1999... Consulting in Argentina In 1999, Rick Cummings, VP-Programming of Emmis Communications to consult a new station acquisition in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Since that time, I have spent three weeks a year in Argentina working with the Emmis stations, as well a s doing airchecks and conferences via phone and the internet. Click the Emmis logo to see the corporate website.

 

The project The stations acquired by Emmis, in association with the previous owner, were an Am and FM combo in Buenos Aires, a city of over 15 million population. The FM, called FM News because it was the only FM with newscasts, had a format of English-language adult contemporary music and no ratings. Perhaps this was because they had over 2,800 songs in rotation! As is usual with bad stations, they go away. Before that, all the usual perceptual and format search research was conducted. The result was a new format based on Spanish-language rock and playing only songs by Argentine artists.

 

#1 Since Sign-on! Above is a Mega sales sheet showing the ranking of the first 5 FMs in Buenos Aires. Mega has continued through 2002 to maintain its #1 position over all competitors.

 

For more Information... ...and the complete story of the launch of what would rapidly (one month, to be exact) become Argentina's #1 radio station, click on the Argentine map below.