Whats up at KIOL?

[rageradio]

Been noticing music not normally played on a "rock" station. Over the last couple of days...during Outlaw Dave's show even.... I've heard Sledgehammer by Peter Gabriel and Hurt So Good by John Cougar. Seemed out of place if you ask me. Did KLOL ever play these songs? Kinda has a feel like 97 Rock did right before they flipped.

 

[purpledevil]

What's up at KIOL?
From the sounds of it, time.
Rest In Peace "Legend". Sorry we woke you from your peaceful slumber.

 

[dsadof]

Been noticing music not normally played on a "rock" station. Over the last couple of days...during Outlaw Dave's show even.... I've heard Sledgehammer by Peter Gabriel and Hurt So Good by John Cougar. Seemed out of place if you ask me. Did KLOL ever play these songs? Kinda has a feel like 97 Rock did right before they flipped.

Allow me to play the part of Houston Rock Radio Musical Historian. I also happened to be at KLOL when Peter Gabriel's SO album was released. The songs you mention were first played on rock stations around the country when they were released and eventually crossed over to Top 40. Those were the days when a rock station would establish a record as a hit and just as their audience was becoming burned out on it, the Top 40 stations would put it in heavy rotation and reap the benefits. SO was one of the biggest rock records of 1986. Other tracks that received airplay on rock stations, including KLOL, were "Red Rain", "In Your Eyes", "That Voice Again", and "Big Time". Even "Don't Give Up" (a duet with Kate Bush)
was played a few times. Back then, KLOL would occasionally and spontaneously play a "runaway album side" (the name referring to the Runaway Radio mascot) and I remember Dayna once spinning side one of the album.

 

[stan]

I'd say that time was up for KIOL, but I like the music they are playing now. Songs I haven't heard for awhile. None of this new crap.

 

[purpledevil]

Are you unable to pick up the Arrow where you are at, Stan?

I like the music, for the most part, as well. I just don't understand why they would be taking on the Arrow, for basically a 2.0 share of the market, when they could have moved more toward an active rock or AAA and really grab hold of a niche market. Both styles of rock are unavailable currently and would draw listeners away from The Arrow/Buzz. Classic rock, IMHO, was the wrong road for Cumulus to travel with this limited signal. You've got to attract listeners to the station, and this format doesn't do that. I was pleasantly surprised to hear that the "Hard Show" with Wendy Miller remained on Sunday night, even after the format tweak.

 

[stan]

Are you unable to pick up the Arrow where you are at, Stan?

Actually, yes. Sometimes it comes in but there is a lot of interference since they added HD2. 103.7 comes in a lot better.

 

[purpledevil]

I need to get out toward Beaumont more often. I thought that 93.7's signal would travel that far pretty consistently. In a case like that, maybe Cumulus should consider targeting The Golden Triangle with KIOL. They have finally gotten a station with a HOUSTON signal, and with the non-existent ratings that the KFNC/KIOL combo generate, send both signals back to the market that they came from. I'm sure folks in Beaumont wouldn't have many objections to reclaiming signals lost to Houston in the past few years.

 

[hifidistortion]

I would say Jack but with who-97.5 or 103.7? I sounds like natural progression and they could keep W and J with that format. Despite everyone else's opinions, I like them.

 

[jd]

Don't look for any of the Golden Triangle move-ins to "return home." It's just not going to happen.

In the case of KFNC and KIOL they're really in dire straits: the money isn't there in Beaumont-Port Arthur and the ratings (again, the $$$) aren't there in Houston. The stations that still call BPA home are slicing up a small pie when it comes to ad revenue ever since the local economy crashed, and 97.5 and 103.7 didn't catch on with Houston listeners. Any chance for them seeing any ratings success is about as likely the Golden Triangle experiencing an economic boom.

 

[Mediafrog+]

I need to get out toward Beaumont more often. I thought that 93.7's signal would travel that far pretty consistently.

Although not really evident on either the FCC or Radio-Locator coverage maps, KKRW has a flakey directional pattern (due to co-channel KLBJ-FM in Austin) that is somewhat supressed in a number of directions, including B/PA.

 

[Mediafrog+]

Don't look for any of the Golden Triangle move-ins to "return home." It's just not going to happen.

The economy of B/PA has never really recovered from the Oil Bust of the 1980's. It was about that time that stations there started contemplating their moves into the Houston market. There's simply a lack of ad $$$.

 

[stan]

Don't look for any of the Golden Triangle move-ins to "return home." It's just not going to happen.

The economy of B/PA has never really recovered from the Oil Bust of the 1980's. It was about that time that stations there started contemplating their moves into the Houston market. There's simply a lack of ad $$$.

Not so. With several LNG terminals being built and major refinery expansions (Port Arthur's Motiva facility will be the nation's largest) business is booming. Housing is in short supply due to hurricane Rita plus the influx of all the workers now arriving.

 

[kendro]

American Bridge and Bethlehem Steel were very large long term employers in that area.