Tag: krfc

Hell Must Have Frozen Over I Think

chris at ob hmls sunday june 16 2013Most radio stations don’t play “local” music – and if and when they do it’s largely a highly popular act and the total volume of local music played is well under 1% of the total catalog.

The average number of songs per hour on a typical commercial station will come out to about 10 … maybe 11 if there’s a light commercial load …maybe 12 at nights/over nights.  Non-commercial stations such as KRFC (Fort Collins) or KUNC (Greeley) will typically play 12-13 songs per hour for most shows.  Most non-comm stations air less than 1 “local” cut per hour .. with KRFC (Fort Collins) and Open Air 1340 (Denver) being the exceptions regionally.

All that said, if a commercial station decided to air just one cut per hour that would equal 8-10% of their mix — an astronomical value given the history of commercial radio in airing local music at all to begin with… to expect 2 per hour or 20% of the mix .. well that borders on complete and utter insanity, right?  Hmmm.

A couple of years ago (almost 3 now really) I drove from Hartford south along I95 to Virginia and then west along some back roads to  I40 … to New Mexico and then up the inside route of Colorado up to Denver.  It was an 8 day road trip and being a “radio guy” I listened to a great deal of what this country offers in the way of programming.

Of course I also took 12 hours of CO music with me as well, along with some fav Americana/alt-country stuff.  It was September.  It was football season – and there’s a lot of sports talk radio … but in reality, there’s mostly religious radio.  There isn’t too much in the way of “cool” music out there… fo’sho’

We are spoiled here in Colorado.  I’ve spent my entire radio career in NoCO, with a brief six month first-gig stint in Roswell NM in ’78.  At one time every label of any size had a promo office in Denver or Boulder.  This was where the AAA radio format grew wings, and the New or Alternative Rock format took shape … KBCO for AAA, KTCL for ALT.

There were also some pretty heady experiments such as KDEN, which had originally been KYOU (Greeley) – today it’s called Willie or the Wolfe or something like that.  KDEN was a very early Americana/Folk station… very acoustic, very laid back … very short lived.  That was about ’90-’91.

KSQI (96.1 K-SKY, Greeley/Fort Collins), the station I was at (88-91), was also known for “taking chances” with the content.  All in all there’s been a lot of great radio done in this region over the decades — more than in some other fairly progressive areas in fact.

So, I’m driving home tonight from emceeing the Thursday Night Downtown Concert Series in Fort Collins, and I decide to listen to the radio instead of an internet station (The Colorado Sound of course … silly).  I flip on this new station, Radio949.  It’s not a strong signal, though clean, it only hits mile marker 252 going south before it crashes out.  Radio949 is a Clear Channel station … booooooooooooo right?  Hmmm.

Yeah, not so much boooo… a good friend said to me tonight she listened to 949 today but didn’t know very much of what they played.  I knew almost nothing of what they were playing – but then I haven’t listened to anything remotely pop and non-CO in over a decade now.  So it all sounds new and alien to me anyway <shrug>.

After 949 crashed out I dialed up KUNC at 91.5.  I didn’t know most of what they played – although I recognized Otis Taylor in there … and I think I heard a new (?) Steve Earle cut.  The differences between the two stations is in texture … 949 has a more rock edge… more popular in tone and texture.  More Matchbox Twenty, less Steve Earle.  KUNC is more Steve Earle and no Matchbox Twenty.  While driving down 25, both were very enjoyable experiences…

Let me not forget the incredible efforts of KRFC (Fort Collins) and KCSU (Fort Collins)… both of which offer compelling non-pop/non-commercial programming, typically to highly niche audiences .. KCSU out on the edges of rock/pop, hip-hop/rap, metal, punk, EDM, etc … and KRFC out along the edges of Americana/AAA and Colorado music… KRFC plays more Colorado music than any other station in the state by 10x as much as the statewide average.

I said I think hell has frozen over … where else in the country has the kind of radio that exists in Northern Colorado right now?  Where else in the country are there four stations that feature “local” music in their daily mix?  Where else in the country is a Clear Channel owned station willing to take a chance by committing somewhere between 10 & 20% of their hourly air time to “local” music?

