WDJO and BMI Music Fees

[pioneer71]

I really feel bad about what has happened to WDJO. I still listen to their Mid Days with Ted. M. He is really great.
I never did get putting Imus on. I also think they have really gone in the wrong direction with their new music mix.

AM is a tough sell in a market like Cincinnati with WGRR in place. This format could work very well in Marion, Ohio, Richmond, Indiana etc. With that said, you can still make some money on the station but it needs a real overhaul. To acheive this I would put Marty and Ted in a room together and listen to them. They have been there and knows what will work. Once that is put in place - there are additional elements that can be added that will bring additional revenue to the station.

We could write page after page of the mistakes made with this station but it serves no real purpose.
However, this may be mute because of the current dire financial situation of the station is in. I am sure they have to get more out of the sale of the station then what it is worth.

 

[almaniac27]

Unless they get their act together, I see 1480 going into either a Spanish format, a religious format, or a Spanish religious format, probably brokered. It seems to be the fate of signal-challenged high-dial AM stations these days.

 

[FRR]

I'm not sure the comparison with WGRR is valid. When DJO first went on the air with the original staff they concentrated on 50's and 60's music. There was very little 70's stuff. I realize the audience that likes that music is "old" by all standards, but they were loyal. If DJO tries to compete with GRR, they don't have a chance. They will never compete with an FM powerhouse with the coverage area they have.

I have no idea who is programming DJO at the present time, but sometimes I hear tunes I"ve never heard in my life, and I'm not sure regular listeners like that. It almost seems like the station has completely lost direction. Once they lost several of their original jocks, it really went downhill from there. I used to listen quite often, but every time I tune in now it seems like there is fewer and fewer reasons to stay tuned. I wish them well, but the future sure does not look good.

 

[jry]

Unless they get their act together, I see 1480 going into either a Spanish format, a religious format, or a Spanish religious format, probably brokered. It seems to be the fate of signal-challenged high-dial AM stations these days.

No, no and no. Not enough audience to go around. We moved the Christian Teaching to 1160, primarily to give those customers the best signal we have and to protect our position.
The other two formats are not logical due to low pop counts in that demo.
I had suggested to them a month or so ago that TRNs News format was their best hope for survival.
At the time, someone there was seeking a partnership.
Basically, they were doing well, ratings and revenue wise, when they were on 1160. There was enough coverage. Seems like after that, they never saw a 1.2 share again.

 

[MTHBSTR]

OK. Let's put this to rest. I went back and compared some old 1160 numbers to the recent 1480 numbers. Since they don't subscribe, I won't tell you the actual numbers, but they had their highest cume EVER last spring on 1480. Yes guys, 1480 had higher cume with Imus and 70s music than they did with 50s and 60s on 1160. They nearly hit the high share point too. Listeners are OK with the programming. If they aren't making money right now, it's really no surprise is it? A small station with no corporate backing, a terrible economy, playing an outdated format on AM is going to struggle.
By the way jry, TRN is terrible. It wouldn't work here. They'd be better off with Ingraham and Clark Howard.

 

[jry]

OK. Let's put this to rest. I went back and compared some old 1160 numbers to the recent 1480 numbers. Since they don't subscribe, I won't tell you the actual numbers, but they had their highest cume EVER last spring on 1480. Yes guys, 1480 had higher cume with Imus and 70s music than they did with 50s and 60s on 1160. They nearly hit the high share point too. Listeners are OK with the programming. If they aren't making money right now, it's really no surprise is it? A small station with no corporate backing, a terrible economy, playing an outdated format on AM is going to struggle.
By the way jry, TRN is terrible. It wouldn't work here. They'd be better off with Ingraham and Clark Howard.

Thats why they call you Myth Buster!

Okay, When they took their schtick over to 1480, they never got to the same numbers (i had proof of that). What if they had done on 1160 what they are doing now at 1480?

 

[Lamont Lester]

but they had their highest cume EVER last spring on 1480.

I usually like what you say MB, but don't you agree that a lot has changed since "last spring."

 

[MTHBSTR]

I never really paid much attention to this station until I started reading about it so much on this board. I did notice that over the last few months there was some really obscure music that didn't fit. Sounds like it's gotten back to a normal playlist lately. My point was they started running Imus and playing 70s music over a year ago. That high cume number dispels the idea that those moves were a mistake. Why they suddenly went obscure, who knows? You also have to consider that there was a lot of outside marketing when it was on 1160. I don't think I've ever seen a 1480 billboard or ad anywhere. Had they stayed on 1160 I doubt the numbers would be any different. Both signals are middle tier, and at night 1480 covers more population. They may have lost some listeners in the move, and we should also consider the ups and downs with the changing of the season's for AM.
None of it matters if you run out of money.

