CC Morning Drive Ratings

[downthedial]

Noticing the post on another thread about how KTRH is 6th in the AM, I was curious as to how CC's other stations' morning ratings were faring, in light of the challenges the corporation has faced lately?

Now that I am happily away from the CC building and the obvious insider's loop, I've tuned into several of CC's morning shows, as nothing more than a listener. In doing so, I've noticed that several CC morning shows seem to have lost their entertainment luster, as of late. Sad, considering the professional friendships I had within the building, for a time, but not too surprising, given the way things have headed downhill, of late.

If anyone happens to have the data for all of CC stations' morning drive-times, and corporate heads don't forbid you to post it here, thanks in advance for the information.

 

[mrtexmex2007]

downhedial=easymoney??? :-\

 

[downthedial]

downhedial=easymoney??? :-\

No, I'm definitely not Easy Money. I happen to agree with the opinion that Easy Money will someday, sadly, notice how his loyalty to the company is a crock of crap. I'm someone who had a stint with ties to CC radio, was tossed aside, but who still respects those who stick with radio, through the good times and bad.

 

[bigstory12]

25-54
#2-KTBZ
#4-KKRW
#6-KTRH
#11-KLOL
#14-KODA
#15-KPRC
#17-KHMX
#36-KBME.

 

[downthedial]

Thanks for letting me know and for confirming my thoughts about how morning radio at CC has taken a downhill spiral, of late.

 

[Theo_Huxtable]

How is KTRH being ranked 6th 25-54 bad? Considering how PPM hasn't been as kind to AM's in general as the diary, I would say that having KTRH #6 is great. Where are the other AM's?

 

[downthedial]

Theo,

I don't usually listen to AM radio. My comment was about the quality of both the music and the entertainment value of a few of the CC FM stations; I should have been more specific. The PPMs have never been kind to AM; I know this and agree that 6th for KTRH is commendable. Those with affiliations with 740 should be very happy.

Second and fourth for The Buzz and The Arrow are good, too, and in my opinion, at least for The Arrow, Dean & Rog are enjoyable.

Where I see the problem is in looking at Mix and Sunny and how both, of late, seem to have a bit of an identity crisis in regards to what their primary focus should be. Sunny has begun to sound like Mix; Mix has begun to sound like The Buzz and at least, to me, that has become a bit of a turnoff.

To me, their morning shows (Mix with Sam Malone and Sunny with Dana & Marc) have suffered as the result of what has become CC's time of uncertainty. No disrespect intended to Sam, Dana or Marc (Marc Sherman is a wonderful man and during my time at CC, he was a dear friend); I've just had a tremendous time getting interested in listening to their shows of late (shows I once enjoyed). I don't know, since I've been away from my affiliations there for awhile, if the changes I'm hearing have something to do with testing different playlists with their respective target audiences, in the event that either Mix or The Buzz is sold, or what seems different, but something seems amiss to me. Fourteenth and 17th in the mornings, even knowing that Sunny is not personality driven, seems to prove my point.

 

[Theo_Huxtable]

Fair enough. I can't imagine how it is to walk around a building wondering if it you, or them that isn't going to be there if the sale goes through. Can't be fun.

 

[downthedial]

Well....Theo... let's just say I'm sleeping well at night, now that I'm away from the building and the hassles. While my so-called CC friends are bound by management mandates that forbid them from contacting me, there is still a small piece of my heart that worries about their own job security in both the short and long-term. I care about them, even if I would someday find out that they never cared about my efforts to better the company.

I allowed CC management and their mandates to walk all over me, so many times, and I will say... no more. I was with the company in one market, left on good terms, moved to the Houston area with plans on switching careers, and like a fool, I allowed myself to be sucked back into the CC system again, instead of, many years ago, pursuing the avenues (outside of radio) that I'm pursuing now. After being jerked around for a number of years, here in Houston, I was finally released from the misery, with little to no notice and little to no reasoning.

I'm much better off, but because I did meet a few wonderful people while with CC-Houston, the future for them is still a concern. Sue me for being nice, I guess.

 

[Edward G. Noron]

Dial, it's not just CC and it's not just Houston. I've seen it happen in non rated markets and everywhere in between. It's the nature of the beast. Radio has that power. Everyone knows (you're naive if you don't) that you could get blown out, have an ownership change, work for crappy bosses, etc. But we all choose to work in the business. It's just like after someone gets blown out from CC/Entercom/CBS/Cox/Univision/Radio One/ insert next company here. They do nothing but hammer the company, only to return somewhere down the road. Not everyone, but there are more that do than don't. Maybe we just like the adventure. Who knows... some person with degrees on their wall should do a long term study. I'd much rather find out why we do that, than how cow farts effect the ozone.

 

[downthedial]

Dial, it's not just CC and it's not just Houston. I've seen it happen in non rated markets and everywhere in between. It's the nature of the beast.

I know these things are an issue everywhere and not just here. Being let go from CC stung for a time, but it doesn't sting as much now. We have to do the only thing we can do: tip our hats, be grateful we were employed, and move ahead from there.

A close member of my family was a victim of management issues, 40 years ago, in the era of pops and white noise, working in one of those markets so small that ratings are not considered. I do commend those who stay with it for the love, and I still love radio, too. I'll never, officially, say "I'm done with it," because as soon as I'd set myself to such a future, I'll end up back again, somewhere else at some point down the road. Life has no guarantees and some things tend to fall in our laps, so to speak.

For now, I will say I taking a needed break from radio to clear my head and explore other avenues. I'm still making a living, following my other love in life: writing. At this stage, I'm happy stepping away from radio and taking a respite from the early hours, management hassles, and occasional to ever present stress that can sometimes come with the beast. Even as much as I currently doubt I'll be in radio, in any capacity, again, I'll never entirely rule out a return.

Radio becomes an addiction, albeit a legal one. We love it, we need it, and when the job goes away, we crave it. We live it, breathe it, and think about it in our sleep (or at least I did).

I think your study idea is a good one. It'd have to be better than some of the studies that have been nothing more than wasted research dollars and equally wasted time! Who cares about some anthill on a mountaintop in Tibet? I don't.