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95.7 The X now Country (Duke-FM)

C

CFR

Guest
Low blow here by Midwest Communications, switching the only Rock Alternative station in Knoxville to Classic Country.
http://wate.com/2015/05/07/knoxville-rock-station-makes-switch-to-country/

KNOXVILLE (WATE) – A longtime Knoxville rock station is switching formats.

A representative with Midwest Communications, the parent company of “95.7 The X,” said they are switching to a new music format on May 7. Duke-FM will be unveiled on 95.7 FM, playing “the legends of country.”

The radio station, which previously played new rock music, posted to their website “Thank you for listening and for supporting the X. It’s been a great ride!”

Duke-FM will feature country music from the ’80s and ’90s according to Midwest Communications Vice President of Programming Jeff McCarthy. “We’ve been tracking a divide in country for over a year now, and as other stations continue to provide the most contemporary country music, we realized that many pronounced artists were vanishing from the format.”

McCarthy said the station will features artists such as Alabama, George Strait, Willie Nelson, Reba McEntire, Alan Jackson and Garth Brooks.
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By the responses in the comments, it's not going over so well for the listeners...
 
4 country stations is a bit redundant, especially with WIVK remaining in the high teens, even with Scripps throwing 100,000 watts at it. If Cumulus even had a thought of blowing up 98.7 for Nash Icons, that might be over with.
 
One of the suburban, independently owned signals (96.7, 106.1, 105.3), should consider filling the rock hole. (Although, if anyone does, I wish it would be alternative & not active rock this time). Also, what about Scripps & Cumulus? Would they make any changes or fill this hole? Maybe launch an HD2 signal to feed a translator? Or would Scripps consider blowing up 93.1's automated classic hits format for rock? The classic hits format has done well (even though it's cheaply/poorly ran, but even with good numbers, it's aging, harder to sell demos). Or what about Cumulus? They have room to buy more signals in the market. They could purchase 96.7, 106.1, 105.3, or 94.3 (if Pirkle would sell). You've gotta think someone will fill this gaping hole with some form of current based rock format.
 
BRH said:
One of the suburban, independently owned signals (96.7, 106.1, 105.3), should consider filling the rock hole. (Although, if anyone does, I wish it would be alternative & not active rock this time). Also, what about Scripps & Cumulus? Would they make any changes or fill this hole? Maybe launch an HD2 signal to feed a translator? Or would Scripps consider blowing up 93.1's automated classic hits format for rock? The classic hits format has done well (even though it's cheaply/poorly ran, but even with good numbers, it's aging, harder to sell demos). Or what about Cumulus? They have room to buy more signals in the market. They could purchase 96.7, 106.1, 105.3, or 94.3 (if Pirkle would sell). You've gotta think someone will fill this gaping hole with some form of current based rock format.
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As the recent uptick in numbers referenced in the All Access piece shows, when programmed properly, the Active Rock format can and will pull decent numbers and gives somebody a unique market of advertisers to sell to. I don't want to see any more good people in the market lose jobs, but I really hope somebody fills the format hole soon.
 
BRice16 said:
As the recent uptick in numbers referenced in the All Access piece shows, when programmed properly, the Active Rock format can and will pull decent numbers and gives somebody a unique market of advertisers to sell to. I don't want to see any more good people in the market lose jobs, but I really hope somebody fills the format hole soon.
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I can think of two small-station owners that could take this format on and improve their position. The bigger question is: How much risk is there in hiring what's left of The X's former talent and gearing up with enough sales and support to capitalize on an immediate 3-share?
 
I remembered listening to the X when it was 94.3 back circa 2007 when I discovered it on Radio-Locator, looking for an alternative station. I remembered them playing Aerosmith and thinking "that's not alternative, but who cares? Still sounds good." Since then, I was a fan of the station during it's time. Too bad, now the station is gone and only the memory remains (ha, a Metallica song).
 
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