The Better Question: Why doesn't Alternative work in PHX?

[lpAZ]

Demographics in Phoenix are perfect for an Alternative station to thrive here. The median age here is 33 years old, 73% white, mostly affluent, ASU brings thousands of kids...why doesn't it work?

 

[Shoot From Hip]

College kids rarely get Arbitron diaries...particularly away from their permanent address. Current methodology requires you to have a landline, which most college kids don't; that changes under PPM. Because it's more difficult to get young men to participate, ALT numbers tend not to be a perfect reflection on the marketplace. But if I've stated this incorrectly, I'm sure someone will jump in with better information.

 

[hotpatrick2004]

If done right it will work. Look at riviera prime example how not to do it so just do the opposite and its all good. If the zone had stuck it out they would be doing pretty well now. I liked there hot ac/alt approach several years ago and the edge was sounding good for a while had some good numbers till riviera got there hands on them. I wonder if riviera is trying to push the edge over the edge lol stay tuned

 

[Devryn]

The Zone was the best radio station in Phoenix period. They really opened my ears to alternative music. Honestly, before I listened to the Zone I didn't even know what genre I really liked. My radio never left the Zone when I lived over in Glendale while I was stationed at Luke. They always seemed to have the new stuff before anyone else, and they played just enough of the classic stuff that it wasn't annoying. With Greg Paul, Chuck Powell, Collin Boyd, eventually Dave Pratt...They just couldn't be beat. The ONLY reason I listened to The Edge was Chuck Powell. God knows their music variety is TERRIBLE. Seriously...What was their obsession with the 90s AND how many times do I have to listen to "What I've Done" by Linkin Park? It's KUPD for me, until a better alternative comes around.

Screw it...Maybe I'll just go get XM again...The Squizz was a pretty awesome channel. It's really too bad that XMs audio fidelity is AWEFUL.

 

[landtuna]

Don't take personal offense to this but.....just maybe there aren't as many brain-dead people in Phx as the median age of 33 would suggest.

 

[sandiegoinexile]

Alternative is dying all over the USA. KZON of the mid-90s was so-so, but even then it was about 6-9 months behind 91X in San Diego or KROQ in LA. The Bone Mama and Leah's Late Night Drive Thru added some personality to the station. By the late 90s, they were playing a steady diet of recurrent hits and it was hardly groundbreaking ("Hey, here's another song by the Red Hot Chili Peppers"). Gag.

AZ hasn't been a hotbed of alternative in ages. Unless you live near ASU or get stuck in traffic on the 202 on one of the 6 days a year there is an ASU football game, you wouldn't have a clue there is a college in town. All the 20somethings I see (anglo/latino/a-a) are blasting hiphop.

"Alternative" as a genre has to reinvent itself. Star987 in LA has morphed from AC to Modern AC to Alternative-ish, with decent results, retaining its largely female base. San Diego is still a decent hotbed, with FM949 (and its nightly "Big Sonic Chill"), KPRI (and its weekly "Acoustic Sundays") and granddaddy 91X.

That said, maybe its the influx of "folks from all over" arriving in transient AZ. Or just poor execution and promotion. Most likely, its the lack of a powerhouse alt-rock band or two to drive the format.

 

[Ford]

The Zone was the best radio station in Phoenix period. They really opened my ears to alternative music. Honestly, before I listened to the Zone I didn't even know what genre I really liked. My radio never left the Zone when I lived over in Glendale while I was stationed at Luke. They always seemed to have the new stuff before anyone else, and they played just enough of the classic stuff that it wasn't annoying. With Greg Paul, Chuck Powell, Collin Boyd, eventually Dave Pratt...They just couldn't be beat.

The funny thing is, the Zone during that time wasn't really an "alternative" station at all. They played very safe, mainstream "alternative" music, and despite the fact that they called themselves "alternative," they were musically very vanilla.

The difference was the personalities and the imaging of the station. Holmberg, Powell, Pratt, Greg Paul, and the "stuff in between the records" made that station what it was. And it was a monster. They could have played polka music, and the station would've been cool.

 

[KOHS]

The Zone was the best radio station in Phoenix period. They really opened my ears to alternative music. Honestly, before I listened to the Zone I didn't even know what genre I really liked. My radio never left the Zone when I lived over in Glendale while I was stationed at Luke. They always seemed to have the new stuff before anyone else, and they played just enough of the classic stuff that it wasn't annoying. With Greg Paul, Chuck Powell, Collin Boyd, eventually Dave Pratt...They just couldn't be beat.

The funny thing is, the Zone during that time wasn't really an "alternative" station at all. They played very safe, mainstream "alternative" music, and despite the fact that they called themselves "alternative," they were musically very vanilla.

The difference was the personalities and the imaging of the station. Holmberg, Powell, Pratt, Greg Paul, and the "stuff in between the records" made that station what it was. And it was a monster. They could have played polka music, and the station would've been cool.

To think that Holmberg went from making silly announcements on the PA at Westwood High School in Mesa, to making silly announcements on KUPD in Guadalupe! ;D Good times, good times!! 8)

 

[Jay F]

Phoenix isn't unusual, alternative is doing poorly just about everywhere. It hasn't been a hot format in over a decade,

 

[hotpatrick2004]

But if it is doing so poorly and it is in some markets then why has cleaar channel been flipping some station to there radio 104.5 in philly and radio 106.7 in columbus? Can.t be doing that badly overall. cincinnati has 94.9 the sound and they are doing really well as an mostly alt with a bit of triple a thrown. I feel the edge especially under riviera just lost there way With no nancy and young marc guiding the ship

 

[always sunny]

it doesnt work cuz kedj is a half station/brand/signal. too bad. ppm shows alt gains everywhere else. won't happen heAR in phx

 

[barman]

ppm shows alt gains everywhere else. won't happen heAR in phx

Everywhere else? I thought PPM was only in Philly and Houston (???)

 

[always sunny]

chicago, LA too.