Posted on 08/20/2006 3:05:43 PM PDT by raccoonradio
Cowboy crooners know that more country music is sold in Los Angeles than anywhere else, a distinction on display Thursday night when singers Faith Hill and Tim McGraw opened the first of three sold-out shows at the Staples Center.
But Los Angeles listeners would have trouble finding Hill, McGraw or any other twangy troubadours on the radio dial: On Thursday, the city lost its last country music broadcaster when KZLA-FM (93.9), self-billed as "America's most listened-to country station," changed its format for the first time in 25 years — to a pop format focusing on beat-heavy R&B and dance tunes.
The Burbank-based station's shift is part of a national trend. Although country fans have long been well-served in Texas, Indiana and other landlocked states, over the past decade stations have completely disappeared in New York, San Francisco and half a dozen other coastal markets.
The shift demonstrates how America's changing ethnicity is remaking media, especially in big cities. Because of their size and loyalty, minority audiences are becoming more coveted by radio companies than white listeners — at least in ethnically diverse metropolitan areas.
Executives say stations are willing to make almost any adjustment to attract listeners at a time when radio audiences are declining industrywide. Just as cable television's niche programming has eroded the large broadcast networks' audiences over the decades, new technologies such as iPods and satellite radio are now drawing listeners looking for specialized playlists or genres disappearing from the dial.
Country and rock stations have been disproportionately battered by these new technologies, according to music analysts.
(snip)
"The Los Angeles radio market is basically 40% Hispanic, 11% Asian and 8% black, and country fans are about 98% Caucasian," said Rick Cummings, a top executive at KZLA's parent company, Emmis Communications Corp.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
"For English, please press _two_..."
>> "I'm not going to turn on my radio anymore. Country music promotes patriotism and family values, and they've replaced it with something that just promotes money and hate"
OK it'll still be on HD radio I guess but how many people have that?
message on kzla.com:
Dear Faithful KZLA Listeners:
KZLA is working to make country music available to everyone as soon as possible. Coming soon KZLA will be streaming live on kzla.com and is currently available on HD Radio. We encourage you to join our "Country Club" fan base to get the latest updates on KZLA streaming, music, concerts and of course, COUNTRY BASH 2006 on Saturday October 14, 2006.
Tickets for the Bash go onsale Saturday, August 26, 2006 at 10am at all Ticketmaster locations and on ticketmaster.com. We encourage you to come out and show your country pride by attending this concert to show that southern California loves country!
...Faith Hill and Tim McGraw opened the first of three sold-out shows at the Staples Center.
**
I hope no FReepers are supporting those 2 Clinton lovers.
So I guess Florida is no longer coastal? We have several great country stations to choose from in Central Florida.
They seem to be heading down the Ditzy Chicks trail.Or should I say,entrails!
^^
LOL
Yeah, it's a shame. She doesn't do much for me (I guess because I'm a woman), but I used to enjoy his singing. Now, when I hear one of their tunes on the radio, I change the channel.
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