WICHITA — SMS Media Partners has debuted its second online radio station and is on its way to launching at least one or two more.
“We are targeting all the people who are office workers that are sitting in front of their computer all day,” says Matt Johnston, who is partners in the company with Steve Mills.
The two started KKRDonline.com in late May.
This week, they launched Chillwichita.com, a light urban format.
“We’ll play a little hip hop and a little R&B, but we’re not going to play the gangsta rap and things like that,” Johnston says. “We’re truly a rhythmic station. It’s going to be geared more toward a dance feel.”
Chill had been a national station, but Johnston says he and Mills decided to focus on local advertisers, news and weather.
“KKRD was a such a success, we decided to turn Chill into a Wichita station,” Johnston says.
He says the average KKRD listener listens to the station five hours.
“We’ve got them all day long,” he says.
Next, Johnston and Mills will bring back some more well-known call letters, like they did with KKRD, for a classic rock format.
Then, they’ll venture into country.
“Wichita is so saturated on the country market, I’m still trying to work out a new format of country,” Johnston says.
That format probably won’t happen until the end of the year, but look for news on the classic rock station in the next couple of weeks.
6 Comments
Dear Mr. Johnston,
You’re right. The last thing this market needs is another country station, whether it be online or over the air. Please do us disgruntled radio listeners a favor and create a station that features music not currently offered by the mainstream broadcasters. Although at different ends of the spectrum, I enjoy listening to alt rock and smooth jazz. Neither, however, are available in this market although at one time they used to be.
And with the Internet being worldwide in its reach, why only be concerned with local advertisers? Wouldn’t some of the less popular genres (like, say, alt rock and smooth jazz) be more successful if you drew from a regional, national or even worldwide audience?
I’m sure there are plenty of those stations already on iTunes and elsewhere on the web so I can see the appeal of creating a local station. One, perhaps, with a unique identity. That’s fine.
Listen, I’m not radio or broadcasting executive. I’m certainly no businessman. However I can tell you what I like in a radio station and I can tell you that currently none of the corporately-owned Wichita stations provide it. I’m looking for a reason to cancel my satellite subscription. Are you going to be my reason or will I just tune you out like all the others?
Sincerely yours,
Disgruntled radio listener
I would love someone to bring a true Alt Rock station and an Americana station to Wichita. Until this happens, all I listen to is the iPod and Sports Daily.
What about a Modern Rock station? Ever since T-95 went to playing 80’s music, I have stopped listening to the radio. ipod, and CD’s are my best friends any more. Its nice that radio stations have left me in the dark here in Wichita. I know it boils down to economics, and Rock appeals to the younger generations that dont spend as much money. Sad, i miss the days of the “old” T-95 from 6-7 years ago. That was true music.
I think there is probably an audience for all types of music. I personally like classic rock, and can’t fathom programming a hip hop station on my stereo. I do have a country station programmed, however. Music is music. People like what they like. I hate sushi, but I love a good burger and a beer. Why is sushi so popular? Because there’s different strokes for different folks. Good for SMS. I’m sure they will find an audience. Even if I ain’t one of them.
You guys should try this new thing we call “Satellite Radio”. The greatest thing to happen to local radio in history.
I’ll remember the day I decided I was done with the locals here – ‘Rockin Rick’ (as he likes to be called) was having listeners call in and tell him if their girlfriend/wife was in the car and whether she was wearing panties or not. Seriously. (Or was it when he was giving out ‘virtual’ spankings to callers? Eh, doesn’t matter, I guess).
I went down to Best Buy (go Corporate America!) and bought an XM tuner. Best thing ever. No more of these wanna be DJ’s babbling about the latest crack-whore they met at the bar. Good music, hundreds of channels, crystal clear reception.
YOU NOW HAVE A CLASSIC ROCK STATION!!! ALTERNATIVE COMING SHORTLY!
One Trackback
[...] SMS Media Partners started its third online broadcast property Monday and will launch its fourth Thursday. [...]