Format holes in LA

[MarkW]

An Active Rock station would do REALLY well in the L.A. market, although it'd be a bit tough to sell (aside from the Budweisers and Chevy truck dealerships of the world).

Would be great to have a station similar to San Diego's Rock 105.3 or Phoenix's KUPD in L.A. / O.C. I was disappointed when Clear Channel decided to flip 98.7 to a very limp Modern Rock format instead of Active Rock.

 

[Saladressing]

Would be great to have a station similar to San Diego's Rock 105.3 or Phoenix's KUPD in L.A. / O.C. I was disappointed when Clear Channel decided to flip 98.7 to a very limp Modern Rock format instead of Active Rock.

IINM this was a flanker move. CBS had just launched Amp Radio to go after KIIS. So CC countered with 98.7 to cut into KROQ. I agree with you on the formatting of 98.7 as it is difficult to listen to this station for any length of time. It sure would be refreshing to have a PURE ROCK station in LA/OC. Incidentally the HD2 format of 98.7 is Active Rock.

 

[pjc1961]

Where's Pure Rock KNAC when you need it? ;D Those were the days...just reminiscing here...I know, I know, probably wouldn't work today (too niched, etc)...but what the hay?

 

[the_wanderer]

I'm usually up late and how about something that doesn't SUCK from 10-3? It just junk, cheap, horrible shows coast to coast (lame no iq show), sports (rehashing the same things ad infinitum), politics (yuk).

What are FCC rules for low power AM? Isn't it like 500W? With digital encoding/transmission, it sound as good as FM.

 

[davideduardo]

I'm usually up late and how about something that doesn't SUCK from 10-3? It just junk, cheap, horrible shows coast to coast (lame no iq show), sports (rehashing the same things ad infinitum), politics (yuk).

What are FCC rules for low power AM? Isn't it like 500W? With digital encoding/transmission, it sound as good as FM.

The problem with late nights and overnights is that there is very little audience and almost no advertiser interest. At the local level, I've never seen a station make money in those hours.

One of the main reasons why stations started going on the air overnights is to make sure the equipment was on at the beginning of morning drive. Today, I think most stations are on at that time because every other station is also on, so they are afraid to go off.

 

[TALENTfilter]

The whole vibe in LA seems a bit too laid back for Angry Rock I mean Active Rock. Maybe that's why the current rock stations in town are content to play Dirty Heads and Sublime so much.

San Diego is even MORE laid back and they have a very successful Active Rocker in town.

 

[atlantaboy]

I'd say AAA, cause it's in San Fran and San Diego but for some reason not in L. A.

As far as KIIS not being middle-of-the-road Top 40, it's not (I'm sure they're aware of this), but I doubt anyone would want to sign on a middle-of-the-road CHR in L. A. and compete against KIIS and KAMP in a market where Rhythmic-leaning CHRs get huge ratings

Sirius Hits 1 BTW targets a very wealthy CHR audience (cause they pay for it lol), which is why they play so much Alternative mixed in - terrestrial radio couldn't get away with playing what S001 does

 

[recto101]

I'd say AAA, cause it's in San Fran and San Diego but for some reason not in L. A.

As far as KIIS not being middle-of-the-road Top 40, it's not (I'm sure they're aware of this), but I doubt anyone would want to sign on a middle-of-the-road CHR in L. A. and compete against KIIS and KAMP in a market where Rhythmic-leaning CHRs get huge ratings

Sirius Hits 1 BTW targets a very wealthy CHR audience (cause they pay for it lol), which is why they play so much Alternative mixed in - terrestrial radio couldn't get away with playing what S001 does

I agree that AAA and Classic Rock is more of a San Francisco type format.

 

[e-dawg]

How about more Regional Mexican Music or CHR/Espanol?

