WHY IS THERE ONLY ONE RAP/HIP-HOP STATION IN COLUMBUS???????????????

[dawg4life]

WDHT isn't moving an inch. Their City of License was changed to Urbana so WKSW could change city of license to Enon and become a Dayton station.

Ah ha! Isn't screwing the system with loopholes fun?

 

[datfireman]

I'm 41 right now and I KNOW how dat feels about this. Lexington had no urban until WCKU came on in 1988. They came on strong, played good music and held an audience and then the powers to be decided to start doing the same thing that WCKX is doing and they lost their asses. It flipped to classic rock IN THE MIDDLE OF THE AFTERNOON with NO warning after 7 years of urban. The last two years were painful. They would play something from Guy then back it up with Doobie Bros. How can this work anywhere??? Along came POWER 1250, a 500 watt AM near Lexington that came on with strong urban hip-hop, mixes and mix shows. I did say AM, right!!! This station was blazing even though it did not cover all of Lexington at night due to restrictions. They stayed in the game for a long time until they began to simulcast with WTKT 1580, a 10,000 watt AM signal. Same blazing music, same mix shows, same personalities but with 45 watts of night power, people were complaining. No music after dark!!! The station cared about it's listeners by having it's weekend mix-shows before dark as they would have to reduce power to protect WVKO, ha,ha!!.WBTF came on 1999-2000 and simulcast with WTKT , informed folks that their music they liked would live on as 107.9 The Beat and there you have it. When you don't care about your listeners, you will go under. WCKX will not last if this continues. Look what happened to WCKU. Prime example of not giving a damn, thinking you've got it all sewed up, not paying attention. They've tried classic rock, country, and old-school- what a joke!!! Now they're back as HOT 102 with a feeble attempt to take on WLKT and WBTF. Go ahead and stream this mess and you'll hear what happens when you play the game and lose.

100% agree! I have a person from lousiana that agrees with me. and i have a person from kentucky that also agree with me. and I grow up off of Georgia radio! i wonder If we southerns like urban and variety station more than northern's.

 

[alans613]

datfireman, 40 years of Hip-Hop and R and B? Talk about a train wreck waiting to be broadcast. Let's see, how about Ashford and Simpson right after the latest from Lil Wayne? You'd be laughed out of the radio business, dude. Remember, programming a station isn't about YOU, it's about the AUDIENCE. That's how radio works. If you want NICHE formats, go to satelitte radio...and no, XM/Sirius will NEVER be free dude...or go work for a non-comm. Also, there's a nifty new device called an MP3 player, which you can go to Family Dollar and buy a 2 GB unit for $20 and dump 500 or more tunes onto.

HA! wanna here a new word LOL at u! if what you say is true than why is there a MAGIC 98.9 out! you don't know jack! magic 98.9 play "classic Soul" meaning music from da 70's and 80's. also they play the latest RnB which is 2007-present and......... it's a successful station. So your saying......... If power 107.5 dedicates 3 hours OUT OF A WEEK to it. How would it go out of business??????

they had the old school basement party on power 107.5 from 1997-2007 where they would play 80's 90's and early 2000's hip hop AND IT STAY ON FOR 5 HOURS OUT OF THE WEEK! tell me if power 107.5 didn't go out of business then. how would it go out of business NOW! IF magic 98.9 can juggle two audience and be successful! how come power can't???? Listen to magic 98.9 and then make a proper come back! hit the road jack! AND IT'S NOT MY PERSONAL Ipod it's the old school/real hip hop nation who backing me which consides of 500 million nation wide and 400,000 localy!

Dude, your english is terrible. Please clean up your grammar. Your posts are extremely hard to read.
datfireman, there is no getting you to understand the business of radio. Where did I say that Power 107 would go out of business if they played what you've suggested, which would most likely be a NICHE show on a Fri. or Sat. night? You're putting words in my mouth. There's a reason that that particular show you mentioned was only on 5 hours a week. Why? Because there isn't an audience that wants this kind of music all the time. Does WNCI play "Club NCI" all week? No, because it's a NICHE show that only certain folks like. Since you're new to the board you might not understand what it means when someone says "Programming your personal iPod"...It means picking a format and particular music style you yourself like and then picking the songs you want to hear, and that's what you're doing here. Sorry to inform you. Also, when's the last time Magic 98.9 played anything hip-hop oriented? When have they ever played Jay-Z, Lil Wayne, Birdman, or Snoop Dogg? Magic 98.9 is Urban AC. Power 107 is Rhythmic. Period. There is no crossover whatsoever.
Do you really believe that 500 million people nationwide want the format you're suggesting? 400,000 locally? Have you spoken to each one of these people personally? Why do you continue to "preach to the choir" about a format that would never, ever work? Basically what you're suggesting is a variation on one of the biggest failures in radio format history, MOViN.

if you say people will not listen to it and they don't have audience for it THEN IT will go out of business.

example: if somebody's sell a product and nobody's buys it. the company will not get any money. therefore the company will not have a way to pay for keeping the company financial afloat.


here's a reason that that particular show you mentioned was only on 5 hours a week. Why? Because there isn't an audience that wants this kind of music all the time.

