JANUARY PPM'S REVIEW

[discjockeyjohn64]

It looks like the normal holiday music bump for KRWM has subsided but they still cling to #1 in the January PPM's. A station that moved up considerably was KIRO FM, now in the #2 slot. What with the recent tweeks and changes to various programs on that station, they must be pulling in more curious listeners. KJR placed #3 and held about 85% of the cume audience they had when playing holiday music, this will make KVI's attempts almost futile for gather oldies music listeners. KUOW placed #4 and had quite a nice bump for this NPR Newstalk outlet. A lot of world events that are fascinating to hear about probably boosted this station's listenership. KPLZ placed #5 and we up a full share point. Some of the holiday music listeners moved back to this HOT AC format station. KISW had quite the boost, up 1.3 shares, to #6.
KBKS held steady at #7, followed by KOMO, KZOK, and KMPS. As always these are the 12+ age ratings, advertisers don't buy this demo, but it is always interesting to watch the trends of the total listening audience.
Some surprises, KWJZ "Click 98.9" hasn't picked up many 12+ listeners since their debut about seven weeks ago. They are down a full share point from the days of playing Smooth Jazz. Still early to tell, since they are now getting a live staff to DJ the station and a new program director. But being mostly commercial free and jockless during the January survey, this has to be
disappointing to Sandusky. KVI didn't move up in the January survey, they dropped even lower, with cume audience down another 13,000 listeners. KTTH was up from their dismal December numbers, about a half share, still down a half share from November.

 

[semoochie]

"As always these are the 12+ age ratings" It's now "6+". I know it's hard to get used to.

 

[Jay Peninger]

Man somebody really tied a stinker errr ummm a sinker around KVI's neck they are dropping faster than one of Mike Tysons old opponents...

Do you think KISW will fair so well once Rivers goes on air again? KMTT seems to still be slipping a tad despite the return of Marty Riemer... KNDD not posting any gains either, I guess Entercom should be happy KISW took a big jump...

 

[discjockeyjohn64]

I also thought they had migrated to 6+ ratings, if you look at the numbers posted to this website, they definitely state the numbers are 12+.

As for KISW's huge surge in the ratings, could be that people were getting out of the holiday music mode and just really wanted to Rock. Not sure they will maintain that momentum but being more music intensive versus the old talk talk talk and a little music, I am sure has helped them have higher numbers.

 

[discjockeyjohn64]

After further checking, the numbers I was reviewing were 6+. Radio-info.com has them incorrectly listed as 12+.

Further review shows that KSGX (Gen X 104.9) is not doing that well either. They are approaching the numbers that were there for Funky Monkey 104.9. Their signal severely hampers them and it is doubtful this format will ever crack a 1 share.

KING FM was down again, their move to non-commercial in the near future is probably a wise idea. Though we all hate the pledge breaks, this is the first town outside of Dallas, that I have ever heard a commercial classical station. Since none of the NPR stations has chosen to play classical music, their niche will probably improve their bottom line once their listeners start to donate to keep their station going strong. Having no commercials will be a major bonus for the classical crowd.

 

[Dick Skinner]

...KMTT seems to still be slipping a tad despite the return of Marty Riemer... KNDD not posting any gains either, I guess Entercom should be happy KISW took a big jump...

I had to listen to the Mountain yesterday after reading that they've skidded to a 2.2. I just don't get what Benson's thinking with a lot of these titles. Dog's Eye View "Everything Falls Apart"? Steve Miller "Take the Money and Run"? Fleetwood Mac "Second Hand News"? Del Amitri "Kiss This Thing Goodbye"? Where's the relevance? The library seems like a hodgepodge of stale hits and marginal AAA songs that never went beyond the format. The currents don't show a lot of cross-over potential for that matter. Is there a cume strategy here? What am I missing? Can somebody educate me?

 

[radioguy123]

A lot to see since so many stations changed format. I posted earlier that PPM does not seem to be kind to format changes. KJR-FM is much worse than it was last year, same for KVI. Commercial Free Click bombed and was much better last year at this time as a Smooth Jazz station. KRWM seems to be losing audience from Christmas faster. Changes at KMTT seemed to drive down ratings, not up. Genx is a blip compared to Funky Monkey. MOVIN went CHR and dropped while KBKS had one of its best books

BJ Shea is clearly helped by Bob Rivers off the air. One has to wonder if KJR-FM will take some sort of Rock or CLassic ROck position to take advantage of River's natural audience. Oldies is doing them no favors.

