Ok, more rumors to ponder. With Cumulus launching what it claims to be a national country brand with "Nash FM" in New York City yesterday, what will this mean for WIVK? The strong word is that they are planning to rebrand most if their country stations with the Nash FM branding. If so, do longtime heritage stations like WIVK lose their local identity to become, say "107.7 Nash FM "? This would be horrible timing too, locally, as Journal may launch country on 100.3. Essentially it would equal out the playing field with two brand new country stations starting from scratch. This may get really interesting..
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WIVK = "Nash FM"?
- Thread starter BRH
- Start date
As I mentioned on another board, I can't see that happening, at least not without a huge decline in WIVK's numbers. I'd think making it a cross-promotion, where WIVK promotes the "Nash Country" magazine, cable channel, the social media, etc., would make more sense. Of course, this is Cumulus. So, I suppose it's possible they could go all-in with the "Nash FM" branding, but I'd have to think that would be a big mistake.
Looks like Cumulus will be taking all of their country stations the "NashFM" route. It is indeed a shame to see a heritage station like WIVK get rebranded like that. But this is what corporate radio is all about now a days... standardization and low cost operations.
This just re-enforces the idea of Journal taking 100.3 to country. Let's face it WIVK is vulnerable with Cumulus running the show and I am sure that the folks at Journal know that and will strike while the iron is hot.
http://www.allaccess.com/net-news/a...ust-the-beginning-of-a-nationw?ref=mail_recap
This just re-enforces the idea of Journal taking 100.3 to country. Let's face it WIVK is vulnerable with Cumulus running the show and I am sure that the folks at Journal know that and will strike while the iron is hot.
http://www.allaccess.com/net-news/a...ust-the-beginning-of-a-nationw?ref=mail_recap
If they do indeed rebrand all stations, you know Mike Hammond and Journal have to be dancing in the aisles. You couldn't ask for a better time to launch a competitor and go after them.
I do have doubts that they'll fully rebrand all of the Cumulus country outlets though. What about markets like Nashville and Dallas where Cumulus operates two country stations (both, obviously, won't rebrand). I also wonder if they'll do this with their big heritage stations like WIVK. We could simply see it tied in as a slogan or something. Maybe "Nash FM 107.7 WIVK". (would sound awful, but that might be a route they take). Otherwise, it's game on, and Hammond and Journal will have 'IVK for lunch! Hammond already has tons of concert tie in's, artist liners, and promotions going on at 93.1 from his label connections. Once they launch on 100.3's 100kw stick, he'll own all the artist promotions, concert tie ins, etc. in the market. This is certainly going to be fun
I do have doubts that they'll fully rebrand all of the Cumulus country outlets though. What about markets like Nashville and Dallas where Cumulus operates two country stations (both, obviously, won't rebrand). I also wonder if they'll do this with their big heritage stations like WIVK. We could simply see it tied in as a slogan or something. Maybe "Nash FM 107.7 WIVK". (would sound awful, but that might be a route they take). Otherwise, it's game on, and Hammond and Journal will have 'IVK for lunch! Hammond already has tons of concert tie in's, artist liners, and promotions going on at 93.1 from his label connections. Once they launch on 100.3's 100kw stick, he'll own all the artist promotions, concert tie ins, etc. in the market. This is certainly going to be fun
RMarino said:
Dickey told Inside Radio that stations with "strong local positioning" would not be rebranded, but would be add the tag "a Nash station" to keep the heritage, but to also help drive the national brand:
http://insideradio.com/Article.asp?id=2607990&spid=32061#.UQAyex19KDm
I know this will piss a few of you off, I have worked in radio for 25 years Ive owned stations and been a consultant. I keep seeing posts about how Q beating WIVK if it moves to the new signal or how Merle sounds great and could beat WIVK. I've also seen posts asking how they could still be number one. I decided to listen to all the stations for awhile this weekend and you have got to be kidding me, WIVK has been around how long? Country was tried on 100.3 and got hammered by WIVK. Merle is the worst medium market station Ive heard they are all over the road honestly Merle is horrific, Q sounds good but plays too many currents. WIVK still has the best country variety, the songs they play test very well. WIVK has been the norm in your market for years. If you believe Merle or Q(Even with a frequency Move)can beat them you must be smoking somethin. WIVK is a Knoxville tradition, no one can beat them!
T
Tennessee Cowboy
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Lou Holtz - "You're never as good as everyone tells you when you win, and you're never as bad as they say when you lose."
Some of your points are well taken, richstrunck. And while there are a lot of bold predictions on this board, most of the predictors have no dog in the fight. Yours truly included. I'd like to hear less bubble gum stuff, but these days I'm apparently in the minority.
It's likely that whoever winds up with the signal will use it to increase their cash flow, then use some of that cash flow to improve their programming, which in turn would help increase their audience, thus further increasing cash flow.
And 100.3 didn't get hammered by WIVK. 100.3's owner ran straight at WIVK for the purpose of forcing an LMA, which they got when they pulled WIVK's numbers down far enough.
Cumulus is now the #2 group in Knoxville, having been a dominant #1 for decades. Their business model seems to work in many parts of the country, but not so much here. Their ratings may very well stay decent for a long time, but they're having difficulty capitalizing on that. All we're seeing now is money seeking opportunity.