LOL! OKAY SMART GUY Tell me this then............... Why did blaze n city (power 107.5 Radio pensonilty) say alot of people were mad and asking why the old school basement party was canceled! they said people were blowning up the phone with vulgar language to bring it back. they also said, "easy people we don't make the decision no more the program directors and radio one make em." but we'll try to talk to our supervisor."

THIS JUST PROVES YOU DON'T KNOW NOTHING ABOUT RAP/HIP HOP. THIS ALSO PROVES YOU HAVEN'T BEEN LISTENING TO THE RADIO!
Notice since Radio One took over everything has gone sour!


Also, when's the last time Magic 98.9 played anything hip-hop oriented? When have they ever played Jay-Z, Lil Wayne, Birdman, or Snoop Dogg? Magic 98.9 is Urban AC. Power 107 is Rhythmic. Period. There is no crossover whatsoever[/quote]

i didn't say crossover? a crossover is when 2 different genre's are put together! but did i say that NO.......... NEW and OLD. I DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING ABOUT RAP! I SAID THEY PLAY NEW RnB AND Classic Rnb! NOTICE i mention RnB in both new and classic. and in my last comment. YOUR MAKING UP CRAP SO YOU CAN TRY NOT TO BE WRONG! #$%^& ! IF YOU KNOW SO MUCH ABOUT RADIO AND RADIO RESEARCH YOU

Because there isn't an audience that wants this kind of music all the time.

people who would DISAGREE!
1. all the people who hate dirty raps.
2. all the ANIT-women hating groups
3.all the NAACP people who wants the hip hop industry to clean up it's image and make positive music!
4. the real hip hop fanatics
5. fox news supporters
6. cnn supporters
7.anti- volience activists
8.people who hate pop music
9. will smith
will smith sold millions because not only did inner city people like him. suburban people, families and kids too! that open his fan base and audience too!

most of the old school flashback music was what these people were asking for!


Have you spoken to each one of these people personally? Why do you continue to "preach to the choir" about a format that would never, ever work? Basically what you're suggesting is a variation on one of the biggest failures in radio format history, MOViN.

actually smarty farty pants YES! i've catch the bus for 5 years now. recently i did a street survey with people on the bus (NEW AND YOUNG). I ASK them would they vote on a petition to bring 1980-2006 hip hop back for 5 hours out of a week on power 107.5. and..... drum roll please....................................................... 50 people said YES and 5 people said NO!

and i ask them about voting on bringing a local talent showcase back to the radio! 35 agree and 4 disagree!

BOTTOM LINE SINCE YOUR GOT GIVING ME PROOF OF WHAT YOU SAY IS TRUE THIS IS MY FINAL COMMENT TO YOU! I KNOW WE WILL NEVER GET A STATION I SAID IN THE TOPIC! YOU DON'T KNOW NOTHING ABOUT RAP AND WHAT BLACK FOLKS WANT TO LISTEN TO!

IF YA DID YOU WOULD KNOW THAT THE MAJORITY OF RAP/HIP HOP LISTENERS ARE INTO THIS MIXTAPE S#$% NOW! A MIXTAPE IS WHEN A RAPPER RAPS OVER OTHER PEOPLE'S BEATS OR CREATES HIS OWN BEATS AND SONGS WITHOUT POLITICS WATERING IT DOWN AND CREATING A FASLE IMAGE FOR THE ARTIST! MIXTAPES ARE UNDERGROUND AND OLD SCHOOL MUSIC! I BET YOU ARE WORKING FOR RADIO ONE THE RECORD COMPANIES AND PAUL STRONG! HOW AND THE HELL CAN THE RADIO STATION GET PAY FOR ME TURING ON THE RADIO! GOODBYE!
[/quote]
I work for Paul Strong? Sorry, but no I don't. I'm just telling you what a Radio PD or MD will tell you about the format you suggested. Also, asking people on the school bus isn't like testing an audience. For years i've wanted an all-90s show on the air somewhere, but as most of the people will tell you on this board, there really isn't an audience for most 90s music. Most of the music tests badly, hence the reason that there isn't a 90s show on anywhere. I say screw the radio, don't waste your time and energy on something that will never air on the radio and invest in an MP3 player where you can play PD, or find an internet station or stream an out-of-state station from the 'net if you like them better. I've stated this many times but you want Power to be programmed to your specific tastes.
Also, Radio One has run Power since 2001. Why do they have such a small playlist? Probably the same reason that most CHRs in the country have small playlists, because they want to instantly gratify the listeners that are coming to hear the hits. Think Power is bad? I heard of a station last year that in one week spun a tune 120 times. Power is a CHR and sticks to the hits with little recurrents.
I'm not as stupid as you think datfireman, and I definitely know what a mixtape is. Also, turn off your caps lock key and quit screaming in your posts and please clean up your grammar and do a spell check before posting your ramblings.
Also...what I was asking did you actually speak to 400,000 people locally and 500 million nationwide about this proposed format? I wasn't being a smart aleck about it...just asking an honest question...and others on this board have also said the same thing about those ridiculous numbers. From what you've written, you spoke to about 104 people total...that's way off from 400,000 locally or 500 million nationwide. I'm sure everyone in this country wants the format you've suggested. Tell that to all the Country, Rock, Pop, and even Hawiian music fans. ;D

 

[One Who Knows]

I know what a "mixtape" is...and those who are selling them (not all, but some do) should be aware you're breaking Federal Copyright laws...

