KOOL DETRACTORS, FROM ABOUT A YEAR AGO....WHAT SAY YOU NOW??

[airpab]

Phoenix listeners, you're lucky to have one of the best sounding Classic Hits stations in the country!

Listen to many of the top-rated ones online.....KRTH, WCBS, Q-105, KONO, KLUV, WOGL, KOLA, The Walrus, etc....

Think you'll find KOOL has the best sound of them all ! Music, DJ's, flow, presentation...It's all there!

I think I can remember quite a few people on here saying KOOL was blowing it by transitioning to heavy 70's/80's??

Check the Ratings!

 

[asugeorge1]

Phoenix listeners, you're lucky to have one of the best sounding Classic Hits stations in the country!

Listen to many of the top-rated ones online.....KRTH, WCBS, Q-105, KONO, KLUV, WOGL, KOLA, The Walrus, etc....

Think you'll find KOOL has the best sound of them all ! Music, DJ's, flow, presentation...It's all there!

I think I can remember quite a few people on here saying KOOL was blowing it by transitioning to heavy 70's/80's??

Check the Ratings!

Actually, I would have to say KRTH is the better one of the bunch. KOOL is way too 70's and 80's orientated. Also, KRTH hasn't fired most of their on-air talent like KOOL has and they at least try to play some oldies every now and then. I think KOOL could learn a lot from their sister station KRTH and become a better radio station. For example, why not add something like KRTH's Tuesday night feature where they play all 50's and 60's oldies all night long. That would be refreshing to hear, even if it was one night a week!

Also, fyi, Mix 96.9 is the #1 radio station. It's got to be all that 80's music!

 

[no dead air]

Pre Mark/Kris, when Tim Maranville had the reins, KOOL was #1 12+, 25-54 and 35-64. And billed a whole lot more than it does now. With a complete live airstaff 24/7.
'Nuff said.

 

[davideduardo]

Pre Mark/Kris, when Tim Maranville had the reins, KOOL was #1 12+, 25-54 and 35-64. And billed a whole lot more than it does now. With a complete live airstaff 24/7.
'Nuff said.

'07 was reportedly the best year in the station's history.

Market Billings fell 15% from '07 to '08, and the projection is that '09 will be nearly 30% below the peak '07 level.

Making ratings comparisons between now and the distant past involves comparing two different ratings methodologies, and is a bad idea. Besides that inconvenience, "oldies" as previously done on KOOL was ageing every year, and what has been done lately has pushed the clock back another decade vs. the old KOOL 60's centered programming.

In any case, 35-64 is not a sale demo... it does not matter who wins it if the strength is in 55+.

 

[landtuna]

KOOL used to be the only station (AM or FM) I listened to. Was that way for over 20 years. I now listen to KOOL in the car only and only when KSLX is on stopset or playing something I don't like. You could measure KOOL in minutes per month and not need more than an hour's worth.

As far as KOOL-like stations in the used-to-be category my favorite is KODS 103.7 "The River" in NV. Unfortunately it doesn't stream and the signal doesn't make it to my back yard so my only "fav" pre-select is now 100.7.

 

[airpab]

Lest we all forget....Just a few years ago, before making the transition to a more 70/80's approach, KOOL was starting a downward ratings trend!

asugeorge1- Agree that K-Earth is slightly slicker sounding, but overall, I think KOOL plays better music...Steve Goddard adds a great sound to the station too...He's a big-city sounding DJ and could easily be plucked by K-Earth or WCBS...So enjoy while you can!

And KOOL does throw in a lot of the better 60's/Late 60's stuff, especially in daypart, but agree that a 50's/60's show would be a kool addition!

KOOL Programmer....If you're reading this, keep up the good work....You'll be Number 1 or 2 soon!

 

[KMGX]

A couple of issues to point out here:

Market Billings fell 15% from '07 to '08, and the projection is that '09 will be nearly 30% below the peak '07 level

While this is true, there are some confounding variables to consider here; most of which revolve around the utter disaster of most stocks/companies value during the last 12 to 15 months. It is rather hard to bring in revenue when your clients just can't justify the expenses they once did.

Lest we all forget....Just a few years ago, before making the transition to a more 70/80's approach, KOOL was starting a downward ratings trend!

Not quite. KOOL was owned by some incompetent folks for awhile. They had the #1 station in the market and then some geniuses (AM/FM) decided to start playing 70s/early 80s into the mix and the ratings took a massive hit... people wanted their 60s and don't even dare go further than that! KOOL is now fighting, in part, against two other stations who have a foothold or are dominant here, KMXP (Mix 96.9) and KXPK (98.7 The Peak), now, the Peak plays select 70s and a lot of 80s tunes, Mix is down to token 80s tracks once/twice an hour at best... still, KOOL just can't really compete there. They should stick to where their bread is buttered and that is 60s... that's what people want, period.

 

[davideduardo]

A KOOL is now fighting, in part, against two other stations who have a foothold or are dominant here, KMXP (Mix 96.9) and KXPK (98.7 The Peak), now, the Peak plays select 70s and a lot of 80s tunes, Mix is down to token 80s tracks once/twice an hour at best... still, KOOL just can't really compete there. They should stick to where their bread is buttered and that is 60s... that's what people want, period.

60's produces 55+ audience. Unsalable, even in Sun City and Seizure World. That's why, well done or not, KOOL had to make a move in the past. Considering that KOOL is reported to be hovering around 2nd, 25-54, the move was smart. Mix wins, but the Peak is about 8 positions lower... and KOOL owns a position which makes ongoing promotion easier and more effective.

