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Z93 stunting!

Jason Roberts said:
I don't know any of the players in this game. I don't care who they are.

Frankly, KyMedia didn't publish anything most of us in radio in this market didn't already know or suspect. For example, there are radio people here who knew darn well a "format finder" was being done in the market this past summer. No one was surprised. We suspected it was Mainline.

A lot of us guessed correctly what that research may have apparently showed. (Why? Other broadcast companies periodically also do this research. Even if you don't have research behind you, if you've got some knowledge of how programming works, you could have guessed most of it. It's not "rocket science". A lot of that has been speculated in programming offices all over town for some time.)

But here are the important points to remember:

The Z-93 "brand" had become fatally flawed. The time to have repaired the brand was, actually, as far back as the late 1990's. Yes, Radio One's lack of attention and caring to the station contributed, but a lot else played a part. (I can remember driving through Dayton in the late 90's, hearing an afternoon jock on the station that sounded like he was fresh out of the International College Of Broadcasting. By the way, I teach there...that's not a rip of the school. But, he sounded like he was on his first radio job. Z was too big of a station then...to have someone in a drive-time spot, sounding like he was in his first radio job.)

The changes 92.9 did were based on, apparently valid research information.

Mix and Lite have been the dominant players in the A/C market for quite a while. Because they had no competition, they have been able to roll up big shares. But there's a lot more A/C listening in Dayton than any other format. That made them ripe for competition. However, Clear Channel is not stupid. (Though I know some of you would love to debate that point.) Yes, I was mildly critical of their performance on Friday. But rest assured, I know darn well they have lots of experience in defending these kinds of attacks, and I have no doubt that they will. What could be shaping up here is a classic A/C radio war. And, it'll be very interesting to see how it develops. Folks remember: this is a major game of programming "chess" that has been set into motion. Not all of the players have shown all their moves yet. Wait, watch and see.

Lastly: the argument about "radio listens until the listener tells you something you don't like."

How many times have I, as an oldies radio programmer, been told all we have to do to be a great radio station is "play every song that hit the Billboard Hot 100" from 1955-1975? Tell me that and, yes, I will ignore you. Why? Not because you told me something I don't like. But because you're telling something that I have reams, and reams and reams of valid research data on that says: you're wrong! Did you ever consider...you (and "all your friends") may be in the minority?

I've said it on these boards any hundred times. But get it into your heads. Despite what you may think, most radio companies (with a few notable exceptions) are not stupid. Most of the major players succeed because, they do the research, they execute the strategies the research suggests and, if they do them well, they win.

It will be interesting to see how all this plays out.
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Jason, your post hit the nail right on the head...and saying that the brand "Z-93" was fatally flawed is exactly right. The station, as far as I am concerned, came flying apart when Wilbur Wright and Jeff Wicker left the station two weeks apart back in 1995...Not to mention that right around that time, Z became a revolving door for air talent...Just look at the night show...Vedder-Lasted three months...Mojo...Nine months...and the list goes on and on. Not to mention that the Morning Show seemed to change with the weather. The only constant was the wonderful Kim Faris. Here's mornings...Hawkman...Jack Pohl...Suzy Waud...The "Comedians Era" with Chili Challis and Rob Haney...Sean Roberts...Jim Wheeler...and this is in the span of just about four years. Remember, back in the 80s Dr. Dave lasted FIVE YEARS alone. Also, look at the PD list over that SAME TIME: Louis Kaplan, Mary Franco, Dale Z, Ange Canessa. When the PD door is swinging like that, and this isn't any former Z-93 PD's fault, but every PD has a direction they think the station should go in, and with each PD's stint lasting just four years apart, the direction of Z would go one way and then another. This was something else that contributed to Z's downfall, not to mention that Z became the "Bastard Red-Headed Stepchild" of the Radio One family in favor of the "Chosen One" Hot 102.9. Poor Z-93 didn't have a chance. :'(
 
First off, hello to everyone... New guy on here. Been reading for about three years. I'm just a kid (21) so don't burn me too badly... :) I do understand market share (esp for television), ratings, ect...

I grew up with Z-93 (makes sense for my age) and will really miss the format but I also understand (and accept) change. It is simple, what does the majority of the people across the board want to hear? I know it is not CHR... I also did not know all of the "door swinging" that had been going on over the years; and reading other posts on here, I see there are some veterans of the radio world here.

