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WECK
- Thread starter topsound
- Start date
> I only heard it for about 35 seconds, but WECK is now
> playing Classic Country.
What a mistake! Management at the local CBS Group (Infinity) has to be the most inept in all of Buffalo radio. Here they had a station that was consistently in the 3 to 4 share range. Sure, it was an extremely old audience. But it was loyal. Heck, I even enjoyed tuning in from time to time. For the most part, this fringe AM station was beating WGR and KB in the ratings (though 'GR's numbers are now comparable). Why change? I'm dumbfounded!
First, this could have an impact on WYRK's numbers, a station owned by the same group. Duh! Yeah, I know WYRK is contemporary country. But where are listeners who enjoy country going to come from? From WXRL? That audience is already small. Plus, I would think WXRL's audience is very loyal to Ramblin' Lou and that Lou's local presentation will trump WECK's satellite service.
Still, WYRK has shown that it's a giant that has crushed its competition through the years. So, this move by CBS management has essentially sentenced WECK, which prospered and was known as the "Music of Your Life" station (even though they didn't use that tag in recent years), to the ratings basement where it will languish. Stupid, stupid, stupid!
If I'm Entercom, I'm saying thank you. I think a portion of WECK's audience will go to KB, allowing KB to get above a two share, and perhaps approach a three share.
I can't believe Jeff Silver gets away with what he's done. First, WBUF. Now, WECK. What's next?
> playing Classic Country.
What a mistake! Management at the local CBS Group (Infinity) has to be the most inept in all of Buffalo radio. Here they had a station that was consistently in the 3 to 4 share range. Sure, it was an extremely old audience. But it was loyal. Heck, I even enjoyed tuning in from time to time. For the most part, this fringe AM station was beating WGR and KB in the ratings (though 'GR's numbers are now comparable). Why change? I'm dumbfounded!
First, this could have an impact on WYRK's numbers, a station owned by the same group. Duh! Yeah, I know WYRK is contemporary country. But where are listeners who enjoy country going to come from? From WXRL? That audience is already small. Plus, I would think WXRL's audience is very loyal to Ramblin' Lou and that Lou's local presentation will trump WECK's satellite service.
Still, WYRK has shown that it's a giant that has crushed its competition through the years. So, this move by CBS management has essentially sentenced WECK, which prospered and was known as the "Music of Your Life" station (even though they didn't use that tag in recent years), to the ratings basement where it will languish. Stupid, stupid, stupid!
If I'm Entercom, I'm saying thank you. I think a portion of WECK's audience will go to KB, allowing KB to get above a two share, and perhaps approach a three share.
I can't believe Jeff Silver gets away with what he's done. First, WBUF. Now, WECK. What's next?
S
swillh2k2
Guest
If they can move their transmitter to a place where it's not interfering with my AM reception (i.e. somewhere about 10-20 miles away from Cheektowaga 
), I'd be happy.
), I'd be happy.WECK Whacked!
I can't argue with a word of your analysis.
> I can't believe Jeff Silver gets away with what he's done.
> First, WBUF. Now, WECK. What's next?
WECK simulcasts JACK. JACK changes back to Hot Talk, changes call letters to WECK-FM. New slug line - Your Beef on WECK!
I can't argue with a word of your analysis.
> I can't believe Jeff Silver gets away with what he's done.
> First, WBUF. Now, WECK. What's next?
WECK simulcasts JACK. JACK changes back to Hot Talk, changes call letters to WECK-FM. New slug line - Your Beef on WECK!
> I can't believe Jeff Silver gets away with what he's done.
> First, WBUF. Now, WECK. What's next?
