Five rock stations: which one is going to die?
Loading ...Atlanta has one too many rock stations with five. That’s far more than most major markets.
The River handles classic rock (or classic “hits” given the relatively narrow playlist with a focus on the 70s). Dave is “adult alternative,” geared to a higher-end demo with a mix of rock from ’70s to today but on the slightly softer side. Project 9-6-1 skews harder with some older stuff mixed in with more recent songs. 99X also blends some older alternative (like Dave) with a lot more recent songs (rocking harder than Dave, lighter than Project).
That leaves Rock 100.5 in a nowhere position. It has tried to be all things to all people and the music numbers have been miserable. It went hard, it went softer, it’s not sure where to go. It has the least legacy. It has the lowest ratings outside of mornings. Its playlist gleans songs from virtually every other station but lacks an image of its own.
99X at 97.9’s arrival earlier this year back on the FM dial (albeit in a weaker signal position) has generally hurt all the other rock stations, stemming upward momentum for Dave and chipping away at Project.
But the likeliest to go away is Rock 100.5. Its saving grace is the Regular Guys, a long-standing show that has aired on 96rock in the past and now actually pulls in better younger numbers than it used to. That show isn’t going anywhere. But it also means if the station pivots to a different format, it’s going to have to be male oriented. There aren’t a huge number of non-rock openings. FM sports talk is one.
Cumulus, which owns 99X and Rock 100.5 (as well as top 40 station Q100), has an alliance with sports station 680/The Fan, owned by Dickey Broadcasting. Both have similar Dickey family leadership. So here’s a possible scenerio. The Fan is already doing well on the AM dial but why not give it a partial simulcast on 100.5? It might grow their audience to folks who can’t hear 680 or don’t even bother going to AM. This way, they can keep the Regular Guys and hopefully keep more of those fans around after 10 a.m.
Plus, the station is already committed to the Braves, which will take up a big chunk of their time next year anyway. Why not jump ahead with a sports talk format?
If anything, this current situation can’t last much longer.
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54 comments Add your comment
atlBOY
October 12th, 2009
8:14 pm
i think rock 100.5 should go FM talk. i know its been tried, but the last FM talker in this market blew chunks if you ask me. the dickies have already had a go-around with talk back a few yrs ago on 1230 AM/1340 AM. this way, you could siphon some listeners away from the existing AMtalkers. and you could thwart any decision by clear channel to put GST on an FM signal, cutting them off at the knees there. and what could be a better format with the regular guys as lead-in? discuss:
Mike
October 12th, 2009
8:54 pm
An FM signal for The Fan might happen. Here’s why: Several other large markets have seen sports take over an FM signal. Also, ESPN Radio has been launching local websites in conjuntion with promoting their local radio affiliate (see ESPNChicago.com as the first on launched). ESPN may want to launch ESPNAtlanta.com and market that launch with a new FM signal. The Fan is already aligned with ESPN Radio. The Zone needs an FM signal, but The Fan has the backing of the World Wide Leader and will get there first.
dilly dally
October 12th, 2009
9:10 pm
The big story is that Denny Schaffer is back on Atlanta radio. Tune in every evening from 9 to 11pm on WGKA 920 on your AM dial!
Paul From Milton
October 12th, 2009
10:20 pm
Instead of saying “heavily urban” why don’t you just say “heavily black”? That’s what you mean isn’t it? And since when is rock music not for the “urban” market? Is rock music only intended for the “non-urban” market?
You're a moron
October 12th, 2009
10:29 pm
Atlanta is “heavily urban?” You obviously mean “heavily black” like the previous poster noted, but you forget that METRO Atlanta is NOT heavily black. The city is, but these stations reach all the way to Cumming and Athens. Take a drive between Athens and Cumming…not so urban.
notaregguyfan
October 12th, 2009
10:42 pm
I (50 year old southern male) think it would have to be the river (the format) as the station to go. Entirely too much repetition, or narrow playlist as you said. They have played slow ride and american pie until I am sick of it, but at least they play music in the morning. If the river goes, then rock 100.5 needs to get Kady Kiely, and put her in the morning and dump the regular guys. I listen to 100.5 the majority of the time, but not until the regular guys have signed off. I just do not get them at all. Do they even play songs? If you just want guys yapping and talking trash, why not listen to talk radio on the AM stations? They also need to ditch the FU line. It seems to be a redneck magnet.
