Is WKLU breaking it's Promise

[Leona]

Re: Is WKLU breaking it's Promise; People Get Real!

Hello Indianapolians! Hey, I'm an out of towner. I'm even an out of stater. I live in (& live with) market 18 (Nassau/Suffolk) aka [Long Island NY] which is unfortunately in the shadow of the most corporate of all markets, market #1, NYC.I visited Indianapolis last summer and almost immediately found WKLU 101.9 It seemed to stand out on the dial. I checked all the other stations. Most of them sound like the same tired corporate cookie-cutter pre-fab radio that we got back home. WKLU was different though! I was so impressed by this station that I often listen at home (In New York) over the internet. I am looking forward to visiting Indianapolis again this summer, and one of the main reasons is that I'll be able to listen to WKLU again!I don't see how WKLU could have lied to the listeners. Unless they promised the listeners on the air that they wouldn't play more than 4 spots per hour they are in the clear. It doesn't matter what they said in some magazine. It only matters what they told the listeners on the air.Anyway, you have to recognize that WKLU is an awesome commercial radio station. I wish I had the financial capital to do the same thing in my home market. It's sad to think that Russ Oasis may sell out in a few years, but these things do happen. Are we sure about this? Does he have a track record for doing this sort of thing? Maybe he really does enjoy radio. That's not to say he never will sell the radio station though. About 1 & 1/2 years ago here one of our heritage independant stations sold out for $80 million to Univision so that they could simulcast on it. That station was bought for about $60 million more than it is worth. That just proves that weird things happen in radio. No-one ever thought that the owners would ever sell, but when greedy corporate interest is offering to pay you four times what the station is worth, you're crazy not to take it, no matter how much of a radio-geek you proclaim to be. Maybe that day will come for WKLU, but for now, just as my local WLIR was awesome, WKLU currently isawesome. It's too bad I have to listen to a station that is somewhere between 1/4 to 1/3 of the way across the country from me, but its nice to know that it is there, and that Russ Oasis and his "Kool-Aid" Krew are keepin' it real, at least for now.OK, just thought maybe you all might have been interested in what an outsider had to think about the whole thing. Best Regards, -Lee

 

[radioho]

Radio 101

Whoever started this thread is truly one of the most ignorant people in the local radio business.Where was WKLU before Oasis purchased it? Being used [EDIT] by a couple of [EDIT] brothers who were PLAYING radio much like the rest of us did with our radioshack tape recorders in pre-teen years.Where is WKLU now? Right on YOUR BUTT COSBY!Hey, play more KISS why don't ya? That'll up those stagnant ratings.Much like politicians, why is it jocks feel like they KNOW how the business end works? Listeners DON'T CARE about two extra minutes of commercials, by then, they know the music will be back within another minute - unlike Q95, which goes into commercial marathons, then of course we get Bob Seger or Skynyrd -- woooo!Radio listening is FREE. People understand there will be commercials - or they're listening to Sirius. But if they're still listening to FREE radio, they understand there's a price to pay - sit through the commercial break. At least six minutes isn't like Q's 30 minutes.[EDIT*=inflamatory comment][EDIT**=derogatory remarks]

 

[BSURadioGeek]

Leona hit the nail on the head. As for South, here is the point you really need to defend yourself onid WKLU lie? Did they ever say only four an hour to listeners and advertisers? I think we already know the answer, no matter what you insist.I unfortunately just became a koolade drinker. I got a call today and I will be recording my ultimate top ten soon for a future airing. I can't be impartial in this thread anymore. Darn.

 

[radioho]

Much like it's easy to pinpoint those at other stations taking shots at WKLU, it's pretty easy to see the Leona likely isn't being completely honest. (BTW - we're HOOSIERS, not Indianapolians - he's our NFL team president.)No one in radio would gush that much about a radio station playing retread music. It's a good station, but what's "awesome" about a station that plays old music? It's not like it's rocket science. People who like the old retread are just tired of "doin' the dog" "i'm a KISS ARMY wannabe, wait I can't sing OR play an instrument" "I was a gymnist 200 pounds ago" and "ha ha ha, hey here's another fart joke, ohmygod that's HIlarious!" All this was cool in high school - BACK IN 1983!I respect KLU for what it's done as an independent business model in a decent sized market, which is another argument, but c'mon Leona, you can't wait to visit Indy because you like a radio station? One that you can listen to 24/7 on the internet? A bit much. But good effort.Let's face it, they both still play skynyrd, petty, blah, blah, blah ... can one of you PLEASE play "Freebird" just one more time, you don't play it near enough!

