WNWV to flip to AAA "soon"

[VODood]

Slade, WMMS reported to R&R as a CHR, but wasn't a CHR. Sure, they played some "CHR" titles but mostly to get product. John Gorman talks about it in his book http://buzzardbook.wordpress.com/

 

[Kent]

I would inform potential advertisers the AAA audience is a dedicated one, they're not 'button pushers' and will keep tuned to the station all day- especially since it's the only game in town.

You just hit on one of the biggest problems for AAA. It can be a TSL driven format if you're not careful. TSL is not a sales metric because advertisers won't buy an endless stream of spots when one well placed spot can hit the station's entire audience!

 

[SonoSational18]

A couple of unrelated comments... "TSL driven" formats have generally not fared well in PPM and I wonder out loud why they picked that niche.... One wonders why they picked three days before Christmas to inform their staff that some of them would be out of a job in a few days. Couldn't they wait until next week?.... Finally: "107.3 Boom"? I don't get it. Thought AAA had a more laid-back image. (Or maybe this is all an elaborate smokescreen for something else?)

 

[Rusty Muck]

A couple of unrelated comments... "TSL driven" formats have generally not fared well in PPM and I wonder out loud why they picked that niche.... One wonders why they picked three days before Christmas to inform their staff that some of them would be out of a job in a few days. Couldn't they wait until next week?.... Finally: "107.3 Boom"? I don't get it. Thought AAA had a more laid-back image. (Or maybe this is all an elaborate smokescreen for something else?)

It didn't seem like AAA was a massive stretch from the current smooth jazz/new age format that WNWV has. In fact, it seemed like the most likely option out there for them... but I'm more surprised that the plug was pulled so quickly on the Wave. Of course, Z-Rock only had a little over 11 months in its' life.

I guess they wanted to start it off right at the start of the year, in order to get the airstaff and imaging all situated. (The only person that was immediately dismissed - just three days before Christmas - was PD Angie Handa. :'( Carmen Kennedy is sitting in the midday slot until the switch, while Mark Ribbins will temporarily program the soon-to-be HD2 smooth jazz channel.)

I'd be more curious as to what happens with WLKR-FM. Both stations will have significant overlap in western Lorain County, Huron and Sandusky... especially with the same niche format. (And again, AAA is normally not a format you'd find in a small-market station like WLKR!) Does 95.3 segue back over to a general AC format similar to what it was prior to AAA?

I can't help but think that Boom could be a tribute to Len "Boom" Goldberg (the legendary voice of WMMS). Or at least I was the only one who made that connection...

 

[johnbasalla]

Locally owned and operated. I hope they have great success. A previous poster mentioned "indie" bands as a source, sighting WOXY.com. I went to their FM website, quickly looked over their list, but didn't find any true "indie" artists.

 

[Jay F]

WKRK seems to be more adult leaning than most alternative stations are nationally. This makes there less of a hole for AAA than there would be otherwise.

 

[almaniac27]

Locally owned and operated. I hope they have great success. A previous poster mentioned "indie" bands as a source, sighting WOXY.com. I went to their FM website, quickly looked over their list, but didn't find any true "indie" artists.

WOXY.com and WOXY-FM are two entirely different operations. The internet station used to be on the 97.7 frequency in Cincinnati until the owners sold it off in 2004. The FM station is more of a classic hits format.

 

[Rusty Muck]

WKRK seems to be more adult leaning than most alternative stations are nationally. This makes there less of a hole for AAA than there would be otherwise.

For that audience, WKRK doesn't stand a chance. Remember that the 92.3 frequency is problematic with problems to both the west and south of Cleveland (short-spacing with first adjacent channels with 92.1/Bellevue and two 92.5s in Toledo and Alliance/Canton)... plus its' been beset by constant format changes throughout its' 50 year history.

WNWV has one of the BEST FM signals in the Cleveland market... it is just a little further west than most other FM stations would normally be. In addition, there will be live talent throughout the day.

I'd say its' a safe bet that Boom! will pull ahead of WKRK, and 92.3 will be a complete afterthought. If not going back to another spin at hard rock (Xtreme Radio from 2001-2004 AND K-Rock in 2008, post-Rover) that never really worked before, and won't work again.

True, Boom! won't set the ratings on fire for much of this year - and may even take a significant drop for the immediant future - but this is a long-term project that will need time and attention to develop. The WORST, WORST possible thing for Elyria-Lorain to do would be to pull the plug prematurely. (An excellent example was when the WNCX Gorman/Sanders project was aborted by nervous and inexperienced ownership group days before the Winter 1986 book came out.)

