A question about the audience

[unitron]

Are there really people out there in the radio audience who, upon hearing the announcer say "We've got some Van Morrison for you right after this", breathe a sigh of relief, secure in the knowledge that they are going to hear "Brown-eyed Girl" and are in no danger of being exposed to "Domino", "Moondance", or "Jackie Wilson Said"?

 

[michael hagerty]

Are there really people out there in the radio audience who, upon hearing the announcer say "We've got some Van Morrison for you right after this", breathe a sigh of relief, secure in the knowledge that they are going to hear "Brown-eyed Girl" and are in no danger of being exposed to "Domino", "Moondance", or "Jackie Wilson Said"?

Are there really announcers who still talk like that?

 

[stevensonair]

I've heard quite a few in my travels over the past few years. Also ones that "take a look at" things. Which makes me want to remind them they're not on television, and the listener can't actually see whatever they're referring to.

 

[ricoontheradio]

Are there really people out there in the radio audience who, upon hearing the announcer say "We've got some Van Morrison for you right after this", breathe a sigh of relief, secure in the knowledge that they are going to hear "Brown-eyed Girl" and are in no danger of being exposed to "Domino", "Moondance", or "Jackie Wilson Said"?

That's a pretty effective-less way to tease, so no, I don't think listeners sit waiting in anticipation.

 

[cd637299]

"Brown Eyed Girl" is now being played on Music of Your Life. Is nothing sacred?

cd

 

[michael hagerty]

"Brown Eyed Girl" is now being played on Music of Your Life. Is nothing sacred?

cd

Remember how Bob Seger sang the line "Sweet 16's turned 31" in "Rock and Roll Never Forgets"?

Well, in the case of "Brown Eyed Girl", sweet 16's turning 62 this year. That's MOYL territory.

The original "Music Of Your Life" audience from 35 years ago increasingly has no life to play the music of.

 

[cd637299]

^ Yah I get it....but the DJ voices on MOYL, well, just don't jell....

cd

 

[firepoint525]

Are there really people out there in the radio audience who, upon hearing the announcer say "We've got some Van Morrison for you right after this", breathe a sigh of relief, secure in the knowledge that they are going to hear "Brown-eyed Girl" and are in no danger of being exposed to "Domino", "Moondance", or "Jackie Wilson Said"?

or "Wild Night"?

 

[deltas69]

I have a different question pertaining to audiences..and I have no clue as to the answer..Has anyone ever done research to see if any given product, service, etc is actually bought or used because someone heard a commercial on the radio about it ? I know radio wants to target the "money demo"..but do car dealers running spots non stop back to back ACTUALLY make a listener say to them selves ..'ya know...I'm think I'm gonna go buy that car"..I am the exception to every rule..Just because McDonalds says Fish sandwiches are two for 3.33..doesn't make me turn the car around and go get them..I can honestly say..I have never bought anything that was pitched over the air either on radio or tv. If I want a fish sandwich..I just go get one..If I want to buy a car (and I have owned more than 200 in my life)..I know what I'm looking for,and go find it..Is the general public so brain dead that commercials influence them to such a large degree that they blindly go spend their money in that way ?? I'm sure...Ed is chomping to answer this one..lol.and I'd really like to know..

 

[RIN3GUY]

One thing I have bought from among things I've heard on the air is music! And lots of it. But these days, the stations that cover the most amazing era in music history (1964-89) are not trying to attract new, younger listeners to the format by exposing the public to music they may have never heard before. The corporate stations are simply in maintenance mode (i.e., zombie on a treadmill), when they could be doing so much more. This is a tragedy! There is such a wealth of forgotten music from just the '70s alone. That's why shows such as as "The Lost 45s," "Casey Kasem's American Top 40 - The '70s," and others have had a resurgence. More stations should be picking up these shows! Part of the joy of radio is discovering new music, or music that is new to you. Next to that for us aficionados would be music that you have not heard in a long time. Radio is an advertising medium, but apparently the aspect of music advertising and promotion is a lost concept in the Classic Hits "business model."

