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

[CabbieNYC]

relax and give it a chance...

 

[adma]

When it comes to the issue of "mainstream exposure", Bob Marley's endurance probably embodies the long-term breakdown of said "mainstream" as an exclusive guide to public taste

--And I can (do) make the same passionate claim for Linda jones, Jerry Butler, Richie Havens (whom I have worked with) and the Stairsteps and Impressions.

However, a slowly declining portion of my income is from jukeboxes, I deal directly with public taste (?) when I stock someone out of mainstream airplay (yes it still counts) it usually doesn't sell. All of those I named above had mainstream hits in the peak years of R&B/Soul but none sell much to today's public.

Though it depends on what kind (and degree) of "public" you're dealing with, re what you're mentioning. It might not be the casual jukebox-consumer or wedding-DJ type of mass public; but as a "classics" sidebar to the Amazon/Starbucks/Norah Jones way of thinking, it's as valid as ever, and maybe more deeply understood than in its own time. Maybe its current raw "popularity" matters less than the fact that it's practically at our fingertips--and at greater depth than even the best oldies radio could manage. (Think of it: this is the demo which, a generation ago, might have still settled for yupmarket AC-radio fare. Don't think its consumption habits are mired in 1981 forever.)

Thanks to the internet, the new "mainstream" is multiplicity of resources and choice--that's why mp3 players are now "mainstream" and radio is "marginal".

"At this point" If the train wreck that I suspect is coming to commercial radio in the next ten years materializes, you may see the kind of inventiveness that characterized FM's "worthless" era. Then again they may simply bring the dreadful troika of Limbaugh-Hannity-Savage over to pollute Armstrong's invention.

Said inventiveness might compare to how tired old commercial districts get gentrified, i.e. tributes to Linda Jones rising from the ashes of failed CBS-network "mass appeal" formats...

 

[StereoBrain]

relax and give it a chance...

Cabbie! I started a thread earlier about who the new K-Rock jocks are gonna be. I saw where K-Rock has a "Meet Cabbie at Radio Shack" promo. Do you have any info on who the other jocks are gonna be?

 

[p_herring]

I don't really understand why people are arguing about O & A having anything to do with K-Rock surviving. The problem has always been that, even when they had Stern mornings, they could never hang on to the ratings. It most likely has to do with the following

1) The playlist was never focused. Let's take a brief look at the following

1996-1998 - typical modern rock format. Failed to make an impression
1998-2001 - Basically an Active Rocker posing as alternative, very little new music added (and who could forget the dubious "Retro Rock" we were forced to endure twice an hour)
2001-2005 - Slowly started taking on the alternative format again. They were even starting to get more interesting until
May 2005 - "Great Rock. Period" Translation = boring playlist of tired hits, little-to-no new music played. Ratings bombed

Currently we have "The Rock of New York" which, again, relies very little on currents. Hell, the only new songs I've heard are the new Pumpkins, Three Days Grace and (randomly) the new Silverchair song. People are psyched to hear rock again on the airwaves in New York City but it will get old quickly when people realize the station takes no chances on new artists or music. Take a look at an hour sample. 80% is from the 90's and 80's. Also, what's the point in playing Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin and other classic rock acts? They're already heard on Q? Either adopt an Active or Alternative approach or just kill it...

 

[Brooklyndon]

I completely agree, the playlist sucks. The imaging sucks. The playlist and the imaging are a direct result of O&A's imaging. They think they can anchor a station around an antagonistic duo who really isn't funny anymore, doesn't seem to get ratings, and has a penchant for getting fired. Yeah K-Rock needs to open its playlist, but it won't because these tired old songs were hits 15 years ago, just like k_rock needs to drop the shock-talk morning classic rock all day format, but it wont because it worked 15 years ago. The managament doesnt get it and they need to be flushed. I just pray fr a private equity deal putting them out of work.

 

[DashRiprock]

I completely agree, the playlist sucks. The imaging sucks. The playlist and the imaging are a direct result of O&A's imaging. They think they can anchor a station around an antagonistic duo who really isn't funny anymore, doesn't seem to get ratings, and has a penchant for getting fired. Yeah K-Rock needs to open its playlist, but it won't because these tired old songs were hits 15 years ago, just like k_rock needs to drop the shock-talk morning classic rock all day format, but it wont because it worked 15 years ago. The managament doesnt get it and they need to be flushed. I just pray fr a private equity deal putting them out of work.

You still don’t get it. You’re not part of the demo they’re trying to reach. Maybe the next format change will be more to your liking.

 

[p_herring]

I completely agree, the playlist sucks. The imaging sucks. The playlist and the imaging are a direct result of O&A's imaging. They think they can anchor a station around an antagonistic duo who really isn't funny anymore, doesn't seem to get ratings, and has a penchant for getting fired. Yeah K-Rock needs to open its playlist, but it won't because these tired old songs were hits 15 years ago, just like k_rock needs to drop the shock-talk morning classic rock all day format, but it wont because it worked 15 years ago. The managament doesnt get it and they need to be flushed. I just pray fr a private equity deal putting them out of work.

You still don’t get it. You’re not part of the demo they’re trying to reach. Maybe the next format change will be more to your liking.

No, YOU don't get it. I'm well aware I'm not the person the format is trying reach. However, even the LOWEST COMMON DENOMINATOR listeners will GET BORED with the extremely repititive, predictable and boring playlist. There needs to be more currents so rock fans (yes, the ones who dig Godsmack, Chili Peppers, Pearl Jam, etc.) have something new. I'm not expecting the station to start spinning The Shins, Arcade Fire and Modest Mouse but I still believe they should be more current-based.

 

[DashRiprock]

You may be right, but it's going to be a few books before anyone knows for sure.

 

[CabbieNYC]

relax and give it a chance...

Cabbie! I started a thread earlier about who the new K-Rock jocks are gonna be. I saw where K-Rock has a "Meet Cabbie at Radio Shack" promo. Do you have any info on who the other jocks are gonna be?

not sure....

i don't even know if i will have a job... that gig was set up awhile ago...

i would love to be around... but the new PD will have to say who gets air shifts////

 

[Brooklyndon]

I'm not expecting the station to start spinning The Shins, Arcade Fire and Modest Mouse but I still believe they should be more current-based.

But, yanno what, we should be expecting them to play that music.

 

[StereoBrain]

I'm not expecting the station to start spinning The Shins, Arcade Fire and Modest Mouse but I still believe they should be more current-based.

But, yanno what, we should be expecting them to play that music.

ummmm... It's called K-Rock2

its online,

but not on the FM dial where it should be. At least its better than Free-FM!

 

[Brooklyndon]

thank you!

 

[p_herring]

I'm not expecting the station to start spinning The Shins, Arcade Fire and Modest Mouse but I still believe they should be more current-based.

But, yanno what, we should be expecting them to play that music.

Why? The target demographic for that music turned off traditional radio years ago. They're too busy groovin' with their ipods and worrying about looking dishoveled.

 

[feeball]

Re: K-Rock's ship still doomed to sink with nobody other than O&A on board

Do they even have one on-air personality yet that is not named Opie, Anthony or Jimmy Norton?