Why not try this in Monmouth-Ocean?

[observer2]

Why limit the list of format to just those?

 

[Radiofan101]

Ok, which other formats do you feel should be in the Monmouth-Ocean market?

 

[SoulCrusher]

I'm not sure how well 105.7 WCHR reaches the Atlantic City market, but if it reaches the greater AC area, I would suggest that Townsquare returns to simulcasting NJ 101.5 on 97.3 FM and moves the ESPN format there. The station currently pulls rather lackluster ratings when it's not football season, so perhaps a change is due.

As far as B98.5 is concerned ... it's not working. The format is just too juvenile to go over well with the money demos. I would propose either Oldies/Classic Hits (since they're so fond of saving money, perhaps they could simulcast Great Gold 1410 on there) or a return to Alternative Rock. Maybe now Press understands that the format was not the problem with G Rock, but rather the lack of promotion that they gave it.

Without question, the station most in need of a change is 100.1 WJRZ. Despite what Greater Media believed, the "Magic" brand was nothing to get excited about ... it's just your typical tired soft rock mix that can be heard many other places. They would be well served with a Talk format (with a mix of local and syndicated talent) ... or really anything else, for that matter. It's hard to imagine them doing any worse with any other type of programming.

 

[d21ofnj]

Ok, which other formats do you feel should be in the Monmouth-Ocean market?

Well, you already know my proposal  ;D

But just to break it down, the EDM scene is really growing out there to the mainstream.  With mainstream artists such as Pitbull, Flo-Rida, Rihanna, Usher, Akon, Britney Spears, Marroon 5, etc that are using the EDM sound and collaborating with DJ's such as David Guetta, Kaskade, Calvin Harris, Tiesto, Avicii (Tim Berg), Ian Carey, etc., having their singles hit the top on the billboard charts, why not take advantage of the dance format?  Second, I don't know why this market hasn't jumped on the format in the first place.  We always depended on the big NYC CHR/dance stations (KTU, Pulse 87, 92.3 Now) and all the ad dollars are going to Market no. 1, why not keep our revenue in our home turf with a well formatted "Jersey Shore" brand EDM station.  No, not expecting a full on "guido/benny" format, but to hear what our local DJ's play, what our businesses tend to select.  Hell, with Party 732, I try to keep the sounds as local as possible, at the same time getting the worldwide popularity, and not depending on MTV to tell us what the Jersey Shore is, and all I am aiming for is a pea shooter signal (any HD-2 to translator) just to test waters.  If landed on 100.7, it would be an impact player in the Toms River area, considering maybe a little competition to B98.5. Speaking of B98.5, they were that "dance feel" on their relaunch, but they abandoned the sound and what puzzles me is no promotion of their mixshow DJ's AND their mixshows.

 

[Radiofan101]

I couldn't agree with you more. A "dance" music station could be very successful on the radio in Monmouth-Ocean. And I also agree that B98.5 turned their back on achieving this success.

BTW, I listened to your online station. It's pretty good!

 

[observer2]

Every several messages, you will notice, returns to the conversation about whether WJRZ is missing its potential. That really seems to be the subtext of this thread.

 

[bigtom101]

Every several messages, you will notice, returns to the conversation about whether WJRZ is missing its potential. That really seems to be the subtext of this thread.

Potential to do what, is the question. Greater Media obviously does not want the audience a Classic Hits or Oldies station would appeal to, regardless of size. They must believe that they can get greater revenue with a small (and that's putting it nicely) slice of the overall audience and go after Women 18 - 48.

Considering that, Ocean Counties demographics are spread out as follows: 23.30% under the age of 18, 6.60% from 18 to 24, 26.00% from 25 to 44, 21.90% from 45 to 64, and 22.20% over 65. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to realize that there are a whole lot of older people than the youngns. If my math is right, roughly 44% of the county would be in the demo for a Classic Hits/Oldies station (45+), while only 32% would be in the sweet spot for a CHR (18 to 44).

B98.5 should stay as a CHR, the programming needs to be tightened up a bit, but I think the framework is there for a great station that can really cook during more than just the summer months. WJRZ however, has shown that it just ain't working. I hear the same sponsors on Magic that I heard on WJRZ, so something tells me that the client is moreso tied to the salesperson than the station. WJRZ's position is trying to steal from both The Point & WOBM in Ocean County - something that with its signal, is tough to do. And that's not including the fact that WOBM & The Point have heritage, a real news department, and are very smartly programmed to compliment each other.

WJRZ has talented people on air, but it's gonna take more than that to convince people to switch from The Point or WOBM. Maybe GM will sell the place to someone who will make it a local powerhouse again, but GM seems satisfied with the status quo for now.

 

[Radiofan101]

Does anyone feel that a Smooth Jazz station could work in this market?

Older demographics tend to like Smooth Jazz. And if you mix it with local news, maybe you have something.

