KAHM Sells Out

[b-turner]

I agree with your comments. I never appreciated the beautiful music format but I do like the exotica and bossa nova sort of stuff. I'll enjoy some Martin Denny or such here and there. I'm not 70 plus.

One beautiful music format that really got my interest, not for my music preference, but as a format option was a country beautiful format. Instead of beautiful music based on pop favorites, this was based on country hits. A few original vocals but mostly covers by MOR artists were played where those MOR artists would be aired in the Beautiful Music format. Back in the day, lots of the small town FMs were beautiful music with the AM full service country. Since in many spots country was well known but not the pop hits of the day, I though this brand of Beautiful Music was really suited for rural America. You know the place, where stations played two kinds of music, country and western.

I suppose the radio issue is the number that listen in the age groups described in the above post would require hitting a huge market (ie: a top 10 market) in most cases. Since those signals are so costly and the potential so great, Beautiful Music is just not an option. Sirius/XM and Internet seem to be good settings for the format since the 'potential audience' is so significant, one can nab a respectable number of listeners.

The really odd thing to me is my parents. Mom grew up on early top 40. Dad always listened to beautiful music. Today Mom likes the Sirius/XM Escape Channel while my 88 year old Dad prefers classic country and 60s and 70s adult contemporary top 40 hits (ie: Eagles, Fleetwood Mac, Monkees, etc (the very stuff he'd tell me to turn down when it was a hit, claiming it made him nervous). He thinks Beautiful Music is too easy now. Go figure!

Would you know of any research on the beautiful music listener today? That would be interesting to see. If you can even share what you have gleaned from your online station would be interesting to me. Although it's not my music preference, that sure doesn't mean I am anti-Beautiful Music. For example, classical is very niche and struggles with the casual classical listener versus the 'serious' classical listener (and it's almost impossible to unite the two groups of classical listeners). Ironically, I found younger demos seem to have an issue with the varying tempos of a multi movement work, preferring successive 'movements' to be similar in tempo to the last. The result is the typical classical station is mostly 65+ and the numbers not doing so well in many places.

 

[davideduardo]

I am merely saying that today's beautiful music audience is comprised of younger age brackets and the format is not just a 70+/dead demo as many assume it to be. I usually see and hear those kinds of comments from people who don't appreciate the music, anyway which his why they make their missasumptions about who listens to the format.

Here is an observation from someone who built their own larger market Beautiful Music station back in 1966...

In the late 50's and 60's we had Top 40 instrumental hits from Artists like The Ventures, The Surfaris, Ferrante & Teicher, Paul Mauriat, The Champs, Floyd Cramer, Santo & Johnny, Herb Alpert an many more. Some were pure Top 40, others were versions that early "good music" stations played.

Young people in that era liked insturmentals. And they acquired a taste for instrumental versions of Top 40 songs by artists like Mauriat, Caravelli, The Hollyridge Strings and the like. Instrumentals were not "un-cool".

As the 70s progressed, all we got was a few songs like TSOP and the Love Unlimited Orchestra. Fewer and fewer instrumentals made the pop charts.

At the same time, a lot of pop music did not "work" in softer instrumental versions. By the time the disco fad hit, we stopped seeing covers of most hits... imagine Norrie Paramour doing a cover of "In the Navy".

Instrumentals of the beautiful music type stopped selling. The older, more traditional artists like Percy Faith could only be found in the cutout bins at retail. While Europe still produced some material, in the US production dwindled to nearly nothing by the end of the 70's.

So syndicators introduced custom recordings of pop and contemporary hits, since no record labels were doing them. The custom music was expensive but gave new content to the format and, well into the 80's, was worth it. I made trips to Madrid and did several hundred custom instrumentals, as well as being part of the independent group in the US that did the same.

Ratings fell by the last years of the 80's, and most of the listeners were outside the sales demos. Yes, there were some under-55 listeners, but when we went after buys, being 14th a market in an agency target got you no money. And the stations started flipping faster and faster.

