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I Cannot Stand This Idea!

103-5 KISS FM here in Chicago does this and for some reason I can't stand it! There will be a song fading down then, the next song will start and after like a second or two, the sweeper will start. Do any other stations do this? Im guesing the average listener wouldn't even notice this but still......
 
Are they just dry liners, or full-blown produced sweepers? I have no problem with dry liners running over a song's intro, but if it's a produced sweeper, that would just sound stupid.
 
It's both, the dry sweepers don't sound as bad but when it's a full sweeper it sounds horrible because the music and effects from the sweeper are going over the intro of the song.
 
Sounds to me like someone screwed up. Either that, or if they actually are doing it intentionally, someone's really stoopud.
 
They always do that. One of the many reasons why I have problems with this station these days.

Same goes for the DJ breaks.

KBKS in Seattle does something similar with the sweepers but they pretty much start instantly.
 
I have not heard WKSC. I'll have to check it out.
The sweepers on KBKS aren't overly produced though. I mean, yes they are wet, but they aren't THAT wet.
It also depends on the intro I think. It works with some, others not as well.
 
That's not true. Listeners do care, and they do notice. Don't listen to the focus groups, don't listen to the consultants; listen to the people listening to your station. Especially in the generation currently listening to WKSC: they realize radio isn't what it used to be, and they realize why. This may be just a small thing, but it's the small things that add up to a larger problem, and listeners don't ignore them.
 
Josh C. said:
That's not true. Listeners do care, and they do notice. Don't listen to the focus groups, don't listen to the consultants; listen to the people listening to your station. Especially in the generation currently listening to WKSC: they realize radio isn't what it used to be, and they realize why. This may be just a small thing, but it's the small things that add up to a larger problem, and listeners don't ignore them.

Haha. Right. When you have a realistic grasp on why your audience listens to your station, we'll welcome you back to this board.
 
I'm afraid you're the one out of sync with reality, my friend. Do some reading here (and even further writings from more authorities in the industry who are saying the exact same thing can be found easily by doing some searching on Google, Technorati, etc.). You'll find that the age group that WKSC targets is not listening, and it's all because of the programming. As I said, this may be a small thing, but this small thing is just a part of the bigger picture.

I'll roam the boards as I wish, thank you.
 
Josh C. said:
I'm afraid you're the one out of sync with reality, my friend. Do some reading here (and even further writings from more authorities in the industry who are saying the exact same thing can be found easily by doing some searching on Google, Technorati, etc.). You'll find that the age group that WKSC targets is not listening, and it's all because of the programming. As I said, this may be a small thing, but this small thing is just a part of the bigger picture.

I'll roam the boards as I wish, thank you.

I'll start this off by saying I'm a 14 year old from a suburb of Chicago. I listen to WKSC almost every day, because it's one of the only Chicago stations I can get with a decent signal. The way the station sounds, is not even CLOSE to how a real CHR should sound. The way they do the ramping over songs, is really bad. The sweepers are barely produced. They just use some basic effects, most likely from Cool Edit/Audition. The crazy thing is that they run artist drops, lightly produced over songs. THOSE aren't even produced right. You can blatantly tell that the drop wasn't recorded for WKSC. There's a small pause between the artist's name and 1035KissFM. And don't even get me started on the Jocks! DreX is OK, Smash just doesn't fit, same with Nina Chantelle, Ty's pretty good, Mack isn't that bad, but could be better.

Here's how I think they could improve the station:
- New Jocks (to replace Smash, Chantelle and Mack - put Ty in nights, and get the Freak Show with Tic Tak back)
- New Imaging (Kampel's getting tired out after being used for so long on the station)
- New Jingles (N2Effect?)
- Stop running sweepers over songs
- Fix the artist drops
- BALANCE THE MUSIC! (A LOT more Rock. They sound just like B96, just with Daughtry and Panic! At The Disco added in every so often)
 
Now they're starting to run dry liners just saying "103-5" instead of "103-5 Kiss FM"

a couple with Drex and another with Dave Kampel.

