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Could Savannah Support Two Stations Like These?

FilmCritic3K

FilmCritic3K

I say yes.

I'm currently living in a suburb of Honolulu. Both of these stations are owned by Clear Channel. The first is the alternative station, KUCD. They use the branding Star 101.9 - Hawaii's New Music Alternative. The morning show is live and also music-intensive, as well as listener-focused. A sample music log...

KUCD-FM

Star 101.9 - Hawaii's New Music Alternative

Monday, August 15th, 2011

10:51PM - Fall Out Boy - "Dance, Dance"
10:55 - Lifehouse - "Hanging By A Moment"
10:58 - Incubus - "Adolescents"
-----------------------------------------
11PM
-----------------------------------------

11:03 - Hoobastank - "Crawling In The Dark"
11:06 - Cage The Elephant - "Shake Me Down"
11:09 - The Black Keys - "Tighten Up"
11:13 - Soundgarden - "Black Hole Sun"
11:18 - 311 - "Sunset In July"
11:26 - Foo Fighters - "Walk"
11:29 - Linkin Park - "Lying From You"
11:33 - Onerepublic - "Secrets"
11:37 - Red Hot Chili Peppers - "The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie"
11:41 - Incubus - "Drive"
11:45 - Death Cab For Cutie - "You Are A Tourist"
11:55 - Green Day - "Basket Case"
11:57 - Coldplay - "Every Teardrop Is A Waterfall"

On the other end of the spectrum is KHJZ-FM, 93.9 Jamz - YOUR generation's ol' skool. The station format is being dubbed Gen X Rhythmic AC, which basically means alot of '90s hip hop and R&B as well as late '80s and a little late '70s. But it's much more '90s-focused, playlist-wise.

A sample of the last few songs played.


Janet Jackson - Miss You Much
Alicia Keys - Fallin' {radio Edit}
Earth, Wind & Fire - Let's Groove
Outkast - Ms. Jackson
Aaliyah - One In A Million
Al B. Sure! - Night And Day
Kris Kross - Jump
Nu Shooz - I Can't Wait
Inoj - Time After Time
Bobby Brown - Roni
Zhane - Sending My Love
Prince - Erotic City

Thoughts? I know Savannah will remain staid, radio landscape-wise, as it has for the past decade or so, but I think stations like these two would do well.
 
Would a format like Alternative even work in Savannah? There are markets much bigger in the south that seem more 'Alternative-friendly' without that format. I think something like the second one may work.

I'll be through Sav next week. Guess I'll check out the new 107.9, 92.3, and 98.3
 
I strongly believe an alternative station would work in Savannah. I think it is all about location, location, location. Modern rock does not exist west of I-95 because rock 106 goes out just 25 miles west of Savannah. This leaves other populated cities like Hinesville and Statesboro with only classic rock to choose from. I say a modern rock station that leans alternative or a station that is all the way alternative would do well in the Savannah area. It would compete with rock in savannah but not west of Savannah. Large SCAD population in Savannah has more of a interest in your indie/alternative style vs the mainstream modern rock style that rock plays. WIXV would hurt severely if a modern rock format was created for the western sections of the SAV listening area because 95.5 has not adjusted there format in YEEEAARRSSS. The reason why 95 does so well is because of its extent into the western sections of the area and the fact that it's the only choice to rock for the western areas.

I say an alternative leaning station like 96 KZQ in Myrtle Beach or a complete alt station like 104.9 the Gump in Alabama would do great in Savannah and other areas that don't have a modern rock choice like Statesboro and Hinesville.
 
acheron82 said:
I strongly believe an alternative station would work in Savannah. I think it is all about location, location, location. Modern rock does not exist west of I-95 because rock 106 goes out just 25 miles west of Savannah. This leaves other populated cities like Hinesville and Statesboro with only classic rock to choose from. I say a modern rock station that leans alternative or a station that is all the way alternative would do well in the Savannah area. It would compete with rock in savannah but not west of Savannah. Large SCAD population in Savannah has more of a interest in your indie/alternative style vs the mainstream modern rock style that rock plays. WIXV would hurt severely if a modern rock format was created for the western sections of the SAV listening area because 95.5 has not adjusted there format in YEEEAARRSSS. The reason why 95 does so well is because of its extent into the western sections of the area and the fact that it's the only choice to rock for the western areas.

I say an alternative leaning station like 96 KZQ in Myrtle Beach or a complete alt station like 104.9 the Gump in Alabama would do great in Savannah and other areas that don't have a modern rock choice like Statesboro and Hinesville.
Click to expand...

And I've said the same thing on this board for eons. And I always get the same response from some people in the industry - no audience, the format skews too female, et al. And that's just silly, as WZAT when it was Alternative as Z102 in the early-mid '90s did very well. It'd take dedication and money but I still firmly believe the format can thrive in Savannah.
 
How can you say they did very well. They went broke and had to be bailed out by JC Lewis. Ratings mean nothing if there are no ad dollars to go with them. The ad agencies will just not buy some formats, and alternative is one of them. Without ad agency dollars the station has to be supported by local advertisers and Savannah will not support an alternative station.
 
First off, Z102 was NOT an alternative station. Z102 was an active rock station which is the same thing ROCK 106.1 is today. Alternative and active rock differ generally speaking. Z102 was known for it's harder sound playing the likes of Marylin Manson, White Zombie and even Metallica. During the early and mid 90's, this would be considered mainstream active rock. Z102 was not dishing out works from the Pixes or late 80's alternative (now called new wave) which is what started the alternative movement.

Hypothetically speaking, lets say Z102 was in fact a alternative station and ratings/advertisment never supported the format in Savannah. This was over 15 years ago and things change. Formats that carry high ratings one year and can see those ratings disappear in a matter of 3 years and no longer exist. Modern rock (alternative or active) does not even exist for the Ga counties in the savannah market. Rock 106.1 is only 25K and barley makes it past the Chatham county/Bryan county line (west of Savannah).

In Atlanta, when Z102 in Savannah was rock, 99x in Atlanta was rated the number one alternative station in the nation. Look at 99x today with only 200 watts and does not even show up on rating books. Things change but the problem with Savannah radio is simply things DON'T change.

I will venture to say that Z102 had more of a "cult" following vs an actual advertising following but it definetly had a strong following. Yes, I do believe WZAT was on the books as Alternative but ask any Alternative fan and compare it with other stations during that time that was Alternative, you would see that Z102 was much more mainstream than Alternative rock. They were much more like ROCK 1061 is today. Also note that while ROCK only has 25k watts, they run head to head with 95 (98k watts) and in some rating books they have even surpased 95 in ratings which says something.
 
One more thing:

I want pretend to know what happen with Z102 in the mid 90's but I will say that even if you have a good product with good ratings, poor bus. ethics and the inability to manage money can destroy any radio station.
 
"Also note that while ROCK only has 25k watts, they run head to head with 95 (98k watts) and in some rating books they have even surpased 95 in ratings which says something."

But have you noticed that most of the spots on Rock 106 are barter or network?
 
rcombs said:
"Also note that while ROCK only has 25k watts, they run head to head with 95 (98k watts) and in some rating books they have even surpased 95 in ratings which says something."

But have you noticed that most of the spots on Rock 106 are barter or network?
Click to expand...

And somehow, Triad still can't sell it.
 
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