WGAR jumps from 4th to #1

[bigwoody]

These of course are 12 plus....which means nothing, but is an indicator of overall growth, etc.


WGAR ties WTAM (Tribe numbers). BIG book for WGAR. WMJI comes in a close third (and I do mean close). WMJI is the only consistent top 3 player.

WQMX Akron also has a big jump to #1. Both stations had similar jumps.

<P ID="signature">______________
Everyone is entitled to my opinion.</P>

 

[JohnnyMorganWXJX]

> These of course are 12 plus....which means nothing, but is
> an indicator of overall growth, etc.
>
>
> WGAR ties WTAM (Tribe numbers). BIG book for WGAR. WMJI
> comes in a close third (and I do mean close). WMJI is the
> only consistent top 3 player.
>
> WQMX Akron also has a big jump to #1. Both stations had
> similar jumps.
>

WGAR and WQMX gains may be attributable to the overwhelming popularity now of pop country, with acts like Rascal Flatts and Toby Keith, as well as the attractive female artists like Sara Evans, Gretchen Wilson, Lee Ann Womack (who has a new album), and the sustained popularity of heritage acts like Willie Nelson and Alan Jackson.

I don't even like country, but I stopped on WGAR the other day--and Chuck Collier is still a great DJ. Imagine if Dancin' Danny was still there. Presentation not bad; music was actually somewhat listenable. Not too twangy.

WTAM was probably aided by the (until recently) well-playing Indians. Fox Sports Net was reporting TV viewing for Tribe games was up over last year.

Oh, and it's 6.57pm, and Trivisonno is still a blithering idiot.

WMJI's drop (in C-Town and Akron) is a bit surprising, especially since I see it having a better music selection recently, way better than just a few months ago (the end of Skippy's reign). Is it all Meg Stevens? Or is her MD Mike Ivers responsible? While it's pretty normal oldies stuff, there's alot less of the sappy 70s stuff and alot less disco. A couple weeks ago, they even had a "WIXY Lost Hits Weekend" that combined the heritage name of the great Top 40 station with some actual "lost hits". Stuff missing from WMJI (and even some deeper oldies stations) for a while. I'm not saying we're back to the Gorman days (no New Colony Six "Things I Should Have Said"), but some gems that made my well-tuned oldies ears perk up. Nice music for a mid-summer Saturday afternoon, though. And more 60s stuff than 70s stuff. Older listeners still matter, ya know.

However, the presentation is still causing me pause. Hearing crossfades and even cold segues, part of two or three in a row without a backsell/DJ intro, commercial, liner, or even an out-of-tune jingle is shocking. I'm not sure how it's working. Also, the voicetracked slots are getting pretty conspicuous--maybe Max Heywood needs to have a talk with the jocks...he invented it after all. If he's in the building.

Now, for WDOK's fall (again, both C-Town and Akron): I mentioned back when the BIG WDOK and WFHM book came out that it seemed pretty heavy on the female AC stations, and that the books probably skewed heavily female. Since then, WDOK seems to have balanced off, back to its normal levels. Big drop, though, in 12+ Winter to Spring (I assume a proportionate drop in demo). Hope they made the big $$$ while they could. Still will be a big cash cow, but can't charge as much.

Z-107.9 makes a jump, as does KISS 96.5, in C-Town and Akron.

Oh, and just cause I know this will cause myriad responses: WZKL goes up in Canton.

And, as mentioned in another post on this board: WHOT and WAKZ both go up.

Wonder if this book skewed heavy with kiddos? You know, school's out...

 

[bigwoody]

> WMJI's drop (in C-Town and Akron) is a bit surprising,
> especially since I see it having a better music selection
> recently, way better than just a few months ago (the end of
> Skippy's reign).

Johnny, I disagree that WMJI "dropped". They didn't. WTAM and WGAR went up. WMJI was basically flat. A book that, if it weren't baseball season, would normally put WMJI on top of WTAM. WGAR...diary placement? Or country pop-ularity? A little of both I think. Country (and oldies) popularity is cyclical, and when it times of crisis (war, recession, etc, etc) they do well.

I think WMJI's presentation is off from years past. Less Is More may mean 2 minutes or less of imaging an hour, but it doesn't mean it can't pop! With Skippy gone perhaps Meg and TR will add some flash back to the imaging.

I agree, dead segues are bad enough, but back to back???? Who's the genius behind that one???? TALK FOR CRYIN OUT LOUD!!! A speed break is better than no jock talk.

