Oh WOW, May 6+

[DrAkbar]

Okay, Okay...it's only 6+, but landing #2 in May is pretty damn impressive!

https://ratings.****************/cgi-bin/rol.exe/arb057

One hump, or two? Looks like Camel Country One Oh 8 has humped KNIX four months in a row now. And with the exception of Bonneville's Sports Parking Lots, all the others are sweeping up dust with a 0.1 share each.

Meanwhile at the Buckeye Media Hut, we're ready for the #1 question students ask during the monsoon season - is it raining where you are?

 

[TheBigA]

One hump, or two? Looks like Camel Country One Oh 8 has humped KNIX four months in a row now.

A little birdie told me this is KMLE's highest share since 2018. Must be the return of the legendary logo.

 

[The New Chico]

Not being in the area, WOW is like a rimshot and a translator, right? Pretty impressive if that's the case

 

[Lester_the_NightFly]

Too bad they've restricted the listening area for streaming.
Just tried it and got this

Welcome to our Internet stream!

This station is not streaming to your geographic area at the moment. You can interact with most of the player features, but will not be able to hear the audio stream. Please check back later, or contact the station if you have questions.

 

[TheBigA]

Too bad they've restricted the listening area for streaming.

Local radio is meant to be listened to locally. Streaming radio operates with a different business model.

The question is how much could they charge for a subscription that would help cover the cost?

 

[CTListener]

To those of you who can listen to KOAI: What is the music mix like now? I understand the country tracks were flushed some time back, but have there been any more tweaks that could account for its sustained climb in 6+, not to mention its odd labeling as "adult hits" instead of "classic hits" or "oldies" by Radio Online?

 

[CTListener]

Local radio is meant to be listened to locally. Streaming radio operates with a different business model.

The question is how much could they charge for a subscription that would help cover the cost?

You keep beating the drum of doom for free streaming, yet stations like KOAI that geoblock remain in the minority. Why hasn't the pace of shutting out listeners who can't be monetized picked up significantly?

 

[TheBigA]

You keep beating the drum of doom for free streaming, yet stations like KOAI that geoblock remain in the minority. Why hasn't the pace of shutting out listeners who can't be monetized picked up significantly?

In this case the only revenue for this station comes from local advertisers. Other stations, especially those owned by the big owners, are structured to insert commercials from the user's location. The other option for KOAI is to work a deal with iHeartRadio or some similar company.

 

[CTListener]

In this case the only revenue for this station comes from local advertisers. Other stations, especially those owned by the big owners, are structured to insert commercials from the user's location. The other option for KOAI is to work a deal with iHeartRadio or some similar company.

OK, but where I am now, even the smallest stations stream free for anyone in the internet-connected world to hear. WCVR 1320 Randolph, VT, with its "hybrid country" format featuring largely obscure artists, WCNL 910 Newport, NH, with classic and current country spanning seven decades, the oldies station, WFYX and its translators, actually promotes its availability to listeners around the globe on air! All stream with the local advertising left intact. Reading your posts over the past few years, at least one of these stations should have retreated behind a geoblock wall, right? If tiny operations like these, which also derive their revenue from local advertising, are OK with letting everyone listen, why isn't KOAI?

 

[johndavis]

OK, but where I am now, even the smallest stations stream free for anyone in the internet-connected world to hear. WCVR 1320 Randolph, VT, with its "hybrid country" format featuring largely obscure artists, WCNL 910 Newport, NH, with classic and current country spanning seven decades, the oldies station, WFYX and its translators, actually promotes its availability to listeners around the globe on air! All stream with the local advertising left intact. Reading your posts over the past few years, at least one of these stations should have retreated behind a geoblock wall, right? If tiny operations like these, which also derive their revenue from local advertising, are OK with letting everyone listen, why isn't KOAI?

Because those other stations you mention probably measure their online audience in tens of people.

 

[Prescott Joe]

KOAI probably isn't playing the the most popular music. However, what they do,
they do very, very well and people are taking note......

 

[KilowattKat]

To those of you who can listen to KOAI: What is the music mix like now? I understand the country tracks were flushed some time back, but have there been any more tweaks that could account for its sustained climb in 6+, not to mention its odd labeling as "adult hits" instead of "classic hits" or "oldies" by Radio Online?

Go to their website. 951thewowfactor.com
Click on "recently played" to see exactly what they are playing.

 

[CTListener]

Go to their website. 951thewowfactor.com
Click on "recently played" to see exactly what they are playing.

Thanks. It's an oldies station, 100 percent. Not sure what the Radio Online folks were smoking when they came up with "adult hits." Oh well, it's not like what RO thinks KOAI is actually matters.

