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Shawn Stewart fired at KMTT
- Thread starter Garver
- Start date
345palm said:
Yes, exactly... sad. I used to be a pretty loyal KMTT listener, but it has become so bland. From what little I've heard of KINK in Portland, they seem to do this format better (and with a substantially a bigger share if I'm not mistaken). A major advantage local broadcasters have over other forms of media (like satellite, iPod, other digital music streams) is the ability to engage with local listeners and develop a relationship (loyalty). Yet more and more, stations are failing to leverage this. I don't get it. Yeah, you can keep changing formats, but over time, I think more and more people (especially young people) are bailing on traditional broadcast radio altogether.
There was a time (10 years ago?!) when you could turn on KMTT and hear an eclectic mix of music and often hear an artist who you had never heard of before. And the announcers seemed genuine and human.
Lately, however, youturn on KMTT and you hear the same limited playlist and the same "popular' songs you heard the last time you listened. And the announcers suddenly became automated-sounding drones.
I suspect KMTT's problem is the same problem KIRO had when it was owned by the same company: too many corporate PD's and too many regional managers and too many changes in PD and too many changes in GM and too many conference calls with all the corporate brass coming up with "solutions" after a down trend.
Lately, however, youturn on KMTT and you hear the same limited playlist and the same "popular' songs you heard the last time you listened. And the announcers suddenly became automated-sounding drones.
I suspect KMTT's problem is the same problem KIRO had when it was owned by the same company: too many corporate PD's and too many regional managers and too many changes in PD and too many changes in GM and too many conference calls with all the corporate brass coming up with "solutions" after a down trend.
Alpha made some other smart moves on KINK-FM too. They have no HD streams now, which she refers to as SBR side channels (hmm, cue taking the thread into a discussion about Ibiquity and HDRadio...). These streams were also being offered online - I rather liked the "lights out" one. However, the costs associated with these saved enough money to hire a live, local weekend staff for the station. Entercom seems unwilling to staff its stations on Saturdays or Sundays.DrJerry said:
Source: http://www.fmqb.com/article.asp?id=2107868
C
chokesman-review
Guest
Sad to see the demise of a long-standing northwest triple A.
In 10 years, as Equaliner points out, much has changed - Belts have tightened, economy has stunk, willingness by ownership groups to think outside the box continues to wane, technology has changed adversely altering the younger demos listening habits. AAA needs an owner who understands the format, is patient and doesn't suffocate it in a 400 song playlist or rob of it's uniqueness.
The genuine connection to it's listeners is one of the special things in AAA. Dr Jerry, I appreciate your point. Engaging the listeners on a human level is one of the lifebloods of the format. Automate it to death, it probably won't survive. Become overly familiar with a tight playlist, it will likely evolve into something else. It's a delicate tightrope to walk mixing songs that test well alongside new music and the mixing in deeper cuts - and be profitable. It almost takes an artist-like touch. The successful AAA's walk this balance and keep it human.
Entercom to their credit has been trying with KMTT. The urge to tighten the playlist to boost cume, is often a smart move to underperforming properties. In this case, becoming too predictable while your core audience becomes frustrated and goes elsewhere, while trying to bring in new people - is risky. That sense of musical adventure must be kept intact. Alas, we are back to the artist-like touch; Keeping the hipsters happy and having mainstream appeal.
At the end of the day, if KMTT goes a generic classic rock format, someone else in the market might give AAA a shot again. In it's heyday, KMTT was pretty special.
I hope Shawn lands on her feet. She definitely did her best to keep KMTT alive .
In 10 years, as Equaliner points out, much has changed - Belts have tightened, economy has stunk, willingness by ownership groups to think outside the box continues to wane, technology has changed adversely altering the younger demos listening habits. AAA needs an owner who understands the format, is patient and doesn't suffocate it in a 400 song playlist or rob of it's uniqueness.
