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Why Does WODE Perform So Much Better Than WZZO?

G

Gregg.

WODE, a Cumulus-owned Classic Rock station, is #1 in the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton ratings. It often gets double digit numbers. Meanwhile, iHeart-owned Classic Rock station WZZO has less than a third of WODE's listeners. Maybe in young male demographics, WZZO performs well. But among the Class B stations in the market, in the 6+ ratings, WZZO is usually #5 out of 5.

The two stations have similar coverage of the market. WZZO is 30,000 watts at 620 feet. WODE is 50,000 watts at 450 feet. Their towers are only five miles apart. Both stations play Classic Rock. WODE leans more pop. WZZO rocks a bit harder.
 
I'm not on these boards much anymore. Out of the business a long time, but still watch from afar.

My take on this is that WZZO saw its fortunes track the same way a lot of legacy rock stations did: A classic rock station comes into the market and eats their lunch. A lot of stations survived it quite well with adjustments, but a vast majority didn't. Blame the new reality of corporate ownership, changing demographics, whatever. But WMMR (for example) surfed the wave of a changing market quite well. A blend of legacy jocks and heavy community involvement kept the station relevant...and allowed it to change with the music and not try to age with its audience. Not losing sight of the heritage, but not living in the past, either.

And there is Pierre Robert...

WZZO owned the Lehigh Valley (and beyond) for a long time. They were untouchable. The management at the time protected their brand relentlessly...once even formatting a sister AM with "women friendly" programming for the sole purpose of siphoning some numbers away from competitors to keep WZZO on top. Brilliant moves.

WODE was a thorn in the side of WZZO from day one. The transition from oldies to classic rock was seamless, and WZZO watched as the top end of their demo went away...as did their dominance at the top of the ratings heap.

What could have been done? Probably a myriad of small moves. I'd have poached Kara Curry early on, but in hindsight she's probably better off having stayed at WODE. To be sure, there is a world of difference between how Cumulus and iHeart operate. Although similar, to see the real distinction just look at each station's website.

The Lehigh Valley is fortunate to have two stations battling it out like this. Listeners win in the end, with better offerings from each station. Philadelphia listeners have won big with their beloved WMMR. I'd love to see WZZO take back what it once proudly owned: Heritage.
 
Plus I think one of the BIGGEST current day differences... WODE is programmed *Locally* while WZZO has the iHeart piped in Music Choice feed with some NYC talent weekdays and additional talent from across the country in other day parts. Hard to really program locally with a national programming strategy. Question is, do many/any listeners even notice the difference?
 
I just checked the WZZO schedule. On weekdays it runs:

Mornings -- Rover's Morning Glory from WMMS Cleveland, live.

Middays -- Maria Milito from WAXQ NYC, voice-tracked.

Afternoons -- Craig Stevens from WRFY Reading, live. (How does this work? WZZO is Classic Rock and Y-102 is Adult Hits.)

Evenings -- Big Rig from WXTB Tampa, voice-tracked.

Overnight -- Ty Bailey, voice-tracked. (Not sure where Bailey is based.)
 
Gregg. said:
I just checked the WZZO schedule. On weekdays it runs:

Mornings -- Rover's Morning Glory from WMMS Cleveland, live.

Middays -- Maria Milito from WAXQ NYC, voice-tracked.

Afternoons -- Craig Stevens from WRFY Reading, live. (How does this work? WZZO is Classic Rock and Y-102 is Adult Hits.)

Evenings -- Big Rig from WXTB Tampa, voice-tracked.

Overnight -- Ty Bailey, voice-tracked. (Not sure where Bailey is based.)
Click to expand...
Ty Bailey is tracked from WMZQ in DC. She has worked with iHeart in Rock for a long time though, at the former WCHH Baltimore, WWDC in DC, and WXTB in Tampa
 
Gregg. said:
I just checked the WZZO schedule. On weekdays it runs:

Mornings -- Rover's Morning Glory from WMMS Cleveland, live.

Middays -- Maria Milito from WAXQ NYC, voice-tracked.

Afternoons -- Craig Stevens from WRFY Reading, live. (How does this work? WZZO is Classic Rock and Y-102 is Adult Hits.)

Evenings -- Big Rig from WXTB Tampa, voice-tracked.

