believe that's the largest jump ever for them.
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WLS AM/FM SOLD
- Thread starter Dr Wayne
- Start date
Dr Wayne said:
You mean evening news anchor:
http://timeoutchicago.com/arts-cult...ragiel-‘thrilled’-to-join-wls-as-evening-anch
Dr Wayne said:
As pointed out on another thread Scott Shannon is now using the WLS brand instead of True Oldies. All the DJs are talking less & playing more music.
radioman148 said:
In 25-54, they came back from a 2011 low of 3.0 to a 3.5, which is still below the 3.7 the month before. However, the July number is basically the average for the whole year of 2011.
This coming week, we will have the August book, and based on the first three weeks, it is likely they will finish a bit above that average.
As to "jumps" it's important to realize that changes in the youngest leaning and oldest leaning formats tend to be seen at the beginning of summer, which is also when we have seen an above average PPM panel turnover.
DavidEduardo said:
That August book should be interesting. WJMK had moved up in June, but not so much in July.
radioman148 said:
Barring a wobble, 3-week trending would lock in a 3.0 to a 3.2 in 25-54.
This would be around the level of all but June, and a tick or two above the prior format average.
DavidEduardo said:
Are the ratings out Tuesday or Wednesday because of the holiday?
First batch of August PPM monthly results (7/21-8/17) - which include Chicago - will be out on Tuesday 9/6. Normally the weekly + monthly reports are released on Mondays.
Arbitron 2011 PPM Data Delivery Schedule: http://arbitron.com/downloads/ppm_delivery_schedule.pdf
Arbitron 2011 PPM Data Delivery Schedule: http://arbitron.com/downloads/ppm_delivery_schedule.pdf
radioman148 said:
Tuesday... and WLS-FM up to 6th 25-54 and a 3.8 in the demo. Moving away from the 60's a bit helped.
WJMK flat with a 3.1 in that demo, although they moved up several positions in rank.
cyberdad said:
The market is off about 30% overall compared to 2005... WJMK is off 50%. Obviously, changing format right before the recession was a double... or triple... whammy. Market off, new format, not impressive ratings.
DavidEduardo said:
Interesting though: if going "newer" with the titles is the answer, then WJMK should be eating WLS-FM's lunch. The reverse is the case. Why? WJMK has very good local jocks, excellent imaging and presentation, and an overall professional sound. Their music balance is as people like you say it should be. Furthermore, they're slicker sounding than WLS-FM. Yet it's not taking off.
Meanwhile, WLS-FM - while mixing in some (too many) 80s titles - still plays A LOT of music from the 1960s. The format center is, of course, the 70s. That's sadly typical and I say 'sadly' because the 1970s were not the greatest decade for pop music. The 1960s and (frankly) the 1980s were better as far as big hits go. The 70s, you may recall, were when Top 40 lost its way, Anyhow, that's reality and I digress......
My theory is two-fold:
1) CBS has focused too much on the late 70s and 80s music (i.e. too 'new') so that we start to get into the period of musical fragmentation where most songs from the era turn one group or another off. Furthermore, the scattershot sound of the playlist is a turn-off. First they play a Temptations title from the 1960s, then it's a Van Halen hit from the mid 1980s, then it's a late 70s disco title from Donna Summer. The playlist lacks order and is set up in such a way that many listeners get turned off within a couple of songs. If you like one song, you may well hate the next one. In other words, they're listening TOO MUCH to the consultants who *as usual* don't know what they're talking about. WLS-FM takes a much more balanced approach. Yes, they have some 80s titles in there but mixed in more craftfully (if anything, too many for my tastes - if I want that I can go elsewhere). They still focus on the 60s and early to mid 70s so you know that's what you're getting when you tune in.
2) Given the above, and the fact that WLS-FM is well established with popular personalities and a familiar brand, CBS simply hasn't given listeners a reason to leave 94.7 for 104.3.
3) *Bonus* WJMK's playlist is such that it actually draws much more from 100.3 than does from 94.7 (who hasn't demonstrably lost ANY listeners). Given the presentation style, it didn't seem that 100.3 was CBS' target, but that's who seems to have taken the hit. This makes sense as Hubbard continues to move more into the 90s and 00s with that station.