The genuine connection to it's listeners is one of the special things in AAA. Dr Jerry, I appreciate your point. Engaging the listeners on a human level is one of the lifebloods of the format. Automate it to death, it probably won't survive. Become overly familiar with a tight playlist, it will likely evolve into something else. It's a delicate tightrope to walk mixing songs that test well alongside new music and the mixing in deeper cuts - and be profitable. It almost takes an artist-like touch. The successful AAA's walk this balance and keep it human.
Entercom to their credit has been trying with KMTT. The urge to tighten the playlist to boost cume, is often a smart move to underperforming properties. In this case, becoming too predictable while your core audience becomes frustrated and goes elsewhere, while trying to bring in new people - is risky. That sense of musical adventure must be kept intact. Alas, we are back to the artist-like touch; Keeping the hipsters happy and having mainstream appeal.
At the end of the day, if KMTT goes a generic classic rock format, someone else in the market might give AAA a shot again. In it's heyday, KMTT was pretty special.
I hope Shawn lands on her feet. She definitely did her best to keep KMTT alive .
A painful and unnecessary end. Not with a bang but a whimper. Makes me really sad for the staff and radio audience in Seattle.
I left 6 years and 4 PD's ago. A real shame they couldn't figure it out.
Chris Mays
I left 6 years and 4 PD's ago. A real shame they couldn't figure it out.
Chris Mays
seattle's long tradition of AAA radio came to an end years ago, not now. who is to blame for this, ownership? was the current revolving door of programmers incompetent, or were their hands tied by management? lets face the fact that real triple A, is nothing but a middle of the pack runner in the ratings. accept this and make it work with your loyal advertisers, and your loyal TSL listeners, and your loyal on and off air staff. the out of town bean counters dont understand this. the constant usual protocol to increase ratings by tightening up music, local creativity, and aiming for the pre 30 crowd, which may create results in other formats, killed this AAA one. there is a way to do this AAA properly through music carburetor adjustments, and day parting. the worst part is, the seattle triple A format may be grave yard dead, and never rise again. most original listeners have long left, and it would take years to wrangle em back. i for one, endorse XM/sirius "the loft", and "deep tracks" for my AAA/album rock listening. they nail it, case closed!
by the way, this ol' boy was on the KMTT(mountain listener advisory panel) when KMTT first came on the air around 91. although, i may be more known here as a campaigner for country music, it was KZAM, KEZX, and KMTT i was loyal to radiowise, while i learned up on my country/bluegrass/Americana music edumacation, and built up a nice hard copy music library in that genre.
KMTT, had progressed to such a great station through the mid/late 90's. what a loss! but, like an alzhiemers patient, its been lost for some time. its just now officially dead, i guess?
by the way, this ol' boy was on the KMTT(mountain listener advisory panel) when KMTT first came on the air around 91. although, i may be more known here as a campaigner for country music, it was KZAM, KEZX, and KMTT i was loyal to radiowise, while i learned up on my country/bluegrass/Americana music edumacation, and built up a nice hard copy music library in that genre.
KMTT, had progressed to such a great station through the mid/late 90's. what a loss! but, like an alzhiemers patient, its been lost for some time. its just now officially dead, i guess?
The one most likely to benefit from the rubble of The Mountain is actually KEXP. They already play much of the music KMTT would otherwise play, had 103.7 been allowed to be as adventurous as they used to be. But KEXP is also a little more broad in their selections than KMTT ever was. But if KMTT bites it as planned, it wouldn't surprise me if KEXP made some minor adjustments......
M
monkeygirl
Guest
That's because Chris Mays, who posted in this thread previously, is now running KINK. Why Entercom won't invite her back to save KMTT, I don't know. They ran through too many PDs and made too many format tweaks post-Mays. Nobody but Chris really 'gets' The Mountain's listeners.
The Mountain has definitely changed. Led Z: Whole Lotta Love into Stone Temple Pilots into CSNY into Free Fallin by Tom Petty. Commercial free mornings and Classic rock. Still hear the occasional Cold Play but pretty much a classic Rock station. Wonder if they made the move because KZOK is now talk in mornings, same with KJR-FM. They are promoting all music mornings with no commercials which must be a direct attack against KZOK's all talk. KMTT had been struggling for some time. KINK seems to have found the secret to AAA, too bad Chris Mayes didn't come back. Station has not sounded the same or rated the same since she left. However when KZOK went talk it did leave a hole in the market for a station that serves 25-54 males that plays music.
