100.3 The Sound?

[shirleyschmidt]

Looks very promising. It's probably going to be some ideas from the new 101.9 in New York. Good luck to Bonneville as I think Quality Rock is a great idea, and a wonderful addition to the L.A. radio dial.

Let's run how many 35-54 white people there are in the L.A. metro... That's the audience.

Not enormous.

There are still millions of white people in LA. It's a huge city. Moreover, not everyone who is "ethnic" dislikes rock. Fellow KSCA listeners in my dorm back when I was in college here in LA included a Mexican guy from Downey, a girl from India, an Asian guy from Stockton, an ethnic Hawaiian, and an African-American guy who grew up in Capetown, South Africa. That group attended a Paul Simon concert at the Forum!

JOKING.... did you not know that stereotyping is not allowed at airports only?

That is where emmis went wrong with Movin.

 

[shirleyschmidt]

So I have been reading this thread and I am amazed that the station isn't even 24 hours old, and (by a rough guess) 70-80% of you have said it is doomed to fail. Gotta love positive vibe .

Right On!! We really need to support those who think out side the box. Radio is at a crossroads and it's needs some "injections" of new thought. There will be some misses, but there will be some hits too!

 

[ercjncpr]

Heard this morning...
Hollywood Nights - Bob Seger
From the Beginning- Emerson Lake and palmer
Mony Mony <gasp!> - Billy Idol
Like a Rolling Stone - Dylan
So Far Away-Dire Straits

They've got a fine line to straddle.... KRTH might play the Seger and Dylan songs, Mony Mony geeez couldn't they play something less pop?, KLOS might play all except Billy Idol... Also heard <OMG!!> Margaritaville , yes Margaritaville. Mayyyybe KPRI San Diego would play that, but KRTH I'm sure does.

Also heard One Week-Barenaked Ladies ... They're going to have to dip a little deeper into the "Ladies" bin and play ohhh maybe "If I had a Million Dollars" or "The Old Apartment" or "Shoebox".

The Sara Bareilles song is good, but has been around a while.

So they've got some bugs to work out, they cannot expect to get the KLOS audience and the JACK audience with pop songs.

But how I am reading their promotional material online and hearing it on air, it sounds like they want to be like the Everclear song.."Everything to Everyone". That's why it's in trouble already.

 

[BRH]

I've seen several posts comparing LA and San Francisco and the reasons why a AAA like KFOG won't work in Southern California. Well if the demos in Southern CA aren't viable for AAA, then what about KPRI in San Diego? They've been AAA for years and are just 90 miles or so down the coast. Is San Diego that drastically different from LA as well?

 

[SuperRadioFan]

I've seen several posts comparing LA and San Francisco and the reasons why a AAA like KFOG won't work in Southern California. Well if the demos in Southern CA aren't viable for AAA, then what about KPRI in San Diego? They've been AAA for years and are just 90 miles or so down the coast. Is San Diego that drastically different from LA as well?

According to Arbitron, Hispanic LA is 41% vs SD 27%. I don't know if you consider that drastic but it could be relevant. Besides, KPRI has lost lately in the ratings compared to a year ago.

 

[airpab]

I've lived in both cities and though similar in ways, San Diego and L.A. are quite different in terms of people, outlook and lifestyle. San Diego's demos are probably closer to S.F.'s then L.A.'s, but it sure doesn't show for KPRI. They've been lucky to pull even a 1.0 share and it has been a bottom dweller for a long, long time. (Though they just moved their transmitter and increased their coverage)

Also, might be that KFOG works in S.F. because it's actually interesting and fun to listen to. The DJ's are connected and love the station, the music and it comes out on the air. They do a lot of specialty shows and they just seem to be very involved...The city and the station seem to be really connected. In other words, it's managed to make itself a kind of S.F. icon.

Who knows, maybe Bonneville can create the same kind of thing in L.A.? But on paper, it doesn't seem likely.

