It's not radio, it's not even religion, it's relationship

[LongIsland]

A couple of weeks ago, the Nielsen data posted data and showed once again, WCSG was top of the mountain... again.

Why? It's the market... it's no commercials... it's "family friendly"... it's live and local... it's tightly formatted... Yes, yes, yes, yes, and yes.

Then someone asked if stations like WCSG were #1 in other markets. Answer - yes, and not just in the south. The Twin Cities' KTIS has posted several #1s in the past few quarters, KXOJ in Tulsa just did, Tampa's JoYFM has, as has St Louis's JOY-FM (a different owner), and so has Houston's KSBJ in the nation's fifth largest market as they cume 650,000-700,000 per week. These stations, like WCSG, get it. It's not just radio, it's a relationship.

Jacobs Media, Mark Ramsey, Alan Mason, John Frost, Tracy Johnson, Brian Wright, and others who coach and work with these stations will tell you these stations are bent on connecting with listeners. EMF (owner of K-Love and Air1) has the same mindset - connect with listeners. Working with some of these very stations, I share their premise, their "mission": connect with listeners and point them to Jesus.

Yeah there are some that do the CCM format for other reasons. Haters gonna hate, and these stations know it. Even in the face of all the naysayers, the staff of these stations and others like them remains resilient and committed - not just for better radio, but for the best radio because of Who they work for. Mark Ramsey's article is well worth the read:

https://www.markramseymedia.com/post/ch ... s-revealed

[TC Talks]

I think they are doing great radio. I think Jesus is secondary, but there are plenty of Evangelical Christians in the GR ADI as evidence of how they voted...

[cckadlec]

As a DXer and not a fan or follower of the industry in general, I have a lot of respect for stations like WCSG.

I've very publicly trashed some religious broadcasters (Smile FM, Strong Tower, etc.) for their practices and am not shy about it. Of course, I always believe they have every right to do what they're doing - i.e., snatching up EVERY available frequency they can find to cover every bit of territory available. Heck, some people can hear 5-10 Smile FMs on their dial in a single location. But that's a bit of a scummy practice. I have some bias as a DXer for the fact it's one open frequency after another that bites the dust everywhere I go, and the culprit is almost ALWAYS Smile FM (and even more frequencies will be occupied by them in the coming year).

So what's the difference between a network like Smile FM vs. WCSG, KTIS, and the like?

First, these stations have their few signals (WCSG has two extra signals, one to cover Kalamazoo and another for Benton Harbor). They put their money and effort into perfecting these signals, their engineering, their programs, their content, their advertising, probably their staff too. With just those few signals, it's not hard to do. They build a listener base and connect with them. They air LOCAL content that is relevant to those listeners.

I have to admit that aside from a lack of local content, K-Love does a pretty awesome job with much of that as well, and their success shows that. If you're a DXer and have ever sent a message to K-Love about a song they played, a transmitter issue, engineering question, etc., I'm sure you have nothing but awesome things to say about them, because they have been nothing but immensely helpful and accessible in my experience. And these other Contemporary Christian stations on a local level are similar. K-Love has even offered to listen to my long-distance catches of their stations and offer me QSLs for them, though I don't especially dabble in that kind of stuff. They have gone out of their way to show appreciation to radio hobbyists who tune in, so I can imagine they would do the same for dedicated listeners. That kind of stuff - forging a relationship with your listeners, even if they're just tuning in briefly - really counts in radio.

On the contrary, large networks like Smile FM throw up as many signals as they can to cover the largest area possible, but don't fine tune each station, don't air particularly local content (state-wide or regional doesn't really count and the weather forecasts... I'm not sure how local they are as I can't personally confirm), and can't locally connect to listeners in the same fashion. Is the music good? It can be. It's not a bad network. The people there are nice as well (though may not like me so much ). But their practices aren't as positive. And I think the average listener is going to prefer the truly local station over the state-wide network any day.

I am anything but Christian, so I am even more heavily biased. Two Milwaukee frequencies (92.9 and 102.5, both far-reaching translators that I regularly hear in West Michigan) were recently taken over by The Family, another Contemporary Christian network in NE Wisconsin. And you know what? I'm fine with it. They have quality content, quality DJs, local content, and they take care of their signals and do an awesome job. More power to them and I am happy to tune in to them now and then!

And that kind of supports the point that it isn't religion, but relationship. I am very much anti-religion, but I appreciate the relationship these stations have with their listeners and that alone finds me tuning in or at least not having the overwhelming desire to avoid the stations.

[TC Talks]

Aren't stations like Smile FM really "Profit Faith" operations? Going to dollars and not too concerned about the content? I have never heard them, so I have no idea.