 

[radiojomo]

Sirius Hits 1 BTW targets a very wealthy CHR audience (cause they pay for it lol), which is why they play so much Alternative mixed in - terrestrial radio couldn't get away with playing what S001 does

As Sean Ross has said multiple times in his newsletter, there are some CHRs around the country that do have a heavy Alt Rock lean, such as WIXX in Green Bay and KBKS in Seattle. (In fact, WIXX is spot on to SXM Hits 1's playlist). It's not as much as saying it's about wealth, but demographics. CHRs in Los Angeles have to appeal to more ethnic audiences (Hispanic/Black) and Alt Rock on CHR has never tested well with those ethnic audiences. SiriusXM also isn't necessarily just for "the rich", due to the fact that they have well over 20 million subscribers as Sirius and XM combined.

 

[atlantaboy]

Sirius Hits 1 BTW targets a very wealthy CHR audience (cause they pay for it lol), which is why they play so much Alternative mixed in - terrestrial radio couldn't get away with playing what S001 does

As Sean Ross has said multiple times in his newsletter, there are some CHRs around the country that do have a heavy Alt Rock lean, such as WIXX in Green Bay and KBKS in Seattle. (In fact, WIXX is spot on to SXM Hits 1's playlist). It's not as much as saying it's about wealth, but demographics. CHRs in Los Angeles have to appeal to more ethnic audiences (Hispanic/Black) and Alt Rock on CHR has never tested well with those ethnic audiences. SiriusXM also isn't necessarily just for "the rich", due to the fact that they have well over 20 million subscribers as Sirius and XM combined.

Sorry, but I hate when people sit around and regurgitate what Sean Ross says in his newsletter - of course there are CHRs in the country that lean Alt/Rock (a lot more than Sean Ross mentions), and most do tend to cater to a wealthier demographic, just like Alternative stations tend to cater to a wealthier demographic (and just like Sirius Hits 1 caters to a wealthier demographic, for obvious reasons)

Of course Alt/Rock doesn't work on Los Angeles CHRs that cater to ethnic audiences - not sure what this has to do with S001 though

BTW there's a HUGE difference between what Sirius Hits 1 will play and what WIXX, KUDD. KLAL, WDCG, WXXL, etc. will play (S001 plays Indie stuff that terrestrial pop won't touch, at least not yet)

 

[the_wanderer]

The problem with late nights and overnights is that there is very little audience and almost no advertiser interest. At the local level, I've never seen a station make money in those hours.

One of the main reasons why stations started going on the air overnights is to make sure the equipment was on at the beginning of morning drive. Today, I think most stations are on at that time because every other station is also on, so they are afraid to go off.

thanks.

i've noticed that KFI runs coast to coast twice in one night, ****. if you weren't bored or your IQ insulted in the first 4 hours, you get a second chance. let's say i had an idea to pitch to a station for something overnight that was interesting and low cost. would there be any interest? if they are leaving the equipment on anyway, broadcasting a signal doesn't require that much more power.

it's all just mind numbing noise, i remember back in the UHF tv days overnight, at least they put on some kind of sc-fi or monster movie, the 'creature feature' it was called, that's still better entertainment that overnight today. it's so terrible these days, i listen to audio tracks of the original twilight zone episodes which are just f_cking brilliant.

 

[the_wanderer]

The whole vibe in LA seems a bit too laid back for Angry Rock I mean Active Rock. Maybe that's why the current rock stations in town are content to play Dirty Heads and Sublime so much.

San Diego is even MORE laid back and they have a very successful Active Rocker in town.

Just once in LA, I'd like to hear some Rammstein....

 

[davideduardo]

...of course there are CHRs in the country that lean Alt/Rock (a lot more than Sean Ross mentions), and most do tend to cater to a wealthier demographic, just like Alternative stations tend to cater to a wealthier demographic

What is your source for the socioeconomic level data you cite?

Of course Alt/Rock doesn't work on Los Angeles CHRs that cater to ethnic audiences -

LA: 44% Hispanic, 8% Black, 12% Asian, 10% foreign born immigrants not included in any of the first three (Persians, persons from Eastern European countries, etc) so the market is right at 75% ethnic or from a group that would not have a first generation interest in Alternative.

