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WBUF Flips To Rock

Re:

A similar formula was attempted on 92.9 FM pre-Jack when the station was owned by CBS Radio and ran Howard Stern in the morning.

The ratings in the music dayparts were disappointing.

I would be curious to know how much cross-cume activity occurs between 97Rock and WBUF. That may have been a factor in Townsquare's decision to lean heavily on classic rock.

I was hoping a new rock entrant would sound more like 97.7 HTZ-FM without the Cancon or 103.3 The Edge before it decided to OD on sissy music.
 
Mark: CanCon or not, HTZ FM continues to do a bang-up job with the music. I, too, would rather see WBUF echo CHTZ's playlist more than them ripping off 97 Rock and the Edge.
 
ckg279 said:
Mark: CanCon or not, HTZ FM continues to do a bang-up job with the music. I, too, would rather see WBUF echo CHTZ's playlist more than them ripping off 97 Rock and the Edge.
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It would appear that the Edge has now adjusted their playlist. Less new music and more 90s stuff. The website shows one segue from Cypress Hill "Insane In The Brain" into Lisa Loeb "Stay". Ouch.!

It looks like The Edge has left the Alternative format. 107.7 now has it to themselves (not that it matters). It seems like these stations are just chasing their tails with no real identity or strategy...
 
tbolt909 said:
It seems like these stations are just chasing their tails with no real identity or strategy...
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As usual this isn't a radio problem, it's a music problem. They're not "chasing their tails," they're chasing the audience.

Alternative music has changed. It's gone in a pop direction. So if the Edge plays new alt, it will be pop. That's what KROQ is doing.
 
I suppose there'd be economic advantages to reinventing the wheel under a different name. And, without knowing the entire certain corporate strategy/intent/objective/plan, who knows, no?

Question: When was the last time there was created (and rolled-out) a truly new & unique OTA/"traditional" radio so-called format (or content experience)?... not just a fancy moniker or logo or catch phrase... but really substantively new.
 
four4rock said:
Question: When was the last time there was created (and rolled-out) a truly new & unique OTA/"traditional" radio so-called format (or content experience)?... not just a fancy moniker or logo or catch phrase... but really substantively new.
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Seems to me a new format would first require a new genre of music? One would think.
 
TheBigA said:
Seems to me a new format would first require a new genre of music? One would think.
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Gosh, I wouldn't think so. For example, let's say - for discussion purposes only - that I created the "Then and Now" so-called 'format'. My new* format would play a tune by act x from, say, years gone by... immediately followed by a tune from that same act from, say, the last five years. Or, maybe even a remake of the same tune. Or, possibly, the acts first 'hit' followed by their last 'hit'. No new genre of music needed. Note clearly that I'm not saying my (presumably) fictitious "Then and Now" format is good; that you like it; that it is marketable; or anything else. I'm merely expressing that the arbitrary construct of a format (per se) is not indelibly tied to select/contained music genre(s). After all, isn't news and/or talk a so-called format?

* = I'm calling this "new" because I have never ever heard of it being done.
 
four4rock said:
I'm calling this "new" because I have never ever heard of it being done.
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It's pretty common for a station to mix currents and gold. The percentage is based on the target demo.

By the same artists? Sure. Heard of "Two For Tuesday?"

Mike Joseph came up with "Movin'" a few years ago. No new genre, just tempo driven AC.

But you said you wanted "not just a fancy moniker or logo or catch phrase." Isn't "Here & Now" exactly that?
 
four4rock said:
Question: When was the last time there was created (and rolled-out) a truly new & unique OTA/"traditional" radio so-called format (or content experience)?... not just a fancy moniker or logo or catch phrase... but really substantively new.
Click to expand...

