Smooth Jazz 105 flips

[John FL]

There's been a lot of comments, both on subject and not, and that's OK. It's nice to see something has ignited some interest.

Anyway, maybe I'll save my comments about the state of radio in Jax for Folio another day. I went a different route. This morning I sent a letter to a reporter at the Times Union and the response was as follows:

"This is why I've turned to satellite, as a lot of people have.
Thanks for your input."

The response really met my expectations. Even if it got as far as a featured story about lack of format choice and disenfranchising people, would anything really change anytime soon? I knew that going in but I feel good about giving it a try as it's cool to at least fight for what you think is right.

Things won't change unless those in charge see it as an advantage for them to do so. The heck with listeners, we mean little unless we are completing a diary and we are younger than 54.

Again, thanks everyone for your responses on this subject.

 

[radiosanchez]

not that anyone knows/cares, but SJ/NAC is still available in Jax on WROO/92.7's HD-2.

 

[brianv]

I just have to parse some semantics here.

The station on 96.9 was COOL and performed well, was programmed well, and had a lot of good air talent.
The station on 100.7 was KOOL and it sucked, both in programming and ratings (it barely had any air talent).

I don't like seeing people putting the two together or even comparing them as though they were similar simply because they both played oldies.

Of course, I'm biased because I used to work at Cool 96.9, but still, it was pretty evident based on the board posts here that the new Kool was a pathetic attempt, poorly done and poorly timed (they waited way too long, and didn't press for the familiarity of hiring the talent from the old station, which I think was a mistake).

I actually missed Arrow when the new WKQL came on, and that's saying something, because Arrow was a mess, and I love oldies.

I have no issues with Renda, since I never worked there, and like all the people I know who have worked there, so this is coming purely from a place of making sure that the two are differentiated simply on their merits as radio stations. Cool was much better than Kool, and I find it annoying when people talk about the old Cool and call it "Kool" and vice-versa.

A totally self-indulgent post? For sure...but that's me. Posting about Jacksonville, a city where I no longer reside, talking about radio stations that no longer exist.

Back on topic: I hope everyone enjoys Tama's new effort in mediocrity. I'm sure it will be as lame as every other format they've attempted on those frequencies since the turn of the "Millennium".

 

[gchasse]

I agree with the comments about Cool and Kool. I still listened to 100.7 even though it was not nearly as good as 96.9, because I like oldies. 96.9, in my opinion, was the best station in town with respect to DJs and how the station presented itself. I listen to Kearth 101 in LA when I go, and I still think that 96.9 was better. I guess there is no chance to bring that group of people back, but I still hope that one day someone will figure it out and put this format back on the air and manage it properly.

 

[austingrace]

man. you guys in jax are really screwed. like 4 or 5 station with the same shit. 1053 and 1055 have not had a good format since hot country left 1055. the minute 1053 and 1055 merged, it was over. now, i used to go to
st. augustine all the time untill 2006. i still keep up with stations up there simply because i'm interested in it. i really hope something good happens up there soon. how about get rid of the 1053 and 1055 thing and keep 1053 and up the power and go to oldies? or like a previous poster mentioned, put oldies on 92.7. but well hell, why not up it to 50 kw? that would work. just my thoughts.

 

[pocket-radio]

VT Dude everybody get's fired by Renda Broadcasting. Get over it man..

Renda's version of COOl was typical of what they do. It was done cheap and poorly thought through.

If you want oldies you have choices. Listen to the internet, load up your Ipod with the hits you want. Or invest $12.00 per month and listen to satellite radio.
Pandora.com and slacker Fm are both free and great choices. Plus it's easy to capture their stream and save the music.. Radio doesn't care about you and won't listen. Today you have better choices than ever before. seek and you will find what's out there..

 

[pocket-radio]

I liked Smooth Jazz. Coast sucks!

 

[gchasse]

Since there is no oldies station around like Kool 96.9, I had spent most of the time on my radio dial listening to Smooth Jazz. Now that that is gone, I skip around and catch a song here or there, but invariably end up at 105.9 in Orlando (I live in St. Augustine and can get it here).

At some point, this has to turn around. About 5 years ago or so, there was a real good balance of stations. Now, it is pretty bad. To get the Kool 96.9 oldies, I have to listen to satellite or Kearth 101 out of LA online (one of many online, but I know this one because I spent a lot of time in LA in the last 2 years).

Hopefully, this will change at some point.

 

[austingrace]

i have an interesting question to pos to you guys. you noticed that 1053 and 1055 flipped like a few months we got power 1059 in orlando? then like a year orock came around they flipped the mix, then when mix flopped they when to jazz. the n jazz flopps and then the go top 40. i think 1055 was trying to imatate what was in orlando between mix, smooth jazz or jamin oldies. and there was jammin oldies on 1015 in tampa. then they got the point over there.. so i wonder if 1053 and 1055 was trying to imatate? i think they were. now no one even cares about those stations.

 

[vadar]

I tend to agree with you Austin, nobody cares about these stations. It doesn't say much for a fledgling broadcasting company with no pockets to even take on CC, Cox or Renda in this market. The biggest problem with 105.3 and 105.5 is the MAJOR inconvenience a listener has to go thru just to pick up a decent signal. Who wants to be bothered by this? TAMA, do us a favor, clue in and buy a real frequency with a legitimate format that will contend in this market. These frequencies have class/power at HAAT limitations. Throw in the fact that no format (Gold, Jazz, no Adult AC or whatever it is) has ever succeeded even with previous ownership (Mondosphere).

