Lisa Adams departs Star 101.5

[PB Randolf]

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[JackindaBox]

Maybe it will move back to Hot AC by then.

 

[JackindaBox]

Radio Industry News, New Music, Music Promotion, Radio Station Song Charts

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Seems like it’s the same playlist rn but now with job opening “promos” during ads.

 

[trevorparker588]

Are they advertising for the program director position? That would be very unusual. That station needs Kent Phillips back in the PD Chair to set it straight as a proper HOT AC, no offense to Kurt Cruise or Lisa Adams but that situation needs a real pro. Lotus has destroyed it by trying to fight the workday battle. Top songs in the country are all COUNTRY. Counting the days until they try and split that 7.4 share the wolf has by picking a wild animal to name themselves after. What's a good PNW animal? Bigfoot? Coyote? Salmon? "101.5 the Salmon, the PNW's NEW source for NEW country!" Anyone interested in placing bets?

 

[JackindaBox]

Probably. I don’t think Kent is ever planning to come back… Maybe Santa FM will come back with the new program director, maybe not. Ik it would definitely come back if Kent became the program director and I think he would switch the music back to how it was before Dec 26 2021 if he became the program director. Maybe he would also do some tweaks to the on-air personalities as well. Even if Kent doesn’t come back the new PD could move it to a more proper Hot AC.

 

[JackindaBox]

Are they advertising for the program director position? That would be very unusual. That station needs Kent Phillips back in the PD Chair to set it straight as a proper HOT AC, no offense to Kurt Cruise or Lisa Adams but that situation needs a real pro. Lotus has destroyed it by trying to fight the workday battle. Top songs in the country are all COUNTRY. Counting the days until they try and split that 7.4 share the wolf has by picking a wild animal to name themselves after. What's a good PNW animal? Bigfoot? Coyote? Salmon? "101.5 the Salmon, the PNW's NEW source for NEW country!" Anyone interested in placing bets?

They also destroyed it during the December and Holiday books by not flipping it to Santa FM (I think) but they already destroyed that station far before the Holiday Season. I don’t think Lotus is planning to flip it to Country though and is planning to keep Star 101.5 as it became the only Hot AC in the market when Kiss FM went back to CHR. I think Lotus tried to get the station to compete better with KSWD and KRWM by moving the station toward an AC direction but this continued to destroy the station and didn’t have any affect on the ratings. I think they also tried kept it contemporary enough for KQMV and KBKS listeners to listen to it as well.

 

[fordranger797]

They’re hiring for an Account Executive position. Nothing really unusual about that. Almost every radio station is hiring for the Account Executive role because it’s nearly impossible to find anyone willing to sell radio advertising on commission in 2023. Not to mention, it’s a low risk role to hire for, as they don’t have to shell out big bucks for commissioned sales staff. Advertise it, and take anyone willing to suffer through that experience.

Back to the format: I’ll say it again; I don’t see anything wrong with the music they’re playing. One looking at the playlist with a critical lens can always find something to change, but if you didn’t have two powerhouse radio stations in the same market (94.1 and 106.9), nobody would be judging the music mix that harshly.

At this point, their best strategy is to focus on developing their talent. What should incentivize someone to listen to 101.5 as opposed to 106.9? For years, Star coasted by with a long-standing morning show. When Kent and Allen both retired, it was time for a refresh, and unfortunately, they haven’t found the right formula (yet).

 

[JackindaBox]

They’re hiring for an Account Executive position. Nothing really unusual about that. Almost every radio station is hiring for the Account Executive role because it’s nearly impossible to find anyone willing to sell radio advertising on commission in 2023. Not to mention, it’s a low risk role to hire for, as they don’t have to shell out big bucks for commissioned sales staff. Advertise it, and take anyone willing to suffer through that experience.

Back to the format: I’ll say it again; I don’t see anything wrong with the music they’re playing. One looking at the playlist with a critical lens can always find something to change, but if you didn’t have two powerhouse radio stations in the same market (94.1 and 106.9), nobody would be judging the music mix that harshly.

At this point, their best strategy is to focus on developing their talent. What should incentivize someone to listen to 101.5 as opposed to 106.9? For years, Star coasted by with a long-standing morning show. When Kent and Allen both retired, it was time for a refresh, and unfortunately, they haven’t found the right formula (yet).

Yep, ratings were low since then particularly after the Curt & Courine morning show went away with the exception with the “Santa FM” stints. I think they will also start working on hiring for a Program Director soon as well. I thought they already were trying to hire that rn… I guess the promos are for Account Executive rn.

 

[JackindaBox]

They’re hiring for an Account Executive position. Nothing really unusual about that. Almost every radio station is hiring for the Account Executive role because it’s nearly impossible to find anyone willing to sell radio advertising on commission in 2023. Not to mention, it’s a low risk role to hire for, as they don’t have to shell out big bucks for commissioned sales staff. Advertise it, and take anyone willing to suffer through that experience.