Yes, there are a few listeners in younger age groups. And there are a few that will call a satellite programmer a hundred times. But when we remember that just one station, WRFM in New York, averaged 125,000 listeners at any time and reached a million and a half every week back in 1976, a couple of crank callers is not going change anything today... the few calls the satcaster got likely proved that nobody was listening.

 

[passtheword]

I agree with your comments. I never appreciated the beautiful music format but I do like the exotica and bossa nova sort of stuff. I'll enjoy some Martin Denny or such here and there. I'm not 70 plus.

One beautiful music format that really got my interest, not for my music preference, but as a format option was a country beautiful format. Instead of beautiful music based on pop favorites, this was based on country hits. A few original vocals but mostly covers by MOR artists were played where those MOR artists would be aired in the Beautiful Music format. Back in the day, lots of the small town FMs were beautiful music with the AM full service country. Since in many spots country was well known but not the pop hits of the day, I though this brand of Beautiful Music was really suited for rural America. You know the place, where stations played two kinds of music, country and western.

I suppose the radio issue is the number that listen in the age groups described in the above post would require hitting a huge market (ie: a top 10 market) in most cases. Since those signals are so costly and the potential so great, Beautiful Music is just not an option. Sirius/XM and Internet seem to be good settings for the format since the 'potential audience' is so significant, one can nab a respectable number of listeners.

The really odd thing to me is my parents. Mom grew up on early top 40. Dad always listened to beautiful music. Today Mom likes the Sirius/XM Escape Channel while my 88 year old Dad prefers classic country and 60s and 70s adult contemporary top 40 hits (ie: Eagles, Fleetwood Mac, Monkees, etc (the very stuff he'd tell me to turn down when it was a hit, claiming it made him nervous). He thinks Beautiful Music is too easy now. Go figure!

Would you know of any research on the beautiful music listener today? That would be interesting to see. If you can even share what you have gleaned from your online station would be interesting to me. Although it's not my music preference, that sure doesn't mean I am anti-Beautiful Music. For example, classical is very niche and struggles with the casual classical listener versus the 'serious' classical listener (and it's almost impossible to unite the two groups of classical listeners). Ironically, I found younger demos seem to have an issue with the varying tempos of a multi movement work, preferring successive 'movements' to be similar in tempo to the last. The result is the typical classical station is mostly 65+ and the numbers not doing so well in many places.

bturner, feel free to contact me via the PM here if you want some specific numbers about beautiful music listeners. Evidently, my post I made in regards to this a few days ago has gone missing...

 

[DrAkbar]

bturner, feel free to contact me via the PM here if you want some specific numbers about beautiful music listeners. Evidently, my post I made in regards to this a few days ago has gone missing...

A lot of stuff posted on 1/03/18 vanished. The Grand Poobah of this joint told Los Buckeye Boyz their IT dept is working on restoring it. Seeing that most everything we post is crap, it's not a big deal to us.

 

[DrAkbar]

zzzzzzzzz...kinda quite around here, so the Nurse and I thought we'd stir things up.

Is the reason why KAHM hasn't passed to CCF due to technical issues? As a condition of moving their xmttr to Towers Mountain, two other out of market stations have to change frequencies: KVGG Salome and KBUX Quartzsite. KAHM has to pick up the tab for reasonable expenses, and CCF is on the hook if the bill comes in after their purchase of 102~One is consummated. What is reasonable in Salome and Quartzsite (aside from getting the hell out of those towns)? The FCC approved the sale of KAHM in early December, so What In The Wide Wide World of Sports is a goin' on in Press-kit...err, Spring Valley?

 

[b-turner]

Hmmm, interesting. I'm familiar with KBUX, at least at the point Marvin acquired the station from Maude. Back then the revenue came when the snowbirds came to town. I suspect the years at 94.3 should be worth some cash and the dollars to re-tune the antenna and transmitter frequency. It would likely be quite welcome to them.

