WHY DON'T RADIO ONE BROADCASTING PURCHASE SOME RADIO STATIONS UP IN MILWAUKEE?

[Human Numan]

Why don't Radio One Broadcasting purchase a few radio stations up north of Chicago up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin?

www.radio-one.com

 

[wdb2003]

Because they are not interested in those markets. Cathy has spoken about trying to get in Chicago and New York City but the stations are not in their price range. They are still in debt from buying KKBT Los Angeles in 1999 and selling it in 2008. They havent made a return in that investment. The smaller amount of stations Radio One has the better.

 

[secondchoice]

Why would they spend a bunch of cash (I do not think banks are lining up to lend to radio companies) or take on seller financed debt to go after a smaller piece of a smaller pie. The demo's are not that urban friendly according to Arbitron:

Milwaukee-Racine, WI
Population: 1,474,500

PPM: Mon-Sun 6AM-Midnight | 14.6% Black | 7.1% Hispanic

verses

Atlanta, GA
Population: 4,479,800

PPM: Mon-Sun 6am-Midnight | 30.4% Black | 8.5% Hispanic

where Radio One has 3 of the top 7 (6+ Arbitron) stations.

 

[wdb2003]

Not to mention they sold their station in St. Paul MN KTTB B96 so why would they move up north again. If their gonna make a move Radio One should try Oklahoma City. Trust me they might actually perform well there.

 

[secondchoice]

Radio One is one of the best Urban operators. The are trying all news in Houston* and I hope they do well with it. But if you if you are going to expand into "new" markets common sense dictates you try to find markets with demo's that fit into your programming strengths, like:


Memphis, TN
Population: 1,104,200

PPM: Mon-Sun 6AM-Midnight | 43.9% Black | 7.3% Hispanic


New Orleans, LA
Population: 1,187,300

AQH: Mon-Sun 6AM-Midnight | 29.3% Black | 5.3% Hispanic

Jackson, MS
Population: 403,700

AQH: Mon-Sun 6AM-Midnight | 44.3% Black

*IMHO Radio One should develop some non urban stations. It would (when they get their financial house in order and it is reflected in the stock price) allow them to pick up some quality radio properties when Clear Channel finally has to sell the stations in the Aloha trust.

 

[N.E. Streetz]

You don't want Radio One in your city. Radio One trash the Only Urban Station in my city ( Boston ).

 

[kilamanjero]

You don't want Radio One in your city. Radio One trash the Only Urban Station in my city ( Boston ).

Radio One didn't know what the hell they were doing in Boston that is why WILD-AM and the former WILD-FM is gone. They can program decide stations when they want to do it. Look at the Washington, Atlanta, and Baltimore clusters, well programmed and actually well invested into.

 

[FightingIrish]

A few reasons:

1. Nobody in Milwaukee is selling. All the major station groups seem pretty content.
2. As far as urban stations go, Clear Channel owns V100 (more hip-hop and current) and Saga owns WJMR (more adult). They pretty much take the whole demographic. And both stations' ratings in the PPM era have fallen hard. And little mom-and-pop WNOV has been a non-factor the whole time (not to mention currently off the air while the owners scramble for new equipment).
3. Radio One doesn't have much money.

Apply the similar situation to Chicago. Unless they bought an established urban station in either market, they won't do anything.