Why Is KABG's Website All White?

[hornet61]

I often listen to KABG.

i have to confess too...i don't.

 

[cspotrun]

just an observation but when Oldies somehow went under a different name Classic Hits, it somehow was decided that it would be Male Rock oriented and white. i ask WHY? i think the current format of Classic Hits would be more FUN, and draw more women to the format again, IF it included more black T-40 hits of the era. Top-40 in the day was never segregated like this, WHY do it now?

 

[Broadcast Receptor]

There are other stations in town that play this era of music. Cool 94.5 is playing many black artists from the 70's and 80's and 1240 plays everything. I don't get to see the ratings, but I'll bet if 94.5 beats 98.5 you will see a shift there. For the record, I do not own or want an ipod. I have never used the CD player in my car. I will admit that radio is not what it was 30 years ago, but there are still some creative people in the business and I enjoy what they do.

 

[Kent]

just an observation but when Oldies somehow went under a different name Classic Hits, it somehow was decided that it would be Male Rock oriented and white. i ask WHY? i think the current format of Classic Hits would be more FUN, and draw more women to the format again, IF it included more black T-40 hits of the era. Top-40 in the day was never segregated like this, WHY do it now?

See above. It goes back to research. Most of the rock-oriented music from the 70's and 80's tests well with the target audience of classic hits stations. Most of the dance-oriented pop from that era doesn't. When you play music a substantial portion of your target audience either got sick of 30 years ago when it was new or gets sick of after a few spins, your station won't draw enough listeners to be competitive! If a song isn't a hit or a near hit with everyone in the target demo, it doesn't get airplay.

 

[Kent]

There are other stations in town that play this era of music. Cool 94.5 is playing many black artists from the 70's and 80's and 1240 plays everything. I don't get to see the ratings, but I'll bet if 94.5 beats 98.5 you will see a shift there.

If a different approach beats the current one, you can bet people will start researching it so they can adapt to it. A good research firm will take notice of that, figure out what it had been missing, and fix it for its clients. A good PD will then use that information to improve his own product.

 

[hornet61]

Listen, I understand stations that used to be Oldies have to update their playlists to more 70s and 80s songs. But as they move up in the decades, to they have to move more white? Especially in a state that is made up of more than 50% minorities?

Oldies stations used to feature anywhere from a third to half their playlists from Motown and other minority artists. Now "Classic Hits" stations seem to play only a couple of African-American or Hispanic artists per hour. Does that make any sense?

How many Hispanic artists can you name who charted in the US in the 70's and/or 80's and are still relevant today? Outside of specialty programming, I can't think of a single song by a Hispanic artist that gets regular airplay on classic hits stations. Yes, Julio Iglesias did a duet with Diana Ross and was part of a trio with Ray Charles and Willie Nelson, but you never hear those songs unless you're listening to an AT-40 replay that happens to catch them. Los Mocedades hit the charts in '74 with "Eres Tu," but I've heard them exactly twice in the last four years outside of specialty programming.

you can't think of a single song ?? see if you recognize the following groups, all charted on Billbords Hot 100:

70's and 80's:
El Chicano
Gloria Estefan
Ricky Martin
Linda Rondstadt
Los Lobos
Santana
Malo
War
Jerry Garcia
Julio Iglesias
Vicky Carr
Charo..ok, might be a stretch
Glen Campbell..he dated my cousin Gloria Martinez (does that count)
Jose Feliciano

60's:
Trini Lopez
Chris Montez (Montanez)
Ritchie Valens
Sam the Sham and The Pharoahs
Sergio Mendez
Rene y Rene
Los Bravos
Premiers "Farmer John"
Question Mark and the Mysterians (? Rudy Martinez , Frankie Balderama, Robert Martinez & Frank lugo)
Cannibal and the Headhunters "Land Of 1,000 Dancers" (feature film in planning stages, my nephew Jeremy Ray Valdez to portray lead singer Frankie garcia)
Freddie Fender
Champs (founder sax player Daniel Flores aka Chuck Rio wrote "Tequila")
Ray Baretta - El Watusi
String-Alongs ----"Wheels"
Perez Prado..had two Number 1's on hot 100 "Patricia and "Cherry Pink"

and finally "they pretended to be Hispanic"

Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brasss
Julius Wexler and the Baja Marimba Band
Keith Colley - "Enamorado"

 

[PirateJohnny]

Here's one answer:

http://radiodiscussions.com/smf/index.php?topic=226245.0

And here's another answer:

http://radiodiscussions.com/smf/index.php?topic=221185.0

 

[davideduardo]

Oldies stations used to feature anywhere from a third to half their playlists from Motown and other minority artists. Now "Classic Hits" stations seem to play only a couple of African-American or Hispanic artists per hour. Does that make any sense?

