To David's point above, if the available audience is only 20,000 persons, and on average non-comms see only 10% of the count as actual donors, your only choice is to take donations in an amount that at least keeps the lights on. In other words, $20 would be too low.
I'm not 100% sure on that. I remember an ongoing effort by Wally Nelskog to boost KIXI to 50kw -- and it kept getting denied. He finally requested to license it to Mercer Island and the FCC caved with the COL change. I am thinking that was early 1980's -- and it was my recollection the new towers went into service at that time in the swamp. But I don't know where the xmitter was before that -- MAYBE in the same location? Most of my memory is tied to KIXI-FM (now KJEB) because they were in 801 Pine tower (the round apartments that look like a mini-Westin) and had an STL to Cougar Mtn. KYYX piggybacked on that STL to shoot to their tower, also on Cougar.
kixi.com
It has nothing to do whatsoever with my personal favourites. The question was simple: if KIXI continues to play music as their primary programming, what music makes the most sense to play? In my opinion, they need to concentrate on music that is likely to have more appeal than what they have now. I think more of a soft oldies approach could work, since 94.1 has been a huge success with a classic AC format. They’ll never have the appeal of a full market FM with an AC format, but they could steal a few listeners. They’re not going to be able to get away with shifting their playlist to anything too new, but they can get away with playing music that was popular on AM when it came out.
But that's my point; more appeal to who? Wouldn't you want to do actual market music research rather than injecting your own preferences?
But, isn't 94.1 an FM station?
But again, if you're assuming that only older folks used to putting up with the inferior quality of AM, then wouldn't those likely be the age you claim you want to avoid? In the age of streaming and FM stations, do you really think that just playing songs that you believe would be appealing would entice people under 70 to listen? Really?
Again, my preferences are completely irrelevant here. I’m just giving an example of what could, in the theoretical world, modernize KIXI and potentially give it a little more life than it has now. 94.1’s flip to classic AC was heavily criticized around here too when it happened, but it’s worked out pretty well from them. Strategically, the only thing that makes sense (to me) is to position yourself between 95.7 and 94.1, both of which being among the most successful stations in town.
Okay it appears I'm not getting through. Let's try approaching this a different way: You listed several artists and titles. How did you pick these artists and titles? Are you saying the point is to skew the music younger to attract a younger audience? If so, then do you honestly believe that there would be enough under-65 audience willing to tune in an AM mono station, when they could stream or listen to a competing FM stereo station?
Talk about understatement of the week, but yes.
Could it be because they've already tested that AM music listeners would fall into that era of music? Remember, Hubbard is an actual, serious broadcast group with resources. Not Fordranger797 radio nerd.
All they really need to do is cover utility and operational expenses. Their other FM stations are the relative cash cows within the group. KIXI, and whatever the call letters are of 1150 (the old KAYO), will never be contenders again. If they can scratch some national dollars appealing to seniors with Hurrycane or personal care garments, I argue it's better odds of at least covering the utility bill than hoping Classic Hit's aficionados will find something about an AM mono station more appealing than seasoned FM stations. Oh, and those same folks you would hope to bring over, had already left AM for FM back in the 70's where the music on your list originally aired.
I see what you’re saying about covering the expenses of operating 880. There’s definitely something to be said for 880 maintaining itself based on the limited advertising that it can still generate, and to not be a burden to the much more profitable FMs over at Hubbard. With that information in mind, would they be doing themselves a disservice to change their programming a bit to reflect the fact that there aren’t many listeners left who want music that “dusty”? If they did make some changes, would they lose the limited number of listeners (and advertisers) they have, or would there be any chance at improving their current situation?
That could be a very niche market product, AM to FM in car translator transmitter.
There's a reason why Weigel named it MeTVFM and not MeTVRadio, once gain this is a format that needs to be on FM to have a shot at success, especially anything that's 70's based.
