from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch
April 28, 2002
KMOX-AM (1120) is still atop the heap, but the legendary station is attracting fewer listeners than ever. In the latest Arbitron ratings, December through February, KMOX pulled in 9 percent of the total listening audience, the first time it has fallen to single digits.
In the station's prime - back when listeners enjoyed fewer options and KMOX employed a lineup of star personalities - the station regularly took a quarter of all listeners.
Operations manager Tom Langmyer says, "I frankly don't understand how it happened. We did not make any significant programming changes, and we did not play more commercials."
A recent shuffle of station personalities happened last month and will be reflected in the next Arbitron book, he says.
Langmyer suggests that listeners needed an escape from news programming. The ratings surge most news stations experienced after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks has fallen off across the country. KGO-AM in San Francisco, WBBM-AM in Chicago and WABC-AM in New York are among many news stations where ratings dropped. St. Louis' No. 2 talk station, KTRS-AM (550), also lost listeners during the winter period.
"It is possible there is post 9/11 backlash in reported listening to information stations," Langmyer says. "Numbers for both of the news and talk stations in the St. Louis market went down. It's quite possible people were burned out on news in general and found temporary alternatives to information programming."
Though critics say the station has lost its charisma and authority, KMOX still is the dominant news station in St. Louis, says Tom Taylor, who edits M Street, a radio newsletter.
"Psychologically, it's an interesting moment for them," Taylor says. "In the real world, I don't think it's that important that they had a 9 share rather than something in the low 10s. If there gets to be a string of those, then that's something. Here's the test: If you heard about another terrorist attack or some accident on the river, which station would you turn to? That's the station that has the news image."
In other Arbitron news:
* KYKY-FM (98.1) has bounced back in the ratings after losing some of its audience in the past year. The adult contemporary station rose to No. 4 from No. 10 among listeners age 25 to 54, its main audience.
* Country station KSD-FM (93.7) has grabbed younger listeners from rival WIL-FM (92.3). A year ago, KSD attracted only 4 percent of that audience. Now, 6.6 percent tune in. Meanwhile, the percentage of young listeners tuning in to WIL has slipped to 3.2 percent of the audience from 4.8 percent.
* The most popular morning show for younger listeners continues to be "The Howard Stern Show" on KPNT-FM (105.7). "The Bob & Tom Show" on KSHE-FM (94.7) is still No. 1 among listeners 25 to 54.
from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch
October 21, 2001
Just-released Arbitron ratings for the summer show that urban station KMJM-FM (104.9) continues to slump.
Majic drew 6.3 percent of listeners ages 25 to 54 this summer, compared with 7.8 percent a year ago.
Of course, St. Louis radio and the station have changed a lot since then. Majic repositioned itself as an urban adult contemporary station and replaced the popular Tony Scott morning show with the Tom Joyner show, a move that has hurt ratings. The station also faces new competition from hip-hop station WFUN-FM (95.5) and smooth jazz station WSMM-FM (106.5), not to mention sister station KATZ-FM (100.3).
KMJM chief Chuck Atkins says he hopes to recover fans by adding bigger hits by bigger artists such as Marvin Gaye and Barry White to the mix of current hits.
"Majic is being reinvented right now," Atkins said. "We know you can't win by dumping a whole bunch of gold on the air. We pick them like Juan Valdez - one at a time. It's definitely more adult."
In other Arbitron news:
KMOX-AM (1120) continues to be the city's top station, taking 13.1 percent of the listening audience, up from 12 percent last summer. The terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon on Sept. 11 had little impact on ratings at KMOX because they happened at the tail end of the ratings period.
Alternative station KPNT-FM (105.7) continues to grow. The station attracts 9.6 percent of younger listeners, compared with 5.6 percent a year ago.
The venerable Steve & DC Show on KIHT-FM (96.3) took a hit among its key audience of 25- to 54-year-olds. It dropped to a 5.9 share from 8.2 last summer. Host Steve Shannon has trouble explaining the drop but says the show will stay the same.
"You don't like to see anything dramatic, but we're not panicking," he said.
from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch
October 21, 2001
--snips--
The River's edge
Adult alternative station WVRV the River always earned respectable ratings playing a mix of pop artists such as matchbox twenty, female-friendly acts like Sheryl Crow and the occasionally edgy rock hit by bands like Creed. However, it never surpassed former sister station, alternative leader KPNT-FM 105.7 or adult contemporary stalwart KYKY-FM 98.1.
Bonneville had the good fortune to arrive in St. Louis about the time adult alternative emerged as a hot format. It took advantage of shifts in the music scene by tightening its playlist, purging some staff and adding KPNT favorite Trish Gazall to its morning show. The station has leaped from 14th place in last spring's ratings to the sixth most popular station in St. Louis. Morning ratings showed even greater gains. The station now attracts 8.8 percent of all listeners between the ages of 18 to 34, making it second only to Howard Stern on KPNT.
Envious of the River's strong numbers, flagging rivals Y98 and '80s station WMLL 104.1 have moved closer to the River's sound.
--snips--
from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch
April 29, 2001
Most media lust for young audiences, but in St. Louis radio the real battle is for boomer women.
Newcomer Bonneville International Corp. is taking on two stalwarts among female listeners - adult contemporary station KYKY-FM 98.1 and easy listening station KEZK-FM 102.5 - with growing success. According to winter Arbitron ratings released this week, Bonneville smooth jazz station continued to attract new listeners while KEZK's numbers have slipped slightly.
"WSSM is a very hip alternative to another station that has been resting on its laurels," said Bonneville's Dave Ervin, who manages WSSM as well as WIL-FM 92.3, WVRV-FM 101.1 and WRTH-AM 1430. "WSSM is on its way to becoming a key player in the market."
Meanwhile, adult alternative station The River (FM 101.1) gained new listeners apparently from pop-leaning rival KYKY-FM 98.1. The River ranked No. 6, up from 11th in the fall, while Y98 slipped from No. 7 to No. 12.
In other Arbitron notes:
* KATZ-FM 100.3 and WFUN-FM 95.5 are locked in a fierce battle for St. Louis hip-hop fans. Mike Wheeler of Clear Channel Communications said KATZ will fine tune its promotions, not its sound. Clear Channel owns KATZ, KATZ-AM 1600, KMJM-FM 104.9, KSD-FM 93.7, KLOU-FM 103.3 and KSLZ-FM 107.7. "At this point it becomes a marketing battle. We were here first so we feel like we should be winning the war. But we know it's not going to be easy," said Wheeler.
* After a dismal showing in the fall, KMJM regained some listeners. It leaped from No. 8 among 25 to 54-year-old listeners to No. 3.
* KMOX-AM 1120, the most listened station in the market, also is No. 1 is the mornings. Howard Stern on KPNT-FM 105.7 is tops among listeners 18- to 34-years-old while the Steve & DC show on KIHT-FM 96.3 is No. 1 with 25- to 54-years-old listeners. The MJ & BJ show on Z107 climbed to the No. 3 spot among 18- to 34-year-olds while JC Corcoran's morning show on KLOU-FM 103.3 continues to grow among 25- to 54-year-old listeners.
