Audacy's KSPF is #1 and Jack-FM is #4 in Dallas

[Gregg.]

It wasn't long ago that some on this board were suggesting these two stations merge. They'd say "Why does Audacy need a Classic Hits and a Jack-FM station in the same market? It looks like Jack-FM is running out of steam. And do you need both stations playing many of the same rock songs of the 1970s, 80s and 90s?"

Here is why. Jack-FM is a distinct format from Classic Hits. They share some titles but each station has plenty of songs the other wouldn't touch. And in the latest ratings, KSPF is #1 and KJKK is #4. Jack-FM's playlist has hardly changed in the 20 years it's been in the format. (It switched to Jack on July 1, 2004.) And it continues to use the "Voice of Jack," making ironic quips and sarcastic comments between songs, for the last two decades.

In a competitive market with so many radio stations like Dallas, Audacy is lucky to have the #1 and #4 stations. It also has #16 KMJK, #20 KRLD-FM, #22 KVIL and #27 KRLD.

 

[TheBigA]

Jack-FM is a distinct format from Classic Hits. They share some titles but each station has plenty of songs the other wouldn't touch. And in the latest ratings, KSPF is #1 and KJKK is #4.

That's if you look at 6+ numbers. If you look at 25-54, KJKK is #3 and KSPF is #6. So obviously the listeners recognize the difference. My view is the reason why KSPF is so low in 25-54 is because of all the 55+ in the audience. KJKK is more narrowly targeted.

The main difference between the two stations is presentation. KJKK is a national format, with the Jack branding & imaging. KSPF is a traditional classic hits station with personalities.

Dallas isn't the only market where Audacy has both classic hits and variety hits. In Los Angeles, Audacy owns KRTH, the perennial 6+ winner, and KCBS, Jack-FM, is #8. In 25-54, KRTH is #4, and KCBS is #8. So LA reacts differently to these two similar but different stations.

 

[SomeRadioGuy]

That's if you look at 6+ numbers. If you look at 25-54, KJKK is #3 and KSPF is #6. So obviously the listeners recognize the difference. My view is the reason why KSPF is so low in 25-54 is because of all the 55+ in the audience. KJKK is more narrowly targeted.

The main difference between the two stations is presentation. KJKK is a national format, with the Jack branding & imaging. KSPF is a traditional classic hits station with personalities.

Dallas isn't the only market where Audacy has both classic hits and variety hits. In Los Angeles, Audacy owns KRTH, the perennial 6+ winner, and KCBS, Jack-FM, is #8. In 25-54, KRTH is #4, and KCBS is #8. So LA reacts differently to these two similar but different stations.

and i would wager, in Dallas and LA... variety hits and classic hits compliment and flank each other fairly nicely.

 

[TheBigA]

and i would wager, in Dallas and LA... variety hits and classic hits compliment and flank each other fairly nicely.

Correct, and they do that by having the same person in charge of both stations:

Audacy Launches 98.7 The Spot in Dallas | Audacy Inc.

DALLAS, TX – June 14, 2023 – Audacy announces the launch of 98.7 The Spot (KLUV-FM) in Dallas. The station, previously known as 98.7 KLUV, will

audacyinc.com

 

[Mediafrog+]

It wasn't long ago that some on this board were suggesting these two stations merge.

Though that was about 18 months ago when there was rampant speculation that EMF was going to buy 107.5 for its K-Love network, with the La Grande format moving to 100.3. EMF apparently got cold feet, which scrubbed the deal.

At this point it’s best for Audacy to leave well enough alone. K-Love will eventually appear on an analog DFW FM, but not one of the current Audacy sticks.

 

[lanceventa]

It wasn't long ago that some on this board were suggesting these two stations merge. They'd say "Why does Audacy need a Classic Hits and a Jack-FM station in the same market? It looks like Jack-FM is running out of steam. And do you need both stations playing many of the same rock songs of the 1970s, 80s and 90s?"

Not just different formats, but targeting different demographics, which is the point of all formats.

Though that was about 18 months ago when there was rampant speculation that EMF was going to buy 107.5 for its K-Love network, with the La Grande format moving to 100.3. EMF apparently got cold feet, which scrubbed the deal.

At this point it’s best for Audacy to leave well enough alone. K-Love will eventually appear on an analog DFW FM, but not one of the current Audacy sticks.

I guess it can be said now since it won't be happening, but 100.3 KJKK was supposed to be part of a larger deal between Audacy and EMF that eventually became just the sale of 94.1 Memphis, 102.5 Buffalo, and the rights to the K-Love IP in Dallas with the KLUV call letters. The original larger deal was also to include stations in Sacramento and Miami and/or Orlando. Never was 107.5 involved nor was there legitimate talk of La Grande moving to 100.3.

 

[txchipk]

Not just different formats, but targeting different demographics, which is the point of all formats.


I guess it can be said now since it won't be happening, but 100.3 KJKK was supposed to be part of a larger deal between Audacy and EMF that eventually became just the sale of 94.1 Memphis, 102.5 Buffalo, and the rights to the K-Love IP in Dallas with the KLUV call letters. The original larger deal was also to include stations in Sacramento and Miami and/or Orlando. Never was 107.5 involved nor was there legitimate talk of La Grande moving to 100.3.

