Z102 Lubbock is now KISS FM!

[Garrett]

So then, who is going to be the PD of Kiss?
I disagree with anyone who says FMX and Kiss have the same demo are mix well together. They are two completely different formats.

 

[Garrett]

Yeah I heard they're giving up Bob & Tom on FMX to save money. I guess that starts tomorrow? I wonder who they will replace them with. Must suck, having to give up the morning show ranked #1 in males.

Wes & Ethan begin April 1st- gee, LET THE WILD MADCAP FUN BEGIN-

Shows what I get for reading Cspot's posts.
It's HEATHEN and Wes, not "Ethan" and Wes.

No wonder it didn't make sense.
It figures...

 

[cspotrun]

Yeah I heard they're giving up Bob & Tom on FMX to save money. I guess that starts tomorrow? I wonder who they will replace them with. Must suck, having to give up the morning show ranked #1 in males.

Wes & Ethan begin April 1st- gee, LET THE WILD MADCAP FUN BEGIN-

Shows what I get for reading Cspot's posts.
It's HEATHEN and Wes, not "Ethan" and Wes.

No wonder it didn't make sense.
It figures...

he was "E" on Z and he's heathen on X...WHATEVER

 

[Garrett]

I listened to the show and I honestly don't think its the same person.

 

[cspotrun]

I listened to the show and I honestly don't think its the same person.

Clark Kent was actually Superman ya know. but i wouldn't put.....

 

[crow]

I listened to the show and I honestly don't think its the same person.

Come on now.... you know E and The Heathen are the same person...... right? Of course you do.

As for the other issue. Eathen will keep his PD duties for KISS and simply do the show in the AM for X. As for the new show on X... I haven't caught it yet. If it's live and local and serves the demo... it will succeed and succeed better then B&T ever did. As for the other issue of KISS and X sharing listeners... now that there has been a change... it will depend on the music change, if any, of KISS. If it basically stays the same as Z... then the listener crossover between the two will remain. Trust me Garrett... there is a crossover between the two stations.

 

[Garrett]

I listened to the show and I honestly don't think its the same person.

Come on now.... you know E and The Heathen are the same person...... right? Of course you do.

As for the other issue. Eathen will keep his PD duties for KISS and simply do the show in the AM for X. As for the new show on X... I haven't caught it yet. If it's live and local and serves the demo... it will succeed and succeed better then B&T ever did. As for the other issue of KISS and X sharing listeners... now that there has been a change... it will depend on the music change, if any, of KISS. If it basically stays the same as Z... then the listener crossover between the two will remain. Trust me Garrett... there is a crossover between the two stations.

Crow, if that is true, than Lubbock is a backwards market, because Active Rock and CHR couldn't be further apart
First, off, I learned this when I worked at Q106 in San Diego. Before Jacor came in, the previous owners ran a Rim-shot Active Rock station (KIOZ FM), but acquired Q106 from Edens. All the employees at Q106 told me the old owners only knew Active Rock and ran Q106 right into the ground.
Second, format wise, the two are opposed. Active Rock requires the DJ to tail off the music and backsell, and talk dry without a music bed. Active Rock listeners could care less about smooth talking voices, they want to know about concert dates, tours, and information behind the music. CHR is a smooth-voiced, all noise format. You NEVER backsell in CHR. Instead of "reading a book" you introduce each new song at the intro, and there is NEVER dead air, and ALWAYS use a music bed going into spots. In CHR you RARELY play a backtrack unless its heritage and even then, don't over play it. Totally different with Rock.
Third the demos should be different. The demo with Active Rock is predominately male, about 25 to 40. CHR demo is Female, 18-25. I never met a CHR listener that like anything on an Active Rock or Rock station, and I have never met a Active Rock listener who liked to listen to Top 40. I guess since you worked there you will know better than I would, so I won't disagree with you. But if it is true, KISS/Z102 is doomed, or I have it all wrong (probably the latter). It makes no sense to me, none at all. Which explains why I no longer work in this market, I guess...

