WMVX new format

[DToTheJ]

"The Lake" would be better off calling themselves what they truly are: "BOB-FM". Didn't Indians legend Bob Feller pass away recently? It could have been named in his honor.

 

[unpwn]

Nobody will sit through Dee-Lite to hear Kings of Leon unless they're working in an office or something where they HAVE to.
The only benefit to this station is grabbing ratings through public establishments like offices and retail stores.

 

[Rusty Muck]

"The Lake" would be better off calling themselves what they truly are: "BOB-FM". Didn't Indians legend Bob Feller pass away recently? It could have been named in his honor.

I don't think most Clevelanders would be able to make the connection. ("Hey, let's name our station after a famous pitcher from the 40s who recently died?")

Plus I'm not a fan of "BOB-FM." "The Lake" actually suggests a possessive meaning to it, that it's unique to the city, at least, moreso that "Mix" ever could.

And yes, Philly's adult hits station is named "BEN-FM" WBEN-FM, obviously after Ben Franklin, who's been dead for over 200 years. But that made sense, naming it after the city's famous native son (and co-founder of the Union).

 

[Rusty Muck]

I may be wrong but seem to recall a " tight listed " station called G-98 ( was that WGCL? ) beat the pants off " large playlist " WMMS once upon a time.

G98's success led to WMMS playing Top 40 acts like MJ, Madonna and Prince - and to report to the trade papers as a CHR instead of an AOR, up until 1990.

Although that was a stretch, 'MMS may never have been able to attain the same debut singles from those artists at the same time as G98 did (given that the AOR format was already out of steam even by then, and none of those artists fit that format). If it hadn't been for G98's owners not cutting off financial resources and ultimately selling the station off to Metropolis, the radio scene would be much, much different today.

By the same token, M105's tightly-focused format also forced WMMS' hand back in the mid 70s and caused them to tighten up their playlist and adjust their presentation. For nearly eight years, those two stations actively competed with each other, and for all intents and purposes, they each benefited from that rivalry.

 

[VODood]

My wife, who's 38 (in the target demo), made a comment the other day about The Lake which I too have been listening to more and more. But I'm in the business and listen for other reasons. She pointed out that she gets "groovin'" to the 80s/90s pop stuff then a classic rock comes on "ruining the groove". Even though the format is a 50/50 target she has a valid point. One reason she says she won't listen on a consistent basis. When flipping through she may stop but won't linger beyond the tune she stopped for.

 

[Dave Sarnoff]

My wife, who's 38 (in the target demo), made a comment the other day about The Lake which I too have been listening to more and more. But I'm in the business and listen for other reasons. She pointed out that she gets "groovin'" to the 80s/90s pop stuff then a classic rock comes on "ruining the groove". Even though the format is a 50/50 target she has a valid point. One reason she says she won't listen on a consistent basis. When flipping through she may stop but won't linger beyond the tune she stopped for.

Dead.On.Balls.Accurate.

This is what I have been saying for decades, and I feel like Elijah shouting in the wilderness. Why would "We play everything" appeal to anybody? How clueless do you have to be to go from playing Nu Shooz "I Can't Wait" to AC/DC "Back in Black???" I guarantee you whoever likes one will hate the other. You CAN'T program to "EVERYBODY." Why even try? This isn't rocket surgery, it's just radio. Find a niche, and superserve it. Give them what they want and can't get anywhere else. How hard is that? And they pay these idiot programmers and consultants rediculous money to come up with "We play everything?" Absurd.

 

[gabigley1]

How long will the present "We play everything" format last. Any predictions? My guess is it will
last for a year or so.

 

[HHH]

I may be wrong but seem to recall a " tight listed " station called G-98 ( was that WGCL? ) beat the pants off " large playlist " WMMS once upon a time.

In ONE book back in 1982, and it was by a very small margin. WMMS came right back next book, and GCL never got close again.

 

[HHH]

I may be wrong but seem to recall a " tight listed " station called G-98 ( was that WGCL? ) beat the pants off " large playlist " WMMS once upon a time.

G98's success led to WMMS playing Top 40 acts like MJ, Madonna and Prince - and to report to the trade papers as a CHR instead of an AOR, up until 1990.

Although that was a stretch, 'MMS may never have been able to attain the same debut singles from those artists at the same time as G98 did (given that the AOR format was already out of steam even by then, and none of those artists fit that format). If it hadn't been for G98's owners not cutting off financial resources and ultimately selling the station off to Metropolis, the radio scene would be much, much different today.

