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The second year that 98.1 The Legend went all Christmas was the killer.
The Legend was orginally launched as a way to keep 107.9 The Duke from cutting into US101’s ratings too much. As it turned out The Legend was a ratings success but not a money making success and it pulled ratings from the mothership of US101 just a little too much for Clear Channel to let it live. Because of this they have moved The Legend to the HD2 side channel of WUSY 100.7FM as US101 HD2 The Legend.
At 12:00 AM this morning Clear Channel launched a 90’s/80’s/00's station 98.1LND “Your Life, Your Music”. It is a 90s pop/rock based station with some 80s and 2000's mixed in. If you remember a few years ago Clear Channel had the 80s channel on 97.3/99.3 as The Max. We’ll see if this station can last any longer.
98.1LND has the same slogan as Clear Channel's 'Pride Radio' but so far I haven't noticed any similarities between the two playlists. So no, listening to this station will not turn you gay.
You can visit the website to listen online at www.981lnd.com
It caught my attention when I heard it. It's not bad so far.
ReplyDeleteIt could serve as a replacement for Alive 105 which moved to 105.1 FM and flipped to ESPN Radio. It may even sound like the old Kicks FM that was around until the mid/late 1990s.
ReplyDeleteI checked out their website. I love how they say if you have any sales or advertising questions, you should contact Mark Bass! I love how they pay attention to details over at Clear Channel. Who's running that place anyway?
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone take what Clear Channel Chattanooga does seriously? They're as relevant as WUUS.
ReplyDeleteYou want to see how CC pays attention to detail? Go to the 'LND website and check out the last 10 ssongs played. They are still hooked to a Christmas feed! So much for directing the listeners to the website after every tune.
ReplyDeleteI hope the bankrupt DUKE grabs all the disembowled LEGEND listeners.
The station anint to bad so far, as long as they dont keep it an automated junkbox
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of which, can I still hear my favorite jocks, like Dr Collins and Big Daddy Kyle on the HD channel? Or is that just music?
ReplyDeleteCitadel filed a reorganization. Read the trades they will exit in less than 300 days and be a stronger company. Just like GM did earlier this year and Cumulus and the company that owns News Channel 9. If you are not in radio or business for that matter you don't understand how things work! Locally Citadel does quite well and as a matter of fact i heard that the Duke out bills the legend with half their ratings. If its me i keep going after WUSY. And I bet no one picks up that format because most radio people know you can't sell that demo!
ReplyDeleteIf classic country was such a great format every market in America would have one. Heck Chattanooga would have one years before CC. In fact over the last 30 days any number of stations could have jumped on it if it was such a great format to make money with. But you see it's not.
ReplyDeleteMy wife and I just ate at a local independent restaurant at Northgate. Presumably they played 98.1 for the Christmas music to soothe the elderly types,like myself--up until today. Well, with the format change, numerous customers asked the servers to please "turn that crap down or off."
ReplyDeleteYes, I'm showing my age, but with all the retired types living here, I've never understood how the market can support three all sports stations, and three talkers, but no traditional easy listening or beautiful music radio station, or even a smooth jazz outlet. Call it elevator music, if you like.
Broadcast radio is loosing all it's youthful listeners to Ipods, satellite and internet. The last thing that even came close was "Ruby 1310." I read somewhere that one of the most popular formats on XM is Escape XM28.
I'm just content to listen to my CD jukebox at home or my MP3 CD-R's in the car. Burn 300+ MP3 files on one CD-R and hit the "random" buttom for the music you like with no interruption.
I hope it lasts as this is a format that Chattanooga has been severely lacking for some time.
ReplyDeleteOkay, just tuned in to 98.1LND for a bit. I've cume'd about 3 hours and I have to say that I think it just made my iPod an obsolete item. This is what I've figured would come around to the airwaves again. Another purpose I see this playing is a "buffer" of sorts for WKXJ. Think about it...older demo of this station might have had to previously share between 103.7 and WDOD 96.5. WDOD was a bit heavier in Golds than WKXJ since their launch...so NOW this is a way CC can go after WDOD with the older end of the demo, ultimately dragging them into their cluster rather than letting WDOD get them...all the while not messing with the formatics of WKXJ and the Kiss brand.