 

[goriajk]

Re: 100.3 The Sound vs. KPRi

airpab said "KPRI - They've been lucky to pull even a 1.0 share and it has been a bottom dweller for a long, long time. (Though they just moved their transmitter and increased their coverage)" I have to agree yet also disagree as KPRi pulled almost 2 share (until recently). When I tune into 102.1 often as I go down to work in So. OC - I hear commercial after lousy commercial. The music mix is very 'predictable' - In my opinion KPRi is starting to sound very familar to some stations they're trying to compete (KSCF - maybe?) It's a big turn-off for me, as I have Sirius and I tune into 'The Spectrum' or 'Disorder' w/o excessive commercials and 'predictability' songlists. I'm tired of hearing the same three songs from Jack Johnson, loosen up 102 KPRi. I hope the station is not going to become a distant memory (like KUPR) - At least the music mix on The Sound was more varied than the first day. I heard a great Van Morrison deep track...I hope KPRi takes notice. Thanks for your time :-[ Joe

 

[scooty430]

So I have been reading this thread and I am amazed that the station isn't even 24 hours old, and (by a rough guess) 70-80% of you have said it is doomed to fail. Gotta love positive vibe .

Right On!! We really need to support those who think out side the box. Radio is at a crossroads and it's needs some "injections" of new thought. There will be some misses, but there will be some hits too!

I'm not sure AAA, whether you like the format or not, represents "new thought."

The last new idea, IMO, was JACK. Come to think of it, it met with the same reception: "doomed to failure."

Oops.

 

[SuperRadioFan]

Re: 100.3 The Sound vs. KPRi

airpab said "KPRI - They've been lucky to pull even a 1.0 share and it has been a bottom dweller for a long, long time. (Though they just moved their transmitter and increased their coverage)" I have to agree yet also disagree as KPRi pulled almost 2 share (until recently). When I tune into 102.1 often as I go down to work in So. OC - I hear commercial after lousy commercial. The music mix is very 'predictable' - In my opinion KPRi is starting to sound very familar to some stations they're trying to compete (KSCF - maybe?) It's a big turn-off for me, as I have Sirius and I tune into 'The Spectrum' or 'Disorder' w/o excessive commercials and 'predictability' songlists. I'm tired of hearing the same three songs from Jack Johnson, loosen up 102 KPRi. I hope the station is not going to become a distant memory (like KUPR) - At least the music mix on The Sound was more varied than the first day. I heard a great Van Morrison deep track...I hope KPRi takes notice. Thanks for your time :-[ Joe

Joe, which Van Morrison track do you mean? They're playing his new song "That's Entrainment" which I heard last night around 6 pm on my commute home.

BTW what city in my neck of the woods do you work in?

The KPRI signal even after the tower move and power increase is still hard for me to receive even in south OC. I suppose it'll improve as the warmer weather is more consistent. But we agree on KPRI's too "safe" playlist. If they're trying to "compete" with Sophie, well I guess the bar is pretty low

The conventional wisdom seems to suggest that in time with the better KPRI power Hughes and Schwartz are setting up a future sale.

KUPR for the most part was a much better station, as was 92-5ive; as was/is 94.9 all Halloran stations.

(Nice to see Mimi here! She used to be on WPST Trenton from my home state of N.J.)

Take care, Joe

 

[4UH8SIMBKAGN]

So I have been reading this thread and I am amazed that the station isn't even 24 hours old, and (by a rough guess) 70-80% of you have said it is doomed to fail. Gotta love positive vibe .

Right On!! We really need to support those who think out side the box. Radio is at a crossroads and it's needs some "injections" of new thought. There will be some misses, but there will be some hits too!

I'm not sure AAA, whether you like the format or not, represents "new thought."

The last new idea, IMO, was JACK. Come to think of it, it met with the same reception: "doomed to failure."

Oops.

Not true.

The Jack format was already a proven success.

The Jack format isn't a niche format.

Jack inherited a built-in base of listeners from Arrow 93 something 100.3 won't have.

Jacks initial problems were many technical glitches, a music mix that wasn't quite Los Angeles and the mostly generic Jack imaging. All those were pretty quickly overcome especially having Howard Cogan move to Los Angeles from Canada really helped Jack become super localized in a timely manner.

