Las Vegas has another oldies station, KOOL 102 as of 12/31/10

[kenb]

Las Vegas has another full time oldies station. Former Talker KDOX FM 102.3 - AM 1280 switched on New Years Eve. Named KOOL 102, playing 60's-70's & Motown with 50's sprinkled in. They have a website which provides streaming oldies. Give it a listen when you can. You may have to access via KDOX 1280 until the website is fully activated under 102.

 

[hornet61]

My guess without listening, a typical KOOL format plays 400 songs....boring.

 

[oldies76]

My guess without listening, a typical KOOL format plays 400 songs....boring.

Ohhhh...there's always that "other" station in NYC that plays most everything!!
And don't forget Cruisin' Oldies 950 out of Denver.

400 songs is totally unacceptable in this day in age.

 

[CTListener]

My guess without listening, a typical KOOL format plays 400 songs....boring.

Ohhhh...there's always that "other" station in NYC that plays most everything!!
And don't forget Cruisin' Oldies 950 out of Denver.

400 songs is totally unacceptable in this day in age.

To oldies geeks, 400-song playlists have never been acceptable, in any day or age. But last I looked, tight-playlist classic hits (nee oldies) stations are still getting the ratings, so it seems that those playlists are still acceptable to most people who aren't oldies geeks.

 

[hornet61]

My guess without listening, a typical KOOL format plays 400 songs....boring.

Ohhhh...there's always that "other" station in NYC that plays most everything!!
And don't forget Cruisin' Oldies 950 out of Denver.

400 songs is totally unacceptable in this day in age.

To oldies geeks, 400-song playlists have never been acceptable, in any day or age. But last I looked, tight-playlist classic hits (nee oldies) stations are still getting the ratings, so it seems that those playlists are still acceptable to most people who aren't oldies geeks.

Oldies Geeks?...what is you resume/background to qualify what a geek is, and how are you an expert on Oldies radio.

 

[oldies76]

To oldies geeks, 400-song playlists have never been acceptable, in any day or age. But last I looked, tight-playlist classic hits (nee oldies) stations are still getting the ratings, so it seems that those playlists are still acceptable to most people who aren't oldies geeks.

Not a geek...just one who appreciates GOOD music....not the same darn 400 songs played over and over and over with nothing "new" ever added. And as for the ratings....too bad to those listeners who are "stuck" hearing and testing those same 400 songs over and over and over! They need to expand their minds a bit.

And I seriously even doubt that a small percentage of the total cume for that station would be pleased with what they've got, not to mention everyone. Almost everyone I've ever spoken too (average listeners) have said that radio is very limited in what they have to offer and have switched to other sources for music for enjoyment. Why be unsatisfied?

 

[searadiofreak]

Question for you Vegas radio geeks...Does "The Jewel" cause any problems for those aiming at 35-54?, or do they skew just too old? I've always liked their mix, even though I am far from retirement age. Do they score in Vegas either in revenue or ratings?

 

[kenb]

KOOL 102 is owned by the same people that own the Jewel. Soooo, they should be able to market the nostalgia package of both stations. KJUL did better a few years ago when they were at 104.3 FM. The current location is 104.7 and the transmitter is located Northeast of Las Vegas. So the signal is spotty in some spots. At 104.3, you could listen halfway to L.A. What happened is that 104.3 "The Jewel" was sold several years ago (it was owned by another company) and the Jewel format slipped off the air. A country station North of Las Vegas picked up the call letters and re-started the format after about a 2-3 month absence. The format has survived, but the ratings puts the station about 1/2 way down the list behind the other big guys... Hopefully KOOL 102 which has the same signal problem, but comes with an AM signal at 1280 AM will carry the station. Unfortunately, 1280 cuts power after sunset and fades all night long in the southern end of the Las Vegas valley. Both stations are streaming and that is an asset for an avid listener. I like them both and flip back and forth...

