WKTU added to MB Top40 panel

[AM FM listener]

It is unusual for one owner to have two mainstream CHR's in the same market. But, Z-100 leans a bit pop/rock (for a CHR these days) and KTU leans dance so they are not totally overlapping. Maybe Z will gradually lean more pop and go after more of PLJ's audience in the future.

Interesting how every former Rhythmic AC station is evolving into either Mainstream CHR, Rhythmic CHR, Hot AC or Rhythmic Oldies.

 

[atlantaboy]

This is not about "letting" a station on a panel. The various monitoring / detection services like MediaBase and BDS make determinations of where a station best fits in terms of its participation in the national "format" charts.

I mean, I know you must have better knowledge of the industry than I do, but I just don't buy it - The three CBS Amp/Now stations are all on the CHR panel, while tons of non-CBS stations with identical playlists are on the Rhythmic panel - Three Cox AC stations are on the Hot AC panel, while tons of non-Cox stations with identical playlists are on the AC panel -

I just can't believe that CBS, Cox, Clear Channel, etc. have no say in what panel their station reports to

As a matter of fact, I remember a few people in the industry telling me that record labels put pressure on Mediabase/BDS to move stations to certain panels so that their artists have optimum performace on the charts

 

[davideduardo]

I mean, I know you must have better knowledge of the industry than I do, but I just don't buy it - The three CBS Amp/Now stations are all on the CHR panel, while tons of non-CBS stations with identical playlists are on the Rhythmic panel - Three Cox AC stations are on the Hot AC panel, while tons of non-Cox stations with identical playlists are on the AC panel -

The evaluation of a station can involve things like ethnic composition of the audience in proportion to population, as well as frequency of play and so on. I don't have the information, but there are no doubt some guidelines for stations being added or dropped from panels, and I also believe there will be some kind of judgement call element involved, too, when it comes to determining a station's position in its local market's array of competitors.

I just can't believe that CBS, Cox, Clear Channel, etc. have no say in what panel their station reports to

The issue is why a station cares what panel they are on today. At one time, reporting to certain charts could help getting show "naming rights" and promotions, but the record industry is not really providing much in the way of that sort of tie in today.

Sales is not based on the panel a station reports to.

 

[atlantaboy]

The issue is why a station cares what panel they are on today. At one time, reporting to certain charts could help getting show "naming rights" and promotions, but the record industry is not really providing much in the way of that sort of tie in today.

I mean, I have no clue what their motivation is, but all the ACs reporting as Hot AC are owned by Cox, and almost all the Rhythmics disguised as CHRs are owned by CBS - to me, it's just too much of a coincidence

 

[TonySantiago]

KTU being reclassified by MediaBase is much more about CHR moving more dance than KTU changing format (which it did not do). This has nothing to do with ratings, revenue or sales in my opinion.

I definitely agree with you on this one.

'KTU didn't change a thing but you are witnessing a shift where you have the R&B/rhythmic artists going "dance" and dance music in the core brand slowly leaning into it. I could see a new classification if more stations go this route...."Uptempo". The stations that go this route will be dealing with younger demos. Even though 'KTU leaned into this classification, they are still a rhythmic A/C station. As long as they keep to their audience (W 25-54), then they still bill high.

 

[davideduardo]

The issue is why a station cares what panel they are on today. At one time, reporting to certain charts could help getting show "naming rights" and promotions, but the record industry is not really providing much in the way of that sort of tie in today.

I mean, I have no clue what their motivation is, but all the ACs reporting as Hot AC are owned by Cox, and almost all the Rhythmics disguised as CHRs are owned by CBS - to me, it's just too much of a coincidence

First, stations don't report... they are electronically monitored, whether they want it or not.

Second, it's the airplay reporting company that assigns stations to panels based on thier criteria and objectives. MediaBase may have a station in one way, BDS or MediaMonitors in another fashion...

Keep in mind that one of the principal functions of charts of any kind is to aid music buyers who don't and can't know all kinds of music so they know what to stock. If you think of the music departments at WalMart and Target, you have limited footage so every item has to have sales potential... thus chart guidance. Even in broader selection retail locations, like Best Buy, the music department is still limited so buyers use charts, soundscan an their own data mining to rack individual CDs.

Another use of charts, the one more relative to radio, involves using charts as one of the elements in making music decisions... PDs wil look at charts and idividual station moves to confirm intentions to add or move or drop currents and to check recurrents and gold / old school material.

I thin the executives at Cox and CBS have more on their minds than looking at what panel BDS has assigned one of thier stations to.

 

[atlantaboy]

I thin the executives at Cox and CBS have more on their minds than looking at what panel BDS has assigned one of thier stations to.

So...I'm just wondering...(if you have the time) look up the playlists for KSMG/San Antonio, WURV/Richmond, and KRAV/Tulsa on AllAccess - what's your take on why Mediabase would possibly want these three Cox stations on the Hot AC panel?

 

[davideduardo]

I thin the executives at Cox and CBS have more on their minds than looking at what panel BDS has assigned one of thier stations to.

