... and why haven't i? I mean, nevermind
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650 WSM's long term future
- Thread starter Murfradiojim
- Start date
Listening to a special Bill Cody 100 year show on WSM,. An Opry fun fact: Jeannie Seely by far holds the record for number of Opry appearances at 5,397! Tonight will be the official Birthday party at the Opry, so HAPPY 100TH BIRTHDAY to WSM!!!
A 2 hour show on now, hosted by the WSM GM, is bringing on a number of station alumni to reminisce, way too many to try and list
P.S. WSM isn't going anywhere, I heard twice now, 'The next century of WSM begins now'...
A 2 hour show on now, hosted by the WSM GM, is bringing on a number of station alumni to reminisce, way too many to try and list
P.S. WSM isn't going anywhere, I heard twice now, 'The next century of WSM begins now'...
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WSM is not quite the treasure... the Opry is. All depends on how much the Opry organization values having an actual station to broadcast their show.
Actually, it did "go away" from country music, at least for a few years. There are surveys over at the ARSA survey site that show that between (at least) 1973 and 1977, WSM's primary format during daylight hours was AC/MOR. If I remember correctly, the station continued to carry the Opreyland shows during this period and country overnight.
WSM didn't become 24/7 country until 1980. Before that, it was MOR by day, and country at night. The station has carried nightly Opry broadcasts since 1925. It is the longest running radio program.
At 100, the ‘Grand Ole Opry’ Is America’s Longest-Running Radio Broadcast and a Country Music Sensation | Strings Magazine
To say that the Opry is steeped in tradition is an understatement.
stringsmagazine.com
Agreed, but since it is not a great expense to the the Opry, which owns the station, to keep it in operation and it does maintain continuity with the medium by which the Opry became a national treasure, I don't see WSM ceasing operations anytime soon.
And before the MOR format, they ran the NBC radio network programming schedule. BY the 1950’s they had country/bluegrassWSM didn't become 24/7 country until 1980. Before that, it was MOR by day, and country at night. The station has carried nightly Opry broadcasts since 1925. It is the longest running radio program.
At 100, the ‘Grand Ole Opry’ Is America’s Longest-Running Radio Broadcast and a Country Music Sensation | Strings Magazine
To say that the Opry is steeped in tradition is an understatement.
early mornings with Martha White Time Flatt & Scruggs live at 5:30 am then Ralph Emery Opry Star Spotlight overnights, MOR days. The Waking Crew morning show had a live orchestra in the studio.
That show was still on in 1978. I use to listen it on my way to TTU.
When we (meaning Cumulus) bought WSM-FM from Gaylord in the early 2000's, it was stipulated and agreed upon by Lew that the FM programming would not interfere with the AM programming. In other words, we couldn't go Classic Country with the FM. I also had to develop a presentation for Gaylord at the closing that showed exactly what we would do and also take on additional programming to support the Opry. Gaylord didn't sell the AM to us because they wanted to use the station for Opry and hotel promotion. We did do a JSA with them, so we were still involved with the AM to a degree. Of course, this was in the early part of the century when AM's still had some relevance.
That may have been what they agreed, but after a while, WSM-FM went Nash Icon, playing classic country hits, and WSM-AM went more of an Americana direction, playing a different side of country. The JSA also expired a while ago.
True on both counts. I was still working with Cumulus in those days. When we first took over WSM-FM, the studios were in a hotel room behind the AM studios in the Gaylord hotel before we moved them to Music Row.
Yes. A .7 share for Nashville’s most powerful night time station is horrible. Some of their problem might be programming. At night Jeff Hoag used to have 5 hours Monday evening called “ The B Sides.” He might have well called it unpopular or forgotten country music. Then Tuesday nights after the opera was about 2 hours of bluegrass music. I like to hear a song by Flat and Scruggs or Bill Monroe, but 2 hours of bluegrass is boring. I’m sure some will disagree, but I don’t think that approach has commercial appeal. I personally liked Jeff as a dj and communicator who knows a lot about country music. But the format was unlistenable. I think Jeff with a better format might have succeeded. I’m enjoying David Reed, the new evening host, who provides good music themes and doesn’t play much obscure country music.
Radio listening after 7PM is a fraction of what it is during the day, regardless of the programming. You might listen to the morning show, hosted by Hall of Fame DJ Bill Cody. If a station has any chance of building an audience, it begins with mornings.
As we've said throughout this thread, this isn't a conventional radio station built around Nielson 6+ ratings. They sell package sponsorships that involve the Opry, WSM, and the internet. I'm told more people listen online than on air.
Yup. Agreed, BigA.
And Country is one of the most popular radio formats in the country. I'm not in Nashville. Why would I tune 650 in via skywave for the same country stuff I could just get on a local station, probably FM? I actually enjoy the varied programming WSM has on late in the evenings.
Thats why a guy who was my GM in Alaska, whod been PD of WSM 20 years ago.. proposed a format change and implemented or proposed implementing paid streaming on WSM.. and listeners had a fit
There's a new evening show on WSM:
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Very cool, BigA! The "live listener call-ins" should be interesting, and suggests that this show will be a real program and not just voice tracked. I wonder what is meant by "timeless country music," and just how far back it'll go.There's a new evening show on WSM:
WSM RADIO ANNOUNCES NEW WEEKLY SHOW
“HEART OF THE NIGHT WITH NAN KELLEY”
New Monday night program to feature timeless country music, live listener call-ins and intimate conversation
Hosted by television personality Nan Kelley and co-hosted by her husband, Grammy-nominated songwriter and musician Charlie Kelley, the show brings a more personal, listener-driven format to WSM’s evening lineup. A familiar face to country music fans from her longtime work on the Great American Country network (GAC) as host of “The Top 20 Country Countdown” and “Opry Live,” Kelley brings her signature warmth and relatability to one of radio’s most iconic platforms.
Just in time for summer, though... this'll be hard to pull in because the sunset just keeps on getting later. I likely won't get to listen to it much 'till the reversal when the days get shorter in fall.
Of course I could just stream it, but I don't really stream radio stations for the most part.
A great programming choice!There's a new evening show on WSM:
WSM RADIO ANNOUNCES NEW WEEKLY SHOW
“HEART OF THE NIGHT WITH NAN KELLEY”
New Monday night program to feature timeless country music, live listener call-ins and intimate conversation
Hosted by television personality Nan Kelley and co-hosted by her husband, Grammy-nominated songwriter and musician Charlie Kelley, the show brings a more personal, listener-driven format to WSM’s evening lineup. A familiar face to country music fans from her longtime work on the Great American Country network (GAC) as host of “The Top 20 Country Countdown” and “Opry Live,” Kelley brings her signature warmth and relatability to one of radio’s most iconic platforms.
I agree. No more Monday evening 5 hours of B sides AKA Unpopular Music. David Reid tells good stories of growing up in Nashville and his experiences as a country fan.