Art Laboe

[briancraig]

There is a lot of talk on these boards from disgruntled oldies fans about the lack of 60s music on the radio and the lack of any older music outside the 300 or so classic hits on the "safe list." These complaints are always followed by an explanation of why stations don't play obscure music and why most music before the 1970s attracts only an older audience that is not demographically friendly to advertisers.

Listening to Hot 92 last night and the Art Laboe request show for a couple of hours, I noticed that he played several songs that while they might be "low rider" hits would not be on any consultant friendly music list. Much of what he played was over 50 years old.

So I was wondering, what kind of demographics does he attract mixing everything from old hip hop to 1970s country (Freddy Fender) on his nightly show? The callers don't sound elderly but what person under 54 who is not a music geek like myself would want to hear "Hypnotized" by Linda Jones?

I really admire Art for being in his 80s and still doing a nightly show and sounding just as good as ever. But after all the talk about the demphasis in Chicago of Dick Biondi by WLS-FM, it is interesting how Art breaks every rule and must be successful since he is on a major FM in market #2 nightly.

 

[LKellerIII]

I'm sure David Eduardo will chime in soon with his explanation that advertisers are not interested in the over 54 demographic, which would be the target if you're playing a lot of 60s tunes.

Art Laboe is a touchstone for early baby boomers - people pushing 70. I'm 60, and when I first became aware of Laboe in the late 60s, he was already not a regular DJ, but buying time on barter stations to sell his Oldies but Goodies collections. He was also doing the Oldies but Goodies concerts at the El Monte Legion Stadium. From what I gather, he went back to jocking in the 80s and 90s.

We have a couple of great 60s music radio shows in the Bay Area, but they tend to run on the weekends for only a few hours. I don't think you could support a radio station these days with primarily 60s music.

 

[jonbruce]

When I last looked at a breakdown a few years ago for Art in Palm Springs on his Sunday night show we run on KDES he had mainly hispanic females thier 20's and 30's. I have a 23 year old son and when I mention to them I work at KDES they all mention they like Art LaBoe. I first heard Art back in the 1950's on KPOP and KXLA. He still sounds the same.

 

[michael hagerty]

I'm eager to hear the current data on Art's show, too.

Note to briancraig: The 300 song list has been dead for years. Jhani's running around 800 at KRTH. The thread that won't die won't die because a few guys keep coming back with the opinion that you can play anything that ever made Billboard's Top 40, even if it tests overwhelmingly negative, as long as you only do it every 11th or 12th song and no one will tune out.

 

[davideduardo]

So I was wondering, what kind of demographics does he attract mixing everything from old hip hop to 1970s country (Freddy Fender) on his nightly show? The callers don't sound elderly but what person under 54 who is not a music geek like myself would want to hear "Hypnotized" by Linda Jones?

The biggest cell is 45-54, with equal amounts in 55-64 and 35-44, and it falls off over 55 and under 35.

They key thing is that the audience is nearly 2/3 Hispanic, with nearly equal amounts of around 16% each for Blacks and Other.

This is the California phenomenon of low rider, barrio music... it works from Fresno to San Diego, from LA to Palm Springs. And the music would test against the target lifestyle group.

 

[davideduardo]

I'm sure David Eduardo will chime in soon with his explanation that advertisers are not interested in the over 54 demographic, which would be the target if you're playing a lot of 60s tunes.

The average age of the listeners is around 48. Just as many 35-44's as 45-54's.

Keep in mind that this is a lifestyle music form, just like Tejano music is in certain areas of South Texas. It was kept alive by KRLA for a long time, and by Art Laboe specifically for 50 years.

Art Laboe is a touchstone for early baby boomers - people pushing 70.

He's a touchstone for urban, pseudo-assimilated Hispanics who have a lifestyle which is very different from the KOST or KRTH lifesyle. There is a music attached to this lifestyle that appeals to two generations (with generations being about 18 years each in the urban Hispanic communities of the 50's through the 80's in SoCal and areas like Yuma, Bakersfield, Fresno, etc.

 

[LKellerIII]

I'm eager to hear the current data on Art's show, too.

Note to briancraig: The 300 song list has been dead for years. Jhani's running around 800 at KRTH. The thread that won't die won't die because a few guys keep coming back with the opinion that you can play anything that ever made Billboard's Top 40, even if it tests overwhelmingly negative, as long as you only do it every 11th or 12th song and no one will tune out.

