Let’s play… Name That Format!
Don @ IdahoRadioNews | September 1, 2009We know that KQLZ will launch a new format on Friday – but we don’t know exactly what it will be. So let’s engage in some wild uniformed speculation!
There’s three things we know it won’t be: oldies, urban CHR or variety hits. There are lots of things it could be…
Boise doesn’t have a few formats that are being tried in other places: the female-skewing “Movin’” urban AC brand (up tempo hits of the past decade or so), smooth jazz, “Jane”… Jack/Bob FM for females, country oldies, FM talk, Radio Disney and others. Oh, and polka.
I doubt Impact will try to recreate “The Man” with FM talk, despite the bronco references. Radio Disney, jazz & country oldies are niches too small to get the kind of pop they are looking for.
Jane? Movin? Maybe. The female space is pretty crowded.
What else?
Another country station of some type (Country Bob?) seems plausible – the KIZN/KAWO/KQFC pie is still fairly sizable, and Impact has been able to best established players in a genre once this year. This could possibly dovetail with a “bronco” moniker, in the horse sense more than the sports image.
Modern rock? As KQXR/100.3 The X has widened its footprint, some have grumbled about its approach. Just as the country pie is large, so is the KKGL/KJOT/KQXR/KSRV market. Perhaps Impact would position KQLZ to further fracture the rock market in an attempt to boost Bob. That type of cluster strategy isn’t uncommon… even if it does sometimes create lame radio.
We’re going to run two polls: what format would you most WANT to hear… And what format do you think you WILL hear.
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There are some real good FM Talk properties that are not being aired in the Boise market.
Mancow, Stephanie Miller, Michael Smerconish and Phil Hendrie all have great radio programs that could be successful, if presented properly, in the Boise/Twin Falls market. Along with all the jettisoned programming from the old “All Talk 63 KFXD”, there’s quite a bit of real good talk radio programming available.
Boise’s radio market is not unique, meaning we are probably not going to see anything “new” come along with 99.1…..I believe, but I hope I’m wrong. The idea that cities with a cluster of stations on the FM dial playing virtually the same thing doesn’t make much sense to me. I personally want to hear an alternative/modern rock outlet surge the Boise airwaves because I think there would be a strong market for it here. The closest thing to modern rock Boise has is THE EFFECT christian radio network that is on 95.7, 88.7, and 102.1.
Smooth Jazz, on the other hand, would also be great for Boise, if it is done right. I’ve seen it before in Denver, and it was hard to embrace by the corps. The college stations in town barely even play Jazz, which is real lousy. But, it would be a gem for this market….if done right :-7
Note: I’d post URL’s for these formats, but it seems to put the comments into permanent moderated status…
I could see them trying a “Hank FM” approach to country (we play what we want/everything country) – not sure if a syndicated format like “BOB” is available for that, but it would leave the station at the same (approx.) cost as Scott Shannon’s feed did, minus paying the local guys that worked the mic. Dial Global’s “True Country” or even “Classic Country” for example (50% 1980s hits, 10% 90s 30% 70s).
This could be a new approach for Boise where there are 2 – hot/current country stations and one “country” station that used to appeal a bit more to the upper demos (KQFC). Of course, I haven’t lived there or listened online to any of the 3 for a long time so anything is possible. I think Twin Falls already has a station like that in “Cat Country” unless something has changed.
– Hank FM format description:
HANK FM Plays “Everything Country” – and follows the belief that listeners of Country music want to hear more than just the same top 100 country songs over and over.
At Hank FM we realize that today’s Country music fan has very sophisticated musical taste. Television, iPods, satellite radio, movies, video games, CD boxed set compilations and various peer to peer file sharing services have all provided music consumers with a vast depth of songs and artists to choose from and explore. Today it is not unusual for someone to discover the music of Merle Haggard alongside something new from Gretchen Wilson. So whether it’s been around for 50 years or 50 hours, the consumer has instant access to anything they would like to listen to.
Because of this HANK’s music library tops 1000 titles and is what we like to call “Wide Open Country”-No tight play-lists, and no rules. (site has more information about what they define as ‘eras’ with core artists)
replicating BOB in another format would make huge sense to these impact folk. but i’d sure like to hear a man talk station here. i’m selfish, but i really miss the don n mike style of show. opie n anthony, stern, something like that.
I’m a little bummed you didn’t add polka to the official ballot.
I vote Polka!!!
ANOTHER country station is probably going to happen (after some deep thought). Even though that’s against what I believe should happen… we have 3 country stations in the valley, do we need more? WOW country is good enough for me.
No need to panic or speculate on this format change….Look to the past to see the future…
WHATEVER THE FORMAT THEY CHOOSE….THEY WILL DUMP IT WITHIN A YEAR OR TWO ANYWAY….
Dear Idaho Radio Buff,
Our BOB-FM 96.1 format is home grown. We license the service mark “BOB-FM”, the rest is a product of our very talented Operations Manager/Cluster Programmer, Mikey Fuentes. The music you hear on the air was researched specifically for the Boise metro area. The is nothing syndicated about BOB-FM 96.1 I just wanted to set the record straight.
Thanks for the bandwidth!
Elliott Klein, Managing Partner
IMPACT RADIO GROUP
Radioactive. Maybe you have not noticed but Impact aint Impact anymore. Three Citadel stations and two impact in the top five. This is not whimsy. A few of us started yelling “caution” in our building eight or nine months ago. By the way. Sorry for the last typo in a post. We are not allowed access to IRN at work and I suck typing with my thumbs.
Actuallly RadioActive, This format on 99.1 lasted exactly one year, to the date.
Hey Luckeytohaveajob!
Did anyone ever tell you you’ve got great thumbs! Thanks for the kind words about Impact. We are dead serious about winning!
Best regards,
Elliott
What a shame those are our the only choices. Wouldn’t it be nice to just have some live Rock station that didn’t just play the same stuff over and over. Boise’s never had one of those.
Doc, Phil Hendrie’s show 8 years ago would work well.
Phil Hendrie’s current show… Not so much.
NR, Have you listened to Phil’s show lately? His show has changed ten fold since 8 years ago. It’s not the same show at all. A lot more Social issues and less Spoof Radio. Besides, Phil is LIVE from 11pm to 2am Boise Time, like that day part REALLY matters? In the FM Talk format, Phil’s show is “Overnight Filler”…
Not looking for kudos Elliott. Don’t mistake respect for kindness. I have friends who worked against your GM and I have looked into what both he and your OM have done in other markets. Also don’t mistake respect for a desire to kick your a**. It was the perfect storm. Corporate budgets cut and you making two great hires. Any other combo and you would still just be Impact. Hope they are on contract. I’m not trying be mean. Just want you to know I have my own loyalties and that there are competitors here even though our pockets are not as deep right now. I look forward to a well fought book.
What exactly is ‘Jane?” Is that like “jack” or “bob” aimed squarely at females?
Whoops, shoulda read the article a little closer, that’s exactly what Jane is.