I'm not sure why there was speculation on 107.5. EMF has the funds -- and it will want a Cedar Hill FM that is a full C, not a weaker C1, to fully maximize the number of souls -- people -- to reach.

 

[davideduardo]

I'm not sure why there was speculation on 107.5. EMF has the funds -- and it will want a Cedar Hill FM that is a full C, not a weaker C1, to fully maximize the number of souls -- people -- to reach.

As many have noticed, the new administration of EMF seems to have slowed significantly the acquisition flow. Whether this is due to reduced contributions due to the current high inflation and pseudo-recession or a change in focus to other media outlets we don't know.

 

[lanceventa]

As many have noticed, the new administration of EMF seems to have slowed significantly the acquisition flow. Whether this is due to reduced contributions due to the current high inflation and pseudo-recession or a change in focus to other media outlets we don't know.

It's a budgetary reallocation. From what I've been told they had less than $10 million to spend on acquisitions this year and surpassed that amount in May or June. Any additional acquisitions will require a special dispensation from the Board of Directors, who are seemingly unwilling to grant it. All resources are going towards completing the new headquarters and staffing.

 

[Kent]

I'm not sure why there was speculation on 107.5. EMF has the funds -- and it will want a Cedar Hill FM that is a full C, not a weaker C1, to fully maximize the number of souls -- people -- to reach.

Virtually everyone who has ever owned that stick has wanted to get rid of it, but only if another Cedar Hill property became available. I was surprised KMEZ agreed to the swap with KNOK in the 80’s. Karmazin thought he would get the chance to dump it in ‘96 when he took charge of CBS Radio, but Salem said no.

 

[davideduardo]

It's a budgetary reallocation. From what I've been told they had less than $10 million to spend on acquisitions this year and surpassed that amount in May or June. Any additional acquisitions will require a special dispensation from the Board of Directors, who are seemingly unwilling to grant it. All resources are going towards completing the new headquarters and staffing.

And much of that new HQ facility is dedicated to "new media" and not the FMs!

 

[txchipk]

Virtually everyone who has ever owned that stick has wanted to get rid of it, but only if another Cedar Hill property became available. I was surprised KMEZ agreed to the swap with KNOK in the 80’s. Karmazin thought he would get the chance to dump it in ‘96 when he took charge of CBS Radio, but Salem said no.

I could be misremembering... KMEZ-FM had been bought by Summit, which announced it planned to take it towards R&B and ditch the easy listening format. KDLZ also just got sold and was being bought by Gilmore and seeing it would have to compete against KKDA-FM and the future KJMZ opted to pick up the KMEZ franchise and move it to 107.5.

 

[Huff]

I could be misremembering... KMEZ-FM had been bought by Summit, which announced it planned to take it towards R&B and ditch the easy listening format. KDLZ also just got sold and was being bought by Gilmore and seeing it would have to compete against KKDA-FM and the future KJMZ opted to pick up the KMEZ franchise and move it to 107.5.

Correct.

 

[Kent]

I could be misremembering... KMEZ-FM had been bought by Summit, which announced it planned to take it towards R&B and ditch the easy listening format. KDLZ also just got sold and was being bought by Gilmore and seeing it would have to compete against KKDA-FM and the future KJMZ opted to pick up the KMEZ franchise and move it to 107.5.

Looks like that was what happened. It happened so seamlessly that it looked and sounded like just a swap, though I did forget that 107.5 was KDLZ after being KNOK. Plus, wasn't 1480, which was paired with 107.5 in the late-80's/early-90's, originally co-owned with 100.3?

 

[b-turner]

At one point 100.3 had been KBOX FM, same calls as KBOX 1480. By the time I got to Dallas, 100.3 was Beautiful Music as KBOX FM but changed call letters to KTLC before changing calls again to KMEZ sometime after 1974.

 

[Huff]

Looks like that was what happened. It happened so seamlessly that it looked and sounded like just a swap, though I did forget that 107.5 was KDLZ after being KNOK. Plus, wasn't 1480, which was paired with 107.5 in the late-80's/early-90's, originally co-owned with 100.3?

1480 and 100.3 were originally co-owned and 970 and 107.5 were originally co-owned. The AMs were swapped in March 1989, pairing 970 with 100.3 and 1480 with 107.5.

 

[Huff]

At one point 100.3 had been KBOX FM, same calls as KBOX 1480. By the time I got to Dallas, 100.3 was Beautiful Music as KBOX FM but changed call letters to KTLC before changing calls again to KMEZ sometime after 1974.

100.3
Dec. 25, 1965: KBOX-FM
Mar. 1, 1973: KTLC-FM
May 24,1976: KMEZ (calls changed after 104.5 abandoned the KEZT calls in Dec. 1975)

 

[txchipk]

Looks like that was what happened. It happened so seamlessly that it looked and sounded like just a swap, though I did forget that 107.5 was KDLZ after being KNOK. Plus, wasn't 1480, which was paired with 107.5 in the late-80's/early-90's, originally co-owned with 100.3?

Yep. When 100.3 flipped from KMEZ-FM to KJMZ and 107.5 flipped from KDLZ to KMEZ-FM, KMEZ 1480 followed along, changing from simulcasting 100.3 to simulcasting 107.5. Technically, I suppose, 1480 would have been the originating station until the KMEZ staff moved to 107.5's studios. As Chris pointed out, the new owners of 100.3 and 107.5 agreed to swap the AM signals.