KISS FM Breakfast show CSP: blog tasks

 1) Read page 2. What is KISS FM's mission? 

The KISS Network, made up of KISS FM UK,KISSTORY and KISS FRESH, entertains more15-34yr olds than any other Bauer Media brand and is extremely influential amongst this hard-to-reach demographic.

2) Look at page 3. What is the target audience for KISS FM? As well as writing the key statistics from the media pack, try and suggest what psychographic groups would fit the KISS audience too. 

 

The KISS audience is a 15-34, 60/40 Female to Male split and united by their love of music and the cool stuff, they’re into right now.

We see more entries for tech-wins than any other commercial incentive and with over 1.3m downloads of the KISS Kube App, We’re adding huge mobile and digital value by

enabling our audience to interact with us on the go, and listen live or again later. 

3) Now look at page 5 - The KISS network. How does KISS use digital media and technology to reach its audience?

KISS utilizes digital media and technology to reach its audience through various avenues, including virtual concerts, personalized fan engagement, and innovative digital products.

4) Now look at the other side of page 5. What content do KISS Fresh and KISSTORY offer and how can audiences access those stations?  

Kiss Fresh And Kiss Story offers 

5) Read page 6. What are the different ways audiences can actively engage with the KISS radio brand? 

KISS radio actively engages its audience through a multi-platform strategy encompassing on-air radio, social media, live events, and streaming services. Listeners can interact with the brand by tuning into shows like KISS Breakfast with Jordan & Perry, participating in social media discussions, attending live events like KISS Haunted House Party.

6) Are listeners to the KISS Breakfast show active or passive? You can argue this point either way - explain your opinion in your answer.

 Listeners to the KISS Breakfast show are generally considered active, not passive. While they might passively listen to the music, the show encourages engagement through social media interactions, song requests, and shout-outs.

7) Now think about the clips you've watched or listened to of the KISS FM Breakfast show with Jordan and Perri. What audience pleasures are offered by the KISS FM Breakfast show? Use Blumler and Katz Uses and Gratifications theory here.

Diversion:

• Light-hearted humour offers escapism and is entertaining
• Focus on gossip, entertainment and reality TV offers escapism
• Competitions on the show engage listeners

Personal Identity:

• Young, Black presenters may be relatable to younger Black audiences
• Jordan and Perri have been political campaigners and have been connected to political movements like Black Lives Matter, appealing to Black audiences who may have faced discrimination or are also advocates of the BLM movement
• They discuss many issues a young audience can identify with and relate to, such as relationships, being bored in lockdown, etc.
• Ethnically diverse guests may help engage their primarily Black audience
• Informal way of speaking targets a young audience

Personal Relationships:

• They may have some fans from being part of a dance troupe, Diversity, who appeared on Britain's Got Talent
• Jordan and Perri are friends and so have a natural chemistry that appeals to audiences
• Jordan and Perri have been connected to political movements like Black Lives Matter, perhaps creating a relationship with Black audience members
• The show will appeal to fans of celebrities who become guests on the Breakfast show
• Audiences can send in requests or shout outs to friends that are read out, creating a parasocial relationship

Surveillance:

• Parts of the Breakfast show offer education and information to listeners 
• Educational content is simple and easy to understand

• Entertainment/Diversion:

  The show provides a lighthearted and enjoyable way to start the day, offering a break from the routine and potentially a source of laughter and fun. 
• Information/Surveillance:

  The show likely provides updates on traffic, weather, and potentially some news, allowing listeners to stay informed about their immediate surroundings.
• Personal Identity:

  Listeners might identify with the presenters, the music played, or the general tone and style of the show, feeling a sense of belonging to a particular community or "tribe"

Previously, radio was much more common as television was still in the process of becoming popular - it was people's main form of entertainment, and how most people listened to music. Radio was also used for more sophisticated discussions around art, literature, etc. on the older BBC stations. Teenagers mainly used pirate stations, as they were catered towards them, until the launch of BBC Radio 1, which was hugely popular at the time as there were no competitors.

8) How have audiences changed in terms of how they listen to music and radio since the 1960s?

9) How does the KISS FM Breakfast show contrast with Tony Blackburn's 1967 Radio 1 Breakfast show and the launch of BBC Radio 1? 

There a variety of differences between the KISS FM Breakfast show and Tony Blackburn's Radio 1 Breakfast show: KISS FM has multiple competitors as there are more radio stations broadcasting, while BBC Radio 1 had virtually no competitors at all; KISS FM is much higher-quality (AM to FM to DAB); KISS FM is available on-demand, while BBC Radio 1 was not; KISS FM has two Black presenters 

10) Use Stuart Hall's Reception theory to offer a preferred and oppositional reading of the KISS FM Breakfast show. For the preferred reading, why do fans love the show? On the oppositional side, why might someone criticise the show or not want to listen?

For the preferred reading, it would likely be held by a younger audience who enjoy the music being played or can relate to the topics discussed on the show. They would support the political messages on the Breakfast show (Black Lives Matter campaign) and enjoy Jordan and Perri's humour, chemistry and 'banter.' They would also be fans of the celebrities featured on the show.

For the oppositional reading, it would most likely be held by older people who don't enjoy the humour in the same way a young person would, or would prefer older music over the modern music played on the show. Potentially, people who hold racist views would dislike the fact that two Black presenters host the show, or would be unsupportive of the political views held by them. 

Industry

1) When did KISS FM first launch and what type of station was it then? 

KISS FM first launched on the 7th October, 1985 first as a pirate station, becoming a weekend operation as they were regularly taken off-air by authorities. It, over time, became legitimate as it grew in popularity enough to become a real competitor. 
2) Look at the Bauer Media Group's list of brands. How many different types of media can you find on there? What brands do you recognise? 

There are multiple different types of media brands: radio stations, magazines, films, news, etc.

 

I recognise: KISS, Magic Radio, Grazia and Heat. 

3) How does KISS FM make money? 

KISS FM makes money through advertising, sponsorships and events, such as summer festivals and the Wembley Arena Halloween Party. Brands can pay to have their product featured on the show either in ad breaks or as part of the show itself, and companies can also pay to sponsor shows, competitions or events during the broadcast. KISS also earn money from brands paying to be promoted through the KISS social media posts. 

4) How many listeners does the KISS Breakfast show have and how has this changed in recent years?

The KISS Breakfast show currently has 980,000 listeners. During the time Rickie, Melvin and Charlie hosted, the Breakfast show had over 2 million listeners, but by the time Jordan and Perri took over this figure was already down to 1.4 million listeners. The figure has been steadily decreasing. 

5) How is KISS FM regulated and what can happen if they break the rules?

KISS FM, and all radio is regulated by Ofcom. Ofcom has a broadcasting code that all shows must follow, including leaving out anything inappropriate for younger listeners.

In 2006, KISS was fined a record fee (for any UK commercial radio station) of £175,000 by media regulator Ofcom. Ofcom punished KISS for "numerous and serious breaches" of broadcasting codes after receiving 10 complaints from April to November 2005.