When did the decline of Z-93 begin? (I vote 1989)

[NoWayNoCC]

When did the decline of this legendary Dayton CHR begin?

Some say it was only recently. Some say it was in the '90s. But I vote July 1989.

Somehow I used to pick up Z-93 in Highland Heights (when WVLK-FM wasn't butting in on its signal). I remember in 1988 and early 1989 they were kind of a fast-add CHR. Their oldies library didn't go back very far, but their playlist of NEW music was big, at least for a CHR in a large city at the time.

But then I remember listening to it on (I think) the Fourth of July in 1989, and thinking, "Gosh, what happened???" From then on, it was just another repetitive, stale CHR. Not only that, but it seemed to start skewing way too much towards New Kids On The Block-type music.

It was then that I knew WLAP-FM in Lexington was going to be my favorite out-of-town CHR instead.

So cast your votes now about the decline of the once-great Z-93!

 

[KFodor]

With history behind me as proof, it was later than 1989. In 1989-1990, Z had a 12-13 share of the Dayton market among listeners age 12 plus. (I was there...I saw the Arbitron books. But, not much later than that.

But, Noway, a lot of things contributed.

CHR, like it or not, got very stale and very disposable in the early 90's. Many CHR's morphed into "Hot A/C's", because the music went from Mainstream to a combination of heavy metal and early hip hop. The CHR chart was dominated by 2 edges. There was no middle ground. (Why did the American Top 40 show die around this time? Same problem.) CHR recovered somewhat in the early 00's, but has of late, been in decline again. CHR programmers erred, too in not realizing how big Hip Hop was becoming and didn't react as quickly as they should have to this trend. CHR needed to pay attention to 18-34 year old females, but was still trying to hold on to their 25-54 numbers. With CHR, 18-34 women have always driven the bus. Some programmers forgot this.

Great Trails Broadcasting, then owner of Z-93 was in financial distress. If the figure I was quoted was right, it was like 40 million in debt. That's why they sold Louisville, Columbus and finally, Dayton. The product was getting cheaper sounding as the 90's went on.

After being sold, the station ended up with owners who apparently really only cared about their Urban stations. Radio One was determined to be the "Clear Channel" of Urban radio. Everything else, apparently took a back seat. And it sounded like it.

CHR is a money game. To succeed, you must have:

1. A great morning show. You can't cheap it. You need to spend $150,000-$200,000 or more depending on market size to get it. (This never happened at Z after Dr. Dave and Alan Kaye departed.)

2. Marketing and promotion. And if challenged, you need to spend even more to protect your brand.

3. Signal. Z had that. But the other 2....?

94-5 capitlized on all of this and took Z's younger end audience. But, you can't make a lot of money with teenagers...as they have learned. And yes, 94-5 is vulnerable to a big signal that does it right. Will it happen? Don't know yet.

 

[kirkiefan]

It was twofold...First it was 94.5 in all of its Jacor and CC incarnations. Radio One began to downsize it in favor of promoting Hot 102.9(moo!)...fewer promotions...no updated logos or ear catching jingles and no real significant comedic air talent since Dr.Dave/Wild Bill.

Jeff Wicker was too shock and his successors semi-boorish.

 

[alans613]

See my reply in the "Z-93 stunting" topic, where I go into further detail(I researched the crap out of Z's history when I did the Z-93 Tribute Site). 8) It was DEFINATELY not 1989...Jeff Ballentine was PD then and the station, as Jason said, was doing 12s and 13s...I actually started listening to Z MORE in the Summer of 1989...Right around the time that the "Top 8 @ 8" with Joe Mama(Now at KUBL-FM in Salt Lake City, Utah as "Joe Johnson"). Wicker was the last great morning show on Z-93...Who can ever forget the "Drive to work naked" stunt back in October 1993? 8)

 

[Apollo7979]

I'll vote around 1998 or 1999...the year Clear Channel acquired Jacor and had to spin off Z-93 to Blue Chip Broadcasting. It was around that time when the playlist, compared with CHRs in similar markets, started leaning more adult.

The change became much more noticable a few years later when Radio One acquired Z and WING-FM and flipped the latter to Hot. That's when the playlist became very tight and rhythmic songs were added only if they were so huge they couldn't be ignored...even then, they only gave them 20 spins/week compared to Hot & 94.5's 70 spins.

It's very sad to see a station that inspired me to do radio is gone, but Z was a shell of its former self for years. The damage was too severe to counter years of being the Radio One's flanker station, and Mainline needed to do something to make the station more profitable.

Fly 92.9 doesn't sound too bad. They need to work on the imaging a bit, but the music mix is fitting for Dayton, IMO. I wonder when they'll take the WING-FM calls?