Can a station playing Country Music from the 80s, 90s, and today work? With a heavy lean on the 80s, and 90s similar to Music Choice's True Country Channel. One of the reasons I like CC's KIX in Springfield and Cumulus's KICKS in Danbury is because they mix in some older stuff. WWYZ plays very little in the older music department.
-
Get involved.
We want your input!
Apply for Membership and join the conversations about everything related to broadcasting.
After we receive your registration, a moderator will review it. After your registration is approved, you will be permitted to post.
If you use a disposable or false email address, your registration will be rejected.
After your membership is approved, please take a minute to tell us a little bit about yourself.
https://www.radiodiscussions.com/forums/introduce-yourself.1088/
Thanks in advance and have fun!
RadioDiscussions Administrators
Can this work in Hartford?
- Thread starter MarcB
- Start date
It would have to be limited to 1988 and later. For about a decade before WWYZ flipped from AC, the only sources for country in Hartford were on AM: WHN from New York City and flea-powered WMLB (1550) in West Hartford. I don't think WSCR (1220) Hamden made it into the market. Country 92.5 was a huge success right out of the gate, so maybe the format would work, but really, which Hartford FM would you put it on? 106.9? 104.1?
Why not put it on WWYZ, and here's an idea: Call it Classic Country. After all every rock station that plays modern or alternative rock also plays songs from previous decades. It's called Classic Rock!!!
progressivetalk said:
Like it or not, country music is now a teen-targeted format -- No. 2 among teens nationwide behind CHR. Most classic country from the '70s and '80s, as well as a good deal from the early to mid-'90s, had little appeal to teens then and would just drive them away now. Rock, on the other hand, has been stagnating -- and losing the teen demo not only to country but rhythmic (hip-hop, urban and dance) for decades. That's why you can play a 1983 Clash track on a "modern" rock station but you can't play a 1983 Mickey Gilley track on a contemporary country station.
DToTheJ said:
No. That's why you never hear "Somebody Should Leave" or "Amarillo By Morning" on WWYZ. Songs for grown-ups, way too twangy and old-sounding for the kids.
I know plenty of teenagers and none of them would be caught dead listening to country music.
progressivetalk said:
Small samping, not nationwide, only consists of people you know. Means less than nothing, statistically.
The problem with mixing in "classic" country is that it sounds so much different than modern country. It's almost like 2 completely different formats. I love modern country, but really can't stand the old stuff. I would be much less likely to listen to a station like WWYZ if they played a lot of old songs.
F
fmradio1
Guest
There have been very few Country Classics "success stories," even in markets where mainstream country is a dominant format. The ratings aren't there, the demos are not ideal, and sales often lag. Heritage country stations can get away with playing the deeper title every here and there, but most stations can't. Unlike other formats that target adults, the country audience seems to have a desire for new music, and it's not just the kids. AC's often play just one or two current songs an hour. Country plays much more than that, and they retain similar demos. There just doesn't seem to be much of a need for a gold based station with this audience.
Maybe the best idea would be for one of the country stations to have a classic country show on Saturday or Sunday night. They could see if there is any interest and then maybe add some classic stuff to their regular music rotation.
uncle todd said:
WKLB Boston has had a classic country show from 8 to noon Sundays for many years. It has a solid, loyal audience, but none of the songs played on it ever get a spin during the regular programming. The contrast in styles is just too great. I have a feeling that, for many of the show's listeners, those are the only four hours they listen to WKLB all week.
WCTY also does the "Radio Flea Market and Country Gold" show Sunday mornings from 7a-10a. Bob Edwards plays classic country, it actually feels like a really good fit with the flea market calls. Outside of specialty programming, it really is like two completely different genres. Today's country shares roots with that classic country, but little else.
A friend of mine who has a camp site near the Pocono's Mountains in Pennsylvania says there's a station exactly like what I'm describing here. He says it's called Froggy 101. He says he wishes 92.5 would become more like Froggy. I explained to him that 92.5 is owned by Clear Channel. And everything 92.5 does has to be approved by CC corporate in San Antonio. I told him that the CC employees can't even drink a bottle of Coke Zero without having to ask San Antonio for permission first.
- Status