KPWR playlist unreal

[TheBigA]

Of course none of this has anything to do with KPWR, which IS live & local, and features personalities who the listeners care about. Unfortunately, none of their listeners seem to post here, because the topic instead moves on to much older white people's music.

 

[Thomps2525]

Watch how quickly I get us back on topic. Stand back, please. KPWR's message board can be accessed after you (supposedly) read the lengthy "terms of service" and agree to them:

http://www.power106.com/terms

 

[ChannelFlipper]

Of course none of this has anything to do with KPWR, which IS live & local, and features personalities who the listeners care about. Unfortunately, none of their listeners seem to post here, because the topic instead moves on to much older white people's music.

I see this as a problem with two causes:

Radio has so homogenized itself that kids no longer think it is anything special. It is something that is there when you are stuck in Mom's backseat or you forgot to charge your Ipod. A suitable backup when your in a pinch, but never a first choice. Sort of like the way I used to view the AM only radio in Grandma's station wagon when I was a kid. Taking the personality out and putting the "stationality" in is a big part of the problem. Radio needs to give their listeners a reason to tune in - as in, "I may miss something really cool on Big Boy's show if I spend my time elsewhere". A consistent jukebox that repeats every hour (with robotic DJs to match) is not a reason to tune in. And if they have no reason to tune in, they certainly aren't going to look for a place to go online and chat about it.

The other one is site specific. On the off chance that some young lad were to try to post about his favorite radio station KPWR here and manage to get any one small detail about the business mechanics of the industry wrong on this board, you just know what will soon be coming for him from some of our self-appointed radio sages on high. It's enough to scare people away from the board. Not that I have ever seen that happen of course. Oh wait...no, on second thought I guess I have.

 

[TheBigA]

Radio has so homogenized itself that kids no longer think it is anything special.

I think you're trying to force younger people into liking what you like. They don't. So get over it.

You're inventing a problem that doesn't exist. Some radio stations are jukeboxes. Some radio stations have strong personalities. It's our job to give people a choice, and let THEM decide what THEY want. Not force them into accepting what we give them. They HAVE a reason to tune in. Those reasons are as individual as the listeners themselves. And we're doing a great job, because 249 million people listen, even though they have lots of other choices.

Do you even know the name of the new morning show at KPWR? Have you ever listened? If you did, you'd know that KPWR is NOT a jukebox. I can tell the difference between a listener and a critic. Read the comments on KPWR's Facebook page. Compare them to what you read here. There's a very obvious difference. KPWR's listeners aren't going to post here because none of their friends are here. They're on Facebook. They don't HAVE to post here. You have to give them a reason to post here. Otherwise they'll go to Facebook.

 

[Thomps2525]

"Do you even know the name of the new morning show at KPWR?"

Aren't Jay Thomas and "Powermouth" Patty Lotz still there? I wonder how much time each of us here spends listening to the radio in a typical week? I wonder if the people who post on radio message boards spend, on average, less time listening than people who do not ever go to these sites (and likely don't even know about them). And has anyone ever tried to do a survey here to ascertain which age groups we are part of? KPWR's listeners are likely in their teens and 20s. RadioDiscussion posters are likely older. Much older.

 

[TheBigA]

I wonder if the people who post on radio message boards spend, on average, less time listening than people who do not ever go to these sites (and likely don't even know about them).

You THINK?

 

[Thomps2525]

Since you asked: Yes, sometimes I do think.

 

[ChannelFlipper]

I think you're trying to force younger people into liking what you like. They don't. So get over it.

You're inventing a problem that doesn't exist. Some radio stations are jukeboxes. Some radio stations have strong personalities. It's our job to give people a choice, and let THEM decide what THEY want. Not force them into accepting what we give them. They HAVE a reason to tune in. Those reasons are as individual as the listeners themselves. And we're doing a great job, because 249 million people listen, even though they have lots of other choices.

Do you even know the name of the new morning show at KPWR? Have you ever listened? If you did, you'd know that KPWR is NOT a jukebox. I can tell the difference between a listener and a critic. Read the comments on KPWR's Facebook page. Compare them to what you read here. There's a very obvious difference. KPWR's listeners aren't going to post here because none of their friends are here. They're on Facebook. They don't HAVE to post here. You have to give them a reason to post here. Otherwise they'll go to Facebook.

