What to do with STAR 100.7

[Sahisko]

It surprises me that STAR 1007 hasn't been canned yet. With a 1.9 and now becoming closer to hitting rock bottom do any of you think there is a format change coming and if so, what will it be? What do all of you think would be a good fit for that frequency? Of course I doubt CBS Radio will actually seek advice from us but lets hypothetically suggest that they asked you........lol

I am clueless to as what would work. I think the reason why Star 100.7 has failed is because of all the competition from stations that have similar formats. Perhaps a station to compete against WAMO OR WKST but who knows. Of course it would be neat to see a jazz, classical, or something completely different but I would be the only one who would listen to it.

 

[djkst35]

There are too many soft rock / "soccer mom" stations in Pittsburgh! I think that an alternative to WKST would be great, but I'm not sure if it would work. Kiss has established a solid fanbase especially with their morning show. I think it would take alot to knock down WKST, but I'd like to see CBS try Top 40 again.

I listened to Star 100.7 for a few months after B-94 left the air. It didn't take long to realize that they play the SAME songs by the same ARTISTS over and over again. Are they STILL playing John Melloncamp and Bon Jovi several times a day?? :

 

[Radio_Realist]

It didn't take long to realize that they play the SAME songs by the same ARTISTS over and over again.

But that's true of every music station in town! Regardless of what genre of music a station specializes in, conventional wisdom in the radio business is to always play a tight playlist of hit songs that test really well. Every time I've ever suggested that a station might do better if they'd loosen up a little the rest of the participants throw things at me and tell me that would never work. According to the experts who claim to know about such things, if a station plays one single song that didn't test well, then all of their listeners will tune them out and their Arbitrons will immediately plunge into the toilet and the station will go bankrupt and the tower will fall over.

Personally, I kind of like 100.7, but that's because I only listen to it for about 15 minutes at a time every now and then.

 

[Parttimer]

The internal perception of Star might not be quite as bad as the 12+ numbers indicate. I'd be interested to see where they rank in their core demo, women 25-54, because it really is all they care about.

 

[feeball]

So far I have heard Young Country to compete with Froggy, Top 40 and Smooth Jazz on the frequency if Star flips. Understood it can't be one of these national brands that CBS Radio likes to promote throughout their stations. That means no Fresh, Jack, MOVIN', etc. Main reason, the national brands CBS Radio has promoted all have delivered less than stellar numbers.

The idea of Young Country sounds good, but it also sounds like a risk that could either weaken Y108's number or not compete well with Froggy. I doubt CBS Radio wants to take anymore risks in the market especially if a risk does not pan out because there is a possibility that jobs are on the line at Foster Plaza.

Smooth Jazz sounds like a safe format, but I would have to defer to somebody else on the boards as it relates to ratings on Smooth Jazz stations. I have yet to see any Smooth Jazz stations in other markets listed in the ratings, then again it could be that I am not looking.

And then there is Top 40. I understand that people don't like Kiss FM because it is a station that has no real Pittsburgh identity as a Top 40 station. But, if Pittsburgh had two Top 40 stations in the market, how well could the new station fare over the other? Somebody in one of the other threads posted that one of the reasons B94 was so successful was that it was not only a Top 40 station, but they also leaned towards playing safe songs that nobody would object to hearing even in the workplace. B94 was a great format that changed along with the industry's changing and as a result lost the workplace audience. In today's Top 40 in which there are songs that have words or entire lines censored, B94 would no longer be branded a Top 40 station.

Admittingly this does not leave a lot of room for other formats. I know there is a market for one of those "Good Times, Great Oldies" station in Pittsburgh. An upbeat oldies station that would be safe in the workplace. It would get numbers, but it might not get the right demographic and skew an older demographic. Triple A could work even though WYEP is already in the market. Rock won't work in that three stations in the market would lead to oversaturation. The Cleveland market is seeing this unfold right now.

If CBS Radio is willing to take a risk, why not place an Urban Adult Contemporary format on 100.7 to compete with WAMO. It would be kind of like The Beat but it would not lean towards a caucasian audience. Like I said it would be risk-taking but I bring it up because WAMO appears to be vulnerable and maybe the only way to get that station out of its current rut is to give it some competition.

 

[radiogeek07]

Smooth Jazz actually worked on a fringe signal in Dayton (market 59) scoring a 3 share ish 12+. Obviously, I can't tell how well they do in their demos, but they obviously must be doing something right. Pittsburgh's an older city too people wise, so that's something to consider. Two top 40 stations worked a while back but now I just don't see it working. May be liven up the playlist, take out the 80's and become a 90's and now station? I don't know.

 

[Radio_Realist]

The idea of Young Country sounds good,

Why couldn't the just play regular, ordinary country music, and not worry about some sort of variation on it that no one really cares about except radio geeks? Forget all the slogans, descriptors, and modifiers. Just play country music and represent yourself to the market as "The Station that Plays Country Music. Period."

Given the emphasis in country music songs about getting back to basics and roots and all that, I think a plain, unadorned, no-frills presentation of good country music would be a real winner. Forget swamp schtick. Forget trying to come across as some sort of citified "countrypolitan" hybrid. Forget labeling the music as new or old or bluegrass or whatever. Just come out clean, plain, and to the point. I think a non-gimmicky presentation could be an excellent gimmick.

Maybe they could even get the rights to clips like Kris Kristofferson saying "If it sounds like a country song, it's a country song." as a drop-in.

That's an idea that will never, ever be used on the radio anywhere.

Smooth Jazz sounds like a safe format,

Yeah, it's only failed every previous time it's been tried. I guess that means it's time to try it again. It would probably get better ratings than all polkas.

And then there is Top 40.