 

[VoiceofWayne]

Wondering the same thing here. I've been checking every day and the BM is still playing. It looks like KBUX is a done deal, FCC files show it on 96.5. KVGC Salome may be the problem child here. According to FCC filings, they are on silent STA waiting for Mexican approvals, no mention of moving to a new frequency. CCF may be wary of this part of the deal, which could effect KAHM moving south.

 

[b-turner]

I actually doubt this would kill the deal. It's just a small thorn in an otherwise typical sale. These things work out, usually one baby step at a time. Another thing, with taxation changes, waiting might make a good deal better.

 

[DrAkbar]

KVGC Salome may be the problem child here. According to FCC filings, they are on silent STA waiting for Mexican approvals, no mention of moving to a new frequency. CCF may be wary of this part of the deal, which could effect KAHM moving south.

Talk about putting the cart ahead of the horse....KAHM's COL changes to Spring Valley, but they can't move the xmttr because of a silent FM station in the middle of nowhere. Here's a clue as to how messed up KVGG is from their STA application:

Exhibit 1
Description: REASONS FOR GOING SILENT

AFTER PAYMENT OF $372,000 IN FM BROADCAST AUCTION 62, KEMP COMMUNICATIONS, INC. ('KEMP') RECEIVED A REGULAR CONSTRUCTION PERMIT FOR THE SALOME FACILITY WITH NO RESTRICTIVE SPECIAL OPERATING CONDITIONS. HOWEVER, A SUBSEQUENT MODIFICATION OF THE CONSTRUCTION PERMIT, FOR THE SAME SITE, SPECIFIED THAT IT WAS SUBJECT TO INTERNATIONAL COORDINATION WITH MEXICO, AND THAT ANY CONSTRUCTION AND/OR OPERATION WOULD BE AT KEMP'S RISK. AT THE TIME, KEMP BELIEVED THAT THE RESTRICTION MAY HAVE BEEN AN ERROR OR THAT THE COORDINATION WOULD BE QUICKLY COMPLETED. BECAUSE OF THE UNCERTAINTY, THE FACILITY WAS CONSTRUCTED WITH TEMPORARY FCILITIES IN CASE THE RESTRICTION WAS NOT AN ERROR OR THAT COORDINATION COULD NOT BE ACCOMPLISHED AND THE STATION WOULD HAVE TO CEASE OPERATION AND/OR MOVE ITS TRANSMITTER TO ANOTHER LOCATION. ALTHOUGH A LICENSE WAS GRANTED OCTOBER 29, 2009, WITH THE SAME INTERNATIONAL RESTRICTION, THAT CONDITION WAS NOT REMOVED UNTIL SEPTEMBER 26, 2013, NEARLY FOUR YEARS LATER.

SINCE THE ISSUANCE OF THE INITIAL LICENSE, KEMP HAS BEEN ATTEMPTING TO KEEP THE AUTHORIZATION FROM EXPIRATION AS A MATTER OF LAW PURSUANT TO SECTION 312(G) OF THE COMMUNICATIONS,ACT, AND IS EXAMINING POSSIBLE OPTIONS.

YIKES! $372,000 to get a permit to build a station in Salome? Double YIKES!

If you're thinking of listening to KVGG, head on out there a day or two before March 18th. Here's a log of when they've been silent:

03/18/2017 ~ present
04/22/2016 ~ 03/17/2017
09/20/2015 ~ 04/16/2016
10/11/2014 ~ 09/19/2015
10/24/2013 ~ 10/10/2014
01/17/2013 ~ 10/22/2013
03/08/2012 ~ 01/15/2013
03/28/2011 ~ 03/06/2012
05/06/2010 ~ 03/24/2011
10/18/2009 ~ 05/02/2010

Yes indeedy, this could be a tough one to sort out. So relax, keep KAHM, and be thankful you're not out that kind of money!

 

[johndavis]

I actually doubt this would kill the deal. It's just a small thorn in an otherwise typical sale. These things work out, usually one baby step at a time. Another thing, with taxation changes, waiting might make a good deal better.

If I am reading everything correctly:

1. The requirement to reimburse Kemp would fall to Campesina if they don't change frequencies before the sale closes.
2. Kemp has been putting up a temporary tower long enough to keep the license alive in the past; a permanent facility may not exist yet.