The only thing good about 105.3 and 105.5 in these parts is WYKS-105.3 in Gainesville (cheesy Top 40 with decent numbers) and the POWERHOUSE WDUV 105.5 in Tampa (a HUGE format and revenue winner).

We might as well be posting about AM radio stations, at least they are more successful.

 

[AnotherCat]

TAMA, do us a favor, clue in and buy a real frequency with a legitimate format that will contend in this market.

TAMA can't buy any stations. The investors took over management of the ones they have last year because they were all bleeding money. The TAMA guys wanted to get a lot of media coverage and be able to look cool at events and impressive at minority broadcasting events but they forgot one important thing.someone needs to know how to run a radio station!

 

[pocket-radio]

100.7 Renda Broadcasting is faced with the same weak signal issues. However they guessed right and Movin with women 18-34 rose from the bottom to being in the top 10.

Tama's signal issues can be nick in the amour but won't stop the train with the right format. A super-niche format combined with a poor signal isn't what I'd do. Jazz was great but again it's another super-niche format and not for a mass audience. Playing the hits with a mass appeal format is what I'd do. This is no time to recreate radio because it won't work. Super niches work for satellite radio or the internet. Even HD won't work.. unless you have years to wait. Tama, needs a better signal and marketing dollars and money to make this thing work

 

[alcapone]

Hey pocket you must be in radio sales. Renda's 100.7 MOVIN is a loser format. True if your in sales you have to look at the positives but that station falls in the TAMA category. We're talking about a station that's never done better than a 1.8 since the flip from oldies. How does a saleperson ever sell that on the street, unless of course you can get a tremendous combo buy for 1.25 a commercial. Hold up let me get my checkbook.

 

[BIG APE]

Hey pocket you must be in radio sales. Renda's 100.7 MOVIN is a loser format. True if your in sales you have to look at the positives but that station falls in the TAMA category. We're talking about a station that's never done better than a 1.8 since the flip from oldies. How does a saleperson ever sell that on the street, unless of course you can get a tremendous combo buy for 1.25 a commercial. Hold up let me get my checkbook.

I'm with you! I would never take a sales job with any kind of numbers like that!..You'd starve!..I can see local radio coming back, maybe not in my lifetime but the day of the "Evil Empire" is numbered...Long Live the Mighty 690"

 

[vadar]

Can everyone stop whining about the "oldies" format? News flash..............it ain't coming back. News at 11...................GET OVER IT!!!! You want oldies, drive to St. Augustine and check out WOCL 105.9.

 

[John FL]

No one can predict with certainty what the format landscape will look like in the future. And in reading the various posts, I would not categorize them as "whining."

In fact, I think many have been positive and frankly encouraging - particularly Brother Bear's commentary. It seems over the past several weeks, it is becoming clear that complacency is being replaced by renewed interest in the subject of radio.
That's an important first step to help affect change.

And while those of us who post here don't make the ultimate format or major decisions, we are empowered to speak our minds. Our comments are read by many influential people in the business and by the talent - past and present.

No, I believe very strongly that anything can happen. And that’s always possible as long people never give up. Limited format choices do not serve the public well and it disenfranchises many. I believe it’s only a matter of time that this way of doing things will need to change.

 

[pocket-radio]

I always thought 100.7 problems were related to their signal. They’re trying to make stick that sits in Georgia a Jacksonville radio station. Cool and Arrow both were dogs partly because of coverage. So I was very surprised to see Movin in the top 10 with women 18-34. This is a high energy station with one afternoon drive jock it’s crazy. You’re right 18-34 is a difficult sell on the streets. It’s sold as 18-49, even though after the age 34 is when the decline of listeners starts. Bedsides bars, that demo is good for many clients including advertisers who cater to blacks. I agree selling women 25-to-54 to the streets is far easier. They’ll chase after Kiss advertisers, and point out the difference in the rates. The ratings spread between Kiss and Movin isn’t much, but rates on Kiss are almost double. There’s a place for that station in the market.

 

[alcapone]

KISS and MOVIN are two completely different radio stations. One has direction the other one doesn't. If 100.7 went spanish or latino tomorrow they would have double the ratings they've ever had on that frequency. Bottom line people want to hear people on the radio. If your doing a request show no matter what format it is if you talk to those who call radio stations you'll find out that those that actually get on the radio will tell you they heard themselves weeks or months later. True listeners want to hear their favorite song but they also want to hear their voice. Aside from it being an election year WOKV is doing so well because it's people talking with people. That's what radio was and is still suppose to be. Is it. I think not. It's become hodge podge of a dumbed down ipod.

 

[pocket-radio]

100.7 needs on air talent! Matt in afternoons does a great job, so that leaves mornings and mid-days empty. Again I painfully acknowledge the truth the era of reduced budgets is upon us. “Less is more” translation the less I spend the more I keep. President fumbles "NAB David K. Rehr” thinks radio is not a wireless jukebox. I'm afraid fumbles many stations fall into that category. So I'm with you vtdude.. people talking to people that is what radio does best. Ipods and other gadget like jukeboxes do a much better job of shuffling music than radio.

The day is coming when radio will be like Pandora.com. Combine a digital radio with a wireless internet connection and you’ve got the makings of Pandora 105.3. No need for a pd.. because the listener programs the music. That’s funny because it’s probably true and will happen in my lifetime..

 

[AnotherCat]

If 100.7 went spanish or latino tomorrow they would have double the ratings they've ever had on that frequency

Now see, TAMA has a spanish station on 105.7 and nobody knows about it or listens. Also when you call them up to ask about a song that got played they are downright nasty to you, as if you were bothering them. The station is on the bird so their program supplier provides a playlist!