NWA Radio Battle

[outsiderlookingin]

Is there one? How do each of the main formats stack up there and sound on the air? (country, top 40, rock, etc)

 

[wxman76]

I am from there, and still visit the area often. Most of the more successful stations are owned by either Clearchannel and Cumulus, though I assume that the CC stations are up for sale.

On the top 40 side, there is a pretty good battle between Power 105.7(Cumulus) and Hot Mix 101.9(CC). Power 105.7 is a heritage that dates back to 1989. Hot Mix has been doing top 40 since about '99 or so. Lately Power 105.7 has had a slight edge, and has brought back the syndicated Kidd Kraddick In The Morning. Musically, both are straight up the middle CHR with similar playlists. It would be nice to see more difference between the two stations, instead of them trying to battle for the same piece of pie. However, both stations consistintly finish in the top 6 or 7, so I don't see any of these blinking for a format change anytime soon.

As far as rock, 93.3 The Eagle (CC) has had the higher ratings, usually #2 12+ behind country KIX 104. Heritage KKEG (Cumulus) has been playing some variation of rock music for over 30 years. Most of time they have been Album Rock, playing a blend of classic and more recent rock. Though they had a brief stint as modern rock around 2003. KKEG has syndicated Bob & Tom mornings while The Eagle has Jon & Deek, who have done local radio for awhile now. Modern rock 104.9 The X has done well. I would say they are one of the better sounding, more successful smaller market alternative stations out there and have developed quite a following. 104.9 The X is locally owned by Butler.

 

[dallasrockradio]

I’m actually disappointed that cumulus has so much syndication going on. They own 92.1 The Keg, Y 94.9, Sam 98, Power 105.7, and Z 1590. I know nothing about 1590, but as far as the FM stations go, Y 94.9 is the only one with a local morning show. However in return, Y 94.9’s afternoons are voice tracked from some guy in another state.

98.3 has been competing with Kix 104 for years. They gave them self a makeover as Sam 98 years ago, but Kix is winning by far in the ratings. Sam 98 even mixed in some classic rock every now and then at one point a year or 2 ago, but they’re not doing that any longer.

I haven’t ever listened to morning shows, but for some reason I just can’t change the station from those guys on The X. They are quite the entertainers.

 

[outsiderlookingin]

That is quite a lot of syndication..you're right. How does it do in ratings compared to the live shows though at cc (assuming they have live talent). If it's winning I can see why Cumulus is doing it.

Last I heard though most of CC in Fayetteville was voice-tracked except for at most 1 day-part on each station.

 

[ARRadio1]

Every jock at CC is local, except for 2 on 101.9. Some voicetracking, but it's local. Power has 2 local jocks, Keg has 2, Y has 2, US did have 2, not sure if that afternoon guy is still there, and Sam has no local talent on. What about X? All live aren't they?

 

[dallasrockradio]

From what I know The X is 100% live and local.

That is quite a lot of syndication..you're right. How does it do in ratings compared to the live shows though at cc (assuming they have live talent). If it's winning I can see why Cumulus is doing it.

Last I heard though most of CC in Fayetteville was voice-tracked except for at most 1 day-part on each station.

I'm not sure how the ratings stand up to eachother, but I prefer listening to someone local on my drive to and from work. Bob and Tom don't know if there is a big accident on 540 that I need to avoid.

 

[dallasrockradio]

I’m actually disappointed that cumulus has so much syndication going on. They own 92.1 The Keg, Y 94.9, Sam 98, Power 105.7, and Z 1590.

Oops! I forgot about US 94. It should be against the rules to own that many stations.

 

[dday]

Here are the Fall 07 numbers 12 +.

Kix 10.4
majic 9.1
eagle 7.1
power 5.2
the x 4.9
kamo 4.4
kbva 4.4
kreb-am 4.4
mix 4.1
ksec 4.1
kkeg 3.0
kfay-am 2.7
sam 2.5
kaks 2.2
kynf 1.9
kurm 1.6

In Morning Drive Persons 18-34 The X and Power are in almost a dead heat for first place and in Morning Drive Persons 25-54 Kix is first with Eagle second. The fact that a 5k sports a.m. station beat 1 clear channel fm and 3 cumulus fm's is shocking. These numbers are just the Fall 07 book, no combined numbers b.s.

 

[outsiderlookingin]

I'm possibly moving to the market soon and would like to get into it again but i'm trying to outweigh my options and who I should try and talk to the PD's at. I have CHR and Hot Country experience.

Comparing 98.3 and 103.9 how is the overall sound (imaging, dj's, presentation)

Same with 101.9 and 105.7 how is the overal sound (imaging, dj's, presentation)

anyone who is there and compare DJ's to DJ's and music to music, etc would be a great help. Thanks.

 

[ARRadio1]

With the Houston Nutt / Razorback drama last year, I'm surprised sports talk didn't get a 20 share!

 

[dallasrockradio]

I'm possibly moving to the market soon and would like to get into it again but i'm trying to outweigh my options and who I should try and talk to the PD's at. I have CHR and Hot Country experience.

Comparing 98.3 and 103.9 how is the overall sound (imaging, dj's, presentation)

Same with 101.9 and 105.7 how is the overal sound (imaging, dj's, presentation)

anyone who is there and compare DJ's to DJ's and music to music, etc would be a great help. Thanks.

