KFRC

[BossJock1947]

All i read here is a bunch of people who say this sucks that sucks. This could be better...bla...bla...bla....

For those of you who think KFRC stinks tell me SPECIFICALLY how you would make it better. List the music artist that should be played, what jocks, more personality less personality? More Contests? You know the drill. GIVE ME SPECIFICS!!!!!!

[EDIT-profanity]

 

[airpab]

Boy BossJock....angry?....do you work at KFRC or CBS? Why would you tell people on a forum specifically for RADIO, to shut the f up? Kinda harsh!

Obviously, you haven't really read all that's been being said here? Just listen to KRTH or WCBS for a while and it becomes painfully obvious about formatics, flow and music...How hard is this, just clone them! Both their websites show specific playlists.

As far as jocks, KFRC already has Jay Coffey who was a longtime KRTH jock. They could build around him. KOOL in PHX just let go a long time favorite there.....Bill Gardener. John McFlanigan, Bobby Ocean.....That caliber! Specific enough?

 

[sfradio]

I gotta agree with boss jock, you guys wanna go back to the days without kfrc and 106.9 was still free fm?

 

[BossJock1947]

Boy BossJock....angry?....do you work at KFRC or CBS? Why would you tell people on a forum specifically for RADIO, to shut the f up? Kinda harsh!

Obviously, you haven't really read all that's been being said here? Just listen to KRTH or WCBS for a while and it becomes painfully obvious about formatics, flow and music...How hard is this, just clone them! Both their websites show specific playlists.

As far as jocks, KFRC already has Jay Coffey who was a longtime KRTH jock. They could build around him. KOOL in PHX just let go a long time favorite there.....Bill Gardener. John McFlanigan, Bobby Ocean.....That caliber! Specific enough?

\

Yep you spelled most of it out. I concur SF needs a K-Earth but KFRC has changed so much in the last twenty years most have almost given up. Even if KFRC were to be a KEARTH musically, format, jock approach it would take years and years for them to gain something. Do you think anybody TODAY has the patience/Vision to do that. I think not. Sorry if i was a bit cranky :'(

 

[Starbucks]

It's amazing how postees like the following still get emotional and dramatic over an FM station whether there doing the right thing or not. There's so many options out there....who the F***** cares? The average public couldn't care less and it shows. It's nothing but between them (KFRC) and the advertisers. So Move on... Find a girl or something....Only what I see on this board, it's like the radio is the only thing that's out there.
If it was up to me...I would put Kenny in Concord in charge of programming and the mornings. UH oh...I shouldnt have said anything further.....look out...get out of the way...HERE HE COMES!!!

 

[LKellerIII]

"Only what I see on this board, it's like the radio is the only thing that's out there."


Uh....Starbucks...it's a RADIO board. I post on other blogs about a number of other subjects....I'm obnoxious and opinionated about any number of things. But it wouldn't really be appropriate for me to talk about books, sports, or politics here, would it? And if I did, unless it was in the context of sports radio, or newstalk radio; the Board Editor would either delete it, or move it to "Off the Air."

But speaking only for myself, I do not stay up nights either listening to radio, or thinking about it.

 

[Starbucks]

Nothing wrong with discussing it.....but it sounds like your having a heart attack or a nervous breakdown over it. Some post come across that if it doesn't add more sixties or hire Bobby Ocean, someone's liable to jump out a window.

 

[Rich Ransom]

All i read here is a bunch of people who say this sucks that sucks. This could be better...bla...bla...bla....

For those of you who think KFRC stinks tell me SPECIFICALLY how you would make it better. List the music artist that should be played, what jocks, more personality less personality? More Contests? You know the drill. GIVE ME SPECIFICS!!!!!!
[EDIT]

[EDIT-profanity]

Mr. 1947, I did. Please read my post. I didn't say it sucks - just incredibly boring. If you lived in the Bay Area during KFRC's prime years, you'd likely agree that this version pales. The music is not the same as the old station, but a white-washed, over-consulted, and likely un-market-tested version.

