My 103.9 is a Train Wreck.

[Ascoltare]

So, the first inception of My 103.9 w/ Pratt seemed to be a "Jack" like format targeting 98.7 the Peak. Seemed to make sense. When he left, the second, brief inception seemed to put a bullseye right on KMXP for obvious reasons being #1 in the valley. Over the past few weeks, there has been an odd combo of dance/pop/rock/etc that seems to be equally targeting CHR and Hot AC. The station is coming across as someone's last resort if there are commercials on Kiss, 101.5, Mix, or the Peak.

I really think the right direction for this station to go would be a Pop Rock/Alternative lean. Something along the lines of Click 98.9 in Seattle brings to mind. Stay focused on strictly titles past 2000, and try to grab a 50/50 share of Men and Women.

Thoughts?

 

[johndavis]

Ciento Tres Punto Nueve! Solamente Exitos!

 

[EricStein]

Ciento Tres Punto Nueve! Solamente Exitos!

I'm guessing "103-9 the Team, The Valley's First FM Sports Station." There's too many established stations playing "puros trancazos"

 

[radioresearcher]

Ciento Tres Punto Nueve! Solamente Exitos!

I'm guessing "103-9 the Team, The Valley's First FM Sports Station." There's too many established stations playing "puros trancazos"

Sports would not be a good move. KTAR-AM on the loses enough cash every year on the D-Backs to pay off the national debt. Very hard to do well with Sports without some PBP and that's very cost prohibitive for operators.

 

[EricStein]

Ciento Tres Punto Nueve! Solamente Exitos!

I'm guessing "103-9 the Team, The Valley's First FM Sports Station." There's too many established stations playing "puros trancazos"

Sports would not be a good move. KTAR-AM on the loses enough cash every year on the D-Backs to pay off the national debt. Very hard to do well with Sports without some PBP and that's very cost prohibitive for operators.

How do you explain 910 and 1060's longevity in the format despite both having sub-1 shares? I know that the latter has hosts that pay to be on the air, but if they were losing that much money for Clear Channel and Sandusky respectively, wouldn't they both have different formats by now?

What are the format holes in Phoenix music radio--Soft AC oldies? AAA? Slavic Polkas? Wouldn't it be better to have something unique than to copy three other stations in town (and still rank fourth among them)?

 

[1069_KIFR]

If it is really YOUR 103.9, then You should fix it!

 

[DJ_Perry]

If it is really YOUR 103.9, then You should fix it!

When they say "My", they are referring to themselves

 

[radioresearcher]

Ciento Tres Punto Nueve! Solamente Exitos!

I'm guessing "103-9 the Team, The Valley's First FM Sports Station." There's too many established stations playing "puros trancazos"

Sports would not be a good move. KTAR-AM on the loses enough cash every year on the D-Backs to pay off the national debt. Very hard to do well with Sports without some PBP and that's very cost prohibitive for operators.

How do you explain 910 and 1060's longevity in the format despite both having sub-1 shares? I know that the latter has hosts that pay to be on the air, but if they were losing that much money for Clear Channel and Sandusky respectively, wouldn't they both have different formats by now?

What are the format holes in Phoenix music radio--Soft AC oldies? AAA? Slavic Polkas? Wouldn't it be better to have something unique than to copy three other stations in town (and still rank fourth among them)?

Anyone who puts on FM Sports would technically be the 4th in format - even though the other three are on the AM band. Being on FM with a spoken word format doesn't guarantee success - please see WEMP, WIQI, ESPN 98.9 in San Diego, the Entercom FM sports station in SF, Free-FM/L.A., NY and SD, the list goes on and on.

KEXX is the only Hot AC defined by the way the format is today. KMXP is a solid (and hugely sucessful) Modern AC, KZZP, KZON, and KMVA are Top 40 and KKFR is Rhythmic/Hip-Hop.

 

[EricStein]

Anyone who puts on FM Sports would technically be the 4th in format - even though the other three are on the AM band. Being on FM with a spoken word format doesn't guarantee success - please see WEMP, WIQI, ESPN 98.9 in San Diego, the Entercom FM sports station in SF, Free-FM/L.A., NY and SD, the list goes on and on.

