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107.9 Sacramento

Sounds like they added a new batch of listener messages today. More are mentioning 107.9 so those are probably real listeners. You can tell which ones are likely recorded by iHM staff (audio quality, sounds scripted). Several are suggesting formats: top 40, jazz, bluegrass, alternative, country, talk, rock were all mentioned. Several mentioned Top 40…could this be a clue??
 
They’re doing the format-a-day thing now, and plugging their website where you can vote on what you want the new format to be.
So, each day, KSTE will run a different format until they find a few that tests well?
 
It's probably already predetermined. The stunt is not scientific.

Correct. People like to vote. They like to be asked for their opinion. But the decision has already been made.

When they launch the new format, those who voted for it will feel a sense of ownership.

So what’s the point of doing this then? If the responses are overwhelmingly against whatever they have planned, would they change it?

It's called "engagement." You want to engage with your audience. So you do polls. That makes them feel as though they're involved in the process. Would they change? I doubt it. But it's interesting information, and as a programmer, you always look at it anyway.
 
So what’s the point of doing this then? If the responses are overwhelmingly against whatever they have planned, would they change it?
It's all to build up interest. Radio stations had request lines for years, but the playlists were predetermined for the most part aside from "all request" shows. We used to say "Sure, coming right up" or "We try to get that on for you" when a listener asked for a song.
 
So what’s the point of doing this then? If the responses are overwhelmingly against whatever they have planned, would they change it?

No.

You don't base what to do or not do on the responses of the miniority of a market that tunes into a stunt on a long-dormant frequency.

iHeart already knows what the format is, and it's based either on already-done market research or a business priority (clearing Bobby Bones on a full-market signal or whatever---and then there's already-done research on how to maximize their ratings and revenue potential while achieving the priority).

As Michael (Rivers Kramer) said, it's to build interest. And for the handful of people who are listening and thinking this is being driven by listener requests, when the thing drops, they'll think it was the popular choice. Which, arguably, might be better than saying "We think Sacramento needs a (format) station, and we know how to do it right!"

But let's be clear---very little is left to chance in these things. Back in 1997, when Clear Channel owned 100.3 in Los Angeles, it was going to launch a classic R&B station. They had a "name the station" thing---mail in your idea for what to call the station, and they'll draw a winner. No prize, just involvement.

The winner---"Mega 100.3".

That night, on sister KFI, Phil Hendrie talked about it.

"Hey, wow! They drew the winning name for the FM down the hall---and it's just coincidentally the most-often used station name for classic R&B stations around the country----Mega. What are the odds? Man, management took a chance. What would have happened if they stuck their hand in the drum and drew "Asshole 100"? "
 
They’re doing the format-a-day thing now, and plugging their website where you can vote on what you want the new format to be.
So, you go to the website, log in with your iHeartRadio account, and they ask for your name, birthday, phone number, ZIP code and employer and then ask "What type of music do you want to hear on 107.9 FM". Multiple choice follows, but you only get to pick one:

Music From The 70s
Music From The 80s
All Christmas Music
Kids Songs
Top 40
Yacht Rock
Motown
Disney Songs
Christian Music
Dance
Comedy
Pride Radio
Country
Spanish Top 40
Classic Alternative

All that's missing is Yoko screaming.
 
So, you go to the website, log in with your iHeartRadio account, and they ask for your name, birthday, phone number, ZIP code and employer and then ask "What type of music do you want to hear on 107.9 FM". Multiple choice follows, but you only get to pick one:

Music From The 70s
Music From The 80s
All Christmas Music
Kids Songs
Top 40
Yacht Rock
Motown
Disney Songs
Christian Music
Dance
Comedy
Pride Radio
Country
Spanish Top 40
Classic Alternative

All that's missing is Yoko screaming.
Let’s fix that!

 
Mike, we all know, you know what the new format is. Because we all know you have an inside i heart contact list of friends that is pretty extensive. Lol lol lol Just my 2 cents and a little common sense.
 
Mike, we all know, you know what the new format is. Because we all know you have an inside i heart contact list of friends that is pretty extensive. Lol lol lol Just my 2 cents and a little common sense.
Yeah, but you'd be wrong.

I've been gone for almost two and a half years now, and the friends I have in the building are total pros. They wouldn't tell me if I asked, and knowing that, I haven't.

I still think they want to clear Bobby Bones on a full-market signal and that they'll bring the Bull (or some variant of it) back. But it looks like I'll be away on vacation when they do it.

And I won't be surprised if I'm totally wrong.
 
Wouldn’t it more important to clear both Jubal and Ryan Seacrest? Jubal is currently on the wrong station IMHO.
Maybe.

To amplify on what I was saying to K108, I've been gone 28 months. And on the week they let 1,500 of us go, they re-structured the markets. For the final few years I was there, Sacramento was under the supervision of SF. We had our own market president, but she reported to the SF market president and I knew the president, the programming people and the engineering people at iHeartSF.

If I remember correctly (and it could have changed again since January of 2020), Sac got moved into the Las Vegas region, and I don't know the people there at all. So beyond the fact that my personal friends at iHeart here wouldn't tell me and I wouldn't ask them, I can't even guess based on what I know of the people involved---I don't know the LV people, and Curtiss Johnson, the EVP Programming in Sac, got laid off about a year after I did. My best shot is what they lost by not having one extra signal when they needed to launch The Breeze. And I could be totally wrong, or right but two and a half years behind.
 
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