Oldies on KDOX

[Jay F]

Talk station AM 1280 KDOX has started playing oldies every weekend. This is exactly the type of music 670 should have been playing, especially when they had Bill Gardner.

 

[joemamma]

I find this a rather odd move for KDOX. It would seem that a lot of the listeners they may attract would be the younger demos of KJUL. Why do something that may steal listeners from the only FM station in the group?

 

[Slurpee]

WOW! Amazing! Another spectacular, innovative radio programming choice made by:

( ) A washed up Las Vegas Radio has been
( ) A No talent Las Vegas Programmer
( ) An out of touch owner/operator
( ) Any or all of the above

A station like KDOX should be cultivting new LOCAL talent on weekends. Wayne and Frank were actually a decent start, but no, let's go ahead and do something that NO ONE will listen to. When you are the 3rd talk station in a market, you gotta do things that will compell people to listen. Sure it's "your" station and you can do whatever you want and judging by the way things look, not too many other people want to hear what you are serving up. But.. It is YOUR money buddy, since you enjoy flushing money, I wish you'd flush a few of those dollars my way.

 

[Jay F]

Wayne and Frank were the only thing worth listening to on the weekend on 1280. The rest of the weekend was your typical days old talk show re-runs and colon cleaning type infomercials. The bad thing for KDOX is they ran some shows that sounded like paid programming that weren't! They are better off playing music.

It's not just KDOX. How can a format that is good M-F sound so bad on the weekends? KDWN is basically unlistenable on the weekends. The only quality weekend talk is the former "Radio Star" winners on KXNT. It's not just Las Vegas either. This goes on everywhere.

 

[Pinegroves]

I can't believe you Slurpee, talking about Scott Gentry of KDOX like you did. This guy has done more and still doing more than most radio people have done in this town. I've been in radio here since 1975 and knew Scott when he was PD. of the now defunct KENO, a Rocker back then. Since then he has owned TV stations and now KJUL and KDOX. Whoever you are, you'll never be a Scott Gentry. I've never replied before to this site, but your message needed to be answered.

 

[showster48]

Seriously, I'm sick of all the negativity on this board. There's a choice three or four posters on here who constantly bash and berate other stations and their employees. Honestly, lay off it... what have these people done to you? In my opinion, quit complaining because you failed in this industry and can't find a job and quit hating on those of us who still do have one. I'm still new to radio and I've never in my life met a bunch of people who are SOOOO resistant to change. I'm sorry someone moved your cheese, get over it and move on. Don't be so damn quick to freak out and throw negativity towards someone trying a new idea. Over the past month, people have bashed Beasley, KVGS, KXTE, NOW, KOMP, MIX, KVEG, KLUC, and now KDOX, sheesh that's 1/2 the market!

Vegas radio doesn't suck because of the talent or programming... it sucks because noone can concede defeat and give credit where credit is due. Instead, we bust out our guns and shoot down people and ideas like a North Las Vegas drive-by. Quit tearing others down and start building others up, then maybe Las Vegas will start sounding like market #33 instead of market #133 like others have stated in the past.

P.S. - Oh, and this is my first post to this board, but i've been visiting for almost 4 years now... I'm with Pinegroves, this had to be addressed. Even though, I'm addressing different reasons.

 

[showster48]

Thanks for the insight Worcester, I kinda saw that "grouping" myself...

And I totally agree, there has been a hole in the market for a "real" oldies station since KQOL flipped to the party. KKLZ comes somewhat (and I use the term loosely) close, but even they don't play some of the stuff KQOL did. What about 97Q? I haven't had a chance to listen to them yet...

 

[donoflv]

Its too bad an oldies format is not a viable format in this market or any other market any more that's why KQOL dropped it and went to the Party. KRTH is the last great oldies station and they are now calling themselves "classic hits" and dealing with a pop of 14million not 1.5!KHHT is top 9 but once again look at the population. The problem is that the execution of anything here in Vegas is piss poor. Just flip on any station. Nobody goes to AM for music.

 

[Jay F]

Especially because KKLZ already exists it is highly unlikely an FM station will flip to oldies. But let's say in some parallel universe a LV station did decide to go oldies such as the previously mentioned "True Oldies" format (which I am a huge fan of because of how deep they go). If such a station entered the radio landscape KKLZ would be in big trouble. They would get squeezed between KXPT and the new oldies station and have no clear position in the market.

Getting back down to earth, no station is switching to oldies (outside of KDOX-AM weekends) and KKLZ will be one of the top rated stations for a long time to come.

 

[Slurpee]

Hey Pine.. My post was not intended as a slam to Mr. Gentry personally, but rather an observation of the stupid moves station owners and managers make in this town. I maintain that playing oldies on KDOX is a completely assinine move PERIOD. Jay I agree with you, that weekends are completely unlistenable on not only KDOX, but KDWN as well. A I mentioned in my earlier post these stations should be cultivating new talent. But that would require a commitment or vision and as far as I can tell, NO Vegas station has either with very few exceptions.
As far as negativity, perhaps if there was a reason to post something positive about Las Vegas Radio, you might see it. Las Vegas Radio is boring and gives people no compelling reason to listen. By the way Pine, perhaps you can enlighten me, what exactly has Mr. Gentry done for radio and Las Vegas lately? Just because you did something 30 years ago, does't mean you are still viable today.. By the way, if my memory serves me correctly, wasn't this the guy who was fired for constantly being late back in the day and still can't manage to make to work on time on KJUL..