Captain Beyond
October 12th, 2009
10:51 pm
There is no classic rock station in Atlanta. If you, Mr. Program Director at The “New” 97.1 the River, are reading this, please – for God’s sake – expand your playlist already! I gave up on you years ago. There are thousands of great classic rock songs, but you only play the same 40 over and over, year in and year out. PLEASE give the following a break: in no particular order, the Top 5 All-Time Most Overplayed Classic Rock Stars: #10 Peter Frampton; #2) John Cougar Mellencamp; #3) Steve Miller; #4) Boston; and #5) Tom Petty. (Dis)Honorable Mention: The Police. ENOUGH!! How about playing something by Traffic, Blind Faith, Cream, Grateful Dead, Little Feat, Humble Pie, Sly Stone or Ten Years After? Oh, never mind. I’ll just keep listening to my iPod.
RK
October 12th, 2009
11:23 pm
For the love of God, drop the “New” from the River — a what, 5-year-old station? I’d be interested to see what happens to local ratings if PPM comes to Atlanta. Forever, DC was dominated by urban stations. Now that they have people meters, their ratings have plummeted.
Sexy Robin
October 12th, 2009
11:38 pm
Atlanta sucks for rock stations, thank god for satellite radio.
Kurdt Kobain
October 12th, 2009
11:55 pm
The River is nowhere near a classic rock station. It has a tiny playlist. It still calls itself “new”. It gets the ax and 100.5 shifts more towards the classic rock side.
Courtney
October 12th, 2009
11:57 pm
Keep them all. “Urban” might have more listeners, but they cannot afford any of the products advertised.
sansho1
October 12th, 2009
11:57 pm
Commercial airwaves radio is a trout in a boat — flopping around, not even knowing it’s already dead. Nothing against Kaedy Kiely, but she’s not the answer to any question worth asking.
Tom
October 13th, 2009
12:03 am
I’m 50 and a lifelong Atlanta resident. I switched to 100.5 a couple of weeks ago and like it a lot. Good mix of classics and the best of the newer stuff. The River, as everyone has said, is incredibly repetitive. Do they not have a PD? Seems like it. 96rock (sorry I just can’t bring myself to call them that inane Project 961) lost their soul then they fired Kaedy and took Willard off the air. That was the station (Along with Z93) we all grew up with. Now they seem to have no idea what their market is. DaveFM is too far out there, Z93 was so much better. 99x never appealed to me. I hope 100.5 hangs on.
Robert
October 13th, 2009
12:29 am
How is it “heavily Urban” you act like no one OUTSIDE the Perimeter Listens to Radio. Check your facts Most people in the Area Live Outside the Perimeter and we are Not all “Urban” which is the PC was to say Black. Good lord over a million live in the north and TRUST me they are Not 50% Black
Keith
October 13th, 2009
12:45 am
I haven’t listened to a music station since I got XM four years ago.
Mike D
October 13th, 2009
12:47 am
I gave up on Classic Rock stations here. Atlanta seems to be only promoting everything black. I only hope this city can be as happy as Nigeria and Jamacia.
KJ
October 13th, 2009
12:50 am
Courtney: Just a quick economic lesson in market forces: If the “Urban Market” couldn’t afford the products advertised, the advertisers wouldn’t be targeting the “Urban Market”. Which would then defeat the case for these media companies from airing “Urban” radio as there would be no advertisers. But in Atlanta there are 4 “Urban” stations, coincidentally about the number of rock stations there should be.
Scott
October 13th, 2009
12:52 am
The River sucks. I’m glad the Braves are off the project, because that’s the best station. It’ll be great if they keep the DJs off the air like they did this last week.
XM is still the best. By a longshot.
Unbiased Observer
October 13th, 2009
2:08 am
How about a “real” country station instead of the pop crap on the Atlanta stations. Model it after Sirius/XM’s Outlaw Country. Tilt it toward Southern Rock and Americana. There has got to be enough rednecks in the metro for this to be a strong niche!
