7.27.2006
KTU Playlist ... Whoopi Cushion?
Said PD Jeff Z in today's Daily News (http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/ent_radio/story/438343p-369344c.html) regarding a possible tweak in the playlist upon the launch of Whoopi in the Morning:
"[It] won't change the music on 'KTU at all. Not one bit."
Really? Does that mean if the rumors are true regarding Delilah, and true about her surfacing on 103.5, we get to hear some of those sappy phoners from out of the Midwest, followed immediately by a "Beat of New York" liner going into Vengaboys?
Mr. Z also threw in a plug for the upcoming "Beatstock" show, in which he conveniently added that people "started showing up in the parking lot at 10 a.m." last year. So clearly it's a huge draw - then again, it's a popular summer music festival, so why wouldn't it? The same can be said about the HFStival in D.C. When they replaced the WHFS that D.C. has known and loved, they didn't put that festival out to pasture. I don't believe they did, at least.
So who's to say WKTU's dance format can't continue on one of CC's HD2 stations in New York? I'm not saying KTU's time is up, it still has a loyal following - although I'm not sure how many have stuck around after the high-profile departures of B, G and Lee. With that said, 103.5 should be interesting to watch. Remember, the weakest New York link - which until a few years ago would have been 105.1 - would be a prime candidate for CC's Hurban format, which would work in a diverse market such as New York. But I think Whoopi's arrival has already thrown a monkey wrench into those plans.
And how will WNEW respond? Hey, I hear Danny Bonaduce's available - the same Bonaduce who auditioned on sister station Free FM not too long ago... Hey, anything is possible in New York radio.
But you wouldn't hear that from Mr. Z.
7.26.2006
Delilah Coming To 10X.X FM
So my colleague Lance on Radioinsight.com moments ago wrote the following scoop:
"A little birdie tells me that WHUD has been given notice that they will have to drop the syndicated Delilah night show due to a pending New York City clearance.
Anybody know more?"
Hmmm... Remember six years or so ago when a rumor circulated on the Internet regarding WLTW dropping the popular live-and-local "Lite at Night" show with J.J. Kennedy? It got to the point Jim Ryan himself came out and vehemently denied the rumor.
Of course... that was six years ago. Lite's playlist has definitely changed since then. And with CC's Premiere unit now syndicating her show, it's a near no-brainer that WLTW would be the choice to air the show - even for two or three hours, just for clearance. Maybe it can be their overnight show, with the talented Victor Sosa going to afternoons or something or other? (CBS' WRCH/Hartford runs the show at midnight, if I recall. Ha - beat you to it, Mr. Gallant.)
Of course, CC would want us to THINK that Lite would be the logical choice to pick up Delilah - hey, it was six years ago, was it not?
Here's a little math equation I just wrote on my blackboard:
KTU - Bill Lee - B&G + Whoopi + Delilah = Lite AC?
I alluded to this not too long ago. CC can effectively beat CBS to the punch with a "lighter than Lite" strategy (Lord knows they had enough time) on 103.5.
Can it hurt WLTW? Not if it's programmed right. i.e. Keep playing "More Than A Feeling" and all the other uptempo records (apologies to Casey Kasem) on the name-recognition Lite FM, and create a playlist similar to LA's KBIG.
The new strategy, in my fecund mind, would be: 103.5 can relate to women, while Lite relates to everyone (which means your "More Than A Feeling" spins here and there). Then - forget about Lite getting competition - PLJ will have some battle for the 15th place spot on the Arbitron.
Ah, radio. Easy to listen to, hard to understand.
"A little birdie tells me that WHUD has been given notice that they will have to drop the syndicated Delilah night show due to a pending New York City clearance.
Anybody know more?"
Hmmm... Remember six years or so ago when a rumor circulated on the Internet regarding WLTW dropping the popular live-and-local "Lite at Night" show with J.J. Kennedy? It got to the point Jim Ryan himself came out and vehemently denied the rumor.
Of course... that was six years ago. Lite's playlist has definitely changed since then. And with CC's Premiere unit now syndicating her show, it's a near no-brainer that WLTW would be the choice to air the show - even for two or three hours, just for clearance. Maybe it can be their overnight show, with the talented Victor Sosa going to afternoons or something or other? (CBS' WRCH/Hartford runs the show at midnight, if I recall. Ha - beat you to it, Mr. Gallant.)
Of course, CC would want us to THINK that Lite would be the logical choice to pick up Delilah - hey, it was six years ago, was it not?