More recently, I feel, Jack has become a little less focused which may be why it has slipped a little bit. It needs to tighten the music and the imaging has been on track of current Los Angeles events.

 

[davideduardo]

Not true.

The Jack format was already a proven success.

The Jack format isn't a niche format.

Jack inherited a built-in base of listeners from Arrow 93 something 100.3 won't have.

Yikes. I agree totally with you again. One of us needs to see a doctor.

 

[ChannelFlipper]

I'm not sure AAA, whether you like the format or not, represents "new thought."

The last new idea, IMO, was JACK. Come to think of it, it met with the same reception: "doomed to failure."

Oops.

Actually, if I recall, Jack got pretty favorable reviews on this board when it launched.

I for one mentioned at the time that I thought Jack was the natural successor to Arrow because a large segment of the Arrow audience wanted their classic rock, but wanted to hear newer stuff too. Arrow was feeding them the same tired old Aerosmith, Bon Jovi, Lynerd Skinnerd and AC/DC records all day and was terribly stale. The Jack format and launch were perfect because they didn't have to spend months clearing out the old audience, many of whom stayed right on.

It was also noted by several folks that this Jack seemed to be well-tailored to the SoCal audience, mainly by playing certain old 80's KROQ tracks that might not have the same traction in other markets.

 

[hotpatrick2004]

I agree about the old alternative 80s tracks ;D I love hearing 88 lines about 44 women by the nails!!!

 

[nmoore6676]

There is a lot of negativity on here about any kind of alternative programming. I don't know exactly why the 'Urban" format failed on 100.3 but it was likely a combination of many factors, the lack of ratings being the death knell. There are all kinds of comments on the business acumen or lack thereof at Radio One.

No AAA is not new but in the sense that a used car is new to the latest owner it is new to LA. Bonneville seems to have the experience and determination to make it work, if it can. I do not suspect that it will attract a large share in a market like LA for all of the reasons expressed on these boards. If however Bonneville is committed to making it succeed by their standards and can make it reasonably lucrative in advertising revenues, and that will take a concerted effort, then it might survive.

I feel that most radio sales is done by people kicking back in their big leather chairs waiting for the phone to ring as the agencies place their carefully crafted and researched media buys. If anyone is to make it by programming other than the predominant format and slight variations then they will have to be more determined. Bonneville has the deep pockets to stay where Mount Wilson does not with KKGO. In the end the survival of either of these "doomed" formats on 100.3 or 105.1 will rest in the hands of the owners. Bonneville may put in the promotional effort lacking with KKGO but that remains to be seen.

I dream that somehow local programming will return and local managers and programmers will be given the control to do what they know how. These stations were all started and sustained, in the past, by people who dared to be creative. Of course I have high hopes that this year, at last, Santa will come down my chimney. I was disappointed with the Easter Bunny but the good news is that my dentist lets me keep my teeth for the tooth fairy. Shouldn't I get a cost of living (inflation) increase though, 25 cents per tooth seems a bit low don't you think?

 

[davideduardo]

There is a lot of negativity on here about any kind of alternative programming. I don't know exactly why the 'Urban" format failed on 100.3 but it was likely a combination of many factors, the lack of ratings being the death knell.

It got low ratings because the target demo was so small and was already fragmented.

I feel that most radio sales is done by people kicking back in their big leather chairs waiting for the phone to ring as the agencies place their carefully crafted and researched media buys.

Agencies take selling, just like direct accounts... it's just that it is a different kind of selling which is more akin to negotiating. Sellers today don't sit around, or they don't sell.

I dream that somehow local programming will return and local managers and programmers will be given the control to do what they know how.

How many LA stations are not locally programmed? Sure, some have some syndicated shows, but that is a strategic move to get more audience with talents that are unique, like Rush or even Wendy.

 

[SuperRadioFan]

Cool non-edit!

