Country Music Fans to Protest at KZLA Studios Friday 8/18 at 10 AM

[briancraig]

David said country has no Hispanic appeal.

But that is not true in all markets. McAllen/Brownsville is almost 90 percent Hispanic and a country station is #3. Laredo is probably more than 90 percent Hispanic and again a country station is #3. Country does great in San Antonio and Albuquerque.

As the L.A. Hispanic demographic becomes more Americanized, you could see some appeal for country in that community. There is some trend for newer immigrants to immediately settle in other parts of the country rather than the traditional gateway cities like L.A, New York, or Miami. As the cost of housing continues to rise in Southern California, this could escalate.

Country could also benefit from some Hispanic stars. Johnny Rodriguez and Freddy Fender were huge in the 70s. Rick Trevino had a few hits in the 90s. If I was the CMA, I'd be actively courting the Hispanic audience.

 

[davideduardo]

David said country has no Hispanic appeal.

But that is not true in all markets. McAllen/Brownsville is almost 90 percent Hispanic and a country station is #3. Laredo is probably more than 90 percent Hispanic and again a country station is #3. Country does great in San Antonio and Albuquerque.

As the L.A. Hispanic demographic becomes more Americanized, you could see some appeal for country in that community. There is some trend for newer immigrants to immediately settle in other parts of the country rather than the traditional gateway cities like L.A, New York, or Miami. As the cost of housing continues to rise in Southern California, this could escalate.

Country could also benefit from some Hispanic stars. Johnny Rodriguez and Freddy Fender were huge in the 70s. Rick Trevino had a few hits in the 90s. If I was the CMA, I'd be actively courting the Hispanic audience.

We were talking about LA, not Texas.

The ethnic Hispanics of Texas often go back 5 or 6 generations ifr not more. They like country, like many Texans do. There is no such heritage in California, but in terms of having many multi-generational Heispanics in the commu nity and a heritage of country in the area.

The Freddy Fender and Johnny Rodriguesz type Tejanpo music is liked in, well, Texas, and nowhere else.

Ther e is no chance in the world that Hispanics in LA wil acquire a country taste.

 

[djdramah2]

Emmis made a major effort to sustain the format, and they grew revenue by nearly 100% since they bought it from Bonneville, where it had been in a long decline with a more "hick country" approach.

Emmis spent a lot on research to find a formula that would work in LA, and the things you criticize are precisely what they found would work best for a very limited format. Your arguments sound al lot like the applogists for dance's failure to work in the US: they don't blame the lack of appeal of the music, but, rather make allegations that the PD did not know the music, thaat the mix was wrong, that the currents were wrong, that the jocsks were wrong.

Country has nearly no Black, Asian or Hispanic appeal. It similarly has nearly no appeal among Armenians, Persians, Russians, Syrians, etc. In other words, it is left with less than 30% of the population of LA that MIGHT like country. If country gets around a 5 share in Seattle, it will get around a 5 share of the 30% of LA that is non-ethinic or otherwise not targetable... in other words, about a 1.6. And that is about what KZLA got. It could not do any better, and with LA becoming more ethnic, it would get worse.

Emmis made a sound, listener based decison that also serves advertisers: Country is not viable in LA, and there are very few to whom the music appeals. Sorry, but that is reality. Emmis did a good job, and as good as anyoe could do for this limited share potential.
[/quote]

Well said David. It is the truth and it clearly sums up why country needed to go in LA. But I still disagree why dance failed on 103.1. I still say it was the poor signal. Whatever format is on 103.1 it will be a loser due to the poor signal. Same holds true for KJLH 102.3....good urban ac format but poor signal and poor ratings.

 

[davideduardo]

David said country has no Hispanic appeal.

But that is not true in all markets. McAllen/Brownsville is almost 90 percent Hispanic and a country station is #3. Laredo is probably more than 90 percent Hispanic and again a country station is #3. Country does great in San Antonio and Albuquerque.

As the L.A. Hispanic demographic becomes more Americanized, you could see some appeal for country in that community. There is some trend for newer immigrants to immediately settle in other parts of the country rather than the traditional gateway cities like L.A, New York, or Miami. As the cost of housing continues to rise in Southern California, this could escalate.

Country could also benefit from some Hispanic stars. Johnny Rodriguez and Freddy Fender were huge in the 70s. Rick Trevino had a few hits in the 90s. If I was the CMA, I'd be actively courting the Hispanic audience.

We were talking about LA, not Texas.

The ethnic Hispanics of Texas often go back 5 or 6 generations if not more. They like country, like many Texans do. There is no such heritage in California, in terms of having many multi-generational Heispanics in the community and in terms of there being in SoCal a heritage of country in the area among ANY segment of the population.

The Freddy Fender and Johnny Rodriguesz type Tejano music is liked in, well, Texas, and nowhere else. Nowhere.

There is no chance in the world that Hispanics in LA wil acquire a country taste.

 

[Neel]

I'll say it again......I still can't believe how different the demos are in the I.E.

I work in Rancho Cucamonga and three of my co-workers listen to country and they are in their 20s. One guy, Joel Ybarra, he's mexican and just turned 21 and he goes to country clubs all the time. When I worked at the Fontana Ralphs, they would often play the Country station on Muzak (back when we could change it.....).

I see KFRG's listeners rising...being the only country station. They simulcast on 92.9 in Sun City/Murrieta and 103.1 in Victorville.
I'm waiting for them to say something like "Welcome KZLA listeners" like every pharmacy is saying "Welcome former Savon Customers"

 

[semoochie]

Could KLAC return to Country? It isn't exactly knocking them dead in Sports!

 

[Tibbs4]

I just drove by and saw three people standing out in front. One of them was a guy in a pink shirt and pink cowboy hat. Boy the country P1 crowd is larger than I thought in LA

We see that in Nashville, too. But for a totally different reason. LA can have one of our three FM country stations.

 

[romer979fm]

We see that in Nashville, too. But for a totally different reason.
LA can have one of our three FM country stations.

I'll volunteer to go...

 

[chuckydoll]

Fallout from KZLA dropping country

I see KFRG's listeners rising...being the only country station. They simulcast on 92.9 in Sun City/Murrieta and 103.1 in Victorville.

I'm waiting for them to say something like "Welcome KZLA listeners" like every pharmacy is saying "Welcome former Savon Customers"

K-Frog has a splash page to promote its 3 signals -- 95.1 in the Inland Empire, 92.9 in the Temecula Valley, 103.1 in the High Desert. Each of the 3 has its own website.

KHAY in Ventura County claims to have a signal that reaches the San Fernando Valley; this is per a map on their website.

I don't see K-Frog or KHAY trying to cash in on the demise of KZLA. K-Frog and KHAY don't target L.A.

 

[mostb1]

KHAY can't ever do anything in L.A. because of Jack (KFMB-FM) in San Diego being on the same frequency. And besides it's a Cumulus station. They wouldn't know what to do since they're too cheap.