KYOT - New Format A Bummer!

[landtuna]

Seems The Coyote has altered its format and play list from Smooth Jazz to something called 'Smooth'. A more upbeat sound featuring vocals instead of the previous mostly instrumental format. Yesterday evening I listened to over an hour and heard a succession of tracks that could best be described as "mild urban". UGH!

I, for one, am greatly disappointed and emailed my opinion to their PD this morning. I know CC needs to make money and I also realize the SJ format appears to be dying but it is very upsetting that the last remaining "beautiful music" format in Phoenix has now disappeared.

Akbar can now campaign unobstructed to put KF-whine-I on 95.5. It doesn't matter to me any longer.

 

[buster2]

CC has a conundrum. They know they should put KFYI on FM, but none of their FMs are weak. Some are stronger than others, obviously, but they all bill pretty well. Unless one of the FMs is actually losing money, it's hard to justify killing a format to bring KFYI to FM. Clearly, there are people at CC Phoenix who would love KYOT to tank to help KFYI, but it's not happened yet. This begs the question: Is there a Class C FM in Phoenix that is truly weak in terms of billing? KDKB's ratings aren't huge, but since Sandusky has little debt to service, they probably are still a money-maker. Is any full power FM in town losing money?

 

[Hamp]

I for one think that KYOT needed to go in this direction. Without a full-fledged Urban AC in the market, this is a good alternative for those live in the valley that like this music, but there aren't any options.

 

[azenergyfan]

This is only a temporary format. This will give the suits enough amo to say we "tried" something new with KYOT and it didn't fly. Come fall it is Fox News FYI 95-5. ;-)

 

[jerry85303]

The new music mix at KYOT isn't a bummer at all...what seems to be the bummer is the jock delivery…there's a real disconnect between the laid back smooth jazz delivery and the more up tempo music mix. Either more energy (live not v-track) from the current line-up or a new lineup that fits the new music? How about a consistant branding voice too. Which is it...the smooth jazz (voice of God) guy, or the "new sound of smooth" KYOT guy for promo-branding-ID stuff?

 

[landtuna]

I for one think that KYOT needed to go in this direction. Without a full-fledged Urban AC in the market, this is a good alternative for those live in the valley that like this music, but there aren't any options.

Considering the Black population is very small in the Valley (and yes, I know urban AC isn't exclusively loved by the Black community) I would think the number of potential listeners is far greater with the Smooth Jazz format than Urban AC.

No?

 

[pattiwacki]

How about half and half at least? I think Melissa is doing a fine job.

 

[landtuna]

I've got no problem with the DJ's. Just the playlist.

 

[XMportable]

I must say that I like both smooth jazz and Urban AC. the problem with KYOT is that they choose to play safe PLAYED OUT 70's/80's soul hits. This format already exist on MEGA 104.3. I'd like to hear more newer hits also. Etc. Maxwell, Eric Robertson, Eryka Badu, Fantasia. They have hit records too that are being ignored completely by Phoenix radio. How about 95.5 "NEW" urban AC music 95.5 HD2 smooth jazz or vice versa.

 

[azenergyfan]

They can try and try and try (and I am a big fan of Urban AC) but the future is FYI 95-5. This is just to satisfy the "powers that be" that they tried something else besides smooth jazz.

 

[XMportable]

I hope its not true. KFYI is already on 102.5 HD-2 on the Fm dial if you have HD.If so I will keep on XMing it. ;D

 

[KeithE4]

I hope its not true. KFYI is already on 102.5 HD-2 on the Fm dial if you have HD.If so I will keep on XMing it. ;D

That's the problem: Few people have HD radios.

 

[XMportable]

At least,you have a more free choice:

If you like RUSH radio: HD = $40-$50 for portable HD & FREE subscription. or just tune your AM dial for FREE!!!

If you like Urban AC & live in Phoenix: XM = $200+ for portable & $12.95/month
stream phone internet = costly mobile cost.