But I maintain that the "oldies" format goes beyond looking at the original release dates of the songs on the playlist and doing math to determine the demos. Much of this music has been played again and again since it first hit the charts. Therefore you can't simply say that a song that was released in 1965 wouldn't appeal to anyone younger than 60. That's nonsense. If that was true, you wouldn't see any Beatles or Rolling Stones fans younger than 50 - and there are millions of each. Younger generations have also grown up with this music. In this way, it's different than the adult standards that my grandparents listened to. You can be 40 and still like 1960s music - because you first heard it in 1985 and because it's still relevant. Quite unlike Ray Coniff to listeners in 1992.
This is where consultants go wrong and this is why WJMK isn't clobbering WLS-FM even if, on paper, they should be.
Looks like WLS AM/FM will be acquired soon by Cumulus! See what Larz writes today!
Written By Larz
* * Today, the US Justice Department gave the OK for the upcoming Cumulus Media purchase Citadel Broadcasting. The DOJ only requested that Cumulus sell off one station in Michigan and two in Pennsylvania (both smaller markets), to avoid giving Cumulus a virtual monopoly of stations in those areas. Cumulus is already in te process of spinning off some radio stations in markets where they would be exceeding the FCC mandated local-market limits with the merger. The US Justice Departments findings can be read in their entirety at this link HERE. The only hurdle left for Cumulus is to make sure financing is in place prior to the closing date, which is not yet set, but expected to happen soon. What this means for Chicago radio is that WLS-AM and WLS-FM should have a new owner sooner than later. The acquisition of Citadel by Cumulus was officially announced in early March of this year.
Written By Larz
* * Today, the US Justice Department gave the OK for the upcoming Cumulus Media purchase Citadel Broadcasting. The DOJ only requested that Cumulus sell off one station in Michigan and two in Pennsylvania (both smaller markets), to avoid giving Cumulus a virtual monopoly of stations in those areas. Cumulus is already in te process of spinning off some radio stations in markets where they would be exceeding the FCC mandated local-market limits with the merger. The US Justice Departments findings can be read in their entirety at this link HERE. The only hurdle left for Cumulus is to make sure financing is in place prior to the closing date, which is not yet set, but expected to happen soon. What this means for Chicago radio is that WLS-AM and WLS-FM should have a new owner sooner than later. The acquisition of Citadel by Cumulus was officially announced in early March of this year.
Its Official...WLS has been sold.
http://chicagoradioandmedia.com/news/1937-wls-am-a-wls-fm-now-officially-owned-by-cumulus-media-inc
http://chicagoradioandmedia.com/news/1937-wls-am-a-wls-fm-now-officially-owned-by-cumulus-media-inc
What I don't understand is why someone would quote "Larz" when Radio-Info has the article written up here? Larz is just a repeater and "re-worder" of others news departments and feeds.
On the more important issue, the other board competing with Larz, Chicago Media Chat, is stating something different that most of you WLS-FM die hards will not like. The visitors there are (correctly) stating that WLS-FM actually is heavier in the 55-64 demo which is harder to sell. There is little to no competition for that demo, while KHITS is fighting for that 25-54 demo with several others.
Also that Biondi is voicetracking many if not all nights. One poster even theorizes it is because his on air presentation has been suffering in recent times, it is to keep him focused and sounding tight. Good thing IMHO, since George McFly on KHITS still sounds as sharp as he did 20 years ago.
On the more important issue, the other board competing with Larz, Chicago Media Chat, is stating something different that most of you WLS-FM die hards will not like. The visitors there are (correctly) stating that WLS-FM actually is heavier in the 55-64 demo which is harder to sell. There is little to no competition for that demo, while KHITS is fighting for that 25-54 demo with several others.
Also that Biondi is voicetracking many if not all nights. One poster even theorizes it is because his on air presentation has been suffering in recent times, it is to keep him focused and sounding tight. Good thing IMHO, since George McFly on KHITS still sounds as sharp as he did 20 years ago.
mediagobble said:
Biondi is not voicetracked. I've been in the studio with him & he is live all the time. The voice that you hear giving the temperature is his producer. If you call the studio during his show you will always find him there and he will tell you to hold on when he talks on the air.
When the Sox or Cubs games are over he will give the score.
There are certain nights when he may be making an appearance elsewhere and in that case the show is voicetracked, but that is rare.
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