WJMK better get better soon!

[RBRadioWaves]

WODS, a CBS radio Classic Hits station in boston, was killed with a 4.4 rating. It's going off at noon today.

If a station can be killed with 1 competitor and a 4.4, then WJMK is doomed!

 

[radioman148]

WODS, a CBS radio Classic Hits station in boston, was killed with a 4.4 rating. It's going off at noon today.

If a station can be killed with 1 competitor and a 4.4, then WJMK is doomed!

How much more time do you think they'll get?

 

[scanman1]

Well, if K-HITS flips it would likely be to The Score, since CBS already has B96. I feel their time is limited with the numbers they have right now. Should they flip, we'd still have WLS-FM, The Drive and Rewind 100.3, and that would be cool!

 

[Eye The Ticker]

CBS-Radio is NOT going to flip WJMK-FM/K-Hits to WSCR 670 The Score or any other CBS-owned station. What they are doing right now is waiting to see when/if Cumulus, the owner of WLS-FM, totally
guts that station and they change formats to something else. Cumulus is well known for doing things on the cheap with their stations.

The Score has a 50,000 watt non-directional signal and doesn't need an FM frequency. They can be heard much farther on the AM band and once more, 670 bills well and hits their demographic for
CBS-Radio.

What K-Hits needs to do at this point, is expand their playlist of music. They have the talent, energy and presentation down. Its not always about the ratings. Hitting demographics and billing are
what cements a format, not overall PPM ratings.

 

[radioman148]

CBS-Radio is NOT going to flip WJMK-FM/K-Hits to WSCR 670 The Score or any other CBS-owned station. What they are doing right now is waiting to see when/if Cumulus, the owner of WLS-FM, totally
guts that station and they change formats to something else. Cumulus is well known for doing things on the cheap with their stations.

The Score has a 50,000 watt non-directional signal and doesn't need an FM frequency. They can be heard much farther on the AM band and once more, 670 bills well and hits their demographic for
CBS-Radio.

What K-Hits needs to do at this point, is expand their playlist of music. They have the talent, energy and presentation down. Its not always about the ratings. Hitting demographics and billing are
what cements a format, not overall PPM ratings.

WLS-FM has solid ratings (for their demo) and they are making money. I recognize the history of Cumulus, but why would they gut that station at this point? What could they switch to format wise that would be more profitable for them?

 

[Eye The Ticker]

Because Cumulus is in business to simply make as much money as possible for their stockholders, creditors, etc. They are not broadcasters. They will find a way to continue to make cuts into WLS-FM despite the fact it's doing very well in the ratings.

If Cumulus can put on a format which is cheaper to run...less overhead without live jocks, sooner or later, they will. As I've said, logic goes out the window. Cumulus demands a fast return on their investment and sadly, the station in question will suffer as well as any listener who might stick around.

 

[carolinaradio]

I agree with the above. Cumulus will cut corners wherever they can. Also, aren't WJMK's 25-54 numbers supposed to be as good, if not better, than WLS-FM's? Their cume isn't horrible, either. WLS has also taken a "younger" sound on recently, a playlist typical of Cumulus's classic hits properties.

CBS seems committed to WJMK. Personally, I think their playlist is more solid than WLS's. I guess I can't figure out how WLS does twice as well unless it's the legendary air talent like Biondi and Landecker, as well as the WLS calls. Just because CBS flipped a classic hits station in Boston doesn't mean they will in mkt #3. They saw a better opportunity with another format.

 

[KeithE4]

Because Cumulus is in business to simply make as much money as possible for their stockholders, creditors, etc.

So is every for-profit business. There are very few stations that are run as a rich man's hobby, and none of those stations are owned by a publicly-traded company.

They are not broadcasters.

Yes, they are. They are in the business of selling broadcast time to advertisers, and making sure that the audience that the advertisers target hears the ads.

They will find a way to continue to make cuts into WLS-FM despite the fact it's doing very well in the ratings.

If the ratings in the Sacred Sales DemosTM don't translate into revenue, things get changed.

 

[radioman148]

So you guys are Expecting that WLS FM will be totally automated soon?

 

[carolinaradio]

Because Cumulus is in business to simply make as much money as possible for their stockholders, creditors, etc.

So is every for-profit business. There are very few stations that are run as a rich man's hobby, and none of those stations are owned by a publicly-traded company.

They are not broadcasters.

Yes, they are. They are in the business of selling broadcast time to advertisers, and making sure that the audience that the advertisers target hears the ads.

