B98.5 - Upbeat ahead of its time

[jal41]

I was going to post this as a reply, but I think this deserved a thread of its own. It is about how upbeat B98.5's playlist has been for some time.

B98.5 has actually been doing upbeat for years, way before it became the norm in the AC world. Dance songs such as Haddaway's "What Is Love" (from SNL fame) and Real McCoy's "Another Night" were on the normal playlist during the 90's. I remember Britney Spears' "Baby One More Time" being in the normal AC rotation in 2002 at B98.5. So appearently in B98.5's eyes, party and dance music is "soft rock". B98.5 has not played a true soft rock format in at least 10 years.

And is is where the demise of Peach comes in. Would you rather listen to a station that puts you to sleep and causes loss of productivity (Peach), or one that plays fun upbeat dance-in-your-seat sing along at your desk which causes people to feel good and cause an increase in productivity (B98.5). When 94.9 became Lite FM, they did go more upbeat, but never to the levels of B98.5. While 94.9 did indulge in Avril Lavigne's "Complicated" (now standard AC fare along with Kelly Clarkson, Maroon 5, and other top 40 acts) and a few other songs, B98.5 kept people dancing in their cubicles with their playlist.

Of course, people who did not like dancing while they worked still loved the "Lite". 94.9 was very competeive...and still was until the end. It helped when they went gold-based when Cool 105.7 flipped. Obviously, bad Clear Channel management led to the demise of Lite, but B98.5 was still the better of the two.

In the 10 years I mentioned, AC has evolved from the "Peach" way of thinking to the "B98.5" way of thinking. Songs such as Gwen Stefani's Sweet Escape (not on the B98.5 playlist, but should be) and Kelly Clarkson's "Walk Away" and "Since U Been Gone" (both are on the B98.5 playlist) are regular AC fare at many stations (although from the looks of YES.com, some stations like WDEF-FM Chattannoga and WSPA-FM Greenville/Spartenburg still are holding back at the "Complicated" levels for how upbeat they will go). There are very few stations that play true soft music anymore.

So B98.5 was a pioneer in being "Voted #1 for Dancing While You Work".

 

[whit979]

B98.5 could almost be considered a Bright AC like WWFS New York

 

[thefirstgenesis]

That was a very profound assessment indeed. Piss poor management and the hiring of a new incompetent moron brought 94.9 to the dumps. However, if 94.9 was around right now, I'm sure it will still put up a decent good fight despite its modest ratings. Everybody has their own taste of music genre. Some like 98.5, some don't. I for once loved the classics sung by Marvin Gaye, America, Carole King and James Taylor - stuff that 94.9 played. For what I heard from most people, 98.5 plays a lot repetitive stuff, maybe upbeat than 94.9, but mostly repetitive

 

[RoddyFreeman]

I have a lot of respect for B98.5 and the success the station has had over the years. And the station has some quality voices on the airstaff as well as the imaging.

From a personal point-of-view, however, the station has always sounded like a science project to me--everything carefully researched, including the music and virtually everything said by the jocks and the imaging. And everything is designed to pull listeners through quarter hours and get them to write the station in their Arbitron diary.

And from a professional standpoint, with the objectives being ratings and revenue, there's nothing wrong with that. It's the specialty of Bob Neil, who designed the format, which is of course used by other Cox AC's with comparable success.

According to people at the station, Steve & Vikki will be allowed to break that mold, or at least put it aside for 4 hours.

 

[cessnaairplane784]

It is puzzling why they won't add songs such as Gwen Stefani's "Sweet Escape" on their playlist as you mentioned. Why not also add Pink's "Who Knew," Sara Bareilles' "Love Song," and Taylor Swift's "Teardrops On My Guitar" on there. In addition, how about putting even more songs from the 1970's if they are so into making themselves proud of saying "Atlanta's best variety." Oh wait! Those songs and artists that I mentioned aren't upbeat, and 98.5 is still too repetitive.

