Winners and losers in Atlanta radio with all the changes
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Phew!
It’s been a whirlwind month in Atlanta radio for rock and pop radio listeners, unprecedented in the amount of change in such a short time.
Lets’ review:
- Hard rock station Project 9-6-1 last week became top 40 station Power 96.1 on one of the most powerful FM signals in metro Atlanta. (Clear Channel today announced it is making a Project station available on its phone app “I Heart Radio.”)
- Alternative rock station 99X at 98.9 on Saturday turned into a hard rock station 98.9/The Bone on a signal that doesn’t reach much beyond the Perimeter.
- Journey 97.9 on Tuesday transformed itself into a Q100 “spinoff” featuring the top 20 songs from that station on a signal comparable to that of 98.9.
- In a few weeks, adult rock station 92.9/Dave FM will switch format into a sports talk station on one of the stronger signals in the area.
- And back in May, the oldies station Atlanta’s Greatest Hits dropped its format to be All News 106.7.
So who are winners and losers if things don’t change yet again?
WINNERS
- Fans of top 40 radio. Clearly, the options to hear Flo Rida, Rihanna and Karmin have gone up since two more top 40 stations have appeared on the dial. We now have at least five stations playing a variation of current pop music, some with more of a rock/pop lean, some with a hip-hop feel: B98.5, Star 94 and Q100 plus newbies Power 96.1 and Q100’s 20 at 97.9. Wild 105.7/96.7 has started to veer more hip hop but still plays some top 40 songs. It’s fair to say Atlanta has never had this many choices on the top 40 front.
- Sports talk fans. There’s a reasonable debate about whether Atlanta is a good sports town outside of football. But for more than a decade, it has successfully sustained two AM sports talk stations – one which added a modest FM signal in 2010. But can Atlanta sustain three sports talk stations? Folks who love to listen to guys (and the occasional woman) gab about the Hawks, Falcons and Dawgs now have more options than ever thanks to CBS Radio and 92.9.
- Elvis Duran and Ryan Seacrest. Elvis Duran, the syndicated New York talk show host, had been on the weaker Wild 105.7/96.7 signal and gradually building a faithful audience seeking an alternative to the Bert Show on Q100. Now he’s been placed on the more powerful Power 96.1 signal and will face Bert on an even playing field. Seacrest, the ubiquitous media mogul and “Idol” host who began his career as a teen-ager at Star 94 in the 1980s, joins the mid-day slot in syndicated form, a place he held briefly a couple years ago on Star.
- Rock 100.5 and 97.1/The River. Fewer options for rock fans has to help the two remaining big-signal rock stations. It certainly can’t hurt them. Ratings-challenged Rock 100.5 could especially use the boost.
- The Regular Guys. With Project’s year-old Kidd Chris gone, the male-leaning veteran Regular Guys show on Rock 100.5 may be able to draw back some of its listeners who have left the past couple of years.
- Spotify, Pandora, Slacker, Sirius XM, your iPod. Alienated FM radio listeners are going to other options. And there are plenty, especially on your smartphone. Arguably, the fact so many rock fans were already going in this direction may have hastened the demise of stations such as Dave.
LOSERS
- Rock radio fans, especially those in their 30s and 40s. While classic rock fans can still enjoy the River and Rock 100.5, if you’re into acts such as Mumford & Sons, Avett Brothers, Cake, the Talking Heads, Jack Johnson, INXS, Dave Matthews Band, and Weezer, your options are or will soon be virtually gone from the FM dial in Atlanta.
- Pop fans who like songs from the 1980s and 1990s. Lovers of pop songs from the 1960s and 1970s are already bereft of FM options since Atlanta’s Greatest Hits went away in May. No Beatles. No James Taylor. No Bee Gees. B98.5 plays a few 1980s and 1990s cuts. Star will throw in an occasional nugget from the 1990s. But if you just want to listen to songs from those decades alone, Journey was it.
