You can tell when a station is dying

[FIDELIPACK]

When a radio station begins to die the djs sound tired. There is no energy and commercials fall off. The music gets repeitive and dull and all promotion stops. Even the jingles get shrill. Everyone inside knows the end is coming and it soon is obvious to the listeners. 100.7 in 2005. 106.1 and 93.9 in 2006.

A Raleigh station is dying again.

 

[CCAlumni]

It has to be either the River or 99.9. Both sound stale and on life support. Anyone know anything?

 

[berlin201]

All I know is that WCMC 99.9 is picking up the Carolina Hurricanes games (from Y102.9) and the N.C. State football and basketball coaches' radio shows (from WPTF 680).

I have some ideas for some of these stations:

1) I've been hearing complaints about the lack of an active rocker; I think that would fit on either The River or on RDU (after first killing The Rooster).

2) The Triad has a country station (WIST) that focuses on the country legends. That would be an idea for WCMC, rather than pitting them against QDR.

3) I like what they've done with Y102.9, bringing back some of the '80s hits they used to play from their Star-FM days. They could easily go up against Mix 101.5, filling in the niche left vacant when Sunny became Kiss.

 

[BIG APE]

The way I look at it ALL the stations are dying and have been for years since the conglomerates took over local radio. It was so refreshing the other week to listen to Rewound WLS, WABC and all the other stations that do this. Evidently there is a lot of support for this "Old Time Radio" or they wouldn't be doing it. I was never convinced that the public wanted to hear "94" Minutes or 2 hours or all frigging night of "Back to Back Music"..You can say what you want, but I've been in this business a long time and when stations start doing that, It's because They AIN'T GOT NO SPOTS"!! Years ago in Florida, we run run national spots free..Coke Pepsi, Bud, whatever just to sound like we had a lot of business and it always worked..The local sales team got out and pitched it and sold time and we had a good time on the local level at Bar Remotes, Rodeos..Drag Racing in Gainesville and whatever. That's What made Radio fun..with listener participation and community involvement and you'll never convince me that It is still not right and works.. Sorry I got a little off subject, But believe me..NOBODY Locally cares about JB and B and Opie, Sherry and Whoever, they would much rather hear Jax Beat Fernandina Bch last night in HS Football 21-7 than BS about Paris Hilton and Celebrity Trash.. Just My opinion, but I talk to a hellava lot of people from Florida to NC daily and that's what I'm hearing...BIGAPE!

 

[Christopher Chenn]

since the conglomerates took over local radio

Yes Big Ape, exactly what I tried to say in my not so nice words. It seems that on this forum all there is are cheerleaders for the big guys who have ruined radio. While there may be a glimmer of light now and then it will never come back.

 

[dittohead1]

I think Goodman is taking 99.9 Talk, unless CC beats him to it by flipping the Rooster to that format 1st.

 

[tothedj]

The last few posts points out something i've known for quite sometime, radio as
we know it is fading, and corporate owners doesn' t care what the listerner thinks.
In early 2008, i will have been in broadcasting 25 years, it use to be fun doing
this, but some of the things that i see going on right now should not only alarm
those who are still in this business but listeners too, i can see why many listen
to their CD's, IPod's, and Satellite Radio Systems, and if this trend continues,
how long will it be before we see stations giving up or signing off, even on FM?

 

[stench]

Could it be 96 Rock We Play Everything That Sucks?

MIX sounds hor-eee--bulll someone better tell them that Hot AC is dead.

I know! WUNC, hey they sound lifeless and they are always top 3. Shoot. I give up Fidelipuck who could it be?

Rooster ain't going anywhere, too much crow to eat on that one. Please give us your wisdom oh packer of fidelity.

 

[surfdude]

Could it be 96 Rock We Play Everything That Sucks?

MIX sounds hor-eee--bulll someone better tell them that Hot AC is dead.

Really insightful comments, stench.

Fact: 96 Rock's ratings are better than ever.
Opinion: Mix has softened their music mix and I think they'll improve in their
target of 25-54 women.

 

[music_man]

It will be interesting to see the affect satellite has on free FM now that more and more cars are coming equiped with satellite radios and a free 1 - 3 year subscription. I believe once people get a taste of satellite they won't want to go back to limitied play lists, long commercial breaks, and djs with no personality who aren't allowed to talk about the music and artists even if it costs x dollars a month.

 

[luvradio2]

If I remember correctly, Kix 101.1 carried the Canes and then flipped to talk radio. Maybe 99.9 will follow suit. If that is the case, I feel bad for the jocks. They didn't seem to have much of a chance with no PD for months after Joe Wade was let go.

