100.3 The Sound?

[SuperRadioFan]

and people seem to almost always pick the worst songs tested.

LOL, they also do that in elections!! ;D

 

[Indielover]

The sound is a very well programmed station and sounds great...not unfocused like WRXP in New York, a station I'll still waiting for them to get right....

 

[Big E]

So what jocks will resurface on the Sound?

 

[SuperRadioFan]

So what jocks will resurface on the Sound?

Bob Coburn
Geno Michellini
Mimi Chen
Julio Flores
Rick Dees

.
.
.
.
.
Just kidding about all .. Who knows? Although I wouldn't be surprised if Mimi is available as she no longer is working at KCSN.

 

[leethalweapon]

I may be hanging myself here, but I have to say I really like this stations music mix. It's resfreshing. It's not all those
choppy, cheesey songs from various decades. It may be slightly out of line with it's demo for LA. I wonder how it would
do in other Top 50 markets? I have listened to it for three or four days and many people are asking what the station
is and making positive comments to many songs they just don't hear. To me, it ain't normal radio, it's actually good.
Therefore, it's sunk. David --- yeah, it's off the mark for LA's mtk. I dunno, maybe it's actually to cool for LA. They blow it
about every 15 songs, but that's a pretty good law of averages when it's usually 50/50 good/bad. I guess they should
just sign it off. I've researched music forever and people seem to almost always pick the worst songs tested. Anyone
else actually willing to defend this "fiasco?" Ah, never mind. It's R-I. ;D

I have been listening to the stream all weekend from here in Melbourne, Australia. Let me say I love this station. If there was a station like it here, I would be addicted. I figure it can only get better once the staff up.

 

[radio-outsider]

I like it. It's doomed.

 

[DoctorWu]

I find all the "it's doomed" posts fascinating, as well as the ones predicting massive success. We're all a bunch of master prognosticators, aren't we? It's amazing we aren't all millionaires from being so prescient.

After 25 years on the air, I know this:

1) The success of a radio station is in direct proportion to the amount of promotion given to it by corporate.
2) Almost no station that is successful immediately post-flip is a long-haul winner. Success takes time.
3) Savvy management knows that successful billing comes not only from quantitative numbers, but qualitatives as well.
4) ARBs don't tell the whole story. Never did, never will (until they wire a chip into all our brains).
5) Whatever you think will happen - won't.

So why don't we all just quit trying to prove how smart we are, and enjoy the station?

- Doc

 

[davideduardo]

1) The success of a radio station is in direct proportion to the amount of promotion given to it by corporate.

One station I was involved with for 20 years spent essentially nothing on promotion for all that period. No TV, no boards. Any street appearances had to be paid for by a client. It was #1 for every single book in all key demos in a top 15 market that has the "honor" of having more stations "in the book" than any other rated market. This station has the record for longevity for an FM in a top 50 market.

2) Almost no station that is successful immediately post-flip is a long-haul winner. Success takes time.
3) Savvy management knows that successful billing comes not only from quantitative numbers, but qualitatives as well.

After 49 years in radio, I can claim 25 or so "instant" successes where a station went overall #1 or #1 in a major target, like Women 18-49. Nearly all of them (except the disco one) lasted at least 5 years. One of them went to #1 in less than a book, and stayed there for about 22 years.

4) ARBs don't tell the whole story. Never did, never will (until they wire a chip into all our brains).

But in transactional markets, the ratings are a significant factor without which the other aspects generally don't work.

5) Whatever you think will happen - won't.

Murphy works in more industries than any guy I know.

 

[Big E]

Me David...me right...u wrong! ;D

 

[SuperRadioFan]

Murphy works in more industries than any guy I know.

Hey David, I just got through reading the many posts on the 60s/70s oldies board made over the weekend about all the testing done to determine an oldies playlist.
How do they do this on a AAA format? This format requires some new stuff thrown into the mix. Or do they just test the re-currents and past songs from the various genres embraced by the typical AAA format? I've been listening to The Sound pretty consistently and some of the songs they have played just don't seem to fit the format as broad-based as it is.

