-
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
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
97.1 broadcasting KGSR
- Thread starter dlf1
- Start date
M
MRD
Guest
I haven't heard any direction for listeners to "reset their presets" to 97.1. That would seem to indicate that KGSR will stay at 93.3. I surmise that a new format will come to 97.1 that is complimentary to KGSR.
I wonder if there is any possibility that 590 could end up on 93.3. It's not hard to imagine that 590 would benefit from having better FM coverage outside of Central Austin that is currently served by 99.7. It's just a wild guess, but most of the Todd and Don and Rush listeners in the market probably don't live in "78704" type central zip codes. 99.7 is a good translator but that's still a translator and even 590 does not cover the whole market with great coverage 24 hours a day. Whether that is worth the additional investment is another question.
Also, it's worth pointing out there is not currently an ESPN radio affiliate in Austin, which Emmis uses in Indianapolis.
Also, it's worth pointing out there is not currently an ESPN radio affiliate in Austin, which Emmis uses in Indianapolis.
M
MRD
Guest
I believe the change will have some correlation with Austin City Limits. I just saw a graphic on All Access that dropped that hint.
Also, if you go to KGSR's site, the hint pops up and the url is acl-radio dot com. Interesting.
Maybe I missed it, but what is the breakdown of what will be on each signal? Is it a simulcast?
Maybe I missed it, but what is the breakdown of what will be on each signal? Is it a simulcast?
Yes.
Interesting move that makes a sad statement. When an FM decides it is more financially advantageous to lease than program a format in a major city, that's quite a statement. Your lease rate has to allow your tenant to hire staff, pay operation expenses and you. In other words, they need to realistically see a path to generating about 3 to 5 dollars for every dollar they pay for the lease.
What is not sad is Austin gets a new station that is pleasantly 'Austin Weird".You can bet I'll sample it. I like the concept. Might Jayson and Jan Fritz in Fredericksburg be wondering how much is coming from his playbook of "Texas Rebel Radio"?
KGSR has essentially become a shell of it's former self. Like WRLT, Radio Lightning,in Nashville, they evolved to be more mainstream than eclectic or quirky. I know research had to tell them to do this but I wonder if it was a smart move because it made the station a bit too similar to the others on the dial. It seemed the listeners liked the idea of the 'rebel' feel possibly more than they like what made the station feel it was non-conformist.
If my memory is not fading, KGSR began on the Bastrop FM, a station that always struggled trying to serve the local community before opting to try for the Austin market. The success begged for a better signal and that happened carrying KGSR through years of being a major factor in Austin radio. The uniqueness got it national attention.
KGSR wound up on 93.3. It always seemed 93.3 was a jinxed frequency. No format lasted too long on that frequency for what seemed no logical reason. How many formats have been on 93.3 in the past 20 years?
What is not sad is Austin gets a new station that is pleasantly 'Austin Weird".You can bet I'll sample it. I like the concept. Might Jayson and Jan Fritz in Fredericksburg be wondering how much is coming from his playbook of "Texas Rebel Radio"?
KGSR has essentially become a shell of it's former self. Like WRLT, Radio Lightning,in Nashville, they evolved to be more mainstream than eclectic or quirky. I know research had to tell them to do this but I wonder if it was a smart move because it made the station a bit too similar to the others on the dial. It seemed the listeners liked the idea of the 'rebel' feel possibly more than they like what made the station feel it was non-conformist.
If my memory is not fading, KGSR began on the Bastrop FM, a station that always struggled trying to serve the local community before opting to try for the Austin market. The success begged for a better signal and that happened carrying KGSR through years of being a major factor in Austin radio. The uniqueness got it national attention.
KGSR wound up on 93.3. It always seemed 93.3 was a jinxed frequency. No format lasted too long on that frequency for what seemed no logical reason. How many formats have been on 93.3 in the past 20 years?
Yes.
I can't believe the simulcast will continue for long. 93.3 is not bad in town and will improve when they move to the 2222 tower site which they currently hold a CP for.
M
MRD
Guest
If my memory serves me correctly, KGSR was previously KSSR-Bastrop with a country format. In 1990, they completed a signal upgrade and moved into the Austin market. Calls became KGSR (Star 107) and format changed to New Adult Contemporary (think a lot of Kenny G). Over the years, the format evolved into AAA and the KGSR that we know today.
