty well for a 250 watt daytimer, and I'm pretty sure I still have a letter of acknowledgement stashed away somewhere, along with my verification card for picking up WLS in Jasper, Alberta and few other such childhood treasures.

That, and my Knight wireless broadcaster probably contributed more to my interest in radio than any school science class...

 

[Prais]

Audioguy said; I do find it odd that there is no interest in advertising or programming for older Americans, given that our demographics keep skewing older with each passing year.

Sir, YOUNG DEMOGRAPHICS rule! it has been that way since the 1970's. There are many so called truths that agencies use to back up their anti-older American claim; One is "Their brands are already set by habit. They don't try anything new." Look up David Eduardo elsewhere on this board. A very knowledeable guy, he often spouts these claims.

To make a standards station work you need LOCAL advertisers, and that takes LOTS of work from a radio sales department that WANTS the format to succeed.

 

[radiotower40]

Comprende, si. I just didn't want a long post so I was quite direct. Don't take things so personal. There are plenty of trouble makers on radio info. Read the Boston board. Right or wrong, being direct is my solution.

TR said; "I don't know exactly what "hole" YOU think I'M in Prais"

Please read my post again. YOU are NOT in ANY hole. I said "there is a hole in the (Chicago) market for a Spanish Christian station." I too would enjoy a standards station, but it is NOT going to happen because the demographics are TOO OLD and NO national advertisers would partcipate so you'd need a LARGE EXPERIENCED LOCAL sales team. In this economy nobody is stupid enough to try that.

I lived in Chicago til I was 17, moved away to college and, because of crowds and corruption, never returned. I live in a great place that is a horrible satellite programmed radio market, with NO creativity. From 71-73 I worked for wedc and wcrw. I PUT 2000 OLDIES ON CART FOR wind. 1973-85 my wife and I owned 4 radio stations. We "got an offer we couldn't refuse" and since then I'm in a business that (to me) is much more rewarding that radio.

I'm 60 years old so (to me) the fm dial is ALL ROCK. Classic, schmasic. It's my view, that's all. if it's not oldies, to me, it's ALL the same noise. I'm an ordained Catholic deacon. WMBI and the other stations you mentioned are well and good, but in a place with 40 English language stations and a growing Hispanic population, THAT is certanily where the growth and opportunity is for a local sales team.

Unnecessary? "One man's trash is another mans treasure." I calls 'em as I sees 'em.
Peace!

It's all good Prais, I had a death in the family, so I probably did take it a little too personally. I really enjoy
reading your posts(even when we disagree ;D). You have a great knowledge of the radio business. Peace my man!

 

[Prais]

Sorry for your loss. Hang in there!

The discussion here is often really good. I had quite a great time visditing lots of stations while I was growing up in Chicago, and a 17 year radio career that included dj/sales/news/management and 13 years of ownership of 4 stations.

Now I have an even better career.

God is good!