 

[OutOfTheBiz]

I have a lot of respect for B98.5 and the success the station has had over the years. And the station has some quality voices on the airstaff as well as the imaging.

From a personal point-of-view, however, the station has always sounded like a science project to me--everything carefully researched, including the music and virtually everything said by the jocks and the imaging. And everything is designed to pull listeners through quarter hours and get them to write the station in their Arbitron diary.

And from a professional standpoint, with the objectives being ratings and revenue, there's nothing wrong with that. It's the specialty of Bob Neil, who designed the format, which is of course used by other Cox AC's with comparable success.

According to people at the station, Steve & Vikki will be allowed to break that mold, or at least put it aside for 4 hours.

You are right on the money with this assessment. Whether or not you like Bob Neil and his style of programming (and let there be no doubt - he is fully responsible for programming ALL Cox stations, regardless of format) he does one thing very well: He designs his stations to do well in the world that Arbitron created. Arb is the ONLY meter radio has, and revenue is tied directly to it. Not many programmers have the guts to gear their efforts solely to winning at Arbs methodology - even if it is perceived by many to be "boring" or "repetitive." Fact is it's all about TSL and recall, and the Cox stations excel at those two things.

 

[RAD1]

I have a lot of respect for B98.5 and the success the station has had over the years. And the station has some quality voices on the airstaff as well as the imaging.

From a personal point-of-view, however, the station has always sounded like a science project to me--everything carefully researched, including the music and virtually everything said by the jocks and the imaging. And everything is designed to pull listeners through quarter hours and get them to write the station in their Arbitron diary.

And from a professional standpoint, with the objectives being ratings and revenue, there's nothing wrong with that. It's the specialty of Bob Neil, who designed the format, which is of course used by other Cox AC's with comparable success.

According to people at the station, Steve & Vikki will be allowed to break that mold, or at least put it aside for 4 hours.

You are right on the money with this assessment. Whether or not you like Bob Neil and his style of programming (and let there be no doubt - he is fully responsible for programming ALL Cox stations, regardless of format) he does one thing very well: He designs his stations to do well in the world that Arbitron created. Arb is the ONLY meter radio has, and revenue is tied directly to it. Not many programmers have the guts to gear their efforts solely to winning at Arbs methodology - even if it is perceived by many to be "boring" or "repetitive." Fact is it's all about TSL and recall, and the Cox stations excel at those two things.

I agree with you except for the part about Boob, oops Bob, having guts in his efforts. Yes, it generates revenue for the company but that's not gutsy radio by any stretch of the means.

 

[thefirstgenesis]

Listen up, all you radio entrepreneurs and starters. Cox radio is a wonderful case study of success in radio especially in Atlanta. They're not fancy. They don't have incompetent managers. They just know how to go after the ratings while molding and building their success to suit the needs of their staff as well as their listeners. They can even pull out 100 song stations and do very well in major markets with their strategy while other radio companies bite their dust. If you go out on the beach sometime, don't be surprised to see all the Cox radio managers basking in the sun dreaming about paradise of endless upward possibilities while Clear Channel sits in the office with their tails between their legs wondering what the fracas is wrong with their company.

 

[RAD1]

Listen up, all you radio entrepreneurs and starters. Cox radio is a wonderful case study of success in radio especially in Atlanta. They're not fancy. They don't have incompetent managers. They just know how to go after the ratings while molding and building their success to suit the needs of their staff as well as their listeners. They can even pull out 100 song stations and do very well in major markets with their strategy while other radio companies bite their dust. If you go out on the beach sometime, don't be surprised to see all the Cox radio managers basking in the sun dreaming about paradise of endless upward possibilities while Clear Channel sits in the office with their tails between their legs wondering what the fracas is wrong with their company.

Wow you must work there! lol And don't presume that everyone who posts an opinion is a "starter" or "radio entrepreneur" it shows lack of intelligence. I agree though, the company doesn't have incompetent managers, they're just worn out on-air talent in a PD position who are not allowed to make any decisions themselves. A glorified music director is the positon of a PD "in charge" at that company. Every directive comes straight from the top and just carried out. And that's just one thing wrong with that company.