* Country favorite WIL has widened its lead as St. Louis' top music station, attracting 7.1 percent of the listening audience. Meanwhile, upstart KSD struggles to attract country listeners.
"We expect this to be a long, slow growth process. Nobody expects us to beat WIL anytime in the near future," said Wheeler.
* St. Louis' three rock stations (KPNT, KIHT and KSHE-FM 94.7) all enjoyed strong ratings, especially KPNT, which leaped to the top spot among listeners 18-to-34-years old from No. 5 a year ago. While Emmis Communications chief John Beck is pleased with the performance of his rock stations, he acknowledges that he had hoped for better rating from talk station KFTK-FM 97.1 and '80s station WMLL-FM 104.1. Still, he says Emmis will not change the stations' formats.
--snips--
from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch
January 21, 2001
Some winners and losers are emerging from the shakeup last fall on the FM radio dial.
The recent Arbitron ratings reveal that new stations are jolting traditional powerhouses.
Smooth jazz newcomer WSSM-FM (106.5) is attracting fans of soft rock and rhythm & blues. And that means trouble for KEZK-FM (102.5) and KMJM-FM (104.9), respectively. KMJM dropped from second to eighth place with 25-to-54-year-old listeners while KEZK slid from the top spot to No. 3 in that demographic.
Meanwhile, new wave station WMLL-FM (104.1) grabbed the ears of the younger listeners of KYKY-FM (98.1). WMLL debuted at the No. 3 spot with its targeted 18-to-34 female demographic; KYKY lost listeners in that age group.
"Sometimes Arbitron trends are hard to explain, but a lot of the big changes in this book make sense," said Dave Ervin at Bonneville International Corp., owner of WSSM, WIL-FM (92.3), WVRV-FM (101.1) and WRTH-AM (1430). "In our case, we were pretty sure that we would attract listeners from those stations, and we expect more erosion from KEZK."
Radio insiders say the biggest mystery of this book is the lackluster showing of WIL. Though WIL is still St. Louis' No. 1 music station, it actually lost listeners after rival KIX-FM 106.5 signed off. Where did KIX listeners go? Apparently not to new country station the Bull (KSD-FM 93.7). It grabbed only a 2.1 percent of the listening audience. Instead, KIX listeners appeared to follow popular morning show hosts Steve and DC to KIHT-FM (96.3). KIHT went from No. 10 in the mornings to No. 2 among 25-to-54 listeners.
Other Arbitron notes:
* After coming on strong last summer, new hip-hop station WFUN-FM 95.5 already has sent some listeners back to rival KATZ-FM (100.3).
* The hottest morning shows among key 25-to-54-year-old listeners are Total Information AM on KMOX-AM (1120), the Steve & DC Show on KIHT and the Bob & Tom Show on KSHE-FM (94.7.)
* KMOX widened its lead as the No. 1 station in St. Louis, thanks to big news stories such as the election, the death of Gov. Mel Carnahan and the icy weather. Last fall the station grabbed a 13.7 rating, up from 10.5 last fall.
* New broadcasting rights for professional sports seemed to be a mixed blessing for St. Louis radio. The Rams gave KLOU-FM (103.3) a huge weekend ratings hike, but the Blues offered no boost to the nighttime ratings of KTRS-AM (550).
* Crushing the Rock (97.1) paid off big time for classic rock station KSHE. A year ago the station was the 15th most popular among listeners; now it's No. 6.
from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch
October 29, 2000
Imagine you spent all summer studying Kurt Warner's moves only to learn that Trent Green would be quarterbacking the Rams.
Well, that's a little like this summer's Arbitron ratings report - interesting but irrelevant.
It's a new game in St. Louis radio. Since Arbitron collected listening data for its current report, nine of the city's top stations have changed owners or formats. So it doesn't really matter that KIX and the Rock attracted more listeners or that Mix 93.7 continued its freefall. Those stations don't exist anymore, and it will be months before we know how good their replacements are.
But for the record, here's a look at how St. Louis stations performed before the October Surprise.
As usual, with 12 percent of the listening audience, KMOX (1120 AM) ranked as the region's top station though it attracted fewer listeners than last summer. Meanwhile, rival KTRS (550 AM), ranked eighth overall, gaining 22 percent more listeners in the past year. Easy listening KEZK (102.5 FM) and country station WIL (92.3 FM) continued to hold the No. 2 and No. 3 spots, respectively.
Who was No. 1 in the mornings? Well, it depends. Overall, KMOX drew the largest share of the listening audience. Howard Stern grabbed the top spot among the key 18-to-34 demographic. And Steve and DC ranked No. 1 among listeners 25 to 54.
Both Stern and Steve and DC changed stations in October; Stern now airs on the Point (KPNT 105.7) and Steve and DC can be heard on K-HITS (KIHT 96.3).
The real story may be the rise of new hip-hop station WFUN (95.5), which debuted in June. Owned by Radio One, Q95 stole a chunk of young listeners from the Beat (KATZ 100.3). Many observers wonder whether the Beat will fight back or concede the niche format to Radio One, which specializes in urban programming.
No way, says Lee Clear, who runs the Beat.
"They signed on playing the same music but with no commercials. Once they become a full-fledged station and start playing commercials, people will come back to us," said Clear.
WFUN program director Mic Fox agrees that Q95 enjoyed the "halo effect" bestowed on most new stations. He says the station will distinguish itself through its disc jockeys, who will sign on within the next two months, and its broad programming.
"We're floored by the response. I think we came on with an attitude and showed that we are very in tune with what the community wants to hear," said Fox.
--snips--
from fmqb.com
Updated: October 5, 2000
Originally scheduled for Wednesday (10/4), closing of the $220 million sale of six stations from Sinclair to Emmis was delayed twice by paperwork and lease issues.
According to an Emmis spokesperson, here is how the reconfigured St. Louis FM dial will look following an unprecedented series of changes:
* Classic Hits KIHT at 96.3 (Sinclair To Emmis) remains intact but adds Steve & DC in morning drive.
* Classic Rock KXOK at 97.1 (Sinclair To Emmis) converts to FM Talk.
* Former Active Rock WXTM at 104.1 (Emmis), which flipped last week to Modern Eighties Oldies as "The Mall," keeps that format but loses Howard Stern to "The Point."
* Modern Rock KPNT at 105.7 (Sinclair To Emmis) adds Howard Stern in morning drive.
* New Country WKKX at 106.5 (Emmis to Bonneville) drops the Steve & DC morning show and goes Smooth Jazz under new calls WSSM.
While Emmis Heritage Rocker KSHE is likely to emerge unscathed from the shakeout, a combined five airstaff members from "The Point" and "The Rock" (KXOK) are being pink-slipped. Some former "Extreme Radio" jocks are migrating with PD Tommy Mattern to "The Point," including afternoon driver Eric Schmidt. KPNT PD Alan Fee exited several weeks ago.
