Real ratings

[TakeItFromMe]

Seems to be a hole lotta jawin about the stations that don't matter much in the ratings on this board :-\
Ya think anyone cares about how KISS, MOVIN and The END are doin, when they can't even win their own 18-34 demo cowboys ???
Anyone notice that in November both Country Stations came on strong finishing two and three for the month ;D
Anyone notice we got an AM station in KIRO that is back in the top five 25-54 and wiping its competitors on its boots
Anyone surprised that a JAZZ station is number one 25-54 for the month ???
Anyone surprised that STAR is number two 18-34 for the last couple of months ???
Anyone sick and tired of hearing about MOVIN's internal beechin :'(
Anyone wonder of da MOUNTAIN had a big ole ratings kiss this summer that died in Fall
Anyone want to wish Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all the fine broadcasters in Seattle. I do ;D

 

[radioprofessor]

I could not agree more. It is my view that stations are rarely given time to perform and are quickly judged by trends or single books. This board tends to spend a lot of time critiquing stations without offered sound improvement advice. You can't do one, without the other. For example: KBKS will need time to correct the wrongs of the past and more personel adjustments may be needed. It is usually a one to two year process. The changes coming on MOVIN will take a year or two. The strategy of a more music morning show was not working, but had only been in place six months. The mornings suffered because the entire station is falling. I have it on good authority that the two woman morning show change will be accompanied by a general change to CHR going inbetween KBKS and KUBE. The question is not whether this board will "jaw" about it. The question is whether this new format and new morning show will be given enough time to win. Merry Christmas to all, it has been an enlightening six months working in your market.

 

[djdan]

The posts when ratings arrive do make me laugh. I guess that is why I come to this site to see the variety
of comments and how radio people look at things. The year is done and I remain surprised at how stable this
market is, compared to others around the country. If you were to turn back the clock five or even ten years
in Seattle you would find that KIRO is the top AM station, they are again in Fall, particularly November. You
would find the top morning shows were Bob Rivers, Kent and Alan and Ichabod Caine. All three were back in
the top 5 25-54 adults in the last trend. There have been Country stations that have come and gone including
KRPM, Young Country and now WOLF. All did fine, but not enough to beat KMPS. KUBE remains on top 18-34.
KBKS, Movin, END all have tried to unseat them, and sometimes they win for a book or two, but the market
returns to their favorites. KISW remains the young rock favorite, while KZOK is the Classic Rock favorite. Many
stations like THe END, K-ROCK, KXRX tried to unseat them, but listeners always come back.

One station has come on in recent years and that station is KCMS. They did it by sticking to their format and people
and improving their signal. Over years their audience grew and became loyal. That is what makes great radio, in my
opinion. Step out and be different and then stick with it in good times and bad. Happy Holidays.

 

[Mamaknowsbreast]

djdan,

I agree with you that these heritage morning shows keep trucking along and sure enough their stations remain tops in their demo.

But in my opinion, the number 1 reason why no station past and present has been able to knock a KZOK, KUBE, KMPS of their perch, is because now more than ever, corporations are content with mediocrity. They could care less about being number 1, all they want is to have a station that turns a good profit.

If a company truly wanted to knock a KUBE, KZOK, KISW or KMPS from the top, all they would need to do is spend the money that is needed to get there (on top notch talent and advertising) and then give the station TIME to make it happen. They just don't want to do that anymore. And that's why we'll always see the same stations on top. Don't get me wrong, all the stations on top deserve a ton of credit, but I also think the fact that these corporations don't want to spend the money and are impatient plays a big part in why we always see the same stations on top nowadays.

 

[jupiter2]

Did you say "spend the money" ???? What a wonderful Christmas Wish.

When a publicly traded industry is no longer growing, which is what's happening to NEWSPAPERS, RADIO, and RECORDS, the stocks tank, the attention turns to maximizing quarterly profit, buyouts by investment firms, and selling of assets.

No money will be spent. The investors have alreadty lost theirs.

Only shows or formats that can succeed quickly will be tried, a la "Jack" and "Movin", and with no shock jocks anymore (they get ratings quickly because their enemies market them and they make their own publicity), it would take a lot of luck for any talent to succeed.

There is real opportunity down the road online, as WiFi hits the car. Mark my words... all media will be delivered by INTERNET, and it will all be interactive, on-demand and all you can eat cheap.

Seattle is one of the luckier major markets, as their are some fine local managers, some great local shows, so enjoy it before the business model completely collapses.
Voice tracking on big stations is already the norm many other places.