 

[oldies76]

One thing I have bought from among things I've heard on the air is music! And lots of it. But these days, the stations that cover the most amazing era in music history (1964-89) are not trying to attract new, younger listeners to the format by exposing the public to music they may have never heard before. The corporate stations are simply in maintenance mode (i.e., zombie on a treadmill), when they could be doing so much more. This is a tragedy! There is such a wealth of forgotten music from just the '70s alone. That's why shows such as as "The Lost 45s," "Casey Kasem's American Top 40 - The '70s," and others have had a resurgence. More stations should be picking up these shows! Part of the joy of radio is discovering new music, or music that is new to you. Next to that for us aficionados would be music that you have not heard in a long time. Radio is an advertising medium, but apparently the aspect of music advertising and promotion is a lost concept in the Classic Hits "business model."

Agreed!! A wealth of 70's music?? Recently I played a old compilation album by Ronco (Soul Train) that had original "lost hits" from 1972 and 1973 on it. This album has soul hits on it. Have you ever heard any of these on the radio as classics lately? Probably not, a wealth being wasted...you bet.

"Superfly" - Curtis Mayfield
"Freddie's Dead" - Curtis Mayfield
"Keeper of the Castle" - Four Tops
"Good Foot" - James Brown
"The Message" - Cymande
"Love Jones" - Brighter Side of Darkness
"Scorpio" - Dennis Coffey
"Give Your Baby a Standing Ovation" - Dells
"Do It the Name of Love" - Candi Staton
"Leaving Me" - Independents
"Dancing to Your Music" - Archie Bell & the Drells
"Give Me Your Love" - Barbara Mason
"Guilty" - Al Green

Check them out on You Tube

 

[RIN3GUY]

Oldies,
Great examples of what I'm talking about, thanks! Just offhand, I recognize only the first three of these songs. And at 48, I'm hardly a youngster but these lower-charting songs were just before my time, even though they all charted, some respectably so. I will be checking these out ASAP!

But even more recent, bigger hits are "lost" and need some re-exposure, such as these and those on the lengthier lists I have shared on previous posts:

"All Over the World" - ELO (#13, 1980)
"How Much Love" - Leo Sayer (BB #17, CB #9)
"Shake It" - Ian Matthews (BB #13, CB #10)
"You & Me" - Alice Cooper (BB #9, CB #8)
"Heaven on the Seventh Floor" - Paul Nicholas (BB #6, CB #5)
"Hold On" - Santana (BB #15, CB #9)
"She Did It" - Eric Carmen (BB #23, CB #15)
"You Made Me Believe in Magic" - Bay City Rollers(BB #10, CB #7)
"Heatwave" - Linda Ronstadt (BB #5, CB #4)
"My Baby Loves Lovin'" - White Plains(BB #13, CB #10)
"SOS" - ABBA (BB #15, CB #12)
"Life Is a Rock" - Reunion (BB #8, CB #7)
"Whatever Gets You Thru the Night" - John Lennon & Elton John (#1, '74)
"Games People Play" - Spinners (#5, '75)

Everyone I share these songs with loves them, including my kids! No way these are tune-outs. I don't believe they are testing poorly, unless it be that they receive poor marks simply because most people these days may not immediately recognize them simply since the songs have been off the radio for so long. But it is more likely that they are never even tested at all.

 

[landtuna]

One thing I have bought from among things I've heard on the air is music! And lots of it. But these days, the stations that cover the most amazing era in music history (1964-89) are not trying to attract new, younger listeners to the format by exposing the public to music they may have never heard before.

There is a nostalgia station in the Phoenix market than hasn't much changed since I've lived here these past 33 years. KOY-AM was once the big signal in the Valley at 550 and back in the day the most popular full service station. It got caught in a dial movement war and moved to 1230 a few years ago and has faded from the scene largely and that is a shame because it is exactly what I was looking for.

KOY is not listenable where I live in the SE Valley but they stream through Iheart in full stereo. They are sort of a throwback to the T-40 stations of old with music during the hour and a brief news capsule on the hour. No traffic, weather or many commercials either.