 

[buzzdemming]

Getting back down to earth, no station is switching to oldies (outside of KDOX-AM weekends) and KKLZ will be one of the top rated stations for a long time to come.

hmmm, KKLZ tied for 5th place for October 25-54 PPM behind the likes of KXPT and the "little urban" station? What is up Vegas??? The impossible happened. now what??!!

 

[buzzdemming]

Seriously, I'm sick of all the negativity on this board. There's a choice three or four posters on here who constantly bash and berate other stations and their employees. Honestly, lay off it... what have these people done to you? In my opinion, quit complaining because you failed in this industry and can't find a job and quit hating on those of us who still do have one. I'm still new to radio and I've never in my life met a bunch of people who are SOOOO resistant to change. I'm sorry someone moved your cheese, get over it and move on. Don't be so damn quick to freak out and throw negativity towards someone trying a new idea. Over the past month, people have bashed Beasley, KVGS, KXTE, NOW, KOMP, MIX, KVEG, KLUC, and now KDOX, sheesh that's 1/2 the market!

Vegas radio doesn't suck because of the talent or programming... it sucks because noone can concede defeat and give credit where credit is due. Instead, we bust out our guns and shoot down people and ideas like a North Las Vegas drive-by. Quit tearing others down and start building others up, then maybe Las Vegas will start sounding like market #33 instead of market #133 like others have stated in the past.

P.S. - Oh, and this is my first post to this board, but i've been visiting for almost 4 years now... I'm with Pinegroves, this had to be addressed. Even though, I'm addressing different reasons.

Um Vegas Radio does suck because of bad programming and presenting a poor product, which most on the dial are very guilty of. I grew up here and am an avid Radio fan. Most of the broadcasters here pump out compressed MP3s on their HD-compromised signals. KVGS and KFRH sound so poor I wonder if this is even FM when I attempt to listen to them. I can remember spinning vinyl hits on my home stereo and not being able to sound as good as what I heard on FM. Hardly the case now although a couple of stations do sound like the FM I remember. I'll bash what others have stated is crap because it is.

Remember Content is King

 

[Jay F]

Getting back down to earth, no station is switching to oldies (outside of KDOX-AM weekends) and KKLZ will be one of the top rated stations for a long time to come.

hmmm, KKLZ tied for 5th place for October 25-54 PPM behind the likes of KXPT and the "little urban" station? What is up Vegas??? The impossible happened. now what??!!

It looks like RNUT has some crow to eat. Here was the quote

"Being the LITTLE URBAN STATION will not work in PPM".

 

[buzzdemming]

It looks like RNUT has some crow to eat. Here was the quote

"Being the LITTLE URBAN STATION will not work in PPM".

I'm suppose he and that other CBS Radio guy- vegasradio - are busy trying to cover up the black eye their beloved heritage KLUC received from the handful of people chosen to represent the listening public. #7 on 6+. tied for 5th 25-54!!!!??. I thought you guys had PPM figured out? Gonna be tough to sound more white fellas. Don't get dizzy trying to spin those sorry numbers.

 

[Jay F]

It looks like RNUT has some crow to eat. Here was the quote

"Being the LITTLE URBAN STATION will not work in PPM".

I'm suppose he and that other CBS Radio guy- vegasradio - are busy trying to cover up the black eye their beloved heritage KLUC received from the handful of people chosen to represent the listening public. #7 on 6+. tied for 5th 25-54!!!!??. I thought you guys had PPM figured out? Gonna be tough to sound more white fellas. Don't get dizzy trying to spin those sorry numbers.

In the overall scheme of things KLUC didn't do too bad. Many other stations would dream of being #5 25-54. That isn't even their target demo, they are all the stronger 18-34 (and I'm sure 6-17). If they are considered a PPM loser it's because they didn't do as good as expectations and that KVEG beat them. Still, of any station that could be put in the loser column, KLUC is by far the highest rated.

Even if NOW didn't do anything spectacular in PPM. Just having them there has fragmented the CHR audience and took enough away from KLUC to put KVEG ahead. This isn't to minimize anything from KVEGs outstanding numbers, just a recognition that KLUC and NOW share pop songs while HOT has the luxury of being more format exclusive.

I suppose if we have anymore PPM comments or spin they should go in the PPM thread you started to keep it on topic.

 

[Buck Feasley]

Showster, it isn't hard to tell you're new to radio. It isn't possible for you to compare the current situation in the industry to a time when management showed respect for air talent because they realized air talent was the product. Very few of us "bash and berate" on-air employees here, but we do heap well-deserved criticisms on management, because the sorry state of radio in our city is their fault, clear and simple. Many of us had decades of experience, long lists of successes and accomplishments and plenty of listeners who enjoyed our efforts, only to be wrongfully terminated or 'downsized' by idiot managers who never cracked a microphone. Beasley and CBS have been the biggest offenders in recent years here, and that's why you hear more about them and the bozos who own and run those clusters. So sorry we can't all put a sunny face on having our livelihoods stolen from us by unprofessional hacks.

