Hey, it's all about "owning the libs." Misspellings are a badge of honor to that bunch.That's the first time I've heard one of my kids referred to as "elderly"!P.S. You misspelled "incompetence".
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Seattle-Tacoma Radio Ratings: September 2023
- Thread starter pjc1961
- Start date
What?? After how long? And heads rolling because of 6+ numbers? Paleeze, get a grip.
That doesn't make any sense. Nobody but some radio nerd/armchair PD's here have suggested they go country.
Have you spoken with AE's from their group? Or are you just projecting?
I don't get it. It's not your radio station. You're not writing checks on their behalf. What difference does it make to you?
There's at least 64 other signals you can listen to without calling professionals names, or call for them to lose their job.
In other words; frigging grow up.
Honestly, does Seattle, with its growing Asian, LGBT and minority population, REALLY need another country station? The rural audience isn't in the metro. It's in Mason County, Skagit, outskirts like Sultan and Monroe, and the Puyallup Valley. And besides, the southern 1/4 of the market has KYYO 96.9, which is well-established.
Reason why SF hasn't had a country station licensed to the city in years. KBAY serves the outskirts and rimshots SF. Urban audiences won't be listening to Jason Aldean.
Reason why SF hasn't had a country station licensed to the city in years. KBAY serves the outskirts and rimshots SF. Urban audiences won't be listening to Jason Aldean.
Did Seattle REALLY "need" another alternative station? Obviously not. The country station it replaced had 4 times the audience.
It's an interesting market. KNDD is Alternative Rock, KEXP is a non-comm. well-loved by Seattleites and listeners around the world with a freeform format, and KPNW is trying to be another version of the old KMTT, or (currently in Spokane/North Idaho), KPND. I will say that KPND is a niche station there too, but not to the extent of high 0's. It's around 2.3-3.0 in the ratings, flip-flopping with KPBX, KCDA, and KXLY-AM.
Of course, the chances that Yakima gets anything close to AAA is about zero, zip, zilch. And we have a Golden Oldies station, from Elvis to early Elton John, that has a niche audience!!
Of course, the chances that Yakima gets anything close to AAA is about zero, zip, zilch. And we have a Golden Oldies station, from Elvis to early Elton John, that has a niche audience!!
I personally doubt KPNW would be flipped back to country. They just dumped that format a few months back. Obviously, they're done with that idea. They're putting money into the staff at KPNW, and maybe they're looking at the long term. I still think that with a bit more off-air promotion they could gain more listeners.
If there is another country stations I would bet it would be a different station flipping. And who knows if it would succeed.
KellyA said upthread that a country station being second dog isn't much to write home about. Being that he probably knows more than I do about the business, he's probably correct in that.
If there is another country stations I would bet it would be a different station flipping. And who knows if it would succeed.
KellyA said upthread that a country station being second dog isn't much to write home about. Being that he probably knows more than I do about the business, he's probably correct in that.
He's wrong. Lots of "second dog" country stations making more money than KPNW.
A lot of them are owned by iHeart in Atlanta, Charlotte, and Boston.
Kansas City and Salt Lake City have THREE country stations.
There are markets like Boston in which second country stations are used for purposes that don't depend on competitive ratings. Look at Boston, where WKLB rules the country roost, but iHeart is apparently happy with the 2.0-2.5 range numbers that its WBWL gets. The Bull is slightly more pop-country/bro-country focused than KLB, so it must help iHeart in 18-34 female.
I understand you have country leanings, but are you claiming that Hubbard should pull the ejection seat lever and drop millions on changing the format again on the possibility that maybe a second country station would do better with what, less than a year under the wheels of a AAA format? Somehow I thought you were more savvy than that.
Put another way; if you held the checkbook, what would you do?
Kansas City and Salt Lake City aren't Seattle.
Boston is more like Seattle than it is like KC or SLC.