I personally feel teenagers listen to Hotmix more and people in their 20's and 30's listen to Power more. That's just my vibe though. I think the music on Power is better too. I can't explain it very well, but they will throw in an old school track every now and then, which I like. I don't ever listen to Hotmix, so I can't tell you how their Dj's compare to Power.

As far as Sam 98 and Kix go. I think the Dj's sound better on Kix. The music is pretty much the same on both stations.

 

[wxman76]

Here are the Fall 07 numbers 12 +.

Kix 10.4
majic 9.1
eagle 7.1
power 5.2
the x 4.9
kamo 4.4
kbva 4.4
kreb-am 4.4
mix 4.1
ksec 4.1
kkeg 3.0
kfay-am 2.7
sam 2.5
kaks 2.2
kynf 1.9
kurm 1.6

Those numbers are different than the numbers on the Radio & Records website. Why is that?

http://www.radioandrecords.com/RRRa...&UP=2/1/2008&SU=C&BPER=&HPER=&OPER=&NSD=&CE=0

If KREB did indeed get that high of a rating on a AM station that only be picked up during daylight, hopefully, that will wake up Cumulus and other owners in NWA that there IS a demand for sports talk in this market. Imagine if they were on a somewhat decent FM signal that is struggling (Y 94.9 for example). FM sports talk exists in Little Rock, Tulsa, Springfield and even (2 stations) in Fort Smith! If it can work there, it can work in NWA, too.

 

[wxman76]

I personally feel teenagers listen to Hotmix more and people in their 20's and 30's listen to Power more. That's just my vibe though. I think the music on Power is better too. I can't explain it very well, but they will throw in an old school track every now and then, which I like. I don't ever listen to Hotmix, so I can't tell you how their Dj's compare to Power.

I don't have the numbers in front of me, but I would agree with that statement. The 25-34 demo is probably better for Power 105.7 because that age group grew up listening to Power when they were teens back in the 90s and the Power brand name carries over more easily with them than HotMix.

The difference in music seems small to me between the two (so small that I have trouble putting it into words), though like you said, I do like it when Power spikes in the occasional late 80s/90s track during mid-days.

 

[ARRadio1]

Those numbers look different because they are from the Fall 07 survey alone. The published numbers are now always a two book average...a product the Arbitron geniuses call the "Small Market Initiative". ;D You have to have Arb software Maximiser or Tapscan to seperate the two books. Since they're not the published numbers, I'm surprised they've stayed posted this long.

 

[outsiderlookingin]

I'll contact 103.9 and 105.7 this week then. 103.9 seems to be too contemporary for me but i'll listen when I arrive in the market.

Does anyone know anything about the programmers in charge of the stations and who I speak with? Thanks for everyone's help. I streamed the X today for a bit. The morning show sounded green but overall wasn't bad to listen too. It's good to see a local owner still making it these days.

 

[DIZ Guy]

This is an interesting thread. KKEG has 3 live local dj's...

I was just in town for a few days and thought that the morning show on the X was quite good, matter of fact, the whole station sounded great. The Eagle sounded alright also. It sounded a hell of a lot better than it did last summer.

I thought that the Keg sounded like a snoozefest, but the jocks were quite good..

"Sport's Talk" with Bo Mattingly....I was in Springdale and could only hear the first hour, and it is definately different with a more edgy feel, however, they still have the same ol' callers from the past that make the show painful to listen to at times....

 

[dallasrockradio]

I'll contact 103.9 and 105.7 this week then. 103.9 seems to be too contemporary for me but i'll listen when I arrive in the market.

Does anyone know anything about the programmers in charge of the stations and who I speak with? Thanks for everyone's help. I streamed the X today for a bit. The morning show sounded green but overall wasn't bad to listen too. It's good to see a local owner still making it these days.

JJ Ryan is the program director over at Power 105.7 and Dave Tyler is the program director at Kix 104. I've tried to get hired on numerous times at Cumulus, CC, and Butler, however I don't have radio experience. Since you do, it should be a lot easier for you.

 

[outsiderlookingin]

dallasrockradio i'm assuming you're in the market since you seem to know quite a bit about it.

Do you know much about these guys? Are they good to work for?

 

[dallasrockradio]

Yeah, I've lived here for quite awhile now. My id is dallasrockradio because of my website, I grew up in Dallas. I have tried to get a job with Kix and Power, as well as others, but no luck for me yet. So I don't know a whole lot about these guys.

Since we got a NWA section going on here, I went through my old clips and put this together. It's airchecks from Power, The X, and Mix from back in the day. I was a teenager when I recorded this, so forgive me if it's not recorded good.

http://www.sendspace.com/file/77b1b3

I like the first one from Power.... "Hey...All of our disk jockeys...really live in Arkansas...imagin that...the number one hit music station....Power 105...105.7.

 

[jjryan]

outsiderlookingin ... We are actually currently hiring a kidd kraddick board operator and also looking for future part time on air talent for weekends. When you arrive in the market please contact me at 479-521-5566 or send me an email [email protected] and we'll set up a time to have you come in and listen to your aircheck and look over your resume.

dallasrockradio in response to that mp3 you posted ... Wow ... I moved here in 2003 and lived in Syracuse before taking the position here so never heard anything previous to when I arrived. I'm a radio geek like most of us in the business and it was fun to listen to that today Thanks.