FCC Considers Whether To Let Canadian Company Buy U.S. Radio Station.

[tall_guy1]

I only wish that Tall_Guy and Kirk, in particular, would pay attention to what you wrote here. Tall_Guy in particular thinks radio stations should cater to his unique personal taste, where he can get that today via streaming.

You're absolutely right. There seems to be the assumption that regional cell sites have some track record of going off line simultaneously. But there is absolutely no evidence of that occurring. I definately have personally seen multiple broadcast radio stations go silent due to some freak storm. The fact is; that the whole premise of a cellular radio structure is; by design, more reliable and potentially available than broadcast transmission facilities.

I don't see too many similarities between Kirk and I. He mainly posts these bizarre sci-fi type ideas, not really about playlists for the most part.

 

[vchimpanzee]

Older people don't like repetition. So they shouldn't listen to CHR radio.

That's not the only reason.

They also don't like commercials.

Well, advertisers don't like us, so we're even.

I don't mind a few but I will change stations at the first sign of a commercial when it's iHeart or another one of those big FMs, though that's mainly at Christmas.

 

[vchimpanzee]

Let me make this simple: If music discovery is your thing, don't listen to stations that call themselves 'classic.' That's the big tell that there's no music discovery there, and the listeners to those stations don't want to discover new music,

Not true. I don't listen to WBRF Galax VA all that often so I am all the time hearing songs I never heard before. Most of them good.

 

[SomeRadioGuy]

That's not the only reason.

Well, advertisers don't like us, so we're even.

I don't mind a few but I will change stations at the first sign of a commercial when it's iHeart or another one of those big FMs, though that's mainly at Christmas.

so you want stations to play music thats not commercially viable (standards etc)) but you dont like commercial/?/ Hmmmmm

 

[vchimpanzee]

so you want stations to play music thats not commercially viable (standards etc)) but you dont like commercial/?/ Hmmmmm

The radio stations I listen to have frequent but short commercial breaks.

 

[TheBigA]

I don't listen to WBRF Galax VA all that often so I am all the time hearing songs I never heard before. Most of them good.

WBRF is a classic country station, right? Do they play currents too?

 

[vchimpanzee]

WBRF is a classic country station, right? Do they play currents too?

I don't think so, but maybe from time to time one or two.

 

[spiritof67]

On the other hand, there ARE stations in St. Louis for people who want to discover new music. It may come on stations you've never considered. For example, KSD plays a lot of new music. In fact, more than a quarter of the music they play is either new songs or by new artists. If you go to their playlist, you'll see a bunch of songs by artists on their first single. So if music discovery is your thing, listen to KSD.

Around here, KSD is better known as "The Bull," a country station that only mentions those calls once an hour. Current country doesn't appeal to me, but its fine for those who listen to it.

Hahaha. Those are the Top3 most listened to radio stations in St. Louis. If people are bored by them, it doesn't show in their behavior. Why do stations play those songs? Because people listen. In large numbers. Those songs work. Great job.

Weren't you the one going on about boring people earlier in this thread? I agreed with you. Boring people make for easier marketing. That's why those songs get played, so these people will mindlessly sit through stopsets. Radio makes money from marks like that. Great.

Let me make this simple: If music discovery is your thing, don't listen to stations that call themselves 'classic.' That's the big tell that there's no music discovery there, and the listeners to those stations don't want to discover new music,

Let me make this simple for you--be less insulting. Can you do that?

Actually, the stations I enjoy are the ones that have me looking at Soundhound or Shazam more often. There are a couple of Classic Rock stations with deeper playlists that throw some curveballs that I enjoy. Songs I hadn't heard before. Songs crowded out by "Hotel California," etc

For newer music, AAA formatted stations are the ones that get my attention these days. The Public Radio model of stations like The Current/KCMP Minneapolis, The Bridge/KTBG Kansas City, and KUTX have become favorites of mine. While locally we have a college AAA (KCLC), it's presentation doesn't appeal to me (no live or at least tracked announcers), and it's as dull as dishwater.

