Won't happen in Seattle. The only company that owns stations in Seattle that's even thinking about it is Clear Channel. The other owners: CBS, Entercom, Hubbard, Bonneville, and Fisher, are all opposed to running syndicated music formats. Cumulus isn't in Seattle, and even then, the only format where they have syndicated DJs is country. You won't see a third country station in Seattle.
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- Thread starter guruofradio
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Won't happen in Seattle. The only company that owns stations in Seattle that's even thinking about it is Clear Channel. The other owners: CBS, Entercom, Hubbard, Bonneville, and Fisher, are all opposed to running syndicated music formats. Cumulus isn't in Seattle, and even then, the only format where they have syndicated DJs is country. You won't see a third country station in Seattle.
So how is K-Love and other bible bangers able to influence the LPFM arrangement when they already have a class C or so in the same community? I say they are very much in the pocket of the elected folks and or the Commission.
I'm not aware that they testified at all during the LPFM hearings. LPFM rules prohibit companies like EMF from owning multiple LPFM stations around the country.
Just the fact we have a conglomerate merely THINKING about this is enough reason to abandon terrestrial commercial radio altogether and go straight to streaming off your iPhone.
Enough is enough.
Great idea. Lots of local radio on your iPhone. Instead of supporting CC, you're instead pouring your money into AT&T or Verizon. I'm sure they appreciate it. In the meantime, you abandon five companies committed to local staffs. Wonderful.
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Then you find out the hard way you go over your data allotment for the month.
Face it, there could be a station with a 10,000 song playlist and you still wouldn't be happy. It's simply not in your DNA.
What you all are missing though is that the locally programmed station will likely beat the national network station hands down. In Spokane, KPXR-FM is a very good example. Rebranding as Power may have helped a bit, but not really since it's still running the same boring Premium Choice format. Even KBKS here locally is a pretty good example. Notice that KQMV has popped up to the top of the ratings multiple times in the last year while KBKS has never seen a 5 share as long as I've been watching. This may not be the case in every market Quad Cities is an example, but in most cases it is.
I stream off my iphone often. When I am driving on the freeway and I am too far north, I stream KINK-FM via their tune-in app (otherwise I listen terrestrially). No thanks, Pandora.
Actually, I have an unlimited data plan from Credo Mobile. It's really good. I already listen online around 2 hours a day in my car and I have NEVER been hit with overusage fee in the eight months I've had it. Just $30 a month.
As for the ballyhooed "10,000 song playlist", my observation is it's not 10,000 DIFFERENT songs, but the usual 450 songs (or less) over and over. Commercial free of course, but NEVER 10,000 distinct songs each.
Unlimited plans are disappearing.
A conglomerate is a conglomerate. So why not kick $30 monthly into a conglomerate that actually gives you bang for the buck with less misery?
Do you watch cable/satellite TV?.....Well alright then!
And what the hell are you talking about? Radio has been throwing away perfectly good listeners the way a fraternity throws away beer cans on a weekend.
Oldies/Lite AC/Smooth Jazz: ("You're too old!")
Progressive Talk ("Suck it Commie!")
Adult Album Alternative: ("Go watch a whale, hippie!")
...and this is how Seattle handled it.
2010 - KWJZ suddenly blows up with no warning into Click.
2013 - After moving their increasingly canned AAA format to HD2 and a web stream and months of lame classic rock, KMTT became KHTP, going against TWO similar formats in Seattle.
2013 - After months of listener pleading to deaf ears, KPTK became KFNQ.
.....and WE'RE abandoning YOU?
GEE! YA THINK we get some sort of negative vibe from traditional radio? Because this sir, whether you realize it or not, IS EXACTLY THE MESSAGE TRADITIONAL RADIO IS SENDING SOME OF IT'S MOST DEDICATED LISTENERS.
