WMGX Portland to Flip Formats

[R Trovato]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "John J. Francini" <francini@mac.com>
To: "Rob Trovato" <xtrovato@yahoo.com>; "BRI"
<boston-radio-interest@rolinin.bostonradio.org>
Sent: Friday, March 10, 2006 1:48 AM
Subject: Re: WMGX Portland to Flip Formats


> Well, I guess I am one of the few.
> I also guess it's somewhat weird in these days of Coasting with Frank
> down to the Shorline Sound(s) to visit with Mike in his Mill that I'd
> much rather remember the station by its legal ID -- the one used at
> the top of the hour -- and not by whatever drivel the marketing
> consultant has dreamt up this season.

Again, it's not just "this season"....WODS has been "Oldies 103.3" for
almost 20 years, etc., etc....

I will agree that some of the names just sound dumb.

I never "get" the whole idea of giving a station a real person's name, Mike,
Frank, Jack, etc.  I can't figure out what the average listeners thinks.
(Is it owned by this guy Jack?  Does he run the station?  Is he the only guy
on the air?)

I also never get names like "The Mill".  For someone who's parents worked in
some of the mills...the name conjurs up negative thoughts to me.  Whenever I
hear "The River", I think of the stinky old Merrimack River, with an
occaisional tire floating downstream.

But for a station that serves the seacoast...I think the "Coast" name can be
great.  "62 degrees on the Coast (of Maine)."  "Coasting thru the Workday".
etc., etc.

> Somehow, radio and TV stations
> managed to market themselves just fine before the current epidemic of
> "burying" the call letters.

Those were the days I tell my kids about....when there were only THREE
channels.  (OK, maybe four...)

Nowadays, distinguishing yourself from the pack is much more important.