Go ahead, queue up the stations … KUNC, KRFC, KCSU, and Radio949 … do it between 9AM and 2PM, and again between 9PM and midnight .. that’s when all the stations are airing music at the same time.  How long before you bump into something local?  Bet it ain’t long.  That’s why hell must have frozen over.

The Colorado Sound S7 EP25 July 2013

chris at ob hmls sunday june 16 2013So I had an interesting meeting this week.  I met with Clear Channel NoCO market manager Stu Haskell, whom I’ve known for a few decades now – and 107.9 The Bear morning man and program director Doc Jarnagin (he’s been on the air at the Bear for 13 years now .. WOW … who knew?) –  about the new station, Radio 94.9FM.  Essentially, it’s a transponder frequency tied to their HD2 signal (HD radio is not the same as HDTV).

At 100 watts of radiant power, don’t expect to hear this station outside of Fort Collins, Loveland, and perhaps Greeley (I haven’t made the drive to check it out).  Once you drop south of Berthoud you lose it.  However, iHeart Radio and their website are both good places to listen in at if you’re out of listening range to the terrestrial signal.

From a programming perspective, it’s what is known as a AAA station (adult album alternative) – akin if you will to KBCO with considerably more depth, and touches of early era KTCL programming philosophy.  Both Doc and Stu made it a point that this new station would have a CO focus – but the details are still being worked out.  The actual percentage of CO music to be focused upon appears to be up in the air.  Stu commented at one point they might do one featured CO cut an hour (roughly 7-8% of an hourly playlist).

We agreed in principle that The Colorado Sound would be a nice addition to the programming, as well as my help in consulting them on what’s hot in CO. The actual day and time they’d place The Colorado Sound is also still being considered, with Stu suggesting Sunday nights.  The conversation has only just begun –

— in the meantime don’t forget to check out The Colorado Sound @ Live365 for an all day all Colorado musical experience … stream it on your tablet, laptop, or pc … or via the Live365 app.  G3 and G4 data plans work really well, and surprisingly doesn’t eat that much data as I’ve learned from listening to the station in the car and at the gym every day.

New music coming next week from:  Dave Preston, Joe Johnson, the Escape Goats, AdrienneO, the Gristle Gals Band and more … make sure to check out the stations and schedules page ..

No new music shares this week — other than the Video of the Week pick from The ReMinders out of Colorado Springs – who I happened upon when I was invited to vote for the best of the Springs here recently …

PLAYLIST S7 EP25 July 2013

Bob Lind “Elusive Butterfly” from Elusive Butterfly (1966)
(D) Bob Lind “How Dare You Love Me” from Finding You Again (2013)
(N) 3 Twins “Now I See” from De Nada (2013)
Thom Chacon “Ain’t Gonna Take Us Alive” from Thom Chacon (2013)
The Lumineers “Big Parade” from The Lumineers (2012)
WhiteWater Ramble “Dear Mr. Bankman” from Roots & Groove (2013)
String Cheese Incident “Walk This Way” from The String Cheese Incident (1997)
Chris Thompson “Traffic” from The Road Ahead (2010)
Leftover Salmon “Sing Up to the Moon” from Aquatic Hitchhiker (2012)
Otis Taylor “Blue Rain In Africa” from My World Is Gone (2013)
Sera Cahoone “Naked” from Deer Creek Canyon (2012)
SHEL “On My Way” from SHEL (2012)
H2 Big Band “Singing In the Rain” from You’re It! (2011)
Dianne Reeves “Afro Blue” from I Remember (1988)
Electric Swingset “Middle Ground” from Inebriated Witchdoctor (1996)
Devotchka “Along the Way” from Live With the Colorado Symphony Orchestra (2012)
Jeff Brinkman “Face” from Strange (2012)
Fierce Bad Rabbit “Time Machine” from Maestro & the Elephant (2013)
(D) Halden Wofford & the Hi Beams “Zombies!” from Rocky Mountain Honky Tonk (2013)
Cassie Taylor “New Orleans” from Out Of My Mind (2013)
Dressy Bessy “Who’d Stop the Rain” from Electrified (2005)
Bad Weather California “When You Smile” from Sunkissed (2012)
Elephant Revival “Don’t Drift too Far” from It’s Alive (2012)
Joe Sampson “Moon Up Above” from Kill Our Friends (2012)
Fingers of the Sun “The Leaves Were So Green” from Fingers of the Sun (2011)
Andrew Vogt “Jeep is Jumpin’” from Cats Afoot (2010)

