97.5 MOVIN?

[ufrustrated2]

How long before Trumper "MOVES" 97.5 to another format.... again? ???

0.8-1.1 in the last trends just doesn't cut it, does it? :-\

They are tied with MEGA for crying out load!

Might be time to exchange the station vans for "Moving trucks".... :-[

 

[DJ_Perry]

0.8-1.1 in the last trends just doesn't cut it, does it? :-\

They are tied with MEGA for crying out load!

Let's not forget that when they were at .8, Mega was at a 1.4

The fact that they are currently tied just shows how inacurate these trends are. Mega just got a full signal within that last 6 months and they feature local talent, specialty programs, and a consistant format. 97.5 does not, and had the full signal from day 1 (over 15 months ago), and with advertising, they peaked at a 1.8 last spring. Since then, they have only struggled with a watered down Rhythmic format (which is very old school leaning...wonder why). Mega does not currently advertise but will only gain more loyal listeners who desire the real deal.

 

[ufrustrated2]

0.8-1.1 in the last trends just doesn't cut it, does it? :-\

They are tied with MEGA for crying out load!

Let's not forget that when they were at .8, Mega was at a 1.4

The fact that they are currently tied just shows how inacurate these trends are. Mega just got a full signal within that last 6 months and they feature local talent, specialty programs, and a consistant format. 97.5 does not, and had the full signal from day 1 (over 15 months ago), and with advertising, they peaked at a 1.8 last spring. Since then, they have only struggled with a watered down Rhythmic format (which is very old school leaning...wonder why). Mega does not currently advertise but will only gain more loyal listeners who desire the real deal.

From what I understand, neither station has a "full signal" in the Phoenix Metro area as defined by the FCC so these two stations are out of the range of what is considered a "Metro Phoenix" radio station. KAJM's city of license is Payson/Camp Verde, AZ which is considered a part of the Flagstaff Metro area for the FCC and KMVA is licensed to Dewey-Humboldt, AZ which is between Prescott and Wickenburg about 50 miles northwest of Phoenix. This is not considered a full signal in Phoenix! ??? KMVA covers the north and west side of Phoenix just fine but still is not strong enough in actual ERP's to be considered a "local" signal (Although I can pick them up on my way to and 20 minutes before getting to Yuma) but that's still not "Metro Phoenix", it's more like Gila Bend/Dateland Metro then... They also reach the rest of Phoenix (south, east) with what is properly called a "fringe" to "distant" signal. I'm sure you can pick them up just fine in your car but thats not the way it works.

KAJM can barely be heard in the car just fine on the north, west, northwest and southwest side of town. I hardly consider this a "full signal"! And KAJM does not have a "consistent format"! Hardly! They'd be much better if they weren't so in love with playing B side cuts and stiffs all the time. It seems like it takes at least 20-25 minutes to hear another "hit". Is it really that hard find hits to play on an "Old School" format? It shouldn't be that hard. The hits are all ready made! Just play what worked and works! But they can't get that part right on a consistent basis so to me, they are an "inconsistent" station and their ratings reflect that. Talent is another story for them so don't get me going on that one cause I'll never finish. :-X

KMVA is another story completely. I compare it to the smallest kid on the basketball court trying to get some playing time among NBA players and become a first stringer by emulating all the moves he sees pro players do on TV but still not being old enough, tall enough, fast enough or unique enough to get on the first team. They are just trying to play on a crowded court with KZON, KKFR and KISS and they are eating up all the playing time. KMVA needs to find a smaller court with less accomplished/smaller players and then maybe they'll be fine. Or even just do something that makes you different than everyone else. Kind of like when you go to the Suns game and maybe they've lost... but you know you really enjoyed seeing the kids at half time who do high flips on the court off the trampolines and dunk the balls with some @#^$%. The game may have not been so good but you'll never forget the half time show right? That's what Movin needs to do so it doesn't get "moved" out of town again!

