KVI To Flip To.....Regional Mexican?

[scott salvatori]

you boys are gettin' pretty deep here today......
mr bongwater, is correct in stating that AM radio today should be like FM in the 60's, a place to experiment and develop new formats, and resurrect classic formats. good point, and thats where we are headed, if/when the prices drop for AM outlets (that no one listens to in the major markets, per TV/R guru comment), you will gradually see this happen with new owners, who've been waitin' in the wings and have plans and vision, and have some money, and investments to liquidate. but, mr BW dont discount the talk as a wasteland just cause you dislike the dominate corporate right wing talking heads. as this country falls further into its debt based economic disaster, and political wars, Americans will continue to turn to talk for information. whats needed now, is an independent AM outlet that broadcasts constitutional based talk programs such as derry brownfield, joyce riley, alex jones, and dozens of other genesis communication network, and republic broadcast network shows. these shows are non corporate mainstream and needed on the AM seattle band now more than ever.

yes, music also has a place on the AM, for independent owner/programmers. AM, is just one part of this broadcast signal, along with joint world wide internet. will these independent AM outlets beat the big corporate FM's ratingswise? hell no! but, can they be a viable passion based niche and TSL winner? hell yes, with the right vision, strategy, business plan, and niche advertiser support. what kind of music can have a place on the AM in seattle? local/edgy rock/punk just like 1540 AM was, and programmed by those who know the scene and know the music. oh and yes........a real country lifestyle radio outlet, with real country music, past and present, programmed by those who know the scene, and know the music. i wonder who that could be?

 

[davideduardo]

yes, music also has a place on the AM, for independent owner/programmers.

Those people already have a place... it's called "The Internet."

 

[TVradioguru]

yes, music also has a place on the AM, for independent owner/programmers.

So let's see.. Will your average listener or advertiser (again not a hobbyist), be interested in listening-to, or spending money on a form of media which audio quality is worse than a land line phone call? Will artists all vying for the attention of the portable player and phone market benefit by putting their music on a old, mono, noisy, narrow-band form of media? Will independently wealthy individuals want to own the most costly way to broadcast to forward garage bands? I believe you know the answer to all those questions. Even in the hay-days of the previously referred-to stations like KJET, how long were they around? Clearly even back in the old days when all there was is AM and FM music on AM stations didn't make it. Why would you think that would be different today? You're forgetting that people get into business to make money. Owning an AM station for whatever the cause is a money loser.

With all the other choices in getting media out via streaming to the Internet, Podcasts, MP3, even handing out CD's on a street corner, nobody with half a lick of sense would spend potentially millions or even hundreds of thousands it takes to purchase and operate an AM station.

 

[qtpieislit]

yes, music also has a place on the AM, for independent owner/programmers.

So let's see.. Will your average listener or advertiser (again not a hobbyist), be interested in listening-to, or spending money on a form of media which audio quality is worse than a land line phone call? Will artists all vying for the attention of the portable player and phone market benefit by putting their music on a old, mono, noisy, narrow-band form of media? Will independently wealthy individuals want to own the most costly way to broadcast to forward garage bands? I believe you know the answer to all those questions. Even in the hay-days of the previously referred-to stations like KJET, how long were they around? Clearly even back in the old days when all there was is AM and FM music on AM stations didn't make it. Why would you think that would be different today? You're forgetting that people get into business to make money. Owning an AM station for whatever the cause is a money loser.

With all the other choices in getting media out via streaming to the Internet, Podcasts, MP3, even handing out CD's on a street corner, nobody with half a lick of sense would spend potentially millions or even hundreds of thousands it takes to purchase and operate an AM station.

C'mon now, haven't heard that heterodyne listening is coming back into style. When a new generation finds out that you can listen to music with a tinge of skywave mixed in, it going to excite the masses all over again.

 

[Dan Sys]

how many English music AM stations currently are there still in major markets like Seattle in the US? If any, how many are successful from a revenue or ratings perspective?

