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More Thoughts about Jack FM 100.7 (April 14, 2005)From The Radio-Info San Diego Board:Subject: Tracy talks about Jack... Posted by: Garrett Ok, Not that anyone cares, but here's my opinion about this. If you follow the link at SDradio.net, it takes you to a featured interview by Tracy Johnson who is a client of fairwest, which has a database of research. Before I break this down, I will say that Tracy Johnson has forgotten more about broadcasting than many of us (and certainly me) will ever learn. He could easily be a college professor, or even a network news anchor. So in no way would I ever attempt to claim to know more than him or to know better than he would about broadcasting. I would add that I am sorry that I never got the chance to work under him, because if I had when I was starting out, I think I would still be working in radio today. Furthermore, Tracy has the benefit of having the data that none of us have. Thus, it would be unfair that any of us would not be able to speculate about 100.7 just because we do not know. After all, only Tracy Johnson could have the exact knowledge. Therefore, I find it entirely our right to talk about 100.7 from our own perspective. That said, I would like to talk about my interpretation of his comments... "Star 100.7 has the number 1 billing in the market": If you have the number 1 billing in the market, why would you change a format? I do not know a person around who would do that, regardless of ratings (unless the billing is not paying the bills). I also know that when a station is for sale, allot is done to make that station as lean as possible. This fact makes me wonder if the FM portion of KFMB is on the block. "We've been looking at this format for a year now; We are riding a horse that is getting tired, and here comes this new, faster horse...” This line tells me a lot. First, it means that KFMB has been unhappy with Hot AC as a format. Hot AC's around the country have been having trouble. CHR's have been opening up their play-lists lately, day-parting a lot of their music. Regular AC is too upbeat now, and this poses a problem for Hot AC's. Who do you sound like? What I don't understand is, based on the play-list I've seen on 100.7, is this really a "faster horse?" I don't think so. I would have said go to mainstream CHR. Top 40 is a much faster paced format and typically brings in more revenue, although I hear that the profit margin is smaller. But with Channel 933 on the air for a while now, can you argue that KFMB FM could not put up a fight? The tunes on the San Diego Jack are pretty AC'sh for the most part. I do not see allot of music that brings me excitement. Also, this is a dj free format, which is another sign that the station is just trying to cut costs to be more profitable. "This is a calculated risk" That means we will not have to wait too long to see this format live or die. I give it 1 or maybe 2 books. If Jack does not perform fast, expect Top 40 or some form thereof to return to 100.7. I wouldn't be surprised to see Star come back, or even a CHR version of B100. It could also mean that if Jack does not do well in San Diego, allot of people could be out of a job. You can use your own imagination to fill in that blank. "The clients are on board..." Well OF COURSE they are, they haven't heard the format yet, and they have no reason to doubt Tracy Johnson, yet. However, wait until they hear what the station is playing. Some of these advertisers will hear the office music that is on and make some calls. Others will hear the Classic Rock and think "that's not the image we want." KFMB FM should be worrying about advertisers once they tune in to hear what is playing. "This is the best thing that ever happened to Jeff and Jer; we are going to introduce Jack to Jeff and Jer..." Yes, I believe this is true. These are exactly the songs that both these two men like to listen to. But sometimes what a dj likes is not what’s best for the station. This line tells me that Jeff and Jer will be re-signing their contract. They come back on April 18, and 100.7 (Jack or no Jack), is where they will be for the next 4 years. "There are a lot of copy-cat formats out there with people trying to do their own format, but if you do not do it just right, there are going to be allot of failures..." Really? Only Jack, huh? So what if I decided to do a variation of Jack, say "Gary FM" where I play the Heaviest Metal with the bumpiest RAP and Hip-Hop along with Bubble Gum music, it wouldn't work? How does he know? This is a self serving statement. Just because Jack had the idea first does not mean it is the best or the last. And anytime someone tells me "only they can do something" provokes me to prove them wrong. By the way, KFMB is not the first station in San Diego to consider using the Jack concept. There was an article in the San Diego Reader article over a year ago, where John Lynch was shopping around for an FM companion to 1090. Jack had just gone on the air in