Classic 93.1 70s and 80s It Is

[kenrayc]

I check out both streams of KCCL and KHCZ and to me IMO KABX 97.5 and KHIT 107.1 is better at CLASSIC HITS. I always look forward hearing the Casey Kasem retro countdown of the 70s on KABX 97.5 on Sunday mornings. KABX plays more 60s and KHIT plays more 70s and they still have DJs through out the day, KABX is Satellite delivered with the exception of Dave Luna's morning show. Doing Sports like The River Cats should be on AM.

 

[kenrayc]

And why is Clear Channel picking on the little group broadcasting company (KCCL 92.1) with this format instead of going after CBS's KSFM 102.5 with some type of Urban AC?

What a bully company!

Unfortunately companies like this has existed for many years and have always used that type of tactic. Remember when Citadel first came in the Modesto-Stockton Market? They created KAT COUNTRY 103 which singlehandidly killed off many country competitors like KMIX-98.3-1390-100.9, KTRB-860, KFMR-100.1, as well as KHOP-104.1 (and later KHKK), killing off KDJK-95.1 and KVFX-96.7. Of course it helped Citadel by acquiring a couple of Class B Monster Signals as well as creative programming. I don't know which signal is stronger, KCCL or KHJQ, but usually the strongest signal wins out. Just like when 96.9 became Classic Rock KSEG- The Eagle. Killed off then Classic Rock, KLCQ-105.5 which had a weaker signal. Those Bully Companies Will Continue To Exist.

I remember KDJK 95.1 in 1984 being a sister station to KKDJ 105.9 doing AOR, at that time wasn't KHOP A top 40 rock station I DXs both of them. Don't they both get taken over by Citadel when they flipped the formats when KDJK started doing ALTERNATIVE when 104.1 and KROW 103.9 was doing AOR.

 

[Madmansam]

And why is Clear Channel picking on the little group broadcasting company (KCCL 92.1) with this format instead of going after CBS's KSFM 102.5 with some type of Urban AC?

What a bully company!

Unfortunately companies like this has existed for many years and have always used that type of tactic. Remember when Citadel first came in the Modesto-Stockton Market? They created KAT COUNTRY 103 which singlehandidly killed off many country competitors like KMIX-98.3-1390-100.9, KTRB-860, KFMR-100.1, as well as KHOP-104.1 (and later KHKK), killing off KDJK-95.1 and KVFX-96.7. Of course it helped Citadel by acquiring a couple of Class B Monster Signals as well as creative programming. I don't know which signal is stronger, KCCL or KHJQ, but usually the strongest signal wins out. Just like when 96.9 became Classic Rock KSEG- The Eagle. Killed off then Classic Rock, KLCQ-105.5 which had a weaker signal. Those Bully Companies Will Continue To Exist.

I remember KDJK 95.1 in 1984 being a sister station to KKDJ 105.9 doing AOR, at that time wasn't KHOP A top 40 rock station I DXs both of them. Don't they both get taken over by Citadel when they flipped the formats when KDJK started doing ALTERNATIVE when 104.1 and KROW 103.9 was doing AOR.

At that time, KHOP was located at 104.1 and was indeed Top 40. In 1986, KHOP was acquired by Fuller-Jeffrey Broadcasting. In 1991, 103.9 first signed on the air as KHRA but later became KHOV. In 1992, KHOP/KHOV switched to AOR. In 1993, Citadel acquired KHOP/KHOV. In 1994, Citadel parked the KROW calls at 103.9 from AM 780 Reno. 103.9 has always been a translator for 104.1. In 1994, KDJK was acquired by Mondosphere (thru a Bankruptcy Sale) and became Alternative. In 1996, Citadel acquired KDJK, and moved the KHOP calls and the Active Rock format (formerly AOR) to 95.1 and the KROW calls moved to 104.1 (KDJK calls to 103.9) and became CLASSIC HITS "ARROW 104.1". A few months later, Citadel dropped the ARROW moniker and replaced it with its current id "THE HAWK" and calls to KHKK. In 2000, after KHOP-95.1 dropped Rock in favor of "80's HITS" PLANET 95, Citadel harden THE HAWK's playlist from CLASSIC HITS to the current CLASSIC ROCK. In 2002, KHOP changed formats from 80's to its current MAINSTREAM CHR initially as PLANET 95-1 then as KHOP @ 95-1.