Though they're being dealt from Sinclair to Emmis and then from Emmis to Bonneville, both Country WIL (92.3) and Modern AC WVRV "The River" (101.1) are only expected to get minor tweaks.
-Paul Heine
© 2000 Friday Morning Quarterback Album Report, Inc. All rights reserved.
from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch
October 5, 2000
St. Louis radio is on the brink of major changes, with several stations in the process of switching formats, owners and staff.
The changes could come as early as tonight or may be delayed until Monday, said Dave Ervin of Bonneville International Corp., which has headquarters in Salt Lake City and is the new owner of three of the top local FM stations -- WIL (92.3), WVRV (101.1) and the soon-to-be-renamed WKKX (106.5).
Among the big moves:
* New country station WKKX, known more familiarly as KIX 106.5 FM, will become WSSM, a smooth jazz station specializing in artists like Chuck Mangione and Sade. That means WIL will be the only country station in St. Louis -- at least for now.
* The Mall, which premiered last week at the former home of Extreme 104.1 FM, will continue to broadcast new wave hits from the 1980s, such as INXS and New Order. The station will probably stay at its current frequency.
* Steve & DC have hinted on air that their popular morning show will air on KIHT (96.3 FM), which is currently serving up a menu of classic '70s artists like Elton John and the Doobie Brothers.
* Observers also expect rock station KXOK (97.1 FM) to turn into an all-talk format and for the Howard Stern Show to air on KPNT (105.7 FM). Owner Emmis Communications, based in Indianapolis, has yet to confirm those changes.
While some stations will undergo total overhauls, others such as adult alternative station WVRV, country favorite WIL and rock standard KSHE (94.7 FM) will get minor tune-ups.
Emmis, Bonneville and Sinclair Broadcast Group, based in Hunt Valley, Md., hope to finalize their multistation deal today. Contract glitches have delayed the format switches, which officials had hoped to initiate as early as Wednesday.
These changes follow changes in the ownership of several stations. In July, Emmis, which owned KSHE, WXTM (104.1 FM) and WKKX, settled a lawsuit to buy Sinclair's St. Louis properties - KPNT, WVRV, KXOK, KIHT, WIL and WRTH (1430 AM) - for $220 million. Emmis then swapped WKKX, WVRV, WIL and WRTH with Bonneville in exchange for a Los Angeles station.
Bonneville is based in Salt Lake City and is owned by the Mormon Church. The company owns 16 stations in Chicago, Salt Lake City, San Francisco and Washington. Ervin says he plans to locate Bonneville's 70 to 90 employees in a West County facility. While Bonneville does not broadcast religious programming, it does not air music contrary to its moral beliefs.
"We will be in contact with listeners and community leaders to see how we can get involved and what needs to be accomplished," said Ervin. "You will see a huge push towards volunteerism and cause-related marketing."
When the deal with Bonneville is complete, four companies will dominate 85 percent of the radio advertising revenue here: Bonneville, Emmis, Infinity Broadcasting - which owns three stations, including KMOX (1120 AM) - and Clear Channel Communications, which operates five stations, including KMJM (104.9 FM). Radio One Inc., which entered the St. Louis market this summer, owns WFUN (95.5 FM).
Mike McVay, president of radio consulting firm McVay Media, says the expected deal means more variety for St. Louis listeners.
"As we see more consolidation in the radio industry, we see more format diversity. Owners can afford to serve niche markets instead of duplicating formats," said McVay. "The level of St. Louis talent is already that high. All this makes St. Louis a great radio market in the Midwest."
Loss for country radioStill, country fans already lament the loss of KIX. The station always scored decent ratings, but subtract Steve and DC's loyal following and its numbers dwindle. Ervin said he chose to flip the station to smooth jazz rather than compete against Bonneville's own WIL. Smooth jazz, hipper than easy listening but mellow enough for the office, appeals to both black and white older listeners.
"We decided we didn't want to cannibalize ourselves," said Ervin. "It's our responsibility to serve our community on many levels, and that means giving listeners diversity in music. This station will be on the air for years and years."
A decade ago, artists like Garth Brooks energized country radio, but today many major markets are home to only one country station. Still, some observers expect pop music station KSD (93.7 FM) to step into the void and play country. Ervin says he's prepared.
"Bonneville is a bottomless pit when it comes to defending its big dogs," said Ervin.
Employees look elsewhereWith Sinclair getting out of the local radio market - it still owns KDNL (Channel 30) - its employees could be out of work. Though many salespeople have found new jobs, some disc jockeys fear they may not get behind the mike again.
For Jeff Burton of "The Jeff, Trish and Thom Show" on KPNT, the changes mark the end of an era. Though the trio's ratings lagged more popular syndicated hosts, it built a loyal following among fans who liked the chemistry among the three hometowners.
"It's just like a listener said: It's like your best friend moved away," said Burton, who has hosted morning programming with Trish Gazall for five years. He signed off Monday. "That's why I picked 'Dance With You' (by Live) as my last song. It's all about wanting to be with someone and circumstances that you can't control won't let you. All my life all I wanted to do was entertain and inform people and now that's being taken away."
Randy Raley, who helped create the Rock (97.1 FM) and hosted its morning show, feels the same way. He laments that rock lovers will lose yet another alternative to dominant station KSHE.
"We have received so many calls from fans who are so upset. And I'm upset for them. We played music KSHE said no one wanted to hear," Raley said.
As of Wednesday morning, Emmis had yet to tell many Sinclair announcers if they would keep their jobs. Raley, who worked at KSHE for 13 years, doubts Emmis will extend him an offer.
Ervin says Bonneville plans to stick with the current personalities at WIL and WVRV and has not decided who will host radio shows at WSSM. Emmis has not announced who is in and out at its stations.
from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch
October 5, 2000
--snips--
Observers also expect rock station KXOK (97.1 FM) to turn into an all-talk format and for the Howard Stern Show to air on KPNT (105.7 FM).
Owner Emmis Communications, based in Indianapolis, has yet to confirm those changes.
--snips--
from extremeradio1041.com
September 26, 2000
For all the Howard fans, Howard Stern will remain in St. Louis. He can be heard for the next week on 104.1 as normal. As of after October 2nd, he will move to a new frequency in town to be later announced. Howard is here to stay in St. Louis and more details will follow.
from All Access
NET NEWS as of MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2000
Updated at 9:52a (PT)
--snips--
The format wheel spins in ST. LOUIS as Active Rocker WXTM (EXTREME 104.1) has flipped to an All 80s format as "THE MALL, 80S AND BEYOND." More details on this as it becomes available.
STERN is off WXTM but is rumored to resurface on sister Alternative KPNT (THE POINT). "THE MALL"'s liners make no mention of frequency -- and EMMIS has registered "971themall.com." Could the MALL be moving? And is 104.1 still ticketed for Talk with STEVE AND D.C. in mornings? Either way, look for more format adjustments, soon in the ST. LOUIS market.
