107.7 The End

[dan_greenberg1500]

With the launch of the wolf, BJ taking over for Stern, Mix flipping formats, it seems the End has taken a back seat to all of these other stories dominating this board over the past few months. Bottom line is this station is falling apart. Seems like it won't be long before it drops into the 1's with the 12+ folks and while I realize 12+ doesn't matter, their target demo doesn't seem to be that much older. With CBS flipping a few of their struggling alternative stations to Free-FM and others around the country not doing so great (Live 105, 'BCN in Boston), is this a case of the format dying or bad programming at all of these stations?

 

[TheVisionary]

I'm in The End's target demo, and I have to say that that station used to be one of my favorites, but over the past couple of years, I, like just about eeryone else, have been listening to the station less and less. I think it has to do with both programming and the format itself. A lot of the newer music The End is playing is something I have very little interest in actually listening to. The Subways, Interpol, The Bravery, and so on. I can't stand those bands. That being said, it isn't all about the music. It seems to me that the programming has gotten stale. There's nothing compelling going on that makes me tune over there. There focus on local music, at least in my opinion has faded, and bringing in a syndicated morning show (which is not doing well in the ratings), to a station known for being as "Seattle" as it gets wasn't a good idea.I think with new albums from Tool, AFI, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and more major alternative bands, the format will pick up a bit, but programmers really need to keep things fresh. If they can't, the format will die.

 

[djdan]

The END, more than any other format is the victim of internet, IPOD, satellite and other ways young men get music. Much of their audiences no longer uses radio. Many alternative stations are switching to spoken word formats like FREE-FM, Sportstalk or News/Talk. The END will probably do the same and the big winner will be KISW. This is the pattern nationally. Advertisers will also place more dollars on a spoken word FM, versus a young male leaning music FM. Billing is the name of the game.

 

[AQH]

The END, more than any other format is the victim of internet, IPOD, satellite and other ways young men get music. Much of their audiences no longer uses radio. Many alternative stations are switching to spoken word formats like FREE-FM, Sportstalk or News/Talk. The END will probably do the same and the big winner will be KISW. This is the pattern nationally. Advertisers will also place more dollars on a spoken word FM, versus a young male leaning music FM. Billing is the name of the game.

Dead-on right on everything mentioned.

 

[dan_greenberg1500]

I'd have to disagree about the end being victimized greatly by other technologies. Sure it has had an affect on station performance, but I think those technologies have affected alot of other formats equally. For example, folks that went to satellite went for more music, but I've yet to see an article that shows most of the people that purchased satellite were fans of mainly "alternative music", the majority just wanted the alternative to terrestrial radio. And as far as the ipod and internet, if you look at any list on any given week of the top downloaded songs, alternative doesn't hold a candle to the number of country and chr songs on those lists.

 

[OttoM]

Many alternative stations are switching to spoken word formats like FREE-FM, Sportstalk or News/Talk. The END will probably do the same and the big winner will be KISW. This is the pattern nationally. Advertisers will also place more dollars on a spoken word FM, versus a young male leaning music FM. Billing is the name of the game.

But hold on a minute, oh great keeper of the advertising dollar: Didn't we just have a "spoken word" format on a Seattle FM station? And didn't we have that format for over TEN YEARS here?And didn't it change to country last year? And are both the former spoken word and alternative stations owned by the same company?If "billing was the name of the game" for FM Talk, you'd have seen Entercom keep 100.7 where it was and flip KNDD instead. Clearly that's wasn't the case last fall.I'd bet instead that in two books Jack goes away in favor of Free-FM. And they also will rescue Leykis from his night hell at KISW and put him back on afternoons. That will finally get some success for 96.5 in Seattle.

 

[KMan]

I'm in The End's target demo, and I have to say that that station used to be one of my favorites, but over the past couple of years, I, like just about eeryone else, have been listening to the station less and less. I think it has to do with both programming and the format itself. A lot of the newer music The End is playing is something I have very little interest in actually listening to. The Subways, Interpol, The Bravery, and so on. I can't stand those bands. That being said, it isn't all about the music. It seems to me that the programming has gotten stale. There's nothing compelling going on that makes me tune over there. There focus on local music, at least in my opinion has faded, and bringing in a syndicated morning show (which is not doing well in the ratings), to a station known for being as "Seattle" as it gets wasn't a good idea.I think with new albums from Tool, AFI, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and more major alternative bands, the format will pick up a bit, but programmers really need to keep things fresh. If they can't, the format will die.

