Heading to Fall in Bakersfield

[kkxxeffect]

We're just a few weeks away from the Fall Book in Bakersfield. There have been a few changes since the beginning of the Spring Book. What are your opinions?

THE BEAT - Is there any buzz at all for this AGM product? Will it affect The Groove? Will it be a good flanker next to Hot?

KUZZ- POST BUCK - I know they're putting Buck on their bumper stickers (I want one!), but now that summer has passed since Buck's passing, will it change the way they do business by the Bakersfield sign? Will the money to protect against KBKO be unlimited as it seems it has been? Plus, Donna James seems to have had an influence on the music there. Any thoughts on her? The numbers in Spring seemed to show a pretty good bump for the station after Buck died. Will it hold? I saw in R&R that KBKO is now a reporter...I know KUZZ tried to keep that from happening and leveling the playing field with the record companies.

KBKO-NEW MORNING/AFTERNOON SHOW - the 96.5 crew took a few hits this spring...losing LaRay on the morning show and Toni Marie in the afternoons. New girl Jenn has added a more youthful sound to the solid Kenn. I heard that Kenn and Jenn actually beat KUZZ 18-34...which if I'm building a station, that's where I want to win first. The station dropped the "artist/title" announcer and seems to have tightened its playlist. Is the boy PD still in the house?

KLLY - When KBKO lost LaRay, KLLY lost their afternoon guy Chris (her husband). Now they have Party Boy in the afternoon, dropped Melissa. They still seem to hang their hat solely on "The Lounge", but their ratings are dismal (down from a 4.6 a year ago to a 2.7 this year). Is it time EJ went his merry way?

KSMJ - They switched to a full-on (yet very sleepy) AC, added Brent Michaels (making it 3 on-ar alumni from K-Lite). Can they do more than a 1.5 share?

KGFM - Have they loosened their "you won't hear this song again this week" mix? They're still down from a year ago.

KNZR - They got Rush from KGET, Glen Beck from KGET, added Jazz McCay...yet had a big fall off from Winter to Spring. What does the Fall hold?

KGET/KHTY - What will Clear Channel flip this station to next? I'm guessing a 0.3 doesn't help Steve King's ego much.

PROMOTIONS - Who will be the most promotionally active? Who will be the most creative? Who will spend the most TV money?

PLEASE..ADD YOUR THOUGHTS!!!

 

[bopman]

Should be an interesting fall...

See what happens when The Beat starts jocks. The processing on both stations could be improved, but Groove is the heritage station here, and I have no reason to believe mass numbers will exit to try the new station. The music is too similar with the edge going to Groove.

Likewise, the music on KBKO and KUZZ is the same. KUZZ tries their hand at the new stuff quicker, but it doesn't effect them. I think the Buck sticker is a little morbid, but I would do the same thing if I were them. "Capitalize" on being Buck's station. I don't think being a reporter will put KBKO over the top. It will be the other stuff... is the PD the right guy? The station lives and dies with Ken. If people tune into him, that will set the tone for the rest of the day. Anyone know how he likes Jen?

I have no idea what will happen between KGFM and KSMJ. KGFM plays too many weird songs, and I have heard more businesses going to "the Breeze". I think listeners will be loyal to Dean and Rachel... I don't know what Brent can do to get listeners to switch. How can KSMJ use their personality to win the rest of the day. I think not enough people realize it's not a jazz station anymore (same name, same logo)... maybe some TV commercials?

KLLY is interesting. They have more turnover than any other station in the market. Not that long ago, Dean and Darcy, Kendall Marshall, JR, Chris Nelson, and Melissa were all working there. At least EJ and Party Boy are the same. The music is better, I think. More of a Top 40 (more rhythmic, even country) which is probably its best bet.

ALSO...
I think KNZR may have what it takes to get KERN in the next year. Did I read they don't have a PD anymore? Anyone know the deal with that?

In one year, Play 103.9 will be gone. No one can beat HOT. Someone may eventually beat KUZZ, but no one will beat HOT.

PROMOTIONS? I guess KUZZ is still the best. Who even does CC promotions? Who's at AGM? At Buckley?

 

[kkxxeffect]

My thoughts...
BEAT VS GROOVE: I agree that we have to wait to see what happens when Beat adds jocks. Groove has been driven by afternoons and mornings somewhat, and definitely has heritage. I honestly thought Groove was going to be another Mega...but its proven it has legs. BEAT'S disadvantage is time. Does AGM have the patience to live with it as a 2-share for a couple of years? Doubt it.

