New radio station for Calgary

[Bobblehead]

soulchoice - didn't Vibe start out as primarily hip hop? And at the same time wasn't there another hip-hop station (whatever the station was after it was Rock97 and before it was Jack)?

I just recall thinking that it was strange that Calgary got 2 urban formats within weeks of each other.

[looooob]

is that station still going up in Edmonton. the one broadcasting out of a trailer or whatnot? they were (are?) good and relatively alternative for a slightly alternative of mainstream guy like myself

[Incogneto]

Originally Posted by looooob

is that station still going up in Edmonton. the one broadcasting out of a trailer or whatnot? they were (are?) good and relatively alternative for a slightly alternative of mainstream guy like myself

I think it is called Sonic, isn't it? My one experience with it, I LOVED it. That is what Cgy needs!

[Resolute 14]

Agreed. Sonic is the only redeeming quality Edmonton has.

[Dynamic]

Sonic 102.9 is an awsome station.........they do play some mainstream stuff (green day, the foo) but they balance it out with alot of cool new stuff that doesn't get the radioplay but is still very good. Its doing very well, there was a massive 2 page spread in the paper about it, and I think they moved out of that trailer into an actual building.

[Pagal4321]

Originally Posted by InCoGnEtO

best radio station in the world is out of Seattle....1077 the End.

www.1077theend.com

That is what we need in Calgary!

My favorite radio station also eminated from Seattle...X104.5
I wish Calgary could EVER have a station that is up to this calibur. But what do I care, I'm buying an Ipod very soon.

http://www.x104.fm/shell.asp?PR=news/news.asp&redir=1

And it's true Vibe started out strictly hip hop station and that is when it was competeing with...I forget the name of the other station...As soon as that other station changed it's style. Vibe HAD to change in order to scoop up the rest of that market share that was open to them.

[snappyk]

Funny thing about VIBE, when they were awarded the licence for the station they were supposed to be an aboriginal station, that changed the second they went on the air. I think an alternative station would be welcome in the city, I like the Sonic up in Edmonton, even heard some Pixies on there one day.

[Deelow]

Sonic is definitely on the right track in Edmonton. I know the company that owns the station thought long and hard about applying for a similar format in Calgary but decided against it for now.
There is no doubt in my mind that Calgary needs a modern rock station before all else. Calgary is quite possibly the most stale radio market in the country. It desperately needs some new players. IMO Modern/Alternative rock is on the horizon. NO MORE TWISTED SISTER OR VAN HALEN!!!!

BTW.
The Calgary hearings are in early/mid Feb I believe.

[soulchoice]

Originally Posted by snappyk

Funny thing about VIBE, when they were awarded the licence for the station they were supposed to be an aboriginal station, that changed the second they went on the air. I think an alternative station would be welcome in the city, I like the Sonic up in Edmonton, even heard some Pixies on there one day.

Vibe was never supposed to be an aboriginal station. From the beginning of the CRTC hearings, the format Standard radio was pushing for was an Urban/Hip hop station. There was an application from another company which wanted an aboriginal format, but was not approved.

The CRTC approved 4 licenses for the Calgary region that year, one was for a christian station(Shine FM), Urban/CHR(Vibe), Adult AC(The Eagle, High River) and a specialty license(The Breeze). Stations which are already up and running for a year or so, can make a switch to any format when they please, thus Kiss 969 was created by Rogers. The Breeze can make a tweak in their format, but being it is a specialty license, they have to stay a similar course (California FM= easly listening=smooth jazz, all simliar)

Vibe all along was to be a hip hop station. The only change they made was when the station launched. They changed the name from "The Rhythm to Vibe"

[soulchoice]

Originally Posted by Bobblehead

soulchoice - didn't Vibe start out as primarily hip hop? And at the same time wasn't there another hip-hop station (whatever the station was after it was Rock97 and before it was Jack)?

I just recall thinking that it was strange that Calgary got 2 urban formats within weeks of each other.

Bobble, what happened was Standard took way too long to get the station(Vibe) up and running after they were awarded the license. Around the same time Rogers, which runs the 96.9 frequency was looking to choose a new format bout a month before Vibes launch.

These two companies do not like each other much, thus Rogers tried to steal the thunder from Vibe by literally launching an urban music station overnight. The staff didnt even find out about the format switch to the Hip Hop genre till the morning(Kiss 969). Vibe launched shortly after and hence, Calgary was the first city in Canada to have two urban stations.

This was really the downfall of urban radio at the time for Calgary. No way could Calgary support two full fledged hip hop stations. Kiss 969 was horrible, in that with the exception of two or three employees, no one working in the station knew anything about the music format, and this includes the present morning man on Jack(Matt, who was horrible on an urban station, for lack of knowledge of the music). Kiss was bound to fall due to lack of credibility from those who listened to the music. Urban music, hip hop, is one of few formats where the listeners really will judge the announcers on their true knowledge.

