So what happened to WKZL

[BS1012]

So whatever happened to WKZL. What went wrong, exactly? Two years ago, even up to this time last year they were one hell of a good station; morning show was alright, daytime personalities were awesome, and the music selection was ten times better than G105 in Raleigh.

JJ Mccain had a great show going. His Friday night Club 107.5 was the best you could get in North Carolina, and he had a DJ side-kick that sounded great. They seemed to break new music faster than other stations, and they had [and supposedly still do have] a local countdown every weekend. But it all went downhill.

I'll admit, since the start of the year I have only given the station a few listens, but they seemed to have ruined a great product in just the course of a couple of months at the end of last year. So, what happened, and why?

 

[goatboy]

The Norfolk Gang (lead by Klein) continue to kill KZL...although they had some nice gains in the spring book...if I read Arbitron's flawless reseacrh correctly, a lot of people stopped listening to WSJS and migrated over to WKZL...nice job Arbitron!

 

[pbf1]

2+2 does not always = 4

The Norfolk Gang (lead by Klein) continue to kill KZL...although they had some nice gains in the spring book...if I read Arbitron's flawless reseacrh correctly, a lot of people stopped listening to WSJS and migrated over to WKZL...nice job Arbitron!

Right. Just because one goes down about the same amount another goes up, it MUST mean listeners have gone from that one to that other.

Or maybe, just MAYBE, KZL is getting more cume, more TSL, or a combination of more of both. And maybe, just MAYBE, WSJS isn't getting as many to come to their station, or getting its listeners to stick around as long.

Either way, KZL is up more than a share from last summer, and up 1.5 last book to this. I'd say Klein & Co. are doing just fine. Maybe they're sticking to PLAYING the hits, rather than attempting to determine them.

(No, I don't work for Entercom, or any of its subsidiaries, agencies, or affiliates.)

 

[radiochickgso]

Don't you think that WKZL's pop in the spring book was a direct result of 94.5 The Beat flipping to Spanish ... 102 Jamz had a big boost as well. They both got BIG TSL boosts in the Spring and if I remember they picked up a lot of cume. You ever see that market overview they do at Entercom after each book, pretty cool, easy to read and not skewed. They lay it out on the line evn when they have a bad book, in the spring I remembered thinking it must suck to have to show that your own station is in the toliet like Oldies 93 was in the spring.

 

[goatboy]

No, I don't think losing 94.5 as a competitor had anything to do w/ KZL's uptick.

It's all Mike Klein and his butt-buddies...they're the best...they're going to continue to KILL...especially since they have like ZERO competition.

 

[jcolletta275]

I'm of the opinion that thinking KZL's boost had nothing to do with the flip of The Beat to La Preciosa is just plain ignorant. Like you said, Klein and co. currently have no one to face off against. Not to knock them, but you have to keep that fact in mind when looking at what little growth The Beat had while KZL was trending downward at the same time. You can't tell me one had nothing to do with the other. Of course, KZL came out on top... but I attribute that to (and only to) 102 Jamz cleaning The Beat's clock. If The Beat and KZL had gone head-to-head alone, The Beat would've won.

Looking at KZL's current situation, however, it is rather sad. Letting J.J. go was their first mistake. They've made many more since then. One of them is pbf1's idea (which they've obviously implemented) that the station should just play the hits instead of determining what those hits are. One of the things that made KZL great in the time BS1012 referred to was that they were playing what The Triad liked, not what the rest of the country liked. They were truly a local station in terms of playlist selections, and the reason for that was that they put new track after new track after new track out there on the air and let the listeners determine what was played and what wasn't. That's the way it should be done. The idea that they should just play the hits rather than determine them is flat-out wrong.

 

[XTalker]

There is little chance the WSJS cume went to KZL. Problem with looking at 12+ share is that it never tells the whole story. For example, if the overall market cume is up (maybe because the Hispanic listeners are being counted) a station can see a decline in share without lost cume! You really have to look at the whole book to make a determination about where people went, and why one station went up and the other down.

 

[pbf1]

One of the things that made KZL great in the time BS1012 referred to was that they were playing what The Triad liked, not what the rest of the country liked. They were truly a local station in terms of playlist selections, and the reason for that was that they put new track after new track after new track out there on the air and let the listeners determine what was played and what wasn't. That's the way it should be done. The idea that they should just play the hits rather than determine them is flat-out wrong.

And the idea that they don't play what works LOCALLY is "flat-out wrong," given that they do LOCAL CALLOUT.

 

[BS1012]

I know that the Greensboro market is rather crammed between Raleigh and Charlotte, and KZL just seemed to stand out a couple of years ago. Like was said, they constantly tossed new hits into the playlist. For me, Mccain's leaving was the last straw, not the first. Didn't they let both the mid-day and afternoon jocks go before him? I can't remember, but at least Mccain's blog gave me the impression. Furthermore, his removal was sudden--and at a bad time as well. They could have let him go before the holidays, not the week after the New Year started with not warning.

