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(WBEB 101.1 FM) B 101 to become Fresh tomorrow at 2 PM EDT

J

Jul

Guest
Tomorrow at noon EDT--while at-work listeners are tuned in--they're going to halt programming and start a two-hour block of song snippets. The idea is to allow listeners to go online and rate the song snippets. In reality, it's a stunt to draw attention to the barely-perceptible flip to "Fresh Music B101" which apparently happens at 2:00 p.m EDT. From: http://www3.b101radio.com/
 
What is the difference between the music they are playing now and the "Fresh" music they will be playing tomorrow afternoon? I thought a station like B-101 would be playing "Fresh" music when it becomes available.

Thanks,
Stuart
 
This on-air/online music test being conducted by B101 is one of the brightest, out-of-box (pardon the cliche), unique things I've ever heard a radio station do. Kudos to the programming folks at B101 for doing something different. This is buzz-worthy, gives listeners the impression their opinion counts and is just smart, fun programming.
 
Liner heard just now: "We need your help in freshening our playlist" ECCCH!
 
Another line: "Thank you for building a fresh music mix".

In the last ten minutes I heard four Phil Collins songs sampled... Last I checked he didn't really qualify as "today's fresh music" ... then again the "listeners" who take this "survey" will make all the difference...
 
Yeah, an on-air music survey is interesting to radio geeks - but unlistenable to the average person in an office and restaurant. Sounded ridiculous as background in a pizza place in Audubon, and people looked annoyed.

I've only heard such a thing on-air once before, which was when 94.1 in Salt Lake City (then KALL-FM, now KODJ) dropped bird feed and started doing oldies with local personalities and playlist (mid 90's). That represented a big change and was done prior to kicking off the format. Few were listening at the time. It was also done in such a way that you could pick up a "ballot" at a local convenience store chain, vote and mail it in. Prizes were given away to a select few as an incentive to "vote" for what music you like.

B101 is a very popular station, especially during weekday work hours. All such a survey will do is drive away the average listener. It just strikes me as a dumb way to do things. Especially when they have more to lose than gain. Not to mention messing with a successful playlist. You know how it goes, if it ain't broke....
 
Hm, so far, no sign of any obvious change, despite the Fresh@2pm statement... still identifying themselves the same way...

DToTheJ said:
Another line: "Thank you for building a fresh music mix".

In the last ten minutes I heard four Phil Collins songs sampled... Last I checked he didn't really qualify as "today's fresh music" ... then again the "listeners" who take this "survey" will make all the difference...
 
Re music test on-air: Fred Horton was doing this at WGNA in Albany NY twelve years ago. Since it was pre-internet, they published the research form in the newspaper.

There's nothing new in radio. It's all been done before.
 
BRNout said:
Yeah, an on-air music survey is interesting to radio geeks - but unlistenable to the average person in an office and restaurant. Sounded ridiculous as background in a pizza place in Audubon, and people looked annoyed.

A (64 year old) woman I work with turns on WBEB as the first thing she does in the morning and turns it off just before she leaves work. I walked by about 12:30 pm today and she had it turned OFF.
 
Talk about flushing the audience, which is sometimes the norm before a major format flip...
 
DToTheJ said:
Talk about flushing the audience, which is sometimes the norm before a major format flip...

Once again, I pose the question: Why do this?

By all accounts, B101 does really well in this market. In fact, they are about the most successful non-corporate station in the country. Who in the heck is telling them that this is a good idea? And, to do it again tomorrow? It is very foolish to mess with success.
 
They were the #1 station in Philly for years. They have no in-market competition, unlike New York's Lite FM. Why are they messing with their image? If they wanted to change the music they played, they could do it gradually, keeping the B101 name. This would have made sense when Sunny 104.5 was there (the Fresh alternative to the stale Sunny music).
I can't get B101 where I am now due to CBS-FM.
 
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