What is up with Top 40/CHR in Atlanta?!

[Wildstyle K]

Back before Q100 was bought out by Cumulus (and tried to be pop/rhythmic), Star 94 was something like #5 in the market though (I think) - the reason Star's ratings are lower is BECAUSE Q100 leans adult

Star 94 has really high billing and brings in tons of money (they even sponsor a concert each year, which even Q100 doesn't do) - their straight ratings might not be that high, but they have RICH listeners - and bottom line is I think they're the ones that are surviving, not rhythmic stations

By the way, thank you for this info.
Well, I've got to admit that Star is pretty interesting for a Hot AC, and even though Q is slow on new music adds, they do have a pretty decent selection of music, overall.

Here is an email I got from Rob Roberts at Q100 in response to an email I sent:

"there is a great deal of passion in Atlanta for those rock/alternative songs that were top 5 songs on the Hot 100..

...  These are flavor songs that make a station distinct. ... "

I cannot deny that my favorite line (which did actually stick in my mind) from this whole thing was "These are flavor songs that make a station distinct" because there's a great deal of accuracy to it, since the right pop rock songs are seemingly always carefully chosen. Those pop rock hits actually do have & add flavor and a certain feel good melodic vibe to them. I don't necessarily like all of them, but a majority of them fit my personal tastes. I think a rhythmic leaning chr is actually different from what Q100 is attempting to be, and is pretty much a whole different matter of its own that doesn't involve Q. Not exactly sure how a rhythmic top 40 in coexistence with Q would affect Q though - it would surely be an interesting battle to watch.

No complaints from me about having pop rock. However, a little more "spice" and "exclusive  features" during nights/evenings would be nice - and I mean "exclusive features" as in some new   "risky" hit music or specialty features sprinkled in from time to time.

 

[atlantaboy]

I'm not sure how to describe this, but the music quality on Q100 always sounds really "dull" (the actual sound, not the songs) - it sounds "sharper" on Star 94 and Wild, and even on B98.5 - Not sure if it's just because the speed is slower, or if they put the music through some filter that makes the beats sound "fat"

Other thing is, there's always something going on on Star 94 - a big concert sponsored by the station, a major contest with big prizes, a major telethon to help out a charity - and they even show up at high schools, which is pretty significant since they're basically Hot AC

Q100 literally does nothing

 

[Nyte Ryder]

I'm not sure how to describe this, but the music quality on Q100 always sounds really "dull" (the actual sound, not the songs) - it sounds "sharper" on Star 94 and Wild, and even on B98.5 - Not sure if it's just because the speed is slower, or if they put the music through some filter that makes the beats sound "fat"

Other thing is, there's always something going on on Star 94 - a big concert sponsored by the station, a major contest with big prizes, a major telethon to help out a charity - and they even show up at high schools, which is pretty significant since they're basically Hot AC

Q100 literally does nothing

I'm sorry but this just screams out for a response. Off the top of my head, Bert's Big Adventure. One 3 day radiothon on Star doesn't come close to the year long effort at Q100. Q100 sends sick kids to Disneyworld. On Johnny O's blog you'll see pictures of two charity events he was at last month and every member of the Bert Show has their own charity cause including Melissa's foundation for transplant recipients. Q100 has a street team out every single night giving out prizes across town. Just click on the website to see where they are tonight.

The last two years Q100 did free Xmas shows with OAR, David Cook and others then last year with Kelly Clarkson. FREE. Star ripped off Q100 this year but they are charging for theirs.

Q100 does nothing?

Oh, Q100 is giving away tickets to Ke$ha (which is a Q100 show) all week long plus meet and greets. So don't say Q100 does nothing. This board is about exchange of ideas and even opinions but the facts are facts. Q100 kicks the daylights out of Star in ratings AND billing because it's a better station. And that's not opinion. It's fact.

 

[factsnotassertions]

Q100 kicks the daylights out of Star in ratings AND billing because it's a better station. And that's not opinion. It's fact.

I normally read these posts and do not get involved, but I had to create an account just to make sure to respond to "Nyte Ryder's" assertions. WHERE did you get your information regarding Q100 beating Star in BILLING? That's entirely false. I can't speak for ratings, but it's public information and especially known in the radio community in Atlanta that Star is among the top billers and has ALWAYS outbilled Q100. According to the last numbers I could find.....

