WYRK

[TheBigA]

Yep, and the NRA has studies showing that 78% of the public feel safer with guns. I've done studies for both sides of issues. No problem. The fact is when people choose a music source other than OTA radio, it doesn't have live & local personalities. Right?

Back to the topic of this thread, we're talking about WYRK, the station with the highest percentage of live & local hosts in Buffalo. So they dropped their mid-day guy. But everyone else is still there, right? We're not talking about a station that is replacing all talent with syndication or VT. So why are you circling the wagons?

 

[SirRoxalot]

Maybe because we've been to this rodeo before, and we've seen what happens when you DON'T circle the wagons.

 

[chas108]

Maybe because we've been to this rodeo before, and we've seen what happens when you DON'T circle the wagons.

My concern, as stated above, is that Townsquare is rumored to have developed Cumulusitis. No proof one way or the other...it's just a well-founded rumor. Like the rumor that Mr. Dickey wants to buy debt-free, live and local CBS to help dilute its hemorrhaging balance sheet.

 

[Bob1370]

"Like the rumor that Mr. Dickey wants to buy debt-free, live and local CBS to help dilute its hemorrhaging balance sheet."

Something which has (happily) been shot down by Les Moonves and Dan Mason, both of whom have absolutely ruled it out.

 

[SirRoxalot]

Well, it's foolish to think that buying CBS would help the Cumulus balance sheet anyway. They'd have to borrow to buy it - wiping out the advantage that CBS currently has of being debt-free. The last thing Cumulus needs at this point is more debt.

 

[TheBigA]

Well, it's foolish to think that buying CBS would help the Cumulus balance sheet anyway.

Cumulus has a shortage of stations in large markets. What they have are two station clusters, from the former ABC. They are very inefficient.

The last thing Cumulus needs at this point is more debt.

Money is very cheap now. This is the best time in decades to borrow.

This is not to say CBS will sell the whole radio division. But it wouldn't shock me if Cumulus bought 5 or 6 clusters in markets outside the Top 5. I sense something will happen within the year.

 

[chas108]

Well, it's foolish to think that buying CBS would help the Cumulus balance sheet anyway.

Cumulus has a shortage of stations in large markets. What they have are two station clusters, from the former ABC. They are very inefficient.

The last thing Cumulus needs at this point is more debt.

Money is very cheap now. This is the best time in decades to borrow.

This is not to say CBS will sell the whole radio division. But it wouldn't shock me if Cumulus bought 5 or 6 clusters in markets outside the Top 5. I sense something will happen within the year.

Rumor is 1st qtr 2014.

 

[TheBigA]

Rumor is 1st qtr 2014.

That's the rumor that says they're buying the whole thing, and I don't believe that one.

 

[chas108]

Rumor is 1st qtr 2014.

That's the rumor that says they're buying the whole thing, and I don't believe that one.

A, I hope you're right. This one hits really close to home.

 

[TheBigA]

What might be more likely is another deal with Townsquare. Hmmmm.

 

[Radio_bored-Op]

Too close to the speakers and dial

okay everyone on this discussion..most likely has worked in radio,
or has a DEEP knowledge of the radio environment.

take a step back, and listen IF you can to ( in this case WYRK)
without any expectations...for example, if the underBed is daft punk
dont rush here and type OMG. . the country station is using house
to do the traffic..what does this mean??
Instead, do what ALL of u did when unwere 14 years of age..
and record an aircheck, and listen while u record it...
give it a rest, and listen a week later to see if itmactually sounds the same.

Then, pass it onto someone thAt dont give 2 *hits*about radio,
and get a fresh opinion. A few friends/family members, with various
backgrounds..are about 50/50 - some do think blah, blah, and ugh,
just Zip it and play some of my favorite songs...and not the same five
I just heard, ( then it is commercials) which leads to a flip.

while, other people in my small sample, know the same "10" songs are
repeated over and over, but the voice and persona make it worth while..
to the point they select the radio dial versus a cd/ipod, xm, etc...

Giving this some thought and making observations, with a younger
demo. and most importantly a BUFFALO demo..of all types,
this area when a voice comes on* minus the rare exception
and he went to work for tim hortons* doesnt care what
the voice sounds like/ or has to say... the few exceptions
are limited to ONE per station.. and they know who
they are . . .and out of respect, they have earned their status.

simply put, this town knows it all, its all a computer, running the
station, why listen when i can d/load it, and while u get into my
car and see my presets, and my radio dial is on an FM station..
say WYRK ... the " cool" response is " i never listen to the radio"

Buffalo doesn't have a personality driven station here..
meaning: say, if johnny 'goo' or robbie (from the goo goo dolls)
wanted to settle down, as the new releases aren't as frequent,
and wanted a Buffalo airshift, that may change things,
(ie: Kim Mitchell on q107)... if robbie wanted to be evenings
on 97 rock - he would most likely get the time slot...
and that isn't a night time jock,..putting a caller on air
and having a bit - someone like him, would mail in a few breaks, sure
but listeners would be more excited about a possible story, or
experience that would be a part of the radio broadcast...
versus, " your caller 10....duuuuude u won the free passes to
the movies next week"

 

[SirRoxalot]

There are no "personality" stations anymore - at least not that play music. There are certainly identifiable local personalities on music stations. WYRK and 97-Rock have significant line-ups. Shredd & Ragan certainly qualify. There are others, but the amount of time that they're allowed to establish their own personalities is very limited.

Morning people on music-intensive stations get a little more time. Mid-day people who are left tend to get a bit less. PM Drive splits the difference. Nights are largely a wasteland of syndication and VT. Overnights are almost all automated. Decisions have been made at the corporate level that radio doesn't need to cater to their audience outside of drive time. Oh, yeah, TheBigA will tell you that radio IS catering to their audience by eliminating jocks, but an awful lot of research disputes that. It's about the money, not about serving the audience. And then people wring their hands when listeners go in search of other media.

 

[TheBigA]

TheBigA will tell you that radio IS catering to their audience by eliminating jocks, but an awful lot of research disputes that.

Depends on the questions you ask, and who you ask. Music radio is built on music. It's been that way for 25 years. You want personality? You go to talk stations where the personalities are the stars. But the main attraction to music radio is the music. It's free, convenient, and loaded with hits. Put an FM station on a phone, and "other media" don't matter.

It's about the money, not about serving the audience.

Rule #1 is you can't make money without the audience. So it's about both. Every radio company I've ever worked for was willing to pay whatever it cost to get an audience. Spending on talent that delivers is simply the cost of doing business. But spending money on self-serving talent that brings nothing to the table is money down the drain.

 

[GeorgeKramer]

Clay Moden is smooth and he knows how to work a crowd. I've seen him in action out in public and he loves to interact with his fans and knows exactly what to say to them to show he values their faithful listenership.