The former KMCQ (In the Shadow of Mount Rainier) had about 3,000 songs in their playlist - "ALL songs of the 60's and 70's" The new operators have pared it back to about 600 "classic" e.g., "burned to a crisp" songs that everyone else plays. . The former format can be found on www.vinylradionw.com
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New ratings are in for November 2014
- Thread starter fordranger797
- Start date
It won't be KUBE. iheart has proven time and time again that they really do not care to invest time or money into something that has potential to work better. Want an example? How about the old Q-Country 102.9. Q country's loyal audience comprised mainly of listeners who didn't have a different signal to pick up in hard to reach areas of SW Washington. The station never performed well in the Seattle market, and yet it had potential to really make a splash in the ratings if they could have found a way to make it work. Unfortunately, getting it to work would have probably been more complicated than just purchasing an established, full market radio stations that will [supposedly] pay itself off. It looks like the new KYYO is a big hit in the south sound now that KNBQ is no more... who would have thunk?
iheart is all about the here and now, and that's probably why they are in so much trouble as a corporation. If they would have done what KYYO is doing right now, things might be different.
I'm not trying to derail another thread into bashing iheartradio. However, I think its important to note the potential that iheart has in a variety of Pacific Northwest radio stations that remain untapped.
I need to give major props to Entercom for marketing KHTP. Although we have yet to see KHTP make any big moves in the ratings, they are doing their best to get the "Hot" name out there. For all we know, it could really pay off eventually. I really don't think anyone even knows that "Now 102.9" exists unless they happen across it spontaneously.
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How are they in trouble?
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You mean the format that Movin' 92.5 started out as, then evolved into a regular CHR and now leads the market?
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What you see as failures might be seen as successes to some management and owners.
Have you seen what Hot 103.7 has done in its target demo?
That would be a good idea, but I don't see it happening. The one thing in common with all the markets seeing a Classic Hip-Hop launch is that they've all had at least one Urban station for a while. Seattle has never had an Urban Contemporary station.
Didn't they recently lay off another big chunk of their personnel?
KLCK should improve now that they are putting live airstaff on. Unfortunately, there really is no possible way to re-establish a brand like "Smooth Jazz KWJZ". It took them a very long time to build a loyal audience, and it would be way too risky to risk it.
You must be new to the business. Radio groups have been doing personnel cuts in Q4 since the whole idea of radio groups began. Mostly to cut expenses so their balance sheet looks that much more into the black when earnings are reported. From a humanitarian perspective it sucks, but that's the way it goes. Last I checked, IHeart Media was still doing fine. I thought maybe you knew something everyone else missed. Guess not.
The playlist might be smaller, but at least it sounds like a real radio station now!
Does anyone know where their old tower out in east King County was located?
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A station does not need to be number one to be a success. Case in point: sports. Countless posts here have written the eulogy of KJR-AM because of low ratings. They are a prime example of how the ratings do not always matter when it comes to a station's success.
Most stations do live and die by numbers, but they do not live and die by the 6+ numbers mentioned here or on All Access. That's why I asked you how Hot 103.7 was doing in their target demo.
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If Jerry Del Collanio is to be believed, there's a massive personnel cut coming to IHM in the next 30 days.
The definition of IHM "doing fine" is subjective, as their crushing debt is still a huge problem for them.
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Has nothing to do with rank in the radio world. It's not a fair or accurate statement to say they haven't made any moves in the ratings simply based on the 6+ ratings.
True.. but I would imagine that KHTP would prefer to have a better ratings in the 6+ even if their ratings within their target demo are good. It seems like the 6+ works decently for a general sense of listener ship. I suppose its the same for every niche radio station, though.
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hypothetically of course, what demo would you be most interested in seeing? A ranker or AQH trend report for what cells? (hypothetically)
as far as some of the other points here is where I will remind you that while iHeart appears to struggle in Seattle, they are the number one cluster in Portland and many other markets. I agree they have underutilized signals but that seems to have always been the case. It's not always about winning, sometimes it's about spoiling or rounding out your cluster. Q102.9 was about spoiling. KLCK is a good example of a station that fills in the demo as part of the Hubbard group.
