WFNX/WBCN/WAAF Was Home This Weekend...

[neanderpol]

WFNX sounds as good as it's ever sounded.

Max has done exactly what that station needed.

So...

Now that WFNX has vastly improved their signal, doesn't this negate any attempt by WAAF to market their alleged signal improvement? Assuming of course they ever get it right. They're all over the place musically. But, if they spend even one dime to tell the city they can be heard now, they look like they're following WFNX...something that Valeri's never done before. And what does this do to WBCN? They seem to be an island. Although hearing Ride The Lightning from Metallica was bad ass on Friday. It appears by the amount of TV they bought that CBS is putting their bets on ZLX right now. Dickie Barret's suddenly available...maybe he gets mornings on WBCN when they finally tranq DLR?

Props to Jason for setting WRKO on the right track. Perhaps Ms. K. will have something other than WEEI to show off soon.

Oh well...back to KC....good steak here!!!

..and tornadoes galore!

 

[Eli Polonsky]

> WFNX sounds as good as it's ever sounded.
>
> Max has done exactly what that station needed.
>
> So...
>
> Now that WFNX has vastly improved their signal, doesn't this
> negate any attempt by WAAF to market their alleged signal
> improvement? Assuming of course they ever get it right.

It's a non-issue unless it actually does become significantly improved. I guess they're on the W. Boylston site now, and it's been sounding OK the past few days after one day last week when it was barely there, but it's never yet been any better than it was from Paxton. Maybe about the same around Boston, with less coverage toward inland New England.

I think that if it does get improved, it will help their Boston area ratings whether they promote the new signal or not. When people find they can tune in and it doesn't fade in and out as much or have as much static, they'll listen longer.

Aren't WFNX and WAAF somewhat different formatically? WFNX still throws some "classic new wave" of the late 70's/early 80's into their mix which WAAF wouldn't touch, and you won't hear the "hard" or "stoner" late 60's/early 70's classic rock that WAAF mixes in (Zeppelin, Hendrix, Pink Floyd) on WFNX, though WBCN also plays it.

> They're all over the place musically. But, if they spend
> even one dime to tell the city they can be heard now, they
> look like they're following WFNX...something that Valeri's
> never done before. And what does this do to WBCN? They seem
> to be an island. Although hearing Ride The Lightning from
> Metallica was bad ass on Friday. It appears by the amount of
> TV they bought that CBS is putting their bets on ZLX right
> now. Dickie Barret's suddenly available...maybe he gets
> mornings on WBCN when they finally tranq DLR?
>
> Props to Jason for setting WRKO on the right track. Perhaps
> Ms. K. will have something other than WEEI to show off soon.
>
>
> Oh well...back to KC....good steak here!!!
>
> ..and tornadoes galore!
>

 

[Garrett]

Hey Paul,
What do you think the future of the Rock format in Boston is? Do you think BCN will survive?

> WFNX sounds as good as it's ever sounded.
>
> Max has done exactly what that station needed.
>
> So...
>
> Now that WFNX has vastly improved their signal, doesn't this
> negate any attempt by WAAF to market their alleged signal
> improvement? Assuming of course they ever get it right.
> They're all over the place musically. But, if they spend
> even one dime to tell the city they can be heard now, they
> look like they're following WFNX...something that Valeri's
> never done before. And what does this do to WBCN? They seem
> to be an island. Although hearing Ride The Lightning from
> Metallica was bad ass on Friday. It appears by the amount of
> TV they bought that CBS is putting their bets on ZLX right
> now. Dickie Barret's suddenly available...maybe he gets
> mornings on WBCN when they finally tranq DLR?
>
> Props to Jason for setting WRKO on the right track. Perhaps
> Ms. K. will have something other than WEEI to show off soon.
>
>
> Oh well...back to KC....good steak here!!!
>
> ..and tornadoes galore!
>

 

[Jacko]

WBCN and WAAF are almost the same exact station musically these days. Both stations are playing a healthy dose of 90s rock, the big currents and a bunch of classics thrown in. I have noticed that WAAF recently has been playing some older alty/new wave cuts like the Clash and Talking Heads, which I think sounds a bit odd for a stations that's also playing the real heavy stuff. WAAF, despite it's recent ratings spike, is all over the place musically. Perhaps that's what people want, but I think if they put a little more focus back into the musical direction, perhaps back to what they were doing up until about '03 or '04, they will get that core audience back without sacrificing much of the station-flippers that hear the occasional big Def Leppard song every once in a while.

