KOOL Gets a New Brand Manager

[KeithE4]

I was probably among the first long time listeners off that wagon.

We still have the Lumberyard.

 

[101tm]

I won't comment on KEYN-FM, as I'm not familiar enough with the Wichita market to know how well the station has done historically, but it's absolutely baffling to see Audacy sticking with their changes on most of their stations, even WCBS-FM and WOMC staying steady in the ratings. Yet WOCL has seen a big decline since last year despite retaining the jingles, so who knows what happened there.

As for KOOL-FM, they were a top 5 station just last summer (and in 25-54, 18-49, and 18-34 as well as 6+), so I highly doubt that the KOOL branding would suddenly become a problem in only a year's time. It could be an issue with the music and/or imaging, but I don't think rebranding the station is the answer.

I believe part of WOCL’s decline is due to 98.9 WMMO’s shift to 70s/80s rock classic hits. It’s probably taken a cut of the WOCL listeners.

WOCL is an outlier from Audacy’s other classic hits stations, even WMXJ. They have a 80s rhythmic/dance tilt that none of the others do. This may have turned listeners over to WMMO.

 

[CTListener]

I disagree... the calls are heritage in Phoenix due to the contrast of the 120° summer days and the contrast with the station name. I think that factor will make the station able to transition to a younger core just by making the music better.

K-Earth did that in LA several times. They did not change name or calls.

But "Earth" does not have the sound of old guy slang the way "kool" (or "cool") does. What if the call suggested groovy or swell or keen?

 

[jt99]

I believe part of WOCL’s decline is due to 98.9 WMMO’s shift to 70s/80s rock classic hits. It’s probably taken a cut of the WOCL listeners.

WOCL is an outlier from Audacy’s other classic hits stations, even WMXJ. They have a 80s rhythmic/dance tilt that none of the others do. This may have turned listeners over to WMMO.

Hasn't WMMO been in that direction for a while, though? One would assume WOCL's dance/rhythmic friendliness is due to the large Hispanic population in Orlando, so that's definitely an odd reversal of fortunes, though WOCL did have nice bounce up in the June book.

 

[davideduardo]

But "Earth" does not have the sound of old guy slang the way "kool" (or "cool") does. What if the call suggested groovy or swell or keen?

In Phoenix the term refers to climate. Everything in Phoenix is climate-related.

If you have never lived in the market, you just can't appreciate the mind-set. Heck, I'd get up at 4 AM on the first day of class selection at ASU so I could be among the first in line to pick the 7 AM classes. The out-of-towners pick the Noon to 3 PM start time classes.

 

[landtuna]

We still have the Lumberyard.

Yup. I switched years ago (actually 93.3 HD2).

 

[landtuna]

If you have never lived in the market, you just can't appreciate the mind-set. Heck, I'd get up at 4 AM on the first day of class selection at ASU so I could be among the first in line to pick the 7 AM classes. The out-of-towners pick the Noon to 3 PM start time classes.

I spent my early years living in Tempe just 2 blocks from what then was the main campus of what now is ASU. Yes, September and May are both usually hot but it beats the hell out of slogging through ice, snow and biting winds. The remainder of both semesters are usually very pleasant.

 

[indieradioguy]

92.7 is still the best oldies in town and the best "wow" in town - no risk of having to hear Green Day or "Fight For Your Right" (the only Beastie Boys that ever gets played) or "Loser" (the only Beck song song that ever gets played.) Why bother listening to 94.5 when 100.7 and every other k-light on the dial plays the exact same songs?

 

[DrAkbar]

I've always known 94.5 as "KOOL", changing it would be like renaming the Grand Canyon as " the big hole in the ground".

Whew! For a minute I thought the analogy was calling the Nurse and me the big holes in Buckeye!

The problem isn't the call letters. It's the music and presentation. KOAI was chosen for "Oasis" - a reference to the original format of Smooth Jazz, and relief from the Valley's heat. Now it's the WOW Factor, but they didn't shyt can the calls. No need to.

 

[AceBiscuits]

But "Earth" does not have the sound of old guy slang the way "kool" (or "cool") does. What if the call suggested groovy or swell or keen?

“Cool” in that sense is very commonly used across generations, I don’t think that is an issue at all.

 

[victorres43]

I believe part of WOCL’s decline is due to 98.9 WMMO’s shift to 70s/80s rock classic hits. It’s probably taken a cut of the WOCL listeners.

WOCL is an outlier from Audacy’s other classic hits stations, even WMXJ. They have a 80s rhythmic/dance tilt that none of the others do. This may have turned listeners over to WMMO.

One should not ignore the fact that some listeners may find Rick Stacy's political rants to be tiresome, if not offensive.

On the other hand, Rick may have taken some shares away from WDBO & WFLA Orlando! (Florida Man Radio is all but a non-factor in the ratings.)