CBS-FM A to Z Promotion

[disney fanatic]

I live in Albany NY & I was thinking too bad WTRY 98.3 the local Classic hits station doesn't take any tips from CBS-FM and do something this good.

Except WBPM in the HV listening area playing just rock and pop, that's it! No Motown, no R&B and no soul. Just plan rock like the way WPDH does in Poughkeepsie. WVOS-FM is doing good, but it's not directly towards the Hudson Valley, but I prefer Chris Ingram a lot better than the father of Dan Ingram. I whish if WBPM has its playlist, maybe they add it onto CBS-FM A-Z Countdown during the month of November. Look at it:

http://www.wbpmfm.com/played.php

 

[Grue3]

I live in Albany NY & I was thinking too bad WTRY 98.3 the local Classic hits station doesn't take any tips from CBS-FM and do something this good.

Except WBPM in the HV listening area playing just rock and pop, that's it! No Motown, no R&B and no soul. Just plan rock like the way WPDH does in Poughkeepsie. WVOS-FM is doing good, but it's not directly towards the Hudson Valley, but I prefer Chris Ingram a lot better than the father of Dan Ingram. I whish if WBPM has its playlist, maybe they add it onto CBS-FM A-Z Countdown during the month of November. Look at it:

http://www.wbpmfm.com/played.php

Totally off topic, but I believe WBPM came along way from the days of Cool 92.9

 

[disney fanatic]

Totally off topic, but I believe WBPM came along way from the days of Cool 92.9

I missed that station so much, they should give a torch to CBS-FM, because of the former listeners of "Cool 92.9" might end up at CBS-FM in the city and WZCR in Hudson, NY which is "Cruisin' 93.5" because of a terrible signal being splattered by WBWZ's "Star 93.3". That was a big disappointment.

 

[evalmaster]

I dont understand all this unnecessary obnoxious banter on this board and especially the NYRMB about every move WCBS-FM makes. They are obviously doing something right- just look at the ratings. If somebody doesn't like what they are playing, it is a free country- change the station- there are many more choices. The A to Z promotion is something a bit different, it is refreshing to hear this broader mix on the radio. The same 200-500 songs repeated over and over gets quite monotonous. The only other station I can think of with a mix this broad is WLNG.
Who is to determine if a song is "too 50's" or too "80's"? If the station is playing it and people are listening there is nothing wrong with it. Back when WABC was musicradio I think they mixed in a small amount of oldies without much regard to the era. With the fragmentation in radio today its great to hear the mix on WCBS-FM. Big deal if they mix in Rappers Delight, it was a legitimate Top-40 hit. Same with any of rap hits that were mainstream. Nothing wrong with playing the occasional Fats Domino or Little Richard song also. Variety is good. To hear all these songs on sirius/xm would require listening to 4 separate stations.
Whatever WCBS-FM is doing, it is working.
BTW, I am not in the music or radio business. Just a fan who enjoys listening to good music and good DJ's.

 

[oldies76]

I dont understand all this unnecessary obnoxious banter on this board and especially the NYRMB about every move WCBS-FM makes. They are obviously doing something right- just look at the ratings. If somebody doesn't like what they are playing, it is a free country- change the station- there are many more choices. The A to Z promotion is something a bit different, it is refreshing to hear this broader mix on the radio. The same 200-500 songs repeated over and over gets quite monotonous. The only other station I can think of with a mix this broad is WLNG.
Who is to determine if a song is "too 50's" or too "80's"? If the station is playing it and people are listening there is nothing wrong with it. Back when WABC was musicradio I think they mixed in a small amount of oldies without much regard to the era. With the fragmentation in radio today its great to hear the mix on WCBS-FM. Big deal if they mix in Rappers Delight, it was a legitimate Top-40 hit. Same with any of rap hits that were mainstream. Nothing wrong with playing the occasional Fats Domino or Little Richard song also. Variety is good. To hear all these songs on sirius/xm would require listening to 4 separate stations.
Whatever WCBS-FM is doing, it is working.
BTW, I am not in the music or radio business. Just a fan who enjoys listening to good music and good DJ's.

There are a few exceptions on these posts that only relate to themselves, the business of radio and the bucks and there are others, like most of us, that relate to what you are saying...which by far, is the vast majority, listeners to CBS-FM included.

Of course variety works, such as the A to Z. Monotony on the radio is the worst one could have...it's a big turn off!

Now if only these critics could understand it. Such a basic theory isn't it?

Evalmaster..you chose the right station, can't get any better than this.

