Bonneville may swap the sound and then no more sound

[atwater kent]

"slightly higher?"

That's hardly a reason for Indie to bail on an established format it's been growing for years, because some other station has "slightly" higher cume.

And cloning KFOG is a bad idea. LA isn't SF, and KFOG's version of AAA is actually somewhat blander than The Sound's programming. Those who complain about the amount of classic rock on the Sound would be quite unhappy with KFOG. More Cars, Supertramp, and such acts, and less current and recurrent AAA. And KFOG still plays their fair share of those Goo Goo Dolls records you've been burnt out on by the Hot AC stations too.

I respect KFOG's jocks and heritage, but it's not exactly a model of forward thinking in AAA.

Objective facts: Sound's daily percentage of new/recurrent vs gold titles is approximately 17% new to 83% gold. KFOG's is approximately 30% new to 70% gold. The Sound's top 15 core artists include Beatles, Stones, Who, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin and, yes, the dreaded Cars. (Mediabase Monitor) Neither station might be what you perceive it to be.

 

[davideduardo]

"slightly higher?"

That's hardly a reason for Indie to bail on an established format it's been growing for years, because some other station has "slightly" higher cume.

Indie barely reaches 250,000 persons, and has been on a share level in the last several years that is much lower than when it debuted... it has not been growing at all, ever. It currently has a 0.4 share 12+ and is ranked 44th. KSWD is 32nd.

KIIS, on the other hand, has a cume of 3.3 million.

 

[davideduardo]

Even JILL-FM had a slightly higher cume than Indie.

Nah. Jill is about 10 thousand less than Indie.

 

[davideduardo]

The Sound will do well in the long run.

Doubtful. It has been on closing in on a year now, and there is no growth at all.

 

[JimmyJames]

My perception is still that the Sound is more adventurous in their new music and some of the gold picks than KFOG. I also think the Sound plays some deeper cuts from the classic rock artists than KFOG.

Point being, from my perspective listening, the cuts on KSWD are often more interesting and less "classic rock radio" staples than what's playing on KFOG. Purely subjective yes, but that is how i perceive the two.

 

[kentuckymedia]

One talk was Citadel would take control of The Sound in exchange for their cluster in DC. That has been on the table for a couple weeks or so I hear. Bonneville would like to add Baltimore to their stable, but whats not saying that Baltimore could be in the works for a split.

Just an idea, yes its an idea so dont criticize me on this!

CITADEL picks up:

KSWD LOS ANGELES
(KABC-AM News/Talk * KLOS-FM Classic Rock * KSWD-FM Alternative)

BONNEVILLE picks up:

WMAL WASHINGTON
WRQX WASHINGTON
WJZW WASHINGTON
(WTOP-AM/FM News/Talk * WMAL-AM News/Talk * WFED-AM News/Talk * WRQX-FM Hot AC * WJZW-FM Classic)

Then in Houston and Baltimore

CLEAR CHANNEL sells to CBS:

KLOL HOUSTON
KHMX HOUSTON
(KKHH-FM CHR * KILT-FM Country * KLOL Latin Pop * KHMX Hot AC)

CBS sells to Clear Channel:

WLYF-FM BALTIMORE
WWMX-FM BALTIMORE
(WLYF-FM AC * WWMX-FM Hot AC * WCHH-FM Alternative * WPOC-FM Country)

CBS sells to Bonneville:

WJZ-AM BALTIMORE
WJZ-FM BALTIMORE
WQSR-FM BALTIMORE
(WJZ-AM/FM Sports * WQSR-FM Classic which becomes another WTOP station)

 

[AM FM listener]

CITADEL picks up:

KSWD LOS ANGELES
(KABC-AM News/Talk * KLOS-FM Classic Rock * KSWD-FM Alternative)

Aahh, and then Citadel simulcasts KABC 790 AM on 100.3 FM. Makes sense. KABC needs to do something to better compete with KFI.

 

[romer979fm]

(veering slightly back on-topic)
the numbers for KSWD are pretty dreadful...but...are they able to sell it?
if so, the format could hang on a while, but if the salesfolk can't sell it....buh-bye

 

[SuperRadioFan]

Even JILL-FM had a slightly higher cume than Indie.

Nah. Jill is about 10 thousand less than Indie.

Am I reading numbers wrong? Not that it matters to me. From this website we are on--
44 KJLL-FM Adult Contemporary 271,800
45 KFRG-FM Country 267,400
46 KTNQ-AM Spanish News/Talk 263,400
47 KDLD-FM Alternative 262,700

 

[davideduardo]

Even JILL-FM had a slightly higher cume than Indie.

