WBOS - Call It What It Is

[ScottBurns]

Let me preface this by saying that I like the music on WBOS. But why the bland moniker? Why not call the format exactly what it is: Classic Alternative? There are stations in many markets playing such a format. There is demand, albiet limited, for such music Why not call it what it is?

Beyond that, I cannot stand what Greater Media is doing regarding imaging, lack of jocks, etc. for that station. Yes, this is not something that is unique to Boston. But with its heritage call letters, and the fact that this is such a large market, having no jocks and such lousy imaging is unconscionable.

 

[freqlost]

How is 92.9 billing since the change ? Never see those #s anymore.

 

[Retro]

I think that WBOS is trying to position themselves as being generic and being about the music, not an image as previously as they have been.

 

[CTListener]

How is 92.9 billing since the change ? Never see those #s anymore.

If it's running jockless, with a library of old music that never needs to be added to, and isn't spending anything on imaging, how can it help but be billing better than it was when it had jocks, imaging, event sponsorships, etc., at least in terms of $$$ taken in on advertising vs. $$$ spent on paying the power bill for the transmitter? Couldn't the station be run out of the proverbial broom closet, the way automated FMs used to be when AM was king?

 

[THE_VIKING]

They are playing new titles though... a couple of weeks ago (Wed evening the 19th) I heard The Ramones going into Katy Perry's "I Kissed a Girl"...

 

[Laurence Glavin]

"Heritage calls"? Yes, they originated on AM 1600 and on that basis could not have made an impact in the market...but since the letters' incarnation on an FM station at 92.9, it's been one disaster after another. The dial position 92.9 in Boston has been likened to a physical location where one restaurant after another has failed for some reason.

 

[Don Juan]

How is 92.9 billing since the change ? Never see those #s anymore.

From what I understand from talking to a former salesperson for WBOS, their "billing has fallen off a cliff!"

There virtually have no billing anymore.

I understand they are just holding their breath until people meter takes hold...with the idea that people meter will be kinder to the format.

WBOS rushed to get this format on the air...and the product/story was not quite ready.

 

[Retro]

It really dumbfounds me why WBOS changed formats to start with. I mean this was Greater Media's second highest billing station! I guess they saw their demo aging and wanted to stay with a consistent younger demographic instead.

 

[chitchatjf]

I thought they were doing OK in mid 78 -79 during the dance music era.

Here's your urban AC.

 

[MR. JAROME_CALVIN]

They are playing new titles though... a couple of weeks ago (Wed evening the 19th) I heard The Ramones going into Katy Perry's "I Kissed a Girl"...

"I Kissed A Girl"??? on that station? wowww
Yes, they do play some new music

Back in the day, they used to play Country music. My idea, is they should switch to (HOT) Country, and play ALL NEW and Current Country music.
Or, they should switch to Urban AC and carry (ABC Radio Network) "The Touch" Those are my ideas

Other then that, from what I hear on their station, so far, so good, they ok

 

[DavidZ]

"I Kissed A Girl"??? on that station? wowww
Yes, they do play some new music

Back in the day, they used to play Country music. My idea, is they should switch to (HOT) Country, and play ALL NEW and Current Country music.
Or, they should switch to Urban AC and carry (ABC Radio Network) "The Touch" Those are my ideas

Other then that, from what I hear on their station, so far, so good, they ok

Why would Greater Media switch 92.9 to country and compete against one of their own stations, WKLB? And I really don't think 2 country stations would work in Boston.

As for your 2nd comment about Urban AC, I'm not suprised you would be advocating that with your track record on this site.

 

[BRNout]

Some sort of urban, such as an urban AC or an urban middle-of-the-road (i.e. between urban AC and urban contemporary) would definitely fill a big (huge) programming hole in the market. However, that being said, we end up back with the ownership issue: Greater Media just doesn't have experience with 'urban'-based formats. They don't seem to know them and they don't seem to understand them. And (even worse) they don't seem to have any experience selling them.

So, don't hold your breath for WBOS to end up as an urban station. Despite great potential from a programming standpoint, the urban format won't be showing up on a GM station.

 

[JustinT]

However, that being said, we end up back with the ownership issue: Greater Media just doesn't have experience with 'urban'-based formats. They don't seem to know them and they don't seem to understand them. And (even worse) they don't seem to have any experience selling them.

The fact that Greater Media failed so miserably at Jammin' Oldies in, of all places, Philadelphia and Detroit, pretty much says right there.

 

[Don Juan]

I mean this was Greater Media's second highest billing station!

This may have been true at one time, and is often repeated, but this hasn't been the case in many many years.

