WNED Signs Agreement to Acquire WBFO

[SirRoxalot]

Nobody in their right mind is going to go back to jazz programming in the daytime at WBFO. The greatest potential for improvement would be combining the news talent at both WBFO and WNED into a single news department, and broadcasting their efforts on both signals. That would extend the breadth and depth of news, and should kick WBEN in the seat of the pants. It would also provide and important function in adding a less biased view than we get from much of local media.

You want to do jazz at night instead of so much repeat programming? Have at it. It isn't going to bring that musical form back to life in WNY, or make the handful of jazz afficianados happy anyway. In my estimation, an exploration of the local music scene, featuring original music and/or original approaches by local artists, would bring more audience to the table, and have a greater impact on local culture. On the Border had some elements of that, but too much of it was done too amateurishly.

As for those who think that my previous remarks were off-base, all I can say is that my opinions were derived from talking with people who had experience as customers of WBFO, or are professionals who competed with them. I have limited contact with people inside the building. Of course, the view looking out of the forest is always different than the view looking in. I wish nobody ill, and I hope that those who are caught up in this change emerge in better circumstances. Unfortunately, broadcasting as an industry seems to have little regard these days for effort, experience, or even results. Everything is ruled by the expense line of the ledger, with little regard to the revenue line until it drops "unexpectedly".

[GeorgeKramer]

When is the last day of work for the WNED folks? Will the on-air talent be allowed to say goodbye?

[SirRoxalot]

Who says any WNED folks are going anywhere?

[Philip_Airtime]

George, how do you come up with these questions?  The whole staffing situation is up in the air.  And it's the WBFO staff that is more at risk than WNED's.  You ask questions that can't and won't be answered until the FCC approves the sale and the transition plans are finalized. 

[Play Freebird]

Now, Simon, you're deluded if you think WNED is going to bring back jazz.  DELUDED, I say.  Jazz is no longer a viable radio format.  I enjoy jazz.  I, too, tune in 91.1.  I still listen to Doug Blakely at night on WBFO.  And my CD collection probably has more jazz CDs than the average person.  But WBFO would have a fraction of the audience it has today if it was a primarily jazz outlet.  Are there any radio professionals reading this who would disagree?

No disagreement at all.  Jazz is America's indigenous art form, having its birth and evolution in the United States.  Therefore, it makes perfect sense that the format succeeds on a Canadian station, but wouldn't have a fighting chance on this side of the border.

Many jazz artists will also tell you that they are far more appreciated in Europe than here in North America.

[TheBigA]

 Jazz is America's indigenous art form, having its birth and evolution in the United States.  

Being an art form and a radio format have little to do with each other.

Most jazz artists recognize that they make more money and are more appreciated in other countries.

[SirRoxalot]

WBFO tried jazz in mid-days. The hour-by-hours looked like a cliff when Morning Edition ended at 10AM. They picked right back up again jazz ended in the afternoon. They're running jazz after 10PM. That's enough of a bone to throw at the jazz fans. BTW, I haven't noticed any Canadian jazz stations lighting up the ratings.

[cee]

All Jazz seems to work here in Rochester: http://www.jazz901.org/

[SirRoxalot]

Any format will work if you've got a school system picking up the tab. Check the ratings and tell me how they're doing.

[Element9]

Lee Rust will testify that Jazz on FM works in Rochester.  Jazz on AM in Buffalo?  Not likely.  Jazz FM 91.1 is on a pre-select in my car and the signal is easily received in Lancaster and it's where I get my jazz fix. 

It would appear music on AM is an all but failed mission.  It is, after all 2011.  KB failed with Oldies, as did 1540 WCKY Cincinnati, another 50kW flamethrower, operated by Clear Channel.  Much is written here about Toronto's unique Standards AM 740.  There are 5 million people in the Toronto CMA.  AM 740's ratings in Buffalo are marginal.  Even Buffalo's Standards station, Swing 1270 WHLD, tailed off in the Spring 11 book.  From what insiders tell me, WHLD's only strength is Persons 65+. 

1400 WWWS plays R & B Oldies and holds a fairly consistent Persons 12+ rating, but 104.1 WHTT delivers a nearly 7 to 1 advantage.  If AM 1400 was a stand alone, it would be a tough sell, but its value comes as being part of the Entercom cluster and as an add-on to Star 102.5.  This being said, WWWS probably makes more money as an add-on than does WECK, in either of its format permutations, be it the recently aborted Talk-Sports format or the present amalgam of 80s-90s music. 

As 2012 approaches, it's unlikely that a significant, salable number of listeners or "members" (Persons 25-54 and 35-49) will choose to listen to music, whether it's deep cuts from Ambrosia or jazz greats such as Oscar Peterson, on a noise-plagued low power or highly directional AM station.  Listeners younger than 55 grew up listening to their favorite music in static-free FM stereo. 

What? 

They're going to listen to Jazz or pop music formats on AM because they can't find that special format on FM?  Fine, there's your one share.  Make money selling that to advertisers and underwriters like Basil Automotive, Celino & Barnes or Raymour & Flanigan in a market as media competitive and advertiser/donor cash-strapped as Buffalo.   

Twenty years ago, programmers and owners came to understand that listeners believed "AM is for talk, FM is for music" and an evolution was in place.  Radio listening now has evolved to point where listeners believe "iPods and smart phones are for music and FM is for talk."  Smart-thinking programmers and owners are moving the spoken word formats such as news, talk and sports to FM.  So where does this leave AM, especially as a vehicle for music?  Certainly not a haven, be it jazz or otherwise.