Personality radio will win over "Jack-like" programming. I guarantee it.




<P ID="signature">______________
Everyone is entitled to my opinion.</P><P ID="edit"><FONT class="small">Edited by bigwoody on 07/23/05 12:27 AM.</FONT></P>

 

[JohnnyMorganWXJX]

> > WMJI's drop (in C-Town and Akron) is a bit surprising,
> > especially since I see it having a better music selection
> > recently, way better than just a few months ago (the end
> of
> > Skippy's reign).
>
> Johnny, I disagree that WMJI "dropped".

I meant dropped as in to #3, from #1 (or #2) in recent books. Numbers are substantially the same, yes. In that respect, I should have been more specific.

>
> Personality radio will win over "Jack-like" programming. I
> guarantee it.
>

Absolutely. When did Majic get to #1: when they had PERSONALITY--not just jocks, but also jingles and liners. Even voicetracked intros/outros are better than none at all.

And for god's sake: stick a 2 second stinger jingle in there, sheesh.

 

[adz]

> Oh, and just cause I know this will cause myriad responses:
> WZKL goes up in Canton.

Give J-Stew and his crew credit..good promotions throughout the book, and a solid mid day chick..

WHBC-AMs slide continues..no ''up'' book in the last four in succession..I'm also somewhat surprised at 'HBC-FMs #s..wondering if Tesh is maintaining strength..WKDD also went up..I thought K-105 would be stronger in this book and hit double digits..

Wondering now if ''Radio Free Ohio'' makes an impact somewhere in the fall..
>
>

 

[lovethebiz]

Just an observation...

Anyone else notice CC's recent efforts to hammer away at DOK's at-work numbers??? MJI is using more and more listen at work type liners and jingles...sure, they've been doing the AWOL thing for quite a while, but now even the liners after the legal ID mention something about "the most music while you listen at work" or something like that...
Also, MVX is now doing no-repeat work days starting with Brian & Joe at 8am...sounds like they too are trying to position themselves more and more as an at-work station...
Think maybe CC got a little eye opener when DOK came within an eyelash of no.1 a book or two ago???


> > > WMJI's drop (in C-Town and Akron) is a bit surprising,
> > > especially since I see it having a better music
> selection
> > > recently, way better than just a few months ago (the end
>
> > of
> > > Skippy's reign).
> >
> > Johnny, I disagree that WMJI "dropped".
>
> I meant dropped as in to #3, from #1 (or #2) in recent
> books. Numbers are substantially the same, yes. In that
> respect, I should have been more specific.
>
> >
> > Personality radio will win over "Jack-like" programming. I
>
> > guarantee it.
> >
>
> Absolutely. When did Majic get to #1: when they had
> PERSONALITY--not just jocks, but also jingles and liners.
> Even voicetracked intros/outros are better than none at all.
>
>
> And for god's sake: stick a 2 second stinger jingle in
> there, sheesh.
>

 

[lovethebiz]

Re: Just an observation...

Sorry to reply to myself..but.. also, how about WOBL hittin' the 25th spot(Am I allowed to divulge that information?) on the Cleveland top 25...Congrats. Guess some books dropped in western/central/southern Lorain Co.


> Anyone else notice CC's recent efforts to hammer away at
> DOK's at-work numbers??? MJI is using more and more listen
> at work type liners and jingles...sure, they've been doing
> the AWOL thing for quite a while, but now even the liners
> after the legal ID mention something about "the most music
> while you listen at work" or something like that...
> Also, MVX is now doing no-repeat work days starting with
> Brian & Joe at 8am...sounds like they too are trying to
> position themselves more and more as an at-work station...
> Think maybe CC got a little eye opener when DOK came within
> an eyelash of no.1 a book or two ago???
>
>
> > > > WMJI's drop (in C-Town and Akron) is a bit surprising,
>
> > > > especially since I see it having a better music
> > selection
> > > > recently, way better than just a few months ago (the
> end
> >
> > > of
> > > > Skippy's reign).
> > >
> > > Johnny, I disagree that WMJI "dropped".
> >
> > I meant dropped as in to #3, from #1 (or #2) in recent
> > books. Numbers are substantially the same, yes. In that
> > respect, I should have been more specific.
> >
> > >
> > > Personality radio will win over "Jack-like" programming.
> I
> >
> > > guarantee it.
> > >
> >
> > Absolutely. When did Majic get to #1: when they had
> > PERSONALITY--not just jocks, but also jingles and liners.
>
> > Even voicetracked intros/outros are better than none at
> all.
> >
> >
> > And for god's sake: stick a 2 second stinger jingle in
> > there, sheesh.
> >
>

 

[HHH]

Re: Just an observation...

