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Hmmm....something brewing at KISS?
- Thread starter lucky82
- Start date
With numbers as bad as they are, if I worked at KBKS I'd be looking too....this station clearly needs to make a change in the programming that currently exists on-air. As I always like to say, the numbers don't lie. Right Now, KBKS is a sinking ship. The audience (what's left of it) is leaving too. Expect more to come; this story will become more interesting once the management either changes format or gets replaced too, which in the end means the format will be altered to the new realities of this market.
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yoyo205
Guest
Which brings up a question. Marcus D, are his hands tied in canning Jackie and Bender? Marcus seems like a smart guy, is he ignorant to the fact that Jackie and Bender are not a market 14 morning show? How many books have Jackie and Benders numbers been in the dumps? Maybe a rock solid contract? I'm pretty sure nothing is rock solid now a days 
The night thing would be the biggest red flag. Whenever a prominent F/T position is left unfilled for a extended period of time there is a reason. Not saying that nights is your biggest priority, but you would think they would have someone, anyone at least interviewing by now as we head into the fall book. Granted, Marcus could be actually considering Lorre, but from last convo I had with her at a remote she is just a fill in. She even hinted that she didnt want the job considering she is in school full time.
As for Jackie & Bender, I disagree, I think they are a #14 show, but they are at a station that has never done well. So, you could put Howard on Funky Monkey and I bet they wouldnt clock in at #1 either. But from what I hear J & B are doing well in the pocket book. So ride that gravy train! And Marcus and Bender DO NOT get along. The birdies say that Bender takes ZERO amount of carp from Marcus.
As I always say, showBIZ. I would love to see the sales numbers. But, if my gut serves me right, I would say a change is a coming. Im not sure how big of a change, but something could be in motion by the fall book.
As for Jackie & Bender, I disagree, I think they are a #14 show, but they are at a station that has never done well. So, you could put Howard on Funky Monkey and I bet they wouldnt clock in at #1 either. But from what I hear J & B are doing well in the pocket book. So ride that gravy train! And Marcus and Bender DO NOT get along. The birdies say that Bender takes ZERO amount of carp from Marcus.
As I always say, showBIZ. I would love to see the sales numbers. But, if my gut serves me right, I would say a change is a coming. Im not sure how big of a change, but something could be in motion by the fall book.
seatacpro said:
Sounds fishy, SeaTacPro.
(Sorry.)
Funny posts! KBKS sales numbers peaked about three or four years ago when they were top five in the market. Unlike HOT/AC or Oldies where nationally the format is in trouble, Mainstream CHR remains healthy. Dallas, LA, Boston and several other markets have mainstream CHR's number one 12+ and in mornings number one 25-54. They all win 18-34.
KBKS is losing on a four book and single book, even without a direct format competitor. Along with KNDD, they have been in trouble for some time. It is okay to lose 12+, but you must own your demoto attract transactional business. KBKS is not even top 5 18-34. Their morning show is 18th 25-54.
Advertisers are noticing and that is usually when you see change. After watching what KMPS, KPLZ and KBSG have done in the last few months to reinvent themselves without blowing up their stations, I suspect KBKS will stay in the format arena, but adjust morning and music. The format is fine and if they left it, someone would quickly fill the gap.
KBKS is losing on a four book and single book, even without a direct format competitor. Along with KNDD, they have been in trouble for some time. It is okay to lose 12+, but you must own your demoto attract transactional business. KBKS is not even top 5 18-34. Their morning show is 18th 25-54.
Advertisers are noticing and that is usually when you see change. After watching what KMPS, KPLZ and KBSG have done in the last few months to reinvent themselves without blowing up their stations, I suspect KBKS will stay in the format arena, but adjust morning and music. The format is fine and if they left it, someone would quickly fill the gap.
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seatacpro said:
There had better be a change coming soon. With what KPLZ is doing, there still might be a chance to wedge themselves into a spot, but I doubt they'd be able to sniff it out. Kiss has let so much go by them, it's amazing they're still afloat.
I can tell you this: rotating Plain White T's and Boys Like Girls every 90 minutes ain't the answer. Nor is playing two or three songs per hour in the morning. It works for T-Man, but J&B are nowhere near that caliber.
Bender is a former PD, so I would only imagine he's got all the "answers." Toxic relationships between any part of a morning show and the PD are not good and are a recipe for disaster.
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djdan said:
Contemporary is changing. KPLZ has adjusted properly for the most part (save playing the Journey and Rick Springfield to keep the Eastside soccer moms happy). Kiss' music is almost there, but they have too many other issues that block them from being a competitor. KPLZ has a lot more going for it now than does Kiss, both in programming and intangibles.
OK...granted I'm an old fart but I kind of liked it when people just had their calls as monikers. The station was what is was ... and the listeners seemed to do just fine remembering things like "KOL" "KVI" "KUBE" "KTAC" or whatever. Now it's almost like 60% of the imaging goes toward explaining just what is meant by terms like "FRESH" or "MIX" or "SMOOTH" or "STERILE". Not to mention the amoeba-like brain trusts that grab the format dujour and jam it on every property they control around the country expecting instantaneous reaction from the audience.
Is it possible nothing really changed at KBKS except competition that went after the audience with alternatives? (MOVIN, WOLF gunning for that 18-34). I don't listen so don't know if it's indeed fair to hang this on the personalities or the PD ... but it does seem like there is a hefty challenge on the table. What would YOU do if you were in driver's seat?
