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Robservations:

Posted by greg on December 2, 2020, 1:00 pm

Julian Jumpin’ Perez, who was the first on-air personality hired when Entercom launched its classic hip-hop format on WBMX 104.3-FM in 2018, continues as one of the “BMX Four” mixers from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. Saturdays. But he’s no longer hosting middays or evenings full-time. Perez, a veteran of Entercom Top 40 WBBM 96.3-FM in the ’90s and a founding member of the B96 Street Mix, also was part of the “Hot Mix Five” on the original WBMX in the ’80s. Look for 104.3 Jams to make adjustments to its air shifts after the start of the year. Until then, music in middays and evenings will air without hosts, according to program director Todd Cavanah. https://www.robertfeder.com/2020/12/02/robservations-wbbm-newsradio-hosts-25th-annual-good-neighbor-radiothon/#more-27734

Re: Robservations:

Posted by Slips of Pink on December 2, 2020, 1:13 pm, in reply to "Robservations: "

Ut. Oh! What's coming!!??

Re: Robservations:

Posted by WYTZZ95FM on December 2, 2020, 1:15 pm, in reply to "Robservations: "

Hello Entercom,

Shifting the jocks will not solve the problem. Great, no jocks during the holidays when people might turn on the radio to sample you. The "adjustments" will mean national radio shifts like US99. We see how well that is working out.

Todd will be the last one turning off the lights when the fat lady sings.

Z

Re: Robservations:

Posted by Sal vitro on December 2, 2020, 9:53 pm, in reply to "Re: Robservations: "

Z you are right on the money. Entercom is a joke, Cavanaugh’s stations are all underperforming. USN knows what it needs to do in the mornings but they are to stupid to call the morning show that they know would win. Todd ran them off. He’s done the same at B. His time is up.

Re: Robservations:

Posted by WYTZZ95FM on December 2, 2020, 10:46 pm, in reply to "Re: Robservations: "

Hi Sal,

Todd's time was up long time ago.

Kill off Jams to try and save B? There is no room for Jams to go Urban unless they want to fight 2 stations at a 1.5 share. Go Urban AC, play second fiddle to iHeart. Go rock and against iHeart again? How about just shutting it off and taking The Score to 104.3?

Why are we having this discussion?

Z

Re: Robservations:

Posted by Sal vitro on December 3, 2020, 6:50 am, in reply to "Re: Robservations: "

The problems are deep at Entercom, deep inside those fancy offices in Philly there is talk of selling a signal to make up for their debt load in Chicago. I know this sounds crazy but...Cumulus is looking to add a station in Chicago. The only format that could really work is a 90s based early 2000 Gold format that plays 3-4!new songs an hour. Many say radio is dead but it’s not going to go away. And when Covid finally leaves and concerts come back there will have to be a more local programing approach, me thinks with the exodus of city dwellers moving to more rural places that small town radio could see an up tick. This whole pandemic will leave people wanting real human connection. Lets see if radio can adjust.

Re: Robservations:

Posted by WYTZZ95FM on December 3, 2020, 11:15 am, in reply to "Re: Robservations: "

I know this sounds crazy but...Cumulus is looking to add a station in Chicago.

It is not crazy, it is totally believable, if not puke capable from the Entercom side.

WLS-FM is already creeping into the 90s as KHITS was doing 3 years ago when they exited. This will be interesting to see how it will end up, but it is safe to say it will be lily white AC based approach. The 90s was split among Lilith FM (WTMX), Non-Rock (B96), Alt (Q101), Hip Hop (106.3 Jamz than later B96)

Sal, I will say initially a late 80s and 90s based all Gold format would work. When numbers start tapering off, drop the 80s as they age off and then add new tracks. Or a all 90s and 2000s format following the same pattern. But the 80/90 are more compatible than the 90/2K. - Whose portfolio will this fit into?

Wouldn't it be a kicker if they kept 105.9 matched to 780AM, 104.3 matched to 670AM, then jettison 96.3 and 99.5 to Cumulus? No royalty fees for either station being mostly spoken word, they can share resources among each other. Entercom pays off note coming up, keeps the 2 profitable stations, Cumulus would kill off B96 in a heartbeat, but I think they would revamp US99 and keep it Country. (I will not even go down the path what to do with B96).

Z

Re: Robservations:

Posted by D on December 3, 2020, 5:45 pm, in reply to "Re: Robservations: "

I know it was mentioned on here before about Entercom maybe dumping the 2 AM signals but selling 96.3 and 99.5 might be the way to go. Those 2 stations even though they’re currently doing poorly would probably sell for more than the AMs. Having 105.9 and 104.3 as simulcasts would be cheaper too. Then as mentioned with the exception of WXRT everything would be spoken word so no royalties. Besides Cumulus, I would think Hubbard would be interested too. Still, if Entercom was competent we wouldn’t be having these discussions in the first place.

Re: Robservations:

Posted by WYTZZ95FM on December 3, 2020, 6:37 pm, in reply to "Re: Robservations: "

D, in all honesty, Entercom does not even need the AM signals if they run them on FM. But they are not worth as much as they were in the past either. If I was a major broadcaster and I owned an AM and did not plan to clear 100% network programming, I would be selling.

Hubbard is having some cash problems. They can take one more FM on and be legal if they can afford it.

iHeart is maxed out.

Cumulus can take on 3 more. They are strong after their BKP organization (what a joke). Cumulus can also do a trade/swap deal they like doing with Entercom in markets that don't costs so much to run in exchange for outlets here.

I do not see the Spanish broadcasters expanding. I am surprised SBS did not exit years ago.

Entercom could sell B96 for more using the heritage factor. Same on US99, but US 99 has more of a chance surviving as they can own the market themselves.

B96, GCI, KISS and even MIX are all fighting for the same scraps. I do not get it. In the early 90s, when CHR was in the shitter, you had stations either leaning Alt, AC or Dance and niched out a place for themselves. Today they would rather just languish at a 2.0 share or less and pretend it is OK. SMH!

Z

Re: Robservations:

Posted by Sal on December 3, 2020, 7:48 pm, in reply to "Re: Robservations: "

Z you are a wise man.

Re: Robservations:

Posted by WYTZZ95FM on December 3, 2020, 8:07 pm, in reply to "Re: Robservations: "

Thank you for the kind words Sal but please do not give power to the voices in my head. Lol.

Z

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