For the record, I have pretty passionate feelings about the OKC radio landscape too. It seriously sucks. I've lost count of the number of times I've turned on the radio to find something good to listen to, flipped through all 6 presets on my radio, and found nothing that interested me. For the record, I enjoy Top40 and rock (modern, active, and alternative) - and I don't often find anything I want to listen to.

Really? Are you sure?

I mean this in the best way possible, but you're the only person I know that even talks about the OKC radio landscape, nevermind has passionate feelings about it. Most people I know turn on the radio to mindlessly have some music while they drive (if they're not already using their phones/ipods). This all sounds like unsubstantiated hysteria to me. Plus, I've posted that back in NYC (presumably the #1 market in the nation) everything is a Top 40 station... a large number of stations I can think of that were somewhat different as a kid moved to exactly the same thing. I really think this is overblown tbh.

Ask people their opinions on the local radio stations. People who like country probably don't have any issues with it but others will say that FM radio is going the way of the dinosaur and that XM and Pandora is the future. While there is some truth to that, I find that sentiment isn't shared as strongly in other markets that have better (and a greater variety of) stations.

Really? Are you sure?

I mean this in the best way possible, but you're the only person I know that even talks about the OKC radio landscape, nevermind has passionate feelings about it. Most people I know turn on the radio to mindlessly have some music while they drive (if they're not already using their phones/ipods). This all sounds like unsubstantiated hysteria to me. Plus, I've posted that back in NYC (presumably the #1 market in the nation) everything is a Top 40 station... a large number of stations I can think of that were somewhat different as a kid moved to exactly the same thing. I really think this is overblown tbh.

And I Thought I was just *really* out of touch wrt feelings about local radio. For me, its 20 minutes either way en route to work, and some during the day if I need a distraction. And I can't see how any single POV can claim how any *one* region's radio is "much worse than the rest of the country." That implies a *lot* of consistent, non-OKC radio listening from several thousand stations across the nation to make such a claim.

Looking at the ratings for Spring '15 it looks like 107.7 The Franchise has dethroned 94.7 The Brew as the worst-performing FM station in the OKC market. I know sports talk stations typically out-bill their ratings, but I wonder if Tyler Media is going to stay on that horse or try something different on the 107.7 frequency.

Not as long as they remain the flagship for OU sports. While I will state up-front this is an overstatement, I strongly suspect the value in the OU media rights alone is worth at least as much to them as their "ratings," particularly when the fall rolls around and football fires back up. it's one of those odd scenarios where ratings are still important, but there really are secondary considerations. OU radio media isn't the value proposition it was in the 80's back in the Jeeeeeemeny Christmas era, but it still has value, and I think Tyler is content to build a sports station around it - even down to retheming away from "The Franchise" at some point, but retaining the sports emphasis.

My hometown of grand rapids, mi is a larger media market I think its 39th and its way worse than okc. It just country and the only urban is community radio. So for me its a come up lol

interesting that OKC has such a small radio market but the city is actually quite large (significantly larger than Grand Rapids by far). How is that so?

interesting that OKC has such a small radio market but the city is actually quite large (significantly larger than Grand Rapids by far). How is that so?

It's because outside of the metro area, most of the area within the OKC media market is pretty sparsely populated.

Public radio stations hardly ever get mentioned. Is there nothing worthwhile on them as a good means to get away from annoying commercials?

Public radio stations hardly ever get mentioned. Is there nothing worthwhile on them as a good means to get away from annoying commercials?

I like Classical KCSC here in OKC.

I listen to KGOU often since my preferred music formats are severely lacking here. I find when I am in the mood for news/talk, it's a very enjoyable experience.

Public radio stations hardly ever get mentioned. Is there nothing worthwhile on them as a good means to get away from annoying commercials?

After 7:00pm KOSU flips of theSpyFM. Completely different shows every night, variety you won't get on any other station.

I like Classical KCSC here in OKC.