- New Imaging (Kampel's getting tired out after being used for so long on the station)

Dave works in house I believe. He does the imaging for many of CC's CHR stations. I didn't mind him when they actually put effort into the imaging and liners (especially during the "Kiss 103.5" days in 2001-2002) . Now he sounds like crap on there. "ONE OH THREE FIVE (ciento tres cinco) KISS FM" They had Sandy Thomas when they launched it which was very good but they replaced him with Dave by fall 2001. I've heard Sandy is expensive and hard to deal with so I can understand why.

- BALANCE THE MUSIC! (A LOT more Rock. They sound just like B96, just with Daughtry and Panic! At The Disco added in every so often)

I agree 100%. Thery're completely ignoring all the rock songs both on the CHR chart and being released to CHR. The reason for this is because they are starting to go after the hispanic demo B96 (Rhythmic CHR) is going after without actually flipping the format. Lots of Spanish in the liners. I say flip it to rhythmic CHR or Hurban and put it out of its misery and hope that someone else launches a REAL CHR somewhere down the road.
 
Chris, would it be fair to say that a majority of people your age would have the same complaints about the station, or would at least agree to the changes you've proposed? My guess is they would.
 
http://www.sendspace.com/file/fz4llv

Here's their top of the hour ID. I recognize the production from Adobe Audition.

This was recorded directly from the air. No clue what that drop out was about but the music slowing down was their delay time stocking up.

I mentioned this on another board but their stream is actually ahead of the FM by about 10 seconds.
 
Not one single person in your listening audience knows what a sweeper is! I know SHOCKING! Yeah, and believe it or not, they will TOTALLY zone out your DJ UNLESS THEY ARE TALKING OVER THEIR FAVORITE SONG! I KNOW! I am DUMBFOUNDED!

People who listen to the radio... yet, have no IDEA what is going on in between the SONGS!?!? NO! IT'S THE END OF RADIO!

Here are the things that listeners HAVE NO IDEA, nor do they care, about:
Sweepers
Hitting posts
Segues
Voice guys
Processing
Positioning statements

RADIO PEOPLE CARE ABOUT THIS NON-SENSE! Listeners want their favorite song often. Music, not ANY of the above will help you win.

Oh, PS... all those "balanced" CHR's... are getting their ass kicked by Urbans and rhythms in key demos. Play less rock, play catchy, melodic hip-hop and you will win.

RATINGS=REVENUE. If your audience doesn't want rock music, YOU DON'T GET RATINGS.. YOU DON'T MAKE MONEY...And they flip your favorite "balanced" CHR. Boo hoo.
 
hair said:
Not one single person in your listening audience knows what a sweeper is! I know SHOCKING! Yeah, and believe it or not, they will TOTALLY zone out your DJ UNLESS THEY ARE TALKING OVER THEIR FAVORITE SONG! I KNOW! I am DUMBFOUNDED!

People who listen to the radio... yet, have no IDEA what is going on in between the SONGS!?!? NO! IT'S THE END OF RADIO!

Here are the things that listeners HAVE NO IDEA, nor do they care, about:
Sweepers
Hitting posts
Segues
Voice guys
Processing
Positioning statements

RADIO PEOPLE CARE ABOUT THIS NON-SENSE! Listeners want their favorite song often. Music, not ANY of the above will help you win.

Oh, PS... all those "balanced" CHR's... are getting their ass kicked by Urbans and rhythms in key demos. Play less rock, play catchy, melodic hip-hop and you will win.

RATINGS=REVENUE. If your audience doesn't want rock music, YOU DON'T GET RATINGS.. YOU DON'T MAKE MONEY...And they flip your favorite "balanced" CHR. Boo hoo.

Wow someone has a temper.


