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KJR-FM flips to...

SRP said:
We'll get right on that, Jay...er, I mean AQH.

It's rare that I agree with Larry, but in this case he's spot on: It was STUPID for KJR-FM to go all-Christmas a week after KVI hit the air.

Memo to Jim Clayton @ Fisher: You've been given a priceless Christmas gift. Your to-do list:

1. Change positioners to "Seattle's only Classic Hits station".
2. Get the deal done with First or Wolfenbarger for an FM stick LMA
3. Get the live bodies on the air sooner than January 1.
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It's okay to agree or disagree with anyone.

Some other things you might want to get on: All of what you're saying costs dough, something Fisher does not have a lot of right now. If you were to do anything from your list (even just one item), where do you get the money? Do you take money from the FM cash cow? Do you take money from the N/T station that is getting better competition? Remember, you have share holders to answer to as well.

AM or FM, KVI needs to get noticed. How do you do that? How do you communicate to people know that KVI is not the right-wing talk station anymore? How do you convince people to listen to a music station on AM? Will a simple billboard campaign do it? Direct mail? Bus sides? TV?....okay you have one station, but likely no prime-time local avails (or do you bump jewelry or big box store local ad revenue from Dancing With The Stars, Modern Family or Grey's Anatomy?). How long will it take to get the artwork and production done for any of those campaigns? Remember, you have five weeks, and the clock is ticking as you read this.

Oh, by the way, most of the avails on Billboard and TV are gone because buys made long before you came on the air.

What do you do first, and how do you get the money (remembering that Fisher has stock holders to answer to)? And what happens when KJR-FM comes back on the air with its regular programming? Regardless of AM or FM, how do you sell yourself as being different?

Not as easy as you think.
 
Someone just mentioned that KVI is running TV spots (I'm guessing on KOMO 4). Supposedly the old "sing along" spots with people in various everyday situations mis-singing classic lyrics, that used to be used by...wait for it...KBSG! So it appears they are starting to "try" and get the word out.

As fun as it is to hear the music KVI is playing on AM again, this is the definition of long shot. Unless they are planning even more of a "splash" when the staffing is complete and on air, it's a bit of a let down. I've heard long stretches of clunky automation, dead spots, and then of course, a weekend filled mostly with infomercials. (does anyone think Charlie Van Dyke's voice sounds a little gravelly?)

While the music mix at times sounds right, at others, it's off. Get Off by Foxy and Stars on 45 ain't exactly standard classic hits fare. It sounds at times like they just bought a 60s/70s gold disc library from TM Studios and just hit play. If they'd get it focused on a body of music that is more standard "oldies" as opposed to the KJR normal format blend (i.e. more of a 60s/70s balance, skip the Huey Lewis,etc) it seems they'd be playing to the audience that's on AM at the moment and might be a destination for someone, who when hearing of the station, might be willing to try it.
 
We all get to be armchair qb's but I agree. I listen quite a bit during the week but the weekend infomercials are a drag. KVI would be a great weekend music option. Disco show on Saturday Night isn't my cup of tea either with Foxy and Star's on 45. Heard one of those songs on the 70's show at 7:00 too The station may actually be too broad musically as you suggest and might want to just play the 60s and 70's hits in a tighter rotation. Nice to see they are advertising and using the old KBSG spots is smart, don't know if it will work but you know what you are getting. I really doubt they will hurt kjr-fm much when Christmas music ends, but they might do better than they did prior to the flip. Time will tell.

I like kjr-fms Christmas music MUCH better that WARM. Not having the warm sappy breaks and vignettes inbetween songs is a bonus too. Much like kvi won't hurt kjr-fm much, my money is on warm winning the christmas music battle hands down. I do like the option to punch elsewhere for my Christmas music fix though.
 
Bad move, Jay Kelly. No one wants to tune into KJR FM for Xmas songs in November. Everyone who desires such drivel knows to go to Warm. Warm owns the market and will continue to do so.
 
In the past, Warm would have recieved the credit for KJR's X mas music.

I do like the Christmas hits and now with PPM KJR will get the credit. I personally think it's a good move.

Speaking of PPM, the December book started last week and most buys are already placed. If nothing else, this has made KJR attractive as a add on to Warm. Most stations don't care about December since most the Listeners 30+ head to X mas music, just look at past ratings.
BTW, I'm not saying everyone.
 
dunno said:
In the past, Warm would have recieved the credit for KJR's X mas music.

