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VALLEY RADIO NEEDS AN OVERHAUL ASAP!! - Nevermind, I've given up
- Thread starter 2Son
- Start date
But each listener picks the one that plays the most songs they like. And since the CHR-Hot AC-AC spectrum reflects different core ages, the strategy works.
But neither covers the area the other one does. So they are complimentary, and make two bad signals into one reasonably competitive station.
My bad. They did change calls, but I will continue calling it KZON for a while.
But two lower rated stations will sell less than one mid-range rated station combo. Stations are bought from the top down, and by the time you get very far down, transactional buys do not include you.
But the billings do.
It was 101.5 that changed. 103.9 use to be KEXX but I believe they grabbed 101.5's old calls
BTW I have ALWAYS been able to pick up 103.9 and 97.5 equally fine all over the east valley
Keep in mind that two-thirds of listening is not in the car. While you may be able to get both signals well in a car, indoors at work or at home the laws of physics show that you really need about 65 dbu or over to get any real listening.
More total people listen in the car than anywhere else, but as far as AQH listening, and as I just said, about two-thirds takes place in the home or at work.
While many people listen in the car, they don't listen for long times... just the duration of a trip. At work or at home listening tends to be for more total time.
Another factor is that people generally develop preferences for stations that they can use at home, at work and in the car. If a station is not available in all locations, then they may develop the habit of relying on a station with full coverage.
Not trying to argue with ya, but even my folks don't put the radio on anymore when they are home (I use them as the example because they are old). I sure don't, and can't name anybody I know that does. Perhaps at work where employees are not allowed to stream music, but I think it's pretty clear the good ole days where people 'put on some good weekend music from the radio' are Over. Before technology, yes it was a great outlet, and I have awesome memories where the radio educated and created those great experiences. Perhaps that is why I seem bitter, and wish there could be even a shadow of that. Yet I also know I am older now, and not in the "target" audience, in addition to the new ways of the system. OK I'm rambling now, but I think someone here can somewhat see my point instead of constantly picking apart small details and defending the way things are?
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One thing interesting about the ratings that are made public is that it is what you have to pay for is what really matters. For example, a station could be number 20 overall and appear to be doing poorly yet they might be one of the top stations in a certain demographic that is important to advertisers. For example, you might be #20 in 6+ numbers but #2 in males 35 to 44.
There is lots of truth in 'it's what they don't play'. Two similar sounding stations to the average listener might be reaching entirely different targets for listeners. Because music is selected based on how many in a certain demographic like a certain song, that song might also work well within a few age groups, male and female. When you look at a couple of stations and compare, the differences might seem minor, but it is how the music is arranged, presented and more importantly, what is not played by one of the two stations. At one point in top 40 radio perhaps 60% of the currents were shared by the adult contemporary format. In essence, it was simply the elimination of the harder edged songs and the delivery or image the station went for that really distinguished the stations between top 40 and adult contemporary.
I suspect among the four 'top 40' stations you can hear a distinctive difference if you paid close attention to a sample hour and how the station tried to image itself.
For example, I worked a market with three top 40 stations. One played more oldies in their mix, skewing older. One was straight top 40. We were rock leaning top 40. Even so, we all shared many of the same songs but the way we presented it was different. Ironically, we all did well and the station I worked for usually ended up on top since there was a big university in town and the lack of a rocker on the radio dial made our station the preference among rockers although they were quick to complain we were too tame for their tastes. We were simply in a market where a station going rock would be less successful than a top 40 leaning rock station and the result was the rockers listened anyway.
There is lots of truth in 'it's what they don't play'. Two similar sounding stations to the average listener might be reaching entirely different targets for listeners. Because music is selected based on how many in a certain demographic like a certain song, that song might also work well within a few age groups, male and female. When you look at a couple of stations and compare, the differences might seem minor, but it is how the music is arranged, presented and more importantly, what is not played by one of the two stations. At one point in top 40 radio perhaps 60% of the currents were shared by the adult contemporary format. In essence, it was simply the elimination of the harder edged songs and the delivery or image the station went for that really distinguished the stations between top 40 and adult contemporary.
I suspect among the four 'top 40' stations you can hear a distinctive difference if you paid close attention to a sample hour and how the station tried to image itself.
For example, I worked a market with three top 40 stations. One played more oldies in their mix, skewing older. One was straight top 40. We were rock leaning top 40. Even so, we all shared many of the same songs but the way we presented it was different. Ironically, we all did well and the station I worked for usually ended up on top since there was a big university in town and the lack of a rocker on the radio dial made our station the preference among rockers although they were quick to complain we were too tame for their tastes. We were simply in a market where a station going rock would be less successful than a top 40 leaning rock station and the result was the rockers listened anyway.
How many poor black or Hispanic people do you know?
I get your point DJ Perry. I can't say why that is the case today. I simply have to guess.
My parents have no use for radio either as they too are older. Simply put, they don't like what is on the radio.
