of course!

[Kevin Vahey]

The problem is 104.9 can't hold commuters coming into Boston. You hit 
Saugus and WRBB starts coming in.


On Mon, 22 Dec 2003 11:54pm, Dan Strassberg wrote:
> Well, WBOQ was obviously targeting the Volvo set and was apparently 
> doing it
> very successfully. The MANY spots were clearly targeted at the 
> sensibilities
> of an upscale suburban audience that would appreciate the unique--and 
> in my
> opinion, wonderful--selection of music. I figure that the new format
> basically targets the folks who live in (and keep setting fire to) the
> rooming houses in Lynn. Remember? Lynn, Lynn, city of sin; you won't 
> get out
> the way that you came in. THAT Lynn.
>
> As Larry Weil said, unless they were giving away spots (Ed note: or 
> unless
> somebody had his hand in the till), the station must have been making 
> money.
> Somebody in ownership or management is trying to be a hero and will 
> wind up
> the same sort of hero as the person who flipped 95.7 in Philadelphia 
> from
> classical. From what I've read, in half a dozen years (and at least 
> three
> formats) since that flip, the station has NEVER equaled its ratings as 
> a
> classical station (and reportedly has never billed more than half of 
> what it
> used to bill). And remember, classical is not expensive to program 
> because
> it's not a personality-driven format, so talent costs are modest. 
> However,
> it was conventional wisdom that classical couldn't make money.
>
> I guess this isn't news, but the US radio industry (or at least
> radio-industry management) seems to be populated by some of the dumbest
> conformist suits on the planet. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised, but 
> how
> can one not be continually astounded by the herd mentality?
>
> --
> Dan Strassberg, dan.strassberg@att.net
> eFax 707-215-6367
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Tim Davisson <rdavisson@neo.rr.com>
> To: <rogerkirk@mail.ttlc.net>; Dan Strassberg <dan.strassberg@att.net>;
> Brian Vita <brian_vita@cssinc.com>
> Cc: Boston Radio Interest <boston-radio-interest@bostonradio.org>
> Sent: Monday, December 22, 2003 10:32 PM
> Subject: of course!
>
>
>>
>>  > Beg pardon - but "why, back where I come from" a salesman is 
>> supposed to
>>  KNOW how to sell.  Why should an owner have to teach salespeople?>
>>
>>  I've been on the sales side of radio since 1983 and sales training has
> been
>>  part of my career from my 1st job. Help has ALWAYS been there from
>>  management/ownership.
>>
>>  It's assumed most salespeople know HOW to sell, they just have to
> understand
>>  WHAT they're selling...the lifestyle of a particular format's
>>  listeners...the type of businesses they should be calling on, and so
> forth.
>>  Teaching that is part of modern sales training.
>>
>>  It is naive to think a radio or TV station can hire a sales 
>> staff...throw
>>  them a stack of business cards and a rate card and say "go get 'em 
>> tiger".
>>  That mentality is 20+ years out of date.  Smart owners know they will 
>> net
>>  the lion's share of advertising sales profits if their sales crew is 
>> as
>>  well-preparred and successful as possible! That's just smart business.
>>
>>