 

[neo11]

I dont understand all this unnecessary obnoxious banter on this board and especially the NYRMB about every move WCBS-FM makes. They are obviously doing something right- just look at the ratings. If somebody doesn't like what they are playing, it is a free country- change the station- there are many more choices. The A to Z promotion is something a bit different, it is refreshing to hear this broader mix on the radio. The same 200-500 songs repeated over and over gets quite monotonous. The only other station I can think of with a mix this broad is WLNG.
Who is to determine if a song is "too 50's" or too "80's"? If the station is playing it and people are listening there is nothing wrong with it. Back when WABC was musicradio I think they mixed in a small amount of oldies without much regard to the era. With the fragmentation in radio today its great to hear the mix on WCBS-FM. Big deal if they mix in Rappers Delight, it was a legitimate Top-40 hit. Same with any of rap hits that were mainstream. Nothing wrong with playing the occasional Fats Domino or Little Richard song also. Variety is good. To hear all these songs on sirius/xm would require listening to 4 separate stations.
Whatever WCBS-FM is doing, it is working.
BTW, I am not in the music or radio business. Just a fan who enjoys listening to good music and good DJ's.

I'm not sure where you're coming from with this statement. With the notable exception of DE (no surprise there), it's been nothing but praise for the A-Z countdown on this board (not so much on the other board, based on the few posts on the topic the dentist actually didn't extract from his site). There's been plenty of whining about CBS-FM in the past but I think most people here at least love the countdown, and it seems that you do too.

For whatever reason though, the moderator of the "other" board has felt the need to stifle almost all discussion of the countdown, even programming-related discussion and not just "fan talk."

 

[scooty430]

I dont understand all this unnecessary obnoxious banter on this board and especially the NYRMB about every move WCBS-FM makes. They are obviously doing something right- just look at the ratings. If somebody doesn't like what they are playing, it is a free country- change the station- there are many more choices. The A to Z promotion is something a bit different, it is refreshing to hear this broader mix on the radio. The same 200-500 songs repeated over and over gets quite monotonous. The only other station I can think of with a mix this broad is WLNG.
Who is to determine if a song is "too 50's" or too "80's"? If the station is playing it and people are listening there is nothing wrong with it. Back when WABC was musicradio I think they mixed in a small amount of oldies without much regard to the era. With the fragmentation in radio today its great to hear the mix on WCBS-FM. Big deal if they mix in Rappers Delight, it was a legitimate Top-40 hit. Same with any of rap hits that were mainstream. Nothing wrong with playing the occasional Fats Domino or Little Richard song also. Variety is good. To hear all these songs on sirius/xm would require listening to 4 separate stations.
Whatever WCBS-FM is doing, it is working.
BTW, I am not in the music or radio business. Just a fan who enjoys listening to good music and good DJ's.

So true.

Unfortunately, your last line, where you say you are "just a fan," makes you irrelevant to some of the people on the board. (Not me, because I too am "just a fan." )

 

[davideduardo]

Unfortunately, your last line, where you say you are "just a fan," makes you irrelevant to some of the people on the board. (Not me, because I too am "just a fan." )

Some of the people on these boards are true fans who express true listener feelings. Others are amateur critics, who think they know about radio, and sputter illogical and inaccurate things that are not reflective of the immense bulk of the listening audience; most listeners do not go to message boards about radio (although they may go to boards about their favorite station)... they listen and enjoy.

 

[davideduardo]

[EDIT-inflammatory content]

The discussion is as to whether the A to Z is warranted on a station that appeared, when it came back, anxious to shed the do-wop and 60's image that kept the sales demos too high and had resulted, from 2000 through 2005, in a 20% sales decrease while the market was up overall aobut 17%.

I can't see how programming and management would want to go backwards, demo and era-wise. Of course, the differences in opinion among programmers as well as the differences in skills of each individual PD, are what makes some stations win and some win in a lesser scale and some just not win at all.

Were we after a 55+ audience, many of us would be doing things like the very old A to Z weekend to attract those older demos. You know that A to z was originally a classic rock feature, and first done several decades ago. The idea is not new and certainly not creative... even I have borrowed the concept for markets where it was never done!

But we, as an industry, are not after 55+. And we are not after 12+ numbers. The best example in the nation is a hybrid soft AC / nostalgic station in the Tampa market... WDUV. It is consitently far and away the #1 station in 12+, yet nearly all its audience is not just 55+ but 65+. The station, in a smaller market than New York, is around 24th in billing... a good use for a signal that is not quite as good as the more centrally located stations... but it does not bill anywhere like a station with good sales demos.

