TRIPLE A WITH-FM SURGES IN SYRACUSE AREA • GUIDE TO UPCOMING CONFERENCES

NIELSEN AUDIO SPRING 2016 DIARY MARKETS & ONE-YEAR TRENDS

In the Syracuse market WITH-FM had a 69% one-year gain in estimated weekly cumulative weekly listeners.  If you want to know why, give them a listen via their website [link]. WITH-FM is now almost totally music and listeners have responded.

WITH-FM is a relatively new public radio station.  It began in 2010 when a broadcasting partnership was crafted between WXXI in Rochester, and Hobart & William Smith Colleges in Geneva, NY.

Considering WITH-FM’s coverage area (map on the right) many of the new listeners are likely in the Ithaca area.  Nielsen Audio now includes Ithaca in the Syracuse metro area.  No doubt there are also WITH-FM listeners in the western suburbs of Syracuse.  Nice work WITH and WXXI!

Triple A WEXT saw a nice one-year bump compared to a year ago. Chris Wienk is probably also celebrating now because Classical WMHT was also up.  Wienk programs both stations.  Give this guy a pay raise!

WAMC held steady but look at the gains by out-of-market NPR News stations. Part of the reason is the huge geography of the Albany metro area.

All of the Nielsen Audio noncom subscribers in Asheville lost weekly listening. CCM powerhouse WLFJ remains the top noncom station in the market.

 WMRA in Harrisonburg is typically the top noncom station in Charlottesville but apparently they did not subscribe to the Nielsen Audio Spring 2016 book.  Triple A WNRN remains strong in Charlottesville, one several markets they serve.

GUIDE TO UPCOMING CONFERENCES & EVENTS

• WXPN’s Exponential Music Festival

(this weekend)

WXPN hosts an amazing lineup of older and new artists for three days of peace, love and music. The diverse schedule ranges from the Preservation Hall Jazz Band to Ryan Adams and my two current favorite groups Alabama Shakes and Kurt Vile and the Violators. Portions of the festival will be streamed live on VuHaus [link].

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

More info is at xpnfest.org/

• FMQB Triple A Conference

August 10-13
Boulder, St. Julien Hotel & Spa

Consider this conference to be the commercial radio cousin of the AAA Noncomm-vention. I attended this conference a few times when it was sponsored by Radio & Records and I’ve enjoyed it. Because it involves commercial station folks, the food, booze and swag are the best available.

RECOMMENDED IF YOU CAN AFFORD IT.

More info is at fmqb.com/

 
• Public Media Development & Marketing Conference (PMDMC)
August 10-12
Boston, Sheraton Boston

Sponsored by Greater Public, this PMDMC is one of the biggest public media conferences, often attracting more than 1,000 people.  The focus of the PMDMC is following the money: fundraising, pledging, underwriting, major gifts, partnerships and collaborations. RECOMMENDED

More info is at greaterpublic.org/pmdmc/

 

 
• AmericanaFest
September 20-25
Nashville, Hutton Hotel

I haven’t attended this conference but I’ve heard it is great time. Get ready for all things Americana.

More info is at americanamusic.org/

• Public Radio Programmers Conference (“PRPD”)

September 20-22
Phoenix, Hyatt Regency Phoenix

No information is available at this time.  Keep checking prpd.org for updates.

• CMJ Music Marathon
October 13-17
New York City

Five good reasons to attend the CMJ Marathon (courtesy of Sonicbids blog [link}

1. It's one of the world's most important platforms for the discovery of new music

2. This year is the celebration of its 35th anniversary

3. The fest features 1,400+ live performances in 80+ of New York City's greatest nightclubs and theaters

4. You'll perform in front of label executives, industry-leading music bloggers, and high-profile critics

5. Experience an audience of over 120,000 music lovers

Plus my addition: 6. There is a pretty good chance you will get laid.

More info is at cmj.com/marathon/