This seems to be a trend across the US, but Here in Kansas City, almost all of the Cumulus stations except classic rock and oldies do poorly in the ratings, and looking at their playlists, I can see why. I have noticed this in other markets as well, and I will give my two cents. Cumulus CHRs have too limited of playlists to be successful, jump on the wrong songs to bring to power ("Pretty Girls" by Britney/Iggy for example), and are late playing many tracks (nearly every track gets played before on competing CHRs/Hot ACs, and some 3-4 months later!). They also seem to take a while to rotate their songs as well. Another CHR is WZYP in Huntsville, which could also be much better programmed; it is a Adult CHR, so it would make sense for it to be a more "conservative" CHR, playing less rhythmic/teeny/urban music. However, it regularly played the non-hit "Beg for it" by Iggy Azalea, and still does as a recurrent, as well as other hits that would turn an adult audience off, while still playing some Hot AC-ish music as well. It would make more sense to convert the station into a full Hot Ac, or simply a more conservative CHR, which plays the less "rhythmic" hits. There are many other CHRs which this fits as well. They also are forced to carry "Zach Sang and the Gang" which is an earsore to listen to, and again the playlist he uses sounds very dated as well, while seeming too much to target a teen audience, which in 2015 CHRs should aim broader than that.
Another format they botched is the Adult Hits format. While sometimes KCJK can sound good, there was a time back in 2013 where it was filled with dated rhythmic tracks, alienating much of its base. While the station has sounded better later on, the stations still ventures back to those tracks time and again, which there is no draw for. Something like Entercom's "Charlie FM" seems to have a better handle on their sound, and their ratings show it. I am sure there are many other formats which are the same.
Your thoughts?
Another format they botched is the Adult Hits format. While sometimes KCJK can sound good, there was a time back in 2013 where it was filled with dated rhythmic tracks, alienating much of its base. While the station has sounded better later on, the stations still ventures back to those tracks time and again, which there is no draw for. Something like Entercom's "Charlie FM" seems to have a better handle on their sound, and their ratings show it. I am sure there are many other formats which are the same.
Your thoughts?