Nobody here can bully anyone, since you can post just as I can and anyone else can. There are no "winners" or losers, just different opinions. I have simply tried to show you some of the ways the indsutry works: sales demos, ratings, music research, etc., yet you come back, devoid of facts, and tell me I am not "worldly" and have probably never been on an airplane! That's not discussion, it's assumption and borderline ad hominem stone throwing. That's not how to have a discussion.

 

[oldies76]

Some of the people on these boards are true fans who express true listener feelings. Others are amateur critics, who think they know about radio, and sputter illogical and inaccurate things that are not reflective of the immense bulk of the listening audience; most listeners do not go to message boards about radio (although they may go to boards about their favorite station)... they listen and enjoy.

I am an oldies fan and I've been in radio...so what's your point??

Nothing illogical about what we've said on these two A-Z posts..you just cannot accept it, because you're on the business end, in some office or on planes!

The truth lies among us and CBS-FM....it's their second A to Z...a very successful specialty. I think were are all beyond the time when radio was in the doldrums (excessive repetition, small playlists..etc..). CBS-FM is doing what ALL radio stations should do: Pleasing the audience, having specialties / variety and most importantly..HAVING FUN. This isn't 1990's radio anymore David, it's the new thing and the way of the future!! Most, if not all classic hits stations are doing this now, including K-Earth in L.A. (to some extent).

So whatever points you're trying to make...regarding this or regarding that, is simply futile. Numbers and stats (that the listeners don't even care about) are one thing, but reality is another..and that is EXACTLY what CBS-FM is doing right now!

Take it or leave it.

 

[davideduardo]

The truth lies among us and CBS-FM....it's their second A to Z...a very successful specialty.

I differ in opinion, based on the fact that CBS FM did better in 25-54 prior to the first A to Z, and lost... and did not recover... about 200,000 in cume in that demo as what appears to be a cause and effect relationship.

I think were are all beyond the time when radio was in the doldrums (excessive repetition, small playlists..etc..).

Every station tries to find as many titles as possible that are not negative. The playlist is determined by the demo, the lifestyle and how many songs that group finds positive and appealing. CHRs will continue to play about 100 to 120 songs in regular rotation, and so on for each format. Nobdy wants to play fewer songs at the station end... we want to play as many songs as are positive, but it's the listeners who tell us which ones they are.

This isn't 1990's radio anymore David, it's the new thing and the way of the future!!

It's just another station playing favorite songs of the past. CBS FM is not the wave of the future. It is NY's only classic hits station, and I think it is making mistakes.

Most, if not all classic hits stations are doing this now, including K-Earth in L.A. (to some extent).

Not really. KRTH is pretty much an AC station with all gold as its playlist. The overall feel is much more in tune with at work listening, the jocks are not as 60's and 70's sounding, and the flow is very AC-like in patterns, particularly the close attention they obviously give to segues. KRTH, more than CBS FM, is likely to be the wave of the future for this niche format as it is less age-specific and more mood-specific than others of its genre. It's a very competently done station by one of the best PDs in the US.

 

[scooty430]

[EDIT-inflammatory content]

The discussion is as to whether the A to Z is warranted on a station that appeared, when it came back, anxious to shed the do-wop and 60's image that kept the sales demos too high and had resulted, from 2000 through 2005, in a 20% sales decrease while the market was up overall aobut 17%.

I can't see how programming and management would want to go backwards, demo and era-wise. Of course, the differences in opinion among programmers as well as the differences in skills of each individual PD, are what makes some stations win and some win in a lesser scale and some just not win at all.

Were we after a 55+ audience, many of us would be doing things like the very old A to Z weekend to attract those older demos. You know that A to z was originally a classic rock feature, and first done several decades ago. The idea is not new and certainly not creative... even I have borrowed the concept for markets where it was never done!

But we, as an industry, are not after 55+. And we are not after 12+ numbers. The best example in the nation is a hybrid soft AC / nostalgic station in the Tampa market... WDUV. It is consitently far and away the #1 station in 12+, yet nearly all its audience is not just 55+ but 65+. The station, in a smaller market than New York, is around 24th in billing... a good use for a signal that is not quite as good as the more centrally located stations... but it does not bill anywhere like a station with good sales demos.