The "My mix belongs to me" argument doesn't stand up in court, by the way.

 

[datfireman]

datfireman, 40 years of Hip-Hop and R and B? Talk about a train wreck waiting to be broadcast. Let's see, how about Ashford and Simpson right after the latest from Lil Wayne? You'd be laughed out of the radio business, dude. Remember, programming a station isn't about YOU, it's about the AUDIENCE. That's how radio works. If you want NICHE formats, go to satelitte radio...and no, XM/Sirius will NEVER be free dude...or go work for a non-comm. Also, there's a nifty new device called an MP3 player, which you can go to Family Dollar and buy a 2 GB unit for $20 and dump 500 or more tunes onto.

HA! wanna here a new word LOL at u! if what you say is true than why is there a MAGIC 98.9 out! you don't know jack! magic 98.9 play "classic Soul" meaning music from da 70's and 80's. also they play the latest RnB which is 2007-present and......... it's a successful station. So your saying......... If power 107.5 dedicates 3 hours OUT OF A WEEK to it. How would it go out of business??????

they had the old school basement party on power 107.5 from 1997-2007 where they would play 80's 90's and early 2000's hip hop AND IT STAY ON FOR 5 HOURS OUT OF THE WEEK! tell me if power 107.5 didn't go out of business then. how would it go out of business NOW! IF magic 98.9 can juggle two audience and be successful! how come power can't???? Listen to magic 98.9 and then make a proper come back! hit the road jack! AND IT'S NOT MY PERSONAL Ipod it's the old school/real hip hop nation who backing me which consides of 500 million nation wide and 400,000 localy!

Dude, your english is terrible. Please clean up your grammar. Your posts are extremely hard to read.
datfireman, there is no getting you to understand the business of radio. Where did I say that Power 107 would go out of business if they played what you've suggested, which would most likely be a NICHE show on a Fri. or Sat. night? You're putting words in my mouth. There's a reason that that particular show you mentioned was only on 5 hours a week. Why? Because there isn't an audience that wants this kind of music all the time. Does WNCI play "Club NCI" all week? No, because it's a NICHE show that only certain folks like. Since you're new to the board you might not understand what it means when someone says "Programming your personal iPod"...It means picking a format and particular music style you yourself like and then picking the songs you want to hear, and that's what you're doing here. Sorry to inform you. Also, when's the last time Magic 98.9 played anything hip-hop oriented? When have they ever played Jay-Z, Lil Wayne, Birdman, or Snoop Dogg? Magic 98.9 is Urban AC. Power 107 is Rhythmic. Period. There is no crossover whatsoever.
Do you really believe that 500 million people nationwide want the format you're suggesting? 400,000 locally? Have you spoken to each one of these people personally? Why do you continue to "preach to the choir" about a format that would never, ever work? Basically what you're suggesting is a variation on one of the biggest failures in radio format history, MOViN.

if you say people will not listen to it and they don't have audience for it THEN IT will go out of business.

example: if somebody's sell a product and nobody's buys it. the company will not get any money. therefore the company will not have a way to pay for keeping the company financial afloat.


here's a reason that that particular show you mentioned was only on 5 hours a week. Why? Because there isn't an audience that wants this kind of music all the time.

LOL! OKAY SMART GUY Tell me this then............... Why did blaze n city (power 107.5 Radio pensonilty) say alot of people were mad and asking why the old school basement party was canceled! they said people were blowning up the phone with vulgar language to bring it back. they also said, "easy people we don't make the decision no more the program directors and radio one make em." but we'll try to talk to our supervisor."

THIS JUST PROVES YOU DON'T KNOW NOTHING ABOUT RAP/HIP HOP. THIS ALSO PROVES YOU HAVEN'T BEEN LISTENING TO THE RADIO!
Notice since Radio One took over everything has gone sour!


Also, when's the last time Magic 98.9 played anything hip-hop oriented? When have they ever played Jay-Z, Lil Wayne, Birdman, or Snoop Dogg? Magic 98.9 is Urban AC. Power 107 is Rhythmic. Period. There is no crossover whatsoever

i didn't say crossover? a crossover is when 2 different genre's are put together! but did i say that NO.......... NEW and OLD. I DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING ABOUT RAP! I SAID THEY PLAY NEW RnB AND Classic Rnb! NOTICE i mention RnB in both new and classic. and in my last comment. YOUR MAKING UP CRAP SO YOU CAN TRY NOT TO BE WRONG! #$%^& ! IF YOU KNOW SO MUCH ABOUT RADIO AND RADIO RESEARCH YOU

Because there isn't an audience that wants this kind of music all the time.

people who would DISAGREE!
1. all the people who hate dirty raps.
2. all the ANIT-women hating groups
3.all the NAACP people who wants the hip hop industry to clean up it's image and make positive music!
4. the real hip hop fanatics
5. fox news supporters
6. cnn supporters
7.anti- volience activists
8.people who hate pop music
9. will smith
will smith sold millions because not only did inner city people like him. suburban people, families and kids too! that open his fan base and audience too!

most of the old school flashback music was what these people were asking for!


