Easy 98.1

[jasonharper2013]

Easy 98.1 debut as rebrands to Soft AC

 

[nocoradio]

Super boring. Music is the same as when it was "Smooth."

 

[radioresearcher]

Super boring. Music is the same as when it was "Smooth."

Music is COMPLETELY different. Better get your ears checked.

 

[davideduardo]

Super boring. Music is the same as when it was "Smooth."

Music is COMPLETELY different. Better get your ears checked.

I also suspect that nocoradio is not a "W 35-54" either.

 

[Radio3787]

KYXY and Smooth FM were both morphing into HOT AC with a little bit of AC songs mixed in from time to time. I thought it was the PPM affect but I guess LFM caught on and realized they could move to a format that was not being utilized in San Diego. Surpised Clear Channel didn't do Soft AC for 95.7 and brand it as Sunny 95.7 before LFM made this move.

 

[Gregg]

Interesting move for Lincoln Financial, owners of KIFM. There are very few markets where two AC stations compete these days. NYC has two AC stations in Clear Channel's WLTW and CBS's WWFS. Detroit just lost its second AC to sports. But I can't think of too many others, except Miami and Tampa, where one AC is softer and plays little or no currents (WFEZ and WDUV) going against a more mainstream AC (WLYF and WWRM).

From the announcement, it seems KIFM will be softer and more oldies-oriented, vs. mainstream CBS AC KYXY. So that will leave San Diego with two oddities, a pair of AC stations and a pair of Rhythmic Oldies stations (XHRM and KSSX), all competing for 40+ women. How many stations can play Madonna, Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson and Gloria Estefan?

In the latest ratings:

KYXY #8
KIFM #11 tie
XHRM #11 tie
KSSX #23

 

[cheffo200]

NY is now a 1 AC city. WWFS used to be a AC but are now a full blown Hot AC competing against WPLJ.

 

[e-dawg]

Are there 2 AC stations markets left in the country? Actual AC stations, not (AC, Soft AC like Tampa and Miami)?

 

[sweetbabylee]

San Diego is now a 3 AC station. Star 94.1, KyXy, and Easy 98.1. Star 94.1 and KyXy I believe are both Hot AC. Have you listened to KyXy recently. KyXy is not soft. Blurred Lines, Treasure, We Found Love. Easy 98.1 is going the Soft AC route. May do well in 35 - 64 women. The presentation sounds small town.

 

[ChrisInMI]

San Diego is now a 3 AC station. Star 94.1, KyXy, and Easy 98.1. Star 94.1 and KyXy I believe are both Hot AC. Have you listened to KyXy recently. KyXy is not soft. Blurred Lines, Treasure, We Found Love. Easy 98.1 is going the Soft AC route. May do well in 35 - 64 women. The presentation sounds small town.

AC as a whole is no longer built around being "soft" regardless of how many AC stations continue to stubbornly hang on to "Soft Rock," "Lite," "Lite Rock" etc. monikers. Frankly I'm surprised KYXY is still calling itself "Soft Rock" given how many other CBS ACs (KVIL, WDOK, KEZK) have gotten away from the "lite"/"soft" angle in recent years. Looking at KYXY's playlist, they look pretty standard Mainstream AC to me.

 

[sweetbabylee]

Agreed. My bad.

 

[nocoradio]

Super boring. Music is the same as when it was "Smooth."

Music is COMPLETELY different. Better get your ears checked.

Admittedly, I am not in the target demo. But Boyz 2 Men, Barry White, Sting, Phil Collins, Gloria Esteffan, Simply Red et al, are exactly what they were playing a week ago. At least they finally changed the big voice on the station. I'm off to have my ears checked.

 

[star100]

Admittedly, I am not in the target demo. But Boyz 2 Men, Barry White, Sting, Phil Collins, Gloria Esteffan, Simply Red et al, are exactly what they were playing a week ago. At least they finally changed the big voice on the station. I'm off to have my ears checked.

A week ago they were playing Hot AC stuff like Maroon 5, The Lumineers, Bruno Mars, Nickleback, Pink, Gotye, Beyonce, Ellie Goulding, etc. The new format is Soft AC stuff like Richard Marx, James Taylor, Michael Bolton, Seals and Crofts, etc. Big difference.

 

[TroyG]

But if going from Hot AC to Soft AC is weird, playing a Christmas Song on a hot month like August gets even weirder, as The new Easy 98.1 has played Nat King Cole's "Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire", but it is WAY too early for the holiday season, and the holiday season usually starts with Black Friday-The day after Thanksgiving.

 

[ksradiogeek]

What is the complete history of 98.1? Haven't they done this type of AC before it became Smooth Jazz?

 

[johndavis]

Based on what they've said on Facebook, The Christmas Song's spin was operator error.

I won't flame them for it. I've played the wrong cut, too.

 

[butlin]

Finally able to listen in after the brand change to Easy, and I gotta say I'm diggin' it! Very WDUV-Tampa or KXXO-Seattle-esque! Sure there is some of what they used to play as "Smooth" on the playlist for Easy but I'm okay with that. For an AC format, I would much rather hear more of the 70's, 80's, 90's songs than the newer songs that I can hear on every other damn station! (I'm 31 yrs old btw, so this is not an old man thing just in case anybody's wondering)

KYXY used to have a great sound like that, but also with a great mix of new music. But as far as I'm concerned that station sh*t the bed when they destroyed the entire line-up to re-tread Jeff & Jer and tossed Gene Knight out! Haven't listened to them since! I hope KIFM can keep building something great on this format and wish them well!

 

[golden eagles97]

Are there 2 AC stations markets left in the country? Actual AC stations, not (AC, Soft AC like Tampa and Miami)?

Though they're considered separate markets, Mobile & Pensacola have AC stations that reach strongly into the other markets. Both stations do name the other city in their respective IDs.