Editor: David Tanny
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Fall Evalutrons! Time To Rate The Radio Stations!Yes, the fourth quarter of the year consisting of the months of October through December is now history, and once again, you will be looking forward to the Arbitron and Accurating numbers that will be out about this time.This would also be the fourth installment of my invention The Evalutrons, where what really matters is the performance of the radio station in your opinion. That's right! You've read the word "your" instead of "my" in the last sentence. You're asking, "what the heck is that? What do I have to do to rate a radio station that I listen to?" Well I am gonna tell you. It's easier than you think. Here is all I ask for you to include in the e-mail:
First off, here is D.T.'s Evalutrons for Fall in my opinion. Every station bascially begins with an "F-" rating, that is, a score of zero. Up to three points are added for each of the five categories until they achieve their final score for the quarter. In other words: give me a reason why I should tune in your radio station more often than not.
SCORE GRADE ----- ----- 0 F- 1 F 2 F+ 3 D- 4 D 5 D+ 6 C- 7 C 8 C+ 9 B- 10 B 11 B+ 12 A- 13 A 14 A+ 15 A++ NR Not graded by me Bonus grades are added for doing stuff to be commended of and noted chosen arbitrarily. Up to three bonus grades per station per rating period. So, let's see how each station stacks up. Note that these may coincide with the Arbitrons or Accuratings in rankings, but those ratings are based on other factors that have nothing to do with performance whatsoever. Also includes some Los Angeles stations as noted. Note: This is completely my personal opinion on how good I feel the radio stations in my area are doing and are copyrighted 1999 by David Tanny. Any reproduction or retransmission or adopting its system by other radio columnists is prohibited unless they're exchanged for rights to retransmit their copyrighted works wherever Dave's Radio Waves is posted on the Internet. This ranking system is not tied to how many hours a week I usually listen to a particular radio station either like some other ratings systems do.
