 
|
|||||||||
              
|
Radio: WDSY elbows WDVE out of No. 2 ratings spot
Saturday, January 30, 1999 By Adrian McCoy, Post-Gazette Staff Writer
According to last week's fall Arbitron book, for the first time in many moons, we had a new No. 2 radio station. Country station WDSY-FM (107.9) knocked longtime rock giant WDVE-FM (102.5) out of second place among total listeners.
Although WDVE remained No. 2 in morning drive, the gap between it and No. 3 station WXDX-FM (105.9), which carries Howard Stern, wasn't quite as wide as it used to be.
In the key 25- to 54-year-old age group, where most stations target listeners, WDVE is still a comfy No. 1 with a wide margin ahead of the rest of the pack.
Country was the hot format several years back. So why the sudden upsurge in an urban market? CBS/Infinity operations manager Keith Clark attributed WDSY's upturn to several factors - a wider playlist and growing popularity of new air personalities.
But no one's jumping out of windows at WDVE's Fleet Street headquarters. In the business, a good Arbitron book is known as "getting kissed." Chancellor Media vice president/general manager Bob Roof admits, "We were totally un-kissed in the fall book." But he says the slip was merely a fluke in the ratings. "Frankly, we ain't concerned."
WDVE's 1998 ratings stayed fairly consistent throughout the year and dipped precipitously in the last month, which was factored into the three-month fall ratings. When evaluating the performance of a station, one looks at the big picture, not one high or low month, Roof says. "This is a marathon race. This is not a three-month sprint."
Besides, the battle isn't between country and rock, or two radio stations anymore. It's between the 800-pound gorillas that own them. WDVE owner Chancellor Media also has WXDX, WJJJ-FM (104.7), WWSW/FM/AM (94.5, 970) and WDRV-FM (96.1). WDSY owner CBS/Infinity also has KDKA-AM (1020) and WZPT-FM (100.7). Add them all together and you get market shares that would have been unheard of in the era before ownership consolidation.
Still, WDVE is at an interesting crossroads. Rock is a very competitive format. While there is one country, urban and oldies format here, rock has fractured into many subspecies - modern rock, classic rock, soft rock, the '70s-'80s mix.
And Howard Stern's presence has reshaped the morning radio landscape here, as it has elsewhere.
NEW LINEUP: WAMO-FM (106.7) has a new midday lineup starting Monday.
The station is splitting the shift between new hire Tracey Lee, who will do the 10 a.m. to noon portion, followed by WAMO staffer Tony Foxx from noon to 3 p.m. The noon-to-1 p.m. hour will be an urban oldies mix.
Lee, a Philadelphia native, comes to WAMO from a contemporary hits station in Harrisburg.
Lee and Foxx replace former midday host/music director Kris Kelley, who left for a new job in Detroit.
HEALTH SERIES: WDUQ-FM (90.5) is picking up a nine-part series on alternative approaches to healing, starting tomorrow.
"Mind-Body Matters" is hosted by Barry Bitman, a medical doctor and specialist in "whole person" care. Topics will include the role of humor in healing, music, relaxation, healing rituals and ancient Mayan healing practices.
"Mind-Body Matters" airs Sundays at 7:30 a.m. on WDUQ.
AROUND THE DIAL: D.J. Cavanaugh has been named general sales manager for WBZZ-FM (93.7) and group director of sales for CBS/Infinity Radio Group, which owns WBZZ. Cavanaugh worked at KDKA TV as local sales manager and marketing manager and also in sales at KDKA-AM. ... WEAE-AM (1250) is adding more auto racing coverage with "Midweek Motorsports." Don Gamble, who hosts the Saturday "Rappin' on Racin' " show on WEAE, will host "Midweek Motorsports" as well. The show will air Wednesdays from 9 to 10 p.m. starting March 3, along with a special Speedweek edition Feb. 10 airing live from Daytona.
|
||||||||