Vibe was great with respect to credibility and their staff. As most people employed by Standard actually knew the music format. Unfortunately the radio market became saturated where urban radio was not seen as viable, since both stations took a share of the pie. Had Vibe been able to launch on its own without little competition, the chances are urban music will still be played on calgary radio more than it is now(similar to the Beat 945 in Van). Now we are stuck with another mixed music station Vibe985, which doesnt hit any one type of music genre, but top 40. They have the radio ads now though, so I guess its deemed as a success. Though I am confident they still would have been okay with a straight urban format.

Average listening time is definitely low with these types of stations, for when a song of a different genre is played the dials switch. Welcome to top 40 radio i guess, no real genre. Sorry for the rant people....just giving some info.

[Shazam]

What's funny is that the Bounce in Edmonton is what the Vibe could have been in Calgary... Not to say that the Bounce is all that much better, but at least they stick to urban music.

If this new station plays Nickleback, I'll hurtle myself off the Centre Street bridge.

[FurnaceFace]

Reminds me of the days when 1060 was alternative. I drove back and forth from Sask many weekends and you could pick it up just west of Medicine Hat.

[soulchoice]

Originally Posted by Shazam

What's funny is that the Bounce in Edmonton is what the Vibe could have been in Calgary... Not to say that the Bounce is all that much better, but at least they stick to urban music.

If this new station plays Nickleback, I'll hurtle myself off the Centre Street bridge.

Well you better get ready to jump my friend. They will play it the odd time now on the Bounce. Watch for them to slowly bring in other music in the next little while. 96X, which was Edmontons version of what Vibe is now(top40) recently switched to, god forbid, a jack version of Country(shaking head). So in Edmonton, they dont have a top40 station as we speak, since 96X switched.

So look for the Bounce to try and get some of 96Xs audience. Similar to when Vibe urban and there was no top40 station, cause 107 switched to classic rock. Thus you will start to hear non urban music. Unfortunate as it may be, it will not get as commercial as Vibe though. Fortunately the station is 50% owned by Milestone Radio, whom owns Flow 935(best urban station in Canada), so I am sure they will want to keep it predominantly urban with the odd track from Nickel, Ashley Simpson, Avril, Hilary, etc. Chum owns the other half, so I am sure they will want to capitalize on the demise of 96X.

Overall though, the Bounce playlist was much better than Kiss969 or Vibe was in Calgary, due to Milestones influence. Our urban stations both played very commercial hip hop. If you listen to Flow you will see what a true urban station is like. The Bounce will most likely resemble The Beat 945 in Van and still play a majority of hiphop music. Unlike Vibe which is like the new Power 107 and one could not even tell that it was once a hiphop station.

[Prototype]

Bottom line... weither it's an acurate judgement of listenership or not, the BBM = Money. Just like in any media, the more viewership/listenership you have, the more money you can charge for your airtime as far as ads go.

Any format can make an early go of it in the begining, but it's longevity, and impact that stations are looking for. The way the market is right now, I see a dogfight in the future with the new stations on their way. All the formats available currently in Calgary Radio can be tweaked in such a way to combat any newcomer.

Should be interesing.

[Hack&Lube]

I don't know what's wrong with me, but I seem to be addicted to "All Hits All the Time, the Eagle 100.9!"

I usually listen to that or Jack & Vibe. I never go near Cjay.

[soulchoice]

My guess is that two formats will most definitely be given a chance in the new hearings. One, a modern rock format will most certainly be one and the other will be Hot AC.

[The Goon]

For Cowtown, we really need another good FM country station.

[soulchoice]

Originally Posted by The Goon

For Cowtown, we really need another good FM country station.

In the all mighty name of our lord above, that is the last thing we need. Lets not further enhance our western redneck image by having two country music stations. We need either a modern rock, urban or hot adult ac format before we need to have another country station.

The last thing needed is country. Who would be their target market? Chances are they wouldnt get many from Country 105, as it is a great station with loyal listeners. The ones whom listen to rock, are not going to flip to the station. Its also a guarantee that the younger generation, many of whom do not listen to country, but rather top 40, dance, hip hop and rnb will not listen to a country format as well.

Lets bring formats in, which are missing in Calgary, before we saturate the market with another radio format that does not have an increase in its base of listeners. Country music is not in a growth stage. Not really declining, but definitely not increasing...no need for it.

[soulchoice]

Now if we can only get Doh boy off the Fan, all would be well.

[Reggie Dunlop]

Adult Alternative would be interesting. Something along the lines of a radioparadise.com playlist. With a little bit of alternative country.