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91FM KOKF C-CHR flips to Air1

I also find it sad that EMF, the company that owns K-love and Air1 has drawn out pledge drives, only to turn around and drop four million dolalrs to buy KOKF, a station that was already Christian, instead of going somewhere that didn't have Christian radio. Oh well, I guess K-love and Air1 continue to be the Wal-Mart of Christian music, as they continue to put other Christian stations out of business, only to have generic satellite feeds and no local feel....
 
bkeim said:
I also find it sad that EMF, the company that owns K-love and Air1 has drawn out pledge drives, only to turn around and drop four million dolalrs to buy KOKF, a station that was already Christian, instead of going somewhere that didn't have Christian radio. Oh well, I guess K-love and Air1 continue to be the Wal-Mart of Christian music, as they continue to put other Christian stations out of business, only to have generic satellite feeds and no local feel....
I'm sorry...perhaps I am missing something? Why is this "sad"?If a company sells their station, that is a decision the owner has made. If another company buys it...what exactly is the issue?I hear these "Wal-Mart" analogies all the time... ok, I'll bite... what is so wrong with Wal-Mart? Certainly in some communities...where it is not wanted...ok, but for the most part...consumers eat it up. There is no way Wal-Mart would be as popular as it is if consumers didn't want it.
 
Careful, E. Your common sense might throw a wet blanket on a few of our half-thought-out rants...OK...I'm going back to the boiler room.-GT
 
bkeim said:
I also find it sad that EMF, the company that owns K-love and Air1 has drawn out pledge drives, only to turn around and drop four million dolalrs to buy KOKF, a station that was already Christian, instead of going somewhere that didn't have Christian radio. Oh well, I guess K-love and Air1 continue to be the Wal-Mart of Christian music, as they continue to put other Christian stations out of business, only to have generic satellite feeds and no local feel....
It is sad that 91 FM is done. It was a great station at one time. It was not a healthy radio station for the past couple years. It is not sad that EMF bought it and flipped it to Air 1. Better to make it a Christian "CHR" than for it to be something else that in no way reaaches Christian youth, young adults, etc. If EMF hadn't bought it, someone else would have.The only better alternative would have been if RadioU had bought it.God is in control.
 
wedgewood said:
It is sad that 91 FM is done. It was a great station at one time. It was not a healthy radio station for the past couple years. It is not sad that EMF bought it and flipped it to Air 1. Better to make it a Christian "CHR" than for it to be something else that in no way reaaches Christian youth, young adults, etc. If EMF hadn't bought it, someone else would have.The only better alternative would have been if RadioU had bought it.
Is there any evidence that a "Christian CHR" wanted it? Bid on it? Would have had success there?Air 1 is not a bad alternative to many other choices on the dial.
 
Is there any evidence that a "Christian CHR" wanted it? Bid on it? Would have had success there?
Only the owner, Ron Dryden, would know. I just wish Air 1 was a little less K-Love and a little more Top-40.I'm not dogging Air 1. I'm just saying that the status quo for 91 FM wasn't working and Air 1 keeps 90.9 a youth-based Christian format.
 
wedgewood said:
Is there any evidence that a "Christian CHR" wanted it? Bid on it? Would have had success there?
Only the owner, Ron Dryden, would know. I just wish Air 1 was a little less K-Love and a little more Top-40.I'm not dogging Air 1. I'm just saying that the status quo for 91 FM wasn't working and Air 1 keeps 90.9 a youth-based Christian format.
Well..that sounds a bit different from the previous post...I'm not sure exactly what would be an acceptable "CHR" in this "Christian" format anymore? Seems it's too hot for some, not hot enough for others...and is there evidence that these youth who apparently so desperately want it are willing to support it, either through visiting advertisers or digging into their pockets? I'd just like to state some of what is obvious...youth are not using radio the way adults do. Their music decisions are totally different...and I'm not seeing the demand that would justify the supply nearly as much as I see people with great intentions hoping that would change...at some point, a station must make a decision to serve their market, and not simply their hopes and dreams...imo.
 
