Time to Say Good Bye to Summer

By: Erin Eastburn

FORT COLLINS, Colo – As the sun begins to set and the dimmed stage lights become bursts of bright colors at Lovelands Thunder Mountain Amphitheater, Travie McCoy the headlining artist steps on the stage for the annual “Say Good Bye to Summer Bash”; sponsored by Clear Channel Communications of Northern Colorado.

“’Say Good Bye to Summer Bash’ and all the concerts at Thunder Mountain Amphitheater are great and affordable shows,” Molly Alderton of Loveland said. “My family loves coming here.”

With affordable concerts and family friendly atmosphere, the Thunder Mountain Amphitheater provides a comfortable and friendly environment for all ages.

“It’s outdoors and conveniently located,” Kiss FM Program Director Chris Kelly said. “It’s big enough to have really big shows, but small enough that there is not a bad seat.”

As McCoy continues to pump up the crowed with hit after hit, the crowd is split into two. One group, dancing towards the stage reaching towards McCoy in hopes to get his attention. The other, appears relaxed and sitting listening to music while also talking with friends on the slanted hill overlooking the stage.

One onlooker, Cameron Deer, sits on the grass with fellow friends enjoying the show.

“Shows here are always my favorite. It’s just low-key but fun,” Deer said.

According to Clear Channel Communications website, in Colorado, they have over 22 radio stations including 97.3FM KBCO, 96.1FM KISSFM and 107.9FM The Bear. By sponsoring events like ‘Say Good Bye to Summer Bash,’ Clear Channel of Northern Colorado hopes to give back to their listeners.

“[Concerts] are good promotional arms for the radios stations, with ticket giveaways and meet and greets,” stated Kelly.

Kelly, during the concert stated that having events like “Say Good Bye to Summer Bash” is extremely important to radios success in the future.

“I feel like people still want to be entertained and will pay for it as long as they get their money’s worth. Too often you find wildly expensive tickets... What we’ve done with the station shows at Thunder Mountain Amphitheater, it is the way it needs to be done,” continued Kelly.

McCoy starts to sing his hit “Need You”. As the audience begins to sing a-long knowing every other word, it’s interesting to think where these music lovers first heard this song.

Radio stations have the credibility of introducing new music to listeners. Though competitors including Pandora and satellite radio have created a new set of struggles for the radio industry.

Though, according to Kelly, iPods have no direct connection to hurting radios ratings.

“People talk about iPods and other digital players, but if the iPod was going to kill radio, CD’s, cassettes and 8-tracks would have already done it,” Kelly stated.

Clear Channel plans to counter-act these web sites through new applications such as ‘iHeartRadio’, which connects listeners to radio stations around the world.

“People talk about the Internet being a competitor, but I think it’s an asset. I think the more radio does to involve the Internet properly, the better. Someday, before my career is over, radio station transmitters will be turned off and everyone’s radio will be nothing but an Internet stream, like iHeartRadio,” Kelly continued.

Though the future is unsure, McCoy concludes the concert with his hit “Billionaire”. As the song ends the crowds of teen, college students, families, and couples shuffle through the gates leaving Thunder Mountain Amphitheater, discussing the highlights of the show.