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- Thread starter xmtrland
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Wish we knew a little more about what is going on with Star. There’s space for a Hot AC in this market, but they are being destroyed by stations like warm.
What's happened to KEXP? Looks like they're on another of their huge ratings streaks again. The news cycle must be slowing finally, as KNWN seems to be falling to pre-Covid levels. Unfortunately did not get to hear KPLZ when in the market last week, but will be back up that way in about a month and will have a radio on me this time. I don't take one to camp as there's little time to DX anyway.
I've started listening a lot more to KEXP in recent months compared to previous years. KNDD is playing more pop-leaning songs than alternative music these days, so after moving back to this area 20 years ago, I finally deleted 107.7 from my car radio presets and replaced it with 90.3. KEXP is regularly playing Wet Leg, Yard Act, IDLES, Florence and the Machine, etc. -- bands that might have once gotten airplay on KNDD. Instead, KNDD is playing this weird mix of '90s tunes interspersed with bands like Glass Animals, which is hardly alternative. Their playlist tells that story: 107.7 The End On Air Playlist.
I'm not sure they care, however, as I'm a 51-year-old guy who's well outside the target demo of most commercial music stations. All three music stations on my FM presets are now noncommercial stations: KNHC, KEXP, and KSER.
I agree.
Maybe not for Seattle. Movin and Kiss are very Anglo-friendly, hit-driven stations with a lot of the rhythmic songs pulled off of the playlist (compared to a few years ago) and both are programmed very clean. In fact, they are very close to playing the exact same playlists.
Star needs to pick their battle. Is it Movin? (see Kiss) Good luck. Is it Warm? (see The Sound) Good luck.
There might not be room for a #3 contemporary-focused AC station and could end up being a slow-motion replay of Click.
Alternative isn't dying. It's going back to being....well, an alternative? And most conglomerate stations can't really handle that. It means taking risks with untested and unfamiliar music. And then they wonder why they have problems in that format. Sheesh!
Keep in mind radio stations aren't in the music business. They depend on the music business to create music that makes good radio. That isn't a priority in the music business anymore. I go to a lot of music conferences, and the main thrust is getting musicians to interact directly with their fans. That's why it's harder for radio to find music in some genres that's worth playing.
Click tried to mix Alternative with Maroon 5 and Kelly Clarkson. And TOTAL DISASTER ensued. Mainstream AC wasn't Seagram's. It doesn't mix with everything. Not with Seattle Alternative fans.
Then there was that awkward little error in the KLCK-FM overnight playlist file that made "Sex On Fire" Kings of Leon come on every hour.
It seems like the ratings for the old Star 101.5 were completely driven by the familiar personalities who distinguished the station from others in the market. Take away the familiarity and the music just isn’t enough to drive listeners to leave 92.5 or 106.1.
They need to create some kind of controversy. This isn't like a music station where they just replace some songs. They need to invent something that will attract core sports fans, and it might not be sports related. I suspect some of their potential audience is tuned to KISW.
But the radio industry doesn't get to dictate what music makes "good radio" anymore. That changes with the butterfly effect of pop culture happenings far beyond it.. Until a few weeks ago, "Running Up That Hill" or anything by Kate Bush was not even on the playlists of most Alternative stations. Now, via Stranger Things, she's having a full blown revival with college age women.
The latest Just-Outside-The-Pop-Mainstream-of-The-'80s-Thowback this damn Netflix franchise has thrust upon us?; "Master of Puppets" Metallica. Take from that what you can.
The way there is to be even more harder rocking than KISW. Just put full tilt thrash metal on it (historically, Seattle's always been a heavy metal town.) Problem solved.
Yes I know. In fact a lot of the music is bad radio, because it's aimed at such a narrow niche that it doesn't get ratings.
KISW has been playing Master of Puppets for decades.
Alternative was big for maybe two decades because of Nirvana, Soundgarden, AIC, Pearl Jam, and a handful of other massive acts. The legacy extended through the rap-rock and nu-metal eras, Linkin Park maybe being the last huge act that was alternative as well as mainstream rock.
There are no equally massive alternative acts right now. No equal act to drive the format. I don't think there are any massive new acts, period. Maybe in country? Rap stars seem to come and go anymore.
It's the state of the music industry -- like BigA said maybe 3 weeks ago, "when everyone's a star, no one is." (his reference to America's Got Talent and other TV shows creating new stars every other week or so).
There are no equally massive alternative acts right now. No equal act to drive the format. I don't think there are any massive new acts, period. Maybe in country? Rap stars seem to come and go anymore.
It's the state of the music industry -- like BigA said maybe 3 weeks ago, "when everyone's a star, no one is." (his reference to America's Got Talent and other TV shows creating new stars every other week or so).
That statement should be framed like a diploma.
Gold lettering and all... maybe in Latin too.
The issue here is that broadcasting is not narrowcasting. Music and artists and songs that a few people love but large masses of people hate can't be used on the radio. But they make for lots of alternatives for subscription based make-my-own-playlist services.
Again, with gusto:
A lot of the music is bad radio.
Good Lord...
Yes, country still creates massive stars. Why? Because of the association that exists between country record labels and country radio. Country and pop are the only two formats where this happens. Maybe urban. But in country, it's important to create songs that work on radio. The CEO of Warner Music said "If you're not on radio, you're not happening." They invest in that relationship. It doesn't always work. But when it does, you get Blake Shelton.
Seattle has always been a big market for country. In its day, KMPS had huge ratings, and there always was a second country station in town. The Gorge has been a favorite venue. There are big country festivals. All of this is about the intersection between radio and records.
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