Dave Beasing weighs in today with some thoughts on "being Alternative:"
On Thursday, December 8, online visitors to San Diego’s FM 94/9 first were exposed to a flash animation video. The Alternative station briefly and eloquently surprised listeners by remembering John Lennon that day, on the 25th anniversary of his murder.
You might be asking, why would they salute an artist they don’t play? Why would FM 94/9 — an Alternative station — make a bigger deal out of this solemn anniversary than many Classic Rock stations? But that’s the way many radio programmers think, not radio listeners.
Alternative listeners respect John Lennon’s impact on our culture. Without his contribution, they can’t even imagine the course that Rock music — including Alternative — might have taken, or failed to take.
But there’s another reason: FM 94/9 often breaks the predictable rules of radio by doing the unexpected. As a result, listeners gladly parrot to their friends that, "There’s FM, and there’s FM 94/9." There is a market for being unconventional. FM 94/9 ranks among the top stations among 25 to 54 year-olds, a rare feat in that format.
Congratulations to FM 94/9 — Darrel Goodin, Garett Michaels and their entire team — for creating a new model for Alternative radio, a station that actually believes listeners who say they want occasional surprises. FM 94/9 shares their values, respects their music and their intelligence. From its start 3 years ago, many radio people haven’t understood FM 94/9. Doesn’t matter, because listeners do.
Jacobs Media has consistently walked the walk in the digital space, providing insights and guidance through its well-read national Techsurveys.
In 2008, jacapps was launched - a mobile apps company that has designed and built more than 1,300 apps for both the Apple and Android platforms. In 2013, the DASH Conference was created - a mashup of radio and automotive, designed to foster better understanding of the "connected car" and its impact.
Along with providing the creative and intellectual direction for the company, Fred consults many of Jacobs Media's commercial and public radio clients, in addition to media brands looking to thrive in the rapidly changing tech environment.
Fred was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 2018.
- Baby, Please Don’t Go - November 22, 2024
- Why Radio Needs To Stop Chasing The Puck - November 21, 2024
- Great Radio – In The Niche Of Time? - November 20, 2024
Considering that outside of a block of Lennon at noon on the 8th, the classic rock station in San Diego didn’t really acknowledge this significant anniversary(in CLASSIC ROCK history!), KBZT did something meaningful for anyone who who has an appreciation for rock music in Lightning Bolt country.