Fall Evalutron Ratings
NOTE: where scores are the same, a tiebreaker applies arbitraily
FREQ FORMAT SCORE/RANK
---- ------- -- --
FREQ STATION FORMAT PERF ATTI NICH RISK BONUS GRADE
---- ------- ------ ---- ---- ---- ---- ----- -----
540 XBAC-AM Classical NR NR NR NR
570+KLAC-AM Nostalgia NR NR NR NR
600 KOGO-AM Talk 1 2 3 1 Local Talk 8
640+KFI-AM Talk NR NR NR NR
690 XTRA-AM Sports 3 2 3 2 10
710+KDIS-AM Radio Dsny 1 3 1 1 6
760 KFMB-AM Talk 2 3 3 2 Chargers 12
790+KABC-AM Talk NR NR NR NR
910 KECR-AM Religious NR NR NR NR
1000 KCEO-AM Talk NR NR NR NR .
1070+KNX-AM News 3 3 3 2 11
1110+KRLA-AM Talk NR NR NR NR
1130 KSDO-AM Business 0 2 3 1 Kim Komando 6
1150+KXTA-AM Sports NR NR NR NR
1170 KCBQ-AM Talk NR NR NR NR
1210 KPRZ-AM Religious NR NR NR NR
1240 KSON-AM Radio Dsny 1 3 1 1 6
1360 KPOP-AM Nostalgia 2 3 3 1 9
1450 KSPA-AM Nostalgia 2 3 3 1 9
FREQ STATION FORMAT PERF ATTI NICH RISK BONUS GRADE
---- ------- ------ ---- ---- ---- ---- ----- -----
88.3 KSDS-FM Jazz NR NR NR NR
89.5 KPBS-FM Pub NR NR NR NR .
90.3 XHTZ-FM Urban 2 3 2 1 Local Mixes 9
91.1 XTRA-FM Pop AltRoc 2 2 1 0 Steve West 6
Resurrectn
91.7 XGLX-FM Adult Pop 2 2 3 3 10
92.1 KFSD-FM Classical NR NR NR NR
92.5 XHRM-FM R&B Oldies 2 3 2 1 . 8
93.1+KCBS-FM Classic RocNR NR NR NR
93.3 KHTS-FM Teen Top 40 3 1 2 1 7
93.7&KCLB-FM Rock NR NR NR NR
93.7%KDB-FM Classical NR NR NR NR
94.1 KJQY-FM A/C 2 2 2 1 . 7
94.7+KTWV-FM Pop Jazz NR NR NR NR
94.9 KBZT-FM Oldies 2 3 3 2 Beatles Sun 11
95.5+KLOS-FM Classic Rk 2 2 3 2 Jim Ladd 13
7th Day
House of Blues
95.7 KMSX-FM 70s-90s AC 1 1 2 1 . 5
96.5 KYXY-FM A/C 2 2 2 1 . 7
97.1+KLSX-FM Talk 2 1 3 0 Tom Leykis 7
97.3 KSON-FM Country 2 3 3 2 After Midnt 11
FREQ STATION FORMAT PERF ATTI NICH RISK BONUS GRADE
---- ------- ------ ---- ---- ---- ---- ----- -----
98.1 KIFM-FM Pop Jazz NR NR NR NR
98.7+Star-FM Modern AC 2 3 2 2 All Mixed Up 10
98.9 XHMORE-FM RockenEspanol NR NR NR NR
99.3 XHCR-FM Country 2 3 3 2 10
99.9#KOLA-FM Oldies NR NR NR NR
100.3+Mega100 R&B 2 3 2 1 . 8
100.7 KFMB-FM Modern AC 2 3 2 1 9
Jeff/Jer/Anita/Jagger/Kristy/Jen
101.1+KRTH-FM Oldies 2 3 2 1 Shotgun Tom 9
101.5 KGB-FM Classic Rk 2 1 2 0 Rockline 6
102.1 KXST-FM AAA 2 2 2 2 House ofBlues 9
102.7+KIIS-FM Top 40 3 3 2 3 Full Frequency
Rick Dees 13
103.1+KACD/KBCD AAA NR NR NR NR
103.3%KRUZ-FM Modern AC NR NR NR NR
103.7 KPLN-FM Classic Rk 2 3 2 0 No Repeat 8
104.3+KBIG-FM Pop A/C 2 3 2 2 9
105.3 KIOZ-FM Hard Rock 2 1 3 2 . 8
105.9+KPWR-FM Urban 2 2 1 1 Powertools 7
106.7+KROQ-FM Pop AltRoc NR NR NR NR
107.1+KSYY-FM Alt Rock 1 3 3 2 Mike Halloran 10
(NOTE KSYY is counted through Dec 15, 1999)
+ means LA Based
& means Palm Springs based
% means Santa Barbara based
# means San Bernadino-Riverside based
^ means somewhere else
MINUS NOTES:
97.1 - KLSX is still not available on Real Audio! Weekend programming
mostly in need of work.
710 - 100% canned from Texas
repeats the same set of songs too much, even a kid gets bored
1130 - Consider doing an all news block for afternoon drives home and
dump the financial goofoff dudes altogether.
1170 - BRING BACK TOM LEYKIS!!!!!!!
1240 - See 710
91.1 - Ignoring several alternative rock bands altogether. This isn't the
place where ALL new music starts!
92.5 - high repetetion of 70's and 80's soul and not enough 60's soul.
93.3 - sleepy crooning boy band after boy band makes this station a favorite for teen
females, but too sleepy for males, and even for KYXY listeners.
The Club 933 mixes are a good idea in itself, but they need to get song ideas
from their sister station in Los Angeles KIIS-FM as their dance mixes are, in a
word, groovier than the too many slow jams crammed in to make it a club mix.
Play some real house music for a change!
Hint: Listen to Full Frequency with Christian B on KIIS early Sat's for song
suggestions.
94.1 - can't they decide what to do with a 100kW station? Merge it with McMix!
95.7 - They're still ignoring the variety of rock and R&B hits made famous in the 70's
and 80's
96.5 - Play more upbeat adult pop songs with more uptempo rhythms to get you
through the day. KBIG has a better mix for adults.
100.7 - They're losing listeners and points. Play more 80's variety. Play more variety
of today's hits. Why so many slow tempo songs all of a sudden? You're playing
a lot of country pop lately. While you're playing country, play some Alan Jackson
and others and make it sound like K-HAY. Yee-haw!
101.5 - Listen to $10,000 Thursdays...for what in exchange? Listening through stacks of
dinosaur rock and roll you're tired of hearing? No thanks.
Morning show needs more comedy and music. Too much talk to make it appointment
radio. KGB seriously needs to be more like KLOS but better and play more new rock
and roll on a REGULAR basis. Needs more Sunday specials. Needs live concerts. Needs Dr.
Demento. Needs to get rid of that annoying night dude Todd Kelly. Now that John
Leslie is dead, it's unlikely you're going to get a preset button ever again from
me until you make ALL of the changes I stated...including Demento. No exceptions.
Do you read these Todd Little?
102.1 - Please play a more rockier mix. Lose Sarah McYawnin' and those sleepy chick folkies.
Why no Van Halen or ZZTop?
103.7 - Time to move The Planet into the new millenium by playing today's rock and roll
hits, not just the past from the past decades.
104.3 - the disco music shows are worn out. Time to program in more dance music variety of
the 80's during the weekends.
POSITIVE NOTES:
600 - Live talk from 3pm-9pm daily
760 - at least they're local most of the day
870 - (KIEV Glendale, not rated) Airs Radio-a-go-go 60's music (until Jan 2000)
1070 - News when you want it
1130 - all business is a good idea, but they need to be more serious about it.
1360 - plays tons of 50's and 60's oldies hits KBEST doesn't play.
90.3 - Urban mix blocks is done live, no pretaped mixes
91.1 - Steve West's Sunday Resurrection is worthy of listening to 91X for
all the four hours of the week. The other 164 hours needs serious
work though.
91.7 - Plays several songs from the 70's-80's not heard in years in San Diego.
