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Why doesn't Phoenix have an Urban AC station?

P

pumpin

I used to live in Phoenix (glad I don't now) and was wondering why doesn't Phoenix have an Urban AC station in the market?
To me Mega 104.3/99.3 ISN'T an Urban AC, especially when they are rotating songs from The Cover Girls and Stevie B.
I have written Emmis, Radio One, Clear Channel and Infinity (now CBS radio) and no one wants to touch it.
When I lived in Phoenix, I felt if you were African-American, you really didn't have a whole lot of options. All you would hear is Hip-Hop/Rap and not ANY new Urban like: Faith Evans, Alicia Keys, Charlie Wilson, Fantasia, etc. The only thing remotely close for black adults in Phoenix was KYOT and even they didn't play a whole lot of Urban crossover either.
People keep telling me that Phoenix isn't black enough to have a station like that, BUT ABQ, New Mexico has an Urban AC and they have even less blacks than Phoenix, so what's up with that?
It seems like the African-Americans are not catered to in Phoenix AT ALL, but if you are hispanic or caucasian, the world is your oyster.
What does everybody think?
 
Re: Why Phoenix does not havew have an Urban station of any kind.

> I used to live in Phoenix (glad I don't now) and was
> wondering why doesn't Phoenix have an Urban AC station in
> the market?

Maybe, just maybe, because there are too few Blacks in Phoenix for any real Urban of any kind.

> It seems like the African-Americans are not catered to in
> Phoenix AT ALL, but if you are hispanic or caucasian, the
> world is your oyster.

The market is 22% Hispanic, 2% Native American and 3% Black and 73% non-Hispanic white. Programming is going to reflect this. In fact, the 12+ black population is under 80 thousand.

This is also the reason why there is no Urban station in Fargo, either. It is not discrimination, it is simply a lack of a market that is viable.
 
Re: Why Phoenix does not havew have an Urban station of any kind.

> > I used to live in Phoenix (glad I don't now) and was
> > wondering why doesn't Phoenix have an Urban AC station in
> > the market?
>
> Maybe, just maybe, because there are too few Blacks in
> Phoenix for any real Urban of any kind.
>
> > It seems like the African-Americans are not catered to in
> > Phoenix AT ALL, but if you are hispanic or caucasian, the
> > world is your oyster.
>
> The market is 22% Hispanic, 2% Native American and 3% Black
> and 73% non-Hispanic white. Programming is going to reflect
> this. In fact, the 12+ black population is under 80
> thousand.
>
> This is also the reason why there is no Urban station in
> Fargo, either. It is not discrimination, it is simply a lack
> of a market that is viable.
>

Phoenix is my hometown and I agree it is a numbers thing which explains no urban or urban ac in the market right now. But given the growth of the black population in Phoenix and if it continues, Phoenix will see urban radio again. Phoenix has had urban radio in the past with KUKQ, KISO, KSUN and KMJK.
 
Re: Why Phoenix does not havew have an Urban station of any kind.

> > I used to live in Phoenix (glad I don't now) and was
> > wondering why doesn't Phoenix have an Urban AC station in
> > the market?
>
> Maybe, just maybe, because there are too few Blacks in
> Phoenix for any real Urban of any kind.
>
> > It seems like the African-Americans are not catered to in
> > Phoenix AT ALL, but if you are hispanic or caucasian, the
> > world is your oyster.
>
> The market is 22% Hispanic, 2% Native American and 3% Black
> and 73% non-Hispanic white. Programming is going to reflect
> this. In fact, the 12+ black population is under 80
> thousand.
>
> This is also the reason why there is no Urban station in
> Fargo, either. It is not discrimination, it is simply a lack
> of a market that is viable.
>
Okay, then explain why a market like ABQ, New Mexico (with just as many or even less African-Americans) has a Clear Channel owned Urban AC (not Jammin' Oldies) an ACTUAL Urban AC. If one is going strictly by demos, then ABQ, New Mexico shouldn't have one either.
 
Re: Why Phoenix does not havew have an Urban station of any kind.