ReplyDelete...or maybe I've too much "Christmas cheer" and I'm over-analyzing things? ;-)
So, if I get this correctly, Classic Country is a ratings generator, but not a money maker? So a station with half the ratings could make twice the money? If I were these stations, I'd drop Arbitron because numbers mean nothing, it's all in the billing and advertisers want stations with low ratings so more people will come into their stores?
ReplyDeleteWow, great to see the former CC employee's jumping in on this one...
ReplyDeleteThis is the best format Clear Channel has brought to Chattanooga. Why did it take so long? Lovin' this new station!
ReplyDeleteI really like this selection of Music for Chatt Town. But why the name LND??
ReplyDeleteTo the person who said "Broadcast radio is loosing all it's youthful listeners to Ipods, satellite and internet," that isn't exactly the case here in Dalton. Where I go to high school, I hear kids every day talking about something they heard on the radio last night, this morning, etc. Most of the time, the station mentioned is The Mountain, but at least they're listening. Plus, I've noticed less iPods and more mp3 players that have an FM receiver on them in the last few months, and the Monday after KISSFM came back, that was a big topic of conversation.
ReplyDeleteIt's not always about ratings it's about getting results for your advertisers. If you have an audience that responds to the advertising message then you are effective. In the case of the legend they have an audience that is older and already set for life. Unlike a younger just married coule starting to have children, send them to school, buy a mini van, etc. And stop looking at 12plus, advertisers don't care that a station may have a 5 or 6 share 12plus. How string are you in the demos that they are trying to reach.
ReplyDeleteAt least we know now what Clear Channel Chattanooga employees think of the radio station....Anyone outside of the building have an opinion?
ReplyDeleteI'll just say this. If your station has a 5 or 6 or is in 5th place or whatever, no matter the "demos" and it is unsellable, maybe it's time to get some new sales people.
ReplyDeleteSometimes, sales folk whom are used to making the "easy sell," that they have been doing for many years, need a little encouragement in the form of a better commission structure.
P.S.- I am not a Clear Channel employee.
No where near a CC employee..not even in Chatt anymore..but just spent 30 minutes with the station and it sounds good..gotta give credit where credit is due..music is tight..WDRV is "the soundtrack of your life" for 40 or 50 somethings in Chicago...if LND can capture that imaging for the 30 something watch out!
ReplyDeleteIt looks like the 'new' legend is just a copy of Clear Channel's Foggy Mountain stream from iheartradio with local imaging
ReplyDeleteI'm a 32 year old female...I listened for long enough to know that if I didn't turn the station, I would run my car into a ditch. Horrible.
ReplyDeletewho and the hell has a digital radio except for high priced cars this is bs i dont think it will stay 98.1 LND
ReplyDelete97.3 they should flip too classic country and blow the whole thing out of the water lol
ReplyDeleteWell 32 f....what do you listen to that makes you keep your car on the road? Sunny is aweful. This new station is the only thing Chattanooga radio offers a 30 yr old. A well programmed LOCAL hot ac station would put a big dent in sunny's big number.
ReplyDeleteRegarding the Blog story at the top...actually, the Legend was originally designed for the HD Switch...I know because it was something we discussed then. I originally suggested that we call it US-101TWO - Like ESPN2 etc. and use it as one of the other stations in the digital band...looks like they listened 4 years later -humph? Still hate to see it go. Nonetheless, it looks like the "Legend lives on"...even if it is in cyberspace! -JB
ReplyDeleteIts LND for a reason, in case they want to take it back. Its designed to eat into Sunny and give US101 some breathing room, thats all. They want to be able to jump back into the LEgend in case US101 feels the heat.
ReplyDeleteThe top five in Chattanooga hasnt changed much in 15 years, us101-sunny-kz-jtt-gow....anyone see this station becoming a top 5?..
