March 2022 ratings are here!

[davideduardo]

Young adult fans of hip-hop have decreased or eliminated their usage of FM radio at a faster rate these past few years than most other groups.

Younger CHR listeners move to streams primarily due to the fact that about 80% of the hit hip-hop songs can't be played on the radio. And edited versions are called out by younger listeners as fake, making it worse.

 

[ZantennaG1]

Source? Figures? You are guessing based on personal assumptions and observations.

I was looking at a Pew Research graph showing listenership had gone down over the past decade, but upon re-check, we are still right up at 90%, so I just wasn't paying attention this late at night. Sorry.

 

[CTListener]

Sad, but true. Whenever I come across a young adult and even those approaching their 40's and 50's, they almost always will tell me they are on SiriusXM.

And yet there are only 30 million or so SXM subscribers out there in a nation of 300 million people. Your small, personal, completely unscientific sample has no chance of correlating to actual statistics.

 

[CTListener]

Younger CHR listeners move to streams primarily due to the fact that about 80% of the hit hip-hop songs can't be played on the radio. And edited versions are called out by younger listeners as fake, making it worse.

Is that supported by research? You've mentioned this supposed obsession with obscene lyrics by America's teens and young adults often, but with no citation of any source to back it up,

 

[MarkW]

The ratings were fine just a couple of months back

Either you & I have different definitions of "couple" or different definitions of what constitutes "fine."

For that signal and that heritage brand, my personal view is the numbers have been quite poor for a while now.

Results for each of the past six survey periods, starting with the oldest first:

1.9
1.5
1.5
1.7
1.7
1.3

 

[davideduardo]

Is that supported by research? You've mentioned this supposed obsession with obscene lyrics by America's teens and young adults often, but with no citation of any source to back it up,

It's a common commentary by people within the industry who have done research. Because proprietary research is not shared specifically, you are not going to see tables and conclusions.

But every programmer and manager of a rhythmic CHR, Churban or Urban station will mention that there "is a lot of music" we can't play and that their research shows that many people either listen less or don't listen to FM Urban stations because they don't hear their "favorite songs".

I can't remember where I read it... maybe on RAMP (RAMP - Radio and Music Pros) some time back... there was some commentary from a music industry person about how the labels can't/won't/don't interfere with artist "creative process" elements. And artists do object to being told how to express themselves by people in suits.

This subject comes up at every convention in the format specific panels. But nobody is going to reveal the actual results of their research, and PDs won't talk about what they know by actually talking with listeners at events and such.

There is no obsession with obscene lyrics. Simply, there are lots of hit songs that can't be played on the radio and are excluded, while streaming sources, not hampered by FCC regulations, can play those songs. When asked, listeners say that the go elsewhere to hear the current hits. Most of them don't quite understand why radio does not play songs they like; they just know that radio is "missing" some songs.

 

[davideduardo]

Either you & I have different definitions of "couple" or different definitions of what constitutes "fine."

For that signal and that heritage brand, my personal view is the numbers have been quite poor for a while now.

Results for each of the past six survey periods, starting with the oldest first:

1.9
1.5
1.5
1.7
1.7
1.3

Let's see if the next book gets back into the 1.5 to 1.9 range. Statistically, all those numbers (1.9, 1.5, 1.7) are the same.

The real issue is that all those "one point something" numbers are way below the averages for the prior 5 years.

 

[ZantennaG1]

And yet there are only 30 million or so SXM subscribers out there in a nation of 300 million people. Your small, personal, completely unscientific sample has no chance of correlating to actual statistics.

My post that was quoted in your post wasn't meant to be a scientific analysis of radio in any form. However, this article explains how the pandemic has messed with radio listening. Pop radio in decline, streaming on the rise: How the coronavirus is changing what we listen to

Mainly, I was just sympathizing with Mark W's post, and he's already made this thread messy, to put it lightly.

 

[MarkW]

I agree with David's last two posts 100 percent.

Would not surprise me if 107.5 shifts to a mostly "throwbacks" playlist at some point in the not too distant future.

