They're using a tactic, in politics known as a push-poll; adding a drawing ($1000!) to make you listen to News Talk 97.3FM for an hour; then asking a lot of piercing questions like "Would you recommend News Talk 97.3FM?"
They call it a study, and imply that your answers to their leading questions (all containing the station call letters and 97.3FM) mean something to them. Then they try to collect your demographic data for further use- like more junk mail or to add to lists the agency Impact Research can sell.
Yawn.
Radio-Info board-lizards are aflutter, calling it "a desperate and transparent effort to get people to tune-in to their flagging FM station."
The mail piece is primitive, cheap - and so bland, it can't be terribly effective. But since when wouldn't a radio station do just about anything to catch up with or whup the competition?
Is this immoral or unethical? No. Is it any worse than Dori jumping out of a plane naked to get attention or stunts like that fatal water-drinking contest at a Sacramento radio station?
Hell, no. But unless somebody gets hurt, all's fair in love and promoting a radio station.
~
(MANDATORY BLATHERWATCH/RADIO-INFO RESPONSE: KYLIE - PLEASE DROP US A LINE: WE'D LOVE TO DO A LITTLE CRACK INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING W/YOU FOR AN UPCOMING VENDETTA. WE COULD REPURPOSE OUR ASSES OFF ALL NIGHT LONG. SMILEY LEER KISS WINK)
I no longer listen to the radio very much. Esp. on weekends. It's become cougar football or is it basketball? whatever. Even the Bellingham station airs the cougars and they are on all day and all night. I miss KIRO. I miss Dave. I miss Tom. I even miss 710DORI or is it 97.3DORI (who?) and Shiers. But they have faded into a netherworld that I can't access.
I guess they don't care.
Posted by: joanie | October 06, 2009 at 11:55 PM
Dori has actually stated on multiple occasions that he has recently taken a paycut. I wonder how much?
Posted by: Radio is Dead | October 07, 2009 at 12:01 AM
Got one also, and I thought I was one of the chosen.
Posted by: M.Steele | October 07, 2009 at 07:52 AM
I do not believe Dori Monson has taken a pay cut. There is talk that KIROFM is to turn itself newsier in drivetimes using the KFI model. they've talked to a producer about changing the Ron & Don Show. Something must be done or they will simply fade away.
Posted by: Corporate suit | October 07, 2009 at 09:43 AM
Dori freely admits on the air that he accepted a paycut
Posted by: AuthenticAndrew | October 07, 2009 at 10:10 AM
As far as I am concerned, KIRO is off the air. With the exception of the Common Taters, I find KOMO to be entirely satisfactory, particularly because they are live all night. Bonerville simply blew it and I doubt that they can come back.
OTOH, KIRO-AM's demise has freed up a button for KKNW-1150, which at least airs something different from time to time.
And I do miss KBSG.
Posted by: Ted Smith | October 07, 2009 at 11:08 AM
You might miss the old Dave, Joanie but you probably wouldn't miss the current Dave. I tuned in briefly this morning and he was interviewing everyone involved in the Everett naked barrista soap opera. It was definitely below Dave's standards, but I guess they are desperate for listeners. Very sad.
Posted by: AprilMayJune | October 07, 2009 at 04:06 PM
It was very Jerry Springeresque, complete with the slutty baristas accusing the red neck husband of the plaintiff of frequenting the coffee stand, with everyone involved on air together, partyline style. The baristas even claimed that policemen will stop in and hit on them. I don't really care if it's true, I don't even care which side wins the conflict. I only care that it wasted precious air time.
Posted by: AuthenticAndrew | October 07, 2009 at 05:27 PM
Speaking of Dave , the Rossmeister waa talking the other day about some British-American conservative columnist.writer and , well, Dave heavily implied that he was a crank and perhaps a crackpot . This fellow, among other inanities , didn't believe in the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which forced mainly Southern whites to serve blacks or any minorities in restaurants, rent them apartments, and so forth. The Limey crank writes in his columns or books that he believes people should just be trusted to do the right thing. Ross seemed to be quite amazed by this guy's point of view. Dave, do you know that the little man who comes on KIROfm after you go off the air, believes the same thing? Yes, its. true- Mr. Dori Monson has stated at least once on the air in my presence that he doesn't believe in such laws and that by Christ if he wants to open a whites-only diner( purely theoretical of course, according to Dori) he should have that right.