The radio industry has simply left us no option BUT streaming radio to hear what we want. And the radio industry in no uncertain terms let us all know that they did not care. We weren't the right age demographic. Or the right politics. Or the right kind of music. Whatever. We have no place on the terrestrial radio dial. Move on.
So FINE THEN. Mission accomplished. We're gone.
But now you're complaining about (wait for it)......WE DON'T CARE ANYMORE?
Do you really think these listeners HAVE to care about the corporate terrestrial radio industry anymore after what they have been through or whoever works for them when the corporate radio industry has deliberately DRIVEN them AWAY?
DUH!
Look THAT up in your "research"......
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No, it just seems strange you don't like national programming when it's done by Clear Channel, but it's OK when it's on the internet.
But hey, you pay money to listen to radio on the phone. You get what you pay for.
While I have done my fair share of complaining on this thread about the Seattle market, there are many radio markets that I must commend. Those being Vancouver and Portland. In Portland I was very impressed with KINK 101.9 (Obviously), KGON 92.9 (which was good for a classic rock station), and KNRK 94.7. In Vancouver I enjoyed CKPK 102.7 (AAA, but doesn't hold a candle to KINK), CHHR (roots/rock, it was very interesting), and CKLG (always a surprise).
We all are well aware that the radio business targets young listeners. However, i'm sure there are young listeners (like myself) who are interested in radio formats that typically attract older audiences, like I grew up with KBSG and then "The Mountain" until its demise. Again, they wanted to trade an educated, loyal listener base for a younger listener base who would hopefully buoy the ratings in a single book. They can try to shift AAA to more lucrative formats all they like; it doesn't mean that I am going to shift my tastes just because I belong to the age group who would CHR attractive. [Note that I am referring to the Seattle market exclusively]
We all are well aware that the radio business targets young listeners. However, i'm sure there are young listeners (like myself) who are interested in radio formats that typically attract older audiences, like I grew up with KBSG and then "The Mountain" until its demise. Again, they wanted to trade an educated, loyal listener base for a younger listener base who would hopefully buoy the ratings in a single book. They can try to shift AAA to more lucrative formats all they like; it doesn't mean that I am going to shift my tastes just because I belong to the age group who would CHR attractive. [Note that I am referring to the Seattle market exclusively]
My point is there's nothing in Seattle I really find that attractive. I listen to KEXP or KGRG-AM (and KOMO for a traffic check) once in a while, but that's it.
KINK is very good and if I were in Portland, I would listen. There are other smaller terrestrial stations that do a fine job. But Seattle radio in general BORES me. CHHR (which is about to flip, they applied to the CRTC for a format change) does OK. Locally, I like KUGS and the only worthwhile local commercial station in Bellingham (in my opinion), KBAI.
KISM I swear has the most repititous, burnt out Classic Rock format I have ever heard. KAFE is meh, KGMI is too right wing and KPUG doesn't interest me at all.
I just like being able to listen to anything I want, from anywhere in the world without being chained to whatever the local dial has to offer (or lack thereof.)
KISM is terrible. However, I do enjoy listening to CFMI 101.1 despite the playlist being burnt out and repetitive (its in the same region so I thought I would bring it up). Speaking from an outside perspective, its not that great of a station. However, I do enjoy listening because the music is different. I found that KGON offered a much more interesting playlist then you hear on KJR and KZOK combined. I do have an eminence level of respect for KZOK, as they have been doing the same format for many years. I may be sick of classic rock, but if I do feel the need to listen, I would not hesitate to tune into KZOK (I would not try to tune in KGON in my car like I already do for KINK). KJR-FM is another story. KJR started as a boring classic hits station; then they gravitated to a boring oldies station after they realized their ratings were insufficient; then they abandoned "oldies" and went back to classic hits once they discovered it was no help to their ratings, and now they are a boring classic rock radio station. KMCQ is even more reliable; at least we know that they specialize in classic hits without questioning what they are going to try to do tomorrow.