Have you spoken to each one of these people personally? Why do you continue to "preach to the choir" about a format that would never, ever work? Basically what you're suggesting is a variation on one of the biggest failures in radio format history, MOViN.

actually smarty farty pants YES! i've catch the bus for 5 years now. recently i did a street survey with people on the bus (NEW AND YOUNG). I ASK them would they vote on a petition to bring 1980-2006 hip hop back for 5 hours out of a week on power 107.5. and..... drum roll please....................................................... 50 people said YES and 5 people said NO!

and i ask them about voting on bringing a local talent showcase back to the radio! 35 agree and 4 disagree!

BOTTOM LINE SINCE YOUR GOT GIVING ME PROOF OF WHAT YOU SAY IS TRUE THIS IS MY FINAL COMMENT TO YOU! I KNOW WE WILL NEVER GET A STATION I SAID IN THE TOPIC! YOU DON'T KNOW NOTHING ABOUT RAP AND WHAT BLACK FOLKS WANT TO LISTEN TO!

IF YA DID YOU WOULD KNOW THAT THE MAJORITY OF RAP/HIP HOP LISTENERS ARE INTO THIS MIXTAPE S#$% NOW! A MIXTAPE IS WHEN A RAPPER RAPS OVER OTHER PEOPLE'S BEATS OR CREATES HIS OWN BEATS AND SONGS WITHOUT POLITICS WATERING IT DOWN AND CREATING A FASLE IMAGE FOR THE ARTIST! MIXTAPES ARE UNDERGROUND AND OLD SCHOOL MUSIC! I BET YOU ARE WORKING FOR RADIO ONE THE RECORD COMPANIES AND PAUL STRONG! HOW AND THE HELL CAN THE RADIO STATION GET PAY FOR ME TURING ON THE RADIO! GOODBYE!
[/quote]
I work for Paul Strong? Sorry, but no I don't. I'm just telling you what a Radio PD or MD will tell you about the format you suggested. Also, asking people on the school bus isn't like testing an audience. For years i've wanted an all-90s show on the air somewhere, but as most of the people will tell you on this board, there really isn't an audience for most 90s music. Most of the music tests badly, hence the reason that there isn't a 90s show on anywhere. I say screw the radio, don't waste your time and energy on something that will never air on the radio and invest in an MP3 player where you can play PD, or find an internet station or stream an out-of-state station from the 'net if you like them better. I've stated this many times but you want Power to be programmed to your specific tastes.
Also, Radio One has run Power since 2001. Why do they have such a small playlist? Probably the same reason that most CHRs in the country have small playlists, because they want to instantly gratify the listeners that are coming to hear the hits. Think Power is bad? I heard of a station last year that in one week spun a tune 120 times. Power is a CHR and sticks to the hits with little recurrents.
I'm not as stupid as you think datfireman, and I definitely know what a mixtape is. Also, turn off your caps lock key and quit screaming in your posts and please clean up your grammar and do a spell check before posting your ramblings.
Also...what I was asking did you actually speak to 400,000 people locally and 500 million nationwide about this proposed format? I wasn't being a smart aleck about it...just asking an honest question...and others on this board have also said the same thing about those ridiculous numbers. From what you've written, you spoke to about 104 people total...that's way off from 400,000 locally or 500 million nationwide. I'm sure everyone in this country wants the format you've suggested. Tell that to all the Country, Rock, Pop, and even Hawiian music fans. ;D
[/quote]

i know that it will never have a station. but your taking food out musicians mouth by telling them youi have to make "soulja ******" or "lil gayne" type of music shawty! the future nas's, the future jay-z's and the furture bone thugs will not have a have a change to get major exposer. and feed their families! the next genernation will not know about 1980's-2004 hip hop and RnB. the local talent will never get a change to get on and eat in the music business. I and many others are tired of seeing these record label (payloa) artists) hogging the spot light and getting all the money! AND MAKE THE CRAPEST MUSIC OF EM ALL!!! TIL THERE A STATION TO COMPETE WITH POWER 107.5 WE WILL NEVA KNOW!

 

[Rusty Blades]

^^So....what are you trying to say here?

 

[alans613]

^^So....what are you trying to say here?

I keep trying to ask him, but he won't respond with a reasonable, spell-checked answer.

 

[dawg4life]

^^So....what are you trying to say here?

I keep trying to ask him, but he won't respond with a reasonable, spell-checked answer.

I can understand his passion but I also have absolutely no idea what the Hell he's talking about whatsoever.

 

[One Who Knows]

^^So....what are you trying to say here?

I keep trying to ask him, but he won't respond with a reasonable, spell-checked answer.

I can understand his passion but I also have absolutely no idea what the Hell he's talking about whatsoever.

