Today I heard STAR run a sweeper that said something like "You are listening to the #1 80s station in America...Star 102.7".
That sweeper has probably been in rotation for a long time. For several years KSTJ truly was the #1 80s station, often by a large margin. But today they rank #6 of the only 7 remaining "80s and more" stations that still exist (KSTJ, KHPT/Houston, WPOI/Tampa, KVMX/Portland, WMXQ/Jacksonville, WBPT/Birmingham, and WDPT/Dayton).5 out of those 7 stations are owned by Cox and are mostly called "The Point". The only 80s station that is rated lower than KSTJ (by a tenth of a share) is KHPT/Houston.
Obviously KKJJ has hurt KSTJ significantly. But one interesting thing I discovered is "the best of the 80s and more" format is trending down everywhere regardless if a JACK type station exists or not. In fact none of the Cox 80s stations have Variety Hits competition, yet they are still going down. Overall "80s and more" looks very unhealthy, barely hanging on to life support. Will the format exist anywhere in a year or two from now?
For the sake of discussion, what do you predict or suggest Beasley do with STAR? Evolve into a Hot AC to compete with MIX? Or pehaps a bright AC positioned between MIX and SUNNY? Or do you have a totally different idea? I realize KSTJ was one of the markets top billers as recently as 2004, so they might hang on to 80s for a while longer. But I have always heard that billing lags behind ratings, especially since some agency buys are placed well in advance of air dates. Eventually you would expect that STAR's declining ratings will impact billing.
That sweeper has probably been in rotation for a long time. For several years KSTJ truly was the #1 80s station, often by a large margin. But today they rank #6 of the only 7 remaining "80s and more" stations that still exist (KSTJ, KHPT/Houston, WPOI/Tampa, KVMX/Portland, WMXQ/Jacksonville, WBPT/Birmingham, and WDPT/Dayton).5 out of those 7 stations are owned by Cox and are mostly called "The Point". The only 80s station that is rated lower than KSTJ (by a tenth of a share) is KHPT/Houston.
Obviously KKJJ has hurt KSTJ significantly. But one interesting thing I discovered is "the best of the 80s and more" format is trending down everywhere regardless if a JACK type station exists or not. In fact none of the Cox 80s stations have Variety Hits competition, yet they are still going down. Overall "80s and more" looks very unhealthy, barely hanging on to life support. Will the format exist anywhere in a year or two from now?
For the sake of discussion, what do you predict or suggest Beasley do with STAR? Evolve into a Hot AC to compete with MIX? Or pehaps a bright AC positioned between MIX and SUNNY? Or do you have a totally different idea? I realize KSTJ was one of the markets top billers as recently as 2004, so they might hang on to 80s for a while longer. But I have always heard that billing lags behind ratings, especially since some agency buys are placed well in advance of air dates. Eventually you would expect that STAR's declining ratings will impact billing.
