KPLX and KSCS Dallas, How Do 2 Co-Owned Country Stations Differ?

[Gregg.]

They are both owned by Cumulus and they're both top 10 stations. For a time KPLX had the bigger ratings, while in recent months, KSCS has seen a boost in its numbers, currently tied for #2 in Dallas. KPLX is #10.

I know KPLX has stressed Texas artists, although that may be more hype than reality. It calls itself "The Wolf - Texas Country." KSCS calls itself "New Country 96.3." But again, I doubt it is any newer than KPLX.

Is there a real difference? Is KSCS aiming younger or KPLX has a more adventurous playlist?

 

[LibertyNT]

KSCS skews a lot younger and plays no gold based hits, only currents and recurrents. KPLX also plays currents and recurrents but less heavily so and not isn't as quick to add currents as KSCS. KPLX also plays more gold based hits in addition to the occasional Texas Country artist wheres KSCS plays no Texas Country at all.

Additionally KSCS has a tighter playlist while KPLX is slightly more opened up. (Largely due in part to the gold portion of the library)

 

[Triple Fake Jerry]

KSCS skews a lot younger and plays no gold based hits, only currents and recurrents. KPLX also plays currents and recurrents but less heavily so and not isn't as quick to add currents as KSCS. KPLX also plays more gold based hits in addition to the occasional Texas Country artist wheres KSCS plays no Texas Country at all.

Additionally KSCS has a tighter playlist while KPLX is slightly more opened up. (Largely due in part to the gold portion of the library)

I'd say that's fair. You won't hear much Thomas Rhett on KPLX.

 

[RadioRonnie285]

but you will hear some Thomas Rhett on KLTY

 

[CTListener]

Considering that his huge current hit "What's Your Country Song" references other songs dating back to the '70s and '80s, I'd imagine that any station playing even a few currents would be playing him these days.

 

[b-turner]

So, how would the number of different songs played compare? I would take a shot in the dark and say The Wolf might have 300-350 songs in the library including currents and recurrents. KSCS, what? 100 songs?

 

[TheBigA]

You won't hear much Thomas Rhett on KPLX.

Last week, What's Your Country Song was their #4 most played song.

The Wolf might have 300-350 songs in the library including currents and recurrents. KSCS, what? 100 songs?

They each have the same number of currents and recurrents. KPLX plays a lot more gold. Currents get more spins per week on KSCS.

 

[Mediafrog+]

You have the same Country dynamic in Austin, where iHeart owns both KASE and KVET-FM, with similar differences in music emphasis. And in both markets, any "third" Country alternative is on a mediocre/poor signal.

Wonder how well a Classic Country station, with a decent market-wide signal, would do in DFW. In Houston Audacy and Cox compete directly in the Country sphere with KILT-FM and KKBQ, but Cox also has Country Legends KTHT, which does quite well for a full power rimshot. In DFW the alternatives to "the big two" only cover small parts of the market.

 

[TheBigA]

Wonder how well a Classic Country station, with a decent market-wide signal, would do in DFW.

If Cox isn't willing to put it on a market-wide signal in Houston, I doubt anyone in Dallas would. At one time CBS had two country stations in Houston with KIKK and KILT. As demographics changed, KIKK went away. Just as at one time Dallas had three country stations with the CBS "Young Country" KYNG. Almost half of the Dallas market is either black or Hispanic now. So the country format has less of a potential audience.

 

[LibertyNT]

You have the same Country dynamic in Austin, where iHeart owns both KASE and KVET-FM, with similar differences in music emphasis. And in both markets, any "third" Country alternative is on a mediocre/poor signal.

Wonder how well a Classic Country station, with a decent market-wide signal, would do in DFW. In Houston Audacy and Cox compete directly in the Country sphere with KILT-FM and KKBQ, but Cox also has Country Legends KTHT, which does quite well for a full power rimshot. In DFW the alternatives to "the big two" only cover small parts of the market.

