benale said:
Baltimore and Washington are two of the only markets without an oldies-classic hits station, so WVIE will fill a void. Only problem is that is on AM and very few listeners go to AM for music.
I've been listening for about an hour and it sounds pretty much like every other Classic Hits station in the country..Rock leaning, predominately 70's some early 80's, and some late 60's.This format belongs on FM. A 50's 60's based format would probably be better, but it is nice to have a station fill a format hole.
I like the idea of 'graffiti-gold'. The problem is that format has been tried many place and in just about every one of them, it has failed! Baltimore had three such stations from 1988 until 1997. The one which lasted the longest was only on for about a year and a half.
I agree that classic hits might not've been the best move. With that said, the satellite service M-10 is using isn't all that bad. The problem is most of what they broadcast I can get on other Baltimore stations. Granted, I HAVE tuned in and am willing to listen, but I'm probably among the minority who will.
I think there were other options worth considering, but several problems remain: First, while the station has a powerful signal both day and night, I question how effective those signals really are. Yes you have 50kw day and 24 kw night at your disposal and while that isn't bad, you have a night time service pattern which is highly compromised! I estimate less than half of the daytime service pattern in covered at night. Worse yet, that signal is vulnerable to interference, mostly from stations with less power; not the least of which is WXXI Rochester NY (YES!)!
Second, I don't know if management is willing to make the necessary changes that will be needed if the station is to be successful. Since dropping oldies several years ago, they've gone through several format changes and have never gotten ratings that would even be considered remotely respectable! When you're running a sports format in Baltimore and getting beat by a small-time operation (in this case, WNST 1570 in Towson MD), that REALLY is PATHETIC! If I was advising the Mangiones, I'd tell them to tell the GM and perhaps his immediate lieutenants that it's time to put up or shut up! The gravy ride sees to have gone on for too long!
Third, while the sound quality may have been good in the past, It seems to have deteriorated. One problem I'm noticing is that one channel is not 'getting through'. It's as if only one jack of the CD player or whatever is plugged in! I'd like to know where Dave Williams 'worked his magic' and if other engineers have done the same and how they did it?
Fourth, there were other format options that should've been looked at, but didn't seem to be. These include the following:
Comedy - with service from 24/7 Comedy radio. This format while not stellar, has proven some success on stations where it's been tried. It continues to gain affiliates at a steady pace.
Classic MOR/standards - update the playlist to include song titles from the 1970s on forward which would, be acceptable with such a format. Play Michael Buble, Diana Krall, Harry Connick Jr, and the like. If your going to play the old crooners/croonettes, do so with caution. Bennett would be OK; so would Sinatra, Williams, Martino and Humperdink. Como and Crosby would be 'pushing the envelope'. A style similar to that of WROW (Magic 590) Albany NY could've been another option, too. That station has had respectable ratings since signing on about two years ago.
Classic Country - Since WANN left the format (was that in '99?), the Bay has been without such a format, and I think it could use it again. Play stuff that WPOC, WMZQ and WXCY won't touch with a 20' pole! Emphasize 1960s - early 1990s; don't be afraid to play stuff going back to the 1950s, but exercise caution when doing so; same with newer songs.
Soul Classics - be similar to WDAS-AM and play old-school soul that the 'two Magics' and WHUR have forgotten about. Emphasize 1960s to 1980s.
