I think its time to try something else. they have only sinked lower and lower. Now at .8 share. Mmaybe they should go back to the edge or take online KUKQ, AAA format or even urban AC format with new hits. The mix they got right now is no betterthan all the other flips. How about some uniqueness and stop going against Mix 96.9, thats just a loosing battle.
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KEXX 103.9
- Thread starter XMportable
- Start date
KEXX's numbers do indeed appear to be slipping lower and lower than what they were before the initial flip from (90s Gold) Alternative at the end of last year. Perhaps the folks at Riveria see the writing on the wall, and are just content to wait out 2012 in order to start fresh in the new year. That, or they will continue clinging to the sinking ship, hoping their slice of CHR pie will grow to anything more than a mere sliver. Which it most likely won't.
I know this sentiment is starting to sound like a broken record on this board, but Alternative CAN work if done RIGHT.
I know this sentiment is starting to sound like a broken record on this board, but Alternative CAN work if done RIGHT.
Frequency Breakdown said:
Sandusky could stop hiding its quote, unquote "KUKQ" behind the internet like they're ashamed of it and go back to terrestrial AM/FM so more people know it exists. That's the most obvious scenario (though their consultants have spoken and concluded sports is a better bet than hearing "I Will Wait" by Mumford & Sons 5x hour.) However, alternative already *is* done right in this town -- by KWSS-LP, and it's doubtful I will ever give 103.9 another chance - especially not 103.9. They blew it. Let 'em flip to sports or country or faux talk like KTAR-FM. "Alternative" and "103.9" should never be in the same sentence ever again.
Frequency Breakdown said:
Not starting, really. It IS sounding like a broken record. Alternative, Dance, FM Talk (not KT'R, but young, edgy talk) and other niche formats have been touted on this board as being just shy of breaking big for as long as I can remember this board existing.
Fans of these formats insist that if (fill in the blank) were just done RIGHT, it would work...even on a rim shot like 103.9. Yet every time a station fills one of these alleged voids, and the faithful hail them as a station that is finally doing (fill in the blank) RIGHT, they fail.
Ford said:
Let me just speak up about the "dance" niche. Dance WAS done on a horrible signal for nearly 6.5 years. Though the ratings were not there on that horrible signal (can't deny that), it still lasted for nearly 6.5 years. KMVA's SHORT attempt to lean dance was just that...short. You understand that stations want a QUICK fix nowadays...just like TV networks - they only give new shows a certain number of episodes to prove themselves before the axe falls. Prior to all that, look back at a station like KKFR back in the mid-90's. They leaned dance and were quite successful. Look back at alternative stations as a whole. Alternative was once something done as specialty shows on radio.
A lot of it is marketing. Isn't it amazing how some say that dance continues to fail, yet SOMEHOW when the typical artists pimped to the masses over and over again took on that dance sound (thank people like David Guetta), their songs were successful? That's exactly what CHR in the US does...they spoon feed the public what they want them to hear (marriage of record companies and radio). The public as a whole will take what they are given. They accepted Edward Maya, Chris Willis, Martin Solveig, Afrojack, Swedish House Mafia, Avicii, La Roux, so why wouldn't they accept Nadia Ali, Tiesto, and Zedd?
indieradioguy said:
Sandusky doesn't *own* KUKQ, they just share some personnel.
What format choices does Riviera have left for 103.9?
Alternative: Failed
Adult Hits: Didn't give it enough time
Hot/Modern AC: Failed
Spanish: There's so many stations out there (including their sister station KVIB) that every niche has been filled for the Mexican-dominated Hispanic population of Phoenix.
Country: see Spanish description above
Sports: "Too expensive to do right." Sometimes, you've got to spend money to make money. Beer advertising brings in more $$$ than Pepsi.
Decisions, decisions.
Alternative: Failed
Adult Hits: Didn't give it enough time
Hot/Modern AC: Failed
Spanish: There's so many stations out there (including their sister station KVIB) that every niche has been filled for the Mexican-dominated Hispanic population of Phoenix.
Country: see Spanish description above
Sports: "Too expensive to do right." Sometimes, you've got to spend money to make money. Beer advertising brings in more $$$ than Pepsi.
Decisions, decisions.