"who and the hell has a digital radio except for high priced cars this is bs i dont think it will stay 98.1 LND"
ReplyDeleteActually a lot of new cars have them and its not just high priced cars. Ford & KIA also have them it almost all new models.
Even if you aren't in the market for a new car you can upgrade to a HD Radio for as little as $50.
Can I hear Doc Collins and Big Daddy Kyle in HD?
ReplyDeleteNo, the HD version of The Legend has different jocks. They are part of the iheartradio.com stream.
ReplyDeleteLOVE the new station - GOOD JOB CC!!!
ReplyDeleteThis is the best CC has done in a long, long time. Now to see if they can fix the rest of the shipwrecks that have been created over time by them.
ReplyDeleteHow's 94-9 The Bull doing in ATL? CC managed to destroy two heritage ATL stations: Peach 94.9 and 96 Rock and appears on the way to destroy US-101.
ReplyDeleteI like what I'm hearing. I'm just afraid that most twenty/thirty-somethings in Chattanooga have written off terrestrial radio in this town after being under served for so long.
ReplyDeleteHow are they marketing this new station? Other than us radio heads and disgruntled hillbillies, who even knows that this station exists?
ReplyDeleteThe only promotion I know of is this email from Brian Stewart, the former newsman turned promotions guy/DJ-
Subject: Your Life, YOUR MUSIC... 98-1 WLND makes its Chattanooga Debut
There's a new radio station in town! 98-1 LND is now "Your Life, Your Music". It's a Hot AC type format with female friendly rock mixed in. This new station is certain to make a splash in the Chattanooga Radio Market. We hope you enjoy it!
For complete details....
http://981lnd.com/main.html
Brian Stewart
Promotions Director
Chattanooga, TN
423-593-6038
423-499-NEWS
WUSY-WKXJ-WLND-WRXR
I'm jsut glad my spam filter didn't eject it.
Chattanooga needs Classic Country, this is what East Tenn was built on. Stick that in your HD pipe and smoke it CC. 97.3 should reclaim the format. Long live Classic Country in Chattanooga.
ReplyDeleteThree words: Can't sell it!
ReplyDelete3 words- HIRE NEW SALESPEOPLE!
ReplyDeleteDon't worry....you can keep your job and continue to produce a 2+ share. You're safe...don't worry!
ReplyDeleteDirect line to Jay Cruz and his remaining staff: Stop worrying about everybody in town and focus on your own stations. For that matter anyone who works in radio would do themselves good to focus on keping your station and job your main priority! This forum has become nothing but a battering ram for taking people and other stations down. And we all know its someone on Old Lee Highway or Broad Street because Lord knows they all think they have the answers to everything.
ReplyDeleteOh and for the record East TN or least this area was not built on Classic Country. Did you grow up around here? This is an old Top 40 market longer than it was ever a Country market. The Top 40 stations ruled this region for decades: WMOC, WDXB, WFLI, WGOW, WDOD (when it was D-96) and of course KZ106 long before they became Classic Rock. Not to mentin some of the more recent success stories: Kicks, Kiss and now 96.5 all did and doing well. Again, maybe the reeason Classic country has not been a staple in this market and many others is that you can't sell that aged demo! got it? Good!
ReplyDeleteThe only thing I have to say is 98.1 KISS F.M. sucked and got replaced by THE LEDGEND now we've got KISS again and a another bullshit station just like soooo many others in Chattanooga, wow thanks...How about we just make them all POWER 95. Some people like to hear good music not this pop bull shit!The rich have their classical music, the pop culture have 96% of the radio, and the douches at WUSY 101 have their "POP" country, why can't WE have some classic country?
ReplyDeleteNow that I know Us 101 was one of the reasons of The Ledgends demise I and many others will boycott 101!
ReplyDeletePlease don't be afraid of Classic Country. It won't hurt you....I promise.
