WNED Signs Agreement to Acquire WBFO

[Philip_Airtime]

I wish Jeff Simon would read the eloquent postings here from Lee Rust, the Big A and Jim Pastrick about WHY jazz is not a viable radio format in a market the size of Buffalo-Niagara.  Simon is at it once again in today's "Snooze."  This time, he's calling on readers to show up at tonight's community meeting at WNED to voice their support for jazz.  WNED might need a couple of extra chairs to handle that.    

First of all, I'm starting to hold News editors accountable for allowing Simon to advance what is clearly a personal agenda in the columns of their newspaper.  My opinion of the News is starting to diminish.  Imagine if I used the airwaves to advance a personal interest of my own?  I would never be allowed to do that, even if I wanted to.  Secondly, as has been stated here, there is not enough of an audience in Buffalo to sustain a jazz radio station.  Is Simon saying WNED should remove such programs as Talk of the Nation, Fresh Air, Car Talk and Wait Wait, if not Morning Edition and All Things Considered, from the WBFO schedule so that some music host can spin jazz CDs?  Really? 

Again, the switch from midday jazz to NPR talk has finally given WBFO one identity as a news-talk radio station.  WBFO has enjoyed two of its most successful fundraisers since making the change.  And right now, the task for WBFO listeners is convincing WNED management that there is strong support for Weekend Blues and that Jim Santella and Anita West should continue in their respective roles once the WBFO sale is finalized.  Jazz is NOT part of that conversation.  But Jeff Simon will probably not give up and will turn his petty attacks to WNED management once he sees that they won't be making jazz a priority. 

[SirRoxalot]

WBFO does plenty of jazz - about 7 hours a day from 10PM to 5AM weekdays, with more on the weekends. If the jazz programming isn't to Mr. Simon's taste, perhaps he needs to volunteer his talents as a host or programming consultant. Since Marion McPartland is retiring, there's a potential opening for his broadcast talents.

The facts are these:

1. Toronto has a very good jazz station that's readily available on the radio in Buffalo at 91.1 FM. It doesn't show in the 12+ numbers in Buffalo.

2. The jazz programming in mid-days on WBUF was a failure in the ratings. Period. The hour-by-hour dropped off a cliff when Morning Edition ended, and listeners didn't return until the jazz programming ended.

The current programming on WBFO during the week has strong and weak points, but I find it much more engaging and listenable than the previous programming line-up. My strongest objection is that there's so little local programming included. We have issues in WNY that need to be explored and discussed. I'm hearing very little of that on WBFO.

[TheBigA]

Keep in mind that the success of a public radio station isn't simply measured in ratings, but in memberships.  This is listener-sponsored radio.  If they can attract a lot of membership dollars to the station by playing music that doesn't get big ratings, that's fine.  Jazz is being played at a daypart that doesn't hurt the station.  The only replacement for it would be NPR's national overnight news service.  They're not going to spend money on local news or talk from 10PM to 5AM.  So the choice is local jazz vs. syndicated news. 

As I said earlier in this thread, fringe music formats like jazz and blues are on life support.  Commercial stations gave up on them long ago.  Their only chance is on stations paid for by the public.  That's what public radio is.  Leave the ratings rat race to the commercial stations.  Public stations focus on serving their members.  All this newspaper columnist is attempting to do is energize those who might support this kind of programming that now is the time to show that support.  Nothing wrong with any of that. 

[Jim Santella]

"As I said earlier in this thread, fringe music formats like jazz and blues are on life support" BigA


I strongly object to The BigA's lumping together his opinion that both jazz and blues are on "life support."  WBFO's blues programming is alive and well as demonstrated by audience numbers, elevated pledge goals and acknowledgements by respected radio veterans like Jim Pastrick.

As far as the role of jazz in WBFO's future, the days of John Hunt's high profile as WBFO's jazz guardian, unfortunately, have long passed. The blues on the other hand are enjoying a renaissance.

I feel I can speak with some expertise about the roles of both of jazz and blues. I have had a foot in both American music forms.  Not many people know that I was a jazz drummer and got my start in radio as a jazz DJ. BTW have you noticed the use of both "Green Onions" and John Lee Hooker's "Boogie Chile" on TV ads?

[Philip_Airtime]

Leave the ratings rat race to the commercial stations.  Public stations focus on serving their members.  All this newspaper columnist is attempting to do is energize those who might support this kind of programming that now is the time to show that support.  Nothing wrong with any of that. 

I agree with you to a point, A, that public radio shouldn't be concerned with ratings.  But we do need a benchmark to determine whether we are serving an audience, and ratings, in part, provide that.  Please know that even with NPR, WBFO has a 2.5 share.  So, we're far from dominating Buffalo radio.  But we do know we're serving an audience with our NPR programming and the Blues.  That's just not the case with jazz anymore. 

Normally, I wouldn't have a problem with a columnist energizing his readers.  But after 25 years of non-stop bashing about jazz and WBFO, I've personally had it.  He's attacked people (good friends and colleagues) who are radio professionals.  They made informed decisions on what's best for the radio station and its listeners.  And I'm finally fighting back -- in personal email threads, on Facebook and here.  And I hope you find nothing wrong in that either. 

