Well isn't this cool? And I thought no one from Louisville radio read or posted to these boards!
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WLRS CHANGES FORMAT!
- Thread starter know-it-all
- Start date
kyscott said:
I wasn't aware that they had gone through with that. Coverage maps showed them with a slightly WORSE signal at the new location than at the old. I'm sure they were banking on having a clear antenna shot to Louisville from the new site trumping the low tower/grazing shot they had on the old one.
Even so, to actually MARKET that as an upgrade with fanfare and confetti is totally lame. Back in 97 when we upped the 94.7 tower from 60 feet to 120..that was a significant improvement. And in 98 when we moved 105.9 from 100' on QMF's tower to 150' on the one next to it, that was HUGE. But we never said a word about that. Even an upgrade from 3KW to 6KW is just so-so, but this "upgrade" of LRS isn't nearly that good. And if reports are correct, it's even worse, ala the "B96 upgrade" of 1999.
WLRS is a historic radio station. I think it's cool that they are keeping the call letters and trying something different. They should get hit the streets more. Every day. Get creative. Put a damn Walrus outfit on and interrupt newscasts during the live shots. Get in the paper. Host a competitive eating contest. Do something!
Nobody cares about the signal. Using that as an excuse is bullcrap. You have to work with what you got. The station garnered some damn good rating a several years ago with 3500 watts or something. Especially in the morning. heh. That was when the Fox has Stern AND 50,000. The Fox has been neutered to some extent due to the move to the former She frequency....which has GOT to suck. It's now a shemale station.
Radio One was irritating and clueless. I think Mainline is ready to make LRS successful. Hopefully they won't use a clueless consultants who screw everything up. Rhymes with peed. And yes, McGregor was funny. heh.
Nobody cares about the signal. Using that as an excuse is bullcrap. You have to work with what you got. The station garnered some damn good rating a several years ago with 3500 watts or something. Especially in the morning. heh. That was when the Fox has Stern AND 50,000. The Fox has been neutered to some extent due to the move to the former She frequency....which has GOT to suck. It's now a shemale station.
Radio One was irritating and clueless. I think Mainline is ready to make LRS successful. Hopefully they won't use a clueless consultants who screw everything up. Rhymes with peed. And yes, McGregor was funny. heh.
Chase said:
The WLRS calls may be historic but WLRS' product at 105.1 is not; listeners (they're targeting) are not going to tune in, dislike it but hang around just because of the purported WLRS heritage. And, listeners indeed care about signal- if they can't get it well, they won't tune in. DUH!!! It's like selling the world's best-ever toothpaste but you can only buy it at Save-A-Lot. It may be the all-time best selling toothpaste at Save-A-Lot but the overall market share (because it's not in Meijer and Kroger) will barely register a blip. Now, for B96, their signal may be sub-par market-wide but is very strong where 95% of their core listeners are, west of I-65. This is not the case with WLRS, which throws a major null over downtown and the east side of the market. Hey, they'll do great in Sheperdsville and Mt Washington lol.
Everybody forgets that WLRS in it's heyday (such that it was, which is mostly myth) was at 102.3, not a rimshot move-in at 105.1, which has actually *upgraded* to a worse signal where more of their potential listeners are. But, hey, it makes for nice spin for their sales folks for a week or two.
Finally, where do you think this idea came from? Their corporate programming consultants! They didn't dream this up on their own.
R
radiohawkins
Guest
Are they still running jockless?
It was a really bad idea to keep using the calls wlrs who cares how long they have been around!!! Out with the old in with the new at least when mainline blew up z-93 in dayton they kept the calls but had enough sense not to use them on air. And wlrs did no stunting they should have .It just seems it would have created more buzz that is the idea when changing formats.
The format not bad from a business standpoint it may stop the bleeding but i would have preferred a station to balance out 91.9 wfpk but i guess research says other wise. I can get the fox on my clock radio i can't get 105.1 and i live in cresent hill area.
