What does B-96 need to do in order to pick itself up?

[pumpin]

Does anyone have any suggestions as to what B-96 should do in order to bounce back in the ratings?
One of the things they need to do is get a new moniker. "Chicago's Hits and Hip-Hop" is too confusing. It makes listeners wonder are you a Hip-Hop station or a Hits station? I think they should go back to the moniker they were using in the early 90's, "Chicago's Hits, B-96!!" At least it would give more room for certain types of music. "Hits" can encompass anything from R&B, Hip-Hop, Pop, Alternative Rock, Dance, etc. At least that way the station will not be so pigeonholed.
Also, B-96 may want to think of a stronger ad campaign. Billboards, Tv Commericals, ads on the CTA, etc. I think they have gotten too comfortable with their Blue Sky reputation and they let themselves slide in the midst of new competiton.
B-96 BADLY needs a new morning team because Eddie and Jobo isn't cutting it anymore with the morning listeners.
The WHOLE station needs to be retooled, AND FAST!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[musicloverII]

The exact opposite of what it's doing now.

> Does anyone have any suggestions as to what B-96 should do
> in order to bounce back in the ratings?
> One of the things they need to do is get a new moniker.
> "Chicago's Hits and Hip-Hop" is too confusing. It makes
> listeners wonder are you a Hip-Hop station or a Hits
> station? I think they should go back to the moniker they
> were using in the early 90's, "Chicago's Hits, B-96!!" At
> least it would give more room for certain types of music.
> "Hits" can encompass anything from R&B, Hip-Hop, Pop,
> Alternative Rock, Dance, etc. At least that way the station
> will not be so pigeonholed.
> Also, B-96 may want to think of a stronger ad campaign.
> Billboards, Tv Commericals, ads on the CTA, etc. I think
> they have gotten too comfortable with their Blue Sky
> reputation and they let themselves slide in the midst of new
> competiton.
> B-96 BADLY needs a new morning team because Eddie and Jobo
> isn't cutting it anymore with the morning listeners.
> The WHOLE station needs to be retooled, AND FAST!!!!!!!!!!!!
>

 

[JeremyAndrews]

> Does anyone have any suggestions as to what B-96 should do
> in order to bounce back in the ratings?
> One of the things they need to do is get a new moniker.
> "Chicago's Hits and Hip-Hop" is too confusing. It makes
> listeners wonder are you a Hip-Hop station or a Hits
> station? I think they should go back to the moniker they
> were using in the early 90's, "Chicago's Hits, B-96!!" At
> least it would give more room for certain types of music.
> "Hits" can encompass anything from R&B, Hip-Hop, Pop,
> Alternative Rock, Dance, etc. At least that way the station
> will not be so pigeonholed.
> Also, B-96 may want to think of a stronger ad campaign.
> Billboards, Tv Commericals, ads on the CTA, etc. I think
> they have gotten too comfortable with their Blue Sky
> reputation and they let themselves slide in the midst of new
> competiton.
> B-96 BADLY needs a new morning team because Eddie and Jobo
> isn't cutting it anymore with the morning listeners.
> The WHOLE station needs to be retooled, AND FAST!!!!!!!!!!!!
>

Let's see:


Obviously they are going to stay Rhythmic CHR (although they had waltzed with mainstream CHR in 1998 and 2002)

Leave Eddie & Jobo for the time being. But getting rid of them would save money considering how expensive their contract is.

Move Roxanne to middays. She sounds like a phone sex operater but I'd rather listen to her then Nikki. I'm sure at least a few other people would agree.

Hire someone new for afternoons. Or just put Brian Middleton there.

Get rid of Stylez & Roman. Their whole setup screams "POSER" I mean COME ON! http://www.b96.com/images/stylz&roman_header.jpg

Replace them with Java Joel or something.

Justin's Slow Jamz show is a interesting add. Maybe they can leave it. Noticed its more "hit" based. Taylor Dayne, Selina, Mariah Carey, Ne-Yo, etc were played so its not exact to what WGCI has. Whispers In The Dark or Quiet Storm. Whatever they are calling it.

Leave Candi on overnights.


Engineering: add echo/reverb. They had it in the 80s, why not in 2006? WGCI, WVAZ, Power 92 (do they still have reverb), WKSC (If you listen closely) and WILV all have it.


Imaging: Get some jingles. The ones they had been using just don't sound all that good. Leave Pat Garrett on the voice talent. He's pretty decent.



These ideas would be a start.

