Kmle....needs a tow

[ValleyGirl]

they are stuck in a ditch in the middle of nowhere.

 

[Ford]

I get it...camel...toe!

But seriously folks...

What is it exactly that KMLE is doing wrong? They're playing (near as I can tell) the exact same music as KNIX. Both stations have more or less the same promotions around the same country lifestyle events (concerts and the like), and to my ear don't sound all that different, so...

What gives? Can any of the disgruntled former CBS employees here grace us with some wisdom which would explain why one of the two more or less identical country stations in town has wound up in the ratings toilet, while the other one doesn't?

Is it the loss of Dave Pratt Live dot com?

 

[azradiofan]

I don't think there's anything wrong with KMLE...it's not because Dave Pratt is gone, i think that times have changed and Country music isn't what it used to be. I remember years back when both KNIX and KMLE were in the top 10 even top 5 in the ratings but those days are over, sadly.

 

[radiobum]

With all the great Americana music that's been around for decades i wonder why country stations don't ever 'experiment' with...afraid it'll turn off a lot of listeners i guess ? i don't follow current country music but i know jack ingram was around for awhile before he broke through.

 

[Sammi Brie]

I don't think there's anything wrong with KMLE...it's not because Dave Pratt is gone, i think that times have changed and Country music isn't what it used to be. I remember years back when both KNIX and KMLE were in the top 10 even top 5 in the ratings but those days are over, sadly.

I recall reading someone else's comment that the era when country was popular in general (1990s-mid 2000s) had faded. Taylor Swift was arguably the last person to be able to make the jump successfully.

 

[radiobum]

Re: Country has peaked in popularity- here in Gainesville-Ocala, Florida the # 1 country station routinely gets a 12-14 share 12 plus and they have three competitors.

 

[johndavis]

I recall reading someone else's comment that the era when country was popular in general (1990s-mid 2000s) had faded. Taylor Swift was arguably the last person to be able to make the jump successfully.

I suppose you've never heard of Lady Antebellum.

 

[ykw]

Re: Country has peaked in popularity- here in Gainesville-Ocala, Florida the # 1 country station routinely gets a 12-14 share 12 plus and they have three competitors.

You're talking the deep South, though. Aside from whatever couple of local stations are aiming for the college crowd, country and Jesus formats are gonna be ubiquitous there. Everywhere else but your sub-150 markets, it's a dying format. Major markets have gone literally years without a country outlet with only a few diehards noticing the lack, and with no one rushing to fill the void (such as it is).

I recall reading someone else's comment that the era when country was popular in general (1990s-mid 2000s) had faded. Taylor Swift was arguably the last person to be able to make the jump successfully.

I suppose you've never heard of Lady Antebellum.

Other than their holiday album, though, what have they done that's gone mainstream?

 

[romer979fm]

Major markets have gone literally years without a country outlet

really? you're right...there's no country in NYC and SF...but let's check the rest of the top 10:
Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas-Ft Worth, Houston, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Washington, and Boston all have country outlets. Let's check 11-20, okay? Detroit, Miami, Seattle, Phoenix, Minneapolis-St Paul, San Diego, Long Island, Denver, Tampa Bay...all with at least one country outlet. Puerto Rico checks in at #14...with no english language country. BTW...country in every market 21-30, too.

 

[ValleyGirl]

LA doesn't have a country. (at least a full signal one that is a player on the radio scene). it's been tried. kzla was the last failed attempt on a full signal.

 

[jeffinaz]

LA doesn't have a country. (at least a full signal one that is a player on the radio scene). it's been tried. kzla was the last failed attempt on a full signal.

I beg your pardon. What about KKGO? http://www.gocountry105.com/

If this doesn't cover L.A. I don't know what will: http://radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/pat?call=KKGO&service=FM&status=L&hours=U

 

[radiowizard101]

Had a chance to sample KMLE HD2 today. That's the selection that should be on their main channel (HD1). The new country thang has played itself out. Believe me, this mobile dj has seen a dramatic shift in Country tastes. Most people are very tired of the all 'young sound' of the latest crop of artists. Think Statlers, Garth, Marty, Patsy, CDB, Alabama, Alan, Bellamys, Hank Jr & Sr, Mel Tillis, Waylon, Willie, or both... you get the picture. It's all about texture for the Country folks. Phoenix Country radio is in the pits. Somebody really needs to come along and do it the right way. The listeners are ready for it.

 

[Ford]

Had a chance to sample KMLE HD2 today. That's the selection that should be on their main channel (HD1). The new country thang has played itself out. Believe me, this mobile dj has seen a dramatic shift in Country tastes. Most people are very tired of the all 'young sound' of the latest crop of artists. Think Statlers, Garth, Marty, Patsy, CDB, Alabama, Alan, Bellamys, Hank Jr & Sr, Mel Tillis, Waylon, Willie, or both... you get the picture. It's all about texture for the Country folks. Phoenix Country radio is in the pits. Somebody really needs to come along and do it the right way. The listeners are ready for it.

That's an interesting perspective to say the least. If I remember correctly, KMLE came along about 20 years ago and kicked KNIX off the top of the country hill by NOT playing the "old country thang" and instead focusing on the "new" acts.

The 18-34 listeners back then couldn't relate to Mel Tillis, Hank Sr, the Statlers, or Patsy, so how do you figure that those now 38-54 listeners will somehow love that which they rejected 20 years ago?