Except for the station breaks, I guess. It's now KUCO. (They retained the KCSC calls for a repeater in Woodward.)

Maybe it's time for an OKC station to give jazz another try.

Maybe it's time for these threads to be merged.

http://www.okctalk.com/arts-entertainment/34393-okc-radio-stations.html

Surprised this wasn't mentioned here but iHeartMedia has launched OKC's third Spanish language station on 98.5 FM.

Gracias por ese pedacito de la información

Surprised this wasn't mentioned here but iHeartMedia has launched OKC's third Spanish language station on 98.5 FM.

But we still don't have a single station that will play a rock song that was released in the last 20 years...

But we still don't have a single station that will play a rock song that was released in the last 20 years...

Nor a mainstream urban station.

Alternative rock and mainstream urban are two very popular formats, formats that are very successful in nearly every other city, yet for some reason broadcasting companies here are reluctant to touch those formats. There are enough redundant classic rock and country stations you would think somebody would see an opportunity.

Now that Tyler Media has moved Now 96.5 to 92.9, it would be cool if they would do something different with the 96.5 signal.

Even the pop stations here, don't play today's Top 40.

It is no wonder Tulsa gets non-stop good concerts and OKC gets very few. With all the new outdoor concert venues being proposed, I wonder how well they'll actually do, since no one here has actually heard new music. I guess they could be like Frontier City and get a lot of classic rock acts.

Even the pop stations here, don't play today's Top 40.

It is no wonder Tulsa gets non-stop good concerts and OKC gets very few. With all the new outdoor concert venues being proposed, I wonder how well they'll actually do, since no one here has actually heard new music. I guess they could be like Frontier City and get a lot of classic rock acts.

I'm sure you're right. Everyone in OKC only learns about new music from the radio. Most don't have TVs or any other devices that download music.

Even the pop stations here, don't play today's Top 40.

It is no wonder Tulsa gets non-stop good concerts and OKC gets very few. With all the new outdoor concert venues being proposed, I wonder how well they'll actually do, since no one here has actually heard new music. I guess they could be like Frontier City and get a lot of classic rock acts.

Thank Cumulus Media's purchase of Citadel Communications for that. Cumulus' nationwide policy for Top 40 stations is that older, familiar songs are the backbone of a radio station. Their version of Top 40 focuses on the biggest hits of the past decade rather than the biggest hits of the past six months. That's why you don't hear a lot of new music on Wild 104.9 or 98.9 Kiss FM these days. Tyler owned Now 92.9 is actually pretty current. KJ-103 is as well though they are a bit more teenybopper. What OKC doesn't have is a station that plays current rock or hip-hop hits. There is nothing like the Edge in Dallas or 97.9 The Beat. Nothing like 92.1 The Beat in Tulsa for that matter.

Hopefully having a better concert promoter in OKC will help bring better radio to the market, but it isn't likely to come from Cumulus Media.

What OKC doesn't have is a station that plays current rock or hip-hop hits. There is nothing like the Edge in Dallas or 97.9 The Beat. Nothing like 92.1 The Beat in Tulsa for that matter.


In Stillwater, 92.1, The Beat is rebroadcast on 103.1.

I'm sure you're right. Everyone in OKC only learns about new music from the radio. Most don't have TVs or any other devices that download music.

Yeah, since MTV and BET still play music... Of course people can still find music elsewhere, god knows I do, but that requires people to go looking for it. Some people do of course, most people will just listen to whatever is on the radio. If your city doesn't have a single station that ever plays a band like Imagine Dragons, or The Kooks, etc, what do you think the chances of them having a concert here is?

For example, right now the BOK center has 7 concerts on their schedule, Chesapeake has 3.

I mean, people's musical tastes are shaped by their environment. When your environment only has 20 year-old rock, country and no hip-hop or alternative, you aren't going to have a ton of people around champing at the bit to go to rock, rap or urban concerts or events. Also if your area is dependent on people seeking out music from outside the area, people will probably all find different types/bands of music they like. Which is great, but again it is hard to fill up a concert venue if everyone likes different things.

