Stryker Exits KROQ

[radiojomo]

His statement posted on Instagram:
"After more than 22 years at KROQ, I can proudly say with infinite gratitude that I will be leaving my full time position and stepping away from Stryker and Klein. What's next for me? I've got a lot of things planned on the horizon (stay tuned). In the meantime, my Out of Order show will continue to air on weekends on KROQ and around the country. I'll also be filling in on the station when needed. The love and support that I've gotten from this community over so many years have meant and continue to mean the world to me. Thank you for allowing me to be part of your world."

 

[TheBigA]

Can't say I'm surprised. I always expected Kevin Klein would replace Kevin & Bean. Now he can concentrate on building his own show.

 

[ksradiogeek]

In before MarkW... 😉

Whenever I listened, I felt there wasn’t much of a connection between Stryker and Klein. I feel it makes sense to let KK try to revive his career by doing his show with Ally like in SF.

 

[hotpatrick2004]

I bet it was his choice.

 

[facepalm]

I won't be surprised if KROQ flips formats in the near future...

 

[davideduardo]

I won't be surprised if KROQ flips formats in the near future...

They already did in early 2020. They are working nationally to make their new vision of Alt work.

 

[hotpatrick2004]

David what do u mean they flipped format? It's still alternative. Same playlist as any alt station so I don't quite get what you mean. It's still the world famous kroq is it not?

 

[davideduardo]

David what do u mean they flipped format? It's still alternative. Same playlist as any alt station so I don't quite get what you mean. It's still the world famous kroq is it not?

It's a different enough mix that, in another area it would be considered radical enough to be called a switch... such as a CHR going to Hot AC, for example.

 

[ragazzo-pazzo]

It's a different enough mix that, in another area it would be considered radical enough to be called a switch... such as a CHR going to Hot AC, for example.

Splitting hairs. Still in the Alt genre. They certainly tweaked the direction but KROQ remains alternative.

 

[TheBigA]

It's a different enough mix that, in another area it would be considered radical enough to be called a switch... such as a CHR going to Hot AC, for example.

Or the other way around. It went from a station that played two currents an hour to a station that is mostly currents with no gold and almost no artists who had hits in the 90s. They are very obviously avoiding current music made by heritage artists. Especially those in the Top 20.

Splitting hairs. Still in the Alt genre. They certainly tweaked the direction but KROQ remains alternative.

Depends on what you call alternative. For the people who previously listened to KROQ, this is a major change.

 

[ragazzo-pazzo]

Depends on what you call alternative.

Alternative in the 90's had a completely different sound than Alternative in the 20's. The world evolves. It may not be the "alternative" I grew up on, but that doesn't change the fact that KROQ falls into the "alternative" bucket in the year 2021

 

[TheBigA]

Alternative in the 90's had a completely different sound than Alternative in the 20's. The world evolves. It may not be the "alternative" I grew up on, but that doesn't change the fact that KROQ falls into the "alternative" bucket in the year 2021

There is no one "bucket." That's the problem, and why the station is doing so badly in the ratings.

 

[hotpatrick2004]

I remember in my hometowntownof louisville ky we had a active rock station that would sprinkle in alt back in 2004. Seems like active and alt are more separate now. Like when phantom planet california was a hit they would not touch it unless the syndicated show out of order played it.

Music is always changing we shall see where the alt format takes us. Plus there is crossover on alt stations a bit w the AAA format.

But kroq for the most part has stayed away from active rock except a few over the years. But there pd mike the show killer hates the heavy music. Woody once played a mudvayne song on alt 98.7 just to tick him off. For he said this song may not be your thing but enjoy it because just know it ticks off mike the show killer.