 

[johnsummers]

To the oldies geeks: My heart is with you, but a wide playlist just doesn't work IF good ratings and revenue is your objective. I, too, am an oldies geek, but I know this from being in the business for over 30 years, the last 17 in the classic hits (oldies)format. It was a very hard lesson to learn, I came to it grudgingly. I know what you're going to say...."but but but....Sister Golder Hair sucks, man, (bad phraseology, I know) and if I hear Brown-Eyed Girl one more time...." Problem is; the VAST majority of people are NOT oldies geeks and don't agree with you. Now, there are times when you might air out the library a bit, for a reason. But the bottom line is: Play the hits play the hits play the hits play the hits.!!! It's the only thing that works. Do you actually think that we, as the 'professionals', actually WANT to hear Crocodile Rock 12-15 times per week? We do it because it works! If there was a better way, we'd be doing it.

 

[hornet61]

To the oldies geeks: My heart is with you, but a wide playlist just doesn't work IF good ratings and revenue is your objective. I, too, am an oldies geek, but I know this from being in the business for over 30 years, the last 17 in the classic hits (oldies)format. It was a very hard lesson to learn, I came to it grudgingly. I know what you're going to say...."but but but....Sister Golder Hair sucks, man, (bad phraseology, I know) and if I hear Brown-Eyed Girl one more time...." Problem is; the VAST majority of people are NOT oldies geeks and don't agree with you. Now, there are times when you might air out the library a bit, for a reason. But the bottom line is: Play the hits play the hits play the hits play the hits.!!! It's the only thing that works. Do you actually think that we, as the 'professionals', actually WANT to hear Crocodile Rock 12-15 times per week? We do it because it works! If there was a better way, we'd be doing it.

how do know which are the professionals and which are not.....

 

[johnsummers]

I'm not sure I understand what you're asking...

 

[searadiofreak]

To the oldies geeks: My heart is with you, but a wide playlist just doesn't work IF good ratings and revenue is your objective. I, too, am an oldies geek, but I know this from being in the business for over 30 years, the last 17 in the classic hits (oldies)format. It was a very hard lesson to learn, I came to it grudgingly. I know what you're going to say...."but but but....Sister Golder Hair sucks, man, (bad phraseology, I know) and if I hear Brown-Eyed Girl one more time...." Problem is; the VAST majority of people are NOT oldies geeks and don't agree with you. Now, there are times when you might air out the library a bit, for a reason. But the bottom line is: Play the hits play the hits play the hits play the hits.!!! It's the only thing that works. Do you actually think that we, as the 'professionals', actually WANT to hear Crocodile Rock 12-15 times per week? We do it because it works! If there was a better way, we'd be doing it.

how do know which are the professionals and which are not.....

Generally, the professionals on here understand the basic premise that a tight playlist consisting of proven hits works best. Do "professionals" necessarily like that? Well, no not all do. But they do realize what works, and what works is what brings in ratings and revenue, and what's not to like about that? That is why I was asking about JEWEL. They step out of the mold quite a bit, so I was wondering how they do overall. My guess it is tough, on the other hand a niche following sometimes can work, perhaps especially in a unique market like Vegas.

 

[johnsummers]

Agreed.

 

[oldiesfan6479]

...and if I hear Brown-Eyed Girl one more time...

And if I hear Brown Eyed Girl one more time...

BTW John, do you know Steve Goddard at KOOL-FM Phoenix?
I'm sure it's one of his fave oldies classic hits.

 

[johnsummers]

I've never met Steve, although we have many friends in common.

 

[kenb]

I love hearing the obscure hits, not played on the radio anymore. As an example, KOOL 102 plays music off the early Beatles lps. Some of the songs, I haven't heard on the radio since I bought the Beatles albums back in the 60's. I am an oldies fan and hearing Brown Eyed Girl over and over, is OK with me, because it is a good song. It is upbeat and well produced. I would much prefer to hear a song like Who Put The Bomp (by Barry Mann) which I heard on KOOL 102 today. It was a big hit at the time, but is lost today, because most stations won't play stuff before 1965. So, I say expand that playlist. Let KOOL 102 serve those who want more variety in their oldies station.

