WLTJ changes name to Q92.9

[Parttimer]

I've heard some say that there is a hole for smooth jazz. I don't listen to the format, but could it work on this station? The call letters are pretty close. WLTJ - LT=light J=jazz. Just a thought.

I was probably the person who said that the most, but as Arbitron head towards using the People Meter to measure ratings, companies are dumping smooth jazz as fast as they can. I think the issue is that a lot of the smooth jazz numbers come from offices writing in diaries that 12 people are listening all day, and the new methodology won't give credit for that sort of thing, so this format is soon to be extinct.

 

[Parttimer]

But I've only listened a few minutes here and there when able to due to how compressed the station sounds now, makes my head hurt at times...

Somebody needs to tell the mid-day board op to turn the freakin' pots down!!!! Normally LTJ's music has just about the best sound quality in the market (Bob's is the best) but whoever is running the board during the day has those needles pegged and the audio is actually distorted at times to the point of being unlistenable. (Either that or they loaded MP3's into the system for stuff they weren't playing before and it didn't occur to them that you'd be able to tell a difference between those tracks and the stuff they ripped from CDs).

 

[PGHsalesguy]

Just sounds like they are trying to be the loudest thing in the market at any cost. There are a few good sounding stations, but that is not one of them.

 

[FreddyE1977]

BOB spiked in the ratings for a while given the unimaginative playlist. Listeners may see the billboards and hype for the new Q ( if they do a publicity blitz) and tune in out of curiosity. At that point the repackaged product may or may not sell. Given there is no soft AC in this market on FM, I think somebody who is not doing well should take the LTJ airstaff and try it. WDUV in Tampa and WTRV in GRand Rapids do well because of the older demos. Why not in Pitsburgh ? If I were CBS, I'd flip STAR as STAR and B have too much overlap. CBS is still successful with Smooth Jazz in Tampa, so someone knows how to reach older demos. Could STAR get anymore irrelevant?

Excellent point! Pittsburgh has one of the oldest skewing demographics in the country, and that is not changing anytime soon, if ever. You have to sell to the customers that you have, not the imaginary ones that some theoretician or consultant tells you that you should want to have. Why people in this market cannot figure that out is beyond me. We keep bringing in programmers to tailor formats to listeners who are not there (or who leave town the day after they pick up their diplomas)

 

[Parttimer]

But national money, bought by out-of-town agencies looking at ratings books and little else, buys 25-54s. And that's the big money in a lot of cases. The local money is just gravy.

 

[RadioEngnr]

But I've only listened a few minutes here and there when able to due to how compressed the station sounds now, makes my head hurt at times...

Somebody needs to tell the mid-day board op to turn the freakin' pots down!!!! Normally LTJ's music has just about the best sound quality in the market (Bob's is the best) but whoever is running the board during the day has those needles pegged and the audio is actually distorted at times to the point of being unlistenable. (Either that or they loaded MP3's into the system for stuff they weren't playing before and it didn't occur to them that you'd be able to tell a difference between those tracks and the stuff they ripped from CDs).

We don't use MP3's for on-air, all audio is non-compressed or linear, as for the overdriven audio what you were hearing is I was modifying my digital equipments clippers and I needed to overdrive the console (+3dB which is normally -10dB) for setting up my limiters. Which meant driving (as in car) between the studio and transmitters a few times to tweak, the audio should have returned to normal Friday evening. You’re very observant which I like because that means my work isn’t ambient (not noise level) and thanks for the Bob audio compliment
Try Bob’s HD’s (1,2, & 3) if you have a HD radio, I do like they way they sound as well as Q’s HD’s sound as well (1,2 &3)

Thanks
Paul Carroll
Chief Engineer
Q92.9 and BobFM
[email protected]

 

[Parttimer]

Glad to hear it was "for a good cause..."

 

[yugoidar]

Paul, isn't this type of work ordinarily done in off-peak listening times?

It seems to me this would be the last thing a Program Director would like to have happen during midday, especially during a time when a new format is being introduced and is being promoted by a TV advertising campaign.

Presumedly, there's some sampling going on and what kind of first impression does bad audio make on a new listener? You never get a second chance to make....yada yada yada...

 

[RadioEngnr]

you are correct, in my defense I was fine tuning the product which I thought would be just about 2 hours (during lunch) and I didn't think it would take as long as it did. I noticed the overmodulation in my office and it wasn't on every element just the promo's not the music.

but it does sound better, yes I could have done that at night and if I started at night that would have taken me into the morning, I'm glad I started it when I did. I do like my stations to sound their best

 

[icycool7227]

I'm not liking the new format. I don't care about the name. I hate that squeaky voice at the end of each song. I want to hear a news update and a weathe report once in a while!!!!

I'll be switching over to WISH VERY VERY SOON!

:-\ :-\ :-\ :-\

You know what? I'm tired of hearing complaints. You don't have any control over the station and if you don't like it, then don't listen to it - simple as that. But hearing all this complaining just is tiring and yuck. Please just stop it. Thank you.

 

[icycool7227]

How come there aren't 13 pages of replies to my thread on the Iowa board about my comments? Geez louise.... I like Q92.9's music mix and all the jingles - I just don't like the many, MANY commercials with only 4 in a row. Woo-hoo 4 in a row. KTI in my area used to have 18 in a row. And on another station (WYUL 94-7 Hits FM) there was 20 songs in a row.

 

[Raymond]

Maybe because nobody cares.

 

[corporateradiosucks]

I'm not liking the new format. I don't care about the name. I hate that squeaky voice at the end of each song. I want to hear a news update and a weathe report once in a while!!!!

I'll be switching over to WISH VERY VERY SOON!

:-\ :-\ :-\ :-\

You know what? I'm tired of hearing complaints. You don't have any control over the station and if you don't like it, then don't listen to it - simple as that. But hearing all this complaining just is tiring and yuck. Please just stop it. Thank you.

Apparently you miss the point of a "discussion" board.

I am continually amused by Q 92's assertion that they aren't playing anything "sleepy" and then proceed to play songs as slow and cheesy as anything they are making fun of. Not to mention that I haven't heard "Feelings" anywhere except a nostalgia station for years now - certainly not on WSHH.

 

[Whiplash]

Zak Szabo is back and into afternoons at Steel City AC WLTJ (Q92.9)/Pittsburgh, where he'll handle 2-7pm starting Tuesday, Aug. 19.

 

[kenhawk1160]

Zak Szabo is back and into afternoons at Steel City AC WLTJ (Q92.9)/Pittsburgh, where he'll handle 2-7pm starting Tuesday, Aug. 19.

Good for Zak. It'd be interesting to hear him on that format. As long as you have the inside scoop there, TAE...does Steel City Media plan to add more talent throughout the day, or is that going to be it?

 

[Parttimer]

At this pace they should be fully staffed by 2012.