Rewind beat me to it because the last time I was a regular listener, Jay Thomas occupied a similar position that Big Boy is in now. As to the name of the show? I think they called it "Big Boy's Neighborhood" because he has quite a few others in the studio, but I don't really pay attention, so I wouldn't be betting any money on it. I do know that the reason he is in such demand is that he is compelling entertainment that delivers compelling content of the kind I described. I have heard/read several people say he has excellent interviewing skills. Props to my man, as they say. But regardless, this has nothing to do with me forcing my likes on the KPWR crowd (ludicrous on its face, that is).

As to whether or not KPWR is a jukebox, you do know how this thread started, yes?

 

[TheBigA]

I think they called it "Big Boy's Neighborhood" because he has quite a few others in the studio, but I don't really pay attention, so I wouldn't be betting any money on it.

Good, because you'd lose. A few months ago, Big Boy was lured away by Clear Channel to a competing station. KPWR now has The Cruz Show. And he's not the only DJ on the station who does interviews with artists. You're likely to hear a big star being interviewed at any time of the day. The fact that the station plays the same song several times an hour doesn't make the station a jukebox. Although most jukeboxes I know will play the same songs several times in an hour. As I said, there's a lot more to this station than the music they play. Don't invent problems for radio stations that don't exist.

 

[K.M. Richards]

BigA covered a lot of what I was thinking, but I have a couple of thoughts as well.

Radio needs to give their listeners a reason to tune in - as in, "I may miss something really cool on Big Boy's show if I spend my time elsewhere". A consistent jukebox that repeats every hour (with robotic DJs to match) is not a reason to tune in.

That is a generation-specific POV. Today's listeners weren't around when the kind of radio you or I would find compelling existed, so they do not have a frame of reference for comparing the "jukebox" presentation.

In fact, today's young listeners would find personality-driven formats as archaic as you and I would have found the disc jockey shows of the 1940s or 1950s. Why? Because it isn't what they expect from radio.

And if they have no reason to tune in, they certainly aren't going to look for a place to go online and chat about it.

As pointed out, they find somewhere to chat with others who share their expectations and experience, only the URL begins with "www.facebook.com" and they have little to no interest in discussing radio in general. They especially have no interest in discussing how radio used to be.

On the off chance that some young lad were to try to post about his favorite radio station KPWR here and manage to get any one small detail about the business mechanics of the industry wrong on this board, you just know what will soon be coming for him from some of our self-appointed radio sages on high.

Thank you very much for once again reminding us how much you dislike that this board is populated by radio industry professionals. I'm sure Streamline is thrilled to have you here with that attitude.

 

[ChannelFlipper]

Good, because you'd lose. A few months ago, Big Boy was lured away by Clear Channel to a competing station. KPWR now has The Cruz Show. And he's not the only DJ on the station who does interviews with artists. You're likely to hear a big star being interviewed at any time of the day. The fact that the station plays the same song several times an hour doesn't make the station a jukebox. Although most jukeboxes I know will play the same songs several times in an hour. As I said, there's a lot more to this station than the music they play. Don't invent problems for radio stations that don't exist.

I am well aware that Big Boy was lured down the dial by iheart (ahem, not CC anymore...perhaps time to check your facts?). Attacking me by implying that I am
unaware of the biggest story of the year in local radio is not advancing this conversation. Obviously I was referring to his old show on KPWR, the station this thread is discussing.

 

[TheBigA]

Obviously I was referring to his old show on KPWR, the station this thread is discussing.

I didn't ask about old shows at KPWR. I specifically and clearly asked about the "new morning show."

 

[michael hagerty]

We're getting way off topic here---which ain't nothin' new---but who remembers the adult contemporary format that aired on KMET in the late 1960s and early '70s? All the announcers were female and they were known as the "KMET FeMs." Wasn't that cute? I'd love to find a KMET aircheck from that era.

I had one once upon a time, Steve...and if I ever encounter another one, I'll be happy to make and send you a dub. It wasn't anything special. In fact, they were anonymous and interchangeable (how's that for back on topic) female voices reading PSAs and tossing to commercial breaks with "More Metro Music West in one minute". If I recall correctly, the only call letter mention was the top of the hour ID, which was one of the female voices saying "Metro Music West...from 94-point-seven, KMET, Los Angeles".