From 2008


4th place in market: Star 94, Top 40, $18.6 million

13th place in market: Q100, Top 40, $11 million

WHERE are you getting your information from "Nyte Ryder"? Just because you have an opinion does NOT make it fact.

 

[Nyte Ryder]

did you just post the billing numbers for 2008 for Star and Q?

 

[Nyte Ryder]

I just checked the 2009 billing numbers. I will not post them. I will wait for someone else so it won't look like I'm making up my own facts. Let's just say I'm correct and you are not. Q100 outbilled Star 94 in 2009 and is crushing them in 2010.

 

[Wildstyle K]

I hate to come in and ruin the stimulating flow of talk and building tension for everyone by slightly changing the topic, but... I have another question!

I do have to admit; *The fact that Detroit has so many chr's that are fairly to heavily rhythmic leaning and fairly dance friendly- when their demographics indicate to have less hispanics than Atl., yet this could never ever work in Atl., is puzzling to me. It's not like they have less urbans in Detroit than Atl. either, so I can't even attempt to use the excuse that a rhythmic leaning chr would oversaturate the rhythmic/urban sound.

Unlike Detroit, it seems like Atlanta actually has more of a hole for rhythmic lean top 40 in between chr pop and urban lean rhythmic than Detroit does - and this was even true BEFORE wdtw also decided "oh, well now I think I want to be top 40, too..."

Does anyone have any information on how different the Detroit demographics and "programming structures" are from Atlanta, why they have so many chr's that all seem to be cutting edge & risky, and why anything rhythmic just... "cannot exist" (for lack of better terms) in Atl? If a rhythmic leaning top 40 (or even a dance lean top 40) were launched in Atl, or if there was more than one chr in Atl, would it just be a guarantee for absolute failure with horrible ratings and little to no profit?
__________________________________________

Most of this last part is strictly my opinion, but.. I do find it rather silly how Detroit has that outstanding Channel 95.5 WKQI, yet still felt the need to erect MORE chr's (that are all much less interesting than the original WKQI) and they are all BELOW WKQI in ratings. (I think WKQI even plays a higher variety of dance hits in mixshows than XHTO does - in addition to already sounding great, yet somehow, they still remain on top of the chr chain in Detroit...)

 

[Talk_Dude]

I hate to come in and ruin the stimulating flow of talk and building tension for everyone by slightly changing the topic, but... I have another question!

I do have to admit; *The fact that Detroit has so many chr's that are fairly to heavily rhythmic leaning and fairly dance friendly- when their demographics indicate to have less hispanics than Atl., yet this could never ever work in Atl., is puzzling to me. It's not like they have less urbans in Detroit than Atl. either, so I can't even attempt to use the excuse that a rhythmic leaning chr would oversaturate the rhythmic/urban sound.

Unlike Detroit, it seems like Atlanta actually has more of a hole for rhythmic lean top 40 in between chr pop and urban lean rhythmic than Detroit does - and this was even true BEFORE wdtw also decided "oh, well now I think I want to be top 40, too..."

Does anyone have any information on how different the Detroit demographics and "programming structures" are from Atlanta, why they have so many chr's that all seem to be cutting edge & risky, and why anything rhythmic just... "cannot exist" (for lack of better terms) in Atl? If a rhythmic leaning top 40 (or even a dance lean top 40) were launched in Atl, or if there was more than one chr in Atl, would it just be a guarantee for absolute failure with horrible ratings and little to no profit?
__________________________________________

Most of this last part is strictly my opinion, but.. I do find it rather silly how Detroit has that outstanding Channel 95.5 WKQI, yet still felt the need to erect MORE chr's (that are all much less interesting than the original WKQI) and they are all BELOW WKQI in ratings. (I think WKQI even plays a higher variety of dance hits in mixshows than XHTO does - in addition to already sounding great, yet somehow, they still remain on top of the chr chain in Detroit...)