Canada and the online at Jack.FM had just begun. When asked what format John would put on an FM he said "I don't know. I hear there is this new format from Canada that plays a mix of Hot AC and Oldies." You know, I really want this format to work, and I'd even like to see one out in my neck of the woods. But I suspect for this to work, the music must be more upbeat. Also, I think the debut of Jack in San Diego was botched. First, they started the format on the first day of a vacation for the morning show. Second, they chose a format vastly different from a previously popular format. I think Star was far more successful than the ratings reflected. You never want to blow off the type of listeners that KFMB FM did, because these younger audiences spend more money. I think that 100.7 just handed ratings to Channel 933 and My94.1, and do not be surprised if both are in the top 3 or 4 within the next few books. Finally, this is a golden opportunity for a station like 103.7 to take advantage of a popular format and name being vacated. Let me say that last one again; this is a golden opportunity for 103.7 to take over a popular name like Star which is now available in the San Diego market. Just think, Jaggar and Kristi, mornings, on Star 103.7! Also, is he "histar.com" domain available yet? Posted by: Jay F If other markets are any indication, Hot ACs get hurt the most when a Jack type station comes on. I have yet to see a case where Hot AC starts booming after Jack is introduced in a market. Maybe that's what Midwest was thinking? As well as Star was doing, they might have feared that a Jack station could inflict serious damage. So they decided to beat everyone else to the punch. The risk is that nobody knows yet if Jack is good just for a book or two or if it is a viable format in the longterm. The Canadian numbers look like Jack slowly declines but stays strong. I don't know anything about Canadian radio, but my guess is that it's a less fragmented radio landscape. If that's the case, it would be difficult to predict the future of U.S Jacks by looking at Canadian ratings. Posted by: Crusty_Bob Have you ever actually met a college "radio" professor? Nice guys, the ones I've met, but not really the people you'd turn to if you wanted to create a successful radio station. And network news anchors? Well, that is most certainly a class of people who haven't a clue about programming: for the most they are personable news readers who may or may not have some good reporting skills (which are not actually needed to succeed in TV news). And even "successful" radio program directors are often beneficiaries of timing and really good luck. The truth is, most broadcasters roll the dice and hope for the best and sometimes they score big and sometimes they don't. I can't even remember - or at least won't - the names of all of the ones I've worked for who had one good roll of the dice which then sustained a career of bad rolls. Garrett, you may in fact know just as much as most of them and in fact, I'm sure if someone handed you a radio station with Jeff and Jer in the morning and a good source of music research, you could probably do pretty well by it. This is quite unusual, preemptive strike against possible future ratings declines and the most important part of the JT interview was, "This is a calculated risk." Posted by: golden eagle boy If Star was behind in paying the bills, then I could justify a change. But to be the #1 billing station and changing the format? I can't imagine them not paying the bills. I don't care what format you have, if you're #1 in billing, you don't change. I do think Star could've done a few things to spruce up the format, but not going this all out.
name = Jim:
If it's not broken, don't try to fix it. BIG BIG MISTAKE changing to Jack FM.
name = Name withheld:
Hmmmmmm... listening to Jack is like listening to a really unimaginative jukebox in a bar--completely random but not very surprising. No new ground being broken here. As my friend in L.A. pointed out when he was talking to me about the newly "Jacked" format of the former Arrow classic rock station up there: "It's not like they're taking any risks with the music... all the songs on the playlist have been top ten hits at one time or another." Precisely. "Triple A" (Adult Album Alternative) format stations take more risks than Jack does with this new "Play Anything" format by playing album tracks that were never necessarily considered "hits." However, Triple A stations have never had much success in San Diego because this seems to be a radio market that adores its sticky sweet pop served up in a plastic spoon. Maybe it's the climate... I don't know. Anyway, at least Star had personality going for it. Jeff and Jer may be overly sappy in tone, but they do have an undeniable way of connecting with their audience. Midwest TV is not stupid for keeping the winning morning team intact. Anita was getting tired so it's good that she left on her own accord (to spend more time with her family, supposedly)--it