650 WSM's long term future

[Rusty Muck]

The question is whether I would ever go to Cleveland. I worked very hard to leave that city when I was 16 and really don't want to go back unless I really have to.

This is just out of curiosity: did the departures of people like Jack Riley and (Tom) Tim Conway factor in this at all? Cleveland was a substantial export of talent to larger markets, particularly in the early 1960s, and those two left around the same time.

As for the R&RHoF, I've lived here for my entire life of 42 years but only visited it 2–3 times, if that.

 

[zzzzzzzzzz]

...Ralph Emery...

Unfortunately, according to RUN-C&W: "Poor Ralph has lost his memory". And don't even ask Roger McGuinn & Chris Hillman.

 

[gr8oldies]

Unfortunately, according to RUN-C&W: "Poor Ralph has lost his memory". And don't even ask Roger McGuinn & Chris Hillman.

Ralph Emory passed in January 2022.

 

[K.M. Richards]

The Opry on WSM is the longest continuously running program in radio history.

Every time I hear that, I get this mental image of a program that started in November 1925 and hasn't left the air yet. 😝

863,200 hours of non-stop broadcasting, and counting.

 

[zzzzzzzzzz]

Ralph Emory passed in January 2022.

They probably recorded that prior to his passing. They are really well-mannered boys.

 

[davideduardo]

This is just out of curiosity: did the departures of people like Jack Riley and (Tom) Tim Conway factor in this at all? Cleveland was a substantial export of talent to larger markets, particularly in the early 1960s, and those two left around the same time.

even more in the 50s with people like Pete “mad daddy“ Myers and that guy who “named “ Rock and Roll, Alan Freíd and folks like Joe Finan came out of the market.

As for the R&RHoF, I've lived here for my entire life of 42 years but only visited it 2–3 times, if that.

I fled town in 1963 at age 15 but have been back for many torturous visits since then and have still not been to the Hall of Fame. I would love to hear from someone in the radio business and in programming who has been as to whether it is a fun experience. Many of the reports I have heard say there are way too many Autographed, guitars and bling.

 

[davideduardo]

Every time I hear that, I get this mental image of a program that started in November 1925 and hasn't left the air yet. 😝

863,200 hours of non-stop broadcasting, and counting.

I’ll bet you had to get out your calculator to come up with that number!

 

[K.M. Richards]

I’ll bet you had to get out your calculator to come up with that number!

You lose, mi amigo. Everything is available online.

Date Calculator: Find Your Date

Add or subtract any number of days to/from a start date.

www.timeanddate.com

 

[secondchoice]

I am sure someone knows for a fact but didn't the GOO miss the Saturday night after MLK was assassinated and didn't flooding cause them to miss a show last century.

 

[davideduardo]

I am sure someone knows for a fact but didn't the GOO miss the Saturday night after MLK was assassinated and didn't flooding cause them to miss a show last century.

Yes, at least in respect to the flood of the hotel, Opreyland and the WSM building off to the corner of the property.

 

[davideduardo]

You lose, mi amigo. Everything is available online.

Aw, heck. And I still do my taxes with a printing calculator that spits out a permanent record of everything.

I gave my accountant at WUNO one of the very first digital calculators in 1971 and he was a friend for life! I got one for myself, too, to do ratings calculations and the two, with those early layered displays, were about $225 each!

 

[TheBigA]

I am sure someone knows for a fact but didn't the GOO miss the Saturday night after MLK was assassinated and didn't flooding cause them to miss a show last century.

Here's what the Opry says about those two things:

5 Times Opry History Intersected with U.S. History | Opry

Now in its 94th year, the Grand Ole Opry isn’t just a witness to United States history — it’s a part of it.

www.opry.com

According to the link, they used other venues during the flood, but they did miss the Saturday after the assassination due to a downtown curfew.

 

[davideduardo]

Here's what the Opry says about those two things:

5 Times Opry History Intersected with U.S. History | Opry

Now in its 94th year, the Grand Ole Opry isn’t just a witness to United States history — it’s a part of it.

www.opry.com

According to the link, they used other venues during the flood, but they did miss the Saturday after the assassination due to a downtown curfew.

I believe the flood made them do a direct from the Ryman in downtown to the transmitter, and an abbreviated show at that. I heard that they did not even have access to the copy for the sponsors. Heck, I could have dictated the Martha White's Self Rising Flour copy to them from memory!

 

[sjs1959]

I really would love to see how WSM-AM would do with a FM translator that could at least cover the city and suburbs. I know Gaylord has not really promoted it as anything other than the Station of the Opry but they have the talent to do well, I think.

 

[KilowattKat]

I really would love to see how WSM-AM would do with a FM translator that could at least cover the city and suburbs. I know Gaylord has not really promoted it as anything other than the Station of the Opry but they have the talent to do well, I think.

I did some listening to WSM over the weekend, and what really stood out is that there is no longer any mention at all of the AM 650 frequency.. It's now 'WSM RADIO'. I'm sure this is just part of the larger trend of branding without the broadcast frequency as part of the name Now I'm wondering if the signage in the backdrop of the Opry stage will replace 650 with RADIO.

 

[Tibbs4]

Fair question, KilowattKat. Like call letters, some things are evolving. Hippie Radio 94.5 is more and more Hippie Radio and "on Hippie." People know where to find the station, once they are there. It's getting them there, that is the issue, so WSM RADIO online may resonate more in the future than just a single signal on some band few people can even find. People can listen to WSM Radio Online and buy national products and get still get the feeling of a Nashville tradition. OR - they could botch it like Shoney's, Red Lobster and soon - Cracker Barrellllll.

 

[Greg Goodfellow]

even more in the 50s with people like Pete “mad daddy“ Myers and that guy who “named “ Rock and Roll, Alan Freíd and folks like Joe Finan came out of the market.

I fled town in 1963 at age 15 but have been back for many torturous visits since then and have still not been to the Hall of Fame. I would love to hear from someone in the radio business and in programming who has been as to whether it is a fun experience. Many of the reports I have heard say there are way too many Autographed, guitars and bling.

Thanks to my future son-in-law, I’ve been to the HOF twice, and really enjoyed the experience. I just don’t understand their selection criteria.

 

[Loverofradio]

Theyre only doing this so they can look good for their 100th anniversary. Buying books, adding/changing talent. The opry would shoot itself in the foot, flipping WSM. They just need to drop the “AM” and build an audio network with podcasts with country artists. They probably shouldn’t have gotten rid of that sports show they once had. Classic country/sports works

 

[secondchoice]

I am not sure about their branding rights. Does WSM FM have first claim on just the WSM call letters for Radio? I don't know what kind of deal Gaylord had when they sold the FM. A decent FM translator could make them a viable classic country station. I personally would go mid 1970's to 2000.

 

[Kelly A]

I am not sure about their branding rights. Does WSM FM have first claim on just the WSM call letters for Radio? I don't know what kind of deal Gaylord had when they sold the FM. A decent FM translator could make them a viable classic country station. I personally would go mid 1970's to 2000.

I say who cares about frigging 6+ ratings?? Life isn't some scoreboard. WSM is an American institution that deserves to be registered as a national historical site. National Treasures don't give a Minnie Pearl hoot about stupid ratings:

About 650 AM WSM

650 AM WSM is the most famed country music station in the world. Each day, the station shares country, bluegrass, and Americana as well as the excitement of Music City with friends in Middle Tennessee and listeners around the world.

wsmradio.com