KMPS is now 94.1 The Sound

[LITTLEBOYBLUE]

Because audio is coming from an entirely different source and RDS is not in chain.

St. Louis via ISDN.

 

[Kelly A]

So when a "format" shifts from one place to another ... I shrug. I also am a little upset as I was part of the country KAYO (Seattle AM not South Sound) legacy and watched that station get kicked by KMPS-AM and later the FM.

I remember those days. I was on the phone working at station G, while a friend/colleague was working at KAYO. It was a Sunday morning I recall, and the jock at KAYO was waiting for the religious programming to end before going back to music. As I remember, my friend at KAYO started loudly shouting his displeasure of how long the preacher was rambling before wrapping up the program. Come to find out, the crappy home made audio board (literally) at KAYO, allowed the mic to leak on the air if you shout into it loud enough. (who knew) And the phones following my friend's rant at KAYO went wild! Lot's of upset Lutheran's.

As for the soft AC thing ... probably fills a minor hole; though one has to wonder HOW MANY pop-based signals does a large/major market need? But we can hear dentists all over Puget Sound semi-enthusiastically clapping (assuming they haven't already shifted to Pandora or Soft AC on Sirius).

Did you guys ever stop to consider that maybe KMPS is stunting? Just a thought..

 

[Gregg.]

10,000 songs in a row, commercial free. No DJs or any live voice so far, just liners stressing "Relaxing Favorites at Work."

KMPS Playlist for 12/4/17 -- 4pm

Kenny Rogers/Dolly Parton--Islands in The Stream
Rupert Holmes--The Pina Colada Song
Mike + The Mechanics--All I Need Is A Miracle
Lonestar--Amazed
Lionel Richie--Say You, Say Me
Andy Gibb--I Just Want to Be Your Everything
Michael Jackson--Human Nature
Eric Clapton--Tears in Heaven
Madonna--Borderline
Christopher Cross--Arthur's Theme
Mike Reno/Ann Wilson--Almost Paradise
Maroon 5--She Will Be Loved
Mr. Mister--Broken Wings
Hall & Oates--She's Gone

 

[TheBigA]

Did you guys ever stop to consider that maybe KMPS is stunting? Just a thought..

Maybe, it's kind of low risk in December. They kind of killed any thought of returning to country by opening the door to a new station.

And truthfully, it's not completely out of the question that iHeart might still go country.

 

[seatownmedia]

The more I think about this, the more I am questioning "Soft Rock" as the eventual format on 94.1. Stunting? Perhaps. But what are the other options? I really don't have any strong sense of that answer.

Another thought would be they are trying to create havoc to shake up the traditional Christmas spike among certain stations. (though I wonder how soft AC would do that...)

My best guess is they are toying with the market right now, and the dust will settle in January. FM talk? FM sports? Just throwing it out there...

 

[CTListener]

10,000 songs in a row, commercial free. No DJs or any live voice so far, just liners stressing "Relaxing Favorites at Work."

KMPS Playlist for 12/4/17 -- 4pm

Kenny Rogers/Dolly Parton--Islands in The Stream
Rupert Holmes--The Pina Colada Song
Mike + The Mechanics--All I Need Is A Miracle
Lonestar--Amazed
Lionel Richie--Say You, Say Me
Andy Gibb--I Just Want to Be Your Everything
Michael Jackson--Human Nature
Eric Clapton--Tears in Heaven
Madonna--Borderline
Christopher Cross--Arthur's Theme
Mike Reno/Ann Wilson--Almost Paradise
Maroon 5--She Will Be Loved
Mr. Mister--Broken Wings
Hall & Oates--She's Gone

It's 2000 all over again!

 

[TheBigA]

My best guess is they are toying with the market right now, and the dust will settle in January. FM talk? Just throwing it out there...

Hey if we're throwing crazy ideas around, maybe back to country, and flip The Wolf to FM talk. Who knows?

 

[LITTLEBOYBLUE]

I remember those days. I was on the phone working at station G, while a friend/colleague was working at KAYO. It was a Sunday morning I recall, and the jock at KAYO was waiting for the religious programming to end before going back to music. As I remember, my friend at KAYO started loudly shouting his displeasure of how long the preacher was rambling before wrapping up the program. Come to find out, the crappy home made audio board (literally) at KAYO, allowed the mic to leak on the air if you shout into it loud enough. (who knew) And the phones following my friend's rant at KAYO went wild! Lot's of upset Lutheran's.

I feel VERY bad for "your friend". You may, however, take some comfort in knowing "your friend" was less traumatized by that event as time wore on --- and even at the time he was busy on the phones telling callers we get a lot of interference from truckers who had CB radios down in that neck of the woods.

Still one of my fav-- I mean "your friend"'s favorite moments in a "hellhole" shift of radio!!!!