Overnight -- Ty Bailey, voice-tracked. (Not sure where Bailey is based.)
Click to expand...
Oddly enough co owned CHR B104 is mostly live and local. I'm surprised Elvis Duran isn't put into mornings yet.
 
WODE plays better music too. I think WZZO switched to classic rock for awhile too didnt they? Also, theyre doing double shot tuesdays… not only is this a direct copy of 99.9 Two-fers, they literally took the Double Shot Tuesday from WMMR and think people aint going to notice and/or question. WODE also plays deep cuts from time to time. Im not a heavy ZZO listener, but every time i ever put them on it was always a big hit playing. Same tired music. WODE was playing She’s Gone by Hall & Oates, WZZO was playing the way tired, Rock You Like A Hurricane… see what i mean?
 
ZZO used to be way more interesting in the '90s but this was before WODE switched to classic hits morfing into classic rock.
I'm actually curious why ZZO hasn't went more mainstream rock?
Allentown isn't a huge market. since WODE has it in the ratings for classic rock, ZZO could do newer rock no?
They could go live and local like WODE also.
But I assume there is a reason why ZZO hasn't done this.
cost to hire live local jocks?
Doesn't fit the cluster?
Classic Rock gets better billing in that market and the ratings such as they are are good enough?
Callout research (which I'm guessing both groups do on some level) tells that classic rock rules so two stations can survive?
 
JH_Radio said:
ZZO used to be way more interesting in the '90s but this was before WODE switched to classic hits morfing into classic rock.
I'm actually curious why ZZO hasn't went more mainstream rock?
Allentown isn't a huge market. since WODE has it in the ratings for classic rock, ZZO could do newer rock no?
They could go live and local like WODE also.
But I assume there is a reason why ZZO hasn't done this.
cost to hire live local jocks?
Doesn't fit the cluster?
Classic Rock gets better billing in that market and the ratings such as they are are good enough?
Callout research (which I'm guessing both groups do on some level) tells that classic rock rules so two stations can survive?
Click to expand...

WZZO did morph back into a form of Mainstream/Active rock last summer. Their top songs get about 30 spins a week, which puts them on par with WMMR. It's still heavily classic rock of some sorts, but they've re-added newer tunes.

radioinsight.com

WZZO Moves To Active Rock

iHeartMedia has made a musical adjustment at Classic Rock 95.1 WZZO Bethlehem/Allentown PA as the station has moved to Active
radioinsight.com radioinsight.com
 
atthestars said:
WZZO did morph back into a form of Mainstream/Active rock last summer. Their top songs get about 30 spins a week, which puts them on par with WMMR. It's still heavily classic rock of some sorts, but they've re-added newer tunes.

radioinsight.com

WZZO Moves To Active Rock

iHeartMedia has made a musical adjustment at Classic Rock 95.1 WZZO Bethlehem/Allentown PA as the station has moved to Active
radioinsight.com radioinsight.com
Click to expand...
Clearly I missed that one and haven't listened to ZZO lately.
So Craig is the only live jock it sounds like.
 
I thought I'd take a look at the two stations' recent playlists. 6pm to 7:30 on Monday evening.

WODE

Naked Eyes--Always Something There to Remind Me
The Who--Behind Blue Eyes
AC/DC--You Shook Me All Night Long
Bob Seger--Against The Wind
Bon Jovi--Livin' on A Prayer
Jimmy Buffett--Margaritaville
U2--New Year's Day
Tears for Fears--Everybody Wants to Rule The World
Twisted Sister--We're Not Gonna Take It
Billy Idol--Dancing with Myself
Fleetwood Mac--Landslide
Journey--Don't Stop Believing

---------------
WZZO

Godsmack--I Stand Alone
The Rolling Stones--Paint It Black
Falling in Reverse--Zombified
Green Day--When I Come Around
Three Days Gone--Just Like You
Linkin Park--Lost
Three Doors Down--Kryptonite
Rage Against The Machine--Killing in The Name
Daughtry--Artificial
The Offspring--Why Don't You Get A Job?
Lynyrd Skynyrd--Simple Man
Jet--Are You Gonna Be My Girl?
Red Hot Chili Peppers--Dani California

.
 
ZZO definitely sounds better since the slight format shift. I actually occasionally listen to it now but prefer 979X and WMMR.
 
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