¡.
> >
> Okay, then explain why a market like ABQ, New Mexico (with
> just as many or even less African-Americans) has a Clear
> Channel owned Urban AC (not Jammin' Oldies) an ACTUAL Urban
> AC. If one is going strictly by demos, then ABQ, New Mexico
> shouldn't have one either.
>

KSYU is rhythmic, not urban. It is targeted at second and third generation Hispanics... basically ¨old school¨ or an Hispanic version of what Jammin´ Oldies should have been.

This is possible in ABQ since most Hispanics there are second, third and later generation. On the other hand, in Phoenix, more than 75% of the Hispanics over 21 are first generation and did not grow up on American music in English. You will notice that the Hot 95.1 jocks that are not Hispanic (most are) are not Black... the station is not targeted at Blacks.
 
Re: Why Phoenix does not havew have an Urban station of any kind.

> One thing to remember, is that not only black audiences listen to urban ac music. That is like saying only blacks listen to hip hop and rap. Urban AC formats appeal to black, white and brown listeners. If Phoenix can have a multitude of stations for the Hispanic audience (22%), they can have 1 for Urban AC which cuts across color lines far more than Hispanic flavored programming does.
 
> I used to live in Phoenix (glad I don't now) and was
> wondering why doesn't Phoenix have an Urban AC station in
> the market?
> To me Mega 104.3/99.3 ISN'T an Urban AC, especially when
> they are rotating songs from The Cover Girls and Stevie B.
> I have written Emmis, Radio One, Clear Channel and Infinity
> (now CBS radio) and no one wants to touch it.
> When I lived in Phoenix, I felt if you were
> African-American, you really didn't have a whole lot of
> options. All you would hear is Hip-Hop/Rap and not ANY new
> Urban like: Faith Evans, Alicia Keys, Charlie Wilson,
> Fantasia, etc. The only thing remotely close for black
> adults in Phoenix was KYOT and even they didn't play a whole
> lot of Urban crossover either.
> People keep telling me that Phoenix isn't black enough to
> have a station like that, BUT ABQ, New Mexico has an Urban
> AC and they have even less blacks than Phoenix, so what's up
> with that?
> It seems like the African-Americans are not catered to in
> Phoenix AT ALL, but if you are hispanic or caucasian, the
> world is your oyster.
> What does everybody think?
>
i may be naive but aren't all phoenix metro stations "urban"? happy holidays.
 
>

> i may be naive but aren't all phoenix metro stations
> "urban"? happy holidays.


> The term urban applies to Black/R&B Contemporary music- not the location of a radio station. Just as "country" doesnt mean a station is located out in the sticks. Simply a term given for a type of music.<P ID="edit"><FONT class="small">Edited by AZJoe on 12/19/05 01:45 PM.</FONT></P>
 
Re: Why Phoenix does not havew have an Urban station of any kind.

> > One thing to remember, is that not only black audiences
> listen to urban ac music. That is like saying only blacks
> listen to hip hop and rap. Urban AC formats appeal to
> black, white and brown listeners. If Phoenix can have a
> multitude of stations for the Hispanic audience (22%), they
> can have 1 for Urban AC which cuts across color lines far
> more than Hispanic flavored programming does.
>
You would think so right, but I guess in Phoenix, they aren't ready for anything that is TOO Urban.
 
Re: Why Phoenix does not havew have an Urban station of any kind.

> ¡.
> > >
> > Okay, then explain why a market like ABQ, New Mexico (with
>
> > just as many or even less African-Americans) has a Clear
> > Channel owned Urban AC (not Jammin' Oldies) an ACTUAL
> Urban
> > AC. If one is going strictly by demos, then ABQ, New
> Mexico
> > shouldn't have one either.
> >
>
> KSYU is rhythmic, not urban. It is targeted at second and
> third generation Hispanics... basically ¨old school¨ or an
> Hispanic version of what Jammin´ Oldies should have been.
>
> This is possible in ABQ since most Hispanics there are
> second, third and later generation. On the other hand, in
> Phoenix, more than 75% of the Hispanics over 21 are first
> generation and did not grow up on American music in English.
> You will notice that the Hot 95.1 jocks that are not
> Hispanic (most are) are not Black... the station is not
> targeted at Blacks.
>
Actually, they aren't listed as rhythmic, they are listed as Urban AC. Go to their playlist by doing a google search with the words, "R&R online station playlists" and find KSYU-FM. Their slogan is also Today's R&B and Old School, if that isn't Urban AC, I don't know what is. Granted, they may play songs that are normally not in the Urban AC genre, but overall their playlist will show they ARE Urban AC. Maybe I am just naive, I STILL don't get the reasoning for a small market like ABQ to have one, but Phoenix not having one.
 