- Kidd Chris. After 15 months in Atlanta, he was starting to build momentum for younger males. New morning shows typically take two or three years to really get going so he was well on his way. The death of Project cut him off at a key moment.
- Most of the staff at Dave FM. With fewer rock options in this market, this makes it just much harder for on-air staff such as Steve Craig, Margot Smith and Rich Sullivan to find another job in Atlanta. Mara Davis, given her heritage in town, may have the easiest time landing somewhere else.
- Wild 105.7/96.7. The station was doing very well on a medium-sized signal, a top 5 station among 18 to 34 year olds. Even though Wild has gone more hip-hop in the past week to try to take away listeners from surging Hot 107.9, Clear Channel has turned Wild into a “flanker” to Power rather than its primary focus. That means resources that might have gone to Wild in terms of marketing and sales will likely be diverted to Power.
- Q100 (potentially). Q100 is a dominant top 40 station in town and has been for years. Power’s music mix is clearly targeting that station, even more so than B98.5 and Star 94, which skew older.
- 790 the Zone. This station does not have an FM signal and its night signal is tepid. It’s already at a disadvantage with 680/The Fan, which also airs on 93.7 and has a stronger night signal. So with 92.9 coming aboard, the Zone is immediately in trouble. (The Zone is available on the Star 94 HD-2 channel if you happen to have HD Radio.)
- FM radio in general. These changes in general result in fewer options on the FM dial. There’s no doubt many peeved listeners are going to seek friendlier climes and spend less time with old-fashioned free radio.
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By Rodney Ho, Radio & TV Talk
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244 comments Add your comment
Tucker
September 6th, 2012
9:03 am
Long live WRAS 88.5 FM!
Dee Osborne
September 6th, 2012
9:10 am
DaveFM is the only station I listen to on a regular basis. They have always had a good mix of music. I enjoyed it more prior to the format change a few months ago. I won’t buy Sirius. I’m not going to be fiddiling with my smartphone while I’m driving. I grew up on radio, now how will I get the music I like and knowledge about local events, like concerts, with no radio to listen to. Clear Channel is becoming somthing I hate. I hope the college stations pick up the pieces. I enjoyed 88.5 for many years. Guess I’ll give it another listen. Or, move to another state. It’s looking more like moving to another state will be the best option in the end.
Dee Osborne
September 6th, 2012
9:10 am
DaveFM is the only station I listen to on a regular basis. They have always had a good mix of music. I enjoyed it more prior to the format change a few months ago. I won’t buy Sirius. I’m not going to be fiddiling with my smartphone while I’m driving. I grew up on radio, now how will I get the music I like and knowledge about local events, like concerts, with no radio to listen to. Clear Channel is becoming somthing I hate. I hope the college stations pick up the pieces. I enjoyed 88.5 for many years. Guess I’ll give it another listen. Or, move to another state. It’s looking more like moving to another state will be the best option in the end.
scott
September 6th, 2012
9:11 am
besides sports talk radio, radio in the ATL ABSOLUTELY SUCKS!
PMC
September 6th, 2012
9:12 am
The Telecom act of 1996 has been the death of radio. Allowing a bunch of accountants to try and run radio based on the least accurate ratings system ever created has led to a demographic that caters to people who don’t really like music.
Pop Music is music for people who don’t really like music.
Bring back media ownership rules. ONE Station in every market.
rick rock
September 6th, 2012
9:14 am
Atlanta, especially for it’s size, has the fewest and the worst listening options of any city in the country. Markets a quarter this size offer more genres and multiple options for the most popular genres. It’s really pretty pathetic.
James
September 6th, 2012
9:17 am
News Talk still rules Atlanta area.
bearcrazyman
September 6th, 2012
9:22 am
Unless there is a game or race on, who the F**K wants to listen to people yak yak yak their opinons about sports. Keep Dave FM you Dumb A#$
RK
September 6th, 2012
9:23 am
So 97.9 is playing the top 20 of top 40…but since Q100 plays the same 9 songs, it will be the same play list.
