A
alofmguy
Guest
A lot of talk about the bigger markets in Iowa, but what is the condition of small non rated markets in the state? Any good ones? Bad ones? Marshalltown, Hampton,Forest City,Independence,Etc?
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Well, you're maybe not going to like my answer.
The Mom and Pop stations in this state would probably actually make someone WANT to be in favor of corporate radio!
But, seriously, alot of the small town radio in Iowa is just not done well. It's mostly stuff that is thrown on the air with low budgets, minimal equipment and low cost talent. Most small stations are satellite now anyway, or at least automated, and when they are live, it's only for news and/or sports that often fail to stimulate the mind or ear.
Most small town radio here reflects alot of the rural Iowa culture...bland and cold with not much expression.
Best small stations:
94.7 Manchester-From what i've heard, well programmed with an eclectic mix and the production and delivery sounds good, along with the imaging.
100.1 KDWD Emmetsburg- This is a great small town CHR with local jocks and Top-40 shows that still give it a classy, big sound.
DC100.5 in Decorah- Excellent Hot AC format, good jocks and excellent presentation of local programming. (Meaning it doesn't sound like two guys and a duck-taped transmitter on the roof.)
101.7 KAYL Storm Lake- A small town Hot AC that sounds very professional and invests heavily in the community.
Worst stations
99.5 KDAO Marshalltown- Too overdone on the announcers part, crappy production, imaging, and no real direction as far as news and sports.
95.3 KIFG Iowa Falls- Bad programming. Lite AC satellite some of the day. A wild mixture of oldies, pop and rock during local hours. Bad audio, no personalities. A Friday night sports show that consists of cheesy oldies afterward and overdone production elements that sound waayy strained and overdone.
KNIA/KRLS Knoxville- Enough said. I think this has been covered on here before.
KELR 105.3 in Chariton. Bad jocks, bad production. Music is supposed to be Hot AC but really has no direction.
97.7 KOTM Ottumwa- Top 40. This station tries to be cool like it's bigger city counter-parts, but it just doesn't quite get there. Some of the jocks are bad, bad audio quality. An overall phony sounding delivery. However, I have to give it to these guys, they try hard to bring decent CHR to southern Iowa and thats hard in a struggling, run-down, rural part of the state.
I can't think of any others, it's getting late!
The Mom and Pop stations in this state would probably actually make someone WANT to be in favor of corporate radio!
But, seriously, alot of the small town radio in Iowa is just not done well. It's mostly stuff that is thrown on the air with low budgets, minimal equipment and low cost talent. Most small stations are satellite now anyway, or at least automated, and when they are live, it's only for news and/or sports that often fail to stimulate the mind or ear.
Most small town radio here reflects alot of the rural Iowa culture...bland and cold with not much expression.
Best small stations:
94.7 Manchester-From what i've heard, well programmed with an eclectic mix and the production and delivery sounds good, along with the imaging.
100.1 KDWD Emmetsburg- This is a great small town CHR with local jocks and Top-40 shows that still give it a classy, big sound.
DC100.5 in Decorah- Excellent Hot AC format, good jocks and excellent presentation of local programming. (Meaning it doesn't sound like two guys and a duck-taped transmitter on the roof.)
101.7 KAYL Storm Lake- A small town Hot AC that sounds very professional and invests heavily in the community.
Worst stations
99.5 KDAO Marshalltown- Too overdone on the announcers part, crappy production, imaging, and no real direction as far as news and sports.
95.3 KIFG Iowa Falls- Bad programming. Lite AC satellite some of the day. A wild mixture of oldies, pop and rock during local hours. Bad audio, no personalities. A Friday night sports show that consists of cheesy oldies afterward and overdone production elements that sound waayy strained and overdone.
KNIA/KRLS Knoxville- Enough said. I think this has been covered on here before.
KELR 105.3 in Chariton. Bad jocks, bad production. Music is supposed to be Hot AC but really has no direction.
97.7 KOTM Ottumwa- Top 40. This station tries to be cool like it's bigger city counter-parts, but it just doesn't quite get there. Some of the jocks are bad, bad audio quality. An overall phony sounding delivery. However, I have to give it to these guys, they try hard to bring decent CHR to southern Iowa and thats hard in a struggling, run-down, rural part of the state.