Maybe I am wrong, I am just not used to living somewhere where the radio is absolutely unlistenable and is missing huge genres.

Yeah, since MTV and BET still play music... Of course people can still find music elsewhere, god knows I do, but that requires people to go looking for it. Some people do of course, most people will just listen to whatever is on the radio. If your city doesn't have a single station that ever plays a band like Imagine Dragons, or The Kooks, etc, what do you think the chances of them having a concert here is?

For example, right now the BOK center has 7 concerts on their schedule, Chesapeake has 3.

I mean, people's musical tastes are shaped by their environment. When your environment only has 20 year-old rock, country and no hip-hop or alternative, you aren't going to have a ton of people around champing at the bit to go to rock, rap or urban concerts or events. Also if your area is dependent on people seeking out music from outside the area, people will probably all find different types/bands of music they like. Which is great, but again it is hard to fill up a concert venue if everyone likes different things.

I completely agree with this. While its a fact that in 2015 radio isn't what it once was and alternative options like streaming and satellite are gaining ground everywhere, Oklahoma City is still a top 50 market and its not unreasonable to expect a little more variety on the radio dial. The stations here sound small market in every way. One thing FM radio has going for it that alternative sources do not is that its free and readily available for everyone. If you want to go Pandora, you better increase your data plan which will cost you and if you want to do XM that will set you back about $20/month. In OKC, unless you enjoy country or sports talk its almost necessary to do so but in a market this size you shouldn't have to.

In regards to concerts, I am not sure if its a chicken or egg thing and I'm not even sure the radio stations have all that much to do with it, though it definitely could be a factor. There are other big factors that go into why Tulsa's live music scene is so far ahead of OKC's. I am definitely going to hold back on placing the blame on OKC and its culture until we see how the new music venues do with Live Nation backing them. I will be very surprised if the local music scene doesn't take a huge leap forward. Maybe, just maybe that will lead to better radio stations.



Maybe I am wrong, I am just not used to living somewhere where the radio is absolutely unlistenable and is missing huge genres.

You aren't wrong. I've lived in small towns before and have had to deal with similar stations and therefore seeking out my own music, but in a Top 50 market like OKC I think more should be expected. I am very close to purchasing an XM kit and being done with OKC radio, but am just not liking that $20/month bill that comes with it.

Yeah, since MTV and BET still play music... Of course people can still find music elsewhere, god knows I do, but that requires people to go looking for it. Some people do of course, most people will just listen to whatever is on the radio. If your city doesn't have a single station that ever plays a band like Imagine Dragons, or The Kooks, etc, what do you think the chances of them having a concert here is?

For example, right now the BOK center has 7 concerts on their schedule, Chesapeake has 3.

I mean, people's musical tastes are shaped by their environment. When your environment only has 20 year-old rock, country and no hip-hop or alternative, you aren't going to have a ton of people around champing at the bit to go to rock, rap or urban concerts or events. Also if your area is dependent on people seeking out music from outside the area, people will probably all find different types/bands of music they like. Which is great, but again it is hard to fill up a concert venue if everyone likes different things.

Maybe I am wrong, I am just not used to living somewhere where the radio is absolutely unlistenable and is missing huge genres.

So once again, it shows you why someone should be daring enough to set up a FM pirate station of at least 100 watts, or more, so various bands that are not being played on the air can be. Also alternative news and commentary programming, such as Democracy Now, Counterspin and This Way Out, all never heard on the air in OKC could be played as well. (Of course, it's true, such programs are easily heard online. But not everybody can afford Internet service.) If the pirate FM station only broadcasts at night on an unused frequency and all during weekends, it will possibly not be raided by the FCC, because FCC agents generally don't work at those hours. And they sure don't work during federal holidays. But, on the other hand, all bets are off, if an OKC licensed station reports the pirate station.

