I suppose the only formats profitable and worthy now are Spanish and Urban huh? Lets just pack up all the "white" music and go home now. While we're at it lets lop off Lady Liberty's tiara and slap a sombrero and some low hangers on her. Rock is dead,oldies are too old,country is too hokey even though I hear lots of Hispanics tuning in to country stations. We stole Blues and Jazz. Talk formats will die unless they start speaking Spanish. I'm sick of hearing how everything American is a done deal.
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Can 98.1 WOGL still technically be considered "Oldies 98.1"?
- Thread starter The Youngest Oldie
- Start date
I don't quite understand your post.
WOGL, is #4 with Oldies (I'll not argue that for my ear WOGL repeats too many songs and plays too many Motown and Soul tunes in relationship to all the other music being played on their station, but when was the last time WOGL was in the top 4? So apparently someone in Philly likes what WOGL is playing and is listening, and even more importantly are in the magic demo advertisers want. Remember radio is a business. If CBS radio thought they could capture the #1 spot in ratings and magic demo, etc, in Philly by airing Polkas, believe me, they would.
So if you want to hear a more traditional oldies station the Vineland WVLT might suit you better, but they don't get as solid ratings and more than likely skew to an older audience that the advertisers do not want. WVLT might be able to make a go of it in Vineland NJ, but probably would lose their shirts in Philly, which is why WOGL doesn't play what WVLT does. Even though I personally would prefer a more traditional Oldies format, I also understand dollars and cents and realize that CBS radio is in the business to make money.
WXTU has done quite well doing Country, of all things, in a Northern Rock and Roll city like Philly, who would have thought 40 years ago that country could, much less would, being popular in Philadelphia, the home of the mummers.
Jazz is alive and well as also is Classical Music on WRTI, which has done so well as a non-comm they have repeaters (two in Delaware - Wilmington and Dover), plus a boatload of them in PA and NJ. More people in the Delaware Valley have access to Jazz and Classical Music than ever before.
I do hear some Mexican music on some low powered AM stations, WNWK 1260 Newark DE, plus I believe it is 1280 in Georgetown DE. I guess there is some Mexican or Hispanic music on stations in PA and NJ, I've just never come across them, but even so, what's the big deal. That's what America is all about. If there's a market for Mariachi Music why wouldn't some station jump on it.
If the music is popular enough with the magic demo advertisers want, then you'll hear it on the big commercial radio stations, if the music isn't popular with that magic demo, then you'll find it, more likely, on a non-comm NPR station or a non-comm College station, where people vote with both their radio dial and their wallet. It ain't perfect, but it does work.
One final comment. You seem upset by hearing minority music at all, better get used to it as the Census folks have said that by the years 2040 to 2050 the white European group will become a minority in the US. Like it or not, due to immigration and the fact that white families have had far fewer children during the past 50 years while the minority families have had more children has caused this change. It's not the end of the world, it just will be different than it has been before. Sure cultural things will evolve as the former minorities become the majority, but that's how business works. Radio and TV will surely be affected and will go more towards the majority listeners (the former minorities) and viewers choice for music and entertainment. That's simply good business.
Go back to the turn of the 20th century when Irish and Italians were streaming past Lady Liberty and there were probably some then who felt that Lady Liberty and America would be hurt and destroyed by all those folks who today are part of the mainstream. America kind of works that way. The Irish and Italian customs, music, food, etc, are now part of our American heritage. Who things twice about going to an Italian Restaurant or an Irish Pub. People flock to Wilmington, from all over the Mid Atlantic area, once a year to attend the Italian Festival at St. Anthony's Catholic church. So some day, we'll flock to a Hispanic Cinco de Mayo festival with Mexican Music, food, drink, dancing, etc, as those folks will be part of the mainstream of this nation as America marches on. Radio will adjust just as it has since its beginnings in the 1920's to meet the business needs of advertisers.
WOGL, is #4 with Oldies (I'll not argue that for my ear WOGL repeats too many songs and plays too many Motown and Soul tunes in relationship to all the other music being played on their station, but when was the last time WOGL was in the top 4? So apparently someone in Philly likes what WOGL is playing and is listening, and even more importantly are in the magic demo advertisers want. Remember radio is a business. If CBS radio thought they could capture the #1 spot in ratings and magic demo, etc, in Philly by airing Polkas, believe me, they would.
So if you want to hear a more traditional oldies station the Vineland WVLT might suit you better, but they don't get as solid ratings and more than likely skew to an older audience that the advertisers do not want. WVLT might be able to make a go of it in Vineland NJ, but probably would lose their shirts in Philly, which is why WOGL doesn't play what WVLT does. Even though I personally would prefer a more traditional Oldies format, I also understand dollars and cents and realize that CBS radio is in the business to make money.
WXTU has done quite well doing Country, of all things, in a Northern Rock and Roll city like Philly, who would have thought 40 years ago that country could, much less would, being popular in Philadelphia, the home of the mummers.
Jazz is alive and well as also is Classical Music on WRTI, which has done so well as a non-comm they have repeaters (two in Delaware - Wilmington and Dover), plus a boatload of them in PA and NJ. More people in the Delaware Valley have access to Jazz and Classical Music than ever before.
I do hear some Mexican music on some low powered AM stations, WNWK 1260 Newark DE, plus I believe it is 1280 in Georgetown DE. I guess there is some Mexican or Hispanic music on stations in PA and NJ, I've just never come across them, but even so, what's the big deal. That's what America is all about. If there's a market for Mariachi Music why wouldn't some station jump on it.
