AMP Radio coming to San Diego

[SDRadio]

Radio people get hung up on labels, but radio listeners don't know CHR from AC, or care - they just know what entertains them and the history of pop music radio (and that's what all those stations are) shows that there's always room for a newcomer to push aside veteran stations.

I still have hope for punk country radio in San Diego.

 

[Garrett]

I am not an expert on SD radio so I can't say if another CHR would work there or not. It seems you already have one CHR, two Rhythmics and a couple of Hot AC's already so a second CHR would be hard to fit in.

Radio people get hung up on labels, but radio listeners don't know CHR from AC, or care - they just know what entertains them and the history of pop music radio (and that's what all those stations are) shows that there's always room for a newcomer to push aside veteran stations.

I don't have the gonads to say this often, but here goes:

Bob, you are wrong.
Of course labels matter! What a silly thing to suggest?
What you just wrote ignores the millions of dollars that companies invest every day on research for naming brands. This extends beyond radio. Everyone from Kmart to Political Parties spend money on labels. Everything has a reason. If it didn't, why would Clear Channel spend money on flipping 94.1 from "My94.1" to "Star," or why did they flip a ton of CHR's to the KISS FM brand (as just happened here in Lubbock), or a ton of Hot AC's to "Mix?" Or how about why did Ford change the name of the 500 to the Taurus? Because they had research that showed people identified with those brands better. It's called brand recognition, and it is very powerful. There's tons of research on this very subject! Burger King v. McDonald's, Republican v. Democrat, Ford v. GM. There is research on this that goes back to the cigarette brands of the 1960's (Winstons v. Salems). Everyone has strong brand loyalties, it is VERY powerful stuff.

And let me throw this at ya: Sophie and Star have the same format. Why is Star beating Sophie? Yup, brand loyalty!
Sorry to disagree with you Bob,
But labels DO INDEED matter!

Er, your honoor...lol

 

[Bob_Hudson]

Most research is wrong or rather so skewed and misinterpreted as to be useless or even dangerous to the corporate decision-making process. New Coke was the result of research

But putting that aside, there is a big difference between brands and categories, which is what the CHR, AA, AAC and other labels are. Radio hangs a thousand labels on formats, but when you tune across the dial it's the same old thing every where you go with differences between many categories so subtle as to be meaningless except to deluded programmers who still think the hot clock is the key to success.

And "Why is Star beating Sophie?" - because Sophie was designed to be a format, not an entertaining radio station.

And why is Star, called Star? - because of Jeff and Jer who had been big stars at "Star 100". Had that not been the case, My94.1 (man was that a lame name) would not be Star today, but it would still be an entertaining radio station.

The Hot AC, CHR labels are all the legacy of the era when some fool gave radio program directors access to computers and they decided they could create formulas and then have the computer plug music into those formulas, spit out a play list and voila, success! If it didn't work, then you programmed in a different formula.

With few exceptions radio is so driven by formulas that the lack of local talent hardly shows. I'm not a big fan of DS&C but I've been listening to them a lot lately just to get a better feel for what they do. One thing they don't do that seemingly every other morning show does is the tiresome cliche gossip news/American Idol chitchat/celebrity dirt stuff. That has become such a crutch for morning shows who apparently have decided that show prep simply means watching the E-channel and "reality TV." No wonder so many stations are opting for Ryan Seacrest: he can do the entertainment news much cheaper than a studio full of local yokels, plus Ryan's got the brand recognition to boot.

 

[SDRadio]

I don't have the gonads to say this often, but here goes:

Bob, you are wrong.

;D
Bob Hudson wrong? I'd call the Union-Tribune but they are no longer the newspaper of record for San Diego. SDNN.com is kicking the news tires in San Diego. KOGO would do the story, but it's lunch time and the entire newsroom is at the 7-11 getting a slurpee. the Voice of San Diego would do the story ... but then they have pressing matters on the UT story.

Well, I would trust more of Bob Hudson than your gonads .....

 

[Garrett]

There has been no convincing or logical arguement made to disprove what I said.

Where is David Eduardo when I need him...?

Most research is wrong or rather so skewed and misinterpreted as to be useless or even dangerous to the corporate decision-making process. New Coke was the result of research

But putting that aside, there is a big difference between brands and categories, which is what the CHR, AA, AAC and other labels are. Radio hangs a thousand labels on formats, but when you tune across the dial it's the same old thing every where you go with differences between many categories so subtle as to be meaningless except to deluded programmers who still think the hot clock is the key to success.

And "Why is Star beating Sophie?" - because Sophie was designed to be a format, not an entertaining radio station.

And why is Star, called Star? - because of Jeff and Jer who had been big stars at "Star 100". Had that not been the case, My94.1 (man was that a lame name) would not be Star today, but it would still be an entertaining radio station.

The Hot AC, CHR labels are all the legacy of the era when some fool gave radio program directors access to computers and they decided they could create formulas and then have the computer plug music into those formulas, spit out a play list and voila, success! If it didn't work, then you programmed in a different formula.

