KCHZ 95.7 The Vibe is going Top 40

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By Nadia Pflaum in On My Radio

Fri., Oct. 16 2009 @ 4:26PM

I listen to the radio when I drive around town, and I flip between Hot 103.3 Jamz and 95.7 The Vibe because they both play "urban" music (though The Vibe has always been more on the lighter side of things -- Lady Gaga and Black Eyed Peas -- than, say, KPRS's Lil Wayne and Drake).

But yesterday, The Vibe played a Rob Thomas song. And then, "Use Somebody" by Kings of Leon. Obviously, something's up.

Now on 95.7 FM...

I called a radio insider who forwarded me a press release sent out today, October 16, announcing The Vibe's format change. "CUMULUS longtime Top 40/Rhythmic KCHZ (95.7 The Vibe)/KANSAS CITY has made a decidedly mainstream move with the music in the last few days with the introduction of songs by TAYLOR SWIFT, KINGS OF LEON, SHINEDOWN, DAUGHTRY, JASON MRAZ, NICKELBACK, DAVID COOK and many others to the playlist," it reads (obnoxious capitalization theirs).

This seems like good news for KPRS, now that no other station challenges its urban format. But why would The Vibe join an already-saturated Top 40 market? Kansas City already has KMXV's Mix 93.3 and 99.7 Kiss FM (which broadcasts Ryan Seacrest's show).

The insider thinks The Vibe's switch might have something to do with a change in the ratings system. Arbitron, the company that calculates Kansas City's radio station ratings, is switching from using listener-reported surveys (called "diarys") to a system called PPM -- the Portable People Meter.

According to Arbitron's Web site, "The Portable People Meter is a mobile-phone-sized device that consumers wear throughout the day that works by detecting identification codes that can be embedded in the audio portion of any transmission."

When a random sample of people wear the PPM, the device picks up signals that tell Arbitron what they're listening to on the radio, what they watching on TV, what sites they visit on the Internet and what music is playing around them in malls, restaurants and everywhere else.

If you're like me, it sounds freaky and Big Brother-like, but my source is optimistic. With PPM, the source says, radio stations will be able to better adjust their programming to reflect what their listeners want to hear. And, according to my insider, Top 40 stations have fared better than urban stations, ratings-wise, in markets already using PPM, which might be why The Vibe is making the switch.

The Vibe's press release includes this quote by SVP Jan Jeffries (sic all around): "KCHZ has been gradually moving toward mainstream for several months.Top 40 music is better than I remember it being in years. Our listeners are reacting positively to the gradual adjustments. The moniker is ALL THE HIT...95-7 THE VIBE."

Time will tell how successful the format change is for The Vibe. Radio insiders expect Arbitron's PPM ratings for the Kansas City market to come out in December. Meanwhile, I'm breaking up with The Vibe and looking for a replacement station for my pre-set buttons.

When it comes to Nickelback, I have to draw a line.

Tags: 95.7 FM, Arbitron, Hot 103 Jamz, Kings of Leon, KPRS, Nickelback, PPM, Rob Thomas, The Vibe, Top 40

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10 comment(s) / Post a Comment

James Christos says:

yeh i got hipped to the new system when we made a stop in St. Louis on the tour. alot of exec's at "Urban radio" are up in arms about it. especially the ones that are independently owned.

Posted On: Friday, Oct. 16 2009 @ 5:06PM

JAMELROCKWELL says:

wow, didn't know white flight applied to the airwaves as well as most of south kansas city. nothing surprising. guess ill just go back to 107.3 when i want to hear urban music minus the coonery. what the town really needs is an urban station progressive enough to support more LIVE mixes in its format, similar to what my bro dj shad does in town when the powers that be decide to do whats right. other than that and 90.1, radio culture here compared to major markets like LA n CHI looks like some of the scenes from o brother where art thou. "

