Casey Kasem now on KJR FM

[Grindlfan]

Just heard that KJR FM will begin airing Casey Kasem's American Top 40 the 70s beginning this Sunday from 8-11AM. Great move by the station. I will be tuning in.

 

[dlm1129]

I sure hope you're right! I miss hearing it on the radio. I've been trying to catch AT40-70s online through the various stations that run it but it's just not the same!

 

[valvashon]

All you need to know about Casey Kasem:

Casey Kasem

Val

 

[rw]

I listened this morning... It was fun to hear the 1972 AT40 countdown.

A few weeks ago I noticed KJR-FM dropped the "Rock n Roll's greatest hits" slogan and now they just call it "classic hits". Is it just me, but does anyone else think the jingles and sweepers don't fit with the music mix?

 

[Grindlfan]

Well, what I think doesn't fit the KJR music mix is 80s crap like Huey Lewis and the News. I sure hope they wake up at KJR FM and go back to strictly 60s and 70s. Gee, ever since they began adding more 80s garbage the bottom has fallen out on their ratings. You think they'd have figured it out by now.

Adding AT40 70s is a step in the right direction. Nice to hear Casey give a mention to AM KJR of the 70s during the program this morning.

 

[rw]

Funny, I don't actually mind the 80's crap on KJR-FM. The stuff I don't like are records like "Low Rider" from War and "Have you ever seen the Rain" from CCR.

But I played those songs to death and hearing them makes me want to stab myself with a fork. Funny what working at a classic rock station will do to you.

Anyhoo...

Looking at a 30 day vintage analysis, one can see the main focus of the library is the 70s, with the most plays coming from songs that date back to 1976.

1991 0.2% (8)
1989 0.9% (32)
1988 0.3% (11)
1987 1.3% (47)
1986 2.4% (90)
1985 1.9% (71)
1984 3.0% (109)
1983 3.7% (137)
1982 4.0% (146)
1981 2.9% (107)
1980 4.5% (165)
1979 6.7% (245)
1978 7.3% (270)
1977 7.7% (283)
1976 10.9% (400)
1975 5.3% (195)
1974 4.9% (179)
1973 5.2% (192)
1972 6.7% (245)
1971 3.6% (132)
1970 6.9% (255)
1969 2.4% (89)
1968 2.9% (107)
1967 1.5% (54)
1966 1.0% (38)
1965 1.1% (39)
1964 0.9% (34)

Just to show what they DO play, here's a snapshot of the 3pm hour from Friday, thanks to Mediabase 24/7:

2:59:27 PM EAGLES Take It Easy 1972
3:03:27 PM MILLER, STEVE Jet Airliner 1977
3:06:27 PM CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL Proud Mary 1969
3:09:27 PM GUESS WHO No Sugar Tonight/New Mother... 1970
3:11:27 PM CARS Shake It Up 1981
3:23:27 PM MCCARTNEY, PAUL Live And Let Die 1973
3:27:27 PM PRETENDERS Brass In Pocket 1980
3:30:27 PM BENATAR, PAT Heartbreaker 1979
3:33:27 PM MONKEES I'm A Believer 1966
3:36:27 PM JOURNEY Faithfully 1983
3:40:27 PM MONEY, EDDIE Baby Hold On 1977
3:53:27 PM DOOBIE BROTHERS Listen To The Music 1972
3:56:27 PM GRAND FUNK We're An American Band 1973

IMHO, it's not a bad mix... rather listenable,actually. As I mentioned, I could do without ever hearing CCR again, but that's just me.

And, I guess as a 38 year old male, I think I'm smack dab in the middle of the demo they're (hopefully) going after.

 

[Grindlfan]

RW, I don't agree with your comment about the station being listenable but your 3 PM snapshot of KJR's programming is dead on. The only over played artist missing from that hour was Billy Joel. I used to enjoy Steve Miller, now everytime I hear the intro to one of his records the station gets switched. I feel the same way about CCR. WAY too much airplay for them. Who decides which artists to play incessantly on these stations anyway? I mean, with all the classic hit records and artists in their libraries, why must we hear Billy Joel, Steve Miller, CCR, The Doobie Brothers et al so fricking much????!!!

 

[Bongwater]

Who decides which artists to play incessantly on these stations anyway?

Supposedly, it's focus groups and "research" that allegedly does that.

