KHYI GM Interviewed, spills the beans

[RobertB]

The blogsite texasgigs.com (just picked by the Dallas Observer as the Best Music Blog in Dallas) scored an interview with Josh Jones, the GM of KHYI 95.3 The Range, owned by Ken Jones (yes, his dad). I expected the usual marketspeak, but Josh surprised me by laying it all on the line regarding the big recent changes -- the ousting of long-time morning DJ and PD Bruce Kidder, replacing his timeslot with an all-female lineup including Nadine Bodett, formerly at crosstown rival KFWR 95.9 The Ranch.Here's the note I posted to my [email protected] discussion list in reply to the note about the texasgigs.com interview.On Thu, May 18, 2006 13:26, Cindy Chaffin wrote:> http://www.texasgigs.com/news/2006/may/17/home-range-joshua-jones/> > We interviewed Josh Jones on Monday about the changes in the last few> months, and the future of KHYI if anyone is interested click the link> above.I've gotta hand it to Josh -- say what you want, but that interview has a more detailed peek behing the curtain than I'd have *ever* expected. Try getting the straight dope from someone at KSCS or KPLX about what they think of their TSL and Cume, and you'll get some marketspeak. Not in this interview!I'll throw out some tidbits, but you gotta read this for yourself."But Bruce's demeanor and Bruce's disposition when it comes to being a Program Director for a major market radio station - well, it's geared for really really high TSL or time-spent listening, and fairly low to mediocre Cume overall listening audience. [...] We can't let 100 really loud, really obnoxious, Texas-Country music fans dictate our playlist."That's a great description of Bruce's appeal, and those 100 "really obnoxious" fans are all present and accounted for on Bruce's list. But we have to ask, is Josh throwing out the baby with the Bruce? Maybe not -- check this next quote:"In fact, our morning show was the lowest rated out of the entire day... I think Bruce is really talented - I just don't think his skill-set was right for that particular position."The morning drive was the lowest rated daypart? That knocks me for a loop. *Every* station (except KERA and Jack-FM, God bless 'em!) has an intensely annoying morning crew. I thought it was a *requirement* for morning ratings, but Josh is saying it's just not that way. All I can say is: Thank goodness, because I *hate* morning shows that treat me like I'm stupid."Right now I'm sort of the interim P.D. and we also have a P.D. by committee..."Before y'all get your panties in a wad, try to remember that Bruce as Program Director was unique. From what I've learned at KRUD.com, the PD is usually someone in Management. So the situation we have now, for better or worse, is more like everyone else's situation.[On the new Nadine & Natalie mornings] "The overwhelming response has been positive. The idea is 2 girls and I want that to cater to the 60-65% male demographic that we have."Positive response, good. How that response is measured is something Josh is under no obligation to reveal to us mere mortals, of course. The true test will be what shows up in the next Arbitron book -- and Josh knows that, big time."... for all the things Bruce is gifted at, he doesn't communicate very well with the rest of the staff, and you have do be able to do so as a program director. So for years, DJ's have had complete autonomy over their own shows. Their job consisted of coming up to the radio station, playing some tunes they liked, cracking the mic, running some commercials and going home, not really thinking about what they were doing."Josh goes on to describe the five-point daily checklist each DJ fills out, and the weekly meetings... my mind balks at the very concept of Bruce in such a situation. My concern, though, is that Josh is describing a situation where he's expecting the staff to go from 0 to 60 in 1.0 Arbitrons, and that process may not be the most productive. It'll only work if Josh is seen by the staff as being right there in the trenches with them, working on his own daily five-point-plan. And I'll tell you right now, if you expect the staff to do their own secretarial work *and* answer those five questions, you're delusional. Hire an admin assistant, and while you're at it, fix the damnable phone system!"Our criteria for music is: integrity to the music, it has to be available in stores, there should be at least 2 radio-friendly songs on the album, and this last one is really my own criteria --- we are a major market radio station --- and if I'm going to introduce our audience to a new artist, then that artist had better blow your socks off."This sounds remarkably similar to Bruce's criteria. Bruce wanted something sustainable -- he wasn't about to play the one good song off an album that people would buy and then use as a coaster.I'm not going to tell you what's written on the New Music Box, but it's really insightful... go to Cindy's site and read it for yourself. Here's the link again, in case your scroll bar is broken:http://www.texasgigs.com/news/2006/may/17/home-range-joshua-jones/I'm also going to repost this to radio-info.com, where it should spark some interesting conversation. I'll report back on anything good.-- Robert Brooks / robertb@http://www.dixie-chicks.com/ - Before they were famous..."I hope you will put up with a little of my foolishness,but you are already doing that..." - 2 Cor 11:1

 

[CatfishJimPrewitt]

Josh Jones hit the nail on the head. Letting 100 loud obnoxious texas music fans dictate the playlist is absurd.I worked at The Ranch almost two years and sometimes you can let yourself believe this wonderful unique texas music will get BIG BIG ratings. The only place i see it working is Austin.The best ratings KFWR had was when the music was 70% mainstream and 30% Texas Music and then only the cream of the crop.If i were KHYI i would go Classic Country with a Texas appeal. Lot's of western feel mixed with only the best of the best Texas country.I don't think there's much special about all females anymore. It's been done with mixed results. However, Nadine will do well. She's a good jock period.Programming by committe. Haa.haa That's really funny!