Heard "Stand" by Sly and The Family Stone today on "The Boom". A pleasant surprise. Good diversity. Here's a thing happens with me. An overplayed monster hit sounds fresh and exciting when presented in a new environment.
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WNWV to flip to AAA "soon"
- Thread starter Tim
- Start date
It’s hours away from 2010, which has be wondering will this be the year the radio brethren of Northeast Ohio finally stop hoisting Gman upon their shoulders as they proclaim him the radio Czar. When was the last time he programmed a successful station? 1998? Detroit was a disaster and I bet not a single soul who reads this board can name a station in any top 50..eh 75..eh 100 market he “consulted” in the last 10 that was #1.
I’m not saying he’s a bad programmer. In fact, truth is he was brilliant. But it’s 2010. Times have changed, listening habits have changed. It will NEVER, EVER be the way it was. You could hire all the same talent and PDs that were on the air in 1983 and guess what? The ratings won’t change.
If he is indeed a part of this disaster called Boom! This is all the proof you’ll ever need, that it’s over Johnny.
This has been the single worst launch of any station in the history of broadcasting. Bad audio, segues you could drive trucks thru, wrong ID’s, spot that still say the wave.
You guys defend it because they are local. If Clear Channel/CBS/Citadel/Cumulus launched a station this poorly, you’d be all over them. But because they are local, you give them a break.
Let’s be fair.
When GMAN relaunched WMMS in the 90s it was an event. Everybody was listening, and the minute it launched it was 100% ready. Jocks, imaging, etc. When he launched the new WMJI, same thing.
Boom? The only people that knew were working at the wave and reading this board.
If I worked at 107.3 I’d be embarrassed, and might not return to work on Monday.
Yeah, it’s that bad.
I’m not saying he’s a bad programmer. In fact, truth is he was brilliant. But it’s 2010. Times have changed, listening habits have changed. It will NEVER, EVER be the way it was. You could hire all the same talent and PDs that were on the air in 1983 and guess what? The ratings won’t change.
If he is indeed a part of this disaster called Boom! This is all the proof you’ll ever need, that it’s over Johnny.
This has been the single worst launch of any station in the history of broadcasting. Bad audio, segues you could drive trucks thru, wrong ID’s, spot that still say the wave.
You guys defend it because they are local. If Clear Channel/CBS/Citadel/Cumulus launched a station this poorly, you’d be all over them. But because they are local, you give them a break.
Let’s be fair.
When GMAN relaunched WMMS in the 90s it was an event. Everybody was listening, and the minute it launched it was 100% ready. Jocks, imaging, etc. When he launched the new WMJI, same thing.
Boom? The only people that knew were working at the wave and reading this board.
If I worked at 107.3 I’d be embarrassed, and might not return to work on Monday.
Yeah, it’s that bad.
Wasn't the switch originally going to be on January 4th? Due to circumstances, it was decided to start earlier. That may be the reason for any hiccups.
I see hard work and good changes already. They quickly got more title and artist information up on their RDS.
I see hard work and good changes already. They quickly got more title and artist information up on their RDS.
J
JimmyJames
Guest
It's "different." Not bad. It's better than anything I've heard recently, at least they're making an effort to do something unique.
johnbasalla said:
Yes, it got pushed up a week ahead of schedule. And they've been adding hundreds of song titles at a time. There's still an issue over occasional song repetition, but that should be corrected in a few days. Moreso when personalities are added next week.
Note, too, that WNWV's intellectual property - including their song library - was scooted over to another studio (at least for when Mark Ribbins in on the air) so that the webstream and WNWV-HD2 stream could still function. That more than explains the twelve hours of "tick-tock" back on Sunday night, and probably explains why some elements sound a little off-level, audio wise.
John Baylor said:
That only occurred on the online stream for the first day, John. For God's sake, it wasn't a case of switching two plugs on an analog switcher... Boom! and The Wave likely switched studios. In that building, there are two main studios: one for 107.3's primary channel, and one for WEOL/930. That's been the case since Elyria-Lorain moved there in 1982. I know. I visited a long time ago. (Chances are Boom! - now the Wave - is using one of their production/conference studios.) It's not easy to relocate each stations' respective song libraries and other elements to their new locations.
The only thing that wasn't immediately changed were the "masking songs" that are played over commercial breaks.
Oh, and the "WNWV HD-2: Elyria/Cleveland" ID was probably an oversight. Chances are they got rid of it, because I haven't heard it in days... lol.