<P ID="signature">______________

</P>

 

[WYTZZ95FM]

Sorry bud, regardless what I think of B96.3, and I think they left themselves wide open for what is going on, they are doing a few things ok, and you need to realize it. Opinions are great, but start reading and absorbing what some people around here share.

One point I have seen you have brought up. You compare B96 to how it used to be, and should go back to those ways. Note, CHR's tend to flush out and turn over their audience very 3 years or so. Past is gone and this current gen shares little with the old one or their styles and listening patterns.

> One of the things they need to do is get a new moniker.
> "Chicago's Hits and Hip-Hop" is too confusing. It makes
> listeners wonder are you a Hip-Hop station or a Hits
> station?

No. It is called "perception". I don't agree with it, but very common in radio. They were "dance beat" for years while being spinning Urban, Hip Hop and Slow Jamz. And people don't realize they are trying to siphon off some numbers from GCI and Power.


> I think they should go back to the moniker they
> were using in the early 90's, "Chicago's Hits, B-96!!" At
> least it would give more room for certain types of music.
> "Hits" can encompass anything from R&B, Hip-Hop, Pop,
> Alternative Rock, Dance, etc. At least that way the station
> will not be so pigeonholed.

They are pigeonholing to what they think will work for them.

> Also, B-96 may want to think of a stronger ad campaign.
> Billboards, Tv Commericals, ads on the CTA, etc. I think
> they have gotten too comfortable with their Blue Sky
> reputation and they let themselves slide in the midst of new
> competiton.

Best statement you have made so far.

> B-96 BADLY needs a new morning team because Eddie and Jobo
> isn't cutting it anymore with the morning listeners.

You obviously have NO idea what revenue E&J bring in for the outlet. Right or Wrong they are or are not fit for their listeners....... it is a moot point, they pulled in the numbers and money among Stern, Mancow and Eric & Kathy. NOt shabby for strong competition.

> The WHOLE station needs to be retooled, AND FAST!!!!!!!!!!!!
>

They need to find their niche, or if and when the hemmoraging from La Kalle stops, if they are content with the lower numbers (and possibly lower revenue), stay pat and deal with the numbers they get and hope no more competition enters the scene. <P ID="signature">______________

"Z"
Music Coordinator/Technical Support</P>

 

[pumpin]

> Sorry bud, regardless what I think of B96.3, and I think
> they left themselves wide open for what is going on,

You are just repeating what I said further down in my post. I DID mention that B-96 was depending too much on their "Blue Sky" reputation to stay afloat.

they
> are doing a few things ok, and you need to realize it.

NO, it is obvious they AREN'T doing things okay or they wouldn't be in the current situation that they are in, so maybe you need to realize that!! You can't TOTALLY blame the competition all of the time. If you have a good product and know how to market it will set itself apart from the rest.

> Opinions are great, but start reading and absorbing what
> some people around here share.

Why should I do that? Maybe that is why the radio industry is in the state that it is in? Too many people want to be imitators, NOT innovators!!!

>
> One point I have seen you have brought up. You compare B96
> to how it used to be, and should go back to those ways.
> Note, CHR's tend to flush out and turn over their audience
> very 3 years or so. Past is gone and this current gen shares
> little with the old one or their styles and listening
> patterns.

Okay, that may be true, but sometimes you have to go back in order to go forward.

> > One of the things they need to do is
get a new moniker.
> > "Chicago's Hits and Hip-Hop" is too confusing. It makes
> > listeners wonder are you a Hip-Hop station or a Hits
> > station?
>
> No. It is called "perception". I don't agree with it, but
> very common in radio. They were "dance beat" for years
> while being spinning Urban, Hip Hop and Slow Jamz. And
> people don't realize they are trying to siphon off some
> numbers from GCI and Power.
>
>You are right, they have been trying to get some of GCI's listeners for years. But the difference between now and then is that B-96 had its own identity. They weren't trying to be exactly identical to GCI. B-96 would play some of the same music, but notice they would throw in some House and Pop cuts as well which a lot of times forced GCI's hand into playing some of the same selections.

> > I think they should go back to the moniker they
> > were using in the early 90's, "Chicago's Hits, B-96!!" At
>
> > least it would give more room for certain types of music.
>
> > "Hits" can encompass anything from R&B, Hip-Hop, Pop,
> > Alternative Rock, Dance, etc. At least that way the
> station
> > will not be so pigeonholed.
>
> They are pigeonholing to what they think will work for them.
>
Maybe that is the problem with the station, the diversity isn't there anymore. I realize Hip-Hop is supposed to be the in thing and listeners were wanting it, but not ALL of the listeners. There were (and still are) those who told B-96 that they were ignoring the dance listener and totally catering to the hip-hop person. That isn't right!!! I think the dance listener was the one who made B-96 one of the biggest stations in the country, but they have dissed them. That's one of the reasons why the stations lost a share of its listenership, alienation.