 

[DrAkbar]

Keep in mind that before Movin' Star 97~Five moved to Dewey-Humboldt, it was a Flagstaff station. They can't go any further south without causing problems for KSZR in Oro Valley (Tucson). The Nurse and I suggest Mr Trumper figure out what works in Anthem, Prescott, Sedona, Payson and wherever else fannies out number saguaros!

 

[ufrustrated2]

Keep in mind that before Movin' Star 97~Five moved to Dewey-Humboldt, it was a Flagstaff station. They can't go any further south without causing problems for KSZR in Oro Valley (Tucson). The Nurse and I suggest Mr Trumper figure out what works in Anthem, Prescott, Sedona, Payson and wherever else fannies out number saguaros!

HAHAHAHA that's a good one brother. Maybe the country's first "rockabillie" station?

 

[ajhenderson]

No Phoenix FM comes in better in Ehrenburg or Quartzsite than Movin.

 

[DJ_Perry]

well i expected an argument, but i'm not trying to express opinions. What I meant by full signal is, Mega is now in the same boat with 97.5, 95.1, & 98.3. If you think those signals are bad, then imagine that cut in half...that's what Mega use to have. With a recent signal upgrade, their listeners are growing as many never knew it existed. What "ufrustrated2" considers B sides, are classics that were once on Rhythmic stations like KUKQ, KZZP, Y95, ect. That is what Mega offers....more than the usual old school pop. The personalities have grown up in Phx and were once part of the mentioned stations (that is what i meant by local talent). Clown if you want, but the listeners are familiar with all that, and are not satisfied with cookie cutter programming and bland jocks on the competition. I believe the latest book does not reflect the signal upgrade. With 97.5's numbers fluctuating, only shows they were flavor of the month and Mega has everything to gain. We shall see...

 

[oldiesfan6479]

No Phoenix FM comes in better in Ehrenburg or Quartzsite than Movin.

Well then, it's time to flip to an "all Hi Jolly" format,
Thursday afternoon at 3. ;D

 

[AZJoe]

I''ll take Mega's mix anyday over the same cookie cutter formats that we usually get. A B side? I hardly think so, if you are a real fan of old skool R&B, you know what they are playing, and it doesnt need to be the same 300 worn out cuts, and thank goodness they dont just play the biggest hits only. The signal has improved greatly, city grade or fringe or whatever you call it, you can much pick up the signal much better now. Thanks Mega for the improvements and not being another cookie cutter formated station. 8)

 

[ufrustrated2]

Guys we need to remember that this board is not a place where "regular everyday listeners" interact, this board is filled with radio junkies as ourselves. With that being said, What is a "classic?"

I'm not talking about CURRENTS ok? Just the classics in all genres... Keep that in mind as you read this.

A. a song that PDs, MDs, DJs and mixers personally like from the stack of old records in their garage and think that if they spin it long and hard enough the people will eventually love it also.

B. a song that listeners truly love and have demonstrated that by amazing record sales

I've seen many PDs/MDs in this particular format throughout the country take songs off old records that are 25-30 yr old records which they thought "could've been hits" and play them on their "Old Skool" stations only to see their ratings suffer massive losses in Cume & TSL due to not playing what's been proven to work. It blows my mind to think that there are still PDs/MDs out there who think they can take a song off a record that was produced and released over 25 years ago and think they can break a hit! That's crazy! You can't take a 25-30 year old B side cut and make it a hit today on a "Old School" station anywhere! As Scott Shannon once said: "This ain't your personal jukebox guys. Just play the hits!" If I can paraphrase that; That's what your personal iPod is for.

