WLAN now calls itself "Central PA's Hit Music Station"

[Seltzer]

Could WHP getting ready to launch Talk on 99.3? A pre-emptive move before Cumulus decides to blow up an FM?

That would explain expanding LAN's marketing reach.

 

[bossjock 56]

WLAN is not a Harrisburg station. It gets into Harrisburg, but not strong enough to penetrate office buildings. I serious doubt that Clear Channel would try to use the 96.9 signal to be Harrisburg's CHR. As far as putting WHP on an FM is concerned, I don't think it is a priority at this point. They will find a way to do it when they absolutely have to. Cumulus will NOT get the rights to Limbaugh and Hannity on an FM in Harrisburg.

 

[RockofHBG]

Positioning itself as "Central PA's Hit Music Station" is an easy way for WLAN to include York and cover the market's obvious CHR hole. And it also acknowledges that 96.9's big 50 KW signal covers much more than just Lancaster.

 

[bossjock 56]

WLAN's stick is located near Columbia putting it almost at the York County line. They put a strong signal into York County....and yes that format hole is obvious.

 

[mcradiofree]

It's just a position, as Lancaster is in Central Pa. IOV has been calling itself Pennsylvania's Country Leader for years, and I don't think they're targeting Scranton or anywhere else in Pa.

 

[XCountry285]

"Is it just Elvis or is his corny sidekick JV with him still?" (Quote)
[/quote]
It's only Elvis. I don't recall having JV ever or I probably don't remember. It's only Elvis Duran from Z100 in New York. Speaking of CHR's in PA they need a stronger signal for Kiss in Harrisburg and York needs a CHR, Gettysburg doesn't have a CHR covering it at all.

 

[grandoleopry]

Theres a reason theres no CHR in the York market.....There's no Money in it!
In todays economic climate ownership takes the path of least resistance and
clearly those formats are those that focus on 25 - 54 demos...Country, Classic Hits,
and News Talk are the winners when it comes to $$$$.

 

[the marv]

Back in the 90's I remembered WNNK ruled the ratings in Harrisburg with CHR. Too bad they gave up trying to compete with KISS FM. I know Cumulus has Hot 93.5 as a flanker but They could have kept WINK CHR instead.

 

[mcradiofree]

Theres a reason theres no CHR in the York market.....There's no Money in it!
In todays economic climate ownership takes the path of least resistance and
clearly those formats are those that focus on 25 - 54 demos...Country, Classic Hits,
and News Talk are the winners when it comes to $$$$.

sometimes the holes in your "theories" are in the text of your own post. There was and still IS plenty of money in CHR both traditional and non traditional. Just like your post that Cumulus won't sell IOV because of it's billing. By your own convoluted logic, 106.7 would have never been sold to begin with. You can pray all you want, but your miserable little classic country station is and always will be a failure. What would you know about a real radio station anyway?

 

[bossjock 56]

WOW.....now we are getting into personal attacks! Why the hostility? The problem with CHR is that the music can be polarizing. I don't care how many awards these artists win, it's a tough sale for advertisers who have a negative view of some of this music. I listen to WLAN on occasion because my daughters like it. WLAN is more mainstream than KISS or HOT and in my opinion less polarizing. Artists like Katy Perry and even Bruno Mars record songs that have a melody and even a "hook", which at one time was of utmost importance. Let's look at history. Top 40/CHR has had these problems since the 50's when the format was born. Everytime a new trend comes along, some stations are lost...because some programmers and advertisers get nervous. WSBA...The Mighty 910 debuted this format in late 1957. By the mid 60's music was changing. The British Invasion and Motown were taking over. WSBA was clearly at a crossroads and new competion was springing up...with the exception of York. They started moving the format more adult..before becoming AC. History repeated itself with WINK 104. I believe to this day that changes were made due to advertiser demand. Now...as far as a certain classic country station being...as you put it..a "failure"...I think you are dead wrong and I think their loyal listeners would disagree. Just because many AM's have thrown in the towel and have gone all sports doesn't make doing an upper demo music format wrong. I'm sure that their billing is much much higher than if they put on a sports or second tier talk format. As I recall, back when we could look at the numbers....the ratings were really decent for for an AM that is not located in the middle of the said metro. Just because you like CHR and dislike classic country does NOT make it a "failure" or "miserable" by any means. You just don't like it!

 

[grandoleopry]

Quite hostile today aren't we Mr. Mcradio free......don't know what I said to cause
the hostility but what I have said is a fact not a theory. I have sold all formats
over the 20+ years I have spent in the radio business and I can tell you with out
a shadow of a doubt it is far easier to sell Country, News Talk, Classic Hits, or
sports programming than it is to sell CHR to a local client base in a market
like York , PA. As far as your critique of my radio station I really don't think you
know what my station bills do you? If you did you'd realize it is actually quite
successfull (at least according to my paycheck). Besides I think the many community
organizations that benefit from the tens of thousands of dollars we raise for them
annually during our various fundraisers and radio thons would probably disagree with you.
As would the local musicians who are given an opportunity to come be part of a live
local radio show in our studios each week. Or even perhaps the large local car dealerships
that sell more cars from our ads than even our biggest competitors. Your hostility
is unwarrented.

