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WBOQ sale, format change coming

EMF may not be done acquiring stations in/near Boston.

I'm sure they want their "Air 1" network to be on an analog FM signal in Boston. And they may want another station with a big signal to broadcast "K-Love" in southeastern Massachusetts and especially Cape Cod.

I could see EMF having interest in WXRV-92.5 (which has boosters and translators to improve reception south of Boston) to become "Air-1" and bring that format onto analog FM radio in Boston.

I can also see EMF being interested in buying WPLM-99.1 in Plymouth to give "K-Love" a strong signal in coastal Plymouth County, Cape Cod, and the islands, areas not reached at all by WBOQ (and look for those call letters to change very soon!) and not reached well by WKVB-107.3.

In fact, I believe EMF purchased the three or four other stations formerly under the same ownership as WXRV, which used to simulcast WXRV to northern Worcester country and New Hampshire, converting them to "K-Love", so it wouldn't be entirely "out of the blue" were EMF to buy WXRV to run "Air-1".

Another possible noncommercial purchaser of WPLM might be WGBH, to give their WCRB all-classical format a stronger signal south of Boston, in southeastern Massachusetts, and Cape Cod.

EMF (or any noncommercial broadcaster) buying a couple of more local stations would actually be "salvation" (pardon the pun!) for the remaining commercial radio stations in the market. With fewer commercial stations, the remaining commercial stations might get more revenues since there will be fewer competitors out there to sell commercial time.
This has to be the 20th time you've pushed this nonsense
 
EMF is so greedy they’re the Elvis Presley of corporate broadcasters.
Why do you say they are "greedy"? if all they are doing is building full national FM coverage by buying available stations everywhere they can?

They can only do this because they have such considerable listener support that they can make cash purchases of stations that become available.
 
Are you implying I should listen to 104.9 because their new owner/operator is "the most financially successful broadcaster today"?
No, but it shows that EMF has a sound business model today, while traditional broadcasters are having considerable difficulties.
 
No, but it shows that EMF has a sound business model today, while traditional broadcasters are having considerable difficulties.

I have a friend who works for EMF. I was telling him about Radio Discussions, and about how posters here complain all the time about music selection on OTA radio, or too many commercials, or the lack of live & local programming, and all the other complaints people have about today's commercial radio. He told me none of their listeners ever complain about the music, or the lack of live & local DJs. Of course, there aren't any commercials because people willingly donate money to the station. They love the positive feeling they get from listening to the station. They love the message in the music. And so the company keeps making money and buying stations. You want to know why they're successful? That's why.
 
I have a friend who works for EMF. I was telling him about Radio Discussions, and about how posters here complain all the time about music selection on OTA radio, or too many commercials, or the lack of live & local programming, and all the other complaints people have about today's commercial radio. He told me none of their listeners ever complain about the music, or the lack of live & local DJs. Of course, there aren't any commercials because people willingly donate money to the station. They love the positive feeling they get from listening to the station. They love the message in the music. And so the company keeps making money and buying stations. You want to know why they're successful? That's why.
And, when you look at the ratings, in every market there seems to be a significant share of listening to their K-Love station. Some places they are even in the very top tier, but more often they are in a strong secondary position in the 3 to 5 share range.

And in every market, they are in the top third of all stations in the market... sometimes in the top quarter of them.
 
And, when you look at the ratings, in every market there seems to be a significant share of listening to their K-Love station. Some places they are even in the very top tier, but more often they are in a strong secondary position in the 3 to 5 share range.

And in every market, they are in the top third of all stations in the market... sometimes in the top quarter of them.
Thanks for the feedback on EMF. This company is the most successful and financially solvent company in radio. As mentioned, they program music that is positive, uplifting and spiritually focused. This country was founded in our belief in God and there is a tremendous and growing listener base that supports a return to that. Their presentation is top notch. This is what radio should be. Programming positive, uplifting content that people are willing to pay for and enjoy. EMF will continue to grow and expand because they have a model that works. As radio aficionados, we should embrace any company who is successful, growing and providing what listeners have proven they want. As previously stated, the more stations EMF purchases, the more opportunity that remaining stations can seek more ad dollars.
 