--snips--
from showmeradio.com
September 24, 2000
9/24 - NEWS FLASH! The first move resulting from the Emmis merger has happened...104.1 has flipped from Active Rock to All 80s as "The Mall". Extreme went out with a Metallica tune, and countdown at 2pm on Sunday. They have been playing spots that Howard Stern is Moving, and that Steve and DC will be on 104.1...Who will be next to fall...Will FM Talk come to the air still? Perhaps a Stern anchored talker on 97.1?
And, with Emmis pulling this out of their hat, this should be the final nail in the coffin of Mix 93.7...The field is wide open....the station could pick up any format from Classic Rock to Country.
It looks as though St. Louis will for now be a one country station town. Bonneville is taking over KIX, WIL, the River, and WRTH...And according to reports KIX will end this week, and will flip to a new format...
Over on the AM dial, KTRS dumps Coast to Coast AM with Mike Siegel on weeknights. George Noory reclaims overnights on the station, and veteran sports broadcaster Larry Cotler joins the station from 8 to Midnight with a new general interest talk show...And Darrell Ankarlo is now manning the morning program along with Wendy Weise.
Stay tuned to Showmeradio.com for all the latest info on the changes in store for the St. Louis radio dial...
from FMQB
September 21, 2000
from showmeradio.com
September 21, 2000
--snips--
Lots of news to report from the last several weeks...
Things are starting to heat up in the rumor mill as Emmis prepares to take over the former Sinclair stations, and Bonneville comes to town...There have been some pretty hot rumors that Bonneville will boot one of the country outlets, Now, it is official that Steve and DC will move back to 104.1 October 1, and the station will flip formats (likely to talk) on October 1, and it is likely that KXOK-FM will die on the same day. Don't be surprised to see Howard Stern disappear altogether...Emmis has yanked him off a few of their stations of late.
--snips--
Also, check out this notice from Howard's "competition" in St. Louis, Steve and DC. FM 104.1 is Howard's station:
from Steve and DC's www page
ST. LOUIS MOVE ANNOUNCED FOR STEVE AND DC!!!!
Beginning October 2nd, Listen to Steve and DC on 104.1 FM...
That's 104.1 FM if you listen in St. Louis.
Get ready for a NEW, Never Done On FM Format!!!
A RADIO STATION BUILT FOR STEVE AND DC STYLE RADIO!!!
On the other hand, there's some talk on the NY Radio Message Board that Steve and DC's move will be to afternoons, not to mornings to replace Howard.
More details as they come available!
from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch
September 19, 2000
Five years ago, St. Louis' hottest morning radio personalities lived in our time zone. No more. Now as we brave the daily commute, many of us are laughing at the same jokes as folks in Washington, Dallas or Chicago.
Many of the hosts of St. Louis' popular FM shows -- Howard Stern (New York City), Bob & Tom (Indianapolis), MJ & BJ (Tampa, Fla.), Tom Joyner (Dallas) and Russ Parr (Washington) -- all broadcast from remote studios. And if Emmis Communications converts WXTM (104.1 FM) to a talk station as expected, listeners can expect to hear even more faraway personalities throughout the day.
So how has syndicated programming fared in St. Louis? Not very well on the AM dial, where top talkers Dr. Laura and Don Imus never found a permanent home. But FM listeners have embraced every syndicated personality introduced to the airwaves since the "Bob & Tom Show" signed on in 1996. Of the top 10 FM morning programs in this market, half are syndicated.
Station managers are big fans, because syndicated shows deliver faster returns than homegrown unknowns. John Beck of Emmis Communications won't say how much he spends for his morning programming on his three FM stations. He will say, though, that Stern is responsible for one out of every $2 in Extreme 104.1's bank account -- and that Stern costs $160,000 less to air than his morning rival, the "Steve and DC Show" on KIX (106.5 FM). The Bob & Tom Show" on KSHE (94.7 FM) is even cheaper, $270,000 less.
So why keep "Steve and DC" on the air? Because Emmis turns around and sells the show to stations across the country -- 10 now but maybe dozens more in the future.
"It is an amazing trend, and what is driving it is that syndicated shows are a proven ratings and revenue getter," said Tom Taylor, editor of M Street, a leading radio magazine. "It takes years to build a good morning show. Why not pull one off the shelf, save yourself some money and bring in someone who is a known commodity?"
Syndication fees vary greatly from city to city. The bigger the city and ratings gain, the more the "Steve and DC Show" will charge. By contrast, the Tom Joyner Show barters for commercial time. A top show like Stern's can cost several hundred thousand dollars depending on where it airs.
Naysayers are surprised by the success of syndicated shows. When local stations first introduced syndicated programming, pundits speculated they would strike out with Midwest-minded, sports-obsessed St. Louisans. After all, who wants to hear about the mayor of New York?
Apparently everyone. Since Stern's arrival in 1998, he has duked it out with Steve and DC for the top spot among listeners aged 18 to 34. Likewise, Bob & Tom fans stay loyal despite the hosts' cheerleading for the Indianapolis Colts. Though the "Tom Joyner Show" never lived up to its potential on KATZ-FM (100.3), Chuck Atkins of Clear Channel Communications expects the show's ratings to skyrocket now that he has moved the show to KMJM (104.9 FM). Russ Parr just entered the market on new urban station Q95.5 FM (the former WFUN).
"If the content is remotely compelling, people are going to tune in. People don't care where you're from," said Steve Shannon, co-host of the "Steve and DC Show." "Does it matter that Jay Leno broadcasts from Los Angeles?"
Still, listeners flee when a local event such as the Super Bowl or a police officer's murder grips the community. For instance, during the Mark McGwire home run race in 1998, J.C. Corcoran says his morning show on KSD (93.7 FM) attracted four times the station's average number of listeners.
"As far as listeners go, it (syndicated or local) doesn't seem to make much difference. How do you respond? Well, our attitude is very simple and it goes like this: local, local, local," said Corcoran, who has hosted morning shows up and down the dial for the past 15 years. He's currently at KLOU (103.3 FM). "If the Blues make the playoffs or it snows seven inches or if protesters shut down Highway 70, we can talk about it all morning."
Taylor says the best shows respect our need for company and continuity in the morning, hence the large casts of sidekicks and recurring gags.
"There is so much noise out there. What many syndicated shows have learned to do is find a way to punch through the clutter. And by creating something so memorable and interesting day after day, they build an audience. Once people start listening, they don't stop. It becomes of question of habit," said Taylor.
But some FM programming directors argue that St. Louis' current love affair with syndicated morning shows has topped out. Now they are focusing on building top-notch local shows. Among the new morning programming: Tossin' Ted and Stacey Static, which debuted Monday on KATZ-FM, "J.C. Corcoran and the Breakfast Club" on KLOU, which started in April, and "Craig Cornett and the Morning Mix," which KSD introduced in July. All three stations are owned by Clear Channel Communications.
