Bulletin to watch: CBS-FM days from switching back to OLDIES!

[adma]

Re: OLDIES!

WE WANT THE MARVELETTES!!!!

Great. Good for you. Now, get your iPod loaded up or start paying for satellite radio. No full-signal FM Oldies station in a viable market will be so stupid as to go back to where Oldies used to be.

Well, for good reason--in an iPod/satellite era, "where Oldies used to be" is no longer sophisticated enough. Transpose a lot of those yesteryear listeners into now; they might find that what used to seem thrilling now seems insipid, given the alternatives at hand.

So, it's flip-a-coin--either make "Oldies" more sophisticated (which might hinge upon a programming/ad-buyer braintrust that's simply not there, or decamped for elsewhere--like, yes, satellite), or accept the fact that it's a less sophisticated market out there.

It's that way with all formats these days; the Classic Rock realm's fallen into a "My Name Is Earl" demo rut, AC's fallen into a Delilah rut, talk radio (be it shock or political) is what it is, etc. And at least David Eduardo's explicit about lonely 50something cat ladies being a prized demo...

 

[ceaser]

Think about this:cbs radio does not own one oldies station,kearth in los angeles is classic hits i think.My prediction:wcbs fm goes classic hits.

 

[rockroll0617]

CBS-FM

Think about this:cbs radio does not own one oldies station,kearth in los angeles is classic hits i think.My prediction:wcbs fm goes classic hits.

As the should.

 

[davideduardo]

Think about this:cbs radio does not own one oldies station,kearth in los angeles is classic hits i think.My prediction:wcbs fm goes classic hits.

KRTH straddles the oldies / classic hits formats, but is 60% or more pre-70's songs.

CBS lists these oldies stations in its roster: KLUV-Dallas, WODS-Boston. WOMC-Detroit, KXKL-Denver, WRBC-Tampa, WLTH-Portland. That is quite a few.

 

[cyberdad]

Wow!  You'd think the flip of one station in NYC is the biggest development in radio since the invention of the microphone.

My prediction isn't worth a damn thing, but here goes anyway.

CBS should be applauded for "correcting" a dumb move...which reminds me a little of "new coke/classic coke" fiasco.

That said, I doubt they'll ever be able to recapture the ratings, or more importantly (for them) the revenue they had when they last flipped two years ago.  There may be an uptick, but whatever revenue increase they see would likely be offset by higher costs (i.e. live, local talent).  Eventually, they'll realize that you can't put the monster back into the box, and they'll flip/morph back into some other drone format....without nearly the fuss we saw last time around.

I hope I'm wrong.  I also don't like reading the stuff David Eduardo writes (here and elsewhere)....but I don't think he's wrong, either. He's just the messenger. Sometimes reality and the truth about the way things are really suck, don't they!

 

[oldiesfan6479]

CBS lists these oldies stations in its roster: KLUV-Dallas, WODS-Boston. WOMC-Detroit, KXKL-Denver, WRBC-Tampa, WLTH-Portland. That is quite a few.

And? (Hint: KOOL-FM Phoenix.)

Re the "WLTH-Portland" reference...

WLTH is an AM in Gary, IN.

The oldies station in Portland, ME is/was WYNZ Westbrook which
last time I checked is owned by Saga.

I say "is/was" as they appear to have a new website with the
moniker "Big Hits Y100.9" although it still appears to be oldies
(or classic hits). Google "WYNZ" and check the first two results
to see the new and previous sites.

 

[adma]

That said, I doubt they'll ever be able to recapture the ratings, or more importantly (for them) the revenue they had when they last flipped two years ago. There may be an uptick, but whatever revenue increase they see would likely be offset by higher costs (i.e. live, local talent). Eventually, they'll realize that you can't put the monster back into the box, and they'll flip/morph back into some other drone format....without nearly the fuss we saw last time around.

Don't forget the possibility that the signal might be sold off--the whole notion (offered here before) of CBS potentially pulling out of radio altogether...

 

[davideduardo]

[EDIT-post removed]

he sales demos are 18-54 and any subset of this group.

[EDIT-post removed]

Over 93% of 18-34's are using radio weekly, per the PPM in two markets. So, again, you have opinions but no facts.

 

[jimbo]

[EDIT-post removed]

Oldies radio has to adjust to attract the younger demo coveted by advertisers or oldies will go the way of Beautiful Music stations.

My gripes with terrestrial radio are:

> Voice tracking and/or automation. I really miss the company of a live announcer.
> Commercial loads - seven or eight spots in a row is just too much for me
> Audio Processing - sometimes my ears just ache for some dynamic range

 

[neo11]

Over 93% of 18-34's are using radio weekly, per the PPM in two markets. So, again, you have opinions but no facts.

How accurate is that statistic, really? How are participants for the PPM chosen in those markets? Does it originate through phone calls made to random households or some similar fashion? Does that take into account the increasing amount of 18-34's who don't have a "home" phone but have a cell phone that is their main number? I may be totally off on this but I think it's a valid question.

 

[pbf1]

Glad YOU'RE perfect!