>
> > Also, B-96 may want to think of a stronger ad campaign.
> > Billboards, Tv Commericals, ads on the CTA, etc. I think
> > they have gotten too comfortable with their Blue Sky
> > reputation and they let themselves slide in the midst of
> new
> > competiton.
>
> Best statement you have made so far.
>
> > B-96 BADLY needs a new morning team because Eddie and Jobo
>
> > isn't cutting it anymore with the morning listeners.
>
> You obviously have NO idea what revenue E&J bring in for the
> outlet. Right or Wrong they are or are not fit for their
> listeners....... it is a moot point, they pulled in the
> numbers and money among Stern, Mancow and Eric & Kathy. NOt
> shabby for strong competition.
>
> > The WHOLE station needs to be retooled, AND
> FAST!!!!!!!!!!!!
> >
>
> They need to find their niche, or if and when the
> hemmoraging from La Kalle stops, if they are content with
> the lower numbers (and possibly lower revenue), stay pat and
> deal with the numbers they get and hope no more competition
> enters the scene.
>

 

[pumpin]

> > Does anyone have any suggestions as to what B-96 should do
>
> > in order to bounce back in the ratings?
> > One of the things they need to do is get a new moniker.
> > "Chicago's Hits and Hip-Hop" is too confusing. It makes
> > listeners wonder are you a Hip-Hop station or a Hits
> > station? I think they should go back to the moniker they
> > were using in the early 90's, "Chicago's Hits, B-96!!" At
>
> > least it would give more room for certain types of music.
>
> > "Hits" can encompass anything from R&B, Hip-Hop, Pop,
> > Alternative Rock, Dance, etc. At least that way the
> station
> > will not be so pigeonholed.
> > Also, B-96 may want to think of a stronger ad campaign.
> > Billboards, Tv Commericals, ads on the CTA, etc. I think
> > they have gotten too comfortable with their Blue Sky
> > reputation and they let themselves slide in the midst of
> new
> > competiton.
> > B-96 BADLY needs a new morning team because Eddie and Jobo
>
> > isn't cutting it anymore with the morning listeners.
> > The WHOLE station needs to be retooled, AND
> FAST!!!!!!!!!!!!
> >
>
> Let's see:
>
>
> Obviously they are going to stay Rhythmic CHR (although they
> had waltzed with mainstream CHR in 1998 and 2002)
>
> Leave Eddie & Jobo for the time being. But getting rid of
> them would save money considering how expensive their
> contract is.

>That's what I have been saying all along. I don't see how they can justify keeping Eddie and Jobo since they are not pulling their weight in ratings.

> Move Roxanne to middays. She sounds like a phone sex
> operater but I'd rather listen to her then Nikki. I'm sure
> at least a few other people would agree.
>
> Hire someone new for afternoons. Or just put Brian Middleton
> there.

>I personally think the station made a mistake by getting rid of Brian's mixes. He's is one of the best mixers in Chicago.

> Get rid of Stylez & Roman. Their whole setup screams "POSER"
> I mean COME ON!

>True Dat!!!
http://www.b96.com/images/stylz&roman_header.jpg
>
> Replace them with Java Joel or something.
>
> Justin's Slow Jamz show is a interesting add. Maybe they can
> leave it. Noticed its more "hit" based. Taylor Dayne,
> Selina, Mariah Carey, Ne-Yo, etc were played so its not
> exact to what WGCI has. Whispers In The Dark or Quiet Storm.
> Whatever they are calling it.

>The slow jam mix tape is a nice touch. Oh, by the way Jeremy, GCI's show is, "Whispers in The Dark" and V-103's is, "The Quiet Storm." Just to let you know.

> Leave Candi on overnights.
>
>
> Engineering: add echo/reverb. They had it in the 80s, why
> not in 2006? WGCI, WVAZ, Power 92 (do they still have
> reverb), WKSC (If you listen closely) and WILV all have it.
>
>
>
> Imaging: Get some jingles. The ones they had been using just
> don't sound all that good. Leave Pat Garrett on the voice
> talent. He's pretty decent.
>
>
>
> These ideas would be a start.
>

 

[pumpin]

> The exact opposite of what it's doing now.