ReplyDeleteDon't be afraid of getting ratings. That's a good thing. It's nice to have listeners and actual people that show up at remotes. Advertisers seem to like it when they can sell more of their stuff. Classic Country can be your friend...okay?
Now thats funny! First you have to have Jocks to do the remotes. The lgened had NONE. Remember they fired them because they didn't make enough money to pay them. Second the audience is primarily OLD people who don't go to remotes to get a free slice of pizza and a free key chain. And if your not affraid then why don't you go classic country instead of trying to push it on some one else. Burns, Brewer and Citadel are not gonna take that risk. Maybe Bahackel with one of their lousy AMs, Come on Jason you know you love Classic Country! And as far as ratings its all older demos that is not sellable!
ReplyDeleteAnything can be bought, anything can be sold. Maybe its the REP'S that dont do a good job at selling Classic Country. Maybe there just are not orders coming in. It would be a shame for a Rep to actually have to get out of the car and ask someone to buy something. Thats like work.
ReplyDeleteAnything can be sold if it is positioned right.
ReplyDeleteThose of you who think 40-60 year olds aren't sellable and don't spend money are absolutely crazy. This age demographic has the lion share on wealth and are spending it with the companies who ask them.
On my drive home tonight. I heard a female on the air. This was after 9 PM. Is she voice tracked, or is she a local jock?
ReplyDeleteAgain, that is why the legend was making SOOOO much money that they couldn't keep staff and keep on the air. Unless you have managed a radio station then you have no clue what you are talking about.
ReplyDeleteWhat do you think? Live or Voice Tracked
ReplyDeleteIf that was directed to the post above. I am not in the radio business. I was only making an observation as a person that has to listen to crappy Chattanooga radio.
ReplyDeleteI have managed Chattanooga Radio I’ll explain what happened to The Legend. It’s not pretty, and it will step on some toes.
ReplyDeleteStation Managers at CC let their sales staff kill a money making station.
Since Sammy George left that building, real radio guys have not been in management. Sammy knew what The Legend was capable of, but after his departure, The Legend had NO CHANCE CC’s sales staff have always been phone and email order takers. They’ve had the Big Station to sell since the mid 80’s…with number one ratings, and a long history of success. (By the way the key to successful radio is personality…US-101 used to have personalities-Big Jon and Capt. Bob, David Hughes
It’s simple; US-101 is number 1. Why go to the trouble of finding advertisers who buy fewer ads and pay even less per ad. These sales guys work on commission. The Legend never had a chance in the same building as US-101.
Today there’s a HUGE LOYAL (consistent 5-6 shares even after 3 separate dial position changes) audience not being served. With so many stations at 5.4, 5.1, 4.9, 4.7, 3.6, 2.4, 2.3, etc…, why not go get that 6 share. CC couldn’t sell The Legend because they never tried. ‘Come on, I’ve heard advertisers on UUQ, J-103, and PLZ and added together, these three stations still fall short of a 6.1 share!
Signed,
First time caller, Long time listener
And please keep in mind, that 6 share was done on only one thousand watts!!!! The only thing keeping the Legend down was that people couldn't get the signal. Let's just imagine what they could do with 25k or even 100k.........
ReplyDeleteThe first time caller brings up a good point. A "flanker" station can never be successful, as long as there is a BIG DADDY in the cluster.
ReplyDeleteSomeone said that Classic Country is poorly rated all over the country. I did a little checking and yes, the stations that run Classic Country are not doing as well as the Legend in most markets.
Upon further examination, I find that they are on low power (3k-6k) signals, licensed to fringe markets and are usually a flanker to the BIG DADDY in the cluster.
I would love to see a true Classic County (no currents or anything after 1996,) that didn't have a BIG DADDY in the cluster and was on a big signal, licensed to a major market.
Where are the visionaries.....?????
yawn!
ReplyDeleteI am sooo glad there is finally a radio station that I actually like lisening to and won't flip channels or throw in a cd!! US101 and the other Country stations have their fan base as well as the Sunny 92 folks. I think this is a great format for those people who like a good mix, middle of the road music, not hard and not soft and not country. I think this is great!
