They didn't stay Christmas very long. Now continuous country Q-93. That's all we need in this area another country station with no budget to try to compete with WIVK. I wonder what they will change to next year. Thw web site lists Rich Baily as OM and Justin Buznedo as Marketing and promotions. No jocks as of yet. I hate it for the last two jocks they had if they got let go at this time of year.
-
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
93.1 now Q-93
- Thread starter knoxbob
- Start date
I'm in agreement with you Bob....Just what K-Town needs.....Thrill!!! another country station. Tell me how a station with only 2400 watts could ever hope to be a serious contender against the 300 pound gorilla such as w.i.v.k. That isn't meant as an insult , just making a point. I have not heard it yet but I have looked at the website and according to that, they are billing themselves as " Today's Continuous County". Key words being "Today's Country". Translated, that means another station playing the same 30 songs in a row which to be truthful, speaking of "today's country"....is not country at all but warmed over pop music with fiddles done by "country" artists that the record label folks have found at the senior prom. Back in the day, you had to do some living to do a real country song but, that's just it.....it's not real country music anymore.
Everybody's got their own opinion. As they say opinions are like, well......noses. Everybody's got one. Mine is that country music had it's last stand in the late 80's when we had people like Allan Jackson, Clint Black, Mark Chestnut, and yes, the Garthmeister....Garth Brooks along with others come onto the scene.
We still have those artists getting some airplay but we are slowly being taken over by what I describe as "Disney Channel Country". Last week I saw an article about Taylor Swift and the break-up from her boyfriend Nick Jonas. For crying out loud, Nick Jonas. A member of the Disney Channel manufactured boy band "The Jonas Brothers. Country music needs to grow up. I see things like this and I must Imagine that Roy Acuff must be spinning.
I have nothing against new blood in country. If it is to survive we need it but I believe the quality of the music has suffered as well. I do like 96.7 Merle and they seem to be holding their own but with their artists being more of the "classic country" genre, they are delivering a more "grown up" product. I believe that if Ron Meredith could get a better signal out of Merle, it would do even better. It could be more competition than could the new Q93 simply because of that difference in the product. Usually when I listen to country, it is my cd changer loaded with stuff from the 70's and 80's, Merle or The Roadhouse on Sirius.
Anyway.....pardon my rant. Got sidetracked on the quality of today's country. Obviously, with a share in the 30's (the last i heard anyway) there is an audience for new country. I just have to wonder how such a small station delivering pretty much the same product can seriously hope to make a dent in Citadel and w.i.v.k.
I give it a year and I'm being very generous.
I Like the 80's format myself and really liked hearing those classic American Top 40 Shows. Since those are gone locally now, I'm glad that the Sirius Channels 7 and 8 are running them now. Shows from the 70's on 7 and shows from the 80's on 8 each weekend.
Anyway, Just my scattered thoughts for what they may be worth. You may agree or disagree. I still love terrestrial radio but have trouble understanding the way that it is going sometimes. I got out of full-time radio back in 2005 after 25-26 years but still do some production and voice work on the side from a home studio. Kinda hard to give it up totally
Thanks for reading my cent and a half input,
Radio 30.
Everybody's got their own opinion. As they say opinions are like, well......noses. Everybody's got one. Mine is that country music had it's last stand in the late 80's when we had people like Allan Jackson, Clint Black, Mark Chestnut, and yes, the Garthmeister....Garth Brooks along with others come onto the scene.
We still have those artists getting some airplay but we are slowly being taken over by what I describe as "Disney Channel Country". Last week I saw an article about Taylor Swift and the break-up from her boyfriend Nick Jonas. For crying out loud, Nick Jonas. A member of the Disney Channel manufactured boy band "The Jonas Brothers. Country music needs to grow up. I see things like this and I must Imagine that Roy Acuff must be spinning.
I have nothing against new blood in country. If it is to survive we need it but I believe the quality of the music has suffered as well. I do like 96.7 Merle and they seem to be holding their own but with their artists being more of the "classic country" genre, they are delivering a more "grown up" product. I believe that if Ron Meredith could get a better signal out of Merle, it would do even better. It could be more competition than could the new Q93 simply because of that difference in the product. Usually when I listen to country, it is my cd changer loaded with stuff from the 70's and 80's, Merle or The Roadhouse on Sirius.
Anyway.....pardon my rant. Got sidetracked on the quality of today's country. Obviously, with a share in the 30's (the last i heard anyway) there is an audience for new country. I just have to wonder how such a small station delivering pretty much the same product can seriously hope to make a dent in Citadel and w.i.v.k.
I give it a year and I'm being very generous.
