Basically the main reason why the Wolf is number 1 in the market is cause you don’t have two full market country stations. The Wolf has 0 competitors so they aren’t competing against any stations rn. They used to always compete with 1 country station which for most of its years was KMPS (The Wolf, however started in 2005). The other stations in Seattle have one or more competitors, for example KNDD competes with KPNW and KEXP and KRWM mainly competes with KSWD and KPLZ (with KSWD being its main competitor).
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Lisa Adams departs Star 101.5
- Thread starter PB Randolf
- Start date
The reality for 93.3 is that the sports format is too valuable. Even though it’s arguably not a better station than KIRO 710, it would be an exceptionally bad idea to pull the format. The only way it would flip is if the format failed entirely and there was little to no value in continuing with sports.
Don't need a lesson on what one country station is number one over another, but thanks anyway. My point was; history has shown that the market can historically only support a maximum of two country stations. Anything over that and there isn't enough pie worth slicing.
Country is a different animal than AAA, classic AC, or HotAC. Country typically has a wider male and female demo spread than AC, so your comparison is actually more like comparing apples with bananas. Speaking historically; the market has shown it would support several niche' AC stations particularly because AC is already a sought-after demo by advertisers. In particular 18-49F.
I think Country is popular in the market rn… too. It must have its niche here. Wonder if it is becoming more popular since more country music is going onto Top 40 stations.
It isn’t taking off rn and is basically isn’t able to succeed against KIRO AM rn. Honestly, Idk why people think 101.5 might flip to country when I think Lotus will just try different directions with Star 101.5 until they find a direction that worked
We've gone over and over the financial advantages of sports radio that don't rely on ratings many times prior, so apparently you've forgotten or weren't paying attention. KIRO has its audience, but there's always been room for KJR to be profitable. Same goes in other larger markets too.
Good Lord.
Not sure where I didn’t pay attention. There’s a reason why there are so many canned sports radio stations across the country. It’s a cash cow for iheart, even if the content is inferior to their direct competitor. I would say there’s a reason why KIRO does better, but the revenue generated over at iheart makes the move perfectly sound.
KJR has been a sports/sports talk station since the early 90's. That's 30+ years it's been in the same bed with KIRO. Not you, but folks on this board who think all stations live and die on 6+ ratings, willing to flip KJR to country because there's large (6+) ratings gap are the ones who refuse to understand how serving a particular demographic works.
I see what you’re saying now. And you’re spot on, there’s absolutely no way that we see 93.3 flip to country any time soon. There are plenty of advertisers who are happy with KJR, and they will continue to pay to reach a male dominated audience. When you take 93.3 completely out of the equation, there’s nobody else who could possibly take a chance on country in the market.
If, and this is a big if, 93.3 goes country, the programming on 950 will move back to 1090, and the programming currently on 93.3 will move back to 950. They're not going to kill off KJR for country, but I've argued for years that a well programmed AM can do just as well as a well programmed FM. Case in point, Bonneville could have easily purchased 104.5 to put KIRO on FM a few years ago, and they chose not to.
Hadn't you given them six months before they would go to another format? Still knawing on that crow meat eh Bob?
And how do you account for listeners under 50, not listening to AM, let alone knowing it exists?
Last time I checked, KIRO-FM was on 97.3FM. Not sure what your comment has to do with anything.
iHeart will not drop sports on 93.3 - They have a good thing going there even if it's a second rate wanna be version of KIRO. Maybe they get NBA to go along with NHL then you've got something. U of W football - who knows now with BIG 10 in the mix but if 93.3 could have UW Football, NBA, NHL, then maybe iHeart can even start to think about taking on KIRO. Mariners and Seahawks just TOO much firepower. iHeart has many country stations yet no real room here for one. Don't see them droping 95.7, 102.5, 106.1 or 96.5 anytime soon to add country and Bobby Bones back in the market when he did nothing the first go round at The Bull.
Right now this week 3 country artist all have songs in the top 10 on Billboard. Jason Aldean, Morgan Wallen, and Luke Combs. First time in history 3 country artists have been on the pop charts like this.
Someone will bring and be a competitor to The Wolf. It's just smart business. Who and how it's done however remains the question.
Lotus did just complete a nice new build out of their new offices so that would lead one to conclude they are making an investment in the market. However if things continue into the fall book like this IMO - Santa FM returns TurkeyDay and Q1 2024 they may have to take a long hard look at things and re-evaluate the format as it currently sits.
There really is no other signal that makes sense to flip country.
iHeart - nope
Hubbard - been there done that
Audacy - Check
Lotus?
Cumulus?
Alpha ?
Other ?
Right now this week 3 country artist all have songs in the top 10 on Billboard. Jason Aldean, Morgan Wallen, and Luke Combs. First time in history 3 country artists have been on the pop charts like this.
Someone will bring and be a competitor to The Wolf. It's just smart business. Who and how it's done however remains the question.
Lotus did just complete a nice new build out of their new offices so that would lead one to conclude they are making an investment in the market. However if things continue into the fall book like this IMO - Santa FM returns TurkeyDay and Q1 2024 they may have to take a long hard look at things and re-evaluate the format as it currently sits.
There really is no other signal that makes sense to flip country.
iHeart - nope
Hubbard - been there done that
Audacy - Check
Lotus?
Cumulus?
Alpha ?
Other ?
Or the day before Thanksgiving or after Thanksgiving Santa FM returns after a one year hiatus. Plus the other stations are successful in the ratings rn for IHeartMedia. There are no Cumulus or Alpha Media stations in the market right now. I think that a different company would have to flip a station to country. Ik 105.3 would stay CCM for sure though so what signal would decide to flip their station to country?
The only thing is it would no longer make sense for it to flip to all-Xmas if it flips to Country. I don’t believe that will happen since it is the only 90s to now station in the market rn.
Good Lord-squared.
Must've missed it... Alpha in the Seattle market????
I know, right? Jackinthebox is gradually pushing this thread into 'The Outer Limits'.
in EVERY market...on the free iHeart app!
Okay true, I think I gave them until the start of baseball season this year, and they're still on FM. The point about 104.5 has to do with sports, last I checked KIRO-FM was talk. KMCQ could have easily been Seattle Sports 104.5 and KIRO could have stayed 710 ESPN Seattle. Do you have actual data proving that the demographics of KJR's listeners are significantly different now that they're on FM than they were on AM?
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