I am also smack in the middle of the End's target demo. About a year and a half ago the End sounded real good. They were "all about the music" and it showed. They had an excellent play list, with the music I remember from when I was a kid (Smashing Pumpkins, Oasis, etc) mixed in with new stuff. Now it seems the older Classic Alternative is disappearing - the local music focus is gone with the departure of the Morning Alternative - and the two times I'm most likely to listen to the End are taken up with talk shows - Adam Carolla in the morning and Loveline in the evening. The middle of the day, when they actually PLAY music - I am otherwise occupied and can't listen.They want to know why their ratings are falling and there is apathy towards the station among people my age? Everytime you tune in - there is talk, not rock.

 

[boaz]

That sums it up right there...a year and half ago or so The End was kickin the crap out K-Rock, they had a local AM show and it was ALL ABOUT THE MUSIC. With their success of taking down the threat of K-ROCK there is no reason for them to be so agressive. NO more TV , no billboards, no heavy marketing as the dollars have been allocated elsewhere in the cluster I would think.... The End and the brain trust there have always been winners and when it came to competition that's when they kicked it into high gear. When they were faced with another station going after them they worked the competiton over like a w.hore on dollar day just pounding them. The loss of local identifiable talent that starts with AM drive and filters down to other day parts is something I feel has not helped them as of late. They had great local talent that folks could identify - From Andy, to Kim, Bill, No Name, etc.......Mid-dayer D'ro is great, Harms and Neil as well are good but again it starts with the AM show and sorry but Adam aint the answer...was great on The Man Show, Crank Yankers but that does not = radio success...sorry. Look at what brother BJ has done on 99.9 - Staying local and keeping it here in the PN-Dub makes the most sence.The End is and always will be Seattle's Altnernative Radio.......END of story.

 

[marko83]

Entercom could copy themselves and make the End sound like KRBZ in Kansas City, which is their highest rated alternative station (top 5 18-34, decent 25-54).

 

[JustaLissner]

I'm in The End's target demo too. And I have not been a steady listener to the station since it first went on the air. Back then it was exciting and fun and different and you hardly knew what to expect next; they used to throw in some Bob Marley and all kinds of interesting things. Over the years the "alternative" has gone out of it & it's just a smoothly-operated highly-focused station like all the others. With music that I don't like. With R&M gone from the market (temporarily?!) my new morning "alternative" is Adam. So I'm back to The End for the first time in years. For what that's worth.

 

[dan_greenberg1500]

Well how many more bad books can Adam get before the End smartens up and goes local by bringing back Robin & Maynard? A proven morning show like theirs would definitely improve their ratings.

 

[placebo1969]

Well how many more bad books can Adam get before the End smartens up and goes local by bringing back Robin & Maynard? A proven morning show like theirs would definitely improve their ratings.

Isn't The End an Entercom station? There's no way in hell either party (R&M or Entercom) would go back to each other. As much as I want to hear them again, it's not going to happen on The End.

 

[TowerLamp]

Well how many more bad books can Adam get before the End smartens up and goes local by bringing back Robin & Maynard? A proven morning show like theirs would definitely improve their ratings.

R & M...on The End?! Dude, for the End's target that's like listening to your Mom & Dad on the radio...I love R&M, but not on The End!

 

[ImNotFitz]

That sums it up right there...a year and half ago or so The End was kickin the crap out K-Rock, they had a local AM show and it was ALL ABOUT THE MUSIC. With their success of taking down the threat of K-ROCK there is no reason for them to be so agressive. NO more TV , no billboards, no heavy marketing as the dollars have been allocated elsewhere in the cluster I would think.... The End and the brain trust there have always been winners and when it came to competition that's when they kicked it into high gear. When they were faced with another station going after them they worked the competiton over like a w.hore on dollar day just pounding them. The loss of local identifiable talent that starts with AM drive and filters down to other day parts is something I feel has not helped them as of late. They had great local talent that folks could identify - From Andy, to Kim, Bill, No Name, etc.......Mid-dayer D'ro is great, Harms and Neil as well are good but again it starts with the AM show and sorry but Adam aint the answer...was great on The Man Show, Crank Yankers but that does not = radio success...sorry. Look at what brother BJ has done on 99.9 - Staying local and keeping it here in the PN-Dub makes the most sence. The End is and always will be Seattle's Altnernative Radio.......END of story.

