INSIDERADIO.COM
Thursday, February 16,
2005
The Inside Story with Mike Kinosian:
Problems in rock?
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Rock In Your World
Things somehow wouldn’t seem normal unless there was an undercurrent about actual or imagined problems existing in the Rock format.
Much like ABC Radio’s KLOS/Los Angeles did years ago, Clear Channel’s consistently potent WDVE/Pittsburgh and sister WKLS/Atlanta have shifted to Classic Rock, as has Emmis’ KLBJ-FM/Austin.
There’s also been relatively recent movement regarding Rock and Active Rock stations in several other Top 50 markets.
>WZZN jettisoned Active Rock to become “Chicago’s True Oldies Channel.”
>Active Rock KEGL/Dallas is enjoying No. 2 12+ success as Spanish Oldies “La Preciosa,” the same format former San Jose Rocker KSJO now airs (also with No. 2 12+ results).
>Latin Urban is the new format for both KLOL/Houston (“Mega 101”) and Active Rock WZTA/Miami (“Mega 94.9”).
>Regional Mexican (KDUT) has replaced Rock on KWKD/Salt Lake City.
>Orlando’s WJRR - the calls were chosen years ago to reflect “Just Real Rock” – is now Alternative as “Real Rock.”
>Nashville Active Rock WNPL has become Sports “The Fan 106.7.”
On the flipside, the Classic Rock-heavy Albany market this past Monday (2-13-2006) gained an Active Rocker, as Pamal transitioned Country simulcast partner WZMR to “The New Edge.”
Looking To Shake Things Up
The whispering is back – or perhaps more accurately lingers – about the entity that is actually a collection of formats which encompasses diverse demos. “Listeners include 16-year old skate punks in Los Angeles to 50-year old auto workers in Detroit,” remarks Jeff Pollack, widely regarded as one of the foremost authorities on Rock radio. “Generally speaking, the older you target, the better things are.”
The explosion of Adult Hits “Play Anything” stations has produced a mixed ratings bag, while other Gold-based formats such as 1970s-intensive Classic Rock are on the upswing. “According to Arbitron’s format share report, Classic Rock and heritage Rock stations have a 6.4 national share, which is the highest share these formats have had since 2003,” observes the Chairman/CEO of Pacific Palisades, CA’s Pollack Media Group. “They’re [also] probably among the highest shares in these formats’ histories. So, clearly good things are happening. Still, for Classic Rock, the cloud on the horizon is the fact that the audience is aging rapidly.”
Likewise, it’s not a much prettier picture for Rock-leaning stations targeting younger audiences. “Nowhere is it bleaker than in Alternative, which presumably targets 18-34, but has attempted to morph into a 25+ format due to sales pressure,” Pollack opines. “You can expect serious erosion when a format that should have a firm grounding in 18-24 abandons them. The result is that Alternative has its lowest national share in memory. The format needs a major shakeup and a move away from business as usual.”
Grey Anatomy
Positioned between Alternative and Classic Rock is “Active Rock” and Pollack comments that it’s seen the benefits and failures of both of its bordering formats. “On one hand [Active Rock’s] national share has never been higher, but then again, we’re talking less than 2.5 shares. This format is going through the same crisis as Alternative. Stations are trying to decide whether this is a Gold-based or a contemporary format.”
Overlap in a variety of music genres can often get quite dicey. There are times when Hot AC and CHR/Pop can sound pretty similar, yet Adult Contemporary and Hot AC also have considerable title duplication.
A related issue exists between Alternative and Active Rock. “[Clear Channel Alternative] KDGE is the only contemporary Rock station [in Dallas] and it plays Guns N’ Roses, a band not at all associated with Alternative,” Pollack remarks. “Does that make them Active Rock or are they still Alternative? With Alternative trying to artificially move into formerly Active Rock demos, maybe it doesn’t matter.”
High Def’s Role
High Definition is the current industry buzz, and Rock aficionados have sufficient reason to be pleased about the possibilities. Included as potential secondary terrestrial audio channels are such offerings as “Chick Rock,” “Classic Alternative,” “Deep Cuts Classic Rock,” “Fusion Hispanic-Anglo Rock,” “Indie & New Rock,” “Live Rock” and “New Alternative.”
