My Town Media flipped two stations to Variety Hits as “Bob-FM” this weekend.
90s based Rock “Z107.5” 1550 KRZD/107.5 K298CI Springfield MO and “Radio X 103.5” KWXD Asbury MO both made the move to Kroeger Media’s “Bob-FM” brand on Friday.
In Springfield the flip places KRZD in direct competition with SummitMedia’s “106.7 The River” KRVI, while KWXD goes up against Carthage Broadcasting Company’s “95.1 Mike-FM” KMXL in Joplin MO/Pittsburg KS.
Went from a unique format that had a solid following in both Joplin and Springfield metro areas, to a format that is near cookie cutter to what is already on people’s presets before. The only way this makes logical sense is that they are pandering to the Boomer market as the next generations move on to streaming services. Investors should be looking for an out.
I totally agree. It comes across to me as a lame decision by management to remove a unique and in-demand format, but of course the marketing/advertising revenue ratings dictate the programming in pursuit of a presumed profitable market in the mainstream, cookie-cutter pop genre. I will find it surprising if the format change is a step forward, rather than a perceived step backward.