WPLM

["A. Joseph Ross" <lawyer@world.std.com>]

I suppose before long, we'll see just what WPLM has in mind, so I'd better
get my comments out before they are proved wrong.

WPLM has been inviting listeners to call a toll-free number or fax or
e-mail requests, and the general manager said in a promo this evening that
they were listening to the requests and going out and buying the CDs. 
While I'm not going to take that literally, it sounds as though they are
using listener feedback to decide what to play, within their resources. 
Which means that at least it's not going to be a satellite service.  So
far, there seems to be a sameness to the music that I'm finding rather
annoying -- perhaps because there's so much Sinatra.  Presumably, as they
"build a better radio station, record by record, artist by artist," this
will change.

BTW, while most of the legal IDs I've heard have been WPLM-FM IDs, I did
hear one this evening which said "AM & FM."  One of the things yet to be
seen is whether and to what extent there will be AM-FM simulcasting.

Tuesday evening, their signal was quite strong in my car, driving out Route
9.  Last night, it wasn't, and tonight, driving around Brookline and
Brighton, it wasn't very strong.  I don't know much about how atmospherics
affect FM signals, but current conditions don't seem to be good for FM
propagation.  (I've also had trouble getting WCRB in my office again the
past few days.)

I'm not quite sure WPLM-FM will end up sounding like, and I don't know how
much they're planning to spend on advertizing, but one thought does occur
to me.  What sort of audience could our friend Bob Bittner attract if he
had the same programming, with an FM signal and a promotion budget?

- -- 
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 A. Joseph Ross, J.D.                                     617.367.0468
 15 Court Square                                  lawyer@world.std.com
 Boston, MA 02108-2503                   http://world.std.com/~lawyer/
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