They will find a way to continue to make cuts into WLS-FM despite the fact it's doing very well in the ratings.

If the ratings in the Sacred Sales DemosTM don't translate into revenue, things get changed.

I agree with your first statement. However, Cumulus is one of, if not the cheapest companies there is in the broadcasting industry (seemingly cheaper than even Clear Channel). There may be some exceptions, but compare a CBS station to a Cumulus station. CBS puts much more in to their properties and it shows in the finished product. The last time I streamed WLS-FM, they still sounded good. It's exceptional for a Cumulus station. If they start trying to save more costs, though, the on-air quality will decline. That may be what CBS is hoping for.

If stations are sold by the target demo numbers, and WLS-FM and WJMK are both doing around the same in that demo, 104.3 should be fine. Like I said, I remember reading a while back that at one point, WJMK had better numbers than WLS 25-54.

 

[Eye The Ticker]

@KeithE4: Let me clarify, Cumulus are not broadcasters. They are simply in the business of owning many stations in major markets. The sales department of those owned stations ensure revenue is generated by selling air time. Once upon a time in New York City....circa early 1980's, Doubleday, which was known as a book publishing company bought their way into New York radio. They launched
an AOR station and named it WAPP "The Apple" 103-5 FM. Doubleday paid a fortune to launch "The Apple" and due to the fact they had little or no experience in broadcasting, that station crashed and burned after just a few short years. In that time, they flipped formats at least three times.

The bottom line in radio is revenue and hitting the right demos. A low rated station can still make money and here's a shining example: Cumulus owned WPLJ-FM New York. For years, this station has failed to become a ratings success, however, they bill extremely well and have a soccer mom following, especially notable in New Jersey. This is chiefly why that station continues in the format of Hot AC.

What has changed the playing field are the new PPM ratings system. We're seeing stations which used to be at the top of the ratings report book after book. Now, with quarterly results being released, a very
distinct change is happening.

WLS-FM has a built in audience due to its heritage call letters and office listening. It has built a powerful brand since WJMK-FM was flipped to Jack-FM back in June 2005. In addition, Chicago has way too many
classic hits/adult hits/classic rock stations. CBS Radio is committed to K-Hits on 104-3 and the "race" is far from over.

 

[davideduardo]

Once upon a time in New York City....circa early 1980's, Doubleday, which was known as a book publishing company bought their way into New York radio. They launched an AOR station and named it WAPP "The Apple" 103-5 FM. Doubleday paid a fortune to launch "The Apple" and due to the fact they had little or no experience in broadcasting, that station crashed and burned after just a few short years. In that time, they flipped formats at least three times.

That's just poppycock. Doubleday Broadcasting was one of the best groups in the country, with stations like KDWB and KRIZ, the resurrect KWK, KHOW in Denver, etc. Under one of the best managers, Gary Stevens (who had, decades before, been a WMCA "Good Guy" and later became on of the premier brokers in the industry), they grew to be a significant player in the 7/7/7 world.

Nobody would think of saying they had "no experience in broadcasting."

...WPLJ-FM New York. For years, this station has failed to become a ratings success, however, they bill extremely well and have a soccer mom following, especially notable in New Jersey. This is chiefly why that station continues in the format of Hot AC.

The station is a ratings success in 25-44 non-ethnic women. It has not done as well in the PPM era and in the last several years, but it was quite successful for many many years and offers a very viable demo and a very needed complement to buys looking for optimum reach and frequency.

The word "failure" in the context of this station is not very appropriate.

What has changed the playing field are the new PPM ratings system. We're seeing stations which used to be at the top of the ratings report book after book. Now, with quarterly results being released, a very
distinct change is happening.

WLS-FM has a built in audience due to its heritage call letters and office listening.

There is no way to measure "office listening" in the PPM... in fact, there is no way to measure it in the diary, previously used in Chicago, either.

 

[davideduardo]

The Score has a 50,000 watt non-directional signal and doesn't need an FM frequency. They can be heard much farther on the AM band and once more, 670 bills well and hits their demographic for CBS-Radio.

The Score is an AM station. The sales demos don't like AM stations. That's a big part of the reason why ESPN moved its English language format from AM to FM a month ago.

An FM from Willis or Hancock covers the market. Any spillage outside the metro is not particularly useful for sales.

 

[Eye The Ticker]

@DavidEduardo:The Score is an AM station. The sales demos don't like AM stations.

The Score is not just an AM station. It's a sports formatted powerhouse which makes a lot of money for CBS Radio.