Then, how can you explain CBS moving some of its sports formats to FM? Any sports station that moves to the FM would instantly be number two in the format, as 910 and 1060 can't be heard in many parts of the metro at night (not to mention all the younger fans who don't bother with the AM band). But, I can't argue, spoken-word formats (except for NPR) don't work on FM.

KEXX is the only Hot AC defined by the way the format is today. KMXP is a solid (and hugely sucessful) Modern AC, KZZP, KZON, and KMVA are Top 40 and KKFR is Rhythmic/Hip-Hop.

What is KPKX? A Hot AC/Adult Hits hybrid? They play a lot of semi-currents, you know.

 

[johndavis]

Being on FM with a spoken word format doesn't guarantee success - please see WEMP, WIQI, ESPN 98.9 in San Diego, the Entercom FM sports station in SF, Free-FM/L.A., NY and SD, the list goes on and on.

The Merlin stations are a good parallel to what's happening at 103.9 right now. When you botch your initial launch and then you flail around trying a different direction every week, you will fail. It's hard to get anywhere when you don't know where you want to go.

 

[jerry85303]

Possible format holes in the Valley for 103.9?

Soft AC
"Lite 103.9" or "Magic 104"

Classic Country
"103.9, The Range" or "Classic Country 104"

Smooth Jazz
"103.9 The Oasis"

 

[Wildstyle K]

get anywhere when you don't know where you want to go.

Haven't they always been lost in direction?

Possible format holes in the Valley for 103.9?

Smooth Jazz
"103.9 The Oasis"

If they consider jazz, they might as well also consider alternative. Or does jazz bill better? I have absolutely no idea what 103.9 could do now, really. Not even sure if Adult Top 40 would work anymore now that many others sound more mainstream pop leaning than ever. That'll only cause 103.9 to seemingly blend in with the rest. They'll really have to captivate people with their pop rock and hope that they gain a pop rock fan base and hope that being early on pop rock material will give them an edge. It's odd that Az. isn't a pop rock town considering the fact that KMXP has had constant success with their specific style of format. You'd also think that if KMXP and KZON/KZZP are big, then the mixture of the two should also work. If it were still just Power 92 and 104.7 like pre 2007, then 103.9 probably would've had a better chance.

 

[Natheodan]

I really think the right direction for this station to go would be a Pop Rock/Alternative lean. Something along the lines of Click 98.9 in Seattle brings to mind. Stay focused on strictly titles past 2000, and try to grab a 50/50 share of Men and Women.

Thoughts?

A format like that may work well in Phoenix, but I think it would be overshadowed my Mix and The Peak. And having their tower in the San Tan Valley area instead of South Mountain has them at a disadvantage. I would like to see a AAA format here, but I'm not sure the demographics can support it. Similar programming that comes to mind would be KFOG in San Fran and 103.7 The Mountain in Seattle.

 

[Ascoltare]

Ciento Tres Punto Nueve! Solamente Exitos!

I'm guessing "103-9 the Team, The Valley's First FM Sports Station." There's too many established stations playing "puros trancazos"

Sports would not be a good move. KTAR-AM on the loses enough cash every year on the D-Backs to pay off the national debt. Very hard to do well with Sports without some PBP and that's very cost prohibitive for operators.

How do you explain 910 and 1060's longevity in the format despite both having sub-1 shares? I know that the latter has hosts that pay to be on the air, but if they were losing that much money for Clear Channel and Sandusky respectively, wouldn't they both have different formats by now?

What are the format holes in Phoenix music radio--Soft AC oldies? AAA? Slavic Polkas? Wouldn't it be better to have something unique than to copy three other stations in town (and still rank fourth among them)?

Anyone who puts on FM Sports would technically be the 4th in format - even though the other three are on the AM band. Being on FM with a spoken word format doesn't guarantee success - please see WEMP, WIQI, ESPN 98.9 in San Diego, the Entercom FM sports station in SF, Free-FM/L.A., NY and SD, the list goes on and on.

KEXX is the only Hot AC defined by the way the format is today. KMXP is a solid (and hugely sucessful) Modern AC, KZZP, KZON, and KMVA are Top 40 and KKFR is Rhythmic/Hip-Hop.