It never ceases to amaze me that even when you count in all the money, time and expense of all that focus group and "research" hogwash (if music IS actually selected that way), it still sounds not much different than if they just simply bought a few Time-Life collections and a bunch of Greatest Hits compilations from a hundred or so top name rock acts, load them into a computer and put it on shuffle play. Add some jingles/voicers, some stop sets, a few generic voicetracks and voila!

That's "classic hits" in a nutshell. Easy Listening was more challenging than this.

 

[AQH]

Supposedly, it's focus groups and "research" that allegedly does that.

It never ceases to amaze me that even when you count in all the money, time and expense of all that focus group and "research" hogwash (if music IS actually selected that way), it still sounds not much different than if they just simply bought a few Time-Life collections and a bunch of Greatest Hits compilations from a hundred or so top name rock acts, load them into a computer and put it on shuffle play.

Out of curiosity, how many focus groups for radio have you either moderated or observed?

 

[Bongwater]

Supposedly, it's focus groups and "research" that allegedly does that.

It never ceases to amaze me that even when you count in all the money, time and expense of all that focus group and "research" hogwash (if music IS actually selected that way), it still sounds not much different than if they just simply bought a few Time-Life collections and a bunch of Greatest Hits compilations from a hundred or so top name rock acts, load them into a computer and put it on shuffle play.

Out of curiosity, how many focus groups for radio have you either moderated or observed?

How many focus groups for radio have I either moderated or observed?

None.

Have I HEARD the damn results?

YES.

 

[Grindlfan]

I participated in one about 5 years ago held by a company based on the east side. What I saw were a bunch of out of work losers who were there for the $75, the free food, and couldn't have cared less about why we were there. They'd be happy to hear Free Bird 24/7.

 

[Bongwater]

I participated in one about 5 years ago held by a company based on the east side. What I saw were a bunch of out of work losers who were there for the $75, the free food, and couldn't have cared less about why we were there. They'd be happy to hear Free Bird 24/7.

For $75 and free grub, you could play me Yoko Ono and I'd agree with you. Just keep the free pizza comin' Daddy-O!

But younger people THESE days?

"What..RADIO? What's THAT? No wait....my grandma listens to something called a K-Z-O-K, is THAT a radio? I dunno, it's just some plastic box with numbers that OLD people listen to. So when you gonna play us some ICP!"

When are these so-called "consultants" gonna learn?.......

 

[AQH]

How many focus groups for radio have I either moderated or observed?

None.

Have I HEARD the damn results?

YES.

It's okay to say it Larry, you don't know what you're talking about.

CBS and Clear Channel have frozen their budgets for nearly a year now. No new hires, no promotions, no research or focus groups for nearly a year.

 

[AQH]

I participated in one about 5 years ago held by a company based on the east side. What I saw were a bunch of out of work losers who were there for the $75, the free food, and couldn't have cared less about why we were there. They'd be happy to hear Free Bird 24/7.

So are you an "out of work loser" too, or are you "not one of them?"

Do you think that every radio listener is some suit-wearing, who gets a $100 haircut?

You've got a LOT of radio learning to do, son.

 

[LITTLEBOYBLUE]

cmon...lighten up AQH! Methinks thou doth protest too much.
Plenty of room for MANY opinions....

I agree with BW .... just because it's a room convened for feedback doesn't make it necessarily GOOD research! And research is like Ibuprofen...you can take it and MAYBE feel better...or sometimes you can go without and feel just fine too. The one ABSOLUTE I have learned about research .... it's ALWAYS better for the company DOING it than it is for the customer paying for it.

 

[rw]

I agree with BW .... just because it's a room convened for feedback doesn't make it necessarily GOOD research! And research is like Ibuprofen...you can take it and MAYBE feel better...or sometimes you can go without and feel just fine too. The one ABSOLUTE I have learned about research .... it's ALWAYS better for the company DOING it than it is for the customer paying for it.

I think this statement pretty much hits the nail on the head. If you've got the budget for research, use it. If not, don't.

However, If you use research as the only tool to program you radio station, you wind up with the equivalent to a scoop of vanilla ice cream in a cup.

On the flip side, once a smart PD takes research results and adds his or her Selector scheduling rules, secret "flavor" records, imaging, personality and his or her "gut feelings" on the sound, then you wind up with a delicious Ice Cream Sundae.