Back on the topic of CHR radio, why any company would abandon a loyal listener base is beyond me. KHTP gained a big following when they first flipped with their 10,000 song gimmick. Of course, that deal came to an end, and now KHTP is posting less than the stellar ratings they were posting when they first went "hot". My point is simple: jumping into a game like CHR radio is a game of trying to come up with a selling gimmick before the other company. Its clear to see that KQMV obviously had that edge, leaving KHTP behind (with the same exact performace they had during "The Mountain" years), and KUBE in the dust. Why jump into this game when you have something that works without having to pour in a ton of effort? We all know that people who listen to CHR are not loyal listeners, and will proverbially "jump ship" as soon as another station has something better.
CHHR is not as good, reception wise anymore. Since KAFE *had* to put IBOC on 104.1 it has wiped out CHHR in many parts of Northwest WA, when it used to be clear on 104.3 before.
I agree, KWJZ should have GIVEN listeners a month or so warning that "we are flipping to a new format next month, please buy an HD radio and listen to us on HD2 beginning January 1st" or whatever. Still would be a sad day, but less of a sad day if the SJ flipped over to HD-2. Instead they flipped without a second's notice. One second Dave Koz, the next Neon Trees. WTH?!
Next, KFNQ. I knew there was a big Progressive Talk fanbase in Seattle - Thom Hartmann, Randi Rhodes, and many other hosts. Then without trying to put Progressive Talk on a new frequency, CBS flips KPTK to the cheap 24 hour a day CBS Sports feed. That's showing how cheap they can get!!
Finally, KMTT. Flipping to a bad classic rock format was not a good thing. AAA had a huge fanbase in Seattle for many years and then flipping to a 90s orientated CHR puts a lot of listeners down. Nowadays, tropo reception IS your friend, AAA listeners! KINK is a wonderful station and I hope to god it never flips. Unlike dumb ones at Entercom.
So you see, format flips need to be done RIGHT.
-crainbebo
I agree, KWJZ should have GIVEN listeners a month or so warning that "we are flipping to a new format next month, please buy an HD radio and listen to us on HD2 beginning January 1st" or whatever. Still would be a sad day, but less of a sad day if the SJ flipped over to HD-2. Instead they flipped without a second's notice. One second Dave Koz, the next Neon Trees. WTH?!
Next, KFNQ. I knew there was a big Progressive Talk fanbase in Seattle - Thom Hartmann, Randi Rhodes, and many other hosts. Then without trying to put Progressive Talk on a new frequency, CBS flips KPTK to the cheap 24 hour a day CBS Sports feed. That's showing how cheap they can get!!
Finally, KMTT. Flipping to a bad classic rock format was not a good thing. AAA had a huge fanbase in Seattle for many years and then flipping to a 90s orientated CHR puts a lot of listeners down. Nowadays, tropo reception IS your friend, AAA listeners! KINK is a wonderful station and I hope to god it never flips. Unlike dumb ones at Entercom.
So you see, format flips need to be done RIGHT.
-crainbebo
What I wouldn't give to be a future employee at KINK
GREAT station!I'm a long time Seattle native, and have become quite disappointed in what has become of Seattle radio. Growing up here, there was quite a lot of choices for entertainment (KXRX, KNBQ, KUBE, KPLZ etc). I wanted to become a radio DJ/host. I'm glad I chose another path. It has gotten so bad that it is more entertaining to watch paint dry on a winter day (which is hard to do). I'm still in the prime demo's, and can say that there is nothing for me to listen to. I spend my time when I'm home broadcasting my own music over my part 15 FM xmtr. In the car, it's the MP3, or maybe KOMO AM or FM, and maybe KUOW. That's pretty much it. Radio is in a sorry state of affairs, and will only become more irrelevant, simply because the young demo doesn't care and will listen to their I-pod or stream instead. Personally, I'll get a good laugh when radio finally dies, because I have no sympathy for greed. (Radio today is run by the Walmart model GREED.) Their demise will be their own fault. (Take that you greedy B@$t@rd$)
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