I do like the Christmas hits and now with PPM KJR will get the credit. I personally think it's a good move.

Speaking of PPM, the December book started last week and most buys are already placed. If nothing else, this has made KJR attractive as a add on to Warm. Most stations don't care about December since most the Listeners 30+ head to X mas music, just look at past ratings.
BTW, I'm not saying everyone.
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Today would have been a KICKASS day for these stations to flip to Christmas!
 
Bongwater said:
Today would have been a KICKASS day for these stations to flip to Christmas!
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Right, there's no better time to switch to "Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow" when your average 30 minute commute was changed to three hours because of snow. ::)
 
AQH said:
Bongwater said:
Today would have been a KICKASS day for these stations to flip to Christmas!
Click to expand...

Right, there's no better time to switch to "Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow" when your average 30 minute commute was changed to three hours because of snow. ::)
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Well, they're playing it anyway. Lots of people were out there punching preset buttons on 106.9 and 95.7 and giving happy "We're #1" gestures at their radios.....

And that was LAST WEEK......
 
Bongwater said:
[Well, they're playing it anyway. Lots of people were out there punching preset buttons on 106.9 and 95.7 and giving happy "We're #1" gestures at their radios.....

And that was LAST WEEK......
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Really! So Bong, please enlighten all of us with the numbers from last week or your research that backs up your statement. What, you don't have access to 25-54 M-F numbers from last week? Ah, so you're assuming the vast majority of listeners feel the way you do. Got it. Psst, hey Bong, between you and me..they don't think the way you do.

Stations who flip to holiday music generally get a big ratings bump up in the Winter, which drive yearly average numbers up. Once KJR-FM starts rolling the promotions about their Classic Hits format after the holidays, by January 1 any listeners who may have been displaced, will be back, or even new listeners who tuned in for Xmas music.
 
Bongwater said:
AQH said:
Bongwater said:
Today would have been a KICKASS day for these stations to flip to Christmas!
Click to expand...

Right, there's no better time to switch to "Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow" when your average 30 minute commute was changed to three hours because of snow. ::)
Click to expand...

Well, they're playing it anyway. Lots of people were out there punching preset buttons on 106.9 and 95.7 and giving happy "We're #1" gestures at their radios.....

And that was LAST WEEK......
Click to expand...

You're going to have to pay attention to your own words, Larry. You said it was an excellent time to flip during the snow.

Yes, KJR-FM and Warm are playing the Christmas music now; stations do not switch formats just because of the weather. Maybe you would, but successful people in radio do not.
 
TheX-KXRX said:
But I also think the industry has a huge stick up their butt when it comes to deviating from the same tired old playbook... Once in awhile it's good to run a gadget play whether it works or not because it keeps people interested and wondering what might come next....
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KJR-FM runs that "gadget play" in going all Christmas, and you questioned it in the first page of this thread.
 
AQH said:
TheX-KXRX said:
But I also think the industry has a huge stick up their butt when it comes to deviating from the same tired old playbook... Once in awhile it's good to run a gadget play whether it works or not because it keeps people interested and wondering what might come next....
Click to expand...

KJR-FM runs that "gadget play" in going all Christmas, and you questioned it in the first page of this thread.
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No no I asked if the Xmas formats were that popular and if the payoff for doing it early would outweigh any negatives... I have no idea what kind of numbers all Christmas formats do other than Warm when they were the only ones doing it and getting the big bump....

Xmas tunes are not my cup of tea but if they pulled off the Coup by jumping the gun a week or two then they deserve a Atta Boy for running the sneak on the rest of the field....
 
I listen to KMCQ more often than KJR, simply because of the bigger library of songs. Was bummed that Mark Christopher didn't stay there, but don't fault him for leaving, either. Someday sooner or later the ownership of KMCQ will get down to business - and then the wonderful oldies format will bite the dust. Some I'm enjoying it while I can.
 
Well, I'm old, which makes me old-school. I have a philosophical problem with instant gratification and short-term thinking. To me, the only possible justification for interrupting a format would be if there is something else around the corner. Otherwise, listeners take too long to acquire.
 
Bill Wolfenbarger said:
Well, I'm old, which makes me old-school. I have a philosophical problem with instant gratification and short-term thinking.
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But your LISTENERS don't have a problem with it, Bill. In fact they crave it.

Now if you're programming your stations to what YOU want to hear, that's one thing. But last I checked - the idea of radio was to give the listeners what they want.
 
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