KRTH Back To #1

[davideduardo]

David, I'm just pointing out the fact that as KRTH has ALREADY gone to #1 in Los Angeles, that WCBSFM is headed for #1 in New York City (now as for the latter's 72-YEAR-OLD MORNING HOST, it don't even work for ME in NY!! But since I'm not in either KRTH or WCBSFM's target demo....)

But actially, CBS-FM was doing better late last year and early this year. Back then it got as high as #2 in 25-54.

In the last 4 books, they have been 4th, 5th, 6th and 5th in 25-54. Well off the peak. And in 12+ (which I had to set up to look at as I don't have it normally programmed in my demo selections), they are averaging a full two points behind WLTW of late, and don't look like they could possibly move into first any time soon.

 

[andreajesus]

But actially, CBS-FM was doing better late last year and early this year. Back then it got as high as #2 in 25-54.

In the last 4 books, they have been 4th, 5th, 6th and 5th in 25-54. Well off the peak. And in 12+ (which I had to set up to look at as I don't have it normally programmed in my demo selections), they are averaging a full two points behind WLTW of late, and don't look like they could possibly move into first any time soon.

And yet.....even with the differences in demographics - at some point, WCBSFM will more likely than not, accomplish what K-Earth has already done so - the recent success of BOTH stations have, I believe, been partially because of the willingness to dump oldies and embrace a more 80's/early 90's kinda sound (i'm old enough to remember when BOTH stations were REAL oldies stations - PERIOD!)

 

[Gregg.]

It's amazing how well Entercom, originally CBS Radio, does with Classic Hits stations. I'm not sure any other owner has this success in any other format...

WCBS-FM NYC...........#2
KRTH LA....................#1
KLUV Dallas..............#3
WIAD Washington......#13 tie (this one is still fairly new)
WOGL Philadelphia.....#6
WMXJ Miami...............#5
WOMC Detroit.............#3
KOOL Phoenix.............#4
KXSN San Diego.........#2

I wonder if Entercom would be wise to return WODS Boston to Classic Hits and create a true battle with Beasley-owned WROR, one of the most successful Classic Hits stations in the U.S., book after book. WODS still has the "OlDieS" call letters when it had been in that format, even though we wouldn't say "oldies" today. WODS is really not doing great as a Top 40 station.

 

[Gregg.]

And one more. KKHH Houston is listed as Adult Hits. But looking at its playlist, it sounds more like KRTH than KCBS-FM. KKHH is #5.

 

[TheBigA]

And one more. KKHH Houston is listed as Adult Hits. But looking at its playlist, it sounds more like KRTH than KCBS-FM. KKHH is #5.

The playlist might appear that way, but the station has no jocks.

 

[davideduardo]

The playlist might appear that way, but the station has no jocks.

It has no jocks, has Adult Hits formatics and has more of an adult hits era map for the music than a pure classic hits station.

But obviously, it is filling two voids in the market, and doing it well.

 

[John FL]

It's amazing how well Entercom, originally CBS Radio, does with Classic Hits stations. I'm not sure any other owner has this success in any other format...

WCBS-FM NYC...........#2
KRTH LA....................#1
KLUV Dallas..............#3
WIAD Washington......#13 tie (this one is still fairly new)
WOGL Philadelphia.....#6
WMXJ Miami...............#5
WOMC Detroit.............#3
KOOL Phoenix.............#4
KXSN San Diego.........#2

WOCl Orlando is worth a mention too. That station is having its best numbers this year. They are #1 in 6+. CBS Radio's Classic Hits was the gold standard for others to follow. I'm delighted Entercom has not messed with success. There have been subtle changes from CBS Radio but then it's probably more in the natural order of things than anything else.

 

[ChannelFlipper]

The playlist might appear that way, but the station has no jocks.

With very few exceptions, jocks are the most overrated part of any station. There are certain exceptions, such as major morning and afternoon drive stars, but they can be counted on about 10 fingers or less.

 

[davideduardo]

With very few exceptions, jocks are the most overrated part of any station. There are certain exceptions, such as major morning and afternoon drive stars, but they can be counted on about 10 fingers or less.

I believe that this is an underestimation of the value of jocks.

While the adhesive or mortar that holds your shower head into the wall is not what one thinks about when showering, the device will not work at all without it.

In many formats, jocks are the glue that holds things together. Even when voice tracked, the importance can not be downplayed.

 

[TheBigA]

With very few exceptions, jocks are the most overrated part of any station. There are certain exceptions, such as major morning and afternoon drive stars, but they can be counted on about 10 fingers or less.

Regardless they're an integral part of what defines the classic hits format.

 

[SuperRadioFan]

With very few exceptions, jocks are the most overrated part of any station. There are certain exceptions, such as major morning and afternoon drive stars, but they can be counted on about 10 fingers or less.