What are "urbans"? Everyone keeps talking about "urbans". I'm not familiar with that word as a noun. It's usually an adjective that describes something as being in a city, as an opposite of "rural", meaning in the country, or "suburban", meaning the transitional area between in the city and in the country.

And what does "rhythmic" mean in this context? Don't all songs have rhythm? Don't songs from the polka, waltz, disco, country, soul, R&B, Hip-Hop, Jazz, Celtic, and all other genres all have rhythm?

 

[factsnotassertions]

Ok Nyte Ryder, I'll bite. If you claim to know the numbers, please educate us on 2009 and most recent numbers in 2010 for revenue.

 

[atlantaboy]

I'm not sure how to describe this, but the music quality on Q100 always sounds really "dull" (the actual sound, not the songs) - it sounds "sharper" on Star 94 and Wild, and even on B98.5 - Not sure if it's just because the speed is slower, or if they put the music through some filter that makes the beats sound "fat"

Other thing is, there's always something going on on Star 94 - a big concert sponsored by the station, a major contest with big prizes, a major telethon to help out a charity - and they even show up at high schools, which is pretty significant since they're basically Hot AC

Q100 literally does nothing

I'm sorry but this just screams out for a response. Off the top of my head, Bert's Big Adventure. One 3 day radiothon on Star doesn't come close to the year long effort at Q100. Q100 sends sick kids to Disneyworld. On Johnny O's blog you'll see pictures of two charity events he was at last month and every member of the Bert Show has their own charity cause including Melissa's foundation for transplant recipients. Q100 has a street team out every single night giving out prizes across town. Just click on the website to see where they are tonight.

The last two years Q100 did free Xmas shows with OAR, David Cook and others then last year with Kelly Clarkson. FREE. Star ripped off Q100 this year but they are charging for theirs.

Q100 does nothing?

Oh, Q100 is giving away tickets to Ke$ha (which is a Q100 show) all week long plus meet and greets. So don't say Q100 does nothing.

The reason I thought Q100 didn't do anything is cause they NEVER TALK ABOUT IT on air (or very rarely, or maybe only during the Bert Show)

Instead of cutting from one song to another and saying "Kesha - We R Who We R" (and nothing else), how about getting on the mike and talking about sending sick kids to Disneyworld, or where they're gonna be around town, or the upcoming Christmas concert (if there is one this year)?

The only reason people listen to them instead of Star (in my opinion) is cause they wanna hear Firework, Love The Way You Lie, Airplanes, Like A G6, etc., and Star won't play them

 

[atlantaboy]

I hate to come in and ruin the stimulating flow of talk and building tension for everyone by slightly changing the topic, but... I have another question!

I do have to admit; *The fact that Detroit has so many chr's that are fairly to heavily rhythmic leaning and fairly dance friendly- when their demographics indicate to have less hispanics than Atl., yet this could never ever work in Atl., is puzzling to me. It's not like they have less urbans in Detroit than Atl. either, so I can't even attempt to use the excuse that a rhythmic leaning chr would oversaturate the rhythmic/urban sound.

Unlike Detroit, it seems like Atlanta actually has more of a hole for rhythmic lean top 40 in between chr pop and urban lean rhythmic than Detroit does - and this was even true BEFORE wdtw also decided "oh, well now I think I want to be top 40, too..."

Does anyone have any information on how different the Detroit demographics and "programming structures" are from Atlanta, why they have so many chr's that all seem to be cutting edge & risky, and why anything rhythmic just... "cannot exist" (for lack of better terms) in Atl? If a rhythmic leaning top 40 (or even a dance lean top 40) were launched in Atl, or if there was more than one chr in Atl, would it just be a guarantee for absolute failure with horrible ratings and little to no profit?
__________________________________________

Most of this last part is strictly my opinion, but.. I do find it rather silly how Detroit has that outstanding Channel 95.5 WKQI, yet still felt the need to erect MORE chr's (that are all much less interesting than the original WKQI) and they are all BELOW WKQI in ratings. (I think WKQI even plays a higher variety of dance hits in mixshows than XHTO does - in addition to already sounding great, yet somehow, they still remain on top of the chr chain in Detroit...)

