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

[musicman3355]

atlantaboy, did you even read what I said earlier? If a CHR is beating their main competitor, then that's all that matters. What is WIOQ getting beaten by, an all-news station, a lite AC, an urban AC and a classic hits outlet? It does NOT matter since they're all different format. Q102 is beating Wired 96.5 and that's all it matters. WIBT, sure Kiss 95.1 is beating them, but they're aren't low rated. A 4.9 isn't bad at all. WSSX is getting beaten by stations out of their format, but they're still winning.

 

[atlantaboy]

atlantaboy, did you even read what I said earlier? If a CHR is beating their main competitor, then that's all that matters.

No - what matters is their billing, and if Rhythmic and/or Hot AC stations are stealing part of their demographic, that's a big problem

WSSX is not "winning" anything - they're the only CHR in their market, they're getting beaten by their Rhythmic station, and they rank 12th

WIBT is losing to Kiss 95.1
WKQI is 9th, and is losing listeners to its Hot AC station (not sure why you posted that CHRs and Hot ACs don't share any common demographic) ???

WIOQ is doing well now though (not sure why I put it in that list)

 

[Wildstyle K]

Not to interrupt or anything, but I want to take back something I said earlier.. and that is the thing about a rhythmic lean top 40 over saturating the urban sound in Atl.

That's not really true now that I think of it.

Urbans normally don't touch stuff like Jason Derulo, Iyaz, Fareast Movement, Jay Sean, Taio Cruz, and certain material from Rihanna, Black Eyed Peas, Chris Brown, Nelly (Furtado), and Akon, so it wouldn't really "oversaturate" the music and would still deliver a different sound from urban contemporary, urban r&b, or urban hip hop.

 

[radiolives]

You guys keep using examples of CHRs that have LOWER ratings than Q100 (WIOQ, WSSX, WKQI, WIBT), and you want Q100 to be more like those stations

Stations rate on how they do in their own market. Just because their lower then Q doesn't mean their not succesfull. Markets vary so the ratings of the CHR will vary.

 

[RadioDoogie]

So I guess my question is that if most of us here (not all of us) believe that Q100 should shift more mainstream, then who is it that is driving the ratings and is enjoying this "adult top 40" brand of Q100??? Everyone I know that listens to Q100 only listens to it for the Bert Show and not the music. And everyone I know thinks that the station would do better going mainstream. It makes me think that the Bert Show really is the only thing pulling in their strong ratings and not the music. Can't they experiment and see what happens? I mean, they are always going to have the Bert Show to help them out no matter what. I think if you made it Country or AC (for example), you would still have high ratings just based on the morning show.

 

[burksy]

So I guess my question is that if most of us here (not all of us) believe that Q100 should shift more mainstream, then who is it that is driving the ratings and is enjoying this "adult top 40" brand of Q100??? Everyone I know that listens to Q100 only listens to it for the Bert Show and not the music. And everyone I know thinks that the station would do better going mainstream. It makes me think that the Bert Show really is the only thing pulling in their strong ratings and not the music. Can't they experiment and see what happens? I mean, they are always going to have the Bert Show to help them out no matter what. I think if you made it Country or AC (for example), you would still have high ratings just based on the morning show.

That's a good point, Q really suffers the rest of the day. Like in October, people 18-34, after the Bert Show was #1 Q100 plummeted all the way to THIRD during middays. OH THE HUMANITY! I sure hope they can survive having all those people who listen for TBS and not the music.

http://blogs.ajc.com/radio-tv-talk/...tion-wsb-radio-ties-v-103-in-monthly-ratings/

 

[atlantaboy]

So I guess my question is that if most of us here (not all of us) believe that Q100 should shift more mainstream, then who is it that is driving the ratings and is enjoying this "adult top 40" brand of Q100??? Everyone I know that listens to Q100 only listens to it for the Bert Show and not the music. And everyone I know thinks that the station would do better going mainstream. It makes me think that the Bert Show really is the only thing pulling in their strong ratings and not the music. Can't they experiment and see what happens? I mean, they are always going to have the Bert Show to help them out no matter what. I think if you made it Country or AC (for example), you would still have high ratings just based on the morning show.

That's a good point, Q really suffers the rest of the day. Like in October, people 18-34, after the Bert Show was #1 Q100 plummeted all the way to THIRD during middays. OH THE HUMANITY! I sure hope they can survive having all those people who listen for TBS and not the music.

http://blogs.ajc.com/radio-tv-talk/...tion-wsb-radio-ties-v-103-in-monthly-ratings/

Q100 is an adult CHR - it doesn't just target 18-34 (and I doubt it targets 18-24 during the middays at all)

It's third 18-34, and it's fifth 25-54 (the money demographic) - it's not "suffering" the rest of the day - how do stations like WKQI do 25-54?