 

[radioguy39nj]

I'm not sure how well 105.7 WCHR reaches the Atlantic City market, but if it reaches the greater AC area, I would suggest that Townsquare returns to simulcasting NJ 101.5 on 97.3 FM and moves the ESPN format there. The station currently pulls rather lackluster ratings when it's not football season, so perhaps a change is due.

Monmouth/Ocean is a different market from Atlantic City. 97.3 ESPN-FM concentrates on Philly and South Jersey sports. If Townsquare puts ESPN on 105.7, it can't be the same station. 97.3 carries Eagles' games, 105.7 with its current classic rock format carries the Jets.

Monmouth/Ocean is NY and North Jersey centric, AC is Philly and South Jersey centric. Big difference!

 

[d21ofnj]

I'm not sure how well 105.7 WCHR reaches the Atlantic City market, but if it reaches the greater AC area, I would suggest that Townsquare returns to simulcasting NJ 101.5 on 97.3 FM and moves the ESPN format there. The station currently pulls rather lackluster ratings when it's not football season, so perhaps a change is due.

Monmouth/Ocean is a different market from Atlantic City. 97.3 ESPN-FM concentrates on Philly and South Jersey sports. If Townsquare puts ESPN on 105.7, it can't be the same station. 97.3 carries Eagles' games, 105.7 with its current classic rock format carries the Jets.

Monmouth/Ocean is NY and North Jersey centric, AC is Philly and South Jersey centric. Big difference!

I thought the "line" of Monmouth/Ocean and AC was between Beachwood and Forked River (732/609)

 

[Pirate_Jim]

Does anyone feel that a Smooth Jazz station could work in this market?

Older demographics tend to like Smooth Jazz. And if you mix it with local news, maybe you have something.

I would love a Smooth Jazz station in the market, but it'll never happen ..
We *almost* had one in the early 90's when 98.5 (then-WQNJ) was first allocated to Ocean Acres ...
I have the prototype logo they were going to use ("Cloud Nine"; 98.5 surrounded by a "cloud") on my website ...

 

[azby1]

I thought the "line" of Monmouth/Ocean and AC was between Beachwood and Forked River (732/609)

Not sure how this came up or what it really matters, but...for those unaware,

Monmouth County includes:
Aberdeen Township
Allenhurst
Allentown
Asbury Park
Atlantic Highlands
Avon-by-the-Sea
Belmar
Bradley Beach
Brielle
Colts Neck Township
Deal
Eatontown
Englishtown
Fair Haven
Farmingdale
Freehold Borough
Freehold Township
Hazlet Township
Highlands
Holmdel Township
Howell Township
Interlaken
Keansburg
Keyport
Lake Como
Little Silver
Loch Arbour
Long Branch
Manalapan Township
Manasquan
Marlboro Township
Matawan
Middletown Township
Millstone Township
Monmouth Beach
Neptune City
Neptune Township
Ocean Township
Oceanport
Red Bank
Roosevelt
Rumson
Sea Bright
Sea Girt
Shrewsbury
Shrewsbury Township
Spring Lake
Spring Lake Heights
Tinton Falls
Union Beach
Upper Freehold Township
Wall Township
West Long Branch

Ocean County includes:
Barnegat Light
Barnegat Township
Bay Head
Beach Haven
Beachwood
Berkeley Township
Brick Township
Eagleswood Township
Harvey Cedars
Island Heights
Jackson Township
Lacey Township
Lakehurst
Lakewood Township
Lavallette
Little Egg Harbor Township
Long Beach Township
Manchester Township
Mantoloking
Ocean Gate
Waretown
Pine Beach
Plumsted Township
Point Pleasant
Point Pleasant Beach
Seaside Heights
Seaside Park
Ship Bottom
South Toms River
Stafford Township
Surf City
Toms River Township
Tuckerton

 

[d21ofnj]

My reply was in reference to this:

Monmouth/Ocean is a different market from Atlantic City. 97.3 ESPN-FM concentrates on Philly and South Jersey sports. If Townsquare puts ESPN on 105.7, it can't be the same station. 97.3 carries Eagles' games, 105.7 with its current classic rock format carries the Jets.

Monmouth/Ocean is NY and North Jersey centric, AC is Philly and South Jersey centric. Big difference!

Some people consider Southern Ocean, or the "609 area code" to be part of Atlantic City/South Jersey region, and Northern Ocean as the Monmouth/Ocean, Central NJ ,region or the "732 area code" which made me believe Forked River and points south was more "AC/Philly" than "NYC/Central NJ." So in what was mentioned about moving the sports format to 105.7, Southern Ocean and Atlantic County would still get their Philly sports update.

 

[JerseyShor]

Monmouth/Ocean is NY and North Jersey centric, AC is Philly and South Jersey centric. Big difference!