The format not bad from a business standpoint it may stop the bleeding but i would have preferred a station to balance out 91.9 wfpk but i guess research says other wise. I can get the fox on my clock radio i can't get 105.1 and i live in cresent hill area.
L
lord of rock
Guest
Chase said:
I think Chase is right on. Why is everyone so quick to change the calls? What is wrong with tradition and heritage? This is not really a whole new format, from what I hear WLRS is STILL playing more new rock then anyother station in town. Sorry Craven but it's true. I called the station and Skinny J said they got rid of all the soft Sh*&% like Plain White T's and Modest Mouse and added more rock tunes. I don't have a big radio background but it sounds like a good move. So far I like what I hear and I can hear it better. I use to lose the station driving thru the tunnels on 64 or going under an overpass but not anymore. I don't know what size signal they are using but I find it a lot easier to listen to driving around the metro now. It aint the size of your antena it's how you penetrate! Chase, you are also right about McGregor...and I liked when him and Skinny J were on together. I guess we'll see what happens next.....
lord of rock said:
Tradition and heritage? If I remember correctly, wasn't most of WLRS' *tradition and heritage* from over 20 years ago? How many different definitions have been attached to the WLRS *brand* since? Five, six, more maybe? It's not even on the same frequency anymore.
Whatever *heritage and tradition* WLRS may have had has been pissed away at least a half dozen times and those why may have had affinity for it *back-in-the-day* probably wouldn't listen to what it is today, anyway. And, that goes for WAKY, too. They're using the old jingles and calling it "wacky radio". Big deal. It's an out-of-market signal taking a *brand* from over 30 years ago and trying to reconstitute it and all it's added up to is a faint shadow of what WAKY was more than a generation ago.
WHAS has heritage and tradition................WAMZ has heritage and tradition...............you could also make a case for WDJX and WQMF but that's about it anymore. Besides-----all the *heritage and tradition* in the world matters zero of the product sucks and people no longer listen (which describes WLRS). Radio geeks and board-ops love this stuff but to most radio listeners in Louisville, it doesn't mean squat.
R
radiohawkins
Guest
indydood said:
Dood, everytime you post you mention board-ops. Where are you a board-op at?
Dood, everytime you post you mention board-ops. Where are you a board-op at?
[/quote]
I'm not but it's pretty common knowledge that a huge majority of second-guessers on radio message boards are board-ops or people who have largely not (yet, for some) realized the zenith of their radio careers. They always seem to *know better* but are curiously not in a position to cure all of radio's ills.
[/quote]
I'm not but it's pretty common knowledge that a huge majority of second-guessers on radio message boards are board-ops or people who have largely not (yet, for some) realized the zenith of their radio careers. They always seem to *know better* but are curiously not in a position to cure all of radio's ills.
Why couldn't mainline have done to 105.1 what bonneville did to the only radio one station they just bought out there. Bonneville flipped it to triple a why couldn't mainline have done that here? Well you work with what you got.
For lrs to make this work first off keeping the calls is a huge mistake rebrand it christ noone cares about the heritage calls move on and besides that wlrs calls are cursed second they need to make sure joe and diesel never put there mouths to a microphone!!! Worst people ever on the air.
Lrs with mcgrrgor i did not love the music but he was very funjny so i listened. And you also had fendrich and lancer you had really good talent that is why they did half way decent back in 2002-2003 now they have no talent aside from skinny j. If they don't get new talent and really promote it and a good pd it will do no better then what it was doing with its latest abysmal showing!!!
I doubt mainline cares that much about 105.1
For lrs to make this work first off keeping the calls is a huge mistake rebrand it christ noone cares about the heritage calls move on and besides that wlrs calls are cursed second they need to make sure joe and diesel never put there mouths to a microphone!!! Worst people ever on the air.
