My Seattle area prediction for 2025: KJET 105.7 will be built out and sold to the highest bidder. The current license holders who made all those (now really smart) license buys, frequency swaps, and power boosts will laugh all the way to bank. Not only did KJET get a massive boost but KXLE grabbed the Yakima Valley market in the process. Congratulations!
-
Get involved.
We want your input!
Apply for Membership and join the conversations about everything related to broadcasting.
After we receive your registration, a moderator will review it. After your registration is approved, you will be permitted to post.
If you use a disposable or false email address, your registration will be rejected.
After your membership is approved, please take a minute to tell us a little bit about yourself.
https://www.radiodiscussions.com/forums/introduce-yourself.1088/
Thanks in advance and have fun!
RadioDiscussions Administrators
2025 Seattle Radio Predictions
- Thread starter DMK
- Start date
That reminds me...
I wouldn't be surprised if Positive Life Radio expands to Seattle, via KJET Union. They acquired KXXP White Salmon and the WAY-FM translator in Portland, recently added Astoria OR and also enhancements to signals in Omak and La Grande. Seattle would be another giant leap for the CCM network.
I wouldn't be surprised if Positive Life Radio expands to Seattle, via KJET Union. They acquired KXXP White Salmon and the WAY-FM translator in Portland, recently added Astoria OR and also enhancements to signals in Omak and La Grande. Seattle would be another giant leap for the CCM network.
Not trying to be a troll or anything, but what exactly do you want to see discussed on this forum then? It’s a genuine question. Most of the topics that get brought up probably are not super realistic, but it’s just for the sake of conversation.
I don't understand why a new religious operator would want in. Between EMF and Spirit, isn't the market pretty well served? Ironically, due to previous moves by some of the same people involved with the current KJET, which brought Spanish language Christian into the market on 93.7 and K-Love in via 98.5. How many of these stations especially listener supported can feasibly function?
I have a feeling Bustos will wind up with 105.7, putting Urbana on that signal. I'm not convinced it will happen in 2025 though. The current construction permit for the upgrade they have proposed has an expiration date of December 5, 2027. With other stations also having to make changes, I suspect that the entirety of that time will be needed before that will be lit up.
That's kind of the antithesis of everything Alternative is supposed to be, isn't it? It's supposed to be about Today, New, Now.
I understand that in spite of whatever's the cool thing now, this music doesn't get any younger either. And there will always be the need for oldies speciality shows at lunch/weekend mornings.
But remember, we are one generation left between now and possibly hearing Foster The People on KZOK. (Unless they start adding harder KISW type rock) And terrestrial radio's future is already sketchy.
In concept, I can understand it. But I like to think of Alternative as the, um, Alternative? A place where you can hear the edgy new rock. Not just another Oldies station
I have always thought that Alternative was a progressive format. Constantly evolving, with no one genre dominating. A format where history is acknowledged but is the exception, not the rule. All these people who think that the 99X sound is where the format is meant to be, are forgetting that even Gen-Xer’s are aging out.
In my view, having a Classic Alternative and a current Alternative station in 2025 is no different than having a Classic Hits and a CHR. If your supposed CHR played two or three 90s songs an hour, and the only format targeting older listeners in the market was 60s and 70s based, or didn't exist at all, nobody would claim that there is no room for a conventional 80s/90s based Classic Hits. Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be demand for radio to focus on current Alternative product.
I appreciate the ideals, and used to believe in them myself, but honestly, there's no real business plan that seems to work for being a commercial "alternative" format. CD101 struggled for years before tapping out. EQX soldiers on, being independently owned. Most "alternative" stations are gold heavy as it is. The new music that gets in doesn't really mesh well with the golds, so at this point, why not lean into "alternative classics" - some people don't want to hear Fleetwood Mac or Van Halen, so why doesn't that format get its own "classic hits" in markets where it once ruled? KNDD defined a sound, so there's some history for it. They'll never play enough new music compared to KEXP, and KPNW didn't get anywhere trying to do both things.
The target demo for what alternative radio used to be isn't looking to radio to do that. And I cringe typing it, but there's not a lot of people in the target demo for new alternative rock looking for it on FM.
The target demo for what alternative radio used to be isn't looking to radio to do that. And I cringe typing it, but there's not a lot of people in the target demo for new alternative rock looking for it on FM.
I like alternative music overall, but have never been a fan of KEXP. KEXP (to me) is just too weird. It sounds like a college radio style format, and that's never really been my thing. But with that being said, nobody can deny that KEXP knows what they are doing, and has a stranglehold on the alternative audience. I'm probably more of a casual alternative fan, whereas KEXP is appealing to the die-hard alternative fan (playing music that you would never hear anywhere else).
There's no shortage of hipsters in Seattle who want an underground radio station to play songs that nobody else will touch. With a station like KEXP in the market, it seems extremely unwise to attempt another alternative format. KNDD seems to do decently well playing the more popular new alternative tracks (combined with a playlist that leans heavily into classic alternative).