How about a 80's to 90's alternative station. I would listen to that 
Alternative is the only mainstream format that is missing from the market that I can think of, and I would rather have anyone else but them try it again. Quite honestly the should have been able to do better with both the adult hits and the hot ac they have tried. During the adult hits phase of My they had a name that didn't fit, a morning show that didn't help out and the music lacked. There was little to no 90's music and I don't recall hearing anything post 90's. They probably would have done better using the Jack FM name and feed. As far as the Hot ac version goes they are playing too many rhythmic tracks IMO almost sounding like a CHR at times. This might be ok if they weren't competing with 6 other stations in town. I get going after Mix but its like they cant decide if they want to go after Mix or Kiss. They tried the middle and its not working.
azfmfan said:
Go back and re-read Ford's comment: I agree with respect to "alternative." Particularly if you get idiot DJ's talking over Imagine Dragon's "It's Time" - talking over the mandolin before the singing starts (great way for 103.9 to insult their listeners), which by itself should be grounds for the FCC to revoke a broadcast license - then I agree, it's...uh, time to quit pining for "alternative." It won't happen. For those unaware of the obvious, CHR/MOR has caught up with alternative and no amount of denial will ever change that. Now excuse me while I get back to the PPM-free KWSS-LP, whose DJ's don't talk over the music.
Eric Stein said:
Christian talk/CCM: Never tried. (Raise your hand if you routinely see "CCV" and "Air1" bumper stickers in traffic.) It could work for 103.9. If anyone needs divine intervention, it's 103.9. Every major label has a CCM niche sub-label with consultants and publicists galore eager to get the next Amy Grant some airplay.
2Son said:
I couldn't agree more. Keep in mind, they remained at a 2 share during this trial, so I was confused why it stopped. However, as a mixer there, I won't delve too much.
2Son said:
Exactly, times are different now. Energy had many battles. The masses didn't understand many of the core artists back then. Now its is quite common to hear them on mainstream outlets. AC stations now play Calvin Harris and Guetta.
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azenergyfan
Guest
What I would do is make 103.9 a Alternative Classic station in am drive, midday and early afternoons. I would then flip on the "new" KUKQ feed in pm drive and nights. See how the ratings do and decide if you want the "new" KUKQ to go full time. I think there still is an audience for alternative music and even if they were going to do alternative classic full time, there are so many songs that phoenix radio ignores that they could play.
XMportable said:How about a 80's to 90's alternative station. I would listen to that
I would, too. And maybe there's enough of an audience that wants to hear the Cure and Depeche Mode and REM etc. Music from back when alternative really was still an alternative. It seems to me that there was a point...somewhere along the latter half of the 90s at the latest...when "alternative" stopped being that music only disaffected college kids (or those who wanted to be) were listening to. When "alternative" for all intents and purposes became a sub-set of pop music rather than an...um...alternative to pop music.
That (if I can wax philosophical for a moment) is why I think there's so much "pining for alternative" around here. There was an era where that kind of music - the stuff that didn't quite fit on teen pop radio or dinosaur rock radio - had its own moment of wild popularity. Stations across the country were calling themselves "the Edge" or something like it, the word "alternative" was in the positioning statement, and the imaging was dominated by quirky sound effects and filtered voices that were the antithesis of traditional imaging. It sounded like college radio if college radio had grown up a bit and got a job.
That era is over, and while the music and presentation might make a successful nostalgia station - call it oldies for Generation X - the "alternative" format simply no longer exists.
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AZOOTEN
Guest
When 103.9 Dropped "Alternative" They lost me as a listener, I removed them from my presets, I listen to KWSS now for my alternative fix.
When I need a "Dance" Fix" I go online and either listen to "Jelli 96.7" from Vegas or "C-89.5" from Seattle.
I was subscribing to Sirius/XM But there Quality went into the toilet.
When I need a "Dance" Fix" I go online and either listen to "Jelli 96.7" from Vegas or "C-89.5" from Seattle.
I was subscribing to Sirius/XM But there Quality went into the toilet.
johndavis said:
It did suck. The difference now is that CHR/MOR has caught up with "alternative" (case in point: the Grammy noms) and that era is over and it's really not an "alternative" to anything anymore. Five years from now if not sooner, KOOL will be playing fun. and Gotye like how KSLX plays Nirvana and Pearl Jam. The only way the "nostalgia" route could work if they did it KSTM-style and dug for deep tracks like on U2's "Boy," skip the then-staple "I Will Follow" and program something else instead. (I *never* heard predictable crap on KSTM.) So, yeah, absent that, I'm inclined to agree that textbook "alternative" won't happen in this town ever again.
The only way the "nostalgia" route could work if they did it KSTM-style and dug for deep tracks like on U2's "Boy," skip the then-staple "I Will Follow" and program something else instead. (I *never* heard predictable crap on KSTM.) So, yeah, absent that, I'm inclined to agree that textbook "alternative" won't happen in this town ever again.
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This what I am saying. I agree, when will they get it.
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This what I am saying. I agree, when will they get it.
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