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Why "Free-FM"?

S

Slinky

Is it just me or is "Free-FM" a horrible name? It's obviously a reaction to satellite "pay" radio, but why react like this? Why emphasize something so obvious? It's like a station that still calls itself "Stereo 94". Are there people out there that forget FM is free? To me, it just draws attention to the fact that there ARE non-free alternatives out there.

While there are some advantages to national branding, Infinity chose to kill a strong brand name in WYSP. Some markets needed new branding. In New York, for instance, the K-Rock brand is worn out and can't be used for a Talk station. In Philadelphia, though, the YSP brand has already been used successfully for a Talk station. The YSP call letters still mean something to the young male demographic the new Talk format will be targeting, and they especially mean something to Eagles fans. Why bother changing names when the station is already giving off the edgy vibe a Hot Talker should have?

We often complain about over-researched formats on here, but in this case, I can't believe they did any research. Is there really a group of guys out there that love the name "Free-FM"? Is there a group of Philadelphians who can't accept the idea of branding WYSP as a Talk station even though it already was one?

Even if this Talk format lasts 10 years, I bet people will still be calling it YSP.
 
> Is it just me or is "Free-FM" a horrible name? It's
> obviously a reaction to satellite "pay" radio, but why react
> like this? Why emphasize something so obvious? It's like a
> station that still calls itself "Stereo 94". Are there
> people out there that forget FM is free? To me, it just
> draws attention to the fact that there ARE non-free
> alternatives out there.
>

I think that by referring to the fact that "free" speech is one of our granted "free"doms in America, FREE FM is a perfect name for talk stations.
 
If you read Hinkley's column in yesterday's NY Daily News, you would note that Joel Hollinger, the head guy at Infinity, says the name was choosen as a slam against Sirius and XM which are pay radio.

I've heard a lot of talk around the office about the choice of branding for this move. And its mostly confusion. This was NOT a bright move.

For Stern's NYC station, which is also going "Free FM", perhaps the move is not that bad. But with WYSP being a brand name itself, the move is stupid. Simply go back to what the call stands for. "We're YOUR Station in Philadelphia-94 WYSP."

The move to talk is also stupid. The Stern fans will move to Sirius. Now rock fans will also move, because neither Philly or NYC have rock options beside Classic Rock and whatever it is WMMR is doing. NYC will no longer even have that.

As for this whole idea of talk, does anyone at Infinity remember WNEW-FM? It crashed and burned after only a short time. O&A had the only audience. Infinity better pray the News and N/T stations keep going, because they are killing their FM outlets!


> > Is it just me or is "Free-FM" a horrible name? It's
> > obviously a reaction to satellite "pay" radio, but why
> react
> > like this? Why emphasize something so obvious? It's like
> a
> > station that still calls itself "Stereo 94". Are there
> > people out there that forget FM is free? To me, it just
> > draws attention to the fact that there ARE non-free
> > alternatives out there.
> >
>
> I think that by referring to the fact that "free" speech is
> one of our granted "free"doms in America, FREE FM is a
> perfect name for talk stations.
>
 
> If you read Hinkley's column in yesterday's NY Daily News,
> you would note that Joel Hollinger, the head guy at
> Infinity, says the name was choosen as a slam against Sirius
> and XM which are pay radio.
>
Back in the late 70s, when cable was starting to take off, some local broadcast TV stations around the country used the "Free TV" slogan. It didn't exactly stall the cable boom. Most consumers know intuitively that "free" means you get what you pay for.
 
94.1 may have blow up their music during the AM hours in favor of talk. But at least this time around Infinity isn't jamming New York and virginia radio down Philly's throat. Quite honestly I'm glad those geniuses haven't taken the opportunity to reattempt introducing David Letterman's show to radio. Gimmie Baraky and Vinnie the crumb and day over Letterman. Hell at least today ( Wednesday) I got to hear Barsky and vinnie ramble on with a caller about legalizing marijuana and the legitimacy of such a thought.

> If you read Hinkley's column in yesterday's NY Daily News,
> you would note that Joel Hollinger, the head guy at
> Infinity, says the name was choosen as a slam against Sirius
> and XM which are pay radio.
>
> I've heard a lot of talk around the office about the choice
> of branding for this move. And its mostly confusion. This
> was NOT a bright move.
>
> For Stern's NYC station, which is also going "Free FM",
> perhaps the move is not that bad. But with WYSP being a
> brand name itself, the move is stupid. Simply go back to
> what the call stands for. "We're YOUR Station in
> Philadelphia-94 WYSP."
>
> The move to talk is also stupid. The Stern fans will move
> to Sirius. Now rock fans will also move, because neither
> Philly or NYC have rock options beside Classic Rock and
> whatever it is WMMR is doing. NYC will no longer even have
> that.
>
> As for this whole idea of talk, does anyone at Infinity
> remember WNEW-FM? It crashed and burned after only a short
> time. O&A had the only audience. Infinity better pray the
> News and N/T stations keep going, because they are killing
> their FM outlets!
>
>
> > > Is it just me or is "Free-FM" a horrible name? It's
> > > obviously a reaction to satellite "pay" radio, but why
> > react
> > > like this? Why emphasize something so obvious? It's
> like
> > a
> > > station that still calls itself "Stereo 94". Are there
> > > people out there that forget FM is free? To me, it just
>
> > > draws attention to the fact that there ARE non-free
> > > alternatives out there.
> > >
> >
> > I think that by referring to the fact that "free" speech
> is
> > one of our granted "free"doms in America, FREE FM is a
> > perfect name for talk stations.
> >
>
 
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