Missing a Radio Station....

There's no doubt that Google does a pretty good job at ranking search queries and the results people "click-through". Their search algorithms are the best in the biz; highly tuned and refined.

This morning I typed in the name of this blog and saw something that caught my eye:

Out of nearly a half-million results for the term "classic rock fm" - the fourth ranked result is KZPS in Dallas - a radio station that went off the air in April of 2007 - nearly one year ago! See here.

I might have this all wrong, but my gut tells me that there's a lot of people in the Dallas area who just might miss this radio station.

Oh - and the fifth-ranked search result is kind cool too!

More here later.

KZPS - Lee Abrams & Playlists

Yesterday, I mentioned here Lee Abram's latest blog post - and specifically his words on baseball and Bill Veeck. But there was much more to Lee's post.

If you didn't read it - he also wrote about the format switch at KZPS/Dallas and offered opinion on what went wrong: "They literally blew those 300 songs SO into the ground that is painfully boring".

After reading Lee's comments yesterday, I made a few notes of my own - based on the stations I've both programmed and have been influenced by.

While this depends on the competitive environment - I have a "loose-tight" attitude about programming music on classic rock. No question we've got to play "those 300" (or so...whatever for your station/market) high-testing classic rock tunes.

At the same time - there should be moments to dig a little deeper. This could be part of a daily feature - part of a theme weekend - an "album side", "hair cuts" or whatever. They need the proper set up or staging.

Likewise with new releases by classic artists that you might play, if you elect to do it.

This can get into a whole different discussion regarding "creating musical confidence" - a topic Lee Abrams wrote about years ago that I'd love to reprint here.

I've also been able to "stretch the 300" - with overnight recycling in Selector as well as using great alternate live versions of songs - rotated in packets in Selector.

I'd daypart the live versions (so the familiar studio version only plays in morning drive, for instance); - with some additional coding so only one "alternate live cut" can play - let's say - within 60-90 minutes.

Added: I've also used these live tracks for specials and themes, including a "live tracks" weekend - with 3-4 live tracks an hour.

Just some of my ideas. Feel free to share yours.

Sunday Morning Odds & Sods

Good Morning from Chicago. We're actually staying at my brother's home in the community of Gurnee - north of Chicago right near the Wisconsin state line.

Had a family reunion last night in Deerfield - my hometown. Good times.

More Lone Star 92.5: Pollack Media Group's Jim Kerr - writing in his company's weekly "Pollack Media Confidential" observes that the revamped KZPS is "a radio station built to be streamed".

Jim makes the point that with station's new commercial policy - no traditional recorded spots - the station eliminates all AFTRA streaming issues. And with that, Lone Star 92.5 can receive full credit from Arbitron for any online listening.

If you were not aware - Arbitron will not give your station credit for online listening if the stream isn't 100% simulcast with the on-air signal......commercials and all. Should Jim's piece be available online at some point, we'll be sure to pass it along.

Mike McVay. Mike writes about an old pair of shoes and creating emotional attachments with listeners. Here.

Jay Leno. Chicago's Rick Kaempfer shares a great story about a Jay Leno moment on his "Celebrity Snippets" blog here. And do check out Rick's Chicago Radio Spotlight this week for his interview with former radio writer/performer Jeff Hoover. I never get bored reading and hearing radio war stories.

More here Monday.

More KZPS

I intended to save this for Wednesday; but there's lots of tongues a waggin'.....

Me: Its sad to see a heritage classic rock station disappear. I can only speculate the reasons and the events that led to the decision.

That said - I listened to the new Lone Star 92.5 for about an hour yesterday and found it refreshing; The music, overall presentation - and the commercial policy were fantastic. Only time will tell whether the format has legs - and if the ad community will support this new paradigm. I hope so.

Fred Jacobs comments more this morning here about the change in Dallas - and suggests that the station's new commercial policy might have been better tested with the prior classic rock format.

Edison Media Research's Sean Ross gives the new "Lone Star 92.5" a first listen here. Sean notes that the music is mostly grounded in......classic rock.

We noted the words of McVay Media's Dave Lange yesterday; but here they are again.

Whats your take? Click to listen to Lone Star 92.5.

A Case Of The Mondays...

...no! Its the start of a great week!

This morning Keith Cunningham of Jacobs Media writes about radio's ability to react fast - but suggests it could be slow to get into the game. Read Keith's comments here.

Last Friday: We noted here that Cincinnati's WOFX (92.5 The Fox) is repeating the 6am hour of Bob & Tom middays 10-11am. Now Miami's WBGG (Big 105.9) is extending morning drivers Paul & Young Ron until noon.

Lee Abrams: Over the weekend Lee blogged about Washington, DC's new 94.7/The Globe - and wrote in depth about his XM Radio "check list" for a great station. Some more great thoughts from Lee on how to think about your radio station.

Added: Dallas loses classic rock KZPS - and with the change - Clear Channel gets rid of....commercials. Read here.

More: Fred Jacobs on KZPS - as quoted on All Access: "In a major market, for a classic rock station to change formats is really an anomaly"..."You could make a nice, long, healthy list of top five stations that are classic rock, and several would be No. 1 or No. 2 in their markets". Me thinks the door just opened for a new classic rock convert in Dallas; or adjustments at 93.3 The Bone.

Yet More: Dave Lange on the launch of the new KZPS "Lone Star 92.5" - here.

Tony Soprano rocks. If you saw last night's episode of The Sopranos, you heard another great classic rock moment.

Tony and Paulie hit the road with the radio cranked to Fredricksburg, VA's WWUZ/Classic Rock 96.9. That's too cool! Congrats to their staff.

Later this week:

Tuesday (4/24) - Iggy Pop/The Stooges on ABC's Jimmy Kimmel.
Wednesday (4/25) is Administrative Professional's Day
Thursday (4/26) is "Take Your Daughter (Or Son) To Work Day"