Format Hole In Houston

[radiobop]

Blows my mind that a AAA station has never played in Houston, save for the old KPFT and the short time when KIKK-FM blossomed out before it became Hot 95.7...KGSR in Austin has always been a favorite and the new KKXT noncomm in Dallas which I listened to nonstop over this past weekend while up in North Texas is just awesome! Hopefully KUHF will have a little room for NPR/APM music programs a la KXT...

 

[ChuckTiller]

Blows my mind that a AAA station has never played in Houston, save for the old KPFT and the short time when KIKK-FM blossomed out before it became Hot 95.7....

KIKK-FM became 95.7 The Wave, KHJZ before it became Hot 95.7 KHHH, five years later.

 

[stan]

There's a classic hits and an active rock hole also. Perhaps one of the duplicated genres in Houston can change their station from mediocrity to something people would actually listen to - if they had on air personalities.

 

[mr.ric]

With all this talk about getting a Classic Hits format (which I wouldn't mind trying out), IIRC didn't Houston have one already, and with low ratings? Wasn't there one on 107.5 before it flipped to The Eagle?

 

[TroyG]

We've already got a great Triple A station right here in Houston, which sounds quite like KGSR & KXT; It's KHJK. (Jack-FM)

 

[marioj]

We've already got a great Triple A station right here in Houston, which sounds quite like KGSR & KXT; It's KHJK. (Jack-FM)

While it isn't perfect, 103.7 is arguably Houston's best commercial station. That said, it suffers because of its signal, which is strongest in my area (Beaumont) but not so much in the south and west of Houston.

Furthermore, AAAs tend to be most successful (for a niche format, anyway) in music-intensive areas where they have longevity and a more liberal listener base. Consider:

WXRT Chicago
KGSR Austin
WRLT Nashville
KFOG San Francisco

All four in cities with rich musical heritages. All have been around for at least 20 years, so even though the radio business has changed dramatically in that time, their long-time listeners have learned to expect more deep album cuts and regionally popular artists (KHJK has shown little inclination toward playing artists like Lyle Lovett and Robert Earl Keen who are well-represented on other Texas AAAs). All are located in affluent, relatively left-leaning cities known for their uniqueness.

Not to say that 103.7 isn't great for Houston; it is nice to hear a station that takes chances on the Mumford and Sons and Fitz and the Tantrums of the world. But if you're looking for something as adventurous as the four stations mentioned above, you're bound to be disappointed.

 

[KTN Corp]

At first, I thought you were talking about KTRU (at least to the summer soldier supporters). Thank God it's gone!

 

[amisdead]

While it isn't perfect, 103.7 is arguably Houston's best commercial station.

How are you defining best? Seems awfully subjective to me.

That said, it suffers because of its signal, which is strongest in my area (Beaumont) but not so much in the south and west of Houston.

The signal is terrible, agreed, but even if the tower was in Missouri City, this format in Houston would be a 2 share max.

Furthermore, AAAs tend to be most successful (for a niche format, anyway) in music-intensive areas where they have longevity and a more liberal listener base. Consider:

WXRT Chicago
KGSR Austin
WRLT Nashville
KFOG San Francisco

WRLT and KGSR have been around for a long time, but I would not classify either as being wildly successful. Certainly not WRLT.

Secondly, have you ever been to Nashville? The market is not liberal or "left-leaning". Davidson county might like democrats, but these voters on the whole these are of the conservative variety and the rest of the market is as red as they come.