Not the U.S., but in Vancouver the only remaining English language AM station playing music (mix of Standards & Oldies) CISL 650 has huge numbers in the PPM's. Bigger than CFOX & CFMI, and running neck & neck with sister station CKZZ (Virgin Radio):
http://bbm.ca/_documents/radio_mark...line_radio_reports_-_vancouver_10-07-2010.pdf

 

[davideduardo]

Not the U.S., but in Vancouver the only remaining English language AM station playing music (mix of Standards & Oldies) CISL 650 has huge numbers in the PPM's. Bigger than CFOX & CFMI, and running neck & neck with sister station CKZZ (Virgin Radio):

Were the station in the US on a comparable facility, it might get similar numbers. However, since most of the listening is over 65, there would be nearly no sales in the US media buying environment, and the station would fail.

 

[LITTLEBOYBLUE]

Ya'al should listen to the station Monday afternoon. It may relieve your stress. For example, the whole 2p hour.

 

[Wonderfulwino]

Fear not. AM will survive. It has, however, become the "B" side on the 45. But it will live on. Why? Because its free. People will always gravitate to free..Subscription listening is not going the same direction as subscription viewing. The age of "password burnout" is not far off..People are growing tired of having to register for everything all while supplying a VISA card number.
I hope KVI Seattle ("city by the sound") holds it together in some format. If anything, I really don't want to see another Seattle 3 letter call become one with the radio ages..

 

[TVradioguru]

C'mon now, haven't heard that heterodyne listening is coming back into style. When a new generation finds out that you can listen to music with a tinge of skywave mixed in, it going to excite the masses all over again.

Just like the Model T and wire recorders are making a big comeback? Yeah, right.

 

[Bongwater]

So here's a trivia quiz for you armchair programmers; how many English music AM stations currently are there still in major markets like Seattle in the US? If any, how many are successful from a revenue or ratings perspective?

You guessed it, these are loaded questions. By actual listener perspective, not old-timer hobbyists, AM is considered an inferior form of media with poor audio quality, difficult reception and noise.

Here's a trivia question for YOU: How many AM stations (outside of heritage 50,000 watt news/talk blowtorches like KGO) PERIOD are successful in your criteria?

Not very many.

So why not have a little FUN with it before you dismantle the entire medium to the scrap dealer?

I know the concept of "fun" isn't the greatest moneymaker in the biz, but they say it's good for your soul.......

 

[TVradioguru]

Tell you what Bong, why don't you and Scott pool your vast resources and buy a 1-5,000 watt local AM station out there in the boonies then program it with garage band music. Since clearly the both of you know more than those of us here who actually work in the industry, we all look forward reading the results.

Even better; swing by your local bank or lending institution and tell them about your thoughts of having fun. I am confident that your lack of any tangible business plan, they would be eager to lend you whatever capital you need to purchase and operate some AM station.

 

[RealityBites]

Wow....interesting thoughts here. I think if you are patient you will see how AM
will finally find a home amongst all of this technology improvements and choices.

Remember vinyl? Well CD did kill it for a while. But there is something sonic about vinyl.
More importantly remember the Casio digital watches with the red led faces? Probably the
greatest example of how our human brains are wired. In regards to the Casio we preferred the
look of a traditional watch face. Today people still wear watches when every cell phone has the
time on them. What does all this mean?

AM doesn't have to be super profitable and efficient to still work.
I'm old enough to remember when I thought programming a radio station correctly was akin to art.

The bottom line is that if you provide fantastic and compelling content, people will listen.
If AM stations become more affordable, someone just might find this business model attractive.

The argument all comes down to one issue. The value of the AM stations. Until you see them go up for sale at 1/4 of their worth, nothing is really changing. If and when that does happen, local programming might benefit as a small operator could put on some great content.

 

[LITTLEBOYBLUE]

The bottom line is that if you provide fantastic and compelling content, people will listen.

I think that's the winning argument! I used to worry about the OTHER end of this life cycle ... how to seed new technologies. We'd get into chicken and egg arguments ... "Gotta have CD-ROM readers out there before we'll build app's for them" ... "gotta build great applications to get CD-ROM readers out there". The latter argument won ... no one will invest in new technology unless there is a compelling reason for it (hence the performance of HD radio -- turns out to be the same ol' %%%% you can get anywhere else -- especially the 'net). If people make a compelling case to listen to a station, it will survive. That's what has carried AM for the last 20 years. Problem is we've niched ourselves into believing the examples from the last twenty years are the ONLY viable option for the band.

Sometimes it just takes trial/error, innovation, and above all, COMMON SENSE to get past the same-old same-old that caused the staleness in the first place.

