With Mix being at 6.7 and KZPT at 3.9 (was lower earlier this year at 2.8) why doesn't the station go back to its original roots (2011-2014) or even a traditional Hot AC sound to get the AC listeners in Kansas City. Instead it strongly "orbits Mix" while it could fill a void in the market. Perhaps Audacy is programmed too far away for that to happen, but seems like that is its more natural lane than "Mix competitor."
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Why hasn't 99.7 the Point (KZPT) taken on more of an AC sound since there isn't an AC in Kansas City?
- Thread starter tall_guy1
- Start date
So it should emulate a format that has failed in the market multiple times?
You're thinking years ago. KCKC was a hybrid during its "KC 102.1" years. KCMO acts like the de facto AC station and it does great.
That's rather presumptuous. "When you assume..."
Maybe Audacy has a cluster-wide strategy where the existing format fits the need that management has identified. In most cases, management does not program an individual station based on "filling a perceived void", rather, they look what advertisers want and how they can create formats that attract the targeted listeners to the cluster (or away from a competitor).
Possibilities:
* Audiences that might go for middle-to-the-road adult contemporary are instead listening to Christian contemporary or country stations, both of which do well in Kansas City.
* Audacy's cluster is tilted toward male audiences (news/talk, sports, active rock, country). They may not see much of a gain by aiming directly at a female audience.
* The name of the game any more doesn't seem to be to steal the competitor's audience. Instead, the objective is to cover all the bases for making a one-stop offering to potential customers (advertisers). In that scenario, KZPT may be doing well enough.
* Johnson County, Kansas has finally become diverse.
The "original roots" of 99.7 are KMBC-FM, later KMBR and KLTH. Not sure anyone would really want that in this day and age.
This station seems to have an identity crisis though, it feels like a mix of pop, rhythmic nostalgia, and adult contemporary type music. Mix has a more consistent sound and does better, while 94.9 KCMO blows them both out of the water.
Because you're looking at formats as a solid construct of certain music and not what they really are which is to sell advertising to certain demographics...
So many incorrect comments in your posts.
KC102.1 was an AC its whole run. KCMO-FM is a standard Classic Hits station, that serves as the defacto AC for the older demos with KZPT serving that niche for 25-44. KZPT is not trying to be a "Mix competitor". The issue is your perception of KMXV to other CHRs across the country as well as its not KZPT orbiting Mix, moreso that KMXV is more adult leaning than many other Top 40 stations. Both stations are strategically programmed to the audiences they are trying to serve.
Also JR Ammons who programs KZPT is based out of Kansas City. It has nothing to do with "Audacy being programmed too far away"
But what makes KZPT play rhythmic stuff like Work It-Missy Elliot, Eminem, Whatever You Like-T.I since a lot of Hot ACs don't play those and Mix positions itself not very rhythmic or not very glossy?
Like Lance said: Both stations are strategically programmed to the audiences they are trying to serve.
But what's KZPT trying to do in relation with Mix then?
Maybe nothing. As Lance mentions, it likely exists to balance out the Audacy cluster that skews heavily male.
When I looked at the playlist, it looked like a CHR that was less repetitive with the powers. I don't know why you'd program that way, and I've been away from working at a Hot AC for over 15 years. It doesn't resemble the last one where I worked, though the approach could've changed. JR Ammons isn't dumb. He's been programming radio for a long time and knows what he's doing.
The CHR with less powers feels to me like they're trying to directly compete with Mix, but in a "sideways" way, and a lot of the gold seem "CHR golds Mix isn't using." I don't doubt whoever that is good, but it looks like Steve Serrano has him "beat."
You answered your own question. They're playing music that they've researched and tests well but isn't being played by KMXV.
While Mix's fortunes web and flow with the CHR format, beating it consistently was always going to be difficult. It’s one of the most respected stations in the entire country and has been for 30 years now. There's a reason for that.
Perhaps, the point, if you will, of 99.7 isn’t to beat Mix, though I'm sure Audacy would be happy if that happened. It might not need to do that to be successful. Plenty of second and third fiddle properties make enough to cover their costs while getting advertisers to buy other stations in the cluster. I don’t know if Audacy sells the two in combination, but The Point would be a natural fit for some of the advertisers on the Wolf and vice-versa.