 

[Questor]

I was driving around last night and had KCLX on. I just passed the Golfland Roseville waterslides. That's one of those things I would have loved to have done on a hot, humid night.

The DJ spoke a little bit about the artist 10cc and their history as studio musicians who got together to form a band. I've always liked hearing a little bit of the background behind a song, a band, how they formed, why a certain song was composed. I wish more stations did that, if only to engage the audience more.

They played one of my favorites from 10cc, "The Things we do for Love." I've always loved the line "Communication is the problem to the answer." When my technical equipment isn't working, I think of that. When our sales pitch isn't going the way the team and I want, I think of it. Then comes the chorus about still getting things to work, "The Things we Do For Love."

Something I like a lot about these 70's/80's songs is they have ideas that apply to all generations. Especially on hot, endless summer nights.

 

[John Walker]

^^^
That's the type of thing that sets a station apart. Whether the jock gives you artist information, talks about the things that interest you, be it locally or otherwise, it indeed does engage you. The jukebox stations don't do that, it's just song after song after song..so bland.

If I want to hear a jukebox, I'll just pop in one of my CD's. I may just be getting music, but it's music I know I like and the music I feel like listening to at the moment. I'm willing to hear some songs I don't particularly care for (longs as there is music I like as well) if the personalities can keep me entertained and informed.

 

[DJBigOne]

^^^
That's the type of thing that sets a station apart. Whether the jock gives you artist information, talks about the things that interest you, be it locally or otherwise, it indeed does engage you. The jukebox stations don't do that, it's just song after song after song..so bland.

If I want to hear a jukebox, I'll just pop in one of my CD's. I may just be getting music, but it's music I know I like and the music I feel like listening to at the moment. I'm willing to hear some songs I don't particularly care for (longs as there is music I like as well) if the personalities can keep me entertained and informed.<<

Well said John! I know it's a chiche', but it's what's between the songs that keeps people listening to a station!

 

[djj]

^^^
That's the type of thing that sets a station apart. Whether the jock gives you artist information, talks about the things that interest you, be it locally or otherwise, it indeed does engage you. The jukebox stations don't do that, it's just song after song after song..so bland.

If I want to hear a jukebox, I'll just pop in one of my CD's. I may just be getting music, but it's music I know I like and the music I feel like listening to at the moment. I'm willing to hear some songs I don't particularly care for (longs as there is music I like as well) if the personalities can keep me entertained and informed.<<

Well said John! I know it's a chiche', but it's what's between the songs that keeps people listening to a station!

Agreed...

At the same time, though, I wonder how many people have RDS/RBDS
capability on their radios, and how they like that to tell them what the
artist/title is, instead of a jock/jockette telling 'em...

I, myself, like trivia added as the "spice" relatable to the artist/title info,
something an RDS/RBDS radio cannot do...
--jay

 

[DJBigOne]

At the same time, though, I wonder how many people have RDS/RBDS
capability on their radios, and how they like that to tell them what the
artist/title is, instead of a jock/jockette telling 'em...

I, myself, like trivia added as the "spice" relatable to the artist/title info,
something an RDS/RBDS radio cannot do...<<

RDS is cool to tell the listener what the station is: call letters, format, tag line, etc. More and more vehicles should be incorporating it. I know BMW's do. A simple box can be installed. I installed one at a station's transmitter site. They were using discreet transmitters/receivers for their STL, one each for L and R audio, so it couldn't be inserted at the studio (since the RDS box required composite audio). The discreet transmitters were a great idea so you don't lose the station completely if one transmitter or receiver fails. Most stations, I assume, use composite audio to feed their STL. Ooops! Now I am showing my engineering experience. My passion is really on-air stuff, but I do enjoy the technical side too (a self-professed technology geek).