For the most part except for 88.5 FM jocks who know how to be concise without being overbearing; the music is always the star of course, but the jocks there are not just song and artist IDers

 

[hotpatrick2004]

Couldnt disagree more. I like bein entertained by the jock. I just dont want to here music.

 

[ChannelFlipper]

Couldnt disagree more. I like bein entertained by the jock. I just dont want to here music.

I am glad that out of four responses, all disagree. That means there is passion for radio, which I share (that is why we are all here). But you are all radio lovers who care and/or radio insiders that believe. Talk to people who actually use radio more normally - as background music.

The fact of the matter is, for most listeners of music stations (and again, I am not talking about morning shows that are obviously personality based) the jocks are very replaceable. If you turned over the entire jock roster at most stations, few listeners would notice, even fewer would care, and almost never would it affect listener behavior. This goes even double for stations like KOST, where Jhani micro-managed every voice inflection so that all jocks could sound alike saying "along.......the KOST".

 

[TheBigA]

This goes even double for stations like KOST, where Jhani micro-managed every voice inflection so that all jocks could sound alike saying "along.......the KOST".

That's OK...you don't want every station to sound the same or approach radio the exact same way.

 

[oldies76]

With very few exceptions, jocks are the most overrated part of any station. There are certain exceptions, such as major morning and afternoon drive stars, but they can be counted on about 10 fingers or less.

Today's younger jocks know little about true classic hits. They may have basic information, but lack the personalities of the true and classic K-Earth jocks like Mr. Rock & Roll, Real Don Steele, Jay Coffey, Lisa Moree, Shotgun Tom and so forth. And I truly remember back then, they were more personal with their audiences, had far more knowledge about the era and songs, and basically had some real fun on air, not to mention the great and popular musical presentations they provided to their listeners all week long and weekends. I know, because I was a frequent listener back then. Those days are unfortunately LONG gone.

 

[davideduardo]

Those days are unfortunately LONG gone.

As are listeners who want that type of radio presentation.

We get our information instantly on the web. We don't wait for a DJ to tell us what we already know about songs and artists. This is also the cause of the decline in TMZ and other entertainment based TV shows.

We don't need traffic; we have Waze.
We don't need weather; there's an app for that.
We're not in the mood for one-liners from a joke service. Times have changed.
Jingles singing about the station seem pretentious now.
Deep, resonant voices are out. Friendly real ones are in.
Dorothy is not in Kansas anymore, but you seem stuck in 1978.

John Travolta called. Tony Manero wants you back at the Odyssey Club.

 

[TheBigA]

Today's younger jocks know little about true classic hits. They may have basic information, but lack the personalities of the true and classic K-Earth jocks like Mr. Rock & Roll, Real Don Steele, Jay Coffey, Lisa Moree, Shotgun Tom and so forth.

Their style of presentation worked better with music of the 60s, which KRTH doesn't play anymore. Their music is mainly 80s, so their jocks should know 80s.

 

[oldies76]

Their style of presentation worked better with music of the 60s, which KRTH doesn't play anymore. Their music is mainly 80s, so their jocks should know 80s.

My point is that the jocks of today may play the 80's (what little of them they do play), but lack the insight to such music, as compared to the jocks who played big selections of the 50's, 60's and 70's and their insights. There are differences.

In other words, there will never be another "Mr. Rock & Roll" of today's classic hits, that's the point I'm making.

 

[CTListener]

My point is that the jocks of today may play the 80's (what little of them they do play), but lack the insight to such music,

More likely, they have plenty of insight but realize that they're playing songs their listeners know by acts their listeners know that were hits at least 30 years ago, and that there's nothing they could say about those songs and artists that would be of any interest to those listeners today. Oh, and those fans of the '80s music played on stations like KRTH today most likely got their background info on the singers and songs from the MTV VJs, not the jocks on their local Top 40 station. I don't recall jocks on Hartford's stations in those years putting any "insight" at all out there.

 

[TheBigA]

My point is that the jocks of today may play the 80's (what little of them they do play), but lack the insight to such music, as compared to the jocks who played big selections of the 50's, 60's and 70's and their insights. There are differences.

Popular music of the 50s and 60s received far less media coverage in that time than it would after the mid-70s. So really, pop DJs in that period had exclusive insights to music that was becoming increasingly very popular. As that happened, the musicians started to take more control of their image and their music. But for a short period of time, radio DJs could provide a window into a story very few people had. One example in the Ken Burns PBS series about country music is that fans didn't even know Charley Pride was black. The record label was able to hide that from the public. Brian Epstein tried to prevent the public from knowing John Lennon was married. Tom Parker didn't want the public to know that Elvis was dating a teenage girl. That could never happen today, and even by the 70s, that secret was impossible to keep. Also by the 70s, with the diversification of radio formats, the growth of popular music on TV, and the growth of fan magazines, the exclusivity the DJs had disappeared. That's why DJs of the 80s, such as Rick Dees at KIIS, talked less about the music and more about the lives of the stars. The "lifestyles of the rich & famous" became more interesting than giving insight into the music.