 

[bhenslee]

The folks at 101 have to at least consider dumping JB&B in favor of Bob and Tom, which would be a much better fit on 101 than it ever was on FMX. Despite the previous statement, for years Bob and Tom were typically the #1 daypart (or close to it) on FMX. I'm guessing they were still #1 with males, but with smaller shares than they were once pulling. Of course, they got the axe last year in Midland/Odessa.

Lastly, as previously discussed, the FMXing of Z102 is what killed the station and the brand. That's why it's now KISS and that's why no FMXers are on the station.

 

[cspotrun]

The folks at 101 have to at least consider dumping JB&B in favor of Bob and Tom, which would be a much better fit on 101 than it ever was on FMX. Despite the previous statement, for years Bob and Tom were typically the #1 daypart (or close to it) on FMX. I'm guessing they were still #1 with males, but with smaller shares than they were once pulling. Of course, they got the axe last year in Midland/Odessa.

Lastly, as previously discussed, the FMXing of Z102 is what killed the station and the brand. That's why it's now KISS and that's why no FMXers are on the station.

except fmxer"BIG!" about the only live local shift on the station m-f

 

[crow]

With all due respect Garrett and others...

You ran through a laundry list of things that a RADIO PROFESSOR would tell it's class. However, in the real world... things are different. For instance, you mentioned that ACTIVE ROCK doesn't use music beds.... well if thats the case... no one bothered to tell any ACTIVE ROCK stations that I have ever listened to. I used music beds all the time. I hated the sound of DEAD AIR as you put it.

Also, regarding the comment made by others that FMXing Z was what killed it.... with all due respect.... if that was the case.... how do you explain the bad ratings that Z had BEFORE anyone from FMX came over? I am sorry, but to me, to say that having FMX jocks on Z killed it... is a cop out. The jocks on Z had NOTHING to do with the dropping ratings etc... What it came down to was the fact that there were more stations NOW to compete with then there were before when Z was on top. Z was trying to make ALL sorts of listeners happy with it's bipolar format and that was the main reason it sank and could never really get its head above water. There's more to it than that... but I will stop there.

 

[Old Nick]

The folks at 101 have to at least consider dumping JB&B in favor of Bob and Tom, which would be a much better fit on 101 than it ever was on FMX. Despite the previous statement, for years Bob and Tom were typically the #1 daypart (or close to it) on FMX. I'm guessing they were still #1 with males, but with smaller shares than they were once pulling. Of course, they got the axe last year in Midland/Odessa.

I hope when people read posts like this they don't accept them as "facts". Anyone who bothered to check the real facts would tell you that Bob and Tom were a drag on the KFMX ratings. Check the facts. Mornings were always the worst daypart on FMX since Jackie and Wes left.

Fact #2. John Boy & Billy and Bob and Tom are the same syndicator. They won't want 101 to make the switch it would cause them to many political problems internally.

 

[bhenslee]

I should've clarified that my assumptions weren't based on fact. I don't have the numbers in front of me...I don't live in Lubbock. Many of my statements were based on information relayed from within that building.

I do know that Bob and Tom's ratings were a drag in the first 2-3 years. And may have been a drag for the past 2 years (I can't answer that). But there was a stretch where they performed pretty well, despite being an odd fit on FMX. That station has had some stellar books in recent years (including Spring '08). Stellar books don't happen without decent mornings show numbers. Why else would you keep a syndicated show for 10 years (or however long it was)? Why would you keep signing iron-clad contract after iron-clad contract if it was a flop the entire time?

As for the FMXing of Z102 (sorry I brought it back up). Let me clarify. The FMXing of Z102 was the final nail in the coffin. The death march began the day Jay Shannon left.

 

[Old Nick]

Never claimed I was stating facts, Nick. I don't have the numbers in front of me...I don't live in Lubbock. Many of my statements are based on information I've received from within that building.

I do know that Bob and Tom's ratings were a drag in the first 2-3 years. And may have been a drag for the past 2 years (I can't answer that). But there was a stretch where they performed pretty well, despite being an odd fit on FMX. That station has had some stellar books in recent years (including Spring '08). Stellar books don't happen without decent mornings show numbers. Why else would you keep a syndicated show for 10 years (or however long it was)? Why would you keep signing iron-clad contract after iron-clad contract if it was a flop the entire time?