In the Bay Area, our new Clear Channel owned Classic Hits station - "The Bay's 103-7" (clever, huh?) does play a fair amount of late 60s music, including a fair amount of Rolling Stones, Motown, and Beatles. But it definitely makes up a minority of their playlist, so every 9th or 10th song is probably close to accurate.

Their playlist numbers 651 songs total - according to the station's website.

 

[michael hagerty]

I'm eager to hear the current data on Art's show, too.

Note to briancraig: The 300 song list has been dead for years. Jhani's running around 800 at KRTH. The thread that won't die won't die because a few guys keep coming back with the opinion that you can play anything that ever made Billboard's Top 40, even if it tests overwhelmingly negative, as long as you only do it every 11th or 12th song and no one will tune out.

In the Bay Area, our new Clear Channel owned Classic Hits station - "The Bay's 103-7" (clever, huh?) does play a fair amount of late 60s music, including a fair amount of Rolling Stones, Motown, and Beatles. But it definitely makes up a minority of their playlist, so every 9th or 10th song is probably close to accurate.

Their playlist numbers 651 songs total - according to the station's website.

Llew: There's a difference between what The Bay's 103-7 does...playing a late 60s hit every 10 or 11 songs (which is one an hour, and which I'm sure tests beautifully), and playing anything that ever made #40 or above in Billboard regardless of how it tests. That's what those guys are on about. Hey, if Elvis' "Love Me Tender" tests through the roof, play it. But don't hold your breath when today's 35 year old was born the year after Elvis died.

 

[Biondi4Mayor]

I'm eager to hear the current data on Art's show, too.

Note to briancraig: The 300 song list has been dead for years. Jhani's running around 800 at KRTH. The thread that won't die won't die because a few guys keep coming back with the opinion that you can play anything that ever made Billboard's Top 40, even if it tests overwhelmingly negative, as long as you only do it every 11th or 12th song and no one will tune out.

In the Bay Area, our new Clear Channel owned Classic Hits station - "The Bay's 103-7" (clever, huh?) does play a fair amount of late 60s music, including a fair amount of Rolling Stones, Motown, and Beatles. But it definitely makes up a minority of their playlist, so every 9th or 10th song is probably close to accurate.

Their playlist numbers 651 songs total - according to the station's website.

Llew: There's a difference between what The Bay's 103-7 does...playing a late 60s hit every 10 or 11 songs (which is one an hour, and which I'm sure tests beautifully), and playing anything that ever made #40 or above in Billboard regardless of how it tests. That's what those guys are on about. Hey, if Elvis' "Love Me Tender" tests through the roof, play it. But don't hold your breath when today's 35 year old was born the year after Elvis died.

No not quite our arguement, but I guess the 50+ pages are all starting to blur together.

 

[LKellerIII]

I'm eager to hear the current data on Art's show, too.

Note to briancraig: The 300 song list has been dead for years. Jhani's running around 800 at KRTH. The thread that won't die won't die because a few guys keep coming back with the opinion that you can play anything that ever made Billboard's Top 40, even if it tests overwhelmingly negative, as long as you only do it every 11th or 12th song and no one will tune out.

In the Bay Area, our new Clear Channel owned Classic Hits station - "The Bay's 103-7" (clever, huh?) does play a fair amount of late 60s music, including a fair amount of Rolling Stones, Motown, and Beatles. But it definitely makes up a minority of their playlist, so every 9th or 10th song is probably close to accurate.

Their playlist numbers 651 songs total - according to the station's website.

Llew: There's a difference between what The Bay's 103-7 does...playing a late 60s hit every 10 or 11 songs (which is one an hour, and which I'm sure tests beautifully), and playing anything that ever made #40 or above in Billboard regardless of how it tests. That's what those guys are on about. Hey, if Elvis' "Love Me Tender" tests through the roof, play it. But don't hold your breath when today's 35 year old was born the year after Elvis died.

Michael - I'm 60 and Love Me Tender was released when I was 4 years old. Call me a late bloomer, but I didn't get interested in radio until I was 11 (1963), so the song was a Oldie to me.