 

[KilowattKat]

The Sales Manager there at KOAI should consult with Buddy Shula in Buffalo, and learn how to get advertisers that appeal to 55+. What a waste, so much ad revenue out there, especially in a place like the Valley with a large number of retirees. Sun City alone would yield a bounty of direct business.

 

[TheBigA]

Sun City alone would yield a bounty of direct business.

But they'd have to hire a sales staff. That would cost money. Just as giving away the stream for free would cost money.

If tiny operations like these, which also derive their revenue from local advertising, are OK with letting everyone listen, why isn't KOAI?

Do those small stations near you have any local talent? Because KOAI does not. The fact that KOAI has no local talent, doesn't hire local sales staff, and is still getting great 6+ ratings tells me that they're running a low budget operation.

 

[KilowattKat]

But they'd have to hire a sales staff. That would cost money. Just as giving away the stream for free would cost money.



Do those small stations near you have any local talent? Because KOAI does not. The fact that KOAI has no local talent, doesn't hire local sales staff, and is still getting great 6+ ratings tells me that they're running a low budget operation.

True. But sometimes you have to spend money to make money. And hopefully the profit made outweighs the initial layout of cost.

 

[TheBigA]

True. But sometimes you have to spend money to make money.

That doesn't seem to be their MO. And there's not much to be made from streaming no matter how you do it.

 

[davideduardo]

The Sales Manager there at KOAI should consult with Buddy Shula in Buffalo, and learn how to get advertisers that appeal to 55+. What a waste, so much ad revenue out there, especially in a place like the Valley with a large number of retirees. Sun City alone would yield a bounty of direct business.

The group that owns KOAI is well experienced in local direct sales. They have operated several rimshot / marginal signal stations in the market for years. Their other two stations bill over $4 million each (compared to $8 to $12 million for the top 10 stations), so they know what they are doing in the area of niche stations.

And, while Phoenix used to be heavily composed of retirees, the population explosion of the last few decades has made this a much smaller component of the market.

I think that Buddy is in an ideal situation. The Buffalo market is just over one million, and is geographically much more compact. Phoenix is approaching 5 million and growing. Small businesses in Buffalo can afford radio as they are not wasting dollars for coverage that does not benefit them.

In Phoenix, nobody drives from Tempe to Peoria to shop. I say this because the field for 55+ radio stations is local direct. In larger markets, local direct accounts use online, direct mail and other more targeted media because there is not waste. It's more expensive to operate in larger markets due to higher rents, costs of services, etc., so KOAI will be more expensive to operate.

Revenue for such a station is limited to local direct accounts that are big enough to afford radio plus local agencies that can be shown the advantages of adding 55 and over to their marketing plan. And then they still have to confront the fact that many advertisers believe that older consumers have hard-to-break buying patterns and preferences.

 

[CTListener]

Do those small stations near you have any local talent? Because KOAI does not. The fact that KOAI has no local talent, doesn't hire local sales staff, and is still getting great 6+ ratings tells me that they're running a low budget operation.

Yes, all do, but one only in the morning (WCNL) with a longtime local politician doing a combination of country music and conservative grumbling and snark. The other two are live in the morning and late afternoon, at least -- I haven't listened to WCVR enough to determine its exact schedule. Good point about KOAI. A major market station with no air talent or sales staff must be up against it.

 

[KilowattKat]

The group that owns KOAI is well experienced in local direct sales. They have operated several rimshot / marginal signal stations in the market for years. Their other two stations bill over $4 million each (compared to $8 to $12 million for the top 10 stations), so they know what they are doing in the area of niche stations.

And, while Phoenix used to be heavily composed of retirees, the population explosion of the last few decades has made this a much smaller component of the market.

I think that Buddy is in an ideal situation. The Buffalo market is just over one million, and is geographically much more compact. Phoenix is approaching 5 million and growing. Small businesses in Buffalo can afford radio as they are not wasting dollars for coverage that does not benefit them.

In Phoenix, nobody drives from Tempe to Peoria to shop. I say this because the field for 55+ radio stations is local direct. In larger markets, local direct accounts use online, direct mail and other more targeted media because there is not waste. It's more expensive to operate in larger markets due to higher rents, costs of services, etc., so KOAI will be more expensive to operate.

Revenue for such a station is limited to local direct accounts that are big enough to afford radio plus local agencies that can be shown the advantages of adding 55 and over to their marketing plan. And then they still have to confront the fact that many advertisers believe that older consumers have hard-to-break buying patterns and preferences.

I see they are owned by Desert Valley Media, formerly Riviera. So, obviously a small operator of stations, and prefers operating on a low budget. As long as they are satisfied with the revenue KOAI brings in. Curious though, if profitable? On a personal note, would like to see enough more $ come to them to be able to resume streaming. 😊