And for today's 18-34 listeners, Garth Brooks, Shania Twain, Clint Black, George Strait, and other "young country" acts that made KMLE are now "old country."

 

[landtuna]

The Camel has got perhaps the best FM signal in the Valley (or used to when I listened 10-15 years ago). Maybe C(BS) can figure out something decent to put on it. A simulcast of The Lumberyard perhaps? Just wishin'.

 

[EricStein]

Had a chance to sample KMLE HD2 today. That's the selection that should be on their main channel (HD1). The new country thang has played itself out. Believe me, this mobile dj has seen a dramatic shift in Country tastes. Most people are very tired of the all 'young sound' of the latest crop of artists. Think Statlers, Garth, Marty, Patsy, CDB, Alabama, Alan, Bellamys, Hank Jr & Sr, Mel Tillis, Waylon, Willie, or both... you get the picture. It's all about texture for the Country folks. Phoenix Country radio is in the pits. Somebody really needs to come along and do it the right way. The listeners are ready for it.

There's also KSWG in Wickenburg with the "Real Country" network (once Buck Owens' baby airing on 1580). Given that you are west of 35th Avenue, you can get a clean signal (surprisingly, there are spots of the East Valley where it's listenable too).

 

[radiowizard101]

I have every Country release in my music vault when I go out to play for the public. The most requested artists, regardless of age, are George Strait, Brooks & Dunn, Alan Jackson, CDB, Hank Jr., Shania Twain (still popular), Brad Paisley, Tim McGraw, Billy Currington, Josh Turner, Reba, Kenny Chesney, Carrie Underwood, Taylor Swift, Lady Antebellum, and a handful of others. The Country crowd is also big on Classic Rock and Oldies. The Country Artists mentioned fill my dancefloor, the newer crop of artists... not as much. Of course, these are the artists I play in 'Country Sets' in between the Pop, Disco, Top40, and line dances. I also understand being a mobile entertainer is a whole lot different than the radio universe. It's just an observation that there's been a dramatic shift in music preferences within the past five years. This is most likely the result of different avenues of music discovery.

I still stand by my original post. The HD2 format on KMLE (musically) sounds a whole lot better that what's on their main channel. This is my opinion and I could be totally off base.

This rant is in no way a reflection on the excellent air talent on the hump. Everyone always sounds great over there.

 

[johndavis]

Other than their holiday album, though, what have they done that's gone mainstream?

They had a holiday album?

I'm talking about last year's Grammy for record of the year and a song you couldn't escape at AC, pop, or country called "Need You Now." Perhaps you've heard it a few hunded times.

 

[urmanega]

Other than their holiday album, though, what have they done that's gone mainstream?

They had a holiday album?

I'm talking about last year's Grammy for record of the year and a song you couldn't escape at AC, pop, or country called "Need You Now." Perhaps you've heard it a few hunded times.

I think most of us know it as "Eye in the Sky."

 

[Buzz Jackson]

What is it exactly that KMLE is doing wrong? They're playing (near as I can tell) the exact same music as KNIX. Both stations have more or less the same promotions around the same country lifestyle events (concerts and the like), and to my ear don't sound all that different, so...

Part of the problem IS that both stations are playing the exact same music. There's no point of differentiation between the two stations, and I believe that people are tuning to KNIX mostly because they're more used to doing so. Back in the day KMLE focused on "New Country" which gave them a credible unique position in the market.

Also, KNIX isn't exactly consistently on fire, either. Neither station has done much external marketing over the past decade.

 

[johndavis]

Part of the problem IS that both stations are playing the exact same music. There's no point of differentiation between the two stations, and I believe that people are tuning to KNIX mostly because they're more used to doing so. Back in the day KMLE focused on "New Country" which gave them a credible unique position in the market.

Also, KNIX isn't exactly consistently on fire, either. Neither station has done much external marketing over the past decade.

In a market like Phoenix, what is heritage? For a good chunk of people in the Valley, they've always known KNIX and KMLE as country stations. How many people living in Phoenix have been in town long enough to know that Tim & Willy have bounced back between the two stations?

[This is also why I'm curious to see what happens with Dave Pratt's online venture. What is the value of heritage in a town where people move in, stay for a few years, and then take a job somewhere else?]

So, let's do a punch war. Using yes.com, here's the songs and approximate amount of talk & spots.

6AM today on KMLE:

Blake Shelton - Honey Bee
Tim McGraw - Everywhere
(talk/stopset, about 7 - 8 min.)
Jason Aldean - She's Country
Alan Jackson - Livin' On Love
(talk/stopset, about 10 min.)
Taylor Swift - Mean
Rodney Adkins - These Are My People
(talk/stopset, about 7 - 8 min.)
Keith Urban - Sweet Thing
George Strait - Check Yes Or No
(talk/stopset to the top of the hour, about 7 - 8 min.)

6 AM today on KNIX

Jason Aldean - My Kinda Party
Brad Paisley - Waiting On A Woman
(talk/stopset, about 10 min.)
Taylor Swift - Mean
Keith Urban - But For The Grace Of God
(talk/stopset, about 8 min)
Tim McGraw - Real Good Man
Tim McGraw - Can't Really Be Gone
(talk/stopset, about 4 min)
Toby Keith - How You Like Me Now
Sara Evans - A Little Bit Stronger
(talk/stopset to the top of the hour, about 8 min)

That's a pretty even matchup. Maybe the difference is what's between the records.