L.A./Riverside-San Bernardino Arbitron Radio Ratings: May 2013

[Thomps2525]

How can you make such a preposterous claim? Wait a few more years and you can say that the music of 2010-19 is worse.

I doubt that classic-hits stations will ever play many of the 1990s-2000s rap and hip-hop hits. I also doubt that they'll play Celine Dion, Alicia Keys, Toni Braxton or Faith Hill. We'll probably hear Madonna, Usher, Rihanna, Beyoncé, Mariah Carey, Taylor Swift, Janet Jackson, No Doubt, Maroon 5, Boyz II Men, Backstreet Boys, *NSYNC, Gwen Stefani, Justin Timberlake, Savage Garden, Ace Of Base, Black Eyed Peas, and the more uptempo songs of Whitney Houston. And if that turns out to be the case, classic-hits stations will sound pretty much like today's adult contemporary stations. Yippee.

 

[Wildstyle K]

How can you make such a preposterous claim? Wait a few more years and you can say that the music of 2010-19 is worse.

Not me, due to the fact that there has been a lot of improvement from 2008-2013, although many people would disagree since once people get tired of new music they tend to believe that everything new sucks forever regardless of what it is.

I don't know about everyone else, but I judge mainly by lyrical content and instrumental production. I'd say the mid 00's was the weakest time period for both when it came to top 40 and rhythmic hit music. I didn't listen to much rock or pop rock and other stuff during that time so maybe there was a ton of good quality stuff on that side that I missed.

 

[sfradio]

Its sad that KBIG is number 1 when they are the most unoriginal station in LA, but when they where great during the 2000's they got mediocre ratings.

 

[jonbruce]

Right you are Wildstyle KDM. The tunes from '08-2013 are great. No, you did not miss anything of value from the mid 00's. Seems the only instruments used during that time were guitars and drums.

 

[Thomps2525]

That would have been a good time for the Ventures and Sandy Nelson to attempt a comeback.

David Eduardo can probably answer these questions: Do more men than women listen to music on iPods instead of FM? Is KBIG's audience mostly female? Is KIIS's audience mostly female? I'm trying to understand how KBIG can be number one in the ratings. What is KBIG's target audience? Their most-played songs this week are by Pink, Rihanna, Kelly Clarkson, Bruno Mars and Justin Timberlake. KBIG is like a "chicken-rock" version of KIIS.

 

[radio124]

And I'd like to know how KRTH did this time in 25-54. Are they still in 15th place? Better? Worse? Is the inclusion of more 80's and less 60's helping them? How did CBS-FM do in 25-54? I see they are in 2nd place 6+. Do they do better because there are less immigrants in the New York area so more people are familiar with the music?

 

[radio124]

I'll give an unscientific answer as to the success of KBIG. Pretend you are a 40 year old Hispanic female. You want to feel young and keep up with current music. You really enjoy the current hits by Pink, Kelly Clarkson, Bruno Mars,etc. but you're not too crazy about Lil Wayne or Drake that you might hear on KIIS. Therefore the station for you is KBIG.

 

[Thomps2525]

Okay, I'll pretend I'm a 40-year-old Hispanic female. And would you like me to tell you what I'm wearing right now? I wonder how many men listen to KBIG?---or KOST, for that matter.

Overall (and that's an adverb, not a reference to a pair of workpants), KROQ ranks 11th and KLAX ranks 13th, but in the 25-54 age group, KROQ's Kevin & Bean have the most-listened-to morning show and KLAX's El Cucuy (Reán Almendárez Coello) is second. Of course most people who listen to radio from 6-10 a.m. are doing so to hear news or traffic or entertaining DJs; music is of secondary importance. (That is my theory; opposing viewpoints are welcome.) Regarding KRTH, I like Gary Bryan but I can't stand to listen to his show because Lisa Stanley has such an irritating voice and, every time Gary makes a bad joke, she laughs boisterously as though it's the funniest thing she's ever heard in her life. She's like a female equivalent of Ed McMahon on The Tonight Show, only a hundred times worse.

 

[davideduardo]

David Eduardo can probably answer these questions: Do more men than women listen to music on iPods instead of FM? Is KBIG's audience mostly female? Is KIIS's audience mostly female? I'm trying to understand how KBIG can be number one in the ratings. What is KBIG's target audience? Their most-played songs this week are by Pink, Rihanna, Kelly Clarkson, Bruno Mars and Justin Timberlake. KBIG is like a "chicken-rock" version of KIIS.

KBIG is 2/3 female, average age 35. KiiS is 2/3 female, average age 25. This meshes with KOST, with similar demos and an average age closer to 45. They form a wall.