 

[ZantennaG1]

Would not surprise me if 107.5 shifts to a mostly "throwbacks" playlist at some point in the not too distant future.

Isn't that what Flo 107.1 does already?

 

[MarkW]

I had forgotten 107.1 transitioned back to that format. Good point.

I think a mix of newer songs and throwbacks might be something for 107.5 to consider. Looking at music log data, 107.5's current playlist is very tight and very current intensive. That formula does not seem to be working well at all for them.

If Audacy wants to go in a totally different direction with 107.5, my recommendation would be Variety Hits.

I still would love to see hard rock return to a full market signal, but that probably won't happen anytime soon (if ever).

 

[CassChopper96]

I had forgotten 107.1 transitioned back to that format. Good point.

I think a mix of newer songs and throwbacks might be something for 107.5 to consider. Looking at music log data, 107.5's current playlist is very tight and very current intensive. That formula does not seem to be working well at all for them.

If Audacy wants to go in a totally different direction with 107.5, my recommendation would be Variety Hits.

I still would love to see hard rock return to a full market signal, but that probably won't happen anytime soon (if ever).

Variety Hits is not an option due to 99.5 the mountain. Which is a Classic Rock/ Classic Hits Hybrid station

 

[MarkW]

I respectfully disagree regarding The Mountain's existence automatically precluding Audacy from doing Variety Hits on another signal.

It would be no more of a constraint than KOSI.

That said, I will certainly admit if one or both of those stations were in a competitor's hands instead, the path for being able to justify a move to Variety Hits at 107.5 would be much easier.

 

[CassChopper96]

I respectfully disagree regarding The Mountain's existence automatically precluding Audacy from doing Variety Hits on another signal.

It would be no more of a constraint than KOSI.

That said, I will certainly admit if one or both of those stations were in a competitor's hands instead, the path for being able to justify a move to Variety Hits at 107.5 would be much easier.

There would be too much overlap. The mountain is more Classic Hits/ Classic Rock. Audacy might try to tweek 107.5 before the flip the format all together

 

[Gregg.]

Wow. Is this the lowest KOA has ever been, #16? KOA is a mix of All-News in morning drive, local talk in middays and afternoons, plus sports at night and Coast to Coast AM overnight. As mentioned above, KOA is the Colorado Rockies' MLB flagship.

I listen to the morning all-news block from time to time. It's good! Frequent traffic helicopter and weather updates. Sports and business updates every 30 minutes. Live reports from ABC News Radio correspondents. Maybe KOA should go All-News all day, sports from 6pm to Midnight and automated news overnight? Similar to WBZ Boston, which is All-News all day, one local talk show in the evening and automated news overnight.

iHeart already owns a Denver station specializing in its Premiere Networks syndicated conservative talk shows, KDFD, and another station with a mix of local and syndicated conservative talk, KHOW. So why not let KOA do what it does best all day?

Note that NPR affiliate KCFR is #7 and listener supported Classical station KVOD is tied for #9.

 

[MarkW]

I agree that Audacy should consider resuscitating 107.5 before throwing the baby out with the bathwater. What they should not do is settle for the status quo since the status quo is a five alarm dumpster fire.

I think a Rhythmic Crossover format with relatively heavy reliance on proven, familiar songs is an option worthy of consideration.

 

[AceBiscuits]

I respectfully disagree regarding The Mountain's existence automatically precluding Audacy from doing Variety Hits on another signal.

It would be no more of a constraint than KOSI.

Mountain's playlist is admittedly already pretty close to a more conservative Adult Hits/Variety Hits playlist, with a classic rock emphasis.

 

[CassChopper96]

Mountain's playlist is admittedly already pretty close to a more conservative Adult Hits/Variety Hits playlist, with a classic rock emphasis.

That was the point that i was trying to make

 

[CassChopper96]

Is there any diffrence between Mix 100 and Alice 105.9 in terms of playlist

 

[AceBiscuits]

Is there any diffrence between Mix 100 and Alice 105.9 in terms of playlist

Very similar, from a brief glance.