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Should Love 105 be blown up?

The times I’ve listened to it within the last 6ish months or so, their playlist has been modernized and cut back a bit. When they first started out, their playlist was stretched out, including some stiffs. As of recent (and David would likely have a better overall total than I would), the library has shrunk down to 500 (?) songs overall, maybe slightly more/less.
It reminds me a lot of The Blend on SiriusXM. It’s not a bad playlist overall, I just don’t think it’s hitting its full potential. I could definitely see it taking a lot of 55+ from 107.9.
 
It's never going to be a player with those signals, no matter what they put there. A mainstream AC would work well, but on, say, 102.9. I think the trombo is a failed experiment.
 
Personally speaking, would enjoy a return of Classic-based Alternative to these frequencies. There is plenty of room for this as The Current plays underground stuff and 93.7 plays harder rock. Would be an easier cross-sell with similar formats on 92.5 and 93.7.

May have to wait to see how stations like 99X/Atlanta do, and any copycats that come after it.
 
They did peak one time at or near a 4 share when WLTE left and they grabbed the format.
Not sure if they could ever hit 4 again.
The problem is, if the numbers ever got too good, another signal would grab the format and run with it.
 
According to Northpine, KXXR-HD2 is now airing Love 105, replacing CHR-formatted "The Machine."
Yep, I just confirmed this myself. The HD title/artist is still set to "THE MACHINE" though. I'm not sure if it's permanent or not.
 
I've always found it unusual that Minneapolis is the only large market without a full-power Adult Contemporary station. I can't name another Top 50 market (other than Puerto Rico) with no mainstream AC outlet. KSTP-FM is Hot AC while KTCZ is a mix of Modern AC and Adult Alternative.

WCCO-FM/WLTE tried for years to make AC work. It even commissioned TV ads with Teri Garr that were also used for Lite-FM in New York. But CBS Radio gave up and flipped it to 102.9 WMNB Country on Christmas Evening in 2011.

So now, the only AC in the Twin Cities is the three weak stations that simulcast Love 105's Soft AC format.
 
105.7 has a deep null to the SE to protect 105.9 in Red Wing, MN. This explains the weak reception in portions of St. Paul and suburbs to the east and south.

Of course, south of St. Paul, 105.1 should come in fine.
 
105.7 has a deep null to the SE to protect 105.9 in Red Wing, MN. This explains the weak reception in portions of St. Paul and suburbs to the east and south.

Of course, south of St. Paul, 105.1 should come in fine.
105.1 is a bit limited to the south. Adjacent channel KRFO-FM in Owatonna (about 35-45 miles south of ‘GVX’s transmitter in Apple Valley, which is one of the last southern suburbs before getting out into rural Minnesota) puts a bit of a squeeze on their power, but still covers most of the south ‘burbs.
 
105.7 is surprisingly popular for what it is. I see it on people's presets when I get into cars. Their signal seems just fine in my car throughout much of the metro. It's one of the few stations that doesn't cut out in parking garages downtown, which is kind of fun!
 
I can't name another Top 50 market (other than Puerto Rico) with no mainstream AC outlet. KSTP-FM is Hot AC while KTCZ is a mix of Modern AC and Adult Alternative.
Puerto Rico has several AC stations, both of the principal ones are "networked" to cover the whole Island, since no single station covers the entire market.

WFID and WIOA are the originators of the two full-island AC networks.
 
I think Cumulus should buy an available 1 twin cities wide FM frequency instead of 3 separate signals
They had an opportunity 20 years ago to upgrade the signal of one of the 105's to a market-wide signal, but it didn't come cheap and I gather ABC didn't want to spend the money (IIRC it required a few moves of other stations nearby that ABC would have had to pay for).

Today? Nobody is selling right now. Audacy could be a potential seller to eliminate debt for the right price, but Cumulus isn't doing much better financially. The opportunity existed when 96.3/95.3 were for sale back in 2020, but those signals had been on the market for a few years and no commercial broadcaster wanted them, so they were sold to EMF at bargain basement prices (compared to what they were bought for).
 
Speaking of LOVE 105, I notice that their soft AC playlist music is a little brighter than before. It sounds like the other soft AC stations such as 98.1 The Breeze, 94.1 The Sound, Easy 93.1 in Miami. I notice that their playlist drop lots of soft oldies music.
 
Speaking of LOVE 105, I notice that their soft AC playlist music is a little brighter than before. It sounds like the other soft AC stations such as 98.1 The Breeze, 94.1 The Sound, Easy 93.1 in Miami. I notice that their playlist drop lots of soft oldies music.
I’ve noticed this as well. It’s a damn shame they did away with some of the soft oldies, but I kind of knew it would happen sooner or later, especially after Cumulus eliminated the PD position over there. The new playlist is starting to grow on me though.
 
They had an opportunity 20 years ago to upgrade the signal of one of the 105's to a market-wide signal, but it didn't come cheap and I gather ABC didn't want to spend the money (IIRC it required a few moves of other stations nearby that ABC would have had to pay for).

Which frequency 105.1? 105.3? or 105.7? For a full market wide signal?
 
There are a lot of potential stations that would be in the way, depending on the frequency involved. 106.1 Elk River (didn't they move closer to the Twin Cities at some point?), 105.9 Red Wing, 105.5 Albany, and 104.9 Balsam Lake all come to mind. Then, there's the 10.6 MHz and 10.8 MHz IF spacing requirement vis-à-vis 94.5 KSTP-FM that needs to be considered. Even a station like WEVR in River Falls, WI might be a consideration depending on the frequency that was under consideration for use.

I think it would've likely been an extremely difficult proposition to undertake.
 


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