There was a time when WBOS was a good biller, but the last few years they have been flopping around through one blunder after another...one neutered PD after another...one formatic tweak after another...one bad rating book after another...and the billing ahs gone downhill every year.

Since "the good old days" when WBOS was a good biller, WKLB has really started to shine, and WTKK has come into it's own.

So this "WBOS is their highest biller" fairy tale has taken on a life as it's own....but hasn't been true for a lonnnnnng time.

 

[ciao99]

Let me preface this by saying that I like the music on WBOS. But why the bland moniker? Why not call the format exactly what it is: Classic Alternative? There are stations in many markets playing such a format. There is demand, albiet limited, for such music Why not call it what it is?

Beyond that, I cannot stand what Greater Media is doing regarding imaging, lack of jocks, etc. for that station. Yes, this is not something that is unique to Boston. But with its heritage call letters, and the fact that this is such a large market, having no jocks and such lousy imaging is unconscionable.

Dude, 92.9 is basicly a jockless FNX. Heavy on oldies, very cautious on new music.

 

[WBIMDJ]

Let me preface this by saying that I like the music on WBOS. But why the bland moniker? Why not call the format exactly what it is: Classic Alternative? There are stations in many markets playing such a format. There is demand, albiet limited, for such music Why not call it what it is?

Beyond that, I cannot stand what Greater Media is doing regarding imaging, lack of jocks, etc. for that station. Yes, this is not something that is unique to Boston. But with its heritage call letters, and the fact that this is such a large market, having no jocks and such lousy imaging is unconscionable.

Dude, 92.9 is basicly a jockless FNX. Heavy on oldies, very cautious on new music.

Actually the playlists are actually a bit different. I'll even post their top 30 spins this week if you want...there's actually quite a difference if you look at them. FNX is playing new stuff from bands like MGMT, The Fleet Foxes, Bloc Party...yeah, "Very cautious"... :

 

[ciao99]

Let me preface this by saying that I like the music on WBOS. But why the bland moniker? Why not call the format exactly what it is: Classic Alternative? There are stations in many markets playing such a format. There is demand, albiet limited, for such music Why not call it what it is?

Beyond that, I cannot stand what Greater Media is doing regarding imaging, lack of jocks, etc. for that station. Yes, this is not something that is unique to Boston. But with its heritage call letters, and the fact that this is such a large market, having no jocks and such lousy imaging is unconscionable.

Top 30 spins. Big deal when the new music is relegated to odd hours and minimal rotation.
Magic 106.7 plays new music by this theory too.

Dude, 92.9 is basicly a jockless FNX. Heavy on oldies, very cautious on new music.

Actually the playlists are actually a bit different. I'll even post their top 30 spins this week if you want...there's actually quite a difference if you look at them. FNX is playing new stuff from bands like MGMT, The Fleet Foxes, Bloc Party...yeah, "Very cautious"... :

 

[Brooklyndon]

Actually the playlists are actually a bit different. I'll even post their top 30 spins this week if you want...there's actually quite a difference if you look at them. FNX is playing new stuff from bands like MGMT, The Fleet Foxes, Bloc Party...yeah, "Very cautious"... :

Depending on which daypart you are hearing...

 

[DJbobo]

Let me preface this by saying that I like the music on WBOS. But why the bland moniker? Why not call the format exactly what it is: Classic Alternative? There are stations in many markets playing such a format. There is demand, albiet limited, for such music Why not call it what it is?

Beyond that, I cannot stand what Greater Media is doing regarding imaging, lack of jocks, etc. for that station. Yes, this is not something that is unique to Boston. But with its heritage call letters, and the fact that this is such a large market, having no jocks and such lousy imaging is unconscionable.

Dude, 92.9 is basicly a jockless FNX. Heavy on oldies, very cautious on new music.

Does Dana Marshall know that Beastie Boys have other big hits besides Brass Monkey??

 

[Watt]

Let me preface this by saying that I like the music on WBOS. But why the bland moniker? Why not call the format exactly what it is: Classic Alternative? There are stations in many markets playing such a format. There is demand, albiet limited, for such music Why not call it what it is?

Beyond that, I cannot stand what Greater Media is doing regarding imaging, lack of jocks, etc. for that station. Yes, this is not something that is unique to Boston. But with its heritage call letters, and the fact that this is such a large market, having no jocks and such lousy imaging is unconscionable.

Dude, 92.9 is basicly a jockless FNX. Heavy on oldies, very cautious on new music.

Does Dana Marshall know that Beastie Boys have other big hits besides Brass Monkey??

Does Dana Marshall even know who the Beastie Boys are?