When you have a talk morning show and a music station you have two almost completely different audiences (making it near impossible to convert morning listeners into full-time listeners). My guess is FMX decided to give up on those older white males and start solidifying their audience and broadening their demo. My guess is also the new management is more willing to take chances (or even save money) by putting some locals on.

I think it's pretty apparent that FMX made Bob and Tom popular in Lubbock and not the other way around.

 

[bhenslee]

Agreed!

 

[Old Nick]

Thank you for your response. It seems that all too frequently on these (and any) boards persons are just looking to pick fights than to look deeply into answers other than their own. I'm still not saying I'm right, I'm just tyring to provide a different perspective.

 

[Garrett]

The death march began the day Jay Shannon left.

ETCH THAT IN STONE! A truer statement has never been made!

 

[bhenslee]

I do have a question for the panel. I only recently learned about the management change at Gap in Lubbock. What's the story there? Is there a story? How long ago did it happen? Was the new management in place when the changes were made at Kool?

 

[BigVoiceGuy]

Changes were made early in the evening on October 30th. There is really nothing to tell; it was all pretty obvious, had you been in the building. The changes at Kool happened in mid-late February.

 

[bayou_city_bob]

Changes were made early in the evening on October 30th.(CUE DRAMATIC MUSIC & read below...) There is really nothing to tell; it was all pretty obvious, had you been in the building. The changes at Kool happened in mid-late February.

If I remember correctly, it was Colonel Mustard in the conservatory with the lead pipe, and the secret passage was used to gain entry....

 

[crow]

I believe the statement is correct regarding FMX making B&T popular and they might have had some very successful books. However, and I am just guessing here, I think the run of B&T on FMX was due in part to not having the right local talent to take their place. I also believe it just came down to a matter of it just being easier at the time to have a syndicated morning show. Kinda like, if it's not really broke that bad... don't fix it.... kinda thing. However, I do know that the idea of getting rid of B&T had been talked about for a long time. I believe it just came down to the fact that they weren't entertaining anymore. I honestly believe they weren't doing the station any favors by keeping them on any longer. Not to say that they sucked, cuz there were people who enjoyed them.... I never did.... but it seemed as if they were doing the same thing over and over. That kinda crap gets old for any PD etc.... and I am just glad that the change was made. I was surprised as HELL when I saw that B&T actually had a damn TV show.


As for JAY SHANNON... let me just say this. I do not know the man. He is probably a great guy and I read that he was a great programmer. However, when I was at Z... we were told or it was suggested to us... to schedule are music based on how JAY said we should run it or how a certain upper management's child thought we should run it. You think I am joking about that? Nope. As far as rotations etc.... It was also suggested to us to follow HIS play list, for the most part. Now, I remember once looking to see how his own station was doing and at the time... his station was number 6 or 7 in the market... out of how many.... I dont recall the total number. Now, with this being said... during the time that we were suggested to do it Jay's way... we received more complaints by phone and email regarding our music. This was something I had never experienced before. Then, at some point, we decided to rely on our own talents etc... when it came to music scheduling and we would look at what KISS in DALLAS was doing and there were two other stations we would look at as well and then we would simply just rely on our own ear.... the complaints practically went away. So, with that all being said... what JAY SHANNON did for Z when he was there... is great. Or at least, thats what I have read etc... However, his talent after he left didn't really do anything for us. Now, understand, I have nothing against JAY SHANNON at all. So, I have no reason to diss him etc.... I am simply telling you how it played out when I was there. I feel we did a great job when it came to the music. Yes, there were some things that I didn't agree with when it came to the music as far as playing more of one format style then another during a specific daypart. I would explain... but I will not waste your time. However, over all... like I said... I think we did a good job at picking what was going to be hot, how often to play it, what should our re-currents be etc.... I don't know how many times Z was on a song and had been on a song for some time then finally MIX etc... would jump on it. This happened more then just a few times. Yet, when it comes down to it... I feel, like I have said before, that what hurt Z was the bipolar-ish type of format it had. I feel that it simply just stretched it's self too thin in the long run. As soon as the other stations popped up... I think it should of focused on one direction and gone for it.

However, these are JUST my opinions.

Also, I apologize for the length of this comment... I'm all jacked up on coffee. It's been a long day.