Posted by: KIRO staffers agree-" Dori can be a real prick" | October 07, 2009 at 08:36 PM
Sorry, MIchael. I gave to Peter B. this month. I'll add you to my donor list for next month.
I've been giving to horses lately. Almost gave to somebody somewhere and decided to check them out. Wow! What a scam they turned out to be. Turns out they say they're giving them good homes and get them from the government and then leave them out to starve to death. Unbelievable. I'm sticking to local from now on.
Horses are having a hard time right now. They are expensive to keep and a lot of monied people are poorer now and can't afford them. Some pretty sad stories out there.
Posted by: joanie | October 07, 2009 at 10:47 PM
horses.
horses?
Posted by: AuthenticAndrew | October 07, 2009 at 10:58 PM
I guess I put this on the wrong thread, huh? Can't imagine how that happened!
I love horses I love all animals. And I certainly think they're smarter than chux.
Posted by: joanie | October 07, 2009 at 11:02 PM
My dog is smarter than your republican.
Posted by: Coiler | October 07, 2009 at 11:24 PM
Anybody hear Olbermann tonight? Pretty passionate. And right on.
If we don't get it now, we won't get it.
Talking to one of my past parents who is from England. She and her husband who have been here for several years are now considering moving to New Zealand. They love to travel and like change. Anyway, she said her healthcare in England was superb. She can't believe this country. From her mouth to my ears: Americans are stoopid. Time to move On to a place where healthcare is a right and not a privilege.
I'll miss her. She's fun, smart, savvy and her husband is a genius.
Of course, we all know that chux is the resident genius on this blog. I'm sure he's much smarter than this family from England who have had enough of American values.
Posted by: joanie | October 07, 2009 at 11:32 PM
Olbermann's speech was impressive.
Posted by: AuthenticAndrew | October 07, 2009 at 11:41 PM
Actually, direct mail for radio has consistently been proved to be very efficent. The concept may not sound or look sexy, because it doesn't need to be. K.I.S.S. Remember?
Radio companies are just not spending any marketing money these days - give credit to Bonneville for promoting their properties.
Bonneville has led the way in moving the news/talk format to FM. Some markets were easy successes, others are still a work in progress. But believe me, within 3 - 7 years, all viable news/talk will be on FM...People under the age of 100 don't know AM, let alone listen to it.
KIRO's FM signal is challenged by terrain, but Bonneville knew that in time, 50 clear channel (not "Clear Channel") kilowatts on AM would mean nothing. Laugh and make snide remarks all you want, but when it comes to radio broadcasting business, Bonneville's track record is better than yours. Oh, wait, you have to be in the business to have a track record.....
Posted by: Bill | October 08, 2009 at 04:40 AM
You may be right, Bill. But if the signal doesn't reach you, you are not going to listen.
Forget programming and promotions.
Posted by: joanie | October 08, 2009 at 07:39 AM
Bonneville may know how to succeed in the parts of our land I call Dumbass America, such as their own stomping grounds of Utah, but they currently don't know how to succeed in this city. Putting a respected community bulwark like the old KIRO AM on a basically unreceivable fm signal is the height of contempt for the critical thinking/ intelligent debate traditions represented by that station and it's listeners. Two 24/7 yukyuk sportsarooni stations will not survive in this town. Yes i will laugh at and make snide remarks about these clodhopping, classless Mormon bastards, thank you very much .
Posted by: KIRO staffers agree-" Dori can be a real prick" | October 08, 2009 at 10:06 AM
Bill, I don't follow your logic. They turned 710 KIRO into a new sports station. If AM were a graveyard they wouldn't have invested that kind of money into a new AM venture.
Posted by: AuthenticAndrew | October 08, 2009 at 10:08 AM
AM is not a graveyard. Current Mormon owners/management have never liked Dave Ross, and they certainly don't like relative KIRO newcomers like Tom Tangny and Phil Hendrie . Too much critical thinking going on there, don't you know. It's a Mormon values thing. Their dream would be to have a whole station of banal, vapid Frank Shiers clones. They can't have that in this town, and they know they can't just scrap the station outright, so they decided to just bury the station on a worthless FM signal, while looking like they were still in full support of the old KIRO, and simply making some radio dial/signal changes.
Posted by: KIRO staffers agree-" Dori can be a real prick" | October 08, 2009 at 12:27 PM
Dori is BOOORRRINNG, funny how Air America is #4 in Seattle I heard on NoFacts Fox that they were BK...
Posted by: teaserpony | October 09, 2009 at 06:19 PM