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What will be the new format for WRCA?
- Thread starter Tomgsinger
- Start date
Is that true everywhere or are there markets where AM listening is still strong? I ask because, as a previous poster mentioned, there's been no lack of Spanish/Tropical formats on AM over the years, yet FM has remained an English-only zone, with the exception of the out-of-market Portuguese programming on WJFD New Bedford -- a unique situation attributable to a large and concentrated Portuguese and Cape Verdean population in southeastern Massachusetts.
If an FM is available with a decent format, AM dies. In any case attrition to streaming is extensive.
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But it is far more absolute among Hispanics. First, entire communities have a younger average age, so few grew up with any AM use in the household. Second, one of the key attractions still remaining for younger adults on AM is sports (also moving to FM) but sports radio has not been a factor in Spanish in the US or anywhere else. And third, the vast majority of Spanish language AMs have long been third tier deficient-signal facilities, often daytimers.
In Mexico in the Chamber of their congress that is the equivalent of the House they even declared that AM was, in most cases, not economically viable. That shows the lack of use of AM by more recent immigrants from that country.
That's hard to believe, especially when you consider how football-obsessed Spain is between the La Liga drama involving Real, Barcelona and Atletico, those teams' success in the Champions League, and the national team. Britain's TalkSport does very well. Why don't Spaniards listen to talk about their clubs?
I think one reason is that in most large cities of Latin America, there may be 2, 3, even 4 or 5 local teams in the same league. So there is no "city team" but, instead, divided partisanship. No city pride, no "us against them" on an area-wide basis.
You likely noticed that nearly all successful radio in Spain is either regional (Basque and Catalan areas) or national (Cadena Ser, 40 Principales, Dial, Radiolé, etc.) and since team loyalty there is very regional, all sports does not fit a national network.
Your thinking like a listener: "Yes it would be nice to have a niche format!"
Think like a broadcaster who has to wonder: "How would I make money with a niche format that gets less than a 1 share?"
They are not going to put a format on that would simply be nice to have on the air.
In order for the asset to substantiate it's existence, it has to generate some revenue.
I understand what you're saying, but other than Spanish, what's left?
CHR; Urban CHR; Urban AC; Country; AC; Alternative; Classic Hits are all taken.
Further, a small signal won't make much of a dent into the big signals.
Also they don't want to take listeners away from their own Beasley stations.
I still think that with a small signal they have a little more freedom to go out of the mainstream.
OK, maybe not Bluegrass, but something unique. These days radio is also competing with Sirius/XM and internet radio.
They can use small signal to their advantage.
Urban isn't taken yet. WJMN is a VERY urban-leaning rhythmic that puts a few pop tracks in on occasion -- think That's What I Like, Sorry, One Dance, Despacito and the new Macklemore song -- that would never be played on an urban, save for the Bruno song (which is a tribute to 90s R&B) and the Drake song (Drake is a core artist of urban and One Dance could be considered dancehall).
I understand what you are saying Jimmy128 as well.
I think they could make some money with Spanish....something people might go out of their way to find/listen.
iHurt Radio does smooth jazz on an AM station in Philly....which also streams on their app...and is on an HD2 signal.
https://www.iheart.com/live/smooth-...rue&pname=3946&campid=play_bar&cid=index.html
That might be an option....as it can be cheap to run, and jazz lovers would go through the bother to find it, because the passion quotient for that format is unusually high.
I would love to be in philly and hear what it sounds like on an AM. (Those who don't like the AM quality can find it on the tranlator or online.)
But Spanish on an FM would be another thing that might work (make some money) on this AM/Translator facility.
I still think mainstream urban is where it's at... and I'm a hot AC/CHR guy, so my opinion isn't biased 
I still think mainstream urban is where it's at... and I'm a hot AC/CHR guy, so my opinion isn't biased
WJMN has a proven approach and a music mix that work in Boston, which is not New York City or Atlanta. Why try to compete with that? Besides, if they had an Urban AC format ready to roll, why such a long delay in coming up with an Urban CHR format to replace it. Espanol seems much more likely, especially since Beasley does Spanish CHR elsewhere, and the delay can be explained by Beasley having to do research about Boston's Hispanic community (and advertiser response) that it wasn't planning on doing before.
And here's the press release....
July 3rd, 2017 (Boston, MA) — Bloomberg Radio, the world's only global 24-hour business and radio station, in conjunction with Beasley Media Group, Inc., a subsidiary of Beasley Broadcast Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: BBGI), announced that starting tomorrow July 4th at 12:00pm ET, Bloomberg Radio can now be heard on Beasley Media Group's 106.1FM, WRCA 1330 AM and 92.9/WBOS-FM HD2
July 3rd, 2017 (Boston, MA) — Bloomberg Radio, the world's only global 24-hour business and radio station, in conjunction with Beasley Media Group, Inc., a subsidiary of Beasley Broadcast Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: BBGI), announced that starting tomorrow July 4th at 12:00pm ET, Bloomberg Radio can now be heard on Beasley Media Group's 106.1FM, WRCA 1330 AM and 92.9/WBOS-FM HD2
What happens to:
iHeart's WXKS (AM) 1200 (and WJMN 94.5 HD2) that has been airing Bloomberg for the past few years?
Beasley's WBOS HD2 "Local 92.9" (Boston/New England rock)?
For 1200 at least I'm hearing they will simulcast Bloomberg for a few months then change to who knows what.
The business of radio is business.
The business of radio is business.
Dance music fans tuning to AM? Hpw many know it exists, but you never know
Either that or bring back Mia.
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