DENVER There's lots of talk on the Denver board that Denver may get a full market CHR/Pop in the coming weeks. 107.1 One FM targets this market, but its signal runs into problems in some of the metro area's most densely populated areas, and its parent company is in financial distress. 92.5 FM may go CHR/Pop unless one of the market's two Hot AC's beat it to the punch.
SPOKANE Rhythmic CHR Wired 96.9 recently flipped to Country while Hot AC 92.9 ZZU has gone back to playing CHR/Pop at night (this used to be the market's longtime CHR). Chances are that KZZU will go fulltime CHR/Pop, or another stations flips to the format very soon.
BALTIMORE - Mix 106.5 still can't make up its mind as to whether it wants to be a Hot AC or CHR/Pop,
With CC's recent acquisitions of several Baltimore properties Baltimore may get a full blown CHR in the coming days/weeks with Kane piped in from Hot 99.5 DC, and Ryan Seacrest in afternoons.
Most likely stations to flip to CHR: Channel 104.3, WJZ FM 105.7, 100.7 The Bay, or even 102.7 Jack FM.
FRESNO A few years ago this market was enjoying the sounds of Y-101, which was programmed very similarly to nearby 107.9 The End Sacramento, and 95.1 KHOP Modesto-Stockton. Then last year there was Visalia-based Power 106, which ironically enough was modeled after another L.A. station - KIIS-FM. Will Fresno be getting a full market CHR/Pop in 2009? Y-101's ratings as an AC aren't all that great, New Jack 105.9's ratings have seen a significant drop, and there's also Big Country 102.7 - a 50,000 watts Country station with barely a 2 share.
OXNARD-VENTURA One of L.A.'s shadow markets has been long overdue for a CHR/Pop outlet. Currently there are two stations that lean CHR: Adult CHR Live 105.5 bills itself as Todays Hit Music, and plays some Rhythmic/Pop, and Cumulus-owned 103.3 The Vibe which recently started playing both Pink and Katy Perry. The Vibe's signal is so powerful that it also covers the entire Santa Barbara market, and most of the San Luis Obispo market (where Wild 106.1 recently went CHR/Pop).
NORFOLK - Perhaps it's time to launch a CHR/Pop on a full-market signal, as opposed to the attempts made at 106.1 in recent years. Then again, 106.1 (currently doing Country) will be upping its power significantly once it gets FCC approval.
Rock station 100.5 Max FM would have been the other main candidate, but they're owned by Max Media who may be interested in doing Rock no matter what.
SAN FRANCISCO-SAN JOSE You knew we had to bring this market up. There was a time when San Jose had its own CHR/Pop stations in addition to being able to pick up several San Francisco-based ones. Those times are long gone, but there should at least be one CHR/Pop in each market, or one that covers both of them. Currently only Fremont's non-commercial 89.3 KOHL is doing CHR/Pop with Wild 94.9 constantly contemplating moving in that direction. Most likely candidate is Movin 99.7. Also, anyone whose been following Alice 97.3's numbers will notice they've slide to just above the 1 share, and Alice's signal reaches all the way to the Santa Rosa market (where Y-100.9 is the CHR/Pop station). KFRC 106.9 has a similar signal, and its ratings are also dismal. Finally, with Smooth Jazz as a format on its way out could 103.7 KKSF be an option?
EL PASO A few years ago 104.3 Hit FM was doing CHR/Pop, and doing pretty well ratings-wise. It wasnt seeing the kind of monster ratings as the market's heritage Rhythmic, Power 102, so it decided to go head to head in the Rhythmic arena. This now leave Adult CHR 93.1 Kiss FM as the closest thing to CHR/Pop in this market. Will Hit FM or Kiss FM go full-on CHR/Pop in 2009? Will one of the Spanish stations flip to CHR instead?
MONTERREY-SALINAS This market had a Modern Rocker go edgy CHR for a while last year (Hip Hop and Modern Rock) somewhat reminiscent of MTV in the 90s. Other then that they havent seen a CHR/Pop here probably as long as Oxnard-Ventura.
KEXA 93.9 is in the process of getting the FCC go-ahead to significantly increase its signal. 95.5 Hank FM has also been receiving some very poor ratings, and then there's Z-97.9 - a Rhythmi station with ratings that will never come close to those of rival 102.5 K-Don.
There's also several Spanish-speaking stations that could see a potential flip.
BAKERSFIELD Another Cali market that hasnt seen a real CHR/Pop station in ages though Adult CHR Kelly 95.3 appears to be headed in that direction. AC 97.7 KAMJ and Pirate Radio 93.1 (an Adult Hits station) also shouldnt be ruled out.
Markets that may get a second CHR could include both L.A. and Detroit. 102.7 KIIS-FM's ratings under the new PPM make it a target. Channel 95-5 Detoit leans heavily Rhythmic, which leaves a hole for a more balanced CHR/Pop station. If that happens though you can be sure WKQI will react accordingly (same is true for KIIS-FM).