I Like the 80's format myself and really liked hearing those classic American Top 40 Shows. Since those are gone locally now, I'm glad that the Sirius Channels 7 and 8 are running them now. Shows from the 70's on 7 and shows from the 80's on 8 each weekend.
Anyway, Just my scattered thoughts for what they may be worth. You may agree or disagree. I still love terrestrial radio but have trouble understanding the way that it is going sometimes. I got out of full-time radio back in 2005 after 25-26 years but still do some production and voice work on the side from a home studio. Kinda hard to give it up totally
Thanks for reading my cent and a half input,
Radio 30.
Doesn't Journal remember what happened the last time they tried country in Knoxville? Kix 104.5 didn't last very long, did it? 93.1 did country in a previous incarnation, and it didn't do too well either. On paper, it looks like a good move, but reality will almost certainly prove different.
My two cents... I think Q93 sounds good so far and I agree that WIVK needs competition. But it does seem like an odd format for a signal which mainly serves the urban area of the market. But I guess if Journal wanted to do country, that would have been their only choice. I was really hoping South Central's Jack-FM would be the one to make the switch to country since the combined signals of 95.7 and 106.7 cover the rural areas well.
Also I would have debuted Q93 on December 26th. A month of all-Christmas music would have been a very beneficial lead in.
I wonder how this affects Merle which also has been playing a lot of "today's country."
Also I would have debuted Q93 on December 26th. A month of all-Christmas music would have been a very beneficial lead in.
I wonder how this affects Merle which also has been playing a lot of "today's country."
radio30 said:
I agree with your rant. I loathe today's "so-called" country. Country music lost its identity when the Kentucky Headhunters came along -- and where are THEY now? Not that I care. Give me 60s, 70s and 80s country anytime!!!
Eric
Well, it's time to delete 93.1 from the pushbuttons and find something to take its place. Might just double program 98.7 or 100.3 into the car radio, or choose something at random and wait for FM skip to come along and see what it brings.
NOW THAT THIS STATION IS PLAYING COUNTRY IT SUCKS! GOING DOWN THE ROAD WITH CONTINOUS COUNTRY MAKES ME WANT TO GET DRUNK. WHEN I DON'T DRINK HUNT FOR ROAD KILL GET A S-10 WITH A GUN RACK GET A BLUE TICK HOUND WHO MIGHT ENJOY THE SORRY MUSIC. HOPEFULLY THE HELL YOU WILL MAKE A ANOTHER CHANGE. THE INTERNET SITE FOR A CHANGE IS STARTED TO STOP THE Q
]james8 said:
HUH?
Wow, what a cool surprise for my visit back home to East Tennessee for Thanksgiving. I saw a TV spot on WATE last night during the news.
Interesting how history repeats itself. 93.1 tried country over 15 years ago. Z-93 WWZZ was country with some crossover and rock tunes mixed in (kind of like Outlaw Country 100.3 was for a short period of time). In 1993, Z-93 picked up I-100's CHR format and country moved up from the third floor to the top floor of the TIS building to 100.3.
Don't forget when 104.5 was country, as Kicks 104.5 and 104.5 QIX. They had a good sound too, but you need more than a class A signal and a good sound to beat WIVK. Only 97.5, 100.3, 102.1, or 103.5 could take them down... and it would take a good 5 to 10 years.
Interesting how history repeats itself. 93.1 tried country over 15 years ago. Z-93 WWZZ was country with some crossover and rock tunes mixed in (kind of like Outlaw Country 100.3 was for a short period of time). In 1993, Z-93 picked up I-100's CHR format and country moved up from the third floor to the top floor of the TIS building to 100.3.
Don't forget when 104.5 was country, as Kicks 104.5 and 104.5 QIX. They had a good sound too, but you need more than a class A signal and a good sound to beat WIVK. Only 97.5, 100.3, 102.1, or 103.5 could take them down... and it would take a good 5 to 10 years.
OMG!!! Another Country Music Station..........I want to literally puke! What a waste of a good frequency that had a great sounding format on it as an 80's station. 
I guess Journal saw a need to please the rednecks who live in this area.
Sorry, nothing personal towards anyone who likes country music. I just hate country music and seeing a good frequency being wasted.
I guess Journal saw a need to please the rednecks who live in this area.
Sorry, nothing personal towards anyone who likes country music. I just hate country music and seeing a good frequency being wasted.