Re: Why Phoenix does not havew have an Urban station of any kind.

> > One thing to remember, is that not only black audiences
> listen to urban ac music. That is like saying only blacks
> listen to hip hop and rap. Urban AC formats appeal to
> black, white and brown listeners. If Phoenix can have a
> multitude of stations for the Hispanic audience (22%), they
> can have 1 for Urban AC which cuts across color lines far
> more than Hispanic flavored programming does.
>

Urban AC´s are predominantly Black. For example, WVAZ in Chicago is 90% Black in audience composition, and the rest is mostly Hispanic.

The concept can be adapted for a less Black audience, and was as Jammin´ Oldies. At this pint, the format is technically (as if the listener cared) rhythmic and not Urban.

The object of programming is not to cut across color lines, it is to generate a salable audience. Urban, in Phoenix, does not do this.

Even LA, with 10% Black and 42% Hispanic does not have an Urban AC station, although KJLH might be considered to be its ¨substitute¨ but it has quite low ratings and only exists because it is owned by Stevie Wonder and because the market there is so big even low rated stations bill large.
 
Re: Why Phoenix does not have an Urban station of any kind.

> >
> Actually, they aren't listed as rhythmic, they are listed as
> Urban AC.

However, if you look at audience compostion, KSYU is 74% Hispanic and 26% "Other" which means, "non-Hispanic white."

Names are generally assigned by the trades to classify stations playing similar music. But this ABQ station is not Black targeted, it is Hispanic targeted.

> Go to their playlist by doing a google search
> with the words, "R&R online station playlists" and find
> KSYU-FM. Their slogan is also Today's R&B and Old School,
> if that isn't Urban AC, I don't know what is.

It's a Hispanic targeted format which, still, has no better name. The fact is, it is not Black.

> Granted, they
> may play songs that are normally not in the Urban AC genre,
> but overall their playlist will show they ARE Urban AC.
> Maybe I am just naive, I STILL don't get the reasoning for a
> small market like ABQ to have one, but Phoenix not having
> one.

KSYU is 74% Hispanic in listenership. Nearly 100% of those Hispanics are "English dominant" and that is the base for the station... second generation and beyond 25+ Hispanics.

Phoenix does not have a significant number of 25+ English dominant Hispanics. Over 80% of the 25+ Hispanics in PHX were born in Mexico,a nd have no interest in _any_ kind of music in English.

In ABQ, less than 20% of Hispanics are Spanish Dominant. In PHX, less than 40% of Hispanics are English dominant, and nearly all of these are in the 12-24 demos.

In other words, the format, when there is no significant Black population, is a modified Urban AC appealing to Hispanics. ABQ has the necessary English dominant Hispanics to support such a station, while PHX does not.
>
 
Re: Why Phoenix doesn't have an Urban...

> I used to live in Phoenix and was
> wondering why doesn't Phoenix have an Urban AC station in
> the market?
> To me Mega 104.3/99.3 ISN'T an Urban AC, especially when
> they are rotating songs from The Cover Girls and Stevie B.
> but I guess in Phoenix, they aren't ready for anything that is TOO Urban.
>

It's funny you say that...but lately, Mega HAS been sounding Urban AC to me. Now that "between the Sheets" is not a part of the evenings anymore, it seems like the slow jams are real heavy during the day now. I ALWAYS hear Boyz 2 Men, Anita Baker, Babyface, TLC, and others that don't fit with the "Rhythmic" format that they use to have. Are they changing to A/C? There's been a huge decrease in the disco and freestyle cuts that Mega use to be known for. Even the old school party cuts can only be heard at night now.
 
