88.1 indie Expanding Playlist?

[Deleted member 76036]

I’ve noticed that 88.1 indie’s playlist has recently expanded to include the 90’s and even music as far back as the early 80’s. They are still playing new music and regardless, I still think the station sounds great! Has anyone else noticed this? Thoughts?

 

[nalyem]

It’s OK. For me, it lost the minuscule amount of indie cred it had by getting rid of the one local band it’d play every weeknight. I know they are branding it “Indie” because it’s not part of a big corporate conglomerate, but they certainly aren’t representative of “Indie” as a genre.

KXT sounds much better as a real “Indie” station and KTCU is what a college station should sound like.

It does sound better than Alt 103.7 at representing alternative/indie, though. Also, I can’t help but notice that 103.7’s ratings are down recently, I guess the Eagle’s return has something to do with that.

 

[txchipk]

I've preferred KNTU to KVIL -- better playlist, better imaging, and the lack of commercials another plus. I normally advocate for live and local jocks, and KNTU runs without DJs, but KVIL has -- what, one in middays these days? KVIL is mostly now either without a jock or has out-of-market jocks in the evening and weekend, who mostly spend their time telling me to stop listening to the station and download the Audacy app to listen to something else.... so KNTU wins again.

 

[Deleted member 76036]

KXT sounds much better as a real “Indie” station and KTCU is what a college station should sound like.

KXT and indie 88.1 are different formats. I also think the indie name was simply referring to the fact that they’re not owned by a large corporation, making them “independent”. I don’t think their name has really anything to do with the indie genre of music, which can be confusing.

I've preferred KNTU to KVIL -- better playlist, better imaging, and the lack of commercials another plus. I normally advocate for live and local jocks, and KNTU runs without DJs

I do prefer KNTU to KVIL, as well. I was thinking the other day that if they did have commercials, I’d still be okay with it. And if stations are jockless, I don’t really mind as long as their imaging is decent. I think their listeners announcing new music helps with that! With KVIL, I often can’t hear what the voicetracks are saying anyways, because the music overpowers them. This weekend, I heard it happen a couple of times.

 

[davideduardo]

I don't get why, every time a station does research or does internal adjustments, there is all this discussion of "changing the playlist" or "adding to the playlist" or whatever.

This is truly a "move on folks, nothing to see" situation.

Stations or companies that do research always target the same age group for stable stations. That means that every year one year of older listeners is no longer tested and one year of newer ones is. The target is the same, but a percentage of listeners change, so a percentage of songs go away and a percentage of previously un-played ones are added.

Even before research, we looked each year at our oldies and said, "those are too old". And we moved some recurrents into gold.

Even in the very early 50's, the first Top 40 stations (yes, Top 40 preceded Rock and Roll and "Rock Around the Clock") would decide that a song, after 12, 13 or 14 weeks was "over" and drop it.

 

[Deleted member 76036]

I don't get why, every time a station does research or does internal adjustments, there is all this discussion of "changing the playlist" or "adding to the playlist" or whatever.

This is truly a "move on folks, nothing to see" situation.

There’s been discussion about this topic after my initial post, hasn’t there? This IS called RadioDiscussions.com and it’s meant for professionals across various parts of the industry, as well as radio enthusiasts, correct?

With all due respect, you don’t have to reply to every single post. There are people who like to discuss changes like this, so if you don’t want to take part, that’s up to you. But, please don’t ruin other peoples’ entertainment.

 

[sox fan matt]

If KNTU had a full power stick from Cedar Hill, I wonder what the ratings would be?

 

[Deleted member 76036]

If KNTU had a full power stick from Cedar Hill, I wonder what the ratings would be?

I wish they had a Cedar Hill stick. I like listening in HD and I’m in Grand Prairie and their HD doesn’t consistently lock. I can see the tower farm down the block from me. 🙂

 

[TheBigA]

I don't get why, every time a station does research or does internal adjustments, there is all this discussion of "changing the playlist" or "adding to the playlist" or whatever.

This is a student-run college station. When I was a student at a college radio station, we ran it differently during the summer, when school was out, from the regular school semester. It's possible that's what's happening here.

 

[CTListener]

Even in the very early 50's, the first Top 40 stations (yes, Top 40 preceded Rock and Roll and "Rock Around the Clock") would decide that a song, after 12, 13 or 14 weeks was "over" and drop it.

