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What format does Charlotte need?

It's really time to shake up the Charlotte radio market. Personally, I'd like AAA. Of course, a local HOT AC wouldn't be bad either. There is too much duplication with Clear Channel and CBS.

wkkt-wsoc
wlyt-wkqc
 
This subject comes up here allot. First this has always been a big market for Country music. Before and even after 96.9 first went country WSOC-FM often had double digit numbers.

As for the two A/C stations they play the songs most of the last of the boomers grew up with with some new songs here and there.

Before "The Link" got into their personality talk format they were Hot A/C. The numbers were not great.

As for AAA. The last time I looked at the music charts it wasn't much different from Alternative which WEND is already doing.

While people say they want more variety, what they mean is they want more of what THEY like.

My picks would be a Smooth Jazz format and Classic Country, which also do not get big numbers .
 
I'd say and here are a few.

Rock. You have 2 stations with WRFX (The Fox) and WEND (The End) on both spectums, There isn't a lot of stations that will entertain both and maintain what the listeners really want in this genre. You have Heavy/Death Metal, Alternative, Power Metal, and then you have Classic Rock. Not to mention the venues that have hosted MANY artists, locally. When will Charlotte pick up a REAL ROCK station?

Hot AC. Well look at the status of WNKS.. Whats wrong with this picture and why are they still in the Top 10? MTV Generation is slowly becoming Urban/Hip Hop. WLNK was merely an Adult AC station that tried everything to run with Kiss 95.1 and even went as far as doing an all 80's show nightly.. Which I really enjoyed.

AAA. I think it would be something to try.. to test the waters.

Smooth Jazz: It does well on the weekends here at WZTK. So, I'd say another that would need to be tested because of the diversity of the Metro. I thought WBAV entertained this idea a long time ago?

FM Sports Talk: You'd think ESPN Radio would come into play with this? I worked for Cumulus- Myrtle Beach
and helped launch ESPN Radio on the Grand Strand with 93.9 The Team. And saw how much it did well. You take a sports talk station add sports from the local, regional and national, you'd think Charlotte, would open up to the idea because it would be Static Free. WZTK-FM is doing this with Wake Forest and Carolina Panthers and its done pretty well.

So, those are my two cents and opinions from a producers stand point. ;D
and yeah, I used to live in Charlotte and wished I could WORK in Charlotte. LOL

Take care,
~Stitch~
 
Thankfully, I don't have to depend on what the local stations offer but IF I were doing a new format on any station in Charlotte, (FM SIGNAL) I would probably try the "JACK- we play anything" kind of approach.

That said, not sure what kind of #'s it would generate
 
I still have smooth jazz on my "wish list." I listen to The Sunday Jazz Brunch, hosted by Marvin Ross, on V101.9 when I'm around on Sunday afternoons - but 3 hours isn't enough for me. I was able to catch The Sunday Jazz Brunch on MY102.5 from 7-11 on Sunday mornings for a while - but the signal is pretty bad.

From what I've been reading, it appears that a good many of the established smooth jazz stations around the country are beginning to pick up Broadcast Architecture's new network ... at least in some day parts. I've seen where local talent is being replaced by the syndicated hosts in various markets. My guess is that it must be more affordable ... so maybe that might be a factor if/when anyone looks at flipping a format again here in Charlotte. I truly like the "voices" (I'm a real Dave Koz fan) they've hired to do the shows ... but I don't like the way they've "dumbed down" the music with lots of older vocals. Oh well. I'll take it if they broadcast it.

Crossing my fingers ...
 
Random thoughts and questions:

Wasn't 95.7 supposed to be a kind of Jack format before they delved into Classic Hits?

As for 107.9, it was not a good HOT AC station in the 2000's. In the late 90's they were great as far as music, but when Matt and Ramona came along the music suffered. BTW, Matt and Ramona are great, so this is not an indictment of their show.

Personally, I wouldn't mind if 106.5 switched to AAA. It wouldn't be far from where they are, and judging from what they've been playing recently, they're already headed in that direction. A true alternative station cannot be owned by CC, CBS, or Entercom.

WNKS can switch to HOT AC, if I hear Justin Timberlake one more on that station I'm going to scream. That's why I abandoned CHR in the first place.

A true active rock station is needed, though 93.3 has a pretty good signal in Charlotte.

Smooth Jazz would be a nice return, and a Jack format would work well here too.
 
WLYT has been much more upbeat lately and I like it. They need to ditch Delilah and the Lite moniker and become a Hot AC with attitude. WRSN 93.9 Burlington/Cary/Raleigh/Durham/NYC/Boston/LA(sorry, got caaried awat :) now WKSL 93.9 Kiss fm is one of the best stations I have heard in years. I think this format would squash K104.7 and hurt Kiss 95.1. Charlotte radio needs a serious enema! You generally speaking, have a choice between counry, rap and soft ac. C'mon! Let's shake it up!
 
We need a Spanish station like we need another illegal alien in this town. I think the Jack format is a fad and will fade away like the all 70's format of Star 104.7. We need a real rock station. The Fox is old and stale and plays the same songs by the same artists all the time like they're programmed into Jeff Kent's iPod or something. Rock radio programmers in this town are too brainwashed by the corporate standard that's drilled into them day after day. They aren't looking to program a great station, they're looking to get that next promotion to the next rung of the corporate ladder.

