Is 105.3 the ONLY Free FM format still around?

[little1]

Yeah you're right Robert. Why waste money trying to ask listeners what they like, whatthey might listen to, etc, when we can just "guess".

Of course, you've got the luxury of not having to actually try and make a profit, don't you? If you guess wrong, you just p*ss off a few parents or administrators...

For the rest of us, if we 'guess' wrong, we lose our jobs...


And Mike- one observation- I was exposed to some satellite radio the other day- Channel 25, light hits of the 70's and 80's, IIRC...Laughing because their positioning and their music selection sounds like KVIL of 5-10 years ago...
Also laughing because look at how 'niched' out XM or Sirius are. I also wouldn't mind it if it went back to how things were. But I'd rather not waste my time onhere talking about how things were, I'd rather talk abouthow things are. Because THAT is what is going to affect our jobs, our livelihoods, etc...

In other words, talk all you want about how we need a broad based this, or a that station. But realize it's going to be about what a station thinks it can make money at...

 

[Robert Bass]

See? That's the problem. Anytime you put making a profit over the listener, it's going to be a train wreck. I understand the need for some profit, but it's the approach... Correct me if I am wrong, but isn't giving the listeners what they want = listener loyalty = ratings & profit? Gee, this worked in the past, before things went corporate.

R

 

[RadioGoon]

One of the bigger problems I also see is the lack of money spent for promotions. Remember the days of KVIL giving away great prizes and having great contests. Those days are gone. Sure it's bribing people to listen but hey, it worked. The days of station bumper stickers are pretty much gone. The only radio station bumber stickers I see ON cars are from the hispanic stations. And I still can't get over Lonestar SELLING their swag online. You want me to PAY to advertise for you? All promotion money has been scooped back into the station pile to woo clients and give to over-payed talent. Give that promotion money back to the listeners. They'll thank you for it with station loyalty!

 

[jeffdfw]

One of the bigger problems I also see is the lack of money spent for promotions. Remember the days of KVIL giving away great prizes and having great contests. Those days are gone. Sure it's bribing people to listen but hey, it worked. The days of station bumper stickers are pretty much gone. The only radio station bumber stickers I see ON cars are from the hispanic stations. And I still can't get over Lonestar SELLING their swag online. You want me to PAY to advertise for you? All promotion money has been scooped back into the station pile to woo clients and give to over-payed talent. Give that promotion money back to the listeners. They'll thank you for it with station loyalty!

Most smooth jazz stations still do Trip-A-Day giveaways. However, locally... instead of big promotions - CBS Dallas spent their money to take the sponsors to Costa Rica this year. :

 

[salemjedi54]

Naybe you don't remember some of the playlists from the 80's, but I can tell you for sure that KISS-FM had a mix of pop and rock during their heyday. Y95 did as well. I've got a tape somewhere here of KEGL from 1987 or so, and it's too hard rock for my taste. I like a mix of styles, as long as they are hits.

I'm not speaking of how things were, but of how they are now. And I've seen research that backs up the idea that the fans of the pop songs of the 80's and the fans of the rock songs of the 80's are NOT the same groups. And they won't listen to what they don't like.

In fact, that's probably why a 80's variety format hasn't been tried yet- because the old edge listeners aren't fans of hair bands, those guys aren't fans of Whitney et al. They may have been played all together back in the day, odds are they will NOT be all played together on any station that decides to play 80's these days...

So how about if someone brought back the Y95 or KAFM 92.5 formats. Back in the mid to late 80's, I was a diehard K104 and KNOK listener. But I also listened to KAFM and Y95. Those were some mass apeal stations.

 

[muzzled]

I see a "trend' here Little one will never admit the quality of radio over all reeks ,as long as he makes money with it. The mor it reeks,the better the profit. The ratings today are so spun, spinned, and tumbled, they are a joke in a non humorous way. If one wants to listen to an oldies station, and there is only one oldies station. damn the ratings will look good! No direct competion,same holds true for classic rock ,andchr with only one station one format,no "direct competition". The Little ones will say it offers more variety,but that depends on your point of view, experience ,knowledge, and how you can spin it to create an image that you sound like a freaking genius. radio is losing more listeners with each passing year due to its tiresome over sold spot deluge and the over researched over spun music formats. The entertaining factor is minmal, but if you can sell infomercials then you can sell ac units to eskimos. Its all about sales not quality and advertisers like to hear their name over the radio like a young kid long ago phoning in a request. Its the PT barnum menatality of todays radio. Funeral services are pending