WCBS-FM 101.1 Memorial Weekend Countdown

[oldies76]

It's back!! A listener voted Top 500 Memorial Weekend Countdown this year. You can choose any three songs and submit them. My guess is, it would have to coincide with what they already play to be considered. But who knows....

Since this is new again, it'll be interesting seeing what makes it in 2020. Will it be mostly 80's and 90's? Or will some 60's and 70's be included as people vote.

Nice to see holiday weekend specials return in major market radio.

https://wcbsfm.radio.com/

 

[CTListener]

It's back!! A listener voted Top 500 Memorial Weekend Countdown this year. You can choose any three songs and submit them. My guess is, it would have to coincide with what they already play to be considered. But who knows....

Since this is new again, it'll be interesting seeing what makes it in 2020. Will it be mostly 80's and 90's? Or will some 60's and 70's be included as people vote.

Nice to see holiday weekend specials return in major market radio.

https://wcbsfm.radio.com/

If the vote count is on the up-and-up and truly determines the playlist, the results will certainly provide an indication of whether WCBS-FM has cleansed itself of the boomers whom it's no longer programming for and whom its advertisers aren't spending to reach. The problem is that public participation of this sort, especially online, is always subject to manipulation, whether it be organized attempts to get certain songs played or individual users creating "sock puppets" to vote hundreds of times under different identities. My guess is that if the votes are tallied and "In the Still of the Night," "Twist and Shout" and dozens of other 50-plus-year-old golden oldies are showing up in numbers large enough to merit inclusion, manipulation will be assumed, the votes will be ignored and the songs will not be played.

 

[BruceNYC]

This issue has been discussed many times on other radio boards. These "listener-generated" countdowns are always manipulated by the station to include only the most common 500 songs played by the station.

 

[TheBigA]

This issue has been discussed many times on other radio boards. These "listener-generated" countdowns are always manipulated by the station to include only the most common 500 songs played by the station.

Is there something wrong with that?

 

[CTListener]

This issue has been discussed many times on other radio boards. These "listener-generated" countdowns are always manipulated by the station to include only the most common 500 songs played by the station.

Wasn't there a time when, even though "In the Still of the Night" had "aged out" of the approved daily playlist, it still showed up at or near the top of the countdown list because so many older New Yorkers were still listening to WCBS-FM and the song was considered a sort of "heritage song" for New York City (even though the Five Satins were from New Haven)?

 

[Jacko]

I guess the same could be said for Q104.3 always placing songs like Yes's "Close to the Edge" or any of the Elvis or Chuck Berry songs on their top 1043. Probably the only time of year they get played on Q.

 

[AceBiscuits]

If the vote count is on the up-and-up and truly determines the playlist, the results will certainly provide an indication of whether WCBS-FM has cleansed itself of the boomers whom it's no longer programming for and whom its advertisers aren't spending to reach. The problem is that public participation of this sort, especially online, is always subject to manipulation, whether it be organized attempts to get certain songs played or individual users creating "sock puppets" to vote hundreds of times under different identities. My guess is that if the votes are tallied and "In the Still of the Night," "Twist and Shout" and dozens of other 50-plus-year-old golden oldies are showing up in numbers large enough to merit inclusion, manipulation will be assumed, the votes will be ignored and the songs will not be played.

I have a hunch that you probably won't get as many of those votes as you think, largely because I'd assume a majority of that listener base probably doesn't identify with or listen to the current iteration of WCBS-FM especially in 2020... of course not that there's anything wrong with that, I think the station sounds great. This is all just my opinion, obviously.

I think what is fair is if this is indeed a listener-based survey with no (or very little) manipulation, that you will probably see a good chunk of 80's songs, a light but decent amount of 90's, and I would not be shocked to hear a decent number of pre-1972 songs from big artists like the Beatles and the Stones... who knows, even some Zeppelin. I think the station has really carved out its niche of being the 80's station, imo.

 

[davideduardo]

If the vote count is on the up-and-up and truly determines the playlist, the results will certainly provide an indication of whether WCBS-FM has cleansed itself of the boomers whom it's no longer programming for and whom its advertisers aren't spending to reach.

Remember that stations in larger markets do music tests where listeners hear snippets of many, many more songs than the station will ever play.

So the station that does music tests has a list of the songs that they don't play that are "next in line". Those are ones that didn't quite make it, but in a weekend special will be more than tolerable.

Usually those songs had a "defect" in one of the demographic cells of the music test. Let's say they tested 35-54 year olds, male and female. So if a song is weak in 35-44 females, it may not get regular play, but certainly can be put into the list for the special.