News Notes & Spins July 1, 2013

chris at ob hmls sunday june 16 2013June 30, 2013.  WoW what a month.  Truthfully the busiest June I’ve ever had, adding to the busiest year I’ve ever had.  Thank you to the Bohemian Foundation, and to the Fort Collins Downtown Business Association for making that so …and to the several bands/artists I’m now working with directly… and to Oskar Blues who I do a fair amount of work for …and to all of the stations in the state now airing the show, along with the new and improving metrics on the website and at The Colorado Sound Live365 and The Colorado Sound TV.  Thank you …seriously.  I mean that.  When my wife and I decided we were going to take this journey 13 years ago I never thought this is where we’d be today.  It’s been a truly remarkable ride so far… and we’re a real long way from being done.

We didn’t get a lot of news from the stations this month.  I know that three, KGNU, KAFM, and KRFC still have HELP WANTED SIGNS out … check out their websites for more information.

In other station news, I reported on this earlier in the month, but it bears repeating.  There is a new radio station in NoCo… Radio 94.9 Colorado.  It’s a small low power 100 watt station with reach into Fort Collins, Loveland, Greeley, etc .. and according to market manager Stu Haskell (repeatedly) it will have a strong Colorado music accent throughout the day parts – in other words, you’ll hear CO music right up next to some of the biggest names in adult rock nationally.  Submit Your Music To Us   88.9FM KRFC (Fort Collins) is now airing The Colorado Sound on Saturday nights from 8-10PM, with Hour 1 repeated on Tuesday nights from 7-8PM and Hour 2 repeated on Thursday night from 7-8PM.

I’ve updated the playlists at The Colorado Sound Live365 and The Colorado Sound TV.  The radio station is broken down into Hitmakers (classic rock, oldies, classic hits, etc), Funk n Jazz n Nugz (urban contemporary, jazz, soul, funk, hiphop), Rock in the Rockies, CO’mericana,  TOP 40 (current TOP 40 chart as seen here) and a nightime/weekender mix made up of cuts from the other segments.  Check out the schedule here.

So about three weeks ago I put up a poll and asked what your 3 favorite Colorado releases of the year have been so far.  I didn’t get what I wanted out of it.   What I found out is that three or four of the acts have very active fan bases LOL.  However, mid-way through the year, the TOP 3 Colorado releases at Colorado radio are:

  1. DeVotchKa – Live with the Colorado Symphony
  2. The Lumineers – The Lumineers
  3. Otis Taylor – My World Is Gone

This whole thing with WordPress, YouTube, and Live365 is really starting to tickle me in the oh so not really funny kinda way … so, you might just easily go to this link  … where all of them will stream seamlessly for you …. This month’s video pick six = Churchill, Arthur Lee Land, Old Daisy featuring Katy McAllister, Wasteland Hop, Omniism, and Havok.

TOP 40 – JUNE 2013

313 titles tracked in June
174 titles were reported as played at least once.
(CC) = Colorado Connection
(D) = album/ep debut on chart
(R) = reenter
[date] = Date added to reporting list