Detroit is almost the complete opposite of ATL demographically - masses of people have left the area over the last 20 years, and the economy has been really poor (way before the recession) - the CHR audience is very working class, and the city has a long history of rap/hip-hop with white listeners

I definitely wouldn't call WKQI "cutting edge" - they basically play nothing but rhythmic stuff, and barely touch anything with a guitar in it - so I definitely wouldn't say they take risks - but a lot of it has to do with the demographics of the city they're in - for a while though, I'm almost sure they were getting beat by their Hot AC station (if not, it was really close)

 

[Wildstyle K]

WKQI's regular playlist isn't cutting edge, but their mixshows are VERY cutting edge. It consists of not only regular rhythmic r&b and pop, but a lot of electro-pop, house, electro house, and even some Romanian dance music outside of Edward Maya's track. This is all BEFORE the actual dance and ministry of house mix shows that follow every Friday & Saturday nights during afterhourz! They even mix a lot of this stuff on Sunday nights as well... I know Detroit has a history of techno and house, so this helps the station get away with that sound to a large degree. It's interesting how none of the other chr's are as heavy on house music as WKQI.

Anyway, I do understand the demographic and economic differences, which I suspected was the reason behind why things were so different between Atl & Detroit, but just wanted to make sure and see what someone else would have to say about it. I disagree about the "they touch nothing with a guitar" thing though because WKQI was quick on the new goo goo dolls track.

 

[atlantaboy]

WKQI was quick on the new goo goo dolls track.

Wait...are you sure you have the right station (not WDVD)?

 

[Wildstyle K]

Yes. They got rid of it now, but used to play it a lot. As a matter of fact, I even tuned in to them once and caught the middle of the song while opening the stream. They stopped playing it and are on Sick Puppies now. I notice they have Linkin Park recurrent(s) as well..

 

[atlantaboy]

If WKQI played Home by the Goo Goo Dolls, they went through a HUGE change (as of a year ago, they were basically rhythmic)

I'm sure you heard it right, man - it's just really hard to believe that a station that was nearly rhythmic a year ago played a HAC song that maxed out at something like 60 spins nationwide (most of which were from Star 94)

 

[Nyte Ryder]

There are no Goo Goo Dolls songs anywhere on WKQI's playlist. Not in currents, recurrents or gold. It's a very rhythmic leaning station. The only two songs in their current top 30 that don't lean rhythmic are Taylor Swift Mine (#18) and Neon Trees Animal (#24).

 

[RoddyFreeman]

There are no Goo Goo Dolls songs anywhere on WKQI's playlist. Not in currents, recurrents or gold. It's a very rhythmic leaning station. The only two songs in their current top 30 that don't lean rhythmic are Taylor Swift Mine (#18) and Neon Trees Animal (#24).

Very true. A station that reminds me of WKQI musically is KMVQ in San Francisco. Only KMVQ is probably even slightly more to the Rhythmic side of CHR. I doubt KMVQ plays Taylor Swift or Neon Trees.

I find it interesting that San Francisco has no mainstream CHR station (although the trades might classify KMVQ as CHR). Besides KMVQ, the market has KYLD, which is even more Rhythmic.

 

[musicman3355]

Not so sure about Neon Trees but KMVQ has certainly played Taylor Swift's "Mine". Heard it on their live stream.

SF does have KREV "92.7 Rev FM", which switched from dance last year and is much more mainstream, but is a really cheap rimshotter that only covers city limits.

 

[Nyte Ryder]

KMVQ is overseen by Michael Martin who oversaw all the CC stations and was the brains behind both CC hip hop stations...one leaning urban and the other hispanic. So when he went to work for CBS in SF after being fired by CC in LA, he knew exactly where to put KMVQ for maximum pain to Clear Channel. He is one smart progammer.

 

[Wildstyle K]

Has anyone heard KMVQ's Club 99.7 and The Electro-Hip Hop & House mix shows? ;D
KYLD might have been my dream station growing up, but KMVQ is "the new KYLD" to me now.

I don't think KYLD is even a party station anymore. They changed to a "hit music" positioner.

Does anyone think a CHURBAN or even a Latin Rhythm format like KXOL would work in Atl? http://www.yes.com/#KXOL?chart
Would it work better than Viva did?