Ironically, that might have been Jack FM in 2005

RadioGuy1864 said:
Seriously, you're comparing a little AM with 3 FM translators to a 76,000 watts Class B FM with a monster signal in the market?
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Eduardo said:
If those translators cover the bulk of the population of the two-county market, the big signal has no huge advantage.
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Which supports the earlier proposition in the thread by tbolt909 suggesting Buddy should go country with WECK, "...In the course of this thread, WECK'S owner has suggested that JACK and The Edge should flip to Country. If he thinks he can do better with Country than Oldies, he could try it with his own station..."


Mark W said:
I was hoping a new rock entrant would sound more like 97.7 HTZ-FM without the Cancon or 103.3 The Edge before it decided to OD on sissy music.
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Funniest line of the thread.
 
Not sure what "Sissy" music is. The Edge moved away from Active Rock long ago. It is a mix of new "Alternative" artists and 90s stuff. "Alternative" is a meaningless moniker anyway. It's just Pop (Billie Eilish, Lorde and other flavour of the month stuff).

WBUF is targeting the in between of The Edge and 97 Rock. The problem is that playlist is not unique. It's just rehashed loud Rock with even louder obnoxious imaging. The audience that wanted this stuff in the 80s are now in their late 50s and 60s. It's a fools errand...
 
tbolt909 said:
The audience that wanted this stuff in the 80s are now in their late 50s and 60s. It's a fools errand...
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Hardly true. A format like that is really popular (when executed well) with Men 25-54, even younger.

The real issue with WBUF now is the music mix. They straddle the line of classic rock and mainstream, and they should just make the leap to straight up mainstream IMO.
 
AceBiscuits said:
The real issue with WBUF now is the music mix. They straddle the line of classic rock and mainstream, and they should just make the leap to straight up mainstream IMO.
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They explained that they see a format hole between the two. Clearly there is more audience on the classic side.
 
AceBiscuits said:
Hardly true. A format like that is really popular (when executed well) with Men 25-54, even younger.

The real issue with WBUF now is the music mix. They straddle the line of classic rock and mainstream, and they should just make the leap to straight up mainstream IMO.
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The JACK format wasn't very popular with those demos. This format will eliminate the women listeners. I don't know what research tells them that 30 year old men are listening to Poison, Night Ranger, Ozzy Osbourne, etc... The average 30 year old listens to many genres of music.

What "mainstream" songs do you mean? This format plays nothing new. The playlist is mostly 70s, 80s and 90s. People on this forum say AAA is too much of a niche format to be viable. The new WBUF is targeting a very narrow niche. Head banging songs and tired Classic Rock won't bring new people to Radio. It's been done to Death...
 
Rusty Bridges said:


Ironically, that might have been Jack FM in 2005



Which supports the earlier proposition in the thread by tbolt909 suggesting Buddy should go country with WECK, "...In the course of this thread, WECK'S owner has suggested that JACK and The Edge should flip to Country. If he thinks he can do better with Country than Oldies, he could try it with his own station..."




Funniest line of the thread.
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The little Am you are referring to and the 3 translators with garner a 3.3 share this week, beating wbuf, edge, msx, lake, and right behind gr.
 
tbolt909 said:
If you're talking about WBUF and WECK, look at the ratings. One has a big signal and the other is an AM with FM translators. The ratings are a virtual tie in the mid 2 share range. (Oldies vs Variety Hits). The big signal on 92.9 has provided no advantage. WECK may actually generate more revenue than 92.9. WBUF has just shifted to harder Rock, but that doesn't guarantee better ratings/revenue.

In the course of this thread, WECK'S owner has suggested that JACK and The Edge should flip to Country. If he thinks he can do better with Country than Oldies, he could try it with his own station...
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Weck does more revenue in a month than jack does all year. The new format will not generate a dime. Same jukebox mentality.
 
DavidEduardo said:
No.

Not all ratings reports are equally salable.

Certain formats, certain ages have greater appeal than others.

And on the local level, certain owners or groups and certain managers and sellers are more successful.

It's a lot more than just looking good in 12+. Remember, for about 35 years one of the top 2 or 3 billers in New York City has been around 15th in 12+ ratings.
Click to expand...

The biggest money making formats are news, talk, sports, country.
 
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