CBS lists these oldies stations in its roster: KLUV-Dallas, WODS-Boston. WOMC-Detroit, KXKL-Denver, WRBC-Tampa, WLTH-Portland. That is quite a few.

And? (Hint: KOOL-FM Phoenix.)

Re the "WLTH-Portland" reference...

WLTH is an AM in Gary, IN.

The oldies station in Portland, ME is/was WYNZ Westbrook which
last time I checked is owned by Saga.

I say "is/was" as they appear to have a new website with the
moniker "Big Hits Y100.9" although it still appears to be oldies
(or classic hits). Google "WYNZ" and check the first two results
to see the new and previous sites.

PORTLAND. Who said anything about Maine? There's a much bigger one in Oregon. And there's an Oldies station there...KLTH. Surprised you didn't pick up on that, since you picked up on the KOOL thing.

So far the only thing you have on DE is a W vs K error. (Oooooohh.......)

 

[semoochie]

I don't know a lot but do know what's down the street from me: KLTH Portland OR! (I hate having to list the state so people know I'm referring to the #23 market!)

 

[its time w (your name)]

For the moment, listeners over 55 should find alternatives to terrestrial radio if there is nothing there they like.,, such as in markets without old oldies formats. It´s no loss to radio.

... There you have it.  I think that statement pretty much says all you need to know about consultants.   

Because everybody knows, consultants know what is best for all of us.   They've brought us where we are now.  They've done a HECKUVA JOB, already, and the more these "Cats" talk, the better I understand why.      

Im not actually what anyone, except for my wife, would consider "old,"  but I salute you old guys for speaking out.    Someone somewhere will buck the conventional "wisdom," (as all great successful people do)  will realize your value,
and will become wildly successful.   Open minds win.  

We'll all let you have the last word, Eduardo.   

 

[OldiesCat]

... There you have it. I think that statement pretty much says all you need to know about consultants.

You spend a lot of time here, and I've seen glimpses of your resume offered between the lines, and I have to say the last "credential" I would offer on a board for people who love the art of radio, is admitting having a role in the current state of the business. I would sooner admit I designed the Shuttle's Heat Resistant Tiles.

Im not actually what anyone, except for my wife, would consider "old," but I salute you old guys for speaking out. Someone somewhere will buck the conventional "wisdom," (as all great successful people do) will realize your value, and will become wildly successful. Open minds win.

[/quote]

And foolish minds lose. Stop shooting the messenger. Aim your anger at advertisers who don't use radio to target 55+ consumers. THEY are why the Oldies format is so challenged these days, not professional, caring, informed people who are trying to keep some semblance of the format going (and NOT by staying stuck in "Happy Days").

 

[its time w (your name)]

I am neither foolish, nor angry, my friend. Nor would it be possible for me to be "stuck in Happy Days," as I wasnt born then. For the record, I am working, successful, and personally happy, but if I hear another consultant cliche involving "55+," I may however, lose my breakfast.

So what if someone decides to cater to a particular audience that is obviously there? What are you afraid of? Open minds win. You either get it or you dont.

 

[PeteRFNY]

It's hard for someone like me to get excited about CBS-FM going back to "oldies"...I'd already stopped listening to the station a couple of years before (when they backed off the reverb and showed Harry the door, I decided a divorce was the best for everybody...LOL!) and have found plenty of viable alternatives both on the web (well, at least until the RIAA tries to pull the plug on 90% of them) and satellite radio. When I want to listen to what I consider oldies (60's and 70's rock and roll - I personally don't care for 70's MOR and almost anything from the 80's), the last place I go is standard FM radio.

To be quite honest, since getting the XM in the car, and since there's a CD player in there as well, I don't think the wife or I have turned on the regular AM or FM radio - unless it's to catch the occasional ballgame or traffic report. Sad when you think about it.

 

[CarolinaRadioMan07]

From radioandrecords.com:

"A little over two years since CBS Radio flipped oldies WCBS-FM to adult hits Jack FM, the legendary oldies format returns to New York beginning on Thursday, July 12 at 1:01 p.m. ET."

The report also includes an apparent new logo for the station, which is based around a 50's-60's style jukebox. I'm not kidding. So, could this be a FULL return to the old CBS-FM?

Stay tuned!

 

[DToTheJ]

The report failed to mention the first song after the flip will be "All Apologies" by Nirvana. ;D

 

[davideduardo]

Over 93% of 18-34's are using radio weekly, per the PPM in two markets. So, again, you have opinions but no facts.

How accurate is that statistic, really? How are participants for the PPM chosen in those markets? Does it originate through phone calls made to random households or some similar fashion? Does that take into account the increasing amount of 18-34's who don't have a "home" phone but have a cell phone that is their main number? I may be totally off on this but I think it's a valid question.

PPM is based on a panel, which almost 100% mirrors the age, sex, ethnic and other characteristics of the community. There is a full description on placement, panel representation of every stratificacion variable, etc., at the Arbitron website.

 

[davideduardo]

but if I hear another consultant cliche involving "55+," I may however, lose my breakfast.

Barf away: there is no REVENUE for 55+ audiences in the larger rated markets.