Why do so many stations appeal to women?

[RadioNation]

Not being sexist, it's more of just observing how stations seem to market themselves and the majority in the CNJ/NYC market are targeting women. Now yes, women listen to the radio at work and spend $$, but last time I checked...so did Men! In fact, don't men spend as much as women...just on different things?

Station appeals: (Correct me if I'm wrong)

92.3- Men
92.7- Women
94.3- Women
95.5- Women
95.9- Men
97.1- Men/Women
98.3- Women
Z100- Women
Jack 101- Women
101.5- Women
101.9- Women
102.7- Women
103.5- Women
104.3- Men (But Female Friendly)
105.1- Women?
105.5- Men
G106.3- Women
106.7- Women
107.1- Women
107.5- Women

So am I completely wrong here?

 

[westlife]

> 94.3- Women
> 95.5- Women

WPLJ is one of the more "edgy" Hot AC stations, whereas 94.3 is more like a regular AC station with a spiced-up playlist. I'd give WPLJ a "Men/Women" score.

> 97.1- Men/Women
> 105.1- Women?

Although both play the same music, I'd say Hot 97 skews more towards men (with its "street-tough" image) and Power 105 skews more towards women.

> Z100- Women

Among adults, yes. But among its core demographic of teenagers and early 20-somethings, I'd say it's more evenly split between males and females.

> Jack 101- Women

I'd say "Nobody". Seriously, though, Jack's liners give it a very "male" image. It just isn't a very "female-friendly" station.

> 101.5- Women

It depends on the show. For example, Mary Walter obviously attracts mostly female listeners, while "The Jersey Guys" seem more male-friendly. Overall, I'd call NJ101.5 evenly split "Men/Women".

> 101.9- Women

As NYC's de facto Easy Listening station, it's hard to assign them any kind of male/female skew. They're just a station for upscale adults who want pleasant background music, men and women alike.

> 102.7- Women
> 103.5- Women

The attraction of these "Rhythmic AC" stations to gay male listeners is undeniable, but in the grand scheme of things, their audiences are still largely female.

> 107.1- Women

Again, as a de facto Easy Listening station, they attract plenty listeners of both genders. The Breeze is far different from your typical suburban AC station which has Delilah or Leeza Gibbons on every weeknight, both of whom drive off male listeners in droves. They're a more gender-neutral station.
<P ID="signature">______________

"This is the New York Emergency Broadcast System satellite channel. They took the crosstown bus."</P>

 

[SoulCrusher]

> Not being sexist, it's more of just observing how stations
> seem to market themselves and the majority in the CNJ/NYC
> market are targeting women. Now yes, women listen to the
> radio at work and spend $$, but last time I checked...so did
> Men! In fact, don't men spend as much as women...just on
> different things?
>
> Station appeals: (Correct me if I'm wrong)
>
> 92.3- Men
> 92.7- Women
> 94.3- Women
> 95.5- Women
> 95.9- Men
> 97.1- Men/Women
> 98.3- Women
> Z100- Women
> Jack 101- Women
> 101.5- Women
> 101.9- Women
> 102.7- Women
> 103.5- Women
> 104.3- Men (But Female Friendly)
> 105.1- Women?
> 105.5- Men
> G106.3- Women
> 106.7- Women
> 107.1- Women
> 107.5- Women
>
> So am I completely wrong here?
>


I agree. And while some of the stations that you listed as targeting women primarily do occasionally throw their male listeners a bone, when you see the big picture it becomes apparent who they're really after.</P>

We may currently be living in an age of equality, but apparently the memo never reached the media conglomerates - they're stuck with the old-fashioned notion of the average woman being a housewife with an endless amount of money to spend.</P>

However, there's another way of looking at this: The vast majority of popular formats out there these days (exceptions: edgier Urban, Active Rock/Alternative, Sports, and Hot Talk stations) attract female listeners, so automatically you can conclude that there are going to be more of these stations out there. At the same time, there are male audiences that are definitely underserved in this area - a lack of options in NYC and Monmouth/Ocean for them points to this fact.</P>