However, I think what is forgotten, as many of us sit here and take anonymous pot shots at radio stations, some people prefer vanilla ice cream in a cup.

 

[Grindlfan]

I participated in one about 5 years ago held by a company based on the east side. What I saw were a bunch of out of work losers who were there for the $75, the free food, and couldn't have cared less about why we were there. They'd be happy to hear Free Bird 24/7.

So are you an "out of work loser" too, or are you "not one of them?"

Do you think that every radio listener is some suit-wearing, who gets a $100 haircut?

You've got a LOT of radio learning to do, son.

No, I was not an out of work loser then, nor am I now. I am not a suit with a $100 hair cut but a factory worker. I am also not an arrogant, condescending, pompous know-it all like you.... "son". I was there, I know what I saw. I was one of the very few taking my role in that focus group very seriously. I can only speak for the group I participated in, but if others are like that one, then they are a waste of time and do not give an accurate reading of what we true radio listeners want to hear. It seems to me that classic hit radio programmers take the easy road too much. Just throw on a bunch of Billy Joel, Steve Miller, the Doobies. Stick in some 80s garbage too becuase we think younger people are listening to the station rather than their I-Pods.

 

[AQH]

No, I was not an out of work loser then, nor am I now. I am not a suit with a $100 hair cut but a factory worker. I am also not an arrogant, condescending, pompous know-it all like you.... "son". I was there, I know what I saw. I was one of the very few taking my role in that focus group very seriously. I can only speak for the group I participated in, but if others are like that one, then they are a waste of time and do not give an accurate reading of what we true radio listeners want to hear. It seems to me that classic hit radio programmers take the easy road too much. Just throw on a bunch of Billy Joel, Steve Miller, the Doobies. Stick in some 80s garbage too becuase we think younger people are listening to the station rather than their I-Pods.

If you want to call me arrogant, that's fine. But for you to go into a room full of people you've never met before in your life and deem them "out of work losers" because they don't match your Biblical views about "true radio," that demonstrates not only how out of touch you are with who actually listens to the radio, but it also demonstrates how you seem to fire off hair-trigger assertions about people just by their appearance.

And that's infinitely more disturbing than me busting your chops about radio programming.

 

[AQH]

cmon...lighten up AQH! Methinks thou doth protest too much.
Plenty of room for MANY opinions....

I agree with BW .... just because it's a room convened for feedback doesn't make it necessarily GOOD research! And research is like Ibuprofen...you can take it and MAYBE feel better...or sometimes you can go without and feel just fine too. The one ABSOLUTE I have learned about research .... it's ALWAYS better for the company DOING it than it is for the customer paying for it.

If someone wants to crap on a station, then fine.

Is it too much to ask for specifics when an expert on this board, such as Larry, as to why everything sucks rather than just a general rant?

 

[Grindlfan]

No, I was not an out of work loser then, nor am I now. I am not a suit with a $100 hair cut but a factory worker. I am also not an arrogant, condescending, pompous know-it all like you.... "son". I was there, I know what I saw. I was one of the very few taking my role in that focus group very seriously. I can only speak for the group I participated in, but if others are like that one, then they are a waste of time and do not give an accurate reading of what we true radio listeners want to hear. It seems to me that classic hit radio programmers take the easy road too much. Just throw on a bunch of Billy Joel, Steve Miller, the Doobies. Stick in some 80s garbage too becuase we think younger people are listening to the station rather than their I-Pods.

If you want to call me arrogant, that's fine. But for you to go into a room full of people you've never met before in your life and deem them "out of work losers" because they don't match your Biblical views about "true radio," that demonstrates not only how out of touch you are with who actually listens to the radio, but it also demonstrates how you seem to fire off hair-trigger assertions about people just by their appearance.

And that's infinitely more disturbing than me busting your chops about radio programming.

Ummmmmmmm, Like I said, I was there. I mingled with other participants. That is how I know many were out of work, and yes, many were losers. While not all who are unfortunately unemployed are losers, these bozos were strictly there for the money and free food.
And as for "biblical" views about so-called "true radio", it appears that you "son" have no clue as to who actually listens to radio. If you did, you would be paying more attention to people like me and others whom you have bestowed your scarasm and dubious wisdom on this site. I think you must either be one of the PDs with an inflated ego who programs strictly according to consultants and focus groups, or you are a consultant and/or run a research company yourself. In either case, the invectives I used to describe you in my former post still apply.