• Get involved.
    We want your input!
    Apply for Membership and join the conversations about everything related to broadcasting.

    After we receive your registration, a moderator will review it. After your registration is approved, you will be permitted to post.
    If you use a disposable or false email address, your registration will be rejected.

    After your membership is approved, please take a minute to tell us a little bit about yourself.
    https://www.radiodiscussions.com/forums/introduce-yourself.1088/

    Thanks in advance and have fun!
    RadioDiscussions Administrators

May I Pick the Brain Trust's Collective Experience?

P

PapaD

Hello all,
Been watching the back and forth on the board about WTOB and AM's in general and I think there's a lot of experience here with good ideas that for whatever reason aren't being tapped. I've been tasked with programming WKTE in King, a 1000 watt daytimer that's weathered the shifts and changes in the industry since 1963. Not looking for any hand holding or a baby sitter, but not looking to create a sh!tstorm or a flood of negativity either. There are a great deal of posters here I know and respect for their views and familiarity and I'm open to suggestions about how to create the best product possible with the tools at hand.

My experience is primarily as a 9 year engineer at Clearchannel. Admittedly, this a part time project for me; there are about four other part time gigs I've put together and have to work to pay the bills. Been around and exposed to some great programmers and I've watched what has happened in the market that succeeded and failed with great interest, but this is really my first foray into the programming side of things. Would like to lay out what I have and (humbly) ask for suggestions. Any takers?

First of all, the footprint is small. Building penetration is acceptable from around Patterson Ave in N Winston, up 52 to about midway through Mount Airy. We do have a website that is admittedly under utilized and a Broadwave stream that actually sounds pretty good (to my ears). We’re in the fight for local revenue and co op dollars with everyone else. Playlist is pretty much the Billboard Top 100 from 1950 through 1979, roughly 3000 songs. I’m on Mon thru Sat 9 to noon (voicetracked) with a playlist of about 200 songs that were my favorites in the 60’s and 70’s. Twelve to two is a greatest hits rock, two till three is greatest hits country. We do Beach Monday thru Friday from three to six, with The Charlie Brown Show on Sat from noon till three. Sunday is southern gospel with Calvary Baptist on live from 10:30 till noon.

Website is: http://wkte1090am.com/
Stream is at: http://162.39.81.145:88/broadwave.mp3?src=1&rate=1&ref=

I realize I’m taking a great risk of getting torn to shreds putting this all out there, but I’m genuinely interested in the feedback from experienced professionals.
Dan Sykes
(Engineer Dan)
 
First of all let me say how cool it is that you have a station 1 watt or 100,000 a radio station is a scared thing to me and there is a place for everyone...My only piece of advice is be live as much as you can....be as local as possible..I know its tough with a limited budget and staff. It sounds like you are a busy fellow but anytime you can be live is good..I would also consider anything local that could generate revenue like hs football..baseball.. basketball etc..Nothing wrong with anything local that could..I'm not a huge fan of block programming but I understand it..Its hard to generate an identity with four or five different types of music..Your website is vital..Make sure its up to date,sounds good and can be used as a go to for info..It can also help you overcome signal issues..Just a few basic ideas to think about..Again I admire what you are doing and if I can ever be of assistance do not hesitate to PM me and good luck..

Allen Vick
 
Dan you deserve a pat on the back for giving this a try and we all wish you the best. Work on your website and get the stream up to speed! With AM drop out and interferrence in the market it is imperative that your stream be solid and of the highest quality. Keep us posted.
 
Decided to put advice to action, moved my schedule around this morning and I'm doing my daypart live. Not saying it's great radio, but it is a lot of fun!
 
Do some legwork regarding the local crimes, police blotter stuff, yard sales, do a swap-shop if you can. Don't be afraid to run block religious programming into your mix. With a small footprint, you have a true opportunity to get really local and to talk about what people are chatting about around town. Take a recorder out and about with you and record people voicing their comments about whatever is on their minds. Go to the diners, coffee shops, barbershops and listen to people. If the conversation is interesting, get to know these people. Pick up a copy of the book Guerrilla Marketing...it's in paperback and an easy read. Think "AM radio in 1960" as that is who your audience will be. Good luck. There is an AM in Rockingham County (WLOE/WMYN) and they are online. Give them a listen sometime, especially in the mornings. Mike Moore is one of the few people doing small market radio and doing it right, making a living and making an impact in the community.
 
Great advice...Anything local that ties the station to its community...Hopefully you can turn it into some bucks..
 
I listened today, I was impressed, are yall really in AM stereo? sounded well put together, signal was listenable when i traveled into greensboro today whenever powerlines werent buzzing..., I had been hearing this station when Im up in madison/mayodan but never knew where it was coming from.
 
