POWER PLUS

[Wildstyle K]

Just want to make a few Phoenix market CHR clarifications & updates here:

FIRST

While I was in LA Saturday evening, I looked up Power 98.3 and discovered that Power 98.3 has brought back their Power Mix Weekends, mixing all weekend, EVERY weekend, regardless of whether or not it's a holiday or special occasion! I must admit that I'm glad they made the decision to do this. However, I also must admit that I'm somewhat worried about the long term success of Power 98.3... for a variety of reasons - which I will not discuss at this time. On an unrelated note, as I was driving through Yuma, Az. while coming back from LA to Phoenix earlier, I found out that there's another Power 98 at 98.3 in Yuma with a chr top 40 format. If it weren't for that other station, Phoenix's Power 98.3 would probably reach right into Yuma because I was able to tune in about a good 2 hours of KKFR, KMVA, and KAJM while going north at an average of 73 miles per hour towards Maricopa county before many of the other stations began to kick in.

PLUS

I know a lot of people love to hate on KMVA, but... I must admit that I love and appreciate what they're providing to the valley. They're turning out to be one of a kind. First of all, contrary to many people's beliefs, they do not sit around and wait for any other stations to break or play hits first. KMVA specializes particularly in today's hits, playing nothing but the current hits, and that keeps them unique from the rest of the formats in the valley. While I was in LA, I noticed many LA stations playing the new Calvin Harris, "feel so close". However, the ONLY station in Phoenix currently featuring that electronic hit in regular rotation is KMVA. They were also the first to break Outasight, The Wanted, and Breathe Carolina, amongst other things. They are also the only ones now regularly playing the original song, "levels" by Avicii, and I notice they are one of the few holding on to "take over control" by Afrojack... hmmmmm...... (not going to make assumptions, though). In addition to that, if it weren't for KMVA, there are several areas of the valley that wouldn't even be exposed to any of those hits, period. (They are currently playing "wild ones" by Flo Rida ft Sia. Looks like another song to add to the list of things they broke out first (in regular rotation).)

ALSO

I notice that many people here complain about how much our chr's sound alike. Apparently you guys haven't been to Los Angeles! Talk about a bunch of chr's sounding identical! It makes all Phoenix chr's look unique to each other in comparison! At least our chr's all serve a specific purpose, delivering different styles of formatting! Example: KMVA is all current hits (playing Today's Hits, NOW). KZZP is somewhat similar, but unlike KMVA, they have a bunch of recurrents and old school. KZON may sound similar to KZZP, but unlike KZZP, KZON focuses more on rhythmic hits and does not specialize too much in pop rock or alternative (yet unlike KMVA, they do also play a select list of recurrents and old school hits). KKFR, while they are somewhat rhythmic and pop leaning, they focus more on hip hop or urban influenced hits. Now, go to LA and see if you can pick out any distinct differences between their "plethora of rhythmic chr's". I never thought the day would come when I say this, but I believe we have a better chr market than LA does, and this is judging the market now, even before some of the upcoming exciting changes and other things that I'm not mentioning at the moment unfold and come in to play here!

I know I've beat up a few stations here a bit in the past, but after going to LA and seeing that it was really nothing special, I've learned to appreciate Phoenix. Regardless of how it all looks to us from the inside looking out, the grass isn't always greener on the other side.

 

[Wildstyle K]

Ok, I must make a quick correction here. I did mention earlier that KMVA was the ONLY station playing the new Calvin Harris track. Well, ironically, KZZP has just started playing it as well within minutes of me posting that. Just wanted to clarify that before people wake up later and see this (and / or the KZZP music track list) and question it.

--> All things written above are based on events occurring as they were up until the time of the post. 

 

[DJ_Perry]

I believe we have covered this before, but I digress:

97.5, 98.3, and 104.3 come in great in the desert. Hands down....They win! Too bad their target audience isn't the people that actually monitor the FM while driving To or From California. Once you hit the valley, then the interference comes in (Hence low PPM numbers)

I will admit 97.5 is looking outside the box playing The Wanted, Calvin Harris and Avicii, but here's a news flash....those tracks are old. It wasn't like they were playing them when they were new. However 90.7 The Goldmine was.

 

[Wildstyle K]

I believe we have covered this before, but I digress:

97.5, 98.3, and 104.3 come in great in the desert.  Hands down....They win!  Too bad their target audience isn't the people that actually monitor the FM while driving To or From California.  Once you hit the valley, then the interference comes in (Hence low PPM numbers)

We did cover this before, but that discussion was based purely on "on paper map data info". There's nothing better than the actual experience and seeing it for yourself. Besides, quite a bit of the data I did receive from that "on paper map data info" did turn out to be inaccurate.
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Slightly changing the subject, I must point out another thing about Hot 97.5 here. I do notice that they removed the pop rock hits from their playlist, so one could now say that everybody here in Phoenix is leaning rhythmic just like LA and there's no remarkable difference. However, despite their rhythmic lean, Hot 97.5 still only breaks and features today's hits, unlike others who feature a lot of old school classics. I was hesitant to say it before, but I will come out and say it now; Something is DEFINITELY up with Hot 97.5...... Either they're up to something or they know something we don't know and it's causing them to "switch up their behavior". Where's Gavin DeGraw, The Fray, Hot Chelle Rae, Train, Foster The People, etc.? I guess my theories about adult top 40 working here were wrong... (but then again, I wonder if Mix 96.9 would fall if they became just a tad more edgy?).

 

[DJ_Perry]

They been playing Drake and Big Sean. Either they shift every month, or KDM changes his mind even more often than KMVA. I'm guessing a little of both 8)

 

[Saladressing]

Love the format adjustment by Hot 97.5. They sound a tiny bit like the old 95.3 Party/Orlando which was 50% dance and 50% hip-hop. Obviously 97.5 isn't at these percentages. Power 98.3 and 101.1 The Beat play so much gold it's hard to see them as being focused but the current rhythmic product hasn't been as plentiful as it once was. The bigger question may be does the Valley really need 5 Drake stations.

 

[DJ_Perry]

The bigger question may be does the Valley really need 5 Drake stations.

I think 1 station playing Drake is too much