The old KFRC was versatile and nimble. It broke new music and wasn't afraid to play a song that was not on the Billboard Hot 100 - Earth Wind & Fire's "Reasons" is a perfect example.

Jocks? I've made my suggestions. The question is, would the parent company be willing to compensate someone enough to move here, or come out of radio retirement?

Not to say I was ever a superstar jock, I was far from that, but today's radio dollars could not pull me away from what I can earn in Silicon Valley. Would Jack Armstrong be willing to move back to San Francisco, where the median home price is ~$800k? Would CBS pay him enough to rent more than a Tenderloin studio?

Contests? Here is one: When I was in Fresno, Bill Stairs who programmed a competing station, had a St. Patrick's Day trip contest - winners would win an all-expenses-paid trip to Dublin to celebrate....California, not Ireland.

Being creative doesn't always cost a lot. So there you have it, in a nutshell.

 

[XM RADIO]

Thanks Starbucks, I would throw out WHATEVER it takes to get KFRC, back to Listening Quality! Whatever It took to get Bobby Ocean and John Mack Flanagan on it would be done! The frequncy would go back to 99.7 and Movin would dissapear! You cant even get 106.9 in Antioch, or Brentwood! VO guy Bobby Ocean,,,current guy would be off immediatly! Bill Gardner mornings, he was great while at KIOI in the 80s! More 60s music,,, Duke of Earl would be on the Playlist,,,,Brown Eyed Girl, off the playlist! Chris Edwards and his time machine Sunday nites! Its way past time to do something with KFRC,,,CBS is like George Bush and his stimulous package,, way to late,,the damage to the economy is done and CBS delaying improvments to KFRC is a sad excuse for a radio station! Chris Edwards White and his KYA stream is much more desirable to listen to,,,and hes not near as big as CBS ,, but he puts on a better show! Chris Edwards White has a wider playlist than XMs 60s channel,,Pat Clarke the PD and midday guy is a FM guy,, Tight Playlist,, and you pay for XM,, Somewhere these PDs have way too much control, and dont like bigger playlists! The only Dj who plays everything is Cousin Brucie on Sirius,, What would the bay Area do with a guy like THE CUZ?

 

[Starbucks]

LOLOLOL, this board is insanity at times...LOLOLOLOL, Ok you said your piece......ok let me lock up and turn the lights off for the night.

 

[Fastphilly]

I will tell you my displeasure about it- I am tired of KFRC sticking with their "core artists" with their core artists "safe songs"...You want music?

They play Dec. 63 by Four Seasons, Where is "Who Loves You"?
They play Wings, where is "Goodnight Tonight"?
They play Elton John,where is "Island Girl"?
They play Stevie Wonder, where is "Master Blaster"?
They play Spinners, where is "Games People Play" and "Cupid"?

All of these were top 10 hits, where are they?

 

[davideduardo]

I will tell you my displeasure about it- I am tired of KFRC sticking with their "core artists" with their core artists "safe songs"...You want music?

They play Dec. 63 by Four Seasons, Where is "Who Loves You"?
They play Wings, where is "Goodnight Tonight"?
They play Elton John,where is "Island Girl"?
They play Stevie Wonder, where is "Master Blaster"?
They play Spinners, where is "Games People Play" and "Cupid"?

All of these were top 10 hits, where are they?

The most likely answer is that they asked the listeners to score the songs, and the listeners did not want to hear those ones. Having been top 10 40 or so years ago does not mean people want to hear the songs now. Oldies and classic hits formats play yesterday's songs that are still hits today.

 

[Rich Ransom]

I will tell you my displeasure about it- I am tired of KFRC sticking with their "core artists" with their core artists "safe songs"...You want music?