I'd blame CBS Radio corporate more than Silver...he actually lives in the market and has got to know how re-goddamn-diculous a move this really was. I know, I know, I used to do the "older than dirt 54-to-dead audience demo" jokes about WECK like everyone else, but blowing up a viable little niche AM'er in favor of a format that is really only going to (1.) compete with their most sucessful FM property here, and (2.) piss off Ramblin' Lou and a lot of people sitting in the waiting rooms at doctors offices. What's next, you ask? How about "Free FM 96.1?" They could bring Wease back to Buffalo radio in the morning, and tap into the plethora of other crap talkers both old and new that they have, the whole spectrum of it, from Penn Jillette to Don and Mike. Hey, why not? FM talk didn't work in Buffalo once before, why not bring it back and have it fail again?
> First, WBUF. Now, WECK. What's next?
I'd blame CBS Radio corporate more than Silver...he actually lives in the market and has got to know how re-goddamn-diculous a move this really was. I know, I know, I used to do the "older than dirt 54-to-dead audience demo" jokes about WECK like everyone else, but blowing up a viable little niche AM'er in favor of a format that is really only going to (1.) compete with their most sucessful FM property here, and (2.) piss off Ramblin' Lou and a lot of people sitting in the waiting rooms at doctors offices. What's next, you ask? How about "Free FM 96.1?" They could bring Wease back to Buffalo radio in the morning, and tap into the plethora of other crap talkers both old and new that they have, the whole spectrum of it, from Penn Jillette to Don and Mike. Hey, why not? FM talk didn't work in Buffalo once before, why not bring it back and have it fail again?
Re: WECK, Rhymes With Wreck
> > I only heard it for about 35 seconds, but WECK is now
> > playing Classic Country.
>
> What a mistake! Management at the local CBS Group
> (Infinity) has to be the most inept in all of Buffalo radio.
> Here they had a station that was consistently in the 3 to 4
> share range. Sure, it was an extremely old audience. But
> it was loyal. Heck, I even enjoyed tuning in from time to
> time. For the most part, this fringe AM station was beating
> WGR and KB in the ratings (though 'GR's numbers are now
> comparable). Why change? I'm dumbfounded!
>
> First, this could have an impact on WYRK's numbers, a
> station owned by the same group. Duh! Yeah, I know WYRK is
> contemporary country. But where are listeners who enjoy
> country going to come from? From WXRL? That audience is
> already small. Plus, I would think WXRL's audience is very
> loyal to Ramblin' Lou and that Lou's local presentation will
> trump WECK's satellite service.
>
> Still, WYRK has shown that it's a giant that has crushed its
> competition through the years. So, this move by CBS
> management has essentially sentenced WECK, which prospered
> and was known as the "Music of Your Life" station (even
> though they didn't use that tag in recent years), to the
> ratings basement where it will languish. Stupid, stupid,
> stupid!
>
> If I'm Entercom, I'm saying thank you. I think a portion of
> WECK's audience will go to KB, allowing KB to get above a
> two share, and perhaps approach a three share.
>
> I can't believe Jeff Silver gets away with what he's done.
> First, WBUF. Now, WECK. What's next?
>
<font face="times new roman" size="3" color="330066">
The WECK format change to classic country may be the result of an edict from Infinity Corporate. The company's AM talker in Tampa just last week dropped its talk format in favor of simulcasting its market leading country FM. Silver takes his marching orders from his bosses just like his troops takes theirs from him.
Jack was a corporate move, although anybody with an ear and half a brain likely would have made some kind of move with WBUF, considering Stern's imminent departure and the meager ratings WBUF had after 10 a.m.
As to Entercom "saying thank you" to Infinity for abandoning WECK's long-held Music Of Your Life format, the jury will be out for a while. WECK's numbers largely were 60+. WBEN may benefit as much as KB. Moreover, WECK was a better station than KB. WECK's 12+ numbers proved that point.
Amazing when a 1kW local out-performs a 50kW clear. Go figure.
KB's got a good morning show with proven talent, but the station hasn't gotten any traction. It's not solely because of lack of promotion. When a
heritage morning guy and established sidekick barely break a 1 share 25-54, "promotion" or lack thereof, isn't necessarily the culprit.
It's maddening. Is KB's problem the music? The content? The signal? The presentation? Or is it simply that 45-64 year olds are getting what they want and need from stations like WYRK, WBEN, WHTT and WBFO?