I can't think of any others, it's getting late!
G
garn91
Guest
KCSI, 95.3 in Red Oak is a good hometown radio station. Very in depth local news, weather and covers Montgomery County like a blanket. Not bad for being a husband/wife team. The only thing I can think of that the station need's improvement is in sports play by play, the guy, Jerry Dietz, is awful. You can listen on line at www.kcsifm.com
> Well, you're maybe not going to like my answer.
>
> The Mom and Pop stations in this state would probably
> actually make someone WANT to be in favor of corporate
> radio!
>
> But, seriously, alot of the small town radio in Iowa is just
> not done well. It's mostly stuff that is thrown on the air
> with low budgets, minimal equipment and low cost talent.
> Most small stations are satellite now anyway, or at least
> automated, and when they are live, it's only for news and/or
> sports that often fail to stimulate the mind or ear.
>
> Most small town radio here reflects alot of the rural Iowa
> culture...bland and cold with not much expression.
>
> Best small stations:
> 94.7 Manchester-From what i've heard, well programmed with
> an eclectic mix and the production and delivery sounds good,
> along with the imaging.
>
> 100.1 KDWD Emmetsburg- This is a great small town CHR with
> local jocks and Top-40 shows that still give it a classy,
> big sound.
>
> DC100.5 in Decorah- Excellent Hot AC format, good jocks and
> excellent presentation of local programming. (Meaning it
> doesn't sound like two guys and a duck-taped transmitter on
> the roof.)
>
> 101.7 KAYL Storm Lake- A small town Hot AC that sounds very
> professional and invests heavily in the community.
>
> Worst stations
>
> 99.5 KDAO Marshalltown- Too overdone on the announcers part,
> crappy production, imaging, and no real direction as far as
> news and sports.
>
> 95.3 KIFG Iowa Falls- Bad programming. Lite AC satellite
> some of the day. A wild mixture of oldies, pop and rock
> during local hours. Bad audio, no personalities. A Friday
> night sports show that consists of cheesy oldies afterward
> and overdone production elements that sound waayy strained
> and overdone.
>
> KNIA/KRLS Knoxville- Enough said. I think this has been
> covered on here before.
>
> KELR 105.3 in Chariton. Bad jocks, bad production. Music is
> supposed to be Hot AC but really has no direction.
>
> 97.7 KOTM Ottumwa- Top 40. This station tries to be cool
> like it's bigger city counter-parts, but it just doesn't
> quite get there. Some of the jocks are bad, bad audio
> quality. An overall phony sounding delivery. However, I have
> to give it to these guys, they try hard to bring decent CHR
> to southern Iowa and thats hard in a struggling, run-down,
> rural part of the state.
>
> I can't think of any others, it's getting late!
>
> Well, you're maybe not going to like my answer.
>
> The Mom and Pop stations in this state would probably
> actually make someone WANT to be in favor of corporate
> radio!
>
> But, seriously, alot of the small town radio in Iowa is just
> not done well. It's mostly stuff that is thrown on the air
> with low budgets, minimal equipment and low cost talent.
> Most small stations are satellite now anyway, or at least
> automated, and when they are live, it's only for news and/or
> sports that often fail to stimulate the mind or ear.
>
> Most small town radio here reflects alot of the rural Iowa
> culture...bland and cold with not much expression.
>
> Best small stations:
> 94.7 Manchester-From what i've heard, well programmed with
> an eclectic mix and the production and delivery sounds good,
> along with the imaging.
>
> 100.1 KDWD Emmetsburg- This is a great small town CHR with
> local jocks and Top-40 shows that still give it a classy,
> big sound.
>
> DC100.5 in Decorah- Excellent Hot AC format, good jocks and
> excellent presentation of local programming. (Meaning it
> doesn't sound like two guys and a duck-taped transmitter on
> the roof.)
>
> 101.7 KAYL Storm Lake- A small town Hot AC that sounds very
> professional and invests heavily in the community.
>
> Worst stations
>
> 99.5 KDAO Marshalltown- Too overdone on the announcers part,
> crappy production, imaging, and no real direction as far as
> news and sports.