Dittos to everything that's been said. And congratulations. You aren't going to get rich, but as you said in one of your previous posts you're having fun. Be as local as you can be. Serve the town of King and the outlying areas where your signal reaches. NEVER EVER think about being a Triad station, in fact never even say the word triad if possible. Always do a local psa rather than a canned psa from the "ad council". When you do the weather, concentrate on the local area and when you give the temps always include King and at least two small communities in your coverage area that none of the Triad stations rarely mention. As radiorealtor mentioned look at what Mike Moore is doing at WLOE and WMYN in Rockingham County. Get to know the community. Sell as much religion on Sunday as possible and let it spill over into Saturday if you have to. Mention local people, local businesses, local school & church events, etc. When the fire departments and others have fund raisers, hog killings, etc. have them call in a report.Show up at events if possible, be visible. Report local school sports scores & news. In short, give your local community what they're not getting anywhere else. Birthdays, anniversaries, and deaths are important in small communities, so you should consider mentioning/reporting them. Given the lack of manpower, I'm sure some of these things won't be practical.There's so much more that can be done but you're only one person. Remember LOCAL, LOCAL, LOCAL!!! And even if you do all of this and more, you're still going to run into people who don't you exist. Please keep us updated on your progress.
 
Congratulations Dan on you effort to reach out to experienced radio broadcasters and listen to what they have to say. Having worked with you in the mid 90’s I know your engineering experience. Music is not necessarily the only answer as many think. I can not say any more than what several of the other posters have stated. Local-Local-Local. As I have experienced first hand a FM Translator can give a stand alone daytime AM a fighting chance. If you can find one that will fit in? You might want to listen to successful local AM stations make some notes and compile your own community research. Good to see your name surface again. I would like to get up with you some time!

Wes
 
Wow. Honestly thought I was going to get shredded when I posted originally. Thank you all for your kind words and excellent ideas, tattooing the word LOCAL on the inside of my eyelids tomorrow; also, thank you for listening!
And WES, --I see a lunch in our future...
Thank you!
Dan
 
And yes, mr Spy, actual am stereo. Running a solid state Gates 1000. If I remember correctly it was put in by Dean Stoker a few years back, during his ABC 45 days.
 
Congratulations! You have some great advice. I would only add to not try to be bigger than you are. While you might have listenable signal in Mount Airy or Winston Salem, it is unlikely you will amass the resources to super serve those areas. Concentrate on being a community station for King and surrounding communities like Rural Hall, Pilot Mountain, etc. cover local and county government and local sports.

Good luck.
 
ok, here goes:
1. your top sales demographic is grandmother.
2. she wants to hear about church and grandchildren.
3. police reports with local gossip will fill in the gaps.

here's how i know: http://pewinternet.org/~/media//Fil...rstanding_the_Participatory_News_Consumer.pdf
1. Radio news: Looking at those who are most likely to listen to radio news either at home or in the car on a typical day, several demographic groups stand out:
those between ages 30-64 (yes, 30-year-old grandmothers).
2. Religion and spirituality: 41% of Americans say there is not enough coverage of religious and spiritual issues.
Women (44%) are more likely than men (37%) to seek more coverage of this area.
3. Your neighborhood or local community: 38% of Americans say there is not enough coverage of their neighborhood and local affairs.

....this is from just one study/survey. it's not rocket surgery.
a.cover T-Ball to Football.
b.announce Births and Weddings to Funerals.
c.and answer: (generic) Why are they digging that Big Hole behind the High School?
 
I just got back in town from Orlando, FL. Great for you amigo...I'm glad that you're doing this Dan. Just have fun and get the bill paid.
 
Long time no hear El Capitan! We need to get together and get arrested sometime, Saw Giovanny the other day, he said to say hi.
The braintrust has been very, very good to me; this is easily the best thread I've ever started!
 
Mr. Sykes, how long has KTE been doing this type of format? It was my understanding that, a while back, Rodney sold the station to a Spanish outfit, so I thought 1090 was outta-the-picture. As a side-note, I remember the station from back when it was country in the early '90s and when Bill Hale ran it in the late '90s and early '00s. I even sung on their Singing Convention Of The Air, with a trio that we had, back when I was in college. Also, are there any other programs other than Calvary on Sundays? Reckon I could look at the Program Log, LOL!

A man for whom Christ died,
Josh
http://www.thegladtidingsbroadcast.sermon.tv
 
Status
This thread has been closed due to inactivity. You can create a new thread to discuss this topic.


Back
Top Bottom