Of course, there are exceptions in every demographic. My 29 year old daughter loves 50s music, and downloads old hits from that era that I only dimly recall - probabaly because I only heard them a few times as "Goldens" on KHJ or KRLA.

 

[michael hagerty]

I'm eager to hear the current data on Art's show, too.

Note to briancraig: The 300 song list has been dead for years. Jhani's running around 800 at KRTH. The thread that won't die won't die because a few guys keep coming back with the opinion that you can play anything that ever made Billboard's Top 40, even if it tests overwhelmingly negative, as long as you only do it every 11th or 12th song and no one will tune out.

In the Bay Area, our new Clear Channel owned Classic Hits station - "The Bay's 103-7" (clever, huh?) does play a fair amount of late 60s music, including a fair amount of Rolling Stones, Motown, and Beatles. But it definitely makes up a minority of their playlist, so every 9th or 10th song is probably close to accurate.

Their playlist numbers 651 songs total - according to the station's website.

Llew: There's a difference between what The Bay's 103-7 does...playing a late 60s hit every 10 or 11 songs (which is one an hour, and which I'm sure tests beautifully), and playing anything that ever made #40 or above in Billboard regardless of how it tests. That's what those guys are on about. Hey, if Elvis' "Love Me Tender" tests through the roof, play it. But don't hold your breath when today's 35 year old was born the year after Elvis died.

No not quite our arguement, but I guess the 50+ pages are all starting to blur together.

Biondi4Mayor (by the way, I'll vote for him with you): Oldies76 has made that exact argument in that thread. Several times.

 

[michael hagerty]

I'm eager to hear the current data on Art's show, too.

Note to briancraig: The 300 song list has been dead for years. Jhani's running around 800 at KRTH. The thread that won't die won't die because a few guys keep coming back with the opinion that you can play anything that ever made Billboard's Top 40, even if it tests overwhelmingly negative, as long as you only do it every 11th or 12th song and no one will tune out.

In the Bay Area, our new Clear Channel owned Classic Hits station - "The Bay's 103-7" (clever, huh?) does play a fair amount of late 60s music, including a fair amount of Rolling Stones, Motown, and Beatles. But it definitely makes up a minority of their playlist, so every 9th or 10th song is probably close to accurate.

Their playlist numbers 651 songs total - according to the station's website.

Llew: There's a difference between what The Bay's 103-7 does...playing a late 60s hit every 10 or 11 songs (which is one an hour, and which I'm sure tests beautifully), and playing anything that ever made #40 or above in Billboard regardless of how it tests. That's what those guys are on about. Hey, if Elvis' "Love Me Tender" tests through the roof, play it. But don't hold your breath when today's 35 year old was born the year after Elvis died.

Michael - I'm 60 and Love Me Tender was released when I was 4 years old. Call me a late bloomer, but I didn't get interested in radio until I was 11 (1963), so the song was a Oldie to me.

Of course, there are exceptions in every demographic. My 29 year old daughter loves 50s music, and downloads old hits from that era that I only dimly recall - probabaly because I only heard them a few times as "Goldens" on KHJ or KRLA.

Right, Llew...but they are exceptions. You know me (from years online) well enough to know that my musical interests go back way before my time as well (start with Gershwin and work forward). But personal listening is different from a mass-appeal radio format in a competitive marketplace.

 

[oldies76]

The thread that won't die won't die because a few guys keep coming back with the opinion that you can play anything that ever made Billboard's Top 40, even if it tests overwhelmingly negative, as long as you only do it every 11th or 12th song and no one will tune out.

And featuring two top 20's countdowns back to back in the number one market, every weekend, hosted by Dick Bartley, loaded with so-called "stiffs" is tuning out everyone from you to the moon? Apparently it's not, since it's still airing, last time I checked. 90% of those hits, according to the industry, will not test today...but they are being aired. Exactly, what I am talking about.

If they can do it, so can most other stations.

 

[Thomps2525]

Mister hagerty, I know you're in Phoenix. Since you like Gershwin, I'm calling KOOL and asking them to play Gush-Gush-Gushing, Oh Lady Be Good and That Lost Barber Shop Chord just for you.

