What About Emmis' WQHT?

[TheBigA]

welll actually in the last few books WRKS did better than BLS so I'm not sure syndication is the actual reason. Nonetheless you can't beat local programming which is a dying breed. Hopefully BLS will introduce more community based programming with local talent.

You'd be surprised.  Steve Harvey is hugely successful in DC.  And Howard Stern was syndicated.

[ansky212]

Back in the 90's WBLS used to be called "Power 107.5 WBLS", although I don't recall exactly when they dropped the "Power" moniker.  Obviously that is no longer an option as we have Power 105.  With the acquisition of the Kiss talent, I think they should use it as an opportunity to create new imaging, while still keeping the WBLS calls.  "107.5 WBLS" sounds so mundane.  Maybe something like "Magiq 107.5" similar to Atlanta.

although I lived in Europe through most of the 90's I don't remember WBLS ever being Power 107.5 WBLS and I followed urban radio in NY pretty closely. Do you remember what years they might have used that moniker?

WBLS was definitely Power in fall 1996. I remember it specifically because that was when I first moved to the NYC area and it was my favorite station. I even had a keychain with the Power 107.5 WBLS logo on it.
 

[Jeffrey]

Back in the 90's WBLS used to be called "Power 107.5 WBLS", although I don't recall exactly when they dropped the "Power" moniker.  Obviously that is no longer an option as we have Power 105.  With the acquisition of the Kiss talent, I think they should use it as an opportunity to create new imaging, while still keeping the WBLS calls.  "107.5 WBLS" sounds so mundane.  Maybe something like "Magiq 107.5" similar to Atlanta.

although I lived in Europe through most of the 90's I don't remember WBLS ever being Power 107.5 WBLS and I followed urban radio in NY pretty closely. Do you remember what years they might have used that moniker?

nice. Hang on to it! I still have a KISS card from back in the 80's. It'll be a collectors item for the selected few that troll radio boards.

WBLS was definitely Power in fall 1996. I remember it specifically because that was when I first moved to the NYC area and it was my favorite station. I even had a keychain with the Power 107.5 WBLS logo on it.
 

[Steve Green NEPA]

@ The Big A :

 >> 'You'd be surprised.  Steve Harvey is hugely successful in DC.  And Howard Stern was syndicated.' <<

Not taking that much exception .... and I'm neutral on the guy .... and hoping I'm not that far off-topic,     but to my knowledge,   Stern never underwent the PPM method of ratings when he was on OTA radio.     I have to think that his fan base was comprised of many people who marked a line straight down the diary page.    If that were the case,   then his current 2012 numbers,   if there actually were any,    would have taken a notable hit.

Of course,    the actual Capitol District grid is,   and has been for decades,    a largely black community.   One would expect Harvey to do well there.     (I think I've heard,  and enjoyed,  more of his stuff than I've heard Sterns',   actually : -)     

   

 
 
 
 

[TheBigA]

Of course,    the actual Capitol District grid is,   and has been for decades,    a largely black community.   One would expect Harvey to do well there.     (I think I've heard,  and enjoyed,  more of his stuff than I've heard Sterns',   actually : -)     

The issue here is syndicated vs. local, and the syndicated Steve Harvey show was beating a long time local on the rival urban station.  But yes, Harvey is a very good and funny radio talent, which is why his show beats other local hosts. 

[DavidEduardo]

...but to my knowledge,   Stern never underwent the PPM method of ratings when he was on OTA radio.     I have to think that his fan base was comprised of many people who marked a line straight down the diary page.    If that were the case,   then his current 2012 numbers,   if there actually were any,    would have taken a notable hit.

Stern had very high TSL on relatively low cume. In the PPM, it's likely that the show would have suffered badly with that type of listening... my best guess is that he would have been 8th to 12th in AQH in both NY and LA.

[pjc1961]

Back in the 90's WBLS used to be called "Power 107.5 WBLS", although I don't recall exactly when they dropped the "Power" moniker.  Obviously that is no longer an option as we have Power 105.  With the acquisition of the Kiss talent, I think they should use it as an opportunity to create new imaging, while still keeping the WBLS calls.  "107.5 WBLS" sounds so mundane.  Maybe something like "Magiq 107.5" similar to Atlanta.

although I lived in Europe through most of the 90's I don't remember WBLS ever being Power 107.5 WBLS and I followed urban radio in NY pretty closely. Do you remember what years they might have used that moniker?

WBLS was definitely Power in fall 1996. I remember it specifically because that was when I first moved to the NYC area and it was my favorite station. I even had a keychain with the Power 107.5 WBLS logo on it.

nice. Hang on to it! I still have a KISS card from back in the 80's. It'll be a collectors item for the selected few that troll radio boards.

From the 1:01 to 1:05 minute mark in the video linked below is a frame with Frankie Crocker behind the mic with the mic flag reading "Power 107.5 WBLS" - wish I could give you a date on this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yt0pNAm8aCI

[stationless listener]

I think the problem is that, while the demos of the city have made it necessary that the station formats incorporate urban themes, it seems that the urban sounds and sensitivities have been overcompensated to the point that there is now a slight backlash going on. In the olden days, when hiphop was considered too controversial to air, it did make sense to have a hiphop-themed station, to go along with an R&B station and an urban talk station. Today, much of what used to be top-40 is a rehash of what used to be the Urban Charts that black artists/listeners felt the need to differentiate themselves even further, in order to not sound like a "white" station. Meanwhile, there are a lot of group who would like a station that catered to their tastes but don't have one because the commercial stations are very entrenched on the NYC dial. It took Emmis' financial troubles to force them to let go of WRKS, and then only leasing it because Disney didn't want to buy a physical station.

From listening to the last few days of Kiss FM, the general feeling among the hosts and listeners is that a voice is being denied to the community. Whether you agree with it or not that is how they feel. The fact that it did do good numbers in the last year. It's a very competitive radio landscape, so Kiss FM having the numbers that they had was pretty good. It really sucks that they were made to pay for Emmis' management foibles. But whatchagonnado...

It would now be fodder to think of what can happen with Hot 97. But I think now it's going to be very difficult for Emmis to hold on to 97.1 now that they've sold 101.9 and leased out 98.7.

[htowler]

WQHT isn't doing ANYTHING At least until After SummerJam.  That in itself probably saved the station this time.

[XCountry285]

Honestly, Power really does have Hot's format obviously. It's like that with 92.3 and even with Fresh, PLJ has that format as well. It's about time a lot of these stations flip to formats not served in the NYC Market. It sucks, but that's what it looks like is happening. I personally would never want to lost Hot or PLJ or Power or even Fresh. Maybe Cumulus could buy it but not flip the format because its heritage. I feel if its heritage it should stay.