KROQ continues to get good ratings, yet despite its talented DJ line-up their rigid musical format is so safe and boring I can't imagine anyone thinking this is good radio. Talk about a former shadow of itself. Taking at least a few risks with the music got them ratings in the past, has the radio landscape changed so much that an allegedly "alternative" station can no longer play anything new other than off-the-assembly-line songs pushed on them by the (dying) record industry? KROQ is "world famous" alright, but for what they were, not for what they are. At some point its gotta catch up with them.
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KROQ living off its reputation?
- Thread starter Batfink
- Start date
They have obviously hit on the right formula. It is mass appeal rock for 20 somethings. For STAR to capitalize on that, they could try and grab the upper end of the 18-34 male demo, by playing the stuff that KROQ use to play as well as todays Alternative hits. I imagine KROQ 1995 was vastly different to KROQ 2007.
Kroq is what they is!!!Better then some of whats out there in todays mcdonaldlization of radio!!! Rodney on the rock is a good show but indie 1031 if they had a decent signal they would give kevin weatherly and company a run for there money i think but just one mans opinion.
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ScottHasick
Guest
Has anyone listened to KROQ HD-2? It's fantastic! I've been listening to it online for a couple of weeks now, and talk about "memory lane", they're playing all of the great "Roq of the 80's" music plus all of the old liners, jingles, etc. It's clearly automated, but they've got recorded liners by Freddy Snakeskin, Dusty Street, etc. I've been loving it.
Scott.
Scott.
ScottHasick said:
One of the challenges of HD Radio is that it's basically a lab right now...no audience to speak of, so no revenue stream (meaning no commercials), meaning it's a loss leader until or unless the industry can find a way to convince people to buy HD Radios. It makes one wonder whether the KROQ-2 you hear today can be sustained over the long haul, or will have to change if it's to have a business model that works.
I gotta tell ya with the state of rock/alternative radio, KROQ is still head and shoulders above the rest of the stations I've had exposure to, and with web streaming thats pretty much everybody. Talented staff, and despite what some may think, a very diverse playlist. Not many places will spin Sublime deep cuts in the same hour as a Metallica track, and make it sound good. I spend my day listening to them online, and between the stellar imaging, educated yet loopy airstaff and broad playlist, its the only alternative station out there not selling out to the active rock genre, and I salute that... gets me thru the day scheduling classic hits in a market that destroyed the rock solid alternative it had that I was proud to be a part of thru poor staff aquisitions and just plane ridiculous management decisions...heres hoping the CC sale will start a trend and put radio people back in charge, and send the beancounters back to their offices in the back of the building where they belong
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doublecashkgb
Guest
Batfink said:
It happens with every station go through a product-cycle. KROQ has been fortunate not to face any direct competition, look what happened to 91X when 94/9 started up. Now both stations have pretty anemic numbers. KROQ's image and rep was based on dues paid by a lot of people all the way back to the 70's.
Still KROQ shows no sign of slowing down, and Clear Channel is not known for the prowess in this format.
One of the challenges of HD Radio is that it's basically a lab right now...no audience to speak of, so no revenue stream (meaning no commercials), meaning it's a loss leader
Maybe if they can sell it it might still work, because there are enough people who like what their favorite radio station used to be. In any event before they can sell the HD Radios they will have to provide content that people will spend the extra money to receive. Once the "bean counters" get wind of anything it usually goes south. But I might be willing the whip out the well worn plastic to get to hear the "Roq of the 80's" one more time.
Maybe if they can sell it it might still work, because there are enough people who like what their favorite radio station used to be. In any event before they can sell the HD Radios they will have to provide content that people will spend the extra money to receive. Once the "bean counters" get wind of anything it usually goes south. But I might be willing the whip out the well worn plastic to get to hear the "Roq of the 80's" one more time.
Use yourself as a sample: what's keeping you from buying an HD Radio? Or better yet, one HD Radio for your home and another for any and all cars you own, as well as for any portable music playing while you walk, exercise, etc.
Most likely, you're saying you don't see any reason to spend that kind of money even if it would get you KROQ-2. That's the dillemma facing the radio industry across the country. There's 250-million people just like you saying the same thing. Hence no advertisers want to buy...and hence the flawed business model.
Most likely, you're saying you don't see any reason to spend that kind of money even if it would get you KROQ-2. That's the dillemma facing the radio industry across the country. There's 250-million people just like you saying the same thing. Hence no advertisers want to buy...and hence the flawed business model.
twinsfan said:
When you say "Metallica track" you ain't kidding. As in.....one track: "Unforgiven." And maybe "Enter Sandman" if they're feeling daring.
KROQ is currently a mix of the most corporate MTV "rock" they can find and the most bland overplayed Nirvana, Green Day, and STP tunes. But no matter: 90 percent of its listeners are too young to remember when it was a ground-breaking station.
Radio has become basically intolerable. I'll often drive around punching between 15 buttons and not be able to stand a single one. If there's no CDs in the car, and I can't get KUSC clearly, I'll often just drive in silence.
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Bianco500
Guest
hotpatrick2004 said:
Another one of these Indie cheerleaders.
Look, it's been pointed out time and time again.