"Right now it's cool to be local," said Clear Channel Programming Director Mike Wheeler. Guy Phillips, who has hosted the morning show on KYKY (98.1 FM) for 21 years, agrees.
"I don't feel threatened by a show like Howard Stern," said Phillips, who acknowledged that shows such as Stern's can "ratchet up that edginess."
"Sometimes people are taken aback because they think of you as a friend, and a friend doesn't say things like that," said Phillips, whose show generates a quarter of the station's revenue. "As long as they know where you're going and that you're coming back, you're OK. Ultimately, though, I think my most important job is to maintain that connection with the community. And that's why I think local radio will never go away - because people want that human touch, a friend who can relate to their world. People don't realize how much they would miss that if it was gone."
VOICES
"It takes years to build a good morning show. Why not pull one off the shelf, save yourself some money and bring in someone who is a known commodity?" -- Tom Taylor, editor of M Street, a leading radio magazine
"If the content is remotely compelling people are going to tune in. People don't care where you're from ... Does it matter that Jay Leno broadcasts from Los Angeles?" -- Steve Shannon, co-host of the "Steve and DC Show"
"Our attitude is very simple and it goes like this: local, local, local ... If the Blues make the playoffs or it snows seven inches or if protesters shut down Highway 70, we can talk about it all morning." -- J.C. Corcoran, host of KLOU's "The Breakfast Club"
from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch
September 19, 2000
MJ & BJ Airs locally: KSLZ (107.7 FM) Originates from: Tampa, Fla. Number of affiliates: 1 Audience: Women 18 to 34 Favorite topics: Adolescent preoccupation with Britney Spears' breasts Steve and DC Morning Show Airs locally: WKKX (106.5 FM) Originates from: St. Louis Number of affiliates: 10 Audience: Women 18 to 34 Favorite topics: Hard-core Christians, prank calls Howard Stern Show Airs locally: WXTM (104.1 FM) Originates from: New York Number of affiliates: More than 40 Audience: Males 18 to 34 Favorite topic: Lesbians, lesbians, lesbians Tom Joyner Show Airs locally: KMJM (104.9 FM) Originates from: Dallas Number of affiliates: More than 100 Audience: Black baby boomers Favorite topic: Boycott, baby, boycott Russ Parr Show Airs locally: (Q95.5 FM) Originates from: Washington Number of affiliates: More than five Audience: Black women 18 to 34 Favorite topic: R-rated parodies of famous personalities Bob & Tom Show Airs locally: KSHE (94.7 FM) Originates from: Indianapolis Number of affiliates: 99 Audience: Men 18 to 49 Favorite topic: Their home recordings of songs like "Dear Penthouse" and "A Beer's Much Better Than a Woman"
from ALL ACCESS NET NEWS
TUESDAY, AUGUST 22, 2000 Updated at 8:30p (PT)
A hot rumor around ST. LOUIS is that EMMIS is preparing to take Active Rocker WXTM (EXTREME 104.1) to an FM Talk format featuring market veterans STEVE & D.C., whose contracts EMMIS held onto when the company sold Country WKKX (KIX 104) to BONNEVILLE, in morning drive. Word is that until that deal closes in mid-OCTOBER things will be status quo.
And, if that STEVE & D.C. move happens, what does that mean for HOWARD STERN? Will he move to the KPNT?
from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch
August 13, 2000
As the high-stakes game of radio musical chairs begins, two managers who changed the St. Louis dial have found new jobs.
Allan Fee, operations manager of the Point (KPNT-FM 105.7), the River (WVRV-FM 101.1) and the Rock (KXOK-FM 97.1), will leave St. Louis in two weeks to run pop station Q104 in Cleveland.
Fee's boss, John Kijowski, has announced he will stay in St. Louis as general manager of the River for its new owner, Bonneville International Corp. Kijowski currently serves as market manager for Sinclair Broadcasting.
Sinclair started the Rock, which lured away many fans from KSHE-FM 94.7, the city's leading rock station. It also turned back upstart station Alice 104.1, which played much of the alternative music favored by Point and River listeners.
Once station owners decide how to rearrange the FM dial, observers expect even more broadcasters and managers to flee their stations and perhaps the region.
In June, Emmis Broadcasting acquired six stations from Sinclair Broadcasting. In a separate deal, Emmis traded some of the new stations along with its highly rated KIX (WKKX-FM) 106.5 to Bonneville for a Los Angeles station.
After the Federal Communications Commission approves the deal, expected in about month, Emmis will own the Point, the Rock, Extreme (104.1-FM) and KSHE and KIHT-FM 96.3. Sinclair owned KIHT, the Point and the Rock. Bonneville will operate KIX and former Sinclair properties the River, WIL-FM 92.3 and WRTH-AM 1430.
How those stations will sound in a couple of months is anyone's guess. Officials at both Emmis and Bonneville say they are conducting market surveys to see what sort of programming St. Louisans want.
Bonneville spokesman Bob Johnson said Bonneville will keep the country format at KIX and WIL and the nostalgia format at WRTH. However, he says the company plans to "fine-tune the River."
When all is said and done, St. Louis may have a smooth jazz station. Or perhaps an FM talk station built around Howard Stern, currently on Extreme. Another rumor among radio insiders is that Emmis may move Stern to the Point.
"It's such a difficult puzzle to put together right now," said Fee, who came to St. Louis in 1997 as Point program director. However, he does expect Emmis to merge the Point, an alternative station, with the Extreme, a more aggressive alternative station that appeals to younger men.
Though Extreme has sliced into the Point's market share, Fee says the Point is considered a national leader in the alternative format.
Looking back at his three years, Fee says he is proud that the Point supported St. Louis sports through Blues rallies and tailgate parties and the local music scene through concerts and programming.
Fee said Emmis managers told Sinclair employees that they may still have their jobs after the two staffs combine, but added that Emmis would take care of its existing employees first.
"A lot of good people here are a little nervous," said Fee, a Seattle native who added that he always planned to move on to another market after a few years here. "What's really unusual here is that so many people in radio here are actually from here, and they don't want to leave."
from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch
July 26, 2000
--snips--
INFINITY & BEYOND: It is not without a sense of profound relief that the colyumnist passes the Arbitron radio ratings beat on to Diane Toroian, who will have to make sense of all the columns of tiny numbers that mean tens of thousands of advertising dollars and months of bragging rights to the local barons of buzz. No other milestone, quarterly or otherwise, so overworks this space's fax machine, voice mail, and in-basket as when the crazed general managers, frantic sales directors and pallid programmers spin, spit and sputter through their takes on the seasonal bookings of Arbitron ratings. By way of valediction, a few general observations are in order. First, KMOX's numbers have shrunk over time, but the mighty 'MOX still kicks a lot of butt when the hometown baseball boys are hot. Second, KTRS, once an eastside agricultural experiment in the reincarnation of Robert Hyland, has grown into a strapping St. Louis radio station with its own clear voice, playing in the top 10 range at most times of the day and night. Grabbing the hockey broadcast rights for the Blues will give its sports department a little extra marketing edge. The two talk stations' frequently feuding GMs - Karen Carroll and Tim Dorsey -should, for all their bickering, marry each other.
