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Alt 105.3 Flips to Adult Hits "105.3 Dave FM"

Spanish-language Radio Hit 104.7 in San Jose, Costa Rica plays more Alternative than straight rock.
And it's a niche format in a market with nearly 30 full power FMs.

But the point I have made several times is that the appeal of English language rock in Latin America is almost entirely among Upper income and High Middle Income persons, a small part of each market... and more importantly, a group that does not emigrate to the US as they live better where they are than they could possibly live in the US.

Even if you look at rock artists like Jerry Garcia, you find a later generation person with European heritage and who had no commonality with most Latin American immigrants.
 
Isn't it the job of a programmer to find an audience in the desired demographic? If the demo's were too old, then why not shift them younger? It sounds like KFOG aged with it's audience.
It tried to stay relevant to its target audience, and there were, quite simply, fewer rock partisans in the younger demo cells in the San Francisco MSA than in the older ones.
 
Spanish-language Radio Hit 104.7 in San Jose, Costa Rica plays more Alternative than straight rock.
And it's a niche format in a market with nearly 30 full power FMs.

But the point I have made several times is that the appeal of English language rock in Latin America is almost entirely among Upper income and High Middle Income persons, a small part of each market... and more importantly, a group that does not emigrate to the US as they live better where they are than they could possibly live in the US.

Even if you look at rock artists like Jerry Garcia, you find a later generation person with European heritage and who had no commonality with most Latin American immigrants.
 
Why does everyone here assume that "Alternative IS Rock"? Yes, it's roots are in the Grunge era, but that was 30+ years ago. Yes, it has been a major part of the format, but I would argue that there is more Pop in Alternative than there is Rock.
I think this was the case back in 2018, but this year it feels like it's 50/50 pop/rock, or 60/40 in favor of rock. I do not consider Alternative a "rock" format and to be honest it never has been, it's a potpourri format that happens to lean rock. When Billboard debuted their Alternative chart in 1988 two pop hits charting high in the Hot 100 were on the first top 10, "Breakfast in Bed" and "Wild, Wild West". Even when Alternative was arguably a metal format in the early 00's rappers like OutKast and Eminem made it into the teens on the format. There was also a period in the late 90's where a propulsive electronic sound, "Big Beat", was a constant presence alongside indie rock and post-grunge.

The core of the format is indie rock, however, and that's where Alternative gets its reputation of being a rock format. It's a different execution and feel than the CHR/Pop format, whose core has been dance music of various kinds since the 80's (or since the late 70's really). Much like how dance music has changed on pop the indie rock has changed on Alternative, but what's remained the same is that it is, well, indie rock. It just happens to be flanked by another genre or two for 5-10 years depending on the longevity of that genre's sound. Right now, that genre is alternative pop, which is an offshoot/evolution of the indie pop trend of 2011-16. It's starting to look to me that the replacement genre could be "rock revival", which so far has taken forms of pop-punk and old-school rock sounds, and it remains to be seen which one proves dominant.

BTW, cool playlist you have there! :)
 
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I don't doubt that KCSN appeals to 'senior' citizens (hey, I'd be considered one of those), but their playlist is overwhelmingly new artists with new music.

Same with WXPN. It was one of the few stations where you might hear new music by classic rock artists, such as Robert Plant.

Completely agree on the people making it happen. Just surprised there has never been any momentum here in the Bay Area.

My guess is the people with money and motivation are based in new technologies, and thus not at all interested in a 100 year old medium. George Lucas was a huge fan of traditional radio. And he certainly could afford to launch such a station. But he's more interested in new tech.
 
So how do you reach 18-34 males these days? The go to format used to be some form of Rock. What is it now? Sports? I know it isn't CHR since David mentioned the lack of male appeal. What's left? Urban? That might be the answer in some markets, but not most.
 
Sean Ross seems to suggest that iHeart could put the format on KOSF, also mentioning this is less likely due to the station’s nice jump. Even before the jump, why would iHeart dump a 2.4 share for a 1.4? The only company silly enough to do that is Audacy- and even they determined there just isn’t a market for this format in the Bay Area. Judging by the PPMs I’ve followed for the last decade or so, I don’t think there ever really was a market either.

 
So how do you reach 18-34 males these days?
Hip Hop / Urban, Regional Mexican, Spanish language CHR based on Reggaetón, Churban are all strong with younger men. And sports, of course.
The go to format used to be some form of Rock.
Not for several decades since rhythmic music started dominating in that demo.
What is it now? Sports? I know it isn't CHR since David mentioned the lack of male appeal. What's left? Urban? That might be the answer in some markets, but not most.
It's not that CHR does not have male appeal; it just has greater female appeal and you'll find CHRs to be 55% to 65% female, but still attracting lots of men.
 
It's a good idea for an artist to age with their audience.
Excluding the Rolling Stones, how many artists/bands have have survived to appeal to multiple generations? Most bands that have long histories/careers find it hard to move passed their heyday, because their fans stopped listening to new music.
 
Why? Because you don't like the format? I do not see any reason why the format should not be on a standard "broadcast over the airwaves station" in the bay area. Of coarse I'm biased....like you....except that I like the format, and you don't (based on your many posts over the years).
…..Or, because the ratings for KITS were garbage to mediocre for ITS ENTIRE EXISTENCE. You’d think that ratings would’ve improved following the death of KFOG, however they did not. Why would any operator want to sacrifice their existing signal to take on a format that rarely cracked a 2 share?

And I enjoy the Alternative format, though much less given the changes made to it in the last half decade or so.
 
The fact that LA is able to successfully handle two alternative stations and a Jack FM station with it demographics is impressive. I think there is more Hispanic interest in rock than black intrest
LA is also a lot bigger market that can support those stations.
 
…..Or, because the ratings for KITS were garbage to mediocre for ITS ENTIRE EXISTENCE. You’d think that ratings would’ve improved following the death of KFOG, however they did not. Why would any operator want to sacrifice their existing signal to take on a format that rarely cracked a 2 share?

And I enjoy the Alternative format, though much less given the changes made to it in the last half decade or so.
Honestly, anything in San Francisco that aren't the news stations seem to always hover around mediocrity (with occasional bursts of good ratings). I'd chalk this up to just San Francisco being a rather unique city in that the news and sports radio stations crowd out anything relating to music.
 
LA is also a lot bigger market that can support those stations.
Not necessarily. Advertisers who go by the ratings look at the stations that delivery large audiences at a reasonable cost per point that is competitive with other stations that might be on the buy.

A "share" in any market is a percentage of radio listeners using a particular station. That number can be compared with other local stations to see the comparative delivery

Stations with low ratings just don't get considered. While they may have opportunities with smaller advertisers, that will be at lower rates.
 
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