Interesting move that makes a sad statement. When an FM decides it is more financially advantageous to lease than program a format in a major city, that's quite a statement. Your lease rate has to allow your tenant to hire staff, pay operation expenses and you. In other words, they need to realistically see a path to generating about 3 to 5 dollars for every dollar they pay for the lease.
Except they're not leasing out KGSR to ACL.
This is a branding deal. Emmis's people will still program the station and operate it. Emmis is paying to use the ACL brand name, not leasing the radio station to ACL. The premise of your rant is not true.
http://music.blog.austin360.com/201...ith-kgsr-brings-iconic-brand-to-the-airwaves/
Additional info on the branding deal:
https://www.billboard.com/articles/...r-becomes-austin-city-limits-radio-rebranding
- It's a 5 year licensing fee for the name, plus a percentage of ad sales paid to ACL and KLRU-TV
- The translator's purpose is to fill in holes in coverage around downtown
Reading between the lines of all the articles: KGSR has a perception problem; they've modernized the mix but the perception is they're playing old people's music. (see also: the problem Cumulus has with KFOG in San Francisco) So they're rebranding, and using the ACL brand's cachet to skew younger (including adding hip hop) to better compete with KUTX.
https://www.billboard.com/articles/...r-becomes-austin-city-limits-radio-rebranding
- It's a 5 year licensing fee for the name, plus a percentage of ad sales paid to ACL and KLRU-TV
- The translator's purpose is to fill in holes in coverage around downtown
Reading between the lines of all the articles: KGSR has a perception problem; they've modernized the mix but the perception is they're playing old people's music. (see also: the problem Cumulus has with KFOG in San Francisco) So they're rebranding, and using the ACL brand's cachet to skew younger (including adding hip hop) to better compete with KUTX.
"Like WRLT, Radio Lightning,in Nashville, they evolved to be more mainstream than eclectic or quirky."
What Lightning did that was savvy and worked for them was to embrace "local" at a time when Nashville's music scene was growing beyond country, and embraced playing a large amount of new music. While WRLT may not have been as "eclectic" in their genre mix as before, they still play a lot of "different" titles as compared to commercial competitors.
KGSR's mix became more conservative and borderline Hot AC. Not necessarily bad, I thought as a Modern/Alt AC they had an interesting mix. But it also at times seemed extremely overlapped with clustermate 101X. Too many perceptions of what "KGSR" meant wasn't likely helpful.
I'm also impressed with KUTX's ratings growth.
What Lightning did that was savvy and worked for them was to embrace "local" at a time when Nashville's music scene was growing beyond country, and embraced playing a large amount of new music. While WRLT may not have been as "eclectic" in their genre mix as before, they still play a lot of "different" titles as compared to commercial competitors.
KGSR's mix became more conservative and borderline Hot AC. Not necessarily bad, I thought as a Modern/Alt AC they had an interesting mix. But it also at times seemed extremely overlapped with clustermate 101X. Too many perceptions of what "KGSR" meant wasn't likely helpful.
I'm also impressed with KUTX's ratings growth.
It was. Which reminds me of my puzzlement at Sun Radio's move away from Americana. It seems like a valid niche to occupy in Austin.
R
Robert Mezzetti
Guest
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1JFl9QZJsQ Heres A Link Of Me Talking About My Opinions On The 93.3 Flip Hope You Guys Enjoy It
KDRP/Sun's doing Triple A, but it's a lot more mainstream. Seems to have been that way at least the past several months when I dipped into the playlist. Last hour they had Pearl Jam, Zeppelin, Marley and other Triple A standards along with Henley's "End of the Innocence" and more contemporary tracks from Natalie Prass, Harry Styles, etc. Reminds me at times of a KBCO styled mix, but with a larger library. Several of their social media fans have noticed it too and posted about it.
If my memory serves me correctly, KGSR was previously KSSR-Bastrop with a country format. In 1990, they completed a signal upgrade and moved into the Austin market. Calls became KGSR (Star 107) and format changed to New Adult Contemporary (think a lot of Kenny G). Over the years, the format evolved into AAA and the KGSR that we know today.
Your memory is correct. The early days of KGSR after the 107.1 upgrade were a mix of Smooth Jazz, a little New Age, and a new generation of vocalists. Signal would sometimes make it into Houston when tropo kicked in; an enjoyable listen in those days.
- Status
- This thread has been closed due to inactivity. You can create a new thread to discuss this topic.