NYC CHR Battle: Z-100 & 92.3 Now

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How does NYC spell "Hits"? "HTZ" or "NOW"

Clear Channel's Z-100 and CBS Radio's 92.3 Now are two contemporary hits radio stations serving New York City, the nation's top media market. Z-100 is a heritage CHR with a proven track record across NYC and is also the flagship of Elvis Duran's morning show. 92.3's morning show features Mr. Mariah Carey (aka Nick Cannon) as CBS is trying the celebrity angle with their morning shows in both NY and Los Angeles. 92.3 still makes a habit of ripping Z-100 in liners. Z barely mentions its smaller competition down the dial.

In LA, Carson Daly hosts a show on 97.1 Amp Radio, another Top 40.

Z-100 is seen to be more mainstream than its Rhythmic CHR/AC partner-in-crime, 103.5 KTU "The Beat of New York". 92.3 Now has a more Rhythmic/Dance lean. KTU used to be a Rhythmic AC but it is many Clear Channel Rhythmics that have transitioned into Rhythmic Top 40. 105.7/96.7 in Atlanta and 106.7 in Detroit are examples. It is possible that WWAC 102.7 in Atlantic City, New Jersey was partly patterned after Now. Now is a 2.9 but Z is still holding steady at 4.7. I've said that Fresh 102.7 should flip, but it is currently higher rated than its Rhythmic Top 40 sister which just lost its afternoon man, Tic Tak. Lil Cee, a former Pulse 87'er, will assume that timeslot moving from weekends. Fresh also doesn't assume the Christmas role that Lite FM does during the holidays. In 2008, CBS-FM 101.1 tried the Yuletide spirit, not Fresh.

I prefer both stations, but wouldn't be surprised to see Now flip in 2012 if it doesn't amass Amp-esque numbers. KAMP-FM has skyrocketed to the top of the LA ratings in almost record-breaking time after being a nobody station as KLSX-FM 97.1. That was the last of CBS's Free FMs.

If Now were to flip formats, it would make sense to go back to an Alternative version of K-Rock. The last couple of times K-Rock was in operation on mainstream New York City FM, K-Rock was about as fickle as a girl who just broke up with her boyfriend...couldn't decide if she really made the right decision.

K-Rock was constantly shifting back and forth, up and down, and to both sides on what kind of Rock station they wanted to be. They tried to juggle Active, Modern, and Classic Rock all in one. If you want to be a Mainstream Rocker, fine. But you can't juggle three different Rock outlets at variant intervals. K-Rock's lack of focus is why Now is even around. K-Rock could come back, put RXP 101.9 out of its misery and transition it to (what many expect it to) a simulcast of 1050 ESPN.

Perhaps, Now's Dance lean could mean that they go straight up Dance/Top 40 in the future. I wouldn't put my bets on this considering CBS wouldn't know what Dance is if it had a million copies of Kim Sozzi records in its main offices in Gotham.

Your Opinion...?

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[caddyshack12190]

i miss k rock

[joyjeong15]

i think z100 going fm news talk like wabc did in 1982

[AMVLivesHereZxc]

I Use 2 Think I Like Z 100.3 Better Then Now 92.3,But From What I Hear You Say Both Stations Played Edward Maya Stereo Love And Far East Movement Like A G6,There My Favorite Songs So I'de Say I'ts A Toss Up!!