106.5 JACK FM playlist tweaks?

[thatonedude]

Thumbed through Jack’s playlist this evening, and noticed they’re damn near an alt/AAA now, except for certain songs they’re still throwing in. Looks like they’re taking some playlist cues from Jack in LA; seeing a lot of retro alt cuts on the list. Also seeing currents from Mumford & Sons, Teddy Swims, etc.

I like what I’m seeing. Might have to stream them sometime this weekend.


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[KalamazooClown]

I've noticed the same tweaks you've mentioned. Probably moving in this direction to differentiate their playlist from WZUU and Cool FM now that they are under the same roof. I would LOVE to see any type of alt format back in Kalamazoo, one can dream.....

[MWmetalhead]

You're right; 106.5 now has a pronounced Rock / Alternative / Modern AC lean. Not sure yet if I like so much non-rock material being purged from the playlist.

Sister station 96.5 has gone in the opposite direction, adding more teen pop and more rhythmic crossover material (both gold & current) and wiping out the vanilla Modern AC tracks. They seem to be shifting back to CHR. Waste of time, in my opinion. Flip the damn station to AC or Country already.

https://wvfm.tunegenie.com/
https://wzox.tunegenie.com/

[KalamazooClown]

Looking through their playlist, this change was clearly effective midnight on 2/28 - https://wvfm.tunegenie.com/

[MWmetalhead]

I agree. The music is a lot like WKLQ now, except WVFM plays no currents (106.5 does play recurrents now whereas no recent songs were offered previously) and plays a somewhat wider selection of classic alternative.

[Michigan Media]

This is a very interesting development. Changes were needed on WVFM even before the acquisition of Forum's stations. According to Nielsen's 12+ ratings, WVFM's listener base has been steadily declining in the Kalamazoo market over the past two years:

Spring 2023: 6.5
Spring 2024: 4.3 (34% decrease)

Fall 2023: 5.5
Fall 2024: 4.2 (24% decrease)

Source: https://ratings.radio-online.com/content/arb251

The alternative-leaning playlist on WVFM caters to the large progressive demographic in Kalamazoo. WMUK's public radio format has always had a large following in Kalamazoo. I am sure the non-public Nielsen data for Kalamazoo shows a sizeable audience for WKLQ's AAA format and WVGR's public radio format. As was stated earlier, this playlist tweak also reduces overlap with WZUU and WQXC.

I must say it is very strange to hear this playlist on a Jack FM-branded station. I was under the assumption that the Jack FM licensing agreement came with very strict branding and programming requirements. Evidently, station owners have some autonomy over playlist direction.

I rarely tune in to WZOX, so I can't comment on their playlist change. I was betting that the Hits 96.5 brand would be discontinued before the Spring 2025 ratings period. Unfortunately, the playlist tweak signals to me that the Hits brand may have been given a reprieve.

[ChrisWL1980]

Interesting indeed. Replace the three or so non-rock/AAA songs they still play per hour (i.e. Madonna and Eminem, which now really stick out like a sore thumb) with currents, and it would sound just like 107.1 in Ann Arbor.
As for 96.5, younger-skewing CHR didn't work in Lansing when they were doing it on 92.9, and it's not going to work (again) on 96.5. Just make it Win 98-5 & 96-5 or My 96-5 (AC a la 95.7 Duluth).

[MWmetalhead]

I agree with all of that, except for the recommended usage of "My 96-5." That moniker screams sterile, boring corporate radio. (You're spot on, though, about country or AC being better format choices.)

[ChrisWL1980]

I agree with all of that, except for the recommended usage of "My 96-5." That moniker screams sterile, boring corporate radio. (You're spot on, though, about country or AC being better format choices.)

Hah! I don't disagree with that. I wasn't recommending it as much as I was throwing out a potential possible name that they might use if they flipped AC. I actually think Country would be the wiser choice.

[thatonedude]

Honestly, the more I think about this, could it be that they are possibly thinking about dumping JACK?

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[Michigan Media]

I think it’s more likely that the rebooted Jack FM format moves back to its original home on 96.5. There is strong support for an alternative-leaning format in Kalamazoo, Portage and adjacent townships. There is far less support for such a format in other parts of 106.5's coverage area (especially rural Allegan and Barry counties).

If Jack FM moves back to 96.5, a more mass-appeal format like Adult Contemporary could be launched on 106.5. This is kind of a long shot and a big risk, but Midwest could move WNWN's Country format to 106.5. If Midwest desires a stronger Country presence in Kalamazoo County, they should acquire Jethro FM's 98.9 translator in Otsego, move it closer to Kalamazoo and pair it with WNWN for a "WIN 98" Country brand.

[MWmetalhead]

I've been listening to 106.5 on TuneIn this evening, and I'm fairly impressed by what I've heard.

The alternative / modern AC lean is even a bit more pronounced than what I heard Saturday. The music sets are well packaged. Audio processing on the stream sounds very good.

[thatonedude]

I have to agree. Just wish they’d dump some of the songs that are clearly remnants from the old playlist, and go to a more streamlined AAA-esque format.

Speaking of, how reliably can WKLQ be picked up in Kzoo? Haven’t been out that way in several years.


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[ChrisWL1980]

I'm not a subscriber so I can't access the info, but there is another change coming to Midwest's K'zoo cluster, according to RadioInsight. Can anyone who does have access fill the rest of us in?

[MWmetalhead]

It's behind a paywall, so I won't divulge the details. I will say the move is a sensible one.