Synergy Musical Chairs

[since16]

Another Synergy update:
Today 106.3 was running Super Hits, along with 94.9. Everything else was the same as Friday.

Down US-10, 99.9 WHCH has finally (partially) fixed their RDS and its signal was strong enough for it to function to about the Whitehall exit (not bad considering its short spacing to 100.1 in Holton). However, the song info is about a minute or so behind the audio and the short title (the eight characters) only cycles through the artist name and not the song name.

I am not going to respond to too many of these comments regarding our two stations, but I will say this, since you don't know the internal working, check back in a year in regards to your expectations. We are not here to meet your expectations and we do what we can, when we can. Thanks

As for Synergy, that is just a cluster fuck and based on some of the responses here, there are some that still in the dark on what a disaster that is over there.

I will disclaim this with "don't take my comments negatively in regards to our stations. I love reading the buzzboard but it is not our intent to "jump" to fix something just because of feedback. There are other priorities and things just need to be put in priority order sometimes. I never see you or others saying.. "Wow look at the Ludington market, and WHCH vs. Synergy vs. Eagle vs. WMOM=Streaming, Have their own app, nearly 20,000 "engaged fans" Facebook fans (engaged key word) compared to Synergy that has 2 Facebook pages and have not posted in nearly a year or two on both. Someone walking in who might want to buy Synergy has to realize they won't catch our social presense in that market. MAB radio station of the year, chamber small business of the year, every piece of equipment upgraded since purchasing after a station was off the air for nearly a year.

Now, you mention over and over again about Manistee. We receive $0 revenue from Manistee and have no plans of changing that anytime soon. We will do what we can to serve the area for weather and school closings and other emergencies, but I bet you have never driven from the casino to Bear Lake lately. Either way, this is not a game of how far we can reach, it is who is our audience and how we can serve them.

I also saw the comment about Delilah at night. I am not going to change our targeting because of buzzboard when you can clearly pull demographic information about the area and who we want to serve in a true balance and we are doing a fine job at that (year over year growth).

I think the focus should be on Synergy and what the fuck they are doing over there to alienate listeners and how bad they run their stations. That is the biggest worry, because listeners don't always rush to another station, they may turn to other platforms because of KLA (Killing Listening Audience) and the others in their group are souring the market.

That's my two cents, I hope you are not offended because there is no intent.

Oh, one more thing. My gut is that Synergy has not filed an STA even though one of their stations has been off (or very low power) since October/November nearly 7 months so that they do not have to hand in their license within a 12 month. So now our two direct competitors are not competitors 102.7 WMOM vs. 96.3 WKLA and 99.9 WHCH vs. 94.9 WKZC and I am very good with that. We don't see Eagle being much of a competitor since their audio kind of sucks, they have a fraction of our social presence and won't catch up the way we are climbing and they have zero local, out in the community. Heck, we just broadcasted the Onekama state final game on WMOM a couple weeks ago, just got the call to broadcast the Jaycees 4th of July parade, we put on the Ludington Gus Macker and the Ludington Area Festival of Lights (even if a studio is 80 miles away) the bodies (other than myself remain in Ludington). It's a good feeling to kick butt, but also be humbled by it (sometimes we have to brag, right)

[cckadlec]

Another Synergy update:
Today 106.3 was running Super Hits, along with 94.9. Everything else was the same as Friday.

Down US-10, 99.9 WHCH has finally (partially) fixed their RDS and its signal was strong enough for it to function to about the Whitehall exit (not bad considering its short spacing to 100.1 in Holton). However, the song info is about a minute or so behind the audio and the short title (the eight characters) only cycles through the artist name and not the song name.

Thanks for all the updates! Does that mean that both 94.9 and 106.3 were running Super Hits (just wanted to be sure it wasn't running Super Hits AND Big Dog at the same time, because that isn't entirely far fetched!)? But is the primary AM station even on? (Or perhaps it's also on 1 watt or so, so it's technically on, but nobody can hear it?). Interesting note about 92.7 and its primary station as well. I totally forgot 92.7 had been on all those years, though I do vaguely recall it being //94.1 for a time. So I guess they are actually free to use that translator as they wish after all, so putting 97.7/98.7 on there would be both legal AND the smart thing to do given their transmitter issues. Checking my old bandscans from 2014, I see 92.7 running WKLA-AM and 106.3 still as Hits 106. 92.7's situation just totally slipped my mind, so thank you for the correction.