 

[AZOOTEN]

Wow, WONE, WMMS, WNWV, You guys sure stirred up fond memories of growing up in cleveland.
I moved away from cleveland in 2004, because of lack of work, but still miss it to this day.
Cleveland is VERY Unique, You have GREAT College Radio, I have not heard anything like it in the country.
I remember the years of Z-Rock, I remember 107.9 when it was "The End" and of course 89X from windsor. I even remember driving out to see where the 107.3 tower was along with weol's towers.
Fond memories of a city, that I will always miss.
since 2004 Ive been in phoenix arizona and now Im living in eastern pennsylvania.
in a VERY Small town.

 

[radioresearcher]

The other issue is that the salespeople have to know HOW to sell an AAA format. If they don't know or understand their audience, it's going to fail.

So how exactly does one properly sell a AAA format?

I would inform potential advertisers the AAA audience is a dedicated one, they're not 'button pushers' and will keep tuned to the station all day- especially since it's the only game in town.

Back up that statement with facts. PPM shows listeners punch in 6 stations rather than 3 in the diary. AAA is a bad PPM format - as bad or worse than Smooth Jazz. There were holes in Cleveland and this was not one of them.

 

[JimmyJames]

Translate that to a "niche that's hard to sell for broadcasters that program every format like it's top 40" and you'd be correct.

 

[LasVegasRadioJunky]

There were holes in Cleveland and this was not one of them.

Okay, I will bite. What are the holes in Cleveland programming?

 

[VODood]

Astral flips EZ Rock to "boom 97.3" Toronto debuts 12/26

http://www.boom973.com/#

Not a AAA. More of a pop/classic hits Jack if you will playing "Toronto's Greatest Hits".

Playlist http://www.boom973.com/playlist

 

[SiriusJazz]

They've had practice already with WLKR-FM in Norwalk over the past year, so it doesn't really surprise me at all. Perhaps it was groomed over there (in one of the unlikeliest areas that could support such as format... hell, Paul Harvey was a holdover from the previous soft AC format for several weeks!) as a means of replacing the smooth jazz format.

Here's the tentative lineup for Boom 107.3 come January 4:
5:30-10am: Mike Kessler
10am-2pm: Ravenna Miceli
2-7pm: Ric "Rocco" Bennett (also station PD)
7pm-12mid: Michelle Chase

The soon-to-be primary stream is already running at http://boom1073.northcoastnow.com/listen-live/. Already it's functional with liners and the TOH ID.

they're still going to use michelle chase piped in from kansas city for evenings???! HAHAHAHA, they're really going the extra mile with that live and local, "not like corporate radio" approach for the airstaff. watch that budget ELBC!

Why slam on Michelle? She was with the Wave for close to 8 years and also pulled in good numbers. I happen to know her and have worked with her in various formats (smooth jazz included) for the past 20 years. She was doing the voice track thing on the side when it was starting up. Like the rest of us, and me as well, we're all looking for ways to make some money.

And as for her sticking around, not going to happen. The GM told her she was going to stay on, then told her she wasn't, and then asked her to send him a demo of her work :. Now what would you do? She politely declined and wished he and the new station the best. Radio these days is struggling and whether or not someone "pipes it in" can be taken to task is up for debate. But don't blame the person making the living, blame corporations.

 

[YEKIMI]

Thoughts: Once I got back into listening range around noon today [stuck in the south for the holidays] I listened for much of the day till about 8 pm. Heard songs repeating a few hours after I had first heard them.

Heard songs that were actually played on WENZ back when they had sort of an alternative/new wave sounding format [you know, music by "Book Of Love", "Anything Box", "Depeche Mode", etc. before it hardened up into more of an "alternative metal" sound] and after the disco days of WDMT and the WPHR first stab at an Urban format. I'd name songs but I've been up since 2:30 AM and the only thing running through my mind is little voices screaming "GO TO BED". Did remember hearing "I've Got You" by Split Enz which was a kick in the pants; been years since I've heard that song on OTA radio.

Seems like way too much Coldplay & Bruce Springsteen being played, can't remember how many songs I heard from them but it seemed like one every 30 minutes or so [probably wasn't that often, just seemed like it to me].

Lots and lots of songs that I could hear on about 8 other stations, would rather see some more "under the radar" bands played; ones that often don't get a lot of airplay but you know they're out there.

Did hear a few songs from familiar artists but wasn't familiar with the tracks being played....which I liked and would like to see more of that happening.

Seems to be all over the map musically wise, when first started listening thought it hadn't changed too much, the songs had a "jazz" feel to them, then it seemed they went to a "bluesy" type feel on a couple, then "soft rock" sounding, off to "alternative", than "CHR" sounding. Maybe just feeling their way, till they decide what they want to be?

