Small town stations with a more personalized sound.

[SomeRadioGuy]

SomeRadioGuy I think PTBoardOp94 is going back to the days before you were in the business. Also, respectfully, just because the few stations you've worked at in the particular markets where you were located in didn't use them, doesn't mean "none" anywhere ever have.

2 stations I worked at a number of years ago brought in programming consultants and both those particular facilities were in smaller markets. It wasn't uncommon back then to open the trades and see at least a few pages of ads for various consultant services. While many were good and known in the industry, many others were crap..Either they were failed PDs or MDs who decided to become consultants as a 'fall back' business, or they worked with a consultant at one or a few stations they'd worked at, and suddenly thought that gave them enough working knowledge to become one themselves.

In one of the cases I was involved in, it was helpful. The guy came to the area and spent at least a few days listening to the station, going out to various gathering spots and informally chatting with residents/listeners, then came in and met with the staff before making tweaks. At that station, jocks were live 24/7 and all music selections were dictated to them via computer generated paper logs. The PD and MD set the programming schedule with few deviations. Both the PD and MD there were doing OK and both were eager to do well and maintain our station at the top of the ratings in that market, but both were also young and green and needed some mentoring by someone knowledgeable. The consultant did help and we did see a bump in the numbers. If I'm not mistaken, the cost of the consultant at that station was paid for by one of our record reps. At another station the consultant came in and tossed out the paper logs completely, put together a more traditional "clock" and had the guys working via index cards that listed all the current hits, gold, recurrents, etc. This worked OK and generally the jocks liked it better as it gave them a bit of flexibility. Unfortunately that station was sold within a few months and began simulcasting another station owned by the same company so we never really got to see how well the changes did.

I also know several small town station owners.. and none use consultants.

 

[Mikey Radio]

I also know several small town station owners.. and none use consultants.

...Which would explain why both PTBoardOp94's original comment, and also mine, were detailing past experiences. PT's comment even included the statement "I think that practice is nearly dead. I can't remember the last time I heard of a small market station bringing in a programming consultant."

 

[vchimpanzee]

In small towns, I certainly agree with Kelly A: comfortable and familiar is the way to go but add local news and information especially with the poor shape the local papers find themselves. In my town the daily is twice a week now and becoming more and more insignificant. We hold the edge as the only daily source of local news and info in the county.

Our newspaper is twice a week but was three times before the pandemic. But when my clock radio comes on each morning, I'm often hearing actual audio from a school board or county commissioner's meeting. I turn it off because I'm not ready for anything that time of day.

 

[vchimpanzee]

Then the classic country satellite format (Westwood One formerly Dial Global)

I have a question which is off topic. When Westwood One took over what used to be Citadel, they got Real Country, which is not a classic country format but includes classic country. However, WMNC-AM on the way to the mountains has something called "Classic hit country" which was one of the Westwood One formats. It's still being used and actually has classic country.

 

[b-turner]

I've been in the business since 1978 and small town stations I knew (and I knew a bunch because I'd call them) and they never had consultants. It was more like when I asked what my promotional budget was and was told to look in the mirror. If anything more small town stations had GMs that kept their hands in programming as in you can have this much rope but you'll not get another inch more than you have and I override you since I sign your paycheck.

 

[Mikey Radio]

I've been in the business since 1978 and small town stations I knew (and I knew a bunch because I'd call them) and they never had consultants. It was more like when I asked what my promotional budget was and was told to look in the mirror. If anything more small town stations had GMs that kept their hands in programming as in you can have this much rope but you'll not get another inch more than you have and I override you since I sign your paycheck.

Both stations I alluded to in my post above were Top 40 stations and though both were in smaller markets, I wouldn't necessarily label either a "small town station". Neither had local ownership and neither ran on a shoe string by any means, nor did either have micromanaging upper management (thankfully).

 

[davideduardo]

no, they havent.... none .. none of the small town stations ive worked for did... and ive been at a few of them

Yes, I agree. The cost of a consultant is not within the reach of small markets.

Now, if the intent was to say "smaller rated markets" that is different.

But a station in Lake City, FL, or Cadillac, MI, or Prescott, AZ, in the last 30 years or so was not going to have a consultant.

 

[davideduardo]

If I'm not mistaken, the cost of the consultant at that station was paid for by one of our record reps. .

That sounds oh-so-much like having a wolf guarding the hen-house...

 

[Mikey Radio]

.

 

[seatownmedia]

Yep. Consultants paid by the record companies to increase spins. This was a horrible era for contemporary radio stations. I know, I was there. In my experience in the early 90’s “we just hired a great consultant”. But never mentioned is the consultant was getting paid by record companies to get their songs added. It was all kept under wraps but this is how it worked 30 years ago. I believe there is more transparency today due to more digital communication. Or not.

 

[Mikey Radio]

That sounds oh-so-much like having a wolf guarding the hen-house...