John Baylor said:
WRONG. It got advance notice in the PeeDee and Elyria Chronicle (which is co-owned with Elyria-Lorain). Plus The Wave did get good ratings... it only bled red ink revenue-wise and was outbilled by WKFM/96.1.
WMMS was failing badly during the last days of the Micheal Luczak era, and most people tuned in to hear Jeff & Flash and Rocco both sign off, respectively. What Mitch Todd did launching the NextGen Buzzard was pure genius... but it wasn't an outright upheaval. There were still elements of the old Buzzard that remained on-air for weeks, lest of all the former morning show (without Jeff) that was kept as an interim program until Brian & Joe came along. Ditto when Majic was converted into an oldies station.
Plus, Boom! was moved to the primary 107.3 channel a week ahead of time. It was supposed to launch this coming Monday, but was pushed up. Why? Anyone's guess... but it likely was an upper management decision.
John Baylor said:
As bad as NextMedia, Mr. Baylor? Now, please go back to griping about them...
I somewhat agree with Mr. Baylor, not quite as harsh. I've listened several times in the last week, and I've had many times when I hear long stretches of unfamiliar music. Their approach at this is way too far out into left field to grab much traction with the majority of the population.
It's more heavily focused on the golds it would seem. I would go for a more current approach where you could grab audience from WQAL, WMVX, and 92.3
Look at the AAA's such as KBCO in Denver, or Cities 97 in Minneapolis. Even KMTT Seattle. These are the stations that execute a beautiful AAA format. They play the umfamiliar music, but nicely add alot of familiar stuff. And they all perform very well. KBCO has even finished at #1 12+.
WNWV is very very rough. You say it's a work in progress, and I say, I sure hope it is!
If they continue to stay this course, I don't see much of a demise of share for 923. You all talk like it's over for them, but the overlap in the playlists is minimal. They also had a very nice PPM showing.
And I can't for the life of me understand why they play the CHR version of Amy Winehouse that has Jay-Z in it.
It's more heavily focused on the golds it would seem. I would go for a more current approach where you could grab audience from WQAL, WMVX, and 92.3
Look at the AAA's such as KBCO in Denver, or Cities 97 in Minneapolis. Even KMTT Seattle. These are the stations that execute a beautiful AAA format. They play the umfamiliar music, but nicely add alot of familiar stuff. And they all perform very well. KBCO has even finished at #1 12+.
WNWV is very very rough. You say it's a work in progress, and I say, I sure hope it is!
If they continue to stay this course, I don't see much of a demise of share for 923. You all talk like it's over for them, but the overlap in the playlists is minimal. They also had a very nice PPM showing.
And I can't for the life of me understand why they play the CHR version of Amy Winehouse that has Jay-Z in it.
Sadly, this appears to have been launched by folks who don't understand PPM at all. They've broken about every PPM rule yet claimed that was the reason for the change.
This will be a very large uphill battle and unless the format is modified, I would be very surprised to see it work.
This will be a very large uphill battle and unless the format is modified, I would be very surprised to see it work.
J
JimmyJames
Guest
There's very little unfamiliar or deep about Cities 97. Cities 97 is about as Hot AC as you can get without losing AAA status.
107.3 may have its issues but to suggest they become more bland isn't the answer.
107.3 may have its issues but to suggest they become more bland isn't the answer.
Re: WNWV music
Heard a different version of "1979" by The Smashing Pumpkins then I'm used to. The actual one is a lightly flowing, shuffling beat soft rocker. The version heard on "Boom" added bigtime drum beats and other louder Rock instruments that only accomplished making the song sound less distinctive then it really is. I think it would be better to play the original hit version. The song seemed to have lost its catchy tune a bit in all the pouonding.
Heard a different version of "1979" by The Smashing Pumpkins then I'm used to. The actual one is a lightly flowing, shuffling beat soft rocker. The version heard on "Boom" added bigtime drum beats and other louder Rock instruments that only accomplished making the song sound less distinctive then it really is. I think it would be better to play the original hit version. The song seemed to have lost its catchy tune a bit in all the pouonding.
Re: WNWV music
I heard that too today, John, and I agree with everything you said. Also I'll add they need to play the original mix of Coldplay's "Clocks". I mentioned that on Facebook also. It's OK to hear an alternate mix but not the same alternate mix every time!
johnbasalla said:
I heard that too today, John, and I agree with everything you said. Also I'll add they need to play the original mix of Coldplay's "Clocks". I mentioned that on Facebook also. It's OK to hear an alternate mix but not the same alternate mix every time!