Everett: "Uh, we hear that you pay good money to sing into a can."
Lund, Manager WEZY Radio (Stephen Root): "Well, that all depends. You boys do Negro songs?"
Everett: "Um... well, uh, sir, we are Negroes. All except for our accomp... our accomp... Uh, the fella that plays the guitar."
Lund, Manager WEZY Radio: "Yeah, well, I don't record Negro songs. No, I'm lookin' for some old-timey material. You see, people can't seem to get enough of it since we started broadcasting it on The Pappy O'Daniel Flour Hour, so thank you for stopping by, but..."
Everett: "Sir, uh, the Soggy Bottom Boys have been steeped in old-timey material. Heck, we're silly with it, ain't we, boys?"
Pete: "That's right."
Delmar: "That's right. We ain't really Negroes."
Pete: "All except for our accompanist."

Posted On: Friday, Oct. 16 2009 @ 5:52PM

jamelrockwell says:

oh, i forgot another exception. black clover radio on 96.5 definitely helps my sunday evenings..

Posted On: Friday, Oct. 16 2009 @ 5:54PM

Nadia says:

Update: I heard The Vibe's morning show, Shorty and the Boys (sp?) is history, too.

Posted On: Friday, Oct. 16 2009 @ 7:27PM

thePhantom* says:

KPRS NEEDS competition. For too long they've played complete non-sense that provides validation for ignorance in this city. No, no. Unfortunately The Vibe was not the right competition because they played some of the same crap! You can't beat one of the oldest "urban" stations in America at their own game haha.

KPRS needs a station to crush them. Then they'll play good music like they used to.

What's funny is that half the of the so called "DJ's" DON'T KNOW WHAT SONGS THEY'RE playing! I was at a 103 picnic not long ago and there were four five songs and our very own Sean Tyler was asking ME what songs were playing - one was Soulja Boi "Get my Swag On" (or whatever). Such a shame.

Even if they played the same crappy music MONTHS before they currently play it they'd be a better station. They play songs that have been out for at least eight months and call it "new!".

Let' KPRS die too, shit.

Posted On: Saturday, Oct. 17 2009 @ 8:36PM

Nadia says:

Oh man, it seems like all the stations call old songs "new." The Buzz was playing the "new" song by Santogold, "Lights Out," a couple weeks ago. I laughed out loud. I think that's been out since 2007.

Posted On: Saturday, Oct. 17 2009 @ 9:50PM

WhatUp says:

KPRS has a new Mixtape show on Friday Nights thats much better than underground heat and hot 8 at 8, it plays old school and new school, KPRS just plays whats hot at the time, stop trying to blame music for the violence and start blaming the parents, music is always the scapegoat

Posted On: Sunday, Oct. 18 2009 @ 10:58PM

Jason Harper says:

Rockwell and thePhantom* are cracking me up. Awesome O Brother reference. Holy shit.

Terrestrial commercial radio is just not a place for people who really care about music.

The Internet is completely changing the landscape of consumer entertainment culture. The same forces that are doing this to radio have been putting up, for example, Red Box DVD dispensers at grocery stores and fast food restaurants. You put in a dollar, out drops a hit. Meanwhile, connoisseurs go online because they can get whatever they want. Plug your iPod into your car stereo on the drive to work and listen to a Podcast.

That said, it's pledge drive time at KCUR, and I encourage everyone to donate. Public radio (including community radio) is the only thing worth saving on the FM dial.

Posted On: Monday, Oct. 19 2009 @ 11:13AM

thePhantom* says:

?That said, it's pledge drive time at KCUR, and I encourage everyone to donate. Public radio (including community radio) is the only thing worth saving on the FM dial."

Mr. Harper, agreed.

Posted On: Tuesday, Oct. 20 2009 @ 6:33PM

KIZ-ONE says:

I need to get back on the radio and make some things happen. LOLLOL but word radio is dead to me and has been for a while. I don't even listen to it any more mostly cd's and Ipod.

Posted On: Friday, Oct. 23 2009 @ 11:12AM