What happened to the Country stations in Seattle??? They used to be near the top. KMPS is regularly beaten by KNBQ in some dayparts??. KKWF was number two in prime demos in January 2010, especially in mornings. Now they barely make top ten. Syndication is doing Fitz no favors. He is worse in SF, not even ranking in the top 25 in 25-54 demos, a year ago that station was around tenth in demo. Change in format or syndication has not proven a winner in PPM in Seattle, so far.

 

[scott salvatori]

so KMTT/entercom hows that watered down, AQH corporate playlist programming philosophy workin out for ya ratings wise? perhaps its time to put an R.I.P. on KMTT. why is it even considered adult album alternative? the AAA artists, or music that went deep on KMTT rotation in the 90's, is long gone, and replaced by a few token highly researched classic rock hits, and a heavy dose of new urban hipster acustic jive, aimed at the pre 30 crowd. also, long gone is a good number of listeners that supported seattle AAA radio since the late 70's. like another poster once said, "with internet radio, and satellite radio they aint comin' back". cant blame the KMTT staffers for this, as they are held back by consolidated corporate cookie cutter radio.

 

[AQH]

Sorry to interrupt the corporate bash-fest here, but are any of the experts going to weigh in on things that stations do off-the-air to help themselves? Were those things going on during this survey, or in the previous survey?

Or is anyone going to address the fact that shifts like this are par for the course?

 

[Jay Peninger]

so KMTT/entercom hows that watered down, AQH corporate playlist programming philosophy workin out for ya ratings wise? perhaps its time to put an R.I.P. on KMTT. why is it even considered adult album alternative? the AAA artists, or music that went deep on KMTT rotation in the 90's, is long gone, and replaced by a few token highly researched classic rock hits, and a heavy dose of new urban hipster acustic jive, aimed at the pre 30 crowd. also, long gone is a good number of listeners that supported seattle AAA radio since the late 70's. like another poster once said, "with internet radio, and satellite radio they aint comin' back". cant blame the KMTT staffers for this, as they are held back by consolidated corporate cookie cutter radio.

KMTT's woes started in 2009 when they sent Marty & Jodi packing in the mornings... And inviting Mr. Riemer back for afternoons isn't going to do a damn thing for them unless they take off the muzzle and let him do the kind of radio he is capable of doing...

Of course if they let Marty cut loose in the afternoon then The Men's Room on KISW takes a hit...

 

[345palm]

They also need to return to playing unique music and get rid of the mainstream hits that people are burned out on. Why play "Bang a Gong Get It On?"

 

[scott salvatori]

They also need to return to playing unique music and get rid of the mainstream hits that people are burned out on. Why play "Bang a Gong Get It On?"

and start playin' "jeepster for your love?"

do i hear an amen, from the amen corner?

 

[TVradioguru]

Actually the reason some AAA formats have taken a hit in PPM is because, as with KMTT, the playing of unfamiliar and untested artists or tracks. Unlike what the tiny percentage of radio geeks or hobbyists claim here, the listeners who count and in majority numbers, want to hear familar hits. That's why they're considered hits.

It doesn't matter whether classical or rock, familiar wins and esoteric loses every time. AAA formats were 'voted' in diaries back in the day, even then not exactly setting the world on fire, and have been exposed recently as another example of actual cume and TSL being over-reported by the diary keepers.

 

[345palm]

The Mountain has lost its uniqueness and its image thanks to this kind of programming.

 

[Dick Skinner]

Actually the reason some AAA formats have taken a hit in PPM is because, as with KMTT, the playing of unfamiliar and untested artists or tracks. Unlike what the tiny percentage of radio geeks or hobbyists claim here, the listeners who count and in majority numbers, want to hear familar hits. That's why they're considered hits.

It doesn't matter whether classical or rock, familiar wins and esoteric loses every time. AAA formats were 'voted' in diaries back in the day, even then not exactly setting the world on fire, and have been exposed recently as another example of actual cume and TSL being over-reported by the diary keepers.

Awesome observation, Guru...(especially regarding the radio geeks and hobbyists here)...I'll take it a step further: A record that's a "hit" exclusively at AAA isn't a hit. If it doesn't cross over into the mainstream, I say get rid of it. If it does cross, own it...don't throw it away because it isn't hip anymore!