Art Laboe (real name: Arthur Egnoian) was at KXLA for a short time in 1955. The station became KRLA in 1961 and Art worked there from 1975 to 1979 and from 1985 until 1998, when the station switched to a talk format. In 1991 he began the Sunday Night Special, which evolved into a syndicated six-nights-a-week request program. Most of the requests are for 1950s-60s songs although he'll occasionally play a current hit too. In 1994 Laboe changed KRLA's format from oldies to r&b oldies. Technically it wasn't really r&b oldies; it was r&b songs that were also big pop hits. But KRLA played from 1954 to the early '80s. The Crows, the Drifters and the Moonglows would alternate with Evelyn King, Deniece Williams and the S.O.S. Band. Mister Eduardo can probably come up with the numbers, but I think the majority of KRLA's audience in the latter half of the 1990s were in their teens or 20s.

 

[davideduardo]

And featuring two top 20's countdowns back to back in the number one market, every weekend, hosted by Dick Bartley, loaded with so-called "stiffs" is tuning out everyone from you to the moon? Apparently it's not, since it's still airing, last time I checked. 90% of those hits, according to the industry, will not test today...but they are being aired.

1. Those songs will test, but only against 65+
2. The time those Bartley shows are running is essentially throwaway time... they could go off the air and it would not affect the numbers.

 

[michael hagerty]

The thread that won't die won't die because a few guys keep coming back with the opinion that you can play anything that ever made Billboard's Top 40, even if it tests overwhelmingly negative, as long as you only do it every 11th or 12th song and no one will tune out.

And featuring two top 20's countdowns back to back in the number one market, every weekend, hosted by Dick Bartley, loaded with so-called "stiffs" is tuning out everyone from you to the moon? Apparently it's not, since it's still airing, last time I checked. 90% of those hits, according to the industry, will not test today...but they are being aired. Exactly, what I am talking about.

If they can do it, so can most other stations.

There's a difference between every 11th or 12th song throughout the week and Saturday or Sunday night programming. David has covered the ratings on weekend evenings. Still doesn't make it a good idea, and in the same way that CHRs dropped American Top 40 because Casey was playing records that weren't right for their audience, you'll likely see shows like Bartley's do a fade over the next few years.

 

[michael hagerty]

Mister hagerty, I know you're in Phoenix. Since you like Gershwin, I'm calling KOOL and asking them to play Gush-Gush-Gushing, Oh Lady Be Good and That Lost Barber Shop Chord just for you.

Art Laboe (real name: Arthur Egnoian) was at KXLA for a short time in 1955. The station became KRLA in 1961 and Art worked there from 1975 to 1979 and from 1985 until 1998, when the station switched to a talk format. In 1991 he began the Sunday Night Special, which evolved into a syndicated six-nights-a-week request program. Most of the requests are for 1950s-60s songs although he'll occasionally play a current hit too. In 1994 Laboe changed KRLA's format from oldies to r&b oldies. Technically it wasn't really r&b oldies; it was r&b songs that were also big pop hits. But KRLA played from 1954 to the early '80s. The Crows, the Drifters and the Moonglows would alternate with Evelyn King, Deniece Williams and the S.O.S. Band. Mister Eduardo can probably come up with the numbers, but I think the majority of KRLA's audience in the latter half of the 1990s were in their teens or 20s.

Rewind:

Thanks, but do me a favor. Call KBAQ instead. No sense in blowing KOOL's audience off just for me (see, guys? This is how it works). Also, Rhapsody In Blue would be better.

 

[Thomps2525]

One of my favorite groups, the Spinners, recorded Gershwin's Fascinating Rhythm for a live album in 1975. I bet if we requested it, Art Laboe would play it!

 

[davideduardo]

Mister Eduardo can probably come up with the numbers, but I think the majority of KRLA's audience in the latter half of the 1990s were in their teens or 20s.

I looked at KRLA during 3 books of 1998. 50% of the audience was in 35-54, and 30% was 55+.

11% was 25-34, and teens were 6%.

The median age was 51.

 

[Thomps2525]

Well, you could have fooled me! Almost every phone call Laboe put on the air was from a young Hispanic, most of them wanting to make a dedication to a boyfriend or girlfriend: "I'd like to hear I Love You For All Seasons and send it out to Gordito from Lupe." Thanks for the reserarch, Mister Eduardo! Judging by those numbers, KRLA's switch to an r&b oldies format didn't cost them any of the listeners who grew up with the station in the '60s and '70s.