I don't think this has anything to do with the timing of closing.

And they don't owe us an explanation, either. They'll do what they do.

 

[DrAkbar]

If I am reading everything correctly:

1. The requirement to reimburse Kemp would fall to Campesina if they don't change frequencies before the sale closes..

Yup

2. Kemp has been putting up a temporary tower long enough to keep the license alive in the past; a permanent facility may not exist yet.

Yup, but he's been keeping lawyers busy for years.

I don't think this has anything to do with the timing of closing.

KAHM can't move to Towers Mtn until KBUX and KVGG change frequencies. One down, one to go. CCF bought it because it's a rimshot commercial FM...without Towers Mtn it's not a rimshot.

And they don't owe us an explanation, either. They'll do what they do.

But they're more than welcome to drop by the Buckeye Media Hut and chew the fat. Parking is just $25 an hour for the first half hour and $5 each minute thereafter.

 

[b-turner]

It appears the only part might be a delay in moving south as it is currently planned. That's not a big deal. The value is in the facility and there's generally a plan B and maybe a plan C if those need to be explored.

 

[DrAkbar]

It appears the only part might be a delay in moving south as it is currently planned. That's not a big deal. The value is in the facility and there's generally a plan B and maybe a plan C if those need to be explored.

But moving the Salome FM to a different frequency is a condition attached to KAHM's move to Towers Mtn. Sorting through the KVGG FCC files, the Nurse and I don't see any application to move frequencies. That's odd, given how long KAHM's application to move has been in the hopper; KBUX's move to another frequency, and the fact KVGG's move to a different frequency might resolve the issue with Mexico. If it weren't for the fact the owner has put way too much money into KVGG, a cash purchase and surrender of the license could expedite matters.

That's the latest from Buckeye Action Central News. Stay tuned for late developments from the rumor and innuendo team ranked #1.

 

[asugeorge1]

But moving the Salome FM to a different frequency is a condition attached to KAHM's move to Towers Mtn. Sorting through the KVGG FCC files, the Nurse and I don't see any application to move frequencies. That's odd, given how long KAHM's application to move has been in the hopper; KBUX's move to another frequency, and the fact KVGG's move to a different frequency might resolve the issue with Mexico. If it weren't for the fact the owner has put way too much money into KVGG, a cash purchase and surrender of the license could expedite matters.

That's the latest from Buckeye Action Central News. Stay tuned for late developments from the rumor and innuendo team ranked #1.

What is the format of KVGG when it is not silent? Maybe they could move to a different frequency, move closer to the Valley and Prescott (say Wickenburg) and pick-up the “void” left by KAHM when they switch to their new format.

KVGG, your new home for elevator music (two days of the year) and static (the rest of the year)!

 

[DrAkbar]

KVGG, your new home for elevator music (two days of the year) and static (the rest of the year)!

Perfect! Just imagine all the calls inquiring whether the station is off the air.

 

[EricStein]

Will Kemp was successful at launching KVEG in Las Vegas, but the rest of his radio investments have been head-scratchers. He still has KEMP 99.3 simulcasting one of his Vegas stations, commercials and all. I don’t know what his plans are/were for the Salome CP. His whereabouts are just as sketchy as Ted Tucker and John Low.

 

[PGM]

https://www.dcourier.com/sold-no-change-listeners/

Hopefully the new owners hold up on there end of the bargain but we shall see.

 

[PGM]

KYCA, KAHM radio stations sold, no change for listeners
Originally Published: October 1, 2017 5:55 a.m.

Prescott radio stations KYCA and KAHM have been sold, but listeners will hear and see no change, according to a news release.

Nancy Silverstein, widow of Lou Silverstein and president of Southwest Broadcasting announced the buyer is Arizona-based Phoenix Radio Broadcasting, LLC, which will keep the current programming and personnel the same when the transaction closes later this year.

