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Regarding The Zone...

P

purpledevil

Guest
Let me preface this post by saying that I am liking The Zone more and more everyday. I really like to hear the songs that only The Buzz has played before, only without all of the yammering that The Buzz tends to overdo. With that being said, a couple of things puzzle me and thought I'd post here to see what other's take is on the station.

First off, I have watched the Zone's new commercials and I want to voice a criticism. Why are the 2 featured songs "With or Without You" by U2 and "Breaking The Girl" by Red Hot Chili Peppers being used to promote the station? When I envision a true alternative station, I immediately think of Pearl Jam, Nirvana, Nine Inch Nails, or Alice In Chains. If they are targetting 20-40 yr. old males, why would they use two of the slowest paced songs offered by these two groups? Neither commercial I saw would have me rushing to check the station out, had I not known about it before, and to me would give the casual listener the impression that 106.9 is still the same old Point with a new name. Maybe I am alone in this assessment, but I don't see this as a good marketing strategy for the new station. Is it just me?

Secondly, I heard a new line on the station saying something along the lines of them being the champion of Alternative music here in Houston, and retaining that status everyday. It ends with the line "Get In The Zone." Now, correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't AutoZone lay claim to the copyright for that slogan? Isn't Cox opening itself up to an infringement lawsuit unnecessarily?
 
purpledevil said:
It ends with the line "Get In The Zone." Now, correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't AutoZone lay claim to the copyright for that slogan? Isn't Cox opening itself up to an infringement lawsuit unnecessarily?
Click to expand...

I count 24 trademarks for some variation of "Get In The Zone," ranging from medical educational programs, to nutrition products, to a restaurant, to test prep, to Auto Zone.

As long as KHPT doesn't start selling wiper blades and timing belts, there isn't going to be an issue.
 
Heck, I've been positioning my Internet station as a "talk superstation," and so far, the person/entity that owns the original trademark to the word "superstation" doesn't seem to mind.

(And here's a little trivia for you: No, that person/entity is not Ted Turner, but a gas station in California - and that trademark is still active today.)
 
DToTheJ said:
Heck, I've been positioning my Internet station as a "talk superstation," and so far, the person/entity that owns the original trademark to the word "superstation" doesn't seem to mind.

(And here's a little trivia for you: No, that person/entity is not Ted Turner, but a gas station in California - and that trademark is still active today.)
Click to expand...

DtotheJ, your example is a little different than what I'm talking about. "Superstation" is like "Supertalk", "Sports Talk", or "News Radio". It is a broad term, not a specific catchphrase. That's funny though, all the years that WGN-Chicago and WTBS-Atlanta used the term, yet it's copyright is held by a gas station in California? Go figure.

Now John, on the other hand, has kind of solidified my point, if I'm reading his post right. You state that there are 24 variations of "Get In The Zone" trademarked in a wide variety of fields, and the key word you used was "variation". Do any of the 24 trademarks use the exact words "Get In The Zone" or is it something like "Get In To The Zone" or "Go To The Zone" or some small change in word that differentiates it from the AutoZone line? The words are exact on 106.9, not a variation or play on the words, which is why I brought it up.

That's funny about KHPT selling wiper blades and timing belts. I like that. Of course, WWF (the wrestling company) wasn't suiting up pandas and giraffes to fake fight with one another either, but the World Wildlife Fund found it necessary to sue the Federation, forcing them to quit using the initials due to the Fund holding the copyright for the initials W.W.F. That was initials, 2 letters of 26 in our alphabet, not a tag line well associated with a certain brand of auto parts. To me, it's just pointless when there are other, better ways to market the station than using a well known tag line associated with another company.
 
Trademarks only cover a range of products and services. No other auto parts store can use "Get In The Zone" (and it wouldn't really make sense for O'Reilly to use it anyway), but it's up for grabs to other types of business as long as it's not confusing. 106.9 is called "The Zone", and has nothing to do with auto parts - so it's legally permissible, and even logical that another business named "____ Zone" would use the same slogan.
 
Well, I've learned something Mike, and thanks. Apparently though, it looks as though it was brought up to someone within Cox management as the station is now saying "Get Intothe Zone." Also saw a new commercial for 106.9 featuring Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit". Much better.
 
DJs are on the station now, or maybe it's voice tracking? Not sure, just tuned in before bed. All she said was, "Houston's 106.9 The Zone... with Incubus" and then the song started.

It looks like they're committed to this format - all they need to do is change the calls. I hope it sticks around.
 
purpledevil said:
Of course, WWF (the wrestling company) wasn't suiting up pandas and giraffes to fake fight with one another either, but the World Wildlife Fund found it necessary to sue the Federation, forcing them to quit using the initials due to the Fund holding the copyright for the initials W.W.F. That was initials, 2 letters of 26 in our alphabet, not a tag line well associated with a certain brand of auto parts. To me, it's just pointless when there are other, better ways to market the station than using a well known tag line associated with another company...
Click to expand...

Or as the wrestling company called it, they "got the F out". ;D
 
MikeRichardson said:
Trademarks only cover a range of products and services. No other auto parts store can use "Get In The Zone" (and it wouldn't really make sense for O'Reilly to use it anyway)...
Click to expand...

Wait a minute - O'Reilly Auto Parts, the leading national competitor to Auto Zone, or Bill O'Reilly for his "No-Spin Zone" on his Fox News show? Please be specific. ;D
 
I was under the impression that the signature trademark line for Auto Zone is "Get in the Zone...Auto Zone!" The inclusion of "Auto Zone!" at the end makes it different from all the other Zones into which one must get.
 
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