[cckadlec]

Aren't stations like Smile FM really "Profit Faith" operations? Going to dollars and not too concerned about the content? I have never heard them, so I have no idea.

Superior Communications is a non-profit actually. They're also tax-exempt. Smile FM accepts donations, of course, but I don't know where all the money comes from in the end and I can't imagine they're swimming in money. Likewise, I believe K-Love is a non-profit as well. Probably not the only ones either.

I do think that they are concerned about their content. Ed is the president and the founder of Smile and he's a good guy and also does engineering and well, almost everything I think. If you want to put aside the practice of snatching up everything in sight trying to cover the entire state (and beyond) with any available signal, what he does is rather impressive. Even then, the pursuit of exactly that is an admirable goal given the state of radio these days and how few available frequencies there are. If he came into the game 20 years earlier, he'd probably have four or five 50 to 100kw signals under his belt instead of having to seek out signals with small coverage areas to get the job done. As much as I am against all of that, I don't think he's in it for the money, but instead to spread a positive message.

I may have my reservations about the business practices, but credit due where it is deserved. If one were to compare his goals and practices with those of any major radio corporation these days, Smile would come out on top every time. They may not be LOCAL like WCSG and the others, but there is just no comparison to a national cold, heartless, money-grabbing radio corporation. A state-wide religious network is still better than a Cumulus or iHeart or Townsquare.

[48125er]

One station that I’ve always found their location to be very odd is Power 91.9 whose tower is 5 minutes from me and a black gospel,station it’s 99% white here, it seems that 95.3 would be a way better signal for them to be on and 91.9 would be better for the 92.3 Lowell high station.

[cckadlec]

One station that I’ve always found their location to be very odd is Power 91.9 whose tower is 5 minutes from me and a black gospel,station it’s 99% white here, it seems that 95.3 would be a way better signal for them to be on and 91.9 would be better for the 92.3 Lowell high station.

Gosh, I haven't heard 91.9 in a while now! Cadillac, being on the really high tower they are, gets out far better here and I suppose I just don't really pay much attention to that frequency at home anymore. But I do agree. I know you can hear them in Grand Rapids, but... does anyone know they're even there?!

And I agree, 95.3 in Grand Rapids would be a better choice if WGVU didn't already simulcast on there. As for 92.3 Lowell, they have been off the air for some time and their license is deleted.

[48125er]

I didn't know 92.3 was off, power 92 will come in easier now I guess

[ChrisWL1980]

Unless the Spanish religious LPFM on 92.3 just outside Kentwood is in your way, that is.

Mr. Kadlec I think summed up the distinction between a WCSG and a Smile FM very well. About the music: Smile sounds pretty stale to me - they're very slow to add new music, and they seem to have a pretty tight playlist. They also promote being Michigan-based, but in terms of localism they're not really much better than EMF. The "time saver traffic" is a bit of a joke - I doubt a listener in Marquette will care about standstill traffic on US 127 in Lansing. If you have a locally or regionally based competitor such as WCSG, or even a regional service such as The Promise FM up north, there's no practical reason to listen to Smile FM, when you can get a wider mix of music and the local/regional info you need on your locally based station.
One thing I do appreciate about Smile FM is something similar to what EMF, Family Life Radio and WCSG also do well: the music may be Christian, but the presentation is mass appeal enough to potentially appeal to non-Christians, and there's not much if any fire and brimstone talk, Trump butt-kissing, or demonizing of those on the other side of the political divide. It's a positive presentation that emphasizes the goodness rather than wrath of God with some not-so-explicitly-religious songs that emphasize personal encouragement and motivation. That puts even Smile miles above, say, WMUZ.

[craigrussell100]

"Aren't stations like Smile FM really "Profit Faith" operations? Going to dollars and not too concerned about the content? I have never heard them, so I have no idea."

And here is the problem with the internet, social media, and the country summed up in 3 sentences. "I heard something about something, so I have formed an instant opinion about said topic, but I have never heard it or checked it out for myself so I will just regurgitate what I heard".

Sorry TC...dont mean to poop on you...just an observation.

And to stay on topic. The Christian and religious broadcasters do a good job of radio because for them its not a side business. Unlike TSQ, where radio is second or third to online clicks and events. Only do the ratings matter is when on air revenue drops, than its RIF time. With WCSG and others, they worry about whats coming out of the speakers. All the time. 24/7. 2 person shows all day. Plenty of content that audience wants, since they spend actual green $$ on research. Not trying to cheap their way through it. And the results speak for themselves.

Big ratings? Yep. Revenue? Must be to afford all that talent and research. If they were struggling, they would have 2 on air people, probably in the morning, and that would be it. Always follow the money.

