WILL CLEAR CHANNEL SHAKE UP LA SOON?

[radiojomo]

It's happening in San Diego, Clear Channel is placing it's successful news talker- KOGO onto to 95.7. Clear Channel has been moving around and switching formats around the country to many of its markets as of recently, both big and small.

Will Clear Channel be shaking up Los Angeles soon in any way, shape or form?

KFI is the #1 station in LA right now. Will Clear Channel protect it to stay as the #1 by placing it on an FM signal?

 

[wdb2003]

I seriously doubt it for now

 

[LA_Guy]

I don't. It isn't broken, so of course they must break it!

 

[emailfailed]

It's not an urgent matter for Clear Channel to put KFI on one of their FMs, at this point.

 

[TALENTfilter]

Andrew Jeffries is in San Antonio right now for budget meetings, so we'll soon find out

 

[calguy]

Andrew Jeffries is in San Antonio right now for budget meetings, so we'll soon find out

I hear it's a much easier place to work when he leaves town.

 

[Marv-L.A.]

I've noticed that KHHT is in the top ten, although I don't know how Rick Dees is doing in the ratings.

I'm not sure sure what CC could do if they wanted to 'shake up the market'.

 

[ocer]

Things are going better at CC than the last time they had a big shake up in 2007 with the format changes at 104.3 and 98.7.

 

[ChannelFlipper]

Things are going better at CC than the last time they had a big shake up in 2007 with the format changes at 104.3 and 98.7.

Whatever happens, I doubt it would involve 98.7 (which is still KYSR I believe). The station has done everything they wanted it to do and more, primarily, take significant numbers off of KROQ and provide them a male dominated outlet to sell for an FM group that used to be referred to as "wall to wall" female.

I don't listen to KBIG much anymore as they have gone for a younger demo that I am no longer a part of and the music doesn't really appeal to me, but from the listening I have done, it appears to me to be a very unfocussed station. Not all they way young, not all the way CHR, but certainly much less AC than it used to be. The absence of any name talent I think has hurt too. Air talent seems to come and go like the wind on that station. If they would have kept even an afternooner for a number of years, that would provide some much-needed continuity through their seemingly endless musical programming changes.

 

[calguy]

Things are going better at CC than the last time they had a big shake up in 2007 with the format changes at 104.3 and 98.7.

Whatever happens, I doubt it would involve 98.7 (which is still KYSR I believe). The station has done everything they wanted it to do and more, primarily, take significant numbers off of KROQ and provide them a male dominated outlet to sell for an FM group that used to be referred to as "wall to wall" female.

I don't listen to KBIG much anymore as they have gone for a younger demo that I am no longer a part of and the music doesn't really appeal to me, but from the listening I have done, it appears to me to be a very unfocussed station. Not all they way young, not all the way CHR, but certainly much less AC than it used to be. The absence of any name talent I think has hurt too. Air talent seems to come and go like the wind on that station. If they would have kept even an afternooner for a number of years, that would provide some much-needed continuity through their seemingly endless musical programming changes.

KBIG is a victim of it's programmer. He takes music from various formats, percentages, some from KIIS, some from KOST... You get the idea. It's a formula. Rather than crafting a great station with smarts, good gut feelings and great music aimed at the audience you're targeting, it's a formula, like a piece of software. It's the "I've got an app for that" mentality.

The air talent at KBIG has changed a bit in the last ten years. The only constant since 2001 has been Kari Steele who did about half her time in PM drive and then middays. But she's been shuttled back to KOST where she started. Robert Archer and Brian Simmons also did time there as well as Charlie Tuna and they all sounded pretty good, but they're gone too. Valentine has been doing mornings for a few years now. He's known from his days at KIIS and is syndicated as well, but sadly, as good as he is, it's a somewhat forgettable morning show. Afternoons went from Kari Steele to Gary Spears, then to Hollywood Hamilton and now to Ty Bentley who sounds like he wants to be another Seacrest. He would be a better fit on a CHR, the only real format that the PD there has any long term experience in. Good as the station can sound for any 20 minute period, it's just a somewhat forgettable station with a great signal and potential, but because it's being run on a shoestring plus it's current PD and you have a brand x radio station..