For what's it's worth, not necessarily an encouraging article: http://diymedia.net/fcc-to-congress-on-pirate-radio-we-got-nothin/7727#more-7727

For example, right now the BOK center has 7 concerts on their schedule, Chesapeake has 3.

Pretty sure the BOK doesn't have an NBA team to schedule around for 7 months (or more if they make the playoffs and the finals). And what are these great concerts that Tulsa gets that we're not getting? I looked at the BOK site and saw Arianna Grande, an 80s show with Def Leppard, Tesla and someone else, Florida Georgia Line, and Toby Mac (who was also at Frontier City).

You guys keep talking about rock music made in the last 20 years. It depends on what you're calling rock. I saw Imagine Dragons mentioned. That's pop. The Kooks is more in line with rock. Some of the better rock being made is by old grunge bands reuniting or the Foo Fighters. There's not a whole lot of popular rock music being made these days. If you're describing rock as heavy guitars, drums, etc. You can find some good rock music if you look for it, but you've gotta go looking. Dance and EDM seem to be more popular these days.

I've got teenagers and from my observation they don't get a lot their music from the radio. They get if from friends, social media, etc.

It looks like Tyler Media has launched yet another Spanish language station on 96.5.

I think what's missing is a personality-driven classic oldies channel with upbeat jingles, contests, and a huge playlist from the 50's to about '72. Anybody who loved old "Boss Radio" will love this full-blown re-creation of KYA in San Francisco.
Oldies Radio 1260 KYA - Golden Gate Great Oldies - Oldies Music (http://www.kyaradio.com)
KYA's Gary Mora bought the rights to the name, jingle packages, etc. He even calls it "1260 - KYA." But, it's only online. I listen all the time.

It really all depends on what you like. OKC had an oldies station on 99.7 that was pretty good before they changed to country. I would be totally on board with one of the classic rock stations going oldies. There's only so much 70s rock and 80s hair metal one can listen to. There doesn't need to be three stations doing the same format.

OKC is missing alternative rock and hip-hop. I wouldn't be surprised if its the largest market in the nation without those formats, especially alternative rock.

It really all depends on what you like. OKC had an oldies station on 99.7 that was pretty good before they changed to country. I would be totally on board with one of the classic rock stations going oldies. There's only so much 70s rock and 80s hair metal one can listen to. There doesn't need to be three stations doing the same format.

OKC is missing alternative rock and hip-hop. I wouldn't be surprised if its the largest market in the nation without those formats, especially alternative rock.

Just a note on KOMA...I finally quit listening when Tyler made the boneheaded move and let Fred Hendrickson go. Fred was an Oklahoma City radio institution.

Jan Jeffries Exits Cumulus Media | AllAccess.com (http://www.allaccess.com/net-news/archive/story/146803/jan-jeffries-exits-cumulus-media)

This could mean changes for some Oklahoma City stations. Jan Jeffries was very commited to a "one size fits all" formula for radio programming and music selection and ruined a great many stations after he took control of the former Citadel stations, including KKWD and KYIS here in OKC. Rumor is that Cumulus is going to shift back to allowing local programming directors to choose the music played according to what works in their market rather than having it piped in from corporate. Will be very interesting to see if this helps improve radio in OKC being that Cumulus is such a big player here.

Boy I sure hope music choices return to being under the control of the local program director. That could resuscitate some of our stations here. Here's hoping!

If I was overseeing the Cumulus cluster in OKC, I would make the following changes.

KYIS - Should go mainstream Top 40 and compete directly with KJYO
KKWD - Shift to a "Party Station" format. I would program it similar to its current format during the day, with a mix of Top 40 and hip-hop, and then go full hip-hop and r&b in the evenings and on weekends
KQOB - Flip it to another format entirely. My top choices would either be Variety like Bob FM stations are in most other markets, or alternative rock

Cisco, the PD at KKWD and KATT also resigned a couple of weeks ago. This happened concurrently with Jan's departure.

I wonder if Cumulus plans on tweaking the formats of those two stations going forward? I wonder if the new PD, if allowed, will do things differently?

