Well, you gotta hand it to Emmis! What was the least likely format to pop up in New York? OK, OK -I know it's country (despite the fact that I believe Country could be a consistent 2.5-3.0 share in NY). Well after country it would be another rock station, a triple A station no less.Radio-Info had the story this afternoon:
"The New York Rock Experience" - WRXP - may provide the tri-state area with the full-market adult alternative station that it's lacked. Emmis PD Blake Lawrence even promises that the on-air personalities and staff will "play a direct part in choosing the music", from artists like Franz Ferdinand, Springsteen, Nirvana, Coldplay, U2, Pearl Jam, the Who and Radiohead. First song today at 4pm: Lou Reed and the Velvet Underground's Rock and Roll, followed by what Emmis says is the world premiere of a new REM track titled Supernatural Superserious. WRXP replaces smooth jazz WQCD - which had been rumored to be on the market for sale by Emmis. The new website is here.A few questions come to mind:
- Are there enough sophisticated rock listeners in NY to drive a enough cume to the frequency?
- Will the coalition of new music, classic rock, and alternative form a viable hybrid? (And I truly love hybrids)
- Where is the audio stream? It seems a little behind the curve to launch without it.
- With Smooth Jazz gone in NY, does this in effect issue a death sentence for the format nationally?
- How much of WQCD's African-American audience (about 1/3) migrates over to WRKS (98.7) to further bolster its ratings?
- Will WRXP's promise of personalities being involved in music selection:
- flash back to the prog rock era of jock programmed shows or simply will they have a vote in the music meetings?
- will this tactic be communicated over the air as a listener benefit?
- will the masses care?
We'll all be watching!
