you notice how cbs teased us in the beginning, how the old cbs will be apart of the format....WRONG!!...this station wants to be lite fm, q104.3 and 95.5's 80's in one, its like a watered down jack fm. there playing songs thay are played out on other stations for years....after 3 months i no longer listen...good riddance!!
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CBS FM is getting Worse and Worse Everyday!!
- Thread starter prescott
- Start date
Yeah... Sounds familiar but not what I want either.
There's a reason the "old" format disappeared. The demographics were getting too old. They couldn't continue with the "same old" two years ago, so they certainly couldn't do it now.
F
FCR
Guest
Reincarnations of stations are never what the old station used to be. Look at XRK, it's not what it used to be. The problem with bringing back a station is that old listeners will want it to be what they remember best. But usually, there's a different PD trying to redefine the old, trying to make it better this time around.
I guess they sounded a lot like WBPM, because it's the same format, but they played the extremes and it was mentioned about "Radar Love". They played some album rock and even less "Jack" oriented sound than WBPM does today.
People need to start "waking up" and realizing that if you want some sort of "pop based" gold format in 2007, it probably has to be this way. CBS-FM of 5, 10, 15 years ago is gone FOREVER. And no other station is likely to jump in with the kind of station the "purists" want. It would have happened during the Jack days.
yocco said:
CBS-FM's current format is a two-edged sword as far as I'm concerned:
Living in Connecticut, the only two FM stations I can pick up while in my car that resemble a "listenable" oldies format are CBS-FM and DRC-FM in Hartford. DRC sounds like a 4 year old played with the EQ and sounds slightly better than playing music over the telephone. CBS-FM at least has great fidelity by comparison and a decent selection of music. Are they the oldies station we remember? No, sorry to say, but times have changed as well.
The funniest thing is my personal web-stream has picked up greatly since the CBS-FM flip to "classic hits" and I get a couple of emails every week. While I may be playing 80's as well, I fully believe in playing the deep, forgotten oldies that aren't played anymore. I'm sure this limited the potential for appeal to a broader audience, but it's something that the diehard fans love and enjoy.
When Web Radio takes off---- am-fm-satellite will all be wetting their pants-- trying to survive! and HD-AM-FM may be a joke like QUAD radio --- remember that!
Clayton Douglas said:
Think about all the missteps radio has made: an alleged Quad format, four different AM Stereo formats without having a mandated standard, letting the deep pockets decide to de facto standard instead. Now we have HD, which has questionable success. I'm not going to pony up money for a new radio only to hear the same crappy programming with perhaps slightly better fidelity, and AM HD?- forget about it! A favorite sport of DX listening is now blown away, thanks to the digital crapola from AM IBOC. All this, not to mention that there's suppose to be an upcoming proposal to allow radio groups to own even more stations in a given market while not having to divest themselves of other media they own like newspapers and such. We as a country are truly in trouble.
I think radio in general is in trouble, knowing that consumers have a greater choice than ever, be it satellite, web radio or portable music players - radio is going to have to offer something noteworthy to survive the upcoming onslaught of competition.
Back to the thread at hand, I think CBS-FM is a fairly decent listen considering where we are in time. I wonder how outlets running the True Oldies Channel are doing in comparison. I won't listen to TOC only because I'm not into "All Shannon, all the time". THEY could have picked up all the former CBS-FM jocks and made a killer format WITH personality, but that would have required some vision from the big wigs behind the scenes.
F
fang39
Guest
The "new" WCBS-FM isn't an "Oldies" station--it's listed as "Classic Hits", featuring hits from the mid 60's to mid 80's. They tried to maintain continuity to its former self by bringing back personalities Dan Taylor, Bob Shannon, Pat St. John, Al Meredith & Mr. G. from the old CBS-FM while bringing familiar names like "Broadway" Bill Lee, Joe Causi and Sue O'Neal and newcomers Ron Parker and Rick Stacey into the fold.
What I like most about the station is the fact that they're allowing the jocks to "do their thing" on the air and aren't limiting them to reading liner cards. Tune in Pat St. John on a Sunday morning and you'll know what I'm talking about.
Their Sunday night "Radio Greats" show also tried to establish ties to the old format, but it's lost some of its cache as many of the personalities are making their second appearance.
From a programming standpoint, I've enjoyed listening to WCBS-FM V2.0. It's much more "pop" oriented than most Classic Hits stations, which are usually heavily laden with "rock" songs. JACK-FM was probably closer to a true "Classic Hits" format than WCBS-FM currently is. Additionally, the programming department is working hard to "spice" up the playlist with their daily "Hall of Fame" feature, playing tunes that aren't part of their regular rotation.
Would I like to hear more of the early hits of the Rock & Roll era? Absolutely! As I've mentioned in previous posts, I would like to see Don K. Reed given a weekly Sunday night show, not necessarily "The Doo-Wopp Shoppe", but featuring hits from the "pre-Beatles" era, circa 1955-63. I don't believe, as others have argued, that it would be "breaking format" to the point that listeners would turn it off and not come back. I think it would enhance the overall product. However, I was surprised that they dropped Dick Bartley's show after only a couple of weeks, unless it's airing at some other time that I'm not aware of (or awake!).