92.5 - Saturday night mixes yielded some old skool songs not heard in years
92.5 - takes requests live most round the clock
94.9 - good variety of oldies
95.5 - Jim Ladd is entertaining anyday you tune in, 7th Day has albums
every Sunday night, House of Blues
98.9 - Rewire dance mixes Fridays 8-11pm!
99.3 - Plays the classic country oldies I haven't heard since the old KSON once aired them.
100.7 - e-mail inquiries are usually swift and responsive unlike 91X or 933.
101.1 - just beginning to program 70's oldies. KBEST 95 should also do the same
102.1 - at least this adult-aimed rock is filling a niche in San Diego playing new rock
music, but could use a rockier sound.
102.7 - Dance Mixes Friday and Saturday nights, better than 93.3's. Also listen live
on the Internet. Full Frequency Fri/Sat 1-4am plays the dance hits not heard often
enough.
103.7 - Brian Blades at 5pm daily has Today in Rock History.
105.9 - Power Tools airs Sat/early Sun 2am playing underground grooves.
WASTED POSITIVE POINTS:
Any station wish to adopt these? Here are some clues for you radio programmers
especially in sleepy San Diego!
- A station playing all uptempo dance, groove, and freestyle music and club mixes
on a regular basis.
- Full spectrum oldies from the 50s through the 90s
- Dr. Demento anyone?
- Full 80's music spectrum instead of just the 100 songs a station selects
- Talk shows showing sensitivity to people of all orientations including
gay and lesbian. Roger Hedgecock, are you listening? I'm not gay, but I support
them.
- San Diego's All News Leader
- Truly Alternative Rock and Roll. Too bad 91X doesn't believe in it.
- Full Hot 100 variety, hits when you want to hear them without listening
to the oldies
- True progressive rock and roll is what really rocks, not just
the classics
- Adult contemporary music that doesn't put you to sleep or make you cry.
- Country music that plays more variety instead of just the mainstream stuff
- An international music station with deejays in English playing world
hits not heard in the USA
- A public radio station that plays music at least 20 hours a week
- Funny morning jocks that are really funny and worth the time.
- All comedy music and sketch programming may work here.
- A children's music format with wider selection of kid-friendly songs
- Club mixes on radio that really sound like club mixes, not like some
cheap pop alternative rockers or sleepy crooners
Evalutron(tm) Ratings for October: The PeopleThe voting for the October period is over...BUT...the poll is open every month, so you can just vote on the radio stations for the previous month, every month. Polls will be compiled monthly.There isn't much to tell about the polls this month because most of you were probably watching a ton of sports on DirecTV or shopping for gifts on the Internet. No matter. Here's two of what came this way: FREQ STATION FORMAT PERF ATTI NICH RISK BONUS VOTES GRADE ---- ------- ------ ---- ---- ---- ---- ----- ----- ----- 105.9 KPWR-FM churban 1 3 0 0 3 1 8 (BONUS1) BIG BOY 1 POINT (BONUS2) RICHARD HUMPTY VISSION 1 POINT (BONUS3) POWERTOOLS 1 POINT Comments: Needs to bring back dance music. EMMIS, buy KKBT 92.3 from CHEAP CHANNEL, program HIP HOP on 92.3 and turn POWER into a groovey station! --------------------------------------------------------------------------- FREQ STATION FORMAT PERF ATTI NICH RISK BONUS VOTES GRADE ---- ------- ------ ---- ---- ---- ---- ----- ----- ----- 98.1 KIFM Smooth Jazz 3 3 2 3 0 1 11 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- And that's all that came for the month Evalutron(tm) Ratings for November: The PeopleThe voting for the November period is over...BUT...the poll is open every month, so you can just vote on the radio stations for the previous month, every month. Polls will be compiled monthly.There isn't much to tell about the polls this month because most of you were probably watching a ton of sports on DirecTV or shopping for gifts on the Internet. No matter. Here's two of what came this way: FREQ STATION FORMAT PERF ATTI NICH RISK BONUS VOTES GRADE ---- ------- ------ ---- ---- ---- ---- ----- ----- ----- 102.3 KJLH ADULT R&B 0 3 3 3 3 1 12 (BONUS1) 1 POINT: It,s owned by a black person, Stevie Wonder, so it dosen,t (BONUS2) 1 POINT: Doesn,t have the whitewash factor that MEGA has. (BONUS3) 1 POINT: It,s in touch with the black community (writeins) With KACE going away, it will be essential for KJLH to cater even more to the black audience and I know Stevie will rise to the challenge. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- FREQ STATION FORMAT PERF ATTI NICH RISK BONUS VOTES GRADE ---- ------- ------ ---- ---- ---- ---- ----- ----- ----- 99.3 XHCR COUNTRY 3 3 3 3 1 1 13 (BONUS1) Plays the classics not heard on KSON and KZLA since they themselves aired the songs originally (writeins) Not bad personalities either --------------------------------------------------------------------------- And that's all that came for the month |