The music is difficult to define since it covers popular music from the early 50's to the early 80's. John Denver could be back-to-back with CCR or Johnny Mathis and there are plenty of the older stylists as well (too much Sinatra actually). They do play some currents but only as Iheart adverts. Josh Groban seems to be a current favorite followed by a plea from Iheart radio to download the song you just heard. I tend to ignore these but it is easy to compare the old classics to the modern not-so-greats.

I suspect much of the day is VT'd and they do miss the mark quite frequently when songs end in the middle to cut to the news but generally it is enjoyable listening.

 

[michael hagerty]

And as I see the same movie about to start over again, I think it's a good moment to say I'll be in here a bunch less often. As some of you know, I'm an automotive journalist with my own site (http://tirekicker.blogspot.com). I've just been added as a contributing writer at BBC Autos (http://bbc.com/autos) and to keep up with that fast company, I need to spend as much of my online time as possible focused on today's cars instead of yesterday's music.

I've enjoyed the give and take.

Listen to David...he knows what he's talking about. He doesn't make stuff up and he's not pushing his personal taste...just telling it straight.

And now, if you'll excuse me...(Dick Whittinghill's daily sign off on KMPC 1949-1979)

 

[oldies76]

And as I see the same movie about to start over again, I think it's a good moment to say I'll be in here a bunch less often. As some of you know, I'm an automotive journalist with my own site , I need to spend as much of my online time as possible focused on today's cars instead of yesterday's music.

That movie must be testing well among us, since it's playing for the 17th time in 6 months...
Good luck to you.

 

[oldies76]

"All Over the World" - ELO (#13, 1980)

Everyone I share these songs with loves them, including my kids! No way these are tune-outs. I don't believe they are testing poorly, unless it be that they receive poor marks simply because most people these days may not immediately recognize them simply since the songs have been off the radio for so long. But it is more likely that they are never even tested at all.

That ELO song was big in the summer of 1980....heard it alot on KFI 640, when it was top 40. But you're right, that song and the others you listed are neglected for the most part.

unless it be that they receive poor marks simply because most people these days may not immediately recognize them simply since the songs have been off the radio for so long.

I believe that's a good reason too, why many songs are not played today. The average listener has gotten so used to the same "tested" songs aired over the years and due to this exposure, it's the only songs they can recollect during testing time. So when "new" classics are introduced at a testing session, most won't be familiar, because of the reason you gave. I agree 100%.

 

[semoochie]

Thank you, Michael. I'll miss th give and take. It looks like David is just going to have to work harder, to get the word out. Regarding the advertising message: For your whole life, you've heard that Coca Cola or Coke is a soft drink, so when you're in the mood for a soft drink, you can't help but think of Coke. McDonald's is in a similar position with Hamburgers.

 

[unitron]

At this point I'm not certain my original question was understood, but the title should have indicated it wasn't about the announcer.

I was wondering if there were actually radio listeners who preferred such rigid predictability.

 

[firepoint525]

"All Over the World" - ELO (#13, 1980)

That ELO song was big in the summer of 1980....heard it alot on KFI 640, when it was top 40. But you're right, that song and the others you listed are neglected for the most part.

ELO was one of those groups who had so many hits back in the day that some of them were just bound to "fall between the cracks." Xanadu was a dud movie, which might explain why that one doesn't get aired much anymore. And ELO underwent an "artistic decline" beginning in the '80s.

But I have noticed that "Mr. Blue Sky" (among others) still gets airplay on Hippie Radio here in Nashville.

 

[landtuna]

Thank you, Michael. I'll miss th give and take. It looks like David is just going to have to work harder, to get the word out. Regarding the advertising message: For your whole life, you've heard that Coca Cola or Coke is a soft drink, so when you're in the mood for a soft drink, you can't help but think of Coke. McDonald's is in a similar position with Hamburgers.

I always use the example of Budweiser. Great ads - don't know a soul, male or female, who doesn't love the Clydesdales, Dalmatians or beer wagons BUT I wouldn't drink their panther pizz if it were the only beer available. Great ad agency. Really crappy beer.