KMVA Movin 97.5 .. .........

[Wildstyle K]

ALTERNATIVE HITS WITH AN ALTERNATIVE LEAN;
Ok, Strange things going on this morning.... I don't even know where to begin here...

Boys like girls
Santana
The Fray
Kings of Leon
P!NK
Daughtry
All American Rejects
Miley Cyrus
Owl City
Jason Mraz
Kris Allen
Taylor Swift
Colbie Caillat
Train
Katy Perry

Recently, for the past month or two, I've been loving the new Movin 97.5 (and their attack imaging ads against Mix 96.9). Normally, I wouldn't be too keen on a station of this type of format playing alternative rock styled hits, but I must say as odd as the station has been sounding this morning between 4:30 and 6:30 am, I'm still rather enjoying it. However, something very odd seemed to be happening there for a moment when almost every other song was either a back in the day or new school alternative hit. I did notice more alternative sneaking it's way into the playlist over the past few weeks and months (see list above), but what happened this morning was quite unusual to me. Not only did they seem a bit more alternative leaning that usual, they've even had two alternative leaning hits playing back to back at times.. which only leads me to one question:

Why?
What's going on?
Which direction is this station REALLY headed?

Ok, that may be more than one question, but still... I am kind of wondering what's happening here because the playlist is becoming a bit odd. yes, I like hearing Seduction from back in the day, with other hits from Janet Jackson, Colbie Caillat, New Edition, Kings of Leon, Expose, Lady GaGa, Bell Biv Devoe all mixed up from time to time, but you've got to admit that hearing something play out very similar to the way I've arranged those artists is very odd. I just checked and saw that while KZZP themselves do play alternative hits, they are still pushing mostly towards their rhythmic lean and keeping their alternative hits separated for the most part, so it only makes me wonder even more why did this happen on Movin this morning?

For about an hour or two they didn't have room for certain hits from Lady Gaga, Jason Derulo, Britney, Black Eyed Peas, KE$HA, Rihanna, Jamie Fox... because of all the alternative action (mixed with an unusual amount of 90's old school hits and Arizona Bridal Show commercials) that was going on. I literally had to sit back and take note on how long I had to wait for Jay Sean's "Down" to play!! I wonder what happened there this morning?

And lastly, as much as I've been enjoying the station, I do find it odd to hear certain slow jams and old school r&b hits with today's Kings of Leon and Miley Cyrus, and in addition to that, it's also odd to hear old school and new school of everything EXCEPT alternative. You get old school and new school hits in the pop, r&b, hip hop, mainstream dance categories, however when it comes to the alternative/rock, it's only the new hits. Unlike with KZZP, none of those alternative hits are normally played during the Saturday Night mix show. KZZP DJ's do sprinkle in some alternative hits with their pop and dance hits more often that KMVA does.

They've seemed to have pretty much gone back to "normal" now, by the way.

 

[CHRles]

KDM, you might want to replace the word Alternative with the words Pop/Rock, or simply Pop.
On what planet would Miley Cyrus be considered Alternative music? or Taylor Swift? Boys Like Girls? Pink? Colbie Cailat? Katy Perry? These are pure Pop acts (Taylor also being a core Country star). Daughtry and Kris Allen broke out of American Idol, and their type of crossover Rock is mainly played on Top 40 and Hot AC stations.
Of the acts you listed only Kings of Leon are heavily supported on Modern Rock/Alternative radio, and to a lesser degree All American Rejects. The Fray and Train are big on Pop/Rock, and Modern AC stations.

Currently the biggest records on Alternative/Modern Rock radio include titles by Muse, 30 Second To Mars, Weezer, Phoenix, Rise Against, Breaking Benjamin, Cage The Elephant, Flyleaf, Pearl Jam, Death Cab For Cutie, The Crooked Vultures, Silversun Pickups, Green Day, and the Foo Fighters.

 

[Wildstyle K]

ALTERNATIVE HITS WITH AN ALTERNATIVE LEAN;

That's where I messed up. It should've been "Pop Rock with an Alternative lean". How funny it is that I was JUST thinking while uploading the latest version of firefox that someone might catch that and say something about it by the next time I log in, but many of those songs lean more alternative when compared to the rhythmic top 40 hits of today, so that's simply what I meant. They don't sound like the current 103.9 or even 96.9, but compared to what the typical sound of rhythmic top 40 and what they'd play on a normal basis, hearing many of those songs almost back to back mixed in with old school hip hop and slow jams for almost every other song (for about two hours) make certain hits from those artist sound rather alternative leaning. I've always thought of "alternative" as a lesser or lighter form of the "rock" sound.

The only thing that really makes it all sound odd is the selection of some of the old school hits added in and the arrangement of them amongst other songs, and the lack of old school pop/rock, while all the other sounds get acknowledged for both their current and back in the day time periods.

I guess they could easily add in Rob Thomas if they really wanted to.

 

[pbf1]

Why?
What's going on?
Which direction is this station REALLY headed?

Could be more of a Hot AC direction...if one looked at Mix's numbers, then Movin's, the reason would be quite apparent...

 

[Seltzer]

Looks Hot A/C to me as well.

