99.5 Magic FM...OUCH!

[Kent]

Looking at the latest 12+ numbers, KMGA is below a 2 share. Can't remember the last time it was that low. I know it was an also-ran from sign on to the early 90's when 93.3 KOB-FM was still considered an AC, but I don't think it ever did THAT poorly. Going back to that era, it almost has KMYI numbers!

Are the in-demo numbers significantly better? Looks like it had been trending down since the end of Christmas music.

 

[AbqAnonymous]

KMGA had a 2.2 in Fall '85 when it switched from KZZX and rose to a 2.9 in Spring of '86 where it averaged for the next couple years. I have no idea what programming KZZX did but the spreadsheet* showed it averaging in the mid 4s in the last 3 years until the switch to KMGA. The spreadsheet also does not show any numbers for 107.1 before Calvary took over but it appears KMYI had peaked at a 1.8 in Fall '88 but mostly had around a 1.0 from looking up the books from that time. (Albuquerque only had Spring and Fall books until 1991) It seems that anyone who tried to take on KOB-FM at that time didn't get very far. The years as KAMX was pretty much the low point for the 107.9 signal ever. So this could really be an all time low for KMGA! They went from being number 1 in December to number 16 in July! What could be behind this? KABG seems to have a strong hold on 80s hits while KPEK does well with 90s to now. Outside of Christmas they seem to really be struggling. I wonder if this will make Santa come earlier than usual this year?

Also the first numbers for KRKE "The Eighties Channel" are in and it's not looking so good there. It took them nine months to tie for last place with KMGG-LP (which has also shown some strange movement from the mid 1s to near zero). Perhaps there is still a chance it could improve. KXOT 106.3 seems to be weighing down KRZY 105.9 which appears to benefit AGM in the Spanish market. KANW-2 has also improved a bit moving into the lower 1s.

*here is the spreadsheet I mentioned for references: https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Duncan-American-Radio/Duncan-1975-1992/Albuquerque.pdf

 

[Mark Roberts]

KMGA had a 2.2 in Fall '85 when it switched from KZZX and rose to a 2.9 in Spring of '86 where it averaged for the next couple years. I have no idea what programming KZZX did but the spreadsheet* showed it averaging in the mid 4s in the last 3 years until the switch to KMGA.

Albuquerque newspaper articles from the time indicate that it was a soft-rock format which came on satellite from Transtar.

KQEO and KZZX were sold in 1985 to an outfit called Penn Communications. Later that year, a competitor (KIVA, 105.1, still based in Santa Fe at the time but targeting Albuquerque) ran a newspaper ad referring to KZZX as "wimp rock". That ad also threw some shade at KOB-FM, saying that "[we] don't think that you can buy listeners like KOB has forever".

Also the first numbers for KRKE "The Eighties Channel" are in and it's not looking so good there. It took them nine months to tie for last place with KMGG-LP (which has also shown some strange movement from the mid 1s to near zero). Perhaps there is still a chance it could improve.

When I was in Albuquerque a few months ago, I listened to it. Too caffeinated for the market and the audio sounds miserable, in my estimation. I also never heard an audible legal ID on it (Radio Nerd Vigilante time).

 

[Kent]

Albuquerque newspaper articles from the time indicate that it was a soft-rock format which came on satellite from Transtar.

KMGA ran satellite programming, at least part-time, around 89-90. I believe it was briefly owned by Drake-Chenault, which operated some of its national programming out of Albuquerque before moving to Denver. I understand 99.5 ran a CHR/Top-40 format before it became KMGA, but I'm not sure if that was as KZZX or under its previous calls. Those were something like KMYR.

KQEO and KZZX were sold in 1985 to an outfit called Penn Communications. Later that year, a competitor (KIVA, 105.1, still based in Santa Fe at the time but targeting Albuquerque) ran a newspaper ad referring to KZZX as "wimp rock". That ad also threw some shade at KOB-FM, saying that "[we] don't think that you can buy listeners like KOB has forever".

KIVA ran aggressive campaigns against its competitors until it gave up the effort and went to satellite programming for a year or two before taking the Z-Rock format from its sister station on 1310. A friend who had worked at Q106 said it was Power Pig before Power Pig existed, but it didn't have nearly the success Power Pig had in Tampa. It did well enough, though, to force KNMQ out of the format.

 

[davideduardo]

KMGA ran satellite programming, at least part-time, around 89-90. I believe it was briefly owned by Drake-Chenault, which operated some of its national programming out of Albuquerque before moving to Denver.