 

[Wildstyle K]

I think Q100 wins by default for two main reasons that interact with each other:

1, They play hit music. Hit music almost always does well with people and ratings... for obvious reasons.
2, Q100 is the ONLY top 40 station available in Atlanta, so even if they're "different", it's the only place to get most of it.

I still think there's room for another rhythmic lean top 40, between Q and WiLD, and find it reasonable that one of the multiple urbans and some of the college stations going to waste be used for delivering another format.

 

[atlantaboy]

I still think there's room for another rhythmic lean top 40, between Q and WiLD, and find it reasonable that one of the multiple urbans and some of the college stations going to waste be used for delivering another format.

Definitely agree, but I don't think there's room for both a pop/rhythmic CHR and WILD - ATL has two high rated Urbans AND two high rated Urban ACs (they're not going to flip, and college stations can't) - I think you guys would be much more successful putting pressure on WILD to move towards pop/rhythmic (not sure why that hasn't even come up ???)

 

[Wildstyle K]

I still think there's room for another rhythmic lean top 40, between Q and WiLD, and find it reasonable that one of the multiple urbans and some of the college stations going to waste be used for delivering another format.

Definitely agree, but I don't think there's room for both a pop/rhythmic CHR and WILD - ATL has two high rated Urbans AND two high rated Urban ACs (they're not going to flip, and college stations can't) - I think you guys would be much more successful putting pressure on WILD to move towards pop/rhythmic (not sure why that hasn't even come up ???)

This is PRECISELY what I thought the "problem" was from the beginning, and is also what I meant by "over saturation" being caused by an additional rhythmic lean chr being added in to the pool of urbans. In other words, since there are an unusually high number of urbans available, it somewhat causes a middle of the road pop top 40 station rather than a rhythmic lean top 40 to make more sense... in many ways. I've secretly been thinking that WiLD could more sensibly go A BIT more rhythmic pop (with 60% emphasis on the word "rhythmic" and 40% on "pop") rather than Q changing too drastically, but... wasn't sure about "hounding them too quickly and scaring them off" while they were still brand new.  ;D

By the way, I see "my infamous WKQI" is becoming a bit famous here!

 

[Wildstyle K]

WKQI is leading in Detroit, but it still has lower ratings than Q100 does in Atlanta

WKQI has more direct competition to split off their target audience, so I'd think of course their ratings would be lower, even though they still beat all their other Detroit chr's and keep decent ratings.

And;

I don't think there's room for both a pop/rhythmic CHR and WILD - ATL has two high rated Urbans AND two high rated Urban ACs (they're not going to flip, and college stations can't) - I think you guys would be much more successful putting pressure on WILD to move towards pop/rhythmic (not sure why that hasn't even come up ???)

Good idea, because I did also kind of think that

.....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.

 

[mike7586]

I still think there's room for another rhythmic lean top 40, between Q and WiLD, and find it reasonable that one of the multiple urbans and some of the college stations going to waste be used for delivering another format.

Definitely agree, but I don't think there's room for both a pop/rhythmic CHR and WILD - ATL has two high rated Urbans AND two high rated Urban ACs (they're not going to flip, and college stations can't) - I think you guys would be much more successful putting pressure on WILD to move towards pop/rhythmic (not sure why that hasn't even come up ???)

I also think that's a good idea about WILD and I have thought about that, but as of lately I have pretty much given up on the station. Not sure why they are going the urban route when we have enough urban stations in this market. A more pop/rhythmic approach will fill a hole in the market. I guess only time will tell if they will make a change. Their mix @ 6 songs have improved and I see they added Black Eyed Peas - The Time, Kesha - We R Who We R, and Nelly Furtado - Promiscuous which are all "pop" songs.

How exactly can we "put pressure" on a station?

 

[atlantaboy]

Yeah not sure how to "put pressure" on a station, except by posting on this board and hoping they read it (and by sending them e-mails I guess)

But yeah moving Wild 96.7 to pop/rhythmic CHR would make perfect sense IMO - with two huge Urbans and two huge Urban ACs, I don't think we really need a Rhythmic station (Charlotte doesn't have one now, and Washington DC's is basically Urban from what I've heard people say)

Since tons of Rhythmics nationwide have made the shift to pop/rhythmic CHR (including 96.1 The Beat in Charlotte), hopefully they'll figure this out, and you guys will be able to hear all those pop/dance tracks on WILD

 

[Wildstyle K]

There are A BUNCH of secret readers on here.... A BUNCH! Many of them are using fake names and I know SOME are using TWO names because my friend in the Phoenix & dance section was doing that.