Congrats WNWV, you lost me as a listener. I am usually up late evenings and overnights. One of your tag lines is "we play what you want". Well I tuned it at 3 am and what do I hear? A F****ing infomercial. That's NOT what I want! What did I do? I turned your station off and more than likely will not be back. I was willing to give you a chance, even with the quite repetitive playlist. Guess in your opinion people that work late nights or just happen to be up listening late are not worth bothering with. Why play music for them, there can't be that many listening, right? What an insult. I was willing to give you a chance. You blew it.
Re: WNWV music
To be fair, many commercial broadcasters run infomercials in morning timeslots. It's added revenue at a time there would be no revenue. I can see this as good, as you need consistent, good revenue streams to be able to pay the new talent being brought in. I mean, WMJI dumped the consistently good "Elvis Only" from its long-held 8am Sunday morning perch for some infernal infomercial. Also remember, even if you have no live talent on in some overnight hours, it's still not a freebie for the station. They are still being charged for electric use, heating and cooling of the facility and other hidden costs.
To be fair, many commercial broadcasters run infomercials in morning timeslots. It's added revenue at a time there would be no revenue. I can see this as good, as you need consistent, good revenue streams to be able to pay the new talent being brought in. I mean, WMJI dumped the consistently good "Elvis Only" from its long-held 8am Sunday morning perch for some infernal infomercial. Also remember, even if you have no live talent on in some overnight hours, it's still not a freebie for the station. They are still being charged for electric use, heating and cooling of the facility and other hidden costs.
Cities 97 is more mainstream than KMTT and KBCO, I agree. Stations like KPTL Des Moines, WZGC Atlanta Salt Lake City station (The End?) are far more 'bland' than Cities 97.
I'm not saying to make it bland, I'm saying to increase the 'familiar' and surround the gems with the well-known. That will be a key to success. Look at Cities and KBCO? Both doing extremely well in PPM, and it's because they are familiar. Playing a bunch of songs no one knows, isn't going to get ratings. Not in 2010 and not in the PPM world. This is where I echo Baylor's point. It ain't the 70's anymore.
WTTS in Indy and Triple M in Madison, two other very good AAA stations.
I'm not saying to make it bland, I'm saying to increase the 'familiar' and surround the gems with the well-known. That will be a key to success. Look at Cities and KBCO? Both doing extremely well in PPM, and it's because they are familiar. Playing a bunch of songs no one knows, isn't going to get ratings. Not in 2010 and not in the PPM world. This is where I echo Baylor's point. It ain't the 70's anymore.
WTTS in Indy and Triple M in Madison, two other very good AAA stations.
Re: WNWV music
WNWV ran infomericals on Sundays around the hours of 3am to 6am under the Wave format. WTAM, WMJI, MIX and WDOK are all guilty of the same thing. I presume that it might be straightened out soon.
johnbasalla said:
WNWV ran infomericals on Sundays around the hours of 3am to 6am under the Wave format. WTAM, WMJI, MIX and WDOK are all guilty of the same thing. I presume that it might be straightened out soon.
rubberchicken said:
I heard them play that too, which surprised me a little. In that same vein, idk if they would play the original version of "You Know I'm No Good" or the CHR remix with Ghostface Killah (the latter, for some reason, I prefer).
J
JimmyJames
Guest
At times, I actually find Dave FM a bit more interesting than Cities. I'm not saying be completely unfamiliar either, but I think there's still room for a station that goes deeper than a KBCO or KTCZ. As far as commercial AAA goes, my favorites would be along the lines of 106.1 The Corner (familiar enough but with lots of special features to keep it interesting), WXPK or WRLT.
Agreed on WRLT, Lightning 100 from Nashville. Very good station. The ratings don't show that because it's on a 3kw signal in a hilly-terrain market. Bigger signal and I'm sure they'd perform stronger.
Bringing the thread back to Boom, they're going with some DJs starting tomorrow around 9 am EST.
SuperRadioFan said:
Yep. Ravenna Miceli is live from 10a-2p right now, and Rocco from 2p-6p. It's great to hear her on the air again.
Speaking of which, sister station WEOL/930 morning host Les Sekely interviewed Rocco and John Gorman about the format switch yesterday: ( http://weol.northcoastnow.com/audio/weol/010610RoccoJohnGorman.mp3 )
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