Neither does anyone else who actually works in radio and has even the barest knowledge of how the business works.

 

[dawg4life]

^^So....what are you trying to say here?

I keep trying to ask him, but he won't respond with a reasonable, spell-checked answer.

I can understand his passion but I also have absolutely no idea what the Hell he's talking about whatsoever.

Neither does anyone else who actually works in radio and has even the barest .

Point taken but we do have an opinion on how well some of you in the radio business are doing your jobs. Unfortunately most of us don't think very highly of how well your jobs have been done. We may not have all the knowledge of how the business works but we do know an inferior product when we see one or in this case when we hear one.... Did I say one? I'm sorry, I meant a crap load.

 

[datfireman]

^^So....what are you trying to say here?

I keep trying to ask him, but he won't respond with a reasonable, spell-checked answer.

I can understand his passion but I also have absolutely no idea what the Hell he's talking about whatsoever.

Neither does anyone else who actually works in radio and has even the barest .

Point taken but we do have an opinion on how well some of you in the radio business are doing your jobs. Unfortunately most of us don't think very highly of how well your jobs have been done. We may not have all the knowledge of how the business works but we do know an inferior product when we see one or in this case when we hear one.... Did I say one? I'm sorry, I meant a crap load.

^^ basically what dawg4life said! All those radio exe know is more $$$$! CATHY HUEYS from the save black radio campaign said, record label's and radio stations are losing billions of dollars because their not keeping up with modern technology that the youth go crazy over!" #$%#@! AND SHE's ONE OF RADIO ONE'S TOP DAWG!

 

[Nu_Roo_2]

datfireman's posts are all over the place, hard to follow, sometimes antagonistic, sometimes nonsensical, and filled with plenty of bad grammar and street-talk overload.

That said, it's not very difficult to detect some of the recurring themes with minimal effort, e.g.
-- insufficient localism, including lack of a nod to local artists
-- overly-tight playlists, including era-wise
-- inattention to listener requests nowadays
-- radio's need to consider whether the eclecticism of personal new media may suggest a need to change to stay in touch with youth as they get older and more important to potential advertisers
-- feeling that Southern markets he's familiar with outshine Columbus (esp Power) in the above respects and others

This is not intended as my personal agreement or disagreement on any of these assertions, just an observation that's it's not all that difficult to identify some of the themes -- which are valid ones for debate -- even if they are often buried within a mass of  babble.  I'm sure lots of listeners to Power and other stations would make far less sense than datfireman, but they pay the bills nonetheless.  And at least he still cares a lot about radio, which is something that should be welcomed by the industry these days.  Of course, one could argue about whether this board is the appropriate place for this style of "feedback."  But reading between the lines, it seems some of the "pros" who post here take a little too much delight in being smugly dismissive and joining in a gang-derision.  That may explain more than a little about why Columbus radio is so stagnant.

 

[only1moore]

The Browns beat the Steelers last night - so maybe there is a chance for another hip-hop station!

I guess anything is possible. Of course I had to wait 6 or 7 years to see the Browns beat the Stoolers. :-\

Well, at least Cleveland has a Urban (WENZ, who happens to be WCKX's sister station). Too bad Pittsburgh lost theirs, and over at that board they were talking about what caused WAMO's demise when the Davenports sold the cluster to a catholic group. Now the only thing Pittsburgh listeners have for any sort of Urban/Hip-Hop fare is a Rhythmic-leaning "Kiss-FM" and a nighttime Urban AC show at a Hot AC.

As for WCKX, I don't see anything wrong with them being a Rhythmic, plus they seem to know some of WNCI's weaknesses so they will take advantage of it.

Then again, we could be talking about other Urbans that saw more ratings potential as a Rhythmic and somehow paid off for them, like KOPW/Omaha, WTMG/Gainesville, WMBX/West Palm Beach among them. So this nothing new.

 

[CHRles]

Great to see Robert Moore chime in on this lively topic.
Let’s try to clear up some things by first bringing up some verifiable facts, then try to tie them together.

The current population of the entire USA is closing in on 310 million people at the present time. The 12+ metro population of Columbus is approximately 1.5 million people. Of those, about 14.5 percent are African American, and 2.5 percent Hispanic.
97.9 NCI and Power 107.5 are currently tied for the number one position in the market 12+, which indicates their 18-34 numbers (their target demos) are extremely healthy.
In Cincinnati the Top 40, 107.1 Kiss FM, ranks 8th overall while the Urban/Hip Hop outlet WIZF 100.9 ranks below it at 9th. In Cleveland the Hip Hop outlet ranks 5th while the CHR/Pop station currently ranks 10th. While those are just the 12+ numbers for Cleveland and Cincinnati, they do hint that their Columbus counterparts are achieving greater success at this time.