[TheBigA]

I strongly object to The BigA's lumping together his opinion that both jazz and blues are on "life support." 

You took my quote out of context.  Here's my next sentence:

Commercial stations gave up on them long ago

That's what I was talking about.  Not WBFO.  As my post clearly states, I believe the place for fringe formats like jazz and blues is public radio, like WBFO.  I lumped them together because neither of them are available on commercial radio any more.  Not because they should be abandoned altogether.

I've been involved with successful public stations that have not only featured jazz AND blues, but actually incorporated the blues side of jazz.  And, by the way, it worked.  Perhaps the problem with jazz on WBFO is it needs some freshening up.  That's not for me to say.  But my point is simply that a publicly supported station shouldn't give up on a format just because of ratings, especially when that format is stuck in overnights. 

[Paul_Warren]

...I'm starting to hold News editors accountable for allowing Simon to advance what is clearly a personal agenda in the columns of their newspaper.  My opinion of the News is starting to diminish.  Imagine if I used the airwaves to advance a personal interest of my own?  I would never be allowed to do that, even if I wanted to...

You would if it appealed to listeners. Any number of high-profile mornings shows around the country have adopted pet charities as on-air causes.

But that's limited, too. One of the important distinctions in what's appropriate in a newspaper is that it's not an exclusive or public resource. Anyone can start a new newspaper anytime he wants, and there could be 200 daily papers in Buffalo if 200 people could pay to run them. Radio spectrum, however, is a finite resource considered to be owned by the public, which leads to the requirements that it be used to serve the public interest.

(Stop the snickering.)

I think Blues could be a great commercial HD Radio format. It might even sell some receivers, which hasn't been going well so far. I could see Clear Channel creating a national HD Blues network to feed HD2 channels. They might even be big enough to sell the avails. I suspect qualitative would be very good.

[SirRoxalot]

I don't see this as a "Jazz vs. Blues" battle. I see this as a local content vs. additional replays of syndicated content issue. I listen to WBFO in my car much of the time. That means I get roughly 30 minutes a day of NPR during the week. If I hear a topic of interest on Morning Edition, or On Point, or Capitol Pressroom, I go to their websites and download the podcast. I get to listen to the topics I'm interested in on my schedule. In essence, WBFO serves more as an advertising medium for those shows than an actual delivery service.

I tune in 7-8 hours of weekend programming on WBFO because I'm a fan of Car Talk, Wait Wait Don't Tell Me, and the Blues shows. I can't get the Blues shows via podcast, so they're appointment listening for me. That means that I have to tune in WBFO, not bypass them for an on-line source. When I make my donations to WBFO, it's because of the Blues more than any other programming.

The powers at WNYPB need to realize that the content creation business is what is going to make them relevant as time goes on. If they're simply an NPR outlet, ubiquitous wireless Internet access is going to make them an anachronism for more and more listeners. Several studies have shown that upcoming generations are Internet-centric, and see radio and TV as "old-fashioned". Government is determined to bestow the "blessings" of ubiquitous, affordable wireless Internet access on the populace. Radio had better be postioned to compete as a content provider if they want to stay in the game. If you're not delivering timely, relevant local content, you're going to be in trouble.

[TheBigA]

The powers at WNYPB need to realize that the content creation business is what is going to make them relevant as time goes on.

I think most NPR stations see themselves in the membership services business, regardless of where the content comes from, and they fight very hard to retain an exclusive on the NPR originated content.  But to them, the NPR brand is worth more than the WBFO brand.  It's more like a network TV affiliate, that brands itself ABC7.  What makes them relevent is how well they identify themselves with the NPR brand.

[SirRoxalot]

You need to read some recent research on how millennials are leaving network TV for on-line viewing. The TV networks are struggling with the issue of how to attract viewers, and how to monetize on-line viewing.

Local stations who rely solely on their network content are losing viewers, and revenue. Stations that invest in local content are generally more successful. We see that effect in Buffalo. WIVB has the largest new staff, and the best ratings. They're also tops in revenue. They supplanted WKBW TV several years ago when Channel 7 stopped investing in their local news, and ratings started spiralling downward. WGRZ invested in their news product, and moved from a distant 3rd into 2nd place.

A great example is early morning programming. WIVB dominated mornings locally even though their programming got no help from the CBS morning show. They reduced their commitment, and Channel 2 increased theirs - actually picking up talent released by Channel 4. Channel 2 now beats WIVB in the morning, and the numbers for the Today show are stronger than ever. Channel 7 sank to 3rd, even though GMA on ABC trounces the CBS morning show.

Local programming and content make a difference. Investing in product makes a difference. WIVB has the greatest committment overall, and generates the most profit. WKBW-TV stripped away local talent, and went from 1st to 3rd in the last decade.

WNYPB needs to take a hard look at what works here, and what will engage listeners both now and over the next few years. There are plenty of examples where radio companies have stripped away local content, only to see revenue fall far more than was "saved" by turning to syndication. Running "On Point" twice a day doesn't bring in twice as many listeners. Replacing the repeat of "On Point" with local content like the "On the Border" series attracted a whole new set of listeners to the station. If WNYPB is more successful at selling that audience to underwriters, they will reap rewards in both the short term and long term.