Will Houston Get An Oldies/Classic Hits Station?

[musicollector]

The irony here is that this is the potential audience that has money, and that should interest advertisers. Radio is missing out on a huge opportunity. Turn KLOL to oldies and make something useful out of it.

<SNIP>
The 55+ demos are downsizing and cutting spending.

And besides, being in the 55+ plus demo myself, I have no interest in listening to music I grew tired of years ago. Been played to death. Let it rest.

Sorry, dude...you are out to lunch! Not sure what planet you're on! All - every one - of the 55+'s I know have money to burn, including myself. And, we will always love music from The Golden Age of Radio.

In terms of having no interest in yesterday's music, I suggest you speak for yourself. Maybe, you're tired but most of us are infinitely far from it! The music of the 50's to the 80's is timeless. If you want to listen to Hispanic music or lady-gag-me-with-a-spoon, that's your prerogative. But don't count out the 55+'s or the bulk of the greatest music ever made!

Harry
http://harry.cckerala.com
Home of Fabulous Oldies

 

[fadedglory]

There happens to be a KAPN serving the B/CS area with a satellite-driven Oldies music feed that is musically centered on the Vietnam era with very few songs being played beyond that era; might something like that work in Houston if it were to be carried on a good AM signal (if a partaker should somehow emerge)?

 

[poops]

Was cruising the AM dial this morning and ran across a "Classic Hits" station on 1700. I've heard the calls several times today but can't remember them right now. Getting the signal pretty good down in the Lake Jackson area with some high tension power line interference. Is this a Houston Station?

 

[johndavis]

Was cruising the AM dial this morning and ran across a "Classic Hits" station on 1700. I've heard the calls several times today but can't remember them right now. Getting the signal pretty good down in the Lake Jackson area with some high tension power line interference. Is this a Houston Station?

KVNS out of Brownsville. I think they're mostly using Clear Channel Premium Choice.

 

[poops]

Was cruising the AM dial this morning and ran across a "Classic Hits" station on 1700. I've heard the calls several times today but can't remember them right now. Getting the signal pretty good down in the Lake Jackson area with some high tension power line interference. Is this a Houston Station?

KVNS out of Brownsville. I think they're mostly using Clear Channel Premium Choice.

Thanks John... I guess the skip's talking pretty good right now because I don't remember ever hearing them.

poops

 

[schmave]

Was cruising the AM dial this morning and ran across a "Classic Hits" station on 1700. I've heard the calls several times today but can't remember them right now. Getting the signal pretty good down in the Lake Jackson area with some high tension power line interference. Is this a Houston Station?

KVNS out of Brownsville. I think they're mostly using Clear Channel Premium Choice.

Thanks John... I guess the skip's talking pretty good right now because I don't remember ever hearing them.

poops

They can be heard almost nightly in the Houston area, and this goes back at least three years (or at least that's when I started listening to them during my time in the area). KVNS has been heard as far away as Scotland. I still listen to them via the stream up here in Ohio a few times a week. They probably are the best classic hits station available in the Houston market, IMO.

 

[willdav713]

I shot an email to a guy at KILT about suggesting a format change his response was:

You sure do have it figured out, don't you? While that may sound perfect for YOU, the demographics just do not support what you are suggesting. Believe me, if they DID, we'd be doing it-hell, I'd love it. I ooze that kind of music. Fact is, more advertisers no longer 'covet' that older demographic like they used to, and prefer the 18-34 crowd. That is the reason many radio stations have skewed to a younger audience. You have to follow the money. Plus, in Houston, we face the ever increasing Hispanic population, and how that equates into the new electronic ratings system. It makes for pretty rough terrain. I think when HD radios begin to really take off, and companies can see a REAL profit in them, you will have more local choices, and options like the ones you suggested. Since you seem to be a fan of "The Big 610" you might be interested in a book that Bill Young just wrote. Here is the link. http://deadair-thebook.com/


Then why is KLOL, failing at 13? why are all the Spanish language stations not picking up single digits? and Why is KODA #1 in the ARBS followed by #2 KBXX and #3 KMJQ, and KMJQ and KODA play some oldies? KILT FM is #11 and KILT AM at #24.

A format change like that would take numbers from KODA #1, and KMJQ #3. Going against KKBQ #9, and KTHT #23 to reach #11 and #24. Advertisers would more likely advertise of high rating stations then someone stuck in the middle. One would think.

 

[johndavis]

Then why is KLOL, failing at 13? why are all the Spanish language stations not picking up single digits? and Why is KODA #1 in the ARBS followed by #2 KBXX and #3 KMJQ, and KMJQ and KODA play some oldies? KILT FM is #11 and KILT AM at #24.