Now, of course, "currents" can stick around for twice that long, sometimes close to a year. That may explain why people notice and react to even minor changes the way they do.

 

[LibertyNT]

Hasn't that been their format since indie launched?

 

[davideduardo]

There’s been discussion about this topic after my initial post, hasn’t there? This IS called RadioDiscussions.com and it’s meant for professionals across various parts of the industry, as well as radio enthusiasts, correct?

With all due respect, you don’t have to reply to every single post. There are people who like to discuss changes like this, so if you don’t want to take part, that’s up to you. But, please don’t ruin other peoples’ entertainment.

I’m not “ruining” anybody’s entertainment but, truly, am giving an insider perspective. My intent is to show those who still insten to radio how playlists are managed.

This is all part of the overall case where, with very rare exceptions, expanding a playlist will decrease ratings and reduce the perception of “variety”.

 

[Theater of My Mind]

I’m not “ruining” anybody’s entertainment but, truly, am giving an insider perspective. My intent is to show those who still insten to radio how playlists are managed.

Your whole insider perspective was about music research and the age group being tested. This is a non-profit, noncom college radio station, apparently with a staff of 4. What is their budget for testing and how will it make them rich? Do you have the inside scoop?

 

[txchipk]

If KNTU had a full power stick from Cedar Hill, I wonder what the ratings would be?

Me too...unfortunately, about a year and a half ago they actually downgraded. They dropped power from 100 kw to 55 kw, shaving off some coverage, still technically a C1, but barely. Any less power at its antenna height, it would drop to a C2.

 

[Todd Shannon]

It’s OK. For me, it lost the minuscule amount of indie cred it had by getting rid of the one local band it’d play every weeknight. I know they are branding it “Indie” because it’s not part of a big corporate conglomerate, but they certainly aren’t representative of “Indie” as a genre.

KXT sounds much better as a real “Indie” station and KTCU is what a college station should sound like.

It does sound better than Alt 103.7 at representing alternative/indie, though. Also, I can’t help but notice that 103.7’s ratings are down recently, I guess the Eagle’s return has something to do with that.

Appreciate the love for 88indie!

We still feature local bands each weeknight at 9pm on Homebrewed and highlight that evening's band throughout the day.

Todd Shannon
881indie Operations Manager/Program Director

 

[nalyem]

Appreciate the love for 88indie!

We still feature local bands each weeknight at 9pm on Homebrewed and highlight that evening's band throughout the day.

Todd Shannon
881indie Operations Manager/Program Director

Woah! Cool! Thanks for the reply. I’m not the biggest fan of y’all right now, but I’d love to see y’all increase your attention to the local scene. In particular, 88.1 has Mark Schectman as your concert calendar guy, but he’s not being used to his full potential. He was the ONLY good part of Fault 103.7 and his local show was the ONLY time that station was listenable. In fact, you’ll find very few people with his enthusiasm for the local scene.

Anyways, I thought you got rid of Homebrewed because I tuned in at 9:00 on a weeknight a few weeks back and didn’t get a local tune and y’all haven’t been advertising the weekly band list on y’all’s socials.

 

[sox fan matt]

I’m listening right now from Keller. So far like what I hear.

 

[Deleted member 76036]

Me too...unfortunately, about a year and a half ago they actually downgraded. They dropped power from 100 kw to 55 kw, shaving off some coverage, still technically a C1, but barely. Any less power at its antenna height, it would drop to a C2.

During the intense tropo event on 8/1, I took a drive down past Waco. I ended up stopping at the Love’s Travel Stop in Troy and 88.1 indie’s HD was blasting in and at the same time, it was hard to get Waco stations. The analog wasn’t there, but I think it helps that 88.1 is on the end of the dial and there’s nothing close on 87.9 and nothing to interfere with the lower HD sideband. I always love those intense tropospheric ducting events!

 

[Triple Fake Jerry]

I swear if Indie plays Revolution by Muse again, I might conduct my own revolution. Talk about fat cats having a heart attack.

Enough.

 

[E-Cam]

I swear if Indie plays Revolution by Muse again, I might conduct my own revolution. Talk about fat cats having a heart attack.

Enough.

Could be playing "Madness" by Muse which was a huge hit like 10+ years ago