August 23rd, 2010 
joel Last time we polled our readers about their Facebook habits. Perhaps the most alarming statistic was that over one-third of our poll respondents don’t do Facebook (I’m just glad they read blogs!). Some 43% said that they only allow real-life current and former friends and acquaintances to be Facebook friends. Nobody said that they had an totally open Facebook friend policy.
This week we will be talking about the latest Erie radio ratings, and in one of my conversations with those who watch the local radio market was the fact that there has been no station format changes in the past few years. The climate has stayed the same since the big BOB launch that replaced the old Froggy 94.
Without stating an opinion that we are due for somebody to flip formats, let’s ask the question about the kind of new station you would like to listen to. The format designations below are from AllAccess.com. If you want to add another, leave a note in the comments and I’ll add it to the poll. Only one vote each please.
If an Erie radio station was considering a format flip, what kind of new station would you like to listen to?
- Alternative (Linkin Park, Amberlin, Jimmy Eat World) (24%, 18 Votes)
- I don't know/don't care (14%, 10 Votes)
- Triple A (Sheryl Crow, Jack Johnson, Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers) (12%, 9 Votes)
- Oldies (11%, 8 Votes)
- News/Talk/Sports (9%, 7 Votes)
- Nostalgia/Easy Listening (9%, 7 Votes)
- Urban/UAC (Chris Brown, Drake, Monica) (9%, 7 Votes)
- Contemporary Christian/Religious (Chris Tomlin, Newsboys, Mercy Me) (3%, 2 Votes)
- Hot-Modern-Adult Contemporary (Train, Lady Antebellum, Colbie Caillat) (3%, 2 Votes)
- Top 40/Rhythmic-Crossover (Usher, Enrique Iglesias, B.O.B.) (1%, 1 Votes)
- Top 40/Mainstream (Eminem, Katy Perry, Adam Lambert) (1%, 1 Votes)
- Rock (Ozzy Osborne, Alice In Chains, Godsmack) (1%, 1 Votes)
- Country (Keith Urban, Rascal Flatts, Kenny Chesney) (1%, 1 Votes)
- Jazz (2%, 0 Votes)
Total Voters: 74
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This is a loaded question for me. I would add Nostalgia / Easy Listening given that two Canadian stations had some ratings in the Erie numbers. The market is also right for formats like Oldies which I believe WYNE would be doing better if on FM & not on a small signal from North East. I do like the streaming audio they have so I can listen here. If I were to go country, I’d go Americana / Classic Country. The new Pop Country is overplayed on 97.9, 93.9 & 100.3 and is heavily pop based & it doesn’t have the same feeling as the classics or even new artists like Dale Watson, Cross Canadian Ragweed or the Quebe (Kway Bee) Sisters Band who keep the sound of Traditional Country alive. I doubt a lot of today’s Country DJ’s would ever know who Hank, Merle, Willie or Waylon even are. Thankfully, they are being played on Sirius/XM or Internet Radio stations like “The Badlands”. One more would be News Talk where there is a huge hole for a talk station with Rush in their lineup along with local personalities.
Thanks Joel. You do cater to your readers…lol.
For my personal tastes, I’d love a CHR/Rhythmic.
By the way Hot Rod, I take offense to you saying country DJ’s don’t know who Hank, Merle, Waylon and Wille are!! We all know they were the Backstreet Boys!! LOL
Well at least you didn’t say “Menudo” or “Twisted Sister” Shoeless Sheldon…lol. I think the recent numbers show that some people are tuning out local radio and finding other options for the music they want to hear. Star is #1 and will be for a long time because they are the only CHR in Erie. Other main formats have two stations each and it was even similar on the Public side of the dial with WQLN & WMCE until WMCE became “Jazz FM.” That move sort of fills a void left when WRIE became ESPN 1260. They are The Sports Station now so why should WFNN 1330 stay the course with no ratings to speak of. They could fill a huge void with Nostalgia and that format is working on two stations in Youngstown.
I want 93.9 to go back to its original format, alternative rock.
Its too bad they switched it to country because it was getting more listeners than Rocket 101.
And then, to make matters worse, someone created a religious station that blocks out 95.9 out of London Ontario, but only blocks it within Erie metro area ( I can pick it up between the 79-90 interchange all the way south to Edinboro)
When Erie lost both the Music of Your Life format, and decided that this market couldn’t find an outlet for Rush, I left the market. I no longer listen to Erie radio, because Erie radio no longer offers me a product I want, despite the repetition of offerings. I listen to AM740 out of Canada for music, and stream AM770 (WABC)out of New York for talk (Imus & Rush). Erie radio, obviously doesn’t care whether I listen or not. But I have to wonder if there aren’t Erie businesses whose owners wouldn’t like to have their ad spend reach me. Since neither the dog nor parrot will poop on the ETN anymore, Erie advertisers have to resort to web ads to reach me. And I have to assume they, at least some of them, know that. Doesn’t speak well for the future of radio in Erie.