You're looking at 6+, aren't you? When you look at the demos it's a totally different picture.

As I said earlier, I don't understand the ins and outs of Spanish-language formats and which ones target youth and which ones target adults like David Gleason, but there are English language stations who would kill for the numbers that KLOL is pulling, not to mention other Spanish language stations. If KLOL isn't making money, it's their own fault. I would suspect they're doing just fine.

 

[poops]

Was cruising the AM dial this morning and ran across a "Classic Hits" station on 1700. I've heard the calls several times today but can't remember them right now. Getting the signal pretty good down in the Lake Jackson area with some high tension power line interference. Is this a Houston Station?

KVNS out of Brownsville. I think they're mostly using Clear Channel Premium Choice.

Thanks John... I guess the skip's talking pretty good right now because I don't remember ever hearing them.

poops

They can be heard almost nightly in the Houston area, and this goes back at least three years (or at least that's when I started listening to them during my time in the area). KVNS has been heard as far away as Scotland. I still listen to them via the stream up here in Ohio a few times a week. They probably are the best classic hits station available in the Houston market, IMO.

Thanks Schmave. Actually the signal is about equal to what I used to hear when back in the 70's when I listened off and on to KTLW, KILE and KBRZ which were so much closer. It's really bad when you would rather listend to intermittent electrical line noise while listening to a station from afar, than switch over to FM and listen to what is available in your area.

poops

 

[schmave]

Was cruising the AM dial this morning and ran across a "Classic Hits" station on 1700. I've heard the calls several times today but can't remember them right now. Getting the signal pretty good down in the Lake Jackson area with some high tension power line interference. Is this a Houston Station?

KVNS out of Brownsville. I think they're mostly using Clear Channel Premium Choice.

Thanks John... I guess the skip's talking pretty good right now because I don't remember ever hearing them.

poops

They can be heard almost nightly in the Houston area, and this goes back at least three years (or at least that's when I started listening to them during my time in the area). KVNS has been heard as far away as Scotland. I still listen to them via the stream up here in Ohio a few times a week. They probably are the best classic hits station available in the Houston market, IMO.

Thanks Schmave. Actually the signal is about equal to what I used to hear when back in the 70's when I listened off and on to KTLW, KILE and KBRZ which were so much closer. It's really bad when you would rather listend to intermittent electrical line noise while listening to a station from afar, than switch over to FM and listen to what is available in your area.

poops

Totally agree. That's how I felt down there.

 

[stan]

I shot an email to a guy at KILT about suggesting a format change his response was:

You sure do have it figured out, don't you? While that may sound perfect for YOU, the demographics just do not support what you are suggesting. Believe me, if they DID, we'd be doing it-hell, I'd love it. I ooze that kind of music. Fact is, more advertisers no longer 'covet' that older demographic like they used to, and prefer the 18-34 crowd. That is the reason many radio stations have skewed to a younger audience. You have to follow the money. Plus, in Houston, we face the ever increasing Hispanic population, and how that equates into the new electronic ratings system. It makes for pretty rough terrain.

This clueless analysis is why radio is on it's downhill slide into irrelevance. HD radio will not save it.

 

[aunti-terrestrial]

I shot an email to a guy at KILT about suggesting a format change his response was:

You sure do have it figured out, don't you? While that may sound perfect for YOU, the demographics just do not support what you are suggesting. Believe me, if they DID, we'd be doing it-hell, I'd love it. I ooze that kind of music. Fact is, more advertisers no longer 'covet' that older demographic like they used to, and prefer the 18-34 crowd. That is the reason many radio stations have skewed to a younger audience. You have to follow the money. Plus, in Houston, we face the ever increasing Hispanic population, and how that equates into the new electronic ratings system. It makes for pretty rough terrain.

This clueless analysis is why radio is on it's downhill slide into irrelevance. HD radio will not save it.

YOU SURE DO HAVE IT ALL FIGURED OUT, DON'T YOU, MR. KNOW-IT-ALL! LOL, j/k, but I do think that's a rude response to a listener. When people stop making suggestions, it means that they've stopped caring. Maybe a nice "thanks for the input, I appreciate your loyalty" might have been a little, I dunno...what's the word I'm looking for?

 

[radiopropd]

I shot an email to a guy at KILT about suggesting a format change his response was:

You sure do have it figured out, don't you? While that may sound perfect for YOU, the demographics just do not support what you are suggesting. Believe me, if they DID, we'd be doing it-hell, I'd love it. I ooze that kind of music. Fact is, more advertisers no longer 'covet' that older demographic like they used to, and prefer the 18-34 crowd. That is the reason many radio stations have skewed to a younger audience. You have to follow the money. Plus, in Houston, we face the ever increasing Hispanic population, and how that equates into the new electronic ratings system. It makes for pretty rough terrain.