 

[TheBigA]

Let me make this simple for you--be less insulting. Can you do that?

Sure. No problem. But don't you think your post was insulting too? There is no rule that says radio has to satisfy you. You want to listen to other platforms? No problem. That's why they're there. But attacking the three most popular stations in St Louis is insulting to those stations and their listeners.

You were talking about new music discovery. No where in your post did you restrict it to a specific genre. So my pointing out that KSD plays a lot of new music was simply responding directly to you.

 

[Mark Roberts]

For newer music, AAA formatted stations are the ones that get my attention these days. The Public Radio model of stations like The Current/KCMP Minneapolis, The Bridge/KTBG Kansas City, and KUTX have become favorites of mine. While locally we have a college AAA (KCLC), it's presentation doesn't appeal to me (no live or at least tracked announcers), and it's as dull as dishwater.

Does Lindenwood have a broadcasting program these days? I've always wondered about what kept KCLC going.

By the way, I've tried to like KTBG but somehow it just doesn't do it for me. I haven't figured out why. Also - I was in Kansas City last week and found that KTBG is actually hard to receive in the Crossroads area just north of Union Station - not all that surprising, since it's licensed to Warrensburg and used to be based there.

 

[spiritof67]

Sure. No problem. But don't you think your post was insulting too? There is no rule that says radio has to satisfy you. You want to listen to other platforms? No problem. That's why they're there. But attacking the three most popular stations in St Louis is insulting to those stations and their listeners.

You were talking about new music discovery. No where in your post did you restrict it to a specific genre. So my pointing out that KSD plays a lot of new music was simply responding directly to you.

They're radio stations. Not people. I'm sure they'll be fine.

I started using and listening to those other platforms as soon as they became available. I'm grateful it isn't 1989, when terrestrial radio was pretty much a monopoly on music discovery.

 

[TheBigA]

I'm grateful it isn't 1989, when terrestrial radio was pretty much a monopoly on music discovery.

Then like now there were many options within the broadcast radio world for music discovery, For example, it was around that time that Bob Boilen started something called All Songs Considered at NPR. So even back then, it was possible to do new music discovery without limitations. There was a time when there was no radio, yet there was music discovery. How did it happen? Through live performances. It was very effective, So new music discovery is there for those who want it. For everyone else, they listen to classic hits and classic rock.

 

[spiritof67]

Does Lindenwood have a broadcasting program these days? I've always wondered about what kept KCLC going.

By the way, I've tried to like KTBG but somehow it just doesn't do it for me. I haven't figured out why. Also - I was in Kansas City last week and found that KTBG is actually hard to receive in the Crossroads area just north of Union Station - not all that surprising, since it's licensed to Warrensburg and used to be based there.

It does, but barely. The station has been on auto-pilot for a long time, but had a change in management a year ago. The station supposedly has 50 kW, but it's directional signal (west) makes it a more difficult catch in the St. Louis area.

KTBG was a station I discovered while I was working at the Missouri state fair in Sedalia in 2017. I liked the programming I heard then, but I do like KUTX and KCMP better. It's more the business model of sustaining AAA style radio that I have found across the US--commercial versions of the format often fail.

 

[spiritof67]

Then like now there were many options within the broadcast radio world for music discovery, For example, it was around that time that Bob Boilen started something called All Songs Considered at NPR. So even back then, it was possible to do new music discovery without limitations. There was a time when there was no radio, yet there was music discovery. How did it happen? Through live performances. It was very effective, So new music discovery is there for those who want it. For everyone else, thy listen to classic hits and classic rock.

And there were record stores too.

Yes, we get it A. You like to score points. Life's short. Ask Mary Turner. Just let it go.

 

[davideduardo]

And there were record stores too.

Yes, we get it A. You like to score points. Life's short. Ask Mary Turner. Just let it go.