KMGA in 1989-90 was owned by Penn Comm, who owned KQEO also

 

[AbqAnonymous]

August #s are in and they've dropped another couple points to 1.7. That could the lowest anything on 99.5 has had in about a half-century! While there is no data for 1976 it averaged 4.2 in 1975 and I could not find anything earlier than that. What could possibly be going on here? Bad music mix or something? There will likely be some kind of program changes after Christmas.

Meanwhile Fuego 102.9 is up to 2.6! Likely a record high for the 102.9 translator and it ranks 4th highest among the AGM stations beating both KLVO and KKRG. All three Regional Mexican stations are now in a close three way tie in the upper 1s.

KMGA ran satellite programming, at least part-time, around 89-90. I believe it was briefly owned by Drake-Chenault, which operated some of its national programming out of Albuquerque before moving to Denver. I understand 99.5 ran a CHR/Top-40 format before it became KMGA, but I'm not sure if that was as KZZX or under its previous calls. Those were something like KMYR.



KIVA ran aggressive campaigns against its competitors until it gave up the effort and went to satellite programming for a year or two before taking the Z-Rock format from its sister station on 1310. A friend who had worked at Q106 said it was Power Pig before Power Pig existed, but it didn't have nearly the success Power Pig had in Tampa. It did well enough, though, to force KNMQ out of the format.

KIVA had a 3.6 in Fall '85 which seems pretty good for a new sign-on so they must have spent a lot on advertising but it slid down to 2.6 then 1.8 so they could not hold on to their audience. Wikipedia mentions that it was auctioned off for nearly 2 million in 1986 to something called Daytona Group. Maybe they also owned that Tampa station? It was called "Power 105" and was a top-40 format and had low 4s to mid 3s from 1987-89 which might be considered good by todays standards. Of course when 105.1 signed on 97.3 launched as KKSS and is said to have initially aimed a KOB-FM as well. 98.5 also moved in at that time is said to have started as KKHJ although the FCC shows no record of that call-sign on that frequency but it was listed in the Spring '86 report at just a 0.4. KKHJ was also trying to go up against KOB-FM as mentioned in this Journal article: Two More Stations Seek Slice of KOB Market - Newspapers.com All three of those signals appear to have been sold in 1986 and since no one got anywhere challenging KOB-FM it appears KNMQ became the new target for KIVA and KKSS. The shift to more urban music apparently paid off for KKSS in the late 80s but when KNMQ flipped to country in early 1990 they surged to the top while KIVA plummeted with that satellite format. It appears 105.1 was sold for just 300k in 1991 which is way cheap for that station so there must have been more to that deal. Z-Rock was also a satellite feed but it seemed to be more competitive in larger markets and perhaps a result of more fragmentation in rock radio at the time. I heard it was also run by the same guy who had some role in the AOR format in the 70s. They did manage to run a similar station 98.5 KRBL out of the format in mid 1992 which switched to CHR and would also be a disaster for them as well going dark for much of 1993 (likely why there is no data listed for that year). While KZRQ never beat 94 Rock it did do quite well with the younger market and wasn't too far behind them in the general ratings.

I think this is that ad for KIVA from 1985 where "Emergency declared by programmer" over the 99.5 flip. AIR WAVE ALERT! - Newspapers.com Some of it is pretty funny!

 

[Kent]

KIVA had a 3.6 in Fall '85 which seems pretty good for a new sign-on so they must have spent a lot on advertising but it slid down to 2.6 then 1.8 so they could not hold on to their audience. Wikipedia mentions that it was auctioned off for nearly 2 million in 1986 to something called Daytona Group.

Daytona Group, I believe, was led by Carl Tutera. It owned a handful of other stations, including KRGE 1290 and KRIX 99.5 in the Rio Grande Valley (Brownsville/McAllen/Harlingen). Seems like one of the owners was also a part-owner of First City Broadcasting.

Maybe they also owned that Tampa station?

Power Pig in Tampa was owned by Jacor. I don't think Daytona owned anything in Tampa, though I can't be 100% certain.

It was called "Power 105" and was a top-40 format and had low 4s to mid 3s from 1987-89 which might be considered good by todays standards. Of course when 105.1 signed on 97.3 launched as KKSS and is said to have initially aimed a KOB-FM as well.

It was also going after Q106, which signed on around the same time. The mid-to-late 80's saw a lot of sign-ons and move-ins to Albuquerque. All of those changes are why no one can get much of an audience there today. Not sure if it's still the case, but, in 1995, Albuquerque had the most stations per capita. It was just ahead of Salt Lake City and Colorado Springs.

98.5 also moved in at that time is said to have started as KKHJ although the FCC shows no record of that call-sign on that frequency but it was listed in the Spring '86 report at just a 0.4. KKHJ was also trying to go up against KOB-FM as mentioned in this Journal article: Two More Stations Seek Slice of KOB Market - Newspapers.com

I don't remember 98.5 being KKHJ either. I remember it being KKBR before it became KRBL. Seems like it was KTNM "The Mountain" for a brief period, too, before becoming "Big Oldies" in the mid 90's. I know it had a pretty difficult time for a few years as KRBL.

