JACK Here vs. JACK There....

[LITTLEBOYBLUE]

A few years ago I'd get up every Sunday and stream Jack out of Canada. Was enamored with the format and how cool it was that someone "GOT" the idea of a deep deep library, some personality, etc. It took off.

So people in US decide "we'll do that too" and license it ... and then proceed to screw it up. Make it limited ... make it jockless ... and basically proceed to screw it up by making it bland and predictable.

This morning went back to that old tradition and am realizing what a huge difference there is between the original implementation and the one here. Every time I'm about to shut the stream off they end up with something that is "HEY COOL!!!" and I stay a few more minutes. Right now it's "MacArthur Park.." (yes, the RICHARD HARRIS version not the Donna Summer butchered one) that has me going "THIS IS SOOOOO COOL!!!".

Guess I'm just thinking out loud about why does every format in America HAVE to be sterilized, reduced to the lowest common denominator and so damn bland?? Remember when stations even used to carry special syndicated this or that on Sunday mornings where they would expand the library .. now it's just another chance to run the same-old same-old with no jock tracks and call it "special".

 

[searadiofreak]

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A few years ago I'd get up every Sunday and stream Jack out of Canada. Was enamored with the format and how cool it was that someone "GOT" the idea of a deep deep library, some personality, etc. It took off.

So people in US decide "we'll do that too" and license it ... and then proceed to screw it up. Make it limited ... make it jockless ... and basically proceed to screw it up by making it bland and predictable.

This morning went back to that old tradition and am realizing what a huge difference there is between the original implementation and the one here. Every time I'm about to shut the stream off they end up with something that is "HEY COOL!!!" and I stay a few more minutes. Right now it's "MacArthur Park.." (yes, the RICHARD HARRIS version not the Donna Summer butchered one) that has me going "THIS IS SOOOOO COOL!!!".

Guess I'm just thinking out loud about why does every format in America HAVE to be sterilized, reduced to the lowest common denominator and so damn bland?? Remember when stations even used to carry special syndicated this or that on Sunday mornings where they would expand the library .. now it's just another chance to run the same-old same-old with no jock tracks and call it "special".

Your "MacArthur Park" reference is indeed why these stations surive. I agree, when you hear something like that, there is an attraction.

As for personality with this format, well, a lot of them are doing OK without, but who knows how well they COULD do?

At the end of the day, will these formats really save radio?They are serving a unique purpose right now but when and if radio becomes irrelevant, will they not be just a footnote?

 

[dadetim]

btw.... today (04/22) marks Jack - Seattle's 2 year birthday. For all those that thought that Jack would be dead 12-18 months after their debut, here's a present for you------- HUGE RASPBERRY!!!!!!

 

[placebo1969]

I've mentioned this before, but I live in Bellingham, so I can hear 3 Jacks (Seattle, Vancouver and Victoria). The Victoria one doesn't come in that well. At work, I listen to the Vancouver one in the afternoon occasionally and there certainly is a lot of variety in the songs. Maybe even more than Seattle.

Personally, I would love to have jocks on the Seattle Jack. Great personalities on 96.5 in Seattle, hmm, a guy can dream, can't he?

 

[AQH]

btw.... today (04/22) marks Jack - Seattle's 2 year birthday. For all those that thought that Jack would be dead 12-18 months after their debut, here's a present for you------- HUGE RASPBERRY!!!!!!

First of all, not everyone said Jack would be gone in that time frame.

Secondly the Seattle Jack, as well as other Jack stations, are locked into some pretty tight contracts with Sparknet. And I think there are a few people on this board who know exactly what is Sparknet. If you need to look up who is Sparknet, you probably don't know much about Jack.

Their rise and soft fall was not a surprise. I'm sure some on Dexter had visions of the ascent Jack in Vancouver did, but obviously they were not able to sustain it.

 

[Shark]

Guess I'm just thinking out loud about why does every format in America HAVE to be sterilized, reduced to the lowest common denominator and so damn bland??

I think it can be summed up in one word: research. Overdependence on how a song "tests" has sucked the life out of radio programming and reduced it to a mathematical equation. If you want to create compelling programming, you can't do it by just trying to please and not to offend as many people as possible.

 

[djdan]

JACK is a well-researched format in the US, that has died in most markets. There are notable exceptions including LA and St Louis, where the format continues. In Seattle, JACK had pretty much died, until a Fall 06 book that looked good. The question for advertisers is: was fall a fluke or is JACK working in Seattle? The first two trends of Winter make Fall look like a fluke, but time will tell. On a four book JACK is off 33% from its first year to second year and 66% in women 25-54. WIthout the Fall book, the station would most surely have been over in advertisers minds. Winter will tell the story.

The unusual thing about Seattle's JACK is that it started with a large 25-54 female audience. The station now performs like a Classic Rock and is 66% male. Again that may be odd Fall male numbers and in fact the station may be just down overall. Four books tell the story, not a single book.

I wish JACK had personalities. It may be the way to give the format strength. It would certainly allow for more promotion and better ways to connect to the audience and advertisers.

 

[dadetim]

btw.... today (04/22) marks Jack - Seattle's 2 year birthday. For all those that thought that Jack would be dead 12-18 months after their debut, here's a present for you------- HUGE RASPBERRY!!!!!!

First of all, not everyone said Jack would be gone in that time frame.

(first of all...i didn't say everyone...i said "for those of you"....big difference!)

Secondly the Seattle Jack, as well as other Jack stations, are locked into some pretty tight contracts with Sparknet. And I think there are a few people on this board who know exactly what is Sparknet. If you need to look up who is Sparknet, you probably don't know much about Jack.

(i know all about sparknet, because i am a fan of jack, as well as other variety hits stations. i listened to jack online (www.jack.fm) and also on jack vancouver's web site.

Their rise and soft fall was not a surprise. I'm sure some on Dexter had visions of the ascent Jack in Vancouver did, but obviously they were not able to sustain it.