The Doo-Wop Flip-Flop
Just another nail in the coffin...
I love this article from June 5th's Newsday website. They are basically proving that the honchos at WCBS-FM don't know "Jack" about their listenership.
The Radio Zombies at WCBS (an Infinity owned station) flip their format virtually over night from class top-40 music (Beatles, Beach Boys, Buddy Holly, etc.) to the very Zombie-like 'latest/greatest' programming idea to save radio -- the eclectic modern rock/pop "Jack" format.
For 33 years, WCBS grew a loyal listener base. Legendary DJs worked their broadcast booth, and the listeners invited their on-air personalities and classic hit format into their homes, cars, and workplaces. That's more than listener loyalty -- that's friendship.
But last Friday at 5pm, their old friend gave them the brush-off. With a flip of a switch, WCBS changed from one format to an almost polar opposite. I'm betting the listeners thought someone had been messing with their radio preset buttons. Imagine tuning in to hear Frank Sinatra and getting Coldplay. Expecting to hear Connie Francis and hearing Britney Spears. You're dealing with a slightly older demographic here -- they could have given some of 'em heart attacks!
With the flip of a switch, WCBS basically lost THE most loyal listener base possible. A generation of listeners that grew up on radio. A demographic with money to spend and increasing leisure time as they move into retirement. A group that will be the slowest to switch to satellite radio or buy iPods -- until now.
What do you think happens to them if they can't find their favorite music on their local radio stations now, you brain-dead dolts?
Their children or grandchildren are going to introduce them to the wonderful world of unlimited and custom content. Their adult children are going to buy them satellite receivers for their home and automobile. (I'm certain XM and Sirius will be happy to do what Cable and Cellular has always done -- second and third subscription plans are always a small monetary add-on.) And their grandkids are gonna share their iPods with them. "Look at all the Dean Martin MP3s I found for you, Grammy and Gramps!."
And to what end do you make the switch to the ridiculous "Jack" format?
To appeal to a bunch of early adopter younger listeners that are already tired of the crap that finally made it to your airwaves. The group that is FIRST to adopt new technology, already own MP3 players, and are downloading their music from Napster, Yahoo Launch, and iTunes.
That loud sucking sound isn't just your decision to flip the format -- it's the grave pulling your dead zombie asses down into the ground.
PS: If Arbitron is right, and trends can be determined by one person counting for 1,000 opinions -- Newsday's impromptu poll on their website just counted 1,135,000 people who miss the old WCBS programming. By comparison, only 108,000 people said they didn't care (and that spread has probably grown by the time I finally post this entry and you have a chance to read it.)
All content (C) Copyright 2005 by ZombieRadio.com, Ross Gaylen, and Don The Idea Guy
Just another nail in the coffin...
I love this article from June 5th's Newsday website. They are basically proving that the honchos at WCBS-FM don't know "Jack" about their listenership.
The Radio Zombies at WCBS (an Infinity owned station) flip their format virtually over night from class top-40 music (Beatles, Beach Boys, Buddy Holly, etc.) to the very Zombie-like 'latest/greatest' programming idea to save radio -- the eclectic modern rock/pop "Jack" format.
For 33 years, WCBS grew a loyal listener base. Legendary DJs worked their broadcast booth, and the listeners invited their on-air personalities and classic hit format into their homes, cars, and workplaces. That's more than listener loyalty -- that's friendship.
But last Friday at 5pm, their old friend gave them the brush-off. With a flip of a switch, WCBS changed from one format to an almost polar opposite. I'm betting the listeners thought someone had been messing with their radio preset buttons. Imagine tuning in to hear Frank Sinatra and getting Coldplay. Expecting to hear Connie Francis and hearing Britney Spears. You're dealing with a slightly older demographic here -- they could have given some of 'em heart attacks!
With the flip of a switch, WCBS basically lost THE most loyal listener base possible. A generation of listeners that grew up on radio. A demographic with money to spend and increasing leisure time as they move into retirement. A group that will be the slowest to switch to satellite radio or buy iPods -- until now.
What do you think happens to them if they can't find their favorite music on their local radio stations now, you brain-dead dolts?
Their children or grandchildren are going to introduce them to the wonderful world of unlimited and custom content. Their adult children are going to buy them satellite receivers for their home and automobile. (I'm certain XM and Sirius will be happy to do what Cable and Cellular has always done -- second and third subscription plans are always a small monetary add-on.) And their grandkids are gonna share their iPods with them. "Look at all the Dean Martin MP3s I found for you, Grammy and Gramps!."
And to what end do you make the switch to the ridiculous "Jack" format?
To appeal to a bunch of early adopter younger listeners that are already tired of the crap that finally made it to your airwaves. The group that is FIRST to adopt new technology, already own MP3 players, and are downloading their music from Napster, Yahoo Launch, and iTunes.
That loud sucking sound isn't just your decision to flip the format -- it's the grave pulling your dead zombie asses down into the ground.
PS: If Arbitron is right, and trends can be determined by one person counting for 1,000 opinions -- Newsday's impromptu poll on their website just counted 1,135,000 people who miss the old WCBS programming. By comparison, only 108,000 people said they didn't care (and that spread has probably grown by the time I finally post this entry and you have a chance to read it.)
All content (C) Copyright 2005 by ZombieRadio.com, Ross Gaylen, and Don The Idea Guy
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