I'm not really personally thrilled with having another country station myself. But I suspect there is some logic behind Journal's move. Everyone is talking about not having a chance at taking 'IVK down and I agree. But I'm sure they already know that and that really isn't their game plan. I would imagine that they know they will be a distant second, but that they feel it will pull in a couple of more shares and more ad bucks than the present format. Moneywise, if they bump up a bit to the 4 or 5 share level, (instead of their current 1 and 2 average), it will probably make them more money. I don't think they realistically plan on "beating" WIVK, but simply taking 3 or 4 shares and being the "2nd tier" country station and making decent ad revenue.
Just look down the road to Chattanooga as an example. Clear Channel's WUSY "US101" has been as dominant in that market as WIVK is in Knoxville, and Citadel signed on a similar smaller signal competitor a couple of years ago (WOGT "107-9 The Duke"). The station, of course, didn't beat US 101, but has built a niche as a somewhat profitable second country station usually being somewhere between a 3 and 5 share in 12 plus. Also, they forced Clear Channel to sign on their own classic country station (The Legend) to flank US101. (Although, "The Legend's" classic country format became a bit too popular and ate into US101's ratings and now CC appears to be flipping them after Xmas).
So, ironically, I see this as kind of a reverse situation of what is going on in Chattanooga, where Citadel is the owner of the smaller, second tier country wanna be. Journal is using the same trick against them here in Knoxville, where Citadel is the big dog.
I'm not sure how successful it will be, but that's my take on this. I think Journal will be happy if they can up the shares by a couple of points and pick up more ad dollars. I have a feeling they believe a second tier country station can bring in more bucks than an 80s station in this area. I don't think they have any illusions of actually defeating 'IVK. Also, I'm a bit surprised they didn't try the classic country route. It would have probably brought in higher ratings, but I suspect the older audience would have translated into less ad dollars than new country does with lower numbers.
The big question now is, "What does Merle FM do?" They are on a much worse signal than the new Q93, and this will probably put a nail in them. The only option I see for them if they remain in the country format is to immediately drop all currents and go full-on classic country. It would be an exclusive niche, and their only way to compete with two much better signals. Or if they drop country, what else would Meredith try with 96.7? It's such a limited signal that they cannot really compete head on with anyone else. Maybe they could pick up 93.1's old 80s format and grab some disenfranchised listeners? What's really missing from the market right now is a more current based AC station (either Bright AC or Hot AC). But South Central won't do it because of owning B97.5 and Journal won't do it because they think it would hurt Star. And Citadel had the chance with 98.7 but chose not to fill that gaping hole.
So who knows what will happen as a result of these changes. Will we see a change at "Jack FM"? Will Merle make changes? Will 'IVK react? Should be interesting to watch. Also, on a side note, I wonder if Horne is committed to keeping the failing AAA format on 105.3? If they wanted to spend some money or cut a deal with Meredith, a combined 96.7 and 105.3 would be a nice simulcast pairing to cover the market (the way 95.7 and 106.7 do). If they were willing to explore that, then those frequencies might stand a real chance with something like AC or classic country, etc.
Just look down the road to Chattanooga as an example. Clear Channel's WUSY "US101" has been as dominant in that market as WIVK is in Knoxville, and Citadel signed on a similar smaller signal competitor a couple of years ago (WOGT "107-9 The Duke"). The station, of course, didn't beat US 101, but has built a niche as a somewhat profitable second country station usually being somewhere between a 3 and 5 share in 12 plus. Also, they forced Clear Channel to sign on their own classic country station (The Legend) to flank US101. (Although, "The Legend's" classic country format became a bit too popular and ate into US101's ratings and now CC appears to be flipping them after Xmas).
So, ironically, I see this as kind of a reverse situation of what is going on in Chattanooga, where Citadel is the owner of the smaller, second tier country wanna be. Journal is using the same trick against them here in Knoxville, where Citadel is the big dog.
I'm not sure how successful it will be, but that's my take on this. I think Journal will be happy if they can up the shares by a couple of points and pick up more ad dollars. I have a feeling they believe a second tier country station can bring in more bucks than an 80s station in this area. I don't think they have any illusions of actually defeating 'IVK. Also, I'm a bit surprised they didn't try the classic country route. It would have probably brought in higher ratings, but I suspect the older audience would have translated into less ad dollars than new country does with lower numbers.
The big question now is, "What does Merle FM do?" They are on a much worse signal than the new Q93, and this will probably put a nail in them. The only option I see for them if they remain in the country format is to immediately drop all currents and go full-on classic country. It would be an exclusive niche, and their only way to compete with two much better signals. Or if they drop country, what else would Meredith try with 96.7? It's such a limited signal that they cannot really compete head on with anyone else. Maybe they could pick up 93.1's old 80s format and grab some disenfranchised listeners? What's really missing from the market right now is a more current based AC station (either Bright AC or Hot AC). But South Central won't do it because of owning B97.5 and Journal won't do it because they think it would hurt Star. And Citadel had the chance with 98.7 but chose not to fill that gaping hole.