I don't know what happened to Club 1075. It used to be live on Friday nights with tons of "dance" music. Then it got moved to Saturday nights, and I'm not sure If it was voice tracked from that point on or not.

How is the new air staff anyway? Live? Voice Tracked? Any good? I tuned in a few times, and the talent sounded bland to me, but the music was most notable.

What I'm getting at is, in a market like Greensboro KZL was really a top40 to listen to If you could pick it up. But now both WNKS and WDCG are much better, and a shame because both can be heard very well in parts of the market with good reception.

 

[goatboy]

Airstaff IS balnd. So is music. So are promotions. Goodman and Klein have done a good job at stripping ALL personality from the station. It's like radio tofu.

But, they got their f&*% up buddy Tripper a job, so it can't be all bad, right?

 

[jcolletta275]

One of the things that made KZL great in the time BS1012 referred to was that they were playing what The Triad liked, not what the rest of the country liked. They were truly a local station in terms of playlist selections, and the reason for that was that they put new track after new track after new track out there on the air and let the listeners determine what was played and what wasn't. That's the way it should be done. The idea that they should just play the hits rather than determine them is flat-out wrong.

And the idea that they don't play what works LOCALLY is "flat-out wrong," given that they do LOCAL CALLOUT.

If they're doing local callout and the music is sounding this bland as compared to how it sounded just a couple years ago when they were also doing local callout, how do you explain the sudden shift in the musical taste of the Triad population? I don't buy it. No sir, no sir, no sir.

 

[goatboy]

come on...pbf is much smarter than u r...and they use RESEARCH...u know, THE HOLY GRAIL...RESEARCH TRUMPS EVERYTHING!

 

[cchas]

OVER THE LAST 2 YEARS KZL HAS KNOCKED OUT 2 COMPETITORS. THE ZONE AND THE BEAT. THEY ALSO HAVE BEEN TRENDING UPWARD WITH RECORD NUMBERS IN THE ADULT MONEY MAKING DEMOS. AS MUCH AS I HATE TO ADMIT IT, I HAVE TO GIVE THEM CREDIT. THEY SEEM TO BE CONSISTENT OVER THE LAST 5 OR SO YEARS. BECAUSE OF THIS, IT PUT ME OUT OF A JOB AND CAUSED ME TO MOVE HALFWAY AROUND THE COUNTRY.

AS FAR AS THE GUY WRITING ABOUT JJ (WHO IS PROBABLY JJ HIMSELF AS WE HAVE SEEN HIM DO IN THE PAST), HE WAS NOT A GOOD NIGHT JOCK. IN FACT THE JOKE OF TRIAD RADIO. I COULDNT STAND TO LISTEN TO HIM THE DAY THEY PUT HIM ON THE AIR. I COULD NOT BELIEVE THEY CHOSE HIM.

I DO THINK THAT IF THE ZONE WAS STILL HERE AND MORE FOCUSED IT WOULD DO SOME SERIOUS DAMAGE TO KZL. THEY CANT ALWAYS BE EVERYONES STATION. EVENTUALLY WITH COMPETETION, THEY WILL HAVE TO GO EVEN TIGHTER.

 

[pbf1]

HOW'S THAT CAPS LOCK KEY? GOT IT FIXED??

come on...pbf is much smarter than u r...and they use RESEARCH...u know, THE HOLY GRAIL...RESEARCH TRUMPS EVERYTHING!

I'd rather find out about how my music is being received from callout than from Arbitron!

 

[manwhore]

The Zone may have been one of the worst executed Hot/Modern ACs in history. Bad imaging, music mix, talent.

 

[poopiepants]

Yes...JJ has come on under different indentities many times...once his girl friend posted as a listener. So, when I see his name beside much praise, I automatically think "Hi JJ".

 

[jcolletta275]

OVER THE LAST 2 YEARS KZL HAS KNOCKED OUT 2 COMPETITORS. THE ZONE AND THE BEAT.

The Zone just plain sucked. They were bland, their imaging was terrible and their personalities were worse. They were their own death knell. The Beat was killed by 102 Jamz, not KZL. If you'll recall (as I just brought up a couple posts back), KZL actually lost numbers during The Beat's existence. WJMH, on the other hand, trounced WGBT. The Beat's demise had nothing to do with KZL.

THEY ALSO HAVE BEEN TRENDING UPWARD WITH RECORD NUMBERS IN THE ADULT MONEY MAKING DEMOS. AS MUCH AS I HATE TO ADMIT IT, I HAVE TO GIVE THEM CREDIT. THEY SEEM TO BE CONSISTENT OVER THE LAST 5 OR SO YEARS. BECAUSE OF THIS, IT PUT ME OUT OF A JOB AND CAUSED ME TO MOVE HALFWAY AROUND THE COUNTRY.