Yes! Only a jock can relate to the music they're playing. I appreciate it when jocks do that. Tom Nakashima from The Eagle comes to mind. He does a good job talking about artist info.

 

[BossJock1947]

I actually like K-Hits 92.1 just a little more than the New Classic Hits 93.1. The only difference seems to be that K-Hits plays 60's & 70's while Classic Hits 93.1 plays 70's & 80's. Music though is really similar.

Both 92.1 and 93.1 are weak in signal and programming. A few good talents on 92.1 but both stations are just poorly programmed in music and presentation.

For a market the size of sacramento you would think there would be a hot oldies/classic hits station

 

[BossJock1947]

^^^
That's the type of thing that sets a station apart. Whether the jock gives you artist information, talks about the things that interest you, be it locally or otherwise, it indeed does engage you. The jukebox stations don't do that, it's just song after song after song..so bland.

If I want to hear a jukebox, I'll just pop in one of my CD's. I may just be getting music, but it's music I know I like and the music I feel like listening to at the moment. I'm willing to hear some songs I don't particularly care for (longs as there is music I like as well) if the personalities can keep me entertained and informed.

Hell they can't even make a "Jukebox" station sound good in sacramento!

 

[Madmansam]

I actually like K-Hits 92.1 just a little more than the New Classic Hits 93.1. The only difference seems to be that K-Hits plays 60's & 70's while Classic Hits 93.1 plays 70's & 80's. Music though is really similar.

Both 92.1 and 93.1 are weak in signal and programming. A few good talents on 92.1 but both stations are just poorly programmed in music and presentation.

For a market the size of sacramento you would think there would be a hot oldies/classic hits station

I patially agree with you. While 92.1 could sound better and badly programmed, In comparison to 93.1, They blow them away, but my favorite Sacramento Oldies station was KHYL-101.1 from about 1988-95. Great Station, Great Music and Great Personalities. But I do agree that K-Hits is far from great. As for a weak signal, Funny thing is that BOTH 92.1 & 93.1 Boom in Big in Stockton. In fact in my workplace where we have a cheap radio playing in the office, 92.1 & 93.1 come in great while we can't pick up KGBY-92.5, KQJK-93.7, KYMX-96.1, KSEG-96.9 and even KZZO-100.5. But both K-HITS 92.1 and CLASSIC 93.1 come in great, At least in Stockton.

 

[djj]

While traveling from Napa to Santa Cruz Saturday morning (the long-range, strong-mono 93.1 signal became
a "gone gosling" as I neared Sunol on I-680), I heard a "Paul Arca" off and on for an hour. He seemed tight
and bright, offering little music-trivia and more "pop-culture" stuff (such as baseball player Sammy Sosa's woes),
while Acta promoted his own e-mail address a coupla times...

Not that I have a problem with that. The problem is I did not hear Paul give any I.D. to what I was
tuned to - e.g.: call-letters or station moniker/slogan - in the 5 or 6 talk sets I heard. Program Directors cringe
when that phenomenon happens more often than not...at least they did when I was in Sacto in the '90s...

He did front-announce "Dancing In The Dark," but did not give the artist's name (Bruce Springsteen)...
he did that with another song, also, but I can't 'member what that was...

Adds new dimension to the term, "phoning-it-in," no?...
--jay

 

[Questor]

While traveling from Napa to Santa Cruz Saturday morning (the long-range, strong-mono 93.1 signal became
a "gone gosling" as I neared Sunol on I-680),

Oh, wow, I just wrote on another thread how 680 in the whereabouts of Sunol (Sheridan/Andrade Road / weight scales) is my magic spot for getting all kinds of stations, incl. a preview of Sacto stations ahead to come.