@eidsonb
September 6th, 2012
9:25 am
For those of us on the southside of town we can get Rock 103 out of columbus if the stars align just right….good station
Cari
September 6th, 2012
9:26 am
I listen to Mara and Sully every day at work. Won’t be the same without them. All these changes hasten the death of an already week radio market. Once DAVEFM is gone I guess I’ll have listen to my old station from Baltimore via my Iphone during the day. Here’s hoping the DJs find a way to stay in Atlanta.
Gakabu
September 6th, 2012
9:26 am
sad….. and now…the ASO is out to pasture so those of us who loved 99x and DAVE but are diverse enough to like classical music lose too.
Gary
September 6th, 2012
9:34 am
I have XM. Best feature is Tune Select. You like a band, Select them and the player will let you know if they are playing on another station. I usually have 30 going, when I get sick of them I bump them. That way I get a nice diverse collection. Listening to First Wave channel and suddenly Bowie is playing on Deep Tracks and I switch over. I will keep listening for a while and then it tells me the 30 Secs to Mars is on another station click over there and leave it for a while. It really is the only way to listen to music.
FenderMan
September 6th, 2012
9:35 am
If your a middle aged rocker and want to hear a unpredictable playlist and you live on the upper northside, tune in to Thunder 104.3 in Dahlonega. If more radio was like these guys, in whatever format, ATL radio would be alive and well. No where else on terrestrial radio (in ATL) can you hear old Kiss, Blackfoot, Howlin Wolf, Reba, Johnny Winter and MotherTruckers. And their the only station that plays Gov’t Mule.
LarryLarson4President
September 6th, 2012
9:42 am
AM 1690 is the best radio station in the city, and it’s no contest.
Kirk
September 6th, 2012
9:49 am
Most of these changes are primarily with white music (ie. Dave FM, 99x, etc.) as opposed to the urban stations (V103/Hot 107.9). I’m African-American and I’ve really been enjoying Dave FM for the last few months, so I’m sorry to see it go. The main issue with all the Top 40 stations is the repetition–just like watching Atlanta TV news on weekends for periods longer than a half-hour.
Anita Rocks
September 6th, 2012
9:50 am
Loosing 96 Rock was a shocker. I will admit it was better back in the day. the 70′ s and 80’s rocked.
I knew it was heading to a downward spiral when little prissy boy joined the team.
Riley
September 6th, 2012
9:53 am
JAZZ!! JAZZ!! JAZZ!!!!! What about JAZZ???!!!!
CobbGOPer
September 6th, 2012
9:53 am
Apparently Atlanta’s radio gurus think the only people that listen to FM music anymore are 13 year old girls. Just means I’ll be listening to more Album 88 and WREK I guess, when I’m not listening to NPR, WSB (no WYAY, that station sucks for news despite being an ‘all news’ station), or my CD’s.
Sideline Dude
September 6th, 2012
10:04 am
Who cares? I only listed to XM/Sirus so I don’t have to put up with the endless commercials. Now if they could only offer this for TV.
JSmooveThunder
September 6th, 2012
10:15 am
I stopped listening to “regular” radio when WJZZ left the ATL’s airwaves a few years back. WCLK is good for a quick fix every now and then but the signal is atrocious!! A major city without a decent FM jazz station speaks “volumes” about what it thinks about music!!!
Rock On (yeah right)
September 6th, 2012
10:16 am
For you fans of alternative music, might I suggest KEXP in Seattle (streams online) or NPR music, which has streaming from music fetivals/events as well as streaming of whole albums. Right now, for instance, they are featuring the new stuff by David Byrne/St. Vincent and the xx.
Of all the changes, I’m really going to miss Dave FM. Who the hell is making these decisions on our behalf? Don’t they realize that there are still people out there like me who have to spend a lot of time in their cars, don’t have satellite radio and who would appreciate a listenable local station providing local news, traffic, etc. occasionally?
