CBS-FM A to Z Promotion

[scooty430]

CBS could get some big press if they said they were going to play every charting song, or every top 20 or top 30 song. It would probably take 2 weeks, I'd say.

It's funny. Today we were guessing the next song at work, and we all knew "Yesterday" came after "Yester-me, Yester-you, Yesterday." But they didn't play it.

Well, they just played it, apologizing for skipping it earlier. Listeners are calling in to make suggestions.

 

[scooty430]

It'll be interesting to see what David Eduardo researches in regards to ratings for the A to Z, this time around.
Should be an increase in the 25-54 and 55+ for this 8 day period once again.

The 25-54 will likely be down. The 55+, the absolute kiss of death for advertisers, will increase. After such and auspicious start, this station is slowly killing the till-now succesful repositioning of CBS FM as a more modern, under 55 vehicle.

Nonsense.

They are keeping the old fans (and music fans of all ages) with neat special programming and sprinkled ultra-oldies. But big picture they keep adding more and more 80s.

They're also avoiding 80s burnout (the 80s have fewer good songs) by keeping songs from other decades.

Plus, as you said, all stations are now niches. A niche needs to really captivate, not be broad (or bland.)

 

[oldies76]

It's funny. Today we were guessing the next song at work, and we all knew "Yesterday" came after "Yester-me, Yester-you, Yesterday." But they didn't play it.

Well, they just played it, apologizing for skipping it earlier. Listeners are calling in to make suggestions.

That's one song that can't get skipped..one of the most popular Beatles songs ever. Also no "Zip a Dee Doo Dah" by Bobby B. Soxx either. Still an awesome countdown though, by all means!!

 

[Top40ClassicsDJ]

Here is a Z song that they skipped

Zanzibar by Billy Joel from his 1978 LP 52nd Street

Cheers Dr Johnny P LoveTrain-Host of Top 40 Classics online at wbul.usf.edu 8)

 

[scooty430]

Zanzibar didn't hit the top 40, though I remember listening to it on that album as a kid. I wonder if they played "Honesty." That was a minor hit from that album.

Zorba is kind of a festive, fitting finish.

 

[oldies76]

I wonder if they played "Honesty." That was a minor hit from that album.

Zorba is kind of a festive, fitting finish.

Yes, according to the Mediabase list "Honesty" was played at 3:45am on 11/6.

 

[radio124]

I'm unclear, David, as to why this countdown will increase 55+ at the expense of 25-54. I monitored the last three hours of the countdown from 9-mid. A total of 39 songs were played. Only one pre-Beatles tune from 1963 was played. Fifteen tunes from 1964-69 were spun. There were nineteen songs from the 70's and four from the eighties.

I then compared this to KRTH(a station which you feel "gets it") from 9-12 last night. KRTH played no pre-Beatles tunes during this time period. They did play 15 songs from 1964-69, 25 songs from the 70's, and one from the eighties.

I don't think CBS-FM strays too far from what's expected of a classic hits station in 2008.

 

[Top40ClassicsDJ]

the reason why they added 1 day to the WCBS A to Z this time is because they did the Radio Greats and the Top 20 Countdown in July they continued the A to Z from 7pm-Midnight! Cheers Dr Johnny P LoveTrain-Host of Top 40 Classics online at wbul.usf.edu 8)

 

[davideduardo]

I'm unclear, David, as to why this countdown will increase 55+ at the expense of 25-54. I monitored the last three hours of the countdown from 9-mid. A total of 39 songs were played. Only one pre-Beatles tune from 1963 was played. Fifteen tunes from 1964-69 were spun. There were nineteen songs from the 70's and four from the eighties.

Almost any 60's stuff will skew a station older... over 55. And those under 55... let's say a 50 year old... was 5 years old when the Beatles and the British Invasion arrived... no relevance at all to that age group.

I then compared this to KRTH(a station which you feel "gets it") from 9-12 last night. KRTH played no pre-Beatles tunes during this time period. They did play 15 songs from 1964-69, 25 songs from the 70's, and one from the eighties.

KRTH is a gold based AC station. While it may be identified as classic hits, it's average song is from 1970... but the mix, presentation, imaging, etc. is pure AC. And that is why they are doing so well... it's not about the individual songs, it's about the flow and blend. Flow and blend have never been that important to oldies stations... yet if you look at DJs, the difference between the guy who gets $15 thou a night at a hot club and the schmuck who gets $150 mixing at Bar Mitzvas and weddings is the quality of the mixes and the flow. KRTH is all about flow. CBS flows about as well as the transmission in a Yugo.

On the other hand, both are owned by CBS and nobody yet has given the company credit for not using the same style and presentation in both markets. I say, good for them.

 

[oldies76]

I monitored the last three hours of the countdown from 9-mid. A total of 39 songs were played. Only one pre-Beatles tune from 1963 was played. Fifteen tunes from 1964-69 were spun. There were nineteen songs from the 70's and four from the eighties.
I don't think CBS-FM strays too far from what's expected of a classic hits station in 2008.

If you back to the letter A (8 days ago) you'll see even more pre 64's and even a vary rare 90's hit, like "River of Dreams" and "Smooth".