Nobody here can bully anyone, since you can post just as I can and anyone else can. There are no "winners" or losers, just different opinions. I have simply tried to show you some of the ways the indsutry works: sales demos, ratings, music research, etc., yet you come back, devoid of facts, and tell me I am not "worldly" and have probably never been on an airplane! That's not discussion, it's assumption and borderline ad hominem stone throwing. That's not how to have a discussion.

Actually, 2000 through 2005 are the years CBS-FM did not play much doo-wop, went mostly post-64, and had an extremely tight playlist. It could be argued that people stopped listening because it was really getting boring.

As for the A to Z, they are adding MORE old songs and MORE lesser played songs. This A to Z is even more stiff-heavy, as you would call it. (I would call it interesting, different, and fun.) I know because I have the list for the old one, and can compare it to this one.

Sorry, as oldies76 says, reality says something different.

As for bullying, you can PM me if you want an explanation.

 

[davideduardo]

Actually, 2000 through 2005 are the years CBS-FM did not play much doo-wop, went mostly post-64, and had an extremely tight playlist. It could be argued that people stopped listening because it was really getting boring.

The 12+ ratings were pretty much flat over that period, give or take a couple of tenths. The issue was that the audience was getting older and older and ad buyers were focusing even more on 25-54.

As for the A to Z, they are adding MORE old songs and MORE lesser played songs. This A to Z is even more stiff-heavy, as you would call it. (I would call it interesting, different, and fun.) I know because I have the list for the old one, and can compare it to this one.

That is not what posters on Dr. Sniffen's board are saying, nor is it what MediaBase indicates.

As for bullying, you can PM me if you want an explanation.

I have absolutely no idea what you are talking about.

 

[evalmaster]

As good as KRTH is they unfortunately do not have the variety of WCBS-FM. In the car I find myself flipping between KRTH and The Walrus. KRTH is good on the music mix and the DJ's, walrus has a broader music mix but weak on the personalities. I think there are only about 7 hours a day with a live DJ. At work I stick with the WCBS-FM stream. Last week I heard Bob Shannon playing "Another Brick in the Wall." Not something you would expect here but a welcome addition. Shouldn't a true classic hits station pull from multiple catagories- rock, dance, disco, r and b, top 40, etc.? Maybe I'm lazy, but I dont want to have to keep changing the station to get a good mix-that is where WCBS-FM fits in.

 

[oldies76]

Every station tries to find as many titles as possible that are not negative. The playlist is determined by the demo, the lifestyle and how many songs that group finds positive and appealing. CHRs will continue to play about 100 to 120 songs in regular rotation, and so on for each format. Nobdy wants to play fewer songs at the station end... we want to play as many songs as are positive, but it's the listeners who tell us which ones they are.

That's the thing..more titles these days aren't negative, like they used to be....the demos are getting older and want to hear their hits they grew up with.

What were negatives years back, are now songs that most will enjoy hearing, thus two A to Z's in 5 months time.
These long and thorough countdowns rarely existed in the 90's..but they are alive and well TODAY.

By the way..CBS-FM is getting into the 90's as classic hits..just played "River of Dreams" from 1993!

 

[oldies76]

That is not what posters on Dr. Sniffen's board are saying, nor is it what MediaBase indicates.

The mediabase list is available on WCBS hompage..It is very similiar to the July countdown, give or take a few.

 

[oldies76]

It is NY's only classic hits station, and I think it is making mistakes.

Don't forget WLNG...heavier on oldies...and even a bigger selection of songs.

What mistakes?...name five:

 

[davideduardo]

That is not what posters on Dr. Sniffen's board are saying, nor is it what MediaBase indicates.

The mediabase list is available on WCBS hompage..It is very similiar to the July countdown, give or take a few.

I don't see any MediaBase(tm) list on the site. I see some charts and the rolling list of what they are playing. Why would a station use MediaBase as a service to tell them what they know they are already playing?

http://www.mediabase.com/WebLogon/WebLogon.asp

 

[davideduardo]

It is NY's only classic hits station, and I think it is making mistakes.

Don't forget WLNG...heavier on oldies...and even a bigger selection of songs.

What mistakes?...name five:

Just one: going back to too many 60's songs which drives them into 55+ territory.

WLNG is a fine community station, in a very, very (did I say "very?") small market. It could play country or oldies or chinese gons backwards and it would do well because of everything but the music.

 

[davideduardo]

That's the thing..more titles these days aren't negative, like they used to be....the demos are getting older and want to hear their hits they grew up with.

Stations don't want older demos, as there is no demand among advertisers for them. There are essentially no buys for 55+ at all... so appealing to older demos is death.