There was a guy at Entercom who could have helped KB immensely when the format was changed to oldies: Tom Schuh. He programmed WHTT successfully for eons and worked with Neaverth, Nevins and Donahue. Rather than enlist Schuh and capitalize on his knowledge and experience, the Entercom brass gave him the cold shoulder. That's the reason KB flopped from the start.
Dummies!
KB would be wise to drop those ghastly 50's and early 60's jingles, pulse-beat news intros, stagers and production elements and use a contemporary approach relying on its personalities to present music from 1955-64. In fact, KB should expand its music and present the MOR-based artists and groups that were featured on WECK (e.g., Harry Connick, Jr.) And if Tom Schuh is available...
Hire him!
Of course, it's hard to present yourself as a true MOR station when you have a mid-day guy who's a WBEN talk show host getting his jollies doing a jock show middays on KB and a world class cooker voice-tracking PM drive. Armstrong is remembered playing music from 1969-72; Chicago, Grass Roots, Guess Who and Rolling Stones... not cheese from the Ponytails. If KB moves to a more WECK-like approach, it can't be done successfully with Armstrong cookin'-with-grease in PM drive. He's just too strong a personality and his act wouldn't be compatible with Perry Como and Tony Bennett.
C'mon!
KB's a contradiction and has been one since day one. Damn shame, it is.</font>
> > I only heard it for about 35 seconds, but WECK is now
> > playing Classic Country.
>
> What a mistake! Management at the local CBS Group
> (Infinity) has to be the most inept in all of Buffalo radio.
> Here they had a station that was consistently in the 3 to 4
> share range. Sure, it was an extremely old audience. But
> it was loyal. Heck, I even enjoyed tuning in from time to
> time. For the most part, this fringe AM station was beating
> WGR and KB in the ratings (though 'GR's numbers are now
> comparable). Why change? I'm dumbfounded!
>
> First, this could have an impact on WYRK's numbers, a
> station owned by the same group. Duh! Yeah, I know WYRK is
> contemporary country. But where are listeners who enjoy
> country going to come from? From WXRL? That audience is
> already small. Plus, I would think WXRL's audience is very
> loyal to Ramblin' Lou and that Lou's local presentation will
> trump WECK's satellite service.
>
> Still, WYRK has shown that it's a giant that has crushed its
> competition through the years. So, this move by CBS
> management has essentially sentenced WECK, which prospered
> and was known as the "Music of Your Life" station (even
> though they didn't use that tag in recent years), to the
> ratings basement where it will languish. Stupid, stupid,
> stupid!
>
> If I'm Entercom, I'm saying thank you. I think a portion of
> WECK's audience will go to KB, allowing KB to get above a
> two share, and perhaps approach a three share.
>
> I can't believe Jeff Silver gets away with what he's done.
> First, WBUF. Now, WECK. What's next?
>
<font face="times new roman" size="3" color="330066">
The WECK format change to classic country may be the result of an edict from Infinity Corporate. The company's AM talker in Tampa just last week dropped its talk format in favor of simulcasting its market leading country FM. Silver takes his marching orders from his bosses just like his troops takes theirs from him.
Jack was a corporate move, although anybody with an ear and half a brain likely would have made some kind of move with WBUF, considering Stern's imminent departure and the meager ratings WBUF had after 10 a.m.
As to Entercom "saying thank you" to Infinity for abandoning WECK's long-held Music Of Your Life format, the jury will be out for a while. WECK's numbers largely were 60+. WBEN may benefit as much as KB. Moreover, WECK was a better station than KB. WECK's 12+ numbers proved that point.
Amazing when a 1kW local out-performs a 50kW clear. Go figure.
KB's got a good morning show with proven talent, but the station hasn't gotten any traction. It's not solely because of lack of promotion. When a
heritage morning guy and established sidekick barely break a 1 share 25-54, "promotion" or lack thereof, isn't necessarily the culprit.