For those of you who prefer a better mix of the old and the new in the Country genre and can listen online, I would suggest radiofreecountry.com. I for one, remember Willie, Waylon, Merle and all the rest. You can find them there along with today’s artists without commercial interuption. Shameless Plug!!
OK Truckin’ Tom you are one of the few exceptions. I am adding radiofreecountry.com to my list of web stations and will share it with my daughter so she can check out the new country along with some older classics.
How about one which features some jazz, both traditional (New Orleans, etc.,) and contemporary; and classical music.
I think we need an Alternative radio station back in Erie or even a Active Rock Station. Also there needs to be a CHR/Rhythmic Station. The reason for the Alternative station because 90.5 has started to become a really weird music station with lots of electronic songs, which is alright for the emo crowd. And 95.9 has WAYYY too many commercials and is turning into another Rocket 101 with the classic rock it plays. So I think Rocket should switch formats to more of an Alternative or Active Rock station, because the formats are pretty close anyways. Plus I think with the size of Erie I do not see the need to have more than one station playing the same kind of music like the country stations and the classic rock. So change one of the country stations to an Urban or a Rhythmic station.
Well Tom, I figure there’s got to be more people like me out there that like it all…or at least most of it. Thanks for checking it out.
It’s something both my wife & I can listen to. She puts Froggy 100.3 on and I’m sorry but I am not aware of any Frogs making Country music.
I vote for a flexible oldies format broadcast from a studio with human DJs (no automation software, no voice-tracking, just genuine HUMAN talent) I would also add a few high quality turntables, a five deck cart machine, and a fairly nice audio console to bring everything together.
I really can’t stress that human factor enough. The work put forth by humans from a radio station owned by more humans promoting businesses owned by even more humans…. What a concept!
If you like country, try 92.9 out of London, Ont. Lots of classics mixed in with the new, plus alot of good Canadian artists that we never get to hear, not to mention that it’s live, human voices with news and local chatter. I rarely listen to local radio anymore….sad.
David the LAST thing ANY radio station needs are CARTS. That’s ONE piece of broadcasting history that I’m glad to see is just that…HISTORY!!
Jim, In my brief career as a producer who had to work with a cart machine at WRIE way out in the boonies. I tell you, one thing…. that cart machine deck kept me on my toes. So did the satellite feed of the Mike Harvey Supergold Show. The reel-to-reel tape machines at WLKK also demanded my full attention. What are now regarded as antiques in the industry may not have sounded all that great, but these devices helped to educate me in proper programming of radio broadcast time. The antiquated studio equipment that I worked with also made me appreciate the value of GOOD radio production quality.
Jim, I just had another thought. The days of my part-time shift at WRIE opened up a wonderful world to me. It was my first taste of being a radio insider. Every Sunday evening from 6 until midnight, I occupied a studio with several HUNDRED carts arranged in racks on the walls. All music and commercial spots played on WRIE at the time were on cart or fidelipac as is the techincal term known in Wikipedia.
how about an effective, full-service AM news-talk station, which features …
-dedicated full-time reporters/anchors
-news at the top of the hour (“bulletins at once”)
-formatted several news capsules throughout morning drive
-heavy use of actualities (provided by a partnership with TV news if need be)
-”live” in studio guests on a regular basis for all talk segments
-Limited use of syndicated shows
-sports “live” gameday coverage
-call in afternoon and evening sports shows
-ellimination of any paid show that talks about flushing one’s colon, working from home, acabai berry diets!!!etc.
I agree, but to accommodate a full-service operation, we need more people and the very sad fact of the matter is, people cost money. When you are an owner with 6 radio properties in a smaller market, I don’t know how possible it is to not only hire, but to keep, good local radio talent.
I view Erie radio, as being on indefinite life-support, until the next owners come into town. Do I hear Clear Channel at the door?
Picture Charlie Brown with kite in tree, when you think of corporate ownership. More computers, less people, Arrrrrrrrgggggggggghhhhh!
I simply do not understand how other medium markets can sustain full-service AM news operations. WKBW Youngstown sounds more like a major market news-talk giant. I would be happy if Erie had half of their radio presence in this market. People do cost money David, but corporate greed apparently trumps all, including public service.
My bad…I meant WKBN and now KBW out of Buffalo.