was excruciating to listen to her struggle to complete a thought/sentence sometimes. Come on lady, just get the words out! Jen, on the other hand, has an effortless and appealing on-air persona so it's a shame that she's gone. She DID have a tendency to come off self-absorbed on the air and unhealthily droned on way too many times about her weight and food issues but that made her so typically So. Cal... like, y'know??? LOL! She was generally likable. Greg on the other hand, made me want to slap him sometimes. His goody-goodness and bible-beater ways got on my nerves so much. Plus, he had this way of putting his foot in his mouth so many times. You could almost hear Jen and Sara cringing on the air at dumb things that he said. Plus, it's really pathetic when you have to rely on playing fart sound effects to get laughs. Sorry, Greg, I know you have two kids to feed, but KFMB FM was being merciful to keep you on. You are one mediocre and unfunny D.J. If it turns out that he and Sara are the new afternoon team, let's hope that she has the ability to reign in his on-air clumsiness somewhat. Anyway, the new Jack regime has be aware that it is intelligent, affable, and genuinely funny air talent that will give the station personality and set it apart from the rest. If the OBNOXIOUS duo of annoyingly lispy Duncan and "boy-do-I-love-to hear-myself-talk" Mel are the best air talent that 94.1 can come up with (I can't believe they actually thought these dorks were good enough to move to mornings), then that's not much competition for Jeff and Jer to worry about. With a "Mom 'n' Pop" company (Midwest TV)-owned Star, it was nice having an alternative to the corporate nightmare Clear Channel's TOTALLY plastic My94.1. But now that Midwest has bought into Jack's act (literally), the station sounds soooooo CORPORATE. However, this might hopefully change with the return of the D.J.'s from their "vacation" in a week. Most San Diegans don't want a clone-like station that sounds like an Ipod. They just want a station that reminds them of the fun spirit of San Diego and what it really means to live here. If Jack doesn't care to know San Diego, then San Diegans won't WANT to "know Jack." And that's MY take on it all.
name = Sarah:
Jack is the worst station I have every heard. I gave it a try, but not even one good song came on. If I really wanted to just listen to music I'd put on a burned CD. If miss the DJ's. I miss Greg & Jen and I really hope Jef&Jer, and the gang move over to 94.1 or somethere else. They should not stay with such a terrible station, they are too good for that. Tracy Johnson got rid of a radio staion full of personality and quirkyness and replaced it with bad songs and a rude personality. I don't know what he was thinking but he need to change it fast before everyone takes 100.7 off their radio. I just have to find something to replace it with now, and there's not a whole lot of choices. This is like an April Fool's Joke that will not end. It's like San Diego has lost a best friend.
name = Cindy Buxton:
Finally, I found a place to vent. They say Jeff and Jer are coming back on the 18th. I don't believe it. Hell will freeze over and Christ will come again before that happens. They have way too much integrity to keep working for a station like "Jack-off" Radio. When Jeff and Jer switched from Q106 to Star they made sure their 11 listeners knew where they were going. They would never treat us like this and I don't think they will keep working for these Jerks. When I heard about half of the first song on Jack radio, "This Is the End of the World as We Know it" I knew what had happened. Even Jeff and Jer commented that after the Fugitive so many people felt let down once it was over. Do you really think these guys would dump their audience like that of their own choosing? I have a lot more faith in them than that. Sorry folks, but I'd be looking for them to turn up somewhere else. Surely there is another oldies show that could use a boost from the Jeff and Jer showgram in the mornings. As for Jack Radio, I called them and they said they were looking for a word to describe themselves, something like eclectic. Eclectic my foot. When I hear "Pigeon on the Gate" by Jerry Reed Smith I'll believe they are for real. But I'm sure they don't have any idea who Jerry Reed Smith is. --Would you believe anything by Hawaii's super legend, IZ? That will be the day! You can bet they wouldn't even spring a little out of mainstream for a single by Bobby McFerrin and YoYo Ma. Eclectic? Don't hold your breath! In the mean time its back to Dave, Shelly, and Chainsaw, unless you want a real good laugh on am760 Rick Roberts. Sure
Love always, Cindy B.
name = John:
Star sucked!!! Why is everybody whining about its killing in favor of music that I like.
Rock and other popular songs from the 70s and 80s, just like the KCBQ-FM format of 1993,
but with some 90s and today's songs, but I quit listening to radio after the 80s
and I can't name anything besides Nirvana that came out since then.