With few exceptions radio is so driven by formulas that the lack of local talent hardly shows. I'm not a big fan of DS&C but I've been listening to them a lot lately just to get a better feel for what they do. One thing they don't do that seemingly every other morning show does is the tiresome cliche gossip news/American Idol chitchat/celebrity dirt stuff. That has become such a crutch for morning shows who apparently have decided that show prep simply means watching the E-channel and "reality TV." No wonder so many stations are opting for Ryan Seacrest: he can do the entertainment news much cheaper than a studio full of local yokels, plus Ryan's got the brand recognition to boot.

 

[SDRadio]

There has been no convincing or logical arguement made to disprove what I said.

Where is David Eduardo when I need him...?

David is solving world crisis in la LA.

There has been no convincing or logical argument made to prove what you said either. Locally based Bob Hudson is on target. His best case, counselor is: "Why is Star beating Sophie?" - because Sophie was designed to be a format, not an entertaining radio station."

Both stations serve an audience: some listeners like the music; some like the entertainment with the music. Star and Sophie are not going for the same set of ears.

Same could be said of KKLQ-AM/FM. Outside of the morning show, it was another hot AC station. Now that may make the hairs on your neck stand up .... not my intent. It was a very well produced music intensive station outside of the morning show.

I look at my son as a good barometer on radio. Specifically, the 18-year old very seldom listens to radio -- except with me. I know that because he told me. His music entertainment comes from white ear buds, or his iPhone plugged into his car radio. AM and FM are just another alphabet acronym to him. (Really, just think about AM and PM. Most use all day, but what is the meaning?)

 

[Garrett]

There has been no convincing or logical arguement made to disprove what I said.

Where is David Eduardo when I need him...?

David is solving world crisis in la LA.

There has been no convincing or logical argument made to prove what you said either. Locally based Bob Hudson is on target. His best case, counselor is: "Why is Star beating Sophie?" - because Sophie was designed to be a format, not an entertaining radio station."

Both stations serve an audience: some listeners like the music; some like the entertainment with the music. Star and Sophie are not going for the same set of ears.

Same could be said of KKLQ-AM/FM. Outside of the morning show, it was another hot AC station. Now that may make the hairs on your neck stand up .... not my intent. It was a very well produced music intensive station outside of the morning show.

I look at my son as a good barometer on radio. Specifically, the 18-year old very seldom listens to radio -- except with me. I know that because he told me. His music entertainment comes from white ear buds, or his iPhone plugged into his car radio. AM and FM are just another alphabet acronym to him. (Really, just think about AM and PM. Most use all day, but what is the meaning?)

Point made

 

[Bob_Hudson]

The LA Times ran a story last week about the latest LA radio ratings.

KISS was number one !2+ and No. 3 in mornings (Seacrest).

So how does KISS's programming boss view the alphabet soup of popular music radio formats?

Here's what he told the Times:

"Top 40 music is real popular right now, and there are a lot of styles" within that genre, KIIS' vice president of programming, John Ivey, said Wednesday. "We just try to keep it interesting."

It sounds he's less concerned about labels than entertainment.

 

[radiojomo]

Turning 103.7 into AMP would be a good fit. It would be very similar to the competition in LA with one Mainstream CHR and 2 Rhythmic CHRs But a smart idea for CBS would be waiting until PPM comes into effect. It could be that the numbers would be higher for Sophie with the PPM (doubtful due to Star 94.1?), who knows???
What I think is the biggest weakness for Sophie could be the programming director. After all, she was the last PD for Star 98.7 in LA when it was still Hot AC. Also, Ryan Seacrest on middays on KMYI might not help out Sophie.

 

[nocoradio]

Let me start by saying that I like Sophie...but it's not working, and the fact that it might have more local jocks than Star or 933 isn't going to change the ratings. Sophie is pulling worse numbers than Free 103-7 was. I think an AMP or NOW at 103-7, jockless with a 10 thousand songs in a row launch (just like they did in LA) just before PPM goes live would really hit 933 and Star hard.

 

[radiojomo]

I used to LOVE and still do LOVE Sophie! The format is a very unique to radio, especially at the beginning of the format when it was a cross of Hot AC and AAA. But sadly, it's not making any money. Poor Sophie...

 

[Garrett]

Turning 103.7 into AMP would be a good fit. It would be very similar to the competition in LA with one Mainstream CHR and 2 Rhythmic CHRs But a smart idea for CBS would be waiting until PPM comes into effect. It could be that the numbers would be higher for Sophie with the PPM (doubtful due to Star 94.1?), who knows???
What I think is the biggest weakness for Sophie could be the programming director. After all, she was the last PD for Star 98.7 in LA when it was still Hot AC. Also, Ryan Seacrest on middays on KMYI might not help out Sophie.

For what reason are we resurrecting a month old thread about a switch that did not happen?
Is there some new information that 103-7 will flip to CHR?

 

[SDRadio]

Yes.

 

[Garrett]

Excellent!
Another online format flip for me to record!