I wouldn't be singing to many praises for ol' BJ just yet my friend. He hasn't even had a full book yet, not even close. KISW played a lot of Rock between Dec 16th and when BJ actually started - then BJ went on yet another long vacation. You seem forget that Stern had a lot to do with the last ratings book, Stern didn't go off the air until Dec 16th- BJ didn't even come on until the 1st week of Jan. I'm only pointing out that BJ really only had about a month and a 1/2 during this last rating book, so I wouldn't be raising the victory flag just yet. Having said that, KISW didn't really lose too many listeners due to Stern's leaving, so that is a plus. Was it because there was more music, or was it because of BJ's talent? I guess time will tell us. Where is iknowitall when we need him?! As far as The End goes, I have to say that Adam has a solid show, "A" list celebs, great sports guy etc. etc. I think he just needs more time. He's probably not the right fit for that particular format though. I however, have been having a huge success in mornings with the female 18-34 demo - if I were Fitz that is...

 

[foofighter]

With CBS flipping a few of their struggling alternative stations to Free-FM and others around the country not doing so great (Live 105, 'BCN in Boston), is this a case of the format dying or bad programming at all of these stations?

It's the latter. Alternative in general is terrible today. 2005 was such a great year for alternative, with Neo and actually having good music (imagine that!). Now it's just 2000 rehash. Why do all these alt stations play all the active rock crap? I don't get it! Trapt, flyleaf, Default, 10 years, Three Days Grace, etc. are killing the format. We need more bands that are actually an alternative (imagine that!) to the main stream. (Gnarls Barkley, A&A, Raconteurs, Arctic Monkeys, Dresden Dolls, etc.)But no one in upper management understands that. And it seems that all the good programmers are buying into the bullshit that was laid out after the payola probes. "If I take a risk, I'm going to be looked at as the guy taking money." That is a b.s. cop out to make your station(s) more vanilla.Here's an idea: Play good music that is an actual alternative to mainstream rock. Play the classics (Pixies, Cure, Social D, etc.) and play deep tracks, too.But then, that would be the SMART thing to do, and alternative is full of dumbasses right now!

 

[boaz]

That sums it up right there...a year and half ago or so The End was kickin the crap out K-Rock, they had a local AM show and it was ALL ABOUT THE MUSIC. With their success of taking down the threat of K-ROCK there is no reason for them to be so agressive. NO more TV , no billboards, no heavy marketing as the dollars have been allocated elsewhere in the cluster I would think.... The End and the brain trust there have always been winners and when it came to competition that's when they kicked it into high gear. When they were faced with another station going after them they worked the competiton over like a w.hore on dollar day just pounding them. The loss of local identifiable talent that starts with AM drive and filters down to other day parts is something I feel has not helped them as of late. They had great local talent that folks could identify - From Andy, to Kim, Bill, No Name, etc.......Mid-dayer D'ro is great, Harms and Neil as well are good but again it starts with the AM show and sorry but Adam aint the answer...was great on The Man Show, Crank Yankers but that does not = radio success...sorry. Look at what brother BJ has done on 99.9 - Staying local and keeping it here in the PN-Dub makes the most sence. The End is and always will be Seattle's Altnernative Radio.......END of story.

I wouldn't be singing to many praises for ol' BJ just yet my friend. He hasn't even had a full book yet, not even close. KISW played a lot of Rock between Dec 16th and when BJ actually started - then BJ went on yet another long vacation. You seem forget that Stern had a lot to do with the last ratings book, Stern didn't go off the air until Dec 16th- BJ didn't even come on until the 1st week of Jan. I'm only pointing out that BJ really only had about a month and a 1/2 during this last rating book, so I wouldn't be raising the victory flag just yet. Having said that, KISW didn't really lose too many listeners due to Stern's leaving, so that is a plus. Was it because there was more music, or was it because of BJ's talent? I guess time will tell us. Where is iknowitall when we need him?! As far as The End goes, I have to say that Adam has a solid show, "A" list celebs, great sports guy etc. etc. I think he just needs more time. He's probably not the right fit for that particular format though. I however, have been having a huge success in mornings with the female 18-34 demo - if I were Fitz that is...