radioelizabeth said:
Well..that sounds a bit different from the previous post...
Not really. Take it easy, I just put some quotation marks around the word "CHR." Please go back and read my first post.I think that there is a segment of the population that is not being reached by Christian Radio. Hip/Hop and Rap is ignored while Shakira, Sean Paul and Bubba Sparxx pump into our youth's ears. While Buckcherry and Godsmack rule rock radio, some Christian Radio is afraid to go this hard in the Christian realm.
and is there evidence that these youth who apparently so desperately want it are willing to support it, either through visiting advertisers or digging into their pockets?
That is the tight rope that stations have to walk to survive (especially as a non-com). However, 91 FM wasn't about advertisers or people's pockets. It was about reaching kids that the church didn't reach. I believe they succeeded many times. Air 1 goes about it a different way (one that I may not prefer), but I will never question their motive.
I'd just like to state some of what is obvious...youth are not using radio the way adults do. Their music decisions are totally different...
Elaborate on this please.
 
wedgewood said:
I'd just like to state some of what is obvious...youth are not using radio the way adults do. Their music decisions are totally different...
Elaborate on this please.
"85 percent of the 2,000 teen-to-twenty-somethings interviewed claimed they would choose to listen to music from their MP3 players rather than traditional radio. 54 percent said they’d prefer to listen to music over the Internet as compared to the 30 percent who chose AM/FM. And 31 percent were exposed to new music over the radio versus 72 percent who found that new music on the Internet.(Source: 12/8/05 “How to Make Music Radio Appealing To The Next Generation" USC MediaLab)"There are a variety of studies showing the rise of internet among teens as well. While previous generations used radio for information, new generations are going online for it.And while teens ARE listening to the radio and using it...they just aren't using it the same. The way teens consume music is different from their parents and their grandparents before them...I totally agree that these other artists you mention are impacting the youth, and that the "Christian" format seems to not be stretching itself enough in that area...but we're talking about a lot of different aspects when we get into that... as you said, it is a challenge...especially where money is concerned. Certainly, if a station can successfully support a format targeted to teens...that is great. But how often is that happening and where? Long term success in revenue, ratings, and results to make it a more viable option in programming?Take it easy... LOVE THE EAGLES! ;)
 
radioelizabeth said:
wedgewood said:
I'd just like to state some of what is obvious...youth are not using radio the way adults do. Their music decisions are totally different...
Elaborate on this please.
"85 percent of the 2,000 teen-to-twenty-somethings interviewed claimed they would choose to listen to music from their MP3 players rather than traditional radio. 54 percent said they’d prefer to listen to music over the Internet as compared to the 30 percent who chose AM/FM. And 31 percent were exposed to new music over the radio versus 72 percent who found that new music on the Internet.(Source: 12/8/05 “How to Make Music Radio Appealing To The Next Generation" USC MediaLab)"There are a variety of studies showing the rise of internet among teens as well. While previous generations used radio for information, new generations are going online for it.And while teens ARE listening to the radio and using it...they just aren't using it the same. The way teens consume music is different from their parents and their grandparents before them...I totally agree that these other artists you mention are impacting the youth, and that the "Christian" format seems to not be stretching itself enough in that area...but we're talking about a lot of different aspects when we get into that... as you said, it is a challenge...especially where money is concerned. Certainly, if a station can successfully support a format targeted to teens...that is great. But how often is that happening and where? Long term success in revenue, ratings, and results to make it a more viable option in programming?Take it easy... LOVE THE EAGLES! ;)
hey more religious thoughts ;D the eagles are my favorite satanic group :eek: theres plenty of room at the hotel california (church of satan)...........yes i am kidding ;D
 
Air 1 is CHR radio for everyone everywhere. They have to program safely because they are a network.What's sad is a station that once had a vision, losing it and selling. Another way to look at it though is Perhaps that station's season is up.
 
This whole switch to Air1 is rather... frustrating. We've already got K-Love, I don't see the point. Actually, though, I don't care if we have another station like K-Love in the OKC area now. I just wish there were a place that did what 91FM used to do. NightTime91 was AMAZING. Sadly that programming will never see the light of day on Air1 or K-Love because it's not up to their standard of family-friendly radio or whatever. That ministry is completely gone. Sad times.
 
netboy said:
This whole switch to Air1 is rather... frustrating. We've already got K-Love, I don't see the point. Actually, though, I don't care if we have another station like K-Love in the OKC area now. I just wish there were a place that did what 91FM used to do. NightTime91 was AMAZING. Sadly that programming will never see the light of day on Air1 or K-Love because it's not up to their standard of family-friendly radio or whatever. That ministry is completely gone. Sad times.
Air 1 and klove are no way near the same. Air 1 is CHR and klove is ac. 2 diffrent formats. one youth leaning. one middle age mom leaning :)...but they are both ministries. both mention Jesus on air.
 