 

[azenergyfan]

would actually be a pretty interesting Hot AC compared to Mix. Movin has much more personality than Mix does. They got Seacrest in middays, Bush at night and with the new Donny Osmond show starting soon in mid days I wonder if they will pick up that one too. Hell they might as well just pipe in Elvis Duran and the morning show for am drive ;-) I am a personality fan and no matter if it is local or piped in,, if they are engaging to listen too, I will listen.

 

[Gusto]

Looks Hot A/C to me as well.

Then what generation do they want then? The so called "back in the day" stuff is clearly for listeners in their 30's. But I guarentee that target is not fond of Miley Cyrus, Jason Mraz, Taylor Swift. I mean, if my math is right, then that age group is probably raising kids who listen to Radio Disney all day! Enough Bubble Gum already!

 

[Wildstyle K]

almost every other song was either a back in the day or new school alternative hit.

I should make a correction... it was back in the day hits,
OR...
new school pop/rock.

NOT alternative (Pop / rock) hits from both back in the day and today, but old school (hip hop, dance, pop) hits, amongst a lot of new school pop / rock.

 

[DJ_Perry]

I know this topic is old, but I couldn't help myself. Today around 3:05pm, Movin' 97.5 played "U2 - I Still haven't found what I'm looking for (1987)," followed by Ke$ha.

I don't think I need to say any more.

 

[azfmfan]

I've been thinking the same thing lately. This station is a mess, if you want to go after mix then re-launch with a different name and go after mix, otherwise stay true to your rhythmic format. I dont understand why they starting adding all this pop/rock product months ago. When PPM first came along they were top 5 in the 18-34 demo if I recall, and they were pretty much full blown rhythmic with the exception of a few artists like Pink, Miley etc. The more Hot AC they add the lower the ratings get.

 

[Wildstyle K]

I dont understand why they starting  adding all this pop/rock product  months ago.  When PPM first came along they were top 5 in the 18-34 demo if I recall, and they were pretty much full blown rhythmic with the exception of a few artists like Pink, Miley etc.  The more Hot AC they add the lower the ratings get.   

Despite the fact that I haven't said anything, this is PRECISELY what I was thinking! As a matter of fact, it's so precise that if we were just born and the only thing they used to distinguish the differences between babies was based purely on brain activity, the hospital would've thought we were identical twins!

Anyway, I'm not really complaining about their sound, but I do not understand what exactly they are trying to achieve at this point. The name "Movin" surely no longer sounds appropriate for them now, except for Saturday nights. Maybe they should go the alternative / pop rock lean top 40, or adult top 40 sound, with more pop added in. They could be Star 97.5, or maybe even keep Movin if they wish, since "Movin" does sound a bit "adultish" in some ways, but I wouldn't be too fond of keeping "Movin" if the pop rock content exceeds the amount of other sounds they deliver.

 

[azenergyfan]

They also have a heavy personality driven radio like billy busy and ryan seacrest. I wouldn't mind if they wanted to run it cheap to go with some other syndicated air talent that gives us a good balance of talk and music. I like catching up with matt and ramona at wlnk in charlotte and their show would fit nicely as well as the coooper lawerence night show.

 

[Gusto]

They have a 1.6 (surprisingly). It's only going to decline with the lack of consistency. The syndicated shows are deadweight. The station has nothing to offer. One minute they are the Peak, the next minute Kiss, then Mix969, then Mega. Its beyond bad radio. And the signal is just about as bad as Power 983.

 

[azenergyfan]

If the kept the music mix with a modern ac lean and went heavy personality, it would really not be the peak or mix.

Bob and Sherri mornings
Ryan Seacrest middays
Matt and Ramona pm drive
Billy Bush nights
Cooper Lawerence late nights
Dawson Mcallister overnights

 

[Gusto]

the current personalities are already bad enough. why would u suggest more? and they do infact share songs with the peak and mix. We have enough AC watered down stations.

 

[azenergyfan]

Well we will agree to disagree. I perfer to turn on the radio and hear personality and not the same ol same ol songs. Radio for the most part these days is bland because they have taken the personality out of radio and just giving us music music music. I like to use radio for personality because there are other outlets for music. If they played 3-4 songs an hour and the rest talk.. then that wouldn't be the same as peak or mix.

 

[catfish]

well azenergyfan, you are correct.. The way you can make a difference is to call and talk to the GM and tell him you like it live, not canned.. we can make a difference but we have to speak up in a constructive way. Not all can afford big staffs.. Buy HD radios listen and call in, give your opinion..

 

[IreneCaraFan]

It's interest, but for me I would say The Peak has the most personality of stations of these type. Maybe not "in your face" personality, but their jocks do a nice job in their breaks. I mostly feel entertained listening to them. I'm not sure I can say the same for Clear Channel stations... but why such the difference?

 

[Gusto]

well azenergyfan, you are correct.. The way you can make a difference is to call and talk to the GM and tell him you like it live, not canned..

All of his suggestions are canned

 

[Gusto]

I'm not sure I can say the same for Clear Channel stations... but why such the difference?

Because clear channel is all voice tracked and they encourage their jocks to talk as little as possible