The local radio market is full of gems. A spin of the radio dial finds in the spring book (March 30-June 21): Among the listeners 12 years old and up, KMOX was up from the winter and again the most-listened-to station. KEZK(102.5 FM) was No. 2 with a 7.3 share. Country station WIL (92.3 FM) gained nearly a share, remaining a solid third, followed by: KATZ (100.3 FM), whose younger-targeted urban format showed impressive gains moving up to fourth place; then KSLZ (107.7 FM); KMJM (104.9 FM); KTRS (550 AM); WKKX (106.5 FM); KYKY (98.1 FM) and KLOU (103.3 FM).
Soft rock KEZK-FM finished in the top spot with listeners 25-54, followed by KMJM, WIL, KMOX and KIHT. In the all-important morning drive time among listeners 18-34, WXTM's (104.1 FM) Howard Stern weighed in as top choice, followed by WKKX's Steve and D.C., KMJM, KSHE and KATZ.
--snips--
Even keen radio listeners may not have heard the changes that rocked the dial Thursday.
In a three-way deal, seven local stations changed hands. Owners and analysts predict most stations will keep their current format.
"Nothing about this deal indicates the listener should expect major programming changes," said JT Anderton, an analyst for Duncan's American Radio in Cincinnati. "All of the current stations are performing well as they are."
Emmis Broadcasting of Indianapolis announced Thursday that it has settled its lawsuit with Sinclair Broadcast Group to acquire its six local stations for $220 million. In a separate deal, Emmis swapped four of its St. Louis properties for a Los Angeles station.
Emmis will continue to operate rock station KSHE-FM 94.7 and aggressive-alternative music station WXTM-FM 104.1 along with newly acquired alternative station KPNT-FM 105.7, classic rock station KXOX-FM 97.1 and classic hits station KIHT-FM 96.3. The Federal Communications Commissions limits the number of FM stations a single company can own to five.
Emmis traded WKKX-FM 106.5 and former Sinclair holdings WIL-FM 92.3, a country station; WRTH-AM 1430, an adult standards station and WVRV-FM 101.1, an adult alternative station, to Bonneville International Corp. for KZLA-FM in Los Angeles.
Bonneville, of Salt Lake City, is owned by the Mormon Church and is the nation's 12th largest radio group. Its stations frequently conduct community service projects.
Sinclair, of Hunt Valley, Md., will keep KDNL-TV 30 as part of the settlement. Tom Tipton, Channel 30's general manager, said programming will be "the same as usual."
Emmis retains its rights to "Steve & DC in the Morning Show," which airs from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. on WKKX. The show will move to another Emmis station; Emmis officials haven't decided which one.
The transactions are subject to FCC approval and are expected to close within two months.
"It's all around a very good deal for both companies. Picking up a second LA station greatly strengthens Emmis. It also increases their revenue in St. Louis and leaves them with a nice group of stations," said Anderton. "For Bonneville, it adds a market for their group. And it brings a very reputable owner to the St. Louis market."
John Beck, who heads Emmis' local operations, says he plans to move the new stations to Emmis' complex in Union Station. Emmis will add about 40 employees to its work force of 110.
"This consolidation shows a commitment to St. Louis," Beck said.
Though Emmis Chairman Jeff Smulyan said his stations will continue to spin "a lot of variations" of rock, Beck hinted at possible changes.
"You've got two rock stations doing close to the same thing, and you've got two alternative stations doing the same thing," he said. "So we have to look at what makes sense."
Observers expect Bonneville will keep the county format at the highly rated WIL and WKKX. Smulyan said it hurt to let the two revenue-rich stations go but added that the sacrifice was worth it for second station in Los Angeles, the nation's top revenue-producing radio market.
The deal will slightly redistribute the local radio wealth, Anderton said. Infinity Broadcasting, which owns St. Louis' two top-rated stations KMOX-AM 1120 and KEZK-FM 102.5, will generate $48.6 million next year, or 37.8 percent of St. Louis' radio revenue. Bonneville will take Sinclair's spot as the No. 2 money maker with expected ad earnings of $25.3 million.
Clear Channel, which operates six St. Louis stations, will likely earn $24.2 million. Emmis is expected to earn $23.3 million. Infinity, Bonneville, Clear Channel and Emmis capture 93.6 percent of local ad revenue and 85 percent of the listeners.
St. Louis radio revenues grew by 8.8 percent last year to $128.5 million.
For more info on this, you can also check showmeradio.com
from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch
April 28, 2000
RADIO RATINGS: The Arbitron winter radio ratings (Jan. 6-March 29) reflect a shift in music tastes. Contemporary music showed gains while country music dropped. The softer sounds of KEZK-FM (102.5) gained nearly a full share point, moving into second place with listeners overall. KSLZ-FM (107.7) with a mix of hit music, moved to fifth position from seventh. On the other hand, interest in country music listening dropped considerably with WIL-FM (92.3) and WKKX-FM (106.5) both suffering losses.
Here's how the top stations rank with listeners 12-years-old and up: KMOX (1120) remains in first place with a 10.3 share, followed by KEZK (7.4); WIL (5.7); KMJM-FM (5.3); KSLZ (5.1); KATZ-FM (4.8); KYKY (4.7). KMOX continues to hold the No. 1 spot in the morning drive time with listeners 12 and over, followed by KEZK, WKKX, WIL and KTRS, cracking the top five.
For the second consecutive ratings period, Steve and D.C. continue to lead Howard Stern in the hotly contested 18 to 34 crowd. Stern dropped nearly two share points. KMJM leads the urban-formatted stations with a 5.3 share. In afternoon drive time, KMOX regained the No. 1 position with listeners 12 and older, followed by KEZK and Frank O. Pinion's show on KTRS.
--snips--
from Radio Digest
February 16, 2000
The St. Louis Radio Report
By Lynn Venhaus
Stern De-Throned in Morning Ratings: Local morning duo Steve Shannon and D.C. Chymes are back on top in the latest Arbitron ratings, released Friday (Feb. 9) for the St. Louis market. The fall ratings, measuring the quarter from Sept. 23 to Dec. 15, shows that, among 18- to 34-year-old listeners in the morning, Kix 106 (WKKX 106.5 FM)'s "The Steve and D.C. Show" reclaimed first, after King of All Media Howard Stern had surpassed them in the previous ratings. Stern's syndicated morning show is heard locally on Extreme (WXTM 104.1 FM).
--snips--
from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch
February 11, 2000
RADIO RATINGS: The just-released Arbitron radio ratings for the fall (Sept. 23-Dec. 15) reflect that among the 18- to 34-year-old listeners in morning drive time, WKKX-FM's (106.5) Steve and D.C. have recaptured the No. 1 spot, dethroning WXTM-FM's (104.1) "media king" Howard Stern.