 

[Will_H_69_9]

They already did in early 2020. They are working nationally to make their new vision of Alt work.

correct, the entire Alternative format flipped from Alt Rock to Alt Pop.

to avoid double posting, i'll post this here instead:
also, Stryker's show was syndicated in Dallas and it's impacting KVIL as well, i would be surprised if Alt in DFW goes bye-bye as it's struggling in the ratings as even KVIL is being murdered in the ratings by KEGL 97.1 The Eagle and KZPS Lone Star 92.5 and those 2 iHeartMedia own stations are Active Rock and Classic Rock respectively

 

[iknowaguy]

correct, the entire Alternative format flipped from Alt Rock to Alt Pop.

to avoid double posting, i'll post this here instead:
also, Stryker's show was syndicated in Dallas and it's impacting KVIL as well, i would be surprised if Alt in DFW goes bye-bye as it's struggling in the ratings as even KVIL is being murdered in the ratings by KEGL 97.1 The Eagle and KZPS Lone Star 92.5 and those 2 iHeartMedia own stations are Active Rock and Classic Rock respectively

I'm not confident that format flips are in the mix, because there are so few holes in these markets that Audacy would try to fill that doesn't impact existing properties. Plus, running a (semi) national feed with little overhead (a la Jack) still brings in revenue.

 

[macattack]

Or the other way around. It went from a station that played two currents an hour to a station that is mostly currents with no gold and almost no artists who had hits in the 90s. They are very obviously avoiding current music made by heritage artists. Especially those in the Top 20.



Depends on what you call alternative. For the people who previously listened to KROQ, this is a major change.

It's not just the music - it's the whole image. Listen to KROQ and you will not hear the classic "K-Rock" pronunciation in the imaging at all - the imaging voices all say "K-R-O-Q". It's basically KROQ in name only, which probably makes it an uncomfortable listen for anyone who had familiarity with KROQ pre-changes.

That being said it's not just artists from the 90's that are getting blocked. KROQ (and the rest of Audacy) consciously avoided "The Bandit" by Kings of Leon earlier this year, which probably cost KOL another Alternative #1, and songs made by other 00's (and even early 10's) veterans are also being ignored. An exception is "All My Favorite Songs" by Weezer, but they ignored that until it got a remix by AJR (which sadly removes the key part of the song's appeal - the orchestra), and then they started playing the remix.

The only 00's artists they're playing new music from right now are Coldplay and Modest Mouse.

 

[hotpatrick2004]

Alt 98.7 seems to have taken up where kroq left off. Kroq use to have rock of the 90s weekends etc...Alt 98.7 is filling that void with there themed weekends which some of them I like. Emo weekends etc...

But I do miss rock of the 90s weekends on kroq. And I say mike the show killer is probably not the best PD to guide KROQ THROUGH THESE DIFFICULT TIMES. As soon as he left alt 98.7 there ratings started to improve. JUST SAYIN

 

[tall_guy1]

Alt 98.7 seems to have taken up where kroq left off. Kroq use to have rock of the 90s weekends etc...Alt 98.7 is filling that void with there themed weekends which some of them I like. Emo weekends etc...

But I do miss rock of the 90s weekends on kroq. And I say mike the show killer is probably not the best PD to guide KROQ THROUGH THESE DIFFICULT TIMES. As soon as he left alt 98.7 there ratings started to improve. JUST SAYIN

Speaking of which, what's the deal with audacy's emo night? They play stuff like all American rejects-move along, good Charlotte-the anthem and mgk-bloody valentine, stuff NOT associated with the scene.

 

[radiojomo]

Audacy was put in a tough position when it decided to re-launch KROQ and its other alternative stations without in-person events. For KROQ and the like, being able to connect with your potential listeners at concerts and festivals is essential. Being able to drive listenership with concert/festival ticket giveaways is super important. Being able to host your own station events, featuring your own core artists, is crucial! But KROQ was unable to benefit from any of that.

That being said -- Audacy did not give KROQ any marketing support whatsoever announcing this relaunch. No snazzy bus or billboard ad campaign. No digital ads. No contests whatsoever, except for a $1K hourly national giveaway, which they implemented in April. On the other hand, when Cali 93.9 launched, I saw billboards flooding the city. It's almost as if Audacy is not trying to really push KROQ out there. I'm assuming that Audacy didn't really have a budget for this re-positioning, same with 97.1 NOW.

I would say listenership may improve over time, as it implements more contests and has more of a presence at in-person shows. But I would also say that a potential re-tooling in the morning slot could help...

 

[radiojomo]

I have two scenarios for people on this thread:
1. If you had to replace Stryker on the "Stryker & Klein Show" to boost ratings, who would you pick?
2. If you had to replace the entire show to boost ratings, who would you choose?