I have always openly classified half of the song library of "Yesterday's Top Secrets" as being Oldies, although as I indicate during each episode's introduction, they are "Oldies that aren't old, because they haven't been played to death on all of the other stations." My Oldies are almost as new and fresh as the day they were born, and so I see nothing wrong with using that word and instead find it to be rather deliciously ironic! However, if 93.3 goes that route, the word "Oldies" won't help them nearly as much, because all that it will conjure up in the minds of the listeners is the very old and very stale type of programming that radio has previously forced us to endure for many, many years.Nu_Roo_2 said:
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93.3 gone?
- Thread starter 1sttimecaller
- Start date
Nathan Obral said:The handle "Oldies 93.3" throws up a red flag right off the bat. Since 2003, there has been an industry-wide de-emphasis of "Oldies" from the format, and the format was re-dubbed "classic hits" when it evolved to 60s/70s music. Clear Channel led the way, along with CBS and other broadcast groups large and small.
So WHY would a Clear Channel station - in 2011 - start using the obsolete "Oldies" name as their new positioner? It doesn't make sense.
Oh, wait... we're talking about Clear Channel Columbus... :
As others have mentioned, the "oldies" name seems to be coming back. Of course, it's no longer the 50's/60's oldies the baby boomers enjoy. Maybe de-emphasizing the "oldies" brand for awhile has given it enough separation from the boomer oldies that the younger crowd is willing to accept it. I'm not entirely convinced, but such a phenomenon's not entirely unheard of. There were plenty of hits, like the #1 from 1974 "Billy Don't Be A Hero," that you'll practically never hear on oldies or classic hits stations today while many of Fleetwood Mac's more popular songs today were stiffs in the mid-70's as currents but tested very well with their target audience several years later and continue to do so today.
Kent said:Nathan Obral said:The handle "Oldies 93.3" throws up a red flag right off the bat. Since 2003, there has been an industry-wide de-emphasis of "Oldies" from the format, and the format was re-dubbed "classic hits" when it evolved to 60s/70s music. Clear Channel led the way, along with CBS and other broadcast groups large and small.
So WHY would a Clear Channel station - in 2011 - start using the obsolete "Oldies" name as their new positioner? It doesn't make sense.
Oh, wait... we're talking about Clear Channel Columbus... :
As others have mentioned, the "oldies" name seems to be coming back. Of course, it's no longer the 50's/60's oldies the baby boomers enjoy. Maybe de-emphasizing the "oldies" brand for awhile has given it enough separation from the boomer oldies that the younger crowd is willing to accept it. I'm not entirely convinced, but such a phenomenon's not entirely unheard of. There were plenty of hits, like the #1 from 1974 "Billy Don't Be A Hero," that you'll practically never hear on oldies or classic hits stations today while many of Fleetwood Mac's more popular songs today were stiffs in the mid-70's as currents but tested very well with their target audience several years later and continue to do so today.
Interesting observations, though I don't think you can lump all Boomers together, given that they range in age from 45 to 65. That cuts a pretty wide swath. A center-of-the-cohort Boomer who is 55 now (born in 1956) was just a tyke during the Elvis era, and probably doesn't care much for any pre-Beatles music. But Fleetwood Mac or 70's hit-rock and even disco could hold plenty of appeal, as could lots of later music (even if it's not at the absolute "core" for them as it would be for still-younger Boomers).
Also, oldies probably have significant appeal to some post-Boomers, especially given their extensive, continuing exposure in movies, TV commercials and TV talent series, as well as remakes of these songs by later artists.
Nathan Obral said:The handle "Oldies 93.3" throws up a red flag right off the bat. Since 2003, there has been an industry-wide de-emphasis of "Oldies" from the format, and the format was re-dubbed "classic hits" when it evolved to 60s/70s music. Clear Channel led the way, along with CBS and other broadcast groups large and small.
So WHY would a Clear Channel station - in 2011 - start using the obsolete "Oldies" name as their new positioner? It doesn't make sense.
Oh, wait... we're talking about Clear Channel Columbus... :
Well said.
It's worth noting that the aforementioned high-rated stations in Milwaukee and Seattle had already established their music images under different monikers before they were re-branded "Oldies." That may have allowed them to re-define what "Oldies" means in those markets, i.e., "it's not just stale 50's/60's anymore." If 93.3 goes straight to the "Oldies" moniker maybe they'll forfeit some potential trial by skipping this stepwise re-definition process. Maybe advertising can help provide a shortcut to the re-definition. Just speculating here.
