Kent, Mix 94.9 was nothing compared to what Tom-FM could be. The format that Mix had was nothing compared to the format that Tom will use. I can't say a lot, but I know of one AC station that is changing formats. IMO, part of that reasoning has to be because of the addition of Tom-FM. When you have a station that has a playlist of 1,000+ songs versus a station that has a playlist of 500, it is going to have an effect on some stations. Kent, have you seen the last ratings for B98? They're not doing so hot right now. Maybe they need to tweak their format a bit? Tom-FM may flop for all we know. But Little Rock radio has not seen a station like this before and no matter what happens, every AC and CHR station in the metro area and within the range of Tom-FM will take notice.
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Magic 105
- Thread starter sportsannouncer
- Start date
sportsannouncer said:Kent, Mix 94.9 was nothing compared to what Tom-FM could be. The format that Mix had was nothing compared to the format that Tom will use.
Forgive me if I sound underwhelmed, but the deck is stacked against Tom FM. I agree that Mix 94.9 was nothing and that Tom FM could be a lot, but I don't have a whole lot of confidence in it living up to what it could be. Don't get me wrong. Tom Wood is an excellent programmer, and I know he's accomplished a lot and is very sharp. I just don't see Tom FM making waves for the following reasons: (1) Clear Channel is cutting back on research, hiring, and promotions. You don't want to be launching a new station without research, promotion and the staff you need to be successful. (2) The station will be going into a trust if Clear Channel goes private. This means Clear Channel won't be able to operate it in conjunction with its other stations. If you've ever been in this situation, you know just how bad it really is. If Mr. Wood is able to stay with Clear Channel, there's a good chance he'll be leaving Tom FM before it even gets a foot off the ground. You can't work for a parent company and a trustee representing that company at the same time; FCC ownership rules prohibit it. (3) Clear Channel screwed up Mix 94.9 in an under AC'ed market. Why wouldn't they screw this up, too?
I can't say a lot, but I know of one AC station that is changing formats. IMO, part of that reasoning has to be because of the addition of Tom-FM.
According to how BIA defines Little Rock, there is exactly one commercial AC station in the market, and it's not going anywhere. There are a few stations outside Little Rock that run AC, like Star 96.7 in Hot Springs and KTRN in Pine Bluff, and a non-commercial AC (or at least a part-time AC) in KUCA 91.3. I won't say none of those other stations will change. However, I doubt it has much, if anything, to do with Tom FM. You don't go running scared from a competitor that hasn't even signed on unless you're already hurting badly.
When you have a station that has a playlist of 1,000+ songs versus a station that has a playlist of 500, it is going to have an effect on some stations.
Not necessarily. If playlist size determined everything, you wouldn't have stations with playlists of 500 songs or less being successful. Remember, the more songs your favorite station plays, the longer it will be until you hear your favorite song again. Variety hits stations in other markets have large cume, but TSL is a horror story for that very reason. Of course, TSL is not a sales metric. So, the variety hits station can survive and even do well do to the high cume. However, the flip side to that is that they usually don't do much damage to anyone else because of the constant turnover of listeners.
Kent, have you seen the last ratings for B98? They're not doing so hot right now. Maybe they need to tweak their format a bit?
B-98.5 isn't doing as well as it did six months ago, but it's doing just fine. Although I haven't seen the most recent breakouts, the station has always been huge in the lucrative 25-54 female demo. It's about where it was a year ago 12+, and the 25-54 female numbers were excellent then. So, I'd have to think it's doing well there yet again. It's also the third ranked non-urban music station in the market. It will be making money hand over fist for a long time to come.
Tom-FM may flop for all we know. But Little Rock radio has not seen a station like this before and no matter what happens, every AC and CHR station in the metro area and within the range of Tom-FM will take notice.
I wish Tom FM well. Like I said, they'll need a lot of good luck. I can't imagine Alice or B-98.5 being worried in the least. Actually, I think the station that has the most to worry about is The Point. Notice how badly it declined in the last book? Variety hits stations usually hit classic hits stations the hardest. However, I don't see it going anywhere either. It's been around for 14 years now and has effectively run Magic 105 out of town. It didn't do that by sucking!
The Little Rock Radio Grapevine
While it does have its limitations, this form of communication is way faster than the Internets. Case in point: the phone call I received from a colleague last Thursday morning (2/21) about 10:00. Some of his sales reps had told him that Magic 105 had started playing country music. Not being able to listen to the station in his office, he wanted to know what I had heard.
A quick trip to magic105fm.com and a click on the "Listen Live" icon yielded nothing out of the ordinary. Little did we both suspect that 24 hours later--give or take--The Word would come down from On High (for surely somebody has been smoking something) that, indeed, Magic would be replaced on 105.1 by Classic Country music!