Back to the format: I’ll say it again; I don’t see anything wrong with the music they’re playing. One looking at the playlist with a critical lens can always find something to change, but if you didn’t have two powerhouse radio stations in the same market (94.1 and 106.9), nobody would be judging the music mix that harshly.

At this point, their best strategy is to focus on developing their talent. What should incentivize someone to listen to 101.5 as opposed to 106.9? For years, Star coasted by with a long-standing morning show. When Kent and Allen both retired, it was time for a refresh, and unfortunately, they haven’t found the right formula (yet).

Well, apparently the people that used to listen to them don’t think the music is that great and also don’t like the personalities according to the Radio Ratings. They would rather listen to Warm or The Sound currently and I think people like those stations mixes considering they are both in the Top 10 in the Market which is why they are keeping their current formula in their playlists. Sure Warm does tweak its playlist a little to add newer songs like Hear Waves on occassion but for the most part their mix is always the same and it works for them. Some of the former listeners might also go to KQMV sometimes considering that MOViN is often in the Top 10 as well.

 

[Kelly A]

Well, apparently the people that used to listen to them don’t think the music is that great and also don’t like the personalities according to the Radio Ratings. They would rather listen to Warm or The Sound currently and I think people like those stations mixes considering they are both in the Top 10 in the Market which is why they are keeping their current formula in their playlists. Sure Warm does tweak its playlist a little to add newer songs like Hear Waves on occassion but for the most part their mix is always the same and it works for them. Some of the former listeners might also go to KQMV sometimes considering that MOViN is often in the Top 10 as well.

Good Lord.

 

[trevorparker588]

Yep, ratings were low since then particularly after the Curt & Courine morning show went away with the exception with the “Santa FM” stints. I think they will also start working on hiring for a Program Director soon as well. I thought they already were trying to hire that rn… I guess the promos are for Account Executive rn.

You talk a lot about Santa FM and Christmas music... That's not making or breaking ratings for a radio station IMO. Kurt and Corinne weren't getting ratings for kplz either, that show never really took off. If it's hiring for account executive that makes more sense than running a spot to hire a pd. But a random hire they advertised for during a spot that they could get on the cheap probably wouldn't do any worse for them. I sound like I say a lot of negative things about this station so to balance it out, I do think they play some good 2010's music and the station voice over is very refreshing and less over the top voice-over than most stations.

 

[JackindaBox]

I think Kent and Alan were the most successful morning show on the station. I don’t think ratings were the best when Curt & Courine were on the station but they weren’t always the worst. Before 2020, ratings were also low so they tried a So Northwest approach which somewhat worked for a while though ratings would eventually rank again and it is still that way today. I think “Santa FM” helped a little during the Holidays but not as much as it used to since there was 4 Christmas stations at the time. I don’t think the station took off during the show though.

 

[JackindaBox]

You talk a lot about Santa FM and Christmas music... That's not making or breaking ratings for a radio station IMO. Kurt and Corinne weren't getting ratings for kplz either, that show never really took off. If it's hiring for account executive that makes more sense than running a spot to hire a pd. But a random hire they advertised for during a spot that they could get on the cheap probably wouldn't do any worse for them. I sound like I say a lot of negative things about this station so to balance it out, I do think they play some good 2010's music and the station voice over is very refreshing and less over the top voice-over than most stations.

They do play some good 2010s music. I don’t think the station voiceover is annoying and don’t think that’s the reason why their direction isn’t working. It could be that the personalities aren’t that strong and the music is very 90s, 2K, and 2010s with less currents and an AC based direction.

 

[Kelly A]

They do play some good 2010s music. I don’t think the station voiceover is annoying and don’t think that’s the reason why their direction isn’t working. It could be that the personalities aren’t that strong and the music is very 90s, 2K, and 2010s with less currents and an AC based direction.

Here's a newsflash: You don't substantially gain new listeners by tweaking music eras. You just don't.
You gain new listeners by promoting the station outside your own signal and having a strong morning show to attract commuters.

 

[fordranger797]

Star 101.5, as it stands right now, is a largely forgotten about radio station. I never even think about it at all, and I’m one of the rare people who cares deeply about local radio. There’s just nothing exciting happening over there, and something should be done to change that. A new marketing campaign? Something to freshen up the branding? Something about the morning show that potential listeners simply cannot miss (and should switch over from 106.9 to hear)?

 

[Kelly A]

There’s just nothing exciting happening over there, and something should be done to change that. A new marketing campaign? Something to freshen up the branding? Something about the morning show that potential listeners simply cannot miss (and should switch over from 106.9 to hear)?