Among listeners 12 years old and up, WIL-FM (92.3) has moved back into the No. 2 position, behind perennial ratings leader KMOX (1120). However, KMOX plummeted down to 10.5 from 12.6 in the summer ratings. KTRS (550) leaped to 4.2 from 3.5 in the previous period.
Another bright spot is KATZ-FM (100.3), whose new young urban format has vaulted the station to fifth place from 10th with listeners 12 and over in the last year. WKKX-FM has also shown growth in the past year, moving up with listeners in all demographics.
The top 10 stations in order of rank and audience shares among listeners 12 and up are: KMOX; WIL-FM; KEZK-FM (102.5); KMJM-FM (104.9); KATZ-FM; KYKY-FM (98.1); WKKX-FM; KSLZ-FM (107.7) ; KTRS; KLOU-FM (103.3).
from Radio Digest
November 24, 1999
The St. Louis Radio Report
By Lynn Venhaus
"We are pleased the valuation process is done and will focus our efforts toward completing the transaction," said Jeff Smulyan, Emmis chairman and CEO. "Our expectation remains to complete the transaction by the end of our fiscal year."
The deal involves Sinclair's The Point (KPNT 105.7 FM), The Rock (KXOK 97.1 FM), The River (WVRV 101.1 FM), WIL (92.3 FM), K-Hits (KIHT 96.3 FM), WRTH (1430 AM) and KDNL-TV. Emmis, which currently owns St. Louis radio stations KSHE (95 FM), Kix 106 (WKKX 106.5 FM), and Extreme (WXTM 104.1 FM), will need to divest itself of three FM stations in St. Louis in order to receive FCC and other regulatory approval.
Insiders are anxiously awaiting announcement of strategic plans because right now the St. Louis market is stagnant in a "wait-and-see" holding pattern. Because both WIL and KIX are the dominant country stations in the market, big changes may be ahead, and there's much speculation about other stations with duplicate formats, such as KSHE and KXOK - both classic rock stations. Emmis will inherit the top-rated Howard Stern show on Sinclair's Extreme, but the likelihood of it staying there has been a major water-cooler topic since the impending sale was announced months ago.
WIL, WRTH and K-Hits were formerly owned by Heritage Broadcasting and are the newest stations in the Sinclair empire.
Emmis purchased the option to acquire the stations from former Sinclair executive Barry Baker on June 25. Baker's employment agreement with Sinclair gave him or his designee the right to purchase all of the radio and television broadcasting stations owned or operated by Sinclair or its affiliates in the St. Louis media markets. According to the option, if the parties could not agree on a price for the properties, one would be determined by an independent appraiser.
--snips--
from showmeradio.com
Extreme Radio #1 (In The Mornings at Least)...In the summer book (18-34) the self proclaimed "King of all Media" Howard Stern won the #1 spot. Despite the high ratings in the morning, the station is having trouble holding on to the Sternmaniacs. While they have made a respectable showing in 18-34 for the entire day, the station is still near the cellar in 12+.
from Radio Digest
October 27, 1999
The St. Louis Radio Report
By Lynn Venhaus
--snips--
And speaking of morning-drive - An argument could be made in favor of the syndicated shows with the good showing of Howard Stern, who captured first place among 18-34 listeners with a 10.9 share on the local carrier, WXTM (104.1 FM). However, when Howard goes off the air at 10, the station drops to 10th.
from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch
October 26, 1999
RADIO NUMBERS: The syndicated radio program featuring Howard Stern has taken our town's listening audience by storm. According to the Arbitron summer ratings in the all-important morning drive time (6 to 10 a.m. weekdays), among the 18-to-34-year-old crowd, Stern kicked in at first place with a 10.9 on WXTM-FM (104.1). Stern is followed by No. 2 KMJM-FM (104.9) with a 7.5 share; No. 3 WKKX-FM (106.5), 7.3; No. 4 WIL-FM (92.3), 7.2; No. 5 KSHE-FM (94.7), 6.9; No. 6 KSLZ-FM (107.7), 6.8; No. 7 KYKY-FM (98.1), 6.2; No. 8 KPNT-FM (105.7), 6.1; No. 9 WVRV-FM (101.1), 5.7; and No. 10 KXOK-FM (97.1), 5.6.
Contemporary hit radio KSLZ gained popularity during the summer ratings, measuring listening from July 1 to Sept. 22. KSLZ has moved up to fourth place with listeners 12 and older. KMOX (1120 AM), with its 12.6 share, continues to be the most dominant station with listeners overall, continuing its national record of the most consecutive No. 1 Arbitron postings at more than 100.
Others in the top 10 overall include: No. 2 KEZK-FM (102.5), 7.1 share; No. 3 WIL, 6.9; No. 5 KMJM, 5.2; No. 6 KYKY, 4.5; No. 7 WKKX, 4.1; No. 8 KATZ-FM (100.3) and KLOU-FM (103.3), 3.9; No. 10 KSHE, 3.8.
from the: St. Louis Post-Dispatch
THE RATINGS GAME: WKKX-FM (106.5) Radio's Steve & D.C. once again were winners in the Arbitron ratings (winter, Jan. 7-March 31) in the morning drive block among 18- to 23-year-old listeners. The team has just signed a new pact with the station's owner, Emmis Broadcasting, for a four-year renewal, with an annual salary of $380,000 each, a signing bonus of $85,000 each and Emmis stock options.
In the 12-year-old plus audience, KMOX showed significant growth since pairing Doug McElvein with Nan Wyatt. The station had a 13.8 share - 6.7 shares ahead of the No. 2 morning show, on WIL-FM (92.3). And, WKKX took top honors among the 25-54 set.
In the Urban-format category: KMJM-FM (104.9) held steady as the leader. Sister stations KATZ-FM (100.3) and KATZ-AM (1600) showed some growth.
Overall, the 25- to 54-year-old listeners still prefer the soft rock on KEZK-FM (102.5), followed by WIL-FM, KMOX-AM and KXOK-FM (97.1).
--snip--
RATINGS GAME: In the just-released Arbitron radio ratings, which measure St. Louis radio listening from Sept. 24-Dec. 16, off-color humor is in.
WXTM's Howard Stern has vaulted into the No. 1 spot with 18- to 34-year-olds in the morning block. Others in the top five (behind Stern): WKKX, KMJM, KYKY and KXOK.
The top five stations overall with listeners 12 and older: KMOX in the top spot, with WIL-FM at No. 2 with a 6.8 share, followed by KMJM (6.7), KEZK (6.5) and KYKY (5.0). In morning drive time, KMOX continues to be the station most people listen to. KMOX has a 13.2 share, followed by WIL (7.1), KMJM (5.5) and KEZK (5.4). With adult listeners between 25 and 54, WIL is No. 1, followed by KMOX and KEZK (tied for second), KYKY and KLOU. WIL leads from 6-10 a.m. KXOK showed incredible growth with its new classic rock format in the 18-34 demographic, moving the station to third place from 14th. In the big money 25-54 demographic, KTRS showed impressive gains. The station jumped to afternoon drive time's third-ranked station from eighth, powered by Frank O. Pinion and the "Large Morning Show in the Afternoon." Overall, the station increased its total audience by 50 percent among listeners 12 years old and up, even without factoring in boosts from the recent addition of Dan Dierdorf to its morning drive time.
