It is no secret that I am not a fan of the company known as Clear Channel.The things this company has done to destroy locally-owned radio in this country is flabbergasting. And this company has destroyed it. We as listeners of terrestrial radio are now forced with stations with the same songs played to death, over and over again. The listeners are not paid any attention to, and smaller artists are left to fend for themselves, or via the Internet for any type of airplay.
A good example is what Clear Channel has done to destroy smooth jazz stations all over the U.S. It started off as a good format, with a mix of smooth, contemporary and classic jazz sounds blended in. Then once Clear Channel-owned stations started mixing in "old soul," the format was destroyed. Kool-and-the-Gang is not smooth jazz...it's not jazz at all. Hence, the ultimate and untimely demise of these types of stations across America...in big urban markets.
Now, I digress...one thing Clear Channel is good at doing is flipping formats when one fails. The Triad's market is no exception.
Clear Channel has relinquished its battle of R&B stations, dropping its homogenized "KISS-fm" R&B format on 105.7 FM late Friday afternoon, and debuting “The All New 105-7 Hit Music Now.’’
Yawn.
So, while it couldn't compete with WQMG (97.1-fm) and 102-JAMS (WJMH), it will now wage war with Dick Broadcasting's locally-owned 107.5-fm (WKZL).
Yawn.
News & Record:
The All New 105-7 is part of the audible tweak ongoing among the four stations owned by Clear Channel Radio, a corporate radio giant out of Texas.
In February, Clear Channel dropped syndicated morning show “The John Boy & Billy Big Show’’ from its rock station WVBZ (100.3 FM) , better known as The Buzzard.
Earlier this month, The Buzzard became The Buzz and inserted a playlist that leaned more toward Green Day than Lynyrd Skynyrd.
And now, The All New 105-7 becomes Clear Channel’s latest move. It drops the three-year battle against the Triad’s two urban giants, WQMG (97.1 FM) and WJMH (102.1 FM), and goes head to head against WKZL (107.5 FM), a station owned by Greensboro’s Dick Broadcasting.
“This is not a drop from Clear Channel on high,’’ said Kim Pyle, the vice president and market manager for the four stations. “This is being done locally so we can be nimble, agile and react to the needs of the listeners in the marketplace. This is for Greensboro, Winston-Salem and High Point.’’
Yeah...right. That's the problem, Kim...nothing from Clear Channel is done locally. Nothing.
Coverage from RadioInsight.com here.
E.C. :)
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5 comments:
Erik... I truly admire your willingness to take on corporations like Clear Channel. You are dead on in your critique of that company.
The same could be said for many television owners as well. Gannett has all but DESTROYED the once unbeatable WFMY. It is sad to see what they have done to that station.
One need look no further than a neighboring market to see what quality is. Capital Broadcasting should be heralded for their steadfast ownership and dedication to WRAL. It shows on the air... and in the ratings.
The only time I listen to terrestrial radio is when I have on college radio stations, news/talk stations, sports broadcasts or the local NPR affiliate.
I mainly listen to XM although part of their channels are programmed by Clear Channel.
I'm not sure if I'm the one to take on Cheap Channel...they're a 500 lb gorilla, and I'm just a little peon. But it is clear that our corporate media has become too corporate. Whatever happened to the days when stations responded to listeners and viewers, not executives and bureaucrats? I'll agree with your assertion that Gannett has destroyed WFMY, and now McClatchy is destroying what's left of the Raleigh News & Observer/Charlotte Observer. Sinclair obviously took apart ABC-45 and tore that station up.
This is really fantastic work friend..The Way in which You represent this blog is awesome.I really appreciate your work. Keep it up in future.
Thank you! I didn't know they picked up on it until I saw your comment.
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