Are you kidding? The only "defined?" I would use the word "Confused" It is absolute, overkill in the market, extreme overkill. How many radio stations can target 25-34 women playing Nicki Minaj? Look, I realize radio is a business and needs to make money but stations whose whole purpose is to "be the 4th preset" to the other Hot AC's/CHR's is not a right mindset. Make them be the #1 preset for another reason.

 

[Ascoltare]

"Anyone who puts on FM Sports would technically be the 4th in format - even though the other three are on the AM band. Being on FM with a spoken word format doesn't guarantee success - please see WEMP, WIQI, ESPN 98.9 in San Diego, the Entercom FM sports station in SF, Free-FM/L.A., NY and SD, the list goes on and on.

KEXX is the only Hot AC defined by the way the format is today. KMXP is a solid (and hugely sucessful) Modern AC, KZZP, KZON, and KMVA are Top 40 and KKFR is Rhythmic/Hip-Hop."


Are you kidding? The only "defined?" I would use the word "Confused" It is absolute, overkill in the market, extreme overkill. How many radio stations can target 25-34 women playing Nicki Minaj? Look, I realize radio is a business and needs to make money but stations whose whole purpose is to "be the 4th preset" to the other Hot AC's/CHR's is not a right mindset. Make them be the #1 preset for another reason.

 

[radioresearcher]

"Anyone who puts on FM Sports would technically be the 4th in format - even though the other three are on the AM band. Being on FM with a spoken word format doesn't guarantee success - please see WEMP, WIQI, ESPN 98.9 in San Diego, the Entercom FM sports station in SF, Free-FM/L.A., NY and SD, the list goes on and on.

KEXX is the only Hot AC defined by the way the format is today. KMXP is a solid (and hugely sucessful) Modern AC, KZZP, KZON, and KMVA are Top 40 and KKFR is Rhythmic/Hip-Hop."


Are you kidding? The only "defined?" I would use the word "Confused" It is absolute, overkill in the market, extreme overkill. How many radio stations can target 25-34 women playing Nicki Minaj? Look, I realize radio is a business and needs to make money but stations whose whole purpose is to "be the 4th preset" to the other Hot AC's/CHR's is not a right mindset. Make them be the #1 preset for another reason.

Look at KEXX versus KZZO in Sacramento... very similar in music and KZZO is a 6 share station. Now, they have a full signal et al, but to say KMXP is a traditional Hot AC is a stretch. What they are is a consistent winner.

 

[Saladressing]

Are you kidding? The only "defined?" I would use the word "Confused" It is absolute, overkill in the market, extreme overkill. How many radio stations can target 25-34 women playing Nicki Minaj? Look, I realize radio is a business and needs to make money but stations whose whole purpose is to "be the 4th preset" to the other Hot AC's/CHR's is not a right mindset. Make them be the #1 preset for another reason.

Exactly. This is radio 101 folks. Do you want your core to be P8s or P1s. As far as viable format holes it's probably a slim list: FM Sports, Soft AC, Alternative. Maybe some others. Hot AC was technically a "hole" but 97.5 tried a variation of it and it and it didn't work and additionally the Hot AC format is so close to Mainstream CHR these days it can be hard to tell the difference.

As has been stated on here by others many times, 103.9 wasn't alternative rock as it is defined today for the last several years of its existence; it was Classic Alternative, heavy on the Grunge, with the occasional new song thrown in - the same 3 classic rock Soundgarden & Pearl Jam songs day after day on repeat. This isn't at all where the format has been in the last few years in most markets. Put on the actual alternative format that is thriving (i.e. making lots of money) in markets from coast to coast as we speak and call it a day. It doesn't matter what market you're talking about, when stations have a smaller stick they don't get to play with the big boys and need to find their own niche.

 

[Godfather]

103.9 should simulcast Power 98.3 and become Az's Power Station did I really say that out loud ?

 

[DJ_Perry]

Only if they go back to their Power format they had in the 90s (before Urban took over)

 

[Godfather]

when stations have a smaller stick they don't get to play with the big boys and need to find their own niche.

I Agree !