Monday Monday - Late Edition

64° - clear at 11:31pm

Listening tonight: In the mail today a CD I ordered from Chicago-based country/rock band "Heartsfield" - and their debut album released in 1973. An album I remember playing to death on the radio when it was new.

Haven't heard the album in 30 years but still was able to sing along in my head as if the words were parked in some brain cells long thought dead. Too cool. Heartsfield is a definite Midwest thing.

Remembering Bo Diddley. Got the news today from a listener email from Buffalo's WGRF/97 Rock. Bo's sound will live forever.

Perception vs. Reality. San Francisco's Ben Fong-Torres clears up some consumer confusion over song repetition on KFOG. A good read here. Tipped by Sean Ross.

Earlier today I posted a line from a recent Alan Mason post that I thought were fantastic. Couldn't post more then - but here's more:

"I also understand that without a strategic reason for doing something, which includes clear differentiation, and a brand that will keep the consumer engaged instead of just listening, you’re probably going to fail. One of the secrets is that clear differentiation makes it easier for the consumer to remember you, and use you. Anything less than a brand relationship create as much loyalty as the many gasoline stations you pass. In the new world order, all those gasoline stations have different names, and some slight variations on “mixology,” but when you go out chances are you’re going to go the statin that’s the cheapest or the most convenient. You rarely build a relationship with a gasoline station any more, since they quit being service stations."

"You might be doing the same thing with your radio station. If you’re pushing people to only use you when the price is the lowest (fewest commercials), or when it’s convenient (already recognized stations), there’s very little chance you’re going to cut through the clutter and become a recognized entity. I’ve even seen stations that spent quite a bit on outside marketing and still fail, because they didn’t cut through the clutter."

Alan's complete post here. Bedtime for Bonzo. More tomorrow.

The Weekend Classic Rock FM

35° - mostly cloudy at 10:24am

Welcome to the weekend.

Listening: This morning to the new KYYS/The Boulevard from Kansas City.

After expecting a laid back approach to imaging - like WDRV/The Drive in Chicago or KFOG/San Francisco - I was somewhat surprised by what I heard. Far more upbeat and in your face - similar to a Hot AC.

The Boulevard uses the positioner "quality rock from the artists that matter". Here's a 6 song set heard this morning:

• Rock The Casbah/The Clash
• You Make Loving Fun/Fleetwood Mac
• Clocks/Coldplay
• Reeling In The Years/Steely Dan
• Sympathy For The Devil/Rolling Stones
• Head Over Heels/Tears For Fears
  

Listen live here. Heard later: "The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway" - from Genesis; "Baba O'Riley" from The Who. Its still very much classic rock.

If I were to place labels on the format: Classic Hits or even Rock AC would apply. Its simply a female-friendly Classic Rock station.

KYYS didn't change format - it simply came up with a fresh approach to what they had been doing.

KYYS/The Boulevard sounding very similar to the 1977 debut of WLUP/Chicago - which became the third AOR station in that city against ABC's WDAI and NBC's WKQX. WLUP using a female-friendly approach. And this is certainly remains a viable alternative to a crosstown male-focused classic rocker.

More over the weekend.

Sunday Morning Odds & Sods

85° - sunny at 11am

Good Morning!

Yesterday: I was in Ludington, MI (along the Lake Michigan shoreline) doing a live remote for Todd Mohr's WWKR. It was my first commercial remote in something like 12 years.

It was fun to help out and be on the air again. Nice to see the station's new home too - moving from nearby Pentwater.

Too cool: The station runs the Jones satellite-delivered classic rock format out of Denver - and the talent on the air during my remote was my old buddy Shark. (photo right)

Aside from his Jones duties, Shark also does middays on Denver's KRFX and "voice tracked" afternoons for me in New Mexico (and still does there). Just like old times yesterday.

Live Earth. All I caught was some CNN coverage of yesterday's event. I honestly didn't "get" Live Earth - talking global warming while consuming many kilowatts to power all that stage lighting and sound.

Perhaps it should have been from one site - all acoustic ("unplugged"). From Greenland where the glaciers are melting.

Added: Bob Lefsetz offers his take on Live Earth here.

Grab this music list. Listening this morning to Bob Stroud on Chicago's WDRV. Doing his annual "Living in the USA" show.

Might grab his playlist here once its posted and stick in the file as music ideas for your own July 4th programming next year.

Just heard a great tune as part of WDRV's internet fill: "I Know What I Like" by Genesis. Haven't heard that in years!

Added: In Seattle - KZOK #1 12+ (again) in trend released Friday.

Added: (yet more!) Rick Kaempfer's Chicago Radio Spotlight shines on KFOG/San Francisco PD Dave Benson. A great read here.

Enjoy the day.