1320 KXYZ is playing Spice Girls?.....and KGBC rappin'?

[purpledevil]

It's true. Checking to see what else had changed along with the KGOL/KTEK flip flop, and lo and behold KXYZ is currently promoting itself as "China Now", speaking almost completely in English and all the music they've been playing has been English. From Spice Girls to Don Henley, to Will Smith, to Ace of Base. Don't know if this is going to last, but wow what a shock.

Also 1540 KGBC/Galveston seems to be running off of a satellite today. Playing R&B and some hip hop. Must be a huge surprise for those on the island looking for some classic hits and finding Big Mo.

 

[dfwrunner]

It's true. Checking to see what else had changed along with the KGOL/KTEK flip flop, and lo and behold KXYZ is currently promoting itself as "China Now", speaking almost completely in English and all the music they've been playing has been English. From Spice Girls to Don Henley, to Will Smith, to Ace of Base. Don't know if this is going to last, but wow what a shock.

Also 1540 KGBC/Galveston seems to be running off of a satellite today. Playing R&B and some hip hop. Must be a huge surprise for those on the island looking for some classic hits and finding Big Mo.

nobody in their right mind would listen to music on AM analog...but then again, nobody would listen to crappy ipod-type devices either...it seems like high quality sound is a thing of the past.

 

[davideduardo]

Also 1540 KGBC/Galveston seems to be running off of a satellite today. Playing R&B and some hip hop. Must be a huge surprise for those on the island looking for some classic hits and finding Big Mo.

I doubt there were too many surprised people. In the 4 1/2 years of PPM data I have, I can't find one month where this station showed up with even a 0.1 share under any of its formats.

 

[purpledevil]

Also 1540 KGBC/Galveston seems to be running off of a satellite today. Playing R&B and some hip hop. Must be a huge surprise for those on the island looking for some classic hits and finding Big Mo.

I doubt there were too many surprised people. In the 4 1/2 years of PPM data I have, I can't find one month where this station showed up with even a 0.1 share under any of its formats.

Now that's not surprising, considering KGBC has only aired something worth listening to for what about 10 months now? How many of those PPM's are in the hands of Galvestonians who actually have an appreciation for their little local AM? You know, the one owned by a company who actually cared about returning a local service to the island after it was realized these good folks really DO need a local service in the event of a natural disaster? Consider the fact that in 20 years this is the only format that KGBC has aired that most anyone would bother tuning to, and it's no wonder it hasn't shown up anywhere. The growing list of repeat advertisers on KGBC is a testament to what Siga is doing right with this station.

 

[FilioScotia]

****nobody in their right mind would listen to music on AM analog****

Really? What if a local AM analog station is the only one playing the kind of music you like to hear? I live in Lufkin, where all the local stations are owned by Gap and Yates Media. The FMs have nothing but crap music, all but one of the AMs have crap and talk.

Stephen Yates' group includes his father's original AM station, KRBA, and they play real old time country, blue grass and country gospel every afternoon. So that's where my radio stays tuned.

I guess I'm not in my right mind.

 

[fadedglory]

KCOH is an AM station that's pleasant to listen for great R&B oldies and more! As for KGBC, there once was a "1590 raps" on AM; could this pick up where they left off? As for KXYZ, maybe a way to reach the Chinese community in Houston and eventually become a viable business; good music selections on analog AM beats the experience of listening to pure garbage on any digitized medium anytime

 

[davideduardo]

Now that's not surprising, considering KGBC has only aired something worth listening to for what about 10 months now?

In today's media world, 10 months is an eternity. That's 10 books. TV shows don't get 10 weeks, generally.

How many of those PPM's are in the hands of Galvestonians who actually have an appreciation for their little local AM?

There are as many in the hands of that kind of people as there are in the hands of any other "kind" of people. There is no stratification variable for "appreciation of local AM stations" in recruiting PPM households, anyway.

However, the Galveston area is represented on the PPM panel in strict proportion to its population.

You know, the one owned by a company who actually cared about returning a local service to the island after it was realized these good folks really DO need a local service in the event of a natural disaster?

That makes the assumption that the local residents have need of a small AM with limited resources as opposed to getting information from larger news providers.

 

[Mediafrog+]

That makes the assumption that the local residents have need of a small AM with limited resources as opposed to getting information from larger news providers.

There are still those that have a "one size fits all" idea of broadcasting, under the assumption that all citizens of a given community are going to listen in rapt attention to a lone "local" broadcaster, regardless of what kind of programming is provided. This might have been the case in, say, the 1930's, but it doesn't work today. Galvestonians, as listeners in any community, have a huge variety of tastes in what they want in music and information.

Yes, tropical weather can be an issue, but such storms are given saturation coverage in the Houston based media, as we saw with Rita and Ike...with much more resources than KGBC could muster.

 

[gbranch]

nobody in their right mind would listen to music on AM analog...

Up here in NE Texas, our only oldies station is 1240 KDOK, analog AM and audio quality is superb.

 

[rbrucecarter5]

****nobody in their right mind would listen to music on AM analog****

Really? What if a local AM analog station is the only one playing the kind of music you like to hear? I live in Lufkin, where all the local stations are owned by Gap and Yates Media. The FMs have nothing but crap music, all but one of the AMs have crap and talk.

