Here's how I look at it:
Country:
Here's a handy tip for those who want to take KMPS by the longhorns: Forget it.
You'll NEVER beat KMPS. Garth Vader has had many competitors and has either vanquished them or bought them out. 100.7 has caught the ears of those seeking an alternative. So did KAYO, KWYZ, KJUN, KKBY, KENU, KBRO, KRPM, Young Country and the new KNBQ. But 94.1 is here to stay.
Conservative Talk:
The ideology isn't dying, but thanks to the many gaffes of the current administration (many of which conservative talk radio listeners are suffering from), the talk radio end of it is. You can only apologize and explain/spin away so much. It's one thing to support a fight in Iraq, it's entirely another when your own loved ones had to die in an increasingly futile war over there. And the lack of compassion from many conservative hosts hasn't done much to reverse that tide. You can't go on like this. You have to dig in your heels and start seriously questioning your OWN leaders rather than blaming it all on external forces. After all, the terrorist's success depends entirely on yours. And not just here in the good 'ol USA....
Classic Hits:
Now how MANY stations are playing that? I'm almost 40 and I am SICK of all the old stuff. I don't feel nostalgic at all for the '80s anymore because I have most of it on CD (I feel a closer affinity now to the '90s) And sometimes, I wish B/EZ would make a comeback.......
CHR:
It's had it's ups and downs. But not too many ups lately. In music, you can only recycle so much. But that's part of why the radio/record industry is dying. Too much reliance on the past. With what's "familiar" to THEM. Meanwhile, the young people who are making exciting NEW music and NEW radio are being pushed aside for "what works". In the past maybe, but I'm ALWAYS craving something new and different. But right now, radio cannot afford to live in the past. We need a whole new blueprint here in the modern world.....
And.....KQMV:
Sorry Mamma, but Big Daddy Larry is glad with all yer "Ya yas" you ain't warping MY kids with this. KQMV was interesting at first, but like all these copycat stations (Clear Channel's KISS, Entercom's "Wolf", to mention a FEW.), it doesn't really cut it out here in Puget Sound. You just don't mess around with Seattle, with everyone spun on high octane coffee and/or cheap beer. Home of the grunge revolution, the WTO riots and other things corporate radio should be afraid of. Face it, Seattle can kick your ass so hard, you'll taste the Doc Marten. So watch it.
Granted, my oldest daughter thinks KBKS is something Dad plays in the car. My youngest likes "the KZOK" Mom plays. So my kids are weird. I'd rather have that than "Yayayayayayayayayayayayayayayayayaya"........