As for 99.9 and 102.7, I sent a message to them about making sure the PI codes were set, while they were already in the midst of setting up the 102.7 RDS last week. Would the PI had been set up otherwise? I don't know, but perhaps. But 99.9 had no PI and it has had RDS since it originally came on the air (shows up on my portable but with PI 0000 and PS "undefined" but my car radio rejects the RDS outright), and 102.7 without a PI was rejected by the car radio too, but showed 0000 on the portable. After setting up the PI though, voila, there it was!! So if 99.9 is set up with it now too, kudos to them for fixing the RDS. I've always made it clear that I support their stations. If you put forth good effort and good community outreach, it should be noted. If you fail at both, eh, give it some time and see. I gave Synergy a lot of time and patience before I posted any negative words.

[cckadlec]

I am not going to respond to too many of these comments regarding our two stations, but I will say this, since you don't know the internal working, check back in a year in regards to your expectations. We are not here to meet your expectations and we do what we can, when we can. Thanks

As for Synergy, that is just a cluster fuck and based on some of the responses here, there are some that still in the dark on what a disaster that is over there.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts!! Them are some fighting words against Synergy, but heck, HONEST words as well. It's always fine to toot your own horn sometimes too.

As for Delilah, it was a oddball program to add, I have to admit. I first heard it and thought "what the heck??" because I thought you'd lost your marbles and changed formats. But it's not the only syndicated program on 102.7 either. Do I like the syndicated stuff? No, not really. But it's a locally-owned station and paying talent to be on the air all the time costs money. I would rather hear an unmanned version of the usual format, BUT... it's not a bad thing necessarily. Delilah can attract a certain audience and it's also good to have a local station that runs some variety in its format. Even the CHR songs aren't often ones you hear on WSNX or other corporate-owned stations. I enjoy 102.7 for that. You might get some listeners that aren't H*** CHR fans but do like the Delilah type of programming, and you'll reel them in during that time period. But the more variety in tunes and content, the better. Because when you only have a small city and only a few reliable stations that are local (I know some listen to WIXX and others in the warmer months), sometimes it's good to play a little of everything. The ones that do play that eclectic mix of everything are some of my very favorite stations. And the more songs that I've never heard of (there are so many great European or Aussie songs that never make it mainstream here but are H*** overseas), the more I appreciate a station.

But dang, the honest review of Synergy from someone in the business... it makes me glad I finally posted about this.

[since16]

I am not going to respond to too many of these comments regarding our two stations, but I will say this, since you don't know the internal working, check back in a year in regards to your expectations. We are not here to meet your expectations and we do what we can, when we can. Thanks

As for Synergy, that is just a cluster fuck and based on some of the responses here, there are some that still in the dark on what a disaster that is over there.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts!! Them are some fighting words against Synergy, but heck, HONEST words as well. It's always fine to toot your own horn sometimes too.

As for Delilah, it was a oddball program to add, I have to admit. I first heard it and thought "what the heck??" because I thought you'd lost your marbles and changed formats. But it's not the only syndicated program on 102.7 either. Do I like the syndicated stuff? No, not really. But it's a locally-owned station and paying talent to be on the air all the time costs money. I would rather hear an unmanned version of the usual format, BUT... it's not a bad thing necessarily. Delilah can attract a certain audience and it's also good to have a local station that runs some variety in its format. Even the CHR songs aren't often ones you hear on WSNX or other corporate-owned stations. I enjoy 102.7 for that. You might get some listeners that aren't H*** CHR fans but do like the Delilah type of programming, and you'll reel them in during that time period. But the more variety in tunes and content, the better. Because when you only have a small city and only a few reliable stations that are local (I know some listen to WIXX and others in the warmer months), sometimes it's good to play a little of everything. The ones that do play that eclectic mix of everything are some of my very favorite stations. And the more songs that I've never heard of (there are so many great European or Aussie songs that never make it mainstream here but are H*** overseas), the more I appreciate a station.

But dang, the honest review of Synergy from someone in the business... it makes me glad I finally posted about this.

I think most think that when you bring in Delilah that you have to bring in her full talk and music. Our format is consistent 24/7 and from Midnight to Midnight the only time we don't originate the music is for 2 songs an hour during the Delilah Show (her listen request) the other 8 to 10 songs each hour is our standard library. That ensures consistency among the dayparts and I would rather have Tesh and Delilah for the demo that we target and in this windows of 3pm to 7pm m - f can put the right live jock in Ludington on the air when ready.

I have one eye open so will respond to the rest in the morning . Wait till you see, later this week, the feature we are launching for the listeners that we believe no other station in the country is doing.

[ftballfan]

Another Synergy update:
Today 106.3 was running Super Hits, along with 94.9. Everything else was the same as Friday.

Down US-10, 99.9 WHCH has finally (partially) fixed their RDS and its signal was strong enough for it to function to about the Whitehall exit (not bad considering its short spacing to 100.1 in Holton). However, the song info is about a minute or so behind the audio and the short title (the eight characters) only cycles through the artist name and not the song name.