So who knows what will happen as a result of these changes. Will we see a change at "Jack FM"? Will Merle make changes? Will 'IVK react? Should be interesting to watch. Also, on a side note, I wonder if Horne is committed to keeping the failing AAA format on 105.3? If they wanted to spend some money or cut a deal with Meredith, a combined 96.7 and 105.3 would be a nice simulcast pairing to cover the market (the way 95.7 and 106.7 do). If they were willing to explore that, then those frequencies might stand a real chance with something like AC or classic country, etc.
Merle's signal should get some improvement since they signed an agreement with Art Sutton, they will be going non directional which might inprove the signal west somewhat. Other than the price Ron Meredith payed for the station it doesn't have a lot of overhead. How much journal will spend on 93.1 remains to be seen. The Classic country route should be what 93.1 takes.
I find it interesting that everybody keeps sarcastically talking about how Knoxville "needs" another Country radio station. I say it's ABOUT TIME
I find it interesting that everybody keeps sarcastically talking about how Knoxville "needs" another Country radio station. I say it's ABOUT TIME Knoxville had another Country radio station with a descent signal in the market. Until now, there was just The Frog. I consider Merle a non-entity. WMYL, just like the Lafollette station, or WLAR are rimshots into the market at best. Sure 93.1's a class A station, but let's not forget they're blessed to have their tower practically sitting in the middle of the county (off Weisgarber Rd). Those few thousand watts they're pumping out blankets most if not all of Knox County fine, not to mention their signal smokes right into Blount County, the second most populated county in the Metro.
Of course Journal knows they will never overtake WIVK even by a long shot, but if they can shave off 3, 4, maybe 5 of the 25-54 shares off of the Frog, that could only help them make the mother ship (WWST 102.1) more competitive. At the same time, it stands to get the revenue up on 93.1 to a descent level, maybe enough to keep the shareholders happy for a while.
Now here's what could get really interesting. JACK FM. Rumors have been circulating that JACK's days are numbered. Now that Earl and Point are gone, could JACK start to see a spike in the ratings and revenue making SCRG want to rethink a format flip?
only time will tell. . . ???
Of course Journal knows they will never overtake WIVK even by a long shot, but if they can shave off 3, 4, maybe 5 of the 25-54 shares off of the Frog, that could only help them make the mother ship (WWST 102.1) more competitive. At the same time, it stands to get the revenue up on 93.1 to a descent level, maybe enough to keep the shareholders happy for a while.
Now here's what could get really interesting. JACK FM. Rumors have been circulating that JACK's days are numbered. Now that Earl and Point are gone, could JACK start to see a spike in the ratings and revenue making SCRG want to rethink a format flip?
only time will tell. . . ???
RadioGaGa75 said:
Very well stated. I think it will make a great combo sell for Journal too. Young CHR, Adult CHR, and Country.
RadioGaGa75 said:
I never thought (or hoped) Jack would outlast Point and Earl. I'm guessing Jack will probably get a third of 93.1's listenership with the rest split between B97.5 and WIMZ.
I never expected the Point to go away either........at least not for a very long time, and I was just starting to really enjoy that station. Anytime we get a good radio station it never lasts. IMO, Knoxville radio is at it's worst right now.
The one who will really benefit from the 93.1 change will not be Journal. South Central will be the one to benefit since JACK and B-97.5 will be the one's who probably gain most of the point's former listeners. Journal did South Central Radio Group a huge favor IMO.
As for shaving 4 to 5 points off of the Frog, it really will not matter. It won't even phase the Frog. I would have thought that Journal would have learned from history back when they tried country on 104.5, and failed.
The one who will really benefit from the 93.1 change will not be Journal. South Central will be the one to benefit since JACK and B-97.5 will be the one's who probably gain most of the point's former listeners. Journal did South Central Radio Group a huge favor IMO.
As for shaving 4 to 5 points off of the Frog, it really will not matter. It won't even phase the Frog. I would have thought that Journal would have learned from history back when they tried country on 104.5, and failed.
A
ARDONAVINDA
Guest
If Q 93 could get some jocks on that are fun and exciting, have a decent jingle package, do some local promotions and appearances. I mean if it is going to be a current country format, then treat it like Top 40/CHR with it's presentation. We all agree that current country is nothing but polished Top 40 with fiddles and occasional steel pedals anyway. It would at least sound fun and exciting, it could actually sound more like Top 40 than Star! ;D
- Status