KISSFM Observations

[TheMusicMan]

Done quite a bit of listening to 97-3 KISSFM over the past few days...noticed a couple of things going on.

- The DJ's are talking a lot less. Sometimes it seems like Russ will almost stop mid-thought, not ID the station again, and just let the song intro run out. Hitting the post seems to be a thing of the past, and the content of their break seems to be "just the facts", if you will. Also noticed this to an extent with Kramer, who has really sounded good in PM Drive IMO. I actually think the personalities at KISSFM are very strong, so I'm not 100% sure how I feel about this. In addition, about every music set I've heard ends with the DJ talking into the commercial break.

- The imaging is VERY low key and stripped-down. In between songs all you'll hear is a basic "KISSFM" or "97-3 KISSFM", essentially no production and often it's not even the primary V/O guy, but just a "normal-sounding" speaker simply identifying the station. The Today's Best Music slogan is basically gone. There are also some cold segues with NO station ID or imaging whatsoever, just one song running into the next. My understanding is that a number of other Clear Channel CHR's have utilized cold segues also, for what that's worth. It's very interesting, as CHR especially is a format with a lot of hype and an emphasis on imaging, so to hear stations like WAEV essentially doing the bare minimum in that regard is a bit strange. Going into the spring book, is not ID'ing the station at every opportunity a good idea? Will diary-keepers or average listeners know what they're listening to, or even notice the difference.

- No real musical changes to note. Overall I think the station sounds solid from that standpoint, it's basically straight-up CHR with no excessive lean towards Hot AC or Rhythmic.'

Anyone else noticed or have any opinions? Making the music the focus and stripping down the other elements of the station is certainly a different direction not just for KISSFM specifically, but for the format in general. I'm interested to see how this progresses - KISS has been sounding very good lately, so I hope these changes don't prevent the station from continuing to kick ass.

Thoughts, people?

 

[FilmCritic3K]

Maybe it's part of that "Less Talk. More Music" campaign Clear Channel instituted a while back. Russ, are you out there with some info for us?

I don't listen to WAEV (not a Top 40 fan) but one thing's for certain -- Russ and the gang could phone it in (not that they ever do or would) and still top WZAT. Honestly, Cumulus...are you being paid to beat that dead horse?

 

[rcombs]

No, we do it just for you.

 

[FilmCritic3K]

No, we do it just for you.

Aw! Thanks! ;D Now - change the format. ;D

At this point TV theme songs would be a welcome respite from the schizophrenia WZAT's foisted on this market for the past five years.

 

[minordistortion]

No, we do it just for you.

At this point TV theme songs would be a welcome respite from the schizophrenia WZAT's foisted on this market for the past five years.

That's what was done when "The Real Z" 103.1 was turned into Star 103.1!! 48 hours of nothing but 80's TV theme songs, and old Atari video game noises!! Now that was fun radio!!

 

[FilmCritic3K]

No, we do it just for you.

At this point TV theme songs would be a welcome respite from the schizophrenia WZAT's foisted on this market for the past five years.

That's what was done when "The Real Z" 103.1 was turned into Star 103.1!! 48 hours of nothing but 80's TV theme songs, and old Atari video game noises!! Now that was fun radio!!

I remember that; that was pretty cool. WGZO, among many others in this market, needs to flip, IMHO; no one's listening to the station, no matter how many times the meteorologists on WSAV tell the viewers they can get their forecast on the station.

 

[htowler]

Done quite a bit of listening to 97-3 KISSFM over the past few days...noticed a couple of things going on.

- The DJ's are talking a lot less. Sometimes it seems like Russ will almost stop mid-thought, not ID the station again, and just let the song intro run out. Hitting the post seems to be a thing of the past, and the content of their break seems to be "just the facts", if you will. Also noticed this to an extent with Kramer, who has really sounded good in PM Drive IMO. I actually think the personalities at KISSFM are very strong, so I'm not 100% sure how I feel about this. In addition, about every music set I've heard ends with the DJ talking into the commercial break.