Indie is owned by Entravision, a SPANISH LAUNGUAGE company. The only reason they are even running this thing is because they can't do anything else with the signal, not because it's successful.(nothing ever has worked on 103.1) Playing rock acts that couldn't even sell out a church does not equal success. This is a non core assest and with many similar companies having decided to focus on core operations(look at Radio One and possibly Univision) KDLD is living on borrowed time. The only question is who will pay for a shotty rig that can't even cover it's COL correctly, I say one of the Asian groups gets it and brokers the station out(Asians appear to be the only group arriving in great numbers, used to be Hispanics, but recent data shows that might be changing.)
Use yourself as a sample: what's keeping you from buying an HD Radio?
Mainly because there is no guarantee that HD will work in my area. Others who have bought them report varying results in reception. I am old enough to remember the launch of FM stereo, when I was a kid. I spent my allowance to buy an adapter for my FM tuner. surprise, only one stereo station I could receive and the reception was horrible. This system is even more flakey than the FM stereo which relies on a subcarrier modulated onto the main signal. HD is a separate lower power transmission so the area of reception is maybe 25 miles from the transmitter and then only if you have a clear signal path with no multi-path. The last time I checked, when the air was clear enough, the San Fernando Valley is just that, surrounded by hills and mountains. $200 to $300 is a lot for a radio that isn't even a tuner to connect to your sound system. That is why I say that they need content to make it worthwhile to break the ice and buy in at these prices. Once they sell enough the prices inevitably drop and more people buy. I haven't seen them drop much yet.
Mainly because there is no guarantee that HD will work in my area. Others who have bought them report varying results in reception. I am old enough to remember the launch of FM stereo, when I was a kid. I spent my allowance to buy an adapter for my FM tuner. surprise, only one stereo station I could receive and the reception was horrible. This system is even more flakey than the FM stereo which relies on a subcarrier modulated onto the main signal. HD is a separate lower power transmission so the area of reception is maybe 25 miles from the transmitter and then only if you have a clear signal path with no multi-path. The last time I checked, when the air was clear enough, the San Fernando Valley is just that, surrounded by hills and mountains. $200 to $300 is a lot for a radio that isn't even a tuner to connect to your sound system. That is why I say that they need content to make it worthwhile to break the ice and buy in at these prices. Once they sell enough the prices inevitably drop and more people buy. I haven't seen them drop much yet.
Now you've raised an entirely different topic: HD quality that (you say) isn't ready for prime time. If that's the industry's biggest challenge, I'd say they should abandon the effort today. Based on what you're describing, I can't imagine why good content would trump bad signal quality. That's like buying an iPhone knowing that you live in an area AT&T doesn't serve. And by the way-- the price has come down. Radio Shack is selling an HD for $150...and I recall a big campaign last Christmas where they were selling for $100. The point is that the radio industry has spent millions upon millions of dollars to promote a technology that isn't catching on. If every radio station that currently broadcasts in HD gave away 1000 radios, that would be a better investment than the millions upon millions of dollars the broadcast industry is spending to promote a technology people aren't interested in spending money on.
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bobbybooey
Guest
Getting back on topic, I believe that the title of this thread is exactly what will contibute to KROQ taking a substantial hit in the ratings once LA goes to the PPM. A lot of guys will write down in a diary that they're listening to KROQ when they're really listening to something else (because it's what the boss makes them listen to at work or whatever) because that's what they'd prefer to be listening to or that's what's been ingrained into their brains. In both Philly and Houston, the AC stations have seen their male numbers go up, not because more men are listening now, but because men never reported that they listened to them even though they WERE being exposed to the station.
bobbybooey said:
Good point, though is this fact a good thing for the radio industry?? If you are a passive "hearer" (I can't even say you are a listenener in this circumstance) then you are not paying attention to any ads, are you? So just WHAT is the value of the PPM?? There's something wrong with the whole picture.
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BACKnUSSR
Guest
Bianco500 said:
Seems as though you missed the point. He was saying KROQ would be in trouble if it faced serious competition. Because of its signal (and to a lesser degree who owns them) Indie 103.1 is not that competition.
As for Asians being the ONLY group arriving in SoCal in "great numbers"....where's David E when you actually need him?
I
Indielover
Guest
KROQ is a station with a great history...unfortunately today it is corporate cookie cutter crap.... their current "most played" includes 3 linkin park songs, fall out boy, finger 11, kid rock, plain white t's..etc, etc...
I take issue with what bianco500 said about indie 1031. Now if they have nothing to flip it to to blow it up into why after almost four years (yes come dec 26 indie 1031 will have been around 4 years!!!)has noone stepped up to do the plate to buy 103.1 or entravision do something else with the signal. It seems to me if they really were in a hurry to rid the city of angels of left of center rock music it would have been done so by now???
I love the station but am very surprised it is still around. I bet it does hurt kroq a bit but nothing to speak of. I do enjoy both stations they both serve la in there own way i believe. Granted indie more so but to each his own. My hometown is louisville ky and indie has played 2 bands who started there my morning jacket and vhs or beta. Back to the original post indie has at least pushed kroq a bit over the past several years to play more newer alternative not active rock acts.
I love the station but am very surprised it is still around. I bet it does hurt kroq a bit but nothing to speak of. I do enjoy both stations they both serve la in there own way i believe. Granted indie more so but to each his own. My hometown is louisville ky and indie has played 2 bands who started there my morning jacket and vhs or beta. Back to the original post indie has at least pushed kroq a bit over the past several years to play more newer alternative not active rock acts.
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