They play Dec. 63 by Four Seasons, Where is "Who Loves You"?
They play Wings, where is "Goodnight Tonight"?
They play Elton John,where is "Island Girl"?
They play Stevie Wonder, where is "Master Blaster"?
They play Spinners, where is "Games People Play" and "Cupid"?

All of these were top 10 hits, where are they?

The most likely answer is that they asked the listeners to score the songs, and the listeners did not want to hear those ones. Having been top 10 40 or so years ago does not mean people want to hear the songs now. Oldies and classic hits formats play yesterday's songs that are still hits today.

If a person bangs his/her head against a wall 100 times, the result will be the same each time.

My point is, the overdose of Elton, Fleetwood Mac, etc., is OK, but the Bay Area has ALWAYS been an urban-leaning market, and since 1985 there have been a grand total of zero mainstream Top40 stations that have had any measure of success here.

If KFRC wants the Midwest transplants, that's what they will get, but to grab their target demo here they will need to broaden their horizon. Radio and music is local and regional. This is not Kansas City, Providence or Boise.

I've made 3 posts on this board since I joined yesterday, and I'll bet if Dave Sholin read each one, he would agree with 98% of what I've written. He gets it.

 

[davideduardo]

The most likely answer is that they asked the listeners to score the songs, and the listeners did not want to hear those ones. Having been top 10 40 or so years ago does not mean people want to hear the songs now. Oldies and classic hits formats play yesterday's songs that are still hits today.

If a person bangs his/her head against a wall 100 times, the result will be the same each time.

And that is why radio stations test songs against their target listeners in their own city... so that they will play the right songs for the largest group of persons.

If KFRC wants the Midwest transplants, that's what they will get, but to grab their target demo here they will need to broaden their horizon. Radio and music is local and regional. This is not Kansas City, Providence or Boise.

That's why stations test their music, including songs they don't play, locally.

I've made 3 posts on this board since I joined yesterday, and I'll bet if Dave Sholin read each one, he would agree with 98% of what I've written. He gets it.

I don't see what the point you are trying to make is. You apparently want the station to do your iPod playlist, to your taste. The big isssue radio has is that it can not narrowcast down to the individual level. Radio broadcasts, so the music has to be acceptable in a consensus situation. The songs you want to hear are likely not ones a significant enough group of others wants to hear, and would damage the listening levels if played. It's really that simple

 

[Rich Ransom]

David - Just curious, did you READ a word I wrote?

If you did, you would have gathered that mainstream Top40 does not work in the Bay Area. This is a fact.

My point was that in the last 20+ years there has not been a station locally that has successfully played Rock-based Top40, which is much of what KFRC is attempting to do. It has nothing to do with my personal tastes.

I do speak from experience, as a former MD/APD and air-talent, who worked on-air in San Francisco - at KMEL when we were Northern California's #1 Music Station.

 

[BossJock1947]

I will tell you my displeasure about it- I am tired of KFRC sticking with their "core artists" with their core artists "safe songs"...You want music?

They play Dec. 63 by Four Seasons, Where is "Who Loves You"?
They play Wings, where is "Goodnight Tonight"?
They play Elton John,where is "Island Girl"?
They play Stevie Wonder, where is "Master Blaster"?
They play Spinners, where is "Games People Play" and "Cupid"?

All of these were top 10 hits, where are they?

The most likely answer is that they asked the listeners to score the songs, and the listeners did not want to hear those ones. Having been top 10 40 or so years ago does not mean people want to hear the songs now. Oldies and classic hits formats play yesterday's songs that are still hits today.

If a person bangs his/her head against a wall 100 times, the result will be the same each time.

My point is, the overdose of Elton, Fleetwood Mac, etc., is OK, but the Bay Area has ALWAYS been an urban-leaning market, and since 1985 there have been a grand total of zero mainstream Top40 stations that have had any measure of success here.

If KFRC wants the Midwest transplants, that's what they will get, but to grab their target demo here they will need to broaden their horizon. Radio and music is local and regional. This is not Kansas City, Providence or Boise.