No, sadly, the recording industry no longer manufactures new Top 40 product that fits the definition you've posted.

If CBS Radio is willing to take a risk,

And, if pigs could fly. Seriously, based on their track record, CBS is only willing to take risks on ideas that clearly don't have a snowball's chance in hell. A risky idea that has some sound reasoning behind it wouldn't be considered.

 

[feeball]

What I got to ask is will they opt to run a format that has already run through the market, or will they try a format that is new to the market? After my previous post on here and after reading what others have posted, it seems like the same ideas that used to play about 10 years ago and later are being kicked around. Young Country, they had Rebel. Smooth Jazz came after The Revolution. A B94-ish Top 40, even the idea I had for Urban AC could be used to describe "The Beat."

What's left, Polka?

 

[Radio_Realist]

What's left, Polka?

What's left is not polkas. What's left is the most radical, the most revolutionary, most groundbreaking format there is. It's a format that would attract listeners, yet would leave all of the station's competition scratching their heads.

It's called "you find out what music your target audience wants to hear, and then you play it".

It's not a pre-packaged format that a PD can pick up at the Broadcasters Convention. It doesn't come wrapped in a box. There is no forum here in Radio-Info.com dedicated to it. The name isn't copyrighted. No one has to pay any royalties to any consultant for the privilege of using it.

You just hire a Music Director who knows music and who knows the musical taste of the people in the target demographic. You have this guy pick out a few thousand songs that fit that description. Then you play them on the air, with pleasant and entertaining disc jockeys talking and telling jokes between the songs.

It's not really a new format. It's actually a very old format. It's what they used to do at radio stations back when it was broadcasters who ran stations instead of bean counters and corporate suits. It's what saved radio from disappearing off of the airwaves when television came along.

The trouble is, there probably aren't more than three people in town who could possibly run a radio station that way, and none of them currently work in the business, at least not directly.

 

[clangham]

What's left, Polka?

What's left is not polkas. What's left is the most radical, the most revolutionary, most groundbreaking format there is. It's a format that would attract listeners, yet would leave all of the station's competition scratching their heads.

It's called "you find out what music your target audience wants to hear, and then you play it".

It's not a pre-packaged format that a PD can pick up at the Broadcasters Convention. It doesn't come wrapped in a box. There is no forum here in Radio-Info.com dedicated to it. The name isn't copyrighted. No one has to pay any royalties to any consultant for the privilege of using it.

You just hire a Music Director who knows music and who knows the musical taste of the people in the target demographic. You have this guy pick out a few thousand songs that fit that description. Then you play them on the air, with pleasant and entertaining disc jockeys talking and telling jokes between the songs.

It's not really a new format. It's actually a very old format. It's what they used to do at radio stations back when it was broadcasters who ran stations instead of bean counters and corporate suits. It's what saved radio from disappearing off of the airwaves when television came along.

The trouble is, there probably aren't more than three people in town who could possibly run a radio station that way, and none of them currently work in the business, at least not directly.

Realist, good point, you hit the nail on the head 100%. That has always been my belief and it worked. I pulled a station or two out of bankruptcy many years back using that method, but that again was when you were dealing with local owners and small stations that were willing to listen and paid you well for services plus a TRUE thank you. When the buy outs came along, CC/Infinity-CBS/Cumulus, etc, is when I got out of radio and stayed out. Nowdays it is like politics in radio.

 

[Snafu]

Young Country has died a horrible death more than once in this market and would be in for the same fate again. The total country market is maxed out in Pittsburgh and has been for more than a few years. Another station just doesn't fit.

The market could use a solid AAA station, but that would require more programming know how than the present CBS/Pittsburgh brain trust can muster.

 

[corporateradiosucks]

The market could use a solid AAA station, but that would require more programming know how than the present CBS/Pittsburgh brain trust can muster.

I agree and I agree. I have horrible visions of all Paula Cole, all the time.

 

[trefdawg]

Change calls to WNUF, go Big Band, move studios and offices back to New Ken. :

Sorry it's been a brutal day I'm in a very fowl mood and I didn't even have chicken for dinner!

 

[kenhawk1160]

Change calls to WNUF, go Big Band, move studios and offices back to New Ken. :

Sorry it's been a brutal day I'm in a very fowl mood and I didn't even have chicken for dinner!

You forgot to put the station back in mono...your signal coverage would improve, though!

 

[Radio_Realist]

You forgot to put the station back in mono...

Yeah, when you're playing those old 78's, stereo doesn't much matter, does it?

 

[Snafu]

And don't forget to burn the building down every three years.

 

[kenhawk1160]

And don't forget to burn the building down every three years.

In other words, move the station back to New Kensington. A burning building there means one thing...much-needed redevelopment!

 

[myoda7]

Actually, Smooth Jazz at WJJJ did very well in the Pittsburgh market. We had good numbers, decent billing (sales of spots), and loyal listeners. That format could work again if executed properly. Ken, I say bring back YDD to New Ken as a smooth jazz, rock fusion station, and build it in an underground, fireproof bunker.... Thanks.

 

[feeball]

I say put the Free Paris stunt on air at Star 100.7 as soon as possible.

 

[Sahisko]

I noticed Star 1007 has been promoting its sister station Star 1007 HD 2 which is claimed to be "Todays Hit Music" or something to that affect. At the end of each advertisement (which is broadcasted on the regular 1007) they say something to the fact of, "Here is some of the new hit music you will find on Star 1007 HD 2" and then they will play a current hit song on regular 1007. I think they are trying to get newer stuff other than some old Atlantis Morissettee song from 1999 to compete against Bob and perhaps the might be testing out the idea of competing against Kiss FM someday .....but that is just my conspiracy theory...........

Do any of you have an HD Radio?