K-Rock's anemic ratings are the result of poor programming decisions

[MarkW]

What a complete disaster this station has become!

Here's an idea Tom Cheapsano -- the next time you hire a PD, don't hire somebody with zero rock programming experience.

K-Rock's (or maybe I should leave out the hyphen and call it "Krock") ratings in 12+ are very close to what Free-FM was netting. That, my friends, is absolutely PATHETIC.

As if spinning Coldplay wasn't bad enough, now they're even playing Jack Johnson!

That CRAP is a total mismatch with the image the station is attempting to project via their morning show & on-air positioning.

K-Rock needs to stop trying to be everything to everyone. They need to stake out a definitive position. If you image yourself as a testosterone-charged rock station, don't play garbage such as Coldplay and Jack Johnson!

With Opie & Anthony in morning drive, the most sensible direction for K-Rock (musically speaking) would be a direction very similar to WCCC in Hartford or KXXR Minneapolis.

The ratings are going to continue to suck wind as long as the station insists on playing "Starbucks" music alongside the heavier material from Tool, Rage Against The Machine, and System of a Down.

It's incredible that such inept programming tactics are allowed in the country's largest market!

 

[hamNcheese]

As if spinning Coldplay wasn't bad enough, now they're even playing Jack Johnson!

That CRAP is a total mismatch with the image the station is attempting to project via their morning show & on-air positioning.

Coldplay and Jack Johnson arent CRAP. But I understand what you are saying as far as the image and the programming. If they are using a consultant, I would sh!t can them.

I do question the ownerships commitment to this station.

 

[mjb1124]

While I don't feel that Coldplay and Jack Johnson are "crap", I do agree that the station is very poorly programmed and unfocused. Seems like they're trying to be some type of alternative/active hybrid, but they're adding random songs that are questionably suited to their sound, while ignoring or being late to jump on many of the most popular songs on both formats. Meanwhile, they continue to play recurrents 40+ times a week - honestly, who isn't sick of "Dani California" by now? They even had a sweeper mocking a caller who wanted them to play the Foo Fighters less. If this is the attitude they have towards their listeners, then of course they're going to continue to slip in the ratings. Are they trying to kill the station?

 

[RobRosen]

1st...CBS needs to fire Tracy Cloherty (sp?) She can't seem to program a rock station to save her soul. Jack Johnson doesn't belong anywhere near a station like K-rock

2nd... DO NOT RE-SIGN O&A! at least not to do mronings. What a disaster they have been. Diary, PPM, I don't care. They have nothing going on. I'm not even sure that they care. I wouldn't be suprised if they're trying to figure out a way to get themselves fired to get some more free money.

3rd... Go Country. Why Not? They can't do any worse than they have been for the last 3 years.

 

[MarkW]

While I don't feel that Coldplay and Jack Johnson are "crap",

What I meant was they are "crap" insofar as they do not belong on K-Rock.

On a station such as WRFF, they fit reasonably well.

On K-Rock, they stick out like a sore thumb.

 

[neo11]

1st...CBS needs to fire Tracy Cloherty (sp?) She can't seem to program a rock station to save her soul. Jack Johnson doesn't belong anywhere near a station like K-rock

The programming has been bad, though I wonder how much of that is coming from "orders from above" (CBS corporate). It seems that no matter who is plugged in to the position at K-Rock, the same pathetic playlist, with the Red Hot Chili Peppers playing every few songs, results.

2nd... DO NOT RE-SIGN O&A! at least not to do mronings. What a disaster they have been. Diary, PPM, I don't care. They have nothing going on. I'm not even sure that they care. I wouldn't be suprised if they're trying to figure out a way to get themselves fired to get some more free money.

I'll have to agree here that maybe O&A should be cut whenever their contract expires. That said, if O&A goes, K-Rock will have the freedom to tweak things around even more. Right now they are, theoretically, trying to build an image of a harder-edged rock station based around the male-oriented O&A in the morning (of course, playing Jack Johnson is going completely in the other direction from that, but I digress). Without O&A though, they could still try to go with a straight-up harder-edged active rocker, or they could shift to the softer side of alternative and play more of the likes of Coldplay and Jack Johnson. That kind of stuff is also pretty popular even if many on this board don't find it to their taste. However, K-Rock is straddling the fence right now without any clear direction whatsoever or any coherence to their music, jocks or schedule.