Nah. Jill is about 10 thousand less than Indie.

Am I reading numbers wrong? Not that it matters to me. From this website we are on--
44 KJLL-FM Adult Contemporary 271,800
45 KFRG-FM Country 267,400
46 KTNQ-AM Spanish News/Talk 263,400
47 KDLD-FM Alternative 262,700

Jill, 245,000 and Indie 256,700 for Avg. Wkly Cume. But not from a website... from Arbitron for 12+.

You may be looking at 6+, which for some reason is what Arbitron releases, although nobody in the industry looks at it ecept Radio Disney . Any 6-11 that changes the 12+ numbers on Jill or Indie is definitely "captive" listening by a parent.

 

[karmazen]

The Sound will do well in the long run.

Doubtful. It has been on closing in on a year now, and there is no growth at all.

I just found this forum after reading a story elsewhere about the Sound swap rumor.

This statement is not true. A friend called me the day the Sound went on the air. It was the day after the Springsteen concert, April 8. That means the sound has been on the air for 7 months and 20-some-odd days. They didn't even have DJs until a few months ago. I think Larry Morgan started mornings in August.

Jeez. For fans of the radio industry, you guys sure like to dash the brains out of any station that tries a new approach. Hate to see what you do to stations you really dislike.

As you were.

 

[davideduardo]

This statement is not true. A friend called me the day the Sound went on the air. It was the day after the Springsteen concert, April 8. That means the sound has been on the air for 7 months and 20-some-odd days. They didn't even have DJs until a few months ago. I think Larry Morgan started mornings in August.

Eight months is certainly "closing in on a year." (April -November).

And the cume has been absolutely flat for the september, october and november books. That is three books after what you consider a benchmark with no movement at all, despite being about the only station int he market doing any promotion.

Jeez. For fans of the radio industry, you guys sure like to dash the brains out of any station that tries a new approach. Hate to see what you do to stations you really dislike.

"New approach" is hyperbole at its best. We have had AAA here before, the last being KSCA through 2/97, and it did equally as poorly then in a market that was not as ethnic and immigrant (read: no AAA appeal) as it is now.

Nobody is faulting The Sound or Bonneville for its effort. The issue is whether the market cares, and it appears that it does not.

 

[SuperRadioFan]

David, tell me what makes you (and the industry) think The Sound is 'AAA'? Maybe they were during the first 3-4 months, but as each day goes by, they are leaning and continue to lean wayyyyy more to the AOR/classic rock playlist. By any objective analysis, I believe this statement can no longer be disputed!! The only thing left for them to do is to continue eliminating the few AAA-exclusive tracks they do play.

I know the AAA format is not your bag (or Glenn's) so with all due respect, you are not familiar enough with the music to ascertain the difference between an act like Guster and an act like U2 for example. IOW you don't know the music. It's all unpleasant noise for you and that's not a problem for me. I feel I do know the music; since 1987, even before we all knew the term "AAA", I have been a listener to adult alternative wherever I can find it (over the air, cable TV [MusicChoice], satellite, and Internet [both over the air streams and Internet-only]), it's still my preference of music format choice.

100.3 The Sound is about as far away from AAA as you can get while still being considered by the industry "AAA". Even The Sound in all the time they've been around has never claimed to be an Adult Alternative station. They's always claimed to be "World Class Rock" which does not neccesarily mean "AAA".

When 40% of your playlist is classic rock; while 90% of your format is classic rock + AOR + modern rock; while 90% of your artists are male; while 15-20% of your playlist is currents and of that amount only 1/6 is AAA-exclusive artists and/or tracks; with all of the above making up your playlist, you are NOT Adult Alternative!!

 

[SuperRadioFan]

AAA or not AAA - You make the call!

To piggyback on my post above, the following are the last ten played. THIS is "AAA"? LOL!! ;D

11:10am - Where Are You Going by Dave Matthews Band
11:04am - Thunder Road (live) by Bruce Springsteen
11:01am - Stay Up Late by Talking Heads
10:57am - Come As You Are by Nirvana
10:51am - Shooting Star by Bad Company
10:47am - One More Time by Joe Jackson
10:41am - Vertigo by U2
10:37am - Let's Go by Cars
10:31am - Everlong (acoustic) by Foo Fighters
10:26am - Down By The Seaside by Led Zeppelin

 

[davideduardo]

David, tell me what makes you (and the industry) think The Sound is 'AAA'?