If only they did Christmas music, none of this would be happening.

 

[PB Randolf]

IMO: "Star" has no meaning in the Sea-Tac market anymore TBH. It was a legendary station and now it's an after thought - despite the hard work from the Programming team and the Morning Show.

Taking 101.5 country makes the most sense, however, not for Lotus. Quick check would indicate they own ZERO Country stations in their portfolio ( but I could be wrong.... ) Couldn't see them taking a station country with no prior stations and help to draw from.

Cumulus - does have Country stations. No presence in Seattle. Could they buy 101.5 from Lotus ???

Alpha - Long history of Country and ties to the PNW another possibilty as a buyer ???

KAYO - South Sound Country station move up to full signal ?

Someone WILL launch a competive country station, that 7.4 is just sitting there waiting from somone to come slice a nice little 2.0 off and cut into it. No one is going to let them gobble up the market share that easy.... or are they?

 

[fordranger797]

IMO: "Star" has no meaning in the Sea-Tac market anymore TBH. It was a legendary station and now it's an after thought - despite the hard work from the Programming team and the Morning Show.

Taking 101.5 country makes the most sense, however, not for Lotus. Quick check would indicate they own ZERO Country stations in their portfolio ( but I could be wrong.... ) Couldn't see them taking a station country with no prior stations and help to draw from.

Cumulus - does have Country stations. No presence in Seattle. Could they buy 101.5 from Lotus ???

Alpha - Long history of Country and ties to the PNW another possibilty as a buyer ???

KAYO - South Sound Country station move up to full signal ?

Someone WILL launch a competive country station, that 7.4 is just sitting there waiting from somone to come slice a nice little 2.0 off and cut into it. No one is going to let them gobble up the market share that easy.... or are they?

As for Star 101.5: I still believe that there's room in the market for a station like Star, as Hot AC listeners are a highly sought-after demographic that are absolutely worth tapping into. It's really a shame that nothing that they've done so far has been that successful. At this point, it may be worth it to call it quits on the "Star" branding, and see if they can freshen the image a bit. Additionally, I don't think Lotus would be keen on the idea of selling 101.5 off, as they would like to hold onto their only FM signal in the market.

As for country: I agree, it seems like there is definitely room for a second country station in the market. Frankly, 100.7 is a decent radio station for country, but somebody else could probably do it even better with a more local focus. It will be interesting to see if anyone else is willing to pull the plug on their format and try it. At this point, I can't think of anyone who would willing to make that decision. This is a pretty interesting situation, as it's been a while since we've had only one country radio station in the market with complete control.

 

[Kelly A]

Someone WILL launch a competive country station, that 7.4 is just sitting there waiting from somone to come slice a nice little 2.0 off and cut into it. No one is going to let them gobble up the market share that easy.... or are they?

If history in the Seattle-Tacoma market is any indicator, it seems like whenever you get more than one or two country stations in the market; 50% of the audience remains with the leading morning show, and the other 50% is split between the also-rans. Eventually being an also-ran just isn't sustainable for the long haul.

 

[JackindaBox]

As for Star 101.5: I still believe that there's room in the market for a station like Star, as Hot AC listeners are a highly sought-after demographic that are absolutely worth tapping into. It's really a shame that nothing that they've done so far has been that successful. At this point, it may be worth it to call it quits on the "Star" branding, and see if they can freshen the image a bit. Additionally, I don't think Lotus would be keen on the idea of selling 101.5 off, as they would like to hold onto their only FM signal in the market.

As for country: I agree, it seems like there is definitely room for a second country station in the market. Frankly, 100.7 is a decent radio station for country, but somebody else could probably do it even better with a more local focus. It will be interesting to see if anyone else is willing to pull the plug on their format and try it. At this point, I can't think of anyone who would willing to make that decision. This is a pretty interesting situation, as it's been a while since we've had only one country radio station in the market with complete control.

Um… most likely it would probably be 93.3 since Star 101.5 is the only station that leans toward Hot AC in the market. KUBE probably won’t ever come back but 93.3 could flip to country if the Sports format doesn’t work by January. KQMV and KRWM I believe will probably stay the same for years since both formats are working for them. KBKS I don’t think will flip to country but they could go to Rhythmic Hot AC in the future if their ratings won’t improve causing KQMV to be the only Top 40 station in the market therefore causing KQMV to have to add more currents to its playlist and more pop/rock crossovers as well and also add country crossovers. 106.1 could however remain the same since they already have a lot of those type of crossovers with KQMV not having country crossovers and having less pop/rock crossovers and currents. It would be shocking if 106.1 decides to take the Hot AC lane though. Ratings didn’t take off as a Hot AC but at least they were better than it was than when they were a CHR getting around a mid-3 share of the market.