Melissa
October 13th, 2009
2:47 am
I’d be really happy if the River gave up the 70s and jumped way back to the 50s and 60s. We don’t have a good oldies station dedicated to black and white oldies from that era.
Richard Bagge
October 13th, 2009
4:38 am
All I knows about The River is that if they don’t play the Eagles for fifty minutes every hour, YOU WIN a thousand dollars.
EFloyd
October 13th, 2009
5:06 am
I don’t know about most of the rock stations in Atlanta. I do know that DEAD AIR is better than Q106 out of Macon, where you are guaranteed to hear Pink Floyd’s “The Wall” every hour or so it seems, and the same other repetitive songs we can hear on 97.1 which comes in clear as far south as Cordele. The only area in Middle Georgia that can’t get 97.1 is a small area around Fort Valley where a local church broadcasts over that frequency.
So I think “The River” should make changes, expand the playlist to a NO REPEAT format giving the listeners something to look forward to and hooked. Give us a reason to turn off our Satalite radio.
chris
October 13th, 2009
5:33 am
It’s been 42 years since Sgt Peppers. Take the top 100 rock albums each year, pick an average of 5 best songs from each and you have 20,000 songs to choose from. At roughly 10 songs per hour, that’s 2,000 hours or over 80 days without repeating yourself. I would much rather hear some Jackson Brown song that I only kinda liked, than hear
Sweet Home Alabama, which I loved initially, for the millionth time.
finally
October 13th, 2009
6:22 am
I grew up here too and started listening to V103 in 1978 because they played the songs that I liked to rollerskate to (Gap Band, Cameo, SOS Band) what a garbage can that station has turned in to sadly. I also listened to WQXI, 94Q, 96 Rock, and sure I’d get burnt out on some songs but really, do we need to hear The Red Hot Chili Peppers same old lame 3 songs on 5 radio stations, I just turn the dial no matter what song or what station is playing it GIVE IT UP already! Yes I have to echo the sentiments about OLD Dried up River-Add these to your play list immediately-The Guess Who any song but American Woman, The Kinks, Mothers Finest, Different Who songs, Paul Simon, Neil Diamond, Elton John Songs, he lives here PT, Geez, mix it up a bit!!! I know you’d lose your “easy listening for the stores to play” title, but think of the poor employees of those stores they must be slipping into a coma by now.
ornery
October 13th, 2009
8:04 am
And you forgot 106.7, the Scott Shannon love fest music for the nursing home crowd.. I’d put the River “up the river” and turn it into a country legend station, as 96.7 the legend can’t be heard that well in the northern suburbs.. 100.5 Could be news-talk. The reason it failed, was Clear Channel was in charge, and they can’t do ANYTHING RIGHT and really should be imploded. A new take with the Regular Guys, Ralph From Ben Hill, among other folks with a solid news connection would be most excellent. As is radio still deslines in Atlanta. and there seems to be nothing that the leadership wants to do to fix it. They seem content in having Atlanta radio be unlistenable. Even South Georgia has more creative stations than these guys. If I could afford it, I’d be mp3 or satellite radio all the time. Does any radio market executives actually care?
Gentrificator
October 13th, 2009
8:45 am
We have too many “Urban” stations here.
Even worse, we have far too many “Urban” listeners.