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I'll be honest. I'm a music explorer type person and I have never thought much of Contemporary Christian or Praise & Worship music because it seemed rather uninventive and a sameness as if there were just two producers doing every release. I got a part-time job at a place where they keep either Way FM or Air1 on in the store. From a radio programming point of view I thought I had a great opportunity to study the format as it's pretty quiet when I work.

Both have a very tight playlist that is currents and recurrents (up to 3 years I suppose). The music rotates out very slowly. Maybe a new song every 2 or 3 weeks. It seems currents can stay there a year and in fairly high rotation.

Jocks are obviously after the female. Most shows are paired with male and female host. Talk is about ordinary things that would happen in a family's life. The other day was what have your children done to embarrass you in public? Subject matter is ordinary stuff any family, Christian or not, comes across. The emphasis is on being positive in attitude and a feeling of being a part of something bigger. It's pure positive thinking attitude.

Presentation is purely professional and major market. Air Talent mostly came from secular radio including one who said he was a morning show shock jock in the past.

Fundraising is based on the idea that there's a family of listeners that have made sure the positive station was on the air for you so they ask you to pay it forward with a monthly gift for the next people that need a positive radio station. Most fundraising includes a challenge with a time-limited match. Donors are registered to win a substantial prize for becoming a donor (free groceries for a year, free gasoline, Amazon gift cards in big amounts, smart phones and other things). Most give $30 a month. Nobody is pressed to give more than they can afford. I listened intently because these fundraisers always baffled me in how well they did or seemed to do.

They make no claims to being local. Still they have local crew that go out to select events and hand out swag. Air1 is out at a fireworks display this July 4 in the Fort Worth metro. In fact, the jocks at Air1, who recently relocated to Nashville will mention the differences they are learning between where they were in California.

The people that don't listen think they preach. They don't. The music lyrics is where any 'ministry' is. The concept is since these songs are played in all sorts of churches, by not preaching they can reach Catholics, mainline denominations, the mega church independents, full gospel and most of the remaining denominations. It's a wise programming decision for reaching the largest audience.

There is an emotional connection between listener and station. The reality is (and I say this as a Christian) many folks like the idea of something bigger and more powerful caring about them and willing to protect them. It's as simple as kids needing parents and as adults they need the same protection but via God. It's simple human nature in many folks. So, such a station has the ability to reach a listener on a level other formats cannot achieve.

The above might sound silly but I can tell you something interesting. When tough times come and you remain positive, there is always a way out. The key is you're watching for it because you are positive. If you think negative you're watching for more negative stuff. The result is the positive thinking works.

From a Christian perspective, I find no complaint about Christianity but I do have an issue how man has screwed it up.
 
Just saw the ratings for Chicago's K-Love. Pretty impressive cume IMHO.

WCKL-FMContemporary Christianhttps://******************/images/EMF.jpg1.31.21.2289,400
 
K-Love has over 500 stations in some 48 states,DC, and territories. The list of affilistes on Wiki shows none thus far in NH. There are full power stations like WCCC Hartford and WPLJ NYC as well as LPFMs and translators.
The non commercial educatiomal class allows them to be on LPFMs and between 88 and 92 MHz; fundraising allows for continued operation without interruptions advertising
fast food chicken, pillows, cars, movies etc

"Israel in 4 BC had no mass communication"--Jesus Christ Superstar
"Eternal salvation or triple your money back!"--Church of the SubGenius (parody religion who promised a "Rupture" in 1998.
When it didn't happen, they said they got it
upside down--it will be in 8661.)

Harold Camping was wrong in predicting the Rapture.("Rolling earthquakes in each time zone")Some of hIs Family Radio stations got sold off; stunt before the Philly one went to talk was a loop of REM's "End of the World"--"That's right, it starts with an earthquake..."
 
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K-Love has over 500 stations in some 48 states,DC, and territories. The list of affilistes on Wiki shows none thus far in NH. There are full power stations like WCCC Hartford and WPLJ NYC as well as LPFMs and translators.
The non commercial educatiomal class allows them to be on LPFMs and between 88 and 92 MHz; fundraising allows for continued operation without interruptions advertising
fast food chicken, pillows, cars, movies etc

"Israel in 4 BC had no mass communication"--Jesus Christ Superstar
"Eternal salvation or triple your money back!"--Church of the SubGenius (parody religion who promised a "Rupture" in 1998.
When it didn't happen, they said they got it
upside down--it will be in 8661.)

