PI's Bill Virgin Writes on KIXI

[ronrob]

Virgin's article posted on the paper's website late this afternoon, answers some of our questions."We've done the local thing for so long," said Marc Kaye, general manager of Sandusky's five Seattle-market stations. But KIXI has been stalled at a 2 share in the Arbitron ratings, he said (in the most recent ratings book, for winter quarter, KIXI had a 1.9 share and ranked 22nd in the market).By keeping the same music format but using hosts who have greater access to national artists for interviews, Kaye hopes to build the station's audience.KIXI will still be aimed at an audience 45 and older, although he noted that growing demographic segment remains out of favor with advertisers obsessed with the younger market. The only on-air host who remains with the company, Kaye said, is Dan Murphy, who will be operations manager. The schedule of specialty shows on weekend, including "Imagination Theatre," will remain the same. KIXI will also do local news, traffic, weather and promotion, he said.

 

[jdweaver]

Not sure that the format will develop much more than a 2 share 12+, regardless of who does the music. Clearly KIXI was beautifully formated and sounded just great. But the audience value will likely remain the same (give or take a few of this boards members) so the savings to Sandusky will be substantial. Marc Kaye is correct - 45+ is a tough sell and rightfully so. These consumers have established consumption patterns that are difficult to change. Wonder how Bill Berry in Anacortes (KLKI) feels with KIXI duplicating his format?

 

[airwaver]

Marc Kaye fed Virgin a line of b#%*@!. KIXI has been devoid of personality -- local or satellite-programmed -- for a long, long time. KIXI's morning show and afternoon drive did not have "air personalities" really...Apart from time and temperature, they offered up little in the way of personality programming... ...but granted - they WERE live. The fact is that their on-air style differed little from the sterile 'one-size-fits-all' automated programming from some out-of-state satellite music service that was aired on KIXI in other parts of the broadcast day. Jack Morton was wasted there also. He would come to KIXI on Mondays, produce a week's worth of "liners" (pre-recorded song intros, station promos and ad libs) and then leave. It worked technically, but Jack's evening show was neither live nor energized, and because it was pre-recorded, there was none of the crackling wit and spontaneity that made the "Super Commuter" a lively and entertaining afternoon-drive companion during his years at pre-talk KVI. At KIXI, Jack was relegated to the backroom of basic automation. That is NOT the best use of an air personality, but it's cheap. KIXI's moribund ratings are the result of lazy, uninspired, do-it-on-the-cheap programming, and will not NOT improve with a switch to an even cheaper style of programming. You can't pass off Cheese Whiz and rice as a 'Ruth Chris' steak. KIXI's biggest mistake is having failed to respect their listeners by providing them a quality on-air product. It's both shameful and probably -- justifiably -- fatal.

 

[Joe_Capitano]

Wonder how Bill Berry in Anacortes (KLKI) feels with KIXI duplicating his format?

Probably indifferent. KIXI and KLKI have had pretty much the same musical format for some time, save for a period when Berry's station went to talk.As it is, KLKI can't even be heard in Seattle. I don't think there's much of a threat.One other thing: It's still seven months out, but when the time comes will there even be an "88 Hours of Christmas?"

 

[ronrob]

Well, three consecutive posts on the Puget Sound Radio board north of the border, speak otherwise of KIXI.Not nearly as negative as the one above by airwaver.I live in Vancouver, BC, and I used to listen to KIXI, it came in almost as clear as a local station. I enjoyed listening to the Wall of Knowledge. From former broadcaster "arthurdent:"Jim Dai was the consumate pro...God I wonder if we could get him and some of the others up here! And from "Mailman:" So sad! Jim Dai demonstarted eveything you should know about Personality Radio. Hey! A new format! -PR!) Self effacing, lightning fast wit, quirky, and ALWAYS UP. Great pipes when he needed 'em yet not cheesy fake. He could cajole and tease his callers, his team and you never felt he was talking down to you and he could hit a post like none other! (Hope this doesn't sound like an obit!) The show-it was A SHOW, had great quiz stuff, trivia, nonsense features-Sure it may sound anachronistic these days but while driving my teens to school every morning they just had to hear the craziness! (even though the music wasn't their type.)His style will never be heard again. As for Jim I hope he surfaces on an AM band somewhere soon. If you read this my friend (although we've never met) good luck to you and Jim Kampmann and Bonnie and thanks for so many years of radio fun.

 

[TowerLamp]

Marc Kaye fed Virgin a line of b#%*@!. Jack Morton was wasted there also. He would come to KIXI on Mondays, produce a week's worth of "liners" (pre-recorded song intros, station promos and ad libs) and then leave. At KIXI, Jack was relegated to the backroom of basic automation. That is NOT the best use of an air personality, but it's cheap.

Airwaver...opinions regarding KIXI's programming are certainly yours to hold, but you're off base regarding Jack Morton. He went in every day, MON-FRI to record that night's show. Jack still maintained his great sense of spontaneous wit and some great "Morton-ism" quotes from his show were even posted on this very website by others. Overnights were also tracked day of performance and Jim Kampmann did an incredible job of tying in artist info and local concert info, etc. KIXI was considerably more relevant to this market than most of the "live" FM music stations in town. (Which sadly, ain't saying much!)

 

[SmartestNewbieAround]

I would have to agree, for being a mainly automated station, it had a lot of live, local feel to it. Every single jock that tracked took pride in sounding live and local with everything that they do. As was said, it sounded better than a lot of the FM's that are around doing the same thing.

 

[SavoyBrown]

Marc Kaye fed Virgin a line of b#%*@!. Jack Morton was wasted there also. He would come to KIXI on Mondays, produce a week's worth of "liners" (pre-recorded song intros, station promos and ad libs) and then leave. At KIXI, Jack was relegated to the backroom of basic automation. That is NOT the best use of an air personality, but it's cheap.

Airwaver...opinions regarding KIXI's programming are certainly yours to hold, but you're off base regarding Jack Morton. He went in every day, MON-FRI to record that night's show. Jack still maintained his great sense of spontaneous wit and some great "Morton-ism" quotes from his show were even posted on this very website by others. Overnights were also tracked day of performance and Jim Kampmann did an incredible job of tying in artist info and local concert info, etc. KIXI was considerably more relevant to this market than most of the "live" FM music stations in town. (Which sadly, ain't saying much!)

TowerLamp: Agreed with everything you said. Just my own observation, but I fear the KIXI staff may have seen their last days. Everything is "young (insert format here)" these days. No place for them on air at least, since the other logical places I see are owned by Sandusky. Maybe sales or management might suit a few if they are so inclined. Their experience would benefit any station. Morton will survive with other interests just fine I'm sure. Sadly an era has ended and we are now left with the dearth of "live" FM's in town.Airwaver: Marc Kaye had nothing to do with this. The decision was not his, it was mandated from much higher up. He was merely put in the unfortunate position of executioner.