Country radio

[Horns]

I was reading on other boards about the shocking decline in country radio in normally strong country markets like Dallas/Fort Worth. For years, two strong country stations would fight it out for the top of the ratings. Now, they in about a year, they have dropped to #9 and #12. Someone also said country had dropped in Houston too. I recently heard US103.5 is having ratings trouble here. Is this a trend here too? Or not? Comments....

 

[DToTheJ]

WQYK is the established country station here, and have held their own in the Top 5. Clear Channel created US 103.5 to compete, and are giving them a run for their money. First they took their Skip and their Bucs, and now they've got some of their listeners. But when you have two stations offering the same format, it wouldn't a surprise if they were toe-to-toe with each other. Just look at Hot 97 and Power 105 in New York, for example.

 

[Wazzie]

I'm surprised that nobody posted about the shift swap on 103-5. Afternoon guy Paul Koffy left to do mid days in Atlanta and voicetracks mid days on 103-5. PD Travis Daily moves to PM drive and still thinks bowling shirts are in style.

With CTQ's antenna change, I've been listening more to them than either QYK or FUS.

 

[Itsonlyradio]

DFW radio is the way it is because neither WOLF or KSCS, once dominant and very in-tune with current music have become stale and safe. No musical creativity. Too recurrent and gold based. Both are old and sloppy presentations to me.

 

[Ferreri]

WQYK is an amazing success story. Through ownership, management, staff, and cultural changes they have been a premier station in this market for decades. Many very talented and gifted people have passed through their doors.

 

[no1uno]

Agreed. If you look at it, CC has only taken their numbers (FUS)to what was there before CBS flipped their flanker. QYK position is still very strong and barely if ever off from that point in history. Sadly though, they now have to "share" that lifegroup with CC, so in the business side, flipping was not the smartest thing to do. But CC certainly isnt beating them.

 

[billalm]

I look at it this way... WQYK has proven strong enough to stand on it's own... even without Skip Mahaffey. The money made off doing something different (for a change) at 92.5 should offset any loss and replace the money that Outlaw was bringing in. And as far as what's wrong with US-103.5??? The playlist is WAY to tight. It's really a country CHR with spins of currents every 3 hours.

 

[Horns]

103.5 hasn't ever been programmed very well, IMO. The station is just sort of there. V/T middays won't help. The jingles (if you can call them that) are horrible and the Skip show is just a bunch of guys sitting around talking. I've found myself listening to CTQ much more frequently and I think QYK actually did tighten up their ship and become a better radio station in response to the new 103.5.

 

[MichaelCrose]

I am curious, who has the biggest numbers in the morning?

 

[localgirl]

As for all the topic changes that have been mentioned below, as for 92.5, they have more than made up budget, no one realized that Tampa is #2 in Hispanic buying power. As for WQYK I loved what someone wrote, it is the people within the staff. FOR ANY STATION TO LAST 25 YEARS SAYS IT ALL! Any one of their events you go to you feel like family. As for ratings, they have the biggest numbers in the morning and compete for that with 93.3.

 

[radiodaze2000]

WQYK AM also carried classic country before the ill advised flip to sports. The station had ratings with country, nothing now.

 

[David Sharp]

In the "for what it's worth department"...even way "down here" in Australia, I recently had the chance to interview the group "SheDaisy" (American country is very popular here). The ladies were very surprised to hear I was from Tampa and when we started talking about "back home" only TWO sets of call signs were mentioned: WQYK and WPCV.