 

[thefirstgenesis]

Listen up, all you radio entrepreneurs and starters. Cox radio is a wonderful case study of success in radio especially in Atlanta. They're not fancy. They don't have incompetent managers. They just know how to go after the ratings while molding and building their success to suit the needs of their staff as well as their listeners. They can even pull out 100 song stations and do very well in major markets with their strategy while other radio companies bite their dust. If you go out on the beach sometime, don't be surprised to see all the Cox radio managers basking in the sun dreaming about paradise of endless upward possibilities while Clear Channel sits in the office with their tails between their legs wondering what the fracas is wrong with their company.

Wow you must work there! lol And don't presume that everyone who posts an opinion is a "starter" or "radio entrepreneur" it shows lack of intelligence. I agree though, the company doesn't have incompetent managers, they're just worn out on-air talent in a PD position who are not allowed to make any decisions themselves. A glorified music director is the positon of a PD "in charge" at that company. Every directive comes straight from the top and just carried out. And that's just one thing wrong with that company.

The message was meant for those who are thinking about going into the radio business for the first time and wanted some bits of information about success in radio. Hence, the wording "radio entrepeneurs" and "starters." I hope that clarified things a bit. And of course, the whole thing about Cox executives on the beach was just a little attention to reality. Their stations, regardless if people like them or not, will only get better with the philosophy they have on improving their business in radio.

 

[the golden boy]

When I moved to Atlanta in 2001, I was wowed by what B98.5 played. They were not your typical-sounding AC station. They were playing songs other ACs weren't playing, like "Waterfalls" and "Here I Go Again". At times, they were straddling the fence between AC and hot AC.

I'm surprised they're not playing "The Sweet Escape", but then again, reading on this board how much B has changed since I moved away in 2002, I'm not surprised.

 

[OutOfTheBiz]

It's gutsy programming in that nearly EVERYONE in the business, including lots of those inside the company, constantly bitch and moan about how "boring" and "dull" and "unimaginative" the stations are programmed. But rather then feed his ego or try to appease his critics, he just unendingly insists on sticking with what works, and never changing just for the sake of change.

I'm not a great fan of it myself, but I can only respect how successful it's been for a long time.

 

[RAD1]

It's gutsy programming in that nearly EVERYONE in the business, including lots of those inside the company, constantly bitch and moan about how "boring" and "dull" and "unimaginative" the stations are programmed. But rather then feed his ego or try to appease his critics, he just unendingly insists on sticking with what works, and never changing just for the sake of change.

I'm not a great fan of it myself, but I can only respect how successful it's been for a long time.

That's not gutsy radio, that's ego driven to say the least. He does what he wants regardless and programs all his stations. Why bother having program directors if they're not allowed input or to program? Gutsy programming is not doing what's expected based on the outcome of outside research companies just to generate revenue. Come on, it's a business but it doesn't have to lack creativity and imagination....it's radio.

 

[OutOfTheBiz]

That's where you and Bob differ. the people that pay Bob's (very hefty) salary could care less about creativity and imagination. They care about profit, period. He's the president and CEO of a large, publicly-traded company. His ONLY focus should be return on investment for the shareholders. That's his goal - and he's attaining it.

 

[Dixie Jock]

All of the full time air people on all of the Cox stations make good money...trust me. Say what you will, "Bob's Group" is the most successful outfit in town and they take care of their people. Sounds like pretty good business to me.

 

[RAD1]

That's where you and Bob differ. the people that pay Bob's (very hefty) salary could care less about creativity and imagination. They care about profit, period. He's the president and CEO of a large, publicly-traded company. His ONLY focus should be return on investment for the shareholders. That's his goal - and he's attaining it.

I agree, he's paid to do a job that produces revenue and that's not gutsy programming that's standard.