What is left for JAM'N 94.5?

[Bosch94]

I like the station always had in the past... Im in my mid 20s and am i looking forward to a dismise of Jam'n... No way. Urban does not fit in Boston... If anything in my opinion it should just copy cat 96.9s "throwbacks" add more Mainstream top 40 hits and not play as many re peats... Bring back some imaging from the 90s that say "Get ready to Jam" get rid of the hip hop slogan and rebrand as it was prior to "hip hop" to "The Beat of Boston"... I also think the loss of their morning show has impacted them. And that is obviously a clear channel doing... You know the saying "If it aint broke dont try to fix it"...They broke it and probably don't even care to fix it. If anyone high up from CC in even reads these threads they are probably laughing. And still "do not care". Btw 94.5 is the only station to up tempo the music like WiLD 94.9 does (not as much) but in my opinion makes the music sound better and a great hit more Uplifting. Just my thoughts. Agree to disagree

 

[pjc1961]

I would like to see demo #s of these stations clearly the public release ratings are not enough proof of error? And i suppose the #1 obvious is KISS 108 the vanity #s show that.

Previously posted in the Boston April 2013 ratings thread - scroll down towards the bottom of the linked webpage below to see "Boston: When You Need To Know..." with the Top 5 overall age 6+ followed by the Top 5 in the 3 major demos:

http://www.allaccess.com/net-news/a...rch-director-inc-presents-exclusive-april-ppm

 

[NHRadio]

Also, L. A. doesn't have an Urban station (someone posted that?) -

They don't? Stevie Wonder's KJLH seems pretty Urban to me.

 

[fmradio1]

That wrap up mentioned Kiss is widening it's lead over Jam'n in 18-34...with Hot entering the Top 5 for the first time...running a 25+ format. Jam'n is off a full point. We've moved beyond the "sampling" phase. Several of Jam'n's most beloved personalities are now across the street...and it looks like a sizable chunk of 94.5's audience has followed them there...and may stay.

This isn't good for WJMN long term, no matter how you want to spin the numbers. Besides, even during the glory days, 94.5's ratings always outpaced revenue. Now that the numbers in the money demos are off (remember, Jam'n used to actually place 25-54 during this era) this could pose a problem for CC down the line. I'm not saying they'll bail on Rhythmic by the next book...or the next several...but unless hip-hop comes back around (which is where their heritage is), they'll have to do SOMETHING.

Previously posted in the Boston April 2013 ratings thread - scroll down towards the bottom of the linked webpage below to see "Boston: When You Need To Know..." with the Top 5 overall age 6+ followed by the Top 5 in the 3 major demos:

http://www.allaccess.com/net-news/a...rch-director-inc-presents-exclusive-april-ppm

 

[atlantaboy]

Also, L. A. doesn't have an Urban station (someone posted that?) -

They don't? Stevie Wonder's KJLH seems pretty Urban to me.

It's Urban AC...and it's getting a 0.9 share (which is 33rd in the market)

 

[NHRadio]

Also, L. A. doesn't have an Urban station (someone posted that?) -

They don't? Stevie Wonder's KJLH seems pretty Urban to me.

It's Urban AC...and it's getting a 0.9 share (which is 33rd in the market)

Their website says Urban Contemporary. However, I don't know enough about the format to tell the 2 apart.

 

[fmradio1]

When 100.3 in LA went AAA a few years ago, KJLH shifted to Urban Contemporary to be the urban voice of the city, but they still play a lot of gold and Urban AC tracks. They are also signal challenged (think WEDX-like) so they can only do so much. KJLH is still more of an "old folks" station. Not a good comparison to Jam'n's situation in any case.

 

[atlantaboy]

Also, L. A. doesn't have an Urban station (someone posted that?) -

They don't? Stevie Wonder's KJLH seems pretty Urban to me.

It's Urban AC...and it's getting a 0.9 share (which is 33rd in the market)

Their website says Urban Contemporary. However, I don't know enough about the format to tell the 2 apart.

Extremely different formats - This week, the Mediabase Top 30 Urban chart and the Top 30 Urban AC chart have no songs in common

I'm not sure it matters, though, since the prospect of being 33rd in the market isn't going to entice a Boston station to flip to Urban AC either

As far as WJMN, look at the Mediabase Rhythmic chart, and look at the ITunes chart - most songs in the Rhythmic Top 10 are below #40 on ITunes, and many in the Rhythmic Top 40 are below #100 - and when you scan the Rhythmic chart each week, it's a lot of the same artists over and over again - it's just not a good time right now to be a Rhythmic station

 

[Nate Wesley]

Also, L. A. doesn't have an Urban station (someone posted that?) -

They don't? Stevie Wonder's KJLH seems pretty Urban to me.

KJLH is also a smaller station. I think its relevant point this out because UrbanTeenager's suggestions might be worth experimenting...IF Jam'n were a small struggling Class A signal that wouldn't be expected to serve the entire market.

Of course, Jam'n isn't that small or struggling, ultimately making such suggestions unworkable.