As for listening at long stretches of time at home, I can't say. I think it might be a combination of things: more radio stations of the dial have made switching stations more of an option because of more choices. Fewer choices and you'll tolerate more because your options are simply just not as good. More dial switching has made station try harder at grabbing listeners from other stations when they play a song, say 70% of their audience likes. The world has certainly changed on us and with that we have changed as well. At one point if it wasn't top 40 or rock, I wasn't interested but now I like much more music and will even take a listen to talk radio here and there. I am more spoiled for sure. I would put up with a song I didn't like years ago because I'd like the next one but now I change the dial. I'm not sure that the reason I don't spend long stretches, say on weekends, listening to a station is because of the offerings or a different lifestyle. I can't even say for myself. If radio 'ran me off' I cannot say. It might have had more to do with being a jock for years and simply associating lots of songs with work.
My parents have no use for radio either as they too are older. Simply put, they don't like what is on the radio.
As for listening at long stretches of time at home, I can't say. I think it might be a combination of things: more radio stations of the dial have made switching stations more of an option because of more choices. Fewer choices and you'll tolerate more because your options are simply just not as good. More dial switching has made station try harder at grabbing listeners from other stations when they play a song, say 70% of their audience likes. The world has certainly changed on us and with that we have changed as well. At one point if it wasn't top 40 or rock, I wasn't interested but now I like much more music and will even take a listen to talk radio here and there. I am more spoiled for sure. I would put up with a song I didn't like years ago because I'd like the next one but now I change the dial. I'm not sure that the reason I don't spend long stretches, say on weekends, listening to a station is because of the offerings or a different lifestyle. I can't even say for myself. If radio 'ran me off' I cannot say. It might have had more to do with being a jock for years and simply associating lots of songs with work.
I guess that is the winning formula! The winning stations target low income, non white listeners which must make the sponsors very happy too, Got it!
That is not true. Radio performs well across all groups, but Blacks and Hispanics overperform, as they always have going back many decades.
Radio does not target folks over 55 because there is no ad revenue being placed against senior demos.
You are using your own world to form conclusions about "everyone". The evidence is in the ratings. The PPM shows 30% of listening taking place at home. In the diary, we see that the away from home listening is pretty evenly divided between car and work.
Facts vs. assumptions.
Not really...just pointing out how limited your scope of people is. The people you know probably share your views and experience. That's a biased view.
They have emoticons for that you know.
Back in the early 90's while driving to work one morning, I was stopped at the
intersection of 7th Street and Greenway. Driving my 1990 red Mustang GT, I
saw someone holding some kind of device. The guy would point the device at
the various cars stopped for the red light. When he approached my car, he
motioned for me to roll down my window. When I did, he asked me what radio
station I was listening to. I told him KAHM, 102.1 Fm. He looked at some
paperwork and told me that station was not on his list. He asked me what kind
of music and I told him "easy listening." He laughed and said the car and the
music didn't go together very well. I told him it was what I grew up with and
was used to hearing all my young life. Then as now, anyone can skew data
to represent whatever they wish it to. Case in point, my station got under
represented that day because someone didn't want to record factual information.
Oh yes, I just turned 54 recently..........
intersection of 7th Street and Greenway. Driving my 1990 red Mustang GT, I
saw someone holding some kind of device. The guy would point the device at
the various cars stopped for the red light. When he approached my car, he
motioned for me to roll down my window. When I did, he asked me what radio
station I was listening to. I told him KAHM, 102.1 Fm. He looked at some
paperwork and told me that station was not on his list. He asked me what kind
of music and I told him "easy listening." He laughed and said the car and the
music didn't go together very well. I told him it was what I grew up with and
was used to hearing all my young life. Then as now, anyone can skew data
to represent whatever they wish it to. Case in point, my station got under
represented that day because someone didn't want to record factual information.
Oh yes, I just turned 54 recently..........
sounds like that device might have been Mobile track If I recall correctly, pretty sure they don't use that anymore, but it was still around in mid 2K's.
Speaking of devices, I keep seeing how there is proof to back up the habits of radio. And I realize I might be crucified by some here for questioning this, but if there are 4 million people in the valley, and 1300 PPM devices (was told from a source), that means every person with a device reps 3000 people? So that should give you an idea of how fictitious the data is. Of those 1300 people with devices, there may be only a few of those that know of a smaller station. But that shouldn't mean they have crap ratings just because that small group didn't favor it. Also, when the device holders are in the office, or the bus, dentist, whatever...they are forced to reflect what they wouldn't normally choose. That obviously explains why stations like KEZ or Mix always win. Does not mean they have the best content, it just happens to be the safe choice of bosses.
Speaking of devices, I keep seeing how there is proof to back up the habits of radio. And I realize I might be crucified by some here for questioning this, but if there are 4 million people in the valley, and 1300 PPM devices (was told from a source), that means every person with a device reps 3000 people? So that should give you an idea of how fictitious the data is. Of those 1300 people with devices, there may be only a few of those that know of a smaller station. But that shouldn't mean they have crap ratings just because that small group didn't favor it. Also, when the device holders are in the office, or the bus, dentist, whatever...they are forced to reflect what they wouldn't normally choose. That obviously explains why stations like KEZ or Mix always win. Does not mean they have the best content, it just happens to be the safe choice of bosses.
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This sounds like an early implementation of MobilTrak, which read the IF of FM radios to determine what station was tuned in. It did not measure AM at all.
When they tried to roll out the system, it was passively mounted along roads, with no human intervention. Few stations subscribed, and advertisers did not pay much attention. They ended up renting units to high traffic retail locations so that the most listened to stations around the location could be reported.
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