I've complained a lot about things happening in radio, so I thought it was time for me to say something positive. I'm glad KJR-FM picked up Casey Kasem's American Top 40 the 70's when KBSG went off the air. I listened to these shows as a kid, it's a fun trip back in time to hear them again, and there's so many songs on these countdowns - hits, no less - that are forgotten on oldies or classic rock radio. The top 40 of the 70's was a much more diverse selection of music than a random listen of classic rock/oldies radio would have you think. A lot of r&b or soul hits, some easy listening or MOR, some country hits, even a few harder rock songs. You can go from Charlie Pride to the Stylistics to Badfinger in the space of just a few minutes.
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AT40 on KJR
- Thread starter Lonely Summer
- Start date
Lonely Summer said:
Yeah, I like that show! It reminds me of a time when people who programmed radio stations actually cared about music, and not just thinking of a transmitter as a stick, or a cash cow! Some in this forum will dispute that!
Oldies is percieved as a dead format now, but I think KJR could add more 60's hits and the occasional 50's hit to their rotation without turning off listeners. Drop some of the 80's stuff, that's already being heavily featured on JACK. I listen to both stations. When I want to hear 80's/90's stuff, I tune in Jack, but when I want to hear 60's and &0's, I turn Jack off and listen to 95.7 KJR FM.
Lonely Summer said:
The Success of the Jack format ought to be proof that a station can play music from a wider timeframe and not lose listeners. If Jack can play anything from the 60's through the 00's KJR ought to be able to mix in some 50's and 60's to their format. They could still play some 80's stuff, but I think they need to get back more to the 50's, 60's, and 70's format. But I'm not a CEO corporatist so my opinion means NUTTIN'!
I used to listen to the Bates station, KBTC (Classical Rock, as they called it) because they played such a range of material. It wasn't unusual to hear Chuck Berry doing "Johnny B. Goode" or Elvis doing "Hound Dog" followed by the Doors' "Light My Fire" or the Beatles' Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds", and a Doobie Brothers or Tom Petty track. It was kind of fun to hear those Bates kids stumble through the news every hour, too!
Lonely Summer said:
Funny you bring up Bates Lonely Summer, I used to attend Bates; I went there from December 2004-December 2007. I wwas in the Broadcast Production Technologies program first then I transfered into the Digital Media program, I was really hoping to go into the Radio Broadcasting program there but alas Bates sold KBTC FM way before I got there.
Scoobyfan1 said:
Does Bates still have their broadcasting classes?
Mack Daddy said:
Not as for as Radio Broadcasting is concerned, however they still have their television broadcasting programs, at least they still did when I left there in December 2007. Although i've noticed watching College Vision(the local cable channel here in the Tacoma area that has programming from Bates, Clover Park Technical College and a few others) that they seem to be producing less and less programs for that channel, plus there were a few issues that were going on in 2007 that resulted in a couple of the Instructors of the Broadcasting programs losing their jobs, but yes as far as I know they still have some broadcasting programs.
Too bad Bates dropped the radio program. I seem to recall Steve Slaton telling me years ago that he went to Bates. I'm sure there are quite a few people in local radio that got their start there. Since KJR is featuring a lot of 80's music now, they should consider adding AT40 - the 80's to their programming lineup.
Lonely Summer said:
That would be really cool! Especially if it was in addition to their 70's one!
Yep. Even though 80's pop/rock/r&b is getting a lot of airplay on various Seattle stations, it's not deep cuts. I don't hear songs like Everywhere That I'm Not (Translator), Love Plus One (Haircut One Hundred), Don't Forget to Dance (the Kinks), Someday Someway (Marshall Crenshaw), Getcha Back (the Beach Boys), Sausalito Summernite (Diesel), Take Me to Heart (Quarterflash), Go For Soda (Kim Mitchell), Dreaming (Cliff Richard), I'm An Adult Now (The Pursuit of Happiness), More Love, Less Attitude (the Razorbacks), or What Can You Do (Persay). Some of these were not top 40 hits, but I'm sure I'd hear many songs on Casey's countdowns that I haven't heard in 20+ years.
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Lonely Summer said:
Music has evolved. Consider these points: At one time, "Wind Beneath My Wings" was number one in Top 40. Maybe Warm will play it, but I don't think even Jack would touch that song.
In 1984, The Pointer Sisters' "Automatic" was number one on the charts. Actually, I think it was number five on the Top 40 singles chart, but that song was number one on the DANCE charts. I think it would sound a little funny to hear The Pointer Sisters played back-to-back with Kevin Rudolf or Lady Gaga, don't you think?
Some songs stand through the test of time, and many don't. Take the seventies and eighties for example. Would radio be better off by playing more "You Light Up My Life" or "All I Need" or "Xanadu" again? I think it would -- if you're trying to encourage someone to drive off a cliff.
And yes, there's a personal list of songs of about a couple hundred that I would like to hear again, but most other people wouldn't. And vice-versa.
Lonely Summer said:
Trouble is in corporate radio currently, they don't WANT you back, ir's all about the kids y'know. And how MANY kids are actually LISTENING to RADIO today. Not many.......
Most of 'em got other means of entertainment. Who needs RADIO?
Older folks, hate to say, LOVE the radio. It was where the big boys in town got their names back in the day. But today, kids have OTHER means of getting their music and news on a LARGE SCALE. Smaller local stations can sometimes do better, AM or FM. But today, it's all got to be dictated down from somewhere out of state to reach the target maximum TSL in those areas (which they will NEVER achieve. MOST especially in Puget Sound)
But those OLD people (meaning anybody from 28-50) Radio is just too GOOD for us to bother for you OLD people. So f--k off.
That's the attitude I get these days from this industry today (not to mention the fact it's an industry that is dying FASTER than the 8-Track tape was these days with younger folks today.)
So there you have it. Enjoy it, relish it. It's the mess you so-called "professionals" brought yourselves into.
And don't tell me, wait....WAIT. OK I got it. The cure for this is to buy MORE stations , end public radio and the non-commercial band, etc.
Nice try.....We need THEM now more than EVER.
AQH said:
Certain songs you may not want to play everyday, but they should certainly be played once in a while, and not buried in the basement collecting dust. If you consultants were really consulting you would find this out!
Bongwater said:
Maybe we could get some good, compelling stations on the shortwave band, eh!
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Mack Daddy said:
Gritty, to the point counter there.
One problem, though.
I am not a consultant.
AQH said:
Oh, That explains Everything!
Maybe you should hire a consultant. One who actually consults! I'd be happy to volunteer my services for the standard rate of, uh, oh, about $500,000 per year!
All I can say in response is, thankfully we have 3 hours a week on commercial radio that we DO get to hear some of the forgotten oldies. I wonder what kind of ratings AT40 - the 70's is getting? Is it a big turn off for the average listener when a song like You Light Up My Life or Feelings is in the countdown? "Quick, Martha, change the station! I'll never listen to KJR again!" I can remember some years back Steve Slaton boasting that his station, Classic Rock KZOK, would never play ANYTHING by the group Bread. Too mellow for a ROCK station like KZOK. Sure, Steve, and while you're at it, take the Beatles off your playlist, they did wimpy ballads like And I Love Her, Something, and The Long and Winding Road. And dump Fleetwood Mac, they've got - gasp - girl singers! Not enough testosterone in that band! I always wondered why KZOK, or especially KISW didn't just go all out metal. There's an audience for a metal format, the true metalheads don't mess around with soft rockers like The Who or the Rolling Stones, just give them hard headbanging metal rock 24/7!
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