 

[11south]

Yep, we hit a nerve

An oldie but a goodieHere's another:Radio is a business. The listener is the product and the advertiser is the customer. We have to cultivate an audience to sell to the advertiser. It is not an art form. If you want art form..work at a station below 92 on the dial.What is really cool, we're up to 62 replies and well over 1000 views....hottest topic on this board in years.

 

[Hionradio]

The only nearve you hit is the overall hatred for the guys you work for and the unbelievable gall you have to defend them. You work for the people who have absolutely ruined radio. We would have had digital radio years ago (ask Dan Mettler) with Eureka...but no, CC had to object so that the system they own part of could be the digital system. There would be no satellite today if we had jumped on digital many years ago. South and Spark, you should be ashamed of yourselves. You are complete sellouts.

 

[11south]

WKLU Breaking it's Promise

Where did I defend them? I just pointed out that you lied to your audience and most likely to your advertisers (I know some of them), and then threw the people who you want to buy your "flipped" station under the bus.I never once commented on the state of radio, except to point out that you are now stuck playing the cash flow game.If you're so pure...just operate your station and be done with it...forget about cashing in big. But along the way, take a course in business ethics.Quit being so sensitive...it is quite un-becoming.

 

[Hionradio]

How am I going to cash in big? I just like doing good radio.

 

[Leona]

...Leona likely isn't being completely honest. (BTW - we're HOOSIERS, not Indianapolians - he's our NFL team president.)No one in radio would gush that much about a radio station playing retread music. It's a good station, but what's "awesome" about a station that plays old music?...

OOPs, sorry to offend you "Hooters" by calling you an NFL Team.

I respect KLU for what it's done as an independent business model in a decent sized market, which is another argument, but c'mon Leona, you can't wait to visit Indy because you like a radio station? One that you can listen to 24/7 on the internet? A bit much. But good effort.

OK, so you got me. Really I'm visiting Indy this summer for Gen-Con. But I will be checking out WKLU while I'm there. Indy is a unique radio experience for me. Where else can you hear Radio-Disney on FM? I never Listen to that Materialistic Kidie Crap at home, but Radio Disney on FM is a novelty, so I found myself listening. There was also a really nice EZ Listening station. I think it was WTPI? I don't remember if it was 105.9 or 107.7 or something. I'll have to check it out this summer. It was really soft laid back music. It reminded me of an old station we used to have at home yars ago. It was up there somewhere at the top of the band. Anyhow, I really liked that too. Its also nice to hear country music on the radio. I realize you have a lot of country stations, but where I live there are none, so this is also a nice novelty for me. I guess WKLU was the same way. Its just different than anything I have heard around here, at least in Commercial radio anyway. Will I check out stations other than KLU? Hell-Ya! But I will certainly have them on for background when I'm hanging out and not actively listening around. I plan on rolling tape on them too. The whole Anti-Corporate thing amuses me. Hey, if you ever come to the Island, we have a few unique stations...For starters we just recently got an LPFM that plays Alternative. Radio-X has two translators in addition to its main channel. They are also on the web. http://www.radiox.fmThen there is the ever popular WLNG on the East End in the infamous Hamptons. http://www.wlng.com This station is amusing because it is an oldies station that is very local and plays ancient jingles. It is FM but they still broadcast in mono. They also have a web stream. They play totally a ton of commercials, but their intense local focus makes them a powerhouse on the East End. Everything else is pretty much corporate cookie-cutter from Long Island, New York City and Connecitcut. I guess thats why I like WKLU, because we don't have a decent classic hits station around here. At least we got the internet.