Great comment, RB

 

[scott salvatori]

some good comments above from reply #31

the whole indie/garage band stuff on AM could work in select cities, with a big local hipster music scene. the key question is, what kind of support are you gonna get from the concert venues, and other advertisers? what is the price for the AM outlet? who you gonna get to program the music? obviously, somewhere out there is the "key hip stoner", fresh out of high school, who lives and breaths the music scene, knows the peeps, has the knowledge, and social contacts, and prob plays in a band himself. this is the man/kid/punk genius you want. AM radio can work in combo with all the other box computer social network things the kids listen to. if the AM station owner was smart, he'd even work out a deal with a local music venue to locate the studio in house, in exchange for the advertisement etc.

are there any AM indies out there trying this? i know local indie rock was tried in calgary, a couple 3 years ago on the AM, at CKMX 1160, before they switched to classic country. there is a bit on the u-tube, about the format change controversy.

i dont know boys, i did enjoy 1540 AM "rock of the 80's" KZAM in the jr high/high school days. it was the next musical hip step that gave us the pretenders,devo,ramones,missing persons, elvis costello, sex pistols, and psycodelic furs, which was a lot more cooler than the jocks and their mainstream led zeppified KZOK/KISW music scene at the time. just think, somewhere out there is the next step in rock music, and a few young hip to the musical scene, stoner punks, that despise KNDD as too commercial and lame...........................

 

[dunno]

Big meeting today at the crystal palace to announce the new format!

Today's Salsa and Hispanic hits!

Line up

5am-noon Larry (Bongster as Cheech)
noon-5am Scott (aka Chong)
All weekend the "Write off Show" with Boss Bill!

Take it to press.

 

[Jay Peninger]

The bottom line is that if you provide fantastic and compelling content, people will listen.
If AM stations become more affordable, someone just might find this business model attractive.

I think you are exactly right and I think that is also a perfect example of why Podcasting has exploded in the last couple years and is seeing tremendous growth. With Podcasting there is a little something for everyone and these Podcasters are putting out compelling content in many cases.

As applications are developed to improve the delivery of podcasts this medium will see much more growth. The Stitcher application which lets you stream your favorite Podcasts in a seamless fashion seems to be the best I have seen so far at getting this done.

Bottom line is if you put on quality content then people are eventually going to find you... I think AM can be secure in the knowledge that as long as they provide a quality product to listen too there will always be people willing to listen.

 

[TVradioguru]

"Quality content" according to who, you, Bong, Scott, BlueBoy? What about the hundreds of thousands of other people that may, or may not listen? That's simply an open ended answer akin to answering 'I don't need money, just faith'. AM is the most expensive way to broadcast, yet you seem to think it's similar to streaming. It goes to show how little experience you have with what it costs to broadcast.

I also find it ironic that some of you use the term AM and quality in the same paragraph. AM is horrible quality as compared with a cheap portable audio player of your choice.

Nobody yet answered my question about how long a station like KJET lasted, even back in the what, late 70s? I think the reason that you didn't answer is you know what the answer is, but don't want to admit it. When someone can simply download their favorite music genres to their car or portable player, why would they even attempt to listen to a mono, noisy, scratchy and expensive-to-operate form of media?

Oh and one other thing.. My wife's new car, doesn't even have an AM radio in it. FM, Sirius/XM, DVD, IPod connection, yes, AM nope. And how many young people even own an AM radio, let alone would think the inferior quality is acceptable? I believe you know that answer too.

No offense, but you folks need to join the realities of the 21st Century and adapt.

 

[LITTLEBOYBLUE]

"Quality content" according to who, you, Bong, Scott, BlueBoy

I frankly don't care what a station does...unless they can digitize Xanax and send it out 5Kw 24/7 in which case I'd GLADLY offer an RX for your headphones.

Crap almighty....MELLOW OUT.

 

[345palm]

The word is out: Oldies. Tom Hutyler and Marina Rockinger from KOMO are doing mornings.

 

[IndigoCoyote]

I remember in the 70s when 101.5 was "The FM KVI"- would be kind of ironic if we finally got the flip to simulcast with Star 101.5..."570-The AM KPLZ!"

Dumber things have happened...not many, but at least a few.