Going over to G Rock Radio: There is no question in my mind that this station panders to the female audience, but picks up the male audience by default because it's marketed as "The Only Alternative". Proof of this is the fact that they are more willing to alienate male listeners by playing Finger Eleven's "One Thing", Switchfoot's "Dare You To Move" and No Doubt's catalog rather than risk alienating women by playing more male-skewing acts (Rage Against The Machine, Tool, Marilyn Manson, Slipknot, etc.). That's why this station disappointed me initially. Although I do listen to it, I really wish they had decided to be more aggressive in targeting male listeners instead, rather than being yet another female-oriented station (like every station in Mon/Oc save for WRAT and maybe WCHR).</P>

 

[mwebster]

To sell things to women

> Not being sexist, it's more of just observing how stations
> seem to market themselves and the majority in the CNJ/NYC
> market are targeting women. Now yes, women listen to the
> radio at work and spend $$, but last time I checked...so did
> Men! In fact, don't men spend as much as women...just on
> different things?
>

Check again. Women out-spend men. Add to that the amount of spending men do because of women.

Go to any full line department storie or mall. Compare the amount of floor space devoted to selling to women and devoted to selling to men.

I'd question you assessment of stations targeting women and men. Advertisers pay a premium to reach men because men (especially young men) are harder to reach.

I notice you only list FM stations. About the only music format with a majority of male listeners is classic rock. Talk-based formats generally have a majority of male listeners and they are mostly on AM. I would seriously question your claim that talk station NJ 101.5 targets women.

 

[Radio411]

Re: To sell things to women

I would seriously
> question your claim that talk station NJ 101.5 targets
> women.
>

You're right, THAT STATION Attracts "No Nothing Pin-Heads!!!!!!"

 

[Spruceman]

Wives make only about 75 cents for each dollar husbands make. Hence for every dollar the husband makes, the wife has $1.75 to spend. That's why if I owned a station, I'd try to appeal to women

 

[davideduardo]

> > 94.3- Women
> > 95.5- Women
>
> WPLJ is one of the more "edgy" Hot AC stations, whereas 94.3
> is more like a regular AC station with a spiced-up playlist.
> I'd give WPLJ a "Men/Women" score

WPLJ is 60% Female.
>
> > 97.1- Men/Women
> > 105.1- Women?
>
> Although both play the same music, I'd say Hot 97 skews more
> towards men (with its "street-tough" image) and Power 105
> skews more towards women.

WWPR is 55% Women, while WQHT is 57% Men. You are totally correct.

> > Z100- Women
>
> Among adults, yes. But among its core demographic of
> teenagers and early 20-somethings, I'd say it's more evenly
> split between males and females.

CHRs, and WHTZ specifically, skew tremendously female. 64% in this case, including teens.
>
> > Jack 101- Women
>
> I'd say "Nobody". Seriously, though, Jack's liners give
> it a very "male" image. It just isn't a very
> "female-friendly" station.

Very definite male balence, about 60% in most markets. In NY, it is 58% Male.
>
> > 101.5- Women
>
> It depends on the show. For example, Mary Walter obviously
> attracts mostly female listeners, while "The Jersey Guys"
> seem more male-friendly. Overall, I'd call NJ101.5 evenly
> split "Men/Women".

Leans male, like all talk stations.
>
> > 101.9- Women
>
> As NYC's de facto Easy Listening station, it's hard to
> assign them any kind of male/female skew. They're just a
> station for upscale adults who want pleasant background
> music, men and women alike.

WQCD is 60% Women.
>
> > 102.7- Women
> > 103.5- Women
>
> The attraction of these "Rhythmic AC" stations to gay male
> listeners is undeniable, but in the grand scheme of things,
> their audiences are still largely female.

WNEW FM is 58% Female. KTU is 59% women

On the other hand, stations like WABC, WOR, WFAN, WCBS (AM= and WINS are predominantly male, as are the hard rockers. WAXQ is way over 60% male, for example. WSKQ is about 55% male, as is WCAA.