Valid point yet still when one listens to BJ it's local, it's funny for the most part and again it's local ! Steve the Producer brings familiarity on the show, the other casts of crazies are good in their roles..over time they have all the parts for a kick ass AM show to rule the demo and the keep the tradtion of great am talent on 99.9..yet I am off topic...107.7 - When listening to Carolla next BJ hands down BJ is better... I still think 1077 needs a local AM show that gets it....and it sure as heck aint Robin and Maynard ! THAT WAS TOO FUNNY !!

 

[Shark]

I wouldn't be singing to many praises for ol' BJ just yet my friend. He hasn't even had a full book yet, not even close. KISW played a lot of Rock between Dec 16th and when BJ actually started - then BJ went on yet another long vacation. You seem forget that Stern had a lot to do with the last ratings book, Stern didn't go off the air until Dec 16th- BJ didn't even come on until the 1st week of Jan. I'm only pointing out that BJ really only had about a month and a 1/2 during this last rating book, so I wouldn't be raising the victory flag just yet. Having said that, KISW didn't really lose too many listeners due to Stern's leaving, so that is a plus. Was it because there was more music, or was it because of BJ's talent? I guess time will tell us. Where is iknowitall when we need him?! [/quote]Check your dates again...the Winter '06 book started on January 5th and ended March 29th. Although I'm not a big BJ fan, he deserves full credit for this rating book.

 

[Sandusky666]

That sums it up right there...a year and half ago or so The End was kickin the crap out K-Rock, they had a local AM show and it was ALL ABOUT THE MUSIC. With their success of taking down the threat of K-ROCK there is no reason for them to be so agressive. NO more TV , no billboards, no heavy marketing as the dollars have been allocated elsewhere in the cluster I would think.... The End and the brain trust there have always been winners and when it came to competition that's when they kicked it into high gear. When they were faced with another station going after them they worked the competiton over like a w.hore on dollar day just pounding them. The loss of local identifiable talent that starts with AM drive and filters down to other day parts is something I feel has not helped them as of late. They had great local talent that folks could identify - From Andy, to Kim, Bill, No Name, etc.......Mid-dayer D'ro is great, Harms and Neil as well are good but again it starts with the AM show and sorry but Adam aint the answer...was great on The Man Show, Crank Yankers but that does not = radio success...sorry. Look at what brother BJ has done on 99.9 - Staying local and keeping it here in the PN-Dub makes the most sence. The End is and always will be Seattle's Altnernative Radio.......END of story.

I wouldn't be singing to many praises for ol' BJ just yet my friend. He hasn't even had a full book yet, not even close. KISW played a lot of Rock between Dec 16th and when BJ actually started - then BJ went on yet another long vacation. You seem forget that Stern had a lot to do with the last ratings book, Stern didn't go off the air until Dec 16th- BJ didn't even come on until the 1st week of Jan. I'm only pointing out that BJ really only had about a month and a 1/2 during this last rating book, so I wouldn't be raising the victory flag just yet. Having said that, KISW didn't really lose too many listeners due to Stern's leaving, so that is a plus. Was it because there was more music, or was it because of BJ's talent? I guess time will tell us. Where is iknowitall when we need him?! As far as The End goes, I have to say that Adam has a solid show, "A" list celebs, great sports guy etc. etc. I think he just needs more time. He's probably not the right fit for that particular format though. I however, have been having a huge success in mornings with the female 18-34 demo - if I were Fitz that is...

 

[Berd]

"How many more books are they going to give Adam?"Ok, now I may be wrong here, but Adam has only had one book. One. Settle down. I read all these boards and people are always so quick to want to kill something that hasn't had any time to grow yet. Even Howard Stern he would come into a new market would take a year to 18 months before it showed in the ratings. Like Adam or not, you can't plant a seed and expect fruit the next morning. All new shows need at least a year before you know if you have something or not. Some need longer. I listen to The End online from here in Chicago, and to me it's a little boring. The jocks aren't entertaining and sound like rookies out of broadcasting school. The music leaves a little to be desired. Personally, I like the music on KROQ in LA and Live 105 in SF. They play a little of everything (the new Tool to the new Gnarls Barkley). Maybe that mix of music wouldn't work in Seattle, but from what people on this board are saying, it just might!Thanks for letting me butt in on your board.PS- I just saw that KNDDs PD Phil Manning "resigned" today. Interesting.