I'll agree that they do well with older demos, but I once again have to point out that the older, more traditional "money demo" is going away. I've been saying this for years now, and it keeps being proven over and over again. I'm gradually seeing more and more younger people with disposable income in than I do people in the "money demo" in any given market, and research is starting to show that.

AS FAR AS THE GUY WRITING ABOUT JJ (WHO IS PROBABLY JJ HIMSELF AS WE HAVE SEEN HIM DO IN THE PAST), HE WAS NOT A GOOD NIGHT JOCK. IN FACT THE JOKE OF TRIAD RADIO. I COULDNT STAND TO LISTEN TO HIM THE DAY THEY PUT HIM ON THE AIR. I COULD NOT BELIEVE THEY CHOSE HIM.

And Scholar Brad was any better? Please. JJ was the most original guy in Triad radio at the time. He was entertaining, he knew his music and he held a large, very loyal audience for the great majority of his time there. And before you go accusing me of being JJ, I'll remind you that it's been proven on this very board before that I'm not JJ (and, if necessary, it could be proven again).

I DO THINK THAT IF THE ZONE WAS STILL HERE AND MORE FOCUSED IT WOULD DO SOME SERIOUS DAMAGE TO KZL. THEY CANT ALWAYS BE EVERYONES STATION. EVENTUALLY WITH COMPETETION, THEY WILL HAVE TO GO EVEN TIGHTER.

If KZL and a re-tooled (read "better") version of The Zone were to go head-to-head today, you're right: KZL would have to go younger and drop their adult lean entirely. And I agree, The Zone would kick their butt in the adult demos... adults would choose the station that has the music they enjoy without the stuff their kids listen to.

That being said, though, I think KZL would still maintain the numbers they have now. The Zone would be pulling from other stations, not just KZL. Having a stronger KZL, more younger listeners would likely move away from Jamz and out-of-market stations. In my experience, though, most younger listeners spend time listening to both stations, so it would likely swing TSL in KZL's direction with some demos more than it would simply drag listeners away from Jamz. It would still be reflected in the ratings, though, as KZL would lose the adults and gain more time from teens... resulting in roughly the same numbers they have now, as I said before.

come on...pbf is much smarter than u r...

Thanks for the vote of confidence! ;D

I'd rather find out about how my music is being received from callout than from Arbitron!

Exactly what I was saying... I'm just not buying the idea that they're using callout today. The musical tastes of a market don't just change that suddenly... even considering how mobile the Triad's population is. KZL either made a decidedly adult-leaning shift in their callout or they've stopped doing it altogether.

 

[pbf1]

I'm just not buying the idea that they're using callout today.

They are. Perhaps they're targetting differently now than before...couldn't tell you about that.

 

[cchas]

[EDIT]

1. THE ZONE WAS IMAGED BY ONE OF THE BEST IMAGERS IN THE COUNTRY WHO STILL DOES STATIONS IN THIS MARKET AND ALL OVER THE COUNTRY. ENTERCOM USED RESEARCH AND SAW THAT THE HOLE WASN'T BIG ENOUGH FOR THEM WITH A HOT AC AND HAD TO DO SOMETHING.

2. JJ WAS TERRIBLE

3. YOUR RIGHT THAT THE BEAT WAS KILLED BY JAMS. BUT WRONG TO THINK THE BEAT WAS TAKING AWAY FROM KZL. YOU JUST CONTRIDICTED YOUR OWN POINT. THE BEAT AND JAMS WERE IN COMPETTION NOT WITH KZL. KZL USED TO COMPETE WITH US AND WMAG AND OTHER NON HIP HOP STATIONS. KLZ HAD HIGH 18-34 NUMBERS THE ENTIRE TIME THE BEAT WAS IN EXSISTANCE. IN FACT NOT TO LONG AGO KZL #2 THE BEAT #8 18-34. THE STATION THAT TOOK FROM THEM WAS THE ZONE NOT THE BEAT. (THEY DONT FLIP FORMATS JUST BECAUSE TUFF GUY)
IF YOU HAVE ACCESS TO BDS, YOU WOULD SEE THAT KZL IS CONSITANT AND PLAYING THE SAME TYPE OF MUSIC FOR THE LAST 5 YEARS. IF ANYTHING THEY SEEM TO BE A LITTLE LOOSER NOW ON THE HIP HOP. THATS WHY NOW WOULD BE A GREAT TIME FOR ANOTHER HOT AC IF THEY CAN CATCH THEM OFF GUARD AND I AM NOT TALKING ABOUT HITZ94. A BIG TIME MORNING SHOW WOULD BE NEEDED AS WELL.

[EDIT]

[EDIT--personal attacks.]

 

[goatboy]

I have to concur that JJ was not "all that".

Just because KZL was at The Beat's funeral doesn't mean they killed The Beat.