Thanks for all the updates! Does that mean that both 94.9 and 106.3 were running Super Hits (just wanted to be sure it wasn't running Super Hits AND Big Dog at the same time, because that isn't entirely far fetched!)? But is the primary AM station even on? (Or perhaps it's also on 1 watt or so, so it's technically on, but nobody can hear it?). Interesting note about 92.7 and its primary station as well. I totally forgot 92.7 had been on all those years, though I do vaguely recall it being //94.1 for a time. So I guess they are actually free to use that translator as they wish after all, so putting 97.7/98.7 on there would be both legal AND the smart thing to do given their transmitter issues. Checking my old bandscans from 2014, I see 92.7 running WKLA-AM and 106.3 still as Hits 106. 92.7's situation just totally slipped my mind, so thank you for the correction.

As for 99.9 and 102.7, I sent a message to them about making sure the PI codes were set, while they were already in the midst of setting up the 102.7 RDS last week. Would the PI had been set up otherwise? I don't know, but perhaps. But 99.9 had no PI and it has had RDS since it originally came on the air (shows up on my portable but with PI 0000 and PS "undefined" but my car radio rejects the RDS outright), and 102.7 without a PI was rejected by the car radio too, but showed 0000 on the portable. After setting up the PI though, voila, there it was!! So if 99.9 is set up with it now too, kudos to them for fixing the RDS. I've always made it clear that I support their stations. If you put forth good effort and good community outreach, it should be noted. If you fail at both, eh, give it some time and see. I gave Synergy a lot of time and patience before I posted any negative words.

Yes, both 94.9 and 106.3 were Super Hits as of yesterday

[ChrisWL1980]

Last I got a chance to hear any of the Synergy stations (several years ago) they had zero local programming, it was all off the bird on every station. I didn't listen to WHCH as I don't care for contemporary country, but did listen to WMOM quite a bit and it was a much fresher listen than KLA-FM; it sounded like a hometown station to me even during the automated dayparts. They were a breath of fresh air in a market that needed some. I did enjoy Eagle as well with its AAA/Adult Hits hybrid, though their signal wasn't the best.
Lots of respect for WMOM and WHCH for providing a consistent and dependable product at a time when their competition is anything but.

[hunterw]

Another Synergy update:
Today 106.3 was running Super Hits, along with 94.9. Everything else was the same as Friday.

Down US-10, 99.9 WHCH has finally (partially) fixed their RDS and its signal was strong enough for it to function to about the Whitehall exit (not bad considering its short spacing to 100.1 in Holton). However, the song info is about a minute or so behind the audio and the short title (the eight characters) only cycles through the artist name and not the song name.

Thanks for all the updates! Does that mean that both 94.9 and 106.3 were running Super Hits (just wanted to be sure it wasn't running Super Hits AND Big Dog at the same time, because that isn't entirely far fetched!)? But is the primary AM station even on? (Or perhaps it's also on 1 watt or so, so it's technically on, but nobody can hear it?). Interesting note about 92.7 and its primary station as well. I totally forgot 92.7 had been on all those years, though I do vaguely recall it being //94.1 for a time. So I guess they are actually free to use that translator as they wish after all, so putting 97.7/98.7 on there would be both legal AND the smart thing to do given their transmitter issues. Checking my old bandscans from 2014, I see 92.7 running WKLA-AM and 106.3 still as Hits 106. 92.7's situation just totally slipped my mind, so thank you for the correction.

As for 99.9 and 102.7, I sent a message to them about making sure the PI codes were set, while they were already in the midst of setting up the 102.7 RDS last week. Would the PI had been set up otherwise? I don't know, but perhaps. But 99.9 had no PI and it has had RDS since it originally came on the air (shows up on my portable but with PI 0000 and PS "undefined" but my car radio rejects the RDS outright), and 102.7 without a PI was rejected by the car radio too, but showed 0000 on the portable. After setting up the PI though, voila, there it was!! So if 99.9 is set up with it now too, kudos to them for fixing the RDS. I've always made it clear that I support their stations. If you put forth good effort and good community outreach, it should be noted. If you fail at both, eh, give it some time and see. I gave Synergy a lot of time and patience before I posted any negative words.

Yes, both 94.9 and 106.3 were Super Hits as of yesterday

Currently as of evening of 4/6, 106.3 is back to big dawg country 94.9.

98.7 and 92.7 are both silent carrier with 98.7 signal still fluctuating.

[ftballfan]

Last I got a chance to hear any of the Synergy stations (several years ago) they had zero local programming, it was all off the bird on every station. I didn't listen to WHCH as I don't care for contemporary country, but did listen to WMOM quite a bit and it was a much fresher listen than KLA-FM; it sounded like a hometown station to me even during the automated dayparts. They were a breath of fresh air in a market that needed some. I did enjoy Eagle as well with its AAA/Adult Hits hybrid, though their signal wasn't the best.
Lots of respect for WMOM and WHCH for providing a consistent and dependable product at a time when their competition is anything but.