(1) 1. Cassie Taylor – Out of My Mind (Yellow Dog) Blues [May-13]
(D) 2. Head for the Hills – Blue Ruin (self) Bluegrass [Jun-13]
(9) 3. DeVotchKa – Live with the Colorado Symphony (Cicero Recordings) Indie/New Alternative [Nov-12]
(18) 4. a. Tom Collins – Stick & Poke (Greater Than Collective) Indie/New Alternative [Apr-13]
(D) 5. Gregory Alan Isakov – The Weatherman (Suitcase Town Music) Folk [Jun-13]
(R) 6. Blue Canyon Boys – Next Go Round (self) Bluegrass [Jan-13]
(6) 7. Jeff Scroggins & Colorado – Western Branches (self) Bluegrass [May-13]
(3) 8. The Lumineers – The Lumineers (Dualtone) Americana [Mar-12]
(23) 9. Andy Hackbarth – Treadmill Horses EP (January Records) Pop [Apr-13]
(5) 9. Paper Bird – Rooms (self) Indie/New Alternative [Feb-13]
(7) 10. Thom Chacon – Thom Chacon (Pie Records) Americana [Mar-13]
(D) 11. Hezekiah Goode – Two Billion Acres of Salt (self) Americana [June-13]
(4) 12. Otis Taylor – My World Is Gone (Telarc) Blues [Jan-13]
(R) 13. WhiteWater Ramble – Roots & Groove (WWR) Bluegrass [Feb-13]
(D) 14. Josh Dillard – The Bright Light of Shipwreck (self) Folk [Jun-13]
(17) 15. Danielle Ate The Sandwich – {like a king} (Youngest Daughter Records) Folk [May-12]
(21) 16. Mike Clark & the Sugar Sounds – Round and Round (Blank Tape) Indie/New Alternative [Jan-13]
(D) 17. Wendy Woo Band – Live (Woo Music) Pop [Jun-13]
(25) 18. Bad Brad & the Fat Cats – Eyes on the Prize (self) Blues [Feb-13]
(28) 18. Elephant Revival – It’s Alive EP (Ruff Shod/Nettwork) Folk [Nov-12]
(R) 19. Leftover Salmon – Aquatic Hitchhiker (LoS Records) Americana [Apr-12]
(R) 20. Bonnie & The Clydes – Wrong Side Up (self) Americana [Jul-12]
(24) 21. The Haunted Windchimes – Out with the Crow (Blank Tape) Folk [Apr-12]
(D) 22. 3 Twins – De Nada (Sleeping Elephant Music) Americana [Jun-13]
(2) 23. Churchill – The War Within EP (A&M/Octone) Rock [Apr-13]
(D) 24. Dan Treanor’s Afrosippi Band f/Erica Brown – Tangled Road Again (self) Blues [June-13]
(R) 25. Catch Bees – Narratives from a Factory Town (On Joyful Wings) Indie/New Alternative [Feb-13]
(16) 26. Brad Goode – Chicago Red (Origin Records) Jazz [Feb-13]
(D) 27. Chimney Choir – (compass) (self) Folk [May-13]
(D) 28. Cary Morin – Streamline (self) Blues [May-13]
(R) 29. Beautiful Loser Society – The Desperate Promenade (self) Americana [Jan-13]
(12) 29. Danny Shafer – Wherever You Are (Tolstar Records) Folk [Apr-13]
(10) 30. Jeff Brinkman Band – Strange (self) Rock [Dec-12]
(D) 30. Pretty Lights – Around the Block [single] (self) EDM [Apr-13]
(R) 31. The Yawpers – Capon Crusade (self) Rock [Sep-12]
(R) 32. Trout Steak Revival – Flight (self) Bluegrass [Nov-12]
(19) 33. Fierce Bad Rabbit – Maestro and the Elephant (self) Rock [Jan-13]
(29) 34. The Changing Colors – Joan & the King (Blank Tape) Fol [Apr-13]
(D) 35. Andy Palmer – Hazard of the Die (self) Rock [Jun-13]
(R) 35. Chris Daniels – Better Days (self) Americana [Jul-12]

FELL OUT OF TOP 40 June 2013
8. Ryan Chrys – A Lick & A Promise
11. Beki Hemingway – I Have Big Plans For The World
12. Danny Shafer – Wherever You Are
13. Sera Cahoone (CC) – Deer Creek Canyon
14. Petals of Spain – Soul Canon
15. Sam Lee – Raise Your Flag
20. The Swayback – Double Four Time
21. You, Me and Apollo – S/T [EP]
22. Head for the Hills – Live
23. Austin Young & No Difference – Blue As Can Be
26. Selina Albright – Brighter
27. A Boy and His Kite – A Boy and His Kite
27. Esme Patterson – All Princes, I
27. String Cheese Incident – Can’t Wait Another Day [single]
29. Calder’s Revolvers – Steady By Your Side
30. Blue Grama – Dust Bowl Blues
31. SHEL – SHEL
32. Patrick Dethlefs – Fall & Rise
33. Sawmill Joe – Jeffco
34. Ben Haugland – Point of No Return
34. Desirae Garcia – Ill Fitting