Lol, yeah I agree it could definitely sound that way. In the case of that particular station, the MD had solid relationships with a few record reps and on occasion he'd get them to foot the bill for stuff (usually things like giveaway SWAG with the station logo on it, etc.). In the case of the programming consultant, I won't pretend to know all the details, but from what I saw and knew, the PD and MD made calls and did a bit of research and they chose the guy they hired and the rep just footed the bill once services were rendered. Now, whether or not that particular consultant also had a back door deal with record company(ies) and as a result their artists/songs maybe got more airplay, that I wouldn't wager on one way or the other. What I can say for sure is that, in that situation, the PD and MD and even the jocks learned from working with the guy, they gained a good amount of knowledge and understanding from the experience, and much to the delight of the sales staff, GM and ownership, the station did see a sustained increase in the ratings, regardless of how many spins he gave to which record companies, their artists or songs, and whether or not he was paid under the table to do so.

 

[Cordelia Chase]

WTYD 92.3 The Tide in Williamsburg, Virginia does a good job with its Alternative format. It's the station where new artists are born, and old artists go to die. It's the first place I heard Ed Sheeran, Mumford and Sons and Adele before they made it big. It's also the only place locally where you can hear new material from Springsteen or Clapton. The Tide also features local news and sports from the College of William and Mary.

 

[sdwulfdawg]

A really small town with a BIG signal.
KTNN 660 50 kw Windowrock AZ.
The Navajo Nation. Big on local programming.

KTNN - St. Michaels, AZ

KTNN 660 AM 101.5 FM - The Voice of the Navajo Nation

www.ktnnonline.com

Their FM 101.5 does a nice job filling in the AM's null to the east.

I love how they incorporate Native American music and chants interspersed in their music programming....

 

[sdwulfdawg]

I have to go with my favorite station in the nation, Plymouth, MA's Easy 99.1. https://www.easy991.com/

It is local, does not use voice tracking, and has the best variety of music I have ever heard.

I turned them on after I read this about Easy 99.1 and was surprised after a few songs that at 5 a.m. (Eastern time) they went into a full Catholic catechism (prayer) with prayers with multiple "Hail Mary, full of grace...."

Then there was a non-stop recitation of "The Hail Mary."

Hail, Mary, full of grace,
the Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou amongst women
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners,
now and at the hour of our death.
Amen.

 

[CTListener]

I turned them on after I read this about Easy 99.1 and was surprised after a few songs that at 5 a.m. (Eastern time) they went into a full Catholic catechism (prayer) with prayers with multiple "Hail Mary, full of grace...."

Then there was a non-stop recitation of "The Hail Mary."

Hail, Mary, full of grace,
the Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou amongst women
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners,
now and at the hour of our death.
Amen.

You can hear that just before noon every day -- along with a lot of the music you'd likely hear on WPLM -- on WJMJ Hartford, CT, right before ABC and local news. Of course, that station is operated by the Archdiocese of Hartford. I'm surprised to hear that a station with no Church ties does this, too,

 

[ScottBurns]

I turned them on after I read this about Easy 99.1 and was surprised after a few songs that at 5 a.m. (Eastern time) they went into a full Catholic catechism (prayer) with prayers with multiple "Hail Mary, full of grace...."

Then there was a non-stop recitation of "The Hail Mary."

Hail, Mary, full of grace,
the Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou amongst women
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners,
now and at the hour of our death.
Amen.

This has been part of WPLM-FM’s programming for decades, and always at 5 AM. I am not sure why; perhaps it is something the owner does. I also do know that the station’s coverage area is heavily Catholic. Otherwise, the station is completely secular.

 

[Mikey Radio]

I turned them on after I read this about Easy 99.1 and was surprised after a few songs that at 5 a.m. (Eastern time) they went into a full Catholic catechism (prayer) with prayers with multiple "Hail Mary, full of grace...."

Then there was a non-stop recitation of "The Hail Mary."

Hail, Mary, full of grace,
the Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou amongst women
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners,
now and at the hour of our death.
Amen.

They were praying the rosary.

 

[crainbebo]

KYNR/1490 Toppenish does the same thing, take classic country out and replace it with a mix of 1950s-2000s pop/rock. Lots of Native American powwow music. Yakama Nation owns the station. Unfortunately, very little web presence and no webstream. But I've heard birthday greetings and Yakama Nation Tribal School sports on that station. If a station needed an FM translator, this would be the one. Too bad they didn't go for one.

Another station with no translator (surprisingly) is KQAD/800 Luverne MN. Soft AC with a very local presentation - lots of local news, sports, I believe obituaries, etc. Great playlist.

 

[spiritof67]

I love how they incorporate Native American music and chants interspersed in their music programming....

In 2019 I was in San Francisco. I was driving in the city and tuned into KTNN at night. The station is dominant on 660, but during one of those chants, the station faded briefly into another station--a station playing Bollywood style music. And I thought--only in America would I hear an Indian station fading into an (insert covid cough here) Indian station.

 

[KeithE4]

In 2019 I was in San Francisco. I was driving in the city and tuned into KTNN at night. The station is dominant on 660, but during one of those chants, the station faded briefly into another station--a station playing Bollywood style music. And I thought--only in America would I hear an Indian station fading into an (insert covid cough here) Indian station.

That would be KGSV Oildale (Bakersfield) CA. It goes by Radio Punjab (at least per RadioLocator), and runs 8 kW days/ 6 kW nights with a pretty good lobe towards the Bay Area, day and night. I've never heard it in the Phoenix area, but at least in theory, it could override KTNN on occasion.