By the same token, M105's tightly-focused format also forced WMMS' hand back in the mid 70s and caused them to tighten up their playlist and adjust their presentation. For nearly eight years, those two stations actively competed with each other, and for all intents and purposes, they each benefited from that rivalry.

Yes, competition from both M105 and G98 made WMMS a much better station. Competition is always a good thing if you can rise to the occasion and learn from it.

 

[johnbasalla]

I had heard that WMMS started to report CHR so that they could keep getting new product. By the time they did that, the AOR format was becoming increasingly gold oriented, and they had every reason to believe that in their special walk within AOR, they needed to change things up a bit.

 

[Rusty Muck]

I had heard that WMMS started to report CHR so that they could keep getting new product. By the time they did that, the AOR format was becoming increasingly gold oriented, and they had every reason to believe that in their special walk within AOR, they needed to change things up a bit.

It was primarily because they wanted to play music from Prince, which G-98 got a solid edge on. Prince's label wouldn't release any new product to WMMS at the same time as G-98 because they were still registered as an AOR.

WMMS also introduced new wave acts (to effectively neuter and negate WRQC/92.3) for the same reason. AOR was effectively dead as a doorknob by 1982 - and the emergence of New Wave was one of the results of that.

WMMS wasn't the only AOR station to go Top 40, mind you... ABC Radio's WPLJ-FM/New York also did the same thing in the mid-80s, mainly to go after Scott Shannon and Malrite's Z100 (it's now a Hot AC, with Shannon as their PD for the past 20 years).

 

[johnbasalla]

I listened to WMMS back then, an I never perceived them as a "Top 40" station. They basically added some "Top 40"-aka CHR music to their AOR mix. The first one I heard was Michael Jackson stuff off of the "Thriller" album.

 

[VODood]

Dave, keep in mind that Lake is a flanker, protecting WMJI. It's job is to take cume from WNCX, WQAL and WDOK. I don't think it'll hurt V107 severely ( but will affect it) as it targets a more eclectic audience. Hence why I don't believe much $$ will be invested in the station, ie talent, marketing, etc.

 

[VODood]

John B on WMMS... true. John Gorman writes in his book about reporting as a CHR, adding more CHR titles to get product (to screw G98) , etc. Brilliant move on his part. Correct me if I'm wrong but I believe the first major "CHR" title WMMS added was Jackson's "Beat It".

 

[Capulet]

Just curious,

Do any of you guys know how much CHR Indies paid for adds back in the G98 days?

 

[johnbasalla]

I believe that "Beat It" was the first one I heard on WMMS.

 

[nightfly61]

The older G-98 had an overall better sound. Morning Show was better(Bob Travis, Tom Jeffreys, Phil Gardner, Diane Burr, Al Roker & at least 15 characters Phil Gardner had pop in to visit). When it became 98 Point Five or "The All New G-98" It was J. Michael Wilson & Mother Love in the morning. All he had was a rodent named Rodney as a character. Joe Bohannon, Lee Gelette, Dancin' Danny, Brandy Kellogg, Uncle Vic, (E)Rick "The Bag Man" Kramer all made up "the sound" of G-98. After they were axed (except Kramer) most of the real fun stuff was over.

 

[HHH]

I believe that "Beat It" was the first one I heard on WMMS.

Was one of the earlier crossover songs that they added due to Eddie Van Halen playing guitar on the 'Beat It" which helped the old AOR audience connect the dots. They also added Prince, which virtually no other AOR in the country was playing, which gives you an idea of how clueless and outdated most AORs were becoming at the time (early 80s).

 

[gabigley1]

Dave, keep in mind that Lake is a flanker, protecting WMJI. It's job is to take cume from WNCX, WQAL and WDOK. I don't think it'll hurt V107 severely ( but will affect it) as it targets a more eclectic audience. Hence why I don't believe much $$ will be invested in the station, ie talent, marketing, etc.

You are the first person to post here that the Lake is a flanker. Dose the Ohio Media Watch agree with your observation?
Also, if you are correct, the the Lake may be around for at least several years.

 

[Rusty Muck]

Dave, keep in mind that Lake is a flanker, protecting WMJI. It's job is to take cume from WNCX, WQAL and WDOK. I don't think it'll hurt V107 severely ( but will affect it) as it targets a more eclectic audience. Hence why I don't believe much $$ will be invested in the station, ie talent, marketing, etc.

You are the first person to post here that the Lake is a flanker. Dose the Ohio Media Watch agree with your observation?
Also, if you are correct, the the Lake may be around for at least several years.

I think that was the impression of a number of people, not just VODood or "the Ohio Media Watch" (side note: I assist in some story gathering for the blog).