Here's a little math equation I just wrote on my blackboard:
KTU - Bill Lee - B&G + Whoopi + Delilah = Lite AC?
I alluded to this not too long ago. CC can effectively beat CBS to the punch with a "lighter than Lite" strategy (Lord knows they had enough time) on 103.5.
Can it hurt WLTW? Not if it's programmed right. i.e. Keep playing "More Than A Feeling" and all the other uptempo records (apologies to Casey Kasem) on the name-recognition Lite FM, and create a playlist similar to LA's KBIG.
The new strategy, in my fecund mind, would be: 103.5 can relate to women, while Lite relates to everyone (which means your "More Than A Feeling" spins here and there). Then - forget about Lite getting competition - PLJ will have some battle for the 15th place spot on the Arbitron.
Ah, radio. Easy to listen to, hard to understand.
7.20.2006
Breakin' It Down...
1. WLTW: Never ceases to amaze. I thought they'd dip down to the lower 6's like they did last spring; but much like the Mets, they're actually staying the course during this time...
2. WSKQ: Not an excellent book for all the Latin stations, as they dipped a bit; only one to (possibly) benefit: WCAA with its 0.1 increase?
3. WHTZ: Down a bit but better than they were at this time a year ago. I'd be expecting more people to tune in during the summer.
4. WRKS: Down 0.1, but breathing down their neck...
5. WBLS: Up big - 0.5, to be exact. May not be big on paper, but in such a saturated market, it cannot be taken for granted...
6. WWPR: Like their competitor WQHT, up two tenths, and managing to fare nicely after the departure of Star and Buc. Only the aforementioned WPAT stands in their way. And when the summer book is out on 8/21 - it could get crazy...
7. WPAT: See WSKQ.
8. WQHT: See WWPR.
9. WINS: Down a bit, but still hanging in the Top 10...
10. WABC: Been hanging in the 3's for awhile. With an election year ahead, that could change...
11. WAXQ: Not a bad turnout in a town that doesn't embrace rock as much as other cities. And this is a classic rocker - excuse me, New York's "only" classic rocker...
12. WQCD: Bummed that you're stagnant below the land of the 3's? Take a "chill" pill...
13. WCAA: See WSKQ.
14: WCBS-AM: Actually up a bit while sister WINS was down, but since both appeal to different audiences, I wouldn't read much into that. Oh yeah, the Yankees games are also on that station, so that could be it...
15: WFAN: Like WBLS, up big - 0.5 - and like WBLS, I'd expect them to get into the Top 10, especially with the Mets doing well as of late. Boston has proved a sports station can finish in the Top 5, so New York is due...
16: WKTU: The beat of New York is murmuring at 2.7...
17: WPLJ: Up three tenths - at this pace, they're due to be a Top 10 contender in the year 2138...
18: WQXR: Down big - 0.5 - but as referenced on a major New York radio board, you'd be surprised at how many tune into this station at night, far more often than other popular stations - such as a few mentioned above..
19: WOR: What's the difference between WOR and WABC? One full ratings point...
20: WNEW: Good news: All of CBS' FM properties...
21: WCBS-FM: ... are up, albeit slightly. The bad news...
22: WFNY-FM: ... they're still the least listened to major FM's. Although 92.3 has the biggest gain of the three, and you have to give credit to Opie and Anthony. Look out, Scott Shannon - someone is about to tie your "worst to first" honors...
23: WADO: See WSKQ.
24: WALK-FM: A Long Island station registering a 1.0 in the New York book. This scares me - although for a real hair-raiser, check out the recently released Hamptons-Riverhead book...
25: WLIB: Recovering slightly from that huge setback last book. Will they sell? Stay tuned...
See ya in three months.
Oh yeah, I'll also post and random radio thoughts here and there, as well.
7.17.2006
Now That I'm Back From My Slumber...
As much as I enjoyed neglecting my blog the last few weeks or so, it's time for me to get back into it once again, and on today, of all days - the Spring Book is due from Mr. Arbitron.
So what are my three BOLD predictions?
1. WRKS goes up and comes in second behind Lite, which goes down a little.
2. While its sister station goes up, WBLS goes down - a lot.
3. For the first time in - well, ever? - WFAN will finish... in the Top 10.
And in the bottom three CBS FM's, WFNY will be the bottomfeeder - albeit one last time. Could Jack take its place as soon as - today?
I'll break down the ratings later today.
