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WLNG's Success

T

tk

I took a look at WLNG's ratings in Eastern Long Island and it's incredible how they are holding their own. It's no secret that their success is because they are such an incredible voice of the community...what great radio always should be. Which begs the question, could they have played any kind of music and still had the same great numbers because of their local news and involement?

Let's face it...if that music selection helped them win, it would work in other markets. But they play everything...and I mean everything that tests poorly or not And we know that just wouldn't hold water elsewhere.

I've seen posts here proclaiming how WLNG one of the last great success stories of oldies radio. But, I honestly don't believe oldies has anything to do with it. The success of WLNG could never be duplicated in a larget market, because a station could never superserve the commmunity the way a small town station like WLNG can. I truly believe with the local news and information they offer, they could play almost any kind of music and still be a winner. Agree...disagree....

booger!
 
You hit the nail on the head perfectly. Well said.
>
> I've seen posts here proclaiming how WLNG one of the last
> great success stories of oldies radio. But, I honestly don't
> believe oldies has anything to do with it. The success of
> WLNG could never be duplicated in a larget market, because a
> station could never superserve the commmunity the way a
> small town station like WLNG can. I truly believe with the
> local news and information they offer, they could play
> almost any kind of music and still be a winner.
> Agree...disagree....
>
> booger!
>
 
> Let's face it...if that music selection helped them win, it
> would work in other markets. But they play everything...and
> I mean everything that tests poorly or not And we know that
> just wouldn't hold water elsewhere.
>
> I've seen posts here proclaiming how WLNG one of the last
> great success stories of oldies radio. But, I honestly don't
> believe oldies has anything to do with it. The success of
> WLNG could never be duplicated in a larget market, because a
> station could never superserve the commmunity the way a
> small town station like WLNG can. I truly believe with the
> local news and information they offer, they could play
> almost any kind of music and still be a winner.
> Agree...disagree....
>

I think heritage plays a big role in this too. I doubt that even in a small market you could do a startup with that type of presentation and make it. The few remaining full-service stations that enjoy even a modicum of success have been doing it forever.

I wonder what WLNG's demographics look like...my guess is that some sort of format that appeals to an over-50 crowd would be a must if you wanted to succeed with full-service radio...I can't see it having much appeal to anyone younger than their mid-40s or so.
 
Agreed 100%! WLNG is unique. You can't just start duplicating what they do across the dial. Some stations tried to replicate the success of WTIC-AM/Hartford's Bob Steele over the years by also giving temps around the globe and the word of the day. They weren't Steele on a 50,000 watt blowtorch with a heritage in CT, the "Land of Steady Habits." Just as Steele was Steele, WLNG is WLNG... jingles, local folks on their own spots/PSA's , Paul Sidney at remotes, mono echo and all!

> You hit the nail on the head perfectly. Well said.
> >
> > I've seen posts here proclaiming how WLNG one of the last
> > great success stories of oldies radio. But, I honestly
> don't
> > believe oldies has anything to do with it. The success of
> > WLNG could never be duplicated in a larget market, because
> a
> > station could never superserve the commmunity the way a
> > small town station like WLNG can. I truly believe with the
>
> > local news and information they offer, they could play
> > almost any kind of music and still be a winner.
> > Agree...disagree....
> >
> > booger!
> >
>
 
> Agreed 100%! WLNG is unique. You can't just start
> duplicating what they do across the dial. Some stations
> tried to replicate the success of WTIC-AM/Hartford's Bob
> Steele over the years by also giving temps around the globe
> and the word of the day. They weren't Steele on a 50,000
> watt blowtorch with a heritage in CT, the "Land of Steady
> Habits." Just as Steele was Steele, WLNG is WLNG...
> jingles, local folks on their own spots/PSA's , Paul Sidney
> at remotes, mono echo and all!
>
> > You hit the nail on the head perfectly. Well said.
> > >
> > > I've seen posts here proclaiming how WLNG one of the
> last
> > > great success stories of oldies radio. But, I honestly
> > don't
> > > believe oldies has anything to do with it. The success
> of
> > > WLNG could never be duplicated in a larget market,
> because
> > a
> > > station could never superserve the commmunity the way a
> > > small town station like WLNG can. I truly believe with
> the
> >
> > > local news and information they offer, they could play
> > > almost any kind of music and still be a winner.
> > > Agree...disagree....
> > >
> > > booger!
> > >
> >
>
There are a couple of factors we're missing here. First, WLNG is not over run by consultants sanitizing the music, eliminating the clutter and polishing up the small town image. They are who they are. Second, they are extremely aggressive sales people. They love selling and that's why it works.
 
They changed their music slightly. From 1971 (when I first listened to them) until about 1999, they were "old hit, new hit LNG." They played a current and then an oldie except for special or sydicated shows.

I still hear some old hit, new hit jingles on them.

Even before there were any oldies stations, or just one or two, they played 50% oldies. They were playing currents up to 1999. Amazing!

And they were on 1600 AM for many years with a simulcast to 92 FM.


> Agreed 100%! WLNG is unique. You can't just start
> duplicating what they do across the dial. Some stations
> tried to replicate the success of WTIC-AM/Hartford's Bob
> Steele over the years by also giving temps around the globe
> and the word of the day. They weren't Steele on a 50,000
> watt blowtorch with a heritage in CT, the "Land of Steady
> Habits." Just as Steele was Steele, WLNG is WLNG...
> jingles, local folks on their own spots/PSA's , Paul Sidney
> at remotes, mono echo and all!
>
> > You hit the nail on the head perfectly. Well said.
> > >
> > > I've seen posts here proclaiming how WLNG one of the
> last
> > > great success stories of oldies radio. But, I honestly
> > don't
> > > believe oldies has anything to do with it. The success
> of
> > > WLNG could never be duplicated in a larget market,
> because
> > a
> > > station could never superserve the commmunity the way a
> > > small town station like WLNG can. I truly believe with
> the
> >
> > > local news and information they offer, they could play
> > > almost any kind of music and still be a winner.
> > > Agree...disagree....
> > >
> > > booger!
> > >
> >
>
<P ID="signature">______________
[email protected]</P>
 
Re: WLNG's Success?