Stephen Yates' group includes his father's original AM station, KRBA, and they play real old time country, blue grass and country gospel every afternoon. So that's where my radio stays tuned.

I guess I'm not in my right mind.

I must be crazy, too. I not only listen to AM, I am putting up with static and interference from KKLF to hear KVNS. The strongest oldies outlet in Cypress. I'll give 1320 a listen, too bad about 1540 - if they had jumped on the loss of oldies in the Houston market and produced a good 60's / 70's format, they could have grabbed a good part of the audience alienated by the flip on 107.5.

AM audio quality can be superb - surprisingly good on those little cheap radios with only one IF stage, all it takes is a connection to a good audio system and you have wideband AM. Mono is disappointing, but it is the music - not the delivery medium. Hey - look at all the Asian and Hispanic music formats on AM - are we saying those ethnic groups are crazy? Or are they just audience segments abandoned by the FM outlets here, who don't want the music offered on FM? Oldies is no different. If AM plays it, I WILL listen! A LOT!

 

[purpledevil]

I'm with you, bruce. It's not the sound quality I'm looking for on AM, it's the nostalgia factor. To be able to hear "Radar Love" on AM again after all these years was amazing, when it happened on KGBC. I put up with the static under the power lines, bridges, etc. Just to listen to KGBC. I also frequent 680 KKYX when I want some classic country, again just for the authentic childhood sound. Sure I'll listen to KTHT too, but dog gone it, it doesn't bring back the memories the same way for me.

If you don't believe the impact KGBC has been having on the Island, why not take a trip down there and ask the locals. Islanders know it's there, and a good number of them are listening for the simple fact it is NOT a Houston station. Metered or not, the station has a following. I certainly don't expect everyone on the Island to like or even listen to the "Lone" service exclusively, but I'm willing to wager KGBC is the first place Galvestonians will be going to during and after the next disaster. It most assuredly won't be the Galveston "lone" full powered FM.

 

[FilioScotia]

Local host or VT?

The best thing about my analog AM KRBA in Lufkin playing old time country, blue grass and gospel is that is programmed locally with a local host. Not a single one of the FMs can say that. They're all VT'd in.

I'll put up with occasional analog static and scratchy old recordings to hear the music and the performers that made Country Music great.

 

[purpledevil]

Re: Local host or VT?

I'll put up with occasional analog static and scratchy old recordings to hear the music and the performers that made Country Music great.

...and there lies the problem. Those of us who are dedicated to the medium like that are a dying breed and don't run the show, and those that do run the show, couldn't care less about the listeners they "serve" and throw something automated on the air, in some cases giving those in charge ample time to crack open the laptop and build up their post count.

 

[Smittian]

I guess I'm not in my right mind either as I listen to KVNS all the time. Thank goodness I'm only 20 miles away from the station so it always comes in clear. I also listen to KKYX occasionally and the 1150 out of Corpus Christi, although they are flipping to Talk tomorrow


If AM radio gives you something you can't get on FM, then of course you will listen to it

 

[johndavis]

It's true. Checking to see what else had changed along with the KGOL/KTEK flip flop, and lo and behold KXYZ is currently promoting itself as "China Now", speaking almost completely in English and all the music they've been playing has been English. From Spice Girls to Don Henley, to Will Smith, to Ace of Base. Don't know if this is going to last, but wow what a shock.

Also 1540 KGBC/Galveston seems to be running off of a satellite today. Playing R&B and some hip hop. Must be a huge surprise for those on the island looking for some classic hits and finding Big Mo.

I think the R&B you heard on KGBC was from China Radio International. Goodbye dollar-a-hollar oldies, hello brokered ethnic programming.

 

[purpledevil]

Ah, hell...

 

[rbrucecarter5]

1320 was back to brokerd Asian or something. Another niche served, not something for oldies fans.

 

[purpledevil]

Yes, the "China Now" programming ended at 5pm Friday, followed by "Radio Luz". Programming this weekend has been some form of ethnic broadcasting at every check, so either "China Now" was a New Year's Day filler format or only paid for the weekdays. I found it shortly after Noon on Friday, so I know they at least had 5 hours of programming on Friday. I'll be checking KXYZ again tomorrow throughout the day.

 

[edriskill]

Too bad KGBC has made this change... I was listening between 2 and 5 hours a day. Loved the tunes, especially the unexpected oldies... the stuff nobody else would dare play. I'll miss that.

 

[Holstead]

Too bad. I think they might have done some good in another year or so...


Re: Chuck Tiller Check Out 1540 KGBC In Galveston
« Reply #21 on: March 12, 2009, 08:51:33 PM »

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I hope they can make a go of it-but in the back of my mind, I just think their plan is to find the right group to lease most or all of the time. I do not want that, THEY do not want that, but their website even lists a contact for interested parties that wish to do that very thing. I wish them luck, and long live GOOD local radio. KGBC and Galveston would benefit from a little local love.

Are the studios still on Pellican Island? How did their facility do after Ike? I heard Dave Lane voicing a spot, so I guess he is still there. Anybody know where Steve Lee is?