• Get involved.
    We want your input!
    Apply for Membership and join the conversations about everything related to broadcasting.

    After we receive your registration, a moderator will review it. After your registration is approved, you will be permitted to post.
    If you use a disposable or false email address, your registration will be rejected.

    After your membership is approved, please take a minute to tell us a little bit about yourself.
    https://www.radiodiscussions.com/forums/introduce-yourself.1088/

    Thanks in advance and have fun!
    RadioDiscussions Administrators

Big 98.1

CTListener said:
You think the '90s are hard to fit into a classic hits format? Wait till you try to do it with '10s music!
Click to expand...

That’s interesting. I feel it will be opposite. A lot more music crossed format lines in the 2010s. Mainstream formats like CHR, Hot AC, and even AC shared more new music than ever in the past decade and a half. In the ‘90s and even early 2000s, you had a lot more “AC-only” songs (just as one example). That’s a rarity these days.

Format designations aside, I think the ‘90s are the anomaly decade-wise, but I guess time will tell!
 
If 80s music still has mass appeal among an easily monetizable audience, then 80s music should remain the backbone of classic hits and classic rock. The proper formula should be based on individual market dynamics.

There are plenty of stations that don't call themselves "classic ____," in some cases where the same cluster happens to have a classic hits station, where 90s music represents a sizable percentage of song slots. So, that adds an extra layer of complexity in some cases.

Audacy seems to think Big needs more 90s, but they don't want to step on B101's toes, so one way to accomplish that is to play rhythmic crossover songs that don't "fit" B101.

Of course, another way to conceivably accomplish that would be to play 90s rock songs that don't fit B101.
 
MarkW said:
Of course, another way to conceivably accomplish that would be to play 90s rock songs that don't fit B101.
Click to expand...

Those are already being played at WMMR. There's also a lot of 90s alt rock at 104.5. But once again, I refer you to the Sean Ross article I posted. This isn't unique to Philadelphia.

As we leave the 80s, the music becomes less format specific. The listeners are less driven by format and more by specific songs, regardless of genre. So programming music becomes more about choosing a target listener, based on all the demographic factors, and playing the songs that the targeted listener has in their personal playlist.
 
For what it’s worth, different market, but the Audacy classic hits station in Phoenix that shares the same name and (shared?) imaging, (Big 94.5/KOOL) is running a well varied all-80s weekend.
 
While they may share the same general “format”, I believe they tailor the sound of each station to suit the market. Didn’t the Oldies 98 of yore tend to spin more doo-wop than other oldies stations? Or am I making that up in my head?
 
We shall see come Tuesday. If the station still sounds this way, then they have shifted from Classic Hits to Rhythmic Gold. And if they sound this way or a very heavy rhythmic element remains, time for Ben FM to clean things up and move into the Classic Hits lane. The format all around the country scores huge numbers and Philly should be no different. And a huge 80s contingent should pull some folks from B 101 too.
 
Seltzer said:
The format all around the country scores huge numbers and Philly should be no different. And a huge 80s contingent should pull some folks from B 101 too.
Click to expand...

The part you guys seem to miss is this station has been missing its core demo for a while. That was why they rebranded, and it settled shortly after that. But this station appears to be attracting an older audience than other Audacy classic hits stations. They need to address that. Perhaps that's what this is about.
 
lanceventa said:
Why not? Classic Hits stations are targeted to listeners 35-64. A 35 year old graduated high school in 2007.
Click to expand...
Apologies for the late response, but wouldn't the Classic Hits target be more like 35-54 rather than 35-64 due to advertisers not wanting to reach anyone 55+?

CTListener said:
Right, and nobody likes to listen to Lady Gaga AND Beyonce, or Ace of Base AND Bobby Brown. Horsefeathers. We're a long way from the de facto segregation of the early MTV years. The popular music of the past 25 years would be unrecognizable without the presence and wide appeal of black artists and rhythmic genres. I don't see anything wrong with what 98.1 is playing, even if they're not programming for 70-year-olds like me. The playlist looks like it would hit a sweet spot with 20-somethings to 40-somethings with no problem at all, especially among white listeners.
Click to expand...
I agree that what WOGL is playing this weekend would certainly be a good base for a Classic Hits station targeted towards 25-44 year olds, even if they'd also have to add some pop and rock songs along with probably a few titles from the early 2010s. I'd listen to it even though I personally prefer '80s music despite being at the very lower end of the 25-44 demo (25 to be exact). However, the Classic Hits format is usually targeted to 35+, which is why the sudden shift in playlist (even if just for the weekend) has raised some eyebrows. It will be interesting to see what direction WOGL goes in tomorrow.
 
Does WOGL run any syndicated weekend shows, and if so, did they still air this weekend? That could be a clue on any possible tweaks come tomorrow.
 
jt99 said:
Apologies for the late response, but wouldn't the Classic Hits target be more like 35-54 rather than 35-64 due to advertisers not wanting to reach anyone 55+?
Click to expand...
Not all advertisers "target" 25-54. In particular, local direct and even many local agencies seek consumers up to and even beyond the "standard" retirement age.

The 25-54 criteria mostly comes from brand advertising (shampoos to motor oils) where the biggest consumers are in the family ages where more consumer goods are sold. But the local insurance agent or car dealer is a lot less focused on ages.
 
TheBigA said:
Once again. This station isn’t top 5 in any demo. Even 6+. That’s not good. This isn’t a recent problem.
Click to expand...
Just a reminder that the highest biller in NYC for several decades was always at or around 15th in 12+.
 
DavidEduardo said:
Just a reminder that the highest biller in NYC for several decades was always at or around 15th in 12+.
Click to expand...

This station isn't in that format. I would guess that WOGL is one of Audacy's lowest billers in Philadelphia.

Below WIP, KYW, and WBEB. Maybe even below WPHT. That would be bad.

Once again just guessing, this may be Audacy's lowest billing classic hits station in a Top 10 market.
 
I figured this wasn't indicative of a full-on format change, but may have been a way to get the younger end of their desired demographic to check out the station and shed some lingering perceptions of them as their father's oldies station. Some of these "throwbacks" had already been making their way to the regular playlist after all.
 
It’s interesting because it sounds like a completely different radio station now that it’s back to its regular mix. I get wanting to showcase the updated playlist, but couldn’t that be done with stagers or imaging calling out the new music mix? Will people be willing to sit through “Manic Monday” or “My Own Worst Enemy” to hear these added throwback songs in regular format? I guess we’ll see in the ratings!
 
Very unfocused now. And way too many post 2000 songs for "Classic Hits". It'll be interesting to see how this plays out. Definitely not meeting P1 listener expectations.
 


Back
Top Bottom