June Adds
3 Twins – De Nada
Coles Whalen – Come Back, Come Back
Dawson James – Our Country
Gregory Alan Isakov – The Weatherman
Head for the Hills – Blue Ruin
Ivory Circle – Entropy
Jack + Jill – Coloradio
James and the Devil – Sample This
Josh Dillard – The Bright Light of Shipwreck
Lynn Baker Quartet – LectroCoustic
Pull the Alarm – Commando
Raven and the Writing Desk – Scavenger EP
Strangebyrds – Migration
SuCh (Su Charles) – Sugar Maple
The Knew – What’s Hip (Long Walk) 7″
The Whiskey Bottles – Grandville
The Widow’s Bane – Don’t Be Afraid, It’s Only Death
Waiting On Trial – Relentless and Unforgiving
Wendy Woo Band – Live
Wheelchair Sports Camp – Blank Space EP

 STATION BY STATION

[X] = number of “current” titles reported as played in reporting period.  This is so you’ll not only see what the top five records getting the most spins are at any station, but also how many “current year” releases are getting played.

haunted windchimes_crowKAFM (Grand Junction) [35]
1. The Haunted Windchimes – Out with the Crow
2. Cassie Taylor – Out of My Mind
3. Arthur Lee Land – Cracked Open
4. Jack + Jill – Coloradio
5. Dennis Wanebo – Running On Gravity

head for the hills blue ruinKBUT (Crested Butte) [16]
1. Head for the Hills – Blue Ruin
1. WhiteWater Ramble – Roots & Groove
2. Bad Brad & the Fat Cats – Eyes on the Prize
2. Blue Canyon Boys – Next Go Round
2. Elephant Revival – It’s Alive EP

Blue Canyon Boys Next Go RoundKDNK (Carbondale) [30]
1. Blue Canyon Boys – Next Go Round
2. Bonnie & The Clydes – Wrong Side Up
2. Cassie Taylor – Out of My Mind
2. Dan Treanor’s Afrosippi Band f/Erica Brown – Tangled Road Again
2. DeVotchKa – Live with the Colorado Symphony

paper bird_roomsKDUR (Durango) [10]
1. Paper Bird – Rooms
1. Waiting On Trial – Relentless and Unforgiving
2. a. Tom Collins – Stick & Poke
2. Air Dubai – Be Calm
3. Farmington Hill – Bridge to Nowhere

paper bird_roomsKGNU (Boulder) [20]
1. Paper Bird – Rooms
2. Danielle Ate The Sandwich – {like a king}
2. Gregory Alan Isakov – The Weatherman
2. Jeff Scroggins & Colorado – Western Branches
3. Blue Canyon Boys – Next Go Round

Mike Clark_Round and RoundKRCC (Colorado Springs) [16]
1. Mike Clark & the Sugar Sounds – Round and Round
2. Changing Colors – Joan & the King
3. Josh Dillard – The Bright Light of Shipwreck
4. Pretty Lights – Around the Block [single]
5. Grant Sabin – Anthromusicology

cary morin streamlinedKRFC (Fort Collins) [>100]
1. Cary Morin – Streamline
2. Paper Bird – Rooms
3. Wendy Woo – Live
4. a. Tom Collins – Stick & Poke
4. Cassie Taylor – Out Of My Mind

Jeff Scroggins West BranchKRZA (Alamosa) [10]
1. Jeff Scroggins & Colorado – Western Branches
1. WhiteWater Ramble – Roots & Groove
2. Andy Hackbarth – Treadmill Horses EP
2. Bad Brad & the Fat Cats – Eyes on the Prize
2. Lisa Bell – The Italian Project

otis taylor_my world is goneKUNC (Greeley) [18]
1. Otis Taylor – My World Is Gone
2. Gregory Alan Isakov – The Weatherman
3. Churchill – The War Within EP
4. The Lumineers – The Lumineers
5. Danielle Ate The Sandwich – {like a king}