If you’re in the Northeast corner of the state, you can pick up signal from a great classic rock/album rock station out of Greenville in the 101 range. Why can’t our market support something like this when Greenville’s can?
Julie
September 6th, 2012
10:25 am
It’s hard to keep up with all the changes lately. I was really sorry to lose 106.7 as well as Randy and Spiff. They really got my mornings going
DELOIS
September 6th, 2012
10:29 am
I love my IPhone – have both Sirius and upgraded Pandora on it and lots of music – never have to listen to the radio again and no commercials on Pandora. I gladly pay the annual fee for that. Since I ride transit for work, I don’t need traffic reports either since I’m usually kicking back and relaxing and listening to music during my commute.
ohletsadmitit
September 6th, 2012
10:30 am
No one likes Cake in Atlanta or anywhere else. That somehow got lost in a few programming directors who kept forcefeeding Cake on Atlantans. NO ONE LIKES THEM THAT MUCH!!!!!!!!!
The Rev
September 6th, 2012
10:32 am
Elvis Presley, Judas Priest, and Hank Williams Sr. all rolled into one rock radio station: http://www.Garage71.com
It’s local, broadcast online, reacts quickly to listener input, and streams on any tablet, smartphone, and computer.
netradiojock
September 6th, 2012
10:33 am
After while All News 106.7 FM will lose me if they keep broadcast ACC & Georgia Tech games. They just need to be ALL NEWS. If they are gonna call themselves an all-news station, then they need to act like an all-news stations. The all-news format can work here in ATL without the ACC/GA TECH games.
Bubba
September 6th, 2012
10:36 am
Atlanta radio has to be dead if “The Regular Guys” are still on the air. Those two are unlistenable, if that’s a word.
old men
September 6th, 2012
10:46 am
790 the zone getting pushed out? Great! Count how may times Chris DMino repeats the phrase “the idea”
Jimmy Foley
September 6th, 2012
10:46 am
Why do we need 3 sports talk stations? This town is about as good for sports as Kansas City! Only one “World” championship ever and the college teams in this state ain’t worth a cuss either.
not telling
September 6th, 2012
10:55 am
They won’t be happy until every channel in Atlanta plays hip hop and R&B. I was born here but this place just gets worse and worse.
Tiffany
September 6th, 2012
11:09 am
I have been in mourning for Dave FM for the last several weeks now, since I first heard about them going to all sports talk (what the heck?!?). So bummed! And I didn’t realize Journey was going to stop playing 80’s and 90’s – they’ve become one of my other favorites recently. I don’t want to shell out for Sirius XM, but am disgusted with these changes in our radio options. I’m 37 – am I so old that radio is no longer playing my songs? Really?! Sheesh! One of my favorite things about Dave FM is that I am introduced to good new, alternative music at the same time as getting to hear my old favorite alternative groups. This sucks!!
MaraGold
September 6th, 2012
11:10 am
hopefully the new sports talk station brings in some knowledgeable, big time people who know sports, talk sports and don’t spend half the time on personal stuff or unrelated BS like restaurants, movies, celebrities, etc. Just talk sports—all sports, not just atlanta stuff, which gets boring since most of the teams suck.
Moose
September 6th, 2012
11:14 am
Why don’t the djs get together and do their own radio station.. Pirate Radio! Give the radio stations back to the djs and people who listen to music, not the PR guy that hears 2 seconds of a song and says, “Yes!! thats its” or the evil Pay to Play.. we all know that happens.. Bring back the days of the djs that played music! not this 9,600 songs in a row with no commercials that feature only 250 songs…
Beyond the Middle of the Road
September 6th, 2012
11:15 am
The only time I EVER listen to live radio is to listen to a LIVE sporting or news event. I always listen to CD’s, Pandora, Sky.FM or my own vast MP3 collection.