3rd... Go Country. Why Not? They can't do any worse than they have been for the last 3 years.

I knew it was only a matter of time before someone would bring up country again. You're right that the ratings probably wouldn't be worse than what K-Rock is getting or what Free FM was getting. The demos would almost certainly be worse, however, and that will hurt the bottom line, as will the "stigma" which exists about country music in NYC, especially among advertisers (like it or not). I see CBS going back to a relaunched Jack FM type format before they would even consider going country.

 

[disney fanatic]

I don't listen to K-Rock too much, because it's stinks! I guess they should put "Jack" on 92.3 as Allan Sniffen says on "Board Reflections", because it doesn't belong on 101.1 HD-2, move "Jack" to 92.3 and forget the hard rock, tell Howard Cogan and say it:

"92.3 Jack-FM - Playing What We Want!"

Thank you!

 

[Bongwater]

"GUYS! COME FOR THE TALK! CHICKS! STAY FOR THE MUSIC!"

 

[Brooklyndon]

K-Rock's ship is doomed to sink with O&A on board.

I've made the case before that K-Rock will continue to be absolute shite as long as cancers O&A are bring the white-trash, no college, HVAC worker audience to K-Rock. having them on morning is a hug mistake. They should have built the morning show around Nik Carter, a skilled Jock with proven talk skills, cross gender appeal, and an encyclopedic knowledge of alternative and new wave.

Built in bits include "Advice from the Hood" and "Bi-Day (lesbian Dating Game)."

If I were in charge of K-Rock, which I'm not, I'd blow up the station and tell the white-trash long-island/jersey listeners, who have no disposable income anyway because of $3.50 gas and $25oo/m house payments to go screw. I'd do everything in my power to appeal to all educated people with disposable income who live in greater new york city, read time out new york, and listen to "art rock." O&A scare those people. K-Rock's ship is doomed to sink with O&A on board.

 

[DToTheJ]

... honestly, who isn't sick of "Dani California" by now?

Not to mention "Welcome to Jamrock". I swear, it's played virtually every time I happen to tune in. Come on, it's "K-Rock", not "K-Rasta"!

 

[RadioFixerCLE]

Re: K-Rock's ship is doomed to sink with O&A on board.

Built in bits include "Advice from the Hood" and "Bi-Day (lesbian Dating Game)."

Are you saying that's what Nik Carter would bring to morning drive at 92.3? Oh haw haw haw...how original. Lesbian dial a date. : ;D

Opie & Anthony do appeal to quite a good portion of 20-something college-grad yuppie males -- a very elusive and much-coveted demographic! Hell, anyone who has half-a-sense of humor knows what they're all about.

 

[Classic Puker]

What I like about K-Rock: I bought an HD Radio and a subwoofer. Best processing in New York (yes yes, I know... that ain't hard! )

What I don't like: I can't push the button, without hearing RHCP. I think I used to LIKE them. Having programmed a few coffeepots in my star-studded, so-called "career", I do understand the need for a "rotation".

But when you're doing a format that's a little more dependent on TSL, the repetition they're doing is Death. And yes, "repetition", in the case of an album rocker, means "artists".

Gonna let you amateurs in on one of Raddidio's Deep Dark Secrets: there is a way to schedule music, so that the same song does not come up in the same hour, or even daypart, tomorrow or the next day. I pray to St. Alan of Freed that Tracy's MD discovers this Holy Grail, soon. If not, my lovely, I am available. And affordable? You bet!


Last thing: back when dinosaurs roamed the Earth, there was an AOL Chat Room, once a week, for Radio pros and wannabees alike. I was part of that, and I remember Nik Carter's being a participant. When he came to New York, it was gratifying to hear the enormous talent this sucker has. If he is now the permanent p.m. driver, hallelujah! Cool hearing you ever day, Nik!! *

* = and speaking of that, let me add that the current Radio CW of taking 62 years to fill your airstaff with Not The Sweeper Guy is really bogus and counterproductive. Would you open a restaurant without tablecloths, and tell the customers, "We're waiting until more diners become aware of our food, and then, down the line, we'll start adding things like tablecloths!"???

 

[Brooklyndon]

Re: K-Rock's ship is doomed to sink with O&A on board.

Opie & Anthony do appeal to quite a good portion of 20-something college-grad yuppie males -- a very elusive and much-coveted demographic! Hell, anyone who has half-a-sense of humor knows what they're all about.