No doubt about it, this is a hard format to program correctly to succeed. But it is NOT impossible. When I got to KINK, I made some tough choices in things to cut to allow me to hire a live weekend staff. I now have 12 employees in the programming department- 8 of them full time, including a dedicated webmaster, production person and promotion guy. KMTT has ONE left: John Fisher. Marty is already voice tracking from home. It's NOT a lack of audience that caused this. It's mainly ego, bad hiring/firing decisions and an inability to admit they'd made mistakes. 'Boys', what can you say? Pissing on the territory. Dave Richards is the one to benefit. His PM drive show has more people than The Mountain's entire staff, has for several years. Like, oh- about the time I left and he got the promotion to 'Ops Manager' at Entercom Seattle. And look where that got KISW? Big ratings. Hope his fat bonus check makes him sleep okay with all of this....
R
RockJazz
Guest
I saw KINK was ranked about 15th - 18th in the Portland market in spring 2010. What is it now? I can't find a recent Arbitron rating. What ranking would be considered good for the station?
First, my apologies for my last post. I was sad and angry yesterday after listening to the latest incarnation of 103.7. Things change, life goes on. And that's certainly true in radio. As I said- all things being equal, it is NOT an easy format to get right, in any market. So to those who loved KMTT and tried their best to make it work, bless you!
To answer your question RockJazz, KINK is currently around top 10 6+ with a 4.0 (or a 4.6 if you add the stream). "Good" would be top 5 25-54, with a .5 rating or better Mon-Fri 6a-7p. KINK has had that in recent months and weeks, with particular strength in mornings and middays. The trick now is to sustain and grow it.... I am fortunate to have been given the resources and support needed. I have much to be thankful for. Happy Thanksgiving to all. Over and out.
To answer your question RockJazz, KINK is currently around top 10 6+ with a 4.0 (or a 4.6 if you add the stream). "Good" would be top 5 25-54, with a .5 rating or better Mon-Fri 6a-7p. KINK has had that in recent months and weeks, with particular strength in mornings and middays. The trick now is to sustain and grow it.... I am fortunate to have been given the resources and support needed. I have much to be thankful for. Happy Thanksgiving to all. Over and out.
diva chick said:
No need to apologize. Those of us who've been involved in that operation know the frustrations.
Sadly, it's not unique to that one company or our one industry. It seems to be standard operating procedure these days in most corporations in most industries.
Diva Chick poured her heart and soul into KMTT so it's understandable that she feels that way about her baby going down. It's a difficult format but she's proving again in Portland that she's the best at making it work. And I'll bet it helps to have a local owner who allows her the freedom.
R
RockJazz
Guest
Looks like KINK's ratings / rankings have improved pretty significantly in 6+ in the last year.
How common is a top 5 ranking in 25-54 for a AAA station in a mid or major market these days? I am guessing that it is pretty rare.
Challenging business.
Thankful for the good radio options that people make.
How common is a top 5 ranking in 25-54 for a AAA station in a mid or major market these days? I am guessing that it is pretty rare.
Challenging business.
Thankful for the good radio options that people make.
KINK is one of the best AAA stations I have ever heard. Chris has a lot to be proud of. The station, since she arrived, has moved back to the top in Portland in key demos. I, however, must admit I like the new KMTT. With the exception of one song every other hour it is a pretty straightahead Classic Rock. Going commercial free from nine am to noon is a smart move. If you are a guy and want some music in the morning it is a great choice, in fact the only choice! Going commercial free nine to noon transitions that morning music fan to an office music fan. Tough to find great AAA programmers and Chris seems happy in Portland. This isn't a bad second option for KMTT. Guess ratings will tell. Have to say it has replaced KZOK as a button in my car. Danny B. show is pretty hard to listen to.
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