Rock formats are, in Pollack’s estimation, “perfect” for HD multicasts. “While it's still the biggest musical genre, Rock is the most fragmented radio format group of all,” he states. “This technology might even hasten the demise of other terrestrial Rock stations, especially in big markets. Having the HD multicasts as a backup provides some cover for those operators who want to blow up a Rock or Alternative format in favor of something else.”
Various Rock format power ratios are substantial enough that they make a great option on the sales side. “Even though these sub-channels will initially be commercial-free, eventually they are expected to provide a solid revenue stream,” Pollack notes. “Males are often the early adopters of new technology. Providing male-based formats makes a lot of sense, especially in the early stages.”
Fall 2005 Active Rock & Rock Overview
Comprehensive Top 75 Market (Arbitron 12+) Fall 2005 Active Rock and Rock scoreboards appear below.
Market No. 47 (New Orleans) was not surveyed this Fall (Katrina); data from Buffalo (No. 52) and Honolulu (No. 63) was unavailable.
In order to be listed, a station had to rank in a market’s Top 25 this Fall.
As a result, some stations appear in multiple markets.
CBS Radio’s WXRK/New York, for example, - which is now “Free FM” WFNY - is also noted in Long Island, Middlesex-Somerset-Union and Monmouth-Ocean.
The list includes some stations that changed format during or after the Fall book.
It’s possible, of course, for a station from market 76+ - such as Manchester, NH’s WGIR – to crack the Top 25 (12+) in a Top 75 Market (Boston).
The following is presented by market size and includes Fall 2004/Fall 2004 12+ share; Fall-Fall fluctuation; and Fall 2005 12+ market rank.
Active Rock By Market Size
06 WYSP/Philadelphia 4.9 4.2 -0.7 No. 05
09 WRIF/Detroit 4.5 4.6 +0.1 No. 07
11 WAAF/Boston 2.0 2.3 +0.3 No. 16
11 WGIR-FM/Boston 0.7 1.0 +0.3 No. 22
12 WHDR/Miami 2.0 1.8 -0.2 No. 22
14 KISW/Seattle 3.8 3.3 -0.5 No. 09
14 KFNK/Seattle 0.9 1.2 +0.3 No. 25
15 KUPD/Phoenix 2.7 3.2 +0.5 No. 13
16 KXXR/Minneapolis 4.2 4.4 +0.2 No. 06
17 KIOZ/San Diego 2.1 3.5 +1.4 No. 09
19 WXTB/Tampa 2.4 2.5 +0.1 No. 16
21 WIYY/Baltimore 4.0 4.4 +0.4 No. 06
22 KBPI/Denver 3.3 3.7 +0.4 No. 08
29 KQRC/Kansas City 6.5 5.3 -1.2 No. 03
30 KISS/San Antonio 5.0 5.0 Flat No. 06
31 KHTB & KRAR/Salt Lake City 2.3 2.8 +0.5 No. 15
32 KOMP/Las Vegas 3.9 4.6 +0.7 No. 05
36 WAAF/Providence 1.3 1.4 +0.1 No. 19
38 WBZX/Columbus 4.6 3.8 -0.8 No. 09
38 WAZU/Columbus 1.2 1.2 Flat No. 20