It also wasn't really adult contemporary...a more accurate description would be up-tempo beautiful music with a heavier (40% or so) concentration of MOR vocals.

The format began in December of 1965, voiced by sister station KLAC's (male) DJs and went to the all-female announcer gimmick sometime in 1967. And it didn't last into the early 70s. Tom Donahue took over evenings with a free-form rock program on June 2, 1968 and on June 27, KMET went album rock 24/7.

 

[ChannelFlipper]

That is a generation-specific POV. Today's listeners weren't around when the kind of radio you or I would find compelling existed, so they do not have a frame of reference for comparing the "jukebox" presentation.

In fact, today's young listeners would find personality-driven formats as archaic as you and I would have found the disc jockey shows of the 1940s or 1950s. Why? Because it isn't what they expect from radio.



As pointed out, they find somewhere to chat with others who share their expectations and experience, only the URL begins with "www.facebook.com" and they have little to no interest in discussing radio in general. They especially have no interest in discussing how radio used to be.

Huh?? You do realize we are talking about the content of the what Big Boy used to bring to KPWR but is now bringing to KRRL and his reported new $4 million salary? They are definitely interested in a personality driven show. And like the Big A, you keep assuming I am talking about some glorified past. I am not. Even more so now, radio must be compelling because of the increased competition. As I said, radio is the millenials LAST CHOICE for content delivery. It is you guys who are defending the old ways.

BigA covered a lot of what I was thinking, but I have a couple of thoughts as well.

Thank you very much for once again reminding us how much you dislike that this board is populated by radio industry professionals. I'm sure Streamline is thrilled to have you here with that attitude.

Wrong again. I am very glad for the pros presence and have learned much here over the years. I thought the Big A made a very insightful post this morning which I will come back to later. Unfortunately, he also took what should have been a friendly dialogue between two people who love radio, one a fan and one a pro, and made it some sort of an in-your-face insult fest. (Dude, it is just a radio board and I am nothing more than an adult fan who is glad to at least have a memory of what great radio was. Chillax!) Fortunately I am a big boy and can handle it; others, when faced with this attitude, get chased off quite easily.

There are about 6-8 pros who post on a regular basis, and I am sure Streamline by now has figured out that having that small of a clique talk to itself is no way to run a business. I would have thought you in particular would be aware of that analysis. All new and returning posters should be welcomed. I just simply pointed out what you already know - That they are not.

 

[TheBigA]

Unfortunately, he also took what should have been a friendly dialogue between two people who love radio, one a fan and one a pro, and made it some sort of an in-your-face insult fest.

Huh? I think someone's just a bit overly sensitive. I don't see anything in our exchange that was in the least bit insulting to you.

As I said, radio is the millenials LAST CHOICE for content delivery. It is you guys who are defending the old ways.

I think polls show that newspapers and magazines are their last choice. Not radio. In fact radio is their first choice for new music discovery. But we're talking about a radio station that is primarily AIMED at millennials, and they listen in high numbers. This particular station was so successful with young listeners that IHeart opened up its pocket book and bought their morning guy. So obviously this station is doing something right.

Radio doesn't have to be any more compelling than anything else. All radio has to do is deliver what the listener wants. Whatever that happens to be. Sometimes the listener doesn't want to be "compelled." Sometimes a listener just wants to hear another ten in a row. Nothing wrong with that. Pandora has managed to get 70 million people with nothing more compelling than a bunch of songs. If that's all it takes to attract that many people, then why not just play a bunch of songs? Why do we have to do anything different if the listener has demonstrated that all they want are a bunch of songs? However, at the same time, if they want interviews with stars, funny comedy bits, or anything else, we have that too.

 

[ChannelFlipper]

But that's the job of a professional voice talent. You get hired to do commercials for Firestone, and you're hired for a specific sound, to deliver specific words, in a very specific way. Voice talent get directed through the script, and they're expected to read it as written. That's what they get paid to do. They're not getting paid because of their knowledge of the music. That's what the music director does. Music directors were added in the 60s. So once again, the MD was choosing music for the station, not specific shows.

Okay, I am prepared to accept this IF it is true that being a "voice talent" who does nothing but read copy for their living is what they believe they are doing. But did Mark Wallengren, Ted Ziegenbush, Karen Sharp, Bryan Simmons, et al really consider themselves to be that, or did they think that knowing the music and presenting the music to their audience in their own personality was a key element to their value on the job? (of course they were not going to make music decisions, that is the PD's job). How they viewed their jobs would be fascinating to me, given your hypothesis.