 

[shirl]

"w"s in the middle of morning drive
"wanted dead or alive" by bon jovi into "wasted days, wasted nights" by freddy fender
i'm sure the listeners are hitting the scan buttons like crazy

 

[nd2023]

I monitored the last three hours of the countdown from 9-mid. A total of 39 songs were played. Only one pre-Beatles tune from 1963 was played. Fifteen tunes from 1964-69 were spun. There were nineteen songs from the 70's and four from the eighties.
I don't think CBS-FM strays too far from what's expected of a classic hits station in 2008.

If you back to the letter A (8 days ago) you'll see even more pre 64's and even a vary rare 90's hit, like "River of Dreams" and "Smooth".

90s songs are oldies now? I feel old.

 

[scooty430]

the reason why they added 1 day to the WCBS A to Z this time is because they did the Radio Greats and the Top 20 Countdown in July they continued the A to Z from 7pm-Midnight! Cheers Dr Johnny P LoveTrain-Host of Top 40 Classics online at wbul.usf.edu 8)

That wouldn't make it 24 hours longer, but let's not split hairs!

There are more songs in it, but you are right. Last time the countdowns and such were pre-empted.

 

[scooty430]

I'm unclear, David, as to why this countdown will increase 55+ at the expense of 25-54. I monitored the last three hours of the countdown from 9-mid. A total of 39 songs were played. Only one pre-Beatles tune from 1963 was played. Fifteen tunes from 1964-69 were spun. There were nineteen songs from the 70's and four from the eighties.

Almost any 60's stuff will skew a station older... over 55. And those under 55... let's say a 50 year old... was 5 years old when the Beatles and the British Invasion arrived... no relevance at all to that age group.

I then compared this to KRTH(a station which you feel "gets it") from 9-12 last night. KRTH played no pre-Beatles tunes during this time period. They did play 15 songs from 1964-69, 25 songs from the 70's, and one from the eighties.

KRTH is a gold based AC station. While it may be identified as classic hits, it's average song is from 1970... but the mix, presentation, imaging, etc. is pure AC. And that is why they are doing so well... it's not about the individual songs, it's about the flow and blend. Flow and blend have never been that important to oldies stations... yet if you look at DJs, the difference between the guy who gets $15 thou a night at a hot club and the schmuck who gets $150 mixing at Bar Mitzvas and weddings is the quality of the mixes and the flow. KRTH is all about flow. CBS flows about as well as the transmission in a Yugo.

On the other hand, both are owned by CBS and nobody yet has given the company credit for not using the same style and presentation in both markets. I say, good for them.

Shotgun Tom Kelly is an AC style DJ?

Really?

 

[evalmaster]

I have to disagree with the comment about the Beatles having no relevance to a 50 year old. The Beatles final hit was in 1970, at which point I was well into listening to the radio for at least 3 years. So even though I "missed" the British Invasion, I learned it pretty thoroughly from am radio and WNEW-FM. About 5 years ago Capitol records released a Beatles greatest hits, "1". Hit #1 and became a huge seller, pretty good for a group who hadn't recorded a new song for over 30 years and has no "relevance". Not to mention the Cirque Soliel show "Love" which is drawing audiences of all ages in Las Vegas and is usually sold out.
Some of those pre-invasion songs were released before I was born but I still enjoy hearing them thrown into the mix. This is what makes WCBS-FM such a good choice. KRTH is a good listen in the car but gets repetitive too quickly. I would like to hear KRTH get more aggressive like WCBS-FM.

 

[oldies76]

KRTH is a good listen in the car but gets repetitive too quickly. I would like to hear KRTH get more aggressive like WCBS-FM.

We can only hope! It's been repetitive since the late 80's. Their recent A to Z (or Z to A) was just around 1100 songs..WCBS's was nearly triple that amount.

KRTH's was essentially their basic rotation re-arranged in alpha order, with a some extras added in to make it interesting.

 

[davideduardo]

Shotgun Tom Kelly is an AC style DJ?

You haven't listened lately. Yes, he is up and bright, but so is the talent on most hiot AC's.

KRTH is now the second highest AC in LA, followed by KOST at third.

 

[scooty430]

Shotgun Tom Kelly is an AC style DJ?

You haven't listened lately. Yes, he is up and bright, but so is the talent on most hiot AC's.

KRTH is now the second highest AC in LA, followed by KOST at third.

I don't know. "Contemporary" means new. KRTH barely hits 1985.

Shotgun sounds almost like a much mellower Wolfman Jack, complete with "you look beautiful baby!" and similar tongue-in-cheek DJ chatter. Just imagine him introducing "love songs on the KOST" and you'll see he isn't talking in a soft-rock style.

Beatles, Doors, Stevie Wonder, Stones, Beach Boys, Motown..... K-Earth is an oldies station.

 

[scooty430]

KRTH is a good listen in the car but gets repetitive too quickly. I would like to hear KRTH get more aggressive like WCBS-FM.

We can only hope! It's been repetitive since the late 80's. Their recent A to Z (or Z to A) was just around 1100 songs..WCBS's was nearly triple that amount.

KRTH's was essentially their basic rotation re-arranged in alpha order, with a some extras added in to make it interesting.

Beg to differ on that one. The KRTH Z to A was not even close to their normal playlist. They really dug out some unusual tracks. Yes, K-Earth is almost always boring, and WCBS' special programming is always better, but give them some credit: their Z to A was excellent.