Yeah, and those college grads listen on XM.


The point is that O&A bring a tone to K-Rock which is incongruous with that which exists in modern rock today. O&A can never hope to succeed again in a non-specialized music format. K-Rock is soooooo stupid for keeping them on.

 

[producernewbee]

O&A are going to tank this station just as they did WNEW. Too bad, but if CBS would wake up and see that these guys have been given too many chances already and are not the answer to anyones problems, then maybe they could right this ship before it is too late. Does anyone know if O&A are REALLY doing well ANYWHERE aside from XM?

 

[Brooklyndon]

Does anyone know if O&A are REALLY doing well ANYWHERE aside from XM?

Furthermore, is O&A even doing well on XM?

 

[p_herring]

I agree that the playlist is tired and makes no sense. The fact that the #1 most played song is Foo Fighter's "Best Of You" speaks volumes. That being said, they may be under the idea that most of the "cool kids" aren't listening to FM/AM radio anyways and that it really is the NJ/LIers with no disposable income. How many people living in Manhattan do you know that listen to K-Rock anyways? I only listen when I go out to CT to visit my parents. Then again, I do get tired of hearing RHCP every half hour. I do enjoy hearing the once-in-a-blue-moon Jimmy Eat World, Against Me and Paramore though.

 

[Mamaknowsbreast]

After listening to K-Rock for a week, let me offer my opinions on it. First off, I think alot of work could be put into improving the imaging on the station. Take a quick listen for a day to the Buzz out of Houston and then listen to K-Rock's imaging and you will see how much improvement is needed. Secondly, which has already been brought up, way way too many RHCP songs and a few other artists that seem to get played way too much. Finally, I don't get the "old school rock" concept which (at least for me) has always seemed to be a zeppelin song. Doesn't quite fit the format. If you want old school, play some of the bands (ramones, pixes etc.) that helped paved the way for the Nirvana's and Green Day's of the world.

Just my two cents.

 

[StereoBrain]

If you want old school, play some of the bands (ramones, pixes etc.) that helped paved the way for the Nirvana's and Green Day's of the world.

Just my two cents.

This monkey's gone to heaven ;D

 

[Thunderlips]

I love how people try to push the "more intelligent" route to K-Rock. Here's the deal, people who pride themselves in intelligence do so because they don't have the ability to entertain. Those are called "dime-a-dozen" jocks. An audience who's core artists SHOULD include Foo Fighters, Nirvana, Sublime, Rage, etc are NOT interested and cannot relate to someone who chooses to expatiate with every breath. Just because you ordered THE VERBAL ADVANTAGE out of Sky Mall doesn't make you interesting. The rock audience wants REAL people who talk like they do. The only reason why K-ROCK is performing like they should is because it was the Howard station and it's going to take a while for people to forgive them for letting him go.

Also, stick to the Gold records K-Rock. Unfortunately, your format isn't putting out any hits.

 

[mjb1124]

I love how people try to push the "more intelligent" route to K-Rock. Here's the deal, people who pride themselves in intelligence do so because they don't have the ability to entertain. Those are called "dime-a-dozen" jocks. An audience who's core artists SHOULD include Foo Fighters, Nirvana, Sublime, Rage, etc are NOT interested and cannot relate to someone who chooses to expatiate with every breath. Just because you ordered THE VERBAL ADVANTAGE out of Sky Mall doesn't make you interesting. The rock audience wants REAL people who talk like they do. The only reason why K-ROCK is performing like they should is because it was the Howard station and it's going to take a while for people to forgive them for letting him go.

Okay, I didn't order any such book, I don't consider myself to be outstandingly intelligent, and a lot of people find me to be quite entertaining. I just think it's common sense that people want a focused station that doesn't go off in all kinds of crazy directions, has a decent rotation of new music, and doesn't shove two-year-old songs down their throats. Having a set of core artists is fine, but it shouldn't be at the exclusion of other artists, and you shouldn't have to hear the same worn-out songs by them every time you turn on the station. I doubt the people listening now would sour on the station if, God forbid, they didn't hear "Dani California" or "Best of You" on their ride home from work one day. Similarly, while a few "left field" adds are all well and good, playing all the hits is important too.

While I had my fair share of issues with the old K-Rock, at least it delivered a fairly solidified sound, a serviceable selection of current music, and some good personalities. But I'm really hard-pressed to find any defense for the current state of the station.