On the way back north did hear a "Classic Top 40" format on a station in WV, and they were playing songs from 60s through early 90s...a lot of them that never made it real high on the charts but were true Top 40s and I had forgotten about a lot of them [remember "Sausalito Summer Nights" by Diesel? Only made it to #25 on the USA Billboard Charts but #1 in Canada]. Wonder if the "AAA" format flames out [I hope it doesn't] , if they could go that route?

Again, only my thoughts and opinions about the change. Grade-wise, I'd give them a C+ for right now.

 

[inter1097]

Seems like way too much Coldplay & Bruce Springsteen being played, can't remember how many songs I heard from them but it seemed like one every 30 minutes or so [probably wasn't that often, just seemed like it to me].

Lots and lots of songs that I could hear on about 8 other stations, would rather see some more "under the radar" bands played; ones that often don't get a lot of airplay but you know they're out there.

Did hear a few songs from familiar artists but wasn't familiar with the tracks being played....which I liked and would like to see more of that happening.



Again, only my thoughts and opinions about the change. Grade-wise, I'd give them a C+ for right now..

I pretty much feel the same way but, give them time. They are a brand new station that is asking it's listeners what they want to hear (wow, what a concept!), and I think it will evolve for the better. They show a lot of promise! I wrote on their facebook wall a ton of bands I'd like to hear on Boom, Hope they aren't overwhelmed!

 

[Rusty Muck]

There were holes in Cleveland and this was not one of them.

Okay, I will bite. What are the holes in Cleveland programming?

I consider AAA a hole in the market. Radio 92.3 was not a true form of the AAA format, but an automated modern rock station that flirted more with some classics and standards. Essentially a modern rock version of JackFM. The "Radio" format that CBS borrowed from CC was designed that way (even though some stations that execute that format, particularly Cincy's WNNF/94.1, are oriented in a Hot AC direction)

CBS only has run Radio 92.3 so that no further personnel cuts could be made to WNCX, WDOK or Q104. Any other station in town picked up the format would execute it the right way, and with Boom! on the scene, Radio 92.3 is a total afterthought. Plus the signals cannot compare. Radio 92.3 is an east-side signal that disappears around Akron, while Boom! easily covers Cleveland, Akron and Canton. In fact, WHEN has 92.3 EVER been a consistantly decent rock station? The continuious alterations between Xtreme Radio, 923X, K-Rock (both the modern rock and active rock versions) and now Radio 92.3...

At this point, both WGAR owns the CHR format in the Cleveland market. CBS might as well spin the wheel of formats on 92.3 and flip it over to "AMP/Now" top 40 (especially since a locally-programmed, locally-run Boom! will annihilate the all-automated Radio 92.3) to at LEAST make an effort against WAKS. What have they got to lose?

The only real "holes" in the Cleveland market proper now are: NAC/SJ, rhythmic oldies (not done since the Beat flopped, BADLY), adult standards (which now sadly shows more life at this point than NAC/SJ), 50s/60s oldies and classic country. The latter two are covered by WDLW/1380 and WOBL/1320, but both are suburban signals aimed towards their COLs. They don't cover the Cleveland market proper.

 

[Rusty Muck]

Seems like way too much Coldplay & Bruce Springsteen being played, can't remember how many songs I heard from them but it seemed like one every 30 minutes or so [probably wasn't that often, just seemed like it to me].

Lots and lots of songs that I could hear on about 8 other stations, would rather see some more "under the radar" bands played; ones that often don't get a lot of airplay but you know they're out there.

Did hear a few songs from familiar artists but wasn't familiar with the tracks being played....which I liked and would like to see more of that happening.



Again, only my thoughts and opinions about the change. Grade-wise, I'd give them a C+ for right now..

I pretty much feel the same way but, give them time. They are a brand new station that is asking it's listeners what they want to hear (wow, what a concept!), and I think it will evolve for the better. They show a lot of promise! I wrote on their facebook wall a ton of bands I'd like to hear on Boom, Hope they aren't overwhelmed!

Plus it was HD2 channel and internet stream that was moved to the primary channel on 107.3 a week ahead of time. It will take weeks, if not months, to really build up the playlist and to minimalize repetition. Heck, WMMS' classic massive music library wasn't completely finished the day after Gorman arrived in July 1973. It has to take time, and judging by the way they're building it up so far, we need not worry.

 

[74WIXYGrad]

I do have some hopes for them as Gorman is a consultant for them. Hopefully he will be listening to what the listeners want.

 

[VODood]

CHR on 92-3 would be the smart move.