>I agree!!!!
You know, I keep hearing that this generation is sooooo much different than the last one. But is it really? Are generation X and next that much different? I could see if we were a few generations apart that we would be different, but not back to back. Just an observation.

> > Does anyone have any suggestions as to what B-96 should do
>
> > in order to bounce back in the ratings?
> > One of the things they need to do is get a new moniker.
> > "Chicago's Hits and Hip-Hop" is too confusing. It makes
> > listeners wonder are you a Hip-Hop station or a Hits
> > station? I think they should go back to the moniker they
> > were using in the early 90's, "Chicago's Hits, B-96!!" At
>
> > least it would give more room for certain types of music.
>
> > "Hits" can encompass anything from R&B, Hip-Hop, Pop,
> > Alternative Rock, Dance, etc. At least that way the
> station
> > will not be so pigeonholed.
> > Also, B-96 may want to think of a stronger ad campaign.
> > Billboards, Tv Commericals, ads on the CTA, etc. I think
> > they have gotten too comfortable with their Blue Sky
> > reputation and they let themselves slide in the midst of
> new
> > competiton.
> > B-96 BADLY needs a new morning team because Eddie and Jobo
>
> > isn't cutting it anymore with the morning listeners.
> > The WHOLE station needs to be retooled, AND
> FAST!!!!!!!!!!!!
> >
>

 

[itsjjski]

The jury is still out on "Chicago's hits and hip hop" The new moniker, slow jam mix tape, possibly a new airstaff (since tim is gone), and other things will help it bounce back.

Hits and hip hop is a good positioner for them because it puts them back in the chr world somewhere between kiss and wgci. This is where they were before reggaetone. They lost many listeners when they went more urban, then even more with wviv/wvix. So their goal is to get back to where they were before they started playing reggaetone.

In these kind of situations you have to be patient. The numbers may not be there for a couple of books, although we wont even know how it is doing for another couple months, probibly until the winter p2's.

So be patient. there will for sure be improvement. The station is sounding much better.

> Does anyone have any suggestions as to what B-96 should do
> in order to bounce back in the ratings?
> One of the things they need to do is get a new moniker.
> "Chicago's Hits and Hip-Hop" is too confusing. It makes
> listeners wonder are you a Hip-Hop station or a Hits
> station? I think they should go back to the moniker they
> were using in the early 90's, "Chicago's Hits, B-96!!" At
> least it would give more room for certain types of music.
> "Hits" can encompass anything from R&B, Hip-Hop, Pop,
> Alternative Rock, Dance, etc. At least that way the station
> will not be so pigeonholed.
> Also, B-96 may want to think of a stronger ad campaign.
> Billboards, Tv Commericals, ads on the CTA, etc. I think
> they have gotten too comfortable with their Blue Sky
> reputation and they let themselves slide in the midst of new
> competiton.
> B-96 BADLY needs a new morning team because Eddie and Jobo
> isn't cutting it anymore with the morning listeners.
> The WHOLE station needs to be retooled, AND FAST!!!!!!!!!!!!
>

 

[magicmk]

>
> Hits and hip hop is a good positioner for them because it
> puts them back in the chr world somewhere between kiss and
> wgci. This is where they were before reggaetone. They lost
> many listeners when they went more urban, then even more
> with wviv/wvix. So their goal is to get back to where they
> were before they started playing reggaetone.
>

That's probably about the best B96 can hope for. A good balance between hiphop and mainstream (although still leaning hiphop, since hiphop IS mainstream in today's pop world - for now). Let Viva have the reggaeton and the reggaeton crowd... with the exception of a couple of songs, it seems that a lot of those tracks have a short life span anyway. Far too repetitive. And bring back the high energy, big city attitude that's been missing on Chicago airwaves for the past few years. And by that, I don't mean "thugger's paradise" either. Outside of the music, B96 used to be one of the most entertaining stations to listen to on the dial. It would be nice to see them using the same approach with personalities and programming that they did when they were so successful in the early-mid 90's.

 

[skipspence]

> Wow.....How about playing the HITS (no matter the sub-genre') and be every 18 to 34's second choice on the dial in the daytime.. That's called broadcasting and the image of when you tune in you get a HIT, no matter if rap, pop, r&b or rock based, alt based, etc.... With 90% of the FM's narrowcasting to a certain genre' it takes a station doing a 180 degree turn to make a ratings mark... AND PROMOTE THE DAYLIGHTS out of your product.... Jocks hit the streets and have that logo everywhere you can have it in the metro....You're nights can research your 12 to 24 teen and young adult females....See where the future young adult market (that leans female over male 60-40 in an audience mix) is going!