There's no shortage of hipsters in Seattle who want an underground radio station to play songs that nobody else will touch. With a station like KEXP in the market, it seems extremely unwise to attempt another alternative format. KNDD seems to do decently well playing the more popular new alternative tracks (combined with a playlist that leans heavily into classic alternative).
It got a feeling it’s going to happen, but I don’t like it though. Put something different on there, maybe a real classic hits station that we haven’t had in almost 10 years since 104.5 switched to K-love. And no, I don’t consider 95.7 The Jet a real classic hits station because they play mostly 80’s and 90’s.
A person born in 1970 turns 55 this year and turned ten in 1980! How much call do you think there is for the '70s? That said, I realize that there are exceptions even from as early as 1964 that still get played but only because they've gained popularity among younger people who couldn't possibly remember them when they were first popular.
You do realize that 80's was 40 years ago, right? When the original Classic Hits/Oldies format was conceived, it was based on music that was the same time span.
PLR can tout that their latest fundraiser helped them get the donations "to put Positive Life Radio on in Seattle and spread the hope of Jesus!"
I don’t see that happening anytime soon. Classic hits is how concentrated fully on the 80’s (and a bit beyond). I think 60’s or 70’s classic hits would be a very hard sell. We’re lucky to have a good classic hits station in the market that has a pretty diverse playlist as it is.
The OP asked about radio predictions for 2025. Certainly format flips factor into that but to go down the radio hole of station XYZ should play more of this song is based on what exactly? Unless you are Kent Phillips and own your own research company you are talking out of your rear. What, in the BUSINESS of radio, do you see happening for stations to maintain or increase revenue for 2025. And if they can't do that, then how are they going to deal with the decline? You won't have the benefit of political to help the corporate bottom line, I do think local retail will grow their ad budgets in 2025 now that the election is behind them. How do stations compete against digital and social? Or do they? What would YOU do to survive and or profit in 2025? I have suggested that digital audio (podcasting and streaming) could be growing revenue source on a local level- I think advertisers want to hear more about it. Audacy and I Heart seem to be the best positioned to take advantage of that opportunity. Do you agree? And how about the role of AI will be see more 'Ashleys'? And will there be a single copywriter employed at any radio station by the end of 2025 (are there any now?). Where else might we see an impact from AI?
As for AI on air, I really don't know where we're going. I expected more stations to pick up either AI Ashley or someone else, but adoption has been slow. Even Alpha has pulled back on her use in Portland. For about the past year now, AI Ashley has only been voicing weather reports while on normal Ashley's shift. The rest of the day, weather reports are done by AI powered meteorologist Gusty Winds.
As for your other questions, I really don't have an answer as I don't fully understand how radio revenue works. I do have one question that I've been meaning to ask for a while now, and that is how is political money actually a boost in revenue? An organization I used to be involved in did advertise on a local station. The GM told me at one point that we were paying about a tenth of the value of the spots we were getting. We were getting quite a few free spots that political organizations cannot get, but it's my understanding that without those, we would have had 3 spots a month at $12 each. If I manage to call up there in the next couple of days, I can confirm this, but I've got quite a few other things on my plate right now, so let's just use those numbers. If a station has to offer the lowest rate available for political spots, it's my understanding that they would get the $12 per spot rate we got. Based on what he told me and the number of spots we got though, I suspect the normal rate would be $20 per spot. So, how is filling your breaks with $12 political spots better revenue for the station than the $20 car dealer, lawyer, or whatever else spots run on that station?
As for your other questions, I really don't have an answer as I don't fully understand how radio revenue works. I do have one question that I've been meaning to ask for a while now, and that is how is political money actually a boost in revenue? An organization I used to be involved in did advertise on a local station. The GM told me at one point that we were paying about a tenth of the value of the spots we were getting. We were getting quite a few free spots that political organizations cannot get, but it's my understanding that without those, we would have had 3 spots a month at $12 each. If I manage to call up there in the next couple of days, I can confirm this, but I've got quite a few other things on my plate right now, so let's just use those numbers. If a station has to offer the lowest rate available for political spots, it's my understanding that they would get the $12 per spot rate we got. Based on what he told me and the number of spots we got though, I suspect the normal rate would be $20 per spot. So, how is filling your breaks with $12 political spots better revenue for the station than the $20 car dealer, lawyer, or whatever else spots run on that station?
I agree with everything you said here, and would like to see these topics come up as regular threads on Radio Discussions. I would encourage you to keep in mind members of this website come from a variety of different backgrounds. Some have experience in radio, some have a lot of experience in radio, and some have no experience in radio. People discuss the topics that are of interest to them, and there’s no barrier in doing so (as anyone can post a thread here if they so desire). You have a unique perspective on the topics you raised, and I would definitely like to see a discussion take place if you want to create a post for them.
50 years ago, we got $40 per spot and that was low compared to others in the market!
From what I've seen, terrestrial radio is used as a bonus for clients buying digital. "Buy 2 spots for our digital station and we'll give you a sh*t ton of spots to air on our FM/AM dial." I remember a station manager or 2 calling it "Orders plus plus."