The Arrow to change to Traditional Oldies!!!!!

[BossJock1947]

Radio GM says...


"I would not look for the Arrow to go away anytime soon. The billing that Clear Channel makes from the station is extremely large. And word out of the CC building is that after 2 days of Eagle being on the air, they are not worried at all about 1075.


"CC will spend money on marketing and promotion to ensure that that the Arrow does not lose ratings. 93.7 has actually been doing very well in the latest trends."





I beg to differ RadioGM...I have a very credible contact at CC and apparently CC is not happy with the same old walton and johnson routine. Also there are more rumors that john walton is showing is ugly inflated ego again and has been badmouthing steve johnson.

Look for a new traditional "oldies" classic hits format within 6 mos. CC brass has already had talks with weaver morrow, john lander, and a few other houston legends. This is already in the making.


developing....

 

[bobbybooey]

So they're gonna go after the prized 50+ demo? THAT'S a real money-maker! Especially if you put all those high-priced "Houston legends" on the payroll. ;D

 

[piggy]

I beg to differ RadioGM...I have a very credible contact at CC and apparently CC is not happy with the same old walton and johnson routine. Also there are more rumors that john walton is showing is ugly inflated ego again and has been badmouthing steve johnson.

Look for a new traditional "oldies" classic hits format within 6 mos. CC brass has already had talks with weaver morrow, john lander, and a few other houston legends. This is already in the making.


developing....

Put down the pipe. I do expect the Eagle to take a big chunk out of the Arrow (I don't expect W&J to hold on to the old D&R audience now that they're back), but I don't expect CCU to respond by replacing it with the same songs that KLDE and KHTC rode all the way to 15th place. Clear Channel can't afford to hire any talent, either. Dropping the Lander name is the first clue you pulled this out of a dark orifice.

Now, with KHJK hovering at a 0.something and about to be beat by KGOW, 15th place is probably looking pretty good to them, so maybe 103.7 will start playing Roy Orbison 5 times a day. But Arrow? Puff, puff, pass dude.

 

[smartestguyintheroom]

It would not be smart for KKRW to flip to oldies or the updated classic hits format. Their revenue stream is doing as well as can be expected in this economy. Walton & Johnson are not Dean & Rog. That's neither good nor bad, just fact. And Eagle isn't really a better classic rock alternative to KKRW.

Cox has chosen to make D&R the centerpiece and focus of 107.5. They changed the name and made major format modifications to capitalize and monitize the Dean & Rog brand. It was a smart strategy designed for rapid impact. Although they should have spent some $$$ for a better TV spot.

KKRW on the other hand, has simply transferred W&J from KRPC to KKRW. And CC has invested in marketing by running the staple Arrow classic rock vault spot, with just one mention of "Walton & Johnson in the morning". They are positioned as an add on, not a showcase. It is quite possible that CC will invest in bring back a name like Lander, Morrow, etc. for their morning show. Remember those guys have been in various formats in Houston, but can and probably would continue to do classic rock on KKRW.

I must agree with Piggy about KHJK. Their strategy of transitioning from Jack to whatever they're doing now is a disaster, on the air and on the web. As Jack and again as 'the new 103-7 FM, Houston's adult alternative' the Cumulus strategy of taking a move in (and a bad move in at that) and putting a very broad based library format on it flies counter to common sense. Successful move ins generally put passion, tight listed formats on their move ins so they attract a narrowcast targeted audience. To some, oldies/classic hits falls into this format realm. KHJK's cume in the last monthly is down to about 330,000 from a Jack high of about 600,000. Share is at 0.6, tied with KFNC (focused sports ESPN) and KGOW (focused sports/high band AM). At this point, without a pop oldies/classic hits station in the market, Cumulus has nothing to lose by flipping KHJK to oldies. Of course, they are Cumulus, so we are already pre-disposed to them not doing it right.

 

[surelydissipatedbynow]

Fairly new to this board...been lurking & looking, but having gone thru the CC buyout of KKRW back in 2000, living all that went on then, now watching all this go on now, it makes me glad I'm not there...unless they wanna hire me back, with a contract worth lots of $$$ that I could get out of but they couldn't! And fly me home every weekend. ;D How's the song go? "Dream on..."? Seriously though...it makes me feel - how you say? - yukky. Hat's off to all y'all still doing it!

