Entercom Makes Leadership Moves for Dallas Stations

[Y2kTheNewOldies]

https://news.****************/cgi-bin/rol.exe/headline_id=n40168

From the release

Entercom has announced leadership updates for stations in Dallas. Vince Richards is elevated to Rock Operations Manager of KJKK-FM (100.3 JACK FM) and KVIL-FM (ALT 103.7). Additionally, JT Springer has been elevated to Brand Manager of KJKK-FM (100.3 JACK FM). Both moves are effective immediately.

"We're extremely proud to elevate these two tremendous leaders and reward the hard work and dedication of two individuals who play substantial roles in the success of our business," said Entercom Dallas Regional President and Market Manager Brian Purdy. "I have full trust in Vince and JT's ability to lead these iconic local brands and leverage their experience and talents to take them to new heights."

 

[neosolbrudda]

Too bad they won't do anything about KVIL's format...

 

[BBontheRadio]

Happy for JT. A well-deserved promotion.

 

[macattack]

Too bad they won't do anything about KVIL's format...

KVIL didn't serve the Dallas community well even before the rationalization filled the airstaff with syndicated out-of-towners. Dallas people are particular sorts; they need local connections, and KVIL doesnt have that now and even when they had a unique air staff they struggled with forming those. I don't think most of the unique air staff were from Dallas or had connections there.

It's the music too. KVIL has always been too poppy for Dallas and has gotten even worse in that regard. The only way a Dallas Alt has a chance is to lean AAA or lean Active and KVIL leans CHR instead. It's just not going to work.

 

[Kent]

KVIL didn't serve the Dallas community well even before the rationalization filled the airstaff with syndicated out-of-towners. Dallas people are particular sorts; they need local connections, and KVIL doesnt have that now and even when they had a unique air staff they struggled with forming those. I don't think most of the unique air staff were from Dallas or had connections there.

My experience with Dallas was a lot different. Growing up in Texas and Oklahoma, very few of us were born in the same town and lived there our whole lives. I knew almost no one born and raised in Dallas, nor in Tulsa for that matter. Living near St. Louis today, the areas couldn’t be more different. St. Louis has its transplants, too, but it seems almost everybody is a local. People often don’t leave the neighborhoods where they grew up, and where you went to high school defines your whole life. I love Dallas, and it’s a much friendlier and, despite the rush, is a lot more laid back than St. Louis in a lot of ways. However, it’s very chain centric and nationally branded. My parents dragged me along to Campesi's many a Friday or Saturday night in the early 80’s. So, I know there are local places if you know where to look, but the chains are the first businesses I notice every time I go back.

People are moving in constantly. Turning on KVIL for alternative will always be weird to me, but a large portion of the population today wasn’t there when KVIL was a powerhouse AC. They don’t remember when KVIL mowed down every competitor. KVIL was also the main factor that forced Evergreen out of the market in 1992 when it voided the company’s pending purchase of KRLD two years earlier by snatching the Cowboys. The 18-34 group that KVIL targets has no memory of that time. The early 90’s are closer to Neil Armstrong’s moon landing than they are to today. I suspect, however, that you are right that the music mix is probably the big reason Alt 103.7 can’t hold its audience today. A good number of people still regularly sample the station, though that number would appear to be going down, too. They just don’t seem to be sticking around.

 

[Will_H_69_9]

KVIL didn't serve the Dallas community well even before the rationalization filled the airstaff with syndicated out-of-towners. Dallas people are particular sorts; they need local connections, and KVIL doesnt have that now and even when they had a unique air staff they struggled with forming those. I don't think most of the unique air staff were from Dallas or had connections there.

It's the music too. KVIL has always been too poppy for Dallas and has gotten even worse in that regard. The only way a Dallas Alt has a chance is to lean AAA or lean Active and KVIL leans CHR instead. It's just not going to work.

agree, they are trying to compete with 106.1 Kiss FM, Hot 93.3, Star 102.1 and Now 102.9 and not against 97.1 The Eagle (the only true station to compete with as they inherented some of The Edge's audience when The Edge died.) as well as KXT 91.7 and even classic rocker Lonestar 92.5. it's clearly not working.

 

[macattack]

My experience with Dallas was a lot different. Growing up in Texas and Oklahoma, very few of us were born in the same town and lived there our whole lives. I knew almost no one born and raised in Dallas, nor in Tulsa for that matter. Living near St. Louis today, the areas couldn’t be more different. St. Louis has its transplants, too, but it seems almost everybody is a local. People often don’t leave the neighborhoods where they grew up, and where you went to high school defines your whole life. I love Dallas, and it’s a much friendlier and, despite the rush, is a lot more laid back than St. Louis in a lot of ways. However, it’s very chain centric and nationally branded. My parents dragged me along to Campesi's many a Friday or Saturday night in the early 80’s. So, I know there are local places if you know where to look, but the chains are the first businesses I notice every time I go back.

People are moving in constantly. Turning on KVIL for alternative will always be weird to me, but a large portion of the population today wasn’t there when KVIL was a powerhouse AC. They don’t remember when KVIL mowed down every competitor. KVIL was also the main factor that forced Evergreen out of the market in 1992 when it voided the company’s pending purchase of KRLD two years earlier by snatching the Cowboys. The 18-34 group that KVIL targets has no memory of that time. The early 90’s are closer to Neil Armstrong’s moon landing than they are to today. I suspect, however, that you are right that the music mix is probably the big reason Alt 103.7 can’t hold its audience today. A good number of people still regularly sample the station, though that number would appear to be going down, too. They just don’t seem to be sticking around.

I'm just going by the people I know in Dallas who've been in the area virtually their whole lives, though I should have taken note of the many transplants there before I posted (especially since I know my share of Dallas transplants, and I intend to move there myself in the next year or two). Last time I post anything at 2:30 in the morning!

Bailey (the regional manager who currently programs KVIL)'s picks on AllAccess the last few weeks indicate he would like to take KVIL in a very different direction than it is currently in. I think Bailey's preferred direction would be getting more results than the current one.

agree, they are trying to compete with 106.1 Kiss FM, Hot 93.3, Star 102.1 and Now 102.9 and not against 97.1 The Eagle (the only true station to compete with as they inherented some of The Edge's audience when The Edge died.) as well as KXT 91.7 and even classic rocker Lonestar 92.5. it's clearly not working.

If I had been KVIL's incoming PD in 2017 I would have commissioned a comprehensive survey of KEGL listeners to find out what they enjoy about KEGL and what they'd like to see KEGL do more of or do better. For example, if the general response was "KEGL plays too much 90's and not enough of my 00's favorites" I would have put hits by Three Days Grace, Breaking Benjamin, Chevelle, Flyleaf, Shinedown and other Active/Alternative crossover hitmakers into the traditional Alt mix at KVIL and occasionally pick up an Active current here and there. The goal would be to lure KEGL listeners away along with attracting Alt listeners who would like some hot sauce with their favorite songs.

You can make Billie Eilish and Glass Animals mix with Greta Van Fleet and Tool, you just have to be careful about it.

(I am not saying that is what KEGL listeners would say btw - it's purely hypothetical).