I actually think the KJR Jet Rebranding was reasonably smart - they made lemons out of lemonade which is what you do when what you have is a lot of lemons.
KHTP troubles me as I predicted that once that fresh new music got familiar - and the other stations starting counter programming-that it would be tougher sledding. I don't think they are ready to throw in the towel quite yet.
And I don't think we will EVER see another smooth jazz station in Seattle so don't hold you breath. Kudos to Sandusky for staying with it as long as they could. Once the PPM's came to town it was stick a fork in it.
as far as some of the other points here is where I will remind you that while iHeart appears to struggle in Seattle, they are the number one cluster in Portland and many other markets. I agree they have underutilized signals but that seems to have always been the case. It's not always about winning, sometimes it's about spoiling or rounding out your cluster. Q102.9 was about spoiling. KLCK is a good example of a station that fills in the demo as part of the Hubbard group.
I actually think the KJR Jet Rebranding was reasonably smart - they made lemons out of lemonade which is what you do when what you have is a lot of lemons.
KHTP troubles me as I predicted that once that fresh new music got familiar - and the other stations starting counter programming-that it would be tougher sledding. I don't think they are ready to throw in the towel quite yet.
And I don't think we will EVER see another smooth jazz station in Seattle so don't hold you breath. Kudos to Sandusky for staying with it as long as they could. Once the PPM's came to town it was stick a fork in it.
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I defiantly do not blame iheart for only trying to focus their attention on their Seattle signals. I do believe that the old KNBQ could have worked if it acted as a localized radio station focusing on that part of the Pacific Northwest, but it wasn't, and it another radio station has taken its place. They have two signals that really are not much use for appealing to the Seattle market, and programming stations to serve the local area that those stations serve is kind of a head-scratcher. I really doubt that there is any sort of sales office in Olympia set up for bringing in local advertising; there are other stations in SW Washington that localize on that region which would appeal more to me if I was trying to market my business. Overall, I just think iheart would be making a move for the positive to sell off 104.9 and 102.9 to a company that would be willing to pay a pretty penny to invest in the south sound and SW market. Again, I have to congratulate KYYO for hopping into the market after several failed attempts at making 96.9 work with a local country format that seems like a hit.
As for the smooth jazz... I look at it the same way I look at "The Mountain". It may work well when it has a loyal following, but getting it to work ever again just isn't feasible. I LOVED "The Mountain" but i'm not sure id be brave enough to pioneer a new AAA in Seattle without the format brushing up against KWRM or even KPLZ.
Every time the ratings come out, I am reminded about the sad state of Seattle radio these days. As far back as I can remember, Seattle had at least one or two "cutting edge" radio stations--and the competition for your listening ear was intense. Whether is was KJR and Emperor Smith or KING and Gary "Lock Jock" Lockwood. Or the early days of AOR FM's with KOL and KZOK and a fledgling KISW. The early incarnation of KZAM FM and KEZX, which led into KMTT "The Mountain." Or the early 80's with KZAM AM, "The Wave " KYYX, and KJET on the AM dial. It seemed that Seattle was brimming with top tier and wholly innovative programming in at least a few FM signals. And the personalities-- All the way back to Pat O'Day, Larry Lujack, Jerry Kaye and Emperor Smith on KJR--John Langan & Mike West, Gary Crow & Bob Hovanes, and Steve Slaton on KISW. Robin & Maynard, Marty Riemer and Crow & West on KXRX, Stephen Rabow's House Party on KYYX, Charlie & Ty on KUBE & Murdock, Hunter & Alice on KLSY. Even Icabod Caine and the Waking Crew on KMPS for decades. While I enjoy many of the current "personalities" on my dial currently, BJ Shea, The Men's Room, Danny & Sarah, and even Fitz in the Morning, aren't what I seem to remember from years past.
Of course--it could just be that I am one of those old guys constantly opining for the "good old days"....
Of course--it could just be that I am one of those old guys constantly opining for the "good old days"....
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