No doubt about it the AQH share is impressive - but check the actual cume. It is a different story altogether.
 
Re: WLNG's Success?

> No doubt about it the AQH share is impressive - but check
> the actual cume. It is a different story altogether.
>
WLNG radio's success has absolutely nothing to do with ratings in the same way that the demise of WCBS-FM, New York, had nothing to do with ratings. WLNG has increasing sales and has other revenue streams from its facilities. WCBS-FM ended with pretty good ratings but its billings had fallen over the last five years from $ 42 million to $ 34 million. That is the only reason why WCBS-FM was flipped earlier this year and that is the reason WLNG succeeds.

If you look at the other board, the Dentist spends considerable time with formatics when it frankly has nothing to do with anything. It has to do with their ability to communicate local information to a local audience and to sell that audience to local businesses.
 
The station I work for has the same following I believe, we credit to covering our local market from top to bottom. We are accessible, local and the station everyone turns to in our area for news. Look at our news awards. WATD FM Marshfield, Ma online at www.959watd.com

> I took a look at WLNG's ratings in Eastern Long Island and
> it's incredible how they are holding their own. It's no
> secret that their success is because they are such an
> incredible voice of the community...what great radio always
> should be. Which begs the question, could they have played
> any kind of music and still had the same great numbers
> because of their local news and involement?
>
> Let's face it...if that music selection helped them win, it
> would work in other markets. But they play everything...and
> I mean everything that tests poorly or not And we know that
> just wouldn't hold water elsewhere.
>
> I've seen posts here proclaiming how WLNG one of the last
> great success stories of oldies radio. But, I honestly don't
> believe oldies has anything to do with it. The success of
> WLNG could never be duplicated in a larget market, because a
> station could never superserve the commmunity the way a
> small town station like WLNG can. I truly believe with the
> local news and information they offer, they could play
> almost any kind of music and still be a winner.
> Agree...disagree....
>
> booger!
>
<P ID="signature">______________
It's not the size of the tower.....
It's how you use it.</P>
 
WATD seems nice but I received a poor feed on my computer. It sounded like it was coming out of an FM receiver that was almost out of range.

I would listen to WATD if I could get a good sound. It does not have to be great, just good or even fair for me.

I hope you can work on that, and let us know here, or send an email to me. I would then put WATD on my list and listen more often.


Your friend,

Steven Green
[email protected]




> The station I work for has the same following I believe, we
> credit to covering our local market from top to bottom. We
> are accessible, local and the station everyone turns to in
> our area for news. Look at our news awards. WATD FM
> Marshfield, Ma online at www.959watd.com
>
> <P ID="signature">______________
[email protected]</P>
 
Re: WLNG's Success?

> No doubt about it the AQH share is impressive - but check
> the actual cume. It is a different story altogether.
>

Don't have access...paint the picture for us
 
Steve, We feed off an air monitor at transmitter building, we will check into it, probably wandered a bit. Thanks for the input.



> WATD seems nice but I received a poor feed on my computer.
> It sounded like it was coming out of an FM receiver that was
> almost out of range.
>
> I would listen to WATD if I could get a good sound. It does
> not have to be great, just good or even fair for me.
>
> I hope you can work on that, and let us know here, or send
> an email to me. I would then put WATD on my list and listen
> more often.
>
>
> Your friend,
>
> Steven Green
> [email protected]
>
>
>
>
> > The station I work for has the same following I believe,
> we
> > credit to covering our local market from top to bottom. We
>
> > are accessible, local and the station everyone turns to in
>
> > our area for news. Look at our news awards. WATD FM
> > Marshfield, Ma online at www.959watd.com
> >
> >
>
<P ID="signature">______________
It's not the size of the tower.....
It's how you use it.</P>
 
Yes, I hope for the best.

And keep this wonderful music coming.


> Steve, We feed off an air monitor at transmitter building,
> we will check into it, probably wandered a bit. Thanks for
> the input.
>
>
>
> > WATD seems nice but I received a poor feed on my computer.
>
> > It sounded like it was coming out of an FM receiver that
> was
> > almost out of range.
> >
> > I would listen to WATD if I could get a good sound. It
> does
> > not have to be great, just good or even fair for me.
> >
> > I hope you can work on that, and let us know here, or send
>
> > an email to me. I would then put WATD on my list and
> listen
> > more often.
> >
> >
> > Your friend,
> >
> > Steven Green
> > [email protected]
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > > The station I work for has the same following I believe,
>
> > we
> > > credit to covering our local market from top to bottom.
> We
> >
> > > are accessible, local and the station everyone turns to
> in
> >
> > > our area for news. Look at our news awards. WATD FM
> > > Marshfield, Ma online at www.959watd.com
> > >
> > >
> >
>
<P ID="signature">______________
[email protected]</P>
 
I have heard WATD's stream sounding clean on my computer in the past (even though I live near Boston within the fringe of their air signal), so hopefully it's just a temporary or <blink>intermittent</blink> problem.


> Yes, I hope for the best.
>
> And keep this wonderful music coming.
>
>
> > Steve, We feed off an air monitor at transmitter building,
>
> > we will check into it, probably wandered a bit. Thanks for
>
> > the input.
> >
> >
> >
 
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