In looking all around the country for a successful Old School station, I have found only one that still calls itself "Old School" and plays no currents in its mix or does not use the slogan "Old School and Today's R&B". That station is 5 hours West of us in San Diego and is called Magic 92.5 (XHRM) http://www.magic925.com/main.html Nationwide launched this station back in 1996 with the intent of putting and adult oriented rhythmic R&B on the air in San Diego but failed in its attempt to mix old school with current R&B. It did OK if you like being in the 1.5 - 2.0 range but in a competitive market like San Diego, that wasn't enough. Then Jacor/Clear Channel took over and brought in a PD (Rick Thomas) with a successful Churban background and he took out the current crap and focused it on only the old school hits, hired the right sounding jocks for the format, got the station imaging just right and the station has not looked back ever since. In the latest book, they are currently holding a 3.5 in a market with stiff rhythmic competition like KHTS 93.3, XHTZ 90.3 & XMOR 98.9. Magic 92.5 could never have held its own by #1 sharing play lists with the competitors or #2 playing nothing but the absolute best music possible all the time! In the last three books, from what I can see, they have averaged a 3.7 to place them 6th overall 12+ and #1 & #2 in key demos. NOW THATS PRETTY DAMN IMPRESSIVE IF YOU ASK ME!

Mega has a lot of upside with the changes that have happened recently in the market, but they will never capitalize on the potential until they fix the little things. One of my old PDs told me MANY years ago, "The Devil is in the details" You can't get the big picture right if you don't focus on the details first. Mega, even with its signal issues, could have the potential to do the same here. But it remains to be seen.

Movin could easily adjust their format and move into that old school territory and hurt Mega even more but I don't think they are giving up just yet.

 

[DJ_Perry]

Thanks AZJoe, I'm glad somebody gets it. As for Magic 92.5, Mega is real close to their format. Mega has not included "...& Todays R&B" in the slogan for almost 2 years now. Have you tried 104.3 lately? It comes in on my clock radio in the east valley. With San Diego's demo being very similar to Phx's demo, that could mean "Old School" is on the rise. Even teenagers are bumping Mega since all the mash ups they hear on CHR radio educate them to the format. At least Mega doesn't make you sit through Britney or Avril Lavine to get to Rick James or MJ. You call that consistent?!

 

[Gale Tulare]

Reading this "industry" blog is interesting and entertaining for a few moments each day and assuming anything would actually get resolved here is ridiculous. However, in my opinion, Dr. Akbar makes an excellent point. I don't think he is advocating a return to the Frank Sinatra format (though it would have filled a viable niche in the long run) but rather to program to where the signal is heard best. I'm in the agency business, not radio, and that's my two cents.

 

[DrAkbar]

Reading this "industry" blog is interesting and entertaining for a few moments each day and assuming anything would actually get resolved here is ridiculous. However, in my opinion, Dr. Akbar makes an excellent point. I don't think he is advocating a return to the Frank Sinatra format (though it would have filled a viable niche in the long run) but rather to program to where the signal is heard best. I'm in the agency business, not radio, and that's my two cents.

And our fezes are tipped to you, Gale! We'll give you an agency discount on the Buckeye Media Hut Mewzak system.

One of the reasons Trumper can't do what makes sense is the amount of $$$ owed to his lenders. He's probably told them their return comes from selling airtime in the big Phoenix market. But with his rimshot signal competing against Phoenix signals and other rimshots, the going has been pretty darn tough. Nurse Jeff and I imagine Trumper wasn't too pleased when he saw that $3m sales price for KNRJ!

 

[justthenumbers]

At least Mega doesn't make you sit through Britney or Avril Lavine to get to Rick James or MJ. You call that consistent?!

True, but does Movin' ever actually claim to be an old school station? If they did, Britney & Avril would not fit.

The Movin' name implies songs with some sort of beat, regardless of genre. This can include songs from Britney and certain selections from Avril.

 

[ufrustrated2]

At least Mega doesn't make you sit through Britney or Avril Lavine to get to Rick James or MJ. You call that consistent?!

True, but does Movin' ever actually claim to be an old school station? If they did, Britney & Avril would not fit.

The Movin' name implies songs with some sort of beat, regardless of genre. This can include songs from Britney and certain selections from Avril.

What I'm saying is that Movin should become a straight up Old School station and do it right. Mega has the listeners it has by default. Any sort of competition would clearly make Mega sound watered down