That is the kind of thinking that is killing WCHR-FM. (AKA "The Benny station" as it is known locally in the Manahawkin area)

Much of Ocean County leans very heavily towards Philly / South Jersey. 76ers/Eagles/Flyers/Phillies fans outnumber NY fans by a huge margin in much of Ocean County.

In Manahawkin the big retail stores (Dick's/WalMart/KMart/Etc.) carry much more Philly-sports apparel than NY apparel. The local Wawa/7-11 stores all carry The Philadelphia Inquirer/Philadelphia Daily News/Press of Atlantic City/Trentonian.

The Manahawkin / LBI bars all show every Philly sports game year 'round.

Even radio reception greatly favors Philly over NY in most of Ocean County; driving on the Parkway nearly every full powered Philly FM station can be received all over Ocean County whereas none of the NYC FM stations really reach south of Toms River (and stations like WCBS-FM & WHTZ don't even get that far).

**ESPN 97.3 has had Ocean County advertisers since it was on 1450am - most of WCHR-FM's advertisers are located in Monmouth or even Middlesex County!

 

[Radiofan101]

Hey JerseyShor

That's not true at all. Ocean County is a very New York favorable county. Not only is it considered part of the New York Media Market, but just look around. Places like Brick, Toms River and Lakewood have way more New York sports fans than Philly fans. I've been to bars down in Lacey even where the number of Yankees fans greatly outweigh ever other fans.

In Brick for example, I can barely get the Philly stations on my radio. But the New York stations I get just fine.

 

[Big Jay]

....all of your points are the reason programming a station in Monmouth/Ocean is a bit difficult. Frankly, most of the Ocean Co.-based transmitters might as well have a wall up north of County Line Road. Most of the Monmouth-based sticks do get into Ocean, but user-friendly signals are gone by the time you hit Lacey. :iving here most of my life (with the exception of 30 seconds in Dallas) and working for or programming Ocean-based stations gives me a unique perspective. All of the Manahawkin towers (including JRZ in Waretown and OBM-FM don't get into Monmouth more than about perhaps 10 miles...missing the big population areas north of Howell/Wall. Even 105.7 doesn't get into northern Monmouth areas like Middletown where the real population is. THUS...Ocean-based stations must rely on Ocean ears for the most part. Sure some get ratings in Monmouth...but not that much. THAT is why OBM-FM (and until AM became unlistenable) OBM-AM did so well over the years. JRZ have been in a catch-up situation for almost its entire existence. The NEW signals that came from Ocean proper have never had huge shares. Some of that is their downright refusal to reach older listeners. I know---that's a sore spot among owners and programmers...but it's true. If ONE station programmed either music or talk that appealed to the 55+ audience, it would get HUGE cume. Depending on whether it was music or talk would also influence ratings. But as we SEE, NJ 101.5 is the 800lb. gorilla. See how big THEIR cume and share are? And they have been doing this for over 20 years now. Why NO OTHER STATION (with the exception of OBM-AM and JRZ at one time GOT that is a mystery. Then they both abandoned the "Older" audience. Why? Lazy--Lazy--Lazy. They claim "we can't SELL older demos. Why? Because they claim the agencies don't WANT them. Well...seems to me guys like LEVY have made a small fortune for MANY years targeting older demos. Today's 55+ ain't the same as they were 25 years ago. They are MORE VITAL and don't JUST like music from the '50s. Jeez...this ain't rocket-science. The other lazy reason for not targeting older demos is they CLAIM that even LOCAL potential advertisers don't WANT the older crowd with lame excuses like: They don't tip well...or...they only want a discount...or...they only drive Buicks...etc... So you guys discuss this, while I sit and think about ways someone could make a TON of money SIMPLY by targeting the even 45+ market in Ocean County. If CBS-FM had a better signal down into Southern Monmouth and Ocean, it would be a top 5 station there too. What does NYC radio get that local signals don't? NJ 101.5 is #1..targeting 35-64 and 25-54. WABC kills with SENIORS who want to nuke Iran. WOR kills with the old ladies who want to kill their husbands who want to nuke anything, including their porridge. WOBM-AM used to do VERY well, until they starting playing same 300 songs. While the playing the biggies still works, they are missing the SWEET spot for what REALLY resides in Ocean County. Who are they? They're in Berkeley, Lakewood, some in Toms River and Manchester. Do I have to know you guys over the head? Oh...I'm sorry...we can't SELL that demo. I forgot...what was I thinking? Doh. Never mind. You can play all the GA-GA and dance music that some of you druel over and say will work like gangbusters here. But the reality is that there are already signals PLAYING them from the big cities...and even Atlantic City! Jeez again. Does EVERY station have to reach the same 26-42 year-old females in offices? Does EVERYONE have to listen to Taylor Swift? No! Sure there is a need for stations like that. Look at the success of LITE FM and B101. But for crying out loud, we have signals that reach here playing that stuff. Why someone doesn't try something just a bit either left or right of center is baffling. DISCUSS.