K-Love can be rather progressive for an AC-they'll play Jeremy Camp's "You're Worthy of My Praise" or the ful version of Building 429's "Glory Defined", while Air1 has gotten lighter over the years (although it's not nearly as bad as it was), so I can understand the frustration.If you look at both of their Top Songs charts for this week, you'll see the following songs on both:My Savior My God/Aaron ShustSo Long Self/Mercy MePraise You In This Storm/Casting CrownsWholly Yours/David Crowder BandYou Never Let Go/Matt RedmanThe following song is in K-Love's Top Songs this week, and has been in Air1's Top Songs in previous weeks:Real To Me/Nichole NordemanThat's 6 out of K-Love's Top 16 that is either in Air1's Top 16 now or as recently as two weeks ago. Air1 is also playing an unplugged version of Jeremy Camp's "This Man", which of course, was a huge Christian AC hit before it crossed over to Christian CHR in its original form.In my market, we have a Christian AC that plays Switchfoot and Lifehouse (and not just their AC hits), a more traditional Christian AC, a rimshot K-Love signal, and a signal-impaired Air1. It's basically four Christian ACs/Hot ACs with a combined share of less than 3.0. Their secular counterparts (an AC, a Variety Hits, and a Hot AC) combine for a 14.1. It might be in one of the four Christian stations' best interests to do something radical, like, go after the other 82.9% of the market.
 
ok they play some of the same music. but air 1 plays for example jesus freak by dc talk ..klove doesnt..and klove plays butterfly kisses by make me hurl (just kidding) and air one doesnt...they are NOT identical stations!
 
smashedcd said:
ok they play some of the same music. but air 1 plays for example jesus freak by dc talk ..klove doesnt..and klove plays butterfly kisses by make me hurl (just kidding) and air one doesnt...they are NOT identical stations!
K-Love and Air1 may not be identical, but they are simluar, Air1 is NOT a christian Rock station no matter what some want to call it. When air1 first started they where more Youth leaning, after the purchase by EMF they skewed more Christian AC/CHR. Unfortually you do have overlap as a lot of the AC stuff hits the CHR chart etc.But as everyone has said, sad as the lost of FM 91 is, at least it did not end up in the hands of a non Christian programmer (it could easly have become NPR 91FM) or something else.
 
I know this is a few months old, but Christian CHR KADI/Springfield, MO nearly doubled its 12+ numbers from Spring 05 to Fall 06. KADI has one of the more progressive playlists for a Christian CHR too.
 
Air1 used to be more edgy before it was a huge national brand. And for a company with the resources of EMF to destroy local outreach on KOKF for Air 1 is pathetic.

I highly doubt the white middle class product of Air 1 will be listened to in the troubled neighborhoods of OKC. Nights on 91 were amazing. DJ Dvyne and the mixing on the weekends. All of that compelling, cutting edge programming is gone.

I don't see how anyone at EMF justifies this other than pure dollar signs. They could have put their resources into it. They could have kept KOKF on the cutting edge.

But they killed it. I consider this nothing less than completely pillaging a once valuable outreach, and not a cent of my money or support will ever go to a company who could knowingly and with intent, wreck a station that was doing what 91FM was. I don't consider it good stewardship at all.

KOKF was one of the few Christian radio stations I could listen to. They led, they didn't follow, and they were uncompromising and BOLD in their approach. They were culturally relevant to where I'm at. I like techno and non-blingy hiphop. I like stuff with a beat, and artists who do more sonically than retread secular trends of rock from 5 or more years ago. My two OKC favorites were KSPY 105.3 and 91 FM. Now they're both gone. I used to think stations like 91FM were the future and the church was behind the times and would come around.

But Christian radio, on a national scale, is becoming like CC. Buy them all for way too much and cut cut cut the costs. It's great to have hundreds of transmitters, but who's LISTENING? I don't think it's the hurting youth of OKC. Maybe a few more conservative church kids will listen to Air 1 because it's "parent approved" listening but it sure won't reach the KJ/Wild/Buzz/Katt fans. That's who needs the Gospel. EMF is pretty good at bringing the medicine to the healthy, but I think they fail at bringing anything to the injured youth in our culture because they aren't relating to them.

If this situation had been just, Air 1 would have become 91 FM. Not the other way around.
 
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