- The imaging is VERY low key and stripped-down. In between songs all you'll hear is a basic "KISSFM" or "97-3 KISSFM", essentially no production and often it's not even the primary V/O guy, but just a "normal-sounding" speaker simply identifying the station. The Today's Best Music slogan is basically gone. There are also some cold segues with NO station ID or imaging whatsoever, just one song running into the next. My understanding is that a number of other Clear Channel CHR's have utilized cold segues also, for what that's worth. It's very interesting, as CHR especially is a format with a lot of hype and an emphasis on imaging, so to hear stations like WAEV essentially doing the bare minimum in that regard is a bit strange. Going into the spring book, is not ID'ing the station at every opportunity a good idea? Will diary-keepers or average listeners know what they're listening to, or even notice the difference.

- No real musical changes to note. Overall I think the station sounds solid from that standpoint, it's basically straight-up CHR with no excessive lean towards Hot AC or Rhythmic.'

Anyone else noticed or have any opinions? Making the music the focus and stripping down the other elements of the station is certainly a different direction not just for KISSFM specifically, but for the format in general. I'm interested to see how this progresses - KISS has been sounding very good lately, so I hope these changes don't prevent the station from continuing to kick ass.

Thoughts, people?

Kiss does NOT Sound like a Typical CHR to me There is definatley a HotAC Lean to it, not much, but it does lean Out of the top 50 on their Playlist 30 are Rock/Pop 3 are in the Middle area and 17 are Rhythmic/Hiphop/R&B.It's hard to Tell if the changes you hear are from Russ or From Higher up in the CC world. At minimum they should "hit the post". Actually WZAT is more Balanced and Doesn't lean in either Direction. The way they Blend their songs is another story.

About the Cold segues. This is Something that WQBT is Doing more often as Well. Before the used to do it just During the Slow Jams Shows, and used to have imaging between EACH AND EVERY SONG WITHOUT FAIL. Now you hear it there during other dayparts, so again that is Probably coming from higher up

 

[RadioMahn]

Done quite a bit of listening to 97-3 KISSFM over the past few days...noticed a couple of things going on.

- The DJ's are talking a lot less. Sometimes it seems like Russ will almost stop mid-thought, not ID the station again, and just let the song intro run out. Hitting the post seems to be a thing of the past, and the content of their break seems to be "just the facts", if you will. Also noticed this to an extent with Kramer, who has really sounded good in PM Drive IMO. I actually think the personalities at KISSFM are very strong, so I'm not 100% sure how I feel about this. In addition, about every music set I've heard ends with the DJ talking into the commercial break.

- The imaging is VERY low key and stripped-down. In between songs all you'll hear is a basic "KISSFM" or "97-3 KISSFM", essentially no production and often it's not even the primary V/O guy, but just a "normal-sounding" speaker simply identifying the station. The Today's Best Music slogan is basically gone. There are also some cold segues with NO station ID or imaging whatsoever, just one song running into the next. My understanding is that a number of other Clear Channel CHR's have utilized cold segues also, for what that's worth. It's very interesting, as CHR especially is a format with a lot of hype and an emphasis on imaging, so to hear stations like WAEV essentially doing the bare minimum in that regard is a bit strange. Going into the spring book, is not ID'ing the station at every opportunity a good idea? Will diary-keepers or average listeners know what they're listening to, or even notice the difference.

- No real musical changes to note. Overall I think the station sounds solid from that standpoint, it's basically straight-up CHR with no excessive lean towards Hot AC or Rhythmic.'

Anyone else noticed or have any opinions? Making the music the focus and stripping down the other elements of the station is certainly a different direction not just for KISSFM specifically, but for the format in general. I'm interested to see how this progresses - KISS has been sounding very good lately, so I hope these changes don't prevent the station from continuing to kick ass.

Thoughts, people?