I ain't saying what I'm suggesting is 100% correct, but please...give it some thought! There are variables in the marketplace that I may not be aware of.. I don't have all of the current data that is crucial for making any decision here...but just as I knew there was a place for a ROCKING AM station way back in '81, I KNOW there is a wide-open hole for either OLDIES, or Classic Hits and or a hybrid of classic ROCK and classic HITS waiting to be done...which will make mincemeat out of a couple of current stations that cater to Ocean County. I'm done now. Oh...and a LOCAL talk station (while costing a bit) would also KILL in Ocean County. I KNOW this like my middle name. BE BIG!

 

[d21ofnj]

While the playing the biggies still works, they are missing the SWEET spot for what REALLY resides in Ocean County. Who are they? They're in Berkeley, Lakewood, some in Toms River and Manchester. Do I have to know you guys over the head? Oh...I'm sorry...we can't SELL that demo. I forgot...what was I thinking? Doh. Never mind. You can play all the GA-GA and dance music that some of you druel over and say will work like gangbusters here. But the reality is that there are already signals PLAYING them from the big cities...and even Atlantic City! Jeez again. Does EVERY station have to reach the same 26-42 year-old females in offices? Does EVERYONE have to listen to Taylor Swift? No! Sure there is a need for stations like that. Look at the success of LITE FM and B101. But for crying out loud, we have signals that reach here playing that stuff. Why someone doesn't try something just a bit either left or right of center is baffling. DISCUSS.

I see your point in terms of the older demos and their locations and why nobody is targeting them where it matters, but in terms of hearing dance music from the big city signals and Atlantic City and the targeted demos, it's quite a difference to where I am trying to reach out of this. Granted, B98.5 and 92.3 Now may be considered "that dance leaning station" but in reality, B98.5 is a CHR with weekend mixshows and 92.3 Now is a Rhythmic CHR with a few dance crossover airplay and a good amount of mixshow programming. We did have Wild 102.7 in Atlantic City, which was that dance station until the fiasco happened with Atlantic Broadcasting. The only dance formatted station coming into Ocean County is Z88.9 but they're based out of Burlington County. My proposal was to at least test waters on 100.7 W264AM since it reaches the young energetic party crowd that reside in Toms River, Beachwood, Forked River, Seaside Heights, parts of Lakewood, Brick Twp, Pt. Pleasant, and Pt. Pleasant Beach. And in terms of the dance music I'm drooling over, is to focus more on the EDM side of things instead of the current "crooklyn clan dutch" trend you hear on the mixshows of B98.5 and 92.3 Now. The best example, and I'm not using this to get a cheap pop or anything, is what you hear on Party 732. Another reason is these big city signals are not going to constantly play ads for small businesses in Monmouth/Ocean. People in Jersey City are gonna have a WTF moment of hearing an ad in an NYC signal about a bar and lounge in Toms River, or Long Branch for that matter and these businesses are not going to pay 3x the amount of getting their ad heard in NYC when they can get the right price in their own turf. This is where I understood Hit 106's motive to advertisers, to capitalize on the businesses that mattered here. Now I am aware not everyone is going to listen to Kaskade, Dave Aude, Eric Chase, Tiesto, Inna. So this is why I was aiming for the small signal that reaches the area that matters and where people who like EDM will tune in, the towns I mentioned earlier. Comparing to what Drive FX in Upstate NY is doing, and how the clubs and bars as well as the dance music fans were depending on KTU & Pulse 87, it should be given the opportunity to have a dance format that's like Party 732, and be tested out on a translator. It would be an even bigger bonus if dance was on 96.7/100.7 similar to Drive FX thats on 94.1/95.7 Newburgh-Poughkeepsie area.

 

[radioguy39nj]

Oh...and a LOCAL talk station (while costing a bit) would also KILL in Ocean County. I KNOW this like my middle name. BE BIG!

A LOCAL NYC talk station on a big FM stick would do very well also, especially in Northern Ocean County. I have trouble receiving NY FM signals at home, but most of them are listenable in the car.

 

[MickeyD]

Of course, there's a very nice indie/classic alternative HD2 in Lincroft...

/shill? me?

When it is not off the air for days.

 

[hubcity]

Of course, there's a very nice indie/classic alternative HD2 in Lincroft...

/shill? me?

When it is not off the air for days.

When was this? Not lately - it's been pretty solid since we switched to new software. It's reliably available on my commute...

(Seriously, call us if there's a problem. We're trying to work out the whole "alarms and text messages go out when things go pear-shaped" thing, but we can always use a hand if you're paying attention when we're not. Nobody can listen to a station 24/7, not even us.)