 

[pumpin]

> The jury is still out on "Chicago's hits and hip hop" The
> new moniker, slow jam mix tape, possibly a new airstaff
> (since tim is gone), and other things will help it bounce
> back.

>I still do not think this is a good slogan for them. It doesn't have consistency. "Chicago's Blazin' Hits" may be a better moniker to set themselves apart from Kiss but at the same give GCI a run for the money. At least when you use that moniker, you can diversify the music selection.

> Hits and hip hop is a good positioner for them because it
> puts them back in the chr world somewhere between kiss and
> wgci. This is where they were before reggaetone. They lost
> many listeners when they went more urban, then even more
> with wviv/wvix. So their goal is to get back to where they
> were before they started playing reggaetone.
>
> In these kind of situations you have to be patient. The
> numbers may not be there for a couple of books, although we
> wont even know how it is doing for another couple months,
> probibly until the winter p2's.
>
> So be patient. there will for sure be improvement. The
> station is sounding much better.

>I don't think the station is sounding any better than it did four years ago.

> > Does anyone have any suggestions as to what B-96 should do
>
> > in order to bounce back in the ratings?
> > One of the things they need to do is get a new moniker.
> > "Chicago's Hits and Hip-Hop" is too confusing. It makes
> > listeners wonder are you a Hip-Hop station or a Hits
> > station? I think they should go back to the moniker they
> > were using in the early 90's, "Chicago's Hits, B-96!!" At
>
> > least it would give more room for certain types of music.
>
> > "Hits" can encompass anything from R&B, Hip-Hop, Pop,
> > Alternative Rock, Dance, etc. At least that way the
> station
> > will not be so pigeonholed.
> > Also, B-96 may want to think of a stronger ad campaign.
> > Billboards, Tv Commericals, ads on the CTA, etc. I think
> > they have gotten too comfortable with their Blue Sky
> > reputation and they let themselves slide in the midst of
> new
> > competiton.
> > B-96 BADLY needs a new morning team because Eddie and Jobo
>
> > isn't cutting it anymore with the morning listeners.
> > The WHOLE station needs to be retooled, AND
> FAST!!!!!!!!!!!!
> >
>

 

[pumpin]

> >
> > Hits and hip hop is a good positioner for them because it
> > puts them back in the chr world somewhere between kiss and
>
> > wgci. This is where they were before reggaetone. They lost
>
> > many listeners when they went more urban, then even more
> > with wviv/wvix. So their goal is to get back to where they
>
> > were before they started playing reggaetone.
> >
>
> That's probably about the best B96 can hope for. A good
> balance between hiphop and mainstream (although still
> leaning hiphop, since hiphop IS mainstream in today's pop
> world - for now). Let Viva have the reggaeton and the
> reggaeton crowd... with the exception of a couple of songs,
> it seems that a lot of those tracks have a short life span
> anyway. Far too repetitive. And bring back the high
> energy, big city attitude that's been missing on Chicago
> airwaves for the past few years. And by that, I don't mean
> "thugger's paradise" either. Outside of the music, B96 used
> to be one of the most entertaining stations to listen to on
> the dial. It would be nice to see them using the same
> approach with personalities and programming that they did
> when they were so successful in the early-mid 90's.
>
I am feeling you Matt K. I think B-96 got way too into the Hip-Hop thing. I understand you have to play what is current, but they could have done that AND maintained their own identity. They didn't have to try to be a rip-off of Hot 97 in NYC.

 

[WYTZZ95FM]

B96.3's positioner slogan

> >I still do not think this is a good slogan for them. It
> doesn't have consistency. "Chicago's Blazin' Hits" may be a
> better moniker to set themselves apart from Kiss but at the
> same give GCI a run for the money. At least when you use
> that moniker, you can diversify the music selection.

Absolutely wrong track of thinking.

People have to have it in their FACE and be told what something is. Blazing sounds cool but means nothing. Chicago's Hits and HIP HOP does. They are telling people, their spot on the dial is the place for HIP HOP. Period.

WJMK had the same issue. They ditched the "Magic" name which had a jillion years of heritage for "Oldies 104.3". WHY? Forcing it in peoples heads and diaries!

I don't think they are taking the right course, I don't like the positioner, BUT, it is the <u>right one for what they are offering</u>. <P ID="signature">______________

"Z"
Music Coordinator/Technical Support</P>