• Get involved.
    We want your input!
    Apply for Membership and join the conversations about everything related to broadcasting.

    After we receive your registration, a moderator will review it. After your registration is approved, you will be permitted to post.
    If you use a disposable or false email address, your registration will be rejected.

    After your membership is approved, please take a minute to tell us a little bit about yourself.
    https://www.radiodiscussions.com/forums/introduce-yourself.1088/

    Thanks in advance and have fun!
    RadioDiscussions Administrators

Seattle-Tacoma Radio Ratings: May 2023

92.5 took a nice jump up to nearly 5 in the 6+. 96.5 dropped some. Still, far better than what Jack was getting at times early this year and last year.
 
When I saw KOLA having added that I almost wanted to scream! Okay, I figured it might happen eventually, but I thought Classic Hits would push into that decade around the time I hit 50, not 30. I grew up mainly on KBSG, but I happen to think every era has good music. The songs that defined my era though are the ones on the radio when I was in high school, which would have been 2008-2012.
You know, there are songs out now (or were recently popular) that wouldn’t sound too bad on classic hits. Not saying I’d love it, but the sound isn’t that far off. Playing any song made by Kesha or LMFAO is an offence to hearing. I guess they figure that they want to capture some of the folks who might have heard these songs in young adulthood.

I can definitely see and understand David’s analysis of why some of these songs may have ended up on KOLA (given the demographics of the inland empire). On the other hand, I’m still confused as to why the same songs have made it on the air in Vancouver. Jack FM isn’t afraid to play 2010’s pop (though they’re masquerading as a classic hits station at best).

Back on track, I don’t think iheart will make any of us suffer through that in Seattle. They’ve done a great job with their programming on 95.7, and it shows. I tend to prefer classic rock over classic hits, but I think 95.7 has a better variety and overall sound than KZOK. I think iheart‘s station in San Francisco (KOSF) is extremely well programmed. They reach into the 90’s once in a while, but don’t play anything that would put anyone off. Some old maroon 5 isn’t that bad, even if it’s not my first choice.
 
Last edited:
You know, there are songs out now (or were recently popular) that wouldn’t sound too bad on classic hits. Not saying I’d love it, but the sound isn’t that far off. Playing any song made by Kesha or LMFAO is an offence to hearing. I guess they figure that they want to capture some of the folks who might have heard these songs in young adulthood.

I can definitely see and understand David’s analysis of why some of these songs may have ended up on KOLA (given the demographics of the inland empire). On the other hand, I’m still confused as to why the same songs have made it on the air in Vancouver. Jack FM isn’t afraid to play 2010’s pop (though they’re masquerading as a classic hits station at best).

Back on track, I don’t think iheart will make any of us suffer through that in Seattle. They’ve done a great job with their programming on 95.7, and it shows. I tend to prefer classic rock over classic hits, but I think 95.7 has a better variety and overall sound than KZOK. I think iheart‘s station in San Francisco (KOSF) is extremely well programmed. They reach into the 90’s once in a while, but don’t play anything that would put anyone off. Some old maroon 5 isn’t that bad, even if it’s not my first choice.
This is true. I always thought there should be a station out there that mainly focuses on the '80s, but isn't afraid to play some of the newer songs that sound like they could have come out in that era.
 
The Sound survives, despite it being described as a placeholder format when they first went Soft AC.

And BIN seems to be losing their audience. Why? OK, their ratings were never thrilling, but their cume has cut by two thirds. When I tune in (at least a couple times a week to see what's happening there) I don't hear anything drastically different in the content or presentation.

Maybe it's post-George Floyd burnout?

RE: 'why do these songs make it to _________ format': Research? Isn't most music on stations researched to a fine crisp?
 
And BIN seems to be losing their audience. Why? OK, their ratings were never thrilling, but their cume has cut by two thirds. When I tune in (at least a couple times a week to see what's happening there) I don't hear anything drastically different in the content or presentation.
As we've said countless times: Ratings aren't some sort of success or failure scorecard. Certainly not 6+. More stations and formats simply don't rely on ratings to get the job done, than those who do.
Maybe it's post-George Floyd burnout?
Maybe for you. But somehow I doubt you're black anyway.
 
Um CJAX is Adult Hits not Classic Hits which is probably why they include 2010s pop.
Good point.

There are no "Format Police" that require stations to cover specific artists, styles or eras. A station can play whatever they want and call the format by whatever name they want.

Yes, if a station cares if they are on one of the trade panels such as MediaBase they have to have certain blends of eras and certain rotation frequencies for songs. But that is internal and stations do it to get artist and promotional opportunities. As far as listeners go, a station is free to determine its categories, song selections, rotations. playlist size and anything else they want.
 
Um CJAX is Adult Hits not Classic Hits which is probably why they include 2010s pop.
That may be. But they’re arguably the only game in town for pop leaning classic hits. So if you want that content, you have to live with it. Though I agree, it’s not shocking to see 2010’s mixed in on an adult hits formatted radio station. KJAQ does it. But it doesn’t bother me given that I never listen to it anyway. iheart has a good thing going in Seattle. They absolutely own older music and can adjust their three stations accordingly.
 