Gone gosling?  I'll reuse that.  My first exposure was James Gosling, the guy who created Java.  I have spilled some of that doing too much, like adjusting the volume when a surprise Sacto station percolates, drinking coffee and watching downhill speed on said Sunol grade.

He did front-announce "Dancing In The Dark," but did not give the artist's name (Bruce Springsteen)...

How can I be sure in a world that's constantly changing?  How do you know it wasn't the 1931 standard from Broadway's "The Band Wagon"?  Hey, look, what can you expect from some 80's graduate from Miami Beach who saw "Dancing in the Dark" on the set list for old retirees at the piano bar, wanting instead to break to The Boss?

Adds new dimension to the term, "phoning-it-in," no?...
--jay

If they can't phone it in and can't send it in, that leaves us only one choice.
Let's long for the day where . . .
I'm bringing it to you Personally.
(Karla Bonoff)

 

[djj]

To Questor's response: ROFL!
Yes, that IS quite the "DX" area on I-680, as described on theat other post...

Gone gosling? I'll reuse that. My first exposure was James Gosling, the guy who created Java. I have spilled some of that doing too much, like adjusting the volume when a surprise Sacto station percolates, drinking coffee and watching downhill speed on said Sunol grade.

"Gone Gosling" was a term used by the late sportscaster Red Rush to describe the young Oakland A's
players in 1979 (which the team had in great quantity), particularly when something negative happened
to any of them: e.g., when an A's baserunner got thrown out trying to steal a base, Rush refered to the
runner as a "gone gosling!"
--jay

 

[Michael Rivers Kramer]

While traveling from Napa to Santa Cruz Saturday morning (the long-range, strong-mono 93.1 signal became
a "gone gosling" as I neared Sunol on I-680), I heard a "Paul Arca" off and on for an hour. He seemed tight
and bright, offering little music-trivia and more "pop-culture" stuff (such as baseball player Sammy Sosa's woes),
while Acta promoted his own e-mail address a coupla times...

Not that I have a problem with that. The problem is I did not hear Paul give any I.D. to what I was
tuned to - e.g.: call-letters or station moniker/slogan - in the 5 or 6 talk sets I heard. Program Directors cringe
when that phenomenon happens more often than not...at least they did when I was in Sacto in the '90s...

He did front-announce "Dancing In The Dark," but did not give the artist's name (Bruce Springsteen)...
he did that with another song, also, but I can't 'member what that was...

Adds new dimension to the term, "phoning-it-in," no?...
--jay

There are NO jocks unique to Classic 93.1...Welcome to the world of premium choice with large market station using canned voice tracks that are not unique to specific station. The exact same tracks are used on stations like KLOU in St. Louis. Personally, I'd rather not have any jock at all.

Interestingly enough and kind of sad. The only FM station in the CC-Sacramento cluster with any custon VTs or live jocks is V101.1. My 92.5 and Classic 93.1 are premium choice 24-7. Jack is completely jockless.

 

[Michael Rivers Kramer]

I actually like K-Hits 92.1 just a little more than the New Classic Hits 93.1. The only difference seems to be that K-Hits plays 60's & 70's while Classic Hits 93.1 plays 70's & 80's. Music though is really similar.

Both 92.1 and 93.1 are weak in signal and programming. A few good talents on 92.1 but both stations are just poorly programmed in music and presentation.

For a market the size of sacramento you would think there would be a hot oldies/classic hits station

Or even a market like San Francisco ( ranked number 4) without a Classic Hits/ Oldies station.

 

[Michael Rivers Kramer]

^^^
That's the type of thing that sets a station apart. Whether the jock gives you artist information, talks about the things that interest you, be it locally or otherwise, it indeed does engage you. The jukebox stations don't do that, it's just song after song after song..so bland.

