Mark Mays Jokes with Jeff Smulyan about KZLA

[mostb1]

"Look at radio versus other mediums," Mays said, noting that the cable, newspaper and television industries have all consolidated. "We are going to have to be broader." Mays even joked with Emmis Communications CEO Jeff Smulyan, another panelist, that he would have left Emmis' KZLA Los Angeles as a Country station - Emmis recently flipped the station to Rhythmic AC as "Movin' 93.9 - insisting that the scale Clear Channel has in the market would have allowed it to keep the market's sole Country outlet on the air. Under his breath and with a smile, Smulyan said, 'No you wouldn't have'."

http://www.radioink.com/HeadlineEntry.asp?hid=135185&pt=todaysnews

[Joshua Messex]

Who cares? Country Country Country Country.

Look, they want Family music, go put on KFSH. Puh-leeze.

[UncleBozzle]

I find it amusing that when it comes to a Country station everyone seems to have a bias.  Yet when it comes to anyother format it's all fair game to discuss until everyone is blue in the face.  What relevance does a Christian station have to a country listener needing a new home to hear their music at?  Quite narrow minded really if you think about it.  Yes both are family friendly formats but neither have anything to do with the next.  Why wouldn't Clear Channel flip one of the two underperformers?  It might make a nice compliment to their cluster in LA and actually enable them to bill quite well.  You might not see it become a #1 station, but if programmed well it could be top 10 in LA.  Not bad when you consider there is zero competition and won't ever be.  Kind of makes sound business sense. Maybe even capitalize on the previous country station's flip to "movin"....."Country is MOVIN on Up to 98.7".  Could be fun!!

[SuperRadioFan]

Maybe zero competition but also fewer and fewer listeners (who would listen to Country) to reach. 

[UncleBozzle]

It's absolutely ridiculous to say that a listener does not matter.  Just as in retail a customer matters radio is no different.  I'd have to believe that people who listen to country music drive vehicles that are made by companies such as GM/Ford/Chrysler/Toyota.  I'm also quite confident that they also use cellphone's offered by the likes of T-Mobile, Cingular, Verizon, and Sprint.  My goodness I bet they even shop at retailers like Macy's, Best Buy, and even Staples. It should be quite simple to sell this station if it were to exist.  Perhaps it might only reach 2 million listeners, but in the end that's 2 million prospective customers for these companies.  I think the one thing that people hate to admit is that country listeners are probably the most sophisticated and savvy listeners out there.  It's no longer about twang and cheating songs.  It's about Family, Life, Country, and yes, God....what is the problem with that?  This is a money maker begging to be taken by the best suited owner.

[Rico Garcia]

It's absolutely ridiculous to say that a listener does not matter.  Just as in retail a customer matters radio is no different.

Unfortunately, the listener is not the "customer" - The advertiser is. They spend the money which keeps the station alive. The listener benefits from that relationship.

I'd have to believe that people who listen to country music drive vehicles that are made by companies such as GM/Ford/Chrysler/Toyota.  I'm also quite confident that they also use cellphone's offered by the likes of T-Mobile, Cingular, Verizon, and Sprint.  My goodness I bet they even shop at retailers like Macy's, Best Buy, and even Staples. It should be quite simple to sell this station if it were to exist. 

I'd agree, but the listeners need to exist for agencies to want to buy that ad space.

Perhaps it might only reach 2 million listeners, but in the end that's 2 million prospective customers for these companies. 

Right, but if 10 other stations reach more than 2 million listeners in that same demo, those other stations are going to get the buys.

I think the one thing that people hate to admit is that country listeners are probably the most sophisticated and savvy listeners out there.  It's no longer about twang and cheating songs.  It's about Family, Life, Country, and yes, God....what is the problem with that?  This is a money maker begging to be taken by the best suited owner.

Quite possibly, but I'd think if one owner couldn't make a success of a long-time Country station, that any other is going to be fighting an uphill battle from day one with this format. Maybe I'm wrong. I'd find it interesting to see someone else try Country, but I'd be surprised if they have amazing success.

[OldGringo]

It's absolutely ridiculous to say that a listener does not matter.  Just as in retail a customer matters radio is no different.  I'd have to believe that people who listen to country music drive vehicles that are made by companies such as GM/Ford/Chrysler/Toyota.  I'm also quite confident that they also use cellphone's offered by the likes of T-Mobile, Cingular, Verizon, and Sprint.  My goodness I bet they even shop at retailers like Macy's, Best Buy, and even Staples. It should be quite simple to sell this station if it were to exist.  Perhaps it might only reach 2 million listeners, but in the end that's 2 million prospective customers for these companies.  I think the one thing that people hate to admit is that country listeners are probably the most sophisticated and savvy listeners out there.  It's no longer about twang and cheating songs.  It's about Family, Life, Country, and yes, God....what is the problem with that?  This is a money maker begging to be taken by the best suited owner.

Adding to Rico Garcia's already fine post, I have to mention that KZLA was in the 500,000 cume range, not 2 million. there is no way that a country station in LA could approach the cume levels of most other formats, as it would have no ethnic and immigrnt appeal. LA is about 72% eethnic / immgrant, leaving a total of about 2.0 million 25+ non-ethnic persons. Since most people in LA do not like country, the potntial is less and less as time goes by. 

LA is 42% Hispanic, 9% Black, 12% asian and about 12% immigrant (Persian, Arab, Russian, Armenian, etc.) leaving very few opportunities for stations that have next to zero appeal in these communities.

[briancraig]

But you could reach an exclusive audience that is not only loyal, but is also in the prime sales demo.

Which one of the Clear Channel frequecies (KBIG or KYSR) does the best job of reaching Orange County, Santa Clarita, etc.?

[OldGringo]

But you could reach an exclusive audience that is not only loyal, but is also in the prime sales demo.

Which one of the Clear Channel frequecies (KBIG or KYSR) does the best job of reaching Orange County, Santa Clarita, etc.?

Advertisers do not spend a lot of time looking at anything but rank and CPP.

All the CC FMs except KYSR are great in OC. KYSR is great in Santa Clarita, but the area has so little population compared with the metro it does not matter much.

The Santa Clarita area, called by Arbitron the North Southwest zone, has only 192,000 12+ persons, vs. 10,240,000 in the whole market.

[zumahans]

Only Arbitron would call the largest city in LA's northern suburbs the "North Southwest" zone. Using that logic, Orange County would be the "South NorthSouth" zone.

Brilliant.