100.3 Has classic country on their HD3, I want to say it showed up on PPM. The last full-market classic country station I can think of was Lonestar 1190. At one time KSCS was the defacto classic country station but obviously that's long gone.

Demographics are the primary problem, in an ad agency driven market like Dallas there isn't much incentive to roll with a format that caters to that old of an audience. Even with the fact that currently classic country consists of 80s, 90s, and early 2000s.
As it stands I know KXEZ is rather awful, KTFW and KFYN-AM are substantially better but outside of their home markets you aren't going to be able to pick them up worth a hoot. (Not to mention the grapevine says KFYN isn't staying country much longer)

 

[Kidd Casio]

KSCS skews a lot younger and plays no gold based hits, only currents and recurrents. KPLX also plays currents and recurrents but less heavily so and not isn't as quick to add currents as KSCS. KPLX also plays more gold based hits in addition to the occasional Texas Country artist wheres KSCS plays no Texas Country at all.

Additionally KSCS has a tighter playlist while KPLX is slightly more opened up. (Largely due in part to the gold portion of the library)

KSCS does play Texas Country as in the likes of George Strait, Clay Walker, Maddie Marlow (Maddie and Tae), Kacey Musgraves…

 

[Kidd Casio]

You have the same Country dynamic in Austin, where iHeart owns both KASE and KVET-FM, with similar differences in music emphasis. And in both markets, any "third" Country alternative is on a mediocre/poor signal.

Wonder how well a Classic Country station, with a decent market-wide signal, would do in DFW. In Houston Audacy and Cox compete directly in the Country sphere with KILT-FM and KKBQ, but Cox also has Country Legends KTHT, which does quite well for a full power rimshot. In DFW the alternatives to "the big two" only cover small parts of the market.

In Fort Worth, Texas, most of West Texas and even North West Texas we pick up KCKM “Kickin' Country” 1330 AM - 94.7 FM “The Oil Fields Favorite Station”.

 

[b-turner]

I've lived in Ft. Worth and have never heard of KCKM and I'd suspect many people you ask in Ft. Worth if they ever heard of Monahans, Texas, I'd bet 90% have not. Certainly folk in Ft. Worth aren't clamoring to pick up a radio station west of Midland-Odessa, out in Monahans.

 

[AnyHuman]

They're more likely to pick up 89.5 KEQX in Stephenville, which plays classic/traditional country. I did hear it very weak once in the area. QXFM

 

[Triple Fake Jerry]

Thomas Rhett needed to reconnect with his country audience, because I'm sure he has discovered there is no crossover pop audience with male artists. For folks like Taylor Swift, it's different.

 

[CTListener]

Thomas Rhett needed to reconnect with his country audience, because I'm sure he has discovered there is no crossover pop audience with male artists. For folks like Taylor Swift, it's different.

I wasn't aware that Rhett was trying to cross over to pop or even that his label was sending his singles to CHR. Reconnect with his country audience? When did he ever lose it?

 

[E-Cam]

Don't forget the Fort Worth and west metroplex station that is (100%?) Texas Country, KFWR/95.9 The Ranch (even though at one point they tried to slip in traditional country unless they still do that)

 

[davideduardo]

Don't forget the Fort Worth and west metroplex station that is (100%?) Texas Country, KFWR/95.9 The Ranch (even though at one point they tried to slip in traditional country unless they still do that)

Remember that KFWR is licensed to Jack county which is not in the Nielsen MSA. It does cover Parker and Wise counties, which together are about 3% of the market population.,

 

[Mediafrog+]

Remember that KFWR is licensed to Jack county which is not in the Nielsen MSA. It does cover Parker and Wise counties, which together are about 3% of the market population.,

KFWR has decent reception on car radios in Tarrant County, but I imagine is more challenged on cheap portables. In Dallas County it is a non factor, and largely blocked by K240DS in Garland.

 

[sox fan matt]

Meduiafrog i'd say that's true , but I've heard it in the mid cities. I would say around the airport is the dividing line.