KTBZ format classification

[ericspin]

I notice in the Arbitron ratings, and everywhere else that I've seen, The Buzz is still classified as Alternative. It seems to me that over the past 5 years or so, they've been leaning more and more Active Rock. I don't listen that much anymore, but they really seemed Active Rock when I was listening to them this weekend. Their playlist leans more towards what you would see on the Active Rock charts than the Alternative charts. Does anyone have any insight on why? Just wondering...

 

[purpledevil]

In my estimation, KTBZ began leaning more active rock than alternative when KLOL abandoned rock altogether. This also began the "New Rock Alternative" moniker for The Buzz. It is certainly when they began playing Metallica, as that had never been the case before the demise of Rock 101.

 

[ericspin]

So who determines the stations format classification? Example: Does the radio station report a classification or does Arbitron classify them?

 

[davideduardo]

So who determines the stations format classification? Example: Does the radio station report a classification or does Arbitron classify them?

Arbitron has a list of fairly broad format labels, and stations select the one closest to what they are doing. This is done when the station files or updates its Station Information Packet (SIP).

If a station picks one that does not really represent the genre of their format, other stations in the market can lodge an objection based on the other station misrepresenting its format.

 

[rageradio]

Actually KTBZ has played Metallica way before KLOL left the rock format going back to their days at 107.5. They took over Manditory Metallica the very day KLOL flipped.

 

[stan]

The classicification could stay wrong for years. Even thought its about six months old, KROI is still listed as gospel. Go figure.

 

[johndavis]

The classicification could stay wrong for years. Even thought its about six months old, KROI is still listed as gospel. Go figure.

That's only on this website. If you look in the book, it reads "All News"

As for KTBZ, since the line between Active Rock and Alternative has been blurry for the past several years, who cares? It certainly doesn't stop people from listening to it.

 

[bobbybooey]

The Buzz is actually much more Alternative leaning now than they were a few years ago. Look at their playlist today: Gotye, Cage The Elephant, Black Keys, Dirty Heads, Fun, Awolnation, Neon Trees... a good chunk of their currents are Alt hits that I'd be surprised to see making a big dent in the Active chart. Sure they're also banging the Evans Blue and Chevelle and Shinedown tracks that show up on both charts, but when was the last time the Buzz played Five Finger Death Punch or Halestorm or a new track from Disturbed? They're more Active than KROQ or Live 105, but they fit Houston much better than either of those stations would.

 

[ericspin]

They're more Active than KROQ or Live 105, but they fit Houston much better than either of those stations would.

Good point, bobbybooey. You'd definitely reach more of the mainstream audience in Houston by leaning Active Rock as an Alternative station.

As for KTBZ, since the line between Active Rock and Alternative has been blurry for the past several years, who cares? It certainly doesn't stop people from listening to it.

True, but I guess as a hardcore music fan that's been following radio since I was 7, I do think there's a big difference between the two. Like I said, I don't listen much, but I guess they do some major dayparting -- more female friendly during the work day and harder at nights and weekends.

 

[johndavis]

True, but I guess as a hardcore music fan that's been following radio since I was 7, I do think there's a big difference between the two. Like I said, I don't listen much, but I guess they do some major dayparting -- more female friendly during the work day and harder at nights and weekends.

Most Houston rock stations don't fit well into boxes. If you import a playlist from somewhere else, you'll tank. You have to sound like Houston.

That makes certain heads explode on this board because it doesn't sound like San Antonio or Dallas or wherever, but they all get lots of listeners, which really is the only thing that matters.

The average person driving down the street turning on the radio isn't going to debate whether the station they listen to fits its industry standard format label, he/she just cares whether the station gives them what they want. That may mean straddling the line between formats and shifting with tastes.

I used to get hung up on being pure to a format. Then, about 20 years ago I sat in on an auditorium test that became an impromptu focus group. We were doing a smooth jazz station but we didn't want to call it jazz because we were afraid that people wouldn't listen to it if we said that (and let's face it, "smooth jazz" has never really been jazz anyway.) We called it smooth rhythms instead. The audience couldn't understand why we didn't call it jazz. Of course, in their mind, Sade and Anita Baker was what they called jazz and none of them knew who Brubeck was. So we started calling the station what they thought it should have been called and played the songs they thought we should play and built a winner 25-54 that ran from the early 90's until last year.

Listen to your audience and your audience will listen to you. It's the only thing that matters.

 

[careful705]

Listen to your audience and your audience will listen to you. It's the only thing that matters.

No, no, no!!! You are supposed to just ram it down the listeners' respective throats... Regardless of anything else because you know what is good for them!!!!!!!!!

 

[RockTheGlobe]

In my estimation, KTBZ began leaning more active rock than alternative when KLOL abandoned rock altogether. This also began the "New Rock Alternative" moniker for The Buzz. It is certainly when they began playing Metallica, as that had never been the case before the demise of Rock 101.

One artist/song a format designation doth not make. KROQ in Los Angeles, seen by many as the flagship Alternative station in the country, routinely plays Metallica, and both KROQ and its Clear Channel competitor, 98-7fm, play GNR's "Welcome to the Jungle." You have to look at the entire picture and see what direction the majority of a station's playlist is going in.