If you've read my posts for the past 15 years, you know my view on the AAA format. If it was my money I wouldn't have blown up country for a non-commercial format. Absolute worst decision that could have been made, especially in Seattle where the audience is already super-served.
Here they had already invested money in Fitz, partnered with him on a nationally syndicated show, and then eliminated his Seattle affiliate.
So in your view they made a mistake, got it. That ship has sailed.
I actually agree that AAA has a dubious track record and has been tried in Seattle already, and that trying to take the non-comm's lunch money likely wasn't as easy as expected. But I only agree from an outsider perspective. I have no idea what was happening behind the scenes, especially when it came to sales when the station was country. Hubbard is a group of smart people with a good track record of success. It could be that remaining a country also-ran was more of a liability than a benefit. None of us here have seen their research or focused demo numbers. I get it; sometimes it's easy to get sucked-into the Radiodiscussions 6+ beauty contest/scoreboard and reaction from armchair PD's. Professionals need to shake that off and look at the situation for potentially what it is.
I'll try asking again: If it were your baby, would you tell management to dump AAA with so few months and little outside promotion, drop several million on a format change back to country? Would you risk your job on that intuition?
As Ford already mentioned, and as I've heard through the grapevine; Fitz and his attitude became a liability. Don't know all the details, but I believe there was a reason for the change in Seattle.
Karen... they have a Point FREAKIN 8 - Hello what awesome trusted research did the brainiacs at Hubbard use to make the switch AAA ? Obviously VERY BAD and WRONG info.... Even a 6 year old knows that going from a 2.4 and skining fatser than a sub mission to the Titanic.. to a point .8 is NOT GOOD. --- AGAIN .8 END OF STORY - Yeah stupid people should lose their job for doing stupid things. Results matter and if you can't cut the mustard buh-bye now. - Karen A
If that's true why would Hubbard and Scott Mahalick go into business with him? They had an out a couple years ago and didn't take it.
As others have said, I'd start by cutting the playlist and creating some structure. Obviously the outside consultant who created the format was not the right choice, so they need to go. Maybe try to morph it into some form of classic alt. It's still a one share station. They've dug themselves a huge hole making commitments to aging talent and giving them the keys to the car. I wouldn't have put myself in such a position in the first place.
Realistically they're committed until at least 1st Q 2024. Probably 2025. If they have some big promotion plan, now would be a good time to launch it. Hopefully they're making enough from Movin' and Warm to cover their expenses.
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BigA and I were having an adult discussion. I could care less what you think.
Go back to the kids table.
I imagine it's because in business sometimes you keep your friends close and your enemies closer. That said; paying Fitz more for going back into Seattle after an unpleasant ending prior, may be too close for comfort.
There are smart programming folks already in house that could help without having to spend millions on changing direction back to country.
I agree. My bet is they've probably got a study going as we type. But as has already been established: Either way, they need to find a relevant AM show, and be ready to promote outside of the station.
Who said anything about "paying Fitz more?" He's already under contract. It's simply getting him to do what he's paid for.
The "smart programming folks" got them into this mess. I don't care what they change it to. That's for the "smart programming folks" to figure out.
Who's doing mornings at KITS? Nobody. The problem isn't the lack of a morning show. It's the format.
And you think he'd be willing to go back into Seattle for no more than what he's already making/made? Sure he might cooperate briefly, but it could be very short lived. Fitz would know he had them over a barrel, and would likely exploit that leverage. For Hubbard management, it would be tough to justify the risk.
Even if they don't to the satisfaction of 6+ followers here, in the scheme of things, what difference does it make?
Seems to me there was a lot of excitement around this very site about a challenger to KEXP. Now we see how many there are to throw them under the 6+ bus.
You're the one who said they need a bankable morning show to succeed. I gave you a name. Who else do you put in mornings to get above a 1 share?
They seem to have topped out. Now eve n KEXP has dropped out of the Top 10. They're #8 25-54.
One more like this with name calling and offensive terms will result in a suspension or ban.
Play nice!!
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