WBCN, while teeter-tottering between alternative and active rock, seemed to have carved a niche of rock. They'll leave the real heavy stuff for WAAF to play, which is good because I think WBCN is a good place to go for a more, dare I say, adult friendly focus on rock, keeping it youthful and playing newer songs, but keeping that healthy dose of '90s rock and the classics to keep the 25-44 demo listening.

And WFNX? It's like the little station that could. They've been slowly notching up 12+, and the music has a pretty distinct focus. With the recent signal upgrade (which I can tell from commuting to work in Southborough that the signal has improved) I wouldn't be surprised if their numbers get to the high 1s in the 12+, taking TSL away from harder-rocking WAAF and WBCN, and adult rockers WBOS and WXRV. Boston finally has its true alternative station back, and it's been sounding great lately.

Jacko<P ID="signature">______________
I live for my dream,
And a pocket full of gold.
</P>

 

[neanderpol]

> Hey Paul,
> What do you think the future of the Rock format in Boston
> is? Do you think BCN will survive?

Well. The answer to the first question is yes. IMHO Rock music will always have a home in Boston. And right now there are at least 6 stations playing some form of rock-based music. Plus you have two well-focused rock sations in southern NH, one in Providence, and let's not discount Worcester completely.

So, I think it will come down to who does it best. And right now, there doesn't appear to be any clear-cut frontrunner. I think two classic rock style stations, combined with the amount of classic rock bleeding in from the fringes might be a little much. And then with AAF and BCN also playing some classic rock as well, the pie's pretty well-eaten. However, if one or more of them start firing on all 8 cylinders, the listeners of rock radio in Boston are going to benefit! I hope that happens!

I think some stations are way too wide musically. And others are just clumpy as hell. Sounding one way for 15 minutes, and then 180 degrees different the next. As a music director who was taught how a sound-hour should be constructed, that always drives me crazy personally, but it's doubtful that the audience hears it like we do. And I do echo someone else's statement. Boston finally has a great Alternative station again. And that's bad news for those other stations who delve into that area occasionally. Because the knock used to be "you can't hear them anyway." No longer the case. It will be interesting to see if FNX finally gains ground. They certainly have the product right for the first time since Mittman tried to make it Active Rock-jr.

As far as WBCN goes...

I have to think that local management's hands are tied by CBS. That morning show has simply GOT to go. Until that happens, they're really going to be fighting an uphill battle against themselves. The people there want to win. But, I think morale is pretty low. Nobody will say it inside the walls, but sometimes you can "feel" it. It sucks too because everyone there are really good people. I have nothing but good to say about everyone I came in contact with. I can't say that about everyone at my other former employer. I know there's a want-to-win attitude there, and someone in corporate should really take a good look and recognize the landscape and see that there's fertile ground there to be taken.

But...what do I know?

 

[TJMPRO]

I was stuck in traffic this afternoon on the southeast expressway and could barely get WAAF, it was FAR from being seekable on my radio. I think it's time for 'AAF to move the TX back to Paxton and give up on trying be "Boston" station.

 

[Eli Polonsky]

> I was stuck in traffic this afternoon on the southeast
> expressway and could barely get WAAF, it was FAR from being
> seekable on my radio. I think it's time for 'AAF to move the
> TX back to Paxton and give up on trying be "Boston" station.

Wasn't so great around Cambridge/Somerville this afternoon either. Not as good as from Paxton.

I heard a false "WAAF Boston" ID a little past the hour. I'm sure "WAAF Westborough" had been snuck in a little earlier before the hour.