 

[OClistener]

I disagree that KBIG is unfocused. It's refreshing to hear a station that has a great mix of current CHR/AC and those from the 90s. Recently, KBIG made several additions to their playlist which makes it sound even better than before. I think it is nice to have a station that isn't focused on playing songs that make you feel like you are in the club all the time like some of its sister stations. KBIG also has some dance hits that they play, but they also offer a great variety of soft rock, rock, alternative and pop songs. As for the on-air personalities, I think Valentine and Ty are awesome, but that's just my opinion.

 

[calguy]

I disagree that KBIG is unfocused. It's refreshing to hear a station that has a great mix of current CHR/AC and those from the 90s. Recently, KBIG made several additions to their playlist which makes it sound even better than before. I think it is nice to have a station that isn't focused on playing songs that make you feel like you are in the club all the time like some of its sister stations. KBIG also has some dance hits that they play, but they also offer a great variety of soft rock, rock, alternative and pop songs. As for the on-air personalities, I think Valentine and Ty are awesome, but that's just my opinion.

You're entitled to your opinion. I come from a different place. As someone who works in the business, I see it differently. I never said they played too much dance music. You may be thinking that this current format is a continuation of the old K-BIG 104. It is not. That KBIG was a Rhythmic Hot AC format. The current format is just Hot AC with an entirely different approach and style. I also didn't say anything bad about the deejays except for the "forgettable" comment about Valentine's show. I like him, he's a pro, but I got tired of the whole "I'm a dad" thing. One can talk a little too much about their kids, see: Mark Wallengren. The problem as I see it with MyFM is consistency and a bit of a scattered approach. Everything changes so much, you're never sure where it's all going. But hey, you like it, and if that's what the "listener" wants, then I say go with it, but I don't think they program as smartly as "they" think they do... By the way, they don't have the greatest numbers in the last PPM, at least not 6+. But they did have a few nice demos. Still not enough in my book to say they're a great success.

By the way, other than KIIS, which sister stations make you feel like you're in a club?

 

[justpassingthough]

I think any problems with KBIG's programming relate in a larger sense to the misdirection of the Hot AC format as a whole. The standard pop/rock bands that used to churn out big hits and also be successful at CHR aren't around any more, and the bands that are still around, no longer appeal to the CHR audience in the same way or at all. Hot AC has had to try to appeal to women 25 to 54, and it turns out they're actually more likely to listen to CHR stations- which are very rhythmic heavy over the last few years.

Hot AC has had to ditch some of the staple 80s and 90s music to play more Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Usher, Enrique Iglesias etc- and if not executed well, some of the stations can sound a little unfocused.

On a personal level, I think KBIG actually sounds good for a Hot AC station- and at the very least, they play an appropriate music mix for the market.

 

[davideduardo]

By the way, they don't have the greatest numbers in the last PPM, at least not 6+. But they did have a few nice demos. Still not enough in my book to say they're a great success.

The station is consistently 6th or 7th in the target of 18-49, and in women 25-54 it is third behind KIIS and AC KLVE. Women 18-34 it is 4th, also, although that is the bottom end of the target. That would be my idea of success... even "great" success in the real sales demos of LA.

 

[calguy]

By the way, they don't have the greatest numbers in the last PPM, at least not 6+. But they did have a few nice demos. Still not enough in my book to say they're a great success.

The station is consistently 6th or 7th in the target of 18-49, and in women 25-54 it is third behind KIIS and AC KLVE. Women 18-34 it is 4th, also, although that is the bottom end of the target. That would be my idea of success... even "great" success in the real sales demos of LA.

You're right David, as I said they're doing better in certain demos than they are 6+. If I recall they even have beaten sister station KOST in demos that KOST should lead in. Just one of the reasons I feel they screwed that station up.

 

[davideduardo]

You're right David, as I said they're doing better in certain demos than they are 6+. If I recall they even have beaten sister station KOST in demos that KOST should lead in. Just one of the reasons I feel they screwed that station up.

KOST and KBiG are quite complementary with the 25-44 on KBIG and the 35-54 on KOST, each with what looks like a well defined core. There is a point where it is better to have #2 and #3 than #1 and #10, as the former is pretty much a guaranteed buy while the latter gets far less total revenue.