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98.1-Is it just me?

M

Meepster

I don't listen to morning radio much, but I DO have occasion to fire up the car radio (in the work car) from time-to-time in the afternoon. The clearest Memphis station (that I'll listen to) is 98.1. I have serously noticed something...
Is it just me, or has the song "I used to love her, but I had to kill her" (which I like) been re-released or something?
I admit, I don't listen evry day by any means, but over the last couple of weeks, whenever I've had the radio on Max (and even though it's only on for a few minutes at a time) I've heard that song.

As a matter of fact, I can count on hearing that song and usually one of two by Kid Rock (Amen or Rock and Roll Jesus)-every time I turn it on. I know Jocks no longer have much choice on playlist matters, so, what's up?

???
 
Meepster said:
I don't listen to morning radio much, but I DO have occasion to fire up the car radio (in the work car) from time-to-time in the afternoon. The clearest Memphis station (that I'll listen to) is 98.1. I have serously noticed something...
Is it just me, or has the song "I used to love her, but I had to kill her" (which I like) been re-released or something?
I admit, I don't listen evry day by any means, but over the last couple of weeks, whenever I've had the radio on Max (and even though it's only on for a few minutes at a time) I've heard that song.

As a matter of fact, I can count on hearing that song and usually one of two by Kid Rock (Amen or Rock and Roll Jesus)-every time I turn it on. I know Jocks no longer have much choice on playlist matters, so, what's up?

???
Click to expand...

YES!! The station is PAINFULLY repetative. Ive complained about it on this board many times.

But the station seems to be doing well ratings-wise. Memphians dont seem to mind mediocracy.
 
My first question about the "Kill Her" song was legit. I thought maybe it was on the soundtrack of a new movie I didn't know about or something of that nature.

Now, the "Kid Rock" comment was just for smart alecky fun.

I enjoy hearing Jarman and Danni and I know they are not in charge of playlist management.

BTW, I listened for over an hour today-and heard neither anything by Kid Rock nor the Guns N Roses song.
;)
 
I remember when "REMEMBER DUANE ALLMAN" and an upward pointing arrow were carved into a red clay bluff between Jackson and Vicksburg on I-20. But I am over 50, so there!
 
I wasn't even born when Duane Allman died. I'm familiar with "Ramblin' Man". When I think of the Allman name, I think of the Gregg Allman Band with "I'm No Angel".
 
"Ramblin Man" was post Duaynes death.

Yeah, it was. Wow! Duane's death was in 1971. "Ramblin' Man" was in 1973. "Midnight Rider" was released in 1970. "Midnight Rider" has to be the most popular song with Duane in the band.
 
Don't Want You No More, It's Not My Cross To Bear, Whipping Post, Stormy Monday, Statesboro Blues, In Memory of Elizabeth Reed, Dreams... LAYLA, people... LAY FREAKIN' LA. Please find them and listen. You'll be glad you did.
 
I had no idea Duane Allman had anything to do with Layla. I'd venture to say most people my age have no clue about that. I have heard "Statesboro Blues". It seems like "Midnight Rider" is about the only song credited to the Allman Brothers Band, while Duane was still alive, that gets much airplay on the radio these days.
 
BTW, I don't want to come off like I am scolding... I am just thinking if you've missed these songs, you've missed the original essence and intent of the band. Not chiding, just encouraging you to look them up! Yes, Duane came into the Derek And The Dominos project in progress; apparently too late for "Bell Bottom Blues", but in plenty of time to make "Layla".
 
OK Guys, a couple of things you need to know: Since the departure of short-lived PD John Cook, Danni has been acting as PD for 98.1. She also was acting PD in the interm between the departure of Bobby 'Slam' Duncan and Cooks hire. John sightened up the playlist, and Danni has been actively managing the music on the station for about the past seven months. I think she's been doing a great job, and the numbers certainly reflect the improvement in the music. Secondly, no matter how you slice and dice the ratings, 98.1 is number one overall (even beating out the urban stations) in Men 18+, 18-49, and 25-54. Overall, M-SU 6a-12m 98.1 holds a 14 share with Men 25-54, and Drake and Zeke nail down a 19.9 share with their morning show. With the demise of Rock 103, they could have sat back and coasted, but the trend has been up since back in October when PPM became currency in the market. No remote control, no robot radio, just a good solid rock station programmed locally for Memphis lsiteners.
 