Joaker
October 13th, 2009
11:18 am
I beg to differ with the person who said that Scott Shannon’s radio show is for the “nursing home crowd”!!! At least you get to hear some different songs from the past that were really good where the artists didn’t have to debase themselves by using profanity in their music. If any of you are Atlanta natives and are old enough to remember WPLO-FM….they would play all kinds of rock music with different artists who weren’t the #1 top sellers — Steve Goodman “The Dutchman” was one that I can recall. Also used to love WQXI-FM with Gary McKee. It is very sad that Atlanta doesn’t have a radio station that does cater to the 40+ crowd and isn’t a rock station, but more easy listening. So many wonderful artists like Josh Groban, Barbra Streisand, Harry Connick, Jr., Michael Buble, Maureen McGovern, Sarah Brightman, Frank Sinatra (ok, he wasn’t my generation but I still enjoy listening to his music), also so many wonderful songs from Broadway and the movies — something with definite variety and something you can listen to where your bass on your car radio doesn’t vibrate the windows. The rock demographic is 18-35, but there is a 40+ buying public out here who has the money to purchase music, but there isn’t much on the radio that we want to listen to. I agree with the previous posters who said that 97.1 plays a very small catalog of songs and gets extremely boring. My husband and I have a running joke because it seems everytime we are in the car and switch over to 97.1, they are playing a song by Boston. I would like to also state that B98.5 is having a major lovefest with Daughtry’s music which I don’t understand. I like Daughtry, but not 3 times an hour. Also can they drop “The New Home of” in front of the Steve & Vikki Show. It has been a year and a half already. I, for one, am sick and tired of Britney, Miley, Rihanna, the grating voice of Chad in Nickelback, and others. I was totally appalled when I heard the Helen Keller song on Star 94 at one point. Her estate should sue the writers & performers of that song. Someday, hopefully, women will realize how so much (not all) of the hip hop music and videos puts women down and makes them objects instead of equal human beings. Include in that list Beyonce’s “If you like it then you should have put a ring on “IT”……. It’s painful and can make one’s ears bleed.
JDJ
October 13th, 2009
11:30 am
Ornery!! You’re calling us nursing home fugitives???? How insulting! And by the way — the music from “our era” doesn’t include the F-bomb, over-amplified bass, gangsta’ credo, and “artists with attitude” .. . Don’t like “our era” ? ? ? Use your index finger — change the channel! Leave us something to listen to that doesn’t make us want to stab our ears out with forks!
Jackster
October 13th, 2009
12:18 pm
I was just in San Diego listening to what must have been their “Dave FM” station on the left coast. It was named “Jack FM” strangely enough….
They played a great mix of 70’s r and b and rock, disco, 80’s hits, and 90’s alternative, and EVEN threw in the odd classic 60’s rocker, why in the heck can’t Dave FM or one of the other fakers really shake up the playlist, and do it all like Jack FM did in San Diego. They might just have a winner on their hands if they took a chance…..ho hum, probably just more bad radio…thanks goodness for satellite after 10am…….
Davester
October 13th, 2009
12:32 pm
If they keep 100.5 they need to fix the signal. I live in Mcdonough and the signal works some times in the morning and some times it does not work in the morning
Talk FM please
October 13th, 2009
12:35 pm
I would welcome The Fan @ 100.5. I already listen to 680, but a stronger signal on FM would be great. And they could keep TRG, since Rude and Perry lost me awhile ago.
Oldieandgoodie
October 13th, 2009
12:38 pm
“The river” needs to float away. The playlist is so small it’s a wonder they have any listeners. I cna lamost calculate what time they will play Fleetwood Mac.
Bring back Z-93 !!!! A station that plays album rock, like Clapton ,Allmans, Pink Floyd, and newer music like Cold Play,but not the same ole played over and over hits. How much brain power does it take to do this?
Mara Davis is the only good part of Dave FM ,and the rest has no direction at all.
Q100 basicaly sucks. 99x in the morning is mainly dating talk for 20 year olds.
The last Eagles album had some great tunes that were never played on the air here. How many other good bands are out there and their music is not heard here either. Thanks God for Pandora at home.
Can we get some real rock n roll ( and I don’t mean metal) music on the air? Please somebody…
WalkaWalka
October 13th, 2009
12:43 pm
There must be some sort of financial savings for the River to run such a small rotation. Lots of cable shows often run the same movie back to back and that has led me to believe that the stations found a way to reduce their per-play costs. I’m sure radio is doing the same thing. God knows that every time Atlanta radio is the discussion point, 80% of theh comments are about the insane repitition at the River. I worked at an FM station 20+ years ago (I’m 40) and we had pre-recorded reels way back then…no DJ, no Spontaneity, zero personality. But again, clear channel and the rest have made it abundantly clear that you don’t need DJs or personality or distinction to be on the air in Atlanta. I hope TRG don’t get the boot again…they get old sometimes but they are the only shred of originality in ATL. I didn’t know 99x was back…I will check that out. 96 Rock sucked for the last couple of years, but they permanently lost my respect when they changed their ICONIC logo. Idiots.