Because, for LA, it would seem obvious that what they found is this market's AAA leans a different direction. Obviously, the reason why so few successful AAAs have launched in the last two decades is that a "real" AAA has a core music library that is pretty exclusive; in cases liike KBCO there have been over 3 decades to warm up the audience. Here, even counting KSCA as a "warm up" the core was so small and the non-Hispanic white residents so transient that there is going to be a huge unfamiliarity issue if they went by the Chicago-Portland-BOulder model.

And you have actually suggested another reason why AAA won't have an easy go here... it's just to unfamiliar even to potential listeners. remeber, this format is predominantly successful where it does work in older demos, so there is not a lot of thirst for loads of new music, so the core will not be out there looking for a station that plays lots of songs they have never heard before, even if they are really good songs.

 

[SuperRadioFan]

All good points, just don't call The Sound a AAA station! My prediction, they will continue on the classic rock/modern rock/AOR lean with deeper tracks than KLOS would play. After that, they will phase out any remaing AAA-exclusive tracks. THEN no one will be calling them "AAA".

 

[4UH8SIMBKAGN]

This statement is not true. A friend called me the day the Sound went on the air. It was the day after the Springsteen concert, April 8. That means the sound has been on the air for 7 months and 20-some-odd days. They didn't even have DJs until a few months ago. I think Larry Morgan started mornings in August.

Eight months is certainly "closing in on a year." (April -November).

And the cume has been absolutely flat for the september, october and november books. That is three books after what you consider a benchmark with no movement at all, despite being about the only station int he market doing any promotion.

Jeez. For fans of the radio industry, you guys sure like to dash the brains out of any station that tries a new approach. Hate to see what you do to stations you really dislike.

"New approach" is hyperbole at its best. We have had AAA here before, the last being KSCA through 2/97, and it did equally as poorly then in a market that was not as ethnic and immigrant (read: no AAA appeal) as it is now.

Nobody is faulting The Sound or Bonneville for its effort. The issue is whether the market cares, and it appears that it does not.

Actually, Channel 103.1 KACD/KBCD was the last AAA station in Los Angeles. Another loser.

 

[davideduardo]

Actually, Channel 103.1 KACD/KBCD was the last AAA station in Los Angeles. Another loser.

Like Indie, that is a tough one to count since it is not a competitive signal. But, yes, it does warrant mentioning for it's failure in a coverage area the one would think might have a chance for such a format.

 

[karmazen]

Actually, Channel 103.1 KACD/KBCD was the last AAA station in Los Angeles. Another loser.

Like Indie, that is a tough one to count since it is not a competitive signal. But, yes, it does warrant mentioning for it's failure in a coverage area the one would think might have a chance for such a format.

Hi. Checking back in; but, don't worry, I doubt I'll stay for long.

First, it's nice to know that 7.9 months equates to about a year. I didn't know that before. But, after reading a few of your other posts, I see that you never back down, so it must be true. However, I've also read here about a new ratings system being implemented a few months ago, and a mention or two about how news/talk stations benefited from the closely watched election coverage these last few months. Call me a know-nothing, but it seems like a few months under these conditions is a little early to call the fight.

Also, I remember the Channel, and hearing at the time that it was not a "failure" due to ratings, but that one radio company bought another and owned too many under the laws at the time. But, I'm sure you'll correct me on that, too, as you don't seem to have very many unexpressed thoughts.

That's all for me.

Happy New Year.

 

[davideduardo]

First, it's nice to know that 7.9 months equates to about a year. I didn't know that before.

Is English not your first tongue? I said "approaching a year." 8 months is" approaching a year" just like getting to Monterey when traveling from LA to San Francisco is "approaching San Francisco." The "final approach" to LAX is announced about over Banning.... not over downtown LA. Do you get what "approaching" means yet?

But, after reading a few of your other posts, I see that you never back down, so it must be true. However, I've also read here about a new ratings system being implemented a few months ago, and a mention or two about how news/talk stations benefited from the closely watched election coverage these last few months. Call me a know-nothing, but it seems like a few months under these conditions is a little early to call the fight.

We have had pre-release PPM data since June. The Sound has not budged in 6 full books.

Also, I remember the Channel, and hearing at the time that it was not a "failure" due to ratings, but that one radio company bought another and owned too many under the laws at the time. But, I'm sure you'll correct me on that, too, as you don't seem to have very many unexpressed thoughts.

The Channel had bad ratings, bad coverage and bad results. It was, in essence, a play to keep KROQ from being #1 so KIIS could be at the top. All they needed was to take a tiny bit off KROQ, and the goal was met. The combo averaged a 0.6 to 0.7 share for the roughly two years before it was sold to Entravision... and that is a failure.

Feel free to return to The Sound's board and complain about how nobody over here appreaciates real rock music.