You're damn right we're resistant to change, because we love this industry and we know the change of which you speak has been a flaming disaster for it. The only changes instituted in this market in recent years have made radio more bland, more unexciting and more unprofitable than it used to be. Now comes PPM to make it even more boring, because that's the nature of the technology and because of the complete lack of creativity in programming in this market. It's like being given the answers to a test, and now local programmers will dutifully fill in the blanks instead of coming up with ideas that might treat listeners as humans who actually listen.

"Concede defeat?" To what? Unless I misread that statement, you've just admitted that management is the enemy and that we have no choice but to support and endorse the way they want to do things, even though it's been devastating to radio, nationally and locally. Sorry, dude. Those of us who have invested most of our adult lives in furthering this fantastic medium have no faith in those managers or their greedy, bank-owned bosses. We are right and they are wrong and time will prove this. I suppose your negative viewpoints toward we who have been screwed can be forgiven because you don't know any better. I hope this provides some badly needed perspective for you. We're all just hoping that when the crows come home to roost and CBS and Clear Channel lose their asses next year, there might still be an industry to go back to. At the rate local management is killing it, it's a longshot, but it's the only hope we have.

 

[Pinegroves]

"AMEN" to you Buck for telling it like it is. Now I read that Citadel is in trouble.

 

[talk chick]

"Buck" (don't worry, I won't "out" you here) - what you and some others don't get is that broadcasting companies exist for one reason...say it with me...that's right...to make MONEY...for their shareholders and themselves. Period. If they're profitable, we all get to keep our jobs, and even marginally good people can survive in that atmosphere. I don't understand why that concept is so hard for some of you to grasp.

It's not about "ruining radio", it's about a corporation trying to survive in these tough times. Frankly, it's a testament to our business that music radio has survived at all, between Ipods, XM and Mp3 players. Far more choices, yet people still turn to local radio.

I understand that many of you are frustrated because management didn't fully appreciate your obviously enormous talent (or perhaps it was your attitude), and you're no longer employed. I know plenty of great people who have lost their jobs in this business, and perhaps I've just been lucky to have escaped the pink slip for 11 years. But it's radio - I'm sure my turn will come.

I just don't understand the vitriol. YOU are in charge of your career, not management. The industry HAS changed, and will continue to. You have to be able to adapt, or at the very least, make yourself as valuable as possible, so that you will be able to do what ALL of us who are left are doing - several jobs. Frankly, I can't think of an industry that hasn't drastically changed, even in the last few years. If you can't adapt, you'll be left behind.

Refusing to accept the capitalism involved in radio is not helping any of you. Maybe that's why conservative talkers get better numbers? Here's a thought - if you know so much, why not get your funds together and buy a station? There are plenty for sale...cheap! Then you unappreciated geniuses can show us all how it SHOULD be done!

Heidi Harris
KDWN

 

[Buck Feasley]

Thank you for agreeing with most of what I said, Heidi. Radio's recession has very little to do with the current economy, and the end actually began in 1996 with...say it with me...passage of the Telecom act that converted radio stations from productive, profitable members of the community to properties on a Monopoly board with zero regard for quality programming. Radio's primary job is to serve the community, not to make a profit. Granted, revenue is necessary to keep any business going, but when the government opened the floodgates to ridiculous levels of ownership and greedy owners got the idea that radio stations are actually licenses to print money, radio pretty much headed down the road to getting what it deserved. Serving the community by way of local talent and original programming became afterthoughts, and you know this.

There were plenty of exceptions, a couple of which were within your cluster until management abandoned them. Many people were lied to and had their careers ruined unnecessarily and that's why the sentiments tend to be so intense. Key word: Unnecessarily. It is impossible to look back on 2005-2007 at Beasley and say "Yeah, I guess it was all for the best," because it wasn't. Your previous managers showed a shocking lack of respect to some really fine people. I don't have enough fingers and toes to list the people who used to work there who would readily agree that your previous in-house regime was one of the worst in local radio history, and that's saying a lot. Your apparent perception that we are all just sitting around moping about it is incorrect. It is well in the past now, a hard lesson learned, and we are indeed "adapting." Those of us who choose to continue being broadcasters can do so in a number of ways that no longer require a tower or transmitter. As you acknowledge, that may be where your own future lies. I responded to Showster's post because he couldn't understand how anyone could be negative or upset at the current state of terrestrial radio in Las Vegas, and I thought that displayed a surprising level of naivete when so many problems and their root causes are so obvious.

Finally, it's kind of amusing to see you champion the 'capitalism involved in radio' when radio has posted unprecedented losses this past year. Blame the economy if you want, but I would argue radio would be doing just fine even in these times, if ignorant ownership hadn't degraded or destroyed much of its own product, ignored new media, and blown out the very people who made their properties profitable in the first place. Beasley is certainly not alone in that regard.

 

[JEREMIAH]

Can you say.."Too many stations?"


Jerry Gordon KNUU

Hi! Heidi.