All three of those signals appear to have been sold in 1986 and since no one got anywhere challenging KOB-FM it appears KNMQ became the new target for KIVA and KKSS.

I remember 105.1 and 105.9 signing on around the same time and both being top-40/CHR. Not that I couldn't be wrong as I was a pre-teen and teenager at the time.

The shift to more urban music apparently paid off for KKSS in the late 80s but when KNMQ flipped to country in early 1990 they surged to the top while KIVA plummeted with that satellite format.

I don't remember KOLT 106 doing super well, but it did okay for awhile. Seems like it had about the same 12+ share it had as Q106, but the audience was older and easier to sell. I don't remember it putting much of a dent in KRST, though.

It appears 105.1 was sold for just 300k in 1991 which is way cheap for that station so there must have been more to that deal.

If I remember correctly, Tutera bought his partners out. I'm thinking he was Star of New Mexico. KIVA and KZRQ switched calls, and the Z-Rock format was moved to 105.1 from 1310. Around that same time, ABC/SMN stopped marketing Z-Rock to AM's, which was somewhat ironic as Z-Rock often said it was, "Too loud for FM."

Z-Rock was also a satellite feed but it seemed to be more competitive in larger markets and perhaps a result of more fragmentation in rock radio at the time. I heard it was also run by the same guy who had some role in the AOR format in the 70s.

Seems like Lee Abrams was one of the brains behind Z-Rock. It was fairly successful after it started getting marketed to FM's only, but it mostly ran its course by 1998. When ABC/SMN pulled the plug, it offered music logs and scheduling assistance to the stations that previously aired the format, and a handful kept up the effort for a few years. Seems like there's still a Z-Rock somewhere in Northern California, or at least there still was within the last 10 years. Champaign-Urbana and Quincy-Hannibal ran Z-Rock locally for a few years afterward, but, by 1999, 105.9 in Champaign was classic rock WGKC. Quincy-Hannibal was still running local rock last time I was up there (about 10 years ago), but it was calling itself "105.9 The Grizz."

 

[SomeRadioGuy]

Daytona Group, I believe, was led by Carl Tutera. It owned a handful of other stations, including KRGE 1290 and KRIX 99.5 in the Rio Grande Valley (Brownsville/McAllen/Harlingen). Seems like one of the owners was also a part-owner of First City Broadcasting.



Power Pig in Tampa was owned by Jacor. I don't think Daytona owned anything in Tampa, though I can't be 100% certain.



It was also going after Q106, which signed on around the same time. The mid-to-late 80's saw a lot of sign-ons and move-ins to Albuquerque. All of those changes are why no one can get much of an audience there today. Not sure if it's still the case, but, in 1995, Albuquerque had the most stations per capita. It was just ahead of Salt Lake City and Colorado Springs.



I don't remember 98.5 being KKHJ either. I remember it being KKBR before it became KRBL. Seems like it was KTNM "The Mountain" for a brief period, too, before becoming "Big Oldies" in the mid 90's. I know it had a pretty difficult time for a few years as KRBL.



I remember 105.1 and 105.9 signing on around the same time and both being top-40/CHR. Not that I couldn't be wrong as I was a pre-teen and teenager at the time.



I don't remember KOLT 106 doing super well, but it did okay for awhile. Seems like it had about the same 12+ share it had as Q106, but the audience was older and easier to sell. I don't remember it putting much of a dent in KRST, though.



If I remember correctly, Tutera bought his partners out. I'm thinking he was Star of New Mexico. KIVA and KZRQ switched calls, and the Z-Rock format was moved to 105.1 from 1310. Around that same time, ABC/SMN stopped marketing Z-Rock to AM's, which was somewhat ironic as Z-Rock often said it was, "Too loud for FM."



Seems like Lee Abrams was one of the brains behind Z-Rock. It was fairly successful after it started getting marketed to FM's only, but it mostly ran its course by 1998. When ABC/SMN pulled the plug, it offered music logs and scheduling assistance to the stations that previously aired the format, and a handful kept up the effort for a few years. Seems like there's still a Z-Rock somewhere in Northern California, or at least there still was within the last 10 years. Champaign-Urbana and Quincy-Hannibal ran Z-Rock locally for a few years afterward, but, by 1999, 105.9 in Champaign was classic rock WGKC. Quincy-Hannibal was still running local rock last time I was up there (about 10 years ago), but it was calling itself "105.9 The Grizz."

This one:

KRQR - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org