BravesFan79
October 13th, 2009
1:08 pm
I used to be a big 96 Rock and 99 x fan, but since i heard them mixing in cRap late at night on 99.7 on the weekends i was big time turned off and refuse to listen to them anymore!! It almost seems now a station is scarred to be labeled “racist” if they dont play at least a little hip hop. WHY>!!
Dont they know there promoting a race of men that kills their women at such a high rate that Femicide is one of the top killers of black women in the US!?? Dont they know that over 100 blacks a DAY get AIDS in the US, with most cases straight black males giving it to women?? This PC madness has got to STOP! White people WAKE UP and teach your kids the truth! Lord knows Liberal CNN, MTV and the radio stations arent going to!!
Joe
October 13th, 2009
2:17 pm
Hopefully 97.1 the river… im tired of hearing the same 15 songs over and over again!
RTibbs
October 13th, 2009
2:42 pm
I liked Rock 100.5 original playlist. A lot less overlap with the rest of the stations. Now outside of TRG, I can hardly listen. Prefer 99x at 97.9. If not for the Braves I would have thought 99x moderate success would have brought it back to 100.5 but it does not mesh with the Braves. I would recommend moving the rest of the original sports programming to 100.5 except the morning show and keep TRG. Then keep Rude at 680 and then go ESPN programming the rest of the day.
Toby Miller
October 13th, 2009
3:19 pm
There really is no good rock station here in Atlanta.
Dakota
October 13th, 2009
4:44 pm
I agree with Unbiased Observer.
Dakota
October 13th, 2009
4:48 pm
I also agree with RTibbs. When Rock 100.5 signed on, they were good, bordering on very good. I think they should have played less new stuff and played more 80’s hard rock. What they are playing now borders on silly. Have not listened to them since the music switch.
2fertuesday
October 13th, 2009
6:12 pm
Cumulus should just blow up 100.5 and put on a HOT AC to compliment Q100 and allow Q to actually be the real CHR this city needs.
CBS has done this to great success in Houston and Charlotte and if they did it here, it would really screw with STAR and B and would create a great synergy for Cumulus here in town.
Just have at least a few live and local djs tho…
adf
October 13th, 2009
8:52 pm
Rodney, do you wear that hat all the time, or were you just getting pimped out for the photo? Looks good.
Bill
October 14th, 2009
8:53 am
Yeah, I know most people deny listening to it, but if Rock 100.5 would start mixing in 80’s hair metal, the ratings would go up. There’s a lot of people in their late 30’s to mid 40’s who grew up on this music and would love to hear it on the radio. And I’m not talking about just Poison or Motley Crue. I’m talking about Ratt, Tesla, Bulletboys, etc. Then hit some heavy music from the 90’s (outside of Nirvana or Pearl Jam, which is way over played on every station). There’s also a large number of younger adults who are listening to this kind of music. Just go to one of these “hair” band concerts and see the large number of college students.
I’m also smart enough to know that nothing is going to change and we’ll keep hearing the same old crap on these stations. God, I love the Who, Eagles, Rolling Stones, etc., but how many times can they play the same songs by these bands.
TrafficHeadache
October 14th, 2009
10:42 am
We don’t need another country station that plays songs with inane titles like “God Is Great, Beer Is Good.”
River: Step up, why don’cha. Sure you’re playing some of the stuff 96 Rock did 30 years ago, but it’s all in a tunnelvision. What’s wrong with “Baba O’Reilly” or “Won’t Get Fooled Again” by the Who; “Bloody Well Right” by Supertramp; or “Dark Side Of The Moon” by Pink Floyd?
BravesFan79: Heavy on the conspiracy theories, aren’t we? Just because CNN didn’t glorify Dubya doesn’t mean it’s liberal.
Bob
October 14th, 2009
2:17 pm
Rodney didn’t use the word “urban” in this piece. Paul from Milton jumped in with a response that looked as if he were responding to a different article.
Paul From Milton
October 12th, 2009
10:20 pm
-
“Instead of saying “heavily urban….”
I don’t blame Paul. He probably was responding to a different pice. I have seen this happen on AJC blogs before.
