jim patrick can country radio every make it in Hawaii? Tue Oct 23 12:57:36 2001 This is coming long distance...from Greenville, Texas (next to Dallas). I know it has been attempted many times before but can contemporary country radio ever get a foothold in Hawaii and have listeners and also make money? What about a select core of country artists mixed with contemporary Hawaiian artists? Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks for your time and I envy where you work! Yours truly, Jim Patrick, Program Director KIKT-FM RADIO Greenville, Texas jim@kiktradio.com Country Radio Re: can country radio every make it in Hawaii? Wed Oct 24 15:24:01 2001 It seems that the ONLY way contemporary or hot country will happen in Honolulu is if one of the big corporate owners has more frequencies than formats. Then the lowest powered/worst transmitter might stay country-- but so far that hasn't happened. I'm no expert on this, but it appears the military bases are where country music appeals the most on Oahu, but that's nowhere enough people to make a dent in the ratings. Fortunately, digital cable provides a country channel. Also, interestingly, KRTR has started including more hot country crossover-type songs on their playlist. Survivor country/military Wed Oct 24 15:37:52 2001 Military bases aren't contacted by Arbritron,so there's no real way of knowing how many listen. But it's a very transient group. It's kind of like jazz clubs here. Everyone says they want one,but no one supports one. Like classic rock,it appeals to a small target demo,and Korporate won't back something that will only get a 2.0 share,no matter what the format.Unfortunately,Honolulu WILL support 3 or 4 A/C's,3 or 4 CHR'S and a couple Jawaiian stations.They would rather split the audience several ways than have a small group all to themselves. Dumb. Ghostposter Country not just for military listeners Wed Oct 24 22:13:45 2001 Have you ever seen the large number of local people at the line-dancing class at Windward Mall? Mostly local in fact, and most of them obviously into the lifestyle with the clothes and the boots and the hats, etc. However, one night of line dancing at a mall does not a successful radio format make. One of Double K Country's myriad problems was that it was severely under-promoted. The old KDEO (940 AM) did okay in terms of the public awareness that it was there, but it wasn't really a serious revenue contender. Of course, there were WAY fewer stations back then, and it was WAY before the Telecom Act of 1996 destroyed the industry for broadcasters and turned it into a haymaker for the Lowry Mayses of the world and their shareholders. mel KAHU before KDEO Thu Oct 25 00:47:35 2001 For quite a long time Honolulu/Oahu had country radio. KAHU 940 AM predates KDEO country by many years. The only reason why KDEO became country was that a music - talk magazine type of format was tried at the station for about a year in 1980 before they changed back to country. Before that music - talk format, 940 AM with the KAHU call letters was country for as long as I knew. I am sure the station never got much ratings but I am sure that probably made enough money to give its then independent owners some kind of income to keep it going for so long. As you have mentioned, the 1996 Telecommunications act changed all that, and now radio is pretty much a corporate enterprise. jeff j coelho mornings at Kahu Thu Oct 25 22:44:48 2001 KAHU...orginally owned by Harry Chu, I worked for Harry in 66 and 67...did mornings for awhile then pd...in 68 Farr communications bought Harry out and he retired...Farr also put KFOA Fm on the air then eventually sold it (KFOA) to John Weiser...whom at the time owned KUMU AM 1500 and changed the call sign of KFOA to KUMU FM....Ericka pass the Geritol....Jeff Erika Engle KAHU - What a memory! Thu Oct 25 20:41:59 2001 Gosh Mel you make me feel like such a fossil! I remember listening to KAHU as a High Schooler on the Big Island late Sunday nights as I trolled for Honolulu radio signals. I'd tune in to KAHU for awhile just to hear the Samoan man, who I surmised was preaching - I didn't understand the language, I just liked the sound of it. I'll be taking my Geritol now. mel Re: KAHU - What a memory! Fri Oct 26 07:09:52 2001 Erika... I am a fossil! :-) Denny McPhee we're not fossils,we're chronologically gifted Fri Oct 26 11:19:01 2001 Erika That's FUNNY! (eom) Sat Oct 27 09:37:49 2001 Denny Tripping down memory lane Fri Oct 26 03:53:54 2001 WHat was the station one of the Watamulls owned? KTRG? Very right-wing in the late 60's/early 70's. That was an interesting listening experience!!!! mel KTRG Fri Oct 26 07:11:06 2001 Yes, I think KTRG at AM 990 I believe was a Watumull station. BigD Kahu Radio Thu Oct 25 23:58:47 2001 Just to mention that Kahu radio first started out on Frequency AM 920 in the early 50's and had only 1 hour of my beloved country music from 12 noon til 1:00 pm. I would settle for that 1 hour right now since no more good country for my truck while I drive around. Maybe now you won't feel too old Erika LOL. Aloha Erika Thank you, I'll cut back on the Geritol! (eom) Sat Oct 27 09:41:19 2001 kokonutwireless Country music Sat Oct 27 21:35:29 2001 Umm, is Deluxe Country 94.3 FM still on from the fantabulous KAOI Radio Plaza? At just 3000 watts, I bet it's fighting with The Effect just for listeners! .