WIP-AM's ratings are not very good, but the bigger question is are they making money via local avails? Are the local advertisers who want that prized young male audience happy with even a small piece of that so will buy time on 610 to reach that small piece of the Philly audience of young men?
The problem a retro 610 WIP would have is NOT in attracting listeners, but getting advertisers to buy ad time for that older demo that this great format would attract. I'd be a loyal listener, but I'm 62, no one cares if I ever turn on a radio.
Remember AM-1290 [WJBR-AM] in Wilmington had good ratings with their Adult Standard format from the bird. Great music, good hosts, well produced, etc, etc, but couldn't sell it due to the age of the listeners. WJBR-FM one of Wilmington's few 50K FM stations has a great signal for 2/3'rds of Delaware, Philly, and a major part of South Jersey, had great ratings with their "beautiful music format", but couldn't sell it, so when the Reynolds family sold the station the new owners immediately changed the format to AC and continued to be the #1 or #2 station depending on the book in the Wilmington market, but NOW they're making money. Radio is a business. No company is going to stay in business long if they are losing money, unless its a hobby station for some multi-millionaire to play with who doesn't care about making ends meet. Bottom line its all about the money.