The misconception here is that Hispanic listeners want to hear lots of songs by Hispanic artists.

Listeners, no matter what their ethnicity, want to hear songs they like.

In Latin America, stations playing all or a high percentage of English language music are very popular. They don't favor artists with a particular heritage... they favor "hits".

The same applies everywhere.

 

[Kent]

you can't think of a single song ?? see if you recognize the following groups, all charted on Billbords Hot 100:

I said I can't think of a single one that is still relevant today, not that I couldn't think of a single one who charted.

I will say that, yes, some of the ones you posted as 70's and 80's are still relevant today. However, it's nowhere near all the ones who charted and only a very small percentage of total artists still receiving airplay today. When was the last time you heard Menudo, El Chicano, or even Los Lobos and Gloria Estefan? Linda Rondstadt, Jerry Garcia (though never as a solo act), War, and Santana are about the only ones you'll still hear.

 

[davideduardo]

Sergio Mendez

Nit Picking time:

"Sergio Mendez" is really Sergio Mendes, and he is not Hispanic.

 

[hornet61]

you can't think of a single song ?? see if you recognize the following groups, all charted on Billbords Hot 100:

I said I can't think of a single one that is still relevant today, not that I couldn't think of a single one who charted.

I will say that, yes, some of the ones you posted as 70's and 80's are still relevant today. However, it's nowhere near all the ones who charted and only a very small percentage of total artists still receiving airplay today. When was the last time you heard Menudo, El Chicano, or even Los Lobos and Gloria Estefan? Linda Rondstadt, Jerry Garcia (though never as a solo act), War, and Santana are about the only ones you'll still hear.

what planet are you on..I hear everyone of those artists that i posted 60',70's, and 80's on our classic stations here. We are talking Oldies, ok, ok, excuse me Classic hits, what has relevant today have to do with it..this is about classic hits playlists... Jery garcia , Charo and Glen Campbell I was being facetious, because I was blown away by your comments.

 

[hornet61]

Sergio Mendez

Nit Picking time:

"Sergio Mendez" is really Sergio Mendes, and he is not Hispanic.

 

[Kent]

You may think what I'm saying is absurd, but the numbers back it up. Checking KONO, Linda Ronstadt gets about two spins a day, same for War. KLUV gives a bigger playlist history. In the last week, Linda Ronstadt, War and Santana averaged about two spins a day. Los Lobos got about one spin every 3.5-4 days, and "La Bamba" was the only song played. El Chicano, Gloria Estefan, Menudo, Malo, Julio Iglesias, Vikki Carr and Jose Feliciano were never played. Some of those artists may get spins in other formats, but classic hits isn't embracing them, at least not yet.

As for what relevance today has to do with classic hits, some songs people used to enjoy have simply burned out. A classic case of this would be "Honey" by Bobby Goldsboro. It spent five weeks at number one in 1968. So, obviously, people loved it. It wouldn't have gotten the number of spins it got in 1968 if people were neither wanting to hear it nor buying it. However, you won't find many people admitting to ever owning a copy today. Play it on the radio today, and the reaction is always, "God, this sucks!" If a song gets that reaction from anyone in the target demo for classic hits, it doesn't get played. How popular the song was when it came out simply doesn't matter.

You may be blown away by them, but my comments simply describe what's being played on classic hits today, which is dictated by research. If you're not happy with the typical classic hits playlist, your problem is with the research firms and what members of the format's target audience say they want to hear. In a sense, I share your frustration. Much of the music I enjoy isn't played on the radio today either.

 

[davideduardo]

Sergio Mendez

Nit Picking time:

"Sergio Mendez" is really Sergio Mendes, and he is not Hispanic.