If the music is popular enough with the magic demo advertisers want, then you'll hear it on the big commercial radio stations, if the music isn't popular with that magic demo, then you'll find it, more likely, on a non-comm NPR station or a non-comm College station, where people vote with both their radio dial and their wallet. It ain't perfect, but it does work.
One final comment. You seem upset by hearing minority music at all, better get used to it as the Census folks have said that by the years 2040 to 2050 the white European group will become a minority in the US. Like it or not, due to immigration and the fact that white families have had far fewer children during the past 50 years while the minority families have had more children has caused this change. It's not the end of the world, it just will be different than it has been before. Sure cultural things will evolve as the former minorities become the majority, but that's how business works. Radio and TV will surely be affected and will go more towards the majority listeners (the former minorities) and viewers choice for music and entertainment. That's simply good business.
Go back to the turn of the 20th century when Irish and Italians were streaming past Lady Liberty and there were probably some then who felt that Lady Liberty and America would be hurt and destroyed by all those folks who today are part of the mainstream. America kind of works that way. The Irish and Italian customs, music, food, etc, are now part of our American heritage. Who things twice about going to an Italian Restaurant or an Irish Pub. People flock to Wilmington, from all over the Mid Atlantic area, once a year to attend the Italian Festival at St. Anthony's Catholic church. So some day, we'll flock to a Hispanic Cinco de Mayo festival with Mexican Music, food, drink, dancing, etc, as those folks will be part of the mainstream of this nation as America marches on. Radio will adjust just as it has since its beginnings in the 1920's to meet the business needs of advertisers.
To the purists, adding 80s product is sinful. To the realists and survivors, a Classic Hits station can't sustain without a proper rotation of applicable 80s hits. A person born in '70 probably came of "musical age" around '82. He/she is now 40 and well within the 35-54, 35-64 demo. 1980 is thirty years ago. (Brother, that went fast!) To some listeners and fans, rolling "Ain't Too Proud to Beg" into "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" is a sacrilege. To a PD who has to deliver a demo for the sales department and keep his job, that's just the way it is.
A couple of points:
1. 98.1 WOGL hasn't called itself "Oldies" for about five years
2. 98.1 WOGL is enjoying the highest ratings in station history (and even delivered a #1 A25-54 ranking during a couple of months in '09)
3. 98.1 WOGL, according to some people in the know, outperformed most stations in the market, revenue-wise, by a country mile
The above points are true, but some people on this board continue to doubt the decision-makers at WOGL. I guess I was mistaken all this time when I thought a radio station was supposed to generate ratings, grow revenue, and serve its community.
If every station in Philly operated as smoothly as WOGL, these boards would be empty ... (maybe that's why some posters don't like WOGL) ...
1. 98.1 WOGL hasn't called itself "Oldies" for about five years
2. 98.1 WOGL is enjoying the highest ratings in station history (and even delivered a #1 A25-54 ranking during a couple of months in '09)
3. 98.1 WOGL, according to some people in the know, outperformed most stations in the market, revenue-wise, by a country mile
The above points are true, but some people on this board continue to doubt the decision-makers at WOGL. I guess I was mistaken all this time when I thought a radio station was supposed to generate ratings, grow revenue, and serve its community.
If every station in Philly operated as smoothly as WOGL, these boards would be empty ... (maybe that's why some posters don't like WOGL) ...
How can WOGL go wrong with Tommy McCarthy as music director, and Harvey Holliday as the day part franchise DJ? These guys are two of the most "era" music knowledgeable men I have ever met. With that kind of talent, I believe the station will continue to do well.
In Dallas, I noticed that CBS' classic hits station there, KLUV, has rebranded as "The Best Of The 70's, And More". Meaning even less emphasis on the 60's (as well as the 80's).
And if that isn't enough of an injustice, they've also replaced the Charlie Van Dyke imaging on KLUV with another guy.
Could WOGL follow suit with KLUV's rebranding?
And if that isn't enough of an injustice, they've also replaced the Charlie Van Dyke imaging on KLUV with another guy.
Could WOGL follow suit with KLUV's rebranding?
F
Fastphilly
Guest
That late 60's (burnt to a crisp Motown and Aretha Franklin) songs through the late 70's (played out Elton John, Eagles, Journey) with a few "safe" 80's hits (Huey Lewis, Hall & Oates) won't cut it for long. I live in a large market (San Francisco) and after so many years of cookie cutter playlists on these so called classic hits formats that do nothing else but play classic lite rock with the occasional played out R&B track to throw the listening audience a bone will be burned out after a few rating books. It's happened here with the last few classic hits stations. As for 80's hits. Once the late 60's/early 70's fall off the demo you will hear quite a bit of 80's hits as the core percentage of titles being played. Top 40 was still a successful format through much of the 80's across America. WCAU for the first five years in Philly was number one so integration of (R&B,dance,pop,rock) was still a successful formula on CHR radio up until 1987 when Top 40's began diving in the realm of rhythmic/top 40.
I don't think it qualifies as an "Oldies" station any more. If you want a model for "oldies" stations, check out WMID 1340 Atlantic City.
Yeah... I haven't checked that out, but WVLT is more in line what i call as an Oldies station. Oldies stations like WOGL or say WBIG or WCBS-FM haved morfed into what i'd t turm as Classic Hits.
Kinda odd how the classic hits format came on in the early 90's as in WMGK then went bye bye for a while, and now WOGL is here.
The main difference? WOGL's classic hits format is more inclusive of 70's disco.
John
Kinda odd how the classic hits format came on in the early 90's as in WMGK then went bye bye for a while, and now WOGL is here.
The main difference? WOGL's classic hits format is more inclusive of 70's disco.
John
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