WFMS vs. HANK

[hoosier_insider]

At this point, HANK FM (WLHK) has established itself in Indy. They have streamlined the music- early on it was a mix of 80's gold, new hits, and some Steve Earle-leanings (though that rock edge went away in the first year). Now it seems to be mostly hit country (programmed by ex-WFMS people).

Latest ratings had them at 5.6 (12+) with WFMS at 8.9. I'm not an expert with country radio, though sometimes listen until I can't any longer What is the difference between the two stations? Heritage plays a role, I am guessing. But music? Personalities? Marketing? Visibility? Signal? Why would someone choose one over the other?

Just something I have been thinking about.

 

[ChiefEngineer]

I look forward to the time when JD Cannon and the rest of the current staff can be at Hank.

Hank has always been "edgier" from a presentation standpoint. Early there was too much older music. Dolly and Kenny come to mind. WFMS would only play older artists when it was trying to protect it's base. This is similar to the o0ld WNAP format changes to protect WIBC. With Cumulus running the shown they don't remember this no doubt or would be doing it. Hank's music is better now.

Hank will overtake WFMS. WFMS past spending on promotions and events and advertising is over. Cumulus doesn't spend money on these things like the old owners did. Emmis will outspend WFMS because the owner demands it.

Wenk and Obrien was the best morning show on country radio. Bringing the current WFMS staff over when contracts expire will not be as good as the original Hank morning show. It will solidify the death of WFMS, now operating with an entirely new staff except for mornings.

There is no friendly familiar feel to WFMS as a listener. Hank has been more stable for more years.

The biggest difference and the reason: Local ownership. Charlie Morgan is a big factor also. All the salespeople will eventually be there too. Cumulus has no vested interest in the station as Emmis does. Home court advantage too. Didn't mean much year 1 or 3 with hank but it seemingly does.

 

[BobOnTheJob]

Hank will overtake WFMS.

The only thing that will cause this not to happen is the sports they air. To us radio people, we're always punching between stations...we'll be back. But the businesses who have a hard to access radio will go to WFMS by default for the simple reason that they can count on 24/7 music all week. Same for the passive listener in the car...first time they hear a ball game on Hank, they're off to WFMS where they will stay until an extended non-music event forces them to look elsewhere...a rare event on WFMS. If Hank can get out from under the sports commitments, then I will agree with everything in Chief's post.

 

[MightyFrenchman]

Hank will overtake WFMS.

The only thing that will cause this not to happen is the sports they air. To us radio people, we're always punching between stations...we'll be back. But the businesses who have a hard to access radio will go to WFMS by default for the simple reason that they can count on 24/7 music all week. Same for the passive listener in the car...first time they hear a ball game on Hank, they're off to WFMS where they will stay until an extended non-music event forces them to look elsewhere...a rare event on WFMS. If Hank can get out from under the sports commitments, then I will agree with everything in Chief's post.

Absolutely. People expect music on a music station. It's not rocket science.

 

[MikeStandardsFromIndiana]

Q95 had always maintained its #1 Rock Spot. and they have had 2 stints of airing an NFL Team. and they abandon their format 2 hours every week when the Colts Play. i Bet if Emmis had another frequency or B105 wasnt the leader in the AC department. i bet Emmis would throw on a Rock Station to go after Clear channel. who has all but destroyed the heritage of the rock history Q95 has had

 

[hoosier_insider]

And as you talk of Q95, I have thought (for a while now) that Q95 is ripe for a run at them by a smart, hard working rock and roll/classic rock station that could go hyper-local and visible - with a good signal.

Q is coasting on their history. They have a tremendous brand, and that enables them to keep succeeding. But WFBQ is certainly not the great station they once were.

Would someone have the cash and patience to go against them? Emmis went after WFMS with HANK and did pretty damn well. That was started under Tom Severino and a different cast of radio people. But if Emmis could take the same idea in a rock direction, that is how it would have to happen. Classic rock, classic artists doing new music, and even some newer stuff (Gaslight Anthem, etc...) that fits the vibe. Would work in Indy. And plenty of Seger. Gotta play the Seger if it is Indianapolis

 

[MikeStandardsFromIndiana]

FOr All Intents. the Last remaining heritage for all intents on Q is Bob and Tom. CC has Castrated Laura Steele, Gunner, Ace Cosby and Jay Baker. Gunner and Ace Cosby due Double duty between Q and WNDE. Gunner as Afternoon DJ on Q and Afternoon sports Anchor on WNDe, and Ace Cosby as a DJ on Q and Producer on WNDE during afternoon drive of the Query/Schultz Show

 

[long-time-first-time]

Q95 has been toppled. The new rock leader is WJJK. I don't think there's room in the market for a rocker that plays new music. What little demand there is seems to be covered by X103 on the younger end and WTTS on the upper end.

 

[ChiefEngineer]

Emmis tried to do this with WNAP and Stern. If,if,if. If they had waited a little longer it would be similar to Hank and WFMS. The staying power of Bob and Tom well past their prime still means something. Clear Channel and Cumulus are , well, apples and road apples.

 

[Hoosierky]

Emmis tried to do this with WNAP and Stern. If,if,if. If they had waited a little longer it would be similar to Hank and WFMS. The staying power of Bob and Tom well past their prime still means something. Clear Channel and Cumulus are , well, apples and road apples.