Re: KAMJ vs KSYU

> This is a Rhythmic Oldies station. Just look at their playlist logs!
>

Here is what KSYU just played...all pretty similar to KAJM

From The Bottom Of My Heart Stevie Wonder 2:58pm
Flash Light Parliament 2:53pm
Missing You Diana Ross 2:49pm
Don't You Want Me Jody Watley 2:39pm
When a Man Loves a Woman Percy Sledge 2:37pm
Opera of the Bells Destiny's Child 2:32pm
September Earth, Wind & Fire 2:29pm
Rock With You Michael Jackson 2:25pm
Lucky Star Madonna 2:21pm

although a few cuts are rhythmic, there are quite a few A/C cuts too. I would say both stations need to be more aggressive to be Rhythmic Oldies.
 
Re: Why Phoenix does not havew have an Urban station of any kind.

>
> Even LA, with 10% Black and 42% Hispanic does not have an
> Urban AC station, although KJLH might be considered to be
> its ¨substitute¨ but it has quite low ratings and only
> exists because it is owned by Stevie Wonder and because the
> market there is so big even low rated stations bill large.
>

KJLH is LA's urban ac station. The numbers are low due to the poor signal. Many blacks have moved out to the Valley, the IE and the Antelope Valley where KJLH doesn't reach. If KJLH had a full market signal I'm sure the numbers would be higher.
 
Re: Why Phoenix does not havew have an Urban station of any kind.

> > One thing to remember, is that not only black audiences
> listen to urban ac music. That is like saying only blacks
> listen to hip hop and rap. Urban AC formats appeal to
> black, white and brown listeners. If Phoenix can have a
> multitude of stations for the Hispanic audience (22%), they
> can have 1 for Urban AC which cuts across color lines far
> more than Hispanic flavored programming does.
>

Phoenix has had urban stations that have targeted the black population in the past and did well or moderately well ratings wise. KUKQ, KISO and KMJK all come to mind. So it is obvious that blacks were not the only ones listening. KMJK was the Valley's last Urban AC and will be the last example of urban radio in Phoenix for a while until another black owned broadcasting group has the opportunity to purchase a station to get Urban AC on in Phoenix, otherwise it is not going to happen anytime soon.
 
Re: Why Phoenix does not havew have an Urban station of any kind.

> > One thing to remember, is that not only black audiences
> listen to urban ac music. That is like saying only blacks
> listen to hip hop and rap. Urban AC formats appeal to
> black, white and brown listeners. If Phoenix can have a
> multitude of stations for the Hispanic audience (22%), they
> can have 1 for Urban AC which cuts across color lines far
> more than Hispanic flavored programming does.
>

And another thing to remember is that not only whites listen to rock and country music. Those stations are designed and targeted to attract white listeners and urban radio is designed to attract black listeners period. The only way Phoenix will see urban radio is if a black owned radio group is able to purchase a station, provided there is one for sale and hopefully the next time around it will not be Art Mobley buying another station.
 
Re: KSYU Alb.

> This is a Rhythmic Oldies station. Just look at their
> playlist logs!
>
I have and I have seen the SAME artists that they play on Urban AC stations. Go to www.rronline.com and go to "playlists" and it will tell you.
 
Re: Why Phoenix does not havew have an Urban station of any kind.

>
> Maybe, just maybe, because there are too few Blacks in
> Phoenix for any real Urban of any kind.

Here we go again, now we have a Hispanic-American calling African-Americans, BLACK. And once again, more nonsense. I know, only whitey listens to "black" music.
>

>
> The market is 22% Hispanic, 2% Native American and 3% Black
> and 73% non-Hispanic white. Programming is going to reflect
> this. In fact, the 12+ black population is under 80
> thousand.

And once again, whitey don't listen to that negra music right? You're laughable.

>
> This is also the reason why there is no Urban station in
> Fargo, either. It is not discrimination, it is simply a lack
> of a market that is viable.
>
Phoenix is an urbanable AC market aimed at whitey. I know, I know, we just need to throw Reggaeton or some other lame ass Hispanic format on the air because all them Mexicans listen to is latin music. (said in jest)

What planet do you hail from?
 
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