Snyder's Side: Article 4
The Death of KY - The (ongoing) Life of Corporate Radio
It's happened again -- they've killed KYYS, the pioneer rock radio station in Kansas City. Kind of like Kenny (no relation) on South Park, he seems to regularly get this fate. Entercom, the conglomerate that controls eight stations in this market decided (once again) it "knows" what you want to hear. Man, sounds just like what the shirts at KY's old home (102.1) said when they unleashed that "Star 102" crap on their unsuspecting audience.
I've listened some, if for no other reason out of sheer curiousity. I personally don't see why it took such a radical change -- they've dropped some of the same old, same old that several other stations have played (to death) but it's still recognizable. On their new website, they ask for people's comments -- so here's what I sent them on 18 January 2008:
You want comments? OK, you got 'em:1) From what I hear so far, it's coming across like a slightly hipper version of KUDL and Star 102 (remember 102? That's where you got 99.7's format originally.). Sure, you've been playing more of some artists, but all too often it sounds like 101 with a lot of 102 and KUDL mixed in. "A _new_ format for Kansas City"? Not that new, not new enough to fire all the air staff, drop all your previous advertising contracts (which after all, is the reason for the commercial-free period you're in now) and change the name (and the call letters eventually). You could have done the same with everyone you had there and just had them push the changes through -- sure, some listeners would have bemoaned the changes and switched to 101 or your own 98.9 but many would have stuck around. I predict that this will alienate more current KY listeners due to the changes listed above than keep current KY listeners. Will the changes work? Guess we'll see -- I used to like a station here called The Planet (97.3) but they lost out in this corporate-driven quagmire called KC Radio. They truly had a format that was different, but corporate greed deep-sixed the station and I've never tuned them in again.
2) If you _really_ want a change, how about this concept: play CURRENT rock that doesn't fit the 98.9 format. Sure, you have Springsteen in heavy rotation, but what about what he has out _now_? There are a lot of rock artists (both old and new) that have new stuff out that don't fit the 98.9 mold and aren't Top 40 garbage-pop. Also, how about the same when it comes to _local_ artists? Lack of a station that champions the up-and-coming bands from this area is a big hindrance. So they leave and become the "next big thing" somewhere else or leave the music scene altogether -- a true loss for the local music fan.
I remember a station that played enough of Foreigner's initial album when it was new (in regular rotation) that I knew if I wanted to buy it just from radio airplay -- and I usually didn't buy an album if I didn't know at least half of it was something I liked. They also used to play local bands: Missouri, Shooting Star, and The Rainmakers were regularly spun. In fact, they put out an album of just _local_ music. Know who this was? The original KY. It was around long before the corporate nitwits ruined radio, before 101 and 98.9.
3) Each time you play The Beatles, The Police or Talking Heads the channel gets changed or the MP3 player gets a workout -- 'nuff said. If you decide to add Aerosmith and/or Boston the same thing will happen, guaranteed. There are other "artists" I don't particularly like, but I realize you can't please everyone.
4) Here's another concept: morning MUSIC. Too often I've tuned in to 98.9 and not heard a song in the time it takes me to get from KCK to KCI on the highway (about 20 minutes) -- that's too much talk. AM radio is infested with blabbermouths, if I want talk I'd tune one of them in.
When it's all said and done, the corporate shirts will try to tell the listening audience what they like -- just like before. KY died due to being too much like 101 and having a pitifully small playlist. Adding nonsense like canned out-of-town evening shows didn't help, either. Who's to blame for a small playlist? The same people that decided to make this change, I bet.
I used to be a rabid KY fan. Had the stickers on everything, wore the T-shirts, even had a black silk KY jacket (have I gave enough hints to my age yet?) and the aforementioned 1980 "Home Grown" album. Took my KY gear all over the country with me when I was in the USMC, to the point that I would tape hours of radio so I could play it in my car when I was out of town; be it Tennessee, Nevada, Arizona or Southern California. I was also one of those who was on the "front lines" when the original KY was axed for that garbage known as Star 102, and rejoiced when Entercom "brought back" KY. But not anymore -- I don't feel like the radio stations here are loyal to me, so I just return the favor. The presets on the radio get a workout all the time, and I just got an adapter so the MP3 player can share the car's tape deck with tapes of what I want to hear.
So in the end, you'll do what you want -- and I'll do what I want.
SSgt Ken Snyder
So you tell me: agree, or not? If I get a response, I'll update this page. If you want to respond, drop me a note and I'll post that as well.
Take Care,
KS