For example they've played some Randy Newman songs including "I Love L.A." (I never really liked that song very much)
They've dipped into some oldies like "Jumpin' Jack Flash", which would fit but then I heard "War"-Edwin Starr ??? I don't get it... If they're going to play some 60s-70s gold, a song like "Papa Was a Rolling Stone"-Temptations would seem more appropriate ... I remember the LP version of that got a lot of play on the old WNEW-FM back in the day.
They've also leaned a lot into pop/rock artists like Matchbox20, GooGoo Dolls and the like as well as some stuff from Linkin Park and even Fall Out Boy got played.

So again, typically does a AAA station do testing comparable to other formats? Seems like it would be harder because of the broad and expanse range of various music styles and genres. I even heard OMG "Boom Boom Boom"-John Lee Hooker

When a new station like The Sound is getting off the ground was there testing done prior or did they just slap it together and later on do testing?

One last question: What is "cui"?

Gracias

 

[Big E]

[/quote]

I've been listening to The Sound pretty consistently, and some of the songs they have played just don't seem to fit the format as broad-based as it is.

[/quote]

They (The Sound) mention this in one of their promos...there are many songs most today would'nt consider rock. I remember that Run DMC called themselves the "Kings of Rock". Would you call them that today? Probably not. What do you consider Jack FM being? Oldies? Classic Rock? 80's? I think the variety and obscurity of some of the songs is what makes that format work, and I dont see why it cant be done at The Sound. Who knows, maybe not following the norm, might work.

 

[SuperRadioFan]

They (The Sound) mention this in one of their promos...there are many songs most today would'nt consider rock. I remember that Run DMC called themselves the "Kings of Rock". Would you call them that today? Probably not. What do you consider Jack FM being? Oldies? Classic Rock? 80's? I think the variety and obscurity of some of the songs is what makes that format work, and I dont see why it cant be done at The Sound. Who knows, maybe not following the norm, might work.

Yes thinking out of the box. I heard "Damn I wish I was your Lover" which IIRC did not get much airplay on AAA stations when it was a hit. OTOH I just heard Traffic's "John Barleycorn" which is a real WOW song!

Problem with attempting too much is it can turn off the few fans of the old KSCA and Chamnnel 103.1. I hope those ppl will be able to muddle thru the junk (in their opinion) to get to the good stuff from artists like Newton Faulkner, Death Cab for Cutie, Spoon, and the deeper tracks from Van Morrison, the Dead, Hendrix, etc. Overall I like the station and in recent days they seem to have whittled down some of the less AAA type tracks. Still waiting to hear Arctic Monkeys, Arcade Fire, and Madelyn Peyroux not to mention the Beatles!

 

[davideduardo]

How do they do this on a AAA format? This format requires some new stuff thrown into the mix. Or do they just test the re-currents and past songs from the various genres embraced by the typical AAA format?

Good question. I have no experience testing this sort of format, but suspect it is fairly conventional.

I did do a hybrid classic rocker that also played a list of currents and recurrents. We did three music tests a year for the library and possible songs (around 1200 overall) and did ongoing callout for the currents.

[/quote] I've been listening to The Sound pretty consistently and some of the songs they have played just don't seem to fit the format as broad-based as it is.[/quote]

My first question is how and who they recruited for their research.

So again, typically does a AAA station do testing comparable to other formats? Seems like it would be harder because of the broad and expanse range of various music styles and genres. I even heard OMG "Boom Boom Boom"-John Lee Hooker

I hope there is someone here who has some AAA experience in a market big enough to afford testing.

One last question: What is "cui"?

It's guinea pig. A definite delacacy in Ecuador where I lived. Tastes like chicken.

 

[pbf1]

1) The success of a radio station is in direct proportion to the amount of promotion given to it by corporate.

If THAT were true, wouldn't Movin' be doin' ...oh... JUST a little bit better??

