KQRS Program Director Shuffle

[RomanPort]

According to RadioInsight today it looks like the current PD for KQRS since early 2020, James Kurdziel, is out and heading to Chicago to PD for “Q101” WKQX. Succeeding Kurdziel will be Wade Linder whom has a history working with KQRS when he was brought on as music director in 1990. He also was the PD of 93X when it launched in 1997. Looks like this change is effective immediately.

I am really optimistic! Linder knows what KQRS "used to be" in its prime having worked there twenty years ago. Since he was music director in the 90s, I really hope that some "deeper" classic rock will make a comeback on KQRS. I'd be happy to see the VO for the imaging get replaced too, but as long as I get to keep truly live dayparts I'll be happy. Maybe we'll even see the processing fixed, haha!

https://radioinsight.com/headlines/253959/james-kurdziel-moves-to-q101-chicago-as-program-director-wade-linder-moves-to-kqrs-fm/

 

[mnradiofan]

I mean, if anyone can "save" KQ, it's probably Wade, but I'm not sure it means bringing back deeper classic rock, as the demo's just don't make sense anymore (sadly). What DOES make sense is to use his experience in the "early days" of 93X to find a sound that resonates with the older 93X listener, since they would be the new target demographic for a classic rock station (IE 25-54 males). I'm right in the middle of that demographic myself, and even being someone really into music and radio I couldn't tell you more than a dozen 70's songs that were really great and I'd want to keep hearing, but I could see a lot of 80's and early 90s rock that fits the bill (much like what "The Fox" in KC is playing, which is very 80's heavy and plays a few power hits from the 70's).

Aside from all the other screw-ups you have documented here (thanks for that, btw!) what really matters is figuring out a way to "update" the KQ sound to what Classic Rock fans in their 30's and 40's want to hear. Judging by the playlist, they have largely already done that, but as stated above I think the next logical step is to remove more of the 70's product and add in (carefully) more of the 90's songs. Great article on aging demographics right here:

Data Dump: When Were People in High School and College? – NorthPine: Upper Midwest Broadcasting

www.northpine.com

Overall, I do think Classic Rock stations can be slower to adapt to newer music, but that can also mean that you lose the "war" to classic hits stations, whereas changing more to a "classic rock that really rocks" presentation (IE Sasquatch 92.1 FM Playlist - Last 50 Songs) might be a way to capture the 25-54 male demographic. Sadly, that can mean losing some of that "heritage" sound, but maybe there is a way to preserve some of that presentation without turning off the 30-something rock listeners looking to hear some Metalica, Three Days Grace, etc..

My two cents, hopefully they can figure out a way to "save" KQ before Cumulus just decides to throw in the towel.

 

[Saladressing]

They need to bring some energy and verve back to the station and its music.

 

[MarkW]

I really like what I'm hearing on 93X tonight.

 

[Gregg.]

It really wouldn't make a lot of sense for KQ92 to go too 90s and too hard. That's territory that 93X already covers. If Cumulus already owns 93X, why would it do Classic Rock That Really Rocks on KQRS?

Plenty of Classic Rock stations treat the 1970s, 80s and 90s equally. And they do very well. Good Classic Rock stations know how to balance The Doobie Brothers, Fleetwood Mac and The Eagles with Green Day, The Red Hot Chili Peppers and U2.

I know it defies logic to play Classic Rock that predates a large part of the target audience. But it seems a good Classic Rock station can do that.

 

[RomanPort]

It really wouldn't make a lot of sense for KQ92 to go too 90s and too hard. That's territory that 93X already covers. If Cumulus already owns 93X, why would it do Classic Rock That Really Rocks on KQRS?

Plenty of Classic Rock stations treat the 1970s, 80s and 90s equally. And they do very well. Good Classic Rock stations know how to balance The Doobie Brothers, Fleetwood Mac and The Eagles with Green Day, The Red Hot Chili Peppers and U2.

I know it defies logic to play Classic Rock that predates a large part of the target audience. But it seems a good Classic Rock station can do that.

Exactly. I'm in love with the programming on KZCR "Real Rock Z103" out of Fergus Falls, owned by the Leightons. It has a great balance of music from the late 60s all the way up to the occasional song as new as 2007, all of which have the right kind of "sound" that fits. The programming on that station also hits the right balance of playing deeper "rare rock" as well as playing classics that appeal to a wider audience seldom enough that the station doesn't get tiresome to listen to for long periods of time. I listen to Z103 for a staggering number of hours per day but there are enough songs in rotation that the station never gets stale.

Despite being why I love the station, I think Z103 might go a little too deep too often for it to work in a large market, but I certainly think that direction is what KQ needs to set it apart from JACK or KOOL 108. There's a reason that despite it's rimshot signal into Fargo/Moorhead, there's a substantial cult following for Z103 in town, myself included.

I think that KQRS and the classic rocker I work for in Fargo both have the problem of playing a handful of heavy rotation songs so often that they get burned. For example, Money for Nothing, Low Rider, My Sharona or Africa on KQ. I love KQRS, but there's a limit to how many times I can listen to those songs before I'm so tired of them that I have to change the station every time they come on. Despite the huge pool of great classic rock, I think that both of those stations don't have enough variety to really keep them fresh.