First of all, I don't know what the consultants are telling you (unless you're a consultant yourself) but when people talk over EVERY SINGLE SONG and fire annoying cheaply produced liners ontop of them, its going to be irritating to the listener. Go randomly ask people in the target demo (believe me I have just out of curiosity)


As for your rock statement, that is false but once again that all depends on the market. The station in question has been focusing on a rhythmic CHR (who's glory days have been waning due to bad air talent) station all of its life. First, they were rhythmic leaning CHR (with more rock then they are playing now) and they constantly ripped on the rhythmic CHR station. It was like Chicago's version of The Power Pig. 12+ ratings were in the mid 2s (however I heard they were top 3 afternoons and evenings 18-34 with the previous air talent) Then they up and go all rhythmic (with 2 rock songs in rotation) and are now basically a complete copy cat of the rhythmic CHR station when airstaff is involved. They're in the mid 3s 12+ but who knows 18-34.

Oh and an FYI, the CHR this station FORCED off the air due to the "KISS" name was ROCK LEANING on a bunch of crap rimshot signals and they just missed cracking a 2 share. Thats almost the same as this RHYTHMIC LEANING outlet got during its days as a rhythmic leaning CHR bashing the crap out of the competition.


And as for the "balanced CHRs" getting the crap kicked out of them....its the balanced CHRs that are often #1 in the ratings.Oh yeah and by playing more rock you have the chance to grab some more 25-54 without pissing off the 18-34s (who also like this music) 25-54=$$$$$

And ratings isn't ALWAYS revenue. Ask some of the stations that had ratings as good if not better then some of these stations that flipped. It all depends on how you sell it and if the advertisers want it.

As far as WKSC is concerned, their billing for last year (under its current ratings/presentation setting which started last year) was WAY worse then both WBBM (which usually has higher ratings about the same as WKSC), WTMX (which has ratings lower then WKSC) and just about on the same level as an alternative ROCK station with ratings just above a 1.0

http://www.suntimes.com/business/feder/223794,CST-FIN-feder23.article

There was a rhythmic CHR station (WOFM) that got good ratings, but was flipped due to poor revenue. Same goes for its sister (WLYD) which is now getting worse ratings then it was as a rhythmic CHR but is billing better.
 
hair said:
Not one single person in your listening audience knows what a sweeper is! I know SHOCKING! Yeah, and believe it or not, they will TOTALLY zone out your DJ UNLESS THEY ARE TALKING OVER THEIR FAVORITE SONG! I KNOW! I am DUMBFOUNDED!

People who listen to the radio... yet, have no IDEA what is going on in between the SONGS!?!? NO! IT'S THE END OF RADIO!

Here are the things that listeners HAVE NO IDEA, nor do they care, about:
Sweepers
Hitting posts
Segues
Voice guys
Processing
Positioning statements

RADIO PEOPLE CARE ABOUT THIS NON-SENSE! Listeners want their favorite song often. Music, not ANY of the above will help you win.

Oh, PS... all those "balanced" CHR's... are getting their ass kicked by Urbans and rhythms in key demos. Play less rock, play catchy, melodic hip-hop and you will win.

RATINGS=REVENUE. If your audience doesn't want rock music, YOU DON'T GET RATINGS.. YOU DON'T MAKE MONEY...And they flip your favorite "balanced" CHR. Boo hoo.

The average listener doesn't care.

But "Play less rock, play catchy, melodic hip-hop and you will win." is the worst advice I've ever heard. It all depends on your market.
 
Josh C. said:
Chris, would it be fair to say that a majority of people your age would have the same complaints about the station, or would at least agree to the changes you've proposed? My guess is they would.

A lot of people I know have been telling me a lot about how "Kiss sucks". I know for a fact, that the younger end of Kiss's audience would prefer a more balanced CHR that plays all the hits, not just what Kiss thinks is a hit. They just started playing "This Ain't A Scene" and "It's Not Over", AND they act like it's new music!

Oh, btw, Kiss beat B96 this ratings period. B96 is tenth in the market, Kiss is ninth. What a surprise.
 
Haha. Can I talk to someone here that actually WORKS for a radio station, and not someone that is a passive listener?
 
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