IdahoRadioNews: Spring ratings roundup

­More ups and downs in the Boise radio market – but one thing is clear: country ruled the day this spring.

Look – let’s just say something: people writing down what they listened to on the radio (or watched on TV) is a pretty ridiculous way to determine millions of dollars in ad spending in 2016… but it’s all we have.

With that in mind, let’s look at winners and losers in the spring Nielsen book for radio among people 12+.

KBOI-AM topped the ratings with a 6.4.

The first Wild Swing Award goes to KAWO/Wow Country 104.3 which doubled its ratings from last fall – popping from a 2.7 to a 5.8, and the number two spot in the ratings. The station has a new-ish morning show and it seems to be gelling with audiences.

In the number three spot is relative upstart KQBL/101.9 The Bull. The station popped to a 4.9 rating. The ratings snapshot happened before Kevin & Brenda Mee joined the station – which could help increase ratings even further for the station.

After KTHI/107.1 K-Hits in fourth place – comes another country station, KIZN/Kissin 92. Kissin also nearly doubled its rating from a 2.6 to a 4.7 in the spring book.

Just those three country stations account for a combined 15.4 rating. Lots of country lovers got ratings diaries this spring!

Elsewhere: In the pop war, KSAS/103.5 Kiss FM climbed back on top of KWYD/Wild 101. Wild won the fall, Kiss wins the spring with a sold 4.5 rating to Wild’s 4.0.

Among hot adult contemporary stations, KCIX/Mix 106 saw significant falloff from the fall after the exit of popular morning host Kate McGwire. Mix fell from a 5.0 to a 3.8. However, the station still topped competitor KZMG/My 102.7. KXLT/107.9 Lite FM dropped significantly as it usually does in the spring when Christmas music is long gone – from a 5.6 rating to a 4.0.

Something notable happened in the sports race: KTIK/The Ticket got knocked off the throne. The heritage sports station fell to KNFL/ESPN Boise in the ratings for the first time. In fact, KNFL beat both KTIK stations, combined by quite a bit. (1.4 for ESPN Boise versus a total of 1.0 for both KTIK AM & FM). KNFL added BJ Rains & Jay Tust from 9-11am and beefed up its local afternoon show – a formula that appears to be working.

If you look at the ratings by group, Scripps cemented its status as the lowest-rated cluster in the market. The Scripps stations saw slight growth from fall, but came in fourth place behind leader Townsquare, second-place finisher Cumulus, and Impact radio in third. The average rating for a Scripps station is just 3.325 – while the average Townsquare station brings an average of 4.22 points (and Townsquare has more stations).

Don Day is principal at Don Day Digital after a 17-year career in media. 

Job opening: Front-End Developer / Designer

c308 in Boise is looking for a Front-End Developer/Designer. Is it you? Details about the job from their website:

Looking for a front-end designer/developer with a strong work ethic. At least 3 years experience.

Will be asked to design and develop websites (and accompanying content management systems, if applicable). Familiarity with php/MySQL and Expression Engine is desired. Ideally, applicants will have above average understanding of UX, marketing, and front-end best practices/latest trends.

Must be proficient in:

  • CSS
  • HTML5
  • JQuery
  • Bootstrap
  • Mobile-first/ Responsive design
  • Adobe Creative Suite, especially Photoshop

Must be able to collaborate. Should be comfortable working with clients — both in new business pitches or regular web maintenance concerns.

Work environment best accommodates highly driven personalities, with a relaxed hierarchy where individuals are expected to keep track of and meet their deadlines with little supervision.

To inquire, send information to jobs@c308.com. Please attach resume, cover letter, and/or portfolio.

Ernie Monroe calls it a career

Ernie Monroe, a fixture in the marketing and advertising industry for the past four decades, is now kicking his cowboy boots up in retirement.

Last week, Ernie officially retired from DaviesMoore, where he’s spent the last seven years, following the merger of Davies Rourke and MMG into DaviesMoore.

Before joining Davies Rourke in 1994, Ernie spent 15 years in advertising business in the Midwest, where he created and produced campaigns for national and regional consumer and business-to-business products, including food, beverage, financial services, and hospitality.

In his blog post about Ernie’s retirement, Edward Moore wrote:

…But, eight years ago, I got the opportunity to work with Ernie. I discovered something about what was inside the large artist in cowboy boots I’d met years earlier.  It turns out, Ernie is a sweetheart.

I’ve learned this through late night, heart-to-heart talks about the industry. I’ve learned this by watching his desire to do good work. I’ve learned this watching him take younger designers, illustrators, and creative directors (some who were technically his boss) under his wing to impart knowledge and advice that can only be gained through years of the hard knocks in this business. I’ve learned this by watching him dance with Mary and by listening to Mary talk about her husband. I’ve learned this by watching his eyes as he talks about his son, Ted.

Ernie is blunt, but speaks the truth. He is wickedly talented with a pencil in his hand, yet unafraid to learn the ways of the mouse. Ernie has cheated death and found true love.  He has driven fast, taken lots of chances and made a career out of what he loves. Ernie has made an impact on me and our business.

We’ll miss him around here. Congrats on your retirement.

Also, a few weeks earlier, the crew at DaviesMoore gathered to hear stories from Ernie and advice accumulated throughout his career:

Enjoy your retirement, Ernie. You’ve earned it.