Huh?

 

[hornet61]

Sergio Mendez

Nit Picking time:

"Sergio Mendez" is really Sergio Mendes, and he is not Hispanic.

Huh?

Huh, don't you mean Que ?...Sergio Santos Mendes...you are probably headed in the direction that he was Portuguese not Hispanic. Albeit he was born in Brazil, possibly of Portuguese descent or should i say Dissent....the argument now is Hispanic is now only referred to Spanish speaking countries , and portuguese by some is not considered Spanish., call me crazy but it sound more Spanish than German.
This is why I don't like the term Hispanic...it is a cop-out term that was lobbied by folks that turn their noses up on Mexico and need a Spanish pedigree for pretentious purposes. Hell we all came from Spain at one time some took a detour to Mexico and some landed up in San Juan De Onate, NM where I am From....I was born in Long Beach Ca . from parents raised in Espanola NM..There is no Hispania , It's just a term the Romans came up with for a conglomerate of four areas... therefore I am closer to Mexico, i consider myself Mexican.. i don't pretend to be something else..... I am speaking in general terms here.lets not debate the breakdown of the whole Latino world map.. I was just speculating what you meant on your comment that he wasn't Hispanic..

 

[hornet61]

You may think what I'm saying is absurd, but the numbers back it up. Checking KONO, Linda Ronstadt gets about two spins a day, same for War. KLUV gives a bigger playlist history. In the last week, Linda Ronstadt, War and Santana averaged about two spins a day. Los Lobos got about one spin every 3.5-4 days, and "La Bamba" was the only song played. El Chicano, Gloria Estefan, Menudo, Malo, Julio Iglesias, Vikki Carr and Jose Feliciano were never played. Some of those artists may get spins in other formats, but classic hits isn't embracing them, at least not yet.

As for what relevance today has to do with classic hits, some songs people used to enjoy have simply burned out. A classic case of this would be "Honey" by Bobby Goldsboro. It spent five weeks at number one in 1968. So, obviously, people loved it. It wouldn't have gotten the number of spins it got in 1968 if people were neither wanting to hear it nor buying it. However, you won't find many people admitting to ever owning a copy today. Play it on the radio today, and the reaction is always, "God, this sucks!" If a song gets that reaction from anyone in the target demo for classic hits, it doesn't get played. How popular the song was when it came out simply doesn't matter.

You may be blown away by them, but my comments simply describe what's being played on classic hits today, which is dictated by research. If you're not happy with the typical classic hits playlist, your problem is with the research firms and what members of the format's target audience say they want to hear. In a sense, I share your frustration. Much of the music I enjoy isn't played on the radio today either.

OK...I live in a heavy Mexican populated area, maybe that's why I hear those artists I referenced more than in your neck of the woods. So the PD's in my area are smart enough to say "Golly Gee" forget the researchers, we need to beef up those artists for a 50% mexican demo. "Golly Gee" was a pun , because it was a big hit in this area by Sunny Osuna and The Sunliners...

My mentor and Hero George Wilson laughed at the researchers and consultants...he instinctively knew what the audience wanted and he programmed that way, the researchers be damned. And he was named National Programmmer of the year twice, he was one the most repected programmers in the country..He knew what the listeners wanted ..not what the researchers say they wanted. Hey you like the numbers, i don't , unfortuneately for me....Classic hits stations are more in-line with you.you win the debate .

 

[Kent]

Question: Do you think the PD's in your area aren't using research, or could it be a case of a station using research the way it should be used: on the area it serves?

I had some extra time last night and compared KRTH in LA and KOOL in Phoenix for the same time frame I looked at KLUV. Since CBS can afford to quality research on individual markets and provides its playlist info for weeks at a time, it can be an interesting read. Comparing all three (excluding specialty programming), about the only common denominators were War and Santana getting about two spins a day, and I didn't find any Gloria Estefan, Menudo, Vikki Carr, Jose Feliciano or Julio Iglesias on any of them. Both also seemed to play about the same number of Hispanic artists, but the tracks were a little different. Linda Ronstadt, for example, was far less popular on KRTH and KOOL than she was on KLUV. KRTH didn't play her at all over the course of the week, while KOOL only played her twice. El Chicano received one spin on KRTH, and "Suavecito" by Malo received two. Neither received spins on KOOL. KOOL played "La Bamba" by Los Lobos twice during the week, like KLUV, but Los Lobos was absent from KRTH. The Ritchie Valens version of "La Bamba" also got two spins on KOOL, by the way.