In the classic rock world, there has always been a premium put on the jocks' reputations as to their (perceived) knowledge of the music, even though they are spinning the same 500 song playlist everyday too. It is no accident that the Sound really started to make a move on KLOS when they started taking their long-time talent, particularly Rita Wilde who has a stellar reputation for her knowledge and presentation of the music (particularly "important bands" like Springsteen and U2). This is why these jocks are still around (Cynthia Foxx? Hmmph, I listened to her when I was in elementary school. And she, like many others is still around almost 40 years later. Same for Bob Coburn, as I have recently posted.)

 

[TheBigA]

But did Mark Wallengren, Ted Ziegenbush, Karen Sharp, Bryan Simmons, et al really consider themselves to be that, or did they think that knowing the music and presenting the music to their audience in their own personality was a key element to their value on the job?

To be honest, I don't know. I'd have to ask each of them. My hypothesis is it's not one or the other. They have to know a few things about the music, they have to know how to present it, but they also have to follow the format as laid out by the PD. The balancing of all three is the creative part. Depending on the PD, they might be given more creativity as a host than as a spot reader, but they might not. The fact that Mark has been there as long as he has tells me he knows what he's doing.

 

[K.M. Richards]

It is no accident that the Sound really started to make a move on KLOS when they started taking their long-time talent, particularly Rita Wilde who has a stellar reputation for her knowledge and presentation of the music (particularly "important bands" like Springsteen and U2).

Actually, it wasn't until Rita was fired as KLOS' PD that The Sound made her an offer, and there was a short gap in her employment before that happened.

 

[K.M. Richards]

In fact, today's young listeners would find personality-driven formats as archaic as you and I would have found the disc jockey shows of the 1940s or 1950s.

They are definitely interested in a personality driven show.

I call a foul on being misquoted.

Please note the two phrases boldfaced in the quotes. I said "format" in direct response to your earlier comment about "jukebox formats". You now say "show" which is one daypart, not the entire format.

I am trying to answer you in context, which is extremely difficult if you change the context.

Are we talking about whether or not listeners want a format which has personalities all day, or are we talking about them wanting a format which has a highly visible morning personality and a liner-driven format in other dayparts?

 

[ChannelFlipper]

I call a foul on being misquoted.

Please note the two phrases boldfaced in the quotes. I said "format" in direct response to your earlier comment about "jukebox formats". You now say "show" which is one daypart, not the entire format.

I am trying to answer you in context, which is extremely difficult if you change the context.

Are we talking about whether or not listeners want a format which has personalities all day, or are we talking about them wanting a format which has a highly visible morning personality and a liner-driven format in other dayparts?

I respect your call; fair point. Actually my point is really larger than either.

I believe my point is similar to the stuff Don posts on LARadio.com from Mark Ramsey.

It doesn't matter if we are talking about music or personality, radio on the whole has let them both go stale. Sure there are some mega stars like Big Boy that have become appointment listening for a lot of people, but they are the exception. Big A says we just give 'em what they want and this is what they're telling us they want. Do the same thing, over and over again. But the product goes stale. Radio doesn't do anything about it because the cost of milking a stale product is always less than the cost of reinvesting in the product. Meanwhile, the next generation thinks, with certain exceptions like Big Boy, that radio is boring and predictable and will only use it in the absence of a multiple of preferred alternatives. That is not just what I am saying, it is what they are saying. Big A, they may be coming to you, but not by choice and not for long.

And now it is starting to really happen. Read an article just today that said Norway is cancelling all FM stations and moving to some digital platform. That wouldn't have happened if radio was competitive with its online and on-device competition. I am sure some stations will survive and just move to a new digital address, but I also bet some stations will just fall by the wayside. Contrast that to what terrestrial radio is doing here - launching HD radio and doing a horrible job both operating and marketing it; getting legislation passed that electronic devices must have FM radio (good ol' protectionism!); and fearing the day that they get left out of new model cars, but Pandora will be standard equipment. My answer: Better programming. Why do millenials watch HBO on their devices? - content (better shows)! In my view, they have to go out of their way to do this, but they will if they think something worthwile is on the other end. They would with radio too, if radio ever gave them a reason too.