> Sorry to reply to myself..but.. also, how about WOBL hittin'
> the 25th spot(Am I allowed to divulge that information?) on
> the Cleveland top 25...Congrats. Guess some books dropped
> in western/central/southern Lorain Co.


WGAR and WQMX showing siginficant ratings increases, and now info about WOBL showing in the Cleveland book (a first?). If that does not show some kind of country connection in these ratings, I don't know what does.

WMJI's music is sounding better since Dave "Let's Turn WMJI into WDOK" Popovich left the building, but, as mentioned, they are still missing the great non-music elements and fun twists of the Gorman and later Sanders eras. Along with their music chops, Gorman was a genius at funny promos and events, and Sanders had live broadcasts from Hong Kong, London and Cancoon, Mexico. Which reminds me, who could ever forget Scott Howitt live from a beach in Cancoon joined live by WIXY's Lou "King" Kirby for the whole show. They even re-did the top of the hour in Spanish! What a hoot!

Now THAT'S radio!

But sadly, it looks like they--like most radio today--believe that some
"perfect music selection" is all that it takes to create a compelling radio station. These people don't get it and never will.<P ID="edit"><FONT class="small">Edited by HHH on 07/23/05 12:39 PM.</FONT></P>

 

[network]

Re: Just an observation...

> Sorry to reply to myself..but.. also, how about WOBL hittin'
> the 25th spot(Am I allowed to divulge that information?) on
> the Cleveland top 25...Congrats. Guess some books dropped
> in western/central/southern Lorain Co.

I noticed that and, as I mentioned in a previous response, the appearance of WHLO/Akron in the Cleveland book. With RadioFreeOhio now on WARF/1350AM, it'll be interesting to see how many books it might take for this station to appear in the Cleveland rankings.

I think you brought up a good point about the "at work" audience. This is going to be the race to watch in Cleveland. WDOK vs. WMJI vs. WMVX. Aww hell, let's just make this easier: Clear Channel vs Infinity.

 

[bigwoody]

Re: Just an observation...

>
> But sadly, it looks like they--like most radio
> today--believe that some
> "perfect music selection" is all that it takes to create a
> compelling radio station. These people don't get it and
> never will.
>


Music is the star, but to paraphrase former Jacor/CC Programming guru Randy Michaels "it's what you do between the records that takes you over the top."

I remember the spanish top of the hour. One of our interns in promotions cut it. Doc did a great job producing all that stuff. Before Doc/Denny is was Gorman and "Buddha" (aka Mitch Todd). Gorman could write, it's what he did before radio. Great stuff. And Mitch (and before him JR Nelson) could bring it to life.

FYI: ALL of the WMMS NexGen stuff was produced at WMJI on an analog 8 track, and by Mitch. later Mitch would follow G-Man to WKRK Detroit. Then Mitch was brought back to image WMMS (then Jacor). Who got Mitch to come back at the request of upper mgmt? Denny.

<P ID="signature">______________
Everyone is entitled to my opinion.</P>

 

[scoob]

Re: Just an observation...

Safe to assume 'HLO adding Glenn Beck to their line-up after 'TAM dumped him helped them make some impact in Cleveland.

Anyone know how well (or how bad) Springer did in his place?


> > Sorry to reply to myself..but.. also, how about WOBL
> hittin'
> > the 25th spot(Am I allowed to divulge that information?)
> on
> > the Cleveland top 25...Congrats. Guess some books dropped
>
> > in western/central/southern Lorain Co.
>
> I noticed that and, as I mentioned in a previous response,
> the appearance of WHLO/Akron in the Cleveland book. With
> RadioFreeOhio now on WARF/1350AM, it'll be interesting to
> see how many books it might take for this station to appear
> in the Cleveland rankings.
>
> I think you brought up a good point about the "at work"
> audience. This is going to be the race to watch in
> Cleveland. WDOK vs. WMJI vs. WMVX. Aww hell, let's just
> make this easier: Clear Channel vs Infinity.
>

 

[RadioSurvivor]

Radio Free Ohio

> Wondering now if ''Radio Free Ohio'' makes an impact
> somewhere in the fall..