 

[radioho]

OOPs, sorry to offend you "Hooters" by calling you an NFL Team.

It's alright - I've been called a boob before.

Indy is a unique radio experience for me. Where else can you hear Radio-Disney on FM? I never Listen to that Materialistic Kidie Crap at home, but Radio Disney on FM is a novelty, so I found myself listening. There was also a really nice EZ Listening station. I think it was WTPI? Its also nice to hear country music on the radio.

??? Are you pulling our collective chain?

 

[Hippychick]

I am speechless. OF COURSE RUSS BOUGHT THE STATION TO MAKE A PROFIT .... OF COURSE HE'll SELL IT. That is what station owners do. That is the American Way.... buy and sell for a profit. What a crock of ****.

 

[radio2100]

Not if you really love radio!

 

[PTBoardOp94]

B105.7 maybe? Emmis' forgotten stepchild raising your fancy would be odd

 

[stonyeye]

Well, somehow or other this discussion got mailed to me by a friend, since he knows I like WKLU. I am a middle aged male who has always taken his Indy radio very seriously. I love free radio. As a life long resident of Indy I've been through it all. From the WIFE Good guys, Super Shirk, Buster Bodine and the Buzzard, the robot WFBQ, WFBQ The Album Station, BOB and TOM, WTTS and their unique twist on music in the late 80s and early 90s. Around 1999 a friend turned me on to WKLU and it stuck. A big WFBQ fan, I became tired of Bob and Tom's braying when they went to all talk and NO music unless it was their self serving parody songs and pandering to rednecks, and WTTS became so scattered that it just didn't interest me. I guess I'm saying that I've listened to WKLU since then until now, so I've been there for about seven years. The original WKLU (2000 thru2003?) was the perfect station for me, (I really loved that "Getting in your Pajamas" show that Libby Zabriskie did, and then "The Pop and Scratch Show", I used to go to sleep to them. No show has done that for me since Dr. Demento.) I guess what I'm trying to say is that I've been here since 1999 and at that time WKLU was the perfect station for me, but when the station changed hands two or three years back I realized it was the perfect station for Indy as a whole. While the other stations spoon feed Indianapolis turds (Which most of Indy gobbles down with glee. Good God, have you heard the Alice Cooper Show thing???.) WKLU SEEMS to listen to their audience. I made a request for "Red House" the other morning and IT GOT PLAYED!!! Do you know what that means to a listener like me?? I feel like most stations have contempt for their audience, WKLU doesn't seem to. Since this blog seems to be filled with a pile of venom about liars and what WKLU said, I will say that I've been there from the get go and WKLU only said that they would only stop the music once an hour, which they do. I've never cared about 4 stop set or six, (What ever you're talking about). By the way [EDIT], everybody in Indy knows that Russ, (just like JACK) is a made up character and not a real person, Jay Baker does the voice. Well, I've typed way too much.[EDIT*=inflamatory comment]

 

[mobilene]

Heh, like stonyeye, the "old" WKLU was my dream format. It was kind of like dating a woman who was two or three rungs up the looks ladder from you -- the whole time you're in the relationship, you just assume it's going to end sooner or later when a better-looking guy comes around.Anybody remember the revolving door of morning jocks at WKLU under the Quinns? Some of them, I swear, Bruce had to hire as passersby off Green St.Russ is quite real, though. I was really surprised to hear on Memorial Day a jock open for Russ... apparently he pulled a shift.jim

 

[ScatzerFan]

So the simple question is (that took 8 pages to argue over)....did WKLU promote on air that they were always going to play just 4 minutes of commercials an hour?or was it always......they were going to stop the music once an hour?if it is the latter....maybe the day will come where they can have Howard Stern type breaks......they will only stop the music once an hour but the break will be thirteen minutes long.

 

[BSURadioGeek]

So the simple question is (that took 8 pages to argue over)....did WKLU promote on air that they were always going to play just 4 minutes of commercials an hour?or was it always......they were going to stop the music once an hour?

I was at the station yesterday and I was assured that the promise was to only stop once an hour. How many commercials was always open for new interpretation.