 

[oldies76]

I love hearing the obscure hits, not played on the radio anymore. As an example, KOOL 102 plays music off the early Beatles lps. Some of the songs, I haven't heard on the radio since I bought the Beatles albums back in the 60's. I am an oldies fan and hearing Brown Eyed Girl over and over, is OK with me, because it is a good song. It is upbeat and well produced. I would much prefer to hear a song like Who Put The Bomp (by Barry Mann) which I heard on KOOL 102 today. It was a big hit at the time, but is lost today, because most stations won't play stuff before 1965. So, I say expand that playlist. Let KOOL 102 serve those who want more variety in their oldies station.

I agree too! Great for KOOL 102! WCBS 101 in New York is great also. Also try the new 103.1 in Denver.

If only more oldies stations would do this. KRTH 101 is by far, one of the worst ever to date, such a joke.

 

[hornet61]

I love hearing the obscure hits, not played on the radio anymore. As an example, KOOL 102 plays music off the early Beatles lps. Some of the songs, I haven't heard on the radio since I bought the Beatles albums back in the 60's. I am an oldies fan and hearing Brown Eyed Girl over and over, is OK with me, because it is a good song. It is upbeat and well produced. I would much prefer to hear a song like Who Put The Bomp (by Barry Mann) which I heard on KOOL 102 today. It was a big hit at the time, but is lost today, because most stations won't play stuff before 1965. So, I say expand that playlist. Let KOOL 102 serve those who want more variety in their oldies station.

I agree too! Great for KOOL 102! WCBS 101 in New York is great also. Also try the new 103.1 in Denver.

If only more oldies stations would do this. KRTH 101 is by far, one of the worst ever to date, such a joke.

We are not going to win this arguement, because afterall we are not professionals, we are only the Radio listening audience, and the definition of a professional is one who tell the listener, what he likes, and doesn't like..

 

[secondchoice]

Another angle in the “tight” rotations argument is the local market. Last time I checked WDVE (AOR) was the #1 music station in Pittsburgh. AOR is supposed to be a dying format. There use to be an oldies Fox 97 in Atlanta which did very in the ratings for more than a decade, made Shamrock (owners) some serious money and had large playlist.* Cox bought it and installed small playlist and the station tanked in two years. 97.1 then went Urban with a small play list tanked again. Then 97.1 went Classic Rock with an extremely tight playlist classic. 97.1 “killed” the heritage AOR / Classic Rock 96 Rock (which had a large playlist) which now is Project 9 6 1. A couple of years ago 106.7 in Atlanta went Scott Shannon’s “True Oldies” with a huge playlist did well for a year even tied 97.1 a couple of months (12+) then started sliding. 106.7 is now a 70’s and 80’s station. WLS FM does OK with the “True Oldies” wide play list. Of course it helps to have some great announcers with live day parts. A lot of “resort” stations with a large “non local out of town ad dollars in the market” do very well with “recognizable” small play lists. Some markets will let you loosen up the playlist a little. The majority will not. One thing a lot of programmers sometimes forget is what worked at his or her last station does not always work in the market they are now in. When I was working at Country stations, they had extremely tight playlists that would do a 1960’s Top Forty station proud. The AC and “full service” stations I worked at had huge playlists. Both can work if the people in the ratings sample will allow.


*There are a lot of ex Pittsburgh people in Atlanta which might have Inflated Fox 97’s ratings. Atlanta has the largest “Steelers” fan club outside of Pittsburgh. I guess Pittsburghers like their playlists wide and diversified.

**Project 9 6 1 is about to install a system where the audience can kill a song mid play, if enough people text of Email the song bites. (This could be very interesting!) I would like to see this with an Oldies Station. Maybe not stop a song in mid play but knock a song out of rotation.

 

[johnsummers]

As a born Pittsburgher, I can tell you that it's a rather unique oldies market. Yinzers LOVE the oldies, all kinds. Stations with tight playlists do well there, too. Also, there are the 'Pittsburgh Oldies', many of which were never hits anywhere else, but they are well known in the 'Burgh. Songs like "Do It To It" by The Funky Sisters, "Have I Sinned" by Donnie Elbert, etc, can get play on the big stations, although they're mostly relegated to a Sunday Night Show of some kind. Also, there are any number of small AM's and fringe rim-shot FM's that feature a steady diet of more obscure oldies, because they don't rely on ratings for revenue. I guess much the same situation exists in markets like Philadelphia and New York.