WUBE, WGRR, WKRQ and WAQZ go to Entercom!!

[Kahuna1]

Entercomm lands 4 CBS culsters...Memphis, Rochester, Austin and Cincinnati for $262 Mil, takeovers to start in October...so much for all the Randy Michaels talk.....

Format flips, or speculations?

 

[microbob]

Entercom has some interesting stations. They have a variety hits station in Indianapolis called The Track. I could see them flipping one of the stations to a similar format. WUBE is safe, but WKRQ and WAQZ could become candidates for a flip. WGRR should be safe but it could be tweaked into a classic hit station which it is about %90 anyway.

 

[punchbuggy]

Not familiar with the company. What are they doing nationally? Has anyone worked for them?

 

[robmadden1]

Here is thier offical website: http://www.entercom.com

 

[radiomike]

Not familiar with the company. What are they doing nationally? Has anyone worked for them?

They are expanding. A lot of markets, some big, some midsize. They have some legacy AM stations in markets, including WWL in New Orleans, KB in Buffalo (though a shell of its glory days), WEEI ane WRKO Boston, and KIRO in Seattle. Most of the stations are in the east, but they are growing. The group is very community oriented in the markets they are in, at least the ones I have heard. They understand the concept of local.

 

[ncincy1]

Still would like to discusss (hypothetically) any possible format changes - surely something will happen. We've been in a very "dry spell" with any major format shake-ups in a long time. Way overdue! Too much of the same stuff on FM in particular.

Will Smooth Jazz make a return to the Queen City? If not Radio One's new 100.3 signal, then maybe Entercom?

Thoughts, guesses, rumors??

 

[cincytuner]

Here's what I think is going to happen...don't look for any major changes to WUBE or WKRQ. I think they'll either put a "jack" format or classic rock format on WGRR (it's going in that direction anyways), and they'll definetly blow up WAQZ...maybe put an oldies station or smooth jazz there?

 

[punchbuggy]

I'll play! Thanks to Rob Madden's link, I checked out Entercom's other properties around the country.

Entercom seems to have a lot of Jack-style stations throughout the US. I saw "Fickle", "Mike", "Charlie" and "Simon", all "we play what we want" formats. I can see GRR going in that direction. On the other hand, they also have quite a few stations still wearing the Oldies label; could they possibly allow GRR to slip back into that comfortable spot?

They also seem to have a real commitment to New Rock, "Active" rock (whatever that is) and adult alternative. Since the "Everything Alternative" concept belongs to CBS, I don't see WAQZ retaining that lame moniker for long. With a little adjustment and a strong morning show, that station could show real growth.

I personally would love to see Entercom bring Q back to its glory days. The trouble is, the audience that remembers Q's glory days is well out of demo now, so it really doesn't matter what happens to it from a business standpoint, as long as it continues to make money. No one who listens today cares what Q used to be, and I'm guessing Entercom doesn't care either.

B105 is a solid station with talented jocks. Country music isn't what it was 10 years ago, but the audience seems to hang in. I doubt there will be any immediate changes.

 

[radio63]

B105 doesn't get touched, Q is a possibility but only tweaked. I wouldn't touch WGRR at this time, it's bringing in a good cash flow so there is no real reason to mess with it, plus they keep MIX from having the opportunity to do anything smart. Well, actually MIX tends to keep itself from every doing anything smart in my opinion.

 

[WyllyWylly]

Still would like to discusss (hypothetically) any possible format changes - surely something will happen. We've been in a very "dry spell" with any major format shake-ups in a long time. Way overdue! Too much of the same stuff on FM in particular.

Will Smooth Jazz make a return to the Queen City? If not Radio One's new 100.3 signal, then maybe Entercom?

Thoughts, guesses, rumors??

>> Will Smooth Jazz make a return to the Queen City?
I wonder about this because I don't think there's enough revenue in smooth jazz alone, at least not in this market. I do think that Radio One is going to buttress WIZF with a smooth jazz format, or possibly UAC. If there is nothing in your portfolio to complement smooth jazz, it doesn't make much financial sense.

CBS had a habit of throwing money at Q102, and the station two important assets: a good signal and strong brand recognition. It will be interesting to see what tweaking goes on there. I imagine Patty is wondering the same thing; I certainly would in her position!

Something definitely needs to be done with WAQZ. The signal has a hard time getting out of its own back yard, and it doesn't have a lot of focus. Boost the signal, build the brand. Right now, this is the red-headed stepchild of the cluster.

I read on these boards some time ago that WGRR had registered the www.1035jack.com domain, which would seem to indicate a format change. Sadly I can't find that original link and looking up the registrar info reveals that it's a private listing. WGRR has already introduced a lot of changes to its sound.

WUBE... why mess with it? It makes money just sitting there. All Marty has to do is watch his back and life is good.

 

[NoWayNoCC]

WUBE... why mess with it?

Because it's lousy, perhaps?

 

[Flavin]

Ok, I'll bite. You say WUBE is lousy. How so?

 

[WyllyWylly]

Because it's lousy, perhaps?

Whether it's lousy or not is opinion, and could be debated to death. What is true in corporate radio today is that "lousy" isn't enough to make changes when the station pulls numbers (and advertising revenue) just by maintaining status quo. Unfortunate, sad, and all too true.

 

[gr8oldies]

Its lousy because its not NoWay/bandit's personal iPod.

 

[WyllyWylly]

Ouch. But it sounds likely.

 

[CincyRed]

That "Lousy" station was just nominated CMa station of the year. So was the "Lousy" morning show....There's no way you touch B.

 

[LocalGuy]

I don't think Bandit knows the word "perhaps." That has to be someone else.

 

[carolinaradio]

I was just wondering...what does WGRR go by? Some parts of the website say 103.5 WGRR but others say Oldies 103.5. The latter definately sounds better.

 

[WyllyWylly]

what does WGRR go by?

"Cincinnati's Greatest Hits" is the current positioning statement. I think they're shying away from the "Oldies" because of the falling market for oldies in general and the stigma that comes with dating your audience: listeners don't want to be reminded that they're old.

The newer, current playlist falls squarely where the money is: middle class white males with established careers and a lot of disposable income.

 

[carolinaradio]

True...I've been in Cincy quite a few times and WGRR is a great Oldies station. For those of you who have never heard an Entercom Oldies station....they're great, and in my opinion, they do better than CBS. Some examples are KEYN, WMQX, and KBSG, and WOLX...heard all of them and they are spectacular Oldies stations. I wouldn't worry about WGRR at all.