>
> 95.3 KIFG Iowa Falls- Bad programming. Lite AC satellite
> some of the day. A wild mixture of oldies, pop and rock
> during local hours. Bad audio, no personalities. A Friday
> night sports show that consists of cheesy oldies afterward
> and overdone production elements that sound waayy strained
> and overdone.
>
> KNIA/KRLS Knoxville- Enough said. I think this has been
> covered on here before.
>
> KELR 105.3 in Chariton. Bad jocks, bad production. Music is
> supposed to be Hot AC but really has no direction.
>
> 97.7 KOTM Ottumwa- Top 40. This station tries to be cool
> like it's bigger city counter-parts, but it just doesn't
> quite get there. Some of the jocks are bad, bad audio
> quality. An overall phony sounding delivery. However, I have
> to give it to these guys, they try hard to bring decent CHR
> to southern Iowa and thats hard in a struggling, run-down,
> rural part of the state.
>
> I can't think of any others, it's getting late!
>
WAAAAY back in the day, I remember listening to KXJX (103.3) in Pella, and thinking that for a small town station it was pretty well programmed (at the time, and this was prior to it essentially becoming a Des Moines station, it was at best a DSM rimshot station at the time). Of course, this is going back to the early 1980s. So long ago it's almost not worth mentioning. I'll admit that those days are long gone as far as radio is concerned.
I never liked country, especially not small town country, but I used to think KMGO (98.7) in Centerville was actually probably pretty good for a very small town rural country station.
Now I can only think of small town stations that are NOT very good at all.
KRTI (106.7) in Grinnell is a good example. They seem to have the right idea, a good signal, a format that seems viable for their area, but just never seem ready for prime time. I've heard others comment that that has a lot to do with the ownership, that may be the case. KELR in Chariton is worse, from what I've heard, but I always thought it had potential somehow and couldn't quite pull it off. KRLS/KNIA in Knoxville continue to sound like a train wreck from what I have heard.
Is 95.5 in Belle Plaine any good?
I never liked country, especially not small town country, but I used to think KMGO (98.7) in Centerville was actually probably pretty good for a very small town rural country station.
Now I can only think of small town stations that are NOT very good at all.
KRTI (106.7) in Grinnell is a good example. They seem to have the right idea, a good signal, a format that seems viable for their area, but just never seem ready for prime time. I've heard others comment that that has a lot to do with the ownership, that may be the case. KELR in Chariton is worse, from what I've heard, but I always thought it had potential somehow and couldn't quite pull it off. KRLS/KNIA in Knoxville continue to sound like a train wreck from what I have heard.
Is 95.5 in Belle Plaine any good?
J
jjmcquade
Guest
I'll jump in on this one.
Last time I heard KZAT was this January, driving into central Iowa during the big ice storm. The owner/morning woman was doing exactly what a station in Tama/Toledo/Belle Plaine should do during a major weather event - keep people up to date, give closing info and be personable too. That morning, KZAT had a very "on-target" feel to me...a very friendly and local flavor.
Any other time I've heard the station - over two years ago - it's always been disappointing. Programming from the ABC Oldies channel (I believe), bad sweepers and imaging and an overall poor product. On the plus side, they do have a great signal and pretty decent audio (an Optimod 2200 if memory serves).
Re KXJX, are you referring to the CHR days as "X103"? Great station. Buddy Jones and The Breakfast Flakes in mornings. Crickett Davis at night. I think I have a tape of a KXJX ID somewhere with the smokin jingle bed and "X103 - KXJX - Pella, Des Moines!" into Survivor's "Burning Heart". I'm getting tingly thinking about it. If you'll excuse me...
Last time I heard KZAT was this January, driving into central Iowa during the big ice storm. The owner/morning woman was doing exactly what a station in Tama/Toledo/Belle Plaine should do during a major weather event - keep people up to date, give closing info and be personable too. That morning, KZAT had a very "on-target" feel to me...a very friendly and local flavor.
Any other time I've heard the station - over two years ago - it's always been disappointing. Programming from the ABC Oldies channel (I believe), bad sweepers and imaging and an overall poor product. On the plus side, they do have a great signal and pretty decent audio (an Optimod 2200 if memory serves).