The Grapevine has been carrying news like this as far back as I can remember. Over the years, I've seen any number of staffers sworn to absolute secrecy about format changes--only to have the knowledge escape the building inside of five minutes.
So let every knee bow, let every tongue confess: The Vine can bring us the news before it happens!
While it does have its limitations, this form of communication is way faster than the Internets. Case in point: the phone call I received from a colleague last Thursday morning (2/21) about 10:00. Some of his sales reps had told him that Magic 105 had started playing country music. Not being able to listen to the station in his office, he wanted to know what I had heard.
A quick trip to magic105fm.com and a click on the "Listen Live" icon yielded nothing out of the ordinary. Little did we both suspect that 24 hours later--give or take--The Word would come down from On High (for surely somebody has been smoking something) that, indeed, Magic would be replaced on 105.1 by Classic Country music!
The Grapevine has been carrying news like this as far back as I can remember. Over the years, I've seen any number of staffers sworn to absolute secrecy about format changes--only to have the knowledge escape the building inside of five minutes.
So let every knee bow, let every tongue confess: The Vine can bring us the news before it happens!
Kent, please permit me a bit of hair-splitting:
It was Clear Channel that ran Magic 105 out of town. "We have met the enemy, and he is us." --Pogo
Actually, I think the station that has the most to worry about is The Point... It's been around for 14 years now and has effectively run Magic 105 out of town.
It was Clear Channel that ran Magic 105 out of town. "We have met the enemy, and he is us." --Pogo
Re: The Little Rock Radio Grapevine
You know, I've often found out that salespeople know the most about format changes. That was how I found out 102.1 The Zone in Kansas City was going to flip to AC as "Star 102." However, that's the first I've heard of a sales staff announcing a change had already happened. I know the change was also predicted on this board several months ago.
Agree mostly. Magic 105 got caught up in trying to be an AOR after the format was no longer viable. Even after getting attacked from both sides by the Point and Lick 96.5/106.3, it still tried to remain an AOR. If Clear Channel had been smart, it would have kept KQAR top-40 and taken Magic in the direction The Edge took. It's still hard to believe they killed Q-100 after the best book it ever had and a new PD who came on board at the tail end of the previous book. When you look at how well Alice is doing now and how close they came to running them out of the format, it's just mind boggling. However, they decided to try to take on the Point with Magic and Lick with The Edge. The Point mopped the floor with Magic, though the Edge was successful. That's why I say The Point should get at least some of the credit for running Magic 105 out of town. By the time Magic found an identity, the Point had an established brand and didn't give Magic a chance to get back into the game.
LNO Rigby said:While it does have its limitations, this form of communication is way faster than the Internets. Case in point: the phone call I received from a colleague last Thursday morning (2/21) about 10:00. Some of his sales reps had told him that Magic 105 had started playing country music. Not being able to listen to the station in his office, he wanted to know what I had heard.
The Grapevine has been carrying news like this as far back as I can remember. Over the years, I've seen any number of staffers sworn to absolute secrecy about format changes--only to have the knowledge escape the building inside of five minutes.
You know, I've often found out that salespeople know the most about format changes. That was how I found out 102.1 The Zone in Kansas City was going to flip to AC as "Star 102." However, that's the first I've heard of a sales staff announcing a change had already happened. I know the change was also predicted on this board several months ago.
It was Clear Channel that ran Magic 105 out of town. "We have met the enemy, and he is us." --Pogo
Agree mostly. Magic 105 got caught up in trying to be an AOR after the format was no longer viable. Even after getting attacked from both sides by the Point and Lick 96.5/106.3, it still tried to remain an AOR. If Clear Channel had been smart, it would have kept KQAR top-40 and taken Magic in the direction The Edge took. It's still hard to believe they killed Q-100 after the best book it ever had and a new PD who came on board at the tail end of the previous book. When you look at how well Alice is doing now and how close they came to running them out of the format, it's just mind boggling. However, they decided to try to take on the Point with Magic and Lick with The Edge. The Point mopped the floor with Magic, though the Edge was successful. That's why I say The Point should get at least some of the credit for running Magic 105 out of town. By the time Magic found an identity, the Point had an established brand and didn't give Magic a chance to get back into the game.
An AC station that changed this evening is KAWW, 100.7FM. They are now simulcasting the Christian format that KKSP, 93.3FM is playing.
Well it was about time for the yearly format change on 100.7. 105.7 KFXV in Searcy has a similar format but sounds much better in presentation, musically and in audio quality.
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