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The Zone Returns To Phoenix

If you're using KINK in Portland as a baseline, I wouldn't. That's an AAA with a very tight playlist (though I do like the fact they're personality-driven--which an AI-powered station can't do--and they have good personalities). It's too early to tell what the playlist will be set at.
I wish there was a way for KWSS to find a way off the LPFM signal to something better. It's a station with a weak signal that I go out of my way to listen to when I'm in the valley. It's so well run, a true alternative leaning music discovery AAA, with a great curated playlist.

KWSS is doing something right....they have been around going on 20 years now!
 
If you're using KINK in Portland as a baseline, I wouldn't. That's an AAA with a very tight playlist (though I do like the fact they're personality-driven--which an AI-powered station can't do--and they have good personalities). It's too early to tell what the playlist will be set at.

I'm generally a fan of the AAA format and I think KINK is the canonical example of the format in a commercial, modern form. As you point out the playlist is tight, good personality driven elements and the station's character fits the market very very well.
 
My guess is, a lot of, if not all, voicetracked. As one of the sweepers says "94.9 The Zone. AI advanced, human crafted".
I checked the website. The are known names listed as talent.

Dennis Constantine - M-Sun Mornings
Nicole Sandler M-Sun 10-3
Kevin Malvey M-Sun 3-8
Sean Martin M-Sun Evenings

 
Meh...this will get a 0.1 share at the most. The AAA playlist is mediocre at best. It might find 3 or 4 listeners in Tempe-Chandler-Mesa....good luck to them.

The ratings dont matter too much as long as they can sell it. and i know some smaller signals that dont get much or any ratings, but if they keep expenses low and build up local direct B2B clients, it can do well $$ wise
 
Do the station's owner's know that Spotify, etc., just kicked A.I. off their content? This is a serious "read the room" moment. Not the smartest strategy to BRAG about their A.I.
Joel Denver's having a generational run at destroying his reputation this decade. First was deranged political rants on AllAccess' social media accounts, then shutting AllAccess down with no warning and screwing over his employees, and now he is head of an AI company and trying to eliminate the remaining jobs and careers in radio in the process.
 
As it was explained to me, Wow Factor reaches the retirement communities in the west Valley and will remain there (and shouldn't see much audience loss). 94.9 gives the younger/eastern parts of the market a more sellable format reaching Scottsdale, Tempe, Mesa etc. Goal is to be able to offer this in sales combos with Hot and/or Power.
I agree with this analysis. Also, keep in mind where else Wow's signal goes. From its perch near Crown King, you can hear the signal clearly through Prescot, throughout most of the Verde Valley, Sedona, and even to the southern outskirts of Flagstaff. The signal also makes it (using a radio with good distance reception) into Payson, Pine, and Strawberry. These are certainly places nowhere near as large as the Phoenix market but which do have a lot of older and retired folks living there.

My only real concern about Wow is the lack of advertisements on the station. As I pointed out in another thread, Hubbard's KAZG, which serves the market through a weak 1440 and a not-so-great translator at 92.7 mHz, still manages to have commercials even during the 2am hour when Wow doesn't have them. And KAZG skews older than Wow (no tracks released beyond 1979 are currently played there). As I also noted on that thread, I suspect that Hubbard is piggybacking KAZG as part of its combo to ad agencies that include three of the top-rated FM stations in the market: KSLX, KDKB, and KUPD.
 
My only real concern about Wow is the lack of advertisements on the station.

Which is why the owner is doing this. We've been talking here about the lack of advertising on this station for years, even when it was a Top 5 station. Meanwhile the top revenue producer in the cluster has a 1 share.
 
I agree with this analysis. Also, keep in mind where else Wow's signal goes. From its perch near Crown King, you can hear the signal clearly through Prescot, throughout most of the Verde Valley, Sedona, and even to the southern outskirts of Flagstaff. The signal also makes it (using a radio with good distance reception) into Payson, Pine, and Strawberry. These are certainly places nowhere near as large as the Phoenix market but which do have a lot of older and retired folks living there.
Some of the Bradshaw rimshots make it to Pinetop-Lakeside too.

My only real concern about Wow is the lack of advertisements on the station. As I pointed out in another thread, Hubbard's KAZG, which serves the market through a weak 1440 and a not-so-great translator at 92.7 mHz, still manages to have commercials even during the 2am hour when Wow doesn't have them. And KAZG skews older than Wow (no tracks released beyond 1979 are currently played there). As I also noted on that thread, I suspect that Hubbard is piggybacking KAZG as part of its combo to ad agencies that include three of the top-rated FM stations in the market: KSLX, KDKB, and KUPD.
Hubbard is known for adding their lower rated stations in their ad buys for their big billers. That's why you hear a lot of what sounds like legitimate accounts on KDUS.
 
My only real concern about Wow is the lack of advertisements on the station. As I pointed out in another thread, Hubbard's KAZG, which serves the market through a weak 1440 and a not-so-great translator at 92.7 mHz, still manages to have commercials even during the 2am hour when Wow doesn't have them.
Lots of stations "bonus" advertisers with late night and overnight spots. It does not mean they are paid for.
And KAZG skews older than Wow (no tracks released beyond 1979 are currently played there). As I also noted on that thread, I suspect that Hubbard is piggybacking KAZG as part of its combo to ad agencies that include three of the top-rated FM stations in the market: KSLX, KDKB, and KUPD.
And that is a normal cluster strategy: buy three and get one free.
 


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