BigA has a very valid point.

From my own experience in my first years in radio at WJMO and WCUY in Cleveland, I attended many shows at clubs and small venues where the jocks from the stations would smuggle me in (I was way under-age then) to see new artists, hear new releases, and listen to the comments from the people at those places who went to experience new music.

 

[Mark Roberts]

It does, but barely. The station has been on auto-pilot for a long time, but had a change in management a year ago. The station supposedly has 50 kW, but it's directional signal (west) makes it a more difficult catch in the St. Louis area.

Actually, I think I should have broadened it to ask what keeps Lindenwood going.

KTBG was a station I discovered while I was working at the Missouri state fair in Sedalia in 2017. I liked the programming I heard then, but I do like KUTX and KCMP better. It's more the business model of sustaining AAA style radio that I have found across the US--commercial versions of the format often fail.

It probably has a better signal in Sedalia than Kansas City!

KTBG also may share some audience with KKFI but I have no real insight into that.

I've been fairly happy with KBXR in Columbia, when the stream works, but I may have a hometown bias there. I'm also told that Cumulus recently upgraded the equipment in all the studios for its stations there.

 

[spiritof67]

Actually, I think I should have broadened it to ask what keeps Lindenwood going.

It probably has a better signal in Sedalia than Kansas City!

KTBG also may share some audience with KKFI but I have no real insight into that.

I've been fairly happy with KBXR in Columbia, when the stream works, but I may have a hometown bias there. I'm also told that Cumulus recently upgraded the equipment in all the studios for its stations there.

Oh, I forgot about 'BXR. Found them after WSMI went off the air at midnight in the old 106.1 days. Heard they got the calls based on WXRT Chicago. A lot of Mizzou students were from Chicago. The on-air person at the time recommended Jim Ladd's book to me.

 

[spiritof67]

BigA has a very valid point.

From my own experience in my first years in radio at WJMO and WCUY in Cleveland, I attended many shows at clubs and small venues where the jocks from the stations would smuggle me in (I was way under-age then) to see new artists, hear new releases, and listen to the comments from the people at those places who went to experience new music.

As were my points.

 

[Mark Roberts]

Oh, I forgot about 'BXR. Found them after WSMI went off the air at midnight in the old 106.1 days. Heard they got the calls based on WXRT Chicago. A lot of Mizzou students were from Chicago. The on-air person at the time recommended Jim Ladd's book to me.

Yes, the calls and the logo. Premier was using the same consultant as WXRT at the time. The CP was originally held by a couple who had a long association with KOPN, and who had challenges getting it constructed, so Premier picked it up.

Mizzou has done a lot of recruiting in the Chicago area.

 

[Kent]

KTBG was a station I discovered while I was working at the Missouri state fair in Sedalia in 2017. I liked the programming I heard then, but I do like KUTX and KCMP better. It's more the business model of sustaining AAA style radio that I have found across the US--commercial versions of the format often fail.

I was briefly a volunteer at 90.9 when it was KCMW-FM. I didn’t do too many shifts there, but a tape from there and KGSP eventually got me a commercial gig. I understand it has moved towers closer to KC, but it still doesn’t cover the Kansas side very well. I'm kind of surprised Mark couldn’t get it in the Crossroads, though it's highly directional, and that area probably has a lot of multipath.

Oh, I forgot about 'BXR. Found them after WSMI went off the air at midnight in the old 106.1 days. Heard they got the calls based on WXRT Chicago. A lot of Mizzou students were from Chicago. The on-air person at the time recommended Jim Ladd's book to me.

The original owner of KBXR 106.1 was from Detroit and was a huge fan of WXRT and WABX. He wanted KXRT but couldn’t get those calls. KBXR was an amalgamation of XRT and ABX. He and his wife merged their operation with Al Germond and Dave Baugher's Premier Marketing Group after the Telecommunications Act passed in order to compete better in the market. Being a standalone, even in Mid-MO, was tough.