Petra on Air1

[LexingtonPethead]

People, people, people!!! Let's all grow up here, shall we?

First, to have a network of broadcast radio stations playing Christian hard rock music is simply a dream come true for many people - like me for example. I suffered through many years of Christian AC in the 80's and 90's, WISHING someone would do exactly what EMF Broadcasting is doing with Air1.

Air1 has never played any "garage bands", if this label infers substandard music.

I've contacted Air1 on several occasions, some to request Petra, and also by email I have requested Petra, and I have always been treated graciously and with respect and with open-mindedness. Air1 is listener-supported, so it does them no good whatsoever to tick people off. Sorry, I don't buy the comment that they were condenscending.

That said, I've been equally frustrated about not hearing Petra on Air1, but that in no way prevents me from listening. I am grateful to have Air1 in Lexington, and I will continue to financially support Air1 for as long as I am financially able to support them.

Yes, it is frustrating to not hear Petra on Air1. But let's happy that there is an Air1 that plays - truth be told here - really GREAT Christian rock music and is professionally programmed and managed. There is a lot of great music getting played and heard by the masses that would otherwise not be heard.

[PETRAFAN78]

I have heard Petra songs played on Air-1 on numerous occasions. I will however say that the amount of air time they get has gone down dramaticlly over the past few years. But this is only a reflection of what people want to hear. I have loved Petra for years and will continue to for many more. Lets be honest though, thier older 80's style Christian rock doesn't fit with the current style of alternative rock that is more predominate on the radio these days. Not to mention that with the exception of Jeckel and Hyde (which I'm sad to say was too little too late) their recent offerings have been substandard at best. I actually used to work for Air-1 back in the day when they were just known as KLoRD. Back then bands like Petra, Whiteheart and Gaurdian were Christian music mainstays, unfortunatly boys and girls, times change. Though I was greatly against Air-1's change in format in the mid to late nineties, they do minister to a great number of people. As someone earlier posted, they are listner supported and they play the music that people want to hear.

[LexingtonPethead]

Just curious... because I've only been an Air1 listener for the past couple of years since they've been in Kentucky... how exactly did the format change in the mid-90's? I realize that Air1 has been around for a long time, though a lot smaller in days past.

Yes, to be honest, Petra has been Air1 compatible since Revival. But to my knowledge, I have not heard a single Petra song played on Air1 - ever - in the 2 or so years I've listened.

[SolidRockStrength]

I get Air1 and K-Love on 2 stations each and have been listening for 3+ years. On radio I have heard them say they(Air1) have a listerer audience of 250,000, it could be more but not much. I remember this because it was so substantially below K-Loves 2.5million(Air1's sister staion-same company). On every radio pledge drive they tell how much of an audience they have and how much money they need per month from each listener. The last pledge drive I heard the donation was 32 dollars a month to Air1 and K-love was 40 dollars a month. Air1 doesn't have enough listeners to break Petra. K-Love could with their huge audience, but K-Love played OASIS from Revival into medium rotation for about 3 months. On K-love I have also heard We Need Jesus, No Doubt, Just Reach Out, and Lord I lift Your Name on High. The only Petra song I have ever heard on Air1 is Breathe In.

The majority of their(K-love and Air1) funding is from listeners, but they do sell commercials. Just listen long enough and they sporadically pop in there, but they are not pushing something like secular radio and everyone I can remember pushes an upcoming concert. But don't be fooled those spots aren't free. A promoter in Harrodsburg,Ky tried to promote a compassion international concert with Geoff Moore and Racheal Lampa concert and it wasn't free, I think he chose not to use the stations. I have also seen K-Love sponsor a Youth rally in Lumberton, North Carolina I did with the Extreme Strength Ministry and helped promote the Underground youth rally in Danville, Ky on the weekly bulletin(upcoming events). But the Underground promoter had a contact.

Don't misread the post I like K-Love and Air 1 , but after several consecutive years of a repetitive format I found them boring, not a slam just an observation. Also just listen to what they say especially around pledge drive time, you'll learn some interesting things driving in the car.

Also One Day Less, a regional band based in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky couldn't get on Air1 because they didn't have a label behind them. I know the lead guitarist because I have done strength ministry at his church where he is the pastor. Air1 seems, in my opinion, to love to play upstart bands with average music. I can listen to Air1 and go who was that, but K-love seems to be more established artist driven. But after a while both bore me because they are so repetitive. I now usually prefer Janet Parshall's America and Micheal Reagan, talk radio.

[LexingtonPethead]

Thanks for the info on Air1. I supposed as with anything, there are always things we'd like to change if we could.

I am suprised that Air1's total audience is as low as it is. It seems to be accepted well in Lexington... I've heard it in a branch of the Post Office (the Beaumont location), and I've heard it throughout the office of one of my business customers. Plus, I have neighbors and people I know from church who listen to Air1.

I'll admit, though, if I listen a lot, I get burned out on the repititious nature of the format.

I know lot of people enjoy K-Love, but I just don't get into it. It reminds me too much of what Christian radio was to me years ago when that's all we had. However, I can listen to it if I have to now because Air1 successfully broke me away from secular music.

I realize that Air1 may not have made a huge impact on J&H (had Air1 played the CD), but I wonder if it could have stimulated enough broad appeal in Petra so that they would have gotten better venues, better attendance, higher CD sales, etc. Basically, nobody can ever know just what the difference needed to be in order for Bob and John to hang in there a few more years. If all this could have been just a little bit better during the J&H comeback, we might not be talking about retirement right now.

[Shell]

I can understand some folks feel they shouldn't listen to secular music, and that's fine. I'm careful about what I listen to, but I like the classic stuff...The Beatles, Beach Boys, Pretenders, and so on. A lot of the secular stuff today is garbage. Music isn't evil in and of itself, I don't think there's something wrong with listening to something just because you like it. Anything that becomes more important to you than your relationship with God is going to be a problem, and that includes any style of music, Christian or secular. That's the standard you should measure what you listen to or anything you do by...Is it interfering with your relationship with God.

[LexingtonPethead]

Oh sure... I agree 100% I wasn't trying to open that can of worms. I just meant that I like the music on Air1 enough that when I turn on the radio to listen to music, I turn on Air1. Plus, I like knowing who the new bands are, and I like supporting them in this way.

Not very often, but on occasion I will pull up some classic secular rock, or 80s rock on MusicMatch OnDemand and listen to it. In that way, I control what I listen to.

[Dan]

We don't get AIR1 in Australia but I emailed them anyway.

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Subject: Petra Retire after 33 years (Air1 Song/Artist/Lyric Info, Music Advisory Panel)

Dear Air1,

Why don't you guys please play the title song from there newest album Jekyll & Hyde just once please they desirve that.

Thanks Daniel
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Air 1 wrote:

Dear Daniel,

Thank you for your recent e-mail to Air 1 Radio. I am glad that you wrote to us.


It sounds like this group has really encouraged you!



We love song recommendations and suggestions. I'll be forwarding your email to JD Chandler in our programming department. JD reads all these messages. Because the volume is so high he is not able to follow up with an evaluation. The best way to find out if Petra will be played is to stay tuned in!


Thanks again for sharing your request with us. It is great to know that you are listening.


Thanks for listening to Air 1 and touching base with us. May God bless you.

In His service,

Lisa Shugart,
Assistant to the Vice President
CC: JD Chandler
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