Z102 flips...

[radiowindow]

On All Access it says that Z102 has flipped to HOT AC...but weren't they already a HOT AC?! The PD Jeff (CJ) is out...sad to see someone lose their job. Are they going to make any big changes...voice guy, Bob and Sheri?

 

[FilmCritic3K]

On All Access it says that Z102 has flipped to HOT AC...but weren't they already a HOT AC?! The PD Jeff (CJ) is out...sad to see someone lose their job. Are they going to make any big changes...voice guy, Bob and Sheri?

Here's a sample music log...

1:53PM - Gwen Stefani - "Rich Girl"
1:57PM - One Republic - "Apologize"
2:00PM - Lifehouse - "Whatever It Takes"
2:03PM - Ashlee Simpson - "Pieces Of Me"
2:07PM - Chris Brown - "With You"
2:11PM - Pink - "U + Ur Hand"
2:14PM - John Mayer - "Daughters"
2:18PM - Justin Timberlake - "Summer Love"
2:22PM - Natasha Bedingfield - "Love Like This"
2:26PM - Nickelback - "Someday"
2:30PM - Sara Bareilles - "Love Song"
2:37PM - Goo Goo Dolls - "Better Days"
2:40PM - Fergie - "Clumsy"
2:43PM - Lenny Kravitz - "It Ain't Over 'Til It's Over"
2:47PM - Taylor Swift - "Teardrops On My Guitar"
2:50PM - Fort Minor - "Where'd You Go"

Apparently Bob & Sheri are still on the station, as the two are riding on Z102's float in our St. Patrick's Day parade. After that, who knows, though I'll bet they're not going anywhere. Z102's website, logo, positioner ("All The Hits!"), and imaging are all the same. The bio of the station's recently axed PD bio is still on the site, nothing's been updated to denote a format flip. I guess they don't want to rock the boat. Then again, when said boat is full of holes, lichen, and barnacles...

And yes, WZAT has tried Hot AC before, to no avail. But remember, we *are* talking about the radio equivalent of the Sally Field film Sybil.

 

[Radio-X]

On All Access it says that Z102 has flipped to HOT AC...but weren't they already a HOT AC?! The PD Jeff (CJ) is out...sad to see someone lose their job. Are they going to make any big changes...voice guy, Bob and Sheri?

Here's a sample music log...

1:53PM - Gwen Stefani - "Rich Girl"
1:57PM - One Republic - "Apologize"
2:00PM - Lifehouse - "Whatever It Takes"
2:03PM - Ashlee Simpson - "Pieces Of Me"
2:07PM - Chris Brown - "With You"
2:11PM - Pink - "U + Ur Hand"
2:14PM - John Mayer - "Daughters"
2:18PM - Justin Timberlake - "Summer Love"
2:22PM - Natasha Bedingfield - "Love Like This"
2:26PM - Nickelback - "Someday"
2:30PM - Sara Bareilles - "Love Song"
2:37PM - Goo Goo Dolls - "Better Days"
2:40PM - Fergie - "Clumsy"
2:43PM - Lenny Kravitz - "It Ain't Over 'Til It's Over"
2:47PM - Taylor Swift - "Teardrops On My Guitar"
2:50PM - Fort Minor - "Where'd You Go"

Apparently Bob & Sheri are still on the station, as the two are riding on Z102's float in our St. Patrick's Day parade. After that, who knows, though I'll bet they're not going anywhere. Z102's website, logo, positioner ("All The Hits!"), and imaging are all the same. The bio of the station's recently axed PD bio is still on the site, nothing's been updated to denote a format flip. I guess they don't want to rock the boat. Then again, when said boat is full of holes, lichen, and barnacles...

And yes, WZAT has tried Hot AC before, to no avail. But remember, we *are* talking about the radio equivalent of the Sally Field film Sybil.

Yeah...I have listened to Z-102 over the last few weeks and have noticed little to no difference. I'm just not sure this is the key for its future...but whatever, they still make money.

Radio-X

 

[TheMusicMan]

Sounds like the same format to me. Nothing seems to have changed musically (excepting that random Lenny Kravitz record, no idea where that came from). The pitiful imaging remains intact as well. Seriously, Z has one of the best V/O guys in the industry (Jeff Berlin) and they're totally wasting his talent. Someone needs to tell them to GET RID of that awful 30-second promo rambling on about how we can now stream WZAT at z102.net.

