WDVE is losing its grip (Pittsburgh, Somerset: live in, suburbs, car)

[Craziaskowboi]

Here are the Pittsburgh Arbitron ratings for May 2012:




If this isn't proof of the changing demographics in Pittsburgh, then I don't know what is. I remember 10 years ago when WDVE was the uncontested #1 radio station in Pittsburgh and routinely scored double-digit Arbitron ratings, and WKST was somewhere in the middle of the pack. Now they're both in a battle for the highest ratings, and as you can see, WDVE has begun to lose some of those battles. One thing WDVE still has going for it is that it's the flagship FM radio station for the Pittsburgh Steelers Radio Network, and its ratings are still in the double-digits during football season, but when there's no football, more Pittsburghers are choosing Lady GaGa over Led Zeppelin, and P!nk over Pink Floyd.

It's also worth noting that the ratings for WXDX have slowly but steadily improved over the last 10 years, which coincides with the slow but steady decline in the ratings for WDVE. This illustrates that the audience for rock music from the 1990's to the present is growing while the audience for rock from the 1960's to the 1980's is shrinking.

[GarlicBreath]

Terrestrial radio is terrible.

[FreightTrainRunning]

Everyone once in a while I'm stuck in the car without any MP3s and public radio is doing a pledge break and I'll switch to DVE or Bob and remember again how horrible commercial radio is.

[Debbie1125]

Originally Posted by GarlicBreath

Terrestrial radio is terrible.

That's why I have Sirius/XM. The quality has gone down somewhat since the merger and there are DJs on some of the music channels. However, it's still way better than terrestrial.

[SPSGuy]

Originally Posted by GeneW

Everyone once in a while I'm stuck in the car without any MP3s and public radio is doing a pledge break and I'll switch to DVE or Bob and remember again how horrible commercial radio is.

My wife loves commercial radio. Me, driving home, once I get past mile 100 on the TP going down the mountain from Somerset I turn it to good old 91.3.

She likes Bob and DVE. WDVE, where you can hear the same 10-20 songs played over and over and over again. The same set list has been being played since my family moved to the Pittsburgh suburbs in 1992.

[RedBall]

Since when does WDVE play Led Zep? Maybe once a month? If I'm ever unfortunate enough to be listening to WDVE it's usually coldplay or nickelback. Say what you want about WDVE, but leave Zep out of it.

[Craziaskowboi]

Just a friendly reminder: I discussed Arbitron ratings, not the quality of terrestrial radio programming. Thanks in advance for staying on topic.

[lifepgh2op]

One huge reason for the WKST ratings are Mikey and Bob on the KISS Morning Freak Show. There's no other show like them. People all over the country and other parts of the world tune in to hear them and they have a huge internet following on facebook and twitter.

[sskink]

I really don't belong in this city. I listen to YEP and am probably one of five people in all of Pittsburgh who likes Vinnie Richichi.

[SPSGuy]

Why wouldn't you belong in the city? Hell, I live in amish country and have to stream WYEP. WXPN comes in fuzzy most of the time. Public radio like WYEP or WXPN in Philly is never going to have higher ratings like clear channel stations. That is just a simple fact.