Someone needs to grow a set and throw the rack radio manual out of the window.

Sorry for the rant.
 
Personally, I hate country music, so why dont you take out WSOC or the Kat! I prefer WSOC! Make it Rock, Movin, or Smooth Jass, (i would choose this one out of the three)!
 
alex4490 said:
Personally, I hate country music, so why dont you take out WSOC or the Kat! I prefer WSOC! Make it Rock, Movin, or Smooth Jass, (i would choose this one out of the three)!

Whether you like country music or not, I think 103.7 WSOC-FM is a jewel in Charlotte's crown. With all the changes on the radio dial, WSOC-FM has been constant. Yes, the voices behind the mic have changed over the years, the ratings have gone down, but I always know I'll get the weather forecast with the temp. and a live jock. More than I can say for most of the other Charlotte stations. I can remember my Dad taking me to elementary school with Bill Dollar on the radio! I would hate to see this area lose WSOC. I'm glad CBS Radio has kept "Serving Our Community" with WSOC.

I don't want to lose 96-9 The Kat either. I listen to the music on WKKT when 103.7 is carrying NASCAR races.
 
WSOC is a heritage country station. It won't be flipping anytime soon. Also, like it or not, country pulls in huge money and huge ratings in Charlotte. If anyone will flip, keep your eyes on 95.7, 102.9, 105.3, 106.1, 106.5 or 107.9. I can almost bet the bank it will be one of these.
 
I would love to see 105.3 change to a Rock station like 93.3 The Planet, the best old and new rock. Charlotte's rock stations are lame.
 
Smooth Jazz definitely, even if it's on one of HD stations. Kind of wish V101.9 would have made their HD2 channel SJ over Urban talk, seeing how there probably won't be much talking until the public really latches on to HD Radio. ::)

Rhythmic AC format like Kiss 93.9 (w/ Whoopi) would be good as well.
 
JoshB said:
Smooth Jazz definitely, even if it's on one of HD stations. Kind of wish V101.9 would have made their HD2 channel SJ over Urban talk, seeing how there probably won't be much talking until the public really latches on to HD Radio. ::)

Rhythmic AC format like Kiss 93.9 (w/ Whoopi) would be good as well.

The HD2 format will not be local, none of the HD2 formats will be.

You can hear the HD2 formats on the Clear Channel website now. The music formats are just that, music with nothing else. So everybody who doesn't want to hear jock chatter should be delighted. I think it sounds dull without jocks, like listening to someone elses iPod, but that's just me.

I won't waste my money on satellite radio or HD radio, simply because I don't trust the big operators to keep formats on that I like. They're all too busy chasing the younger demos.

Don't expect Lite 102.9 to change anytime soon, they're doing just fine. They will evolve as the audience gets older as they try to reach 25-54 females, but don't look for any drastic changes, it works and the station makes tons of money.
 
Radio has to think about the younger demos. Otherwise, you go the way of the dinasour! Remember Beautiful Music - in the 70s, a license to print money. In the 80s, gone! Its happening to Oldies today! Stations must always look to the future in order to survive!

Look for HD to be valuable down the road, but no time soon.
 
leave 102.9, take out 107.9, 105.3, and i still forget that 106.1 is in the market. there signal is bad (from what i hear)! make those three: spanish, movin, or a rock station, maybe!
 
Mike Sheridan said:
The HD2 format will not be local, none of the HD2 formats will be.

You can hear the HD2 formats on the Clear Channel website now. The music formats are just that, music with nothing else. So everybody who doesn't want to hear jock chatter should be delighted. I think it sounds dull without jocks, like listening to someone elses iPod, but that's just me.

I won't waste my money on satellite radio or HD radio, simply because I don't trust the big operators to keep formats on that I like. They're all too busy chasing the younger demos.

Don't expect Lite 102.9 to change anytime soon, they're doing just fine. They will evolve as the audience gets older as they try to reach 25-54 females, but don't look for any drastic changes, it works and the station makes tons of money.

Yeah I agree the programming so far has been far from pleasing, but I guess the companies are trying to give people incentive to buy the product with being commercial free and no talk. As for V101.9, I wonder how that will play out, since it will be a talk format. I'm wondering if it will be a national feed like the other HD formats.

I'm still holding out *crosses fingers* that they go smooth jazz and program it like they do their Sunday Jazz brunch, which has a lot of deep tracks that you don't here on other water down smooth jazz stations. ;D
 
In my "wishful thinking" mind, I think a classic-country leaning format would do great AND make money especially with the loss of WFMX--in fact, wouldn't it be great for a station to try this and resurrect the WFMX calls?? Charlotte ain't Nashville, but it is "racing country" which is probably the next best thing...so, could Charlotte support a 3rd country station, though it would emphasize the classics? The latest moniker around the country for such stations is "Country Legends". I flipped by WSOC the other day and heard Smoky Mountain Rain by Ronnie Milsap--how refreshing. Then Ronnie segued into some current song, and I couldn't hit scan fast enough. .

Eric
 
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