Just stopped by to tell Meepster that they're playing his song! And very kind and knowledgable words, RG914! Will pass along...
 
with all due respect mr radioguy. the observation was about song selection/rotation not about d&z. congrats on dz's performance but is it the music or the comedic content/book reviews that attract listeners to that show? how does the station do in the music dparts?
 
Sorry Guys, took a short vacation.....Dr. Pepper. the station also performs very well in other dayparts. In the May ratings, for Men-25-54 (the target demo for the station) WXMX is #1 6a-10a M-F, #1 10a-3p M-F, #1 3p-7p M-F, and #1 6a-12m M-SU. I'd say that's pretty dominant no matter how you slice it. Vent, despite what you might want to believe, there is no 'corporate playlist" at work here. Music is handled locally, but programmers do look at what's working in other markets, and have regular conversations with other programmers. Unlike the 'evil empire', Citadel believes in localism, not cookie-cutter formats. We have a different flavor here, so Sevin Dust gets an add here, while it probably doesn't in Buffalo. Odd that the only people who seem to think the playlist has a 'lack of depth' seem to be on this board....obviously the listeners like it. Yeah, PPM is not perfect, but it is far better than diaries, which were in many cases, exercises in creative remembering since respondents didn't fill them out untill the last day before they were mailed. PPm has it's flaws, but I'll still take it as a more accurate reflection of listening that diaries.
 
"Citadel believes in localism, not cookie-cutter formats."

I guess by localism you consider steve harvey, michael baisden, america's morning news, laura ingraham, clark howard, etc local. not knocking your success RG, clearly max delivers dudes, but let's not try to wrap CDL as the bastion of localism or the bastion for anything redeeming about radio for that matter.
 
The way I was taught radio....the 'old school' way....was that it was all about three things...serving your community, revenue, and ratings. DP and Vent, the way you would have it wouldn't do any of those three things. A wide variety playlist isn't viable in this community. It's been tried and failed. Wide variety playlist formats don't resonate with listeners here, hence they don't have an audience that advertisers are interested in...therefore, no revenue. This is, after all, a business that should be making a profit. While local programming is in most instances preffered, there are places where nationally syndicated product is the best product for the target audience of the radio station. Most people who like Steve Harvey, for example, would like his show over a less-talented local product. That's not to say that there isn't good local talent available, but it's still about listener prefference, hence syndicated programming in some dayparts on some stations...not to mention the cost savings in a market this size. Syndicated programming does not necessarily equal bad programming. Someone somewhere is doing something right...since neither of you believe that there's ANY local input to WXMX, WGKX or WRBO...oh, and throw in WKIM, too....since three of them are in the top five stations in the market in virtually every demo. Add in V-101...uh, last time I checked, Tom Joyner was.....wait for it......syndicated.....and WHRK.....(sorry, Big Sue is voicetracked)...and it seems like syndicated fare is as popular as locally generated product. Are listeners here unsophisticated? You two would say they don't know good radio when they hear it....how insulting to the Memphis listening public! And again, if 'good radio' is still out there, why hasn't someone put on the air and gotten filthy stinkin' rich? BTW, Vent, I don't have a direct role in 'programming', but I obviously have more influence within my organization about what goes on the air than you do in any station here in town.
 
Revenue and ratings come way before serving the community. I don't doubt at all that those three things were taught, but radio is all about the Benjamins these days. As far as how wide the playlist should be, I don't have a magic number of how many songs should be in heavy rotation, medium rotation, etc. I'm basically happy with the Max's playlist. I think it could be a little wider than what it is. Let's say it could be 15% wider than what it is and still maintain its audience. I'm not advocating anything as wide as what the Pig had with its playlist. I have a small, not big, problem with the playlist.
 
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