The logic of Jan Jeffries: Small town CHR in the big city

[bchristi]

The Cumulus CHR formula, which means a very tight, conservative playlist of well-tested currents mixed in with a very wide playlist of recurrents and gold, was imposed on many great former Citadel CHRs and Rhythmic CHRs across the country. It's the formula that has been used for decades in small towns and rural areas. While it has generally succeeded in small markets where there was little or no competition in Top 40 and where people tend to be more resistant to change, it's baffling that Jan Jeffries sees it as a one-size-fits-all CHR formula even in the larger former Citadel markets. In my opinion, Cumulus has ruined CHR with this strategy. What is the logic in this? Are there any large markets where the strategy is actually winning vs a more current-based competitor? Why does Jan insist on sticking to this formula in markets where it is not working?

I would say that today, about the only scenario in which this formula is appropriate is as background music for an event or business. Maybe that is what Jan is targeting?

 

[Former jock]

The Cumulus CHR formula, which means a very tight, conservative playlist of well-tested currents mixed in with a very wide playlist of recurrents and gold, was imposed on many great former Citadel CHRs and Rhythmic CHRs across the country. It's the formula that has been used for decades in small towns and rural areas. While it has generally succeeded in small markets where there was little or no competition in Top 40 and where people tend to be more resistant to change, it's baffling that Jan Jeffries sees it as a one-size-fits-all CHR formula even in the larger former Citadel markets. In my opinion, Cumulus has ruined CHR with this strategy.

Not sure what point you're trying to make other than bashing Jan Jeffries, but my experience is just the opposite...the larger markets are typically more conservative and stick to well-tested, familiar tunes. There's way too much at stake in a top 25 market vs small markets where you can get away with playing a bunch of stiffs.

 

[bchristi]

Not sure what point you're trying to make other than bashing Jan Jeffries, but my experience is just the opposite...the larger markets are typically more conservative and stick to well-tested, familiar tunes. There's way too much at stake in a top 25 market vs small markets where you can get away with playing a bunch of stiffs.

Compare the playlists of ClearChannel Z100 in New York or KIIS in Los Angeles with Cumulus stations like KLAL in Little Rock or Q100 in Atlanta. What Cumulus tries to pass as CHR is really Hot AC. On the rhythmic side, simply cut out the 10-year old Nickelback and replace it with early 2000s Ludacris or Baby Bash and you have a Cumulus rhythmic CHR.

 

[tall_guy1]

I don't know where everyone is coming from on Cumulus. I live in Kansas City and their CHR there KCHZ (95.7 The Vibe), sounds just about the same as rival there KMXV, other than being slower on certain adds.

 

[bchristi]

I don't know where everyone is coming from on Cumulus. I live in Kansas City and their CHR there KCHZ (95.7 The Vibe), sounds just about the same as rival there KMXV, other than being slower on certain adds.

I just looked at their playlist, and they are current-based which is a huge contract to most Cumulus CHR's which are recurrent/gold based. Maybe 95.7 The Vibe for one reason or another has avoided Jan's national playlist.

Listen to KKWD Wild 104.9 in Oklahoma City. It's mostly dated hip-hop and dance music with a few currents mixed in these days. Sounds horrible.

 

[tall_guy1]

I just looked at their playlist, and they are current-based which is a huge contract to most Cumulus CHR's which are recurrent/gold based. Maybe 95.7 The Vibe for one reason or another has avoided Jan's national playlist.

Listen to KKWD Wild 104.9 in Oklahoma City. It's mostly dated hip-hop and dance music with a few currents mixed in these days. Sounds horrible.

Just looked at their playlist, they completely misbranded themselves saying they are "hit music"...more like a hip-hop station. What are some other Cumulus CHRs like?

 

[tall_guy1]

I just looked at their playlist, and they are current-based which is a huge contract to most Cumulus CHR's which are recurrent/gold based. Maybe 95.7 The Vibe for one reason or another has avoided Jan's national playlist.

Listen to KKWD Wild 104.9 in Oklahoma City. It's mostly dated hip-hop and dance music with a few currents mixed in these days. Sounds horrible.

That's more rhythmic contemporary than even CHR, they mislabeled themselves. What do other Cumulus CHRs sound like?

 

[bchristi]

Just looked at their playlist, they completely misbranded themselves saying they are "hit music"...more like a hip-hop station. What are some other Cumulus CHRs like?

It's always been that way. The idea of a "hip hop and r&b" station doesn't sell well in OKC but being branded as a hit music station has worked well for them. They have typically played just enough pop to pass as a CHR. The station has cratered though since Cumulus imposed Jan's formula on it. KLAL is a similar station but more mainstream CHR than KKWD. Like any station programmed by Jan, it is slow with adds and heavy on gold.