brad goode chicago redKUVO (Denver) [8]
1. Brad Goode – Chicago Red
1. Lynn Baker Quartet – LectroCoustic
2. Tom Gershwin – Sweet Pastimes
3. John Gunther’s Safari Trio – Surrender
3. Jon Wirtz – Tourist

devotchka_live with CO symOpen Air 1340 (Denver) [58]
1. DeVotchKa – Live with the Colorado Symphony
2. Paper Bird – Rooms
3. Gregory Alan Isakov – The Weatherman
4. a. Tom Collins – Stick & Poke
5. Mike Clark & the Sugar Sounds – Round and Round

a tom collin new-album-sidebarThe Colorado Sound [60]
1. a.Tom Collins – Stick & Poke
2. Head for the Hills – Blue Ruin
3. 3 Twins – De Nada
3. Cassie Taylor – Out of My Mind
3. Thom Chacon – Thom Chacon

GENRE/PROGRAM FORMAT

head for the hills blue ruinAmericana/Alt.country/Bluegrass
1. Head for the Hills – Blue Ruin
2. Blue Canyon Boys – Next Go Round
3. Jeff Scroggins & Colorado – Western Branches
4. The Lumineers – The Lumineers
5. Thom Chacon – Thom Chacon

cassie taylor, out of my mindBlues/Rhythm & Blues
1. Cassie Taylor – Out of My Mind
2. Otis Taylor – My World Is Gone
3. Bad Brad & the Fat Cats – Eyes on the Prize
4. Dan Treanor’s Afrosippi Band f/Erica Brown – Tangled Road Again
5. Cary Morin – Streamline

Gregory Alan Isakov_the weatherman

Folk/folk-rock/singer-songwriter
1. Gregory Alan Isakov – The Weatherman
2. Josh Dillard – The Bright Light of Shipwreck
3. Danielle Ate The Sandwich – {like a king}
4. Elephant Revival – It’s Alive EP
5. The Haunted Windchimes – Out with the Crow

devotchka_live with CO symIndie/New Alternative
1. DeVotchKa – Live with the Colorado Symphony
2. a. Tom Collins – Stick & Poke
3. Paper Bird – Rooms
4. Mike Clark & the Sugar Sounds – Round and Round
5. Catch Bees – Narratives from a Factory Town

brad goode chicago redJazz/Instrumental
1. Brad Goode – Chicago Red
2. Jon Wirtz – Tourist
3. Manuel Lopez Trio – Searching Out
4. Polarity – King of Hearts
5. John Gunther’s Safari Trio – Surrender

andy hackbarth_horsesPOP / Contemporary Adult / Crossover
1. Andy Hackbarth – Treadmill Horses EP
2. Wendy Woo Band – Live
3. Lisa Bell – The Italian Project
4. OneRepublic – Native
5. Dennis Wanebo – Running On Gravity

churchill, the war withinROCK / AAA / ALT / AOR
1. Churchill – The War Within EP
2. Jeff Brinkman Band – Strange
3. The Yawpers – Capon Crusade
4. Fierce Bad Rabbit – Maestro and the Elephant
5. Andy Palmer – Hazard of the Die

Pretty Lights - Around the BlockUrban Contemporary/Dance/EDM/Funk/Hip-Hop/Rap
1. Pretty Lights – Around the Block [single]
2. Flobots – The Circle In the Square
3. Air Dubai – Warning!
4. SuCh (Su Charles) – Sugar Maple
4. Wheelchair Sports Camp – Blank Space EP

The following releases were serviced to radio/press by Chris “K” Kresge dba Rocky Mountain Music Network

3 Twins – De Nada
Andy Hackbarth – Treadmill Horses EP
Andy Palmer – Hazard of the Die
Bad Brad & the Fat Cats – Eyes on the Prize
Bonnie & The Clydes – Wrong Side Up
Danny Shafer – Wherever You Are
Dennis Wanebo – Running On Gravity
Hezekiah Goode – Two Billion Acres of Salt
Jeff Brinkman Band – Strange
Lisa Bell – The Italian Project
Rob Roper – The Other Side of Nowhere
Ryan Chrys – A Lick & A Promise
Wend Woo Band – Live
WhiteWater Ramble – Roots & Groove