If I want to hear a jukebox, I'll just pop in one of my CD's. I may just be getting music, but it's music I know I like and the music I feel like listening to at the moment. I'm willing to hear some songs I don't particularly care for (longs as there is music I like as well) if the personalities can keep me entertained and informed.

Hell they can't even make a "Jukebox" station sound good in sacramento!

That problem is a Clear Channel issue, not a Sacramento problem. What you hear on 93.1 is exactly the same as what you hear in St. Louis on KLOU.

The problem with KCCL (K-hits) is that they're operated by a group that operates in markets like Chico, Yuba City and Redding. They have a sharp Chif Programming Officer in Dave Shakes, they they're probably very cash poor for Sacramento. Besides, I'll keep harping on this one....Baseball on a oldies station is suicide. The oldies format relies on cume....When you punch in the "oldies station" and hear faint crowd noise a few times during a four hour period, you'll evenutally give up on tuning in.

Too many games, not enough mainstream interest for minor league baseball on the radio.

Hell they can't even make a "Jukebox" station sound good in sacramento!

 

[BossRadioDJ]

Or even a market like San Francisco ( ranked number 4) without a Classic Hits/ Oldies station.

...Unless that's what CC is doing with 103.7 The Band (formerly Smooth Jazz KKSF) there.

 

[Questor]

That problem is a Clear Channel issue, not a Sacramento problem. What you hear on 93.1 is exactly the same as what you hear in St. Louis on KLOU.

This has so many disgusting implications, for people who work in the industry and listeners too. This to me is destroying many things in America, beginning with the whole concept of innovation.

I've worked in 2 particular industries of computers and retail in addition to little radio gigs here and there.

When I worked in software, I recommended the career highly. Nowadays, students tell me they have no interest in it. Why? Who wants to go study a career that has such little potential locally when it gets outsourced to other countries? (Or in this case, the programming is done anywhere besides home base.)

So for radio, you then have to ask, why would any student seriously consider it if it seems month after month the opportunities keep declining? If not incessant layoffs in the online searchable news, then it's 1 place pretending to serve 4 others, inauthentically.

In retail, you have these stores that all have the same layout. You go to a Target, Wal-Mart or Kohl's and it's all laid out the same. Yes, it's convenient in that you know where to go. Yet you lose the whole process of discovery and intrigue.

Years ago I heard a comment from the late broadcaster Earl Nightingale. He said American cities were all becoming the same. You could drop him in one of 80 cities, and he couldn't tell you where he was since they had the same strip shopping centers and no individuality. He would also say in another recording that "America's favorite game isn't Follow the Leader, it's Follow the Follower."

It used to be that I could really find individuality driving town to town at least on the radio. It's like not wanting to eat at McDonald's if I'm visiting a city. Instead, I want something there I can't get any place else.

Well, to some extent with the 93.1 selections, I'm getting some of that variety back. I hate sounding nostalgic because like Barry Manilow I've told people "I'm young again, even though I'm very old." I hate how everything in 2009 when we're supposedly advanced is prepackaged, from the radio to the music loops. What will it take to restore originality, especially locally?

P.S. Neither Barry Manilow nor I composed "I Write the Songs."

 

[djj]

Well spoken, Questor...

Addendum:
"In the year 3535,
You ain't gonna need to tell the truth, tell no lies.
Everything you think, do and say,
Is in the pill you took today..."

And you are correct: the talented Bruce Johnston wrote "I Write The Songs,"
no?...

...I'll keep harping on this one....Baseball on a oldies station is suicide. The oldies format relies on cume....When you punch in the "oldies station" and hear faint crowd noise a few times during a four hour period, you'll evenutally give up on tuning in.

Too many games, not enough mainstream interest for minor league baseball on the radio.

Seems like baseball has no mainstream interest on the radio anymore,
Michael, no matter the format. Perhaps KNBR (Giants) and WRKO/WEEI (Red Sox)
are exceptions, though they are not oldies stations...

I do enjoy the River Cats on 92.1 KCCL, myself, but then again, I'm weird...
--jay