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KYW Celebrates 60th Year

So, it's been 20 years from probably one of the most embarrassing things I've ever witnessed: The KYW Newsradio 40th Anniversary "Love Song." Oy.

 
So, it's been 20 years from probably one of the most embarrassing things I've ever witnessed: The KYW Newsradio 40th Anniversary "Love Song." Oy.

Interrogators could play this song and people would be blabbing secrets in no time!
 
Bring back the teletype for at least a week!!! :):D
I always liked the teletype effect. I thought it gave the station a very distinctive sound and it was almost a comforting sound. That having been said, in the times I've heard KYW lately, there is almost nothing distinctive about it! Radio stations have always had to change, and they always will have to change but, geesh, the KYW of my youth is pretty much completely gone. Even the TOH jingle sounds cheap and rushed. These, of course, are just my opinions about "then vs. now."
 
Even the TOH jingle sounds cheap and rushed.
Just to push back a bit on this — although I understand it’s your opinion — we spent months in 2019 with composers and musicians to come up with our new sonic branding, and a lot of thought went into it.

Our in-house focus group considered what KYW sounds like — what Philly sounds like — and how we wanted that reflected in our new imaging package.

A little behind-the-scenes of what emerged from some of our sessions, if you’re interested:

In Philly, you’re driven to prove your greatness, even if it's just to yourself — and so are we. Gritty, determined. Able to stay focused & ignore the haters.

We’re direct, straight-shooting, giving you the information you need to know when you need to know it.

We’re always connected to the heartbeat of the city with a strong personal connection to what's happening on any given day.

"Brotherly love" is embodied in how people here relate to each other & consider themselves Philly for life. You know you'll be there for each other.

Sounds Like:
Grounded
Gritty
Pride
Understated swagger
Momentum
Personable
Approachable
A bit of nostalgia
 
Just to push back a bit on this — although I understand it’s your opinion — we spent months in 2019 with composers and musicians to come up with our new sonic branding, and a lot of thought went into it.
I think the one way the current jingle sounds cheap is having the voiceover speaking “103.9” over the part of the jingle that formerly sang “1060.” Rather than have the jingle recut with “103.9” sung it sounds like an inexpensive quickly splice or voiceover.
 
I always liked the teletype effect. I thought it gave the station a very distinctive sound and it was almost a comforting sound. That having been said, in the times I've heard KYW lately, there is almost nothing distinctive about it! Radio stations have always had to change, and they always will have to change but, geesh, the KYW of my youth is pretty much completely gone. Even the TOH jingle sounds cheap and rushed. These, of course, are just my opinions about "then vs. now."
I agree. Even a casual listener would know "That's KYW All-News" the minute they heard the teletype machine in the background. Same for WINS New York.

KYW and WINS are the two former Group W All-News stations that were the last to give up the teletype sound effects. I know some folks say the teletype machine made the station sound old. But I don't understand that. The SFX were so low as to be nearly unnoticed. Yet they filled up the gaps when the next event is slow to air or the anchor needs to cough or sneeze. And the SFX make it sound like the anchor is not just in a booth by himself reading news copy. It sounds like he's got a whole team behind him.
 
I still listen on 1060. It just doesn’t sound like an all news station should sound on 103.9 in my opinion. I find it too reminiscent of NPR. Plus out here in the western suburbs there is constant background noise and static on the weaker FM signal while the AM signal is crystal clear.
 
Even when young, way young, my kids wondered what that silly background noise was, and were no fans. Time marches on. The ancient sound effect had a good run, but it was time to move ahead.
 
Rather than have the jingle recut with “103.9” sung it sounds like an inexpensive quickly splice or voiceover.
I wasn’t privy to this decision. But those who were heard the frequency both sung and spoken and thought this version retained the original “10-60” while having the benefit of not shoehorning another syllable into it.
 
Best top-of-the-hour jingle (IMO) was the early 80s "You never needed us more". Thought CBS should have brought it back after 9/11. Even though some might think it's cheesy marketing, those words (and the familiarity of the format back then) were pretty comforting. A lot of people bought into it obviously, as no one could touch them in the ratings.
 
Just to push back a bit on this — although I understand it’s your opinion — we spent months in 2019 with composers and musicians to come up with our new sonic branding, and a lot of thought went into it.

Our in-house focus group considered what KYW sounds like — what Philly sounds like — and how we wanted that reflected in our new imaging package.

A little behind-the-scenes of what emerged from some of our sessions, if you’re interested:

In Philly, you’re driven to prove your greatness, even if it's just to yourself — and so are we. Gritty, determined. Able to stay focused & ignore the haters.

We’re direct, straight-shooting, giving you the information you need to know when you need to know it.

We’re always connected to the heartbeat of the city with a strong personal connection to what's happening on any given day.

"Brotherly love" is embodied in how people here relate to each other & consider themselves Philly for life. You know you'll be there for each other.

Sounds Like:
Grounded
Gritty
Pride
Understated swagger
Momentum
Personable
Approachable
A bit of nostalgia
I love seeing all of this behind-the-scenes stuff. Thanks for sharing!
 
I agree. Even a casual listener would know "That's KYW All-News" the minute they heard the teletype machine in the background. Same for WINS New York.

KYW and WINS are the two former Group W All-News stations that were the last to give up the teletype sound effects. I know some folks say the teletype machine made the station sound old. But I don't understand that. The SFX were so low as to be nearly unnoticed. Yet they filled up the gaps when the next event is slow to air or the anchor needs to cough or sneeze. And the SFX make it sound like the anchor is not just in a booth by himself reading news copy. It sounds like he's got a whole team behind him.
Question: If the anchor cut the mic to cough or sneeze, wouldn't the teletype have stopped? I thought it only played when the mic was open. Or was I wrong about that all those years?
 
Best top-of-the-hour jingle (IMO) was the early 80s "You never needed us more". Thought CBS should have brought it back after 9/11. Even though some might think it's cheesy marketing, those words (and the familiarity of the format back then) were pretty comforting. A lot of people bought into it obviously, as no one could touch them in the ratings.
That saxophone is luscious.
 
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