 

[bigtom101]

At this point, without a pop oldies/classic hits station in the market, Cumulus has nothing to lose by flipping KHJK to oldies. Of course, they are Cumulus, so we are already pre-disposed to them not doing it right.

Cumulus owns a few "Classic Hits" stations - 94.9 KCMO & 96.1 WSOX are the two that I know of, both decent sounding stations with balanced playlists. Very Top 40/hit focused - not leaning soft or hard sound wise. They would be smart to ship a hard drive of the Classic Hits library to Houston and get something going.

Something else to chew over from All Access - "ARBITRON's PPM Data for JUNE Week 1 shows a particularly unusual occurance in the Women 18-34 Demo. Right behind #8 CBS AC WWFS (FRESH FM) is Classic Hits WCBS-F's stream. It debuts at 9th in the demo's AQH persons with 7100, and a 0.4 AQH Rating% -- good for a tie for 5th."

So a balanced Classic Hits can work and can get the money demo(s). Houston is a different kettle of fish, but I'd like to thing that the metro could support a 70's based classic hits station. I'd love 60's oldies, but thats what the iPod is for nowadays.

 

[RADIOGM]

>>I must agree with Piggy about KHJK. Their strategy of transitioning from Jack to whatever they're doing now is a disaster, on the air and on the web. As Jack and again as 'the new 103-7 FM, Houston's adult alternative' the Cumulus strategy of taking a move in (and a bad move in at that) and putting a very broad based library format on it flies counter to common sense. Successful move ins generally put passion, tight listed formats on their move ins so they attract a narrowcast targeted audience. To some, oldies/classic hits falls into this format realm. KHJK's cume in the last monthly is down to about 330,000 from a Jack high of about 600,000. Share is at 0.6, tied with KFNC (focused sports ESPN) and KGOW (focused sports/high band AM). At this point, without a pop oldies/classic hits station in the market, Cumulus has nothing to lose by flipping KHJK to oldies. Of course, they are Cumulus, so we are already pre-disposed to them not doing it right.<<

Dave - you bring up some great points here!

rgm

 

[PapillionWyngs]

I beg to differ RadioGM...I have a very credible contact at CC and apparently CC is not happy with the same old walton and johnson routine. Also there are more rumors that john walton is showing is ugly inflated ego again and has been badmouthing steve johnson.

Look for a new traditional "oldies" classic hits format within 6 mos. CC brass has already had talks with weaver morrow, john lander, and a few other houston legends. This is already in the making.


developing....
[/quote]



I certainly hope you're right. That would make me very happy! Weaver Morrow. Haven't heard that name in YEARS! He was fantastic!

 

[hifidistortion]

If this is true, CC may be the one who could take the formula I thought of on the other post and run with it. I will take the post with a grain of salt as it is CC we're talking about. BTW, when 93.7 came on as Classic Hits/Rock, 107.5 didn't last much longer, and they were the better of the two, the flipped to Rocket 107.5 which became The Buzz. Now 107.5 has become the Classic Hits/Rock station and 93.7 is the one that is the better of the two. History is bound to repeat itself....

 

[fmtooner]

If this is true, CC may be the one who could take the formula I thought of on the other post and run with it. I will take the post with a grain of salt as it is CC we're talking about. BTW, when 93.7 came on as Classic Hits/Rock, 107.5 didn't last much longer, and they were the better of the two, the flipped to Rocket 107.5 which became The Buzz. Now 107.5 has become the Classic Hits/Rock station and 93.7 is the one that is the better of the two. History is bound to repeat itself....

107.5 didnt flip because of the arrow. the flip to alternative was in the works with fant for a while before that.

tooooonz

 

[andreajesus]

Something else to chew over from All Access - "ARBITRON's PPM Data for JUNE Week 1 shows a particularly unusual occurance in the Women 18-34 Demo. Right behind #8 CBS AC WWFS (FRESH FM) is Classic Hits WCBS-F's stream. It debuts at 9th in the demo's AQH persons with 7100, and a 0.4 AQH Rating% -- good for a tie for 5th."

So a balanced Classic Hits can work and can get the money demo(s). Houston is a different kettle of fish...