With regards to the music mix on Power 107.5, it isn’t all that different from a good number of other Rhythmic CHRs spread throughout the country. Examples include Power 106.9 Omaha, Hot 104.5 Knoxville, Jammin 107.5 Portland, Wild 101.1 Boise, 93.1 Jamz Madison, or 101.5 Jamz Phoenix. It certainly is not the most musically conservative Rhythmic CHR on the Mediabase panel. Usually the Cox-owned stations tend to only play 20 Currents at a time, such as 95.5 The Beat Atlanta, Power 95.3 Orlando, and Hot 98.1 Greenville. The same holds true for some of the Cumulus-owned Rhythmics.
As far as Urban FMs that skew Hip Hop in the South, many of them are in markets where the black population hovers at 30 percent or above out of the entire population. There’s a bigger base and more support for new Hip Hop music in such markets. That’s why Hot 107.5 Memphis is much more active on new and regional music when compared to 101.1 The Beat Nashville.
In some markets you’ll find a big enough audience that appreciates being exposed to a lot of fresh music. In other places? Well, just look back on Cincinnatti’s CHR, Q-102 in the 80s – it was very successful but also very late on adding records.

So which records should a station add, and when? For that you need to conduct the right kind of research so that you’ll get familiar with your audience. The idea isn’t to get together a bunch of hardcore super knowledgeable music fans in a room, but rather to try and gauge at what the mood is with the general market audience. To do that you need a panel that will reflect on a diverse cross section of the population. Everyone from high school students in the inner city to one in a posh suburb, as well as secretaries or nurses, a high schoop drop out and a CEO of a high tech company could be included. You need people in their teens, college kids, young parents, single parents, grandparents, etc. Many of them lead busy lives on a daily basis and aren’t very passionate about hearing 50 new songs every week. They just want to hear some of their favorite music from the past few months/years/decades during the time of day or week when they actually remember to tune into their local radio stations. Some of them will only listen to music for a few minutes per day. Even some of those office workers that may have the radio on all day will only have it on as background music in low volume. Don’t let a bunch of kids or hardcore music lovers on facebook and myspace fool you into believing that everyone is hungry for new music, and has amassed thousands of music titles on MP3 and CDs.
Radio stations that focus on 18-34 year olds will oftentimes focus their research on that specific demographic. They will try to gather information from listeners aged 18-34 in their primary coverage area, whether they work downtown, or in some nearby county, are unemployed, go to school, etc. If you know the majority of your listeners are female, you will focus your attention on them, especially with regards to your music selections. So if you’re wondering why some Black Eyed Peas or Lady Gaga songs stay in high rotation on some Pop stations for so long, it’s b/c the 18-34 year old females who listen to Pop radio still want to hear those records played…even if some of them may be burnt out on them.

Lastly, the Columbus radio dial isn’t as bad overall as some of some of you claim. It definitely doesn’t have the coolest or most cutting edge Urban and CHR radio, but those formats are available whereas in some markets they may not be, or may not be executed as well. Look at Atlanta with its much more adult leaning CHRs, or notice how L.A. currently doesn’t have an Urban station on a market-wide signal. New York doesn’t have a Country station, nor a Modern Rock station. Many markets have lost out on their Smooth Jazz or Oldies stations.
Columbus has some good Rock, AC, and Country radio, staples of a typical Midwestern market. There’s even a heritage and pure Modern Rocker. You know, the kind that “real” fans of the genre go ga-ga for. But where does this pure Alternative end up in the ratings? Sadly nowhere near the top, and this was the case long before CD 101.1 got competition from Radio 106.7.

Since radio is a business, a radio station has to know when it can be creative and try something new, whether it’s a new show, or a new promotion, and when to stick to tried and tested methods. You can’t just say “F it, I know people will love my ideas, I’m sure everyone and their mother will appreciate what I have planned…”. If you know who your core listeners are, know whether they’re more adventurous or more conservative, then you’ll know what you can get away with, and what you need to hold off on. You wait until the mainstream in your market takes hold of something. They may hear about it on youtube, the national cable media, internet-only stations, radio websites, HD radio channels, etc. These venues serve terrestrial radio well, in some aspects, in that they help warm your audience end up for the next big thing. Your job is oftentimes to cherry pick the best and potentially most crossover of these trends, and then get your creative juices going by coming up with some new twist on something that’s already making headlines.

With regards to Retro hits, lots of CHRs have weekly radio shows, such as Backstraxx 90s. There’s also 106.5 The Buzz Sacramento devoted exclusively to the decade (alongside 90s at 9 on satellite radio), and most of the music on Gen X 100.5 Louisville and K-Hits 96.5 Little Rock is made up of 90s titles. Kool 106.1 Tulsa is expected to also flip to the Gen X format next week, the day after Christmas.
As far as kids being exposed to old school Hip Hop? It’s all too easy nowadays to go to Wikipedia and read up on artists and genres, then seek out some songs on youtube and itunes, or find an online station that caters to your old school needs. Old School 70s and early 80s Funk did at one time generate interest from 18-34 year olds, especially in the early 90s from West Coast/Jerry Clifton consulted Rhythmic CHRs. There was also a strong interest in 70s Disco in the mid 90s from 25-54 year olds, and rest assured radio stations responded to it. If enough people across the nation, and specifically in the Columbus area, start on masse to seek out old school Hip Hop, then some station may find a way to incorporate it into its music mix.

