The Media Drop

While companies like Clear Channel Communications are well within the letter of the law to make acquisitions and changes in their various media outlets, it doesn’t mean there aren’t consequences that aren’t creeping in on us all. This afternoon, I came across an article by Jessica Arsenault in the Herkimer Evening Telegram about a format change on Utica, New York’s WARM 93.5. Arsenault writes that WARM is now following Clear Channel’s “The River” format, which contains “songs by such artists as The Beatles, Bob Seger, the Eagles, Elton John, Fleetwood Mac, Santana, John Mellencamp, and the Rolling Stones, but will also include artists who receive little airplay on other stations.”

In this particular case, the company cites “local listener feedback” as the reason for the change - which is a good thing. However, “The River” appears to be a simplifying of “no playlist” radio for the company, as the format is cropping up across the country. See below:

100.7 The River - Raleigh, NC
101.5 The River - Toledo, OH
97.3 The River - Harrisburg, PA
The River 105.7 - Salt Lake City, UT
99.5 The River - Albany, NY
105.9 The River - Portland, OR
The River 105.9 - Hartford, CT
107.5 The River - Nashville, TN

That said, I shouldn’t be so quick to dismiss the concept here - one of the mainstays of satellite radio fans are that they can listen to the same station wherever they are in the U.S., whereas terrestrial radio doesn’t have that advantage - in fact, it’s a disadvantage. Is it possible that these moves are to create more solid competition in this manner? Obviously you’re not banking on people who travel once or twice a year, but I know this is a big complaint by anyone (including myself) who likes taking road trips - you can’t find a station you like everywhere you go.

So is it a “damned if you do, damned if you don’t” kind of scenario here, or is Clear Channel making a solid effort on behalf of its listenership to improve radio’s ability to have good retention numbers?