(What had "your friend" pissed off was it was a net feed to join after preacherville .... and with about 90 seconds left the preacher was just STARTING to feel his rhythm and really get cranking on his sermon.....)

 

[seatownmedia]

10,000 songs in a row, commercial free. No DJs or any live voice so far, just liners stressing "Relaxing Favorites at Work."

KMPS Playlist for 12/4/17 -- 4pm

Kenny Rogers/Dolly Parton--Islands in The Stream
Rupert Holmes--The Pina Colada Song
Mike + The Mechanics--All I Need Is A Miracle
Lonestar--Amazed
Lionel Richie--Say You, Say Me
Andy Gibb--I Just Want to Be Your Everything
Michael Jackson--Human Nature
Eric Clapton--Tears in Heaven
Madonna--Borderline
Christopher Cross--Arthur's Theme
Mike Reno/Ann Wilson--Almost Paradise
Maroon 5--She Will Be Loved
Mr. Mister--Broken Wings
Hall & Oates--She's Gone

That hour doesn't look anything like what I would call relevant in December 2017. This is why I'm not sure I believe this is the eventual format for 94.1. I could be wrong, as I often am! If this is the actual format, then look for it lasting less than one year.

 

[KXA]

This doesn't really seem like a stunt simply because of the effort and because Entercom has chosen to change the call sign to KSWD. If Entercom were going to return to country on 94.1 MHz, why bother to change the call sign?

I honestly don't think this was a smart move. KMPS could've stayed the course and evolved to a 25-54, while KKWF could've gone after the 18-35 demo. Entercom let a competitor in the back door (and if any station was to consider country, KRVQ would've been it, being that the can't get any traction since there days being KWJZ).

As to iHM going country on one of their recent acquisitions, 96.5 probably would've been it as 96-5 The Bull. (iHM is full of bull anyway...)

 

[Kent]

KMPS reportedly outbilled KKWF by a very big margin. This strikes me as an incredibly stupid move. There is no reason both stations couldn't have been retained - just as Cumulus has done in Dallas with KSCS and KPLX for several years now.

I had heard the same thing. This move makes absolutely zero sense to me. Entercom does nothing haphazardly, but blowing up KMPS seems totally boneheaded. I also can’t figure out why Entercom would’ve given up so much to keep KMPS when it likely would’ve been able to keep KZOK instead.

 

[CTListener]

This doesn't really seem like a stunt simply because of the effort and because Entercom has chosen to change the call sign to KSWD. If Entercom were going to return to country on 94.1 MHz, why bother to change the call sign?

iHeart changed WFNX to WHBA for a few months, then WEDX (electronic dance) for a few more, before finally unveiling the "real" format.

 

[TheBigA]

This doesn't really seem like a stunt simply because of the effort and because Entercom has chosen to change the call sign to KSWD.

Interesting...those call letters were on their classic rock station in LA...the one they just sold to EMF. I wonder if they plan to move that format as well to this spot. Of course that would put it in competition with KZOK. Which iHeart might just flip to country.

 

[KXA]

I had heard the same thing. This move makes absolutely zero sense to me. Entercom does nothing haphazardly, but blowing up KMPS seems totally boneheaded. I also can’t figure out why Entercom would’ve given up so much to keep KMPS when it likely would’ve been able to keep KZOK instead.

It's called killing off the competition.

 

[KXA]

Interesting...those call letters were on their classic rock station in LA...the one they just sold to EMF. I wonder if they plan to move that format as well to this spot. Of course that would put it in competition with KZOK. Which iHeart might just flip to country.

Yep...100.3 the Sound is KSWD Los Angeles. As to format, they may start out with classic soft rock and evolve later into a clone of KRWM...then again maybe not.

I don't think they'll blow up KZOK...iHM needs the money that KZOK generates.

 

[ksradiogeek]

I don't think they'll blow up KZOK...iHM needs the money that KZOK generates.

Agreed, it would be an absolute boneheaded move if KZOK gets killed off. If any changes occur, you're more likely to see some staff leaving. Jet, KZOK and Jack can co-exist in the same cluster.

 

[KXA]

Agreed, it would be an absolute boneheaded move if KZOK gets killed off. If any changes occur, you're more likely to see some staff leaving. Jet, KZOK and Jack can co-exist in the same cluster.

Yep...the KZOK staff better polish up those resumes...pronto!

 

[seatownmedia]

It isn't so much about "staff" anymore, outside of morning drive. Radio has become all about imaging, perception, and music. (Oh, wait, it has been that way for decades). But my point is, with a few exceptions, the brand is more important than any "staff". Like it or not, this is radio as we quickly approach 2018. Hiring big personalities outside of AM Drive is over for the most part.

 

[swhyde1980]

KMPS sounds like a revival of the Soft AC format right now

 

[AQH]

KMPS sounds like a revival of the Soft AC format right now

That's the sound trying to be achieved.