I hesitated to start a brand new thread since my hunch is that this won’t generate much, if any, discussion. But it didn’t really fit under either “103.9: New Format Speculation” or the post-change “103.9’s next format.”
Anyway, whaddaya know -- 103.9 Classic Hit’s music mix is exactly the kind of approach I was expecting from Nabco -- 23 years ago. When 99.7 changed formats in September, 1986 and I found out the new format was to be called WMGG Classic Hits I was pleased, expecting to hear something similar to what I had heard on other US stations that were using that moniker. Instead, it turned out to actually be a traditional 50’s and 60’s Oldies format. Then in 1987 WMGG evolved to a hard-ish Classic Rock format, and started calling it Classic Rock.
Then when Nabco acquired 103.9 in 1999, that frequency debuted a format they also called Classic Hits. But this time Nabco’s “Classic Hits” was actually pretty run-of-the-mill Classic Rock, minus the harder stuff and album cuts.
Now, as 2009 draws to a close, Nabco is FINALLY doing the kind of Classic Hits I originally expected -- only took 23 years! It’s a somewhat mellower Classic Rock derivative (but not *too* soft) that also plays some album cuts and a reasonable amount of late-60’s/early 70’s rock-compatible oldies (e.g., “Wild Thing” by the Troggs, “I Feel The Earth Move” by Carole King, or the timeless “Boxer” by Simon & Grafunkel) and songs that are either a little too poppy for CR now (“Tusk,” "War," “Feelin Stronger Every Day,”) or older and no-longer-favored CR album cuts/minor hits ( “Tied to the Whipping Post,” “Tupelo Honey,” "Rainy Day Women").
So, it took 23 years, but now Nabco is finally doing what I expected (and was hoping to hear) back then. But now, instead of 8-21 years old, the music has become 23-44 years old. (Note that the lower end of the range grew by less than 23 years because they do play 80’s music.) It’s not on a big signal anymore, and it’s not live and local, but, hey, I guess I was just too impatient? I still like this approach and feel it's (still!) different than anything ever done in an earnest way in Columbus, but whether it still has the same potential today remains to be seen -- even after adjusting the criteria for ratings performance WAY down due to the rimshot signal’s marginal viability. In fact, to be honest this can’t really be equated to having the same format on 99.7 -- either 23 years ago or today -- but I find it curious and kind of nice in a consolation-prize kind of way.
Of course, in the last ten years the term “Classic Hits” has been confused by slapping the same term on “modernized” oldies, and sometimes on Adult Hits, and sometimes even on anything that plays soley non-current hit-pop or hit-rock of any era through the 00’s.
I am still kind of perplexed that the new WTDA’s Dial Global Classic Hits sounded like a significantly different approach much of the first day, and wonder if anything can be read into that. Also, they really need to dump that obnoxious sweeper that says, “We don’t mean to scare you, <whispering> but if you don’t listen to us you’ll go deaf.” Almost reminds me of the ad campaign that brought down Schlitz beer ("Buy Schlitz or I'll kill you").
Anyway, whaddaya know -- 103.9 Classic Hit’s music mix is exactly the kind of approach I was expecting from Nabco -- 23 years ago. When 99.7 changed formats in September, 1986 and I found out the new format was to be called WMGG Classic Hits I was pleased, expecting to hear something similar to what I had heard on other US stations that were using that moniker. Instead, it turned out to actually be a traditional 50’s and 60’s Oldies format. Then in 1987 WMGG evolved to a hard-ish Classic Rock format, and started calling it Classic Rock.
Then when Nabco acquired 103.9 in 1999, that frequency debuted a format they also called Classic Hits. But this time Nabco’s “Classic Hits” was actually pretty run-of-the-mill Classic Rock, minus the harder stuff and album cuts.
Now, as 2009 draws to a close, Nabco is FINALLY doing the kind of Classic Hits I originally expected -- only took 23 years! It’s a somewhat mellower Classic Rock derivative (but not *too* soft) that also plays some album cuts and a reasonable amount of late-60’s/early 70’s rock-compatible oldies (e.g., “Wild Thing” by the Troggs, “I Feel The Earth Move” by Carole King, or the timeless “Boxer” by Simon & Grafunkel) and songs that are either a little too poppy for CR now (“Tusk,” "War," “Feelin Stronger Every Day,”) or older and no-longer-favored CR album cuts/minor hits ( “Tied to the Whipping Post,” “Tupelo Honey,” "Rainy Day Women").
So, it took 23 years, but now Nabco is finally doing what I expected (and was hoping to hear) back then. But now, instead of 8-21 years old, the music has become 23-44 years old. (Note that the lower end of the range grew by less than 23 years because they do play 80’s music.) It’s not on a big signal anymore, and it’s not live and local, but, hey, I guess I was just too impatient? I still like this approach and feel it's (still!) different than anything ever done in an earnest way in Columbus, but whether it still has the same potential today remains to be seen -- even after adjusting the criteria for ratings performance WAY down due to the rimshot signal’s marginal viability. In fact, to be honest this can’t really be equated to having the same format on 99.7 -- either 23 years ago or today -- but I find it curious and kind of nice in a consolation-prize kind of way.
Of course, in the last ten years the term “Classic Hits” has been confused by slapping the same term on “modernized” oldies, and sometimes on Adult Hits, and sometimes even on anything that plays soley non-current hit-pop or hit-rock of any era through the 00’s.
I am still kind of perplexed that the new WTDA’s Dial Global Classic Hits sounded like a significantly different approach much of the first day, and wonder if anything can be read into that. Also, they really need to dump that obnoxious sweeper that says, “We don’t mean to scare you, <whispering> but if you don’t listen to us you’ll go deaf.” Almost reminds me of the ad campaign that brought down Schlitz beer ("Buy Schlitz or I'll kill you").