KKWD could be restored to its former glory if they would stop playing it so safe with newer music and drop songs older than three years unless its Throwback Thursday. The station sounds terrible with songs more than a decade old in regular rotation while claiming to be a current hit music station.

KATT should go back to the modern rock format it once had and drop the classic rock.

I also notice that Joey and Heather are no longer on Wild, I hope that Cumulus will also make changes at every one of their stations.

Joey and Heather are still there, my bad............

Yeah Joey and Heather have been there since almost the beginning. Cisco had also been PD since the station launched, despite control of programming being consolidated to Jan Jeffries after absorption into Cumulus. It will be interesting to see if there are any changes to the station in coming months. Though Cumulus pretty much destroyed what was once a great station, the real downhill slide began when Citadel did a signal swap, moving the station from 97.9 to 104.9. Prior to that it was one of the top stations in the market and since the swap the ratings have never recovered.

I think the biggest problem with the station today is the way the music is programmed. The Cumulus formula for music selection (primary focus on only top 15, conservative on new adds, heavy on gold) doesn't fit the CHR/Rhythmic format and makes the station sound small market and dated. Now 92.9 sounds much better despite its marginal signal.

Just got back from a one week trip to Orlando, FL and had a rental car without bluetooth so we were forced to listen to the radio the entire time. I feel like the radio landscape there was actually worse than OKC. I counted four stations that were the equivalent of KJ 103, only worse and if felt like they played the same eight songs over and over. I found one descent rock station and it was outside of Orlando so the reception was terrible. There were several other Rap/R&B stations that did the same thing as the KJ 103 stations playing the same things over and over. I was really surprised.

Just got back from a one week trip to Orlando, FL and had a rental car without bluetooth so we were forced to listen to the radio the entire time. I feel like the radio landscape there was actually worse than OKC. I counted four stations that were the equivalent of KJ 103, only worse and if felt like they played the same eight songs over and over. I found one descent rock station and it was outside of Orlando so the reception was terrible. There were several other Rap/R&B stations that did the same thing as the KJ 103 stations playing the same things over and over. I was really surprised.

I think unique, creative radio is dying everywhere honestly. This is what you get in a country where a few corporations own all the stations and they have streamlined them in all of their markets. It's become a lot worse since ClearChannel Communications became iHeartMedia and they have begun doing the same thing that Cumulus does (which has ruined many former Citadel stations). What bothers me about OKC stations so that there are so many country, classic rock, and sports stations yet major formats are missing. I would probably feel differently about the radio here if I liked modern pop country and 80s hair metal and actually cared about sports.

For Top 40, I like Now 92.9 in OKC pretty well. Unlike KJ-103 and Wild 104.9, they keep it current with a wider playlist and don't ignore hip-hop and new artists, and they keep all of the overplayed hits from last decade to a minimum.

Huge fan of V-103 here, but I guess that's the equivalent of liking classic rock. Oh well I don't care

Huge fan of V-103 here, but I guess that's the equivalent of liking classic rock. Oh well I don't care

I like V-103 sometimes, but I have most of the songs they play on my iPod so I generally end up listening to that instead when I want late '90s/early '00s hip-hop.

heard this morning that joey and heather are leaving 104.9? are the moving stations or is the show getting cancelled?

heard this morning that joey and heather are leaving 104.9? are the moving stations or is the show getting cancelled?

Interesting.

My guess is that a format flip or at least tweak is on the way. I could be wrong but the signs are there. Cisco, the PD, was ousted a few weeks ago and now Joey and Heather are leaving.

I really hope that whatever they do with the station is something good. Hopefully they don't do another country station or sports station.

Personally, it wouldn't surprise me if Cumulus plans to roll out their NASH Icon format on 104.9. This would mean there would now be three classic country stations in the market. I hope I am wrong on that as OKC needs another country station like it needs another Wal-Mart, but if a format flip happens, this seems like the direction they might take.

