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KOLA FM. The coolest thing just happened to me.
- Thread starter 30james
- Start date
Rarely today with most stations voice tracked. And a live talent on a holiday is even more rare.
Back in the 60's and 70's, listeners got on the air when they won contests and even when they did "instant requests" on many stations.
Today, most listeners don't do phone calls. They text. And you can't put a text on the air!
Why is that David E I texted her and she said thanks to James from Palmdale and a couple of others listening
That's a smart move by the talent.
Stations today generally require air talent to be proficient in a variety of new media channels, ranging from TikTok to all the other Facebook / social media options. But having the talent actually live and checking messages is pretty amazing today..
This is obviously part of why KOLA gets the huge shares that it does, right in the shadow of KRTH which has a perfect city-grade signal in that market.
Very smart.
D
Deleted member 108832
Guest
Oh, I don't know about that. In the big markets, perhaps, but we get a ton of calls into the stations asking us to play a song, requesting a phone number from an ad we had run earlier, or from a blue card that listed an item for sale from a local resident, or even "what the hell are you playing, ain't you a country station?" when one of us goes a little off format with a selection.
Let me tell you, David, you also most assuredly can put a text on the air. "OK, folks. I've got a text that just came in from Bill in Lake Tawakoni, and he says he needs a couple of round bales of hay to feed his livestock, so if anyone has a couple of bales out there, he's got cash in hand. His number is 903-555-1212. Next up on the general store, Matt in Hawkins has just texted in that he has a 20 inch, self propelled push mower for sale, runs good, but needs a new air filter. $30 as is. No bag. He can be reached at 903-555-3434."
I put texts on the air daily, sir. 😂
My most "educational" experience with phones was when I launched a new format on WZNT in Puerto Rico (market 14 at the time). We had liners with the phone number but we got no random format and music calls at all. None.
We'd get instant calls on cami-zeta give aways, but I knew that even if you had one listener, you'd get those calls. I was a bit worried, when, a week into the format with huge print, TV and outdoor expenses, we go not calls. So we started asking the contest calls why they did not call about songs. The answer was, "you already play all the songs I love".
After 4 weeks, we got our first book. 22.5 share, #1 in the market and a cume of 60% of all adults. So the response from my perspective is that if you get too many music calls, you are not running the best playlist and people feel something is missing.
I'd be dead scared of putting an unverified number on the air. Unless you have time and resources to verify I would not do that unless you are in such a small market that you can instinctively tell if you are being scammed.
It would, from a legal perspective, scare me if it included personal data. But "Jill texted a moment ago and wants to hear 'Go Your Own Way' and hear it is on Rock 99!" would be OK if the song is on the playlist and coming up on the music log.
As a listener last June driving from San Diego to Mammoth, I picked up KOLA FM for more than an hour. The signal, presentation, and music were outstanding. I actually enjoyed the mid day female host at KOLA FM more than KRTH. I never understood why KRTH laid off LA veteran jock Kristina Kelly (spelling?) a few years ago. IMO she was the best announcer on the station. I can't argue with the KRTH numbers, but to me the station has not sounded as good since she left.
I’ve heard tweets & emails read on air on BBC Radio Scotland & KCJJ has a chat on youtube & their app that they read jokes & comments from on the air.
D
Deleted member 108832
Guest
We give out the studio number and text line numerous times through the day. The area is chocked full of 55+ listeners, and sometimes people up here just want to talk. I field a dozen calls a day, sometimes more. Everything you could imagine, and some you can't.
We get quite a few compliments on the playlist, but we also cater to an older crowd. Lots of traditional country music, going as far back as Buck Owens and Hank Locklin. Have to. The bigger "classic country" station has become anything but classic, regularly playing Luke Combs, Morgan Wallen, and Chris Stapleton. It has alienated a portion of the audience who don't associate today's product with what they recognize as true country music.
You know, if I were in Dallas or Houston, that would likely concern me as well. Personal cell phone numbers are regularly given out over the air during the swap shop and we've been doing it for years without any incident. Several hometown stations around here run a swap shop/general store show using the same call in, text in, or stop by the station for a blue card operation in order to gather items for sale. About the biggest concern we've ever encountered was a gentleman who kept calling in offering puppies for sale, only to find out he was running a puppy mill in less than desirable conditions for the animals. We realized what was going on, alerted the Sherriff's Department, and had a stop put to it. I'll ask around to see if anyone else has come across a scammer lying in wait to victimize their listeners when phone numbers are given out, but I've never personally come across that particular problem as of yet. I'd hate to think that might happen. You might be surprised to know that daily hour of buying, selling, and trading is very popular with our listeners.
Just curious: how is KOLA's signal up in Palmdale?
I do it all the time on KLMI and KSKO
EVen when I've been VT on KLMI.. the owner would text or email me names of people and or businesses he knew would be listening.... when KLMI was next to a hair salon, they ONLY listened to us, if they were open, the radio was on and it was on ever on our station.. i gave them a shout out unbeknownst to them and they got a kick out of it. (back when I VT'd KLMI from home in PA before i moved out there to work full time or 2 years.. with with them 5 years now)
EVen when I've been VT on KLMI.. the owner would text or email me names of people and or businesses he knew would be listening.... when KLMI was next to a hair salon, they ONLY listened to us, if they were open, the radio was on and it was on ever on our station.. i gave them a shout out unbeknownst to them and they got a kick out of it. (back when I VT'd KLMI from home in PA before i moved out there to work full time or 2 years.. with with them 5 years now)
It doesn't reach Palmdale. I listen on my cell or Alexia
It usually gets between a 2 and a 3 share in Victor Valley. It covers a good part of that market, but not all of it.
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