I'm sorry for CJ. Hope he ends up in a solid situation.

Whether or not any actual changes will take place down the line remains to be seen. I don't see how any flip has taken place, but Hot AC borders so closely on Top 40 these days that it's harder to distinguish the difference between a conservative Top 40 and a Hot AC than it's been the past.

 

[radiowindow]

It seems like Z102 went jockless for most of the day. Did anyone notice that?

 

[BRH]

I listen to Z102 online every now and then, and I was also under the impression that they were already a Hot AC. Their playlist basically sounded like one anyway (except for an occasional hip hop/R&B tune thrown in every once in awhile.) Also, aren't they listed as Hot AC in the ratings books too?

So anyway, I doubt it is going to be a huge change as they seem to have been going this way for awhile now. (and listening from outside the market, I don't see why everyone rags on Z102 so much. I actually think they are a pretty decent sounding Hot AC. I also prefer them over CC's cookie cutter, crosstown Kiss CHR. But I guess that's just my own tastes.)

 

[htowler]

Z102 Was a CHR that Leaned Very HOT AC. Now it's a HOT AC that leans Very CHR LOL

I expect it to Level out to a more true HOT AC in the coming weeks/Months.


D, Ya still got a Job?

 

[TheMusicMan]

It's the end of an era...Z102 is now Mix 102-1. New voiceover guy, new slogan although 10-in-a-row stays. Interesting.

 

[FilmCritic3K]

It's the end of an era...Z102 is now Mix 102-1. New voiceover guy, new slogan although 10-in-a-row stays. Interesting.

Wow! When did the "official" flip occur? I'm curious how this will play out, though I've no doubt 97-3 KISS FM will still do well. This is hard to track. When WAEV was Mix 97.3 in the mid '90s they did exceedingly well. Can Hot AC succeed in Savannah once again? I guess we'll see.

 

[FilmCritic3K]

For what it's worth, here's a sample music log of "Mix 102-1". There's no doubt about it - the station's not some weird Top 40/Hot AC hybrid as it's been in the past...it's a full-fledged Hot AC...

1:19AM - Toad The Wet Sprocket - "All I Want"
1:22AM - Cobie Caillat - "Bubbly"
1:26AM - Gavin Degraw - "I Don't Want To Be"
1:29AM - Bon Jovi - "It's My Life"
1:33AM - Howard Jones - "No One Is To Blame"
1:37AM - Kelly Clarkson - "Breakaway"
1:41AM - Sugar Ray - "Someday"
1:44AM - Santana featuring Chad Kroeger - "Into The Night"
1:48AM - Nelly Furtado - "I'm Like A Bird"
1:52AM - Kid Rock featuring Sheryl Crow - "Picture"
1:56AM - Gin Blossoms - "Found Out About You"
2:00AM - Jordin Sparks - "Tattoo"
2:04AM - Counting Crows - "Accidentally In Love"
2:07AM - Gwen Stefani - "Underneath It All"
2:11AM - U2 - "Pride (In The Name Of Love"
2:15AM - Nickelback - "If Everyone Cared"
2:18AM - Mariah Carey - "Emotions"

 

[htowler]

I don't think the Format wheel in Savannah is Quite finished yet.

We Still have 94.1 the Beat which just got Slammed

Magic is still for sale

Will KissFM Stay the course and let 102.1 try to niche or do they lean more Hot AC to compete

Now how about E93? Which just got Socked by WSOK. they now pipe in a Morning Show from a Rhythmic Radio Station. With 102.1 going full Hot AC there would be little to no overlap if E93 was to move Rhythmic. Could this be the Reason WHY 102.1 was flipped?

 

[russ973]

If someone thinks we're a cookie-cutter CC CHR, they must not listen often.

Or would you prefer we don't play Flo Rida, Sara Bareilles and Buckcherry... just because it works in other CC markets too? Some songs are universal. Others do well (or don't) on a local/regional basis.

 

[FilmCritic3K]

If someone thinks we're a cookie-cutter CC CHR, they must not listen often.

Or would you prefer we don't play Flo Rida, Sara Bareilles and Buckcherry... just because it works in other CC markets too? Some songs are universal. Others do well (or don't) on a local/regional basis.

