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Shawn Stewart fired at KMTT

Used to drive me crazy. Family members that just loved the Mountain and always had it on when visiting or in the car with them. It wasn't long after you left Chris, and I didn't have to hear it anymore. lol True!
 
Disappointing. KMTT wasn't too bad even though I was a casual listener and I don't understand why we need yet ANOTHER classic rock heavy format in this area when we have KZOK, KISM, and 95% of KJR's playlist. I'm pretty sure you can get that Canadian station (100.3) on a feint signal, too.

Seriously, what is going on? If it's not classic rock it's KJZZ flipping to modern hits in the exact same format as about 4 other stations in SEA-TAC market.

Not being a Seattle native I think the formats for music on radio here is fairly limited.
 
Mookie said:
Seriously, what is going on? If it's not classic rock it's KJZZ flipping to modern hits in the exact same format as about 4 other stations in SEA-TAC market.

Not being a Seattle native I think the formats for music on radio here is fairly limited.

It was KWJZ. KJZZ was 30 years earlier on 1540 AM

And you're right. It is narrow musically on the radio in Seattle these days. VERY narrow......
 
a few KMTT/mountain memories:

many of nights flying down the road in my truck somewhere in the 90's, with the "CD at 3"(AM) cranked loud!! loved when that jeff beck"blow by blow" album got a spin, or dire straits first album. i forgot my drivin' work, and became part of the masterpiece of guitar work of them boys. did i mention it was cranked loud.

it was somewhere around 98/9, when the great van morrison, the great bob dylan, and my beloved joni mitchell come to play at the gorge. not quite sure if it was on our way there or on our way home, but chris mays came on the mic, with i think it was shawn stewart, to relate an interesting story about a van morrison encounter. them girls was at a local watering hole, when van morrison come in incognito. he apparently tried to pick em up. me and my then new girl friend had a great time, and loved that great KMTT programming and staff to go along for the ride. shes long gone, and so is my station........
 
If a camel is a horse designed by a committee, then KMTT is station designed by researchers. Take some well testing songs from classic rock column A, a few from classic rock column B and add a pinch of Triple A spice. Voila -- the magic mix. They've also lifted the imaging almost verbatim from WDRV/Chicago including hiring their VO talent Nick Michaels but haven't captured any of the intangibles that make WDRV ("The Drive") so unique and dominant in Chicago. WDRV's success is the product of years of patience by then-owner Bonneville who built it the old school way: live and local jocks 24/7, deep pockets for promotion (millions of dollars spent over the life of the station) and a healthy respect for their audience. Bonneville has since sold WDRV to Hubbard but all the people from Bonneville who made it a market leader are still employed by the new owners. That's not the case with KMTT which feels like a station getting its last shot before a format change.
 
Good call casual observer. My bet is KMTT used edison research, as does THE DRIVE. Edison research has a pattern to it for Classic Rock and AAA. The core songs are Edison playlist tested Classic Rock. The only difference musically between THE DRIVE and KMTT is KMTT continues to play a handful of recurrent hits 10-15 times a week. Adele, Cold Play and others. Not the current AAA hits, but about a dozen recurrent high testing recurrent hits. I actually think the format move will be successful if like THE DRIVE Entercom does the following for KMTT:

1. Spent 500k-1 million in promoting the station. THE DRIVE spends a fortune on TV
2. Add live and local talent to all dayparts and focus on community, raising millions for charity

Focused and researched music will make KMTT better, but as casual observer smartly suggests, the success of a radio station goes beyond the music. There is a reason Classic Hits KJR-FM as an all music station is gone and JACK as an all music station is no longer a factor. Classic Rock stations are about more than music. Shifting from AAA to more researched Classic Rock won't solve all KMTT's problems unless they do the above.
 
I have listened to KMTT for years. The format nows sucks. I am 55 years old and a staple of Classic Rock sounds, as much as I love them is BORING! As I said the new format sucks. I am going elsewhere. Too bad; I like John Fisher and Marty Reimer. So much for the Mountain Music CD's, concert events, etc. They now beat great tunes to death. The same six U2 tunes over and over. The same 5 Rolling Stones tunes over and over. The same whatever over and over. Sorry John and Marty. Going somewhere else.
 
If not for KMCQ, KEXP, KUOW and KKWF HD 2 Smooth Jazz, this market absolutely SUCKS. I was just starting to like KMTT when three weeks ago they reverted back to the same ole' garbage.
 
FMSteve said:
If not for KMCQ, KEXP, KUOW and KKWF HD 2 Smooth Jazz, this market absolutely SUCKS. I was just starting to like KMTT when three weeks ago they reverted back to the same ole' garbage.


