This week, Kiss 104.1 began slipping in classic hip hip tunes into its R&B mix in response to the three classic hip-hop stations that arrived on the scene in unprecedented fashion in late November.
On Thursday, the station played 50 Cent's "In Da Club," Young MC's "Bust a Move," Notorious B.I.G.'s "Mo Money, Mo Problems," Newcleus' "Jam On It," Mystikal's "Shake Your Ass" and Naughty By Nature's "O.P.P."
But so far, Kiss has restricted hip hop to one song an hour during the day and has kept the mix all R&B in the weekday evenings.
The station has been playing hip hop late Saturday nights for awhile.
Still, this is clearly a way to potentially blunt the effect of the three rival stations.
In late November, three Atlanta translator signals switched to classic hip hip: OG 97.9 (Cumulus), Boom 102.9 (Radio One) and Old School 99.3/1010 (Steve Hegwood). In the first full month of Nielsen Audio ratings, OG 97.9 was the most popular with a 1.2 share, followed by Boom (0.5) and Old School (0.3). Kiss' ratings didn't appear to be affected in December. (Ratings update here.)
Kiss ranked No. 3 in December in the market with a 6.7 share, behind only a Christmas-themed Fish 104.7 and R&B/hip-hop station V-103.
Nationally, classic hip hop is the hottest new format in markets from Philadelphia to Houston. Augusta just added a classic hip hop station this week.
Credit: Rodney Ho
Credit: Rodney Ho
Channel 2 Action News' Ryan Young is leaving to be part of CNN's Chicago bureau. A Miami native, Young was a reporter with the station for nearly 10 years.
Kiss and WSB-TV operate under Cox Media Group, which also oversees the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
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11Alive has added an HD channel at 11.3 called the Justice Network hosted by (of course) John Walsh.
Among the shows: "Alaska State Troopers," "Beach Patrol," "The Investigators," "Missing Persons Unit," "Psychic Detectives" and "SWAT USA Texas."
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Steve Hegwood's Core Communicators North added a Calhoun 6,000-watt station at 94.5 to bolster the reach of his hip-hop station Streetz 94.5 northwest. The station covers Rome, Calhoun, Acworth, Dalton, Cartersville and Kennesaw.
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Atlanta-based TBS's Conan O'Brien becomes a secret agent with Atlanta-produced FX animated series "Archer." There. Two Atlanta connections!
Speaking of Turner Entertainment, Jennifer Dorian has been named general manager of Turner Classic Movies and (surprise!) will remain in Atlanta. She had been chief strategy officer.
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