40 WNOR/Norfolk 3.7 3.0 -0.7 No. 13
42 KISS/Austin 0.0 0.6 +0.6 No. 25
44 WBUZ/Nashville 2.3 2.9 +0.6 No. 15
46 WHDR/West Palm Beach 1.0 1.6 +0.6 No. 20
50 WCCC/Hartford 6.2 5.1 -1.1 No. 07
51 WRAT/Monmouth 2.2 1.6 -0.6 No. 18
53 KATT/Oklahoma City 4.8 4.8 Flat No. 08
54 WNVE/Rochester 1.4 1.6 +0.2 No. 14
55 WTFX/Louisville 3.8 1.8 -2.0 No. 15
59 KFRQ/McAllen 5.9 5.8 -0.1 No. 06
60 WTPT/Greenville, SC 4.1 3.6 -0.5 No. 10
62 WQBJ & WQBK/Albany 5.0 5.2 +0.2 No. 07
64 WRQC/Fort Myers 1.8 1.4 -0.4 No. 18
66 KRZR/Fresno 4.2 2.8 -1.4 No. 16
67 WKLQ/Grand Rapids 2.2 3.4 +1.2 No. 10
69 WBSX/Wilkes Barre 4.4 4.3 -0.1 No. 07
74 WXTB/Sarasota 2.5 3.1 +0.6 No. 10
Top Ten Active Rock 12+ Shares
59 KFRQ/McAllen 5.8 -0.1 No. 06
29 KQRC/Kansas City 5.3 -1.2 No. 03
62 WQBJ & WQBK/Albany 5.2 +0.2 No. 07
50 WCCC/Hartford 5.1 -1.1 No. 07
30 KISS/San Antonio 5.0 Flat No. 06
53 KATT/Oklahoma City 4.8 Flat No. 08
09 WRIF/Detroit 4.6 +0.1 No. 07
32 KOMP/Las Vegas 4.6 +0.7 No. 05
16 KXXR/Minneapolis 4.4 +0.2 No. 06
21 WIYY/Baltimore 4.4 +0.4 No. 06
>Comparing Top 75 Market Active Rock Fall 2004/Fall 2005 12+ shares produces a statistical dead heat: 3.18 – 3.15.
Top Ten Active Rock 12+ Gains
17 KIOZ/San Diego +1.4 No. 09
67 WKLQ/Grand Rapids +1.2 No. 10
32 KOMP/Las Vegas +0.7 No. 05
42 KISS/Austin +0.6 No. 25
44 WBUZ/Nashville +0.6 No. 15
46 WHDR/West Palm Beach +0.6 No. 20
74 WXTB/Sarasota +0.6 No. 10
15 KUPD/Phoenix +0.5 No. 13
31 KHTB & KRAR/Salt Lake City +0.5 No. 15
21 WIYY/Baltimore +0.4 No. 06
22 KBPI/Denver +0.4 No. 08
Top Ten Active Rock 12+ Losses
55 WTFX/Louisville -2.0 No. 15
66 KRZR/Fresno -1.4 No. 16
29 KQRC/Kansas City -1.2 No. 03
50 WCCC/Hartford -1.1 No. 07
38 WBZX/Columbus -0.8 No. 09
40 WNOR/Norfolk -0.7 No. 13
06 WYSP/Philadelphia -0.7 No. 05
51 WRAT/Monmouth -0.6 No. 18
60 WTPT/Greenville, SC -0.5 No. 10
14 KISW/Seattle -0.5 No. 09
>More than half of the Top 75 Market Active Rock stations (54%) registered Fall-Fall gains; 38% declined; and 8% remained flat.
>The typical gain was +0.46 and the representative decline was -0.73.
Top Ten Active Rock Stations By 12+ Rank
29 KQRC/Kansas City 5.3 No. 03
06 WYSP/Philadelphia 4.2 No. 05
32 KOMP/Las Vegas 4.6 No. 05
16 KXXR/Minneapolis 4.4 No. 06
21 WIYY/Baltimore 4.4 No. 06
30 KISS/San Antonio 5.0 No. 06
59 KFRQ/McAllen 5.8 No. 06
09 WRIF/Detroit 4.6 No. 07
50 WCCC/Hartford 5.1 No. 07
62 WQBJ & WQBK/Albany 5.2 No. 07
69 WBSX/Wilkes Barre 4.3 No. 07
>Slightly more than half (51%) Top 75 Market Active Rock stations ranked in the Top Ten this Fall; the typical market rank was 12.43.
