Seattle-Tacoma Radio Ratings: June 2023

[fordranger797]

Part of the issue with 98.9 is that there’s never really been a format that they dominated. Classic hits and classic rock is absolutely owned by 102.5 and 95.7. Rock is dominated by KISW. The same could be said for country when 94.1 was still KMPS, who competed against the wolf. They tried a similar strategy with country, but it fell short.

It seems like 98.9 always ends up trying to flank another station that is doing the format already (and with a stronger foothold in the market). It’s absolutely possible to contend with an incumbent, but they would have to stick with it for the long haul and calculate a smart approach (similar to what happened when 100.7 first launched to compete with KMPS).

For the first time in a while, Hubbard is trying something else: attempting to carve out their own format with 98.9. It may not work, or it could be the solution they’ve been looking for.

 

[Kelly A]

Well “Star” said it themselves in 2016… that most people wanted them to flip to Christmas Music. There were numerous people wondering when it would flip in 2022 only to find out it wouldn’t flip.

All I recall is a handful on this site who were upset they didn't flip XMAS. I was in the camp that it was a good idea to have not.

 

[JackindaBox]

I think some didn’t want them to flip in 2022 cause there was already Warm, The Sound, and SPIRIT playing Xmas music on the FM side and 880 KIXI on the AM side.

 

[Kelly A]

I think some didn’t want them to flip in 2022 cause there was already Warm, The Sound, and SPIRIT playing Christmas music on the FM side and 880 KIXI on the AM side.

I agree about all except KIXI. Nobody cares about them. Three FM Christmas music stations is more than enough.

 

[ksradiogeek]

Um they are basically a very low signal.

And your point is…? Let Cobra like what they like, regardless if they’re full power or not.

 

[fordranger797]

And your point is…? Let Cobra like what they like, regardless if they’re full power or not.

I’ll happily listen to a station with a poor or small signal if there’s something there that I want to hear. Other people must feel the same, as there are many examples of stations out there with marginal signals that still attract listeners.

 

[JackindaBox]

I’ll happily listen to a station with a poor or small signal if there’s something there that I want to hear. Other people must feel the same, as there are many examples of stations out there with marginal signals that still attract listeners.

I think Alt 102.3 in Portland does attract listeners in the area.

 

[bobdavcav]

But since smooth jazz was found to be an inferior format, would this curse have started before that? Smooth jazz just would have been one of the curses.

I guess it depends on what you consider to be the curse. To me a cursed frequency is one that flips every five years or less. The Smooth Jazz format was a few months old by the time I was born, and was flipped when I was in high school. That's a pretty good run for a station, especially when many others in the format didn't last half that long. The station is on its fourth format since then.

 

[JackindaBox]

I agree about all except KIXI. Nobody cares about them. Three FM Christmas music stations is more than enough.

I think most wouldn’t go to KIXI cause it is an AM station anyways. There, Christmas music would never affect their ratings cause of that. I think most people would rather listen to FM cause of the better quality sound.

 

[JackindaBox]

Anyways since Lisa Adams left the station maybe Star will eventually have that strategy but not rn. Their personalities are the same except for Lisa Adams which I believe is empty rn though Curt Kruise I think will take over the slot moving his slot from 9 am-2 pm. Normally there is two mid-day slots Curt being from 9 am-12 pm and Lisa Adams being from 12 pm-2 pm with Curt likely taking both slots soon (moving it into one slot) until there is a new PD. I think 12 pm-2 pm is currently jockless until then.

 

[JackindaBox]

I agree about all except KIXI. Nobody cares about them. Three FM Christmas music stations is more than enough.

I think 4 FM stations for Xmas music isn’t too much. There are like 50 or more FM stations in the market anyways for people to search for non-Xmas music.

 

[Kelly A]

I think 4 FM stations for Christmas music isn’t too much. There are like 50 or more FM stations in the market anyways for people to search for non-Christmas music.

I get it, you're a big Christmas music on the radio fan. That doesn't mean there are enough listeners like you to support the theory that it ultimately cuts the already thinning from streaming pie slices that much thinner for all the stations.

 

[JackindaBox]

I get it, you're a big Christmas music on the radio fan. That doesn't mean there are enough listeners like you to support the theory that it ultimately cuts the already thinning from streaming pie slices that much thinner for all the stations.

I think 4 in Seattle, Portland, or New York City isn't too much but how much is too much can depend on the market and how many stations there are in it. I think 1 would be enough for Aberdeen, Washington, or Chehalis, Washington for example since it is a market with fewer stations. It also depends on the person on what they believe is too much or not. I do think the ratings do cut the slice for each station though. Portland had four Christmas stations in 2022 when December came around.

 

[fordranger797]

I think 4 in Seattle, Portland, or New York City isn't too much but how much is too much can depend on the market and how many stations there are in it. I think 1 would be enough for Aberdeen, Washington, or Chehalis, Washington for example since it is a market with fewer stations. It also depends on the person on what they believe is too much or not. I do think the ratings do cut the slice for each station though. Portland had four Christmas stations in 2022 when December came around.

It’s rare for a small town radio station to go all-Christmas. Maybe they go all Christmas right around the actual holiday, but never for an entire month.

 

[semoochie]

I think 4 in Seattle, Portland, or New York City isn't too much but how much is too much can depend on the market and how many stations there are in it. I think 1 would be enough for Aberdeen, Washington, or Chehalis, Washington for example since it is a market with fewer stations. It also depends on the person on what they believe is too much or not. I do think the ratings do cut the slice for each station though. Portland had four Christmas stations in 2022 when December came around.

Let's see, K103, Charlie, Wave FM and last year, I believe we had The Fish and K-Love plus at least one HD and a translator or two.

 

[boombox4]

I think most wouldn’t go to KIXI cause it is an AM station anyways. There, Christmas music would never affect their ratings cause of that. I think most people would rather listen to FM cause of the better quality sound.

KIXI is also HD3 on Warm 106. In stereo.

 

[JackindaBox]

It’s rare for a small town radio station to go all-Christmas. Maybe they go all Christmas right around the actual holiday, but never for an entire month.

It is pretty rare probably cause there isn’t much radio stations in that area. Sunny 102.1 does it for December though. 104.3 KMNT doesn’t do all Christmas at all. There could be stations outside of their market that work within the area that have all Christmas though in some areas though they would have static.

 

[JackindaBox]

KIXI is also HD3 on Warm 106. In stereo.

Except not everyone has HD radio so it would only split between the HD1 radio stations anyways.