I was traveling through Columbia, SC last week and listened to WNOK. They were doing basically the same thing you're describing. WNOK is CC as well. It's an edict from above and all must follow or be banished. Some CC genius is re-inventing the wheel

 

[TheMusicMan]

Kiss does NOT Sound like a Typical CHR to me There is definatley a HotAC Lean to it, not much, but it does lean Out of the top 50 on their Playlist 30 are Rock/Pop 3 are in the Middle area and 17 are Rhythmic/Hiphop/R&B.It's hard to Tell if the changes you hear are from Russ or From Higher up in the CC world. At minimum they should "hit the post". Actually WZAT is more Balanced and Doesn't lean in either Direction. The way they Blend their songs is another story.

Erm...going to have to disagree on that one. Z102 more balanced? No. KISS has a much, much better music selection. They also seem to be making this whole toned-down sound work. It's still a bit jarring to hear dead segues and short liners in so many of the music sets, though.

I was traveling through Columbia, SC last week and listened to WNOK. They were doing basically the same thing you're describing. WNOK is CC as well. It's an edict from above and all must follow or be banished. Some CC genius is re-inventing the wheel

WNOK isn't the only one. A number of CC CHR's have started to use dead segues - there was a thread about this in the CHR forum. I think you're being a bit overdramatic with regard to the issue, but I do think it's interesting to see so many stations taking this direction. I doubt they're just making these adjustments out of the blue just for the sake of "experimenting".

 

[abyrd]

I do not like the new sound of KISSFM at all... It sounds sloppy, tons of dead segs from one song to another with the occasionally Girl or Guy randomly saying "97-3 KISSFM" or simply "KISSFM"

 

[D-Oradio]

Please pardon me for not knowing, but what exactly is a cold segue. I have an idea, but would love to know what it's really about. I listen to WNOK in Columbia and noticed a change as well, but would like a better emphasis of what a cold segue exactly is about. Thanks in advance.

Neil

 

[rcombs]

2 songs back to back with no liner or voice work in between them.

 

[D-Oradio]

ah yes makes sense now, how about extended openings of songs? i've noticed that a lot more. for example, daughtry's single "It's Not Over" usually starts out with him singing, but WNOK plays an instrumental opening then cuts to the actual opening.

 

[htowler]

ah yes makes sense now, how about extended openings of songs? i've noticed that a lot more. for example, daughtry's single "It's Not Over" usually starts out with him singing, but WNOK plays an instrumental opening then cuts to the actual opening.

NO PLEASE NOT THAT!!! I used to live In New Jersey there is one rhythmic Station up there WZBZ 99.3 the Buzz. While they had the best Format. They had like a 5-10 second "lead" on EVERY Song they played they would take a 5-10 Second Instrumental of that song and put it in front of it then Blend into the song I honestly couldn't stand it.

WQBT is doing Cold segues even more often when I heard it today. WLVH is doing it more often as well, but they are Urban AC it should be expected there, and they have done that all along but not as often as now

 

[SAVRADIOFAN]

Very! Observant!

"Dead Segues" are nothing new; ALL formats in radio use to do it in the 70's. This is a listener benefit since MOST listeners have the technology to get their favorite music. No NEED to be a "critic" at this point because gripping about it does NO GOOD!

Radio at this point is dying slowing! Here is the reason why. If you have ever coined this phrase:

"Dude, don't buy the CD, I pre-viewed it on the internet; and it SUCKS!"

"Give me a list of songs and I will burn it for you"

"I love my satelite radio"

"Check out this new website napster.com, limewire.com, Myspace.com"

"Check out my Ipod!"

" I have a copy of the album before its released (but have no titles)."

You in fact are just as wrong! Bottom-line, Kids today are not the KIDS of yesterday (who have developed into radio experts) or "Arm-chair PDs." Radio has to compete with Ipods, Burned CD's and internet downloads; they basically tune-out radio "talk."