 

[KOOL Listener Lauren]

My new used car has a satellite radio (with no subscription - and no thank you)... I'd love to have an HD Radio in the car. Anyone have one?

 

[landtuna]

My new used car has a satellite radio...

You mean.....<sob!>.....the Old Green Latrine....<cry!>....died in the crash?

Mercury's needed all the help.....and....<choke!>.....you trashed yours?

Oh the humanity!!! ;D

 

[davideduardo]

Considering the Black population is very small in the Valley (and yes, I know urban AC isn't exclusively loved by the Black community) I would think the number of potential listeners is far greater with the Smooth Jazz format than Urban AC.

If you look at the audience composition of a typical Urban AC, such as Majic in Houston, you see that above 90% of their AQH listening comes from African Americans. That limits the format in a place like Phoenix, unless the format itself is diluted, and what comes out of that is "Rhythmic Oldies."

 

[landtuna]

Considering the Black population is very small in the Valley (and yes, I know urban AC isn't exclusively loved by the Black community) I would think the number of potential listeners is far greater with the Smooth Jazz format than Urban AC.

If you look at the audience composition of a typical Urban AC, such as Majic in Houston, you see that above 90% of their AQH listening comes from African Americans. That limits the format in a place like Phoenix, unless the format itself is diluted, and what comes out of that is "Rhythmic Oldies."

I didn't understand your response. The point I was trying to make was that Urban AC would be a long shot in the Valley due primarily to the very small percentage of Blacks living here. You seem to acknowledge that but then say something about Rhythmic Oldies. ???

 

[johndavis]

I didn't understand your response. The point I was trying to make was that Urban AC would be a long shot in the Valley due primarily to the very small percentage of Blacks living here. You seem to acknowledge that but then say something about Rhythmic Oldies. ???

I'm not David, but I totally understand what he's trying to say.

I live in Houston, so I know the station he's comparing (KMJQ). Its audience is about 90% African American and 10% everyone else. There's enough of an African American population to support that Urban AC, an Urban station, a Gospel FM, and still have a couple of AM stations hanging on with Gospel & Black talk/brokered programming.

If you're in a city like Phoenix with a small African American population, you have to change the music and presentation to make the station accessible to other ethnic groups. By the time you've done that, you no longer have an Urban AC station. You might end up with Rhythmic Oldies, but it's no longer Urban AC.

There's a whole lot of African American culture (more than just the music) that comes along for the ride with an Urban format that you have to strip out to make the format friendly to people who aren't immersed in that culture - and once you do that, the format is no longer Urban.

See also the difference between an Urban station and a Rhythmic CHR. They may play some of the same titles, but the way that the jocks interact, the events that define the station, the culture that's between the records is totally different.

Other people in the thread were pointing to the success of XHRM in San Diego and saying that's how an Urban AC could work in Phoenix. Sure, once you strip the blackness out of Urban AC and add in a heavy Latino influence you might get some attention... but you end up with something that's rhythmic, but not Urban.

 

[landtuna]

I'm not David, but I totally understand what he's trying to say.

Got it. But I thought that's essentially what I was saying before (i.e., that an Urban AC station will not work in Phoenix due to the small Black population).

Anyway, thanks for the clarification.

 

[XMportable]

I think this format can & has worked. KUKQ & KMJK lasted several years as an Urban AC when the black population was HALF what it is today. One problem with the urban AC in the past is having a station that has a viable SIGNAL. Overtime these stations get more listeners once people have been exposed to artist that haven't been heard much on radio. Also to base listenership on race is a very corporate decision. How did majic 107 last from 1991 - 2001 on a BAD SIGNAL???? Side note: If you base a format sucess on demographics alone, how can there be a justification of 10-15 spanish language stations when MOST people clearly speak engilish. Are all thess stations sucessful???? How are they doing based on listenership??? or how can you justify 10 stations that play AC or CHR? When does it get saturated? I hear many people saying variety, variety, vatriety. That is why AM/FM radio is getting IGNORED. ???