Let's face facts. The days of "The Golden 101" are over and they're not coming back. The economics of the radio business have made that imposssible as no station can survive without advertising revenue. And we all know that the ad market doesn't cater to the 55+ market. Just ask David Eduardo, LOL!
What I like most about the station is the fact that they're allowing the jocks to "do their thing" on the air and aren't limiting them to reading liner cards. Tune in Pat St. John on a Sunday morning and you'll know what I'm talking about.
Their Sunday night "Radio Greats" show also tried to establish ties to the old format, but it's lost some of its cache as many of the personalities are making their second appearance.
From a programming standpoint, I've enjoyed listening to WCBS-FM V2.0. It's much more "pop" oriented than most Classic Hits stations, which are usually heavily laden with "rock" songs. JACK-FM was probably closer to a true "Classic Hits" format than WCBS-FM currently is. Additionally, the programming department is working hard to "spice" up the playlist with their daily "Hall of Fame" feature, playing tunes that aren't part of their regular rotation.
Would I like to hear more of the early hits of the Rock & Roll era? Absolutely! As I've mentioned in previous posts, I would like to see Don K. Reed given a weekly Sunday night show, not necessarily "The Doo-Wopp Shoppe", but featuring hits from the "pre-Beatles" era, circa 1955-63. I don't believe, as others have argued, that it would be "breaking format" to the point that listeners would turn it off and not come back. I think it would enhance the overall product. However, I was surprised that they dropped Dick Bartley's show after only a couple of weeks, unless it's airing at some other time that I'm not aware of (or awake!).
Let's face facts. The days of "The Golden 101" are over and they're not coming back. The economics of the radio business have made that imposssible as no station can survive without advertising revenue. And we all know that the ad market doesn't cater to the 55+ market. Just ask David Eduardo, LOL!
Bill DeFelice said:
No, the proposal is to allow newspapers, entities which can nopt buy TV or radio today, in the top markets to buy electronic media, with the paper counting as a media outlet. This has many positive sides, such as helping newspapers survive and giving access to newspaper newsrooms by co-owned stations. The decline and potential failure of the newspaper business truly merits consideration of this proposal, which would not allow broadcast owners any greater number of staitons in any market.
A good example is in Chicago where Zell's part-employee-owned purchase of the Trib, under current rules, may require spinning off WGN. That would be neither good for the newspaper company nor for the consumer.
Here's what I find curious. On this board and the NY Radio board like to complain about how rock-oriented the station is. On the other hand, my mother (who was a regular listener of the "old" CBS-FM) goes on and on about how soft the station sounds, even going as far as to call it "elevator music". Perhaps these opposing opinions simply mean that the music selection is too broad, or it could just be a testament to how much more segmented music became in the 70s and beyond.
I'm more inclined to agree with my mom - I think that songs like "Born to Run" and "Money for Nothing" are refreshing to hear on CBS-FM, while all that early-to-mid 70s soft rock and R&B just weighs the station down. I'm not saying they should stop playing those types of music altogether, but there should be more balance. I'd like to see them give the 60s, 70s, and 80s equal time instead of being so 70s-centric, and I'd also like to see them strive more for the consistently upbeat and fun sound they used to have while still embracing more modern sounds. But I know it's easier said than done, and I also know that the station is not aimed at 23-year-old male music/radio geeks like myself.
I'm more inclined to agree with my mom - I think that songs like "Born to Run" and "Money for Nothing" are refreshing to hear on CBS-FM, while all that early-to-mid 70s soft rock and R&B just weighs the station down. I'm not saying they should stop playing those types of music altogether, but there should be more balance. I'd like to see them give the 60s, 70s, and 80s equal time instead of being so 70s-centric, and I'd also like to see them strive more for the consistently upbeat and fun sound they used to have while still embracing more modern sounds. But I know it's easier said than done, and I also know that the station is not aimed at 23-year-old male music/radio geeks like myself.
A
adma
Guest
Methinks those complainers would think your mom's too much of a "free thinker". Therefore, she's not part of the desirable mainstream pop "casual listener" demographic.
Welcome to Stepford.
Welcome to Stepford.
I did a comparison of our (LA's) oldies station and WCBS (which I've always heard on visits) using Yes.com. Just for fun.
I was pretty shocked by all the 80s classic rock on WCBS. Georgia Satellites, Springsteen's "Glory Days," John Cougar, etc. When WCBS did dig out a genuine 60s oldie, though, it was sometimes a less-played one. But...that is about once or twice an hour.
I think the nod goes to K-Earth. The playlist is still repetitive, but they have the right "sound," and have added 70s tunes without compromising that sound. They also have local faves like Sauvecito, Santana, and Beach Boys stuff that give it a unique feel. They are sometimes TOYING with a broader playlist, with no repeat weekends and such, but they sadly always pull back. They DO rotate the mix, so the days of Brown Eyed Girl 10 times a day, year-round, are over. (Now it's just twice a day!