 

[alans613]

Excellent post chrles! You're right on the money my friend.
Backtraxx USA the 90s airs on WNCI Sat. mornings from 6-8AM. WMMX in Dayton also airs the Hot AC version of Backtraxx USA the 90s as well as RetroStars hosted by Dave Stewart on Sundays.

 

[jakej]

it seems some of the "pros" who post here take a little too much delight in being smugly dismissive and joining in a gang-derision. That may explain more than a little about why Columbus radio is so stagnant.

I'm just grateful to have the meager "handful" of listeners that gr8oldies says is the most that I can hope for. Hey gr8, before you reach your "hyper-niche" conclusion, I'd appreciate you actually listening to an episode of "Yesterday's Top Secrets". And what about those dozens of "Today's Highlights" listings that the show has garnered in the Dispatch over the past several months? I guess some people out there at the paper must not think that the idea's so crazy. Neither do the sponsors of "Secrets", Used Kids Records and Worthington Jewelers.

 

[Nu_Roo_2]

CHRles, how familiar are you with Columbus in terms of how well "local" signals penetrate the market?   The fact of the matter is that there aren't many (for a market this size) that can even make it downtown without big problems.  For example,  in making a point about what the acceptable boundaries are for music here you point to 101's failure to earn significant ratings even before CC's Alternative hit town.  Well I'm sure no fan of 101's, but are you aware that -- even with their high-profile downtown-area studios  -- they are one of the majority of Columbus stations that suffer big reception problems in the heart of the city?

While I very much agree with many of your observations, I also very much disagree with many of them.  And more often than not the disagreement traces back to that implicit assumption that the average "Columbus" station has the potential to make a significant impact, when nothing could be further from the truth for the signal-challenged majority.  That latter fact also explains a lot of the success you see for stations like WNCI.  I'm not denying that some of the factors you mention might contribute as well, but they're at most part of the story.  The rules of the game are different here than in most markets largely because having fewer viable signals means that those that DO exist enjoy the luxury of doing well without working as hard to optimize.

 

[datfireman]

Great to see Robert Moore chime in on this lively topic.
Let’s try to clear up some things by first bringing up some verifiable facts, then try to tie them together.

The current population of the entire USA is closing in on 310 million people at the present time. The 12+ metro population of Columbus is approximately 1.5 million people. Of those, about 14.5 percent are African American, and 2.5 percent Hispanic.
97.9 NCI and Power 107.5 are currently tied for the number one position in the market 12+, which indicates their 18-34 numbers (their target demos) are extremely healthy.
In Cincinnati the Top 40, 107.1 Kiss FM, ranks 8th overall while the Urban/Hip Hop outlet WIZF 100.9 ranks below it at 9th. In Cleveland the Hip Hop outlet ranks 5th while the CHR/Pop station currently ranks 10th. While those are just the 12+ numbers for Cleveland and Cincinnati, they do hint that their Columbus counterparts are achieving greater success at this time.

With regards to the music mix on Power 107.5, it isn’t all that different from a good number of other Rhythmic CHRs spread throughout the country. Examples include Power 106.9 Omaha, Hot 104.5 Knoxville, Jammin 107.5 Portland, Wild 101.1 Boise, 93.1 Jamz Madison, or 101.5 Jamz Phoenix. It certainly is not the most musically conservative Rhythmic CHR on the Mediabase panel. Usually the Cox-owned stations tend to only play 20 Currents at a time, such as 95.5 The Beat Atlanta, Power 95.3 Orlando, and Hot 98.1 Greenville. The same holds true for some of the Cumulus-owned Rhythmics.
As far as Urban FMs that skew Hip Hop in the South, many of them are in markets where the black population hovers at 30 percent or above out of the entire population. There’s a bigger base and more support for new Hip Hop music in such markets. That’s why Hot 107.5 Memphis is much more active on new and regional music when compared to 101.1 The Beat Nashville.
In some markets you’ll find a big enough audience that appreciates being exposed to a lot of fresh music. In other places? Well, just look back on Cincinnatti’s CHR, Q-102 in the 80s – it was very successful but also very late on adding records.

So which records should a station add, and when? For that you need to conduct the right kind of research so that you’ll get familiar with your audience. The idea isn’t to get together a bunch of hardcore super knowledgeable music fans in a room, but rather to try and gauge at what the mood is with the general market audience. To do that you need a panel that will reflect on a diverse cross section of the population. Everyone from high school students in the inner city to one in a posh suburb, as well as secretaries or nurses, a high schoop drop out and a CEO of a high tech company could be included. You need people in their teens, college kids, young parents, single parents, grandparents, etc. Many of them lead busy lives on a daily basis and aren’t very passionate about hearing 50 new songs every week. They just want to hear some of their favorite music from the past few months/years/decades during the time of day or week when they actually remember to tune into their local radio stations. Some of them will only listen to music for a few minutes per day. Even some of those office workers that may have the radio on all day will only have it on as background music in low volume. Don’t let a bunch of kids or hardcore music lovers on facebook and myspace fool you into believing that everyone is hungry for new music, and has amassed thousands of music titles on MP3 and CDs.
Radio stations that focus on 18-34 year olds will oftentimes focus their research on that specific demographic. They will try to gather information from listeners aged 18-34 in their primary coverage area, whether they work downtown, or in some nearby county, are unemployed, go to school, etc. If you know the majority of your listeners are female, you will focus your attention on them, especially with regards to your music selections. So if you’re wondering why some Black Eyed Peas or Lady Gaga songs stay in high rotation on some Pop stations for so long, it’s b/c the 18-34 year old females who listen to Pop radio still want to hear those records played…even if some of them may be burnt out on them.