Mark I think you meant BX93 at 92.7 FM. There is also Country 107.3 from Tillsonburg owned by the same group that runs Easy 101 at 101.3. They also mix classics & current songs.
Just once I would love to say to New York and Los Angeles, to the Rush Limbaughs and Don Imuses and Howard Sterns, to the Corporate Suits the thousands of audience members… I’d love to say to them… “HEY, WE’RE MARKET 169, ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA, and we, too, have something to offer.”
Hey, wouldn’t it be so way cool to have a satellite feed originating from Erie, or dare, I say it, North East. You have to get past the corporate greed mindset to realize that fresh minds and innovative ideas can always be found, even in the smallest of markets.
It could be called “An Erie Rest Home Companion” coming from the shore of Lake Erie Is Gone.
From market veteran and former K104 PD Bill Shannon (on my Facebook):
Joel and Bill, interesting play on the great 60′s Cleveland Top 40 station: WIXY 1260. Among other things, I think they fronted the Beatles concert in Cleveland.
I doubt ESPN 1260 is going anywhere and is the sports station in Erie now. WFNN had that title until flipping to oldies briefly giving WRIE a chance to jump on a very high billing format. I’d go with a WYNE 1530 / 1330 simulcast because that station is running one of the best oldies formats in the country. They are not just playing familiar titles but also lost gems that makes listeners say “Oh Wow.” Another point is that radio should skew older in general because the younger generation is going with other music options. Star is #1 for two reasons. One is because they have a 50,000 watt signal that other stations outside of Classy do not have. Second is that they are the only CHR in town. A few other formats have two stations in Erie like Bill stated. It’s no wonder people tune in outside of Erie for various formats not available in Erie. Sad that 1330 and 1450 have not ratings when they could have programming people would enjoy.
Star’sd signal is also non directional while Classy has to protect the station in Toronto at 99.9 by blocking their signal to the east and north.
The CHR format is always going to be a big one in any market – they play the current hits that the teens and the moms who think they’re cool want to hear. That’s a no-brainer. STAR is the only CHR station in town.
A real oldies station (not Classy) would do well in Erie. I (a 48 year old male) would listen occasionally. I never listen to Classy because: 1) I NEVER want to hear Michael Bolton, 2) I don’t want to hear Christmas music continually from November 1 to December 26, and, 3) I NEVER want to hear Delilah or John Tesh. I know that there is a market for these programs, but I NEVER EVER want to hear any of these programs.
At my work tonight, after we closed, the boss put on an oldies CD of 1950′s and early 1960′s music, and everyone from age 55 to 19 dug it! No Celine Dion, no Michael Bolton, no wimpy “love songs”. It was Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, Ricky Nelson, balls to the wall early rock n’ roll! That’s what would work in Erie, a WYNE format, just with enough signal to reach the masses!
Also, a real professional presentation of the music that WERG has been doing for the last 28 years or so, too! To let those of us who still keep up with modern music still feel a part of the community!!
Old guy me likes the old 1260 “music of your life ” format
Some 40′s 50′s and early 60′s.
I enjoy talk/news/loacal sports teams.
Erie needs a local talk show and not the **edit** (1400AM)
on at 6 to 9 am. Then there’s always the famous info-mercial on at 9. Do you really think that WJET can’t sell enough ads to cover a live talk show host 3hrs during the day.
I love the idea of an AM oldies stations originating from Erie. I don’t mind the static that comes with WYNE’s North East signal. I deal with it every day at home and in the car. Thank god, I have reason to travel to the east side of Erie. Captain Dan and The Commander are doing a wonderful job with the station. It does seem a shame that there are limitations surrounding WYNE, both physical and political… Oh, Well, I shrug my shoulders and hope for better developments tomorrow. Life Is A Rock, but the radio rolls me… At the end of my rainbow lies a golden oldie… station. Question: Since the oldies have left Erie, just where did the good times go?
I think a lot of the good times music wise went to Internet Radio. I can enjoy Oldies, Classic / Alternative Country or Classic Rock online & hear some songs never played on local radio. It’s also great to hear stations like WYNE or Chris Lash’s new Youngstown station “1540 The Farm” online since it’s hard to pull either one over the air. WYNE comes in fairly well over the air but it’s great to hear it online 24/7. I love AM stations & have a great AM antenna from C. Crane.
[shameless plug] Or you can go to flashbackradio.com where a guy called ~BOB~ (who sounds a lot like me) does a show called the Hott 80′s. A show that not only plays the same 100 songs over and over but digs in a little deeper. ~BOB~ seems to realize the 80′s were more than just “Come on Eileen” and Bon Jovi (although he will play them too). The show is also broadcast live Monday nights on 90.5 WERG
[/shameless plug]