Don't your station wished it sounded like KPMZ & WDUV

[TroyG]

Obviously they're both oldies stations that pretty much have an easy-listening sound, and KODA does'nt come even close to them as far as ! know. KLDE, however did had that easy-listening sound before it morphed into what it's now KGLK (107-5, The Eagle).

 

[rbrucecarter5]

Obviously they're both oldies stations that pretty much have an easy-listening sound, and KODA does'nt come even close to them as far as ! know. KLDE, however did had that easy-listening sound before it morphed into what it's now KGLK (107-5, The Eagle).

I have to admit - KPMZ, in spite of being run by people I like and admire - and a couple I have met personally - its playlist is a little too easy listening for my taste. They are going up against a true oldies station, even if they don't like using that term, so they have to have a substantially different playlist to gather an unserved audience. As for KLDE, I noticed a steady erosion of the playlist over the years until it morphed into an oldies jukebox with less than 300 songs on their playlist - NOT the type of station that excites anybody. So its demise was probably inevitable. Between weak signals on 92.5, 99.9, and stations like KODA and 103.5 Bob FM from Austin, a couple of weak oldies on AM< I can usually find a song I like somewhere. But - when I am in my other car with satellite - I push the "60's on 6" and don't listen to a single station around here. And based on a quick survey of 87.9 on the freeway, about one in ten drivers is tuned to that frequency listening to satellite or iPod. In other words, I'm not weird in being disgusted with over the air radio. There are a lot of people not being served out there, and my guess is the numbers will grow exponentially as creative formats are eroded into corporately focus grouped formats that are safe and generic are forced on the air. Get the suits out of the studio, let the DJ's do whatever they want again, and maybe - people will re-discover radio. But the unteenth Spanish language, country, talk, sports, or whatever ---- that won't!

 

[davideduardo]

There are a lot of people not being served out there,

There are a lot of people in ages that can't be served by a commercial station... those under 18 and those over 55. There is, quite simply, nearly no revenue to be had by doing that. So people in those ages have to pay for satellite service (although that one has lost a half-million subscribers so far this year) or use an iPod or similar device if the stations that are principally serving other ages are not satisfactory.

and my guess is the numbers will grow exponentially as creative formats are eroded into corporately focus grouped formats that are safe and generic are forced on the air.

Generally, it's a bit unfair to jump to conslusions on things you are not familiar with. Formats are not found by focus groups... in fact, focus groups are not suitable either to determine formats or the music in them.

"Research" however, is just another word for "talking to the listener" to find out what the listeners want. since radio can not be a personalized iPod experience but must necessarily be broad based.

Get the suits out of the studio, let the DJ's do whatever they want again,

Since the mid-50's, very, very few successful stations have allowed the DJs to do whatever they want. Some have been more free than others, iike the old KMPC in LA, but most have had the songs and the order they played preestablished and preprogrammed. The really great Top 40 stations of the 50's and 60's were researched, formatted and very controlled...which is why they worked.

Much of the problem with radio today is not "suits" but the economy which has forced staff reductions and all manner of other cost cuts, just like every other area of business.

But the unteenth Spanish language, country, talk, sports, or whatever ---- that won't!

Why? If there is a demand for variants of existing formats (and "Spanish" is not a format but a language in which you can do 100 or so formats...) and the ratings are good enough to justify support for the station with ad revenue, then the format is justified. And, precisely because they can't get support is why few oldies stations exist any more.

 

[stan]

David is quite correct. In the days of Boss radio, Bill Drake and others heavily controlled (but standardized) the radio content and formatting. You just had great personalities that could pull it off, and they were local in the same community as the station. They knew the city, and were not imported as the voice tracked shows are now.

 

[rbrucecarter5]

(and "Spanish" is not a format but a language in which you can do 100 or so formats...)

At YOUR prompting and request, I always try to say "Spanish language" to differentiate between a language and a format. So if you are complaining about your own suggestion - I have to suspect it is a hot button issue with you, and no matter how I phrase it you will attack me.

Spanish language formats are boring to me, because I don't speak the language. I suspect there is very little crossover listening, and most non-Hispanics treat Spanish language stations like black holes on the dial and never tune in.

 

[TheBigA]

You just had great personalities that could pull it off, and they were local in the same community as the station. They knew the city, and were not imported as the voice tracked shows are now.

It depends on the station. To imply that all radio was live and local until recently ignores the facts. There have always been radio stations that have relied on outside content, whether it was automated, pre-programmed tape programming from syndicators, or other national entertainment programs from networks. What hurt networks in the 60s and 70s was the availability and abundance of cheap local talent. Once recorded music was acceptable (as opposed to live performances), then the value of national programming was diminished. Now, with the over-abundance of radio stations and new media devices, the price of unique local talent has exceeded the value it can deliver, which is why imported shows are once again becoming popular. But this is not new, although the technology is.

 

[davideduardo]

Spanish language formats are boring to me, because I don't speak the language. I suspect there is very little crossover listening, and most non-Hispanics treat Spanish language stations like black holes on the dial and never tune in.

Just as I treat rock and standards and oldies stations... which are boring to me because I don't like or am excruciatingly tired of the music.

No station is going to appeal to even a majority portion of a market. Factors like age and ethnicity and such will define which ones a person likes.