Rock By Market Size
01 WXRK/New York 3.3 3.2 -0.1 No. 11
06 WMMR/Philadelphia 2.7 4.9 +2.2 No. 04
07 KIOL/Houston 0.9 1.2 +0.3 No. 24
15 KDKB/Phoenix 2.4 1.8 -0.6 No. 19
18 WXRK/Long Island 4.4 4.3 -0.1 No. 04
18 WBAB & WHFM/L.I. 3.4 3.1 -0.3 No. 10
23 WRKZ/Pittsburgh 3.8 3.0 -0.8 No. 12
24 KUFO/Portland 3.0 4.2 +1.2 No. 05
25 WMMS/Cleveland 3.9 4.2 +0.3 No. 10
26 KRXQ/Sacramento 3.4 4.3 +0.9 No. 05
27 KCAL/Riverside 3.1 2.2 -0.9 No. 16
28 WEBN/Cincinnati 5.1 5.1 Flat No. 04
29 KCXM/Kansas City 1.2 1.8 +0.6 No. 20
30 KSRX/San Antonio 2.5 2.0 -0.5 No. 18
31 KBER/Salt Lake City 3.1 3.8 +0.7 No. 08
33 WHQG/Milwaukee 4.4 6.0 +1.6 No. 03
36 WHJY/Providence 7.2 6.0 -1.2 No. 04
38 WLVQ/Columbus 4.3 5.4 +1.1 No. 06
39 WXRK/Middlesex 3.9 4.0 +0.1 No. 05
40 WXMM/Norfolk 3.5 1.8 -1.7 No. 17
43 WBBB/Raleigh 4.1 4.0 -0.1 No. 10
45 WVBZ/Greensboro 3.2 3.1 -0.1 No. 10
49 WXMX/Memphis 2.5 1.9 -0.6 No. 15
50 WPLR/Hartford 1.4 1.5 +0.1 No. 13
51 WXRK/Monmouth 3.5 3.2 -0.3 No. 10
60 WBZT/Greenville, SC 1.2 1.5 +0.3 No. 14
65 KMOD/Tulsa 5.0 4.2 -0.8 No. 09
68 WZZO/Allentown 8.6 8.4 -0.2 No. 05
68 WMMR/Allentown 0.0 0.5 +0.5 No. 24
69 WZZO/Wilkes Barre 1.3 1.0 -0.3 No. 17
70 KZRR/Albuquerque 5.0 4.2 -0.8 No. 05
72 KEZO/Omaha 6.4 6.0 -0.4 No. 05
72 KQBW/Omaha 3.4 3.5 +0.1 No. 10
73 WMMS/Akron 4.3 3.5 -0.8 No. 09
73 WRQK/Akron 0.7 0.6 -0.1 No. 25
75 WMMR/Wilmington, DE 1.9 3.3 +1.4 No. 06
Top Ten Rock 12+ Shares
68 WZZO/Allentown 8.4 -0.2 No. 05
33 WHQG/Milwaukee 6.0 +1.6 No. 03
36 WHJY/Providence 6.0 -1.2 No. 04
72 KEZO/Omaha 6.0 -0.4 No. 05
38 WLVQ/Columbus 5.4 +1.1 No. 06
28 WEBN/Cincinnati 5.1 Flat No. 04
06 WMMR/Philadelphia 4.9 +2.2 No. 04
18 WXRK/Long Island 4.3 -0.1 No. 04
26 KRXQ/Sacramento 4.3 +0.9 No. 05
24 KUFO/Portland 4.2 +1.2 No. 05
25 WMMS/Cleveland 4.2 +0.3 No. 10
65 KMOD/Tulsa 4.2 -0.8 No. 09
70 KZRR/Albuquerque 4.2 -0.8 No. 05
>Top 75 Market Rock stations notched a 3.38 – 3.40 (12+) Fall 2004/Fall 2005 improvement.
