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WBUF seems to have its airstaff in place

Quite a few I suspect. I don't have any data that says more than the national average, however.
Nor is it less. 89% to 90% of persons 12+ use radio every week. 25 years ago it was 94%.
It does seem stupid to program WBUF with the hope of stealing 1 share from another identical format. Why not try something unique and maybe find new listeners? Of course, that takes expertise and effort...
There are no "new" listeners. And there are very few new formats. Try to name 10 new formats in the last 25 years, here or anywhere in the world.
 
It does seem stupid to program WBUF with the hope of stealing 1 share from another identical format. Why not try something unique and maybe find new listeners?

How many hamburger places do you have in Buffalo? How many different pizza places? They're all trying to steal customers from the other ones. They call it "Competition." This must be a new concept to you.

Buddy wants to start a second country station in Buffalo. He wants to steal listeners from WYRK. Is he stupid for wanting to do that?
 
How many hamburger places do you have in Buffalo? How many different pizza places? They're all trying to steal customers from the other ones. They call it "Competition." This must be a new concept to you.

Buddy wants to start a second country station in Buffalo. He wants to steal listeners from WYRK. Is he stupid for wanting to do that?
And trying to create a new format is usually the same as a new restaurant featuring "Outer Mongolian Cuisine".
 
Nor is it less. 89% to 90% of persons 12+ use radio every week. 25 years ago it was 94%.

There are no "new" listeners. And there are very few new formats. Try to name 10 new formats in the last 25 years, here or anywhere in the world.
That's right. There are no NEW listeners. Radio has more competition than just other radio stations. Another mediocre hamburger joint won't excite anyone. The "new" WBUF will not improve revenue for Townsquare. They may have been making more with JACK...
 
Another mediocre hamburger joint won't excite anyone.

You're making a judgement that playing hits that make Rock97 the #3 station in Buffalo "won't excite anyone." These obviously aren't "mediocre" songs. They're hits that people want to hear. In the meantime, if they shave a point from WGRF, that's good for WBLK.
 
Since restaurants have been brought into this discussion, presume 97 Rock is ... the Anchor Bar, Duff's, LaNova, Bar Bill or Santora's. Singularly or a combination of perhaps (not more than) two of the aforementioned. Presume the Edge is also one, or a combination of perhaps (not more than) two of the aforementioned restaurants.
What then would be WBUF?
There's your answer.
BTW, nobody here calls them "Buffalo wings." They're "wings." Period. And blue cheese is the only option.
 
What then would be WBUF?

The place you go when all the heritage places are full, too noisy, or closed.

And BUF understands they have no real heritage. That's another reason to play the same songs. Accidental heritage.

BTW for the purposes of WBUF, they're "Hot Wings," at least in morning drive.
 
"Brought to you by Duffs". Or the Anchor Bar. Maybe they'll have at least one new sponsor.
 
In case you missed it, Townsquare has extended the deal for Free Beer & Hot Wings:

https://news.****************/cgi-bin/rol.exe/headline_id=c41108

"We are excited to win in Buffalo, Binghamton, and Victoria," said Co-Host Joe Gassman. "We were made for Buffalo - the home of the original hot wing."
 
The place you go when all the heritage places are full, too noisy, or closed.

Like Moe's Overflow Bistro? "Our wings ain't that great, but you'll always find an open table." Moe's menu might even offer a Michigan.

And BUF understands they have no real heritage. That's another reason to play the same songs. Accidental heritage.

Accidental heritage ... would that be like falling into something that works, Forrest Gump style.


 
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The place you go when all the heritage places are full, too noisy, or closed.

And BUF understands they have no real heritage. That's another reason to play the same songs. Accidental heritage.

BTW for the purposes of WBUF, they're "Hot Wings," at least in morning drive.
What Radio manual did you use to get "Accidental Heritage"? Does that help sell spots? Hot Wings in the Morning -- Sal Monella in the Afternoon...
 
It wouldn't be a surprise to this poster if WBUF has a good showing in the Winter 2021 "book," perhaps an even better showing in Spring. The few places I've been that once played 97 have switched to WBUF. Hardly scientific, and I'm not in those places every day, but it's a sign somebody has taken notice. Also, the music seems better tuned now than when the format first debuted in November. I don't expect FB&HW to get much traction against heritage morning shows on the Edge, 97 and 550, but midday, afternoon and weekends should perform better. Time will tell.
 
It wouldn't be a surprise to this poster if WBUF has a good showing in the Winter 2021 "book," perhaps an even better showing in Spring. The few places I've been that once played 97 have switched to WBUF. Hardly scientific, and I'm not in those places every day, but it's a sign somebody has taken notice. Also, the music seems better tuned now than when the format first debuted in November. I don't expect FB&HW to get much traction against heritage morning shows on the Edge, 97 and 550, but midday, afternoon and weekends should perform better. Time will tell.
How many "places" in your sample? Three?

The problem with being another generic Classic Rock station is that the heritage station may get credit in error in the diary. John Smith writes down the station he remembers from high school. Since Buffalo will never get PPM, the ratings actually can reflect "Listening From Years Past"...
 
How many "places" in your sample? Three?

The problem with being another generic Classic Rock station is that the heritage station may get credit in error in the diary. John Smith writes down the station he remembers from high school. Since Buffalo will never get PPM, the ratings actually can reflect "Listening From Years Past"...
The only place where diary entries may occasionally appear as you describe is among very old seniors... by that, I mean those well over 75.

Otherwise, most diary entries today have the dial position, and only use call letters when the station still uses them as the prime identity vehicle. After dial position, station name is next and there are more "dial position and station name" than pure station name. This runs across all markets.

There are specific cases where "memory" entries are made, and they usually have to do with long-tradition morning hosts who have changed station. Again, nearly all are entries by older seniors.
 
WBUF might have its airstaff in place, but its ratings share are missing in action!!!

Did Townsquare completely misread market research, or do they simply not care how well (or poorly) this station performs and were simply looking for a dumping ground to run their lame "Ultimate Classic Rock" content and Grand Rapids, MI based morning show (whose affiliate list primarily consists of very small markets)?

The playlist is awfully similar to WBOS in Boston, another station with horrendous ratings.

Most folks don't want to hear Blink 182, Journey, and 80s heavy metal on the same station.
 
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Maybe. You never really know until it goes away. Then, like Alt107.7, the fans creep out of their basements to complain.
Since the metrics of success are ratings(revenue), both WBUF and Alternative failed badly. Radio stations are free to stop using Nielsen and go it on their own. That would be the true test of salesmanship...
 
Maybe. You never really know until it goes away. Then, like Alt107.7, the fans creep out of their basements to complain.

The online reaction of Alt 107.7's demise from its fans was tiny. Barely a blip on the radar. The small number of folks who listened to 107.7 regularly will simply move to - or spend more time with - 103.3 now.
 
Today ended the 10,000 songs in a row preview(which felt MUCH longer)and WBUF debuted their airstaff(per WBUF's homepage)...

5-10am: the syndicated Free Beer and Hot Wings show
10am-3pm: Dean
3-7pm: Crowley
7pm-midnight: Ultimate Classic Rock Nights(with Uncle Joe Benson)

I guess Dean Crowley wouldn't work 10A-7P.
 
I guess Dean Crowley wouldn't work 10A-7P.

Nope. At present, Jen Austin does 10am-3pm(she's also on another of Townsquare's classic rock stations, 99.1 WAAL in Binghamton; I don't know if she voice tracks for both stations or is based at one and VT's for the other. However, she's not on the airstaff of ANOTHER Townsquare classic rocker in NYS, WQBK in Albany).
 
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