)
It'll be interesting to see what WCBS does with the Christmas music. They always had a great countdown. (K-Earth, conversely, is playing mostly adult contemporary Xmas music in an effort to battle the all-Xmas KOST. Sad.)
I was pretty shocked by all the 80s classic rock on WCBS. Georgia Satellites, Springsteen's "Glory Days," John Cougar, etc. When WCBS did dig out a genuine 60s oldie, though, it was sometimes a less-played one. But...that is about once or twice an hour.
I think the nod goes to K-Earth. The playlist is still repetitive, but they have the right "sound," and have added 70s tunes without compromising that sound. They also have local faves like Sauvecito, Santana, and Beach Boys stuff that give it a unique feel. They are sometimes TOYING with a broader playlist, with no repeat weekends and such, but they sadly always pull back. They DO rotate the mix, so the days of Brown Eyed Girl 10 times a day, year-round, are over. (Now it's just twice a day!
)It'll be interesting to see what WCBS does with the Christmas music. They always had a great countdown. (K-Earth, conversely, is playing mostly adult contemporary Xmas music in an effort to battle the all-Xmas KOST. Sad.)
yocco said:
A very valid point. If the "Old" CBS-FM were still viable, someone else would have jumped in after "Jack" debuted and reaped a publicity bonanza by claiming that format. Nobody picked it up, and most of the people associated with the "old" CBS-FM were out of work.
From what I have read, it looks like CBS has let down the true fans of the original CBS Oldies 101. The programming seemed to have come on strong when they flipped back to oldies. They looked like they had their stuff together.
That almost reminds me of another CBS station. That would be KFRC in San Francisco. CBS promised that we would be very happy with them bringing KFRC back. That we would be excitied with some of the original air personalities they were lining up. They gave us a hge build up and then.....thud.
For us here in the Bay Area, it seemed forever to get any air personality on the air at KFRC. They seemed to be just an ipod with commercials. They do now have their air staff together. But the pizazz is just not there.
So here on the west coast, I know the feeling you are having ith CBS 'trying' to bring back the original Oldies 101. I am sorry to say, but when they blew up Oldies 101 for Jack FM, they lost more than an easy switch back as if nothing ever happened. The pizazz that you felt is gone. Hopefully they can build this station into its own legend.
That almost reminds me of another CBS station. That would be KFRC in San Francisco. CBS promised that we would be very happy with them bringing KFRC back. That we would be excitied with some of the original air personalities they were lining up. They gave us a hge build up and then.....thud.
For us here in the Bay Area, it seemed forever to get any air personality on the air at KFRC. They seemed to be just an ipod with commercials. They do now have their air staff together. But the pizazz is just not there.
So here on the west coast, I know the feeling you are having ith CBS 'trying' to bring back the original Oldies 101. I am sorry to say, but when they blew up Oldies 101 for Jack FM, they lost more than an easy switch back as if nothing ever happened. The pizazz that you felt is gone. Hopefully they can build this station into its own legend.
listening to CBS FM this morning, with the Righteous Brothers, Smokey & the Miracles, early Elvis, Gary Lewis & the Playboys, etc in the mix,and the 70s and 8os stuff works, so get over it, haters, it's a great listen...
(although I listened to WDRC over the weekend and heard "Don't Mess With Bill" by The Marvelettes and even the previously discussed "Family Of Man" by Three Dog Night; for someone who gew up in the 1960s, WDRC is the winner!!!..they even play 70s classics from the Jean Terrell -led Supremes, gotta luv it....)
(although I listened to WDRC over the weekend and heard "Don't Mess With Bill" by The Marvelettes and even the previously discussed "Family Of Man" by Three Dog Night; for someone who gew up in the 1960s, WDRC is the winner!!!..they even play 70s classics from the Jean Terrell -led Supremes, gotta luv it....)
lalumia said:
Personally, I think so, but you're gonna have the group who will always say "it's not the old CBS-FM" - you've gotta change with the times, plain and simple. I will admit I miss the legacy jocks but always enjoyed Dan Taylor.
lalumia said:
Assuming you mean DRC-FM I have to say their mix is just "ok", nothing special. I think CBS-FM has them beat a bit as far as flow goes, but CBS-FM wins hands down as far as audio quality. You might as well listen to DRC over the telephone as far as fidelity goes!
Don't understand why people are getting their shorts in a knot if CBS-FM is playing the Righteous Brothers, Smokey & the Miracles, early Elvis, Gary Lewis & the Playboys, Roy and the Supremes mixed with hits from the 70s and 80s. WTP!? This sounds like a broad-based library and if the jocks are "having fun" making the music rotations work, what's the problem? Bruce & the E Street Band "Glory Days" sounds like it works quite nicely with some of those titles and Georgia Satellites aren't that far out of the genre either ("...no higgy no kissy..." c'mon, that's a cool lyric line.) Now, if CBS-FM was playing Thomas Dolby, "Blinded By Science," that might be a reach.
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