I've been listening to the web stream and just heard an unedited line from Alanis Morissette's "Hand in my Pocket"-- The line she's singing "I'm brave but I'm chickens---" Only they didn't edit the word chickenshit. No complaints here! 8)

 

[goriajk]

I heard the song too...my co-worker and I commented on the 'edit' - it's also ok by me. They're playing the new Radiohead track 'Jigsaw Falling Into Place' - Dig IT!!!! JG

 

[shirleyschmidt]

My knee-jerk reaction to some words here are that stations aren't trying to get more listening audience members due to the fact that so many don't care what the their listening audience has to say.

As previously stated a hundred times on this board, PDs have to make sure of the rotations based more on formula (more-so) than what listeners want. Requests are merely "cleverly" designed ways of making someone think a song is actually being spun for them only if that song was due up in the next 15 minutes of the rotation schedule. (Okay, maybe not so cleverly designed as many listeners already know this).

The Listener, or end user, of a format is almost shun this day and age. Some radio stations won't even air a 'Caller' or bother with announcing who won a on-air contest. In return listeners don't feel loyal to a station either.

As previously mentioned, KKGO seems to have no intent on promoting itself beyond the little they do now. If they did not have Shawn Parr, I wonder if there would be any promotion at all. It's sad to see some one have such a great resource at their finger tips and yet throw it all away. Bigger companies seem to do that same thing.

I know someone will bring up research (yadda, yadda), but the listeners who call in or talk to an on-air talent at a venue/function, are people they should also be pleasing. Word of mouth has always been a great form of advertising. When Listeners feel loyal and enjoy their station of choice they tell others. (*I say this in response to a former Station Manager who told me current listeners don't matter * emphasis on former). I also know that a station cannot just rely on that, but they need to think about it more. End users are what it is about. More listeners, higher ratings, better advertising dollars.

 

[scooty430]

So I have been reading this thread and I am amazed that the station isn't even 24 hours old, and (by a rough guess) 70-80% of you have said it is doomed to fail. Gotta love positive vibe .

Right On!! We really need to support those who think out side the box. Radio is at a crossroads and it's needs some "injections" of new thought. There will be some misses, but there will be some hits too!

I'm not sure AAA, whether you like the format or not, represents "new thought."

The last new idea, IMO, was JACK. Come to think of it, it met with the same reception: "doomed to failure."

Oops.

Not true.

The Jack format was already a proven success.

The Jack format isn't a niche format.

Jack inherited a built-in base of listeners from Arrow 93 something 100.3 won't have.

Jacks initial problems were many technical glitches, a music mix that wasn't quite Los Angeles and the mostly generic Jack imaging. All those were pretty quickly overcome especially having Howard Cogan move to Los Angeles from Canada really helped Jack become super localized in a timely manner.

More recently, I feel, Jack has become a little less focused which may be why it has slipped a little bit. It needs to tighten the music and the imaging has been on track of current Los Angeles events.

I agree with you.

I think I wasn't clear about what I meant.

I meant that there were people on this board who thought Jack couldn't succeed because it didn't have DJs, it had too big of a playlist, it mixed genres, etc. My point was that people are critical of any new idea around here.

Jack seems to have shifted from being a kind of "wacky" mix of crazy juxtapositions (Safety Dance back to back with Whitesnake) into.....mostly old KROQ tracks mixed with classic rock. A little played for me personally, as I have heard those songs too much. But maybe enjoyable for other people...

 

[davideduardo]

My knee-jerk reaction to some words here are that stations aren't trying to get more listening audience members due to the fact that so many don't care what the their listening audience has to say.

Stations listen to the listeners. However, most programmers have learned not to pay attention to random comments but, instead, to listener comments that represent a really true cross section of the audience.

I know someone will bring up research (yadda, yadda), but the listeners who call in or talk to an on-air talent at a venue/function, are people they should also be pleasing.

That is probably one of the most dangerous things a programmer can do. Active listeners are important, but one has to balance against the 80% or so who are not acctive listeners. It's necessary to talk to all segments of the audience before forming an opinion, or you can ruin the station.