 

[atlantaboy]

...of course there are CHRs in the country that lean Alt/Rock (a lot more than Sean Ross mentions), and most do tend to cater to a wealthier demographic, just like Alternative stations tend to cater to a wealthier demographic

What is your source for the socioeconomic level data you cite?

I've just heard for a long time that Alternative tends to target wealthy demos - I think it's cause wealthy listeners are more likely to play musical instruments, and Alt/Rock tends to be more musically involved/complex than other formats (that target white demos) - and I'm assuming this has gotta apply to Alt/Rock on CHR too

 

[radiojomo]

Of course Alt/Rock doesn't work on Los Angeles CHRs that cater to ethnic audiences - not sure what this has to do with S001 though

SiriusXM has different audience demographics than a CHR in Los Angeles would have, therefore, many of the elements on the SXM CHR would not work on LA CHR.
That is why an Alt Rock heavy CHR such as Hits 1 would underperform in Los Angeles.

 

[justpassingthough]

...of course there are CHRs in the country that lean Alt/Rock (a lot more than Sean Ross mentions), and most do tend to cater to a wealthier demographic, just like Alternative stations tend to cater to a wealthier demographic

What is your source for the socioeconomic level data you cite?

I've just heard for a long time that Alternative tends to target wealthy demos - I think it's cause wealthy listeners are more likely to play musical instruments, and Alt/Rock tends to be more musically involved/complex than other formats (that target white demos) - and I'm assuming this has gotta apply to Alt/Rock on CHR too

It sounds like you're generalizing about demographics, and are unfamiliar with the LA market. As David pointed out, the market is 75% ethnic. That is why alternative gets limited play on CHR here.

You can rest assured that based upon some of your comments on the CHR board, KAMP can now be classified as a mainstream CHR, as I've heard Adele "Rolling in the Deep" on the Daly Download for three days in a row now. (Although it could also be argued that Adele is just as much neo-soul as she is alternative, so she has her place amongst the other rhythmic hits)

 

[ocer]

Would be great to have a station similar to San Diego's Rock 105.3 or Phoenix's KUPD in L.A. / O.C. I was disappointed when Clear Channel decided to flip 98.7 to a very limp Modern Rock format instead of Active Rock.

IINM this was a flanker move. CBS had just launched Amp Radio to go after KIIS. So CC countered with 98.7 to cut into KROQ. I agree with you on the formatting of 98.7 as it is difficult to listen to this station for any length of time. It sure would be refreshing to have a PURE ROCK station in LA/OC. Incidentally the HD2 format of 98.7 is Active Rock.

CC moved 98.7 to modern rock over a year before amp came online, so if anything Amp was a response to 98.7.

I'm the opposite of you guys... I can't help to think of active rock as mullet rock , so as no surprise I like what 98.7 does. They still cume higher than KROQ even though KROQ has a higher share. Perhaps the talk on KROQ keeps people listening longer?

 

[atlantaboy]

...of course there are CHRs in the country that lean Alt/Rock (a lot more than Sean Ross mentions), and most do tend to cater to a wealthier demographic, just like Alternative stations tend to cater to a wealthier demographic

What is your source for the socioeconomic level data you cite?

I've just heard for a long time that Alternative tends to target wealthy demos - I think it's cause wealthy listeners are more likely to play musical instruments, and Alt/Rock tends to be more musically involved/complex than other formats (that target white demos) - and I'm assuming this has gotta apply to Alt/Rock on CHR too

It sounds like you're generalizing about demographics, and are unfamiliar with the LA market. As David pointed out, the market is 75% ethnic. That is why alternative gets limited play on CHR here.

I know - that's exactly what I posted

Instead of scanning what I write, it would be cool if you'd actually read it...

 

[atlantaboy]

Of course Alt/Rock doesn't work on Los Angeles CHRs that cater to ethnic audiences -

LA: 44% Hispanic, 8% Black, 12% Asian, 10% foreign born immigrants not included in any of the first three (Persians, persons from Eastern European countries, etc) so the market is right at 75% ethnic or from a group that would not have a first generation interest in Alternative.

Once again, that's exactly what I posted - are you agreeing with it?