 

[Seltzer]

Quite hostile today aren't we Mr. Mcradio free......don't know what I said to cause
the hostility but what I have said is a fact not a theory. I have sold all formats
over the 20+ years I have spent in the radio business and I can tell you with out
a shadow of a doubt it is far easier to sell Country, News Talk, Classic Hits, or
sports programming than it is to sell CHR to a local client base in a market
like York , PA. As far as your critique of my radio station I really don't think you
know what my station bills do you? If you did you'd realize it is actually quite
successfull (at least according to my paycheck). Besides I think the many community
organizations that benefit from the tens of thousands of dollars we raise for them
annually during our various fundraisers and radio thons would probably disagree with you.
As would the local musicians who are given an opportunity to come be part of a live
local radio show in our studios each week. Or even perhaps the large local car dealerships

In many ways WHVR is what WSBA used to be..minus pop music. There can be no doubt the positive impact that radio station has had on the community there. And its not like you're operating with a 24/7 staff. And considering the markets monster FM station sits right in your neighborhood virtually is also a testament.

As far as CHR goes, a very Adult version would work for LAN. Well..it would have..before Liz was blown out and they put Elvis Duran on the morning show. I would expect the Rose to continue to build on its localness. Remember, WINK 103s
morning show isn't specific to York either.
that sell more cars from our ads than even our biggest competitors. Your hostility
is unwarrented.

 

[RayThomas]

I'm in Grandole's corner on this one. Every time I turn on WHVR I not only hear great music and local news, I hear tons of local advertisers. We do pretty much the same thing in Carlisle. WLBR in Lebanon is another very successful locally-owned and programmed station. Gordon Weise, an old college radio friend of mine, does a super job on local news there.

There are still a few of us doing radio locally the old-fashioned way, and with lots of hard work, still succeeding at it...

 

[TODDMAYOR]

and you ray and tim are the antithesis of nice guys finish last. two of the nicest guys i ever crossed paths with behind the re-20.

 

[RockofHBG]

There really are two approaches to CHR....and I don't mean pop and rhythmic. There's "big" and "flanker". "Big" CHR's generally have these characteristics: Class B signal, big local heritage morning show, tightly focused music with a tight, conservative playlist and less emphasis on hip-hop, and investment in marketing and contesting. They do well 25-54 and make money because they DOMINATE 25-34. It can take years to arrive at this level, but a station can be destroyed in a matter of months. Examples of this type are WAEB, Z100, KIIS, AND WKRZ. WINK used to be one of these. WYCR could've been one of those, but were run on the cheap. WLAN used to be more of a "big" CHR, but are now headed in the other direction.

Then there are "flankers". They are usually a class A, sometimes with a less than perfect signal. Many times heavily voice-tracked and more young-end musically directed with a large dose of hip-hop and R&B (as opposed to a rhythmic CHR, which is all dance and hip-hop). They're a stronger 12-34 station, with emphasis on 12-24. Generally run on the cheap. Hot 93.5 and 99.3 WHKS are examples. They are generally are not the biggest billers and are the stereo-typical CHRs.

 

[CuriousObserver]

So, when do we think they are going to blow out everyone and air Ryan Seacrest in the mid-morning/afternoon? Somehow I see FM97 leaving and 96.9 Kiss FM coming to Lancaster soon. Why not be total el cheapo and go total automation.

 

[XCountry285]

Radio Now 96.9?
or even
Hit Music Now 96.9
I sure hope it doesn't. I really somehow doubt it.

 

[bossjock 56]

What I can tell you is that the morning show is no longer family friendly. A couple of days ago I took my 10 year old daughter to school. We always listened to Liz and whoever she was paired with on 'LAN. On Elvis Duran's show there were at least 4 topics that were covered in a 10 minute period that were inappropriate for family listening. My daughter complained that there was too much talk and very little music. We switched to 93.5.

 

[the marv]

That's what you get with syndicated programing. Lotta talk,little music. Probably the same when you listen to Dave and Jimmy on 99.3 Kiss FM. They come from WNCI in Columbus,Ohio.

 

[mcradiofree]

Quite hostile today aren't we Mr. Mcradio free......don't know what I said to cause
the hostility but what I have said is a fact not a theory. I have sold all formats
over the 20+ years I have spent in the radio business and I can tell you with out
a shadow of a doubt it is far easier to sell Country, News Talk, Classic Hits, or
sports programming than it is to sell CHR to a local client base in a market
like York , PA. As far as your critique of my radio station I really don't think you
know what my station bills do you? If you did you'd realize it is actually quite
successfull (at least according to my paycheck). Besides I think the many community
organizations that benefit from the tens of thousands of dollars we raise for them
annually during our various fundraisers and radio thons would probably disagree with you.
As would the local musicians who are given an opportunity to come be part of a live
local radio show in our studios each week. Or even perhaps the large local car dealerships

In many ways WHVR is what WSBA used to be..minus pop music. There can be no doubt the positive impact that radio station has had on the community there. And its not like you're operating with a 24/7 staff. And considering the markets monster FM station sits right in your neighborhood virtually is also a testament.

As far as CHR goes, a very Adult version would work for LAN. Well..it would have..before Liz was blown out and they put Elvis Duran on the morning show. I would expect the Rose to continue to build on its localness. Remember, WINK 103s
morning show isn't specific to York either.
that sell more cars from our ads than even our biggest competitors. Your hostility
is unwarrented.

sorry bout the hostility. the difference is the market size. Of the ten top billing formats in the country, 6 are news-talk or sports talk. 2 are chr, 1 is ac, and the other 1 is alternative (KROQ). Nowhere is country amongst the biggest billers in any of the large or major markets. It's one of the toughest sells in NY, which is why no one has attempted the format there. That being said, from great risk, comes great reward. I'm happy you are finding success with your station, however to say that it is easier to sell than CHR in a market that was dominated by a CHR that commanded nearly 40 percent of the billing of that market in it's hey-day is somewhat misguided. It's also short sighted to believe just because a station is doing well, that it won't be sold. If Cumulus needs a shot of cash to continue it's reach in larger markets, it goes.