I applaud the board for being very conscious and observant of the market. But keep in mind; complaining or rating ALL the formats in this market is really a waste of time or a "cheap" shot at your competitor; radio is CHANGING as we speak, are you changing with it? or are you complaining and comparing radio to other markets where you USE to live? At the end of the day, the NEW generation doesn't care! If you have children; watch what they do closely for one day! They aren't listening or paying attention to radio, only YOU ARE!

Thanks

 

[wkrp]

I agree that there is definitely more competition out there, but my personal observations are different from your assessments. The kids I've seen are definitely looking for the music, but they also want concert tickets, ramp walkers and HUMOR, HUMOR, HUMOR. And so they've embraced both radio and their ipods. They've got to hear the music FIRST somewhere, and that's still radio.

Having said that, now is a time when programmers have to be on their toes more than ever. I tell jocks to embrace the technology. Knowing that a certain song is the most downloaded song of the week is something kids want to be on top of.

 

[TheMusicMan]

Having said that, now is a time when programmers have to be on their toes more than ever. I tell jocks to embrace the technology. Knowing that a certain song is the most downloaded song of the week is something kids want to be on top of.

Agree wholeheartedly. I think we often forget what it's like to look at radio from the perspective of the average listener, and if programmers don't do just that then they've got their work cut out for them. Let's be honest, does Joe (or Josephine if you want) Arbitron really give a sh!t about how awesome your imaging is? On that note...

I do not like the new sound of KISSFM at all... It sounds sloppy, tons of dead segs from one song to another with the occasionally Girl or Guy randomly saying "97-3 KISSFM" or simply "KISSFM"

No doubt, you're entitled to your opinion, but I actually disagree. It definitely takes some getting used to, but I don't think "sloppy" is a good descriptor of KISSFM's new presentation. It's a lot cleaner and stripped - the focus is unquestionably on the music. I say why waste the listeners' time with a 10-second liner that's really not saying anything they care about when you can get straight to what they view as more compelling content (music)? Granted, I'm a bit of an imaging nerd, but I'm also not filling out any Arbitron diaries am I?

I appreciate that KISSFM - and other CC CHR's - are trying something new. Trying some out-of-the-box approaches to on-air presentation is a step in the right direction for asserting radio's presence in the world of the media and in the lives of listeners.

It will be interesting to see how certain other radio stations react to these new concepts. I was in Atlanta (well, Athens) this weekend and stations like The Beat and Q100 are VERY heavy on the imaging. I actually found myself sitting there saying "uh, shut up and get back to the music" instead of doing stupid crap like repeating your positioner 4 times in a liner. It's not necessary.

 

[RadioMahn]

I appreciate that KISSFM - and other CC CHR's - are trying something new. Trying some out-of-the-box approaches to on-air presentation is a step in the right direction for asserting radio's presence in the world of the media and in the lives of listeners.

Uh, cold segues and quick liners are NOT new.

Yeah, gotta love that CC "out-of-a-job," I mean "out-of-the-box" thinking.
(And no I'm not personally out of a job. But then again I don't work for CC.)

 

[TheMusicMan]

I appreciate that KISSFM - and other CC CHR's - are trying something new. Trying some out-of-the-box approaches to on-air presentation is a step in the right direction for asserting radio's presence in the world of the media and in the lives of listeners.

Uh, cold segues and quick liners are NOT new.

Yeah, gotta love that CC "out-of-a-job," I mean "out-of-the-box" thinking.
(And no I'm not personally out of a job. But then again I don't work for CC.)

I appreciate the sarcasm :

That aside, you are right that these aren't new concepts. But they haven't been utilized much in CHR radio as of late, so yeah, it's a bit of a shift from what has become normal CHR presentation.

 

[D on Z102]

All that segue-ing, and 5 second breaks makes it easier for KISS to voice track all their shifts. At least Z10 has live DJs in the studio all day AND on the weekends. Seroiusly, does anyone ever answer the phone at KISS when you call?