 

[Lamont Lester]

My point was they started running Imus and playing 70s music over a year ago. That high cume number dispels the idea that those moves were a mistake.

Did they maintain those numbers? "High" numbers a year ago don't mean much now.

 

[MTHBSTR]

No. And I wouldn't expect them to. The history of this station is that cumes and shares rollercoaster, especially when there is less daylight. 1160 cumes ranged from 20,000 to 50,000 in the same year. 1480 struggled out of the gate, but then saw the same pattern. We'll see if they maintain some of that audience. The problem with a station that small is sample size. Not much to work with.
Again, the point wasn't that they're a huge success. The point was that after the switch to Imus and 70s, the numbers didn't drop as some on this board predicted.

 

[partymarty]

Hey Buster!--- you must be seeing different numbers than the rest of us. Since the freq change and format adjustments, the station has about 20% of the ratings from the high point on 1160. Imus has seen some decent numbers (for a low power AM) -- Music dayparts are DOA.

Sad

 

[NDXUFan]

I agree, Marty, it is very sad. I wish you were running the station.

Hey Buster!--- you must be seeing different numbers than the rest of us. Since the freq change and format adjustments, the station has about 20% of the ratings from the high point on 1160. Imus has seen some decent numbers (for a low power AM) -- Music dayparts are DOA.

Sad

 

[DJJack1]

As of today I've given up on them too. I can hear Imus on iHeart, the music sucks and they can't even update their damned forecasts <heard yesterday's forecast this afternoon at 5:20>.

Hello, WGRR. Nice to meet you.

 

[MTHBSTR]

I haven't been called "Buster" since I was in first grade. Nice.
Not sure what numbers you're looking at, but I had the comparison right on front of me. So, good try.
Best thing for WDJO would be to go dark. Then we could stop hearing about it so much. I find it interesting that so much space on this board is taken up by a station that even at its peak has barely a 1.0 share.

 

[FRR]

I haven't been called "Buster" since I was in first grade. Nice.
Not sure what numbers you're looking at, but I had the comparison right on front of me. So, good try.
Best thing for WDJO would be to go dark. Then we could stop hearing about it so much. I find it interesting that so much space on this board is taken up by a station that even at its peak has barely a 1.0 share.

You can always stop reading the posts.

 

[partymarty]

No insult intended on the Buster thing. It will be tough for whoever ends up getting the station. not many format options out there. Signal wrong for Spanish, not enough of an Asian population for a station, all religion flavors are taken, signal wrong for biztalk, brokered programming is not what it used to be.

What would you do with it? Some type of old music? lib talk? comedy?

 

[jry]

Myth... a 1.2 is not barely a 1 share. .99 is barely a one share.

 

[MTHBSTR]

That 1.2 share was 7 years ago. It's been as close as a 0.9 recently. On average, this is a 0.5 station.
I already mentioned that I would bring in Laura Ingraham after Imus. Followed by Clark Howard or some other non-political talk. There would be NO sports talk at all. But, can you even make any money with it?
And FRR, you might follow your own advice and stop listening to WDJO since all you do is complain about it.
Jack had the right idea. Go listen to something else!

 

[ToddyO]

I have a format for the frequency - nothing like it in town or around here. The sticks need to be moved. The current format of adding a hodgepodge of some of the most non-hit,B side songs I've ever heard, sucks.

Marty - I liked the 106.5 format I heard last week, driving back from Detroit. I wouldn't limit the music list but, despite the current "testosterone" push, I'd add more female.

 

[jry]

That 1.2 share was 7 years ago. It's been as close as a 0.9 recently. On average, this is a 0.5 station.
I already mentioned that I would bring in Laura Ingraham after Imus. Followed by Clark Howard or some other non-political talk. There would be NO sports talk at all. But, can you even make any money with it?
And FRR, you might follow your own advice and stop listening to WDJO since all you do is complain about it.
Jack had the right idea. Go listen to something else!

No. I bought the stations in 06 and they didn't show up until almost mid 06. Their ratings didn't start to cook for almost a year.

I used to by the Arbitron for the market. They enjoyed the 1.2 many times in the 3 years that they were there. We probably still have the numbers, archived.