September ratings

[DN14224]

"All together now: 6+"...

Highlights:
KIRO-FM takes first place again in the beauty contest, followed by KZOK & KOMO
KISW takes a tumble
The Wolf still tops The Bull
Warm & The Sound virtually tied

Over to you...

https://ratings.****************/content/arb039

 

[TheBigA]

So although KISW took a tumble to #6 in the 6+ numbers, it is still #1 in 25-54. And KEXP is Top 5 in 25-54 and 18-34.

Movin' and Kiss are also Top 5 in both 18-34 and 25-54 as well.

 

[boombox4]

The Sound's HD2 Blues channel makes the ratings.... 0.1. Looks like they must have another listener (I tune it in from time to time, that one and KISW's Metal music HD2).

 

[crainbebo]

KTTH overtaking KUBE 93. In overwhelmingly liberal King County, and strongly liberal Pierce/Snohomish. Give this experiment up iHeart...the audience has moved on. Also, interesting to see my local 90.7 KNWR Ellensburg in the Seattle PPM, unless someone lives full-time at Snoqualmie Pass/Hyak and has a PPM. I think 90.7 makes it out there.
I haven't seen Jack numbers that low ever.

 

[fordranger797]

I know we all have to take these numbers with a grain of salt, but I'm always surprised to see KZOK doing as well as it does in these beauty contest numbers. Their morning show is fantastic, but the rest of the programming is nowhere near what it used to be not that long ago. The overall music selection has gotten extremely homogeneous, and the programming doesn't have much of a local feel anymore. I know that the music selection had to march forward with time, but the result has been a bland mixture of a very limited playlist. Not to mention, they are even branching out into more modern rock (like "The White Stripes"). Similar to what Crain mentioned, KJAQ seems to have a similar issue. Limited variety, yet somehow a playlist with tracks that range from Phil Collins to Fun. At this point, it seems like they might as well just shift their focus to the 90's and 2000's (with select tracks from the 2010's).

On the other hand, KJR-FM seems to have much more variety, more local content, and isn't trying to throw in music made before the year 2000. Rather, they are focusing on the 80's, with select tacks from the 70's and 90's. Much more enjoyable to listen to in my own subjective opinion.

 

[DN14224]

I know we all have to take these numbers with a grain of salt, but I'm always surprised to see KZOK doing as well as it does in these beauty contest numbers. Their morning show is fantastic, but the rest of the programming is nowhere near what it used to be not that long ago. The overall music selection has gotten extremely homogeneous, and the programming doesn't have much of a local feel anymore. I know that the music selection had to march forward with time, but the result has been a bland mixture of a very limited playlist. Not to mention, they are even branching out into more modern rock (like "The White Stripes"). Similar to what Crain mentioned, KJAQ seems to have a similar issue. Limited variety, yet somehow a playlist with tracks that range from Phil Collins to Fun. At this point, it seems like they might as well just shift their focus to the 90's and 2000's (with select tracks from the 2010's).

On the other hand, KJR-FM seems to have much more variety, more local content, and isn't trying to throw in music made before the year 2000. Rather, they are focusing on the 80's, with select tacks from the 70's and 90's. Much more enjoyable to listen to in my own subjective opinion.

Listeners want to hear their favorites every time they tune in. Songs are tested, playlists are tightened and ratings go up.

 

[fordranger797]

Listeners want to hear their favorites every time they tune in. Songs are tested, playlists are tightened and ratings go up.

I understand why it’s done this way, but it seems disjointed to hear The White Stripes, and Linkin Park on a classic rock formatted radio station. It will be interesting to see what other tracks get added. From a programming standpoint, I wonder what artists would be considered safe bets for classic rock from the more modern era.

 

[boombox4]

I understand why it’s done this way, but it seems disjointed to hear The White Stripes, and Linkin Park on a classic rock formatted radio station. It will be interesting to see what other tracks get added. From a programming standpoint, I wonder what artists would be considered safe bets for classic rock from the more modern era.

That's what I liked about the now defunct Rock 98.9. They were classic rock, with a lot of 90's and 00's music as well. And the older stuff, if it was played, fit the tenor of the newer classic rock played. It appeared programmed for GenXers and older Millennials. And it failed, but was fun to listen to during the year and a half it lasted.

 

[ksradiogeek]

KTTH overtaking KUBE 93. In overwhelmingly liberal King County, and strongly liberal Pierce/Snohomish. Give this experiment up iHeart...the audience has moved on.

iHeart’s not giving up on KUBE again. Does decent in money demos, likely does better in South King/Pierce, and can be sold in tandem with Hits. (Plus the live performance side of the format is slowly coming back.)

 

[bobdavcav]

It's certainly jarring to hear songs you wouldn't think of as classics on a station that's been in the format a while. Even down here, it's a bit jarring to hear Smashing Pumpkins or Weezer on KFBW, a station that when I was down here several years ago, focused on harder '80s classic rock. Sure that's still the focus of their mix, but they're definitely moving more into the '90s and further.

 

[seatownmedia]

It is simply the time continuem. What defines old in music is the same that defines old in humans. Smart strategy by classic rock programmers to keep up with this continuem. Linkin Park and Weezer reflect what the target audience for this format want today.

 

[bobdavcav]

This is true. I guess I don't want to admit that I'm getting older, but then again, who does?

 

[Rock 100.7]

iHeart is just following the research, playing the numbers. KZOK sounds prefect if you follow that train of thought. I know I do and my Classic Rock station here is doing fantastic after just about a year on the air.

 

[fordranger797]

I think it's kind of interesting to compare what KZOK was playing back in 2012 with what they are playing today. While there are some significant differences, much of the playlist is not dramatically different. Here is a sample of what you might have heard 10 years ago:

Tom Petty - Running Down a Dream
Fleetwood Mac - You make Lovin Fun
Van Halen - Panama
Steely Dan - Reelin' in the Years
The Who - Won't get Fooled Again
Cream - Crossroads
Foreigner - Head Games
Allman Brothers - Jessica
Pink Floyd - Wish you were Here
Led Zeppelin - In the Evening
Judas Priest - Another Thing Comin
U2 - Sunday, Bloody Sunday
The Police - Roxanne
Billy Squire - The Stroke
Peter Gabriel - In Your Eyes

Compared to a snapshot of today:

Just What I Needed - The Cars
Here I Go Again - Whitesnake
In the End - Linkin Park
Simple Man- Lynyrd Skynyrd
Caught Up In You - .38 Special
Threshold - Steve Miller Band
Man in the Box - Alice in Chains
Over the Hills and Far Away - Led Zeppelin
In The Air Tonight - Phil Collins
Fame - David Bowie
Yellow Ledbetter - Pearl Jam
Livin' On A Prayer - Bon Jovi
La Grange - ZZ Top
I Love Rock 'N Roll - Joan Jett & the Blackhearts
Bohemian Rhapsody - Queen
Boulevard of Broken Dreams - Green Day
Back In Black - AC/DC
Comfortably Numb - Pink Floyd
Love In An Elevator - Aerosmith
Finish What Ya Started - Van Halen

 

[bobdavcav]

Of those, the only two I would exclude from Classic Rock would be Green Day and Linkin Park. Both are post 2000, an era Classic Hits hasn't even entered yet except for a handful of songs that would otherwise fit.