Some of your points are well taken, richstrunck. And while there are a lot of bold predictions on this board, most of the predictors have no dog in the fight. Yours truly included. I'd like to hear less bubble gum stuff, but these days I'm apparently in the minority.
It's likely that whoever winds up with the signal will use it to increase their cash flow, then use some of that cash flow to improve their programming, which in turn would help increase their audience, thus further increasing cash flow.
And 100.3 didn't get hammered by WIVK. 100.3's owner ran straight at WIVK for the purpose of forcing an LMA, which they got when they pulled WIVK's numbers down far enough.
Cumulus is now the #2 group in Knoxville, having been a dominant #1 for decades. Their business model seems to work in many parts of the country, but not so much here. Their ratings may very well stay decent for a long time, but they're having difficulty capitalizing on that. All we're seeing now is money seeking opportunity.
Cumulus used to have a strategy of buying bottom feeders and bringing them to the middle of the pack. There were the occasional exceptions when they'd get a strong cluster, but they usually either bought a struggling cluster in a market or bought one strong station and assembled a bunch of bottom feeders around it. That changed with the purchase of Susquehanna in '06, and the change has shown mixed results.
I've never bought into the notion that Q would beat WIVK in a walk if it just had a stronger signal. True, a stronger signal will help and would require Cumulus to play better defense, but WIVK is, and will probably continue to be, a strong station. Yes, it's a shame they no longer have live and local night and overnight shows. However, those have always been very weak time slots for country, and WIVK has actually gone up since making those changes. I'd also argue Journal's own research shows it will be tougher than some here are predicting. If they thought it would just take a stronger signal, Q could've, and probably would've, debuted at 102.1. Combining Star and 'MYU would've been easy to do at 93.1 a few years ago if they thought a strong country station would be an instant winner!
I've never bought into the notion that Q would beat WIVK in a walk if it just had a stronger signal. True, a stronger signal will help and would require Cumulus to play better defense, but WIVK is, and will probably continue to be, a strong station. Yes, it's a shame they no longer have live and local night and overnight shows. However, those have always been very weak time slots for country, and WIVK has actually gone up since making those changes. I'd also argue Journal's own research shows it will be tougher than some here are predicting. If they thought it would just take a stronger signal, Q could've, and probably would've, debuted at 102.1. Combining Star and 'MYU would've been easy to do at 93.1 a few years ago if they thought a strong country station would be an instant winner!
The big thing Q really has going for it though is longtime former WIVK PD Mike Hammond at the helm. He knows IVK inside and out, and he has tremendous label and artist connections. (Just listen to some if the promotions and artist appearances he's brought just since he took over as PD at Q93). Will this unseat 'IVK as the top dog? Probably not, but I certainly think Hammond at the helm of Q on a 100kw signal will come closer than anyone ever has. And if he's given the time, he may actually tie or beat 'IVK down the road. It's been done in other markets with so called unbeatable heritage country stations (look at WPAW "the Wolf" in Greensboro taking down longtime heritage station WTQR, as an example). Also, right now, production wise, Hammond has the little "Q" sounding far better than 'IVK. (certainly more fun and more energy). And honestly, it may not show in the ratings, but I hear Q all over the place in businesses here lately (more than 'IVK). So will it be easy? No, and the older demos won't change, but the younger demos that country is gravitating towards are the ones choosing Q now, so I think they are on the right track. I really hope they keep the current intensive, CHR style uptempo country format if they move to 100.3. Anyway, it's sure gonna be fun, and I can't see any reason for Journal not to give it a shot.
Wow didn't get a smackdown, All the points well taken. I actually had the oppurtunity to Learn from 2 Top Consultants 1) Mike McVay 2) The Late great Tom Land. Mike Currently Sr/VP Cumulus and Tom was VP/Programing at Journal. Journal is a top notch company. Cumulus at least isn't Cheap Channel, Thank God they have steered clear of Knoxville. Your lucky. You are right Mike Hammond, Great PD, Q does sound good with its CHResque Imaging and the music is more current intensive and I can't but think research wise Journal is following what that says. Knoxville is a conservative market and generally those tend to do better with an IVK type station. Im in Cincinnati and so many have tried to unseat B105, Legendary Country station like IVK but its not gonna happen here. No doubt the cash flow will increase for Q. One thing if Cumulus does switch IVK to Nash Fm, Q could win the battle. If its not broke Dont fix it, From what I understand that will not happen at IVK but we will see! Loved the comments!
One last thing, saw the lawsuit surrounding the sale, Journal will end up with the station IMHO.
BRH said:
As someone said here earlier, the heritage country stations/strong locally branded country stations won't be getting the "extreme Nash makeover"...maybe just a strategically placed "Nash-FM" or two. I still find it amazing that Cumulus launched in NYC without a staff in place, but, then again, the Cloud is saying it's all about the music. While that may be, it's going to be the knowledgeable PDs who actually get to ply their craft that come out on top...regardless of the ownership. ie...the previously mentioned former WIVK PD Mike Hammond and Randall C. Bliss, the PD at the Wolf in Greensboro.
By and large, I've had far higher hopes for Cumulus than Clear Channel over the years. I still do, but my hopes are dimming.
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