Lrs with mcgrrgor i did not love the music but he was very funjny so i listened. And you also had fendrich and lancer you had really good talent that is why they did half way decent back in 2002-2003 now they have no talent aside from skinny j. If they don't get new talent and really promote it and a good pd it will do no better then what it was doing with its latest abysmal showing!!!
I doubt mainline cares that much about 105.1
K
kentuckymedia
Guest
Mainline is a top notch company that doesnt second guess their stations. WLRS is the red headed step child and always will be, thats sad to say..but its the truth.
Here is what Mainline does see, and this you have to give them some credit for. They know there is no heritage recognition anymore. But they do realize the need for a re-brand and a re-image. Thats what they are trying to do, WLRS doesnt mean anything anymore. People dont hate the station, there just isnt any recognition. However Mainline is making money on the station.
Here is what you get.
In Mainline's corner they have the following stations at billing lines
#4 WDJX
#5 WXMA
#8 WGZB
#10 WMJM
#12 WLRS
After they completed the research, it was pretty much understood that it would be almost impossible to attain the top 3 positions, but they could potentially continue to stack the second tier of the market. WLRS may not be bringing home the bacon in ratings, but they are billing extremely well for that little station that could.
Here is what Mainline does see, and this you have to give them some credit for. They know there is no heritage recognition anymore. But they do realize the need for a re-brand and a re-image. Thats what they are trying to do, WLRS doesnt mean anything anymore. People dont hate the station, there just isnt any recognition. However Mainline is making money on the station.
Here is what you get.
In Mainline's corner they have the following stations at billing lines
#4 WDJX
#5 WXMA
#8 WGZB
#10 WMJM
#12 WLRS
After they completed the research, it was pretty much understood that it would be almost impossible to attain the top 3 positions, but they could potentially continue to stack the second tier of the market. WLRS may not be bringing home the bacon in ratings, but they are billing extremely well for that little station that could.
R
recordhead
Guest
I'm not but it's pretty common knowledge that a huge majority of second-guessers on radio message boards are board-ops or people who have largely not (yet, for some) realized the zenith of their radio careers. They always seem to *know better* but are curiously not in a position to cure all of radio's ills.
[/quote]
I think you'll find that a lot of board ops have very good ideas. Sometimes even better than the higher ups.
[/quote]
I think you'll find that a lot of board ops have very good ideas. Sometimes even better than the higher ups.
Recordhead said:I'm not but it's pretty common knowledge that a huge majority of second-guessers on radio message boards are board-ops or people who have largely not (yet, for some) realized the zenith of their radio careers. They always seem to *know better* but are curiously not in a position to cure all of radio's ills.
I think you'll find that a lot of board ops have very good ideas. Sometimes even better than the higher ups.
[/quote]
I think you'd find that if board-ops had *very good ideas*, they wouldn't be board-ops.
Hey kentuckymedia if mainline realizes that wlrs needs to be rebranded and reimaged why on gods green earth did they keep the call letters wlrs i mean how many times since wlrs came back on the air in 1997 for two years and then in 2000 up till now how many different monikers has it had the walrus the cutting edge of rock louisvilles rock station and i am sure more then that i think you just confuse the listener with what there doing.But i do give them credit for doing something but for it to succeed they need to have new air staff skinny j can stay thats it a good pd and promote promote promote.
Like i said i wish they had done what bonneville had done in la a triple a station or a true alt station. But this is louisville a city that likes the tried and true when it comes to tunes. "Take that new song by moby off it is awful throw that new godsmack song on" thats about the way it is
I have been told by several people at mainline and clear channel that lrs has not made money for years. The only reason it makes money now is they have a skeleton staff and for the most part fired anyone with talent.
Its still gonna be a hard sell for the sales staff but possibly a little easier.
Like i said i wish they had done what bonneville had done in la a triple a station or a true alt station. But this is louisville a city that likes the tried and true when it comes to tunes. "Take that new song by moby off it is awful throw that new godsmack song on" thats about the way it is
I have been told by several people at mainline and clear channel that lrs has not made money for years. The only reason it makes money now is they have a skeleton staff and for the most part fired anyone with talent.
