Has AAR lost biz?

[stepnw1f]

I ask, because they aren't playing commercials.

[blueinindiana]

1. Internet cuts out local commercials etc

Malloy talked about it the other night

[Flabbergasted]

2. I believe that occasionally radio companies....

fiddle with their commercial/programing ratio to attract people.

The idea being all commericials no listeners
No listeners no advertising dollars.

Hard to say though?

[zalinda]

3. I think that since they have so many stations

they are focusing on local advertising. The songs on during the breaks seem to be generic, as is the start ins on the hour with the shows.

zalinda

[Rick Myers]

4. There are some conflicts with rights, so online feeds...

go in and out of music beds, etc., to fill time.

[stepnw1f]

rights?

copyright?

[ClassWarrior]

5. They started replacing the local NYC commercials with music...

...on the Internet stream at the beginning of the year. Local stations across the country probably get that same feed, and substitute their own locally-sold commercials for the music.

NGU.

[stepnw1f]

6. Free is Good for Me (nt)

[Moochy]

7. AAR used to just use WLIB feed for their online stuff

Back then they seemed to have played all the NY ads. I actually prefer the bumper music to the NY ads, since they are so novel to my ear out here in SF I pay more attention to them than ads out here yapping about local stuff. The ones that are still on must be the national network ads.

[NYCGirl]

8. Listen to it live on the radio, and there's PLENTY of commercials. NT

[ZombieGak]

11. same here

... I don't detect any overuse of public service ads to make up for paying ads.

[newyawker99]

13. Hi ZombieGak!!

Welcome to DU!!

[ZombieGak]

15. thanks!

Actually I think I registered last spring but never got to post much.

[xfundy]

9. Here's a good idea for AAR!

Instead of all that bumper music it would be great if they played spots for nonprofit groups supporting liberal causes--or maybe even some people telling how to get involved, good URLs, etc.

[beltanefauve]

10. Chock full o'

commercials on 960 The Quake in San Fran.

[BillORightsMan]

12. Are Advertisers Boycotting AAR?

I listen to AAR on AM 1230 WTPG in COL OH. Lately, I've been hearing less local commercials, only the regular network commercials and some PSA's and MUSIC where a local spot should be (networks usually run music to affiliates during breaks). They are owned by Clear Channel Communications. I can't recall hearing a McDonald's commercial, a local grocery store commercial, an ad for a tv show, a car dealership or any other types of spots you normally hear on say a Classic Rock station. All I ever hear are the ads to consolodate my loans!

Since this is a commercial station, I'm wondering if many of their advertisers down here are backing away from putting their ad $$$$ on the AAR station. This is especially odd, considering these conglomerate radio groups bundle air time across all their stations in a market, to give the advertiser more coverage and "bang for their buck". (The sales folks love it, cuz they can sell the top-40, classic rock, sports talk and whatever: it gives them a bigger portfolio to sell from.)

My question to you is: If you have an AAR station on-air in your market, are you hearing MUSIC where a local ad should be? Are the big advertisers not supporting AAR so they lose money and have to shut down?

[NYCGirl]

14. The original poster is talking about the internet stream, not live radio.

NT

[MoonRiver]

16. Odd, because I've become irritated with the large number of commercials!

[Mugsy]

17. New "break format" sign of success.

AAR is doing extremely well. So well in fact that they've reached a point where they can now charge separate rates for "Local" and "National" commercial slots, just like a major network.

Network broadcasting works this way: The Network itself pays for their programming with big ads from major "National" sponsors like Target or Sears. Then the local stations make their money selling the remaining advertising space to local retailers like "Jim Bob's Furniture Emporium". The difference in cost to advertise Network or Local is substantial.

AAR realized that they were giving local advertisers in NY "National" (even "Global") airplay at their "Local" broadcasting rate, so they likely informed broadcasters that as of January, they would start charging more for ads that get broadcast nationally (notice the few ads they now play are for major sponsors and no more ads for local Broadway shows or NY specific city services).

The un-allotted airtime is currently filled with music until local advertisers buy up that airtime to advertise in their local markets. And potentially, while local advertisers are running ads in this new "dead zone", AAR can conceivable sell the more expensive air-time to more "National" advertisers at a discount if they don't mind only "Streaming and SatRadio" listeners being their only audience.

Relax. It's a sign of huge success.

[madinmaryland]

18. Plenty of commercials on WWRC-1260 (DC)

Though they only carry a couple AAR programs.