That's right, it's not just stale 50's/60's anymore -- now we're gonna mix in some stale 70's/80's, too!
I went out to a 1960's dance party at Ace of Cups last Saturday night that was billed as Heatwave: Columbus, the place was absolutely packed with kids (well, I don't want to get anyone in trouble -- let's call them young adults), and they weren't dancing to overplayed hits because none were heard. My favorite selection during the couple hours I was there was "Is This The Dream?" by the Zombies, and a lot of the rest of it was so obscure that even I can't tell you what it was! Didn't see any other Columbus radio people there; so much for research, I guess. Apparently the stations have given up completely on ever being able to reach this particular demo, and who can blame them? They've shot themselves in the foot so many times that the broadcast companies are standing on their hips right now, even though hip is ironically something that they'll never be.
I went out to a 1960's dance party at Ace of Cups last Saturday night that was billed as Heatwave: Columbus, the place was absolutely packed with kids (well, I don't want to get anyone in trouble -- let's call them young adults), and they weren't dancing to overplayed hits because none were heard. My favorite selection during the couple hours I was there was "Is This The Dream?" by the Zombies, and a lot of the rest of it was so obscure that even I can't tell you what it was! Didn't see any other Columbus radio people there; so much for research, I guess. Apparently the stations have given up completely on ever being able to reach this particular demo, and who can blame them? They've shot themselves in the foot so many times that the broadcast companies are standing on their hips right now, even though hip is ironically something that they'll never be.
M
Mr. Glimps
Guest
If they really morph into another music format, what do they do with their on-air staff?
Let's face it, its been pretty lame for quite a while.
They have an NCI hyper castaway in AM drive
Mid-day is voicetracked
PM drive is a WTVN ex-talk show host forced to work for 93.3 because of contract. But is really a lousy music jock.
Nights are VT'd by another hyper chick more comfortable doing country.
I wouldn't let any of them touch my new station...so...its more reasonable to assume that CC is doing the CC thing and going syndicated...great...another crappy syndicated format.
Let's face it, its been pretty lame for quite a while.
They have an NCI hyper castaway in AM drive
Mid-day is voicetracked
PM drive is a WTVN ex-talk show host forced to work for 93.3 because of contract. But is really a lousy music jock.
Nights are VT'd by another hyper chick more comfortable doing country.
I wouldn't let any of them touch my new station...so...its more reasonable to assume that CC is doing the CC thing and going syndicated...great...another crappy syndicated format.
If you hear the same programming as Big 106.5 in Greenville/Dayton or WCHO 1250, it's Premium Choice
Well 105.7 HD2 is PC classic hits of the 60's, 70's & 80's. Let's hope it's not that. And as far as the Top 500 they are playing most of these songs are pretty much the same old tired songs that have been played to death. It's too early to go all Christmas, I don't see it as oldies. My bet is it stays soft rock, remember it's CC Columbus. Would be cool if the went to something like The Lake in Cleveland and named it 93X.
pbf1 said:
Maybe that's part of why SF isn't doing as well as Milwaukee or Seattle? OTOH, maybe that has nothing to do with it. Don't know. As I mentioned in the post you're quoting from, I was just doing a little speculating. Maybe going straight to the "Oldies" moniker isn't a handicap after all, especially if everything is done right.
talkers said:
Were you predicting or stating? The All Access article makes me think...
CLEAR CHANNEL AC WLZT (SOFT ROCK 93.3)/COLUMBUS, OH has gone into format stunting mode , as it started a top-500 countdown. Expect a new ... um, shall we say, different format on TUESDAY, SEPT. 6th.
Now they could be saying the " new ... um, shall we say, different format" comment in referencing OLDIES isn't exactly new or is CC trying something new in Columbus we aren't expecting?
I'm thinking oldies, but I really hope not. Especially with talkers making the comment about 6a... sounds like he's in the building. We will find out!
lovejamminoldies said:
AA is asserting that this is going to be one of those deals where a station rotates between (i.e., stunts with) various formats for awhile before finally settling into the actual new format, or going back to a possibly-tweaked version of the old one. But if that's what was going on why would they present the first phase merely as a Labor Day weekend event rather than a "new format"?
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