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WDNY- AM Format Change

B

bmcglynn

Hello All,

WDNY-AM switched formats Friday at 5:00 from Adult Standards to Adult Hits. The new format is mostly comprised of 70's rock, pop, and Soul with some 60's and early 80's hits. After investing in the two stations last year, we're making this change to showcase some other artists that are due for a spin on the airwaves.

I realize our 880W signal doesn't get too far north of of Geneseo - but for those in the area, please have a listen and let me know your thoughts. We've put a lot of new equipment in over the last year, so there are still some bugs to work out.

From some of the feedback on the music I've gotten is that the music resembles that of the heyday of "The Big 8".

Brian
 
Thanks for keeping us posted on developments at your station, Brian. I'm glad to see someone doing something unique on the AM band in 2012. I hope the format is well received by listeners and advertisers alike.

I am sorry to see another station abandoning the Standards format. But, I know that most radio companies just don't see it as commercially viable anymore. Besides, the format isn't anything like it once was in the glory days of stations like WNEW (AM), or even WQEW, in New York.

I'll have to check out both the AM and FM next time I'm in the Genesee valley.
 
JakeLongwell said:
I am sorry to see another station abandoning the Standards format. But, I know that most radio companies just don't see it as commercially viable anymore. Besides, the format isn't anything like it once was in the glory days of stations like WNEW (AM), or even WQEW, in New York.

I'll have to check out both the AM and FM next time I'm in the Genesee valley.
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That was the issue leading to a need for a new direction. About 10 years ago, Standards was much better defined. I used to really enjoy WQEW as well as KABL when I was out west. With demographics constantly changing, the material in our Standards feed came out to be more of a cross-section of 50's pop mixed with some standards as well as 70s MOR. Any one alone would sound good, although together it was a bit tricky. For sales, the format was also tough.

We just need to work on the antenna system to get the signal performing where it should be for 880W / 1KW.

Brian
 
klutch00 said:
If standards is such a hard sell, how do you explain WHLD holding their own with what I'll call and 'old-school standards' or more appropriately, a 'nostalgia' format?
http://swing1270.com/
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I would argue this is an apple-orange comparison. First of all, Buffalo is a much bigger market than Dansville. Secondly, WHLD is not a priority for Cumulus. The fact that this AM frequency gets around a two share is great at a time when other once great AM stations in Buffalo are languishing. But make no mistake. I doubt WHLD is generating much revenue for Cumulus. It is what it is. Yes, it's clearly better than the brokered or religious and ethnic programming 1270 used to run. But it's still a niche station. WDNY, on the other hand, is trying to be a player in its market. And I can see why its owners switched to something more viable.
 
Philip_Airtime said:
I would argue this is an apple-orange comparison. First of all, Buffalo is a much bigger market than Dansville. Secondly, WHLD is not a priority for Cumulus. The fact that this AM frequency gets around a two share is great at a time when other once great AM stations in Buffalo are languishing. But make no mistake. I doubt WHLD is generating much revenue for Cumulus. It is what it is. Yes, it's clearly better than the brokered or religious and ethnic programming 1270 used to run. But it's still a niche station. WDNY, on the other hand, is trying to be a player in its market. And I can see why its owners switched to something more viable.
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Philip, thanks for the input. This is exactly the case, our 1 mV/m contour covers about the equivalent of a Buffalo suburb. If personal taste had anything to do with my choice of programming, you would be hearing Smooth Jazz on 1400 AM - certainly not commercially viable on AM in a small market.

The reality we have to face in Dansville and immediate surroundings is that we need to put together a station with broad appeal and a set of advertisers that actively want to speak to the audience. Our competitive edge is that we are hyper-local, versus a specific genre of music. For that reason, we focused on serving a broad demographic. We tested the new format, consulted heavily with listeners and advertisers, and selected this format because it fills a void.

The station should be a little bit better to pick up now as well. While the signal strength is still the same, we boosted our modulation through some new audio processing equipment. The feedback from the audience on that improvement was almost immediate. We are also now streaming in AAC-HE2 stereo.

Brian
 
Hey Brian - if the new AM format sounds like "the heyday of The Big 8," does that mean I can hear Anne Murray followed by Funkadelic followed by New York City followed by Edward Bear, Barry White and the Incredible Bongo Band?? ;) :D

Hey, seriously though - sincere best wishes on the new mix. I'll check it out!
 
Savage said:
Hey Brian - if the new AM format sounds like "the heyday of The Big 8," does that mean I can hear Anne Murray followed by Funkadelic followed by New York City followed by Edward Bear, Barry White and the Incredible Bongo Band?? ;) :D

Hey, seriously though - sincere best wishes on the new mix. I'll check it out!
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I can't forget to add some Poppy Family and Terry Jax. At least BTO and The Guess Who will fit in.

Brian
 
I will absolutely have to listen to this...I am originally from Wayland but moved to West Virginia in the late 60's...I visited the WDNY studios a few times in the late 80's.

I have worked in radio off and on for years and still do on a part time basis...I can see that format working well there.
 
I just posted a link to Geneseenow.com on the Wayland Facebook Group page so people out of the area can listen online.
 
I think if you could do some Voice Tracking from some now out of market jocks that the target demo grew up with you could really take over the market...Larry White..Dave Mance for examples.
 
Don Niles said:
I think if you could do some Voice Tracking from some now out of market jocks that the target demo grew up with you could really take over the market...Larry White..Dave Mance for examples.
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Nothing wrong with that, but live and local mornings and afternoon drive may still be a smart call.
 
Yeziknoradio said:
Don Niles said:
I think if you could do some Voice Tracking from some now out of market jocks that the target demo grew up with you could really take over the market...Larry White..Dave Mance for examples.
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Nothing wrong with that, but live and local mornings and afternoon drive may still be a smart call.
[/q
uote]I agree with that.... Boy if I lived up there again,I would want to work there in some capacity...
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If I lived up there again,which is out of the question,I would sure love to work there in some capacity.

I haven't been up there since 1994 before the 94.1 in Rochester signed on...That must really hamper the 93.9 signal.....During the WYSL 1400 Buffalo heyday,I never dreamed there would be a 1400 in Dansville..I heard the story about the 880 watt day/1000 night patterns...Maybe the only station in the country to increase power at night.

I agree about the Live and Local Morning and afternoon drives....I don't recall that many people listening to CKLW up there....But they sure listened to BBF and KB and maybe later WAXC...Any way to evoke memories from those days could only help.

Throw in "Give me One More Chance" by Wilmer and the Dukes and "Give Me One More Chance" by the Rustix...also Joey Reynolds "Rats In My Room".
 
I meant "Can't You hear the Music Play" by the Rustix(I haven't had my coffee yet)....They were from that area..Another white group on the Motown Label "Rare Earth".

I wish this board had a "delete" function along with "modify"...I think it one time did.
 
I was actually half way joking when discussing WDNY playing the Rustix...The station is obviously satellite other than the morning show FM simulcast.

When I said Voicetracking by Former Jocks that were once big in Rochester,Buffalo,or Hornell,I guess one could question how many would even remember them.

In reality,I think the new WDNY AM Format is fantastic...A live local morning show with community involvement,remotes,and Facebook promotions are probably keys to great success...Like the appearance at the Wayland Potato Festival..

I also remember the thread about comparing Dansville and Rochester to Washington,Pa. and Pittsburgh...Living close to the Pa/WV border,I can attest there is a huge difference between the two.

But WJPA in Washington is a huge success with a format that is different but close..I wish WDNY great success...I will be listening online for sure.
 
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