KOOL-FM losing it?

[The Beave]

No wonder Satellite radio is taking over!

Considering that satellite is nearly 9 years old, and the two companies lost $400 million in the first 3 months of this year, satellite is nearly as bad off as home builders. Subscriptions have nearly stagnated, and the turndown in the economy is going to be very hard on churn rates, as well as producing a slowdown of significance in new car installs.

But that attitude of "the truth be damned" reflects on your other statements.

Suffice it to say that what folks with a couple of drinks in 'em at a party do not pick the same music they want to hear on the radio. That is why stations don't test music at parties. The listners, not some "suits" pick the music.

David,

Yes, in an ideal world.

In all reality some (sorry doc) consultants and PD's who believe they have the pulse on the market, for all good intentions have been missing the mark lately. Especially in Alternative.

 

[airpab]

Actually.....I think KOOL sounds better then ever! Was listening all day yesterday on-line and wish I could get the signal where I live.

They have adjusted the music in the right direction for the younger Oldies/Classic Hits Demos in PHX. (The Demos advertisers want) Ideally, they'd keep some good 60's stuff in the mix, but maybe their research shows otherwise?

My bet is that in upcoming books, you'll see their ratings inch up again!

 

[davideduardo]

The agencies need to wake up. There is money in the 55+ The real reason agencies don't like 55+ is because its not sexy and hip.

Agencies do not pick the demos. They are ordered to produce campaigns directed at the client's target demos.

The reason 55+ is not targeted is that there is no ROI. In general, the older a person gets, the more brand loyal they get and the more hesitant to change they become. The result is that it takes more ads to create change, and the cost of so much additional advertising makes the sale marginal or unprofitable.

Add in the fact that most products are not made with 55+ in mind; brand preferences are formed early and that is why younger demos are becoming more popular with advertisers and budgets now include more Black and Hispanic (the only growth area in radio... average age under 25) stations than ever.

This 18-49 or 25-54 targeting has been highly researched, from master marketers like P&G on down; hundreds and hundreds of millions have been spent over the years testing ad effectiveness against different demos.

As one agency's motto said, "it's not creative unless it sells." It is not about sexy and hip as you say... it is about generating maximum sales.

 

[DrAkbar]

Nurse Jeff and I have avoided the discussion of programming oldies as we've come to this conclusion: there's no future in the past. Sadly the same applies to our '76 Gremlin Levi's Special!

 

[KOHS]

Nurse Jeff and I have avoided the discussion of programming oldies as we've come to this conclusion: there's no future in the past. Sadly the same applies to our '76 Gremlin Levi's Special!

I agree, Dr., but if I had to market the past, I would rather do it at KOOL-FM than anywhere else. Moreover, I would bring in a ringer like Steve Goddard to help people remember how much fun the music of the past really is. It's a golden opportunity, really. ;D

 

[oldiesfan6479]

Speaking of Steve Goddard, has he done a "soft opening"
in an off-peak slot this weekend to get comfy with the
board and whatever KOOL's version is of the Audio Vault?

I didn't hear mornings either Saturday or Sunday, but it's
been a bit strange in other dayparts. Are they still doing
the usual weekend morning syndication? (I've noted here
several times KOOL needs a live voice--and not recorded
KRTH morning guy Gary Bryan--on Saturday mornings.)

Where are some of the swing jocks (Skippy and "Mr. Mellow")
this weekend? They've had Katfish Kris back for both middays,
Lee did Saturday afternoon, Dennis this afternoon, and I
assume the "fake swimming pool" ;D last night.

 

[uponenotch]

Where are some of the swing jocks (Skippy and "Mr. Mellow")
this weekend? They've had Katfish Kris back for both middays,
Lee did Saturday afternoon, Dennis this afternoon, and I
assume the "fake swimming pool" ;D last night.

I hear lots 'O changes at kool. Skippy for reference was a character long long ago and who is this "Mr. Mellow" you refer to?

 

[KOOL Listener Lauren]

Speaking of Steve Goddard, has he done a "soft opening"
in an off-peak slot this weekend to get comfy with the
board and whatever KOOL's version is of the Audio Vault?

I haven't heard anything. After the pool party, right at midnight, KOOL went off the air. But looking at Yes.com, it doesn't look like anything was played until the syndicated shows. If he was going to do a "soft opening", could that have been the time? But I didn't see or hear anything.

I didn't hear mornings either Saturday or Sunday, but it's
been a bit strange in other dayparts. Are they still doing
the usual weekend morning syndication? (I've noted here
several times KOOL needs a live voice--and not recorded
KRTH morning guy Gary Bryan--on Saturday mornings.)

I had to drive all the way down to South Phoenix yesterday morning, around 7am. Beginning at 6, they had the Beatles show instead of Elvis. Beginning at 7... and I think this is great... instead of "Inside the 60's" (same old episodes every weekend...), I heard Gary Bryan's "Rewind"! I'm SO happy about that.

Where are some of the swing jocks (Skippy and "Mr. Mellow")
this weekend? They've had Katfish Kris back for both middays,
Lee did Saturday afternoon, Dennis this afternoon, and I
assume the "fake swimming pool" ;D last night.

I was thinking the same.... WHERE'S SKIPPY!??

 

[KOOL Listener Lauren]

Where are some of the swing jocks (Skippy and "Mr. Mellow")
this weekend? They've had Katfish Kris back for both middays,
Lee did Saturday afternoon, Dennis this afternoon, and I
assume the "fake swimming pool" ;D last night.

Wasn't Mr. Mellow on last weekend, though? I'm assuming he just had this weekend off... He did work MANY days straight, not too long ago.