So...I'm just wondering...(if you have the time) look up the playlists for KSMG/San Antonio, WURV/Richmond, and KRAV/Tulsa on AllAccess - what's your take on why Mediabase would possibly want these three Cox stations on the Hot AC panel?

This is one of those "it it looks like a duck, walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it must be a duck" situations.

KRAV: Core is 25-44. It does less well in 18-24 and 25-54, so it's not an AC and not a CHR.

WURV: Underperformer, but core is 25-34 and 25-39. Not AC, not CHR.

KSMG: Very similar to KRAV, maybe a couple of years higher average age, making it a 25-49 core rather than 25-44. Lower in 18-24, so not a CHR. And it's not AC, as it still leans too young for mainstream AC.

So the classificatiobn is partly due to the audience appeal, not just the playlist.

 

[icybluelake]

KTU may not have changed a thing, but tweaking seems to be the order of the day, thinking about how Now and Power seem to be trying to position themselves without making significant changes.

 

[atlantaboy]

I thin the executives at Cox and CBS have more on their minds than looking at what panel BDS has assigned one of thier stations to.

So...I'm just wondering...(if you have the time) look up the playlists for KSMG/San Antonio, WURV/Richmond, and KRAV/Tulsa on AllAccess - what's your take on why Mediabase would possibly want these three Cox stations on the Hot AC panel?

This is one of those "it it looks like a duck, walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it must be a duck" situations.

KRAV: Core is 25-44. It does less well in 18-24 and 25-54, so it's not an AC and not a CHR.

WURV: Underperformer, but core is 25-34 and 25-39. Not AC, not CHR.

KSMG: Very similar to KRAV, maybe a couple of years higher average age, making it a 25-49 core rather than 25-44. Lower in 18-24, so not a CHR. And it's not AC, as it still leans too young for mainstream AC.

So the classificatiobn is partly due to the audience appeal, not just the playlist.

I was with you at first there, but look at the playlists...

KRAV is playing ONE SONG on the entire Hot AC chart lol (Firework by Katy Perry)

WURV is playing TWO SONGS on the entire Hot AC chart (Rolling In The Deep and Marry Me)

And KSMG plays NO SONGS on the Hot AC chart!!!

Classifying a station as Hot AC that plays NO SONGS on the entire Hot AC chart lol...something's wrong here...

 

[davideduardo]

I was with you at first there, but look at the playlists...

KRAV is playing ONE SONG on the entire Hot AC chart lol (Firework by Katy Perry)

WURV is playing TWO SONGS on the entire Hot AC chart (Rolling In The Deep and Marry Me)

And KSMG plays NO SONGS on the Hot AC chart!!!

Classifying a station as Hot AC that plays NO SONGS on the entire Hot AC chart lol...something's wrong here...

But in each individual market, those specific stations have defined Hot AC for their local market. We know the stations are Hot AC because they have the precise profile of a Hot AC. There is no requirement that a Hot AC play songs that work in other markets... it's easier to do that, of course.

But taking San Antonio, which is over 50% Hispanic and where 3/4 of Hispanics are English dominant but culturally of a unique identity. It's natural that the list will reflect the distinct nature of that market, which is truly unlike any other in the US in terms of ethnicity and media usage...

I can't guess why the other two deviate from a consensus behaviour but we should be glad that there are stations that are still willing to develop a local music blend and to see that it works!

 

[atlantaboy]

I can't guess why the other two deviate from a consensus behaviour but we should be glad that there are stations that are still willing to develop a local music blend and to see that it works!

Are you serious man? All they're doing is playing old songs...

Here are the Top 5 songs this week on KSMG...
1. Bruno Mars - Just The Way You Are
2. Train - Hey Soul Sister
3. Black Eyed Peas - I Gotta Feeling
4. Kings Of Leon - Use Somebody
5. Lady Antebellum - Need You Now
6. Jason Mraz - I'm Yours
7. Taylor Swift - You Belong With Me
8. Kelly Clarkson - Already Gone
9. Uncle Kracker - Smile
10. Kid Rock - All Summer Long

You seriously don't think this has anything to do with the fact that all three stations are owned by Cox?

 

[radioresearcher]

I can't guess why the other two deviate from a consensus behaviour but we should be glad that there are stations that are still willing to develop a local music blend and to see that it works!

Are you serious man? All they're doing is playing old songs...

Here are the Top 5 songs this week on KSMG...
1. Bruno Mars - Just The Way You Are
2. Train - Hey Soul Sister
3. Black Eyed Peas - I Gotta Feeling
4. Kings Of Leon - Use Somebody
5. Lady Antebellum - Need You Now
6. Jason Mraz - I'm Yours
7. Taylor Swift - You Belong With Me
8. Kelly Clarkson - Already Gone
9. Uncle Kracker - Smile
10. Kid Rock - All Summer Long

You seriously don't think this has anything to do with the fact that all three stations are owned by Cox?

The Cox stations are recurrent based Hot AC's. They don't report to the Hot AC "panel".