Taxi Smith
September 6th, 2012
11:17 am
Not much time for radio in the taxi, but when I do have it on it ain’t tuned into music. I’m strictly a talk radio guy, mostly sports, can’t stand politicians. You have CD and Mp3 for music, so why even bother with music radio?? Not for me.
BullDawg Rick
September 6th, 2012
11:19 am
Go to your local library, checkout all the CD’s, rip em onto your desktop/laptop, get some blank CD/R’s & make your own easy listening for your drive.. I have done this for 10 years.. I have my own “greatest hits” whenever the radio air plays “junk” & it seems like that’s about all that’s left on the air in the ATL is “junk”… In the words if NIKE…. Just Do It!
AM
September 6th, 2012
11:20 am
I would encourage any fans of music radio to listen to WMLB AM 1690 – it’s a total jewel and Atlanta is better off for having them around. They play a diverse mix of roots music, true true oldies (i.e. songs from the 1950s and 60s) and adult alternative. They mix in just the right amount of talk and comedy as well. Hands down, the best music station in Atlanta. If only they could broadcast on FM as well!
ylojkt
September 6th, 2012
11:20 am
Still pissed about losing Project 96.1, the best station we had ever had in Atlanta. Liam is right, without a station that promotes the concerts of the bands we like to see, the rock shows will start to dwindle more and more. Was looking at the list of upcoming shows for the next couple of months on the LiveNation site and every one that I wanted to see was being promoted by Project96, how will they sell tickets without anyone knowing about the shows?
Tom B
September 6th, 2012
11:24 am
At least the HD stations continue to play rock. Best of all, no DJ’s (or 40 year old male radio hosts trying to lure in teenage boys with banter about sex), free, and commercial free. FTW!
tspec
September 6th, 2012
11:25 am
I didn’t know they still had “FM/AM” stations, thank god for satellite radio!
Blues Professor
September 6th, 2012
11:28 am
Commercial radio in Atlanta is awful. I don’t know why anybody listens but then, I can’t explain why millions of otherwise intelligent people watch reality TV either.
Listen to non-commercial, community radio, WRFG 89.3 FM, for roots-oriented music, hand-picked by a knowledgable staff of volunteer DJs. They have blues, classic R&B, Americana, bluegrass, jazz, reggae, and a whole lot more.
tarheel
September 6th, 2012
11:48 am
I hate all the changes. I loved Dave. 99X was my station when i first moved to Atlanta over 13 yrs ago. Pop/Top40 controls the airwaves because that audience engages. They’re at events, and they support the advertisers(lemmings?). If you like a station and want it to stick around, don’t just listen. That means virtually nothing anymore. CC, Cumulus, etc all follow the money, which is in Top40 right now. Support the stations you love by PARTICIPATING, not just listening.
enz
September 6th, 2012
11:52 am
Atl radio is horrid. Especially our sports talk stations and all rock…Get Sirius
Chuck Fan
September 6th, 2012
12:04 pm
103.7 ChuckFM is the best new station, but I think it’s range is limited. Can’t stand listening to top 40 stations. I love not hearing a DJ!
dje5717
September 6th, 2012
12:07 pm
Thanks goodness for satellite radio as well as other options, Atlanta has the WORST radio in the USA
eazye
September 6th, 2012
12:11 pm
i remember how cool it was to listen to 96 rock growing up in the 80’s and the music channel on tv69…the “rip off” mtv….lol they played all the music videos if you didn’t have mtv…z93 96rock…. turtles record stores with the turtle stamp booklets…. now we don’t even have record stores… and who remember PEACHES record stores???. .as some people say, the past always seems to be better
eazye
September 6th, 2012
12:16 pm
how many atlanta natives are still around??
woodrow
September 6th, 2012
12:18 pm
I used to listen to top 40 but when they started switching formats I quit listening to radio altogether about 5 years ago.
It all stinks...
September 6th, 2012
12:21 pm
That is why I’m listing to SirusXM Radio.