I think the DDN website is burning down... lol

Thanks for the insight.
 
Hello all -

I want to first of all say thank you to the last few posters who truly understand the concepts of radio. I dont remember all your screen names, but Jason, David, Alan, etc. you truly are the professionals here. I respect your educated research and expectations on this board as it should be. Some people on this board are merely here to trash a brand new radio station or show hatred towards others and that is unacceptable.

Mainline did a research project - The research was very costly and very accurate. They interviewed thousands of typical radio station listeners. They paid thousands to have this project done. Mainline also did what the research said. When the overwhelming amount of listeners come out in support of one format, why would you not listen to it? This is the listeners telling you what to do.

WMMX and WLQT said they arent afraid - That is merely a guard, a shield to show up as the big dogs in town. However, they understand the truth of research and that it does not lie. WMMX should be the most fearful of the stations, it will eat away at their core cume which really are the legs holding that station up.

A lot has been thrown around about will WMMX fall. Chances are it will, but not too much. It will most likely remain a Top 5 contender because it has the brand, it has the loyalty that is holding it in place. However the war could get very interesting and once Bain takes CC private, it will only get bloodier.

Mainline will grow in the market, ratings and revenue. That is a given. What they did is took two shot guns and attacked Mix and Lite. They arent going to disappear, all that will happen is tighten the AC race in town. And this was Mainline's goal.

Mainline also understands the need for keeping WDHT with a Rhythmic approach. The positive part of the puzzle is the ratings, the part missing is the revenue. The station will have to make some minor changes, not a lot...but enough to make it a revenue generator. 101.5 once it moves to Enon will probably be the next major change. Dayton is oversaturated with Country, so look for them to change it to something that will mold with Fly 92.9.

I had an opportunity to listen to Fly 92.9 this weekend on my trip back to Columbus from Clarksville. The station truly sounds on-key and on-target. The imaging should be a little tighter, but I really like the voices Mainline has chosen for the station. The name bugged me at first (no pun intended), however after listening...I really like it. The station is designed specifically for Dayton.

I am told that Mainline is also going to invest heavily with their newly aquired stations. Look for a Winter 2008 campaign to hit the streets. I know a tv commercial is in the works, billboards out the wazoo. Mainline understands radio, imagine this...they money they are spending in television, billboards and research in 2007 and 2008 are going to cost them more than what they made in this market for 2007 and almost twice the amount Radio One made with the stations in 2005.
 
kentuckymedia said:
I had an opportunity to listen to Fly 92.9 this weekend on my trip back to Columbus from Clarksville.
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Please, allow me to offer a speed-y apology to KMW.

I made the mistake of trusting a source at CC Dayton, before reviewing KMW's posting history.

Doing so, combined with the mini resume KMW personally offered in another thread, has made clear how professional - and experienced - KMW truly is.

Obviously, my source was incorrect.

To KMW, have a safe trip on your rout back to Hopkinsville.
 
Ned, thank you for the apology. Im not here to rain on anyones parade. Song comes to mind - "Under my umberella, ella, ella, eh, eh, eh....sorry, couldnt help it.

Your source is partially correct. At one point when Clear Channel first moved into Dayton, I did work for the company. However a near and dear friend of mine Mr. Randy Michaels helped me get into a company called Emmis, who I was with for nearly 4 years. They are one of the best companies I ever had the pleasure to work for. Then a position for VP/Programming Development came open with my current company and ever since I have called Charlottesville, Ithica, Columbus and now Hopkinsville/Clarksville my new home.
 
mustardz said:
What kind of Research did MainLine do?? Obviously most of us didn't want this "Change"
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Most of "us?"

Who is "us?" A bunch of radio people / wannabe radio people on some meaningless messageboard? Do you really think that the opinions expressed in the twenty or so pages of this thread speak for the entire Dayton market?


I have no dog in this fight, other than to be somewhat amused by KentuckyMedia (if he is who I think he is), but I found that line to be insulting as hell.

Carry on.
 
kentuckymedia said:
inde, didnt we work together at WENS?
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No, because you certainly never have. Nor have I ever worked in SANDUSKY, eastern Kentucky at a station called Q95, Lafayette Indiana, or Lima for Maverick Media.
 
Weird tonight on Fly and Max every few songs (like maybe every 2 songs or every other) are the exact same song on both stations. So far since I have been listening only 2 songs have done this so far.
 
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