I'm glad somebody is finally playing the hits that I enjoyed hearing back then, and I'm glad
that Jack is not playing the love songs that made me tune out of KCBQ or B100 when they
came on. Jack rocks and will rule San Diego. Finally, a radio station that I can listen to.
name = Sabado Green:
Along with all that's been said, has anyone noticed that no one mentioned the future of Becky's House? --Not even when Tracy Johnson was listing off the accomplishments of Star 100.7 in the final minutes before the switch. That one was conveniently overlooked. Is this an issue for someone? ("We "play" what we want" ?)
Why would you call a radio station "Jack", anyway? Did Jack-In-the Box buy them? --We should nick name them "Fast Food Radio"! Was that Tracy Johnson under that big round white head all these years? I just knew it! He has tbe brains of an antennea ball!
Jeff and Jer, where ever you are, stay there! You are truely the new fugitives. We will gladly come to you! The very first time I heard you guys, it was the gig with Joan Embry,followed by more of "your stuff" when you called the guys in New Zealand. I could hardly breathe I was laughing so hard! Last Spring after going through my own personal "bottom" one of my biggest turnaround moments was when Jeff firmly told a woman "Don't go through life being disrespted." It was an awakening that pierced my dark, internal fog like a beacon from a lighthouse. I thought real hard about that, and it has made all the difference. Please take your own medicine now, guys! This just 'ain't your style and you don't need to be "Jacked" around. San Diego loves you!
Jeff and Jer are not mentioned in new TV commercials advertising Jack FM.
In another related Blurt,
Jen Sewell started as an unpaid intern 11 years ago at Star 100.7. "I was with
the station from day one when it started as Star 100.7." Sewell went on to
become music director, assistant program director, and cohost of the Star afternoon show with Greg Simms.
She was told she was out of a job just before her afternoon shift was to start at 3 p.m.
on March 31. Another DJ did her shift. Six days later KFMB-FM's Star 100.7 was "blown up"
and became Jack 100.7.
"Tracy [Johnson, KFMB general manager] told me, 'We're not renewing your contract. The station is changing its plans, and they don't include you. '"
Sewell said she is getting married in two weeks and "actively looking for a job. I'm willing to relocate."
Source: North County Times - Randy Dotinga
A Star has fallen, and many listeners aren't very happy about it.
"This stinks," says a post on the message board of 100.7 Jack FM, the station formerly known as KFMB-FM/Star 100.7 until it switched formats last week. "This station better not go downhill." Several listeners threatened to flee to satellite radio, and another added: "This is so stupid. Does anyone know why they did this?"
Good question. Both listeners and radio industry insiders are buzzing about Star 100.7's extreme makeover, which banished the station's trademark chatter and groundbreaking "hot adult contemporary" music format.
"Jeff & Jer," the station's longtime and highly rated morning hosts, will remain. Gone are two well-known disc jockeys ---- Anita Rush and Jen
"Intern Jen" Sewell ---- and other station features, from "Queer Tip of the Day" to the "Daily Dirt," a popular Hollywood gossip roundup, and the radio shrink known as the "Love Doctor."
In their place is the "Jack" format, which has made major inroads at radio stations in both the United States and Canada. The stations emphasize snarky attitude and big, everything-but-the-kitchen-sink song playlists. Listeners hear rock and pop songs from the last four decades, making for unusual juxtapositions.
Jack also stands out because of its attitude. The voice of the station ---- reportedly the same guy who does Taco Bell commercials --- sounds like a sarcastic jerk. "It's like, 'We play what we want, and we play these commercials, and we don't care whether you like it or not.' It's got this testy quality to it," said Darrel Goodin, general manager of KSON, KIFM and FM 94/9.
So is the new format any good? The music mix is different, and some competitors in town even admit that they like it. The format is certainly creative and original, traits missing in a radio world dominated by risk-averse companies like Clear Channel. (The KFMB stations ---- AM, FM and Channel 8 ---- are owned by a small company called Midwest Television.)
But the station's lack of disc jockeys could be a problem. When "Jeff & Jer" isn't on, Jack sounds like a CD collection with commercials. Why not just listen to your iPod instead? It's a question Jack will have to answer to stay afloat.
Randy Dotinga wonders why there isn't a station called Randy FM. E-mail him at NCTimesRadio@aol.com.
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