 

[davideduardo]

Overall (and that's an adverb, not a reference to a pair of workpants), KROQ ranks 11th and KLAX ranks 13th, but in the 25-54 age group, KROQ's Kevin & Bean have the most-listened-to morning show and KLAX's El Cucuy (Reán Almendárez Coello) is second.

KLAX' morning show is El Mandríl. Renán has been gone for about 5 years. He tried a Saturday show on KWKW which did not work, and was then on a station in ABQ, which went from showing something in Arbitron to showing nothing at all.

 

[davideduardo]

I'll give an unscientific answer as to the success of KBIG. Pretend you are a 40 year old Hispanic female. You want to feel young and keep up with current music. You really enjoy the current hits by Pink, Kelly Clarkson, Bruno Mars,etc. but you're not too crazy about Lil Wayne or Drake that you might hear on KIIS. Therefore the station for you is KBIG.

Actually, KBIG significantly underindexes with Hispanics. I'd be of the opinion that the light alternative stuff is what blows them off. It's KIIS, AMP or KHHT for Hispanic women... with KOST at the upper end.

 

[davideduardo]

And I'd like to know how KRTH did this time in 25-54. Are they still in 15th place?

They moved up one notch, but are well below the numbers for the last half of 2012.

How did CBS-FM do in 25-54? I see they are in 2nd place 6+. Do they do better because there are less immigrants in the New York area so more people are familiar with the music?

CBS FM is at the same general level they have been since January. They are higher than the last half of last year, though.

While the larger number of Hispanic immigrants in LA does affect the market, the real bubble is in 18-34, not the KRTH demos. NY has fewer first generation Hispanics, many more 40+ Puerto Ricans who grew up either in NY or in PR where English Top 40 songs were played a lot. But NY also has a huge non-Hispanic immigrant population, as a cab ride or two will show you. NY has no alternative station, but a bigger CHR Top 40 heritage, IMHO... and that is much of CBS's strong position.

 

[Thomps2525]

I apologize for naming "El Cucuy" as KLAX morning man. Obviously I don't listen to the station. Hey, at least I didn't say Joaquin Garza!

David, we've been discussing KRTH and KOLA and the trend away from 1960s oldies. Do you think an r&b-oriented 1950s-60s-70s oldies format such as KRLA had in the mid-1990s would work on FM in Los Angeles today?

 

[HIPHOPJUNKI]

Radio is Just DEAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[uncamark]

Radio is Just DEAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Then why does the majority of the American public still listen to radio? Why is not appealing to elitist tastes killing radio?

 

[Wildstyle K]

Radio is Just DEAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Then why does the majority of the American public still listen to radio?

.... Zombie Apocalypse?

 

[johndavis]

Do you think an r&b-oriented 1950s-60s-70s oldies format such as KRLA had in the mid-1990s would work on FM in Los Angeles today?

To a 45 year old, old-school R&B is Rick James and The Gap Band.

Does that answer your question?

 

[Thomps2525]

Does that answer my question? Are you implying that a 45-year-old would not want to hear Sam Cooke, Marvin Gaye, Chuck Berry, Jackie Wilson, James Brown, Ray Charles, Otis Redding, Al Green, Miracles, Drifters, Impressions, Supremes, Temptations and Four Tops?

 

[ChannelFlipper]

Does that answer my question? Are you implying that a 45-year-old would not want to hear Sam Cooke, Marvin Gaye, Chuck Berry, Jackie Wilson, James Brown, Ray Charles, Otis Redding, Al Green, Miracles, Drifters, Impressions, Supremes, Temptations and Four Tops?

I want to hear all of them, just make sure there are plenty more so they aren't burned out. Don't forget minor hits and one-hit wonders. If the artists you named are the meat and vegetables of the R&B oldies world, than the minor hits and one-hit wonders are the spice of the meal. The meal is not tastefully enjoyable unless it has both elements.

 

[davideduardo]

David, we've been discussing KRTH and KOLA and the trend away from 1960s oldies. Do you think an r&b-oriented 1950s-60s-70s oldies format such as KRLA had in the mid-1990s would work on FM in Los Angeles today?

Obviously, either KRTH or KTWV will take a more rhythmic approach. Rhythmic covers some r&b, but consists of a lot more.

And 50's and 60's and early 70's is not going to be a part of it.

Keep in mind that Urban AC gets little to no Hispanic listening (thus the loss of nearly $300 million by Radio One in LA). Pure r&b "dusties" are not going to make it in LA. But something that is brighter and more appealing to LA's new majority is needed.