Harold Camping was wrong in predicting the Rapture.("Rolling earthquakes in each time zone")Some of hIs Family Radio stations got sold off; stunt before the Philly one went to talk was a loop of REM's "End of the World"--"That's right, it starts with an earthquake..."

K Love has 3 stations in NH (and 1 in nearby VT), all formerly co-owned with WXRV. The list on their website is up to date, even has 104.9 on it:

 
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K Love has at least 3 stations in NH (and 1 in nearby VT), all formerly co-owned with WXRV. The list on their website is up to date, even has 104.9 on it:

The Vermont station is the one on 103.1, listed by EMF as being in Lebanon, NH. In actuality, its COL is Royalton, VT, and its transmitter is on the west side of the Connecticut River as well.
 
OK re NH, and we can add the fact that some of the WBOQ signal may hit part of NH--possibly Dover, Derry and Manchester according to the radio-locator map but who knows
 
I have a friend who works for EMF. I was telling him about Radio Discussions, and about how posters here complain all the time about music selection on OTA radio, or too many commercials, or the lack of live & local programming, and all the other complaints people have about today's commercial radio. He told me none of their listeners ever complain about the music, or the lack of live & local DJs. Of course, there aren't any commercials because people willingly donate money to the station. They love the positive feeling they get from listening to the station. They love the message in the music. And so the company keeps making money and buying stations. You want to know why they're successful? That's why.
I would be surprised if the their listeners complained more. They have a niche format and listenership. Kind of like asking Facebook Groups dedicated to particular TV shows or movies if they like channels broadcasting the show/movie. I would theorize the sample to have positive reviews.

The benefit here is that these dame listeners (or a percentage of) are who essentially pays the bills. The big difference here is that they only need to clear nationally. Their listeners could be a relative small subpopulation of the overall population of radio listeners, yet if they donate enough to keep EMF in the black, then they have a sustainable model.

That's my professional take, and I'll leave my subjective stance out of it, which isn't a feeling of disdain towards religious based music.
 
Certainly there are those who love it, and good for them. I couldn't take too much of it, but admittedly am not that religious--musically it seems dull to me with little variety. The songs seem to say nothing but
"praise Him". No "help out the needy"; "love and respect your family"...not even story-songs about incidents in the Bible (again, I could only stand a few songs).

For example I know a local folk-bluegrass band that sang "Brother Noah Built the Ark", kinda a kid sing along, but at least it covered more than just "praise him". Folk music may
not be quite their focus.
But hey, they have an ingenious business model focusing on love. The greatest story ever SOLD. And for those who like CCM, God bless you!
 
The songs seem to say nothing but "praise Him". No "help out the needy"; "love and respect your family".

Some would counter that to "praise Him" is first and foremost (1st Commandment)....and then by praising Him, all the other things follow "help out the needy" and "love and respect your family" is next (2nd):

Matthew 22:34–40 tells of the expert in the law who tested Jesus with the question: “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” (Matt. 22:36). Jesus replied: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself”
 
Certainly there are those who love it, and good for them. I couldn't take too much of it, but admittedly am not that religious--musically it seems dull to me with little variety. The songs seem to say nothing but
"praise Him". No "help out the needy"; "love and respect your family"...not even story-songs about incidents in the Bible (again, I could only stand a few songs).
How many secular songs are about anything other than love? Sure, a few are about pickup trucks or other things... but how many hits have there been about helping the needy or loving the family?
 
Apparently it's all Love of God

In the Ghetto
Wake Up Everybody
Love Without End, Amen (about a loving father)
Of course they would have to include God in
some way for that station/network.
Wonderin Where the Lions Are
(Daniel in the lions' den:"It's about being at peace with the world and the wonder of being alive. "Wondering where he lions are" is a metaphor for no longer being afraid of death or anxious thoughts about our limited time here on Earth, because thinking about eternity, and how nothing ever permanently changes, has got him in a peaceful ecstasy"--comment on SongMeanings
 
Is there a reason why WBOQ cannot move their signal closer to Boston? I know there’s a low power radio station WRBB (Class D) run by Northeastern University, but the station is unprotected.
 
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