Must we hear another tertiary David Gray song from 2 years ago? Anything but "Babylon" is a waste of airtime/bandwidth. And stop adding songs by artists like Shawn Mullins, Guster and Mellencamp. These people are done and should be relegated to feature programming at most. G Love "Fixin' to Die"? Jesus! Who the hell is waiting with any kind of anticipation to hear these releases? OK, start the bashing...I can take it.

 

[TVradioguru]

I believe you won't get much of an argument.

The interesting thing about this board in particular, is that those regulars who frequently rail on 'corporate radio' for being safe and measured, merely parrot what a few others in the tiny minority say. Deep down, they begrudgingly know that radio, not being freeform in nature, is the proper way to go to attract the most audience. Of course these are the same folks who also suffer from bouts of revisionist history, in believing that somehow radio of the past, was programmed far more seat-of-the-pants, with DJs providing more input than they actually had and fewer repeats of hit music. I for one remember very clearly, the most popular stations of the past, rotating power songs every 60-90 minutes.

The fact is that radio has evolved to meet the needs of a modern society and advertisers demands because it had to, considering the mounting competition for ears. Some disgruntled hobbyists, or ex-radio people just don't like change, or perhaps don't accurately remember the way it actually used to be.

 

[radioguy123]

Guru and Manny are right on! I'll take it one step farther. For radio to survive it must be the mainstream medium. If someone wants new music or is into discovering new acts, the internet provides many more options that didn't exist 15 years ago. Radio will continue to viable only if it serves the mainstream, delivering the big hits in multiple formats and local info. AAA is hardly dead. I can think of at least three in PPM markets that are winning by playing crossover current music, that fits, and a solid base of AAA familiar hits and gold. Cities FM in Minneapolis is the prime example. Station is number 4 25-54 right now.

 

[KentMcN]

A lot to see since so many stations changed format. I posted earlier that PPM does not seem to be kind to format changes. KJR-FM is much worse than it was last year, same for KVI. Commercial Free Click bombed and was much better last year at this time as a Smooth Jazz station. KRWM seems to be losing audience from Christmas faster. Changes at KMTT seemed to drive down ratings, not up. Genx is a blip compared to Funky Monkey. MOVIN went CHR and dropped while KBKS had one of its best books

BJ Shea is clearly helped by Bob Rivers off the air. One has to wonder if KJR-FM will take some sort of Rock or take advantage of River's natural audience. Oldies is doing them no favors.

What happened to the Country stations in Seattle??? They used to be near the top. KMPS is regularly beaten by KNBQ in some CLassic ROck position todayparts??. KKWF was number two in prime demos in January 2010, especially in mornings. Now they barely make top ten. Syndication is doing Fitz no favors. He is worse in SF, not even ranking in the top 25 in 25-54 demos, a year ago that station was around tenth in demo. Change in format or syndication has not proven a winner in PPM in Seattle, so far.

 

[scott salvatori]

damn those meddling kids(geeks and hobbyists). once again here we have the self proclaimed radio slash Tv guru, shooting off like some elite pompous politician, who's cup runneth over. as far as revisionist history, triple A radio was actually done somewhat well for over two decades in seattle. yes, its a challenge. which is probably why we no longer have it in seattle. KMTT, is AAA in name only, and a watered down version of its 90's format. the guru talk of AAA format repeating power plays every hour, makes as much sense as ferrari producing an econobox that gets 50 mpg. nope, adult album alternative will never contend for #1. what it will contend for is an upscale musically educated listenership, and staff. whether an ownership can make a profit on this real unique AAA audience, depends upon whether the ownership is part of some megalopoly, who is in deep acqusition debt, and has a hierachy of office white collars and public shareholders, feeding at its trough. or whether its a lean clean, lightly staffed, low debt broadcasting company, that can actually eek out a profit. sorta like what jackson dell weaver posted about KJR AM recently. namely that KJR sports radio is selling ads and making money, because the advertisers want to be a part of what KJR and its sports format is all about, and sell to its unique demographic, despite its middle of the pack ratings.

 

[vivalamusica]

What's the story with Movin's new am show? they are advertising that they are giving away $1000 if you check out the new show, and they say that even if you don't like the show, you could still win a grand.