WHCH just signed on in 2023. They do play some gold to differentiate from the 800 pound gorilla that is WTCM-FM

[ChrisWL1980]

I think WHCH had just recently signed on the air at the time of my visit.
In any event, Duke FM more than satisfied my country music needs. Of course that's a tougher proposition now that it's off 99.7.

[MWmetalhead]

94.9, when it was known as Z95, used to be a very good country music radio station. It's unfortunate how that station has fallen from grace.

I'm old enough to remember when 94.1 played satellite Smooth Jazz as 94.1 WEWM ("We Entertain West Michigan").

Back in the day, the local FM radio scene was smooth jazz on 94.1, country music on 95.9 (later 94.9), public radio on 97.7 (was this a rock station once upon a time?), oldies on 101.5, adult contemporary on 105.3, and bright adult contemporary on 106.3.

[ftballfan]

94.9, when it was known as Z95, used to be a very good country music radio station. It's unfortunate how that station has fallen from grace.

I'm old enough to remember when 94.1 played satellite Smooth Jazz as 94.1 WEWM ("We Entertain West Michigan").

Back in the day, the local FM radio scene was smooth jazz on 94.1, country music on 95.9 (later 94.9), public radio on 97.7 (was this a rock station once upon a time?), oldies on 101.5, adult contemporary on 105.3, and bright adult contemporary on 106.3.

AM had syndicated news/talk (including El Rushbo and Bill O'Reilly) on 1340 (Manistee) and 1450 (Ludington). Around the time 1340 went off, 1450 flipped to oldies.

I am just old enough to remember 94.1 as smooth jazz. I think 97.7 was rock before Xavier bought it. 105.3 was very briefly a rhythmic CHR/dance station

Looking at the format options in the area before WMOM first signed on, it's no wonder why WIXX was fairly popular in the area in the 1990s

[MWmetalhead]

When I vacationed in Ludington in the late 90s, indeed 101 WIXX was the only CHR station I could pick up most of the time. Even that station was fuzzy at times, usually in the early to mid afternoon. 98.5 in Green Bay was also CHR at the time (known as 98.5 Mix FM) but was more difficult to receive than WIXX.

Milwaukee had no CHR at the time, and the station closest to being CHR back then, 94.5 WKTI, almost never was receivable. WMYX was a bit more conservative then than at other times musically and could be picked up often.

I could not pick up WSNX at all, which surprised me. The strongest signal from the Muskegon area was actually WMRR.

[hunterw]

Early 2000’s
Wild 99.7 was pop friendly Rythmic CHR in the early 2000’s. Def easier to pick up than WIXX. WAPL being the other GB station that frequently had presence.

WSNX/WHTS/WOOD come in better the more east on us10 you go. WSNX is full mainstream CHR now but back then was more rhythmic leaned CHR.

WMOM was “the lakeshores widest mix of Music” but was mainstream CHR till then went hybrid alt/top 40 in the mid 2000’s I think.

WKLA.106.3/96.3 Was AC till it went HOT AC then CHR

distant stations that were present around Mason county.
101.9 WLDR
102.3 WYBR
103.5 WTCM
92.9 WJZQ
107.9 Star 108 now WMUS
101.7 WMRR gets killed by 101.5 in north parts
95.5 the zone WJZJ
98.1/107.1 the bear WGFN
96.7 mix 96 WLXV

[MWmetalhead]

During my aforementioned vacation (which I now recall was 1997), 101.5 was either off the air or broadcasting at very low power. Could not receive the station despite seeing their bumper stickers on vehicles in the area.

99.7 was Soft AC at the time as Lite 99.7. Boring station with one helluva signal!

92.9 was still located in Dighton (alongside TV-9) and had a good signal in Ludington. It was playing country music, sharing branding with 103.5.

95.5 had just signed on as Coast FM (smooth jazz). Signal was weak where I was staying. I believe they flipped to The Zone the following spring.

I was delighted to be able to receive New Rock 102-1 from Milwaukee. I was disappointed in being unable to receive Lazer 103 at all.

105.7 WAPL from Appleton actually played a few currents or recurrents hourly back then. The playlist was largely 70s / 80s driven, though. Green Bay lacked a modern rock or active rock station at the time.

[since16]

WMOM was “the lakeshores widest mix of Music” but was mainstream CHR till then went hybrid alt/top 40 in the mid 2000’s I think.

We still use that same jingle as part of the top of the hour legal ID package. Have the CD of that jingle package and it keeps that fun connection.

Most of the stations you reference, no longer make it into the Ludington area anymore.