This clueless analysis is why radio is on it's downhill slide into irrelevance. HD radio will not save it.

YOU SURE DO HAVE IT ALL FIGURED OUT, DON'T YOU, MR. KNOW-IT-ALL! LOL, j/k, but I do think that's a rude response to a listener. When people stop making suggestions, it means that they've stopped caring. Maybe a nice "thanks for the input, I appreciate your loyalty" might have been a little, I dunno...what's the word I'm looking for?

Gee Aunti - I was thinking RESPECTFUL! But then again, this sounds like a PD that doesn't have an F'ing clue about what real radio is all about. What most personalities have forgotten these days (and I use the term personalities loosely - as they're not allowed to be personalities any longer) is that radio is all about the listeners - and you garner your listeners by having programming that they want to listen to - period, end of sentence! However, having large corporations dictate programming, or god forbid, dictate it through a consultant, using a cookie cutter approach, may be safe, but that's about it.

For most listeners anymore, radio is nothing but background noise. When was the last time you recall something that, let's say KILT FM, had on the air that listeners were talking about throughout the day? For those of you who have forgotten, that's called Water Cooler talk - oh well, I could continue on, and while I'm not against changes to our beloved business, it will continue to die a long death if things aren't changed and if programmers aren't allowed to program their stations based on what their listeners want to hear - not what some consultant thinks is a safe 200 song playlist!

 

[Jay F]

Both stations are are not very good.

Explain why. I'm curious as to why you'd say that.

Compared with KSCS and The Wolf (KPLX) in Dallas, both 93Q and KILT are dogs, even though the market sizes are similar. Not even in the same league.

Yet ratings wise the country share is very similar between Houston and Dallas. 93Q has a near identical share as the WOLF, same with KILT and KSCS.

 

[aunti-terrestrial]

I shot an email to a guy at KILT about suggesting a format change his response was:

You sure do have it figured out, don't you? While that may sound perfect for YOU, the demographics just do not support what you are suggesting. Believe me, if they DID, we'd be doing it-hell, I'd love it. I ooze that kind of music. Fact is, more advertisers no longer 'covet' that older demographic like they used to, and prefer the 18-34 crowd. That is the reason many radio stations have skewed to a younger audience. You have to follow the money. Plus, in Houston, we face the ever increasing Hispanic population, and how that equates into the new electronic ratings system. It makes for pretty rough terrain.

This clueless analysis is why radio is on it's downhill slide into irrelevance. HD radio will not save it.

YOU SURE DO HAVE IT ALL FIGURED OUT, DON'T YOU, MR. KNOW-IT-ALL! LOL, j/k, but I do think that's a rude response to a listener. When people stop making suggestions, it means that they've stopped caring. Maybe a nice "thanks for the input, I appreciate your loyalty" might have been a little, I dunno...what's the word I'm looking for?

Gee Aunti - I was thinking RESPECTFUL! But then again, this sounds like a PD that doesn't have an F'ing clue about what real radio is all about. What most personalities have forgotten these days (and I use the term personalities loosely - as they're not allowed to be personalities any longer) is that radio is all about the listeners - and you garner your listeners by having programming that they want to listen to - period, end of sentence! However, having large corporations dictate programming, or god forbid, dictate it through a consultant, using a cookie cutter approach, may be safe, but that's about it.

For most listeners anymore, radio is nothing but background noise. When was the last time you recall something that, let's say KILT FM, had on the air that listeners were talking about throughout the day? For those of you who have forgotten, that's called Water Cooler talk - oh well, I could continue on, and while I'm not against changes to our beloved business, it will continue to die a long death if things aren't changed and if programmers aren't allowed to program their stations based on what their listeners want to hear - not what some consultant thinks is a safe 200 song playlist!

All true enough. However, you can get over an inferior product by going the extra mile. Take any opportunity that the listeners give you to redirect them to the positives. It does't matter if you're on the air or off, you're still trying to make people choose your station, for what you can give them---not what you can't.

"Thanks for listening; I really like your suggestions. We love your feedback. What things do you like best about us? Cool, well, I've got some X coming up in a little while, how about you go tune in and you can catch it before it comes on."

Talking at people teaches you less than talking to them.

 

[poops]

I shot an email to a guy at KILT about suggesting a format change his response was:

You sure do have it figured out, don't you? While that may sound perfect for YOU, the demographics just do not support what you are suggesting. Believe me, if they DID, we'd be doing it-hell, I'd love it. I ooze that kind of music. Fact is, more advertisers no longer 'covet' that older demographic like they used to, and prefer the 18-34 crowd. That is the reason many radio stations have skewed to a younger audience. You have to follow the money. Plus, in Houston, we face the ever increasing Hispanic population, and how that equates into the new electronic ratings system. It makes for pretty rough terrain.