I can't tell you why Linda Ronstadt was more popular in Dallas than Phoenix, just 100 miles from her hometown, nor do I have enough information to say why she wasn't played at all on KRTH over the week. Maybe her songs just aren't popular with the LA audience, though it's also possible that she gets enough airplay on other stations that KRTH left her out for differentiation. Regardless of what the stations' playlists show, it clearly shows that tastes from market-to-market can still be at least slightly different.

When it comes to research and consultants, I actually have my concerns about both. I've occasionally been pretty cynical about both, and I still think there are plenty of consultants who'll ask to see your watch, tell you what time it is and send you a bill. You have to figure out who does what well and go with them, and that's not always easy! I've been out of radio for four years now, and that's one of several things I don't miss at all.

If you, or your PD, can figure out which songs are hits with the target audience, more power to you. I'd have to think it would be pretty neat to be able to do that on-my-own without having to worry about consultants, research, expenses and other issues that go with both. However, when given the choice between numbers or my gut, I'll go with numbers every time. If I don't, I'll lose, and badly at that! Going through my old record collection over the weekend, I found a tape of Roachford's "Cuddly Toy." That song flopped when it was new in '88 or '89, but I thought it was great when I first heard it and rushed out to buy it. That should tell anybody all they need to know about my music picking skills!

 

[davideduardo]

Huh, don't you mean Que ?...Sergio Santos Mendes...you are probably headed in the direction that he was Portuguese not Hispanic.

Sergio Mendes is Brazilian, not Portuguese. And he "is" and not "was" and did, most recently, part of the score for the animated movie "Rio" last year.

the argument now is Hispanic is now only referred to Spanish speaking countries , and portuguese by some is not considered Spanish.

Portuguese is not considered to be Spanish by anyone. It is a separate language and, like French, Italian, Spanish and Romanian, one of the Romance Languages that have roots in Latin.

"Hispanic" as used today is a term created by the Bureau of the Census to comply with the legislation of the 70's that required enumerating a group that had been, for the most part, included with "white" in the past. The definition for the 1980 Census was "... those who speak or are descendants of those who spoke the Spanish language."

Brazilians are not, by that definition, Hispanic.

call me crazy but it sound more Spanish than German.

I am Spanish dominant, but I can only understand bits and pieces of Portuguese (either the European or the Brazilian dialects)

This is why I don't like the term Hispanic...it is a cop-out term that was lobbied by folks that turn their noses up on Mexico and need a Spanish pedigree for pretentious purposes.

Sorry, but the term "Hispanic" is barely used in Latin America. As I said, it was created by the government as a way of classifying peoples from a score of countries who had only the common uniting factor of a single language.

I've been asked over and over by people I have worked with in Latin America what the term "Hispanic" means and why it is used in the US.

I was just speculating what you meant on your comment that he wasn't Hispanic..

I meant, simply, that while Mendes is Brazilian, he is not Hispanic by virtue of the definition of the word as used in the US.

 

[davideduardo]

My mentor and Hero George Wilson laughed at the researchers and consultants...he instinctively knew what the audience wanted and he programmed that way, the researchers be damned. And he was named National Programmmer of the year twice, he was one the most repected programmers in the country..He knew what the listeners wanted ..not what the researchers say they wanted.

That's a totally disingenuous statement. When Mr. Wilson was excelling at programming, today's research techniques did not exist. All of us who had big successes with Top 40 stations thought we "knew what the audience wanted". Except for a bit of singles sales data and perhaps some jukebox play tabulations, we winged it.

Those programmers from that era who made it successfully into the 80's did so, for the most part, because they adopted new techniques. Some were forced to do so by the end of the singles era, and some did it because they realized that research helped program better.

 

[Marv-L.A.]

FWIW, Classic Country KABQ/Albuquerque will flip to classic hits this Friday; the station posted a 2.3 12+ rating in the winter 2013 Arbitron according to Country Aircheck.

We'll see how well they do.