Lastly, the Columbus radio dial isn’t as bad overall as some of some of you claim. It definitely doesn’t have the coolest or most cutting edge Urban and CHR radio, but those formats are available whereas in some markets they may not be, or may not be executed as well. Look at Atlanta with its much more adult leaning CHRs, or notice how L.A. currently doesn’t have an Urban station on a market-wide signal. New York doesn’t have a Country station, nor a Modern Rock station. Many markets have lost out on their Smooth Jazz or Oldies stations.
Columbus has some good Rock, AC, and Country radio, staples of a typical Midwestern market. There’s even a heritage and pure Modern Rocker. You know, the kind that “real” fans of the genre go ga-ga for. But where does this pure Alternative end up in the ratings? Sadly nowhere near the top, and this was the case long before CD 101.1 got competition from Radio 106.7.

Since radio is a business, a radio station has to know when it can be creative and try something new, whether it’s a new show, or a new promotion, and when to stick to tried and tested methods. You can’t just say “F it, I know people will love my ideas, I’m sure everyone and their mother will appreciate what I have planned…”. If you know who your core listeners are, know whether they’re more adventurous or more conservative, then you’ll know what you can get away with, and what you need to hold off on. You wait until the mainstream in your market takes hold of something. They may hear about it on youtube, the national cable media, internet-only stations, radio websites, HD radio channels, etc. These venues serve terrestrial radio well, in some aspects, in that they help warm your audience end up for the next big thing. Your job is oftentimes to cherry pick the best and potentially most crossover of these trends, and then get your creative juices going by coming up with some new twist on something that’s already making headlines.

With regards to Retro hits, lots of CHRs have weekly radio shows, such as Backstraxx 90s. There’s also 106.5 The Buzz Sacramento devoted exclusively to the decade (alongside 90s at 9 on satellite radio), and most of the music on Gen X 100.5 Louisville and K-Hits 96.5 Little Rock is made up of 90s titles. Kool 106.1 Tulsa is expected to also flip to the Gen X format next week, the day after Christmas.
As far as kids being exposed to old school Hip Hop? It’s all too easy nowadays to go to Wikipedia and read up on artists and genres, then seek out some songs on youtube and itunes, or find an online station that caters to your old school needs. Old School 70s and early 80s Funk did at one time generate interest from 18-34 year olds, especially in the early 90s from West Coast/Jerry Clifton consulted Rhythmic CHRs. There was also a strong interest in 70s Disco in the mid 90s from 25-54 year olds, and rest assured radio stations responded to it. If enough people across the nation, and specifically in the Columbus area, start on masse to seek out old school Hip Hop, then some station may find a way to incorporate it into its music mix.

WOW! i actually read that. and you do have point and i will finally admit that you are 85% right! But what you sayin my nI#%# that the urban/hip-hop stations Won't sell in ohio! wait..... i forgot ohio has more white people than coloreds so you my have a point! but.... then again cinn has a better selection of stations than columbus. even if THE 18-35 age market are mostly into CHR TOP 40 HITS! they still will enjoyed the 80's 90's and 2000-2006 urban AC outlet.

why?

10 years ago......

the 18 year old's were 8 so they will remember music from 1999-now

15 years ago

the 25 year old's were 15 so they will remember music from 1994-now

25 years age

and the 35 years old were 10 so they will remember music from 1985- NOW


I'm not saying that your wrong and your can keep your top 40 hits. the 6-18 market probably will not be to foned of it. but the 19-39 market will. so ya see people off all ages will find something they liked about it. because they grow up on it. I'll Admit it won't work full time! AGIN I'LL ADMIT IT WON'T WORK FULL TIME! but weekly yes. but 30 minutes a day yes!

and it would hurt for them to have a local talent showcase once a week!

what i'm saying is they had a weekly show where they played 1980-2006 hip hop/RnB. it was on power 107.5 and it was called the old school basement party. It came on Sunday's from 6-10pm.

and how do i start on masse to seek out old school hip hop

 

[Rusty Blades]

15 years ago

the 25 year old's were 15 so they will remember music from 1994-now

And I always thought that 15 years ago 25 year olds were 25. Silly me. Thanks for setting me straight on that one.

 

[Nu_Roo_2]

15 years ago

the 25 year old's were 15 so they will remember music from 1994-now

And I always thought that 15 years ago 25 year olds were 25. Silly me. Thanks for setting me straight on that one.

Give him a break, already. Obviously he means that 15 years ago today's 25-year-olds were 15. You know, like 25-15=15.