Re KXJX, are you referring to the CHR days as "X103"? Great station. Buddy Jones and The Breakfast Flakes in mornings. Crickett Davis at night. I think I have a tape of a KXJX ID somewhere with the smokin jingle bed and "X103 - KXJX - Pella, Des Moines!" into Survivor's "Burning Heart". I'm getting tingly thinking about it. If you'll excuse me...
In a related vain along the 'bad' side, I'd nominate a station loosely related to the two listed below...KWAY in Waverly. I'll give them at least some credit for basic effort, but it seems clear they have no real direction, nor clue on where they are going.
I do like "Energy FM" in Marshalltown...not the tightest station, and I haven't been too impressed with their jocks in limited exposures, but they are at least doing something interesting and high intensity, which is more them most small-town stations can say.
> KNIA/KRLS Knoxville- Enough said. I think this has been
> covered on here before.
I do like "Energy FM" in Marshalltown...not the tightest station, and I haven't been too impressed with their jocks in limited exposures, but they are at least doing something interesting and high intensity, which is more them most small-town stations can say.
> KNIA/KRLS Knoxville- Enough said. I think this has been
> covered on here before.
I really like how KCJJ handles their programing. I know it sounds funny, but they actually let the listeners be part of the format. Every morning they take unscreened phone calls from listeners and let them have the third seat for a couple minutes.
This isn't for a segment, they do this all morning. Bizarrely it works really well.
I also like how KCJJ is able to do a little gorilla news reporting. They have a pretty sizable news staff so they can send people out to cover breaking news. They just break in to what ever is on and cover the story. The big stations have to admire that capability a little.
This isn't for a segment, they do this all morning. Bizarrely it works really well.
I also like how KCJJ is able to do a little gorilla news reporting. They have a pretty sizable news staff so they can send people out to cover breaking news. They just break in to what ever is on and cover the story. The big stations have to admire that capability a little.
Obviously a "bad station" is a very subjective term and totally in the eye of the beholder, as is a "good station." I disagree with the assertion that most small mom-and-pop operations are typically "bad" stations. Many of those stations do exactly what they are supposed to do...serve the local community with local news, weather and sports. Music is completely secondary to what their operation is and should be. I remember I had a boss once at a small station that when I complained about our selection of music, he said...unlike the big markets, for us...our music is only filler between news and information.Now, don't get me wrong, I have heard some local stations that have announcers that definitely need some work, but at the same time, many of those announcers are weekend announcers that are obviously part time.The bigger issue, in my opinion, is that there aren't enough stations any more to help announcers get their first, and second gig, to better themselves. Remember your first or second job...how good were you? I know I was absolutely horrible...choppy, nervous...and sounded Gawd awful. But I was fortunate, because I had the opportunity to improve and get better thus moving into better markets and better situations.With that all said, through my eyes, some of the good locally ran stations include:KMCH in Manchester. Pretty good local talent, great committment to the communityKLMJ in Hampton. Again...great local focus and I don't know of too many stations have such a local sports presenceKMA in Shenandoah...granted...heritage station, but some of the best local news and sports coverage in the state, in my opinionI'm sure there are others, but I don't get around the state as often as I used to.
Had a buddy who worked for the group in Marshalltown that owns KDAO. He says it wasnt a pleasant experience. Out dated equipment and outdated ideas too.
I thought this was a regular adult contemporary station - not hot AC? What's the playlist? Oh and it's called "Mix 101.7" even though I've never listened to it.
Best small-town station in my book: KKRL-Carroll. When I last heard them nine months ago (just before moving out of Iowa), their production and overall sound managed to emphasize the station's local nature without going as far as "hokey", and managed to be professional and "big-sounding" without being overdone -- perfect blend of both approaches. The Classic Hits / Hot AC hybrid approach seemed perfect in what is (for Iowa) a medium-sized town, and the request turnaround time was downright impressive -- they once dug up Diesel's "Sausalito Summernight" for me in less than five minutes. Certainly made it worth tinfoiling my Ames apartment to pull in the sub-100uV signal! ;D
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