wsm fm gets Dan Bowen as PD

[onetake]

Since coming to Nashville Dan Bowen's 2 jobs have been a little vague. Now he has a specific one.
But I wonder if vague will be a plus as pd of WSM FM

 

[secondchoice]

If you were going to continue country wouldn’t you hire a PD that had a strong county back round? Dan’s last PD gig was not country. Star 94 is in Atlanta where a lot of the Cumulus big shots live. I am sure they are familiar with his “non country” work. Is this the first step in a format change at WSM-FM?

 

[TheBigA]

If you were going to continue country wouldn’t you hire a PD that had a strong county back round?

He worked for the Country Music Association. I'd suggest that's a pretty strong country background.

If you check the bios on a lot of country programmers, you'll discover a lot of them came from other formats. The job of the PD is to run a radio station, not be a fan of a specific genre of music.

One of the ironies is that while Dan came from Star in Atlanta and is going to a country station, Star's current PD, Scott Lindy, was most recently a country PD in Atlanta and Baltimore. So using this logic, shall we start rumors that Star is flipping to country?

 

[secondchoice]

He worked for the Country Music Association. I'd suggest that's a pretty strong country background.

Thanks, I missed the CMA part.

Atlanta supports 2 country stations nicely. There are rumors of the 107.1 move in which will have a good signal in the north half of the market. The demo's in those counties work out pretty good for Country. Atlanta does not have the best set of signals (AM or FM) so there is not a lot of (radio wars). Three of only 7 intown big FM signals duking it out in country would be cool, but not smart revenue wise.

 

[onetake]

Dan was IN Atlanta a long time but the last couple of years at Star 94 were not good. He "left" and did not pick up a PD job so took a vague CMA job that went away.Then took another job that was vague. He took the WSM job for a reason. I just can't figure out the reason. Just don't see Nashville really needing 3 country FM's. Atlanta 4 1/2 million with 2 Countrys Nashville metro 1 million with 3. But if after all these years their name didn't give them an edge, what will. Granted the Cumulus Dallas Country is one of the strongest in the country. Maybe if they'll just copy them, specifically.
Dan got lucky being in a town with an opening. I hope it works for him but it won't be the same as Star in Atlanta.

 

[TheBigA]

Just don't see Nashville really needing 3 country FM's. Atlanta 4 1/2 million with 2 Countrys Nashville metro 1 million with 3.

It's not a function of "needing" them. They all make money. Lots of similar sized towns have 3 country stations: Kansas City, Salt Lake City, or even Grand Rapids Michigan. WSM has been a clone of KPLX for a few years. KSCS is now run by the guy who ran KDF for years. So the Dallas/Nashville connection already exists.

 

[Tibbs4]

Makes "one" wonder if "one" brother would directly compete against "another" brother should the pseudo-Nashaloha Trust be created. In that unique scenario, I could techically see the Dickey's blatantly taking formats directly against CC and SCM. I agree Big A --- in a logical situation, why destroy a reasonably successful/profitable third country station by taking a chance and incurring great expense with another format that's probably already taken?

 

[jetfli]

why destroy a reasonably successful/profitable third country station by taking a chance and incurring great expense with another format that's probably already taken?

Because when your sales folks offer a cluster buy to a client, you want to be able to cut across as many demographics as you possibly can — and if you have two stations that bring the same demos, that impedes your ability to do so. If someone else is already doing the same thing, it just means you can offer your client that which makes you unique, as well as what the competitor does. That's why you don't keep two stations with the same format. If the dust clears and both SM-FM and KDF are still there, owned by Cumulus, it won't stay that way long. Besides, with KDF in hand, Cumulus can stop paying Gaylord licensing fees for the WSM name.

 

[TheBigA]

Makes "one" wonder if "one" brother would directly compete against "another" brother should the pseudo-Nashaloha Trust be created.

Why not? Wilks owns two competing country stations in Kansas City. Clear Channel owns two competing country stations in Austin. CBS owns two competing all news stations in NYC. So why not?

 

[jetfli]

Why not? Wilks owns two competing country stations in Kansas City. Clear Channel owns two competing country stations in Austin. CBS owns two competing all news stations in NYC. So why not?

I have some past ties to the Wilkes/KC situation, and I know that those particular stations may both be playing country, but they are programmed to and sold for two different age demos. KFKF is for older but still mainstream country fans, while Q104 goes after a younger country audience with an emphasis on younger artists and "hipper" jocks. A quick look at the websites for the Austin stations lead me on first impression to believe that's pretty much the same way it is with those stations in the Texas capital as well.

In Nashville, SM-FM and KDF are basically going for the exact same audience. While there's some variation, there's not the stark distinction that exists between KFKF and Q104. So if you want me to clarify my position, I'll be glad too: it makes no sense for business to allow both SM-FM and KDF to exist AS THEY ARE NOW in a combined Cumulus-Citadel cluster. And if you have to change one of them to set up a Wilkes/KC type situation in Nashville, then you are going to have to alter them so much you won't recognize one or both of them when it's done. So you've still blown up at least one of them.

As for "why not?" — why Cumulus isn't likely to keep both — I've already outlined that in my previous post.