Is it possible nothing really changed at KBKS except competition that went after the audience with alternatives? (MOVIN, WOLF gunning for that 18-34). I don't listen so don't know if it's indeed fair to hang this on the personalities or the PD ... but it does seem like there is a hefty challenge on the table. What would YOU do if you were in driver's seat?
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e-dawg said:
You could say that KLSY was trying to be like that. But Fresh came on the air well after KLSY went away.
Kiss started its tailspin before Movin came on the air.
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LITTLEBOYBLUE said:
To be fair, I don't think the dumbing down to explain a station is limited to the ones with names. In this day and age, the few stations out there that use call letters do the same thing.
LITTLEBOYBLUE said:
Flush most of it all and start over again.
Musically, they're starting to see the light, but still has too many issues. Some of the talent needs to be replaced.
Big shout-out to 1000 Dexter reading this. :-*
Hey folks I belive that KISS is the reason MOVIN is working here and no where else in the Country. There is nothing wrong with the Mainstream CHR format it is tops in many markets across the country. KISS just plays too many bad songs and the morning show talks too much for a music station. KISS needs to lay offffff the alternative pop and kid rock stuff and focus rhythmic. Just copy the playlist at KISS in Dallas or KISS in Boston or KISS in LA. They are all number one and all lean rhythmic. Develop a morning show that can deliver core demos, better yet just play music. MOVIN is killing the KISS morning show because they play music and lean rhythmic. T-Man kills KISS because he is a better talent for the non-music 18-34 year old. Talking with some buds in Dallas and it seems KISS is gettin a new consultant, so I expect the music and morning show will be out the door soon. Fresh might work here given the success of KPLZ in the last couple of books and the decline in KRWM. KISS could make that move and then MOVIN could slide into Mainstream CHR without a blink. The solutions ain't that difficult cowboys.
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fumanchu
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TakeItFromMe said:
Kiss in Boston rhythmic leaning??? Kiss in Dallas??? Very mainstream, not rhythmic. Those three stations you mentioned having nothing similar with one another musically other than the name "kiss". Kiss in LA is rhythmic CHR with a Latin lean to it. You guys would know better than me, but I don't know if that will work up there in Northwest.
Kiss in Cleveland or Pittsburgh.... Channel in Detroit... KDWB in the Twin Cities... those are rhythmic leaning CHR's.
Actually, these days, Kiss/Boston is rather rhythmic. But you're absolutely right when pointing out that the three are distinctly different, apart from the name.
One thing they DO have in common that could be tried: LOCAL RESEARCH! KIIS got back on top of its game by doing what needed to be done in L.A......maybe it's time for the Seattle Kiss to do the same.
One thing they DO have in common that could be tried: LOCAL RESEARCH! KIIS got back on top of its game by doing what needed to be done in L.A......maybe it's time for the Seattle Kiss to do the same.
Having KISS leaning rhythmic is not the the answer. When you have a dominate player like KUBE and Movin' in the mix as well, all you are doing is having a third player essentially going after a piece of the pie against 2 stations that are killing them in the ratings already.
A complete makeover needs to be done. Does that require a format flip...possibly. Or it could be a change in direction towards a station like Star down in LA. Star is a modern ac that spins alot of newer hits but will ocassionally throw in some older tracks from Garbage, Weezer, Incubus, Collective Soul etc.
Might not be to everyone's cup of tea, but with the right talent and the right mix of music, a station like this could take listeners away from KPLZ, who might be tired of the amount of 80's songs they play, would also grab from the small amount of listeners the end has, as well as some folks from the Mountain.
What makes a station successful is it's lack of competition. Look at KZOK, clearly the station for classic rock. Same with KISW and WARM. None of these stations have any real competition, thus is the reason why they are always big players. Having KISS lean rhythmic would just be a recipe for disaster.
A complete makeover needs to be done. Does that require a format flip...possibly. Or it could be a change in direction towards a station like Star down in LA. Star is a modern ac that spins alot of newer hits but will ocassionally throw in some older tracks from Garbage, Weezer, Incubus, Collective Soul etc.
Might not be to everyone's cup of tea, but with the right talent and the right mix of music, a station like this could take listeners away from KPLZ, who might be tired of the amount of 80's songs they play, would also grab from the small amount of listeners the end has, as well as some folks from the Mountain.
What makes a station successful is it's lack of competition. Look at KZOK, clearly the station for classic rock. Same with KISW and WARM. None of these stations have any real competition, thus is the reason why they are always big players. Having KISS lean rhythmic would just be a recipe for disaster.
Lack of competition does increase success. KCMS, KUBE, KZOK are all examples of that in the Seattle market. However KBKS has no CHR Mainstream competitor and should doing better. Modern AC is not the answer. The format is not doing well at STAR in LA, Alice in SF or in any other major market in ratings and more importantly revenue is declining with a modern lean. KBKS would be better off staying the course and retooling or going after a top station like KUBE or maybe KRWM. A more Rhythmic CHR may work going after KUBE or Fresh might work going after KRWM. I purchase radio all over the Country and Mainstream CHR is a very ratings positive and cash positive format when done well. There are more examples of Mainstream CHR cash-flow success than Modern Ac, from the sales perspective.
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TU1 said:
Well said.
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