 

[KOOL Listener Lauren]

...and who is this "Mr. Mellow" you refer to?

I would tell you, but I wouldn't want to steal OldiesFan's thunder...

 

[oldiesfan6479]

...and who is this "Mr. Mellow" you refer to?

I would tell you, but I wouldn't want to steal OldiesFan's Thunder...

...And Lightning. Chi Coltrane, 1972. Peaked at #17, but does it
get airplay on Seventies Sunday, or only on a lost oldies, oops, I
mean classic hits, weekend?

Mr. Mellow has been my nick for Mike Patrick, as he does come across
somewhat that way, probably from his stint at KYOT-FM, however I
will say he has adapted a lot better to the more "up" KOOL formatics
vs. when he started. (I don't think I've heard the "palatial downtown
studios" line during weather in several weeks. ;D)

And thank you Lauren...as Dick & Dee Dee would say "thou shalt not
steal"...but I guess we won't be hearing that on KOOL-FM anytime soon,
not even on a lost (whatever you want to call it) weekend, since I
don't recall it ever being played when 1964 was still heavily played.

 

[sirlaughsalot]

I've heard from a reliable source that Skippy aka Tony McGraw has left KOOL
for a real job (out of radio).
The other thing I'd like to comment on is how right David is when it comes to reaching a target audience.
In the early 80's, KMEO (which is now The Mix) was number one playing elevator music. Even with the highest numbers in the Valley at the time, the target audience wouldn't buy enough of the products
that made it attractive to advertisers. When the format switched to "Sunny 97" to compete
with KOOL, the staion tanked and Bonneville sold it

 

[Sam the butcher]

Here at the meat shop we're diggin on the Barry White and disco, but I'm drawing the line at polyester aprons......Kris "BBTF" Abrams has done a fine job of pushing KOOL forward a decade....volume is peaked and all butchers are boogie-ing....gonna miss Skippy tho....

 

[KOOL Listener Lauren]

...Thunder...

...And Lightning. Chi Coltrane, 1972. Peaked at #17, but does it
get airplay on Seventies Sunday, or only on a lost oldies, oops, I
mean classic hits, weekend?

...Well now that you mention it, maybe you should put Chi Coltrane's "Thunder and Lightning" as an entry for Camelback Jack's Top 5 At 5! It's "Monsoon Tunes" this afternoon. Who knows, maybe it WOULD be played!

Or maybe it still wouldn't... ;D

And thank you Lauren...as Dick & Dee Dee would say "thou shalt not
steal"...but I guess we won't be hearing that on KOOL-FM anytime soon,
not even on a lost (whatever you want to call it) weekend, since I
don't recall it ever being played when 1964 was still heavily played.

No problem. I still love the nickname! Of course, the one to get the credit for it, is the one who should answer the question.

Speaking of Dick & Dee Dee, didn't KOOL used to play "Mountain's High"? Sometime within the last four years? Can't remember how I know it...

 

[KOOL Listener Lauren]

I've heard from a reliable source that Skippy aka Tony McGraw has left KOOL
for a real job (out of radio).

That's too bad... He certainly will be missed! Weekends are weird not hearing Tony. I wish him all the best!

 

[SALESGUY2000]

Dang,Liz is gone too! (www.allaccess.com). I disagree oldiesfan. I think Inside the 60's is one of the better syndicated shows I'm not too much from the era but the soundclips and production are awesome. Is there anywhere we can catch Andre Gardner's Beatles show on the net? I think KOOLs music sounds better than ever. good riddence to SOME of those 45 year old songs.

 

[pattiwacki]

...Thunder...

...And Lightning. Chi Coltrane, 1972. Peaked at #17, but does it
get airplay on Seventies Sunday, or only on a lost oldies, oops, I
mean classic hits, weekend?

...Well now that you mention it, maybe you should put Chi Coltrane's "Thunder and Lightning" as an entry for Camelback Jack's Top 5 At 5! It's "Monsoon Tunes" this afternoon. Who knows, maybe it WOULD be played!

Or maybe it still wouldn't... ;D

And thank you Lauren...as Dick & Dee Dee would say "thou shalt not
steal"...but I guess we won't be hearing that on KOOL-FM anytime soon,
not even on a lost (whatever you want to call it) weekend, since I
don't recall it ever being played when 1964 was still heavily played.

No problem. I still love the nickname! Of course, the one to get the credit for it, is the one who should answer the question.

Speaking of Dick & Dee Dee, didn't KOOL used to play "Mountain's High"? Sometime within the last four years? Can't remember how I know it...

Lauren and Oldiesfan, Dee Dee is on You Tube playing Mountain's High and Thy Shalt Not Steel. Unfortunately, they're re-records but she is a very cool lady to talk to!

 

[Sam the butcher]

Dang,Liz is gone too! (www.allaccess.com).

That stinks more than a zip lock baggie filled with tripe stashed under the seat of a Ford F-150 in 112 degree weather.

 

[pattiwacki]

Here at the meat shop we're diggin on the Barry White and disco, but I'm drawing the line at polyester aprons......Kris "BBTF" Abrams has done a fine job of pushing KOOL forward a decade....volume is peaked and all butchers are boogie-ing....gonna miss Skippy tho....

Why draw the line at the polyester aprons, Sam? It could be a concept shop, all of you dressed like Barry White, The Love Unlimited Butcher Shop...

 

[DrAkbar]

Why draw the line at the polyester aprons, Sam? It could be a concept shop, all of you dressed like Barry White, The Love Unlimited Butcher Shop...

And all set to the KOOL vocal stylings of one Ms Janice Joplin..."come-on, come-on..take another piece of my heart now won't you baby?" It's enough to make Nurse Jeff and me go vegan!