 

[shirleyschmidt]

1) The success of a radio station is in direct proportion to the amount of promotion given to it by corporate.

If THAT were true, wouldn't Movin' be doin' ...oh... JUST a little bit better??

Oh that is a great point. However, maybe if you're promoting something that no one wants it becomes a waste of money.

 

[pbf1]

1) The success of a radio station is in direct proportion to the amount of promotion given to it by corporate.

If THAT were true, wouldn't Movin' be doin' ...oh... JUST a little bit better??

Oh that is a great point. However, maybe if you're promoting something that no one wants it becomes a waste of money.

Absolutely true!

 

[Tibbs4]

I know this is a strange thought, but after listening to The Sound quite a bit, I wonder if Bonneville has locked the doors in
very closed meetings and said "the typical way of playing radio --- safe and tried to death" is not enough in today's world
of options and basically said they'll send out their sales team (if they ever play a commercial) to local advertisers and attempt
(I said attempt) to draw in higher quality businesses to connect with the more intelligent listenership they can claim they are
appealling to with this "concept" vs. format? While the PPM numbers won't be huge, the clientele will be well placed and loyal. I cannot see spots from McDonald's fitting in with this format. They must be planning something different that will allow them to
focus on a segment of advertisers not being bombarded by agencies and sales people.

I listened to KFOG some yesterday, after not doing so for a long time. It sounded much more disjointed and less user friendly
than The Sound. Any one know who is programming The Sound?

I am not sure they'll pull a huge success off here, but maybe that's not exactly what their looking for anyway? I scratch my head
on this one, but still, it's nice to see someone taking an alternative route. I still love the way the music flows and sounds. I am
not sure the average listener really wants differenent vs. canned overkill anymore...but we can all dream they will. Someone has
either found a brilliant lost segment of the audience to attract or just said we'll enjoy the 1.2 share and live with it until someone
else screws up and flips.

 

[SuperRadioFan]

While the PPM numbers won't be huge, the clientele will be well placed and loyal. I cannot see spots from McDonald's fitting in with this format. They must be planning something different that will allow them to
focus on a segment of advertisers not being bombarded by agencies and sales people.

I listened to KFOG some yesterday, after not doing so for a long time. It sounded much more disjointed and less user friendly than The Sound. Any one know who is programming The Sound?

I am not sure the average listener really wants differennt vs. canned overkill anymore...but we can all dream they will. Someone has either found a brilliant lost segment of the audience to attract or just said we'll enjoy the 1.2 share and live with it until someone else screws up and flips.

Tibbs, I think the clients will be loyal if the listeners are. This is a format as we all know that thrives on TSL, and with high TSL, at times a listener will be surprised with an "Oh Wow!" song, like I just heard from The Smithereens "The Blues Before and After". OMG as I type this they're playing "Louie Louie" I Kid you not!?!? Off the charts, can't remember FM 101.9 or Channel 103.1 doing that!! Now they followed that up with a remake of a Richie Valens oldie- "Let's Go"-Los Lobos. Coincidence? I think not!

As far as that "lost segment" of the audience, seems some have put their iPods aside or turned off XM or Sirius and have returned to terrestrial radio as listeners to The Sound. Just check The Sound Village board for comments.

Maybe they'll be satisfied with low 1s with a decent revenue stream.

 

[davideduardo]

Tibbs, I think the clients will be loyal if the listeners are. This is a format as we all know that thrives on TSL, and with high TSL, ...

The PPM, coming in October, is very cume based. Long TSL, low cume stations find themselves killed.

 

[SuperRadioFan]

Tibbs, I think the clients will be loyal if the listeners are. This is a format as we all know that thrives on TSL, and with high TSL, ...

The PPM, coming in October, is very cume based. Long TSL, low cume stations find themselves killed.

Yes David we both know that AAA isn't going to get the #s in the LA market. Way to diss my point in the rest of my sentence.. Oh that's right "Oh Wow" means nothing to bean counters!! :