Jack'ed Up

The spring Arbitrons are in... and it looks like a good start for KCBS-FM and its new "93.1 Jack FM" format.

KCBS, of course, axed its long-running classic rock “Arrow” format earlier this year and replaced it with the “Jack” format, which has spread rapidly across the country. Listnership for the station among audiences 12+ jumped from 1.7 percent of the L.A. market in Winter to a 3.0 share in spring.

The “Jack” format boasts a wide playlist and no DJs, and takes pride in its "train wrecks" of back-to-back songs (I still think the L.A. version just isn't adventurous enough, and that it needs to get more risky, and play more new music, if it wants to last.) Many radio pundits argue that the "Jack" fad will begin to fade as the novelty wears off (just as what happened in the past with "Pirate Radio," "Mega" and other formats that launched big and then died down).

Meanwhile, it looks like “Jack” hit its sibling Infinity alternative rocker KROQ the hardest. KROQ slipped from fourth to a tie for eighth place in L.A. this time out.

In the battle for first place, KIIS-FM (which merges its ratings with sister Antelope Valley station KVVS) squeaked ahead of usual winner KPWR "Power 106" this time out.

Other winners this spring included Spanish KLAX, which jumped from a 3.0 to a 4.0 share and a tie for third place with two more Spanish outlets, KLVE and KSCA. For those of you playing at home: KLAX is the station with "El Cucuy," KSCA's morning DJ is "Piolin," and KLVE plays Spanish love songs.

In other ratings: Talk leader KFI saw its numbers dip slightly; KDLD/KDLE “Indie 103.1” posted its best results yet; and in its debut as an Air America affiliate, KTLK improved on what the station had been posting as a sports outlet.