Only problem was he spoke the same way in his posts that he does to me, so his was easy to detect... but all that's besides the point.

A lot more people read this than everyone thinks, and many ideas here are used. The opinions may not be something people could act on here, but the suggestions themselves definitely are. Basically, what I'm saying is that this board could definitely be used to "put pressure on" a station or deliver different ideas or bring someone to "see the light", because by human nature, we are all curious to see what people are thinking and saying about us - which is why a board/forum like this would draw so much attention. Also keep in mind that people tend to take things over personally - ESPECIALLY in writing, and tend to always assume everything is about them, so it should not be hard to put pressure on anyone - ESPECIALLY if you are clearly talking about one specific subject.

I know some who've thrown entire fits and left this board (and sometimes even radio) altogether all because of some things people were saying here.

Lastly, I'm not sure how many program directors do this, but there are some who admit that they will choose to not play songs they don't like - if they don't have to (or shorten songs if they don't believe the song is worthy of its length). I wont name names (even though I doubt anyone will find the section), but.. for example; "Black Eyed Peas - The Time" is a song one PD I know of hates, so he's not adding it, and he's found reason to back up why he will not play it IN ADDITION TO the fact that he hates it. I bet if people in that section created an uproar or discussed it, he COULD be pressured into adding it. I don't think "it's not that big of a song and why would I add a 'weak chr hit' that I hate if I don't have to..." will work forever. After all, it's even playing in Atlanta, so... it couldn't be THAT obscure.. ;D

Anyway, I'm done now. I don't know why I felt pressured into writing all this, anyway.

 

[ShawtyBlack_ATL]

Yeah not sure how to "put pressure" on a station, except by posting on this board and hoping they read it (and by sending them e-mails I guess)

But yeah moving Wild 96.7 to pop/rhythmic CHR would make perfect sense IMO - with two huge Urbans and two huge Urban ACs, I don't think we really need a Rhythmic station (Charlotte doesn't have one now, and Washington DC's is basically Urban from what I've heard people say)

Since tons of Rhythmics nationwide have made the shift to pop/rhythmic CHR (including 96.1 The Beat in Charlotte), hopefully they'll figure this out, and you guys will be able to hear all those pop/dance tracks on WILD

When 95.5 shifted to more of a Hip-Hop music choice, weren't they ahead of Q100 and STAR 94? BTW, WiLD isn't ecatly playing all of the Urban hits heard on V103 and HOT 107.9

 

[Talk_Dude]

Basically, what I'm saying is that this board could definitely be used to "put pressure on" a station or deliver different ideas or bring someone to "see the light", because by human nature, we are all curious to see what people are thinking and saying about us - which is why a board/forum like this would draw so much attention. Also keep in mind that people tend to take things over personally - ESPECIALLY in writing, and tend to always assume everything is about them, so it should not be hard to put pressure on anyone - ESPECIALLY if you are clearly talking about one specific subject.

The thing is, any smart businessman in any industry will usually listen to his customers. The exception are those who barrage him with their own agendas constantly and therefore come across as nutcases or stalkers rather than genuine customers. When someone gets one e-mail, they treat it as being indicative of what dozens of people are thinking. But when someone who doesn't even live close enough to them to be their customer (ie. listener if the industry is radio), but nevertheless inundates them with advice and suggestions, then the person doing the inundating will be seen as a stalker or nut case, and they'll be totally ignored.

 

[Wildstyle K]

....If anything, Cumulus should buy KMVA because they look like they're trying to do the adult top 40 sound (with rhythmic ac hits thrown in...).

Well, only within the same week of me posting this, KMVA flipped to Christmas music, so... who knows what that means. I must have a thing for knowing when something "just isn't right".

 

[mike7586]

Speaking of "putting pressure" on stations, I encourage any of you that care to fill out the feedback form on the WILD website here:

http://www.wildatlanta.com/pages/info/contact.html

Who knows if they actually take any of it into consideration, but it's worth a shot.

 

[Nyte Ryder]

It's Clear Channel. Fill it out if it makes you feel better but no one in programming will ever look at it. It's to make you feel like you've got input.

P.S. They don't take requests either.

 

[mike7586]

Holy crap... Q100 played Cascada - Evacuate The Dance Floor and I noticed they aren't playing Smashing Pumpkins, etc. anymore during the day. Could this be the start of something new for Q100? Are they finally getting it?!