SPOKANE Rhythmic CHR Wired 96.9 recently flipped to Country while Hot AC 92.9 ZZU has gone back to playing CHR/Pop at night (this used to be the market's longtime CHR). Chances are that KZZU will go fulltime CHR/Pop, or another stations flips to the format very soon.
BALTIMORE - Mix 106.5 still can't make up its mind as to whether it wants to be a Hot AC or CHR/Pop,
With CC's recent acquisitions of several Baltimore properties Baltimore may get a full blown CHR in the coming days/weeks with Kane piped in from Hot 99.5 DC, and Ryan Seacrest in afternoons.
Most likely stations to flip to CHR: Channel 104.3, WJZ FM 105.7, 100.7 The Bay, or even 102.7 Jack FM.
FRESNO A few years ago this market was enjoying the sounds of Y-101, which was programmed very similarly to nearby 107.9 The End Sacramento, and 95.1 KHOP Modesto-Stockton. Then last year there was Visalia-based Power 106, which ironically enough was modeled after another L.A. station - KIIS-FM. Will Fresno be getting a full market CHR/Pop in 2009? Y-101's ratings as an AC aren't all that great, New Jack 105.9's ratings have seen a significant drop, and there's also Big Country 102.7 - a 50,000 watts Country station with barely a 2 share.
OXNARD-VENTURA One of L.A.'s shadow markets has been long overdue for a CHR/Pop outlet. Currently there are two stations that lean CHR: Adult CHR Live 105.5 bills itself as Todays Hit Music, and plays some Rhythmic/Pop, and Cumulus-owned 103.3 The Vibe which recently started playing both Pink and Katy Perry. The Vibe's signal is so powerful that it also covers the entire Santa Barbara market, and most of the San Luis Obispo market (where Wild 106.1 recently went CHR/Pop).
NORFOLK - Perhaps it's time to launch a CHR/Pop on a full-market signal, as opposed to the attempts made at 106.1 in recent years. Then again, 106.1 (currently doing Country) will be upping its power significantly once it gets FCC approval.
Rock station 100.5 Max FM would have been the other main candidate, but they're owned by Max Media who may be interested in doing Rock no matter what.
SAN FRANCISCO-SAN JOSE You knew we had to bring this market up. There was a time when San Jose had its own CHR/Pop stations in addition to being able to pick up several San Francisco-based ones. Those times are long gone, but there should at least be one CHR/Pop in each market, or one that covers both of them. Currently only Fremont's non-commercial 89.3 KOHL is doing CHR/Pop with Wild 94.9 constantly contemplating moving in that direction. Most likely candidate is Movin 99.7. Also, anyone whose been following Alice 97.3's numbers will notice they've slide to just above the 1 share, and Alice's signal reaches all the way to the Santa Rosa market (where Y-100.9 is the CHR/Pop station). KFRC 106.9 has a similar signal, and its ratings are also dismal. Finally, with Smooth Jazz as a format on its way out could 103.7 KKSF be an option?
EL PASO A few years ago 104.3 Hit FM was doing CHR/Pop, and doing pretty well ratings-wise. It wasnt seeing the kind of monster ratings as the market's heritage Rhythmic, Power 102, so it decided to go head to head in the Rhythmic arena. This now leave Adult CHR 93.1 Kiss FM as the closest thing to CHR/Pop in this market. Will Hit FM or Kiss FM go full-on CHR/Pop in 2009? Will one of the Spanish stations flip to CHR instead?
MONTERREY-SALINAS This market had a Modern Rocker go edgy CHR for a while last year (Hip Hop and Modern Rock) somewhat reminiscent of MTV in the 90s. Other then that they havent seen a CHR/Pop here probably as long as Oxnard-Ventura.
KEXA 93.9 is in the process of getting the FCC go-ahead to significantly increase its signal. 95.5 Hank FM has also been receiving some very poor ratings, and then there's Z-97.9 - a Rhythmi station with ratings that will never come close to those of rival 102.5 K-Don.
There's also several Spanish-speaking stations that could see a potential flip.
BAKERSFIELD Another Cali market that hasnt seen a real CHR/Pop station in ages though Adult CHR Kelly 95.3 appears to be headed in that direction. AC 97.7 KAMJ and Pirate Radio 93.1 (an Adult Hits station) also shouldnt be ruled out.
Markets that may get a second CHR could include both L.A. and Detroit. 102.7 KIIS-FM's ratings under the new PPM make it a target. Channel 95-5 Detoit leans heavily Rhythmic, which leaves a hole for a more balanced CHR/Pop station. If that happens though you can be sure WKQI will react accordingly (same is true for KIIS-FM).