It might do well for one book until the novelty wears off. But Progressive Talk isn't even doing well in blue state strongholds like NY and LA. In LA, Al Franken just came in 27th (12+)... while Limbaugh came in 5th.

 

[nate81]

Springer and WTAM: the first update...

> WTAM was probably aided by the (until recently) well-playing
> Indians. Fox Sports Net was reporting TV viewing for Tribe
> games was up over last year.

Another story that WTAM may not want us to notice:

Jerry Springer's not off to that good a start at WTAM. The guy he replaced, Premiere's Glenn Beck, read off on-air the ratings to a caller from Cleveland that was listening to WHLO. (While also noting WHLO's solid gain - considering the fact it IS an Akron station that isn't geared to the larger market...)

Not wishing to post the numbers here, let's just say Jerry's getting one-third of what Beck had last in that slot.

Look at it two ways: either Jerry is tanking in place of Glenn, or it's a decent start for him on his only affil that's a traditional N/T, and not a libtalker. The fall book should be interesting, especally if the Indians continue to tank.

Congratulations, Kevin Methany.

> Oh, and it's 6.57pm, and Trivisonno is still a blithering
> idiot.

And Kevin Keane's still a hyperactive bought-and-paid-for shill for the Indians...

- nate81<P ID="signature">______________
Nathan Obral
University Partership Representative
Student Senate
Lorain County Community College, Elyria, Ohio

LCCC Radio - The Duck</P>

 

[scoob]

Re: Springer and WTAM: the first update...

Well, I kind of called this below:

http://www.radio-info.com/mods/board?Post=494668&Board=cleveland


> Not wishing to post the numbers here, let's just say Jerry's
> getting one-third of what Beck had last in that slot.

That is not good.
>
> Look at it two ways: either Jerry is tanking in place of
> Glenn, or it's a decent start for him on his only affil
> that's a traditional N/T, and not a libtalker. The fall book
> should be interesting, especally if the Indians continue to
> tank.


I'd say your first assumption is true. That's a lot of audience to lose. (from what you said) and the mode of thinking here was probably that conservatives and fans of Beck will still be tuning in to hear what Springer has to say anyway. Seems as if this wasn't the case.

How much longer do you all think this Springer-experiment will last?

 

[nate81]

Re: Springer and WTAM: the first update...

> Well, I kind of called this below:
>
> http://www.radio-info.com/mods/board?Post=494668&Board=cleveland
>
>
>
> > Not wishing to post the numbers here, let's just say Jerry's
> > getting one-third of what Beck had last in that slot.
>
> That is not good.
> >
> > Look at it two ways: either Jerry is tanking in place of
> > Glenn, or it's a decent start for him on his only affil
> > that's a traditional N/T, and not a libtalker. The fall book
> > should be interesting, especally if the Indians continue to
> > tank.
>
>
> I'd say your first assumption is true. That's a lot of
> audience to lose. (from what you said) and the mode of
> thinking here was probably that conservatives and fans of
> Beck will still be tuning in to hear what Springer has to
> say anyway. Seems as if this wasn't the case.
>
> How much longer do you all think this Springer-experiment
> will last?

They may want to wait until the next book comes out in the fall before coming to a verdict. But there's no logical way that Methany & Co. can be happy with this. Not one single bit. I'd say that if Jerry flatlines at the current numbers (and it WAS a serious drop, indeed), he can't last the end of the year.

Which brings up an interesting scenario:

Remember that WHLO/640 and WEOL/930, two suburban stations with solid signals, both easily picked up Glenn after the fact. I find it highly doubtful that he would wind up on three (!) stations at the same time. If WTAM were to balk and wants to bring back Glenn, his show could be on both WTAM and WHLO - as is the case with Rush. That would be the safe move.

But here's the *wild* card: Where does that leave WEOL - which isn't a CC station? Even though BOTH WEOL and WHLO had to work to pick up Glenn's show, WEOL, which is closer to Cleveland than WHLO, could very well be the odd N/T out. And they wouldn't be happy at all, nor would I blame them.

The only other option for WTAM is to trot out a local host in the 9-11:30 slot - and that slot hasn't been local on a full-time basis since Rich Micheals got the ax in '97! And who would they insert as a host? Bob Becker? Brad Sussman?

Not all is sunshine and lollipops at 6200 Oaktree...

- nate81<P ID="signature">______________
Nathan Obral
University Partership Representative
Student Senate
Lorain County Community College, Elyria, Ohio

LCCC Radio - The Duck</P>