How Did Mark Thompson do On 100.3 2/2/15

[davideduardo]

What is puzzling to me is that many people consider KLOS to be a "dinosaur".....and KSWD plays the same songs that KLOS has played for decades.....and now KSWD has a morning man who spent 25 years at KLOS.....and the ratings are improving. Go figure!

Look behind the curtain. KLOS is a Cumulus station; 'nuff said. KSWD is owned by Bonneville, one of the best operators in the country. Bonneville can attract good programmers and create an exciting, enthusiastic work environment.

 

[TGunn]

Everything old is new again?

And your quote is next to an Ad for Brandmeier's syndicated show starting soon on WLS .. Old is the new young?

 

[Thomps2525]

KOLA plays 1970s-80s-90s classic hits. Would a 1970s-80s-90s classic rock station be successful? I remember how KLOS's ratings dropped in 1991-92 after they added a lot of alternative rock to the playlist. Twenty-three years have passed and the playlist now focuses on 1970s-80s. KLOS plays the Beatles' and Rolling Stones' 1960s hits about as often as KRTH does---and that ain't often. KLOS also plays a few songs by Collective Soul, Alice In Chains, Foo Fighters, 3 Doors Down and other '90s groups and occasionally a song from the 2000s (usually Nickelback). If KLOS dropped all the '60s songs and added more '90s, the station would no longer be considered a dinosaur...but would the ratings improve?

 

[ChannelFlipper]

KOLA plays 1970s-80s-90s classic hits. Would a 1970s-80s-90s classic rock station be successful? I remember how KLOS's ratings dropped in 1991-92 after they added a lot of alternative rock to the playlist. Twenty-three years have passed and the playlist now focuses on 1970s-80s. KLOS plays the Beatles' and Rolling Stones' 1960s hits about as often as KRTH does---and that ain't often. KLOS also plays a few songs by Collective Soul, Alice In Chains, Foo Fighters, 3 Doors Down and other '90s groups and occasionally a song from the 2000s (usually Nickelback). If KLOS dropped all the '60s songs and added more '90s, the station would no longer be considered a dinosaur...but would the ratings improve?

Short Answer: No. The 90's and 2000's rock groups simply were not as good as a group than the 60's - 80's AOR groups. I wish it wasn't so because the comparative weakness of those bands and the unwillingness of rock promoters and radio general managers to actively develop or seek out better talent at the time has killed the format. Kids now view rock n roll as their white grandpa's music. And they're right. It is unfortunate because rock n roll was born out of a multitude of ethnic and diverse styles that came before and thus served as a platform to being different groups of people together in a positive way.

 

[michael hagerty]

Short Answer: No. The 90's and 2000's rock groups simply were not as good as a group than the 60's - 80's AOR groups. I wish it wasn't so because the comparative weakness of those bands and the unwillingness of rock promoters and radio general managers to actively develop or seek out better talent at the time has killed the format. Kids now view rock n roll as their white grandpa's music. And they're right. It is unfortunate because rock n roll was born out of a multitude of ethnic and diverse styles that came before and thus served as a platform to being different groups of people together in a positive way.

Steve/Rewind's question isn't predicated on kids. Success would be dictated by such a format's ability to attract people now in their mid 30s-mid 40s....people who grew up on KROQ. I think there's a there there (I know K.M. Richards does, too). The only question in 2015 Los Angeles is whether the ethnic makeup of the city would limit the success of the format. I'll leave that to David.

 

[TGunn]

So for the first time in recorded history, Uncle Joe Benson vacates morning drive for a replacement that actually works.

To say I am surprised is an understatement.

Now the question we'll all be asking is whether Mark can sustain this initial level of listenership.

Maybe the listeners like hearing Mark turn his 22 year old daughter into his puppet every morning. I guess being your father's "Chick on the Street" looks good on a resume.

 

[SuperRadioFan]

Now if only I could be enthusiastic about the "exciting" music. Excuse me gotta run I've got to hear that Led Zep they're playing right now! Still love ya Dave Beasing

 

[MarkW]

Re:

Look behind the curtain. KLOS is a Cumulus station; 'nuff said.

Agreed!!!

When Cumulus has competition, they almost always lose...period.

Look at Chicago: WLUP vs. WDRV. WLS-A vs. WGN.
Look at Atlanta: WNNX vs. WSRV. WKHX vs. WUBL. WYAY vs. WSB/WSBB-F.
New York City: WPLJ vs. WWFS. WABC barely beats a talk station from Trenton, NJ in A25-54 and 6+ (and are probably losing to them in certain dayparts0
Los Angeles: KLOS vs. KSWD.

They have run WRQX into the ground in Washington.

When it comes to Classic Rock in big cities, Cumulus seems to think personalities who sound like they belong on a Modern Rock, Hot Talk or even CHR station are the key to success. They are wrong. This will only serve to alienate the age 45+ listeners and will do little to bring new 25-44 listeners in the door.

For a real good laugh, look at the ratings of Cumulus' stations in Salt Lake.

KLOS will always be a loser so long as Cumulus continues to own it.