Its still gonna be a hard sell for the sales staff but possibly a little easier.
kentuckymedia said:
What site are you getting this info from?
W
WHOKILLEDRADIO
Guest
I think you'd find that if board-ops had *very good ideas*, they wouldn't be board-ops.
[/quote]
Thats not true. It takes time & patience to advance in this business. You have to be willing to stick it out. I was a board op for years before I got the chance to advance. You have to start somewhere. A lot of board ops are not college grads with a major in communications. And it's rare that a PD or GM will take the advice of a board op beyond the "thanks for the input" stage.
[/quote]
Thats not true. It takes time & patience to advance in this business. You have to be willing to stick it out. I was a board op for years before I got the chance to advance. You have to start somewhere. A lot of board ops are not college grads with a major in communications. And it's rare that a PD or GM will take the advice of a board op beyond the "thanks for the input" stage.
WHOKILLEDRADIO said:
Thats not true. It takes time & patience to advance in this business. You have to be willing to stick it out. I was a board op for years before I got the chance to advance. You have to start somewhere. A lot of board ops are not college grads with a major in communications. And it's rare that a PD or GM will take the advice of a board op beyond the "thanks for the input" stage.
[/quote]
Mostly, as we see on message boards like this, few of the ideas are very constructive. It's mostly bitching and whining, if we're being real here. I'm not saying no board-ops ever have good ideas; but most are in the positions they're in for a reason. That's not a slam, it's just the way it is.
Wow...all this criticism over that sample log posted. I got news for ya, that's REAL similar to what we do in Etown and BG. When we flipped WRZI to a similar format, calls flooded in that said "I only used to listen to (insert ANY L'ville rock product) and now I only listen to YOU!" Down here in BG, we SMOKE the other rock station.
I agree some of the gold titles were a little odd, but they obviously have nothing to lose! After CC and COX put on these TERRIBLY BORING classic rock products, and CC shot themselves in the foot with the Fox move, a great many people will be grateful. I know A LOT of people, of many demos, who really dig what we're doing. Bear in mind, this is KENTUCKY...you think they're aren't 35 year olds out there who are nostalgic for those gold titles AND are excited about a lot of modern stuff? What they're doing is similar to what QMF USED to be. Just wait.
Here's my noon hour today, BTW...
Hell's Bells AC/DC
Psycho Puddle Of Mudd
Locomotive Breath Jethro Tull
Paralyzer Finger Eleven
Sympathy Rolling Stones
Time Of Your Life Green Day
Last Child Aerosmith
Supernatural Superserious R.E.M.
More Than A Feeling Boston
Hemorrhage (In My Hands) Fuel
Dancing Days Led Zeppelin
Home Sweet Home Motley Crue
I probably won't get past the Fuel, and the Green Day I replaced with King Nothing by Metallica on a request.
I agree some of the gold titles were a little odd, but they obviously have nothing to lose! After CC and COX put on these TERRIBLY BORING classic rock products, and CC shot themselves in the foot with the Fox move, a great many people will be grateful. I know A LOT of people, of many demos, who really dig what we're doing. Bear in mind, this is KENTUCKY...you think they're aren't 35 year olds out there who are nostalgic for those gold titles AND are excited about a lot of modern stuff? What they're doing is similar to what QMF USED to be. Just wait.
Here's my noon hour today, BTW...
Hell's Bells AC/DC
Psycho Puddle Of Mudd
Locomotive Breath Jethro Tull
Paralyzer Finger Eleven
Sympathy Rolling Stones
Time Of Your Life Green Day
Last Child Aerosmith
Supernatural Superserious R.E.M.
More Than A Feeling Boston
Hemorrhage (In My Hands) Fuel
Dancing Days Led Zeppelin
Home Sweet Home Motley Crue
I probably won't get past the Fuel, and the Green Day I replaced with King Nothing by Metallica on a request.
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