[48125er]

Unless the Spanish religious LPFM on 92.3 just outside Kentwood is in your way, that is.

Mr. Kadlec I think summed up the distinction between a WCSG and a Smile FM very well. About the music: Smile sounds pretty stale to me - they're very slow to add new music, and they seem to have a pretty tight playlist. They also promote being Michigan-based, but in terms of localism they're not really much better than EMF. The "time saver traffic" is a bit of a joke - I doubt a listener in Marquette will care about standstill traffic on US 127 in Lansing. If you have a locally or regionally based competitor such as WCSG, or even a regional service such as The Promise FM up north, there's no practical reason to listen to Smile FM, when you can get a wider mix of music and the local/regional info you need on your locally based station.
One thing I do appreciate about Smile FM is something similar to what EMF, Family Life Radio and WCSG also do well: the music may be Christian, but the presentation is mass appeal enough to potentially appeal to non-Christians, and there's not much if any fire and brimstone talk, Trump butt-kissing, or demonizing of those on the other side of the political divide. It's a positive presentation that emphasizes the goodness rather than wrath of God with some not-so-explicitly-religious songs that emphasize personal encouragement and motivation. That puts even Smile miles above, say, WMUZ.

I admire that as well about these Christian stations, is they're mainly inter denominational, meaning they have catholic artists, LDS artists, etc, I've found myself saving songs i've heard in small bites onto my spotify from there

its not Maga theology, fire and brimstone or dreary preaching like BBN and strong tower, I am surprised theres no spanish christian stations in west michigan unlike in Texas or Florida.
I live near Belding, I don't think i've ever heard the spanish station up here, farthest i've gotten is maybe Ada.

[ChrisWL1980]

Unless the Spanish religious LPFM on 92.3 just outside Kentwood is in your way, that is.

Mr. Kadlec I think summed up the distinction between a WCSG and a Smile FM very well. About the music: Smile sounds pretty stale to me - they're very slow to add new music, and they seem to have a pretty tight playlist. They also promote being Michigan-based, but in terms of localism they're not really much better than EMF. The "time saver traffic" is a bit of a joke - I doubt a listener in Marquette will care about standstill traffic on US 127 in Lansing. If you have a locally or regionally based competitor such as WCSG, or even a regional service such as The Promise FM up north, there's no practical reason to listen to Smile FM, when you can get a wider mix of music and the local/regional info you need on your locally based station.
One thing I do appreciate about Smile FM is something similar to what EMF, Family Life Radio and WCSG also do well: the music may be Christian, but the presentation is mass appeal enough to potentially appeal to non-Christians, and there's not much if any fire and brimstone talk, Trump butt-kissing, or demonizing of those on the other side of the political divide. It's a positive presentation that emphasizes the goodness rather than wrath of God with some not-so-explicitly-religious songs that emphasize personal encouragement and motivation. That puts even Smile miles above, say, WMUZ.

I admire that as well about these Christian stations, is they're mainly inter denominational, meaning they have catholic artists, LDS artists, etc, I've found myself saving songs i've heard in small bites onto my spotify from there

its not Maga theology, fire and brimstone or dreary preaching like BBN and strong tower, I am surprised theres no spanish christian stations in west michigan unlike in Texas or Florida.
I live near Belding, I don't think i've ever heard the spanish station up here, farthest i've gotten is maybe Ada.

Grand Rapids has two Spanish religious stations, both LPFMs (92.3 and 103.7).
The closest thing I've heard to political content on Smile FM is promoting the Presidential Prayer Team, but that's not even really partisan at least as I understand it. And I've also heard Smile promote events at Catholic churches.
It's also worth pointing out that Michigan - Ypsilanti in particular - was home to one of the first Contemporary Christian stations in the nation, one of the first to emphasize a youthful and contemporary presentation rather than hymns and preaching. That was 1520 AM WYFC (Youth for Christ), back in 1974 (later WWCM, and now EWTN Catholic WDEO at 990).

[TC Talks]

Smile FM is promoting the Presidential Prayer Team? Is this like devil worship? He's the anti-christ.

[48125er]

Smile FM is promoting the Presidential Prayer Team? Is this like devil worship? He's the anti-christ.

That sounds like something 91.7 in Muskegon would promote which is very Pro-MAGA via american family radio, i forgot 92.3 and 103.7 we're christian.

[audiophile]

The Presidental Prayer Team has been around since 2001, and they pray for ALL presidents. "Founded in 2001, The Presidential Prayer Team is the nation’s largest, full-time nonpartisan ministry dedicated to encouraging and inspiring people to pray for the president and leadership of the United States of America."