This clueless analysis is why radio is on it's downhill slide into irrelevance. HD radio will not save it.

YOU SURE DO HAVE IT ALL FIGURED OUT, DON'T YOU, MR. KNOW-IT-ALL! LOL, j/k, but I do think that's a rude response to a listener. When people stop making suggestions, it means that they've stopped caring. Maybe a nice "thanks for the input, I appreciate your loyalty" might have been a little, I dunno...what's the word I'm looking for?

Gee Aunti - I was thinking RESPECTFUL! But then again, this sounds like a PD that doesn't have an F'ing clue about what real radio is all about. What most personalities have forgotten these days (and I use the term personalities loosely - as they're not allowed to be personalities any longer) is that radio is all about the listeners - and you garner your listeners by having programming that they want to listen to - period, end of sentence! However, having large corporations dictate programming, or god forbid, dictate it through a consultant, using a cookie cutter approach, may be safe, but that's about it.

For most listeners anymore, radio is nothing but background noise. When was the last time you recall something that, let's say KILT FM, had on the air that listeners were talking about throughout the day? For those of you who have forgotten, that's called Water Cooler talk - oh well, I could continue on, and while I'm not against changes to our beloved business, it will continue to die a long death if things aren't changed and if programmers aren't allowed to program their stations based on what their listeners want to hear - not what some consultant thinks is a safe 200 song playlist!

All true enough. However, you can get over an inferior product by going the extra mile. Take any opportunity that the listeners give you to redirect them to the positives. It does't matter if you're on the air or off, you're still trying to make people choose your station, for what you can give them---not what you can't.

"Thanks for listening; I really like your suggestions. We love your feedback. What things do you like best about us? Cool, well, I've got some X coming up in a little while, how about you go tune in and you can catch it before it comes on."

Talking at people teaches you less than talking to them.

aunti and radiopropd, thank you from this listener's prospective! You both definately understand whant those of us at the other end of the radio wave have been feeling for many years.

poops

 

[gbranch]

Was cruising the AM dial this morning and ran across a "Classic Hits" station on 1700. I've heard the calls several times today but can't remember them right now. Getting the signal pretty good down in the Lake Jackson area with some high tension power line interference. Is this a Houston Station?

KVNS out of Brownsville. I think they're mostly using Clear Channel Premium Choice.

Thanks John... I guess the skip's talking pretty good right now because I don't remember ever hearing them.

poops

They can be heard almost nightly in the Houston area, and this goes back at least three years (or at least that's when I started listening to them during my time in the area). KVNS has been heard as far away as Scotland. I still listen to them via the stream up here in Ohio a few times a week. They probably are the best classic hits station available in the Houston market, IMO.

I heard KVNS up here in Longview as late as 8:00 PM last night. The signal was quite good - not as strong as WOAI, but better than KRLD or WBAP from nearby DFW. There was some fading and there were a couple of other stations underneath. I was surprised to hear them so late. FCC says they run a 8.8kW daytime facility and a 0.88kW nightime facility. This was obviously the daytime signal that I was hearing at about 450 miles. They must have some really good ground conditions at their transmitter site.

 

[Mediafrog+]

FCC says they run a 8.8kW daytime facility and a 0.88kW nightime facility. This was obviously the daytime signal that I was hearing at about 450 miles. They must have some really good ground conditions at their transmitter site.

I'm sure you were hearing the 880 watt night signal, which actually gets out quite well. Remember that skywave propagation at the high end of the AM band can be quite good.

KVNS has been heard in Western Australia, over 10,000 miles away.

 

[gbranch]

I'm sure you were hearing the 880 watt night signal, which actually gets out quite well. Remember that skywave propagation at the high end of the AM band can be quite good.
KVNS has been heard in Western Australia, over 10,000 miles away.

Amazing that an 880 watt signal can get out so far. But I guess at 1700kHz they are basically a low band shortwave station.

 

[aunti-terrestrial]

Poops, I always thought you were in the industry! Heh, my empathy for the listeners isn't seen as a positive, ya know. I sided with the locals over some pretty rotten rudenesses during the KLOL flip. It was very much We vs. They in the hallways. I understand the feelings of defensiveness when you're doing your best and the listeners just complain at you all the time, but I always saw the times they reach out to you as times when you can increase their respect for what you are doing by respecting their willingness to continue the partnership.

Yeah, too subversive, I know. But on the plus side, I don't have to watch bands from a stupid hill.