I'm eager to hear your thoughts on WZAT's flip, Russ. I'm still trying to wrap my head around whether Hot AC is a viable format in Savannah - after all, 97-3 KISS FM exists because the Hot AC format that was previously on WAEV (Mix 97.3) started tanking badly at the end of the '90s/early 2000s.

In any case, I'm just glad Cumulus is trying something different other than merely slightly changing or tweaking the playlist. After all of the bitching and complaining I and others have done on this board for more than five years, they've finally flipped WZAT. The music mix is decent, and with the station *officially* Hot AC, sounds more focused and less schizophrenic. Now let's see how Mix 102-1 does.

 

[Caveman]

After all of the bitching and complaining I and others have done on this board for more than five years,

5+ years of "bitching and complaining"...maybe some Midol will help you?

 

[TheMusicMan]

For what it's worth (probably not much, I'm no PD), I think this was a solid move for Cumulus. They've plunged right into the niche of women that might not care for Flo Rida and Kanye on KISS (and the old Z, for that matter), but are bored by Michael Bolton on The River. If it's programmed properly, it could do well.

As far as KISS leaning more conservative to combat Mix...why? They've just gotten a huge break - they're now the only Top 40 in the market. I'm sure some Z listeners will stick around for Mix, but I would imagine KISS stands to inherit some audience from this. What would it accomplish to create competition for yourself when you're the only game in town?

I don't think it's fair to pass judgment on the new station so quickly. Two early gripes, though. The logo - very Microsoft Paint. You can see it at z102.net. Also, the imaging sounds like something I'd have heard on an AC in the early 90s. Hopefully they'll improve on that. Musically, mostly sounds good to me, we'll see how it shapes up. Any word on what they're doing jock-wise?

By the way, is Cumulus definitely dumping the 103.9 signal? If so, I'm mildly surprised that they didn't move the Magic format to 102.1.

 

[pbf1]

telling everyone how to run a radio station (*cough cough* the beloved Jan Jeffries).

That was a typo, right? You meant "ruin," not "run," right? hehhehee

 

[russ973]

I'm not going to give too many thoughts here... logo is just like the old Mix 97.3 logo though.

Hot AC's are quite different... this one plays a lot of 80's and 90's. The River and Q105.3 seems to be their target.

 

[htowler]

Kiss FM is NOT "cookie cutter" they had more a Hot AC hint them Most CHRs, Until Recently they started to Balance to more of a typical CHR but it's still Unique. Question for Russ though. Will you start to lean Hot AC again or is it too early to consider anything now?

If someone thinks we're a cookie-cutter CC CHR, they must not listen often.

Or would you prefer we don't play Flo Rida, Sara Bareilles and Buckcherry... just because it works in other CC markets too? Some songs are universal. Others do well (or don't) on a local/regional basis.

 

[htowler]

For what it's worth (probably not much, I'm no PD), I think this was a solid move for Cumulus. They've plunged right into the niche of women that might not care for Flo Rida and Kanye on KISS (and the old Z, for that matter), but are bored by Michael Bolton on The River. If it's programmed properly, it could do well.

As far as KISS leaning more conservative to combat Mix...why? They've just gotten a huge break - they're now the only Top 40 in the market. I'm sure some Z listeners will stick around for Mix, but I would imagine KISS stands to inherit some audience from this. What would it accomplish to create competition for yourself when you're the only game in town?

I don't think it's fair to pass judgment on the new station so quickly. Two early gripes, though. The logo - very Microsoft Paint. You can see it at z102.net. Also, the imaging sounds like something I'd have heard on an AC in the early 90s. Hopefully they'll improve on that. Musically, mostly sounds good to me, we'll see how it shapes up. Any word on what they're doing jock-wise?

By the way, is Cumulus definitely dumping the 103.9 signal? If so, I'm mildly surprised that they didn't move the Magic format to 102.1.

I would have thought Magic 102.1 for sure with 100kw it would Top WLVH and maybe even be #1 I mean Magic was Double Z's Ratings on a stick with 1/2 the Power.

Another Quick Note The Playlist seems alot Deeper this time around with HOT AC and Sounds pretty good Suprisingly.

 

[rcombs]

The kilowatts of a radio station means nothing when it comes to ratings here. There are only 3 counties that you need to really cover and you can do that with 6 or 10 kilowatts.