Personally, it wouldn't surprise me if Cumulus plans to roll out their NASH Icon format on 104.9. This would mean there would now be three classic country stations in the market. I hope I am wrong on that as OKC needs another country station like it needs another Wal-Mart, but if a format flip happens, this seems like the direction they might take.

Please we don't need any more country stations in OKC, we have too many, if they do something, please flip it to something else.

Please we don't need any more country stations in OKC, we have too many, if they do something, please flip it to something else.

I agree. The only reason I predict that is because Cumulus is doing that in a lot of their other markets. Country is Cumulus' top format and the fact that they don't currently own any country stations in OKC means that this market is in "danger" of getting one.

I think if Cumulus decides to try country, 104.9 isn't a good signal for it since it fades quickly after you get outside of the immediate metro area. Country's primary listener base is in the suburban and rural areas surrounding OKC. It would be a better fit for 96.9 or 98.9.

Hopefully though, Cumulus will see that the market is already saturated with country stations as it is and do something new with 104.9.

So they are going to 98.9 Kyis.

I wonder where jack and ron are going?

Hopefully though, Cumulus will see that the market is already saturated with country stations as it is and do something new with 104.9.

I know when I think of original programming I think of Cumulus.

So they are going to 98.9 Kyis.

I wonder where jack and ron are going?

They are going to 96.9.

At this point I will be surprised if there isn't a format flip on 104.9 on Dec 3rd.

They are going to 96.9.

At this point I will be surprised if there isn't a format flip on 104.9 on Dec 3rd.

So "they" you were referring to was Jack and Ron, who are going to 96.9.

And joey and heather are going to 98.9


I guess Bob and Tom are history?

So "they" you were referring to was Jack and Ron, who are going to 96.9.

And joey and heather are going to 98.9


I guess Bob and Tom are history?

That's what was said on KKWD's Facebook.

96.9 was playing Christmas music this morning. Have they done this in years past?

Just watched the announcement on Jack and Ron Facebook page, the way their talking after Christmas, 96.9 maybe flipping to all talk, but I don't know, maybe it will change to Alternative rock, something that OKC needs.

Just watched the announcement on Jack and Ron Facebook page, the way their talking after Christmas, 96.9 maybe flipping to all talk, but I don't know, maybe it will change to Alternative rock, something that OKC needs.

Sports or conservative political talk? OKC doesn't need either.

Sports or conservative political talk? OKC doesn't need either.

Where do you get conservative political talk already? and why don't you think you can find liberal political talk (see NPR)?

Where do you get conservative political talk already? and why don't you think you can find liberal political talk (see NPR)?

Liberal talk stations are usually not very successful. It was tried with Air America and that was a pretty big failure. The traditional radio medium doesn't really appeal to the demographic they are going for. If I was in the radio business, I probably wouldn't do liberal talk.

Per KKWD's Facebook, 104.9 will keep its format and 98.9 will be tweaked to be more current. Will be interesting to see if they keep their AC lean or go full-on CHR and compete directly with KJ-103.

Signs are really pointing to 96.9 being the station getting a format flip being that Bob and Tom are getting the boot and they have gone all Christmas.

Per KKWD's Facebook, 104.9 will keep its format and 98.9 will be tweaked to be more current. Will be interesting to see if they keep their AC lean or go full-on CHR and compete directly with KJ-103.

Signs are really pointing to 96.9 being the station getting a format flip being that Bob and Tom are getting the boot and they have gone all Christmas.

Wonder if that means KMGL (104.1) isn't doing all-Christmas this season?

Wonder if that means KMGL (104.1) isn't doing all-Christmas this season?

Was wondering that myself.

Was listening to 96.9 on my lunchbreak and they said they will be doing all-Christmas until Dec 28th and then unveil a new format.

Where do you get conservative political talk already? and why don't you think you can find liberal political talk (see NPR)?

Conservative political talk can be found at 1000 am. NPR is not political talk in that vein. Splendid table, BBC news hour, morning edition, etc.