The END returns

[radioprofessor]

Just was handed the latest few weekly numbers from Seattle and while KJR-FM and KPLZ continue to stay solid on top in the key demos, in my estimation the big winner in the PPM may be the END and MOVIN.  The END was number 1 18-34 in the last couple of weeklies and ranks the highest 25-54 of the Entercom group in the latest weekly.   I am not in the market, but listening on the stream the station seems to have gone back to its alternative roots with a good mix of currents and classic alternative cuts.   The non-stop talk has dialed back, yet the station has a personality.  MOVIN has given itself credability by soundly beating KUBE and now virtually tied with KBKS in the 25-54 numbers.  THE END and MOVIN, were prime candidates for format flips in most people's opinions, now they have become players in the younger demos.
 In my humble view  with the arrival of the PPM numbers in July many clusters will be faced with more internal battles than external, as we saw in SF and LA.   With KUBE going to more music in the morning without T-MAN the station that will be hurt is KBKS.  With END gaining strength the stations most hurt are KISW and KMTT.  With KZOK gaining strength, the station most hurt is JACK-FM.   KWJZ is picking up some listeners and that hurts KRWM.   Broadcasting in the PPM world will create a whole new parameter for these groups, in my humble view. 

[TVradioguru]

Actually KNDD has been doing pretty well since PPM started.  TU whatever and the others who have been bashing the station claiming it's on deaths door should be eating some serious crow about now.

[rockradio1017]

Maybe Lazlo wasn't so bad after all? I'm just sayin.

[djdan]

The END does sound much better since February and is back on my favorite buttons for the first time in a long time.  As a core thirtysomething that loved the original END in the 90's the station is more true to that sound.  Adam Carolla, Lazlo and even Andy Savage were not good fits.  The END is about music, with local DJ's that don't get in the way of the music but add to it.  They seem to be back on that path.  My comments as a fan.

From the sales side it will be tricky for Entercom.  KNDD is their best rated station right now. KISW has been falling since the start of the PPM and it is way off from its number one finish in the diary days 25-54.  KMTT does not do well in the PPM with KNDD beating it across the board. When the PPM becomes currency it won't be easy to get the dollars for KISW, KNDD and KKWF.  KNDD is a tougher demo sell so it won't make up the dollars lost on the sales front.   

18-34 is shaping up to be a battle between KBKS, KNDD, KQMV, KKWF and KUBE starting to gain a bit.   25-54 it is still KPLZ, KJR-FM and KJAQ with KZOK gaining in the last couple of weeks.  Everyone else is quite a bit farther back.

On the spoken word front it is all KUOW.  The station ranks 6th overall 25-54 and has the numbers of KIRO and KOMO combined.  Maybe news and talk does work on the FM, it just happens to be NPR.   Wonder what KIRO, KOMO, KVI, KTTH, KIRO-AM and KJR-AM will do?

Things seem to be settling out on the ratings side.  Now it will be the sales side that will see the next wave of change when these numbers become currency in mid-July.

[TakeItFromMe]

Hey Cowboys!  I almost gave up on this board after endless posts about Steve (loser) Ballmer and Tropo conditions blah blah blah   You bet the END is back and better than ever   PPM for Entercom has two winners: THE END and THE WOLF THE WOLF is tied with KMPS on the rolling average and kills em 18-34.  The END is on a ROLL    Got to say MOVIN is surprising me.  The mornings got no game, but the rest of the station is giving KISS a run for its money and is pounding KUBE   With T-MAN gone KUBE will get back to the music and make this a horse race betweeen a buncho stations for 18-34.  WOLF or END may win it

One thang I don't see is format changes   The likely candidates were JACK, THE END, MOVIN, JAZZ and KJR-FM.   JACK, END, MOVIN and KJR-FM got good numbers and ain't goin anywhere.  Even Smooth JAZZ is picking up some numbers.  The other thing is what do you change a station to?  OLDIES. CLASSIC HITS, AC   Not much there cowboys.  Oldies is missing, I guess, but there ain't a station to change, unless KIRO-FM wants to bring it back   Or maybe THE TRUTH goes Oldies since Am radio blows in the PPM

[IREALLYLOVERADIO1]

I never post on this board HOWEVER, Takeit, I think we have oldies stations, Id say its talk radio. The people who are that who remember Elvis et. al. are a dying breed, the new oldies are KZOK and KJR-FM sad to say. oh yeah and since this is a string on KNDD GO END!! Ive been a fan for years and heading out of the DEMO but I have returned, Im just interested to see how RED in the mornings fits in.

[TU1]

I don't hear that change people seem to talk about with the End. They dabbled tossing in more classic alt. tracks and have went back to shoving MGMT, Kings of Leon, and that one Airborne Toxic Event song down the listeners throat every hour.

Look I understand times are tough and companies are cutting back and watching their bottom line, but that doesn't mean I need to root for these stations that are fully automated or employ folks with little or no large market experience, while market vets that I grew up listening to here in Seattle remain on the beach. And please if anyone hops on here and tells me the End is in better shape than it was when they had a stellar airstaff in the late 90's early 2000's, may I recommend you put down the crack pipe. And while you're doing that I will continue to root against stations like Jack and the End, and lend my support to stations that will spend the money on quality air talent.

[djdan]

The change in the END has been pretty dramatic since Feb or March.  It started with Adam Carolla going away and going back to music.  I get to listen for thirty to fourty minutes in the morning and 20-30 minutes in the afternoon and I like Kings of Leon and that ATE song. The mix is much better.

Your comments reminded me of the original staff of the END.  What made the station great was Noble Broadcasting's cadre of "non-major market talent" Just guys that liked music like Rick Lambert and Marco Collins.  The END lost its way in the mid-nineties as they brought in "Major market talent."   In the end, the END was all about regular sounding guys ( albiet one with an english accent) that were into the music and creating radio.  Noble didn't spend much money and it worked.

Maybe the END is really getting back to its roots.  The difference between the END today and the END in January is close to a complete transformation.  The PPM agrees.

[TVradioguru]

I don't hear that change people seem to talk about with the End. They dabbled tossing in more classic alt. tracks and have went back to shoving MGMT, Kings of Leon, and that one Airborne Toxic Event song down the listeners throat every hour.

Look I understand times are tough and companies are cutting back and watching their bottom line, but that doesn't mean I need to root for these stations that are fully automated or employ folks with little or no large market experience, while market vets that I grew up listening to here in Seattle remain on the beach. And please if anyone hops on here and tells me the End is in better shape than it was when they had a stellar airstaff in the late 90's early 2000's, may I recommend you put down the crack pipe. And while you're doing that I will continue to root against stations like Jack and the End, and lend my support to stations that will spend the money on quality air talent.

So even with all the information counter to what you believe, you still stand by your guns that KNDD is broken?  And no, I'm not on crack, quite the opposite; KNDD by pure ratings comparison is doing better now than it did in the late 90's.  Sorry, but your perception is no where close to reality.  PPM has proven that the VAST majority of people in that demo don't want yakky jocks talking about their past concert experiences or opinion on whatever; they just want music for free.

But please don't let me or the facts disturb your flailing at windmills...

[TU1]

The facts? Early 2000's the End was constantly pulling a mid 3 share 12+ and even higher in key demos. It was by far recognized by radio folks as 1 of the top 5 alt. stations in the country. Can the same be said now?

And if their listeners don't want jocks that run their yapper, how do you explain Carolla pulling in much higher numbers than any of their other dayparts?