 

[johnqdoe]

The way I look at it ALL the stations are dying and have been for years since the conglomerates took over local radio. It was so refreshing the other week to listen to Rewound WLS, WABC and all the other stations that do this. Evidently there is a lot of support for this "Old Time Radio" or they wouldn't be doing it. I was never convinced that the public wanted to hear "94" Minutes or 2 hours or all frigging night of "Back to Back Music"..You can say what you want, but I've been in this business a long time and when stations start doing that, It's because They AIN'T GOT NO SPOTS"!! Years ago in Florida, we run run national spots free..Coke Pepsi, Bud, whatever just to sound like we had a lot of business and it always worked..The local sales team got out and pitched it and sold time and we had a good time on the local level at Bar Remotes, Rodeos..Drag Racing in Gainesville and whatever. That's What made Radio fun..with listener participation and community involvement and you'll never convince me that It is still not right and works.. Sorry I got a little off subject, But believe me..NOBODY Locally cares about JB and B and Opie, Sherry and Whoever, they would much rather hear Jax Beat Fernandina Bch last night in HS Football 21-7 than BS about Paris Hilton and Celebrity Trash.. Just My opinion, but I talk to a hellava lot of people from Florida to NC daily and that's what I'm hearing...BIGAPE!

Interesting rant....I don't think I've EVER heard a listener complaining about too LITTLE commercials. That doesn't make you sound "big time"....It makes you sound like you're playin a ton of freakin commercials!!!! I'm all for locality...but in the medium to large markets, the only folks that really care about Jax beating Fernandina BEach are the folks in those 2 cities.

 

[rf_chaser]

For all of the things sat radio is that terrestial radio isn't, sat radio isn't making money and if the FCC doesn't let XM and Sirius merge, sat radio is doomed.

 

[BIG APE]

Gee! Last Time I looled out the door...Jax and Fernandina Bch are in Large Markets! How about you?

 

[johnqdoe]

Gee! Last Time I looled out the door...Jax and Fernandina Bch are in Large Markets! How about you?

In a market quiiiiite a bit bigger than Jacksonville. Like I said, I'm allll about locality. But unless you are a top 40 station that caters to the teens, most people don't wanna hear a Friday Night Scoreboard type thing. Bigrivalries or playoff runs are a lil different...but by and large, if you went to Jefferson, Smith, or even Rydell High, you don't care about the others. I don't know how many high school teams there are in Jax...but it woud take an hour to run down every score on anave Friday night in Dallas. And Texans take their HS ball probably more seriously than Floridians.

 

[XTalker]

In lots of markets, TV has high school football shows and they do quite well. A radio show that started at 10PM could be a nice draw and revenue generator in a time period that usually is full of bonus spots.

Set up a crew of volunteers from each school. Give them a cell phone (sponsored, of course) and have them call in final score and 30 second wraps of games.

It could work, even in Dallas!

 

[johnqdoe]

In lots of markets, TV has high school football shows and they do quite well. A radio show that started at 10PM could be a nice draw and revenue generator in a time period that usually is full of bonus spots.

Set up a crew of volunteers from each school. Give them a cell phone (sponsored, of course) and have them call in final score and 30 second wraps of games.

It could work, even in Dallas!

I'm not sayin it can't....but it would prolly have to be on a CHR station. I'm just sayin there are more and possibly better ways to be local and relatable than reading HS football scores

 

[XTalker]

I'm not talking about just reading scores, but adding some color - getting some students (listeners) involved in the show, adding some production values, an occasional interview with a star player, etc.

Sorry, but there is not much that will generate listeners and revenue on Friday night from 10-11PM.

Would word on most any format and would be a lot better than playing the same songs over and over. Heck, you could even incorporate some music. Make it a two hour show, spotlight a particular school each week. Let the students pick some music.

My goodness, you might even cultivate some of tomorrow's air talent (God forbid).

 

[johnqdoe]

I'm not talking about just reading scores, but adding some color - getting some students (listeners) involved in the show, adding some production values, an occasional interview with a star player, etc.

Sorry, but there is not much that will generate listeners and revenue on Friday night from 10-11PM.

Would word on most any format and would be a lot better than playing the same songs over and over. Heck, you could even incorporate some music. Make it a two hour show, spotlight a particular school each week. Let the students pick some music.

My goodness, you might even cultivate some of tomorrow's air talent (God forbid).

Awwww...screw all that...we'll just voice track it and guess the scores!

 

[BIG APE]

Typical CC Answer! ???