Even most of the HD2 and HD3 signals suck. In other cities the extra HD formats are much better, along with the main signal formats.
 
choppler said:
I have listened to KMTT for years. The format nows sucks. I am 55 years old and a staple of Classic Rock sounds, as much as I love them is BORING! As I said the new format sucks. I am going elsewhere. Too bad; I like John Fisher and Marty Reimer. So much for the Mountain Music CD's, concert events, etc. They now beat great tunes to death. The same six U2 tunes over and over. The same 5 Rolling Stones tunes over and over. The same whatever over and over. Sorry John and Marty. Going somewhere else.
FMSteve said:
If not for KMCQ, KEXP, KUOW and KKWF HD 2 Smooth Jazz, this market absolutely SUCKS. I was just starting to like KMTT when three weeks ago they reverted back to the same ole' garbage.
JakeMott said:
FMSteve said:
If not for KMCQ, KEXP, KUOW and KKWF HD 2 Smooth Jazz, this market absolutely SUCKS. I was just starting to like KMTT when three weeks ago they reverted back to the same ole' garbage.
Even most of the HD2 and HD3 signals suck. In other cities the extra HD formats are much better, along with the main signal formats.
gentlemen, dont panic! try the KINK stream. some good HD channels there too. KINK, on sunday morning has some of the best AAA programming in the country. if that dont work for ya, get XM/Sirius. that DEEP TRACKS channel is the best album rock channel around. XM/SR also has meg griffin, and dan neer, programming that great music. best on air talent in the business. tired of Mcradio in seattle? then move on to better! its very simple. we know you can make the big move.
 
scott salvatori said:
choppler said:
I have listened to KMTT for years. The format nows sucks. I am 55 years old and a staple of Classic Rock sounds, as much as I love them is BORING! As I said the new format sucks. I am going elsewhere. Too bad; I like John Fisher and Marty Reimer. So much for the Mountain Music CD's, concert events, etc. They now beat great tunes to death. The same six U2 tunes over and over. The same 5 Rolling Stones tunes over and over. The same whatever over and over. Sorry John and Marty. Going somewhere else.
FMSteve said:
If not for KMCQ, KEXP, KUOW and KKWF HD 2 Smooth Jazz, this market absolutely SUCKS. I was just starting to like KMTT when three weeks ago they reverted back to the same ole' garbage.
JakeMott said:
FMSteve said:
If not for KMCQ, KEXP, KUOW and KKWF HD 2 Smooth Jazz, this market absolutely SUCKS. I was just starting to like KMTT when three weeks ago they reverted back to the same ole' garbage.
Even most of the HD2 and HD3 signals suck. In other cities the extra HD formats are much better, along with the main signal formats.
gentlemen, dont panic! try the KINK stream. some good HD channels there too. KINK, on sunday morning has some of the best AAA programming in the country. if that dont work for ya, get XM/Sirius. that DEEP TRACKS channel is the best album rock channel around. XM/SR also has meg griffin, and dan neer, programming that great music. best on air talent in the business. tired of Mcradio in seattle? then move on to better! its very simple. we know you can make the big move.


I do listen to other cities streams. I just wish the local radio could be a little bit better. Just a wish.
 
choppler said:
I have listened to KMTT for years. The format nows sucks. I am 55 years old and a staple of Classic Rock sounds, as much as I love them is BORING! As I said the new format sucks. I am going elsewhere. Too bad; I like John Fisher and Marty Reimer. So much for the Mountain Music CD's, concert events, etc. They now beat great tunes to death. The same six U2 tunes over and over. The same 5 Rolling Stones tunes over and over. The same whatever over and over. Sorry John and Marty. Going somewhere else.
Since when has a DJ been able to play their own choice? Maybe a little over at KZOK, but otherwise, FORGET IT. Those days a LONG GONE, way before the latest at KMTT. And I was gone the FIRST time they fired Reimer.
 
We didn't play our choice 45 years ago at KRKO in Everett. Listeners, however, have always made some false assumptions, including:
1. I hear his voice, so he must be there and is live.
2. He said the call letters, so he must be local.
3. He said to call with a request, so that means that he will play it right after I ask.
4. the phone-in caller he just aired was live.
5. the funny little one-liner was impromptu and thought up by the disk jockey.
6. the other voice with the dj is sitting next to him.
etc.

What has always amused me is that national live programming will often be identified as "canned", while voice-tracking is often confused with "live". For many years, small rural stations with limited revenue opportunities have been forced to use automation and/or network programming to maintain a full operating schedule. Now the major markets have embraced these platforms because they can. A small market station grossing a couple hundred thousand dollars a year can't afford more than a couple employees. A station in Seattle grossing 10 million should be able to afford a staff.
 