 

[UrbanTeenager]

And stop comparing WZMX in Hartford and Jam'n's situation. First off, Hartford has much fewer signals than Boston does...less competition for the younger and minority listener. Second, their numbers aren't what they used to be. Third, the Hartford metro is slightly more diverse than Boston is. Fourth....their billing SUCKS! Last I heard, despite their ratings, Hot 93.7 is EIGHTH out of the nine local FM signals (WRCH, WTIC-FM, WWYZ, WHCN, WCCC, WMRQ, WKSS, WZMX & WDRC-FM) in terms of revenue. Only WMRQ is worse. And Hot has one of the best signals in the STATE! Going full blown urban is not the answer for 94.5.

Between AMP and Hot 96.9, they've essentially pulled the rug out from under WJMN. Neither CBS nor Greater Media are going to blink and flip away to another format anytime soon. Jam'n will have to hope for a big hip-hop resurgence to get back in the game...or they may have to go in a totally different direction.

You make a lot of good points here I hadn't thought about, other than Hartford being slightly more diverse. I still Feel Jam'n should copy Hot 93.7's format however because, like I've said, you can say 3.4 isn't working but its just SUCH a constant decline, clearly what they're doing now is not working. I know theyre tweaking. Remember when they used to play Katy Perry, Kesha and Lady Gaga? I do see they spin "Die Young" like once a day though. But they've even cut Swedish House Mafia and Calvin Harris out. Now I think its a matter of imaging. Cut the "& Hit Music" part out, do something like Hot 106 maybe just say Bostons Hottest Music or maybe do what they did around 07/08 and say "Bostons #1 for Hip Hop" no RnB no Hit Music. Although lately I feel like they're kind of Pop-Rnb more so than Hit Music to be honest.

Also @atlantaboy I would consider Power 106 to be an Urban Station. AND I have a hard time believing Jamn is #2 in their target demo...

 

[atlantaboy]

I still Feel Jam'n should copy Hot 93.7's format however because, like I've said, you can say 3.4 isn't working but its just SUCH a constant decline, clearly what they're doing now is not working.

You realize that Hot 93.7 is also in a constant decline (8.5-7.8-6.9-6.1), and that's over the past four months - WJMN has only lost 1.2 share since January, while Hot 93.7 has lost 2.4 share

The only reason Hot 93.7 has better numbers is that it doesn't have all those other Rhythmic stations competing with it

Also, KPWR/Los Angeles is Rhythmic, not Urban (unless you think it's misclassified)

 

[chrocket87]

AND I have a hard time believing Jamn is #2 in their target demo...

Well, the link that gives demo breakdowns is on the previous page, so I'm not sure why you'd have a hard time believing it, unless Rhythmic suddenly became a 35-54 format or something. While they're clearly losing ground, they have no reason to flip unless being #2 18-34 isn't good enough to sell.

 

[atlantaboy]

^I can't believe that advertisers would be stupid enough to look at rank without considering the actual number of listeners (i. e. share)

 

[UrbanTeenager]

Power 106 Playlist: http://www.power106.com/playlist/index.aspx

Yes I would argue that Power 106 is misclassified they might just be a heavily Urban-leaning Rhythmics but "Love Sosa" is in their Top 40 as is Keep it Trill by Kirko Bangz and Thrilla in Manilla by French Montana and Tyga, RIP by Young Jeezy as well as a local artist or two, those songs there are some solidly "urban songs." I do see Thrift shop and Let me Love You, more rhythmic songs. However I would say the Power brand, as well as there slogan "Where Hip Hop Lives in Los Angeles" is all more Urban, maybe the Rhythmic tag is to sell to advertisers. I would definitely say their whole imaging is Urban.

Also as far as Hartford's decline in ratings I do recognize there is less competition but JAMNS Ratings havent been that high in a whiiile, even before Hot and maybe even before Amp. I doubt the entire Hip Hop genre has declined THAT much over the course of these four months, so 93.7's decline probably has more to do with the station itself rather than its format.

 

[WBIMDJ]

@UrbanTeenager, as I stated in another thread, Jam'n should definitely tweak towards some sort of new imaging: re: definitely tweak it a bit so it's MORE current than it's been. I'm sick of hearing all the top 10 current stuff 3-4 weeks later than everyone else. Be more on the ball instead of late to the party. Also work on your recurrents so they're not stale, overplayed stuff from 2009-2011 which IMO are station changers for me w/Jam'n. (ie hearing BOB "Airplanes" the other day... IMO his new song "Still in this B*tch" feat. Juicy J and TI would have been more appropriate)

 

[Wildstyle K]

Also, L. A. doesn't have an Urban station (someone posted that?) - they have a Rhythmic, an extreme Rhythmic-leaning CHR, and a Latin Urban, targeted at the 42% Hispanic population

I was about to say. KKFR Power 98.3 here in Phoenix plays less dance or pop than KPWR Power 106 yet I still wouldn't call them urban. I still even consider WQHT rhythmic.