I've made 3 posts on this board since I joined yesterday, and I'll bet if Dave Sholin read each one, he would agree with 98% of what I've written. He gets it.

The KFRC I grew up with (60s-70s) played Fleetwood Mac., Elton John, but it also played, EWF, Isley Bros, WAR, Motown, Etc

Where's the nice Pop stuff: Dave Clark Five-Because; Turtles, Happy Together, America, Etc

 

[DavidKaye]

The old KFRC was versatile and nimble. It broke new music and wasn't afraid to play a song that was not on the Billboard Hot 100 - Earth Wind & Fire's "Reasons" is a perfect example.

Once again I say this because maybe someday it will stick: In large part today's KFRC is KMEL and KYLD. They play new music (and the break new music), they play music from various genres, they have DJs, they have contests, they are involved in the community, they serve the 18-34 demo -- they're everything KFRC used to be.

But most people here are not going to believe it because KMEL and KYLD do something else that KFRC also once did: They played music the parents hated. Well, most of you are now the parents who hate the music.

 

[davideduardo]

David - Just curious, did you READ a word I wrote?

If you did, you would have gathered that mainstream Top40 does not work in the Bay Area. This is a fact.

It sure did in the 60s and early 70's, when mainstream top 40 was little different than what you head in other markets. And, since such a huge percentage of San Franciscans in the age for classic hits did not grow up there, we have to take into account the fact that what is played has to appeal to natives and non natives alike.

We are talking about oldies, or classic hits, here. We are not talking about what Keith Naftaly and his crew did in the last decade or so.

My point was that in the last 20+ years ...

We are talking about songs that are about 30 years old, not what CHRs played in the last two decades.

I do speak from experience, as a former MD/APD and air-talent, who worked on-air in San Francisco - at KMEL when we were Northern California's #1 Music Station.

In other words, you are talking about the tastes of 12 to 34's in the era after Rapper's Delight came out. Irrelevant.

[/quote]

 

[Rich Ransom]

David - You wrote: "And, since such a huge percentage of San Franciscans in the age for classic hits did not grow up there, we have to take into account the fact that what is played has to appeal to natives and non natives alike."

In 1985 the population of the nine Bay counties was 5.9 million. Today it's less than 7 million. That is not a huge increase. Yes, there has been an influx of migration and immigration, that is a given, but the people here in 1985 haven't left or died en masse.

Believe it or not, the music of the 80's is now considered "Classic Hits," and that is the point I am trying to drive home, and what David Kaye seems to agree with me on, and you seem to repel. If these stations tested their music in Dublin, Mill Valley or Livermore, they can justify their playlists with what we now hear. But the dynamics of SF, the South Bay, East Bay and North Bay are not the same - yet they, as a whole, have always leaned, and I stress, leaned urban.

There have always been and will continue to be rock fans, and KFRC played rock (heck, KDIA played Hall & Oates) - but my point keeps getting lost and it is a SIMPLE point: To be a success, KFRC will need to broaden its playlist.

If you intend to comment, please READ first!

 

[airpab]

Rich-agree with you 110%. Question?

Isn't programming a heavily "gut" based thing too? I mean, you can't audience test every song...so doesn't great programming stem from great personal taste, a keen ear for flow and what will work and knowing your audience (sometimes better than it knows itself)?? Especially, in an Oldies/Classic Hits format?

I have to think that you, Keith Natalfy, Mike Preston, Jhani Kaye and all the other great programmers out there past/present, have an almost instinctual feel for what people will respond to? That said, in KFRC's case and any other non-currents based format for that matter, I don't see how putting heavy emphasis on audience input and audience research would really pay off? To me, kind of a waste of time and money?

Sort of like the DJ at the wedding that either makes or breaks the party with music selection. How many times have we all been there?..."God, what the hell is this guy playing?...if only I could get behind those turntables". In other words, no feel for the audience, no sense of what works and no sense of what constitutes good music?