I'm reposting my response to this thread, since there are alot of other threads pushing this one to a second page.
My origina post was about Z102, the following is a response to BVG:
---------
Thank you! You said EXACTLY what I've been thinking!
I'm glad someone in the CC realizes that.
Years ago, I had an issue with the old Hot AC format (the early 80s version, think B99). Here came this format that comes along and plays top 40, but without any kind of production value, or promotion.
So what does that sound like? REAL BORING.
Some radio execs get these "great ideas." Yeah, great on paper. But do they actually listen to radio? NOPE. What looks good on paper, doesn't necessarily sound good on the air. Z102 is a good example of that.
I worked at a CHR once, where none of the dj's liked CHR. They were Heavy Metal rock fans. Then, they couldn't understand why the station was underperforming.
With the exeption of our morning guy, I think I was the only person who came in to building and liked the music, and I was just a lowly board op.
It's very simple really, and I've always said this. To see what's wrong, you need to step out of the box, and look at the box.
I made the suggestions before about Z102's formatics because they would make the station sound better TO THE LISTENER. The CHR format needs to work a certain way, or it will sound bad. Good program directors know this. That's why a country PD should not be programming a CHR. Oldies maybe, but there, the formatic is the similar. Not so with Rock or Classic Rock. Classic rock listners don't want dj's talking over the music, that music is sold by the album. CHR songs are sold as singles, they are high energy, younger audience, and need to be introed and sold!
I think there are people in the CCU building, not naming names, who say, "nothing wrong with Z102, they play all the top 40, that's all the listener cares about, and being mainstream helps sell air-time, what's wrong with that?"
Alot!
How muh airtime will u sell when the ratings are in the tank? Those are people who don't listen to top 40,they don't get it. Listen to 104.9 THE BEAT any day. You might say "well, those guys don't sound like dj's, they sound like kids. CORRECT! THEY ARE KIDS, because those are the people who listen to that music.
You know what CC Lubbock should do? They should go to Texas Tech, and hire all the young people who like top 40 and put them on. Let them call the station whatever the heck they want. It'd be a station by the listeners, for the listeners. (In some ways, that's the reason why Jack FM has become so popular, it tries to appeal to the new trends, people who are tired of the way radio has become).
No flame here, I'm right there with you bud!
> Why? Because we as radio people need to stop lisening to
> radio as "radio people" and start listening to radio as
> everyday listeners. Radio will survive, but...we have much
> more to compete with in the realm. I remember a time when
> MTV played music videos. Can you say that? There is
> XM...there is Siriusthere is Ipod...My idea is NOT brain
> surgery....it IS however a very simple thing. For example,
> when Pepsi introduced their CRYSAL brand of cola...Why did
> it not excell? Because cola's are dark in color not clear.
> PERCEPTION IS REALITY. Meaning, PEPSI CRYSTAL did not fit
> what we as consumers know carbonnated drinks as. Before you
> flame me, or anyone else does..take a minute and think about
> it. If and when KZII rebrands...what will they honestly do?
> I don't know and I work in the building. What they need to
> do is live the lifestiyle of the format...whatever format
> they choose.
>
My origina post was about Z102, the following is a response to BVG:
---------
Thank you! You said EXACTLY what I've been thinking!
I'm glad someone in the CC realizes that.
Years ago, I had an issue with the old Hot AC format (the early 80s version, think B99). Here came this format that comes along and plays top 40, but without any kind of production value, or promotion.
So what does that sound like? REAL BORING.
Some radio execs get these "great ideas." Yeah, great on paper. But do they actually listen to radio? NOPE. What looks good on paper, doesn't necessarily sound good on the air. Z102 is a good example of that.
I worked at a CHR once, where none of the dj's liked CHR. They were Heavy Metal rock fans. Then, they couldn't understand why the station was underperforming.
With the exeption of our morning guy, I think I was the only person who came in to building and liked the music, and I was just a lowly board op.
It's very simple really, and I've always said this. To see what's wrong, you need to step out of the box, and look at the box.
I made the suggestions before about Z102's formatics because they would make the station sound better TO THE LISTENER. The CHR format needs to work a certain way, or it will sound bad. Good program directors know this. That's why a country PD should not be programming a CHR. Oldies maybe, but there, the formatic is the similar. Not so with Rock or Classic Rock. Classic rock listners don't want dj's talking over the music, that music is sold by the album. CHR songs are sold as singles, they are high energy, younger audience, and need to be introed and sold!
I think there are people in the CCU building, not naming names, who say, "nothing wrong with Z102, they play all the top 40, that's all the listener cares about, and being mainstream helps sell air-time, what's wrong with that?"
Alot!
How muh airtime will u sell when the ratings are in the tank? Those are people who don't listen to top 40,they don't get it. Listen to 104.9 THE BEAT any day. You might say "well, those guys don't sound like dj's, they sound like kids. CORRECT! THEY ARE KIDS, because those are the people who listen to that music.
You know what CC Lubbock should do? They should go to Texas Tech, and hire all the young people who like top 40 and put them on. Let them call the station whatever the heck they want. It'd be a station by the listeners, for the listeners. (In some ways, that's the reason why Jack FM has become so popular, it tries to appeal to the new trends, people who are tired of the way radio has become).
No flame here, I'm right there with you bud!
> Why? Because we as radio people need to stop lisening to
> radio as "radio people" and start listening to radio as
> everyday listeners. Radio will survive, but...we have much
> more to compete with in the realm. I remember a time when
> MTV played music videos. Can you say that? There is
> XM...there is Siriusthere is Ipod...My idea is NOT brain
> surgery....it IS however a very simple thing. For example,
> when Pepsi introduced their CRYSAL brand of cola...Why did
> it not excell? Because cola's are dark in color not clear.
> PERCEPTION IS REALITY. Meaning, PEPSI CRYSTAL did not fit
> what we as consumers know carbonnated drinks as. Before you
> flame me, or anyone else does..take a minute and think about
> it. If and when KZII rebrands...what will they honestly do?
> I don't know and I work in the building. What they need to
> do is live the lifestiyle of the format...whatever format
> they choose.
>