Top Ten Rock 12+ Gains
06 WMMR/Philadelphia +2.2 No. 04
33 WHQG/Milwaukee +1.6 No. 03
75 WMMR/Wilmington, DE +1.4 No. 06
24 KUFO/Portland +1.2 No. 05
38 WLVQ/Columbus +1.1 No. 06
26 KRXQ/Sacramento +0.9 No. 05
31 KBER/Salt Lake City +0.7 No. 08
29 KCXM/Kansas City +0.6 No. 20
68 WMMR/Allentown +0.5 No. 24
07 KIOL/Houston +0.3 No. 24
25 WMMS/Cleveland +0.3 No. 10
60 WBZT/Greenville, SC +0.3 No. 14
Top Ten Rock 12+ Losses
40 WXMM/Norfolk -1.7 No. 17
36 WHJY/Providence -1.2 No. 04
27 KCAL/Riverside -0.9 No. 16
73 WMMS/Akron -0.8 No. 09
70 KZRR/Albuquerque -0.8 No. 05
65 KMOD/Tulsa -0.8 No. 09
23 WRKZ/Pittsburgh -0.8 No. 12
49 WXMX/Memphis -0.6 No. 15
15 KDKB/Phoenix -0.6 No. 19
30 KSRX/San Antonio -0.5 No. 18
>Just over four of every ten Top 75 Market Rock stations (42%) witnessed Fall-Fall gains; 55% dipped; and 3% remained even.
>The typical gain was +0.31 and the representative decline was -0.53.
Top Ten Rock Stations By 12+ Rank
33 WHQG/Milwaukee 6.0 No. 03
06 WMMR/Philadelphia 4.9 No. 04
18 WXRK/Long Island 4.3 No. 04
28 WEBN/Cincinnati 5.1 No. 04
36 WHJY/Providence 6.0 No. 04
24 KUFO/Portland 4.2 No. 05
26 KRXQ/Sacramento 4.3 No. 05
39 WXRK/Middlesex 4.0 No. 05
68 WZZO/Allentown 8.4 No. 05
70 KZRR/Albuquerque 4.2 No. 05
72 KEZO/Omaha 6.0 No. 05
>More than six of every ten (61%) Top 75 Market Rock stations ranked in the Top Ten this Fall - 31% were Top Five; the typical market rank was 10.88.
Head-To-Head
There were a dozen instances where at least one Active Rock station and at least one Rock facility appeared in the Top 25 (12+) of the same Top 75 Market book.
Some cases are admittedly misleading, since it’s possible that one station is actually an out-of-market signal.
In Providence, for example, WAAF is actually a Boston-Worcester station, and Allentown’s WZZO appears in the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton book.
Active Rock stations are designated with a dual asterisk (**).
No. 6 - Philadelphia
WMMR 2.7 4.9 +2.2 No. 04
WYSP** 4.9 4.2 -0.7 No. 05
No. 15 - Phoenix
KUPD** 2.7 3.2 +0.5 No. 13
KDKB 2.4 1.8 -0.6 No. 19
No. 29 – Kansas City
KQRC** 6.5 5.3 -1.2 No. 03
KCXM 1.2 1.8 +0.6 No. 20
No. 30 – San Antonio
KISS** 5.0 5.0 Flat No. 06
KSRX 2.5 2.0 -0.5 No. 18
No. 31 – Salt Lake City
KBER 3.1 3.8 +0.7 No. 08
KHTB & KRAR** 2.3 2.8 +0.5 No. 15
No. 36 - Providence
WHJY 7.2 6.0 -1.2 No. 04
WAAF** 1.3 1.4 +0.1 No. 19
No. 38 - Columbus
WLVQ 4.3 5.4 +1.1 No. 06
WBZX** 4.6 3.8 -0.8 No. 09
WAZU** 1.2 1.2 Flat No. 20
No. 40 - Norfolk
WNOR** 3.7 3.0 -0.7 No. 13
WXMM 3.5 1.8 -1.7 No. 17
No. 50 - Hartford
WCCC** 6.2 5.1 -1.1 No. 07
WPLR 1.4 1.5 +0.1 No. 13
No. 51 – Monmouth-Ocean
WXRK 3.5 3.2 -0.3 No. 10
WRAT** 2.2 1.6 -0.6 No. 18
No. 60 – Greenville, SC
WTPT** 4.1 3.6 -0.5 No. 10
WBZT 1.2 1.5 +0.3 No. 14
No. 69 – Wilkes Barre
WBSX** 4.4 4.3 -0.1 No. 07
WZZO 1.3 1.0 -0.3 No. 17
By Mike Kinosian
INSIDE RADIO contributing Editor
mike@insideradio.com
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