Nailed it with that last comment - you can't compare Houston with New York - the reason that WCBS-FM's stream is working is probably the SAME reason that WCBS-FM is working - it's the music mix, combined with the right blend of personalities - plus the fact that CBS-FM's air personalities have frequently plugged the website...

 

[PapillionWyngs]

Something else to chew over from All Access - "ARBITRON's PPM Data for JUNE Week 1 shows a particularly unusual occurance in the Women 18-34 Demo. Right behind #8 CBS AC WWFS (FRESH FM) is Classic Hits WCBS-F's stream. It debuts at 9th in the demo's AQH persons with 7100, and a 0.4 AQH Rating% -- good for a tie for 5th."

So a balanced Classic Hits can work and can get the money demo(s). Houston is a different kettle of fish...

Nailed it with that last comment - you can't compare Houston with New York - the reason that WCBS-FM's stream is working is probably the SAME reason that WCBS-FM is working - it's the music mix, combined with the right blend of personalities - plus the fact that CBS-FM's air personalities have frequently plugged the website...

But does all that matter when there is NO station like that in Houston, and we have a NEED for one???????????
?????????

 

[bigtom101]

Something else to chew over from All Access - "ARBITRON's PPM Data for JUNE Week 1 shows a particularly unusual occurance in the Women 18-34 Demo. Right behind #8 CBS AC WWFS (FRESH FM) is Classic Hits WCBS-F's stream. It debuts at 9th in the demo's AQH persons with 7100, and a 0.4 AQH Rating% -- good for a tie for 5th."

So a balanced Classic Hits can work and can get the money demo(s). Houston is a different kettle of fish...

Nailed it with that last comment - you can't compare Houston with New York - the reason that WCBS-FM's stream is working is probably the SAME reason that WCBS-FM is working - it's the music mix, combined with the right blend of personalities - plus the fact that CBS-FM's air personalities have frequently plugged the website...

But does all that matter when there is NO station like that in Houston, and we have a NEED for one???????????
?????????

If it could work in NY, it could work in Houston - just have the right music and personality mix for Houston. CBS-FM in NY is a special example because, well, its CBS-FM. But with there being 2 classic rock stations, a classic hits station could work in Houston and bring home the dollars. I don't think it would be a smashing success like CBS-FM, but it certainly could pull decent numbers. Just keep it 70's Top 40/CHR focused with a few evergreen 64-69 songs, and 80's pop hits that fit in with the same sound.

 

[mr.ric]

Just thought of something: didnt clear channel have an oldies station before, at am790, or was that an oldies station before they purchased it??

 

[its time w (your name)]

Just thought of something: didnt clear channel have an oldies station before, at am790, or was that an oldies station before they purchased it??

It was Unforgettable KBME. But it wasnt Fun Oldies, it was more plastic-covering-over-your-grandma's-furniture-oldies. It was smell-of-mothballs-and-prune-juice Oldies. It was those big nasty green, white, & red gumdrops which all taste wierdly mediciney in the big jar on granny's living coffee table Oldies. If their Oldies came in a container, they would say M-T-W-T-F-S-S...

but actual old people really dug that station.

But does all that matter when there is NO station like that in Houston, and we have a NEED for one????????????????????

You know, its like being in Denver and saying, "Well, this isnt San Francisco, so we should not dig up that gold." We're sitting on a goldmine here.

I keep hearing this argument from suits and other d-bags that "advertisers want younger demos." The sad truth is, younger demos arent really that into FM radio anymore. Advertisers wanting younger demos need to find their way into Ipods, twittering, facebook and all that crap.

If it could work in NY, it could work in Houston - exhibit A--just have the right music and personality mix for Houston. CBS-FM in NY is a special example because, well, its CBS-FM. But with there being 2 classic rock stations, a classic hits station could work in Houston and bring home the dollars. I don't think it would be a smashing success like CBS-FM...

It could. See exhibit A--just have the right music and personality mix . . .

 

[aunti-terrestrial]

Just thought of something: didnt clear channel have an oldies station before, at am790, or was that an oldies station before they purchased it??

It was Unforgettable KBME. But it wasnt Fun Oldies, it was more plastic-covering-over-your-grandma's-furniture-oldies. It was smell-of-mothballs-and-prune-juice Oldies. It was those big nasty green, white, & red gumdrops which all taste wierdly mediciney in the big jar on granny's living coffee table Oldies. If their Oldies came in a container, they would say M-T-W-T-F-S-S...

but actual old people really dug that station.