 

[airpab]

Well said DE !!

 

[Radio Pro]

Mr. Gleason is right on the mark. Playing 60's today is a recipe for failure. You would be super serving a high demo.
We all kind of live, radio wise, in our area of musical influence. But we have to move on. So must KOOL and stations of their ilk.

 

[oldiesfan6479]

Yes, it's another "That 70s Weekend." (Well it's either that or the
classic rock ripoff "Block Party Weekend.")

This morning around 11:50, I heard this NFVG drop during a stopset
(copy paraphrased):

"94.5 KOOL-FM gets into the Christmas spirit. Listen Monday at noon."

Maybe...just maybe...this is something to throw KESZ off (a red herring
to make them pull the trigger early) and is otherwise meaningless.

If we're lucky, it's "let's toss in a holiday song once an hour, then
spool it up to no more than four an hour by Dec. 23." And if KOOL
goes wall-to-wall Christmas music on Dec. 24/25, that's OK by me.

If it's KOOL repeating its "#16 25-54 fall book" mistake from last year,
all I can say is...PD Kris is nuts. I probably won't be back as a listener
after the "KOOL Kristmas" travesty ends.

And to think I used to like Wonderful Christmastime. :

 

[davideduardo]

"94.5 KOOL-FM gets into the Christmas spirit. Listen Monday at noon."

Or, it could, just maybe, be a contest! At this time of the year, and with all the people unemployed or worried, it's a great opportunity for a station to use contesting to be more to the listener than just a radio station... a well done seasonal contest can make a station seem to be helping the community through its spirit and the opportunity to win something. It's the season, this year 2009, to give a little bit of hope.

If I write any more, it's going to sound like a script proposal for "The Waltons" or "Touched by an Angel."

 

[landtuna]

BAH! HUMBUG!

el Grincho

 

[OneHumporTwo]

They're giving away a Christmas trip to Disney. Probably that.

"94.5 KOOL-FM gets into the Christmas spirit. Listen Monday at noon."

Or, it could, just maybe, be a contest! At this time of the year, and with all the people unemployed or worried, it's a great opportunity for a station to use contesting to be more to the listener than just a radio station... a well done seasonal contest can make a station seem to be helping the community through its spirit and the opportunity to win something. It's the season, this year 2009, to give a little bit of hope.

If I write any more, it's going to sound like a script proposal for "The Waltons" or "Touched by an Angel."

 

[oldiesfan6479]

They're giving away a Christmas trip to Disney. Probably that.

So far, just a red herring.

Three Christmas songs were played, followed by a (staged?) phone call
of someone (PD Kris?) complaining that they were doing this too early.
Tom & Maria "reacted" by returning to the regular format, followed, with
no handoff, by (voicetracked) Stevemeister starting cold.

There was then a contest promo about trips to Disneyland in conjunction
with Peaker's 30th anniversary at KOOL, but as "One Hump" (Frank Kalil?)
mentioned, it was already a known promotion which I think I also heard
previously.

Meanwhile, KESZ reisted the "EZ" bait and is still running normal format
("Bev and Phil in the morning, and voicetracking all day" ;D), however I
just heard a promo on 99.9 about Christmas music coming, but not yet.

 

[landtuna]

There was then a contest promo about trips to Disneyland in conjunction
with Peaker's 30th anniversary at KOOL, but as "One Hump" (Frank Kalil?)
mentioned, it was already a known promotion which I think I also heard
previously.

Taking the thread slightly off course....I would love to get my hands on Kalil's KTKT intro from the late 50's ("across the shifting sands....etc").

 

[KOOL Listener Lauren]

....WHAT SAY YOU NOW??

What say I now? (Though I wouldn't call myself a "detractor," because I've loved KOOL for years)

I don't agree with you completely, airpab. I wouldn't say they are "the best" today, or even a year ago. Much of the factors that you speak of, such as DJs and presentation have been stripped away for the most part. "The best?" I wouldn't say so, sorry. But ask me anytime between 2004-2007 and my answer would have been different.

I will say this, though. Something has been up since Sunday night after Tom Kent's show. I've noticed the playlist has really improved. It's seemed like the same damn thing day after day, for too long-- even down to the daypart.

KOOL's music is sounding great! The playlist consisting of 60s, 70s, and 80s seems to NOW be mixed exceptionally well. Kudos!

 

[airpab]

Lauren-

Ultimately, in a music intensive format, it's the music that makes the difference.

They had to adjust the music mix for the rapidly changing demo's and I'm with ya, KOOL has done it very well !!

It's paying off and will continue to pay-off in the ratings game!

 

[oldiesfan6479]

To add to the comments from KLL and airpab...

In some limited listens over the past 3+ days--more or less checking
to see if it was a KOOL Kristmas yet (fortunately it's not)--I've noted
a heavier dose of '60s songs back in the mix.

Previously it seemed as if it was a "That '70s Weekend" to a large extent
every day.

Just heard the Four Tops (and I don't mean one of their tunes on Dunhill).

As the Old Gringo would say, this would seem to go against the attempt
to keep KOOL "25-54 friendly," so I don't know what the deal is. ???

 

[KOOL Listener Lauren]

Three Christmas songs were played, followed by a (staged?) phone call
of someone (PD Kris?) complaining that they were doing this too early...

I heard it, but sorry, I had my car windows down and couldn't tell who's voice it was.

Staged phone call? No doubt.

My singing along with the three Christmas songs? Not staged.