If you think about it, B&T quit being a "local" show years ago (Sorry, a rushed 5 second weather does not make you local).
Laura is busy VT'ing 2 other stations during her shift, so she sounds like she is voice tracking here as well. Gunner is busy, and nights and overnights are on, but nobody home. Add to that they are playing the exact same music as they did 15 years ago.
It is a wonder they are top 15.

JJK has good music variety. When I have listened to them, they have been either on auto pilot or I think voice tracking. I do not know. I cannot understand why the listener would be influenced or give a darn that they are a Cumulus station. 5 times an hour this is preached. As they said when the Dixie Chicks would go political, "Shut up and sing".

 

[MikeStandardsFromIndiana]

Q95 has been toppled. The new rock leader is WJJK. I don't think there's room in the market for a rocker that plays new music. What little demand there is seems to be covered by X103 on the younger end and WTTS on the upper end.

Okay how is a Classic Hits Station the new Rock Leader in Indy when WJJK Is listed as a Classic Hits Station and WFBQ is listed as a Rock Station. show how can a Classic Hits station be the new Rock leader in Indianapolis Long time first time. explain that to me. i dont see Q95 play 10cc or Hall and Oates. 10CC and Hall and Oates are really true hard Rockers. Nor have i Heard Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Alice in Chains played on WJJK since they dumped the Jack format a few years back.

Q95 and WJJK have only some core artists and thats the 70's Southern Rockers and the 80's hair Metal days

 

[ChiefEngineer]

How is WJJK a leader in anything? WFBQ is as relevant as an Ipod but they still have Bob and Tom. Not local but they have a local audience yet.
I like driving by Shadeland Avenue and seeing no cars except the station vehicles, now driver less, in the parking lot. It's like being in Lucas Oil Stadium with no one there. Lucas oil will eventually have thousands there. Shadeland Avenue will not. I would think even the lack of security at the place will cause an eventual problem.
It would be great if any radio station had some local anything. Stations stopped answering request lines years ago. Voice tracking can be from anywhere. (It isn't here though.) Can someone see the economies of scale and take advantage of this in a local company? Even Emmis is a big empty building a lot of the time, except for security.
Even television is only manned when we have severe weather and aimed at Indy and Marion County. Most news stories are covered in triplicate, at lesser levels. 8 does some non Metro news. Increasingly it is as much like radio placing staffing in at times that they have to. Even public affairs programming is taped. Automation on overnights with no one answering the phone.
What will change this?

 

[MikeStandardsFromIndiana]

So True Chief. WJJK wont ever be THEE ROCK AN ROLL STATION. unless Q95 Flips out of its Album Rock Format and WJJK Takes it Over. but as long as WJJK is a Classic Hits Station (the updated Oldies format im sorry to Say) WJJK is no threat to Q95. never have never will be.

 

[BobOnTheJob]

Q95 has been toppled. The new rock leader is WJJK. I don't think there's room in the market for a rocker that plays new music. What little demand there is seems to be covered by X103 on the younger end and WTTS on the upper end.

I dont see Q95 play 10cc or Hall and Oates.

Before WNAP was resurrected, when Q95 had no trace of competition, their music had drifted a long way from their 'kick ass rock 'n roll' days. I clearly remember Mad Dog playing Hall & Oates - Rich Girl and 10cc - Things We Do For Love and countless other songs that were also playing on Lite Rock 97. Only when WNAP came along did they get rid of the AC crossover stuff and get serious about protecting their turf.

 

[flip23]

When Q first went live they played a lot of what now would be considered "soft rock". That continued until a point in the 80s when they moved to the chainsaw harder sound. There really are not many real current rock stations around anymore, since that style of music has fallen out of favor. X-103's glory days were the mid 90s when grunge was on top. Once top 40 adopted some of that genre's most popular artists they lost their 'edge" perception. X-103 still survives on many of those 90s songs those since there aren't many truly strong current rock songs. To most listeners WJJK is a rock station, certainly moreso than WYXB is a rock station despite having the word "rock" in their name.

 

[PTBoardOp94]

WFMS and Hank are cuming about the same. WFMS is 356,000, Hank is 340,000 (3 period averge). A difference of just more than 1%. So apparently the TSL for Hank is quite a bit lower -- despite their "fewer commercials"

 

[japman]

Have to throw in this thread my ironic memory of Q95 circa 1983 ... Mike Griffen referencing "kick ass rock'n roll" while intro'ing a Go-Go's song.

 

[Kent]

WFMS and Hank are cuming about the same. WFMS is 356,000, Hank is 340,000 (3 period averge). A difference of just more than 1%. So apparently the TSL for Hank is quite a bit lower -- despite their "fewer commercials"

Of course, TSL isn't a sales metric. So, it would be interesting to see exactly what Hank's billing versus WFMS. I'd suspect WFMS is still the higher biller, but Hank probably outbills its ratings share.

 

[Steppenwolf]

The problem with WFMS & Hank is that they play country music and country music stanks!

 

[buttonpusher812]

I am not in the Indy area that much but when I am and I go back and forth between FMS and Hank, I have to look at the display to tell which one I'm on. They sound the same to me. Seeing as how they have the same programing stamp I shouldn't be suprised. Too me they sound like AC country. or may be LiteCountry. Boring. If they arent voice tracked then they should because they sound like they are already.

IMHOP ;D