KOOL Evenings

[KOOL Listener Lauren]

"TK, TK, TK...", or something along those lines is what I heard at 8 pm this evening on KOOL. Tom Kent is doing evenings now, or I assume this is not a one time thing. But is he, really?

'Course not!

In place of a live (okay, so that seems like a joke anymore), local, human being is a show in syndication with a guy based out of Cleveland.

Don't get me wrong- he's kind of entertaining, he's got a boss jock style, there aren't too many songs that don't belong on KOOL (yet)- but does KOOL really have to fall victim to weekday syndication?

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I still think of KOOL as one of the top stations in the country, past and present. It's got great history! Lots of great personalities came and went, or are currently still on.

Unfortunately, you would have to question how much longer that can be feasible when you get syndication seven days a week, and voicetracking like it's become some contagious disease (as of late).

I think Jerry Del Colliano hits the nail in the head, by the way, when it comes to syndication. And many other things, but that's another topic for another day...

It's pretty much a tough job to replace the fun and entertaining Lee Bortel in the evenings... But, couldn't it have been attempted, locally, by some talented personalities? Mike Patrick (like he did earlier this year and did a wonderful job) or Katfish Kris? I would have loved for one of them to be the replacement. I used the word "attempted" because I know they would have done a great job!

James Rivas is a different story. The style does not fit. He is extremely redundant starting and ending everything he says in a stopset, etc., by saying "94.5 KOOL FM", and it sounds like he could certainly prep some more. If he at least works on ending the redundancy, I guess he'd be okay for weekends. Maybe it takes a mention on Radio-Info for something to happen. It has before... and worked!

With KOOL's wonderful history, and how great it was years back AND not so long ago (and still CAN be), can these cheap and easy methods fly with the listeners, who would know (directly or indirectly from experience) what was once so much better?

 

[The Beave]

Lauren,

Our oldies sister station does the same thing.. 1 live daypart.. the rest are VT or syndicated. (unless the show don't come down)

 

[KOOL Listener Lauren]

Lauren,

Our oldies sister station does the same thing.. 1 live daypart.. the rest are VT or syndicated. (unless the show don't come down)

Hi Beave,

I don't doubt it, because you're in a smaller market and I'm sure the broadcasting company is smaller, too. Those two things matter, I would think.

Hope all is well over there!

 

[davideduardo]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I still think of KOOL as one of the top stations in the country, past and present. It's got great history! Lots of great personalities came and went, or are currently still on.

Unfortunately, you would have to question how much longer that can be feasible when you get syndication seven days a week, and voicetracking like it's become some contagious disease (as of late).

Why is syndication (and networking) bad in radio and good in TV?

If a show is good, why not put it on many stations? Look at how successful in nearly every market shows like Delilah have been, and they save stations money in dayparts that attract very little revenue, like 7-Mid.

 

[DrAkbar]

If a show is good, why not put it on many stations? Look at how successful in nearly every market shows like Delilah have been, and they save stations money in dayparts that attract very little revenue, like 7-Mid.

Delilah??? Could someone please drop ship a case of barf bags to the Buckeye Media Hut...quick!

 

[oldiesfan6479]

Last night and tonight, I heard a song from '67 and one from '81
on Tom Kent's show.

KOOL has been doing '70s weekends almost exclusively going back
to their Splish Splash event in late July, which they kick off on
Friday afternoons. (At 3:00?)

How will Kent's show work with the weekend theme? Does he do
a '70s-only version that KOOL can air on Friday evenings, or will
they just take a slight detour from the theme as may occur with
some other weekend syndication?

 

[KOOL Listener Lauren]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I still think of KOOL as one of the top stations in the country, past and present. It's got great history! Lots of great personalities came and went, or are currently still on.

Unfortunately, you would have to question how much longer that can be feasible when you get syndication seven days a week, and voicetracking like it's become some contagious disease (as of late).

Why is syndication (and networking) bad in radio and good in TV?

If a show is good, why not put it on many stations? Look at how successful in nearly every market shows like Delilah have been, and they save stations money in dayparts that attract very little revenue, like 7-Mid.

Hi David,

Yes, syndication is normally bad in radio, and fine in TV. At least, it doesn't matter as much in TV. Why should radio and TV be thought of as the same? Both are a part of media, but they're two separate entities and I wouldn't hold them to the same standards.

Delilah is a good example. I know her syndicated show is pretty successful, but can you think of any other shows similar? It's so successful because it's very unique... sappy... but unique. And in the right format, it works! Let's face it, if the show was local, it would probably be hard to air all those best of the best lovey-dovey phone calls and dedications.

I think most syndication on radio is bad. It's consolidation. It's nonsense, especially on a station that is better than that and has equal or better talent broadcasting for us Phoenicians. Keep syndication for the weekends, on a station like KOOL.