It's maddening. Is KB's problem the music? The content? The signal? The presentation? Or is it simply that 45-64 year olds are getting what they want and need from stations like WYRK, WBEN, WHTT and WBFO?
There was a guy at Entercom who could have helped KB immensely when the format was changed to oldies: Tom Schuh. He programmed WHTT successfully for eons and worked with Neaverth, Nevins and Donahue. Rather than enlist Schuh and capitalize on his knowledge and experience, the Entercom brass gave him the cold shoulder. That's the reason KB flopped from the start.
Dummies!
KB would be wise to drop those ghastly 50's and early 60's jingles, pulse-beat news intros, stagers and production elements and use a contemporary approach relying on its personalities to present music from 1955-64. In fact, KB should expand its music and present the MOR-based artists and groups that were featured on WECK (e.g., Harry Connick, Jr.) And if Tom Schuh is available...
Hire him!
Of course, it's hard to present yourself as a true MOR station when you have a mid-day guy who's a WBEN talk show host getting his jollies doing a jock show middays on KB and a world class cooker voice-tracking PM drive. Armstrong is remembered playing music from 1969-72; Chicago, Grass Roots, Guess Who and Rolling Stones... not cheese from the Ponytails. If KB moves to a more WECK-like approach, it can't be done successfully with Armstrong cookin'-with-grease in PM drive. He's just too strong a personality and his act wouldn't be compatible with Perry Como and Tony Bennett.
C'mon!
KB's a contradiction and has been one since day one. Damn shame, it is.</font>
M
mike704
Guest
K-Big Problem
> C'mon!
>
> KB's a contradiction and has been one since day one. Damn
> shame, it is.
WSAI did just about everything you suggested and still failed. As much as I hate to admit it I think AM isn't the place most people look for music. I applaud KB for trying something different.
As for WECK I don't understand their reasoning. Surely 60+ numbers are better than no numbers at all.
At least WECK was serving an audience that is underserved.
MikeM
> C'mon!
>
> KB's a contradiction and has been one since day one. Damn
> shame, it is.
WSAI did just about everything you suggested and still failed. As much as I hate to admit it I think AM isn't the place most people look for music. I applaud KB for trying something different.
As for WECK I don't understand their reasoning. Surely 60+ numbers are better than no numbers at all.
At least WECK was serving an audience that is underserved.
MikeM
Re: K-Big Kwestion
> > C'mon!
> >
> > KB's a contradiction and has been one since day one. Damn
> > shame, it is. WSAI did just about everything you suggested and still
> > failed. As much as I hate to admit it I think AM isn't the
> > place most people look for music. I applaud KB for trying
> > something different.
Agreed. The experiment is over, ending as it has in Philly and Cincinatti. So then, is Entercom's next step progressive talk for 1520, as Clear Channel is doing on 1530?
>> As for WECK I don't understand their reasoning. Surely 60+
>> numbers are better than no numbers at all. At least WECK was serving an
>> audience that is underserved.
If Entercom is intent upon continuing the music format on 1520, they may do well to contact Jones and adopt the entire MOYL format and presentation on 1520 with Danny and Tom in the morning.
WECK listeners could roll up to 1520. (Ahem. My apologies.)
> > C'mon!
> >
> > KB's a contradiction and has been one since day one. Damn
> > shame, it is. WSAI did just about everything you suggested and still
> > failed. As much as I hate to admit it I think AM isn't the
> > place most people look for music. I applaud KB for trying
> > something different.
Agreed. The experiment is over, ending as it has in Philly and Cincinatti. So then, is Entercom's next step progressive talk for 1520, as Clear Channel is doing on 1530?
>> As for WECK I don't understand their reasoning. Surely 60+
>> numbers are better than no numbers at all. At least WECK was serving an
>> audience that is underserved.
If Entercom is intent upon continuing the music format on 1520, they may do well to contact Jones and adopt the entire MOYL format and presentation on 1520 with Danny and Tom in the morning.
WECK listeners could roll up to 1520. (Ahem. My apologies.)
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