As for WPLJ-FM, you can make the numbers say anything you want. "The station is a ratings success in 25-44 non-ethnic women."
Bottom line, overall low ratings for WPLJ-FM doesn't mean that station doesn't make money, it does and that is a success story.

There are cases where stations land in the Top 10 but they don't bring in the revenue of lower rated "overall" stations.

WLS-FM doesn't need to have a PPM or a diary to know its office listening base is high. Just look at their format and who they are targeting....women.

 

[davideduardo]

@DavidEduardo:The Score is an AM station. The sales demos don't like AM stations.

The Score is not just an AM station. It's a sports formatted powerhouse which makes a lot of money for CBS Radio.

As for WPLJ-FM, you can make the numbers say anything you want. "The station is a ratings success in 25-44 non-ethnic women."
Bottom line, overall low ratings for WPLJ-FM doesn't mean that station doesn't make money, it does and that is a success story.[/quote]

I looked at the average in PPM since the end of summer of last year. WPLJ averages 5th in 25-54 women. That is a success story.

A number of years I did an AC in a top 15 market that similarly was at the top in 18-49 women. It was the market's third highest biller, and the top station in cash flow. I suspect WPLJ is a lot like that.

WLS-FM doesn't need to have a PPM or a diary to know its office listening base is high. Just look at their format and who they are targeting....women.

WLS cumes about 375,000 on a rolling average in 25-54 men, and 330,000 in women in that demo.

Since it is CBS, I assume that they are targeting Hispanics, too. KRTH in LA is over 50% Hispanic in cume... a significant over-indexing.

 

[davideduardo]

The Score is not just an AM station. It's a sports formatted powerhouse which makes a lot of money for CBS Radio.

Yeah, it is pretty much tied in revenue with WLEY and WXRT and beaten by WUSN, WVAZ, WGCI, WOJO and WDRV among others... on a very expensive facility to operate.

As for WPLJ-FM, you can make the numbers say anything you want. "The station is a ratings success in 25-44 non-ethnic women."
Bottom line, overall low ratings for WPLJ-FM doesn't mean that station doesn't make money, it does and that is a success story.

I looked at the average in PPM since the end of summer of last year. WPLJ averages 5th in 25-54 women. That is a success story.

A number of years I did an AC in a top 15 market that similarly was at the top in 18-49 women. It was the market's third highest biller, and the top station in cash flow. I suspect WPLJ is a lot like that.

WLS-FM doesn't need to have a PPM or a diary to know its office listening base is high. Just look at their format and who they are targeting....women.

WLS cumes about 375,000 on a rolling average in 25-54 men, and 330,000 in women in that demo.

Since it is CBS, I assume that they are targeting Hispanics, too. KRTH in LA is over 50% Hispanic in cume... a significant over-indexing.

 

[carolinaradio]

David, does WLS beat WJMK significantly 25-54? I know WLS has added more newer music to their playlist, but it seems like they would have a heavier 55+ because there are still a lot more 60s there than on K-Hits.

 

[davideduardo]

What has changed the playing field are the new PPM ratings system. We're seeing stations which used to be at the top of the ratings report book after book. Now, with quarterly results being released, a very
distinct change is happening.

That statement, which I neglected to edit out of a prior post, was from Eye of Ticker. It is also incorrect.

Today, in the PPM world, there are no "quarterly" reports at all.

A book used to be 72 days. Today it is 28. There used to be four a year, with four unmeasured weeks. Today there are 13 28 day reports, non-stop.

The PPM changed a memory-based system to one that measure much more automatically and without the intervention of memory and recall. Like all samples, it has its own set of issues.

 

[davideduardo]

David, does WLS beat WJMK significantly 25-54? I know WLS has added more newer music to their playlist, but it seems like they would have a heavier 55+ because there are still a lot more 60s there than on K-Hits.

WLS, over the last 10 months has been as high as tenth and as low as 15th. They are presently at the low end.

WJMK is sitting around 20th and not moving much. WJMK is, in share, around 20% to 25% below WLS of late.

I can't, due to new Arbitron rules, cite specific months or exact current months... but I think this gives an idea.

 

[Eye The Ticker]

@David Eduardo....What has changed the playing field are the new PPM ratings system. We're seeing stations which used to be at the top of the ratings report book after book. Now, with quarterly results being released, a very
distinct change is happening.

David, quite correct, I was in error. There are no quarterly reports. As you've mentioned, they appear about roughly once a month.