Similarly, the station may have some songs that score high on tests but just don't "fit" the format and they won't play them no matter how high they score.

 

[oldies76]

This issue has been discussed many times on other radio boards. These "listener-generated" countdowns are always manipulated by the station to include only the most common 500 songs played by the station.

Oh yes, recent countdowns are that way. It defeats the true purpose of a special, if done this way.Why even bother with listener votes , if half of them of thrown in the garbage. We'll see how this one turns out. I suppose, if Journey, Cyndi Lauper or the Eagles are #1, then we'll know.

 

[oldies76]

Is there something wrong with that?

Honestly, yes there is. If listeners are voting, then why should a good portion of them be tossed in the trash?? Then it's not "listener voted", it's doctored to fit THEIR needs, which is dead wrong.

Now if someone votes a song that's totally out of format, that's one thing. But if the format is 70's and 80's classic hits, then any song from that time should be game, not deleted. It's a weekend, people are home, especially with COVID-19, have fun!

 

[TheBigA]

If listeners are voting, then why should a good portion of them be tossed in the trash?? Then it's not "listener voted", it's doctored to fit THEIR needs, which is dead wrong.

Who said anything about any votes being "tossed in the trash?" They have influence. Otherwise, why even ask?

 

[davideduardo]

Oh yes, recent countdowns are that way. It defeats the true purpose of a special, if done this way.

The purpose is to promote additional listening. It's not a historical project.

Why even bother with listener votes

Because that is a hook to promote additional listening.

, if half of them of thrown in the garbage.

That is done to prevent playing stiffs.

If you get a bunch of Buck Owens and Merle Haggard songs on some ballots, are you really going to consider playing those tunes?

We'll see how this one turns out.

No, we won't see anything because there is nothing to compare with as the last time we had a pandemic there was no commercial radio at all.

I suppose, if Journey, Cyndi Lauper or the Eagles are #1, then we'll know.

... in your opinion. Sample size = 1

 

[oldies76]

That is done to prevent playing stiffs.

If you get a bunch of Buck Owens and Merle Haggard songs on some ballots, are you really going to consider playing those tunes?

Then it shouldn't be called listener voted, if "stiffs" are chucked away. Just call it, WCBS's Top 500 countdown. Their show, their way, screw the listeners, ignore the audience.

And you know, if Haggard got enough votes, to rank at #499, so be it, you play it. Fun, variety, surprises, is what makes countdown shows fun and worthy to listen to, not predictability.

 

[TheBigA]

Their show, their way, screw the listeners, ignore the audience.

Once again, no one is saying "ignore the listeners." You're making this up.

Just call it, WCBS's Top 500 countdown.

Funny, but that's EXACTLY what they call it.

They aren't calling it "listener voted." That is also something you made up.

https://wcbsfm.radio.com/blogs/joe-...020-memorial-day-weekend-top-500-countdown#//

All they're saying is send them three songs. That's it. Nothing more. The rest is in your imagination.

 

[oldies76]

Because that is a hook to promote additional listening.

In other words, just a trick, manipulation. Obvious.

 

[oldies76]

No, we won't see anything because there is nothing to compare with as the last time we had a pandemic there was no commercial radio at all.

Sars, 2003

 

[oldies76]

Once again, no one is saying "ignore the listeners." You're making this up.

When votes within the classic hits format are tossed, because those songs "don't fit" their needs, then you are ignoring and disregarding their votes and those listeners hopes to hear their favorites in a special. Not making anything up, it's common sense.

 

[TheBigA]

When votes within the classic hits format are tossed, because those songs "don't fit" their needs, then you are ignoring and disregarding their votes and those listeners hopes to hear their favorites in a special. Not making anything up, it's common sense.

How do you know ANY of those things are happening? Hello Chicken Little. The sky is falling because you felt it on your head.

 

[CTListener]

Sars, 2003

You're reaching. What was shut down during the SARS pandemic? How many Americans lost their jobs or were furloughed? What sort of restrictions were placed on travel and social interaction?

 

[oldies76]

All they're saying is send them three songs. That's it. Nothing more. The rest is in your imagination.

That implies listener voted, same thing.


"WE WANNA KNOW: What are your TOP THREE favorite songs?

Click below to send us your top 3 favorite songs, (because asking you for 500 would just be ridiculous) and listen all weekend as we count down to #1!"

Already submitted mine, but I know they won't be played because of the reasons I've discussed. And most what others send in won't be played, because those songs will not match the core playlist. So you can forget the Five Satins.