 

[Darknight]

I completely agree with you Lauren. Syndication on a station like KOOL during the week is sign of just how bad things must have gotten over there. (very different from how things appeared to me at Summer Splash) You've got 2 time slots voice tracked during the week (Lee's and Drew's) and then they throw a syndicated show in the mix too! Who do they think they are ... Clear Channel? They should have had one of the people they canned do that shift. Rob Olson was a DJ at one time and I remember Mojo was an oldies DJ years ago too!

 

[OHIODEAL]

I still think that"The John Tesh Radio Show"is the king of syndication/VT for all dayparts in all markets.Heck,he has more coverage than Delilah.Plus,his show is smarter than hers!

 

[DrAkbar]

I still think that"The John Tesh Radio Show"is the king of syndication/VT for all dayparts in all markets.Heck,he has more coverage than Delilah.Plus,his show is smarter than hers!

Plus he's married to Connie Sellecca! Hmmmmm....is Yawn-ee available for KOOL v/t?

 

[oldiesfan6479]

R&R Street Talk today notes that Tom Kent picks up nights at
KOOL but also claims he "will now be heard seven days a week."

I'm sure I've still been hearing promos for Greg Burns' Saturday
night pool party (Real pool? Fake pool? You decide! ;D)--
so where will Tom Kent appear on weekends?

If PD Kris is going to put Kent's canned show into Saturday or
Sunday middays or afternoons, he's nuts! Last time I checked,
KOOL was still running syndication on Saturday mornings.

You really can't tell the players without a scorecard on KOOL,
and the scorecard (their website) sucks. Overlapping jock air
times, no complete seven-day on-air schedule, just to name
a couple of things.

Notice Kris is playing around with the weekday jock shifts again--
what's the deal with Goddard doing a six-hour midday show?
Is part of it VTed? And Jack till 8pm? 6 was too early to end PM
drive, 7 would be proper (especially re the R.B. Tron daypart), but
if you're going to run canned syndication in the evenings, I guess
it's better to have a live voice until 8 instead of 7.

 

[Jeremy Oliver]

Tom Kent works for free when you run his commercials. Simple as that, folks. CBS is saving one full-time salary....a free show with built-in commercials. KOOL is a Phoenix institution and one of the greatest oldies stations in the country. Why is this Phoenix Radio Landmark broadcasting some guy from back east??? The mighty KOOL-FM should be the one originating the programming, not running the same syndicated show they're listening to in Council Bluffs Iowa, Crab Hollar Tennessee, and BFE.

 

[FeeKnixRadio]

1. forget the fact the show is syndicated

2. realize that we hardcore radio people are they only ones that differentiate between 'live & local' and 'something else' because listeners aka 'real people' simply like good radio

4. listen like listener and objectively accept it is an upgrade and Kent is a good jock

The above may hurt. It is not the end of the world. Or the end of KOOL.

Just my two cents worth.

 

[oldiesfan6479]

Maybe this thread should be retitled "what's wrong with KOOL
in general"...

I just heard a promo for the second time this morning which
included the line (cue NFVG) "to celebrate that KOOL will go
all Christmas this holiday season..."

OK, it may be a red herring, a gotcha, a holiday-themed contest
or similar, but if it means nothing but Christmas music on KOOL
from Thanksgiving to New Year's, then PD Kris--or someone higher
up the (C)BS food chain--is really nuts.

I wouldn't have much grief if they did it December 23-26, but
leave the full-bore holiday flip to KESZ!

Coming up: is Jack VTed from 7-8?

 

[RickSklar77]

1. forget the fact the show is syndicated

2. realize that we hardcore radio people are they only ones that differentiate between 'live & local' and 'something else' because listeners aka 'real people' simply like good radio

4. listen like listener and objectively accept it is an upgrade and Kent is a good jock

The above may hurt. It is not the end of the world. Or the end of KOOL.

Just my two cents worth.

VERY well said. We are so close to this that we can't see what we need to really see! When I listen to KOOL, I'm much more bothered by a song I don't like than I am by the length of a guys airshift, or what his home area code is.

For the love of Randy Michaels, just entertain me!

David Eduardo also has it right: The point of origin is meaningless.

 

[landtuna]

The point of origin is meaningless.

I disagree.

In the radio "old days", especially the Top-40 variety, provided a constant link between its listeners (mostly teens and young adults). It was the source of most of the news that brought the teen culture together. It was local because it had to be.

There are many other ways now days for those same listeners to connect and most of them far more efficient than old-time radio. But for some of us (notably KOOL listeners) the importance of a local show is one of the more important attributes - if nothing else because that's the way it always was. A syndicated or VT'd show probably wouldn't make a hill of beans to someone listening to one of the other formats but it does make a difference in KOOL's.

I know many board members join the radio industry in general in ignoring older listeners and DE will probably correctly defend his position that oldsters are not a modern radio market so it doesn't matter who or where the DJ is. But to some of us, it most certainly does.