 

[Tibbs4]

Why not?

a.) Blood is thicker than broadcasting. Maybe. $$$$.

b.) Can't remember #b, cause I am still having to play nice for Lent. Personally, I do think two country stations would make exceptionally good business sense. I also know that the 3-way pride contest has finally been "won" by a most unexpected player. Before, no one wanted to conceit the loss.

 

[secondchoice]

From what I have been able to figure out from Cumulus’ financial projections verses the Citadel / ABC deal, the Citadel plan was based on expanding billings. Cumulus will be leveraged but it is a long term plan that really doesn’t require a lot of revenue “growth” to keep out of trouble. If the billing holds up or improves at both stations there might not be a format flip at either. Will WSIX still perform as well as in the past? The format future of both stations (and most stations nationwide) will be determined by this summer’s ratings and or billings.

it makes no sense for business to allow both SM-FM and KDF to exist AS THEY ARE NOW in a combined Cumulus-Citadel cluster.

Correct

Within a couple of years except for mornings, I expect there will never be announcers working “live on the air” at either station, no matter what type of music either WSM-FM of KDF is playing. The only possible exception is programming originating in Nashville for a bunch of stations nationwide. If you can bill the same voice tracking, why have the expense of “live and local”. Most of the listeners can’t tell the difference.
It’s all about the money.

 

[TheBigA]

If you can bill the same voice tracking, why have the expense of “live and local”. Most of the listeners can’t tell the difference.
It’s all about the money.

Well you're right about the money, but it misses an important fact: Local talent can be used to attract money. IF they let it happen. Regardless of how you feel about this, local talent are local celebrities. They can be used that way to make personal appearances and work directly with local sponsors. It helps if the local talent is willing to do this. But if they are, talent can be part of the overall sales package.

 

[secondchoice]

If you can bill the same voice tracking, why have the expense of “live and local”. Most of the listeners can’t tell the difference.
It’s all about the money.

Well you're right about the money, but it misses an important fact: Local talent can be used to attract money. IF they let it happen. Regardless of how you feel about this, local talent are local celebrities. They can be used that way to make personal appearances and work directly with local sponsors. It helps if the local talent is willing to do this. But if they are, talent can be part of the overall sales package.

I agree! The real shame is alot of CEO's look on Air Talent (and employees too) as an just another expense that to cut .

 

[TheBigA]

The real shame is alot of CEO's look on Air Talent (and employees too) as an just another expense that to cut .

I don't think they do. CEOs don't cut local talent. That decision is left to the local GM. He decides who goes and who stays.

 

[secondchoice]

The real shame is alot of CEO's look on Air Talent (and employees too) as an just another expense that to cut .

I don't think they do. CEOs don't cut local talent. That decision is left to the local GM. He decides who goes and who stays.

True. But when a CEO, unually with the blessing of the board or directors, tells a division VP or cluster manager to cut expenses he has to know somebody will get canned. It will be interesting when the Citadel upper management gets a little taste of being the expense cut. Of course they have golden parachutes, so the landing will not be so hard.

 

[TheBigA]

But when a CEO, unually with the blessing of the board or directors, tells a division VP or cluster manager to cut expenses he has to know somebody will get canned.

The Cumulus approach, from what I've read, is more about increasing revenues than cutting expenses. Ultimately the goal is to make money, not avoid spending it. They'll spend on all kinds of things if it brings in revenue. The three key letters are ROI, return on investment. So they'll spend on talent, as WSM-FM did on a local morning show rather than use Tony & Kris. That's just one example.

 

[jetfli]

Within a couple of years except for mornings, I expect there will never be announcers working “live on the air” at either station, no matter what type of music either WSM-FM of KDF is playing. The only possible exception is programming originating in Nashville for a bunch of stations nationwide. If you can bill the same voice tracking, why have the expense of “live and local”. Most of the listeners can’t tell the difference.

You know, I could see a scenario, if it does ending up making sense to the local cluster to maintain two country stations, where KDF is programmed for local audiences, and SM-FM is the flagship for one of the two 24-hour country formats they'll inherit. This would be a plausible set-up should they choose to originate at least the country networks in Nashville instead of Dallas, which I would think a wise move. This being the case, I could see the 2nd Avenue studio becoming home to the talkers (WGFX and WWTN), while Division becomes home to the music stations and country networks.

quote author=TheBigA link=topic=186674.msg1645854#msg1645854 date=1300225666]
The Cumulus approach, from what I've read, is more about increasing revenues than cutting expenses. Ultimately the goal is to make money, not avoid spending it. They'll spend on all kinds of things if it brings in revenue. The three key letters are ROI, return on investment. So they'll spend on talent, as WSM-FM did on a local morning show rather than use Tony & Kris. That's just one example.
[/quote]

You may have read that, but that's not what's happened in this market. The cluster here has been squeezed, and squeezed, and squeezed again.

 

[TheBigA]

You may have read that, but that's not what's happened in this market. The cluster here has been squeezed, and squeezed, and squeezed again.

Then why did they ignore Tony & Kris and instead hire a full local morning staff?

 

[jetfli]

Then why did they ignore Tony & Kris and instead hire a full local morning staff?

Whether or not they ignored Tony and Kris, the cluster's history is the cluster's history. No use denying facts.

I suspect the main reason they ignored Tony & Kris is to be able to compete. I also suspect that in a few months. they won't have to worry about that.