ReplyDeleteJay, stop posting things here, you need to be sending out resume's. The new station is on autopilot, no staff nothing, its a throwaway.
ReplyDeleteHow does anyone on this site know who is posting anything when it is all anonymous? WHy did they change that? I could be Howard freaking Stern, Barack Obama or Rush Limbuagh for all you people know. Two words....GROW UP!!!!
ReplyDeleteThen why did you post as anonymous?
ReplyDeleteThis station died when C.
ReplyDeleteC.in '08 started Christmas Nov. 17th.!!!!! Maybe they should try all-news format now or perhaps all-Polka music 24/7.!!! This would be an improvment either way!!!!
Thank you WUUQ for picking up the Classic Country! See ya Clear Channel!
ReplyDeleteI would be very surprised to see WLND gsin any traction in their current format. Look for erosion of their share over the next 5 trends as the Classic Country people leave and the station finds its own level. It takes a while for Arbitron to reflect changes like this but it will happen.
ReplyDeleteTalk about a station with no buzz!
ReplyDeleteWhat's weird is, LND sounds so much better than Kiss. But yet neither of them have any street buzz, whatsoever. It's obvious to this old dog that these 2 station were put on the air just to water-down the market and try to nibble at the heels of the guys on Broad Street. People say it often here, but they should worry about themselves more than putting on a station to distract the audience.
ReplyDeleteI guess it will be awhile before we see any trends, I understand that Clear Channel has asked Arbitron to embargo the rating information to the trade publications.
ReplyDeleteWhoever has control over this radio station, please keep it alive. I believe that Chattanooga has been in dire need for a GOOD radio station for the past few years. The genre of music that 98.1 is now playing has not been played on the airwaves for quite sometime (since 96.5 The Mountain made their sad, sorry, little switch to the "New Hits" music). If you turn on the radio in Chattanooga, your choices are usually hip-hop, country, or classic rock. Aside from rarely being played on Sunny 92.3, the 90’s/80’s/00's music is not played on any other radio station. I've only been listening to 98.1 for a few weeks, but I'm already madly in love with the station. Whoever is playing this music, KEEP IT PLAYING. This station rocks!
ReplyDeleteWhoever has control over this radio station, please keep it alive. I believe that Chattanooga has been in dire need for a GOOD radio station for the past few years. The genre of music that 98.1 is now playing has not been played on the airwaves for quite sometime (since 96.5 The Mountain made their sad, sorry, little switch to the "New Hits" music). If you turn on the radio in Chattanooga, your choices are usually hip-hop, country, or classic rock. Aside from rarely being played on Sunny 92.3, the 90’s/80’s/00's music is not played on any other radio station. I've only been listening to 98.1 for a few weeks, but I'm already madly in love with the station. Whoever is playing this music, KEEP IT PLAYING. This station rocks!
ReplyDeleteI HAVE LISTENED ALMOST FROM THE JUMP. ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT!!! HAVE GOTTEN A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE LISTENING. BREATH OF FRESH AIR EVERYDAY FROM ALL THE OTHER CHANNELS. NOT THE SAME #1 TOP SONGS ALL DAY OVER & OVER. I GET MY FIX OF THE OLE SCHOOL AND MY FIX OF CURRENT MUSIC. I ALSO LOVE NOT HEARING DJS FULL OF THEMSELVES TALKING ON & ON & ON. I ACTUALLY LISTEN TO MOST OF YOUR COMMERCIALS. MOST ARE VERY INFORMATIVE. HOPE YOU NEVER GO OFF THE AIR!!! THIS 50 YEAR OLD SAYS, "KEEP KICKING BUTT" IF YOU'RE TOO OLD TO STILL APPRECIATE ALL MUSIC...IT'S TIME FOR THE ROCKING CHAIR ON THE FRONT PORCH IN SILENCE! TOO FEW OF US STILL ENJOY THE CHILD LEFT IN US.
ReplyDelete