Bill Wolfenbarger said:
We didn't play our choice 45 years ago at KRKO in Everett. Listeners, however, have always made some false assumptions, including:
1. I hear his voice, so he must be there and is live.
2. He said the call letters, so he must be local.
3. He said to call with a request, so that means that he will play it right after I ask.
4. the phone-in caller he just aired was live.
5. the funny little one-liner was impromptu and thought up by the disk jockey.
6. the other voice with the dj is sitting next to him.
etc.

What has always amused me is that national live programming will often be identified as "canned", while voice-tracking is often confused with "live". For many years, small rural stations with limited revenue opportunities have been forced to use automation and/or network programming to maintain a full operating schedule. Now the major markets have embraced these platforms because they can. A small market station grossing a couple hundred thousand dollars a year can't afford more than a couple employees. A station in Seattle grossing 10 million should be able to afford a staff.
listeners make some false assumptions: yep, and thats the way the stations wants it. they want the average listener to assume its their local air talent sitting in their town/market. i wonder how many listenrs percentage wise, realize it aint local? or it actually aint live. most have a busy life, and prob could care less to think about the details. what they dont know wont hurt them, is the hope.

a seattle station grossing 10 million should be able to afford a staff: gross is one thing, expenses is another. ask any commercial farmer, or independent truck driver. 10 million gross sounds good. until one realizes the load of payments/interest payments on the mother ships debt load. but, then again, whos responsible for that debt load in the first place? overzealous upper management, who bit off more than they can financially chew?
 
scott salvatori said:
Bill Wolfenbarger said:
We didn't play our choice 45 years ago at KRKO in Everett. Listeners, however, have always made some false assumptions, including:
1. I hear his voice, so he must be there and is live.
2. He said the call letters, so he must be local.
3. He said to call with a request, so that means that he will play it right after I ask.
4. the phone-in caller he just aired was live.
5. the funny little one-liner was impromptu and thought up by the disk jockey.
6. the other voice with the dj is sitting next to him.
etc.

What has always amused me is that national live programming will often be identified as "canned", while voice-tracking is often confused with "live". For many years, small rural stations with limited revenue opportunities have been forced to use automation and/or network programming to maintain a full operating schedule. Now the major markets have embraced these platforms because they can. A small market station grossing a couple hundred thousand dollars a year can't afford more than a couple employees. A station in Seattle grossing 10 million should be able to afford a staff.
listeners make some false assumptions: yep, and thats the way the stations wants it. they want the average listener to assume its their local air talent sitting in their town/market. i wonder how many listenrs percentage wise, realize it aint local? or it actually aint live. most have a busy life, and prob could care less to think about the details. what they dont know wont hurt them, is the hope.

a seattle station grossing 10 million should be able to afford a staff: gross is one thing, expenses is another. ask any commercial farmer, or independent truck driver. 10 million gross sounds good. until one realizes the load of payments/interest payments on the mother ships debt load. but, then again, whos responsible for that debt load in the first place? overzealous upper management, who bit off more than they can financially chew?


I know I'm setting myself up here, but are jocks blame-free in any of this?
 
AQH said:
I know I'm setting myself up here, but are jocks blame-free in any of this?

Of course not! I think most have the "salaryman" attitude, not the entrepreneur. Maybe Pat O'Day wants to teach a few seminars.
 
I, too, began listening to the radio for the first time in my life in 1997. Found KMTT on the radio dial one lonely night, and I was hooked. Loved that I could call at any hour and get a human. Loved the personal relationships they were forming. Now, forget it. Taking the human out of it is just another sad example of technology taking over. Maybe someday Entercom can just clone John, Marty, whomever. I am friends with
Abe Yoni, aka, Mark Radway, and he quit KMTT back in 2004 because he predicted this, and refused to be a part of it. Sad that I will no longer listen to any Entercom station, because they've lost their personal, unique, stamp on the market.
 
scott salvatori said:
a seattle station grossing 10 million should be able to afford a staff: gross is one thing, expenses is another. ask any commercial farmer, or independent truck driver. 10 million gross sounds good. until one realizes the load of payments/interest payments on the mother ships debt load. but, then again, whos responsible for that debt load in the first place? overzealous upper management, who bit off more than they can financially chew?

It's not just the debt load, it's supporting the entire company. The profit margins might be larger at major-market stations, but those are the tentpoles holding up the entire company's bottom line nationwide. A Seattle station might be able to rake in $10 million, but a station in Dubuque, Iowa would hardly be able to match those kinds of numbers, so when a company goes through its financials to pay back its investors (which could be private or public stockholders), it needs the bigger stations to generate bigger numbers to prop up the profits.

Regardless of what this industry's product is (entertainment and music), it's still a business, and the owners/financial backers tend to be concerned about the bottom line.
 
RockTheGlobe said:
Regardless of what this industry's product is (entertainment and music), it's still a business, and the owners/financial backers tend to be concerned about the bottom line.

May I suggest purchasing a flame resistant suit?
 
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