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Star 94

I think if you look at the streaming behavior of most people, you'll also see a lack of consistent identity. The game for a radio station today is to provide the right mix (there's that word) of genres and tempos to keep people listening. If a station gets too consistent in either of those areas, it stands the risk of becoming stale or boring. You also don't want the branding to alienate anyone. The great thing about KTWV (which may be the template for Star) is that it's able to bridge genres and tempos. If they can do that in Atlanta, they have potential for being a Top 5 station.
There' still something to be said about meeting listener expectations. That means consistency but evolving not to become "boring and stale". I'm not totally sure who the target listener of this station is so I'll leave it at that.
 
The most consistent non Urban Music station in Atlanta is 97.1. Last time I checked, they had less than 500 songs in their playlist.
They do the standard "turn and burn" approach that Cox has mastered (B does it too). Have a tight playlist, ballroom-test it often, and turn over the burned-out songs with fresh songs that tested well.

I know this is not unique to Cox, but Cox seems to do it exceptionally well.
 
And so it begins: First Christmas song on the Atlanta dial was 7:26 a.m. on WSTR … All I Want for Christmas Is You. Appears Star will once again mix Christmas tracks with their regular playlist.
 
And so it begins: First Christmas song on the Atlanta dial was 7:26 a.m. on WSTR … All I Want for Christmas Is You. Appears Star will once again mix Christmas tracks with their regular playlist.
Yawn. A "Throwbacks" station playing Christmas music. What are they going to play in the mix of Christmas? Carpenters, Billy Crosby, Dean Martin?

Look, all I am saying Star 94 playing Christmas music seems forced. It does not fit their brand. Hence why they should either go Adult Hits or AC. Good for them adding local jocks but their music and brand identity is weird if they are going to play Christmas music throughout Throwbacks. I'd leave that to B98.5 and have iHM roll out a 24/7 Christmas music station. Seems both Audacy and iHM are too scared.
 
I feel like those who think Christmas music is off brand for Star haven’t actually listened to it but rather judged the format solely on the word “throwback” being in the positioner. It’s a station for white Millenial and Gen-X women. The demos are very, very compatible. It’s not programmed like iHM’s urban “throwback” stations.
 
Yawn. A "Throwbacks" station playing Christmas music. What are they going to play in the mix of Christmas? Carpenters, Billy Crosby, Dean Martin?

Look, all I am saying Star 94 playing Christmas music seems forced. It does not fit their brand. Hence why they should either go Adult Hits or AC. Good for them adding local jocks but their music and brand identity is weird if they are going to play Christmas music throughout Throwbacks. I'd leave that to B98.5 and have iHM roll out a 24/7 Christmas music station. Seems both Audacy and iHM are too scared.
If you work for a company that's been in or is in bankruptcy, you are stupid if you are not scared. Cash flow will allow you to keep you job. Why experiment when there is historic evedence that it's hard to recover after your "core" audience and revenue after Christmas music.
 
A flip to AC after Christmas is a real possibility. Especially with how "hotter" B has become. Star could easily become Todays Hits and Yesterdays Favorites or something like that.
 
I wouldn’t bet on a full flip, but certainly some adjustments are possible. Rodney Ho’s social post indicated the Christmas music mix would include a “dance/R&B lean” throughout the month, which could be cool. Audacy’s Christmas mix tends to be a tad broader than iHeart’s, and they tend to wait until Thanksgiving week for their stations to make the flip. Longtime Atlanta radio listeners will recall that the day before Thanksgiving was the traditional flip date during the B98.5/Fish Christmas wars.
 
I wouldn’t bet on a full flip, but certainly some adjustments are possible. Rodney Ho’s social post indicated the Christmas music mix would include a “dance/R&B lean” throughout the month, which could be cool. Audacy’s Christmas mix tends to be a tad broader than iHeart’s, and they tend to wait until Thanksgiving week for their stations to make the flip. Longtime Atlanta radio listeners will recall that the day before Thanksgiving was the traditional flip date during the B98.5/Fish Christmas wars.
It weird the Fish was "the last station to do all Christmas". They won the battle but lost the war, because they are no more.
 
It weird the Fish was "the last station to do all Christmas". They won the battle but lost the war, because they are no more.
Fish had great ratings year-round (well, except during their well-documented summer swoon) up until the end.

Fish was a winner. Salem, not so much. EMF is paying a lot of operators "make me sell" money.
 
Fish had great ratings year-round (well, except during their well-documented summer swoon) up until the end.

Fish was a winner. Salem, not so much. EMF is paying a lot of operators "make me sell" money.
106.7 seems to be doing well for EMF/K-LOVE. 104.7, not so much.
 


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