Regardless – There are a lot of sub demos in the White/male 18-55 – across the entire age spectrum.
I think everyone agrees that the play list on “The Sewer” is too narrow, but Cox doesn’t want to expand it. Apparently, they’re doing well enough in the ratings to justify the value proposition.
If someone is under 35, I get why they might not like (hate) Oldies 106..7 Just wait boys. Your turn will come. It was funny when Q100 moved down the dial and 99.X was sacked to read all the Gen-Xers cry and scream about “their” sacred format being whacked. Now they new how everyone over 40 feels.
If someone is over 35, I get why they might not like (hate) Project – especially since it displaced 96 Rock.
I still hate LaRaza for displacing Lake 102FM
I still hate DaveFM for abandoning Z93.
OK – Yeah, I hate Project too.
Flip/Flip/Flip. That’s how I deal with it. No I’m not going to get satellite in the car. I have it at the house. You know what? I get tired of it. It it too sterile. Weanies have been complaining about disc jockeys and commercials forever. I liked hearing Willlard Scott talk about his field trip to U of M on WRC Rock98. (Oops. I’m dating myself…) That’s what pre-sets are for. Change the station.
-
-
Here’s a camping tip: As soon as you hear “People are talking…” on The Sewer, a block of ads is coming up. Switch the station if you don’t want to listen.
jason
October 15th, 2009
10:28 am
Cumulus screwed up like they always do… this is how to fix it.
• Drop the 100.5 format
• Move 99x to the 100.5 frequency with the Regular Guys and expand the 99x playlist (it’s still too heavy on 90s Alternative)
• Simulcast 680 The Fan on 97.5FM (99x’s old frequency)
Regarding The River, either expand your playlist to be an actual Classic Rock station, or change your format to all 80s. True 80s, not Steve & Vicki 80s.
In regards to the
Nick
October 15th, 2009
10:32 am
I do wish someone would play more 80s Hair Bands like Bill recommended.
junebaby
October 15th, 2009
12:33 pm
even when an article isn’t about blacks, “you” people can’t help yourselves. the hate just percolates and percolates, until it finally blows it’s lid. as we keep repeating, “those” days are gone, and they’re never coming back. so why don’t “you” people move to mississippi, alabama, or arkansas? anywhere, but here! oooh my bad, they don’t want “you” people in those places either!
bob
October 17th, 2009
9:58 am
@ junebaby: What the heII are you talking about? This thread is about too whether there too many Rock stations in Atlanta, and what, if anything, should the individual stations in the 5 do?
There was a non-sequitor post oabout urban markets, that had nothing to do with the thread, most likely the result of response misdirection (unfortunately a fairly regular occurrence at AJC blogs) Then there were a few who piled on. The rest of us got things back on track, and now you want to look for trouble and steer things off course again.
There are black rock fans, just as there are white R&B and hip-hop fans. The wide range of comments from the ON_TOPIC posters show that there are considerable differences of opinion about which stations should do what. These ON_TOPIC posts have nothing to do with race.
Praveen
October 20th, 2009
9:58 pm
It’s amazing how racist some of you are. It’s funny to see someone bash Nickelback but like Daughtry. Both are wretchedly bland. I am not a fan of R&B in the last 25 years. But occasionally you will get some gems in that niche which can work in a modern music niche. I watched the Woodies on Palladia(talk about endless loops of the same freaking playlists) and you got to watch bands with fresh music that never gets played on any radio station. I would like to see some good catchy alterna pop also played. I am of the 99x generation, but i would like to see some new music played.
Memo to the River: Watch Darjeeling Limited to get a sampling of great Kinks songs that are not just LOLA . Or check out the Who catalog beyond the same old 2 or 3 suspects. Classic Rock stations need to stay away from the same ole 3 Led Zep songs that are played. I think our filmmakers like Wes Anderson and Quentin Tarantino make better playlists than these idiot radio stations.
Shaffie
October 21st, 2009
3:09 pm
Project 961 morning show is absolutely awful. Shaffie and Giant clearly have no talent! The characters they bring on the show aren’t remotely funny… it’s just plain stupid. Oh, and the music blows! I’d rather listen to my 2 year old scream all morning!