Is this the number one alternative station in the country? Believe it is. If so, is the formula unique to STL or should other cities try the active/alternative hybrid with deeper 90s cuts.
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KPNT 105.7 The Point STL
- Thread starter acheron1982
- Start date
I looked at their recently played and I think it would work in Boston. We don’t have either an active or an alternative station currently. There is also a lack of any music stations playing music that any male born after around 1980 actually listens to unless they are into Country or 90s/early 2000s hip hop.
I am right in the middle of the target demo for a station like this and I would listen although it might be a third choice after Sirius Lithium and Alt Nation for me.
The deeper 90s cuts will improve ratings, but it ages the average audience. That's the tradeoff. More listeners who are the same age as the co-owned classic hits station. For Hubbard, they play mainly 80s on Arrow and 90s on The Point. That works for them.
I would argue that KPNT leans on the 2000's more than the 90's at this point. Not that 90's songs don't still get played but KPNT scaled back the 90's songs a decent amount last year and emphasized the 2000's in their golds selection. Their shares started increasing after they did that.
They did another mild refresher last month that further increased the amount and diversity of their 2000's gold selection. I would say no Alt plays more 00's Alt gold than KPNT. It helps that KPNT has absolutely no issue with the fact that a lot of that 00's gold are crossovers from Active Rock so they don't have to limit their selection.
They still run retro weekends once or twice a month and maintain a weekday retro block at 6 pm CST for the 90's lovers and it seems to be enough right now.
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They lean Active but they are on the Alt panels for a reason. They're running Mike Shinoda, Beach Bunny, Bleachers, Alice Merton, Manchester Orchestra, and other artists who can't be classified as "Active Rock".
Personally I take KPNT's surge as an indicator of Alt reverting back to being a rock-driven format like in the 90's and 00's this decade but we will see.
Multiple Alts like WBTZ in Vermont and KROX in Austin are starting to mimic KPNT in gold and even current choices too. KPNT's success is not going unnoticed.
It's almost the polar opposite of how audacy runs their alternatives, which is a pop-driven format there.
KPNT use day be time of day driven. Back in the early 2010’s, they would lean active during the day but after 7, they would go alternative and it would include anything from Royal Blood to Chvrches. Been some good articles written about KPNT’s formula in the local paper. Believe the Program Director has been there a few decades. Active Rock and strictly alternative stations have attempted to uproot The Point but they have all failed.
They still do that, but it is not as pronounced as it was. After 7 all bets are off as they go 50/50 current/gold, and the bulk of the currents are Alternative. In the day they are more 25/75 current/gold, and more Active-ish music shows up (tho some Alt gold like "Radioactive" can appear).
Their heavies tend to lean Active though many Alt songs make medium.
St. Louis loves rock and KPNT has a wide lane all to itself.
101X in Austin definitely has gone heavier following the ownership change, which is funny, because the longtime heavy metal specialty show that aired from 12a to 2a one night a week (cannot remember the night) recently moved to sister station Rock 93.7. To me, 101X's current approach reminds me more of 94.5 The Buzz in Houston than The Point. An even better analog would be 103.3 The Edge in Buffalo. I would say 101X still isn't as hard rock friendly as 94.5 The Buzz, and overall, 101X still greatly favors middle-of-the-fairway alternative over active rock.
I do really like the overall sound of 101X's stationality at the moment.
101X in Austin definitely has gone heavier following the ownership change, which is funny, because the longtime heavy metal specialty show that aired from 12a to 2a one night a week (cannot remember the night) recently moved to sister station Rock 93.7. To me, 101X's current approach reminds me more of 94.5 The Buzz in Houston than The Point. An even better analog would be 103.3 The Edge in Buffalo. I would say 101X still isn't as hard rock friendly as 94.5 The Buzz, and overall, 101X still greatly favors middle-of-the-fairway alternative over active rock.
I do really like the overall sound of 101X's stationality at the moment.
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How would the point and the buzz differ? Not familiar with Houston Buzz.
The X in Austin looks closer to the Point IMO
The X in Austin looks closer to the Point IMO
Just looked at the buzz playlist. First glance appears more hit base and less alternative/more active vs The Point. The Point may have a bit more alternative and sneaks in a bit more obscure and second tier hits.
The Point is running a special retro weekend for the 4th. They usually do these once a month, and I think it plays into their high ratings. The playlist is quite diverse and is a great primer for what the best of what 1990's Alternative had to offer(with some 80's and early 00's joining in).
They also dig a good deal deeper than most stations, I would say they are about as deep as a commercial AAA when they run these.
They also dig a good deal deeper than most stations, I would say they are about as deep as a commercial AAA when they run these.
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