The only 2Pac song I've heard on The Wave is "Dear Mama" which is a pretty slow and smooth song, at least compared to his other hits. I can see how it "fits" into the format.
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KTWV is sounding great right now
- Thread starter Brandon1993
- Start date
As this is in the Los Angeles section, it's always important to point out that KTWV depends far more on Hispanic and non-Hispanic white listeners than Blacks. While there always is a solid Black core at KTWV, they would not have the following (cume) that they do without the other groups. In particular, some of the European groups... from countries where "dance" rhythmic formats are still very strong... such as Armenians... just love KTWV.
An LA station is not going to do that unless it is an independent Class A or an AM.
Again, the market does not have a big enough African American core to sustain that format. The Wave works because it appeals across "color lines" but a pure Adult R&B / Urban AC would not as those pure plays generally depend on well over 90% Black cume.
And if you look at the listening, it is predominantly Hispanic, followed by non-Hispanic white followed by Black.
Way back in 1994 in a former big deal AM country station in Akron [WSLR, now WARF] began running the Westwood One format "The Touch". From Wikipedia: "The Touch" radio format is an Urban AC (Adult Contemporary) format that primarily plays R&B music, including both classic and contemporary hits, targeting a female and adult audience between the ages of 25 and 54. It features artists like Mary J. Blige, Michael Jackson, and Alicia Keys, and incorporates entertainment news and smooth imaging.' Some of the songs wouldn't have been out of place on a "Wave" type station.
I never bothered back then to check the ratings so I have no idea how it fared.
As an old, white guy {had to check "down below" to make sure I hadn't changed to a female cause that's who they were targeting} I thought the format was great but figured it might not last long [I was sort of right & wrong] because the group they were targeting were more than likely listening to FM stations by then. I guess it lasted for just short of 5 years before they switched to ESPN in '99 and FOX sports in 2001. Changed the call letters to WARF in '05and were "progressive talk" for a couple of years and now have a sports betting format. Too bad we can't have call letters starting with "B" because "Barf" would fit their current format as far as I am concerned.
True! When it was Smooth Jazz, KTWV found that sweet spot with appeal to multiple groups. At the time, it was among CBS Radio's most profitable stations. I heard that New York's Smooth Jazz station, CD 101.9, had roughly equal listeners among whites, blacks and Hispanics. I would imagine The Wave today is trying to stay in that zone.
As someone who doesn't listen to Adult R&B/Urban AC, I can still recognize and enjoy most songs played by KTWV. It's nearly all crossover hits along with some pop tunes that fit in. But when I listen to XHRM San Diego, I don't enjoy that mix because I recognize very little.
I'm not Brandon but I think I'll reply anyway. First, as pointed out by others, KTWV is not going all in on rap, just some of the smoother-sounding songs. Second, the market for KTWV's past sound is ageing and I'm guessing the station is hoping to attract younger Hispanics and African-americans with its 90s picks. Third, there are areas, including some that have the targeted demographic, that have trouble receiving the KDAY/KDEY signal over the air mainly because the signals overlap with each other in these areas. I actually think this is a very intelligent move on the part of Audacy and I hope it works out for them.
And there are huge areas such as the San Fernando Valley and most of the OC that have no usable signal at all from KDAY. KDEY is an out of market signal.
The New York metro Black and Hispanic populations are about of equal size, and were back then, too, In LA, in 25-54 the market is about 52% Hispanic and around 8% Black. It's only about 25% non-Hispanic white, in fact.
You nailed it. Traditional Urban AC has, generally, over 90% or more of its cume among Blacks. It is not a crossover format.
KTWV is bringing the Jammin Oldies vibes a life, the Dazz Band-Let it Whip which played to death on Jammin Oldies stations back in the day, Jody Watley Looking for a new Love. It sounded odd with the overall imaging and presentation (from the jocks), too laid back. Maybe some further changes in the works in the coming weeks.
Well, if they really are commencing a slow evolution into "Power Gold" as K.M. Richards called it, I have their new callsign for them: KPWV.
Ha like that would happen. They’re better off not playing that record at all due to the sexual content in the song.
The Power Wave - 94.7 FM. Oh, I hope not!
K.M. Richards
Program Director, The Eighties Channel™
Over the weekend, I looked at the year-to-date playlist for KTWV and a significant number of songs that are associated with a "smooth Urban AC" (which is how best I can describe the format 94.7 transitioned to from Smooth Jazz) were unceremoniously dropped at the end of July.
And I mean "dropped" as in having July spin totals that equated to a couple of spins per day.
I don't know what else to think except that my original take may turn out to be accurate.
And I mean "dropped" as in having July spin totals that equated to a couple of spins per day.
I don't know what else to think except that my original take may turn out to be accurate.
My point exactly, which is why I used that specific song as an example. Can't begin to imagine the outrage from The Wave's core listeners.
KRTH 101 have played "Nuthin' But A G Thang" and "Gin & Juice" surprisingly.
Is Jhani Kaye still programming KTWV? If so, what is he thinking? If it's not broken, don't fix it.
K.M. Richards
Program Director, The Eighties Channel™
No. Jhani retired 12 years ago.
I see Ralph Stewart was PD until March of this year. Gone due to staffing cuts. Do you know who' now has oversight of KTWV? This would be the person responsible for the changes.
K.M. Richards
Program Director, The Eighties Channel™
No idea, Kat. I have no inside contacts at Audacy Los Angeles anymore after all the cuts.
But it's not necessarily the PD who is "responsible". Corporate may have dictated a change in direction, for all I know.
But it's not necessarily the PD who is "responsible". Corporate may have dictated a change in direction, for all I know.
It's interesting to note that The Wave has, generally, been classified as "Urban AC" because of the inability of a true Urban AC to work in LA is obvious: the market is only between 6% and 7% Black, depending on the demo you look at.
In markets other than LA and SF, "Urban AC" stations have over 90% Black listeners. That just does not yield the correct ratings math in LA, so the target is broader "rhythmic" listeners. That means Hispanics, Eastern Europeans from nations where rhythmic pop has always been popular, urban-influenced whites and, of course, Blacks.
I remember the old positioner used in LA of "no color lines". The Wave is doing that right now. But this is not really an Urban AC station. If corporate has tried to make it more "urban", they don't know the market. But if the research reveals that this is where the target audience "lives" now, then they did the right thing.
The Wave has played “What’s Luv” by Fat Joe, Ashanti & Ja Rule earlier this morning.