KBKO VS KUZZ: KUZZ does seem to play more new current songs than KBKO, sounds like 96.5 is playing it much more safe than they did a year ago. Since they dropped the dopey "artist/title" gimmick, KBKO sounds cleaner, tighter and more focused musically. Listening to the two stations side-by-side, I prefer KBKO, as the jocks all sound MUCH more into their jobs and don't sound like they've been doing it for 20 years. My guess is that KUZZ will continue to dominate in the UPPER demos (40+) but KBKO will see its growth in the 18-35 range. In the morning show battle, KBKO just sounds fresher, and with Jen complimenting Ken (my favorite of Bakersfield jocks) if Gradowitz decides to retire (as rumors have him doing soon)...it'll be a much more even game. I think adding NASCAR races really will help bring in new listeners to the station too. Promotionally, however, I think Mel will throw lots of cash at listeners in hope of holding on.

KGFM vs KSMJ: WHY didn't the Breeze take the name K-Lite? They would have had much more impact than crawling into the format as weakly as they did. KGFM as a station musically is a mess. Dean and Rachel STILL don't belong on that format (they should be over on KLLY) with their topicality. I hear Breeze much more in stores and offices than KGFM though and that's always a good sign.

KLLY VS. PIRATE: What does it say about a station that's getting its ass handed to it by a station with no promotions, no jocks, no personality, no music focus? KLLY NEEDS NEW LEADERSHIP. EJ had it and lost it. Your morning show spends 3 hours a day talking about a radio station in Los Angeles. Your afternoon guy is a small market night talent at best. Your imaging and attitude hasn't been fresh since 2000. It's time for someone else to come in, sweep out the cobwebs and do an Extreme Home Makeover on that station. Pirate doesn't HAVE to do anything. It doesn't DO anything and its winning.

KNZR vs. KERN: Look at it this way:
News vs News: KERN wins, though it's far from as good as KUZZ
Rush vs. Hannity: Hannity wins
Jazz McKay vs. Scott Cox (for the position of obnoxious talk host): Cox wins, Jazz is however more obnoxious.
Ralph Bailey vs. Inga Barks (for the nicer of the talk hosts): Inga wins
Secondary Syndicated hosts: Toss up. I like Glen Beck.
I think KERN wins, with KNZR still making moves up, since there IS something to like on KNZR

HOT VS. PLAY: Is Play even still on the air?

LET THE FALL BEGIN!!!

 

[XM RADIO]

I was in Bakersfield 2 weeks ago, Im glad i had XM, there is no Oldies station in or around that town!! Being from Concord, Its Imperative to have XM or Sirius , cause thereis no way to hear Elvis or C.C.R. !! I would figure you eould have a Oldies Station there!! KFRC went to a "Movin" format , and left alot of people with no Radio!! Talking no Radio the trip down Int 5 was great with XM, I tried to find a station to listen to, Nothing!! I also added Sirius last Friday, so with 2 Sats , Theres no Oldies shortage, and your Exempt from Format changes!! Trouts bar was like a trip back in time!! Had a nice trip home Thanks to XM!!! Anyone ever been to Trouts?? Kenny in Concord

 

[sacriver]

Trout's = Family Tradition .... If you're into marrying cousins!

Actually, the Family Tradition reference is one that any local would appreciate.... do they still use Hank's song for their commercials?

Wasn't there still oldies on 970 two weeks ago?

Oh well, just saw the trouts reference and had to bust up laughing.

You can pull some pretty good DX's on 5... I've pulled in KRXQ/KWOD both almost down to Harris Ranch.

 

[XM RADIO]

Sacriver, nice reply, Bakersfield has no oldies station, just like Concord, KFRC 99.7 went to a Movin Format, so did I, XM and Sirius, they are great! It was great to leave my radio on one station on the trip to Bfield!! The 60 s channel all the way!! My son is the finance manager @ Jim Burke Ford, Chris swears by Sirius , i listened it is great. The Sirius Gold channel is my fave! While in town I went to Trouts again, I met a lady there 2 years ago, wound up Divorced!! No more Trouts!! Kenny in Concord 6 XM s and one Sirius "Radio is Alive" again