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PPMs prove WDVE still rules in 'Burgh
Arbitron's PPMs - Portable People Meters - were supposed to shake up the local radio ratings landscape. Unlike old-school diaries, in which it was suspected people wrote down favorite radio stations even when they weren't actually listening to them, PPMs are dead-on accurate. The electronic devices pick up signals from the radio station, so there's no pretending you're listening to one station when you're actually tuned in to another one, and, more importantly, you can't indicate you're listening to radio if you're actually watching TV.
In some other markets, PPMs have overthrown reigning radio giants. In Pittsburgh, not so much. WDVE still rules, with KDKA a close second and WDSY, WRRK (Bob-FM) and WWSW (3WS) rounding out the top five. Talk station WPGB, at No. 6, took a hit, but that could be attributed as much to post-election boredom as to the new rating system. WSHH, WXDX, WZPT and WLTJ followed.
Somewhat more interesting, perhaps, are cumulative ratings, which measure the number of different listeners tuning in. WDVE still leads, but WWSW and WRRK - stations that, like WDVE, concentrate on classic hits - leap to the next two positions. Talk stations KDKA and WPGB both drop out of the Top 10, replaced by Pittsburgh's two contemporary hits outlets, WKST (Kiss-FM) and WBZW (B-94).
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One new feature of the PPM ratings is that they'll be reported monthly, which may be a more precise indicator of the effect of sports broadcasts on a station's popularity.
WAMO's replacement
With the demise of WAMO, some thought Eddie Edwards would step forward to serve the black community with a new station. The entrepreneur did just that, but with an AM outlet that will focus on talk, not music. The next obvious choices were WKST or WBZW, both of which already feature a heavy dose of urban/rhythmic music on their playlists. Neither is likely to flip formats in the short term, as the just-released ratings have the stations locked in a too-close-to-call battle for young listeners.
Web sites now are speculating on other stations opting for a WAMO-inspired format, including Washington's WJPA. That's highly unlikely, though. As one of the few stations still playing '60s - and even occasional '50s tunes - WJPA has a loyal audience it's not going to gamble on diluting with a new format.
In the meantime, WLTJ - yes, that "Q92" easy listening mess - has compounded its identity confusion by adding "Q in the City," with WAMO's Tracey Lee playing an assortment of R&B dance tracks from Earth, Wind & Fire, Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston and the like. Last Thursday's first half hour:
• "Last Dance" - Donna Summer
• "She's Strange" - Cameo
• "That's The Way I Like It" - KLC & Sunshine Band
• "I'll Be There" - Mariah Carey
• "I Will Survive" - Gloria Gaynor
• "I'll Do Anything" - Denroy Morgan
• "That Lady" - Isley Brothers
Impressive? Absolutely. But it doesn't mesh with the station's selections the rest of the day. "Q in the City" certainly has the feel of a format that could work 24/7, stand out in the market and attract a wide range of listeners. How many stations do we need playing Phil Collins, Elton John and Billy Joel?
Radio rumor
There's current speculation that Canonsburg's Radio Disney may be one of six stations the company is shedding as it moves toward more of an Internet-based audience. Three of those six stations have been announced thus far.
Again, a change is unlikely here. Pittsburgh is still a Top 25 radio market, and a conservative music market at that. Those are two attributes Disney isn't going to relinquish just yet.
This isn't it
Considering the amount of airplay Michael Jackson received in the aftermath of his death, one would have thought that his first posthumous release, "This Is It," would be all over the radio. It was - for one day.
But most stations are treating the mid-tempo tune as a novelty record, one of those songs with a very short shelf life and airplay limited mostly to morning shows. That may change with the release of the "This Is It" film, but it's doubtful.
Radio has increasingly separated itself from movies when it comes to finding hit music. And it doesn't help that the song probably would have been Jackson album filler in the '80s - if it would have made the album at all.
You aren't my destiny
Here's a Halloween-appropriate factoid from Sean Ross's Internet radio column: Jackson's "This Is It" was co-written by Paul Anka, who also co-wrote Elvis Presley's first posthumous hit, "My Way." Anka also penned "It Doesn't Matter Anymore," the first hit released after Buddy Holly's death more than 50 years ago.
Any takers for a new Anka number?
Terry Hazlett can be reached at snowballrizzo@aol.com.
PPMs : 10/26/2009
Two parts of this piece are in conflict. The first segment speaks about the accuracy of PPM, yet the third one speak about one station moving to an Internet audience. PPMs may do well with the terrestial audience, but does nothing for the Internet audience. Almost all stations now have an Internet feed. People can listen from anywhere in the world, and never be picked up on a PPM. The migration to other devices is going to be significant in the next few years, especially AM. The noise in the AM band is making it almost useless.
ppm s : 10/26/2009
ppm s pick up streaming audio and video files off the internet
Read it wrong : 10/27/2009
Thanks. The way the words read, "... pick up signal from the station..." led me to believe only terrestial signals were monitored.
