First Listen: KKND (Power 102.9) New Orleans
Written Jul. 3, 2008 by Sean Ross in Content + Terrestrial Radio with 8 Comments
There haven't been a lot of major/large-market R&B/Hip-Hop launches lately. The major group building boom of five years ago seems to have petered out, a product of saturation in some markets, Hip-Hop's now-clearly-relinquished position as "the only new music that matters" to anybody under 24, reduced 12-24 listening and concerns (justified or otherwise) about PPM's impact on Urban radio.
So a new launch is big news, particularly in New Orleans, where there was some initial concern that Urban radio might not be as dominant in a post-Katrina landscape. Clear Channel's WQUE (Q93) and Urban AC WYLD-FM remained market leaders, but the market lost both its Gospel FM and its second Hip-Hop station. And Urban AC KMEZ (Old School 102.9), with signal issues compared to WYLD, became less of a ratings presence.
So it was gratifying to see Citadel move KMEZ to the bigger signal occupied by former Country/Rock outlet KKND and then launch "Non-Stop Hip-Hop" Power 102.9 on its old frequency this morning, under OM LeBron "LBJ" Joseph. The station, which launched with 10,000 songs in a row, is targeting Q93 with liners that encourage listeners to "turn on the power and turn off the Q."
Here's the first 45 minutes of KKND. No prize for guessing the first song:
Lil Wayne, "Lollipop"
Kardinal Offishal, "Dangerous"
J. Holiday, "Bed"
V.I.C., "Get Silly"
Ludacris, "Stand Up"
Usher, "Moving Mountains"
Keyshia Cole, "Heaven Sent"
Lil Wayne, "A Milli"
Jay-Z, "I Just Wanna Love You"
Chris Brown, "Take You Down"
Kanye West, "Good Life"
David Banner, "Get Like Me"
Snoop Dogg, "Gin And Juice"
Rick Ross, "Here I Am"
Reader Comments
Your 2¢, in chronological order — add your comment below.
MAN THIS IS BIG NEWS!! THANK GOD FOR THIS!! WE'VE BEEN SO PATIENTLY WAITING FOR A NEW RAP STATION INSTEAD OF LAME Q93.
This society is solely predicated on competition. "Only the strong will survive...it's called survival" is a true classic. The addition of The Big Ass Morning Show and it's personalities will aid Power 102 in claiming and maintaining a needed stake in the city's already monopolized market.
'Big ups' to Power 102...Let's get it crackin'!!
MAN 2 B HONEST YA DIGN I STAY N DALLAS...THA ONLY WAY I CAN LISTEN 2 MY HOME MUZICK ON ONLINE BUT IM TRU FAN HOME MUZICK AND I LUV NEW ORLEANS 2 THA BONE GRISLE BABY YA HEARD ME.... 9THWARD DOWN TOWN CUT THROAT CITY N---- SMILES JA KNOW
Hey its good to have competition, cause that will make the market better! Big up to Q93 cause they been holding it down, 104.5 came and went, now we have Power 102.9! Big up to them as well!!! Please be better then your previous stations, and show love and support to the local artists! (PLUG) Oh yeah check out "Holla Back" ft. Dizzy @ www.myspace.com/MdotCdot
I JUST WANTED TO SAY I SUPPORT 102.9 TO THE FULLEST... I THINK 102.9 IS A BETTER WAY FOR LOCAL ARTIST TO BE HEARD..( NO OFFENCE ) BUT QUE 93 RADIO STATION IS STUCK IN THEIR OWN WAYS..IT'S TIME FOR SOMETHING NEW!! LOUISIANA HAS A LOT OF TALENTED LOCAL ARTIST.. BUT WITHOUT A RADIO STATION THAT SUPPORTS LOCAL ARTIST ONLY HURTS OUR FUTURE.. BECAUSE WE WANT OUR UPCOMING MUSICIANS AND ARTIST & FUTURE STARS TO STAY IN THEIR LOCAL CITY OF LOUISIANA AND BRING MORE ATTRACTION AND VALUE TO THE MUSIC INDUSTRY OF LOUISIANA. I'M T-RHYTHM AN UPCOMING PRODUCER FROM KENNER,LOUISIANA I KNOW IN THE FUTURE TO COME I WILL BE A VERY SUCCESSFUL MUSIC PRODUCER.. WHY ? BECAUSE I'M VERY POSITIVE & HUMBLE AND I SET GOALS FOR MYSELF... I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO CHANGING THE WAYS OF NEGATIVE MUSIC LEADERS LOCALLY..
WELL ANYWAY I JUST WANTED TO GIVE ME VIEW ON THE NEW HIP HOP/R&B RADIO STATION POWER 102.9...
YALL HAVE T-RHYTHM'S SUPPORT...
THANKS FOR YOUR TIME.
T-RHYTHM "DA NEW AGE OF DA SOUTH"
I stay i houston now...but i grew up with Q93 and fm98,...Granted I LOve new power102.9For playing bounce on the reg i will all ways chant Q93 YA HEARD ME and if you from n.o they know what im talkin bout, but any way thanks power 102.9 you are just setting the wave for the new generation.
If 102.9 and LBJ SUPPORT LOCAL ARTIS. CAN SOMEBODY PLEASE CONTACT MY BACK BY E-MAIL(LBJ). SO THAT MY LOCAL COMPANY CAN BE FEATURED AND SUPPORTED. BYE THE NEW ,NEW ORLEANS RADIO STATION AND ALL ITS FOLLOWERS.....BY THE WAY . I OWN "GOREALEST RECORDS."
HOLLA BAC........................
yo ! yall keep doin yall thang fully reppin da.N.O .ON DA BOUNCE LEVEL ESPECIALLY IM A BOUNCE ,SOUL,OLDIES ,RAP ,DJ .ON THE WESTBANK SO WE DEFINATELY N DA BULDING .DJ,CHICK.& M.FRESH KEEP IT MOVING YA.HEARD !OUTTTTTT