Simulcasts still suck

In my city the University at Buffalo station WBFO was acquired by the local NPR outfit and they merged programming, beginning to

As a result they dropped what jazz progamming they had left and put a syndicated jazz programming on their HD2 channel instead of Exponential radio -- the sole source of AAA type music in Buffalo/Toronto.  So now I've got an HD radio with no good HD2 stations to listen to.

And now they simulcast WBEN (right wing talk) not only on the station that used to be The Lake ( a slightly softer and hipper version of classic rock station) but now on an HD2 channel.  So we can hear Rush Limbaugh call a law student a slut on 3 different frequencies.  What a joy.

More craptastic simulcast news!

Buffalo's WLKK was never a true AAA station. More like a classic rock station for middle aged people who liked to complain that local radio stunk. Unfortunately these people enjoy kvetching more than actually listening to good radio when it comes along.

For myself I tuned in every now and then for a break from CFNY, sometimes admiring their daring at playing a deep cut, sometimes wishing they were a better station. Today I tuned it in only to hear right wing talk radio. Yes WBEN is now simulcasting.

"The Lake" is now on HD2 and of course the internet and may be heard here. As for WBEN -- may their ratings tank -- on both their frequencies.

Whew!

When I read online that New York City's WRXP was dropping the Rock Experience branding tightening up the playlist in a "pure rock" direction . I nearly panicked as I pictured Black Sabbath Weekends and Godsmack supersets.

Apparently not on Program Director Leslie Fram's watch. So far the changes seem to be fine tuning rather than radical revamp. Here's a random hour:

Close to Me -- The Cure
Hemorrhage (In My Hands) -- Fuel
Owner of a Lonely Heart -- Yes
Today -- Smashing Pumpkins
American Slang -- The Gaslight Anthem
Bad Reputation -- Joan Jett
Learn to Fly -- Foo Fighters
In the End -- Linkin Park
Blue Monday -- New Order
Enter Sandman -- Metallica
What You Need -- INXS
Tighten Up -- The Black Keys
Ring of Fire -- Social Distortion

What they seem to have gotten rid of was the pre 1977 rock, which was tricky to mix in with the modern stuff. The problem with the station wasn't that no one was listening, it was that people didn't listen very long. The people who wanted to hear Against Me weren't the same as the ones who wanted to hear Jethro Tull. The station also seems to continue its transition from a particularly hip AAA station to a particularly hip Active Rock-Modern Rock hybrid.

Hope this works.

Live 100.5 Goes Silent

Birmingham's WWMM (Live 100.5) has gone off the air, in favor of simulcasted talk radio. On one hand, I understand the move, since the station was consistently pulling ratings under 2.0, which almost always is a precusor to a format change. On the other hand, they are pulling the plug in favor of a SIMULCAST of right wing talk radio, their excuse being they wanted a younger audience for their programs. Ick. I think a minor tweak of format might have worked better -- a little harder, a little more rootsy, more 80's, something. Instead, the geniuses in charge ignored a grass roots campaign to keep the format and burned a lot of good will for a dubious programming decision whose only virtue is saving a ton of money. I wish nothing but MASSIVE FAIL for this format change.