I'll never understand humor that can't exist without insulting someone else. I thought KBME was extremely well-executed for its format, for the most part.

 

[aunti-terrestrial]

Anyway, back to the topic: Premium Choice offers a wide variety of national programming in the oldies format. I think CC Holdings would probably put on 24 hours of farm noises if they thought there was a way to bill over the percentage needed to reduce debt, even if all revenue had to come in the form of national buys.

I don't think the new-hire salary scale is quite what it was in the past, nor do I think that doing a morning show or an afternoon feature necessarily means you're a fulltime employee with medical benefits and a company phone. Given that, and only speculating, it's entirely plausible that there may be plans in the works to record a favorite local legend or two for a couple of features throughout the day and eliminate most if not all other daily expenses via the national implementation of Premium Choice programming. I'm just saying, I really wouldn't rule anything out. $22 billion is a lot of debt, and private equity groups, by nature, aren't in it for the listeners.

 

[PapillionWyngs]

Anyway, back to the topic: Premium Choice offers a wide variety of national programming in the oldies format. I think CC Holdings would probably put on 24 hours of farm noises if they thought there was a way to bill over the percentage needed to reduce debt, even if all revenue had to come in the form of national buys.

I don't think the new-hire salary scale is quite what it was in the past, nor do I think that doing a morning show or an afternoon feature necessarily means you're a fulltime employee with medical benefits and a company phone. Given that, and only speculating, it's entirely plausible that there may be plans in the works to record a favorite local legend or two for a couple of features throughout the day and eliminate most if not all other daily expenses via the national implementation of Premium Choice programming. I'm just saying, I really wouldn't rule anything out. $22 billion is a lot of debt, and private equity groups, by nature, aren't in it for the listeners.

So, in other words, "you know something we don't know!"

 

[its time w (your name)]

Just thought of something: didnt clear channel have an oldies station before, at am790, or was that an oldies station before they purchased it??

It was Unforgettable KBME. But it wasnt Fun Oldies, it was more plastic-covering-over-your-grandma's-furniture-oldies. It was smell-of-mothballs-and-prune-juice Oldies. It was those big nasty green, white, & red gumdrops which all taste wierdly mediciney in the big jar on granny's living coffee table Oldies. If their Oldies came in a container, they would say M-T-W-T-F-S-S...

but actual old people really dug that station.

I'll never understand humor that can't exist without insulting someone else. I thought KBME was extremely well-executed for its format, for the most part.

What? You're serious? C'mon, I did some generic old jokes, no bile meant. really. I did work with them, you know. They were great.

And you're completely right--- they were very well executed, very well suited to their demo, spoke directly to their listeners, had a fantastic library, and iconic personalities--- like Scott Arthur and Paul Berlin. Stupid jokes aside, which I didnt mean to be taken seriously, Unforgettable KBME was a outstanding station. And I stand by my statement that old people REALLY dug them. We need to rethink old people. Old people are a huge, growing, financially powerful, and loyal demo--- not only that, but they have the least interest in all the latest hip-hip-happening tech, so you dont lose them to every fickle little fad. Its Bull**** that we dont serve them anymore.

I also completely agree with you that humor should exist that doesnt insult others. I cant promise I'll be PC all the time, but I'll put your comments in my pipe and smoke them a bit.

KBME rocked--- agreed.

 

[aunti-terrestrial]

Anyway, back to the topic: Premium Choice offers a wide variety of national programming in the oldies format. I think CC Holdings would probably put on 24 hours of farm noises if they thought there was a way to bill over the percentage needed to reduce debt, even if all revenue had to come in the form of national buys.

I don't think the new-hire salary scale is quite what it was in the past, nor do I think that doing a morning show or an afternoon feature necessarily means you're a fulltime employee with medical benefits and a company phone. Given that, and only speculating, it's entirely plausible that there may be plans in the works to record a favorite local legend or two for a couple of features throughout the day and eliminate most if not all other daily expenses via the national implementation of Premium Choice programming. I'm just saying, I really wouldn't rule anything out. $22 billion is a lot of debt, and private equity groups, by nature, aren't in it for the listeners.

So, in other words, "you know something we don't know!"

Nope. I tend to type exactly what I mean. See bold text above.