None of this is meant to demean Tom Kent or his show. I have listened and he reminds me, in a good way, of the days of AM Top-40 radio. But it isn't local and in that respect will never develop the fan base that a local show would. Of course, listeners now days probably aren't out cruising like in the old days so there may be many fewer ears tuned in anyway. And, in that respect, it's just about the money (or, more specifically, cost-cutting).

 

[davideduardo]

But for some of us (notably KOOL listeners) the importance of a local show is one of the more important attributes - if nothing else because that's the way it always was. A syndicated or VT'd show probably wouldn't make a hill of beans to someone listening to one of the other formats but it does make a difference in KOOL's.

Why would KOOL listeners be any different than KDKB listeners? Or, for that matter, KHOT listeners?

I guess the importance of being local is why nobody outside Philly watched American Bandstand.

About as many 45-64's listen to Rush than KOOL in mid-days. Is Rush local?

And, in that respect, it's just about the money (or, more specifically, cost-cutting).

Evenings is not a revenue producing daypart. Probably the station felt they could get a better show via syndication than they could get doing live and local.

As to cost cutting, everyone from Starbucks to Motorola is doing it. We are in a recession, unemployment is over 6% and advertisers are cutting back. I think KOOL did the right thing by looking for a quality show rather than just voicetracking from another CBS station...

 

[ykw]

Maybe this thread should be retitled "what's wrong with KOOL
in general"...

I just heard a promo for the second time this morning which
included the line (cue NFVG) "to celebrate that KOOL will go
all Christmas this holiday season..."

OK, it may be a red herring, a gotcha, a holiday-themed contest
or similar, but if it means nothing but Christmas music on KOOL
from Thanksgiving to New Year's, then PD Kris--or someone higher
up the (C)BS food chain--is really nuts.

I wouldn't have much grief if they did it December 23-26, but
leave the full-bore holiday flip to KESZ!

Why should CC have the holiday music gig -- excuse me, the NUMBER 1 RATED holiday music gig -- all to itself? As much as a lotta folks can't stand the genre (or would at least prefer it ghettoized to a few days right around the holiday proper), it does rule the Q4 numbers in the Valley.

If CBS via KOOL can tap into just a portion of that kinda ratings success, whether by knocking Beth & Bill's Xmas Party down a couple of points or by expanding the audience for holiday music by reaching back into the vast hordes of rock-n-roll Christmas oldies that KESZ's soft-hits-based Xmas format eschews, can't imagine why they WOULDN'T wanna do it.

 

[davideduardo]

Why should CC have the holiday music gig -- excuse me, the NUMBER 1 RATED holiday music gig -- all to itself? As much as a lotta folks can't stand the genre (or would at least prefer it ghettoized to a few days right around the holiday proper), it does rule the Q4 numbers in the Valley.

With the upcoming season being the last diary Chreistmas, I'm sure anyone interested is considering that Holiday music will affect, really only the last two weeks of December and the first two weeks of Holiday, and since there is no rolling average, neither November nor January would have any effect. Agencies will now be able to clearly see the affected weeks, and make intelligent and selective buying decisions where three months are not influenced by about 20 days.

 

[landtuna]

Why would KOOL listeners be any different than KDKB listeners? Or, for that matter, KHOT listeners?

I am assuming KOOL's demo's are older, maybe significantly, than KHOT or KDKB and don't necessarily subscribe to the alternative communication links of the younger generations (cell, text, 'net etc.). My kids' generation for instance did not communicate through the radio as my generation did and subsequent generations even less than that.

I guess the importance of being local is why nobody outside Philly watched American Bandstand.

As previous posters have already noticed.....radio and TV are completely different when it comes to local vs national programming. Local TV entertainment is universally seen as less attractive than comparable national entertainment programming. Music radio is almost the complete opposite even though there are and have been exceptions such as national shows like AT-40. Judging from my own five children and their many friends DJ's today do not have anywhere near the same "connectivity" as the DJ's of old. This "connectivity" is what made local radio important over national shows.

About as many 45-64's listen to Rush than KOOL in mid-days. Is Rush local?

Thankfully, no. If I didn't say so before I am speaking about music radio not talk/hate radio (which has entirely different attributes).

Evenings is not a revenue producing daypart. Probably the station felt they could get a better show via syndication than they could get doing live and local.

Apparently it was not always like that because I remember, admittedly in the days before "drive time", late afternoon and evening shows were the important part of an AM Top-40 portfolio. That's when the young generation got out of school and tuned in. Admittedly, there are more distractions to the younger set these days and maybe that's why evenings are less important.

As to cost cutting, everyone from Starbucks to Motorola is doing it. We are in a recession, unemployment is over 6% and advertisers are cutting back. I think KOOL did the right thing by looking for a quality show rather than just voicetracking from another CBS station...

And I agree with you that TK does seem to be a quality show, no problem with that. I am just lamenting the loss of what we used to have. It seems another departure from what once was exciting radio and something we'll never get back.