As we've said countless times: Ratings aren't some sort of success or failure scorecard. Certainly not 6+. More stations and formats simply don't rely on ratings to get the job done, than those who do.

Maybe for you. But somehow I doubt you're black anyway.
What would my skin color have anything to do with BIN's cume being cut by 2/3rds? And you got any better suggestion for why listenership at a black-oriented news station dives by 2/3rds?

Sure, ratings don't matter to the sponsors of BIN. But a 60% dive in listenership means their money may not getting the return in goodwill they're seeking by sponsoring the station.

Would you rather I talk about Kokomo or whether Benatar's lightweight hit gets airplay on a classic rock format?
 
What would my skin color have anything to do with BIN's cume being cut by 2/3rds? And you got any better suggestion for why listenership at a black-oriented news station dives by 2/3rds?
As I, and other's have said many, many times; more often than not, stations that carry network-oriented programming like business, sports, or niche news, don't rely on ratings. Especially on 6+, which is not an indicator of the worthiness or success for any station or format.
The station is sold based on it's target demographic and market size. Unclear why you can't seem to comprehend the concept. Regarding your skin color; based on your comments, I'm willing to bet you aren't the station's target demographic, so your opinion on the programming matters little.
Sure, ratings don't matter to the sponsors of BIN. But a 60% dive in listenership means their money may not getting the return in goodwill they're seeking by sponsoring the station.
I'm not familiar with BIN's national sales model, but I'm confident that it's likely pulling at least it's own weight. Considering the size of iHeart, one, two or even ten stations doesn't make or break the entire business. Having a station which carries BIN fills out a demographic spread in the market. When you think about it; how many station groups can claim they cover such a wide demo, including African American adults? Again, think demo-spread, not individual station rating.
Would you rather I talk about Kokomo or whether Benatar's lightweight hit gets airplay on a classic rock format?
Neither, but after all this time, you still seem to struggle with the business model used by most radio groups.
 
Last edited:
That may be. But they’re arguably the only game in town for pop leaning classic hits. So if you want that content, you have to live with it. Though I agree, it’s not shocking to see 2010’s mixed in on an adult hits formatted radio station. KJAQ does it. But it doesn’t bother me given that I never listen to it anyway. iheart has a good thing going in Seattle. They absolutely own older music and can adjust their three stations accordingly.
Well CFMI is more rock-leaning... that is why it is kinda like that in Vancouver.
 
Well CFMI is more rock-leaning... that is why it is kinda like that in Vancouver.
I look at it this way: two radio stations trying to do too much, and neither one doing it all that well. iHeart has done a great job with Seattle. There’s a little overlap between each station, yet they’re all distinctly different. Chances are, you know which one you prefer if you’re looking for older music on the radio. That’s probably why they’ve been so successful.
 
I look at it this way: two radio stations trying to do too much, and neither one doing it all that well. iHeart has done a great job with Seattle. There’s a little overlap between each station, yet they’re all distinctly different. Chances are, you know which one you prefer if you’re looking for older music on the radio. That’s probably why they’ve been so successful.
I look at radio station formats a lot like restaurant menu's: Restaurants that feature menus with too many items in an attempt to please every taste, usually don't do anything well, nor as successful as a restaurant which focuses in on being exceptional at a few things.
 
No surprise with KIRO FM's slide. 6-9 morning is barely tolerable, Guischard speech patterns are horrible, O'brien is the flaming female karen/liberal, Sully is Sully, Ross is as always solid. Travis whats his name is horrble as a replacement, go away Travis. 9-12, hard pass, G is irritating as hell, his shrill urban speak, annoying. Ursula is lukewarm at best. 12-3, Spike is a fair DJ at best. As a talk show host...horrible. Jack is good for his wit and entertaining mostly. 3-7, sometimes hit or miss but usually pretty entertaining and consistent. John and Shari are a decent enough team. Then there is the crap in the 7-10 slot which is HORRIBLE. I have heard college stations deliver better radio than these morons. I used to enjoy KIRO but have been seeking other radio venues.
 
My guess is they did certain tweaks to KZOK and KJAQ to make sure it doesn’t overlap with KJEB such as adding more 90’s to KJAQ and making KZOK more rock leaning at times by adding grunge to its playlist.
 
That may be. But they’re arguably the only game in town for pop leaning classic hits. So if you want that content, you have to live with it. Though I agree, it’s not shocking to see 2010’s mixed in on an adult hits formatted radio station. KJAQ does it. But it doesn’t bother me given that I never listen to it anyway. iheart has a good thing going in Seattle. They absolutely own older music and can adjust their three stations accordingly.
Yes they do sometimes play songs by Adele and maybe Locked Out of Heaven on occassion on KJAQ that KJEB and KZOK never play. KJEB is doing really well rn probably because the 80s are popular in Seattle rn.
 
Status
This thread has been closed due to inactivity. You can create a new thread to discuss this topic.


Back
Top Bottom