Thanks to robk for sending this!
from: St. Louis Post-Dispatch
October 20, 1998
By Jerry Berger
RADIO RATINGS: The summer Arbitron ratings on radio listenership in the St. Louis area from July 2 to Sept. 23 are in, and KMOX finished in the top spot with listeners 12 years old and over. KMOX (with a little help from Mark McGwire and Monica Lewinsky) had a 14.1 share - up from 12.0 last summer. CBS' soft-rock sister station, KEZK-FM, took second place with a 7.1 share. Country music station WIL-FM slipped to third from second with a 6.9 share; KMJM was fourth at 6.0; and KYKY was steady at fifth with a 4.9 share.
In morning drive-time ratings for overall listenership, KMOX had a 14.0 share; WIL, 6.8; KEZK, 6.5; KSHE, 5.5; and WKKX, 5.4. In the 25- to 54-year-old demographic, KMOX jumped into first place with a 9.3 share - up from 7.8 last summer. KEZK was second at 8.2; WIL, 7.3; KSHE, 6.7 and KYKY, 6.6.
Among listeners 18-34, mornings are led by KSHE, followed by a tie for second - KMJM and the new WXTM (Extreme Radio). WXTM (104.1) vaulted from sixth place as listeners found Howard Stern. WKKX slipped to fourth from first in the mornings among the 18- to 34-year-old crowd.
Other notable gainers among the 12-year-olds-plus: KLOU, KSLZ and KTRS, which moved to 10th place from 12th, withstanding the region's baseball craze. Frank O. Pinion and a re-energized morning drive team powered the news/talk radio station to its first top-10 finish ever.
--snips--
RATINGS GAME: The spring Arbitron ratings measuring St. Louis radio listening from April 2 to June 24 reflect KMOX landing its best ratings book in more than two years. With listeners 12 and older, it increased its audience levels to a 13.9 share - up from 10.7 in the winter book. (Mark McGwire's batting spree had a major influence on the bonanza.) Rounding out the top five stations with listeners 12 and older: Country music station WIL-FM took the No. 2 spot with an 8.6 share, followed by KEZK (7.0), KMJM (6.6) and KYKY (4.9).
With adult listeners between 25 and 54, WIL is No. 1, followed by KMOX, KEZK, KSHE and KYKY. WIL leads with 25-54 year-olds from 6-10 a.m.
In the all-important morning drive time, among listeners from 18 to 34, WKKX (Steve & D.C.) was No. 1, followed by KMJM and KSHE (tied for second place), KYKY and KPNT. Morning shock jock Howard Stern showed a slight improvement for WALC in the 18-to-34 demographics by moving to sixth place from seventh.
Urban-formatted KMJM is up in total listenership among the 12-plus group with a 6.6 share, while gospel sister station KATZ showed growth. KATZ-FM and KXOK-FM were slightly down.
July 22, 1998
By Jerry Berger
Copyright © 1998, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
The station is now "The New 104.1 Extreme Radio," offering a steady diet of Pearl Jam, STP, Smashing Pumpkins, Green Day, Soundgarden, Nirvana, even Alice In Chains. WALC, which had been flirting with edgier fare for weeks, bit the Mod AC bullet at 3pm (Central time) on June 25. Several hours of stunting preceded the flip.
A press release calls the new format "mass appeal contemporary Rock" but Rick Balis, Director of Programming for Emmis-St. Louis, admits the industry would view it as "an Alternative station that plays Active Rock. The larger percentage of music is going to be Alternative, but there will also be Active Rock [titles] and those songs that straddle the fence."
Extreme Radio is jockless for now. The station's programming coalition of Balis, APD/MD/Promotion Director Tommy Mattern, and Creative Director Rob Walker remains in place.
"Our objective is to have a music format that's consistent with our morning show," Balis continued. "Howard is 60%-80% male. Now we're going to have a consistent, cohesive radio station and an ally to our classic-leaning mainstream AOR, KSHE. This will also block anyone from coming straight at KSHE."
The Emmis strategy in the Gateway City has been to corner the morning show market. They picked up The Bob & Tom Show for KSHE in January '95, put the well known Steve & D.C. team on Country WKKX, and locked up Howard for WALC in March. That move raised questions about the compatibility of the male-heavy Stern show with a female-leaning music product.
Now Balis says Emmis wants to "own the Rock arena, and particularly, male demos from young to old. On top of that, it's certainly going to stir things up and make some lives rather interesting at Rock competitors." (Read: Modern Rock KPNT.)
-Paul Heine
Thanks to FMQB.
While only on is St. Louis for about 4 weeks of the rating period, The Howard Stern Show still managed a 2.5 share, which is 15th place, 12+.
Thanks to Roger for sending this.
By Diane Toroian
Special to the Post-Dispatch
© 1998 St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
ST. LOUIS -- He's rude, crude and he's coming to town.
Howard Stern, the notorious New York talk show host, will be airing his syndicated radio program from 6 to 10 a.m. weekday mornings on WALC, Alice 104.1 FM.
"He's an equal opportunity offender. He's going to be too edgy for a lot of people, but that will make him interesting to others," said John Beck, general manager of Emmis St. Louis. He said the station has a "multi-year" contract with the shock jock.
Stern, 44, has been chatting about politics and sex, razzing guests about their private lives and humiliating callers for more than 20 years, but -- until this morning -- St. Louisans could not hear the self-proclaimed "King of All Media."
Some observers are surprised that Alice 104.1, which targets female listeners, picked up the show. Stern's sexual and scatological wit would seem to clash with Alice's female-oriented programming. The station broadcasts pop artists like Shawn Colvin and Sarah McLachlan as well as alternative acts like Third Eye Blind and Matchbox 20.
Beck says 25 to 35 percent of Stern's listeners are female and that 45 percent of Alice's listeners are male.
"We're going to wait and see how he does, but I think Howard on Alice is a good match," said Beck. "It definitely takes some guts to do this but I don't think we are as conservative as people say St. Louisans are."
Stern and his producers were unavailable for comment, but agent Don Bachwald told the Post-Dispatch last year that even conservative markets tune in.
"Howard's a monster in terms of a ratings-getter anywhere he goes," he said.
Newcomers can expect wacky trivia games, celebrity interview and titillating gossip. On last week's shows Stern told fans he was forced to urinate in his limo, chatted up actor George Clooney and rock act Van Halen and met the winner of the show's breast implant contest.
Stern is syndicated in more than 40 cities. Last year Stern starred "Private Parts" a movie adaptation of his best-selling autobiography. He also appears on E! cable network.
Copyright © 1998, St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
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