“Since Lou’s death, my goal has been to see his legacy continue, by maintaining the presence of KYCA and KAHM in the community. That goal has been achieved with this venture,” she said. “I am especially pleased that Jason Zinzilieta will remain at his job.”

Zinzilieta has been with the stations since 1987, serving as station manager from 1997 to 2014, when he became general manager.

KYCA, the oldest radio station in Prescott, has been on the air since 1940. A Fox Radio News affiliate, KYCA is the Prescott home of Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity and other top-rated national, state and local news and talk programs, as well as the Prescott Badgers. KYCA has been owned and operated by Southwest Broadcasting since 1970. The station broadcasts on 1490 AM and 103.5 FM.

KAHM, the first FM station in Prescott, has been providing “calm music” since 1981. It may be heard at 102.1 FM in northern Arizona and 101.7 FM in Prescott.

This was from the Prescott Courior in October. Hopefully the new owners will live up to there end of the bargain but we shall see.

 

[passtheword]

KYCA, KAHM radio stations sold, no change for listeners
Originally Published: October 1, 2017 5:55 a.m.

Prescott radio stations KYCA and KAHM have been sold, but listeners will hear and see no change, according to a news release.

Nancy Silverstein, widow of Lou Silverstein and president of Southwest Broadcasting announced the buyer is Arizona-based Phoenix Radio Broadcasting, LLC, which will keep the current programming and personnel the same when the transaction closes later this year.

“Since Lou’s death, my goal has been to see his legacy continue, by maintaining the presence of KYCA and KAHM in the community. That goal has been achieved with this venture,” she said. “I am especially pleased that Jason Zinzilieta will remain at his job.”

Zinzilieta has been with the stations since 1987, serving as station manager from 1997 to 2014, when he became general manager.

KYCA, the oldest radio station in Prescott, has been on the air since 1940. A Fox Radio News affiliate, KYCA is the Prescott home of Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity and other top-rated national, state and local news and talk programs, as well as the Prescott Badgers. KYCA has been owned and operated by Southwest Broadcasting since 1970. The station broadcasts on 1490 AM and 103.5 FM.

KAHM, the first FM station in Prescott, has been providing “calm music” since 1981. It may be heard at 102.1 FM in northern Arizona and 101.7 FM in Prescott.

This was from the Prescott Courior in October. Hopefully the new owners will live up to there end of the bargain but we shall see.

I've seen comments online (maybe on this thread earlier?) that Mrs. Silverstein's statement oniy guarantees that KAHM will remain with its beautiful music format until the sale closes. Note she states that the format will continue "when the transaction closes later this year". Her statement never expressly states the beautiful music format will continue after the sale closes. Might just be how it's worded, but that sounds as if her statement may have been intentionally phrased in that manner since she has no guarantee from the new owners that they will continue with the station's beautiful music format after the sale is finalized.

I just don't see it myself...paying $1.9M for a group of stations, one of which offers a beautiful music format, and continuing with it. In today's world, just doesn't seem plausible or likely. Even for those of us who are aficionados of the format, most of us would agree we wouldn't be willing to invest that kind of $ to buy a station with a format that has little to no profit potential and has no way to make a return on our investment. I would hope the new owners might salvage the station's beautiful music format and move it to their FM translator at 101.7 (K269EE), by either rebroadcasting either KYCA or a forthcoming KAHM HD2, but I have my doubts about that as well.

 

[VoiceofWayne]

I can't believe that CCF didn't investigate all the issues around KVGG before making an offer, but the posts here about KVGG would make me hesitant to want to get in the middle of what looks like a long legal expensive mess. These issues could still take years to resolve, and ultimately prevent KAHM becoming a Phoenix rimshot, which is why I would assume CCF would want it in the first place. I would not want to get involved in a forced marriage with Kemp, this whole thing seems very strange. Maybe CCF can buy out Kemp's interest in KVGG and make the whole thing go away.
In my fantasy world as a financially independent owner, I would try to buy KVGG from Kemp, move KAHM south, put smooth jazz on the main channel and BM on an HD2 with a translator (and probably not make much money).