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Is it just me or has KPWR started incorporating 90’s and Early 2000’s hip hop again?

@cer1992 Power took me back by playing “Nice & Slow”(1998) yesterday morning. I was only 4 years old when I used to hear on the station. It was big on both 92.3 The Beat and Power 106 during the course of 1998.
 
I have a feeling that there will be some major changes at KPWR that you guys will not like.

Consider Meruelo's position in the market. KPWR is down around 25th in 6+, with half the audience of KLOS and within the margin of error for the even-lower ranked KDAY and KLLI. And the ratings for all three of those have pretty much flatlined.

They sold off channel 22 a year ago and have probably gone through all the cash from that sale.

KLOS' PD very publicly left recently ... no replacement named. Their CEO, Otto Padron, departed less than a year ago after being with Meruelo during most of its expansion years.

I think it likely that if the ownership caps get relaxed, all of the radio stations will potentially be spun off. And given the lackluster performance of 93.5, 93.9 and 105.9 (by which I mean the advertising revenue is dropping quickly) I would expect all of them to adopt more agency-friendly formats under new owners.

Alex Meruelo may well be ready to exit broadcasting in favor of concentrating on his other businesses. The profits from his hotel casinos in Las Vegas and Reno are probably the only thing keeping the Los Angeles radio stations afloat ... and he is not a stupid man by any means; he can read the writing on the wall.
 
I have a feeling that there will be some major changes at KPWR that you guys will not like.

Consider Meruelo's position in the market. KPWR is down around 25th in 6+, with half the audience of KLOS and within the margin of error for the even-lower ranked KDAY and KLLI. And the ratings for all three of those have pretty much flatlined.

They sold off channel 22 a year ago and have probably gone through all the cash from that sale.

KLOS' PD very publicly left recently ... no replacement named. Their CEO, Otto Padron, departed less than a year ago after being with Meruelo during most of its expansion years.

I think it likely that if the ownership caps get relaxed, all of the radio stations will potentially be spun off. And given the lackluster performance of 93.5, 93.9 and 105.9 (by which I mean the advertising revenue is dropping quickly) I would expect all of them to adopt more agency-friendly formats under new owners.

Alex Meruelo may well be ready to exit broadcasting in favor of concentrating on his other businesses. The profits from his hotel casinos in Las Vegas and Reno are probably the only thing keeping the Los Angeles radio stations afloat ... and he is not a stupid man by any means; he can read the writing on the wall.
Frankly, I wouldn't be surprised and I wouldn't trip too much considering FM radio these days isn't like it was 2010 or before. As for Power 106, that station has been aimless (not knowing what to do with itself) ever since Real 92.3 came onto the scene and the current state of it is more or less a shadow of its former self.
 
Frankly, I wouldn't be surprised and I wouldn't trip too much considering FM radio these days isn't like it was 2010 or before. As for Power 106, that station has been aimless (not knowing what to do with itself) ever since Real 92.3 came onto the scene and the current state of it is more or less a shadow of its former self.
Yeah, the station has been searching for a new identity for the last decade since Big Boy left for Real 92.3 in 2015. There is nothing they can do about the station now. They’ll always have poor ratings as long as Real is around.
 
I have a feeling that there will be some major changes at KPWR that you guys will not like.

Consider Meruelo's position in the market. KPWR is down around 25th in 6+, with half the audience of KLOS and within the margin of error for the even-lower ranked KDAY and KLLI. And the ratings for all three of those have pretty much flatlined.

They sold off channel 22 a year ago and have probably gone through all the cash from that sale.

KLOS' PD very publicly left recently ... no replacement named. Their CEO, Otto Padron, departed less than a year ago after being with Meruelo during most of its expansion years.

I think it likely that if the ownership caps get relaxed, all of the radio stations will potentially be spun off. And given the lackluster performance of 93.5, 93.9 and 105.9 (by which I mean the advertising revenue is dropping quickly) I would expect all of them to adopt more agency-friendly formats under new owners.

Alex Meruelo may well be ready to exit broadcasting in favor of concentrating on his other businesses. The profits from his hotel casinos in Las Vegas and Reno are probably the only thing keeping the Los Angeles radio stations afloat ... and he is not a stupid man by any means; he can read the writing on the wall.
If KPWR were to change formats, what options are available? Soft AC? Many here say the demos would be too old. What about a format featuring songs that were huge on Power 1986-1996 before they went hip hop? Songs people in their forties remember from hearing on Power when they were in middle school like "Set You Free" by Planet Soul or "Feel So Good" by Lina Santiago. They could also play some current/recent tunes with a similar sound. Maybe even sprinkle in a few multigenerational Art Laboe type oldies that are familiar and loved by the listeners.

Or maybe Mike Bloomberg would be interested in buying 105.9 as his west coast affiliate for Bloomberg Radio.
 
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If KPWR were to change formats, what options are available? Soft AC? Many here say the demos would be too old. What about a format featuring songs that were huge on Power 1986-2006 before they went hip hop? Songs people in their forties remember from hearing on Power when they were in middle school like "Set You Free" by Planet Soul or "Feel So Good" by Lina Santiago. They could also play some current/recent tunes with a similar sound. Maybe even sprinkle in a few multigenerational Art Laboe type oldies that are familiar and loved by the listeners.
Meruelo just made a major investment in a new head of programming, Pio Ferro. Pio has lots of experience in crossover rhythmic stations which target primarily Hispanics, then Blacks and then "everyone else". That has been the KPWR focus for about three decades, so the issue is adjusting that focus, not changing format

Or maybe Mike Bloomberg would be interested in buying 105.9 as his west coast affiliate for Bloomberg Radio.
I don't see Bloomberg expanding his over the air radio presence, but that is just a speculation.
 
If KPWR were to change formats, what options are available? Soft AC? Many here say the demos would be too old. What about a format featuring songs that were huge on Power 1986-1996 before they went hip hop? Songs people in their forties remember from hearing on Power when they were in middle school like "Set You Free" by Planet Soul or "Feel So Good" by Lina Santiago. They could also play some current/recent tunes with a similar sound. Maybe even sprinkle in a few multigenerational Art Laboe type oldies that are familiar and loved by the listeners.

Or maybe Mike Bloomberg would be interested in buying 105.9 as his west coast affiliate for Bloomberg Radio.
I would love for them to bring back “Set U Free” & “Feel So Good” since they are playing more throwbacks. Power needs to play the songs that made them a Powerhouse during the 90’s.
 
I would love for them to bring back “Set U Free” & “Feel So Good” since they are playing more throwbacks. Power needs to play the songs that made them a Powerhouse during the 90’s.
Most people in Power's current target audience wouldn't know those songs, so I wouldn't expect the station to play those tracks in 2025. On the other hand, I'd be all for KDAY incorporating those house joints, even if it's just in the mix.
 


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